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"You tend to get up to interesting things. you meet interesting people and then you kill them."
Fanblog that celebrates the making of an amazing Dark Fantasy RPG series, with a surprising lack of Dragons but is getting on that. A blog for the Dragon Age series and the fandom that loyally follows it.
The Mod's specialty is lore posting and sometimes fanfic writing.
I am interested to know more about how inheritance works around Thedas. There are enough female rulers to justify the conclusion that inheritance doesn’t privilege men, but also there seem enough male title holders to assume women aren’t necessarily privileged either. Also there are things like the story of Ser Aveline. Could there be something more complex than straightforward matriarchy going on here? Perhaps a matriarchal Andrastian overlay on top of older traditions?
We’ve talked about this too. Although I will say that Ser Aveline has no basis and is really lore breaking, unless she was an elf like some people believe. Then her story would make sense in the terms of Bioware’s lore vs their writing.
As for male holders? For places like Orlais, Ferelden, Antiva and the Anderfels, women should be the majority of land holders and leaders, as these are all places that are heavily religious and closely tied to Andraste/Andrastism. Which we see this a bit; however, not enough to fit Bioware’s lore. Rivain itself is a Matriarchy outside of Andrastism. Meanwhile, places like Nevarra and the Free Marches would be more equal opportunity or even lean a bit into higher numbers of men, simply because these places were so heavily impacted by Tevinter and remain close to them. We see this a bit in Kirkwall, where things Tevinter left behind Ages ago are still affecting the city. Countries and small locations like that would still hold on to unconscious bias, but only those with looser Andrastian beliefs. For instance, Ostwick or Kirkwall would favor men more, but Starkhaven, Wycome, and Tantervale would put heavier stock in women.
Just it is not straightforward matriarchy and there are places where equality or even men might be held a bit higher, but that should be in a far greater minority (and not always taken in a great fashion) than we’ve been shown if Bioware was actually trying to match their lore with their writing.
ruantrevelyan-deactivated201808 quipped: A theory I'd like to run past you about the Oculara: If the Venatori were trying so hard to find them, and had set up so many oculara, why hadn't they scooped them all up? The Codex entry: Oculara (found in that chilling hut in Redcliffe) suggests that they could reveal the shards. Yet I have to wonder whether for some reason it was much more difficult for them to do it than it was for the Inquisitor. It seems conceivable that the anchor made the process easier. Any thoughts?
Well I do think the anchor may make the search for the shards even easier, after all the Tranquil skulls have to be taken from Tranquils stuck between the Fade and physical world in a single instance. Much like how the Inquisitor is both Fade and physical.
I think it may also be that Venatori just have a much harder time finding the shards. I had a hard time finding some of the shards as the Inquisitor and many of the shards are in hard to reach places or places with many enemies. So I think there is a little Venatori disadvantage going on there too, where they cannot find the shards or end up being killed before they get to them.
And if the codex can be taken for face value, then it is exceptionally hard for the Venatori to find the shards, even after seeing them through the Oculara. As unlike the Inquisitor/player, I doubt the Venatori can then hear and see the shard with them. They most likely mark it vaguely on a map and then go searching in that area with a prayer or try to motion down at an ally to where it is.
So in my opinion, it’s simply really hard for them.
ruantrevelyan-deactivated201808 quipped: How much canon info is there about Highever? I haven't been able to find much apart from: It has an alienage, is by the coast and makes a signature kind of cloth (wool industry?). How big is the city? Is it near/around Castle Cousland? Does it have a harbour? How big is the alienage and what is it like?
(Alright, for you I’m going to make this into an official lore post, because this is actually small and specific).
Disclaimer: All of this is completely canonical knowledge. Nothing headcanoned, there are sources for it and I’ve gathered from every source that I could. This includes:Codice (Highever,
Construction Report: Brickmarks, ), Dragon Age Origins Ultimate/Collector’s Edition Prima Guide, Dragon AGE Core Rulebook. Nothing is headcanon and nothing is taken from an unreliable sources (i.e. Wikipedia).
Highever
Location
Highever is a Teyrnir in northern Thedas, one of the few that set on the Coastlands. It sets on the coast of the Waking Sea, west of Amaranthine, across the sea from Kirkwall and the Vimmark Mountains, and North of The Bannorn.
In the very center of the Highever Teyrnir, is Harper’s Ford, this area used to belong to the Howes of Amaranthine. However, during the Orlesian Occupation, Tarleton Howe sided with the Orlesians, Harper’s Ford was marched upon by the Couslands and Howe hung.
Highever is the name of a village in the Teyrnir along the coast, as well as being the name of the Teyrnir (all lands, holdings, and bannorns within in area).
Castle Cousland is located in the Highever Teyrnir, the exact location is unknown.
Highever possesses an Alienage, though the location of it is unknown.
There was a Silver Temple in Highever where Andraste’s Ashes were first held, before being moved to a secret location. Whether the Temple still stands in unknown.
History
In -165 Ancient, Andraste’s “sons” (Maferath’s sons were adopted by Andraste, though many tried to claim to be her birth son in order to earn leadership of the Alamarri tribes) sought to steal Andraste’s ashes from Highever’s Silver Temple and strengthen their claim to Chief of the Alamarri. The ashes were moved to Haven, but the location was never revealed and eventually lost.
Castle Highever, eventually known as Castle Cousland, was built in the Divine Age and was considered no more than an outpost to the Amaranthine Bannorn. The oupost was held by the cousins of the Howes, the Elstans until the Tower Age.
In the Age of Towers, Bann Conobar Elstan was murdered by his wife, Flemeth, leaving no heir behind. Cononbar’s Captain, Sarim Cousland, stepped up and took the land instead.
The Couslands would declare themselves an independent Bannorn from Amaranthine and start a 30 year war, until Highever was freed and owned southwest Amaranthine as well.
It wasn’t until the Black Age that Highever would be named a Teynir under Haelia Cousland, who would unite the nearby lords against the werewolves and earn herself the title along with their fealty.
4:80 Black, Orlais tried to take Highever in hopes to conquer Ferelden, in the first Orlesian Invasion. They would use Highever to supply their troops by sea. However, Redcliffe stood strong against the Invasion and Orlesian was forced to retreat, unable to pass into Highever.
During the Exalted Age, Eletha Cousland would fight Ferelden’s future king, Calenhad, to remain independent. She would lose, but Highever would remain one of two Teynirs and Eletha would remain their teyrna.
However, in the Dragon Age, the Couslands would be betrayed and Castle Cousland would be stormed by Arl Howes forces, the Cousland family almost completely wiped out. The only to survive would Fergus Cousland, who would be lost in the Korcari Wilds until after the Fifth Blight ended.
(Conditional: The youngest Cousland would also survive the attack and go on to become a Grey Warden, swearing vengeance on Howe.)
Highever would be relinquished after Howe’s death by the Warden and returned to the Couslands.
Fergus Cousland is the current Teyrn of Highever.
Heraldry
Highever has two major Heraldry, The Cousland Heraldry (Left) and The Highever Heraldy (Right).
Known People from Highever
Ardal Cousland (A knight/soldier to King
Vanedrin Theirin)
Bryce Cousland
Calenhad Theirin
Duncan
Fergus Cousland
Flemeth
Helena (Jory’s Wife)
Oren Cousland
Riordan
Roderick Gilmore
Ser Eryhn (A Templar woman with unmatched grace with a sword and shield)
Warden Cousland
Facts
Highever has a population of 20,000.
Highever has given Ferelden the most famous Alamarri Legends so far (Calenhad, and Flemeth)
Nelaros’ Wedding Ring was forged in Highever, it is also where Tabris’ bride/groom comes from.
Sarethia is the Hahren of Highever’s Alienage.
Warpaint of the Tempest, is the traditional kaddis for mabari in Highever.
Highever Weave is most likely a cloth originating from Highever and may be an export.
Skyhold has bricks stolen from Highever, apparently before the First Orlesian Invasion.
ruantrevelyan-deactivated201808 quipped: Are there any clues on the time of year the Conclave was held in 9:41? The only one I have found is the date Fiona gives in her cell during 'In Hushed Whispers': Harvestmere 9:42, Dorian replies that they have missed a whole year.
Assuming In Hushed Whispers happens around the Conclave, the fact Fereldan is referenced as being exceptionally cold (Cold season), and they are sent exactly a year into the future. The Conclave most likely happened anywhere between August, Kingsway, or Harvestmere.
I would say it is most likely late Kingsway or early-mid Harvestmere, as not much time has passed since the Conclave during the quest. Especially because of the mages’ presence in Redcliffe, had they been there too long (say three months) they would most likely have already been kicked out and the fact Alexius had just joined them. He had found them right after the Conclave and yet not enough time had passed for him to take full control of the mages or for Fiona to realize what being underneath a Magister entailed.
So I’m going to assume sometime within the last of Kingsway and/or first of Harvestmere myself.
ruantrevelyan-deactivated201808 quipped: Hi, I am trying to understand nobility and titles in different parts of Thedas and wondered if you had any insights. There is an article about Ferelden nobility on the wiki which says that it is a system based on freeholders (which I assume are something like medieval freemen. Master Dennet seems like an example) giving fealty to Banns and other nobles.... So does Orlais have a more rigid system of serfdom? What about the Free Marches? Ostwick has a teyrn. Do they follow a Ferelden system?
I’ll probably do a more in-depth post for this later, but I’ll answer what I can now.
First off, the Free Marches are a each their own city-states with their own governments. Ostwick has a teyrn, Starkhaven has a crown prince, and Kirkwall has a viscount; there is no overall ruler of the Free Marches.
Ferelden is a Monarchy with a Crowned King or Queen and they can name Teyrns. Teyrns are men and women who own arlings (Keeps and Fortresses) and have lesser Banns with freeholds sworn to them, basically your medieval lords. While Arls have Keeps and Fortresses, but no Banns sworn to them and they typically keep watch over a Teyrn’s arling. While Banns are the nobles who own freeholds, which are areas outside of arlings.
As for Orlais, most titles come from being related to the Noble family of Orlais’ Monarchy, but the lesser titles such as Duke, Marquis, and Comte all come from being landholders much like Ferelden’s system. I’ll need look more into this as the information on landholding Orlais is scattered, while the Monarchy driven titles are explained below.
Meanwhile, as I said the Free Marches are city-states, so there is no overall government or titles. Each city-state has it’s own form of government and royal family, making it a hard system to control when it comes to the Free Marches as a whole.
Wycome has a Duke
Tantervale a Lord Chancellor
Ansburg’s ruler is a Margrave
Starkhaven, as said, has a Prince
Ostwick rules with a Teyrn
Kirkwall is the most known and has a ruling Viscount, as well as shown to have titled Lords and Ladies based off their political sway and wealth.
The main titles for nobility in the Free Marches are Lord/Lady and the gender-neutral terms Serah (for someone of equal or lesser status) and Messere (for greater status than yourself or out of respect).
The only real nobility known in Antiva’s plutocracy is the Merchant Princes, who are not really Princes, but through their wealth rule Antiva and make the Queen or King of Antiva little more than a foreign relations dignitary and figurehead.
I currently don’t know much about Nevarra other than it was a Free Marcher state that became it’s own nation and is run as a Monarchy.
Hopefully this helps you a little and as I said, I’ll definitely try to go over this more in the future.
