Antiva

The Principality of Antiva, or simply Antiva, is a plutocratic nation in northeastern Thedas. Although it possesses few resources of its own, Antiva's location makes it a center for trade in the north. Antiva's wine trade, buoyed by its fruitful vineyards and an aggressive approach to trading practices with other nations, is one of the country's main resources, allowing for a relatively prosperous life for its citizens. Its capital is Antiva City, which lies on the middle of its coastline and is one of the wealthiest in Thedas.

Geography
Antiva is bordered by the Rialto Bay and Rivain to the East, the Tevinter Imperium to the West and the Free Marches to the South. The country enjoys a warm north-eastern climate. Much of Antiva is coastline, thus facilitating their seafaring nature. Five of their major cities are port cities, including the Antivan capital, Antiva City.

Settlements

 * Afsaana
 * Antiva City – capital of Antiva
 * Bastion
 * Brynnlaw
 * Genellen
 * Rialto
 * Salle
 * Seleny – a river city famed for graceful bridges and sculpture
 * Treviso

Regions

 * Arvaud's Barrow
 * The Drylands
 * Green Dales
 * Rialto Bay
 * Tellari swamps
 * Verdant Isle
 * The Weyrs
 * White Spire (mountain)

Politics
Officially, the line of kings in Antiva has remained unbroken for two and a half thousand years, but the monarchy is very weak and has virtually no army. In reality, Antiva is a plutocracy: the true power conferred strictly by wealth lies in the hands of a dozen merchant princes. They are not princes/princesses in the literal sense, but heads of banks, trading companies, and vineyards, each with a personal army, and each locked in a constant struggle against all the others. They possess sufficient capital to resolve any external diplomatic quandaries with a well-aimed purse or threat of withdrawn trade.

Despite the lack of a strong military tradition, there is another reason why Antiva has rarely feared invasion: the infamous House of Crows, the most efficient, most feared, and most expensive guild of assassins in Thedas. Their fame is such that Antiva has no need of a standing army. No leader is willing to order an attack on her borders or to lead the troops due to fear of assassination. Even the Qunari leave the nation alone.

In addition, the political machinations of Queen Asha Campana, "The Queen Mother of Thedas," involved an extensive array of political marriages between numerous noble houses in the effort of establishing alliances. This has given the Principality of Antiva significant political protection: to start hostilities with Antiva would mean running the risk of dragging half of Thedas into war.

An association of Antivan pirates called the Felicisima Armada is the leading maritime power in the region. It gained influence when the pirates aided the allied forces in the Exalted Marches against the Qunari, and now poses a serious threat on the Waking Sea. Wealthy merchants often prefer to pay the leaders of the Armada rather than to risk their cargo.

The Royal Family
House Campana holds the crown of Antiva, as they have since the Ancient Age. As of 9:40 Dragon, the members of the Royal Family are:


 * King Fulgeno II
 * Queen Odalis
 * Princess Ferenna
 * Prince Azrin
 * Princess Rioja

Merchant Princes
The real power of the nation rests in the hands of the Merchant Princes, called "Principes" in Antivan. They form the Council of Twelve, whose official job is to "advise the monarch," although in practice the king or queen merely rubber stamps their decisions. As of 9:40 Dragon, the Merchant Princes are:


 * Vasco Sanchavega - The Sanchavegas are the coffee barons of the known world. Based in Afsaana, this family has very close ties to Rivain.
 * Caterina Dellamorte - One of the seats on the Council of Twelve belongs to the First Talon of the Antivan Crows, which is presently Caterina Dellamorte. The Crows are headquartered in Antiva City.
 * Ivo Garrastazu - Their spice plantations are in the fertile regions around Azmarin (at the northern part of the Green Dales), but the family operates out of Antiva City, Rialto, and Treviso.
 * Quirina de la Naga - Head of the "De la Naga" shipwright empire. This family has strong ties to the Felicisma Armada, and is headquartered in Bastion (although they have a presence in all of the major coastal cities).
 * Zafira Villomara - This is the gemstone magnate family. Their pit mines are around Lagrimaseca (southwest of Seleny), but their jewelers operate primarily out of Antiva City.
 * Nicodemo Ubiña - Their estate is in Luciernaga, in the southern part of the Weyrs.
 * Andoni Izar - The mining family, whose operations run out of the ore-rich regions around Minarginta (a city located at the northern end of the Hundred Pillars)
 * Known as the Prince of Wine. He spends most of his time hanging around Antiva City, but his estate is in Naporia (halfway between Treviso and Seleny)
 * Tadeus Sandovi - One of the most highly respected captains in the Felicisma Armada. He spends most of this time on his super fast brigantine ship, El Gavilán (The Sparrowhawk), but also owns an estate in Rialto.
 * Yago Requexada - The Requexada family has a near monopoly on silk production, and their weavers are known to be the finest in Thedas. They are based in Salle.
 * Aiza Novali - Novali clay is used to make fine Antivan porcelain. Their clay mines are in the wetlands around Seleny, and their potters were made famous when they were commissioned to make the millions of beautiful tiles that line the Boulevard of the Seas.
 * Duilio Valisti - Head of the Valisti family in Treviso, who got their start as fine weaponsmiths. This family has strong ties to the Antivan Crows.