True indeed. But think of the halla!
Won't somebody please think of the halla!!
Won't somebody please think of the halla!!
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She's already in the story. Leandra is mama Hawke. Are you thinking about Leliana instead?I hadn't considered even putting her in the story. I'd leave her be but, either way I suppose.
Accepted! Feel free to post!View attachment 64897
View attachment 64896
Full Name: Aedan Cousland
Age: 21
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 205 lbs
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Blue
Build: Muscular
Sexual Orientation: straight
Short-Term Goal: enlist the aid of Arl Eamon Guerrin and anyone else who will support his cause
Long-Term Goal: Avenge his family, reclaim his Teyrnir, and defend his homeland
Personality: There are two distinct sides to Aedan's personality: the carefree, witty, charismatic, often flirtatious young man who loves to fight that he always was, and the disciplined, dutiful nobleman that he knows he must be. Recent events have left him defaulting to the latter, and laser-focused on revenge. He is a firm believer in the Maker, and uses his faith as a guide, though he may subconsciously use it as a mirror for his own intuition at times. He views every man as equal, and tries to treat them as such, though he can be very callous towards wrongdoers.
Relationship Status: Single
○◙♥Racial Information♥◙○
Race: Human
○◙♥Skills and Abilities♥◙○
Abilities: Persuasion, leadership
Skills: Heavy armor, swordsmanship (two handed and one handed), hand-to-hand, stewardship
○◙♥Background♥◙○
Family Members
• Mother: Dead, betrayed by Rendon Howe
• Father: Dead, betrayed by Rendon Howe
• Siblings: Older brother, presumed killed at Ostagar
History: Established in Highever before even the days of King Calenhad, the Cousland family has long held more wealth and political power in Ferelden than just about anyone sans the royal family. As the younger child to Teyrn Bryce Cousland, Aedan had a very privileged upbringing. He was given the finest tutors, trainers, and almost anything he could ask for. With his older brother being the obvious pick to inherit their father's title, Aedan felt comfortable spending much of his time neglecting his responsibilities. Although he would occasionally accompany his father to court and learned some valuable lessons in that time, he was not too keen on playing those games. Neither was he all too interested in learning to manage the teyrnir, though he found he had a natural aptitude for it, particularly when it came to the accounting. In his studies, he was both an exemplary student and an awful one. When it came to numbers or to the Chant of Light, he was inattentive or outright absent. In his adulthood he would find much guidance in the Chant, despite this. When it came to the subjects of magic, or of great heroes or battles of old, he was a sponge. It was only natural that he would find joy in fighting, himself.
Aedan took to martial arts like a duck in water. Not only did he want to learn as much as he could, but he wanted to be the best. He spent long hours out practicing, by himself, with trainers from across Ferelden, and with any other warrior who was willing to spar with him. When it came time for tournaments, or for dealing with threats to the teyrnir such as bandits, he would leap at the opportunity and quickly impress with his skill. He enjoyed fighting, but fought with honor, which earned him respect from his peers and betters.
Aedan returned the respect given to him, but he didn't quite respect the social order as he was supposed to, often fraternizing with the commoners. In his teens, he was often watched by his father's guards to ensure he went where he was supposed to. When he managed to escape them, he would be found hours later, gallivanting about at some tavern. This got him into trouble on more than one occasion, where he learned when to resolve a situation by talking, when to fight, and when to run. He was also very friendly with the workers on the estate, from the captain of the guard to the lowliest servant. Combined with his burgeoning sexuality, this was a recipe for disaster.
She had just started working in the kitchen when he noticed her. She was an elf, pretty as a painting, with very distinctive tattoos on her face that drew him in. He had to ask her about them, and they clicked instantly. Her name was Mhari. She was a dalish elf, but something bad had happened to her clan, so she was forced to come to the city. There was something particularly enchanting in the way she carried herself, an elegance that eclipsed that of Queen Anora herself. He knew that a relationship with an elven servant would be a terrible scandal, if discovered, but at that point, he didn't care. They spent as much time together as they could without being out in the open, every second precious. Their dalliance lasted for years. He spun sweet nothings of them running away together, or of marrying and pulling her out of the alienage, lies of passion. Naturally, she eventually became pregnant.
Aedan... didn't know what to do. He became upset at her, as if it was her fault. Perhaps he had believed his whispers to her when he said them, but the reality was that there was no way he could leave with her, or make their relationship official. He was not prepared to face the repercussions of either. Their child would be a bastard, and she would have to raise him alone. Aedan would try to support them, of course, but there was only so much he could do without word getting out. He berated her, and she him. They departed on awful terms that day. He actively avoided her after that as he tried to make sense of the situation.
It was around this time that the blight began and King Cailan called the armies of Ferelden to assemble at the fortress of Ostagar. Heeding the summons, Teyrn Cousland, Aedan's father, sent word to nearby Amaranthine that its arl, Rendon Howe, was to march his forces to Highever so that they may leave with their armies together. However, it became apparent that Howe's forces were delayed. As a result, Teyrn Cousland ordered his first born, and Aedan's brother, Fergus, to take the army of Highever to Ostagar while he waited with Howe. The latter had fought at the Teyrn's side against the Orlesians, and he was a family friend, besides, so this didn't seem a mistake at the time. The Teyrn underestimated the treachery of men's hearts.
Aedan was disappointed that he was not the one leading their forces. He had never even seen a darkspawn, let alone run a blade through one. He wondered if they were utterly mindless or if they had skill in combat, but it seemed he would never find out for himself. He would have relished the chance to fight against the blight beside the king, and being engaged in warfare would keep him from dwelling on Mhari. There was not much use in fussing about it, though. He was to stay home and manage the estate while his father and brother marched to war. He said goodbye and good luck to his brother Fergus, who departed with their army that night, not knowing that this would be the last time that they ever saw one another. There was a final conversation with his father and Howe, which was very remarkable in how unremarkable it was, given Howe's intentions. Then, Aedan settled into bed for the night, only to be awoken to the sounds of combat some hours later.
Howe's army had not been delayed at all! In fact, it was waiting for the city's defenders to leave, and now they were slaughtering everybody. Aedan tried to save as many as he could, only for everyone to slip away like sand between his fingers. His tutor, his cook and former nanny, the guards that he would have long conversations with about their families and the state of things, friends he had known since childhood, and every single one of the servants, including her, all dead. He didn't want to have a child, especially a bastard half-elf, and he knew that their relationship being discovered would be terrible for his family's name, but in seeing Mhari there in the miserable and terrible state they had left her in, he realized that he had loved her. He realized that he had been incredibly selfish. He realized that she deserved so much better, than this, than him, and that he would never be able to make it up to her. He swore in that moment that Howe would pay dearly for every life taken that day, and that was before he found his parents.
Bryce and Eleanor Cousland were still alive, but only barely in the former's case. Aedan's father was dying. There was a secret exit that would lead to safety, but only for Aedan. His mother chose to die with her husband.
"Howe must not get away this!" The Teyrn cried out in between shallow breaths. "My son, you must inform King Cailan of this, he will..." he was cut off by a fit of coughing, from which came blood.
"And if the king doesn't listen?" Aedan asked.
Bryce gave a small nod in recognition of his son's foresight. Cailan was a good man, but who knows what tales may have already reached his ears, and Howe's forked tongue had proven adept at deception. "Eamon." He said, without a moment's hesitation. "He is wise, and powerful...will see through Howe's lies and rally the Bannorn...if all else fails, you must go to Redcliffe."
With his course set, and not much time to dally, Aedan said goodbye to his parents for the last time, receiving his family's sword as a final parting gift. He was spotted leaving the city, and pursued for several hours before he managed to shake Howe's forces.
Shaken and utterly alone, he began the long journey to Ostagar, but when news of the battle, and the death of the king, reached him, he was forced to change course. Redcliffe was now his only hope. Of course, the king's army being decimated meant that his brother, his only family left, was most likely dead, but at this point he didn't have the energy to mourn and also keep going forward, so he chose the latter.
Traumas: The deaths of his mother, father brother, lover, and unborn child, along with just about everyone else he's ever known, his home and birthright ransacked and taken from him, betrayed by a man who was supposed to be loyal to his family and who had been friends with his father since before he was even born, survivor's guilt, and the guilt of hurting the woman he loved and never being able to apologize.
Keepsakes
Cousland family sword: A reminder of his family, his duty, and his drive for vengeance. A very fine sword with the Cousland family heraldry inscribed near the base of the blade. It has been passed down through many generations.
Amulet of Mythal: A reminder of his biggest mistake, his lost love, and his child that never was. A simple depiction of the elven goddess, Mythal the Protector, made of silver.
Yeah sorry, auto corrected on my phone to a game store I frequent lol.Do you mean Bodahn and Sandal?