Destiny Awaits A Dragon Age Grand Strategy Game "We stand upon the precipice of change. The world fears the inevitable plummet into the abyss. Watch for that moment... and when it comes, do not hesitate to leap. It is only when you fall that you learn whether you can fly."
The Chantry says that in the beginning, The Maker created the Fade, an ever-changing realm populated by never-changing creatures, the spirits. Over time, however, He grew displeased with His first children and created the material world—a new, immutable realm separated from the Fade by the Veil. He populated the new realm by the ever-changing mortals, who only saw the Fade in their dreams and whose divine souls returned to His Golden City in the middle of it upon death. Some spirits (particularly the ones associated with negative emotions), however, found a way through the Veil, spreading the secrets of magic and Demonic Possession into the material world.
Eight thousand years ago, the continent of Thedas belonged to the Elvhenan, the civilization of a beautiful immortal race calling themselves "elvhen" or "elves". They worshiped their own pantheon of gods, traversed into the Fade, and mastered the art of magic. Beneath the Earth, in the meantime, the dwarves built a great empire of the underground cavern cities, or "thaigs", connected by a vast tunnel network known as the Deep Roads. For over six thousand years, their civilizations flourished—until the first humans arrived from across the north-eastern sea.
Although initially friendly, the relationship between elves and humans, particularly the Tevinter tribe, rapidly deteriorated when the elves realized that prolonged contact with the "quicklings" cost them their immortality. By then, however, the Tevinters already learned the secrets of elven magic and, turning on their teachers, crushed the Elvhenan culture. The surviving elves were reduced to nomadic outcasts or slaves, a shadow of their former glory. The dwarves fared better, especially since they supplied the Tevinters with lyrium—outcroppings of the Fade in mineral form that they used to power their magic.
With their knowledge of the Fade and an extensive use of Blood Magic, the Tevinter Magisters forged an Empire that spanned all of Thedas. But man grew proud and eventually set out to commit the ultimate sacrilege: to enter the Fade in the flesh and to set foot into the Golden City itself. By spending most of the world's lyrium (and slave blood) supplies, a group of Magisters infiltrated the City but were cast out by the Maker, cursed and irreversibly corrupted. They became the first Darkspawn, mindless creatures existing solely to exterminate all other life. The City itself was corrupted, as well, henceforth known as the Black City, and the Maker abandoned His second children, just as He did with the spirits before.
The Darkspawn fled underground and it wasn't long before they grew in number, using the Deep Roads of the Dwarven Empire to quickly breed a horde. Soon, they found and corrupted one of the draconic Old Gods of Tevinter, Dumat, who was locked in an underground prison by the Maker millenia ago. The first to face the assault of the Darkspawn Horde led by Dumat were the dwarves. Thanks to the invention of golems, they managed to hold on for decades but when the secret of golem-making was lost, the dwarven civilization collapsed, losing all but a handful of thaigs. Meanwhile, on the surface, the Horde laid siege on all of Thedas, splintering the Tevinter Empire into many disjointed enclaves. After almost two centuries of continuous strife, The Order of the Grey Wardens emerged to lead the combined armies of Thedas to victory over Dumat and his Horde. The entire conflict became known as "the Blight".
The Tevinter Empire survived the Blight, if only barely, but soon thereafter, a massive barbarian invasion from the south, led by the lady warrior and prophetess Andraste, dealt it the final blow. Andraste was eventually betrayed and executed by the Tevinters, but her followers compiled her teachings into the Chant of the Light and formed the Chantry to spread it. The newly-founded southern kingdoms were quick to embrace the new religion and to cut ties to the Tevinters, whose reputation was forever soiled by their role in starting the Blight and by Andraste's execution. By association, magic itself became ostracized and viewed as pure evil by the Andrastian congregation.
Before anyone in Thedas could catch their breath, another Darkspawn horde rose from the Deep Roads, led by another corrupted Old God. Although only half as long as the First, the Second Blight had far-reaching consequences. One of them was the rise of the Orlesian Empire in the south and its propagation of the Andrastian faith, even into the Tevinter Empire remnant. Another was the popular resentment against the elves, who, despite having been granted rights and land for the first time in centuries for their support of Andraste, did little to help other nations defeat the new Blight. And perhaps the most significant event was the formation of the Circles of Magi as a compromise between the public distrust of mages and the benefit of having them fight the Darkspawn. Ostensibly places of learning, all Circles were controlled by the Chantry and closely guarded by the paranoid Mage Killers of the Templar Order.
The growing hostilities and religious friction between Orlais and the new elven homeland of the Dales ultimately escalated into an open war. Who precisely fired the first shot varies between sources, with the Chantry claiming the Dalish attacked the town of Red Crossing, while the Dalish claim the Chantry sent templars in response to the expulsion of missionaries from their borders because the elves refused to convert to their religion. What is known is that after Dalish forces sacked Val Royeaux, the Chantry called for an Exalted March and successfully rallied neighboring nations to their aid, crushing the Dalish resistance and forcing the elves to either relocate into the Alienages or return to the nomadic lifestyle. The rift between the "City Elves" and the "Dalish Elves" grew ever wider in the following centuries since the Chantry prohibited the elves of the alienages from following their religion, forcing them to adopt the Andrastian faith.
The Third Blight had come and gone, serving only to deepen the conflict between the two empires, Tevinter and Orlesian. Eventually, even the Chantry itself was split along these lines when the "Imperial Chantry" of Tevinter broke off (notably taking a much more liberal stance on magic and slavery) and the Orlesian Chantry called for not one but four Exhalted Marches against it. All of them, however, failed to complete their objective of bringing Tevinter congregation back into a unified Chantry before the Fourth Blight put an end to them.
Almost as soon as the Fourth Blight was repelled, a new invasion swept from the north-east: the Qunari, followers of the religion/philosophy of Qun, crossed the sea and captured a bulk of northern Thedas (including most of Tevinter), converting the locals by force. The Chantry called for more Exalted Marches, which eventually beat the Qunari back from the mainland. A truce, limiting the Qunari presence to the northern islands, was signed by all human nations except the Tevinters, who continued to wage a Forever War for their old lands. Meanwhile, trouble stirred in the south again, where the Orlesian Empire conquered and installed a puppet on the throne of Ferelden, the birthplace of Andraste. Lasting for half a century, the Orlesian occupation was resisted by the local nobles and finally overthrown twenty-five years ago.
The year is 9:25 Dragon. Only months ago, King Maric of Ferelden was lost on a sea journey to Kirkwall to discuss a full confederation of the Free Marches. His young son, Cailan Theirin, has ascended the throne with the daughter of the war hero Loghain Mac Tir at his side.
In Orlais, the realm's decadent and deadly game spins on, as nobles vie for the hand of the young and lovely Empress Celene I Valmont, while her old rivals seek to end the Valmont dynasty with her.
The Free Marches stand on the very edge of becoming one power... and yet without the arbitration of Ferelden, can they truly be expected to unite and agree?
Navarre, home of the ancient Dragonslayers, prepares itself for war. The gains against Orlais are fresh in memory, though the cities taken from their enemy still chafe under the rule of the Pentaghasts and the necromancers that support their rule.
Rivain and Antiva continue to ply their trades of assassination, merchantilism, and piracy, with money and adventure flowing freely into the pockets of anyone with the skills to seize it.
The Anderfels cry out in anger at the uncaring and deaf ears of the King, and look to the Grey Wardens as their guides. Will the Wardens keep their neutrality in face of temptation, or will they stand for the people where the nobility does not?
Tevinter's arcane lore swells and is expended, the war with the Qunari rolling on forevermore. And the Qun itself seeks new inroads to the lands of the Baasaliit.
The world is ripe for change.
GMs:
The Maker (For lo, he is a passive-aggressive GM): @Theravis
War:
Lore: @Tekomandor
More and Galore:
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING. IF YOU ASK A QUESTION COVERED HERE, I WILL TELL YOU TO READ THE OP AGAIN.
Rules:
Please request review of reports in private and calmly. If you cannot do so, I will ignore it. Repeated whining makes the GM write shittier war reports.
Please read all the systems. If you have a question or contribution not covered in the rules, feel free to ask or suggest it politely.
Please make three claims, in order of most preferred to least preferred.
The GM reserves the right to vacate your claim if you do not post for a turn and do not request your nation be placed on GM autopilot while you hiatus.
Include me in all game - related PMs. If I'm not in them, they didn't happen IC.
Be excellent to each other.
Systems:
The Major Action system will be incorporated here, created by Lucienz and modified by myself and kizil sultan.
•Each polity has a number of major actions they may take, per turn.
•Any action taken per turn may be modified by a "Great Actor", to a limit of one action per actor. An example of this would be "Exploration into the West" [Supported by Christopher Columbus]. This will greatly increase the odds of success, especially if this is something they are good at.
•Great Actors will be received by event only, unless otherwise stipulated.
•The results to your actions will be given at the end of the turn in the Turn Report, which will be completed weekly.
•Major Actions are given specific results by a GM in your end of Turn Report, and dictate the progression, or lack thereof, of your polity.
•Anything else you do, such as minor actions, or internal events, are purely flavor, and will not be given results or calculated into your main modifiers, otherwise, they must be utilized as a Major Action.
Economy:
All nations have an economy score, rated 1-7. These are represented as a colored word, followed by the number. The number/word equivalent is Barely Solvent, Depression, Recession, Stagnation, Growing, Vibrant, Booming.
Each turn, you generate your economy score in treasury points. These remain from turn to turn until spent.
You can spend a treasury point to achieve the following:
maintain 12000 of your total manpower in mobilized troops
maintain 1 large project
Boost an action
If your Treasury ever reaches 0, for any reason, your Economy rating will immediately drop a rank on the following turn.
You can improve your economy by spending an action and a treasury point for a number of turns equal to the next economy value up. You may only improve your economy score by one at a time.
Treasury points may be traded.
Turnpost Format
House/Faction Name - Year
Polity Flag/Coat of Arms
Current Ruler: Name Expected Heir: Name if applicable. Type of Government: Self-explanatory Population: See list, it is threadmarked
Capital: Capital
Artifacts:
If you have any.
Economic Status:
-Magnificent (Example, and is to be given by me. Will also be expressed in a 1-7 number)
-Treasury: (List your total unspent treasury points here)
-List what your treasury points are being used on here.
Insert Major Actions here, tag me
Internal Events:
-Any internal events to talk about...
Military
-Display the total number of your Potential Manpower Pool (the number given to you, otherwise 1:15 of your Population)
-(For non-dwarven national leaders/tevinter players only) Display your Mage Pool (.5% of your national population/ 2% of your population for Tevinters)
-Display any amount of troops you have decided to raise for military purposes (this will have an effect on your economy, and requires a Major Action)
-Display any boats you have active: Each costs 120 manpower to maintain.
Alliances, Agreements, Pacts, and Trade:
Diplomacy:
(Taken from A Play of Shot and Powder. I'm a shameless idea thief.)
Conception Roll:
1-45: You don't conceive.
46-100: You conceive.
Modifiers:
Fathers Age 50+: -5
Fathers Age 60+: -10
Fathers Age 70+: -20
Mothers Age 35-40: - 10
Mothers Age 40-45: - 20
Mothers Age 45-50: - 30
Mothers Age 50+: - 100
Table 1: Pregnancy Success
1-15 something went wrong (Roll on table 3)
16-90 Single Birth.
90-100 roll on Table 2 Multiple Birth
Modifiers:
Mothers Age 35-40: - 10
Mothers Age 40-45: - 20
Mothers Age 45-50: - 30
Table 2: Multiple Birth
1-90 non identical twins
91-97 identical twins
98-100 triplets
Table 3 Something has gone Wrong.
1-4 Mother and Child Die in Child Birth
5-8 Simple
9-12 Deaf
13-16 Blind
17-20 Sickly infant (dies shortly after birth)
21-40 Stillbirth
41-60 Miscarriage late
61-90 Miscarriage early
91-15 Mage Rating of 1
96-100 Mage Rating of 2
Modifiers:
Mothers Age 35-40: - 5
Mothers Age 40-45: - 10
Mothers Age 45-50: - 15
Are their parents Mages?
Add the magic rating of both parents together. Divide by two. Roll a D5-3 and modify by that number. This is the new child's magic rating. Magic Rating goes from 0-5.
What does the little Tike Look Like?
Table 4 Gender
1-50 Male
51-100 female.
Eyes
1-45 Mother
46-85 Father
86-100 Recessive Gene takes hold (looks like neither, resembles extended family member)
Hair
1-45 Mother
46-85 Father
86-100 Recessive Gene takes hold (looks like neither, resembles extended family member)
Skin
1-45 Mother
46-85 Father
86-100 Recessive Gene takes hold (looks like neither, resembles extended family member)
Features
1-45 Mother
46-85 Father
86-100 Recessive Gene takes hold (looks like neither, resembles extended family member)
If a woman or man have failed to conceive 3 attempts in a row and/or a woman has failed to deliver a living child 3 years in a row, roll on the Reproductive health table.
Reproductive Health Table:
1-30 Barren
31-60 reproduction problems (add a -10 modifier to all pregnancy rolls, roll again on this table if you fail to reproduce twice more)
61-100 unlucky (you are just unlucky, roll again on this table if you fail to reproduce twice more)
Ferelden is a relatively young kingdom located in southeastern Thedas. It was formed by King Calenhad nearly four hundred years before the start of the Fifth Blight by uniting Alamarri clans.
The nation was invaded by Orlais in 8:24 Blessed and fully conquered 20 years later. For the next 78 years it was under Orlesian occupation. Orlesian noble Meghren was installed as the king of Ferelden during the late years of the occupation, and the Theirins were forced into hiding while keeping alive the rebellion.
Ferelden was freed through the efforts of Maric Theirin, who was the rightful heir to the throne, and a commoner, Loghain. Loghain and Rowan Guerrin defeated two legions of chevaliers sent to support Meghren at the Battle of River Dane, forcing Emperor Florian to withdraw all support for Meghren. Eventually by 9:2 Dragon, King Meghren and the remnants of his court fled to and barricaded themselves inside Fort Drakon. Maric challenged Meghren to a duel and killed him in single combat, ending his rule and the Orlesian occupation. Maric then married Rowan and set out to rebuild Ferelden.
Royalty
The King is the most powerful noble in the kingdom. Although Denerim was originally the official "teyrnir of the King", it has since been changed to a separate noble's arling, as the king's domain is all of Ferelden. However, even the monarch's power must derive from support throughout the land. The sight of a King asking for, and working to win the support of, "lesser" nobles is a source of constant wonder to foreign ambassadors.
Teyrnirs
In antiquity, Teyrns arose from among the Banns, having grown powerful enough to move lesser Banns to swear fealty to them. There used to be many more teyrnirs before the rise of Calenhad, but he downsized them during his war for the throne. In modern Ferelden there are only two teyrnirs; Gwaren in the south and Highever in the north. Teyrns are still owed fealty by vassals of both Arl and Bann ranks, whom they may call upon in the event of war or disaster. However they are also responsible for lending aid to them when needed. In modern times a king or a queen has the right to name a teyrn.
Arlings
The Teyrns at some point established arlings, giving the title of Arl to those assigned to command strategic fortresses that the Teyrns could not oversee directly. Arls are more prestigious than Banns, but they usually have no Banns sworn to them - known exceptions being Amaranthine and South Reach.
Bannorns
Each freehold chooses the Bann or Arl to whom it pays allegiance. Typically, this choice is made based on proximity of the freehold to the lord's castle (as it's rarely worthwhile to pay for the upkeep of soldiers who will arrive at one's lands too late to defend them). For the most part, each generation of freeholders casts its lot with the same Bann as the previous generation did, but things can and do change. No formal oaths are sworn, and it is not unheard of, especially in the prickly central Bannorn, for Banns to court freeholders away from their neighbours - a practice tending to ignite feuds that can last for ages.
House Theirin, Kings of Ferelden
Descendents of the old Kings of Ferelden, House Therin has only recently freed its country from Orlais. With the recent disappearance of King Maric, the hero of the war for independence, his twenty-five year old son Cailan has taken the throne with his wife, Anora Mac Tir, daughter of Maric's right hand man Loghain.
Cailan was born in the year 9:05 Dragon. His mother showed great interest in books, and Cailan inherited this. He loved hearing heroic tales as a child, particularly those describing his father's rise to power. His mother, Rowan, died when he was still a boy in 9:08 Dragon, and the young prince lived a lonely childhood.
Cailan was not raised by his father alone. Loghain helped raise him and helped to organize his marriage to Anora, as they grew up together. He was described at that time as always following her lead, and being thoroughly under her thumb. While some question his good sense, always thinking of tales and legends, he is well known to be a moral man, and one who is well beloved by both the people and his men. Only time will tell if King Cailan is as popular as Prince Cailan.
House Mac Tir, Teyrn of Gwarin
Gwaren itself is a major, but remote town on the southeast corner of Ferelden as it is surrounded by the Brecilian Forest and is accessible only by ship or by travelling along the Brecilian Passage. It is one of the last two teyrnirs in Ferelden, the other being Highever.
Gwaren used to be an underground dwarven outpost connected to the Deep Roads which served as a source of salt and a means by which the dwarves could reach the sea-lanes of the Amaranthine Ocean. As the dwarves were unwilling to come to the surface, they made an agreement with the local teyrn to build a port and relied on the humans to ferry goods between the surface and the underground outpost. This made Gwaren a prosperous place and extraordinarily wealthy for a time. However, during the Divine Age the darkspawn took control of the Deep Roads which forced the dwarves to abandon Gwaren. This led the surrounding barbarian tribes to take advantage of Gwaren's weakened state and sack its wealth.
During the Black Age, Ferelden was plagued by Werewolf attacks. The most potent of these happened in Gwaren, where one quarter of its population was killed. Ultimately however, Fereldans managed to eliminate the threat.
During the Orlesian occupation of Ferelden, in the reign of the Orlesian King Meghren, Teyrn Voric was Gwaren's teyrn. However he was accused of giving the rebel army safe harbor so he and his entire family were executed and Gwaren was afterwards ruled by one of Meghren's cousins. At the height of the Fereldan Rebellion, in 8:99 Blessed, Gwaren was captured by the rebel army led by Prince Maric Theirin and became the first settlement being liberated from the Orlesian rule. After the rebel's disastrous attack on West Hill they retreated there and the usurper laid siege to the town. Sometime later, Maric returned to Gwaren through the Deep Roads though rumor said that he had risen from the dead. Upon hearing about Maric's return and believing the rumor, the townspeople rose in open rebellion against the usurper. The combined strength of the townspeople, Maric's forces and a regiment of the Legion of the Dead were enough to achieve a major defeat on the usurper's forces and liberate Gwaren once more, though not before half of the town's population were slain and the town set ablaze. It was thereafter given to Loghain Mac Tir, the hero of the Fereldan Revolt and Maric's right hand.
Born as a Freeman, Loghain was the son of a farmholder from Oswin in the western Bannorn, Gareth of Oswin. After the Orlesian invasion, the Emperor declared a tribute tax from all of the Fereldan Freemen. Loghain's father refused to pay the tax collectors, and, as a result, was accused of tax evasion and lost the farmhold.
The family resisted, but the Orlesian soldiers bested them, forcing Loghain and his father to watch as they raped and killed Loghain's mother. Gareth was nowhere to be found for the next three days. When he finally returned, he informed his son that he had murdered the Orlesian commander responsible. Unable to stay in Oswin, they lived on the run in the Fereldan wilds, banding together with other desperate Ferelden's to eke out a living however they could.
While living with the outlaws, Loghain met Maric, though he was not initially aware of Maric's royal blood. When the Orlesian forces caught up with them, Gareth charged his son with saving the Prince. Loghain eventually managed to escort Maric to Arl Rendorn Guerrin and later joined the rebel army. He became one of Maric's closest friends, as well as a key military advisor of the rebel cause. His strategies, and his creation of the guerrilla Night Elves, were responsible for many of the rebels' greatest victories.
Over the course of the rebellion, Loghain fell in love with Rowan Guerrin, who was betrothed to Maric and thus the future queen. After Maric fell in love with Katriel, Rowan and Loghain formed a romantic relationship. Both relationships were short-lived, however; Loghain discovered and revealed to Maric that Katriel was a spy, which resulted in her death. After this, Loghain encouraged Rowan to marry Maric to assist him and guide Ferelden as queen. Afterwards Loghain led the Ferelden forces at the critical Battle of River Dane and was rewarded for his leadership by being made Teyrn of Gwaren.
Despite his encouragement of their relationship, Loghain's own relationship with both Maric and Rowan became strained. After the marriage, he rarely spent time in their company until after Rowan's death in 9:03.
In the years after the death of Queen Rowan, Loghain supported King Maric to such an extent that some observed that Loghain seemed to be the true ruler.
Loghain was suspicious of the Grey Wardens, suspecting them of being in league with the Orlesians. After Maric vanished following a meeting with the Wardens and First Enchanter Remille, Loghain deployed the army to search for the missing King while he also spied on the Orlesians in Kinloch Hold as he was certain that they would betray them. Two days after the tower was taken over by Orlesian mages and templars who allied with the Architect, Loghain led an assault on Kinloch Hold through Lake Calenhad.
The attack was successful and Loghain was surprised when he found King Maric in the tower as well. Loghain believed the plot was the doing of the Grey Wardens and felt Maric made a mistake in continuing to trust them. He disapproved when Maric allowed the Wardens to return to Ferelden and re-establish their order there on a permanent basis.
After the end of the war against the Orlesians, King Maric gave Loghain the vacant teyrnir of Gwaren in order to elevate him to nobility. This gift came with some significant drawbacks: Gwaren had suffered under Orlesian rule for years and was in a state of serious disrepair; as no Orlesian governor had wanted to reside in Gwaren due to its remote location, the castle was nearly in ruins. Upon arriving in Gwaren for the first time since its liberation, Loghain took one look at his new home and gave it up for lost, choosing to live inside a tent pitched in the middle of the courtyard while seeing to the harbor's repairs.
After a month, the people of Gwaren sent a representative to speak with Loghain, wondering whether he was going to abandon the keep and the village as had their previous lords. The representative they sent was Celia, who came from a long line of cabinet-makers and had little tolerance for those who neglected to care for their furniture. Her meeting with Loghain quickly turned into a shouting match; in the end she reminded him that he wouldn't be teyrn of anything unless his freeholders swore fealty to him, which they wouldn't do if he left Castle Gwaren crumbling and empty. Loghain reluctantly followed her advice, appointing Celia to supervise the keep's repairs. He asked her to marry him two months later, and she accepted.
In the first years of Maric's reign, Loghain spent most of his time in Denerim while his wife ruled Gwaren. Teyrna Celia was an incomparable foreman, and the terynir rebuilt itself under her guidance. Due to his long absences, Loghain started taking his young daughter Anora to court with him in 9:10.
House Cousland, Teyrn of Highever
The Couslands are a noble family from Ferelden. From their seat, Castle Cousland, they rule the teyrnir of Highever, one of only two remaining teyrnirs in Ferelden, giving them wealth and power second only to the royal family
The outpost of Highever was originally held by the Elstan Family, who were a secondary branch of the then-freeholder family of Howes. During the Towers Age, Bann Conobar Elstan was murdered by his wife, Flemeth, thus ending the bloodline. Sarim Cousland, captain of Conobar's guard, took the lands and title.
The Couslands declared their independence from Amaranthine, starting a war that lasted thirty years. When the war ended, Highever won its independence and possession of half the land that had once been southwestern Amaranthine.
During the rebellion against Orlais, the Couslands opposed the Orlesian rule. However, Arl Tarleton Howe of Amaranthine supported the Orlesians and this resulted in several bitter battles between Amaranthine and Highever. Eventually the Couslands manage to capture Harper's Ford and hang Tarleton Howe for his treachery.
Unlike his father, Rendon Howe was part of the rebellion like his uncle Arl Byron Howe. Rendon and Bryce Cousland fought beside each other at the battle of White River, becoming two of the fifty rebels who survived the defeat. Thereafter, Arl Rendon Howe was a great friend of the Couslands.
The current rulers are Bryce and Eleanor Cousland, the soldier and sailor pair immortalized in the popular sea shanty "The Soldier and the Seawolf."
House Guerrin, Arl of Redcliffe and Banns of Calon and Rainsfere
Sitting on the western shore of Lake Calenhad, the village of Redcliffe is so named for the reddish hues of the cliffs that tower above it. A path leads up into the hills and across a bridge to an island where the ancient Castle Redcliffe has stood far longer than the village itself.
Redcliffe is located in the western hills of Ferelden. The village below the castle (and others under Redcliffe's authority) grew until the arling was as powerful a settlement as any teyrnir. Redcliffe Castle is the first and last line of defense for the sole land route into Ferelden and the country has never fallen to any assault that did not first take Redcliffe.
Redcliffe is one of the largest and most prosperous towns in Ferelden, due to its position between Orzammar and Orlais. As such it is a center of foreign trade. Such favorable conditions caused the domain to be named an arling in spite of its small size. The citizens of Redcliffe are primarily fishermen or merchants engaged in shipping dwarven goods from Orlais.
Eamon Guerrin (born 8:84 Blessed) is the Arl of Redcliffe. He is popular, and holds a great deal of influence and support with the nobility and the Bannorn - enough to make himself be viewed as a threat by other powerful nobles.
He is the brother of Teagan Guerrin, Bann of Rainesfere, and Queen Rowan Guerrin (now deceased), King Maric Theirin's wife and Cailan Theirin's mother. He is married to Isolde (controversially due to her being Orlesian), with one son - Connor.
When Eamon was nine, his father Arl Rendorn Guerrin sent him and his younger brother away with their mother so he could join the Rebel Queen without further endangering them. Arlessa Marina took them to her elder sister Thalia Aurum, at the time the ruling Margravine of Ansburg. Marina fell ill during the journey, and died just a day after reaching Ansburg. Eamon and Teagan were raised by their aunt and uncle, who treated them as if they were their own children. When their father perished in the Battle of West Hill in 8:99 Blessed, they were formally adopted by their aunt and uncle.
When Eamon returned to Redcliffe to claim his place as Arl in 9:02 Dragon, he found Redcliffe still occupied by Orlesian forces. He joined the resistance in removing the Orlesian forces from Redcliffe, and in the process earned the affections of Isolde, the daughter of the Orlesian governor, who had spent most of her life in Redcliffe, and was sympathetic to the rebels' plight. Though her infatuation proved one-sided at the time she kept helping the resistance by passing on information. The rebels were successful and Eamon claimed his title as Arl of Redcliffe.
Once he'd reclaimed his lands, Eamon turned his attention to the recovery of the arling. His efforts resulted in improved trade and security for Redcliffe and its surroundings. He made regular visits to court, where his calm practicality earned him the respect of King Maric. He became one of the King's trusted advisors, and Maric eventually entrusted him with the protection of his bastard son Alistair.
Six years after reclaiming his lands and title, Eamon once again crossed paths with Isolde on a trip to Denerim. Isolde had elected to stay with a cousin in the city instead of returning with her parents to Orlais. The two started a relationship, and she returned with him to Redcliffe, where the two married. Their union was rather controversial, as some people believed Isolde to be an Orlesian spy. Long-buried gossip claiming Alistair to be Eamon's son resurfaced, and Isolde became fixated on the idea of her husband's "proper Fereldan son". Eamon eventually sent Alistair to a monastery to spare his wife's feelings.
Connor was born on an exceptionally warm afternoon and had the immediate affection of his father. The toddler was often seen surveying his future arling from atop Eamon's shoulders.
Teagan Guerrin (born 8:91 Blessed) is the Bann of Rainesfere. He is Arl Eamon Guerrin's younger brother as well as the brother of Rowan, the deceased queen of Ferelden. This makes him uncle to King Cailan Theirin.
Teagan was born, most likely in Redcliffe, in 8:91 Blessed. When Teagan was two, his parents decided to send him and Eamon away from Ferelden so that his father could publicly announce his support for the Rebel Queen without further endangering them. Arlessa Marina took them to her elder sister Thalia Aurum, at the time the ruling Margravine of Ansburg. The brothers traveled to Denerim with their mother and boarded a ship headed for Wycome. Marina fell gravely ill during the journey across the Waking Sea. From Wycome they took a carriage to Ansburg but it was already too late for the Arlessa, who died just a day after reaching the family home. After their mother's death, Teagan and Eamon were raised by their aunt and uncle, who treated them as if they were their own children. Teagan grew especially close to his cousin Cador, and the pair quickly became known as "Trouble" to the keep's inhabitants. When Arl Rendorn was killed at the battle of West Hill in 8:99 Blessed, Thalia and her husband legally adopted Eamon and Teagan.
Eamon returned to Redcliffe in 9:02 Dragon to assume the title of Arl while Teagan remained in Ansburg. His great ambition in life was to participate in the Grand Tourney. He was already an excellent horseman, and his combat instructors believed he had the potential to one day represent Ansburg in the Grand Tourney. On his eighteenth birthday, just a few weeks before participating in a Starkhaven tournament with his cousins Percival and Cador, Eamon sent him a letter asking him to return and rule the bannorn of Rainesfere. Teagan was initially set to refuse, but Thalia convinced him to travel to Ferelden to at least tell his brother in person. He met Eamon and his new wife in Denerim and they made the trip to Redcliffe together. By the time they'd reached Lake Calenhad, Teagan had agreed to become Rainesfere's bann. Despite his new responsibilities, Bann Teagan returned to Ansburg every year to visit his family.
House Kendells, Arl of Denerim
Urien Kendells is the Arl of Denerim and an advisor to King Cailan Theirin. Though Urien is considered a decent man himself, his son, Vaughan, is known to enjoy terrorizing and abusing the elves of the Denerim Alienage in his absence and is generally regarded as a poor heir. Urien's distant parenting and indulgence of his son in order to keep him out of the way did little to improve Vaughan's reputation or tame his growing sadistic tendencies. He is known to be hostile to the Grey Wardens.
Denerim itself is the capital of Ferelden as well as an arling of the kingdom and the seat of the annual Landsmeet. It is built around the base of a mountain known as Dragon's Peak. The Drakon River crosses the city from west to east before ending in the Amaranthine Ocean.
Denerim is considered a holy city to worshippers of Andraste, as it is the place of her birth. Home of both nobility and the common people, this sprawling city has much to offer the adventurer, with its market place, magic shops, armorers and bordellos. However, one cannot let one's eye rest on a single place for too long, lest a back alley brawler or thief cut one's purse strings, or one's throat.
Any given Fereldan city was likely once a lone fort or castle where the region's people could be gathered in case of attack. Over decades and ages, though, buildings grow up outside these fortifications as the dangers of war recede. This has been the case with Denerim. The core castle remains (and in fact, has grown into a full-fledged fortress) while the city has grown rapidly around it.
Today, most of the streets in Denerim are made of packed dirt, with only the wealthier streets being fully cobbled. Buildings have been laid down—and thus, streets and alleys formed—haphazardly, according to no common plan. At best, buildings are arranged according to their functions. Inns and taverns are found near the city's gates; trade markets are surrounded by shops, warehouses, and guild-houses; and in between them all, houses are packed practically on top of one another. The narrow streets of the Lower Docks have an almost labyrinthine quality, and the walled-off elven Alienage is so overpopulated that several purges have been required to keep order in the last decade alone.
One's social standing can be measured by how close one lives to Fort Drakon, the oldest and highest edifice in Denerim. Near the fortress can be found the Royal Palace, noble estates, wide parkways, beautiful chantries, and the homes of merchant princes. Almost all nobles who are capable of doing so maintain an estate within the city even if they use it only when a Landsmeet is called.
Further down the hill, the Market District is the heart of Denerim's bustling trade. Denerim's Poor Quarter, near the base of the hill, has been accurately called a labyrinth, on top of being filthy from both the mud in the roads and the lack of a proper sewage system. The worst of the Poor Quarter is the Elven Alienage, which is walled off from the rest of the city.
By civilized standards Fereldan cities are anarchic, and Denerim is no exception. The Fereldan penchant for personal freedom engenders a laissez-faire attitude towards law enforcement and public behavior in general. The King's Patrol is intended more to defend the city and keep order rather than to enforce the laws, though it has expanded into the latter role, to a certain extent, over time. Even so, while the worst offenses are put down, petty crimes are often ignored and the citizenry left to their own recourses. Commerce is largely unregulated as long as taxes are paid. Businesses such as brothels and gambling halls are not only tolerated but expected.
To the rest of the world, Denerim is most famous as the birthplace of Andraste. In typical Fereldan fashion, however, the monument erected to the prophet in the Palace District is unassuming; a great rock adorned with a simple message of peace. Worshipers come from far and wide to touch the Birth Rock and issue a quiet and respectful prayer. This is how things are done in Denerim, and the locals would have it no other way.
House Howe, Arl of Amaranthine
Amaranthine is an arling that spans along the sinuous northeastern coast of Ferelden. The Waking Sea is known for its temper, and the storms that sweep in from the warmer northern waters are sudden and brutal. Rising above these turbulent waters is the City of Amaranthine—once a modest fishing village, now an important and prosperous port city and a center for trade in northern Ferelden. Hardship and adversity, like the storm-tossed waves of the Waking Sea, have assailed Amaranthine time and time again, only to crash and break upon her walls. The people of Amaranthine survived first the Orlesian occupation, then the sacking of the city when the Orlesians departed. They know one thing for certain: the city will always stand as a testament to the strength and steadfastness of the Fereldan people.
During the Orlesian occupation of Ferelden, Tarleton Howe sided with the Orlesians while the neighbouring Couslands of Highever with the rebels. Eventually, the Highever forces clashed in several battles against the Amaranthine forces. In one of these battles, the Couslands managed to capture the remote town of Harper's Ford and Tarleton Howe. Tarleton was hanged for his treachery. Byron Howe, Tarleton's younger brother became the new Arl of Amaranthine. In 8:97 Blessed, during Prince Maric Theirin's rebellion against the Orlesian Empire, the rebel army had their base at Amaranthine for a time. After several months, they left the land along with Arl Byron and his most trusted men who also joined the rebellion. Byron Howe died during the war, and Tarleton's son, Rendon Howe, a hero of the rebellion, became Amaranthine's new Arl.
Since the Battle of White River, Howe's abrasive manners have earned him almost universal dislike among his peers.
House Wulff, Arl of the Western Hills
The West Hills arling lies to the south of Redcliffe Village, in the borderland area along the Frostback Mountains and abutting the Korcari Wilds.
The location of West Hills places it in a precarious location between wild and dangerous swamps inhabited by Chasind and mountain passes inhabited by Avvar. The current arl, Gallagher Wulff, therefore has spent a considerable amount of time battling these varied threats, particularly the Avvar. A giant of a man, having been described as "massive in size" with "piercing" eyes, the arl and his family are loved in the arling for their bold natures as well as their kindness. Arl Wulff has a reputation in western Ferelden as a valiant man who takes his duties seriously.
The landscape is heavily forested, flanked by the massive mountain peaks to the west. Roadways in this region are few and typically muddy, though many have permanent wheel ruts from the numerous caravans, often dwarven, passing through into the Bannorn. Small towns are typically built of wood and canvas with stone reserved for buildings of greatest importance, such as a Chantry. The proximity to Orzammar allows for dwarven goods to be fairly plentiful.
House Lendon, Arl of Edgehall
Edgehall is an arling located in western Ferelden, and rife with conflict.
Much of the surrounding area is hills and open fields with patches of dense forest. It is not the richest of lands, but the hardy Fereldans who work the soil make a good living and small towns and settlements dot the landscape. Closer to the Frostbacks, the land becomes rocky and less hospitable. Pockets of darkspawn activity and other dangerous creatures lurk in various caves and abandoned ruins in the area, making travel a risky proposition for the unarmed and unprepared.
Situated in the borderlands of west Ferelden, Edgehall was originally a minor outpost of the surface dwarves. They abandoned it when its links to the Deep Roads were severed. The esteemed Lendon family took possession of Edgehall during the height of the Steel Age, using it as a base to help drive out the Avvars and pacify the region for Ferelden. In gratitude for this service, the King granted the Lendons the hereditary title of arl and the lands surrounding Edgehall.
Edgehall was one of the first keeps to fall when the Orlesians invaded, and they used it as a base throughout the occupation. The chevaliers were not kind to the people in the area and resentment and anger toward Orlais runs strong here. Years of diplomatic efforts and repaired relations between the two nations made less of a positive impact here than in many other parts of Ferelden.
To make things worse, Edgehall was not retaken until the Orlesians withdrew from Ferelden. Before they left, they sabotaged much of the keep's defenses, leaving it a shadow of its former glory and a constant reminder of the occupation. Though control of Edgehall was returned to the Lendon family, things were never the same.
Internal division and external conflicts weakened the once noble family and its stalwart keep. With the arl of Edgehall, Fergus Lendon, still without a clear heir, much of the administration of the surrounding lands is in question unless he has a child, and soon.
This instability has recently allowed Gell Lendon, half-brother to the old arl, to return from exile abroad to seize his "birthright". Aided by mercenaries under the command of the disgraced Orlesian Chevalier Marcel Corbin, Gell has the opportunity to declare himself Edgehall's new Arl so long as his brother passes soon. He hopes the overwhelming power of his mercenary forces will cow the local nobles into avoiding conflict with him.
House Bryland, Arl of South Reach
South Reach is a settlement and Arling located in southeast Ferelden, just west of the Brecilian Forest. The Arl of South Reach is Leonas Bryland.
Despite being half-Orlesian, he joined the rebel cause under Prince Maric during the Orlesian occupation of Ferelden. He fought for the Army of the North under Bann Angus Eremon alongside his friends Bryce Cousland and Rendon Howe, taking part in the Battle of the White River, the most catastrophic defeat of the entire occupation from which only fifty rebel soldiers escaped.
During the battle, Rendon was gravely wounded and had to be dragged off the field by Bryce and Leonas. When Bann Angus finally sounded the retreat, they carried their injured friend to a freehold in Redcliffe and stayed with him for nearly a month while the other survivors left to find the Army of the South. When Bryce and Leonas finally rejoined with the army, making the journey on foot, Prince Maric personally awarded them medals of valor. Rendon remained in South Reach, being tended by Leonas' sister, Eliane, a talented physician and herbalist.
When Rendon was made Arl of Amaranthine, Eliane traveled with him; he proposed to her after a year. Leonas had become concerned by the changes in his friend's behavior since the battle and tried to prevent the marriage. When Howe told him that he needed Eliane for her dowry and connections, he severed all contact with Howe and his sister and refused to witness their vows.
House Hargrave, of Dragons Peak Bannorn
The current Bann is Sighard Hargrave. He has one son, Osgryn.
House Baranti, of White River Bannorn
The current Bann is Nicola Baranti.
House Harkwald, of the Bannorn of Westhill
The current Bann is Teoric Harkwald.
House Eremon, of the Waking Sea Bannorn
The current Bann is Alfstanna Eremon. Alfstanna's brother, Irminric, was the heir of the bannorn. However, he believed that his sister was a better ruler than he could ever become, so Alfstanna became the Bann and he joined the Templar Order.
House Krole, of Oswin Bannorn
The current Bann is Valdur Krole
House Mac Eanraig, of the Winters's Breath Bannorn
The current bann is the brother of Eleanor Cousland (Nee Mac Eanraig) Teyrna of Highever.
House Tremaine, of the Southern Bannorn
Nothing is known.
Orlais
The Orlesian Empire, or simply Orlais is currently the largest and the most powerful nation in Thedas. It was founded by Kordillus Drakon I and its capital is Val Royeaux, which also serves as the Chantry's seat of power and home of the Divine. Orlais is ruled by an Emperor or Empress.
In -11 Ancient, the cults of the Maker spread quickly in the southern lands, initiating the construction of the first great temple in Val Royeaux, which was to become a major center of worship for the new faith. One of its most fervent followers was the young king of Orlais, Kordillus Drakon, who began a series of holy wars in the name of the Maker, quickly proving himself to be one of the greatest generals in history. By -3 Ancient, having conquered several neighboring city-states and forced others to submit to his overlordship, Kordillus Drakon was crowned an emperor in Val Royeaux, with Orlais becoming an empire it is to this day. His ambitions to spread farther north into the Free Marches were confounded by constant pressures from the Dales to the east. During his reign, the Chantry was formed as the Maker's cult became the official religion. Drakon also sent missionaries in order to spread the Chantry's teachings.
In 9:2 Dragon, Ferelden was freed from Orlesian occupation. The relations between the two countries remained tense, but after Celene I's ascension of throne, Ferelden and Orlais officially made peace. After 9:14 Dragon, the new viscount of Kirkwall, Perrin Threnhold, enforced exorbitant fees on Orlesian ships docking in his city, prompting Emperor Florian, through Divine Beatrix III, to pressure the Templar Order stationed in Kirkwall to overthrow him.
Orlais is famed for its culture and extravagance. Drakon's legacy continues to heavily influence Orlesian laws and social customs
The Grand Game, or simply The Game, is the term applied to the politics and machinations of the nobles and rulers of Orlais. Politics in Orlais is an incredibly complicated "game" or "dance" of intrigue, seduction, ambition and scandal, an approach to politics, high culture and morality that is quintessentially Orlesian. The political and familial infighting that characterizes the Game is as common as donning masks in public: indeed, this habit is also an intrinsic part of the Game in its most obvious form.
Among the Orlesian nobility, status and appearance are set above all things. Orlesian culture is renowned for its infighting, with every family engaging on some level in what's known as the Grand Game.
The Game's purpose is one-upmanship of rival aristocrats, often accomplished through elite proxies called bards. In order to rise in the decadent Orlesian society and among the bloated upper class, much is permitted. The rule of the Game is simply this: all is accepted as long as the player is not caught, up to and including murder. Paradoxically, however, though direct culpability is undesirable, credit and recognition are demanded. Indeed, an individual known as a skilled player is granted discreet respect among his or her peers. Due to this tension the Game is a losing proposition for the uninitiated, and it is said that more blood is spilled in the Game than in any war in Orlais
The lower classes are believed by the nations beyond Orlais to resent the Game that ostensibly keeps them demeaned. However, most peasants desire to ascend as well, and the vain hope of accruing a generous patron or sufficient funds to gain a title in the Council of Heralds makes them surprisingly accepting of the Game's excesses. Orlais is much less of a meritocracy than it appears, however, and the Game frequently sorts the wheat of Orlesian society from the chaff. Also surprising is the presence of the Chantry in the Game. Though normally considered above the Game, the templars and priesthood of Orlais frequently participate in it. Divine Justinia V was reputed to be one of its best players.
The Orlesian nobility is prone to wearing very elaborate masks in public. These masks are hereditary and identify one's family almost as uniquely as the heraldry on a crest: a family might be associated with a lion crest, and matching lion masks will identify them in public. Retainers and servants wear a simpler form of a family's mask. Family symbols are well known among the Orlesian public, and anyone attempting to wear a mask that doesn't belong to their house runs the risk of a quick death if discovered.
House Valmont of Orlais
House Valmont has been the ruling imperial house of Orlais since the end of the Exalted Age.
House Valmont first rose to prominence during the Exalted Age when Lambert Valmont, a young captain in the Orlesian army, distinguished himself during the Battle of Ayesleigh in 5:24. Lambert is said to have disregarded his orders and went to the aid of the beleaguered Antivans, saving them from absolute destruction (some say this was motivated by his infatuation with an Antivan camp follower, though this has never been confirmed). The Antivan force had been led by King Azar Adalberto Campana himself, and the King thanked his saviour by elevating him to noble rank and giving him one of his daughter's hand in marriage. Lambert adopted the lion as his symbol, a creature native to Eastern Thedas. When Lambert returned to Orlais the Emperor felt obligated to follow suit and granted him a Marquisate. Jealous nobles gave him the nickname of the Swaggering Lion, a nickname which Lambert embraced.
House Valmont rose to royal status with Lambert's son, Alphonse, who led the civil war against the supposed usurper Xavier Drakon. He killed Xavier in single combat, giving rise to the great Orlesian legend of The Lion Slaying the Dragon and putting an end to the Drakon dynasty.
Celene I is the Empress of Orlais, having succeeded her uncle Florian in 9:20 Dragon when she was just sixteen. Celene is part of House Valmont. Many call her "the Lioness".
Celene's ascendancy marked a period of intense struggle in the empire, as nobles positioned themselves to overthrow her. Most said Celene was too young and inexperienced to hold power, but she proved to be an adept player of the Game. She hinted at the possibility of marriage to several powerful families, while ultimately marrying no one; yet she continued to maintain alliances with these families. Today, there are still many nobles who consider Celene's rule illegitimate.
Celene has inspired something of a cultural renaissance in the Orlesian Empire. She has been a fervent patron of education and the arts. In particular, the University of Orlais and the Grande Royeaux theater owe much of their current reputation to her rule. Before Celene's intervention, the University of Orlais was severely stifled by the Chantry's limitations and served mostly as a dumping ground for the younger children of the lesser nobility. After Celene was crowned empress, she announced her intention to study at the university herself. She also arranged to lessen the Chantry's restriction on theological studies. The University of Orlais is now one of the most prestigious institutions in Thedas, respected for its studies on nature, magic, history, and the arts and attracting nobles from several nations. Noble blood is currently required for entry, though Celene has been urging the University to accept even elves if properly sponsored by a noble. Celene similarly lifted all restrictions on the Grande Royeaux, announcing that artistic freedoms should not be constrained by worldly concerns.
House de Chalons, Duke of Chalons
The De Chalons family is one of Orlais' most powerful noble families.
The De Chalons family has been one of the most prominent noble families of Orlais, especially since the marriage of Duke Theodore de Chalons with Princess Melisande Valmont, the only daughter of Emperor Judicael I, sometime in the Blessed Age. They had two children, Gaspard and Florianne, born in 8:74 and 8:87 Blessed respectively. Following the Hundred Days Cough of 8:77 which took the lives of Crown Prince Etienne III, Prince Leopold and Princess Evangeline, Grand Duke Gaspard became the eldest surviving grandchild of Judicael I and as such was raised to believe he would become Emperor. Gaspard married Calienne de Ghislain, daughter of Duke Bastien of the Council of Heralds. However, when Emperor Florian died in 9:19 Dragon without naming his successor, Celene outmaneuvered him and was named Empress by the Council of Heralds. Gaspard partly blames his lack of the Valmont name as a reason for Celene's victory over him.
After Celene's ascension to the throne, Gaspard remained an influential figure in Orlais. One of the highest ranking nobles to ever become a chevalier, he also won the admiration and respect of his soldiers throughout his distinguished military career. Gaspard also led the effort which successfully repelled a Nevarran invasion of Orlais, even besting the Nevarran commander in single combat despite Celene's attempts to undermine him.
Florianne kept her suite in the palace and gained a respected but unsubstantial place in Celene's cabinet of advisors. She developed a reputation as the least important member of the royal family.
The present head of the house is Duke Germain de Chalons of the Council of Heralds.
House Fontaine, Duke of Savrenne
Presently ruled by Duke Valere Fontaine
House Blanchard, Duke of Val Montagne
Presently ruled by Duchess Yvonne Blanchard
House de Montfort, Duke of Montfort
The De Montfort family is a noble family from Orlais with ties to Empress Celene I.
The dynasty first rose to prominence with Ser Gaston de Montfont, a chevalier who distinguished himself during the Fourth Blight by leading the cavalry at the Battle of Ayesleigh. Aterwards, Ser Gaston was granted Chateau Haine as a reward for his deeds. Clarisse de Montfort later married Prince Reynaud, the youngest brother of Emperor Florian, and the couple had one daughter, Celene Valmont.
Duke Prosper along with Lady Mantillon, supported Celene in taking the Imperial throne. Prosper personally assisted Prince Reynaud in killing Lady Calienne de Ghislain in retaliation for the death of his cousin, Clarisse. Emperor Florian had Prosper sent away to try and deny Celene his aid; when she became empress, Prosper resumed his place as one of Celene's most loyal supporters
House Remache, Duke of Lydes
Duke Remache is the Duke of Lydes and as such commands the fealty of numerous lesser nobles in Orlais, his influence extending as far as Val Firmin. He has power enough in the empire to pursue marriage with the Empress and his suit is one to which Celene gives serious consideration. His importance is such that he is also able to publicly decry Grand Duke Gaspard de Chalons without fear of reprisal. Remache is an adept player of The Grand Game and, as he is not a Chevalier, is also free of the order's code of honor when dealing with his enemies
House de Ghislain, Duke of Ghislain
Upon the death of Duchess Marissa de Ghislain of the blue death in 8:96 Blessed, her younger brother Bastien returned home to assume the title and responsibilities of the thirty-third Duke of Ghislain. As a young man, he'd famously eschewed the Game in favor of living life as an outlaw, spy, minstrel, and general troublemaker. He had talent at being a bard, and even trained under the legendary Black Fox. Upon becoming duke, he left his former wild life behind to become a respectable noble: taking part in the Game, making the proper marriage, taking a seat on the Council of Heralds. He had two children with his wife Nicoline: Calienne and Laurent. His daughter Calienne later went on to marry Grand Duke Gaspard de Chalons.
After the death of Emperor Florian in 9:19 Dragon, Bastien supported his son-in-law for the throne. Calienne took a more active part in the Game, and arranged for Celene's mother, Clarisse de Montfort, to suffer a "hunting accident." In retaliation, her cousin Duke Prosper de Montfort and husband Prince Reynaud paid a visit to the de Ghislain estate and arranged for Calienne to have a hunting accident of her own. As Calienne always carried a poisoined stiletto up her sleeve, Prince Reynaud later died of "illness."
At the Wintersend Ball of 9:16 Dragon, Bastien met Vivienne, a young mage from the Circle of Montsimmard, and immediately became enraptured. They started a love affair shortly after, creating an intense scandal at court. Bards and assassins were sent after them, all of which were skillfully thwarted by Bastien and Vivienne. The nobles remained vocally opposed to the match until a newly-crowned Empress Celene named Vivienne Court Enchanter.
House de Firmin, Duke of Val Firmin
Ruled by Duke Stefan de Firmin, who is married to Duke Remache's cousin Caralina.
House de Freyen, Duke of Frayen
Nothing is known.
Free Marches
The Free Marches encompass a group of city-states situated in eastern Thedas (south of Antiva and the Tevinter Imperium, east of Nevarra, and north of Ferelden). The three most powerful and influential cities in the Marches are Kirkwall, Starkhaven and Tantervale, each led by a titled official with the special right to name their city's Champion.
The "Marchers" are independent-minded descendants of tough barbarians. Their cities have formed a loose confederation that rarely unites on any matter. In the event of aggression from larger neighbors, however, the Marchers can assemble a joint military front that even the greatest powers cannot dismiss.
Starkhaven
Starkhaven is an independent and prominent city-state of the Free Marches that lies on the banks of the Minanter River. It's the largest city of the Free Marches and the most influential along with Kirkwall and Tantervale.
Starkhaven is the largest city in the Free Marches and one of the wealthiest. The independent city-state of Starkhaven is ruled by the Vael family and has strong ties to the Chantry in its governance.
The city has imposing walls: a curved mountain of earth crowned with concentric rings of tall gray stone. On the northern side, the Minanter River rushes through the water gate. The city itself is glimpsed from afar as a glory of marble palaces set on green hills and ringed by broad boulevards.
It is a place of wealth and opulence, with many kingly estates with fountains and granite paths. Large sections of the city are decorated in fine materials like marble and gold. The royal palace in the heart of the city is made of marble, and the path to it is paved in granite.
Starkhaven is also famed for its superb cuisine, with its most famous dish being fish and egg pie. It is made with three deboned fresh fish, boiled eggs, dried fruit, spices, and thickened cream, topped with a light crust.
Kirkwall is the city's largest trading partner.
Starkhaven is governed by a prince. Starkhaven has been ruled by the Vael family since the ousting of the self-anointed "King Ironfist," the last in a series of low-born warlords claiming sovereignty over the city. The first Prince Vael was proclaimed prince when he refused the title of king. The title is hereditary.
In 1:95 Divine, the last battle of the Second Blight was fought at Starkhaven with a human army led by the Grey Wardens. Both sides suffered heavy losses, but Zazikel was slain by the Grey Warden Corin, ending the Second Blight.
In 2:15 Glory Starkhaven's King Fyruss, with backing from Tevinter allies, launched a series of military campaigns in an effort to unite the Free Marches under his banner and build his own empire. The other Marcher cities united to fight him off and Fyruss failed to conquer any of the neighboring city-states. His expansionist inspirations were not limited to the Free Marches; he also invaded some of Antiva's southernmost cities.[5] Antiva's cities similarly united to defend themselves against Fyruss in 2:33 Glory. In 2:45, due to his failure to conquer any of the Marcher city-states and the diplomatic liability created by his invasion of Antiva, Fyruss' Tevinter allies betrayed him and ousted him from Starkhaven; the Tevinter Imperium conquered his city in result. This led the Chantry to declare an Exalted March to liberate Starkhaven from the Imperium in 2:80 Glory. The following battle for the independence of Starkhaven was short, but bloody.
In 5:12 Exalted, during the Fourth Blight, Starkhaven accepted a large group of refugees from Wycome who were fleeing the Darkspawn.
It is known to have had at least one Champion rise to prominence. They assisted the Grey Wardens with the evacuation of civilians from Kirkwall during the Fourth Blight and later participated in the Battle of Ayesleigh in 5:24 Exalted at which the Archdemon Andoral was slain.
In 7:56 Storm, the Qunari landed near Ostwick and launched assaults against Starkhaven and Kirkwall. Starkhaven was besieged by Qunari invaders who hoped to cut off trade to the north, only to be repelled, but Kirkwall fell due to the magic of the Saarebas.
Ansburg
Located in the eastern Free Marches, alongside the Minanter River. Though it's a bustling center of agricultural trade, Ansburg is frequently called a "backwater"
Wycome
Wycome is a fishing town known for being the "most free" city of the Free Marches and the revelry capital of Thedas. Wycome is the second-greatest importer of Antivan wine after Orlais despite having less than a third the population of Val Royeaux.
It is ruled by a Duke, with the current duke being Duke Antoine.
During the Fourth Blight, the Grey Wardens retreated to Wycome as Antiva was being overrun by darkspawn. As Wycome was too weak to fend off a darkspawn assault, the Wardens worked on a plan to evacuate its population. Taking inspiration from the Dalish aravels, Warden Isseya came up with designs for aerial aravels, cobbled from fishing boats and wagon wheels, and powered by both magic and griffons. Hundreds of people from Wycome were successfully brought to Starkhaven, which had opened its doors to refugees. Floating aravels were later used to evacuate Kirkwall as well.
Markham
Ansburg's more cultured sister city, located in the southern Free Marches, not far from the Vinmark Mountains. Markham is a center for agricultural research and home to one of the largest universities in Thedas.
Hercinia
A palatial city-state on the Amaranthine coast. Known for its taxes and frequent raider activity
Ostwick
Its position on the mouth of the Waking Sea made it the Qunari's first landing point in the Free Marches. Famous for its double walls.
Tantervale
Located in the western Free Marches along the banks of the Minanter River. One of the three most influential cities in the Free Marches. Chantry law is all but absolute, and the city guard is obsessed with enforcement
In 8:82 Blessed, Nevarra began a bloody campaign of conquest within the Free Marches, encouraged by their taking of Perendale & Hasmal. They were stopped by Cade Arvale, who is named Champion of Tantervale for his deed.
Kirkwall
Kirkwall, also known as The City of Chains and historically as Emerius, is a coastal city-state and a major population center located in the Free Marches. It is on the southern edge of the Vimmark Mountains, east of the Planasene Forest, and north across the Waking Sea from Ferelden.
Founded under the name Emerius in -620 Ancient, after Magister Emerius Krayvan, on the edge of the Imperium to be the main supplier of jet stone to build a Minrathous temple. The city gained notoriety after it was elected to be the new heart of the slave trade after a slave revolt made Archon Vanarius Issar fear for his security when he was almost killed. Magisters competed viciously for the honor of governing the port for nearly two decades before Emerius married his son to the archon's daughter. The Krayvan family constructed the Gallows, patronized the next three archons and were the main backers for the Imperial Highway into the Fereldan Valley, which devastated them when Andraste led her rebellion from there against the Imperium. At its height, Emerius was one of the mightiest Imperial cities with 1,000,000 slaves living and working in the city. The city was defended by the Fourteenth Cadre also known as The Black Cadre and was regarded by most Imperial soldiers to be a punishment to serve there. The City of Chains came to be known as Kirkwall in -25 Ancient, following a massive slave revolt that started when a popular Alamarri slave named Radun was assassinated by magisters wary of his influence, which led to extremely violent retributions, including the sacking of Hightown and the death of its Tevinter rulers.
Kirkwall has changed hands many times since then and has always been a valuable port, the nexus of nearly all trade that flows between the Free Marches and Ferelden. Natives of Kirkwall are referred to as "Kirkwallers".
In 7:56 Storm, Qunari invaders took Kirkwall in a night raid and occupied it for four years, forcibly converting much of the populace to the Qun and making the natives work in labor camps previously manned by slaves. It was liberated by Orlesians under the chevalier Michel Lafaille, who was appointed Viscount in 7:60 by the emperor. He pursued a campaign of religious reeducation and formed the Kirkwall City Guard to act as the city's defenders.
In 8:05 Blessed, Kirkwall rebelled against Orlesian rule and gained independence, but maintained the title of viscount as its ruler.
At the onset of the Dragon, Chivalry Threnhold became Viscount of the city. Historical accounts paint him as a vicious thug who took power through a campaign of intimidation. His son Perrin succeeded him in 9:14. After he used the harbor's ancient chains to block sea traffic in the Waking Sea and charge exorbitant fees from Orlesian ships, Divine Beatrix III ordered the city's templars to pressure him into reopening the Waking Sea passage. As a result, in 9:21 Dragon, Viscount Perrin Threnhold attempted to expel the Templar Order from Kirkwall, killing Knight-Commander Guylian in the raid of the Templar stronghold. Knight-Templar Meredith Stannard and a group of her best templars marched on the Viscount's Keep and had him arrested, thrown in his own dungeons and stripped of his title. She was promoted to Knight-Commander by Grand Cleric Elthina soon after. With the Chantry's support, Meredith appointed Marlowe Dumar to succeed Perrin, though she remained the true authority in the city from the Gallows.
Population: 400,000
Antiva
Antiva is a plutocratic nation in north eastern 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.
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 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.
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.
Antiva, as a coastal country with bustling ports, facilitates a great deal of trade, both through piracy and legitimate business. Some of this trade may be under the aegis of the Antivan Crows and their confederates. The exports of Antiva are numerous and varied. Antiva is renowned for its admittedly unparalleled wines, as well as its coffee. It is also known for its rubies and diamonds. Antivan leatherworking is also particularly exquisite, and its crafters are the envy of the known world. In addition to leather Antiva produces fine weaving and silk of great renown. Antivan crafters also excel at the production of porcelain of a quality so fine light shines through, as well as woodwork. The country enjoys healthy trade with many nations, including the empire of Orlais.
The origins of modern Antiva lie in the alliance of pirates and "ne'er-do-wells" who favored a safer and more lucrative life on land as opposed to a dangerous life on the sea. They made a home on Rialto Bay's western coast which was, however, owned by the king of Antiva, the nearby city-state. Eventually the two distinct groups merged into one people, evolving into the nation of Antiva as it's known today.
Women have strictly defined roles in Antiva. They are considered pure and delicate and not allowed to participate in combat, among other things. However it's fairer to say this is an Antivan ideal of femininity which does not always match up well with the reality. Dueling, usually to a non-fatal extent, is a past-time and way to solve disputes among the nobility.
One particularly notable woman in Antivan history - and indeed Thedosian history - is the Rivaini-born Queen Asha Campana, also known as Asha Subira Bahadur Campana, the Gana of Ayesleigh. The daughter of rich merchants, she married the weak King Dario Campana during the Black Age, but was not content with allowing history to pass her by. She desired that Antiva have a larger and more powerful role in Thedosian politics. To this end, she married her children and grandchildren into royal and aristocratic families throughout the continent, leading historians to refer to her as the "Queen Mother of Thedas." She is said to have descendants amongst the royals of Orlais, Nevarra, Starkhaven, the Anderfels and even amongst some Tevinter magisters. This has given the kingdom of Antiva significant political protection: to start hostilities with Antiva would mean running the risk of dragging half of Thedas into war.
Population: 800,000
House Campagna
An old and prestigious house, this House is the one to have produced Asha Capagna the "Queen Mother of Thedas" in the Black age, and remains committed to using political marriages and influence today.
House Valisti
A house deeply enmeshed with the Antivan Crows, but more than a little down on their luck. Closely tied to the Avastanas.
House Montiliyet
The Montilyets are an old Antivan family, notable for being one of the major naval powers in Antiva as late as the start of the Blessed Age. At their height, if one includes their close relations, their fleet of trading vessels numbered in the hundreds. They also had a large contingent of formidable warships, ostensibly at the disposal of the royal navy. In reality, they were mostly used as guards for their merchant vessels in long voyages around the coast. Their heavily guarded cargo was the target of many a daring Rivaini pirate who wanted to make a name and a profit in one fell swoop. The Montilyets became entangled in many rivalries and vendettas against pirates. Some Rivaini fleets still hold a grudge against them to this day.
The Montilyets always had strong ties with Orlais. Roughly half the family lived in the capital and frequently intermarried with Orlesian nobility. The loss of their trading fleets started over a question of marriage and fidelity in Val Royeaux between the Montilyets and the Du Paraquettes. After vicious infighting, shocking betrayals and public duels the Montilyets were exiled from Orlais. Their Orlesian trading contacts were no longer considered valid by the Crown. A year later, their fortunes were further crippled when the unusually large convoy of trading ships they sent to the Tevinter Imperium was caught in a massive storm and swept and led to the majority of their vessels being dashed across the rocks or sunk by the waves. The few remaining ships limped back to Antiva. Superstitious sailors would not sail in the Montilyets' employ, funds could not repair the ships in time to repay the debts and their fleet became all but a legend.
The Montilyets survived on greatly reduced terms, and became a modest trading house, known mostly for their wine and their great family estate in Antiva City. Their standing started to rise again when Josephine Montilyet became the family's heir apparent.
Their current head is Yves Montiliyet.
House Arainai
Early in the Dragon Age, House Arainai was First Talon of the Antivan Crows, a position of great status in the organization, and commanded both wealth and power. They acquired young recruits, known as compradi, by purchasing them from various places such as brothels, in Zevran's case, or from shipwrecks in Taliesen's case. Interestingly, Arainai and the other Houses also took in the illegitimate children of Prince Estefan of Antiva, of which Rinnala was one. Recruits appear to take the surname Arainai upon being brought into the fold.
The House trained the recruits in the traditional trials including pain endurance and gauntlets, sometimes even apprenticing the recruits together in units if their skills complemented each other well. Taliesen, Rinnala and Zevran were such a unit within House Arainai.
During the time of Rinnala's arrival in 9:16, House Arainai had descended to Second Talon and Grandmaster Talav made an attempt at reclaiming Arainai's claim to First Talon, resulting in his execution. He was followed swiftly by Grandmaster Isidora, an ambitious if less capable leader of the House. She sent the assassins on any mission available before her death in 9:24 Dragon. Her death stripped the House of its power and it became one of the cuchillos (knives) and fell under the leadership of Master Eoman in 9:25.
Nevarra
Nevarra is a nation in central Thedas, west of the Free Marches, south of the Tevinter Imperium, and northeast of Orlais. It was originally one of the larger Free Marches city-states before it expanded rapidly to become a nation proper in the Exalted Age. Thanks to enormous wealth and a strategic central location in Thedas, some claim Nevarra's power rivals that of the Orlesian Empire.
Nevarra has a long history of royal dynasties, which has persisted into modern day. Most Nevarran monarchs have been members of the frequently militarily-gifted Pentaghast clan, under whom alliances with other Free Marches states have been courted or coerced to form a powerful confederation under Pentaghast leadership.
A long war against Orlais over the mineral-rich Blasted Hills, a region between the two countries ended during the Blessed Age with a Nevarran victory. However, rebellion was fomenting in the conquered area due to the imposition of harsh taxes by the Nevarrans, as well as the support of Orlais.
By the Glory Age, rule of the city-state had changed hands many time, with poor leadership causing Nevarra to fall well behind other Marcher city-states. Prior to the First Pentaghast Dynasty, the ruler was Ionas, a physically frail man manipulated by his advisers and whose rule added to Nevarra's slow decline. The destruction of the city-state from within seemed imminent when rumor spread that Ionas's advisers may have brokered deals to cede struggling Nevarra to a greater power, such as Orlais, for profit. This crisis was averted, however, when Caspar Pentaghast, a man of the small town of Hunter Fell, plotted to overthrow the enfeebled king, and did so during the Glory Age. With Caspar began Nevarra's long history of family dynasties
Caspar's family held the throne from the Glory Age into the Exalted Age, approximately three hundred years. The family's rule was only threatened during a brief period when Orlais occupied the land during a Blight, and was reclaimed when Caspar II ousted the Orlesians.
Following the Fourth Blight, general Tylus van Markham, who claimed descent from Kordillus Drakon I, raised the populace against the Pentaghast clan, claiming the dynasty had forgotten the values they once held and had become corrupt and dissolute. King Nestor Pentaghast was killed in the rebellion, stabbed sixteen times upon his throne, and those of his clan who remained fled to Hunter Fell, their ancestral home. Tylus and three other Van Markham kings transformed Nevarra into the modern country it is today, overtaking large parcels of Orlesian land to do it.
In the Steel Age the last Van Markham king perished with no male heirs. His daughter married a Pentaghast and joined the warring clans. This union allowed Pentaghast rule to return with Van Markhams enjoying powerful status among the nobility.
Mages of Nevarra have more political power than mages in other countries under the aegis of the Chantry, and wield nearly as much power within Nevarra as the magisters of the Tevinter Imperium.
Nevarrans have a unique relationship with magic and death. They believe that when a dead soul crosses the Fade it displaces a Fade spirit. In order to provide safe hosts for such spirits they mummify their corpses and place them in elaborate crypts in the Grand Necropolis. This task is entrusted to a secretive order of mages known as Mortalitasi, founded by a Tevinter mage named Vitus Fabria, who first preached the idea. Its gray-robed members enjoy wealth and political power as they often serve as advisers to Nevarran nobility, including the kings.
Because they rarely leave Nevarra, much of the Mortalitasi's practices are shrouded in mystery and fear, even to mages outside the nation's borders. They are rumored to be a death cult and experiment with necromancy, but whatever the truth, they are arguably the most well-schooled mages outside of the Tevinter Imperium.
House Pentaghast
The current ruler of Navarra is Markus Pentaghast, a middle-aged of weak health and uncertain sanity. His rule has been condemned by those who claim his Mortalitasi advisers are ruling through him, much as Ionas' did so long ago. Pentaghast and Van Markham relatives alike are vying to replace the old king, but some say it is time for the two ruling families to cede power to a new family. Ferdinand Pentaghast, younger brother of Markus, is the next in line to rule. However he is also aging, and has no interest in ruling, and neither brother have any known children. The future of the Pentaghast dynasty hangs in the balance.
The Pentaghast clan is renowned for its past dragon hunter heroes, each of whom led a crusade to hunt dragons to extinction - and nearly succeeded. While the dragons were a scourge for a very long time, the Nevarrans' hunt for their dragonbone (from which they made the famed ebony armor worn by their kings) and glory almost wiped them out in the Steel Age and dragons were thought extinct until their reappearance in the Dragon Age.
House Van Markham
The Van Markham family is a noble family from Nevarra. As a former ruling royal house of Nevarra, the Van Markhams enjoy privileged status among the Nevarran nobility, second only to the ruling Pentaghasts.
After only four kings, Van Markham rule in Nevarra ended. The marriage of the final king's daughter to a leading Pentaghast saw the old family returned to power in Nevarra. The marriage allowed the Van Markhams to maintain their lofty status above the other noble families, and by 9:40 Dragon members of the Van Markham family vie against their Pentaghast cousins and one other to succeed the aged and childless King Markus. Other families of the Nevaran nobility, however, believe it is time for both families step aside to allow for a new ruling dynasty.
House Anaxes
Presently ruled by Duke Sandral Anaxas, House Anaxas is infamous for its skilled Mortalitasi.
House Forsythia
Little is known.
Tevinter
The Tevinter Imperium is the longest existing human country in Thedas and is ruled by a powerful magocracy. The leaders of the Imperium are called magisters, and are led by the Imperial Archon.
In ancient times, the Imperium's power was unrivaled and its borders stretched across nearly the entire continent. In modern times, while Tevinter is a shadow of its former self in both size and power, it is still relatively powerful, and a major nation of Thedas.
Tevinter society is notoriously decadent yet also takes great pride in their history and culture. The Imperium treasures their past and preserves it, as indicated that everything they've built has been carefully preserved and renovated. Ambition and magical ability are the hallmarks of its ruling elite, the magisters. The ancient magister lords ruled the Imperium in the Circles of Magi (before their modern incarnation), maintaining a tight hold over its people through the power to infiltrate their dreams using blood magic. Though blood magic is now banned in the Imperium, mages who practice it are quietly acknowledged as the most proficient dreamers and diviners. The ban is really only paid lip service to; even the most devout mages in Tevinter know at least the basics. This circumvention is often necessary in order to simply survive the deadly rivalries and competitions for power and influence amongst the Tevinter noble families, who only ever put aside their constant bickering to unify in the event of a major crisis such as acts of sedition amongst the indentured populace.
The centuries-long war with the Qunari has taxed the Imperium significantly as resources are strained, with hundreds of refugees fleeing to the capital of Minrathous, the splendor of which is chafing greatly everywhere outside the spires that house the Imperium's Circles of Magi.
The Imperial Chantry is the main religious organization in Tevinter, replacing the abandoned worship of the Old Gods. It is more accepting of magic and allows men to join the priesthood. The Imperial Chantry accuses the Old Gods instead of ancient magisters of creating the darkspawn.
Tevinter society is highly stratified, with citizens classified into one of three levels depending on their ancestry and magical ability.
Soporati
All common citizens of the Imperium who are non-mages are considered part of the Soporati ("sleepers") social class. This is a mainly human class which is allowed to own property and serve in Tevinter's military but they have no real power in the nation's governance and are unable to attain a higher rank in the Imperial Chantry than mother or father. Often they are found to be merchants. However, when a Soporati family produces a mage child — this is greatly desired in Tevinter, unlike within the rest of Thedas — it allows them entrance into the Laetans class and thus a higher social standing. In general, the Soporati and ruling mage classes exist in a state of tension due to the inequality of their standing in the nation.
Laetans
The next highest social level is that of Laetans, who are mages born into families that had up to that point shown no magical ability or who have been mages for generations but have no link to the higher Altus or Dreamer class. One third of the Archons throughout history have been Laetans. Archon Tidarion was the first Laetan to become Archon, and the outrage that this caused among the Magisterium led to a civil war that lasted over seventy years. The magisters believed that magic was a favor of the Old Gods rather than an accident of birth, and refused to acknowledge the mage underclass of elves and newly liberated foreigners. The civil war was only ended in -620 Ancient when Archon Parthenius, former high priest of Dumat, finally admitted the Laetans to the temples and gave them three seats in the Magisterium.
Altus
Altus mages are believed to be descendents of the dreamers or magisters who possessed the ability to speak to the Old Gods in the Fade. The Old Gods are no longer objects of worship but the descendents of these powerful mages are still held in esteem and often are the most high-ranking mages in the Imperium; indeed the majority of magisters are Altus. Interestingly, there was a time in which these Altus mages were scorned for their seeming part in creating the Blights as the corruption of the Golden City transformed these mages into the first darkspawn. As a result, many such mages were slain during the period of Transfiguration when the Imperium became Andrastian. Since then, the Altus mages have returned to the upper echelon of Tevinter society
Slavery is still legal in Tevinter. Uprisings are frequent but rarely successful, as are attempts by Tevinter politicians to abolish the practice.
Slaves can technically only be freed legally before a judge, but their owner must be present to make the degree. Otherwise, slaves may also be freed by their owner's will upon their death. Regardless of their freedom, slaves can not be considered citizens of Tevinter. Those who achieve freedom are instead sectioned into another class standing known as the "Liberati". The Liberati functions as a subclass, and those within it are granted very limited rights. Liberati are able to act as an apprentice as in a trade, or join the Circle of Magi. Liberati are also able to own land and property, but are never granted the ability to join the military or have say in any form of governance.
Some individual slaves do manage to free themselves, however, and may escape Tevinter. Some freed slaves, and even current slaves, may even become mage-killers or assassins, however, which can be considered a coup to a Magister who own them.
Archon
The Archon, officially the Imperial Archon, is the mage-ruler of the Tevinter Imperium. The position is usually inherited, whether through blood relation or apprenticeship of the previous Archon, but the Magisterium, the legislative body of Tevinter, has the power to elect the Archon should the need arise. Most notably, this is done in the event that an Archon passes without an appointed heir.
In ancient times, when the Imperium had expanded into most of Thedas, the one who held this office was by de facto the most powerful person in the continent.
One third of the Archons throughout history have been Laetans. Archon Tidarion was the first Laetan to become Archon, and the outrage that this caused among the Magisterium led to a civil war that lasted over seventy years. The magisters believed that magic was a favor of the Old Gods rather than an accident of birth, and refused to acknowledge the mage underclass of elves and newly liberated foreigners. The civil war was only ended in -620 Ancient when Archon Parthenius, former high priest of Dumat, finally admitted the Laetans to the temples and gave them three seats in the Magisterium.
Archons are technically part of the magisters and used to be elected from the ranks of the Magisterium but since the Black Age this practice changed and no member of the Imperial Chantry or a magister can become an Archon.
The seal of the Archon is a hooded ferryman.
Archons technically have the power to overrule laws passed by the Magisterium, but this power is exercised rarely. The Archon's most coveted power is the ability to appoint new magisters, so the ruling families actively vie for his or her favour.
The current Archon is Davos.
House Vyrantius
Currently led by Claudian Vyrantus, attendant of the Bone Pit and feared for his cruelty, owner of the Armor of the Overseer.
House Pavis
Presently led by Halward Pavus. He is also the lord of Asariel, a holding in Tevinter. He lives with his family in Qarinus.
Halward is a highly regarded, highly respected and very traditional Imperium magister. It is mentioned that Halward had plans to marry his son Dorian off to a noble Tevinter woman to preserve the prestigious Pavus family line, and that he had expectations that Dorian failed to meet. At some point, Halward found out about his son's homosexuality and attempted to use a blood magic ritual to force his son to "do his duty", inadvertently driving Dorian away from the Pavus household
House Tilani
Currently headed by Athanir Tilani.
House Amladaris
Currently headed by Irian Amladaris
House Alexius
Currently headed by Gereon Alexius. Long before he took his place in the Magisterium, Gereon made a name for himself as a magical researcher in the Circle of Minrathous. He investigated the limits of the known magical laws, pushing the boundaries of what ordinary magic could accomplish in traveling through and controlling both time and physical space. His partner for much of his academic career was Lady Livia of House Arida, who specialized in studies of the Veil.
Gereon's father ceded him his seat in the Magisterium in the hopes of spurring him to political pursuits. Magister Alexius became a tireless champion of education, criticizing his peers for pouring the Imperium's funds into the war with the Qunari at the expanse of the Circle and demanding better schooling and institutions of higher learning for the Soporati. He also married his long-time partner Livia Arida, and took a position as professor of thaumaturgy at the Minrathous Circle.
Their only son, Felix, was born a few years later, and though he showed signs of magical ability very early, it quickly became clear that his talent was limited. Gereon's father, concerned that his heir was "just barely more than a Soporati" tried to have his own grandson assassinated. Lady Livia countered her father in-law's attempt, and then had him killed to safeguard her son's future.
Though Felix lacked magical talent, he turned out to be a gifted mathematician, and his parents sent him at the University of Orlais to study with the best. Since they couldn't involve their son in their research, Gereon and Livia took in apprentices from all over Tevinter. Livia took a half dozen apprentices, scholars on the Fade and the Veil, but Geron only took one, Dorian Pavus, a gifted student of thaumaturgy from the Minrathous Circle. For the last few years, Alexius and Dorian have worked on breaking the boundaries of magic itself while Livia and her apprentices sought to determine the effects of such magic on the Veil.
Orzammar
Orzammar is a thaig and one of the remaining dwarven kingdoms in Thedas. An underground metropolis, the thaig is located deep beneath the Frostback Mountains. According to legend, the thaig's name derives from one of the seven brothers who founded the dwarven empire and his descendants formed the miner caste.
According to the dwarven history, the dwarven empire once spread across all of Thedas, and that the underground city-fortresses called thaigs were almost beyond counting. Kal-Sharok was the capital then, home to all the noble houses, and Orzammar was simply the home of the miner and smith castes.
Orzammar and its sister-cities of Kal-Sharok and Kal'Hirol, are considered "great thaigs", as opposed to the numerous other thaigs as they were once the main centers of the dwarven empire.
At -1170 Ancient King Orseck Garal moved the capital of the dwarven empire to Orzammar to preside more directly over the commercial aspects of dwarven life, mining and crafting, as Orzammar was the ancestral seat of the Miner and Smith castes and because of the turmoil in the Tevinter Imperium following the death of the Archon Darinius. This sparked the development of several construction projects in the city. The most famous of which is the Stonehammer Hall and the expansion of the Proving Grounds. However some years later, the taxes drained by Orzammar from Kal-Sharok's trade profits began to grow burdensome.
Following the outbreak of the First Blight, the dwarven empire was crumbling. Paragon Aeducan assumed the leadership of Orzammar and managed to push back the darkspawn. Despite his victory, it was not enough and after the end of the First Blight the darkspawn kept pushing; by -15 Ancient, the kingdom of Orzammar was assumed to be the last one still standing. Since then, the kingdom was in a steady decline by losing most of its outlying thaigs.
House Aeducan traces its ancestry back to the Paragon Aeducan, the greatest warrior in Orzammar's history, who led the dwarven armies against the darkspawn horde during the First Blight and saving the empire from annihilation. Endrin was only the second child of King Ansgar Aeducan but became heir to the throne when he convinced his elder brother to fight in a Proving against a convicted murderer, thus resulting in his brother's death. According to Bhelen, Endrin was responsible for the poison found on the murderer's blade.
The most respected king in four generations, he restored Orzammar's contact with Kal-Sharok, the only other known great thaig to survive the First Blight
Kal-Sharok
Kal-Sharok is a thaig and one of the remaining dwarven kingdoms in Thedas. The capital lies deep beneath the Hunterhorn Mountains, between Orlais and the Anderfels.
Thousands of years ago, Kal-Sharok was the capital of the dwarven empire. It is considered as a "great thaig" along with Orzammar and Kal'Hirol. While enjoying good trade with the Tevinter Imperium due to its proximity to the Tevinter capital of Minrathous, the seat of power was eventually moved to the current dwarven capital, Orzammar, in -1170 Ancient during the turmoil in the Imperium following the death of the Archon Darinius but also in order to focus on the trade with the surface. Soon afterwards large construction projects started in Orzammar, while the taxes drained by Orzammar from Kal-Sharok's trade profits began to grow burdensome.
In the aftermath of the First Blight the darkspawn kept pushing underground, which virtually brought the empire to its knees. As they had to close the passages leading to most of the thaigs, in an effort to save Orzammar, High King Threestone declared lost to the horde the kingdom of Kal-Sharok as well as the kingdoms of Hormak and Gundaar in -40 Ancient.
In recent times, however, it has been discovered that Kal-Sharok miraculously survived the darkspawn onslaught in 9:12 Dragon, 952 years after Threestone's declaration of being lost. However, the few dwarves living there are said to be extremely reclusive and unwilling to re-establish contact with the rest of the world as well as being deeply embittered towards Orzammar for abandoning them. However, an active communication between the two remaining dwarven cities does exist, as King Endrin Aeducan is seen discussing trade contracts involving Kal-Sharok with the heads of House Meino and Bemot on the eve of the Fifth Blight. This communication is hindered however as Orzammar demands Kal-Sharok to submit to their authority, as it used to.
With far fewer resources than Orzammar and no known access to the surface, Kal-Sharok has had to do some very questionable things to survive. It is believed that when the darkspawn invaded, the kings of the old empire retreated to Kal-Sharok, where they were able to defeat the darkspawn but suffered heavy casualties. It has also been intimated that Kal-Sharok's isolation and perhaps their interaction with the darkspawn during this time may have changed them in some unknown way. Descriptions of Kal-Sharok dwarves depict them as physically different than their fellow Orzammar dwarves. They are described as being pale, and possibly "tainted" in a way that is hard to define.
It has been suggested that the isolation of Kal-Sharok after its separation from Orzammar may also not have been due to fear or disinterest but for some reason as yet unknown. Kal-Sharok dwarves apparently continued to trade with the surface during their isolation and this puts in doubt the official date of Kal-Sharok's "rediscovery" by Orzammar in the Dragon Age.
Kal-Sharok dispatched a delegation to compete in the Grand Tourney of the Free Marches in the early Dragon Age, hoping to win the prize offered by its patron, the Anvilbreaker, the legendary forge hammer of Paragon Zardol, the Weaponsfather.
Anderfels
The Anderfels is a kingdom in northwestern Thedas. It is located north of Nevarra and Orlais and west of the Tevinter Imperium. The Anderfels is best known for being the birthplace of the Grey Wardens and the site of their headquarters, Weisshaupt Fortress.
In 5:12 Exalted, the Fourth Blight began and spread to the Anderfels; the darkspawn laid siege to Hossberg for seven years. During the fighting King Henault was killed by an ogre, causing his wife Queen Mariwen to take up regency for her son, King Grivaud, who was an infant at the time. However, since most of the nobles did not support her, most power laid with the Grey Wardens, specifically Warden-Commander Uvasha. Under the leadership of their Field-Commander Garahel, the Wardens managed to break the siege, after cutting off the darkspawn's supply lines from the deep roads. After the siege was broken, Queen Mariwen pledged to continue to support the war effort, in exchange for Garahel publicly supporting her reign (and subsequently sleeping with her). The Blight was, however, decided in eastern Antiva in 5:24 Exalted.
The arid landscape of the Anderfels experiences dangerously hot summers. During cooler months dust storms blow inland and make farming all but impossible.
Geographically, the Anderfels consists mostly of steppes, largely deserted after weathering the most severe Blights. The capital is Hossberg, located northwest from Weisshaupt. The area is bordered by the Wandering Hills and the Donarks to the North; the Colean Sea to the East, and the Tevinter Imperium to the Southeast. Also on its southern borders lies beneath the Hunterhorn Mountains the great thaig of Kal-Sharok, once capital of the dwarven empire.
Anderfels houses the headquarters of the Grey Wardens, Weisshaupt Fortress. The king resides in Hossberg and generally ignores the citizens of the Anderfels as he is mainly interested in maintaining the order and comfort of the capital city to the exclusion of anything else. This distant monarch is protected by royal tribunals who also function to enforce the laws he creates; being a highly religious nation, these tribunals administer justice for the sake of "absolution". According to Riordan, the king of the Anderfels is weak and the people refer to the Grey Wardens for leadership. He also states that there are over a thousand Wardens present in the Anderfels. The Anderfels is the last place where the Grey Wardens have retained their importance over the centuries. They hold political power equal to an Orlesian baron or Fereldan teyrn, a power they have recently taken greater advantage of.
Stationed at Weisshaupt, the First Warden is intended to be the commander of all Grey Wardens throughout Thedas, though in practice the entanglements of Anders politicking leave this individual functioning mainly as a figurehead. This results in considerable responsibility being laid at the feet of the regional Warden-Commanders. One of the tasks of the First Warden is to act as adviser to the preoccupied king in matters of state. Intriguingly, the First Warden has recently begun to criticize the nation's monarchy, suggesting that the leader of the Wardens is considering a grab for the throne.
Outside of the cities, most Anders live in small but self-sufficient outposts and villages. The importance of the Wardens to the Anderfels is shown here as they are the only real source of authority in such remote areas and maintain some presence even in the distant and thinly peopled hinterlands.
Anders are the only non-dwarven people to fight the darkspawn on a regular basis as they remain a constant menace and can appear almost anywhere at anytime. As a result, the population lives in constant fear and vigilance. No child of the Anderfels grew up without being terrorized by bedtime tales of darkspawn. The Anders became hardened warriors who fight grimly against an enemy that they cannot defeat: the rest of Thedas is remote enough that their plight is easily ignored. They are a poor people who live in a devastated land of vast, stark steppes, though their proud culture remains. Unlike Orlais and Tevinter Imperium, a person's accomplishments count for more in the Anderfels than their name.
The "Green Men" order leads caravans through the Wandering Hills to the distant port of Laysh and comprise the best marksmen in Thedas.
Rivain
The nation of Rivain is located in the northeastern part of Thedas. Its capital city is Dairsmuid, which is on the southern end of the Rivain peninsula. Being a peninsula, it is almost wholly surrounded by water except for a bridge of land connecting it to neighboring Antiva.
The Rivaini have skin tones ranging from dark tan to ebony. Social standing in Rivain is often marked by tattoos and body piercings. The more elaborate one's decorations, the higher one's rank.
The Rivaini, though possessing a currency-based economy as other nations do, place no real value on the accumulation of individual wealth and instead promote the idea of community welfare. As such, communities work together to support each other, sending supplies to other communities when needed.
The Rivaini have a peaceful relationship with the elves. Rivain is also home to the only peaceful Qunari settlement on the continent: Kont-aar in northern Rivain. Qunari emissaries are also common sight in Rivaini settlements; however, they stay away from the nobility. The Rivaini themselves originally hail from island chains beyond the Donarks.
Unlike the majority of peoples in Thedas, the Rivaini are not Andrastians and don't believe in the Maker. Rather, they are pantheists who believe in the Natural Order. As such, many hold to the belief that their god and the universe are the same. Though Rivain's royalty is still Andrastian, the Chantry lacks any authority beyond the capital of Dairsmuid. Many, especially in Kont-aar, have also converted to the Qun, as their religion and the Qun are not very contradictory.
Though a Circle existed in Dairsmuid, it was merely a means to appease the Chantry. The mages of the Circle were allowed to see their families and the women were specifically trained to be seers, a position in Rivaini society that is revered as a matter of tradition. These local hedge witches converse with spirits and even allow themselves to be possessed for the benefit of their villages. These seers educate apprentices in their craft and are allowed their freedom provided they assist Templars when needed. The Rivaini Circles are similar to those elsewhere in Thedas and are supported financially by Andrastian nobles.
The Rivaini are traditionally a matriarchal people and many believe that women are best suited to ruling. Most Rivaini communities are governed by elder women, the most senior of these women being the above-mentioned seers.
Qunari of Seheron
The Qunari (literally, "People of the Qun") is the name most commonly used to describe the white-haired metallic-skinned race of giants and their society that governs the islands of Par Vollen and Seheron, as well as the settlement of Kont-Aar in northern Rivain, and Qundalon in the Anderfels.
Members of any race who adhere to the teachings of the Qun can become "Qunari", but those other than the original giant race, that is humans, elves, and dwarves, are called Viddathari within the Qun. Humans of Rivain and elven slaves of Tevinter are especially susceptible to conversion, although it is not unknown for members of other groups to embrace the Qun.
Members of the giant race born outside of the Qun are not considered to be Qunari within the Qunari society. They are called "Vashoth", which means "grey ones"; likewise those who abandon the Qun willingly are known as "Tal-Vashoth", "true grey ones". Most Tal-Vashoth are former soldiers and become mercenaries, and are considered by Qunari to be worse than bas - who are non-Qunari.
Members of the Qunari race are rarely seen outside of their lands with the exception of Rivain. During the Dragon Age, a fleet of Qunari ships sank in the Waking Sea between Ferelden and Free Marches, which resulted in Qunari presence in both of these lands. Tal-Vashoth are much more present in non-Qunari lands, most commonly as elite mercenaries, such as the Kadan-Fe in Ferelden.
The Qun is the religion of the Qunari, though it is closer to a philosophy than a full-fledged religion. It governs every part of Qunari life, and even the governing structure is dictated by it. It gives every Qunari a defined and fixed place in their society, either as a soldier (part of the body), a craftsman (part of the mind) or a priest (part of the soul).
The Triumvirate
The "body" is represented by the Arishok and the military, the "mind" by the Arigena, and the craftsmen and the "soul" by the Ariqun and the priests. The Arishok is always male, and leads the armies, the Arigena is always female and leads the craftsmen, whilst the Ariqun leads the priesthood, and whose gender varies. All three are the head of their respective "paths" and work in unison to complete the whole of Qunari society.
Duty is paramount in Qunari culture, and their society is seen as a living entity, whose well-being is the responsibility of all. Each person is like a drop of blood in the veins of the being, and they must not do what is best for them, but what is best for all.
Personal identity
The Qunari do not have a concept of personal identity. Whilst they posses names, they do not use them, resorting themselves to use titles rather than names to identify and present themselves. The names are in fact simply strings of genealogical information used only by the Tamassrans for record-keeping. Some of the name-titles include Sten, Arishok, and Tallis.
Family ties
Qunari have no "family units": they do not marry, choose partners, or even know to whom they are related. A father's role ends at conception, a mother's ends at birth. A Qunari's "family" consists of his or her peers.
Qunari usually do not associate mating with love. They do have the capacity to love, even having friends and forming emotional bonds with one another; however, they simply do not have sexual intercourse with each other to express it. If they do, then they are sent to be re-educated by the Ben-Hassrath. If a child is produced, the same thing happens as with all other Qunari children: it is sent to be raised by the Tamassrans, evaluated, and assigned a job. Qunari do not waste resources unnecessarily, people included.
Qunari have been bred for specific roles for a very long time. Parentage is no longer the issue, more like pedigree. However, breeding does not determine a Qunari's assigned task. If a Qunari was bred to be a soldier but turns out to be more intellectual, the Tamassrans may move him or her into the priesthood, researching weapons technology, or the Ben-Hassrath to police the populace, depending on what roles need to be filled by someone with their specific traits.
Reverence
The Qunari are known to hold dragons sacred. High dragons are called Ataashi, "glorious one" in Qunlat. Some of this comes from physical similarities, while some believe that the Tamassrans cultivate dragon blood within the Qunari, allowing some to tap into combat abilities similar to Reavers. This, however, does not translate into reverence, as most Qunari accept that dragons are savage creatures that have to be put down in order to establish civilization. It is said that before converting to the Qun, the horned race prayed to animist gods, but such practices were outlawed by the Qun, and thus it would be against the law to openly revere the dragons.
The corpse of a Qunari is considered an insignificant husk that is no longer the individual that it once was and thus is afforded no special treatment, rather disposed of in whatever manner is most practical. Instead, an object which they used to perform their job is collected, for example warriors' swords are considered to be their "souls".
Qunari society is based upon learning as well as military might. Few speak the common tongue that is used among Thedosians, and even fewer speak it well. For this reason, Qunari often keep quiet among foreigners, out of shame—in a culture that strives for perfection and mastery, to possess only a passable degree of skill is humiliating, indeed.
The Tamassrans wield a great deal of influence in Qunari society. As it is primarily a female gender role (as all administrative tasks are), this might lead an outsider to believe that their society is female-dominated. Qunari do not, however, look upon government in quite the same way. The brain could be said to rule the body, but so too does the heart, the lungs, the stomach. All are part of the greater whole.
The Tamassrans raise all the children, give them their general education, and evaluate them. Qunari are officially assigned their roles when they are twelve years old. The Tamassrans do conduct some tests, but nothing that requires a pencil. They also have something of a head start on the process, as they are the ones who control the Qunari selective breeding program.
Gender roles
Qunari strongly believe that the genders are inherently and intuitively better at certain tasks. No matter how much aptitude and promise a male shows for management, he will never be considered as good at it as a female, therefore it would be considered inefficient and a waste of resources to place him in a role where a woman would serve better. Instead, the Tamassrans find another role that he shows aptitude for and will place him there instead. The same goes for females, most Qunari will find it odd if a female becomes a warrior. The odd, very rare exception is made however. A male Qunari will farm if he must, just as a female will fight, depending on the circumstance. The Qunari also have the concept of "Aqun-Athlok," which means "born as one gender but living as another". If a female shows sincere interest and outstanding talent at fighting, she will be considered male, regardless of her biological gender. For the Qunari, gender is a secondary trait compared to their duty to the Qun.
There are fields like philosophy or sciences that make use of both genders, but even then, there is division by discipline. Men will do one kind of research and women another. The Ben-Hassrath also count both genders among their ranks, but they too are separated by specialization.
Economy
The Qunari reject private property. They also don't have currency, nor do they engage in direct bartering: they don't buy and sell things amongst one another. "Merchants" in Qunari cities have the job of making sure goods are distributed appropriately. They will however, trade with the rest of Thedas in a limited matter. To the Qunari, this trade is less a way to obtain goods as an opportunity to learn more about those who do not yet accept the Qun as law.
The Qunari actively work to improve methods of production via research and borrowing from conquered people and neighboring cultures. On the other hand, demands of the individuals are quite limited, as having "more houses and clothes" would mean more work to maintain them. In the countryside, Qunari houses are identical and arranged along perfectly orthogonal lines.
The Qunari are more technologically advanced than the rest of Thedas, with the exception of the dwarves. Their capital city of Qunandar is famous for great domes and aqueducts, their architecture likened to beehives. They have developed an explosive powder ("gaatlok") that is safer than lyrium-based dwarven explosives. Its formula is a secret they carefully guard.
The Qunari cannons and dreadnoughts (or "floating fortresses" - massive wooden ships) allowed them to sweep across northern Thedas and advance far into mainland within ten years from their arrival on the continent. The allied nations relied heavily on the Circle of Magi to counter their cannons and on the Felicisima Armada to counter their fleet.
The Qunari had also developed a deadly poison ("saar-qamek"), which instills madness in the victim before eventually killing them. This poison can be inhaled or put on blades to affect a target's bloodstream, however there is at least one antidote that can be taken preemptively that will reduce or outright neutralize the poison's effects.
The Qunari view other nations as inferiors, kabethari (literally, "those who need to be taught") who are to be conquered and "enlightened", i.e. converted to the Qun. In the newly subdued areas they dismantle families: children are torn away from their parents and raised as Qunari, while adults are sent to "learning" (labor) camps for re-education performed by a branch of the priesthood called the Ben-Hassrath. The latter appear to be reasonable if an individual doesn't resist their severe teachings, and a new convert, or viddathari, may take a high position in the Qunari society.
In fact, it is possible for a human, elven or dwarven viddathari to become Ariqun, Arigena or Arishok should they show the merit for the role. However, this is naturally less likely than a qunari taking the role, given their far greater numbers in the Qun.
Refusal to cooperate is seen as illness to be cured, and those who resist are taken to the viddathlok, temples dedicated to healing. What happens later is not quite clear, but it is known that the Qunari use a substance called qamek to turn them into mindless laborers forced into indentured servitude or sent to mines or construction camps. Some would return, changed in profound ways, some would perish of exhaustion or starvation and some would be slain.
When the Qunari were pushed back during the Exalted Marches, the Chantry and nationalist forces tried a purge by the sword, killing Qunari converts and burying them in mass graves, most notably in Rivain and at Nocen Fields and Marnas Pell in Tevinter. These acts have been officially denied ever since.
Arnora is under House Mac Tir, but you do get Alistair.
I will note that House Therin is a pretty difficult prospect though: The king of Ferelden has no direct land, though he can still levy from other people's holdings, and there's an issue with fertility in the present generation.
Edit: Which means I trust you to do it, seeing as I know you for a certain other balls-out crazy prettyboy....
I will note that House Therin is a pretty difficult prospect though: The king of Ferelden has no direct land, though he can still levy from other people's holdings, and there's an issue with fertility in the present generation.
I don't know much about Dragon Age but some of these choices sound really appealing
House Pentaghast of Transylvania Nevarre (with bonus Van Helsings Van Markhams)
House Medici Campagna of Antiva
and the Teutonic Order Grey Wardens of Anderfels
I don't know much about Dragon Age but some of these choices sound really appealing
House Pentaghast of Transylvania Nevarre (with bonus Van Helsings Van Markhams)
House Medici Campagna of Antiva
and the Teutonic Order Grey Wardens of Anderfels
