Hahren

Background
In the Elvish language, "hahren" means "elder," and there may be several elders in an elven community. Among the Dalish, the hahren is primarily a storyteller and caretaker of children, working in tandem with but deferring to a clan's Keeper. However, in the alienages the term takes on a specific, formal connotation as well.

The hahren of an elven alienage is a surrogate uncle (or aunt, as the case may be), as well as administrator, to the alienage and its citizens. He or she is elected to the position not on the basis of age but on the merits of wisdom, cleverness and levelheadedness. The hahren essentially runs the day-to-day workings of an alienage, managing altercations and leading the alienage spiritually.

Hahrens in the cities also, significantly, arrange marriages between alienages for young elves without parents to do so for them. Hahrens in the city are not allowed to officiate during weddings, per se, as that duty is left to Chantry Revered Mothers much as in human communities, but are allowed to offer their thoughts and prayers for the couple.

Though the hahren does not have political power specifically, human authorities coming to the alienage appear to respect the hahren's opinion on matters.

Notable Hahrens

 * Valendrian, hahren of the Denerim alienage
 * Sarethia, hahren of the Highever alienage
 * Shianni, depending on player origin and choices potentially a future hahren of the Denerim alienage
 * Paivel, hahren of the Sabrae clan
 * Sarel, hahren of Zathrian's clan