It is known that the Couslands are the most powerful family after the Royalty.
After what happened to them at the beggining of DAO: Do you think they still hold that position? and if not, what family do you think is the most powerful now?
It is known that the Couslands are the most powerful family after the Royalty.
After what happened to them at the beggining of DAO: Do you think they still hold that position? and if not, what family do you think is the most powerful now?
If 'now' is after the events of DAI, then with Fergus Cousland always surviving the the Blight and Highever being only one of two teynirs (sp? I'm too lazy to check har-dee-har-har...) I'd posit that the Couslands continued to hold incredible sway in in Ferelden. After them, it would mostly likely be the Guerrins, especially if Alistair is on the throne (either solo or with a Cousland queen, as is the case in most of my world states); first Eamon, and later, Teagan, seem to stay very close to the seat of power.
It probably depends somewhat on the worldstate (I mean, if there's a Cousland consort on the throne, then their influence is probably still quite strong), but yes, generally.
They're a very old family who have weathered extreme misfortune before (as Avernus tells us about their part in Sophia Dryden's uprising) and still come out with lands and title and such intact. They're also the single remaining Teyrnir in Ferelden (at least, I think - never quite clear what happens if you're awarded Gwaren, but the Warden definitely doesn't seems to set down roots or start a line of their own there even so). Fergus is still knocking about in DAI.
The Guerrins are another powerful family which will somewhat depend on the worldstate. If Alistair is ruling, Eamon sticks around to advise him, which gives him a lot of influence, and we see Teagan representing him at every juncture. If Anora rules, I expect she and Eamon want to keep each other close enough to watch - and Teagan is still representing the Crown when somebody needs to go to Orlais.
I don't really see a new power challenging either of these old families (though I'm willing to raise a flag for Team Alfstanna!) - they lost a fair bit in the Blight, but so did everyone else. There probably won't be a huge upset in the power structure for some time.
What do you think?