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My take on the children from the Human Noble origin of Dragon Age: Origins, a mixture of canon and headcanon. I headcanon Aedan as the youngest because of the wording from the opening narration of the Human Noble origin "Today, your elder brother takes up House Cousland's banner in service to the Crown—not against the men of Orlais, but against the bestial darkspawn rising to the south." I note that the intro specifically says elder brother. Not just brother or sibling, elder brother. Plus, I also wanted a way to tie A Tale of Orzammar into my fanfic-verse. A lot of inspiration for Aedan's fate came from Carver Hawke's possible fate in DA2 - I will probably never play a Mage Hawke for suspension of disbelief reasons, so in my fanfic-verse, Bethany is the sibling who survives.

Cousland siblings:

After their marriage, Bryce Cousland and Eleanor Cousland (nee Mac Eanraig) had three children - Fergus, Elissa and Aedan, all of whom were trained in arms. While Elissa's training was seen as out of the ordinary by some nobles, others accepted it as following in the footsteps of her mother, a renowned shieldmaiden and raider. In addition, the Orlesian occupation was still within living memory, and many Fereldans feared the day when the empire might return, and every one of them would have to take up arms to defend their homeland once more. When King Maric disappeared in 9:25 Dragon, a Landsmeet was called to determine his successor. Some of the nobles called for Bryce to be named King

Soon, Fergus married a noblewoman from Antiva, Lady Oriana, and the union produced a son, Oren. Despite training as a warrior, Elissa also took her faith and her duties as a noblewoman seriously, and swore to her father that she would sleep with no man until she was wed, though that didn't stop her from having trysts with female servants, which she didn't see as breaking her promise.

Aedan expected, as the second son, to be given further responsibilities, such as being named Captain of the Household Guard, or even Bann of a village sworn to Highever, like Harper's Ford, but whenever he broached the subject with his father, Bryce would either say that he wasn't ready yet or that he would consider it. Eventually, Aedan, tired of waiting, left without notice one night to prove his worth and seek his fortune. His first stop was Orzammar, where he had heard that a dwarven noble for looking for volunteers to venture into the Deep Roads and recover an artifact. Aedan signed on, hoping to gain payment for the venture and any artifacts he could take from the Deep Roads. The venture turned out to be part of an elaborate setup by Prince Bhelen Aeducan, who tried and failed to have Aedan killed. Bhelen offered to let him go in exchange for never returning to Orzammar. Wounded and afraid of never seeing his family again, Aedan accepted and left. Unfortunately, he discovered that darkspawn blood had gotten into one of his wounds...

Ironically, not long after, the darkspawn began appearing in the Korcari Wilds and Bryce and Fergus were called to join the King's forces at Ostagar. Elissa was left at Highever to keep peace in the region, and to host Warden-Constable Reyor, who was looking for recruits. When Arl Howe took over Highever Castle and slaughtered its' inhabitants, Elissa barely escaped with her life, and only made it as far as Redcliffe when the dead began to rise.

After the Battle of Denerim and the deaths of Arl Howe, Teyrn Loghain and the Archdemon Urthemiel, King Alistair declared the Arling of Amaranthine forfeit to the Howes, and Elissa was named the new Arlessa. Fergus survived Ostagar and took the title Teyrn of Highever. Taking back the castle, however, proved more difficult, as the Veil there had been weakened by the massacre, allowing demons to slip through. A contingent of royal soldiers (including Oghren) and a few Circle Mages and Templars managed to clear out the demons and remaining Howe loyalists and strengthen the Veil.

Based in the city of Amaranthine itself, Elissa aided the Wardens against the forces of the Mother and the Architect. She was in Amaranthine when the Mother's forces attacked the city, but she refused to leave, even when the situation seemed hopeless, earning the gratitude of the surviving inhabitants. After Amaranthine was saved, Elissa marched with Warden-Commander Theron Mahariel and the other Grey Wardens to Drake's Fall, where she met an unexpected face - Aedan, now a sentient ghoul and one of the Architect's followers. Horrified, Elissa is torn between killing her brother and trying to save him. Aedan, for his part, apologised for running away, but said that supporting the Architect's plans would be the only way for him and other like him to be accepted in the world. After the death the Mother, Aedan disappeared into the Deep Roads with Seranni and the surviving Disciples.

Sometime after the Amaranthine Crisis, Nathaniel Howe saved Fergus's life from bandits. In gratitude, and on seeing Nathaniel's earnest desire to atone for his father's actions, a portion of the city of Amaranthine was given back to the Howes, which Nathaniel granted to his sister, Delilah. Heartbroken by the deaths of Oriana and Oren, Fergus had not given much thought to remarrying, but eventually fell for Ser Tamra, a former knight of Amaranthine. They wed and were still ruling Highever as of 9:41 Dragon.

Voice cast:

Fergus Cousland - Shaun Dingwall

Elissa Cousland, Arlessa of Amaranthine - Colette Whitaker (Experienced)
Aedan Cousland - Mark Hildreth (Wise)

Description

My take on the children from the Human Noble origin of Dragon Age: Origins, a mixture of canon and headcanon. I headcanon Aedan as the youngest because of the wording from the opening narration of the Human Noble origin "Today, your elder brother takes up House Cousland's banner in service to the Crown—not against the men of Orlais, but against the bestial darkspawn rising to the south." I note that the intro specifically says elder brother. Not just brother or sibling, elder brother. Plus, I also wanted a way to tie A Tale of Orzammar into my fanfic-verse. A lot of inspiration for Aedan's fate came from Carver Hawke's possible fate in DA2 - I will probably never play a Mage Hawke for suspension of disbelief reasons, so in my fanfic-verse, Bethany is the sibling who survives.

Cousland siblings:

After their marriage, Bryce Cousland and Eleanor Cousland (nee Mac Eanraig) had three children - Fergus, Elissa and Aedan, all of whom were trained in arms. While Elissa's training was seen as out of the ordinary by some nobles, others accepted it as following in the footsteps of her mother, a renowned shieldmaiden and raider. In addition, the Orlesian occupation was still within living memory, and many Fereldans feared the day when the empire might return, and every one of them would have to take up arms to defend their homeland once more. When King Maric disappeared in 9:25 Dragon, a Landsmeet was called to determine his successor. Some of the nobles called for Bryce to be named King

Soon, Fergus married a noblewoman from Antiva, Lady Oriana, and the union produced a son, Oren. Despite training as a warrior, Elissa also took her faith and her duties as a noblewoman seriously, and swore to her father that she would sleep with no man until she was wed, though that didn't stop her from having trysts with female servants, which she didn't see as breaking her promise.

Aedan expected, as the second son, to be given further responsibilities, such as being named Captain of the Household Guard, or even Bann of a village sworn to Highever, like Harper's Ford, but whenever he broached the subject with his father, Bryce would either say that he wasn't ready yet or that he would consider it. Eventually, Aedan, tired of waiting, left without notice one night to prove his worth and seek his fortune. His first stop was Orzammar, where he had heard that a dwarven noble for looking for volunteers to venture into the Deep Roads and recover an artifact. Aedan signed on, hoping to gain payment for the venture and any artifacts he could take from the Deep Roads. The venture turned out to be part of an elaborate setup by Prince Bhelen Aeducan, who tried and failed to have Aedan killed. Bhelen offered to let him go in exchange for never returning to Orzammar. Wounded and afraid of never seeing his family again, Aedan accepted and left. Unfortunately, he discovered that darkspawn blood had gotten into one of his wounds...

Ironically, not long after, the darkspawn began appearing in the Korcari Wilds and Bryce and Fergus were called to join the King's forces at Ostagar. Elissa was left at Highever to keep peace in the region, and to host Warden-Constable Reyor, who was looking for recruits. When Arl Howe took over Highever Castle and slaughtered its' inhabitants, Elissa barely escaped with her life, and only made it as far as Redcliffe when the dead began to rise.

After the Battle of Denerim and the deaths of Arl Howe, Teyrn Loghain and the Archdemon Urthemiel, King Alistair declared the Arling of Amaranthine forfeit to the Howes, and Elissa was named the new Arlessa. Fergus survived Ostagar and took the title Teyrn of Highever. Taking back the castle, however, proved more difficult, as the Veil there had been weakened by the massacre, allowing demons to slip through. A contingent of royal soldiers (including Oghren) and a few Circle Mages and Templars managed to clear out the demons and remaining Howe loyalists and strengthen the Veil.

Based in the city of Amaranthine itself, Elissa aided the Wardens against the forces of the Mother and the Architect. She was in Amaranthine when the Mother's forces attacked the city, but she refused to leave, even when the situation seemed hopeless, earning the gratitude of the surviving inhabitants. After Amaranthine was saved, Elissa marched with Warden-Commander Theron Mahariel and the other Grey Wardens to Drake's Fall, where she met an unexpected face - Aedan, now a sentient ghoul and one of the Architect's followers. Horrified, Elissa is torn between killing her brother and trying to save him. Aedan, for his part, apologised for running away, but said that supporting the Architect's plans would be the only way for him and other like him to be accepted in the world. After the death the Mother, Aedan disappeared into the Deep Roads with Seranni and the surviving Disciples.

Sometime after the Amaranthine Crisis, Nathaniel Howe saved Fergus's life from bandits. In gratitude, and on seeing Nathaniel's earnest desire to atone for his father's actions, a portion of the city of Amaranthine was given back to the Howes, which Nathaniel granted to his sister, Delilah. Heartbroken by the deaths of Oriana and Oren, Fergus had not given much thought to remarrying, but eventually fell for Ser Tamra, a former knight of Amaranthine. They wed and were still ruling Highever as of 9:41 Dragon.

Voice cast:

Fergus Cousland - Shaun Dingwall

Elissa Cousland, Arlessa of Amaranthine - Colette Whitaker (Experienced)
Aedan Cousland - Mark Hildreth (Wise)