Ashkaari Koslun

“Existence is a choice.”

Ashkaari Koslun
Title	Ashkaari
Race	Qunari
Gender	Male
Appearances	Historical

See also: Codex entry: The Qun

The Ashkaari Koslun is a Qunari philosopher and the founder of the Qun, his teachings having inspired the conversions of thousands to its rigid disciplines. He once lived a life of luxury in the kossith homeland when he observed the contradictory elements of suffering in a civilized society, leading to his development of one of the major schools of thought in Thedas.

An artifact of his, the Tome of Koslun, handwritten by the Ashkaari, is a revered item to the Qunari which was stolen by Orlais.

Trivia

• An ashkaari in the Qunari language means "One who seeks," such as scholars, scientists or individuals who have attained enlightenment.
• Koslun is the only known Qunari to date who has a name unique to his person aside from his role, or purpose in life, which could be understood as seeking truth. This is logical, as he developed the Qun as a philosophy/religion, and it is the Qun which helps to dictate a follower's role (and thus name) in life.
• It is possible that while he is called "The ashkaari" he possesses the name Koslun because that was his birth name, or that it is some other title/rank that has not been revealed.
• The Ashkaari's story bears remarkable similarity to that of Siddhartha Gautama, the inspiration for Buddhism, and is likely based on it. In both stories, Koslun and Siddhartha are isolated members of the wealthy elite, but in walking the streets encounter suffering which compels them to seek answers from the world as to why such negativity exists. Ironically, while Siddhartha comes to advocate personal isolation and nonviolence, Koslun comes to advocate submersion in the group and militarism.