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RIONA COUSLAND THEIRIN
ATTRIBUTES
(An in depth character questionnaire can also be found here)
Born into the noble Cousland family, second only to the royal family of Ferelden in influence, power and prestige, Riona was expected to be the embodiment of a fine noble lady. Her mother imparted her knowledge of the “finer arts” to her only daughter, teaching her how to be proper, demure, graceful and pleasing. Eleanor Cousland hoped that her daughter would be the perfect lady, not merely following in her footsteps but exceeding all expectations and be the envy of the Ferelden court.
The teyrna was disappointed, to say the least, when Riona became anything but what she had hoped. Oh, Riona can be all those things if she wants to be. She’s a quick learner, and while such lessons bored her, she did commit them to memory. Navigating the Ferelden nobility required finesse, and Riona learned in time that there was a time and place for the arts her mother taught her. Not everything could be solved with sharp words and sharp blades, as much as she wished they could be. The Landsmeet was such a time (in the beginning, anyway, before the vote). For all that she wanted to hit Loghain and see the blood spray, she knew she had to play the diplomat and win over the nobles. She picked her arguments carefully, making sure to give those who promised their support a chance to prove it, and to cast Loghain in the worst possible light. All the while she kept her cool, hiding her temper and being the polite but stern lady her mother taught her to be. So it isn’t that Riona can’t be a competent noblewoman and diplomat. Her ability to read people borders on uncanny, and with enough knowledge, she can navigate most social situations. It’s just that she really rather… not. That’s because she is far more content to be in armor than in gowns, to wield a sword rather than initiate small talk. Her brother, Fergus, was her idol growing up, and she wanted to mimic everything he did. When Bryce began to teach him how to use a sword and shield, little Riona wanted to learn as well. Bryce indulged her, as Cousland women were expected to know how to defend themselves anyway, and he was rather glad for Riona’s willingness to learn. When forced to do something she doesn't want to do, she's learned to resist in more subtle ways, resorting to wit and sarcasm rather than shouting and belligerence. When cornered, Riona leans towards dry humor to help her deal with the situation. Often when faced with someone who wants to kill her, Riona will make a joke, usually at her would-be opponent’s expense. At times she’ll even resort to outright intimidation, if she feels the situation calls for it. Still, Riona does have a bit of a temper, and if the right buttons are pushed (see Anora’s betrayal at the Landsmeet), either her tongue or sword will start cutting someone to ribbons. Although she never fit in well with the other nobles, and for all that she believes herself to be rather terrible at it, Riona does embody some traits one might expect from someone of noble birth. For one thing, she’s quite proud, mostly of her family and her name. Not to the point that she rubs it in other people’s faces, but she won’t sit back and let anyone smear the Cousland name, either. When Howe insulted her family to her face, it took everything she had (and probably some restraining hands) to keep her from lunging at him. It didn’t matter that she stood before the regent and several guards; Howe dared to besmirch her family’s name, and she couldn’t stand by and let him do that. But above her pride is love for her family. She loved her father and even her mother, though she drove Riona crazy. She loves her brother and she loved his family. Their murders hit her hard, and for the better part of a year, that anger had a vice grip on her heart and drove her to avenge them. When she finally got to Howe, she wasn't content to simply gut him and be done with it. She snapped his neck. Howe had betrayed her family, and that was almost as grave an offense as killing them. That belief stems from the sense of loyalty that was instilled in her at an early age. Her father stressed to her to be loyal to those in her life, as loyalty begets loyalty. From the lowliest farmer to the highest ranking noble vassal, each person was just as deserving of their loyalty and good will. Riona carried that with her throughout her journey during the Fifth Blight. Though her companions were an extremely diverse bunch and held different opinions than her, they had offered their help and fought by her side. For such, they earned her respect and she stood by them, no matter what. Whether it was helping rekindle an old flame or dispatching an enemy, if they needed her help, Riona was determined to give it. The varied backgrounds of her companions hardly fazed her. Everyone is different, but they’ve all done things that they regret. Riona is hardly perfect, so who is she to hold someone’s past mistakes against them, especially if they’re willing to repent and put those mistakes behind them? The added desperation of needing help during the Blight made Riona even less discerning, and she welcomed any and all help. She took on an assassin sent to kill her, along with a Qunari charged with murder and a disgraced dwarven warrior. Despite their flaws, they all became important to Riona, and reaffirmed to never overlook anyone. To her, anyone has the potential to do great things, though she also knows that anyone has the potential to do the unthinkable. For all that Riona can be mature and uncommonly supportive and kind, at times her youth rears its head. By the time she is married to Alistair and taken on the role of Commander of the Grey, she is not even 22 years old. Even though she’s been through a lot in her life, especially within the last two years, she is still pretty young. She is short tempered, and her quick wit sometimes gets the better of her, making her act before she thinks. Her patience can be thin, especially if she’s in a hurry or is involved with something that holds no interest to her. Her marrying Alistair was motivated in part by selfishness: she loved him, and the thought of losing him terrified her. Riona knew her being a Cousland would prevent any of the nobles from contesting the arrangement, and used that to her advantage. It’s hardly the entire reason why she married him, and she isn’t proud of it, but it was a part of her decision, just as it is a part of her. ABILITIES+SKILLS
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SHIELD BASH
What it says on the tin. ◈
SHIELD PUMMEL
Double hit with a shield before or following a strike with a sword. ◈
SHIELD WALL
Practically becomes a mini, living fortress. Good luck hitting her, suckers. ◈
SHIELD BLOCK
Self-explanatory. ◈
SHIELD TACTICS
Knows how to block from all angles. No flanking for you. ◈
POMMEL STRIKE
She introduces your face to the pommel of her sword. ◈
SUNDER ARMOR
Fuck your armor. ◈
WAR CRY
Run away, you ninnies. ◈
RALLY
Get that blood pumpin'. ◈
MASTER COMBAT TRAINING
Master at knowing how to give the beat-down on a fool. ◈
DARKSPAWN/TAINT SENSE
The taint in her can tell her when a darkspawn be tryin' to stealth. Also allows her to tap into their "hivemind" though it's more a passive ability than anything she can control. ◈
MASTER GUARDIAN
GTFO her friends. ◈
GUARDIAN SHIELD
Oh, did that spell/ability not hit as hard as you thought it would? Womp womp. ◈
AURA OF THE STALWART DEFENDER
Slowed to a crawl, but good luck attacking anyone else. Come at her instead you fucks. HISTORY
Riona is the second and youngest child of the late Bryce and Eleanor Cousland. She's eight years younger than her brother, Fergus. Eleanor Cousland had difficulty conceiving and bearing children, and the couple considered themselves fortunate they had Fergus. Needless to say, Riona came as a bit of a surprise. She wanted to emulate her brother in everything, even from an early age. She spent more time watching him and her father practice swordsmanship in the courtyard than listening to her mother's lessons. Despite Eleanor's frustrations, Bryce indulged his little pup and taught her the art when she was old enough. To appease her mother a little, Riona also learned archery. She didn't quite have her mother's skill, but she did well enough to satisfy Eleanor. The thrill of battle appealed to her more than the intrigue of court, and Eleanor had to force her into dresses and drag her out to balls and lunch dates more than once. At first she rebelled, resisting her mother’s demands and insisting that she would become a warrior like Fergus and her father. As she grew older, though, Riona began to pick her battles more carefully. She played the part of a good noble lady, though on the inside she would long to return to the castle grounds and practice her swordsmanship. Though Riona loathed the "finer arts", as Eleanor called them, she did enjoy theater. It was one of the few things the two women enjoyed together, and thus Eleanor always went with Riona to see a production when a theater troupe rolled into town. Bryce and Fergus sometimes joined as well, and though Bryce did not quite appreciate theater as much as his wife and daughter did, he happily indulged in their enthusiasm. She was also encouraged to read a lot, and her parents were strict in making sure she kept up on her lessons. She and Fergus didn't have the usual sibling rivalry many brothers and sisters have, largely in part due to their age difference. He acted more like a second father to her at times than an older brother. Still, he teased her often and riled her up, like any brother would. They became closer in the last few years leading up to the Fifth Blight, helped in part by Riona being older and able to relate to Fergus more. She supported him when he announced he was marrying Oriana, despite some protests from those in the Couslands' inner circle. She liked the Antivan, and was happy to have a sister. Oriana helped her learn how to be patient and take her mother's lessons in stride. She taught her the power of subtlety and how to persuade without shouting and intimidation. When Oren was born a few years later, Riona was thrilled to become an aunt at 15, more than happy to play with and spoil little her nephew. On her 17th birthday, Riona was presented to a new litter of mabari puppies. Mabari choose their masters, and Bryce thought it high time she had one. A quiet but strong puppy came up to her and flopped down on her foot. The kennel master declared that she'd been picked by him. She named the little guy Kiter, and once he was weaned from his mother, he was given over to her. The two have been nearly inseparable ever since. Where one is, the other is likely not far. Riona's childhood was very happy, overall. Sometimes she hated the restrictions that came with being nobility, and wished she had a little more freedom. But for the most part, she was content in her life. She and her father were very close, likely because he rarely treated her as a girl, but rather as a person. When she was old enough, Bryce even let her sit in on meetings with his vassals and advisors, so she understood how to run the teyrnir. Partly in case something happened to Fergus, but also so she could be a competent partner to whatever noble man she'd be deigned to marry later. Assuming Bryce ever would have approved of a man, anyway, which Eleanor would have sworn he wouldn't. Riona had more than a few potential suitors. While a few caught her eye, none so much that she wanted to pursue anything. And Bryce was more than happy to chase them off; to him, no one was good enough for his pup. Things were peaceful, and her days were untroubled. But then word of increasing darkspawn attacks trickled their way up north, and King Cailan called on Bryce to send his men down to Ostagar to battle the darkspawn horde. And nothing would be the same.
Rendon Howe and his men from Amaranthine, an arling under her father's teyrnir, arrived at Highever the day before they were to leave for Ostagar. Fergus and a troop of men left that night. Riona was to rule over Highever while her father and the rest of their men were away. A Grey Warden by the name of Duncan also arrived at Highever, seeking to recruit warriors for the Wardens. He eyed Riona as a potential recruit, though Bryce was quick to dismiss it, as she was needed in Highever. Riona and her family bid farewell to Fergus, and her mother ushered everyone to bed to prepare for the big send-off tomorrow. Riona's childhood, and life as she knew it, effectively ended that night. Howe's men attacked the castle, killing countless soldiers and servants as they tore their way through Castle Cousland. Kiter woke Riona and they headed further into the castle. Riona found her mother, and they began to search for Bryce and the rest of their family. They discovered the bodies of Oriana and Oren, murdered in Fergus' bedroom. Heartbroken and outraged, Eleanor and Riona quickly headed for the armory to retrieve the Cousland sword and shield before Howe's men could get their hands on it. They eventually found Bryce in the pantry, critically wounded. Duncan found them and offered to recruit Riona, thereby taking her out of the castle and away from the attack. Riona initially refused, but Bryce insisted, wanting her to find her brother and tell him what happened. Eleanor refused to leave Bryce's side, and Riona was forced to flee with Duncan and Kiter, leaving her parents for dead. She swore she'd avenge him and make Howe pay for what he did. After Riona became a Grey Warden and Ostagar fell, resulting in the death of King Cailan and all the Wardens but her and Alistair, she was faced with a monumental task: gather an army using the old Grey Warden treaties they found and take down the Archdemon. On top of all that, they had to deal with Loghain, the man who abandoned Cailan and his forces and took over rule of Ferelden as regent. He did not want the Wardens dealing with the Blight, believing that Ferelden could handle it. His perceived usurping of the throne caused a civil war to start. The major decisions she made in the game are as follow:
- She recruited everyone, including Shale. All of their personal side-quests were completed successfully, including killing Flemeth. Alistair is "hardened", Leliana is not.
After a Blight, darkspawn usually retreat and are scarce on the ground. However, darkspawn incursions in the northern part of Ferelden prompted action from the Wardens. A dozen Orlesian Wardens went to Vigil's Keep in Amaranthine to help rebuild and deal with the odd problem. Riona set aside her crown and took up the mantle of Warden-Commander. Arriving at the fortress, she found it under attack. Darkspawn led a sneak attack into the fortress, capturing the Wardens and attempting to lay the keep to waste. With help from Oghren and a mage named Anders, Riona repelled the remaining darkspawn, and saved the seneschal from a talking darkspawn. Alistair arrived with troops to help, but he arrived late to the party. After bidding her husband good-bye, Riona had Oghren and Anders join the Grey Wardens, and set out to discover the cause behind the darkspawn surge... and their newfound intelligence. The following decisions and choices were made in Awakening:
- Riona recruited everyone and did their personal quests. With the darkspawn having retreated and the Architect behaving himself, Riona returned to Denerim to resume her duties as queen and to be by Alistair's side.
Riona more or less shrugged off the mantle of Warden-Commander and fully settled in as Queen of Ferelden. She ruled alongside Alistair for almost eight years, trying to rebuild Ferelden from the ravages of the Blight. It proved difficult, as swaths of the south was Blighted and unusable. People had lost their homes, and many had fled to the southern Free Marches. With the darkspawn permanently driven back to the Deep Roads, reconstruction could begin in earnest. Some headway was made, although not as much as the royals hoped. The people loved their king and queen, and the two of them made a concerted effort to try and stay in touch with the common folk. It was where Alistair felt most comfortable, and they both felt they were doing the most good there. The nobility, however, proved more troublesome. Both rulers were young, inexperienced, and up against nearly overwhelming odds. Some nobles questioned their authority (not to their faces, of course) and a few even expressed sympathy to Anora, hinting that she was the more suitable ruler. Both royals had to lean heavily on their advisors, especially in the early years. It took time for them both to find their footing. Amongst their most controversial decisions was to allow Anora to claim Gwaren. Out of a combination of guilt and fairness, they offered her to be teyrna of the teyrnir her father once oversaw. Since she was his only child, by rights, the teyrnir went to her. Teyrna isn't queen, but it's nothing to sneeze at, either. Anora agreed, and has ruled as teyrna since then. Many feared she would turn into an active adversary against the king and queen. While Anora was no bosom buddy, she worked with them when she agreed and calmly debated when she didn't. Riona and Alistair maintained a civil, if slightly tense working relationship with her. They did manage to repair relations with the alienage elves. The alienage was rebuilt, with better housing and what compensation they could afford for the disaster with the magister. Shianni was appointed the alienage representative, and was allowed to speak for the elves in the Landsmeet and other royal appointments. Many nobles and commoners alike protested and groused about it, so improvement for the elves was not as far along as Riona would have liked. Quietly, they allowed mages fleeing from Kirkwall to sneak into Ferelden. This was done with the utmost secrecy, and they were extremely cautious about it. Of course, they couldn't entirely control the influx of apostates, but they more or less turned a blind eye to those who smuggled them into Ferelden. One even found their way into the palace, where she began to work as a healer. Their (in)action eventually caught the attention of Kirkwall's acting viscountess and Knight Commander Meredith. Alistair begrudgingly went to Kirkwall to speak with her about the matter. Riona insisted on going instead, but she was talked down, their advisors insisting Alistair's "gentler" touch was called for. Translation: they didn't want her to stab Meredith and cause a war. In 9:37 Dragon, word came down from Kirkwall: an apostate named Anders blew up the Chantry there and kicked off a chain of events that would lead to the mage rebellion. Riona's heart broke at the news. Anders had been a good friend, and she'd worried about him when she heard he ran away with Justice in tow. Many pointed questions were aimed at her about him, leaving her reeling and unable to figure out what pushed him to do something so drastic. Months later, Alistair caught wind of a rumor that Maric was alive somewhere in Antiva. After further substantiating them, he set off for Antiva to try and locate his father. Riona remained in Ferelden, ruling the kingdom in his stead until he returned, months later. Maric had been alive, but due to the circumstances of his captivity, he eventually died. Only their closest advisors and family knew about what happened.
As the years went on, Riona grew more and more determined to do something about the taint within them. They had no luck conceiving a child, and it would be impossible while they both had the taint. An impossible task stretched out before her: find a cure for the taint and stop the Calling. In the weeks leading up to her departure, she called on the Wardens that she led in Amaranthine. Though Anders and Justice were gone, the others remained. She asked them to join her in finding a cure, and they all agreed. After a heart wrenching good-bye to Alistair, Riona left Denerim and set off with Nathaniel and the others into the wilderness, tracking down rumors and leads in some hope of finding a cure to the taint. But two years have passed, and so far, nothing has turned up. It's been a hard, long road with no end in sight. Worse yet, as a Warden initiated during a Blight, the taint progresses faster in her. Her Calling may just be around the corner. Riona's time is running out.
COMPANIONS
See CR chart here
NOTES
Currently at
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small} driftfleet. Canon point is Inquisition-era, post Here Lies the Abyss. Augment is pilot.
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