Aedan Cousland (W1)

* Art
* Before Joining
* The Warden
* Royal Weeding
* Prince-consort

Morrigan:
Kieran - Son

Prince **Aedan Cousland** (born 9:09 Dragon), commonly known as **"the Hero of Ferelden"**, is the second son of Teyrn Bryce Cousland of Highever and his wife, Teyrna Eleanor. He is Fergus's younger brother, Oren's uncle.

On the night his brother took Highever’s troops to war, the Cousland’s ancestral castle was betrayed from within by Arl Rendon Howe when he launched an unexpected surprise attack and slaughtered most of the inhabitants, including the teyrn and teyrna. Aedan witnessed the massacre firsthand and was able to escape with his life due to Warden-Commander Duncan's intervention. However, the experience made him more bellicose and continues to weigh heavily on him. In exchange for being led to safety, Aedan joins the Grey Wardens where his training in both combat and diplomacy were put to the test.

As the Fifth Blight began devastating Ferelden following the disastrous battle at Ostagar, Aedan evaded assassination attempts to assemble a coalition to combat the Archdemon Urthemiel’s forces. By utilizing ancient treaties, he enlisted the aid of the Dalish elves, dwarves, Circle mages, Templars and Redcliffe soldiers. Upon ending a bloody civil war and uniting the country under a single banner, Aedan led the coalition forces into battle against the darkspawn at the siege of Denerim, where he killed Urthemiel and was proclaimed the "Hero of Ferelden".

Shortly before the War against the Elder One, Aedan traveled deep into the western lands to find a cure for the Calling. With a renewed determination to save himself from its effects. His efforts were proven to be difficult yet successful, and he soon made his return to his Wife.

## Involvement

### **Fifth Blight**

#### Fall of Highever

On the eve of the Fifth Blight in 9:30, Aedan entered the main hall to speak to his father, who is greeted by him and Arl Rendon Howe of Amaranthine, a close friend of the teyrn. When the latter explains that his troops are being delayed due to the response to King Cailan Theirin’s call to battle darkspawn at Ostagar, the teyrn informs Aedan that while he and his older brother Fergus leave for Ostagar, he will be ruling Highever during his father’s absence until he returns. He is also introduced to Warden-Commander Duncan, leader of the Fereldan Grey Wardens, who explains his mission of seeking potential recruits and suggests to Teyrn Cousland that his son would be a promising candidate—already knowing this idea would be dismissed.After being tasked with instructing Fergus to depart immediately to Ostagar with the bulk of Highever’s army, Aedan is intercepted by Ser Roland Gilmore, a knight in Highever’s service; Teyrna Eleanor Cousland, Aedan’s mother, wishes her youngest child to collect his mabari dog. After finishing both tasks, the young noble heads for bed with an Elven Maiden. However, Arl Howe took advantage of Highever’s weakened defenses and launched an unexpected surprise attack with his "late" troops in the middle of the night. The attack saw the Cousland’s ancestral castle burn, and the teyrn and his wife slain. A quick search reveals Fergus’ son and wife murdered as well, along with the other guests. Before the death of Teyrn Cousland, Duncan fights his way in the pantry and asks him to recruit Aedan. Bryce relents, wanting his youngest child to tell Fergus what has happened. Duncan offers to bring the teyrna too, but she refuses to leave her husband’s side as the teyrn is too injured to travel. True to his word, Duncan helped Aedan escape to a new life with the Wardens.

#### Battle at Ostagar

Aedan and Duncan traveled south to Ostagar to meet with King Cailan and Teyrn Loghain Mac Tir to defeat the darkspawn threat. In order to do so, the noble and two other recruits, Daveth and Ser Jory, are tasked with gathering three vials of darkspawn blood for the Joining by venturing into the Korcari Wilds under Grey Warden Alistair’s supervision. The group find a cache of treaties, as well, but finds them missing. A Witch of the Wilds named Morrigan invites them to meet her mother, Flemeth, who has safeguarded the treaties.
Back at camp, Duncan reveals that darkspawn blood must be consumed during the Joining. When Daveth dies to the taint upon drinking the blood, Jory refuses to follow and draws his sword at Duncan, who executes him. Aedan eventually survives the Joining, however, and went on to become a full-fledged Grey Warden.

During the war meeting with King Cailan and Teyrn Loghain, Aedan and Alistair are ordered to light a beacon atop the Tower of Ishal while the rest of the Wardens fight on the front line with the king and the royal army in the valley below. The two battle their way to the top of the tower, where an ogre guards the beacon. But valor turned to despair however as Loghain, upon seeing the signal, withdraws his troops. Cailan and Duncan were slain, the army was almost annihilated and the south was lost. The tower itself is soon overrun by darkspawn, who strike down Alistair and Aedan.

#### Interlude: Flemeth's Hut

Following the disaster at Ostagar, Aedan survived with the aid of Flemeth and regains consciousness in her hut. He soon discovers that Alistair is the only other Grey Warden remaining besides him and that Flemeth is the one who rescued them. In a discussion, Aedan comes up with the idea of using the treaties to build an army and continue the fight against the darkspawn threat. Joined by Flemeth’s daughter, Morrigan, Aedan and Alistair set out to build an army strong enough to abolish the Blight.

#### Lothering

Traveling to the nearby town of Lothering to resupply and gather information, the group finds the town in chaos, with refugees crowding the area and bandits preying on them as all present flee before the advance of the darkspawn horde. After dealing with a group of bandits that greet them upon arrival, the party proceeds into town. As they move to do so, Alistair stops the group to rethink about their plans and goals. Rather than trying to lead the new Warden, Alistair makes it clear that he would prefer it if Aedan carried out the burden of leadership instead. Once this is cleared up, the party moves into town.

Upon stopping at a local inn, the party finds a local Chantry sister named Leliana who helps them fight a group of Loghain’s men who accuse them of being the ones to have caused the king’s death. After this she asks to join them due to a vision she believed she received from the Maker. Aedan first declined the offer but later takes her into the group. Also of note is a Qunari named Sten who is locked in a cage for murder. Aedan manages to convince the local Chantry mother to release Sten into his custody, at which point he joins them.

#### Uprising at Kinloch Hold

*Main article: Broken Circle*
While travelling to the Kinloch Hold’s tower at Lake Calenhad to seek the Circle of Magi’s assistance, they offered little help. The Warden discovers that the Circle is under attack by a group of abominations and the Templar Order under the command of Knight-Commander Greagoir are considering the Right of Annulment which permits them to kill all the mages in the tower. After agreeing to end the threat the demons pose, Aedan finds a group of mages who put up a magical shield and have managed to hold out against the abominations and demons. Amongst them are is Wynne, a well-respected senior enchanter who Aedan had met prior to the Battle of Ostagar. Aedan decided to kill every mage in the tower for the greater good and cleanse the tower. So he attacked and killed Wynne and her companions.

After battling through several floors of monsters, the group encounters a powerful sloth demon who sends them to the Fade. Aedan wakes alone, and encounters a mage named Niall who has been seeking the Litany of Adralla which would allow him to prevent the blood mages from using mind control. However, he was trapped by the sloth demon before he could put it to use. Niall reveals that Uldred had attempted to persuade the Circle to ally with Loghain in exchange for greater freedoms, but when Loghain’s treachery at Ostagar was revealed, the Circle would have no part in his plans. At this point, Uldred first tried to explain away Loghain’s actions, then attempted to escape, but First Enchanter Irving would not allow it. Uldred then attempted to summon a demon; however, he become possessed by a pride demon and was twisting other Circle mages into abominations, unleashing the chaos that engulfed Kinloch Hold.

Before the Warden can escape the Fade and confront Uldred, he first mounts a rescue mission to save his comrades from their nightmares and confronts the sloth demon, killing it in combat. Once it is dead, the group fights to the top of the tower and defeated Uldred, First Enchanter Irving and the other Maged died in the progress. Grateful for the help, the Templars joined Aedan’s army. After the Templars agreed to fight in Aedan's army, he told the Knight Commander that his companion Morrigan was a Apostate, whereupon she should be arrested, but she fled beforehand by turning into an animal. With order restored to the Circle, the Warden continues their battle against the Blight. The allies gained at the Circle were not the only soldiers to join the Warden’s forces, however.

Trouble at Redcliffe

With the traitorous Loghain now seated on Ferelden’s throne, Aedan sought help from the influential Eamon Guerrin, the powerful and respected Arl of Redcliffe and the elder of King Cailan’s maternal uncles, upon Alistair’s recommendation. It is at that point when the party learns that Alistair is the bastard son of King Maric, making him a potential candidate for the throne and hence why Eamon brought him up. However, the party arrived in Redcliffe to find the town under siege. With each passing night, undead rose in waves and assailed the battered village. They are taken to meet Teagan Guerrin, Bann of Rainsfere and Eamon’s brother, who reveals that the arl lying at the edge of death and his court had fallen into madness.

With the help of Aedan and his companions, the people of Redcliffe stood fast against the undead horde. After the attack has passed, the Wardens meet up with Teagan once again and he provides access to Redcliffe Castle via means of an underground passage. Once inside they find a prisoner named Jowan, a mage who claims was brought in to tutor Eamon’s young son Connor in secret so that Connor could learn to hide his magic abilities and thus avoid being disinherited and sent to the Circle of Magi, but Jowan had a sinister motive for taking the position: he reveals that he was the one who poisoned Eamon on the orders of Loghain. However, it was Connor who has brought the undead. To save his father’s life, Connor had made a deal with a desire demon and quickly fallen victim its possession, resulting in a weakening of the Veil. After battling through several floors of undead, the Warden reaches the throne room of Castle Redcliffe, where Isolde (Connor’s mother), a possessed Connor, and Teagan await. By this time Teagan is mind-controlled by Connor. A battle cannot be avoided, but the attack does rid Teagan of his mind-control.

Aedan intervened once more, no way was found to free Connor from the demon and after a fight between Aedan and the demon, Isolde put her son out of his pain and killed him which broke the demon’s hold over Redcliffe. But deals with demons were never straight forward: the group learned that the demon agreed only to save Eamon’s life, not restore him to health. Arl Eamon needed a miracle to recover. Isolde later points the Wardens to Denerim to seek the aid of Brother Genitivi, who has been researching the location of an urn containing the sacred ashes of Andraste, which were said to cure any ailment.

#### Brecilian Forest

On the way to Denerim, Aedan still wanted to secure the support of the Dalish elves, although he didn't really like them. Dalish elves don’t usually make alliances, but even deep hatred can be set aside in the face of oblivion. Deep within the Brecillian Forest, an ancient curse was destroying one of Ferelden’s largest wandering Dalish clans – leaving many of their hunters cursed and nearing death or transformed into mindless, ravening werewolves, and therefore are unable to support the Grey Wardens until this problem is resolved.

Zathrian, the clan’s Keeper, claimed that the cure required the heart of the great wolf Witherfang. After proceeding into the nearby forest for a way, Aedan is suddenly intercepted by a group of werewolves led by Swiftrunner, and learns that things are not quite as Zathrian has portrayed them – Swiftrunner is a werewolf who thinks and speaks like a man, not a mindless beast. After trying to shoo Aedan’s party off and failing, Aedan scared them away.

It is revealed that years before, Zathrian himself had afflicted a group of humans with a curse that now ravaged his clan. As long as he lived, the curse endured. Aedan convinces the werewolves to attack the Dalish and join his army after the fight. Aedan had no love for the Dalish and would rather see them dead than in an army for Ferelden.

At some point during the Blight, Aedan and Leliana became lovers.

#### Urn of Sacred Ashes/Haven

When the support of the werewolves was promised, Aedan and his group made their way to Denerim. When the group arrives at Genitivi’s house he is nowhere to be found. A man claiming to be his assistant Weylon suggests that Genitivi may have traveled to Lake Calenhad, but Genitivi is not there either. When pressed, the man claiming to be Weylon attacks. Upon exploring the back room, the disturbing truth is revealed: the real Weylon has been murdered, and the only sign of Genitivi is a journal which points to the village of Haven as his likely location.

Haven is a remote village, isolated from the rest of Ferelden. Aedan receives a frosty welcome from the town guard, but he does reveal that a Revered Father, rather than a revered mother, leads their local community. Upon exploring Haven, the party discovers several unsettling things, such as a bloody altar and the body of one of Arl Eamon’s knights. Eventually the Warden discovers the village Chantry and the Revered Father Eririk, who has no intention of allowing the party to stay and attacks. Once he has been defeated and his medallion retrieved, Brother Genitivi is rescued. Although he has been tortured, he is eager to continue on in order to find the urn and points Aedan to the Temple of Sacred Ashes that he believes holds the urn.

The urn was protected by ancient traps, tests of will, and a dragon worshiping cult that wanted to twist the urn’s power to its own ends. After moving across the mountaintop, Aedan faces the Gauntlet. Looked over by an ancient Guardian of Andraste’s, it begins by asking Aedan and his companions a question about their respective pasts. After passing several trials, the party approaches the urn containing Andraste’s ashes. Taking but a small pinch, the urn remained pure, but mysteriously disappeared after the group departed. Only the temple dedicated to it still stands. Genitivi became enthusiastic at Aedan’s findings, even contemplating publishing a book about this religious find. But Aedan wanted the place to remain secret so that the ashes would not be defiled by strangers, and since Genitivi could not be dissuaded from his plan, Aedan killed him.

Using a pinch of the ashes, Aedan restored Arl Eamon to health. Informed of Loghain’s treachery, Eamon swore his political and military support, and sends an emissary to the party’s camp to act as liaison. He begins laying the necessary groundwork to call a Landsmeet with the purpose of placing Alistair on the throne.

#### Political unrest in Orzammar

Blights may happen hundreds of years apart, but the dwarves who live below the surface of Thedas fight darkspawn every day. No one is better schooled in battling darkspawn than the warriors of Orzammar, except perhaps their allies of old—the Grey Wardens. Aedan and his companions traveled through the Frostback Mountains and arrived in Orzammar in the wake of King Endrin Aeducan’s death to find political factions fighting for control of the dwarven capital. Only the vote of a venerated Paragon could break the deadlock to elect a ruler and order the dwarves to honor their Grey Warden treaty and join the battle against the new Blight.

He set off to find a Paragon named Branka, who had disappeared into the Deep Roads in search of a legendary artifact: the Anvil of the Void, created by the renowned smith Caridin to forge mighty war golems. Aedan helped Caridin destroy the Anvil of the Void, along with the dark secrets that could trap a living soul inside a mechanical construct. He emerged from the Deep Roads with a master forged crown to bestow the Paragon’s favor upon whichever rival candidate would be crowned king: Prince Bhelen Aeducan, the youngest son of King Endrin who was suspected of foul play, or Lord Pyral Harrowmont, the aging traditionalist backed by the dwarven Assembly. Bhelen claimed the crown of Orzammar.

#### The Landsmeet

With the dwarven strength now bolstering his army, Aedan turned his attention towards Loghain so Ferelden could stand unified against the darkspawn before the Blight swallowed the world. However, the kingdom stood divided. While some nobles supported Loghain’s regency, others condemned his inaction against the darkspawn. Civil war brewed, and Arl Eamon called a Landsmeet in hopes of curtailing the conflict and removing Loghain from power.

At some point, Aedan was informed by Queen Anora’s elven handmaiden Erlina that she was being held prisoner at Arl Howe’s estate and seeks aid in escaping. During the infiltration mission, he rescued Riordan, a senior Warden from Orlais. The pursuit finally led him to Howe, who mocks Aedan about how he made his parents suffer before he killed them. Furious and overwhelmed by his anger, Aedan viciously attacked him and the two engaged in a heated battle. Aedan quickly gained the advantage and overpowered Howe and fatally impaled him through the chest with his sword. As Arl Howe slowly died in a puddle of his own blood, Aedan gave a small satisfied smile. He had finally achieved his revenge.

After freeing the prisoners from the dungeons and releasing Queen Anora from captivity, the party made their attempt to leave the estate. However, they were confronted by Loghain’s top lieutenant Ser Cauthrien and a sizable contingent of soldiers. Aedan was alone with Anora and he knew this fight would be too risky so he had himself arrested and taken to Fort Draken. There he planned an escape by posing as a guard after he was able to free himself from his cell. He succeeded and was sent to patrol with two other guards where he killed them and fled back to Arl Eamon.

When he was back at the estate, Aedan and Anora made an agreement that he would support her in the Landsmeet if she married him.

After Aedan obtained proof of Loghain's involvement with the slavers in the Alienage, Eamon convened the Landsmeet. He denounced Loghain, claiming he had turned against everything Fereldan was built upon. In turn, Loghain claimed that Eamon was plotting to make Alistair a puppet ruler. As Aedan and Alistair arrived, Loghain accused the former of being an Orlesian spy. Aedan refuted his accusations and revealed the regent's crimes: selling the alienage elves to Tevinter slavers to fund his war, allowing Howe to torture nobles who spoke out against Loghain, and snatching a blood mage from Chantry custody to poison Eamon. The evidence presented to the nobility discredited Loghain's ability to lead. Opinion swayed in Aedan’s favor and he won the support of the Landsmeet and demanded that Loghain step down. However, Loghain refused to abide by the decision and attempted to stage a coup d’état. The situation escalated into a duel between Aedan and Loghain, with the latter emerging victorious. Loghain surrendered and Riordan suggested making Loghain a Warden. Knowing that Aedan would marry Anora, he accepted and let Loghain live. Alistair, however, opposed this and demanded the throne if that was the only way to see Loghain dead. However, Aedan proclaimed that Anora would become queen and that he himself would reign as Prince Consort at her side. Alistair felt betrayed and decided to leave Ferelden and the Wardens, but Anora wouldn't let him live as it was too dangerous. Aedan agrees and told Alistair it would be for the Greater Good. Alistair was arrested and taken away and Loghain survived the joining ritual.

#### Battle of Denerim

Before the final battle, Aedan learned from Riordan that when an Archdemon is slain, its essence will pass on to possess the nearest darkspawn, making the archdemon essentially immortal. To end the Blight, a Grey Warden must strike the fatal blow, which would cause the essence to be drawn into the Warden and killing both. Upon learning this disturbing new information, Aedan retired to his room to rest only to find Morrigan waiting for him. There she offers Aedan a choice to avoid his fate: according to Morrigan, she believes a ritual performed on the eve of night would ensure the essence of the Archdemon is lured into an unborn child conceived by Morrigan and a Grey Warden without the sacrifice of a Grey Warden’s life. Aedan agreed to undergo the mysterious dark ritual with Morrigan, resulting in him fathering one illegitimate son, Kieran.

As Aedan’s united army massed in Redcliffe, the darkspawn overran Denerim, laying siege to Ferelden’s capital city. The coalition forces fought valiantly and broke through the darkspawn siege. On the top of Fort Drakon’s highest tower, Aedan and his strongest allies fought in a final heroic battle against Urthemiel and the massive Archdemon was killed.

With no Archdemon to lead them, the darkspawn horde scattered. Most darkspawn fled underground still teeming in number and always searching for another Archdemon to awaken.

## Titles, Honours and Monutments

### Titles

#### Aktiv

* Teyrn of Gwaren
* Prince-consort of Ferelden

#### Former

* General of Fereldens Army (/)
* Commander of the Grey in Ferelden (/)
* Arl of Amaranthine (/)

### Honours

* Champion of Redcliffe
* Champion of a Dwarven Proving
* Hero of Ferelden

### Monutments

* A landmark of Aedan Cousland, alias the Hero of Ferelden, stands in the Hinterlands near Redcliffe.
* A shrine of the Warden and those who died defending Ferelden during the Fifth Blight stands in Lothering outside the local Chantry, though it bears no plaque.