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Fergus Cousland

Fergus Cousland

Teyrn of Highever
Staff member
Canon Character
Noble
DAO/DA2 Timeline
Posts
192
#1

Name: Fergus Cousland

Race: Human

Gender: Male

Date of Birth: 11 Cloudreach, 9:4

Occupation: Teyrn of Highever

Companion(s): Boris - Horse


Fergus stands at 6’1, with a broad muscular frame that identifies his warrior training. His hair -- dark brown with hints of auburn -- rests just past shoulder length, and he keeps a well maintained goatee. Despite regular shaving, he often has a five o clock shadow along his jawline. His brown eyes are expressive and often warm.

Though not often seen, Fergus sports a mass of scars along his hip and across his torso from where he was nearly gutted and killed by Darkspawn in the Korcari Wilds. For a time, he was self conscious about them, as for a while a limp came along with them, but after magical healing, the scars remain but the injury is gone.


Class: Warrior

Specialization: Champion (Expert)

Weapons & Armor: His armor -- a suit of heavy red steel -- has the Highever crossed spears on the pauldrons and chest piece, while his shield has the same. His silverite sword has the Cousland laurels etched into the hilt. He has a set of leather armor, and a few other weapons in his arsenal, but they see little use outside of training.

Languages: Common (both), Antivan (both)

Non-Combat Skills:

Master: Leadership, Ferelden History, Stamina
Expert: Military Lore, Ferelden Heraldry, Might, Diplomacy, Dancing, Drinking
Intermediate: Riding, Writing, Investigation, Antivan Heraldry, Antivan History, Coercion, Bargaining, Accounting, Etiquette, Swimming
Novice: Evaluation, Cartography, Climbing, Healing, Seamanship, Navigation, Poison Lore, Chantry Lore, Research

Combat Skills:

Master: Weapon & Shield
Expert: Motivate, Adamant, Two Handed Weapons
Intermediate: Rally, Resilience, Bows, Single Weapon
Novice: War Cry, Line in the Sand, Unarmed Combat

Armor Proficiency: Medium Armor, Heavy Armor


Fergus is a jovial individual, quick to laugh and quip with others in relaxed situations. He knows when to be serious though, and is earnest in his role as Teyrn. He is even natured in his role, treating the people of his lands with care and fairness. He strives to emulate his father in all things, out of respect and admiration. He is known to have moments of brooding, that can be attributed to the loss of those close to him.

He has a strong sense of justice and right, but will hear all sides of a situation before passing judgment. Fergus has a lot of pride in his family and their name. His time with the Chasind also made him much more tolerant of cultural differences, and he finds himself more interested in the plight of the city elves. He is quick to make friendly acquaintances, but it takes time for him to truly call someone friend.


Fergus was born in the third year of the current age, to Bryce and Eleanor Cousland, and is the elder brother of Aedan Cousland. Growing up he was groomed by his parents to take over Highever, but the training was not a harsh one. The Couslands were a warm family, and exemplified the true meaning of the word noble. He was fast friends with Nathaniel Howe, whom he considered his best friend, though they only saw each other when their families visited each other. Though Aedan was the truly mischievous one, Fergus and Nathaniel got into a fair share of trouble together in their youth.

When Fergus turned nineteen, his father allowed him to travel and gain an understanding of the world at large. Almost two years later, he returned from Antiva with a wife. Oriana had swept him off his feet, and his parents were pleased that he had married for love. Not a year of marriage had passed before their first son, Oren, was born. Fergus doted on his wife and son, and Eleanor was ecstatic to have a grandchild. Those years were the happiest he had known.

Then the darkspawn started raging in the south, and the King called on the forces of Highever. Fergus led Highever's soldiers to war, unaware that he would never see his parents, his wife, or his son alive again. Once at Ostagar, he took a team of scouts into the Korcari Wilds. During this mission, his unit was attacked and his men killed. If it were not for the kindness of some Chasind folk, Fergus might not have survived. As he spent time with the Chasind, recovering from his injuries, he learned to respect the cultural differences between his people and theirs. His recovery took months. By the time he was fit to travel, the battle at Denerim was done and his brother was a hero.

He heard news of his family's murders before arriving in Denerim, and it left a profound hollowness inside of him. His only comfort was that his baby brother had survived, and had taken vengeance on the man responsible for the murder of their family. He did not get a chance to see or speak to his brother until after the ceremony celebrating the end of the Blight. They spent many days together, talking over the events of the past year, and Aedan ended up giving Fergus the Shield of Highever he had saved from the destruction of their home.

Fergus returned to Highever, to rebuild and take up the mantle of Teyrn. He grew melancholy in the empty halls of his home, and it took some time for him to overcome the loneliness from being left behind. He built proper monuments for his parents, his wife and his child. Fergus eventually had the old family wing gutted, the interior redone. He could not stand to live in the rooms that had once been his and his parents. During this time of rebuilding, Fergus picked up a few habits. One was a taste for the harder liquor, which he indulged in only at night. He also took comfort in smoking a pipe, something that his father used to do.

Fergus traveled to Denerim for the Remembrance Day festivities, honoring those who died in the Blight and his brother's heroics. While there he met a city elf named Lene, whom he became smitten with. During the time after the festivities he employed many people in Denerim and took them back to Highever to begin rebuilding the area. Fergus started making many changes once returning to Highever. One was to allow elves into the city and castle guard, while another was making sure that elves in the Highever Alienage began to get equitable treatment. Some considered this the influence of his elven lover.

Restoration was well underway when an attempt was made against Fergus' life. The assassin was coerced into trying to end his life, but instead ended up injuring Lene. An elven child, one that was being used for leverage to force the assassin's hand, was found dead in the Alienage sparking a riot. There was bad blood and anger on both sides of the riot, but it was eventually quelled. For a time Fergus believed the woman he loved would die, but thanks to many healers she was able to be saved. While one man was caught and executed for the crime, there was a greater conspiracy afoot.

At the Landsmeet in 33 Dragon, Arl Vaughn Kendall was charged and found guilty of heading the conspiracy to murder both Fergus and Lene. During the same Landsmeet, Fergus was given permission to marry Lene, though she would be denied the title of Teyrna. It was deemed that their children would be legitimate heirs to Highever however, and both found the decision a fair compromise given the opposition. It was a small victory, and not a few months later a ceremony was held at Highever with their closest friends and many nobles in attendance.

Nine months after their nuptials Lene gave birth to a baby girl, whom they named Riane Eleanor. Fergus was given a second chance at happiness with his new wife and child. These comforts kept him content even when his brother, Aedan, abandoned him again.

The year after proved peaceful, and things in Highever settled into something comfortable. Unfortunately, this happiness was not to last. In Wintermarch of 9:35, Lene grew extremely ill. Fergus called in many healers for assistance, but none could discover the cause of the malady. The suspicion was that she had been poisoned, but none outside of those in Fergus’ inner circle -- Almaric, Anais, Ferren, Linette, and a handful of others -- was privy to this. To his dismay, Lene passed away in early Guardian, leaving a large hole inside of him.

An investigation was started in secret into the cause of her death, with leads being found by his inner circle, and branching across Ferelden. While the culprit has yet to be named, the investigators are getting close to discovering who was behind it all.

After his second wife’s death, Fergus reconnected with his old friend, Nathaniel Howe. While Fergus remained bitter over Rendon Howe’s betrayal, he did not blame Nate for the death of his family. Friendship blossomed into something more, and while their relationship is complicated, Fergus found love once more.

Despite being involved, Fergus knew it was his duty to find a wife to assist in the running of Highever, the care of his daughter, and producing more children. He had befriended Breanna Guerrin after meeting her during her visit to Highever with her father. He proposed a formal courtship with her during the Redcliffe Ball in Bloomingtide 9:35, and for a few months things went well. However, by August, the pair had split amicably though feelings had developed.

For now, Fergus does his best to take care of his daughter and Highever, while continuing the search for Lene’s killers and balancing his personal needs with his professional ones.

Backstory Update Summary: With the death of his wife, Lene, resolved, Fergus turned his eye back to Highever. He had the city expanded to hold the refugees, helping build homes and businesses for the refugees that had come seeking his help. It was a great endeavor, but eventually it was finished.

During this time, he reconnected once again with Breanna Guerrin, who aided him in this restoration and recovery. Despite his love for Nathaniel, he knew he had obligations to fulfill, and once again he proposed to Breanna. This time the engagement stuck, and the two were eventually married in 9:38. A year later, their son, Tristan Bryce, was born.

Fergus has remained focused on Highever, and the part of the Bannorn that answers to him as Teryn. Moving on from rebuilding and the new southern addition to the city, he helped in restoration in the harder his parts of the Bannorn. That is until the rift in the sky arrived. Travel became dangerous with demons exploding from smaller rifts, and the war between the Mages and Templars in full swing.

He did what he could to protect his people, enlisting aid from old friends when necessary, but ultimately it was someone else who put a stop to the rifts, and healed the hole in the sky. Now that the roads are safer, he has begun to restore alliance and continue his work with helping the Bannorn heal.

New Specializations: None

Non-Combat Skills: With the break down of the templars from the Chantry, and the hole that appeared in the sky, Fergus learned more about the history of the Chantry, as well as improving his research skills. He also delved more into Orlesian history and heraldry. With this he was able to practice his diplomacy more, hosting Orlesian nobles on the way to Denerim and warming them up to beneficial deals with Ferelden.

Combat Skills: While teaching his daughter basic proficiencies in combat, he improved his skill with a bow and single weapons. Due to his more diplomatic role, he did not spend much more time improving his combat abilities.
 
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