Cousland family

Cousland
Nationality	Alamarri (formerly) Fereldan
Type	Noble (teyrnir)
Appearances	Dragon Age: Origins Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening

The Couslands are a noble family from Ferelden. From their seat, Castle Cousland, they rule the Teyrnir of Highever, one of only two remaining teyrnirs in Ferelden, giving them wealth and power second only to the royal family.

History

The outpost of Highever was originally held by the Elstan Family, who were a secondary branch of the then-freeholder family of Howes. During the Towers Age, Bann Conobar Elstan was murdered by his wife, Flemeth, thus ending the bloodline. Sarim Cousland, captain of Conobar's guard, took the lands and title.

The Couslands declared their independence from Amaranthine, starting a war that lasted thirty years. When the war ended, Highever won its independence and possession of half the land that had once been southwestern Amaranthine.

Members of the Cousland family

Highever became a teyrnir during the Black Age. Previously, the Couslands held only the minor title of Bann. During the lycanthrope plague, Bann Haelia Cousland or Mather Cousland according to other sources, gathered the lords together under the Cousland banner to drive the werewolves out of their lands, thus earning the title of Teyrn.

During the Unification of Alamarri, Teyrna Elethea Cousland fought King Calenhad in an attempt to maintain Highever's independence. When King Calenhad's army reached Highever, Teyrna Elethea led the local banns against him, but Calenhad won. After Elethea's men were defeated, Calenhad asked her to swear fealty. She did, thus allowing the Couslands to retain the teyrnir.

In the beginning of the Storm Age, the Couslands conspired with Warden-Commander Sophia Dryden in the Grey Warden's attempted rebellion. The rebellion was betrayed to King Arland by politicians before it began. King Arland executed the Cousland Teyrn and a number of others, and then sent soldiers to Soldier's Peak to stamp out the remainder of the rebellion.

During the rebellion against Orlais, the Couslands opposed the Orlesian rule. However, Arl Tarleton Howe of Amaranthine supported the Orlesians and this resulted in several bitter battles between Amaranthine and Highever. Eventually the Couslands manage to capture Harper's Ford and hang Tarleton Howe for his treachery.

Unlike his father, Rendon Howe, was part of the rebellion like his uncle Arl Byron Howe. Rendon and Bryce Cousland fought beside each other at the battle of White River, becoming two of the fifty rebels who survived the defeat. Thereafter, Arl Rendon Howe was a great friend of the Couslands.

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This section contains spoilers for:
Dragon Age: Origins.

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Arl Howe later betrayed the Couslands, using the chaos of the Fifth Blight as his route to power. Teyrn Cousland had called together the forces of Highever and Amaranthine, intending to ride with Howe to support King Cailan against the darkspawn. However, upon arriving at Highever, Arl Howe told Teyrn Cousland that the Amaranthine forces would be delayed for a few of days. Not one to keep the King waiting, Teyrn Cousland sent the bulk of Highever's forces ahead to Ostagar under the command of his eldest son Fergus Cousland, intending to leave with Howe's Amaranthine men once they arrived.

After Fergus left the castle, Howe's forces took advantage of the Couslands' weakened defense and made a surprise attack during the night, killing the teyrn, his wife Teyrna Eleanor Cousland, and Fergus' wife Oriana and son Oren, as well as most of the other inhabitants of the castle. Though Fergus was left as the rightful heir to the Teyrnir of Highever, Howe then declared himself the new teyrn.

If playing the Human Noble Origin, the Warden is the second child of Bryce and Eleanor Cousland. According to Dairren, the Human Noble may be chosen to take over the Teyrn instead of his/her brother. Eventually, however Duncan will rescue the human noble from the surprise attack on Castle Cousland in exchange for joining the Grey Wardens.

Following the end of the Fifth Blight, Fergus Cousland will inherit Highever and become the next Teyrn. If the Warden is a Human Noble that made the ultimate sacrifice, Fergus will also be given control of Amaranthine, which he presents to the Grey Wardens.

Known members

• Bann Sarim Cousland
• Bann Haelia/Mather Cousland
• Teyrna Elethea Cousland - she was both an Alamarri and a Fereldan.
• Teyrn Ardal Cousland - He was killed at the Battle of Lothering during the Second Orlesian Invasion of Ferelden, defending King Vanedrin.
• Teyrn Bryce Cousland
• Teyrna Eleanor Cousland
• Fergus Cousland
• Human Noble
• Oriana Cousland
• Oren Cousland