Gaspard de Chalons

Grand Duke Gaspard de Chalons (born 8:74 BlessedNote: Halamshiral Investigation - Clues (Grand Library)) is an Orlesian nobleman from House Chalons and the ruler of Verchiel. A renowned Chevalier, he has won many victories for Orlais. Gaspard was trained in the arts of The Grand Game by Dowager Lady Mantillon, like his cousin Empress Celene, but Gaspard retains his chevalier code of honor when dealing with opponents.
== Background ==
Gaspard began his training at the Academie des Chevaliers at the age of thirteen, and became a full-fledged chevalier when he turned nineteen. As the eldest surviving grandchild of Emperor Judicael I, Gaspard was raised from birth believing he would become Emperor as he was the eldest and the intended heir. However, when Emperor Florian died, Celene outmaneuvered her cousin and had herself crowned Empress instead by appealing to the Council of Heralds.
Gaspard de Chalons eventually married the daughter of Duke Bastien de Ghislain, Lady Calienne de Ghislain. After the death of Emperor Florian she orchestrated the death of Celene's mother, Clarisse de Montfort, by arranging for "a hunting accident." Celene's father, Grand Duke Reynaud, killed Calienne in retaliation, and then died himself of "illness" caused by Calienne's poisoned stiletto.
Gaspard is one of the highest ranking Orlesian nobles to ever become a Chevalier and has earned a reputation as a man well loved by his subordinates for his even-handed and respectful treatment of all those who served with him, even while he showed his open disdain for the Grand Game. Though at first some whispered that Gaspard's rank had obtained him the chevalier's feather, he quickly proved them wrong during his first Grand Tourney, defeating several veteran chevaliers and placing well in both the joust and the horse race. He would likely have won the Grand Melee as well if he had not forfeited the match rather than risk injuring the young Marquis of Montsimmard with his jagged broken sword. He noted that the chevalier's code prohibited an honorable combat with unmatched weapons. 
Upon Celene's ascension to the throne, Nevarra invaded Orlais, seizing the town of Larécolte in the fields of Ghislain. Gaspard was placed in charge of Orlais' response by Celene with the proviso that he was to abandon the campaign if he lost more than a thousand Orlesian lives. Some saw this as indicative of Celene's pragmatism while others argued Celene was trying to set her cousin up to fail at the cost of ignoring a Nevarran invasion. Gaspard's tactical prowess allowed him to drive the Nevarrans back to Larécolte, with far fewer than a thousand casualties. The Nevarrans fortified the town, daring the Orlesian Imperial Army to attack. Knowing it would be a long and bloody battle if they were to assault the town directly, Gaspard rode out alone to challenge the Nevarran commander. Gaspard baited the Nevarran commander, famed as a tournament fighter, into single combat, with Larécolte going to the winner. When the commander balked at the proposition, Gaspard famously threw his shield to the ground and called out, "If you are that fearful, then I shall fight without a shield, as it seems I will not need it." The Nevarran commander agreed, and Gaspard remained true to his word, forgoing his shield and instead fighting with a massive maul— a weapon a tournament fighter was likely to be unfamiliar with in combat. In less than a minute, Gaspard had broken the commander's arm and was accepting the Nevarran surrender. 
== Involvement ==
After doubting that Celene’s diplomatic approach to the mage problem or the elven uprisings has any chance in keeping Orlais safe, Gaspard becomes disillusioned with his cousin's rule and believes it is time for a new leader to make Orlais strong again.
=== Dragon Age: The Masked Empire ===
=== Dragon Age: Inquisition ===
== Quests ==
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== Quotes ==
* "A good war unites the Empire."
* "I detest the game but if we do not play it well, our enemies will make us look like villains."
== Codex entries ==
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== Note texts ==
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== Trivia ==
* Gaspard wears a Puzzle Ring of the Black Fox as a gift for excelling at the Grand Game from Lady Mantillon.
* According to Briala, Gaspard is a veteran of "the war in Ferelden", suggesting he fought during the Fereldan Rebellion against its occupation by Orlais.
* In the Arbor Wilds, if selected, Gaspard will still be erroneously identified as "Grand Duke Gaspard", if he is now Emperor.
* Gaspard is a smoker, and has a smoking room in his home in Val Royeaux.Dragon Age: The Masked Empire, p. 29
* Ser Aaron’s horse is an Orlesian CourserNunzio DeFilippis on the Unofficial BSN named Cassé which used to belong to Gaspard. Gaspard named him such because he saw the horse as a broken thing for avoiding combat. Ser Aaron wouldn't let Gaspard put him down, and Cassé has been with him since.Dragon Age: Blue Wraith, issue 3
== Gallery ==
De Chalons heraldry.jpeg|De Chalons Heraldry
DA inks masked 05.jpg|Gaspard in Dragon Age: The Masked Empire
Gaspard de Chalons tarot.png|Gaspard tarot card
Gaspard Concept Art.png|Gaspard Concept Art
Gaspard Heroes of Dragon Age.png|Artwork of Gaspard in 'Heroes of Dragon Age
== References ==
Category:Characters
Category:Dragon Age: The Masked Empire characters
Category:Dragon Age: Inquisition characters
Category:Heroes of Dragon Age characters
Category:Humans
Category:Orlesians
Category:Orlesian nobility
Category:Chevaliers
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