Elissa Cousland

Lady Elissa Cousland of Highever is the younger sister of Fergus Cousland, only daughter of Teryn Bryce and Teyrna Eleanor Cousland. She is a noble of Ferelden, the Champion of Redcliffe, and later the Commander of the Fereldan Army. Although everyone says she is more likely to succeed as Teyrna over her brother Fergus, she instead opts to co-rule with her brother, and eventually left the Teyrnir to him completely as she was occupied protecting Ferelden against the Rift and then the Mage-Templar War. 
== Biography ==
“Some lands are ruled by men and women who believe that they have been elevated to their rank by the Maker Himself, but in Ferelden, rulers must earn their place. The nobility is not suffered gladly, as the Orlesian Empire discovered to its dismay when it attempted to occupy the land.
The Couslands have stewarded the lands of Highever for many generations, dating even to before Ferelden's first king was crowned. They have persevered so long because of their reputation for justice and temperance, as well as their willingness to lead men into battle. With the rise of the darkspawn horde in the south, it thus falls on the Teyrn of Highever to send out the call once again: duty demands that an army be sent to King Cailan's aid at once.
As the Couslands will quickly discover, however, the evil horde to the south is not the only darkness in Ferelden; treachery stalks the halls of Castle Cousland as well.
As a young scion of the Cousland family, the duty of carrying its banner will fall to you. Will you live up to your family's proud heritage? Or will you forge your own path, and damn the consequences?”
For generations, her family, the Couslands, have stewarded the lands of Highever, earning the loyalty of your people with justice and temperance. When Ferelden was occupied by the Orlesian Empire, her father and grandfather served the embattled kings of the land. Her elder brother took up House Cousland's banner in service to the Crown--not against the men of Orlais, but against the bestial darkspawn rising in the south.
===Early Life===
I love my family, we have such a strong and proud lineage, and everyday I see why. Father's sense of duty, his sense of honor and service, his high expectations of me, backed up by a kind of faith only a Father can have. Mother, with her elegance, her kindness, her courage. She is everything I hope to be some day. And I know she loves me, I know she worries as I do, I know she is there for me, no matter my social blunders. Fergus, with his ill-timed, unrelenting childish humour. I'm glad for Oriana, she grounds him, she is so selfless and solemn, a truly honest soul. Little Oren, my own nephew, so eager to learn from his Auntie! Mother Mallol, with her warmth and thoughtfulness. Aldous, with his chiding remarks. Nan, with her lessons of wisdom. I have been shaped so much, by such good and wise souls, felt such love, been given such responsibility.
==Involvement==
Lady Elissa Cousland is a human noble of Ferelden, she lived a charmed life of two good and loving parents, the chantry, tutors, a nanny, a dog, a best friend, and a brother. She was raised and taught well, instilled with the skills, knowledge, and moral compass needed to be a just leader. She lived a sheltered castle life, sometimes attending boring and complicated court events. She much preferred combat, enjoying fighting with the soldiers, unusual training for a lady, but her father nurtured her skill and she excelled. 
She is very much like the rest of her family, pious, humorous, and peaceful royalists. Being the younger sibling, with her brother already married and with a son, she was allowed to not care about being tactful or ladylike. She was asexual and aromantic, though her family did not know, and she herself did not know the proper term, she felt pressured to marry, much to her annoyance, and was often pestered by her family to act according to her status.
The time came when she would be left in charge of the castle for the first time, her mother deciding to leave so as to not undermine her authority, while the men went off to battle. She had never been in charge before, and wished her mother had decided to stay, but was grateful for her encouragement. She did not wish to let her father down, and was determined to make him proud. She was also terrified that her father or brother would be killed in battle, but was comforted by Mother Mallol, her strong mother, and her supportive sister-in-law. 
She loved her family dearly, and was raised well, though inexperienced and still somewhat petulant and stubborn. Tragedy hit, and she lost everything, her family, her home, everyone she had ever known had been brutally slaughtered, even little Oren. The aftermath continued to haunt her, she felt guilt for being the only survivor, paranoia around her brother's safety, as he had left with the troops before the attack, and shame for failing to protect her parents. During the attack, she was bewildered, an old family friend was killing them all, and no one knew why, it came out of nowhere. She slaughtered every soldier of How'es that she could, seeing the elven servants flee, and found her best friend Ser Gilmore and only two other soldiers trying to hold the main doors shut. He was so heroic, choosing to stay so that she and her mother had a chance to survive, bravely facing almost certain death. She claimed her family sword, and the shield of Highever, so that their enemy could not take it. They found the chantry empty, and her tutor Aldous dead. She saw her mother bravely fight for her home, no care for her own safety, righteous fire in her eyes, she was beautiful and capable, and strong. They made it to a secret tunnel, and there was Nan lying dead, Nan who told her stories to make her wise, who complained about her dog even as she gave him food, who was old and tough and full of deep caring. 
Then there was her father, lying barely alive, in a pool of his own blood. She wanted to bring him with her, even if she had to drag him. But he could not make it, she knew this but it did not matter, what mattered was that he would die and there was nothing she could do. And Mother, her mother refused to leave him, she would die protecting him, she would not come with me. But I needed her! I needed her to guide me, and chide me, and protect me as fiercely as I knew she could. I had to go, I had to leave them, just me and Arthur. I had to leave them to die, when I should have stayed and died protecting them. I know I needed to find Fergus and warn him, I know I needed to get revenge, but none of those facts make any difference, I left my parents to die.
I made it out, and I traveled to Ostagar, where Fergus was. It was a long trip, and I barely remember it I was so consumed with grief. I met King Cailan, he would see justice done, but Fergus was not there. I needed to find him, was was persuaded not to. I knew it was foolish, and that I would be of more use fighting in the battle.
I managed to survive, and I went to Lothering, where I heard the Grey Wardens were traitors. That could not be true, I saw Loghain retreat, and I would expose his treachery against our King.I led as many refugees as would come to Denerim, taught them to fight, and we made it unscathed. I heard Arl Eamon was sick, and went to Redcliffe to help. I was named Champion of Redliffe for helping them fight, and there I met Alistair, and we saved young Connor. We went to find to Urn of Sacred Ashes, and then went to Denerim, where I fought against Loghain and especially Howe in every way I could, gathering support for Prince Alistair for the Landsmeet. I kept making trips to the Wilds, searching for Fergus to no avail, and it is a miracle I survived, especially as the Blight grew, but I am well trained and no fool.
1. Highever Attack, escaped alone, with only Arthur, Duncan was not there.
2. Arrived at Ostagar, told King Cailan what happened, fought in the battle and survived.
3. Went to Lothering, met Alistair, Morrigan, and the other Wardens.
4. Went to Redcliffe with Alistair and Leliana, named Champion
5. Found the Urn of Sacred Ashes
6. Went to Denerim, gained support for the Landsmeet, killed Howe
7. Argued in the Landsmeet, gave support to Alistair
8. Went home with Fergus and rebuilt
9. Leader of the Fereldan Army
Possibly stayed in Lothering to help and then evacuated to Denerim
Possibly looked for Fergus in the Wilds to no avail
She was left in charge of Highever Castle when her brother and father were to leave for the King's army at Ostagar. When Arl Howe attacked and killed her family, she and her mabari managed to escape. She went to Ostagar to alert her brother and the King of Howe's treachery. Though she just missed her brother, she was among the soldiers in the battle, and managed to get out though not without her injuries. She immediately went to Denerim to try to stop the traitorous Loghain and Howe. She later reunited with the surviving Grey Wardens, and helped them gain political allies for the Landsmeet, and accompanied them to Redcliffe to gain soldiers against the Blight. 
After the Battle of Denerim, she reunited with her brother Fergus, and went with him back to Highever to rebuild. She demanded of King Alistair that Arl Howe's family pay or the massacre at Highever, and his lands were given to the Grey Wardens. She later became Teyrna instead of her brother. She never married or had children, leaving Highever to the child of Fergus and Anora.
===Attack on Castle Cousland===
I have no interest in being a Grey Warden, I am far too entrenched in the life of a Cousland, the duties I will have, my service to my people and the honor of my family. That is my world, that is all I could ever want, to be somebody to people I love, to be able to care for them and lead them.
===Battle at Ostagar===
===Origin===
She managed to escape with her mabari, Arthur, and the two of them fought their way out through the tunnel. She went to catch up with Fergus's forces at Ostagar to tell him the news and entreat the King. 
===Redcliffe===
===Denerim===
===Epilogue===
She struck the final blow against the archdemon, believing she would be sacrificing her life, and was compelled to do so as she was a Cousland, and wanted to save the life of her new King. She encouraged Fergus to remarry, and was an involved aunt, and helped Alistair rule.
She never married or had children, and lived to be 82 years old, dying in early December of 9:93, she never retired, and eventually died of an unknown cancer. She became very knowledgeable in herbalism and healing magic when she looked for treatments for her wasting disease, befriending a circle healer whom she had as her live-in healer, and the two were good companions in her later years. She kept her illness a secret from all but him. She left everything to her brother and his children, whom she visited often.
==Physical Appearance==
She has medium length straight brown hair that she wears in a utilitarian ponytail. She is strong and athletic, with a muscular build and moves like a warrior. Her eyes are a bright blue-green, and she has the elegant beauty of her mother, holding herself like a noble. 
==Personality==
==Relationships==
Though she generally gets along well with others, she is not the most friendly at first, and speaks her mind regardless of offending people. She is quite kind and selfless in wanting to protect others, and many appreciate having her at their back.
===Companions===
<tabber>
|-|Morrigan=
|-|Alistair=
|-|Oghren=
|-|Zevran=
She thinks assassins are dishonorable, but understands that it is how the world works and that they can be useful. She dislikes his obsession with sex, and his flirting exasperates her. He considers her a challenge and likes that she is dominant, and wants her to be more feminine, as he thinks she is wasting her beauty. He does not understand her asexuality, being bisexual himself. He dislikes how she judges him, and considers herself different from him. 
|-|Leliana=
|-|Shale=
|-|Sten=
They both put duty above all, she agrees that we must all find our place in life and fulfill the role given to us. She dislikes his sexism, as she has dealt with that her whole life, and made her insecure about not being feminine enough. They both respect their prowess in battle and commitment to their purpose. 
|-|Wynne=
</tabber>
===Origin===
<tabber>
|-|Fergus=
She wished she could go with him to fight with the King's army. She was not eager to tell him of their parent's fate. They are very close and often joke around with each other in a teasing way. She gave him a lock of Oren and Oriana's hair when they reunited.
|-|Nan=
Nan would always scold her to keep Arthur reigned in, and would tell her many stories to make her wise and think about things, she was her nanny before she was the cook, and knew her since she was a bairn.
|-|Mallol=
She always found comfort in Mallol, but was hesitant to be overly familiar with her as she was a strong authority figure.
|-|Arthur=
Her mabari warhound, he only listened to her, anyone else risked having an arm bitten off, though he knew better than to hurt anyone. He often had the kitchens in uproar.
|-|Eleanor=
She would constantly nag her daughter, much to her annoyance, about being more feminine and tactful. They loved each other dearly and were always there for each other. Elissa held it against her when she decided to die instead of come with her, feeling like she was being abandoned. She wishes he had done the same and protected her parents to the death. She got her kindness and piousness from her, and always tried to do what she would do.
|-|Bryce=
He trained her as a warrior, which was unusual. He was very proud of her, and it was he whom she saw during the Gauntlet in Haven. She wanted to do him proud and live up to his expectations. She decided to help her country with the blight before revenge for him, as he wanted her to make her own mark on the world, and put duty above all.
|-|Thomas=
Thomas was a few years younger than her, and their parents attempted to arrange a marriage, thinking the age difference would not matter after a few years. He asked after her when his father visited. She had no interest in an arranged marriage, but he was very amenable to the idea.
|-|Rendon=
She would be happy as long as he paid for his treachery. She killed him with great satisfaction, after he stole her father's title and insulted them.
|-|Gilmore=
They were best friends growing up, often sparring together.
|-|Oren=
She doted on him and loved how much he admired his Auntie. She indulged him when he wanted to learn how to fight. She was devastated after his loss, and seeing Connor, the same age, was determined not to let another child die. She also encouraged Bevin to be brave and fight, as she imagined Oren would have wanted to be.
|-|Oriana=
She appreciated her kindness and willingness to help. She thought she was good at keeping Fergus out of trouble, and was glad she adapted to the rough Fereldan life. 
</tabber>
===Potentials===
<tabber>
|-|Duran=
The two butt heads a lot, him trying to be the leader, thinking he has more of a right to it, but she thinks he lacks the compassion and faith to bring people together and would never let him have control over the fate of the Blight if she has any say, and luckily she does.
|-|Natia=
She is like the sister she never had, she loves showing her the wonders of the surface world and wants her and Alistair to get together already and stop their shy dance.
|-|Lyna=
She is intrigued by her and admires her nobility and becomes more curious about her people and is surprised they are respected so little, she thinks they deserve the same treatment as anyone else and that they are better than many of the other people she has met.
|-|Solona=
She took her under her wing, trying to teach her how the real world works and toughen her up, and learns that mages can be good people and use their considerable power responsibly.
|-|Alim=
She doesn't trust him, and thinks it is suspicious how close and secretive he and Morrigan are. She is intimidated by his mysterious knowledge and intelligence and he manages to make her feel inferior, though she tries to not let it show. He does not take orders well and she finds it hard to act superior to him or convince him to do something he does not want to do, same as Kallian.
|-|Kallian=
She is secretly terrified of her unpredictability and reckless violence, trying to stay on her good side and find a way for her to be useful instead of a liability.
|-|Daylen=
He reminds her of Fergus, but out of control and without the sense of duty and nobility that kept Fergus grounded. She worries for him and wished he would show some maturity.
</tabber>
==Skills & Abilities==
*Combat: She uses a sword and shield expertly, she has trained very hard and has sparred with many skilled knights and warriors.
*Battle Tactics: Due to her studies and training, she has developed a keen and analytical mind for dissecting a battle, taking into account all variables.
*Leadership: She is a natural leader, having learned from the example of her parents, and has experience leading smaller groups of warriors. As a Cousland, she was raised to be a leader.
*Religion: She is very familiar with the chant of light and the teachings of the Maker.
*Sailing: She is a skilled raider and sea captain, having taken many trips to the coast with her mother.
*Education: She was well-versed in history, diplomacy, and politics.
==Weaknesses==
*Lady: She did not pick up the skills expected of a Lady very well, due to lack of interest and no natural skill.
*Inexperience: She has been sheltered and is still quite young.
*Tact: She tends to speak her mind, regardless of proper social decorum, though she later adopts the skills her mother taught her.
==Possessions==
*Dog: A mabari warhound named Arthur, he escaped Highever with her, and imprinted on her as a puppy.
*Shield of Highever
*Family Sword
*Amaranthine Charger: A black horse named Una, she is spirited but not unruly, an impressive mount in that she is an uncommon breed.
==Songs==
*Dynasty, MIIA
*Heavy In Your Arms, Florence + The Machine
*Tempo, EXO
*Daft Pretty Boys, Bad Suns
*Remember (Feat. Seo Ho), U-mb5, SEAGATE DJ, Seo Ho
*Warriors, Imagine Dragons
*Who I Am, The Score
*One Woman Army, Porcelain Black
*Castle, Halsey
*I'm A Ruler, Tommee Profitt, Ruby Amanfu
*Joan of Arc, Little Mix
*Look What You Made Me Do, Taylor Swift
*Shatter Me Featuring Lzzy Hale, Lindsey Stirling
*Night of Your Life, WAR*HALL
*Bad, Royal Deluxe
*bad guy, Billie Eilish
*Bang!, AJR
*I Did Something Bad, Taylor Swift
*5 out of 6, Dessa
==Quotes==
*"I've no interest in an arranged marriage."
*"Are you trying to get rid of me?"
*"A good shield would be more useful."
*"Then we will stay and defend you."
*"A Cousland will see it done."
==Trivia==
*She mumbles in her sleep.
*She is left-handed.
*She walks fast, with her chin up.
*She often stands with her hands behind her back.
*She clears her throat when she wants to speak but is either nervous or self-conscious.
==Etymology==
*Elissa is a form of Elizabeth or Alice, and means noble and God is a promise. It is of Hebrew and German origin.
*Cousland is of Scottish origin and means "peace"
==Gallery==
File:Elissa5.jpg
File:Elissa4.jpg
File:Elissa1.jpg
File:Elissa3.jpg
Amaranthine-charger.webp|Una
Dog.webp|Arthur
Category:Characters
Category:Human
Category:Noble
Category:Warrior