“It's going to be all right, my love.”
Duke Bastien de Ghislain was the thirty-third Duke of Ghislain and head of the Council of Heralds.
Background[]
In his younger years, the duke eschewed the Game in favour of living as an outlaw. He was a skilled bard and had trained under the legendary Black Fox. His life as a minstrel, spy, and troublemaker was cut short when his elder sister Duchess Marissa de Ghislain died in 8:96 Blessed of the blue death. Bastien returned home to assume his duties as the new duke.[1]
Bastien left his wild youth behind, settling down to become a respectable nobleman and competitor in the Game. He made the appropriate connections, arranged an appropriate marriage for himself, and took a seat on the Council of Heralds. He had two children with his wife Nicoline: Calienne and Laurent. His daughter Calienne later went on to marry Grand Duke Gaspard de Chalons.
After the death of Emperor Florian in 9:19 Dragon, Bastien supported his son-in-law Gaspard for the throne. Calienne took a more active part in the Game, and was eventually killed for her part in arranging the death of Celene's mother, Clarisse de Montfort.[2]
At the Imperial Wintersend Ball of 9:16 Dragon, Bastien met Vivienne, a young mage from the Circle of Montsimmard, and immediately became enraptured. They embarked on a love affair shortly afterwards, creating an intense scandal at court.[3] Bards and assassins were sent after them, all of which were skillfully thwarted by Bastien and Vivienne. The nobles remained vocally opposed to the match until four years later when a newly crowned Empress Celene named Vivienne Court Enchanter.[4]
Involvement[]
The Inquisitor is invited by Vivienne to the Ghislain Estate upon their first visit to Val Royeaux. Guests comment that Duke Bastien is rarely seen at court these days and speculate his absence is due to his duties as a member of the Council of Heralds.
During the Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts quest if Vivienne is in the party she will indirectly mention Duke Bastien, saying that six members of the Council of Heralds are in attendance but the seventh is indisposed, and that his absence will complicate the negotiations.
It is only during Vivienne’s personal quest that the truth about Duke Bastien's absence comes out. Vivienne asks the Inquisitor to help her acquire the heart of a snowy wyvern as an alchemical ingredient. Further questioning reveals the potion is being made for one of the members of the Council of Heralds but Vivienne initially will not disclose who. Vivienne’s notes reveal age regression to be one of the potion’s intended effects.
Upon completion of the quest, Vivienne brings the Inquisitor with her to Duke Bastien’s estate where she administers the potion. The duke has been ill for some time, hence being unable to attend public functions. Bastien either rouses slightly or briefly regains consciousness (depending on quest choices) after consuming the potion. If conscious, he acknowledges Vivienne and reassures her before passing away peacefully.
Following his death, Bastien's son Laurent de Ghislain assumes the title of duke as well as his position on the Council of Heralds.
References[]
- ↑
Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 2, p. 235
- ↑ Dragon Age: The Masked Empire, Chapter 3, p. 67
- ↑ Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 2, p. 238
- ↑
Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 2, p. 239