Rhysa Cousland

Rhysa circa 9:30 Dragon

Rhysa Cousland, more widely known as The Hero Of Fereldan and Queen of Fereldan, is the youngest child of Bryce and Eleanor Cousland. She is the former Warden-Commander of Fereldan and Arlessa of Amaranthine.

## Overview

### **Physical Appearance**

Rhysa takes after her mother in looks, with long dark blonde hair that she usually ties into a bun to keep out of the way whilst fighting. She has an oval face with a slender jawline and a chin that sticks out just a little too much. Her two front teeth are just a tad too big. Her eyes are a clear blue that is similar to her father's. She's rather tall for a Fereldan woman stand just a few inches shorter than her father and brother.

### **Personality**

Rhysa has always been called stubborn. Spoilt by her parents she is very used to getting her way and not taking 'no' as an answer. But she is a very kind person underneath her stubbornness, always taking the time to get to know her companions and going out her way to help others on her travels during the Fifth Blight. She has a very strong sense of justice and a need to right wrongs done to others. Before the blight and the Cousland Massacre, she was always known for a light sense of humor, she could usually be found laughing around friends but hardly anyone sees that side of her since the blight. She harbors deep guilt for leaving her father and mother to their deaths which affects her to this day.

### **Talents and Skills**

As a noble Rhysa has had extensive training in martial arts, learning how to use a sword and shield from a very young age. Her mother also made sure she was educated in the arts as well. However, this isn't to say she's very good at any of them. Rhysa is a far better painter than a dancer, a better dancer than a singer and a better singer than a knitter. But her skill with a sword is what she's best at second only to her skills with persuasion. She has a fine way with words, leave Rhysa alone in the room with a man who refuses to sign a treaty and she'll leave having him sign it and thinking it was his idea all along.

## Biography

### **History**

Rhysa Cousland was born to Eleanor and Bryce Cousland on the 29th of Ferventis in 9:11 Dragon. Her brother Fergus was seven years older than her. Although her mother Eleanor wanted to have Rhysa raised to be a perfect lady Rhysa, from even a young age disagreed, often wandering away from lessons with Brother Aldos to the courtyard where her brother trained and watching with excitement or even stealing knives from dinner to hide under her bed. Eleanor knew the more she resisted, the more Rhysa would end up making things more difficult. Around 9:18 Dragon a litter of mabari pups was born at Castle Cousland, her father allowed Rhysa to have the first pick. She chose a small red-colored mabari who she named Oogie because of his snotty muzzle which she thought was adorable.

Her brother Fergus left on a tour of the Free Marches and Orlais when she was twelve, much to her disappointment and chagrin since he would be away for years. During this time King Maric had been declared lost at sea and the Landsmeet was to be held in Denerim to declare his son, Cailan, king. Her father brought her to the Landsmeet in order to introduce her to the other lords of Fereldan. She met King Cailan, Loghain, and his daughter and even the Arl of Redcliffe and his wife, during this trip she managed to impress her father enough to train her as his successor.

Her brother returned from his tour early, he made a stop in Antiva that led to him meeting his wife Oriana. Rhysa took it upon herself to befriend her new sister immediately, asking her to teach her as much as she could about her homeland of Antiva and even learning its language.

Overtime Rhysa became a formidable warrior in her own right, favoring the sword and shield while trying to keep up with her other studies in order to please her mother. It was discussed when she was sixteen of her marrying Rendon Howe's son to which she objected to, she was in a relationship with a bakers apprentice in Highever when her father found out he told Fergus to convince her to break it off. Following her older brothers' advice that at her age she shouldn't have any serious relationships she did, breaking her own heart and the other girls'. However, this would have the opposite effect that her parents wanted as Rhysa started a string of courtships which continued for three years

### **In-game**

Heeding King Cailan's call to arms, her father and brother prepared to march to Ostagar with Rhysa and Eleanor remaining in Castle Cousland to oversee the Teyrnir. Her brother Fergus left first along with the majority of their men while her father tended to their surprise guest the grey warden Duncan who was scouting Rhysa's friend Ser Gilmore for his order. Her mother had invited an old friend over and Rhysa had gotten acquainted with her elven maid Iona, inviting her to her room later that night after she said her goodbyes to her brother. The goodbyes were short and sweet, Rhysa expected her brother wouldn't be gone for very long and wanted to get to her rooms to spend time with Iona, which her brother teased her about in private.

Later that night, tragedy struck, Howe's army had infiltrated the castle and started slaughtering the occupants, when Iona went to see what was going on she was killed in front of Rhysa. Rhysa quickly dispatched the soldiers and awoke her mother, they both worried about the safety of Oriana and Oren and quickly went to her brothers' chambers only to see the two lying face down in puddles of their own blood. Rhysa had no time to process this as her mother told her they needed to retrieve the Cousland family sword and find her father.

Joined by what was left of their castle guard and a few loyal servants Rhysa and her mother managed to get into the family vault to get family sword and shield which Rhysa armed herself with immediately. They made their way to the great hall and found Ser Gilmore who told them that Bryce had gone to the larder, which housed a servants exit, to look for them and that Duncan had accompanied him. However, the main force of Howe's army started barring down on the defenseless castle, the main doors to the castle were beginning to give away and Ser Gilmore and the rest of the guard decided to guard the main hall while the Couslands escaped. Rhysa tried convincing Gilmore to come with them but time was short and he was adamant about staying, forcing Rhysa's hand into going to the larder.

Killing Howes soldiers along the way with her mother and faithful mabari she found her father mortally wounded inside of the larder. Duncan had found him and brought him there for safety while he cleared the rest of the halls and looked for his family. Bryce begged Eleanor and Rhysa to leave with Duncan who would take them to Ostagar to rejoin with Fergus but Eleanor refused, saying her place was by her husband and she could buy time for Rhysa and Duncan could escape Howes forces. Not wanting to be an orphan Rhysa refused to leave her parents' sides, resigning herself to die by their side before Duncan conscripted her into the Grey Wardens, dragging her away from her parents down the larder stairs as Howe's soldiers broke through.

The next week as they traveled to Ostagar Rhysa only said three words to Duncan "I hate you.". Upon their arrival, Rhysa was surprised to be greeted by the King himself, who greeted Duncan warmly as an old friend and spoke of how glorious the upcoming battle would be. The king recognized Rhysa s=from the Landsmeet but didn't remember who she was, Rhysa quickly explained who she was and her situation to him and asking him where she could find her brother to tell him of the massacre and Howe's betrayal. However, by the time they arrived at Ostagar her brother had been made the head of one of their scouting parties and was unable to be reached but Cailan swore that after the battle that Howe would be forced to answer to him and the Landsmeet for his atrocious actions. Unable to anything else Rhysa followed Duncan's instructions, she met with Junior Grey Warden Alistair, who managed to make a good impression on her by making her smile for the first time in a week and recruits Jory and Daveth. They foraged into the Koncari Wilds to gather darkspawn blood and retrieve Grey Warden treaties hidden in an abandoned fortress. They were distressed to find that not only were the treaties not in the abandoned fort,but that they were being followed by a mysterious woman.

The woman introduced herself as Morrigan and offered to take the group to meet her mother who had taken the treaties for safe keeping. The default leader of the group Rhysa agreed to follow Morrigan further into the wilds, half hoping to run into her brothers' scout party along the way. Unfortunately, the journey deeper into the wilds was uneventful. Upon reaching the woman's hut, an older woman introduced herself as Flemeth to which Daveth quickly explained that Flemeth was a legendary Witch of the Wilds. Not wanting to be rude, Rhysa politely took the treaties Flemeth returned and made a swift exit, not wanting to stay any longer than needed.

Upon returning Duncan proceeded with the Joining, a ritual that to this day Rhysa does not fully understand. Daveth was first to drink from the chalice filled with a mysterious liquid, and what Rhysa could only assume was the darkspawn blood they had collected, she watched as Daveth shuddered and screamed after taking his first sip. He collapsed on the ground dead.

Ser Jory, just as shocked by these events as Rhysa was, refused to drink from the chalice, not wanting to leave his pregnant wife a widow, drawing his sword to defend himself from Duncan's approach with the silver chalice. But Duncan quickly drew his dagger and stabbed Ser Jory. Rhysa, still in shock from everything that had happened looked between Duncan and Alistair who tried to give her a reassuring nod. Rhysa reluctantly took the chalice and drank deeply from the contents within, it was like her mind was splitting open from the inside.

Taking a few moments to recover, Alistair helped her to her feet while Duncan explained they were to attend a war council with the King and Teryn Loghain. Alistair also handed her a necklace filled the blood of Jory and Daveth to remember them by. Rhysa took it and slipped it on in her fugue state. Gathering her thoughts she and Duncan made their way to the council, held just a little ways from where their ritual had taken place. King Cailan regretted the loses of Jory and Daveth but moved on quickly to the plan for their final assault against the darkspawn.

King Cailan and his men along with the rest of the Grey Wardens would lure darkspawn into attacking while Loghain and his army would lie in wait and attack once a signal was given. Alistair and Rhysa would be the ones to give this signal at the top of the tower of Ishal

### **Post-game**

Here's what happened after the events of said game, brosef.

## **Relationships**

Here's what happened with the companions, yo.

## **Miscellaneous**

What else happened, or what else can you tell us about Your OC, bruh? Think of things like likes, dislikes, fears, strengths and weaknesses, etc. This is as close as you'll get to being able to word-vomit about your OC while keeping the article organized and will probably be the longest section. Feel free to add sub-headings as necessary with sub-heading 2:

## **Gallery**

* Sample Photo
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