Bryce is dead, but Riona loved him dearly. He was strong and fair, and so much of what she values in life she learned from him: loyalty, duty, and justice. He taught her how to rule, how to wield a sword, and how to be a good person. When she was a child, she could never imagine her father doing wrong. But, that was the naivety that comes with childhood, and not yet understanding that our parents are also just humans who make mistakes.

As she grew older, she still thought dearly of him, but his imperfections came through. Sometimes he indulged her too much, and she would have been much more of a hellion if it hadn’t been for Eleanor’s and then later Oriana’s influence. He shooed off would be suitors, finding none of them suitable for his daughter. While she was glad for this, she also knew it didn’t exactly do her any favors. She needed to learn to judge them for herself. She never quite knew what he wanted from her: he said she would leave her mark on the world, but never elaborated just how he expected her to do that. He discouraged her becoming a soldier, but neither did he push for her to marry. Ultimately, it would not matter, but Riona was always left wondering what he pictured her future to be.

2. Their mother? How do they think of her? What do they hate? Love? What influence - literal or imagined - did the mother have?

Eleanor died alongside of Bryce. Riona’s relationship with her was rockier than the one she shared with her father. Where Bryce indulged her, Eleanor stood firm. Sometimes, it was a good thing, but it antagonized Riona into rebelling. She hated so much of what it meant to be a good, proper noblewoman, but Eleanor would hear none of it. The two butted heads often, failing to understand the perspective of the other.

But they did share some tastes. Music and theater enraptured both of them, and whenever a production came into town, they would go and see it together. Half the time, it was these shared loves that helped them reconcile and move past an argument. Their relationship strengthened in their last few years together, as Riona stopped stubbornly protesting everything and giving some of her mother’s suggestions a try. Or if not, she learned to resist in subtler ways.

When she became a Warden and had to gather an army to stop the Blight, she found herself drawing on not just what her father taught her, but also what she learned from her mother. Her swordsmanship and sense of duty helped keep her alive, but Eleanor’s lessons in connecting with people and understanding them played a great part in Riona’s success.

3. Brothers, sisters? Who do they like? Why? What do they despise about their siblings?

Riona only has one brother, Fergus. He is also the only living member of her family left. Fergus is a decade older than Riona, so they never quite had the usual sibling rivalry most had. That isn’t to say he didn’t pick on her or she didn’t rag on him, but they were not as close until the last few years, when Riona was old enough to really relate to Fergus. She idolized him when she was younger, wanting to mimic everything he did. A part of her also envied him, as he was more encouraged to be aggressive and free with his feelings, while she was chided for it and told to mind her tongue. Fortunately, Fergus didn’t impose this double standard on her. He liked how headstrong she was, even if he enjoyed riling her up at times.

With the deaths of their family and the state of their lives after the Blight, they’ve grown closer, though they do not see each other as much anymore. The conversations they had immediately following Fergus’ arrival in Denerim after his nearly yearlong disappearance were amongst the deepest and most in depth they ever had, helped in part by their shared grief.

4. What type of discipline was your character subjected to at home? Strict? Lenient?

Depended on the parent. Bryce let her get away with a bit too much at times, while Eleanor sometimes came down on her harder than she should. It balanced out, more or less, though it at times left her confused on where she stood. The usual punishment was sending her to her room, though once or twice she was made to help clean the kitchen or stables if she did something really bad.

5. Were they overprotected as a child? Sheltered?

Yes. A lot of it came with being raised as nobility. Bryce and Eleanor did their best to keep her grounded and aware of the reality of those “beneath her station”, but most of Riona’s life was spent within the walls of Castle Cousland. Her family didn’t travel quite as much as other noble families; she only spent a significant amount of time in Amaranthine, parts of the Bannorn, Ostwick, and a city or two in eastern Orlais.

6. Did they feel rejection or affection as a child?

Rejection was not something Riona was much familiar with. While Eleanor didn’t always like what Riona enjoyed, or understand her love of swords and battle, she never rejected her daughter for it. Bryce heaped affection on her, especially when she was little, and Eleanor didn’t shy away from showing her some either.

7. What was the economic status of their family?

Pretty damn good, considering they were nobility. Her father was teyrn, which is basically a step down from royalty. Riona never lacked for anything.

8. How does your character feel about religion?

Riona believes in the Maker, and she believes Andraste had a special connection with Him. But the rest she’s unsure about. The Chantry always felt too preachy for her tastes, and so much of what they preached contradicted with what they did. Her time during the Blight affirmed her doubts. So, basically, she’s a follower of the faith, but not so much the institution.

9. What about political beliefs?

Viva la monarchy? Honestly, Riona’s pretty okay with how Ferelden is more or less run, which is probably good considering she’s queen.

10. Is your character street-smart, book-smart, intelligent, intellectual, slow-witted?

She’s definitely more book-smart than she is street-smart, though her street smarts have improved greatly thanks to her friends, especially Zevran and Leliana. Riona’s reasonably smart and quick to catch onto things, and what she doesn’t know she’s willing to learn.

11. How do they see themselves: as smart, as intelligent, uneducated?

Riona thinks herself as decently intelligent. She read quite a lot and had a pretty strict but good tutor. She doesn’t always like to admit if something goes over her head, though that depends on what exactly is being discussed. If it’s something she’s never heard of before and wouldn’t reasonably have known about, she’ll readily say that she’s lost.

12. How does their education and intelligence – or lack thereof - reflect in their speech pattern, vocabulary, and pronunciations?

Her speech is definitely more formal than most. She pronounces words as accurately as possible, and she has no problem using “fancier” words. This has been lessened somewhat because of her time with her friends; Oghren figuratively beat some of the formality out of her.

13. Did they like school? Teachers? Schoolmates?

Riona had a tutor, a scholar that resided in the Castle who was tasked with instructing the children. He drilled facts into her head, and she didn’t always take to it well. If it was a subject she enjoyed, she was a great student. If she wasn’t interested, well… Bryce used to like to joke that half of the grey hairs on her old tutor’s head came from Riona alone.

14. Were they involved at school? Sports? Clubs? Debate? Were they unconnected?

n/a

15. Did they graduate? High-School? College? Do they have a PHD? A GED?

n/a

16. What does your character do for a living? How do they see their profession? What do they like about it? Dislike?

Riona wears a lot of hats now. Most notably, she’s Queen of Ferelden. In her current canon point, she’s hung it up for the time being to be Commander of the Grey Wardens of Ferelden, as darkspawn have unexpectedly resurged and she and Alistair are literally the only two Wardens left in Ferelden. She’s also the Hero of Ferelden, but that’s more of an honorary title than a job.

Both jobs are new to her. She’s been a Warden for well over a year now, and she’s more or less been commanding them since she began (thanks to the disaster at Ostagar). But it was rather an informal thing; she led a rag tag bunch of people, of which only one other was an actual Warden, while she battled the Blight. This will be the first time she’s actually going to be leading a group of Wardens. Not that it will ultimately differ much in practice. Her feelings about being a Warden are mixed, but it’s still something she takes seriously. Though she didn’t have much of a choice in becoming one, she knows it’s what Ferelden needs right now. At least she gets to kill things while doing it.

As to being queen, that remains to be seen. She grew up with the court, so she has an idea of what it entails, but even what little she’s seen so far is beyond what she could have expected. It’s two young monarchs versus the Ferelden court, and she feels all too keenly that they’re out of their depth. She hopes her time as Warden-Commander will give her some more insight into being Queen. For now, she’s just glad she can remain at Alistair’s side and protect him, even as she tries to learn who can be trusted.

17. Did they travel? Where? Why? When?

She travelled all over Ferelden during the Blight.

18. What did they find abroad, and what did they remember?

Her time abroad was mostly spent with family or friends. She has some fond memories, and she learned more about Orlais and the Free Marches during her trips.

19. What were your character's deepest disillusions? In life? What are they now?

Riona’s pretty disillusioned with court life, and has been for a long time. While it can have its good moments, ultimately she’s long since learned that it’s a life of always looking over your shoulder and watching what you say. She knows that will only worsen as her time as queen, but it’s the price she willingly pays.

20. What were the most deeply impressive political or social, national or international, events that they experienced?

The entire chain of events during the Blight? The whole thing was pretty nuts: being one of two surviving Wardens tasked with gathering an army to combat the Blight, while also simultaneously dealing with a civil war and casting down a usurper from the throne.

If it has to be pinned down to one single event, then probably the Landsmeet. So much came to a head in that gathering: Loghain was finally dealt with and she walked out betrothed to the future king of Ferelden.

21. What are your character's manners like? What is their type of hero? Whom do they hate?

22. Who are their friends? Lovers? 'Type' or 'ideal' partner?

23. What do they want from a partner? What do they think and feel of sex?

24. What social groups and activities does your character attend? What role do they like to play? What role do they actually play, usually?

25. What are their hobbies and interests?

Riona does love to practice her sword form. Reading is a favorite pastime as well. She also enjoys theater and music, and can actually sing quite well (though she won’t admit it).

26. What does your character's home look like? Personal taste? Clothing? Hair? Appearance?

27. How do they relate to their appearance? How do they wear their clothing? Style? Quality?

28. Who is your character's mate? How do they relate to him or her? How did they make their choice?

29. What is your character's weaknesses? Hubris? Pride? Controlling?

30. Are they holding on to something in the past? Can he or she forgive?

31. Does your character have children? How do they feel about their parental role? About the children? How do the children relate?

Riona does not, and she can’t while she’s a Warden: the taint prevents her from becoming pregnant. Not a good thing, being a queen and all.

32. How does your character react to stress situations? Defensively? Aggressively? Evasively?

33. Do they drink? Take drugs? What about their health? 

34. Does your character feel self-righteous? Revengeful? Contemptuous?

35. Do they always rationalize errors? How do they accept disasters and failures?

36. Do they like to suffer? Like to see other people suffering?

No and no. Just the opposite, honestly. She tries to ease it whenever she can, and feels helpless when there’s nothing she can do.

37. How is your character's imagination? Daydreaming a lot? Worried most of the time? Living in memories?

38. Are they basically negative when facing new things? Suspicious? Hostile? Scared? Enthusiastic?

39. What do they like to ridicule? What do they find stupid?

40. How is their sense of humor? Do they have one?

It’s pretty terrible, honestly. She does appreciate the “refined” humor that’s often found in court, but she truly loves the terrible jokes and awful puns.

41. Is your character aware of who they are? Strengths? Weaknesses? Idiosyncrasies? Capable of self-irony?

42. What does your character want most? What do they need really badly, compulsively? What are they willing to do, to sacrifice, to obtain?

43. Does your character have any secrets? If so, are they holding them back?

44. How badly do they want to obtain their life objectives? How do they pursue them?

45. Is your character pragmatic? Think first? Responsible? All action? A visionary? Passionate? Quixotic?

46. Is your character tall? Short? What about size? Weight? Posture? How do they feel about their physical body?

47. Do they want to project an image of a younger, older, more important person? Does they want to be visible or invisible?

48. How are your character's gestures? Vigorous? Weak? Controlled? Compulsive? Energetic? Sluggish?

49. What about voice? Pitch? Strength? Tempo and rhythm of speech? Pronunciation? Accent?

50. What are the prevailing facial expressions? Sour? Cheerful? Dominating?