Starkhaven

Starkhaven is an independent and prominent city-state of the Free Marches that lies on the banks of the Minanter River. It is the largest city in the Free Marches and the most influential along with Kirkwall and Tantervale.
== Background ==
Starkhaven has been the largest city in the Free Marches and one of the wealthiest since the Glory Age. Starkhaven is currently ruled by the Vael family and has strong ties to the Chantry.
The oval city has imposing walls: a curved mountain of earth crowned with concentric rings of tall gray stone. On the northern side, the Minanter River rushes through the water gate. The city itself is glimpsed from afar as a glory of marble palaces set on green hills and ringed by broad boulevards.Dragon Age: Last Flight, Chapter 8. It is a place of wealth and opulence, with many kingly estates with fountains and granite paths. Large sections of the city are decorated in fine materials like marble and gold. The royal palace in the heart of the city is made of marble, and the path to it is paved in granite.
== History ==
In 1:95 Divine, the last battle of the Second Blight was fought at Starkhaven with a human army led by the Grey Wardens. Both sides suffered heavy losses, but Zazikel was slain by the Grey Warden Corin, ending the Second Blight.Codex entry: Vestments of Sacrifice Sensing an opportunity, Prince Fyruss of Starkhaven had his men scour the battlefield to reclaim the slain Wardens' weapons.
In 2:15 Glory, Fyruss named himself King of Starkhaven and, with backing from Tevinter allies, launched a series of military campaigns in an effort to unite the Free Marches under his banner and build his own empire. The other Marcher cities united to fight him off and Fyruss failed to conquer any of the neighboring city-states. His expansionist inspirations were not limited to the Free Marches; he also invaded some of Antiva's southernmost cities. Antiva's cities similarly united to defend themselves against Fyruss in 2:33 Glory. In 2:45, due to his failure to conquer any of the Marcher city-states and the diplomatic liability created by his invasion of Antiva, Fyruss' Tevinter allies betrayed him and ousted him from Starkhaven; the Tevinter Imperium then conquered his city. This led the Orlesian Chantry to declare an Exalted March to liberate Starkhaven from the Imperium in 2:80 Glory. The following battle for the independence of Starkhaven was short, but bloody.
In 5:12 Exalted, during the Fourth Blight, Starkhaven accepted a large group of refugees fleeing the Darkspawn from Wycome.Dragon Age: Last Flight, p. 92
It is known to have had at least one Champion rise to prominence.Codex entry: Stonehammer's Gift They assisted the Grey Wardens with the evacuation of civilians from Kirkwall during the Fourth Blight and later participated in the Battle of Ayesleigh in 5:24 Exalted at which the Archdemon Andoral was slain.Dragon Age: Last Flight, p. 211Interview with Liane Merciel: "But in either case that is a mistake and it should be Starkhaven."
In 7:56 Storm, the Qunari landed near Ostwick and launched assaults against Starkhaven and Kirkwall. Starkhaven was besieged by Qunari invaders who hoped to cut off trade to the north, only to be repelled, but Kirkwall fell due to the magic of the Saarebas.
== Involvement ==
=== Dragon Age II ===
=== Dragon Age: Inquisition ===
=== Dragon Age: Knight Errant ===
=== Dragon Age: Tevinter Nights ===
== Governance ==
Starkhaven is governed by a prince. Starkhaven has been ruled by the Vael family since the ousting of the self-anointed "King Ironfist," the last in a series of low-born warlords claiming sovereignty over the city. The first Prince Vael was proclaimed prince when he refused the title of king. The title is hereditary.Codex entry: The Vael Family
=== Known Princes ===
* Lord Vael – the first Prince of Starkhaven
* Fyruss – a Prince who declared himself to be King and waged a war across the Free Marches and Antiva during the Glory Age in an attempt to form an empire of his own
* Artesian Vael – a Prince who ruled during the Exalted AgeSiege's End
* Corbinian Vael – supposed heir to the throne of StarkhavenLetter: A Strangely Official-Looking Letter
* Goran Vael – a cousin of the main Vael family who was placed on the throne as a puppet by Lady Johane Harimann—who had the previous prince and most of his immediate heirs assassinated in 9:31; he was the "pretender" to the throne of Starkhaven from 9:31-9:41
* Sebastian Vael – Prince of Starkhaven (9:41-present)
=== Known ambassadors ===
* Sifas Carrenter – Starkhaven ambassador to Nevarra (prior to 9:06 Dragon)Codex entry: Exhuming Bodies by Moonlight
* Galen Vedas – Starkhaven ambassador to Nevarra (9:06 Dragon)
== Food ==
Starkhaven is famed for its superb cuisine, with its most famous dish being fish and egg pie.Samson mentions it as being his favorite meal while in Skyhold's prison A pie made in a porcelain dish with fresh, lightly poached fish caught from the Minanter river that day.Codex entry: The City of Starkhaven The fish are deboned and added to a filling of boiled eggs, dried fruit such as dried currants, sliced almonds, spices, and thickened cream constitute the filling, all of this topped with a light crust. Other filling options including wine, onions, carrots, thyme, bay, sea salt, salt, butter, pepper, nutmeg, flour, milk, and fish broth.Dragon Age: The Official Cookbook: Tastes of Thedas, p. 89 Other foods served in Starkhaven are roast turkeyDragon Age: The Official Cookbook: Tastes of Thedas, p. 97, roasted pig, various cheese, fruits like apples, bananas, grapes, and oranges.Dragon Age: Knight Errant
== Notable citizens ==
* Alain
* Amadis Vael
* Belinda Darrow
* Professor Bram Kenric
* Eddin the MeekCodex entry: Journal of the Tranquil
* Fedras VaelFather of Amadis, cousin to the Prince of Starkhaven during the early Exalted Age; Dragon Age: Last Flight, p. 85.
* Grace
* First Enchanter HaldenCodex entry: ApostatesCodex entry: Templars (8:80 Blessed)
* Quentin
* Ser Reginald VaelWon the Grand Tourney of the Free Marches; see Stinking Cheater.
* Knight-Commander ReinerCodex entry: Shield of the Resolute
* Knight-Captain Rylen
* Prince Sebastian Vael
* Strife
== Codex entries ==
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== Note texts ==
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== Trivia ==
* Starkhaven is generally seen as "pretentious" and "proud" by other Marchers.Varric calls Starkhaven pretentious, while the Lord Chancellor of Tantervale called Starkhaveners proud.
* According to Sebastian Vael, Kirkwall is the city's largest trading partner.
* According to Devon, Sebastian Vael is very popular in Starkhaven.Dragon Age: The Official Cookbook: Tastes of Thedas, p. 89
* Most inhabitants of Starkhaven encountered so far, including Sebastian, Rylen, Belinda Darrow, Bram Kenric, and StrifeAs shown by his use of the word "lass"; confirmed by Patrick Weekes on Twitch. seem to have a Scottish accent.
* If female Hawke rivals and flirts with Sebastian in Act III, he says "The prince of Starkhaven and the viscountess of Kirkwall? It would be the strongest alliance the Free Marches has ever seen."
== See also ==
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== References ==
Category:Locations
Category:Dragon Age: Last Flight locations
Category:Dragon Age: Knight Errant locations
Category:Dragon Age: Tevinter Nights locations
Category:Cities
Category:Free Marches
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