Highever

Situated on the north coast of Ferelden, Highever is the ancestral home of the Couslands and one of only two Teyrnirs left in Ferelden.

The heraldic device of Highever are two green spears crossed in front of a pale green raindrop. The heraldic device of the ruling Cousland family is a laurel wreath, which resembles two white wings.

Background
Castle Highever has existed since the Divine Age, making it somewhere around 800 - 850 years old. Originally an outpost of the then-expanding Amaranthine Bannorn, it was ruled by the Elstan family, cousins of the Howe noble family. During the Tower Age (approximately 300 years later), however, Bann Conobar Elstan was allegedly murdered by his wife, Flemeth, which ended the bloodline. Conobar's Captain of the Guard, Sarim Cousland, acquired land and title, which the Cousland family has controlled ever since.

Subsequently, the Couslands declared their independence from the Amaranthine, and instigated a war that lasted for thirty years. When the war finally ended, Highever was not only granted independence, but also half of what used to be southwestern Amaranthine.

During the Black Age, Highever became a teyrnir almost by default after Haelia Cousland battled, and defeated, the werewolf threat encroaching upon the land.

In the present, Highever is one of only two teyrnirs, the other being Gwaren, granting the Cousland family power and influence second only to the King.

Places

 * Castle Cousland

Inhabitants
The current rulers of Highever are Teyrn Bryce Cousland and Teyrna Eleanor Cousland. Players who select the Human Noble origin will play a Cousland who is their son or daughter and have Fergus Cousland as a brother.

Arl Rendon Howe, during the early part of the game, will usurp the Teyrnir of Highever from the Couslands. Either the attack is implicitly mentioned if the Warden is not a Human Noble, or witnessed first-hand during the Warden's Origin if he or she is a Noble.

After The Warden kills Howe, when attempting to rescue Queen Anora; and after the Blight is thwarted, Highever is granted back to the remaining Couslands, and Fergus is made Teyrn.

Trivia

 * Highever seems to be loosely inspired by a combination of Ireland and Scotland: Just as Highever was forced into submission via military conquest by Calenhad's growing Ferelden kingdom, so too were Ireland and Scotland conquered by the Kingdom of England, upon which Ferelden is based. Also, several inhabitants of Highever have Gaelic names, such as Ser Gilmore or the teyrn's eldest Fergus; the default name for a male human noble, Aedan, is Irish.