Anora

"We have been given the gift of freedom by our forbearers. Let us not squander it."

Queen Anora Theirin (née Mac Tir) is the widow of King Cailan Theirin and daughter of Teyrn Loghain Mac Tir. She is the Queen of Ferelden, a consummate ruler and committed to ensuring economic security for Ferelden.

Anora is both capable and quick-witted: traits which she can use to be charming or to cut someone up verbally -- which she will not hesitate to do, if the situation calls for it. It is to Anora's eternal irritation that, had she been born a man, it would have been much easier for her to achieve power in the world. She is easily bored by those of lesser intelligence and often assumes a somewhat imperious manner. She has become accustomed, after all, to being served -- though this should never go over the top, as she was not born into luxury. Her father is of common birth and thus she has no noble blood, herself, and so she is no stranger to work. Ultimately Anora is a pragmatist and when she speaks she should always strain to make it plainly obvious that what she is saying is the clearest, most intelligent path to take.

Anora puts forward an air of confidence and competence mixed with majesty and grace. She does not use her feminine wiles to her advantage -- not because she does not possess them, but simply because it does not occur to her. She uses her intelligence far more readily, as it was how her father raised her. She is direct and often pointed in her manner without being overbearing, until annoyance or irritation wears at her patience. She is also very much her father's daughter, and like her father she is capable of setting morals aside to achieve the ends she desires.

Background
Anora was born a commoner, at a time shortly after her father had driven foreigners out of Ferelden. Her father was rewarded with his elevation to Teyrn, so in truth Anora grew up knowing privilege -- it was her father that kept her very much aware of her common roots. Her mother died when she was young and thus it is her father that raised her. This made her a bit tomboyish in some ways, but at the same time she inherited her father's skills and mannerisms. According to her father, as a child she acted as if she were the undisputed monarch of the whole world. She never joined the local children in play. Instead she read a lot, followed her mother around like a shadow about the gardens, and practiced archery and swordplay. Later she was moved to the palace where she became friends with her betrothed, the young Prince Cailan, while they were still both children. He was slightly younger than she was, and she would lead him around like a puppy on a leash, deep in adventures together. They once fought an army of Ogres in the wine cellar together, or at least that was their explanation for all the broken bottles.

Eventually they were married, and while she is happy enough, it has always been a marriage of convenience in her eyes. She has grown fond of Cailan over time, nevertheless she still considers her husband to be something of a fool, albeit a charming, lovable one. She is shrewdly intelligent, capable and has been more or less running the nation behind the scenes for the past five years in her husband's name while wishing she were ruling in her own name. Cailan is an easygoing man who cares little for politics and is thus more than happy to leave much of the business of governing to his wife.

Anora is approaching her thirtieth year and is still childless despite five years of marriage. Unfortunately for her, rumors are beginning to spread that she is infertile and thus incapable of giving the king an heir.

Involvement
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Origins
Anora is first mentioned at Ostagar by the guard at her husband's tent. He mentions that Loghain and the King argued over her, and that Loghain was displeased by something that she did or that the king did. (The guard isn't certain about the details.) She is first seen after that terrible battle, standing by her father's side as he attempts to claim the title of "Regent" and pressure the bannorn into supporting him. Later, as her father talks with Howe, she asks whether her father is responsible for causing the death of her husband.

Rescue The Queen
When the Warden arrives at Arl Eamon's Estate in the run-up to The Landsmeet, Anora's handmaid, Erlina, appears and appeals for help rescuing Anora, who has been taken captive by Arl Howe. This begins Rescue the Queen. The Warden first meets Anora face-to-face in the Arl of Denerim's Estate, disguised as a guard. Anora asks that her identity is kept hidden, and if The Warden reveals who she is upon being challenged then she will claim that The Warden has kidnapped her. She will also change her story if the Warden tries to tell Ser Cauthrien that she was a prisoner. After this quest Anora will return to Arl Eamon's Estate.

Unrest in the Alienage
Once in Arl Eamon's estate, Anora will explain that she suspects that her father and Arl Howe are behind recent unrest in The Denerim Alienage and suggests that The Warden investigates in the hope of finding evidence that will erode Loghain's support.

The Landsmeet
Once the evidence has been uncovered the Landsmeet can proceed and Anora's support can make a significant impact on whether The Warden can win the vote at The Landsmeet, though it is not essential. In order to win her support, it is necessary to speak with her in Arl Eamon's estate after rescuing her from Arl Howe. Anora will support The Warden if the Warden agrees to support her bid for the throne (either ruling alone, with Alistair or with a male human noble Warden) as long as The Warden does not express the view that Loghain must pay for his crimes.

There are four possible outcomes for Anora:


 * Anora rules alone as queen
 * If The Warden supports her, Anora may rule alone as queen. If her father's life is spared, she will order that Alistair be executed to prevent rebellions. She will not insist on this if The Warden asks for mercy for Alistair, who will merely leave the party if this is granted.


 * Marriage to Alistair
 * Anora and Alistair can be persuaded to marry. This topic can first broached in Arl Eamon's estate after rescuing Anora from Arl Howe. Note that Anora will not marry Alistair if he personally kills her father. Alistair and Anora may still marry if Loghain lives, if Alistair's personality has been hardened (though Alistair will still leave The Warden's party). They rule jointly as king and queen.


 * Marriage to The Warden
 * If The Warden is a male Human Noble, it is possible to reign beside her if you choose the right dialogue options to ask for her hand in marriage. The hero must however seize the initiative twice to make this happen. First this topic must be broached by the hero and agreed upon in Arl Eamon's estate after rescuing Anora from Arl Howe while discussing the terms of their "alliance". The hero must ask her "What if you had a strong King beside you?" She will then tell him that he would make a fine prince and consort and, -if- he can pass a medium difficulty persuasion check, she will agree to marry him in return for his support in her bid to gain the throne in her own name. Second, when given the opportunity to select the next ruler, the player must state that he will rule by Queen Anora's side as her husband. If the player selects her as the next monarch without simultaneously making the announcement that he will rule with her, she will not make good on the promise she made to marry him in return for his support. Note that Anora will also refuse to marry the Warden if he personally kills her father even if the above two requirements are met. Neither will the warden have the opportunity to select the next monarch and thus marry Anora should a hardened Alistair slay Loghain. The game contradicts itself on whether the hero who marries her will hold the position of king consort or prince consort. Anora will announce to the Landsmeet twice that he is her king consort and the Landsmeet quest completion entry in the journal will state that the hero is Anora's king consort and the general of her armies.  But should he later mention to Anora that he looks forward to being king after her coronation, she will correct him that actually he is her prince consort. The epilogue slide show will also refer to him as prince consort instead of king consort. From the localization comments in her dialogs it is clear that she is worried that her new husband may attempt to seize power from her and that she is attempting to establish that he is subordinate to her. As is also alluded to in the epilogue, the hero as her husband is not bound to cooperate with her desire to be sole ruling monarch. If they can reach an accommodation that they both find agreeable, a golden age may come to Ferelden. Otherwise a power struggle looms.


 * Imprisonment


 * If Alistair becomes sole monarch, he refuses to execute her and Anora will admit that she would not have been so merciful with Alistair, were the tables turned.

The Battle of Denerim
Anora will give a rousing speech to the troops before the Battle of Denerim if she is queen unless she is both betrothed to Alistair -and- her father has been executed.

Epilogue

 * Coronation


 * If The Warden survives the final battle and Anora is queen, then her coronation will be shown. After her coronation Anora will offer a boon and ask about The Warden's future plans. The Warden's reply will have a variety of effects on the final scene and ending slides. If Anora is betrothed to Alistair, then they will be jointly coronated. During the coronation scene, he will attempt to take her hand in his and she will snatch it away.


 * Note that the exception for the Battle speech also applies for the Epilogue speeches. If her father has been executed and they are betrothed, King Alistair will do the talking instead.


 * The Warden will also be able to engage her in a brief conversation after her coronation regarding her father's death (if Loghain slew the archdemon), and/or her upcoming marriage to either Alistair or the Warden (if she is betrothed).


 * If Alistair is sacrificed to the archdemon, Anora takes over as queen regardless of who was appointed to the throne at the Landsmeet.


 * Funeral


 * If the Warden sacrifices himself to slay the archdemon and she is queen, then she will give the Warden's eulogy at the funeral, praising The Warden's valor and expressing gratitude for putting her on the throne despite not knowing her well.


 * Slideshow
 * If Anora is married to Alistair and he is hardened then they both become beloved monarchs.
 * If Anora is married to Alistair and he is unhardened then he leaves her to rule the land unless the PC becomes chancellor -and- Loghain is dead. In that case the PC Warden will hold much of the power and Anora will continually be over-ruled in favor of the PC chancellor by Alistair.
 * If Loghain dies and Anora becomes the sole monarch, she builds a monument to him overlooking the Orlesian embassy. If Loghain is sacrificed to the archdemon, over time his bad deeds are forgotten and the statue is met with reverence. If he was executed at the Landsmeet, it is largely ignored except by Anora herself, who brings flowers to it every year.
 * If Anora is sole monarch then she builds a university and helps improve Ferelden's finances, but refuses to marry as no man can live up to the standard set by her father.
 * If Anora marries the Warden, then he will become prince-consort of Ferelden and their marriage will take place in a lavish ceremony six months after her coronation. Many will say that if the two do not end up vying for control of the throne, they will usher in a new golden age not seen since King Calenhad first united the barbarian tribes.

Return to Ostagar
If this DLC is installed, then information regarding Anora's relationship with her husband may be discovered in her husband's tent at Ostagar. Within Cailan's chest may be found secret correspondence implying that Cailan might have been planning to leave Anora for the Orlesian Empress Celene I due to her failure to produce an heir. Should her father be included in the active party at the time that the documents are discovered, then he will react angrily, making no secret of the fact that it is his belief that his daughter's husband had been planning exactly that. It has since been confirmed by Bioware's Lead Writer for Dragon Age David Gaider, that Cailan was indeed planning on leaving Anora for the Orlesian Empress and that "Loghain discovered what was going on". Danal at the Lothering tavern also mentions this as a rumor.

Awakening
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Quotes

 * "Eamon! I may have done a terrible thing." 
 * "I realize that my... actions at Howe's estate may not have painted me in the best light. For that, I apologize and hope that we can start again." 
 * "I have ruled this nation on Cailan's behalf for many years. I am a great queen, and as beloved by my people as I love them." 
 * "I am tired of ruling in a husband's name. If I marry again, it will not be to become a figurehead. If being a consort is not enough, then marry Alistair. Perhaps he will bend over more gracefully than I would." 
 * "It gets you near to the throne. I am the queen, and you are my consort... remember that and we will have no issue." 
 * "Anora's only real loyalty is to herself. She's capable and determined, but she'll sacrifice anything for her goals. Remember that." (Her father speaking of her.)
 * "We have been given the gift of freedom by our forebears. Let us not squander it." 

Trivia

 * In Bioware's character file for her, her appearance is described as: "Beautiful. Slim."
 * Writer Sheryl Chee has said that when going out for a drink Anora would, "skip the beer and go straight to tequila shots."
 * Writer David Gaider said that, "the most important thing to know about Anora is that she is her father's daughter."
 * Upon first meeting Queen Anora she is wearing guard armor. The Warden may say "Aren't you a little short for a guard?" Many Star Wars fans know this is similar to what Princess Leia said upon first meeting Luke Skywalker, who was wearing Stormtrooper armor at the time. If a dwarven or elven character uses this line, Anora points out the irony. It could also be noted that Princess Leia and Anora both have their hair styled in buns.
 * When the Warden asks Bodahn Feddic about rumours, he will tell you that Anora is "barren" thus preventing her from producing an heir to the throne, and states that this is a punishment from the Maker for putting a commoner on the throne.
 * Codex entry: Cailan's Documents - Page 2 of 3, found in the Return to Ostagar DLC, states that she was almost 30 years old at the time of the letter's writing, which could be up to a year or more old by the time the player finds it.