Changes: Rendon Howe

Revision as of 00:41, 15 January 2017

“Maker spit on you... I deserved... more...”

Arl Rendon Howe is an old friend of Teyrn Bryce Cousland and the Arl of Amaranthine. He is also the father of Nathaniel Howe, a companion in Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening.

Background

During the Orlesian occupation of Ferelden, Rendon's father, Tarleton Howe, sided with the occupiers and was subsequently hanged by the Couslands after they captured Harper's Ford.^[1] His uncle Byron became the new Arl of Amaranthine and joined the rebel cause in 8:97 Blessed. Like his uncle, Rendon Howe joined the rebellion led by the future king, Maric Theirin.

He fought alongside the young Bryce Cousland of Highever and Leonas Bryland, future arl of South Reach, at the bloody Battle of White River. The battle was the most catastrophic defeat of the entire occupation, from which only 50 rebel soldiers escaped alive. Rendon fought with the Army of the North led by Bann Angus Eremon, tasked with holding the valley against the Orlesian cavalry's charges. He was gravely wounded on the second night and had to be dragged off the field by Bryce and Leonas. When Bann Angus finally announced the retreat, Rendon's friends carried him to a freehold in Redcliffe. While the rest of the survivors left to find the Army of the South, Bryce and Leonas stayed with Rendon almost a month while he recuperated. Though all three were personally decorated for valor by King Maric, Rendon was too wounded to rejoin the army, and while his friends joined the Army of the South, he spent months in South Reach being tended by Eliane Bryland, Leonas' sister and an accomplished physician and herbalist.

Byron Howe died just a few months later, which made Rendon the new arl. Eliane Bryland insisted on accompanying him to Amaranthine; he proposed to her a year later, saying that if she wasn't going to leave already they might as well marry. Leonas had become concerned by the changes in his friend's behavior since the battle and attempted to prevent the marriage. When Rendon told him that he needed her for dowry and connections, he severed all contact. Because some believed the arling should have passed to Byron's daughter, and because Eliane was half-Orlesian, only Bryce Cousland and his fiancee came to witness their vows.^[2] They had three children Nathaniel, Thomas, and Delilah. According to their son Nathaniel, Rendon hated his wife; when asked why, he says that he doesn't know, but he remembers that her family was wealthy.^[3]

Since the Battle of White River, Howe's abrasive manners have earned him almost universal dislike among his peers.

Involvement

The Human Noble Origin begins with Arl Howe's arrival at Castle Cousland in Highever. Howe explains to Teyrn Cousland that his troops have been delayed, and that he will march with them when they arrive. Teyrn Cousland then tasks his eldest child, Fergus Cousland, with leading the Cousland forces ahead to Ostagar, where they have been called by King Cailan Theirin to fight against the darkspawn.

This section contains spoilers for:
Dragon Age: Origins.

Fergus leaves Castle Cousland immediately, taking most of the Highever troops with him and leaving behind only a small guard. After they are well away, Howe's treachery is revealed: his soldiers attack the castle in the middle of the night, killing almost all the inhabitants, including Fergus' wife and son, as well as the Teyrn.

The Human Noble Warden is only able to escape with Duncan's aid, which Duncan gives only in return for recruiting them into the Grey Wardens.

With the castle secure, Arl Howe declares himself the new teyrn and reveals his new political ally and lord is none other than the Teyrn of Gwaren, Loghain Mac Tir. Unless the City Elf Warden kills the previous Arl of Denerim's heir, Howe uses his position to gain more power by kidnapping Vaughan and claiming the arling for himself. Meanwhile Regent Loghain comes to depend more and more on Howe's political ability. By the time Lothering is destroyed by the Darkspawn, Howe has become the most powerful person in Ferelden, after the regent.

After hearing reports of surviving Grey Wardens, Howe hires an agent of the Antivan Crows to assassinate them. Eventually, Howe witnesses Queen Anora questioning her father's actions and involvement in Cailan's death. While Howe attempts to direct Loghain's attention to the increasing darkspawn threat, and both Howe and Anora ask him to consider asking for reinforcements, Loghain refuses to be swayed, citing Orlais as a major threat.

Howe is responsible for many of the terrible events that happen during the Blight. He is shown to be a cruel and iron-fisted ruler as he gains land holdings and titles; in Denerim and Highever alike people mention suffering under his heavy taxation and harsh treatment from his guards, and the dungeon at his Estate is full of tortured prisoners; his brutality earns him the sobriquet "The Butcher of Denerim", his ill reputation becoming notorious as far as the Free Marches. Along with brutalizing the elves of the Denerim Alienage and imprisoning any loose ends that could threaten Loghain's rule, he imprisons Anora in his Denerim estate after she visits to inquire about the negative rumors about her father. He also tries to convince Loghain to murder his daughter and pin the crime on Arl Eamon, in the hopes of sullying Eamon's popularity at the Landsmeet and is also implied to be embezzling funds from Denerim's treasury behind Loghain's back.

However, his plan goes awry when the Warden is enlisted to rescue Anora from her captivity. While doing so, the Warden tracks Howe to the dungeons of his estate and kills him and most of his men-at-arms. He dies cursing the Warden, lamenting that he "deserved more."

The Darkspawn Chronicles

This section contains spoilers for:
Darkspawn Chronicles.

Rendon Howe survives the Landsmeet and joins forces with Alistair in the battle against the darkspawn. He leads a strike force to the Denerim City Gates and must be fought during the quest Kill the Arl alongside Ser Cauthrien, who leads his bodyguards at the Denerim City Gates.

Strategy

See Rendon Howe (strategy).

Notes

According to the quest, Crime Wave, Arl Howe is intimate with a noble known as Lady Sophie, and is embezzling from Denerim's treasury.
It could be speculated that the Scout's Medal, bought from Yuriah at Vigil's Keep, is the medal Howe won at the Battle of White River.

Quotes

(Regarding Cailan) "I think of him as much as he thinks at all."
(Speaking to a female Human Noble) "Well, well. Bryce Cousland's little spitfire. All grown up and still playing the man."

Trivia

Howe suggests a match between the male Human Noble and his daughter Delilah; in Awakening, Delilah mentions this in passing. The male Human Noble Warden has an opportunity to respond to her.
If playing as a female Human Noble, then he will suggest a match between you and Thomas, his son. However, Thomas does not survive the Blight.
After the Fifth Blight, Howe has been nicknamed by some "The Butcher of Denerim".^[4]

Gallery

References

↑ Codex entry: The Howes of Amaranthine
↑ Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 2, pp. 112-114
↑ Referenced by the "Portrait of a Howe" in Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening.
↑ The title is mentioned by Hawke in Dragon Age II if Anders is not in the party during the conversation with Delilah Howe.

[1] Codex entry: The Howes of Amaranthine

[2] Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 2, pp. 112-114

[3] Referenced by the "Portrait of a Howe" in Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening.

[4] The title is mentioned by Hawke in Dragon Age II if Anders is not in the party during the conversation with Delilah Howe.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Quote|You should have left when you had the chance, Warden.}}
+{{Quote|Maker spit on you... I deserved... more...}}
 <onlyinclude>{{CharacterTransformer
@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 |rank           = [[Rank#Boss|Boss]]
 |location       = [[Arl of Denerim's Estate - Dungeon]], [[Castle Cousland]]
-|family         = Tarleton Howe <small>(father)</small> <br> [[Byron Howe]] <small>(uncle)</small> <br> Unnamed wife<ref>Referenced by the "Portrait of a Howe" in ''[[Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening]]''.</ref> <br> [[Nathaniel Howe]] <small>(son)</small> <br> [[Delilah Howe]] <small>(daughter)</small> <br> Thomas Howe <small>(son)</small><ref>[[Groundskeeper Samuel]] mentions that Thomas died in the war, presumably the Ferelden civil war during the Blight.</ref> <br>Unnamed grandson <small>(by Delilah)</small>
+|family         = Tarleton Howe <small>(father)</small> <br> Eliane Bryland <small>(wife)</small> <br> [[Nathaniel Howe]] <small>(son)</small> <br> [[Delilah Howe]] <small>(daughter)</small> <br> Thomas Howe <small>(son)</small> <br>Unnamed grandson <small>(by Delilah)</small> <br> [[Byron Howe|Byron]] <small>(uncle)</small> <br> [[Habren Bryland]] <small>(niece)</small> <br> [[Leonas Bryland]] <small>(brother-in-law)</small>
 |quests         = [[Human Noble Origin]] <br> [[Rescue the Queen]] <br> [[Kill the Arl]]
 |voice          = [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000347/ Tim Curry]
-|appearances    = [[Dragon Age: Origins]] <br> [[The Darkspawn Chronicles]]
+|appearances    = [[Dragon Age: Origins]] <br> [[The Darkspawn Chronicles]] <br> [[Heroes of Dragon Age]]
 }}</onlyinclude>
-'''Arl Rendon Howe''' is an old friend of [[Bryce Cousland|Teyrn Bryce Cousland]] and the [[Ferelden#Arl/Arlessa|Arl]] of [[Amaranthine]]. He is also the father of [[Nathaniel Howe]], a [[Companions (Origins)#Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening companions|companion]] in ''[[Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening]]''. He is [[Loghain Mac Tir|Loghain]]'s closest political ally following the [[Battle of Ostagar]].
+'''Arl Rendon Howe''' is an old friend of [[Bryce Cousland|Teyrn Bryce Cousland]] and the [[Ferelden#Arl/Arlessa|Arl]] of [[Amaranthine]]. He is also the father of [[Nathaniel Howe]], a [[Companions (Origins)#Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening companions|companion]] in ''[[Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening]]''.
 == Background ==
-During the [[Orlais|Orlesian]] occupation of [[Ferelden]], Rendon's father, Tarleton Howe sided with the occupiers and was hanged by the [[Cousland family|Couslands]] after they captured [[Harper's Ford]].<ref>[[Codex entry: The Howes of Amaranthine]]</ref> His uncle [[Byron Howe|Byron]] became the new Arl of Amaranthine who joined the rebel cause in 8:97 [[Blessed Age|Blessed]]. Like his uncle, Rendon Howe also joined the [[Fereldan Rebellion|rebellion]] led by the future king, [[Maric Theirin]], He fought alongside the young [[Bryce Cousland]] of [[Highever]] and [[Leonas Bryland]], future arl of South Reach, at the bloody battle of White River. The battle was the most catastrophic defeat of the entire occupation, from which only 50 rebel soldiers escaped alive. Although he was decorated for valor by King Maric, Howe's abrasive manners earned him almost universal dislike among his peers. Bryland implied that Howe's personality altered after the battle. He has three known children: [[Nathaniel Howe|Nathaniel]], Thomas, and [[Delilah Howe|Delilah]].
+During the [[Orlais|Orlesian]] occupation of [[Ferelden]], Rendon's father, Tarleton Howe, sided with the occupiers and was subsequently hanged by the [[Cousland family|Couslands]] after they captured [[Harper's Ford]].<ref>[[Codex entry: The Howes of Amaranthine]]</ref> His uncle [[Byron Howe|Byron]] became the new Arl of Amaranthine and joined the rebel cause in 8:97 [[Blessed Age|Blessed]]. Like his uncle, Rendon Howe joined the [[Fereldan Rebellion|rebellion]] led by the future king, [[Maric Theirin]].
+He fought alongside the young [[Bryce Cousland]] of [[Highever]] and [[Leonas Bryland]], future arl of South Reach, at the bloody [[Fereldan Rebellion#Battle of White River|Battle of White River]]. The battle was the most catastrophic defeat of the entire occupation, from which only 50 rebel soldiers escaped alive. Rendon fought with the Army of the North led by Bann Angus Eremon, tasked with holding the valley against the Orlesian cavalry's charges. He was gravely wounded on the second night and had to be dragged off the field by Bryce and Leonas. When Bann Angus finally announced the retreat, Rendon's friends carried him to a freehold in [[Redcliffe]]. While the rest of the survivors left to find the Army of the South, Bryce and Leonas stayed with Rendon almost a month while he recuperated. Though all three were personally decorated for valor by King Maric, Rendon was too wounded to rejoin the army, and while his friends joined the Army of the South, he spent months in [[South Reach]] being tended by Eliane Bryland, Leonas' sister and an accomplished physician and herbalist.
-During ''Awakening'', Nathaniel recounts the proud history of the [[Howe family]]. He states that Rendon hated his wife; when asked why, he says that he doesn't know, but he remembers that her family was wealthy.<ref>Referenced by the "Portrait of a Howe" in ''[[Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening]]''.</ref>
+Byron Howe died just a few months later, which made Rendon the new arl. Eliane Bryland insisted on accompanying him to Amaranthine; he proposed to her a year later, saying that if she wasn't going to leave already they might as well marry. Leonas had become concerned by the changes in his friend's behavior since the battle and attempted to prevent the marriage. When Rendon told him that he needed her for dowry and connections, he severed all contact. Because some believed the arling should have passed to Byron's daughter, and because Eliane was half-Orlesian, only Bryce Cousland and his fiancee came to witness their vows.<ref>{{Cite wot2|112-114}}</ref> They had three children [[Nathaniel Howe|Nathaniel]], Thomas, and [[Delilah Howe|Delilah]]. According to their son Nathaniel, Rendon hated his wife; when asked why, he says that he doesn't know, but he remembers that her family was wealthy.<ref>Referenced by the "Portrait of a Howe" in ''[[Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening]]''.</ref>
+Since the Battle of White River, Howe's abrasive manners have earned him almost universal dislike among his peers.
 == Involvement ==
-The [[Human Noble Origin]] begins with Arl Howe's arrival at [[Highever]]. Howe explains to Teyrn Cousland that his troops have been delayed, and that he will march with them when they arrive. Teyrn Cousland then tasks his eldest, [[Fergus Cousland]], with leading the Cousland forces ahead to [[Ostagar]], where they have been called by King [[Cailan Theirin]] to fight against the [[darkspawn]].
+The [[Human Noble Origin]] begins with Arl Howe's arrival at [[Castle Cousland]] in [[Highever]]. Howe explains to Teyrn Cousland that his troops have been delayed, and that he will march with them when they arrive. Teyrn Cousland then tasks his eldest child, [[Fergus Cousland]], with leading the Cousland forces ahead to [[Ostagar]], where they have been called by King [[Cailan Theirin]] to fight against the [[darkspawn]].
-{{SpoilerDAO|Fergus leaves [[Castle Cousland]] immediately, taking most of the Highever troops with him and leaving behind only a small guard. After they are well away, Howe's treachery is revealed: his soldiers attack the castle in the middle of the night, killing almost all the inhabitants, including Fergus' wife and son, as well as the Teyrn.
+{{SpoilerDAO|Fergus leaves [[Castle Cousland]] immediately, taking most of the Highever troops with him and leaving behind only a small guard. After they are well away, Howe's treachery is revealed: [[Siege of Castle Cousland|his soldiers attack the castle in the middle of the night]], killing almost all the inhabitants, including Fergus' wife and son, as well as the Teyrn.
 The Human Noble [[the Warden|Warden]] is only able to escape with [[Duncan]]'s aid, which Duncan gives only in return for recruiting them into the [[Grey Wardens|Grey Wardens]].
-With the castle secure, Arl Howe declares himself the new teyrn and reveals his new political ally and lord is none other than the Teyrn of [[Gwaren]], Loghain Mac Tir. Unless the [[City Elf Origin|City Elf Warden]] kills the previous [[Urien Kendells|Arl of Denerim's]], [[Vaughan Kendells|heir]] Howe uses his position to gain more power by kidnapping Vaughan and claiming the arling for himself. Meanwhile Regent Loghain comes to depend more and more on Howe's political ability. By the time Lothering is destroyed by the Darkspawn, Howe has become the most powerful person in [[Ferelden]], after the regent.
+With the castle secure, Arl Howe declares himself the new teyrn and reveals his new political ally and lord is none other than the Teyrn of [[Gwaren]], [[Loghain Mac Tir]]. Unless the [[City Elf Origin|City Elf Warden]] kills the previous [[Urien Kendells|Arl of Denerim's]] [[Vaughan Kendells|heir]], Howe uses his position to gain more power by kidnapping Vaughan and claiming the arling for himself. Meanwhile Regent Loghain comes to depend more and more on Howe's political ability. By the time [[Lothering]] is destroyed by the Darkspawn, Howe has become the most powerful person in [[Ferelden]], after the regent.
 After hearing reports of surviving Grey Wardens, Howe hires [[Zevran Arainai|an agent]] of the [[Antivan Crows]] to assassinate them. Eventually, Howe witnesses Queen [[Anora]] questioning her father's actions and involvement in [[Cailan Theirin|Cailan]]'s death. While Howe attempts to direct Loghain's attention to the increasing darkspawn threat, and both Howe and Anora ask him to consider asking for reinforcements, Loghain refuses to be swayed, citing [[Orlais]] as a major threat.
-Howe is responsible for many of the terrible events that happen during the [[Fifth Blight|Blight]]. Along with brutalizing the [[Alienage|elves]] of the [[Elven Alienage|Denerim Alienage]] and imprisoning any loose ends that could threaten Loghain's rule, he imprisons Anora in his [[Denerim]] [[Arl of Denerim's Estate|estate]] after she visits to inquire about the negative rumors about her father. He also tries to convince Loghain to murder his daughter and pin the crime on Arl Eamon, in the hopes of sullying Eamon's popularity at [[the Landsmeet]].
+Howe is responsible for many of the terrible events that happen during the [[Fifth Blight|Blight]]. He is shown to be a cruel and iron-fisted ruler as he gains land holdings and titles; in Denerim and Highever alike people mention suffering under his heavy taxation and harsh treatment from his guards, and the dungeon at his Estate is full of tortured prisoners; his brutality earns him the sobriquet ''"The Butcher of Denerim"'', his ill reputation becoming notorious as far as the Free Marches. Along with brutalizing the [[Alienage|elves]] of the [[Elven Alienage|Denerim Alienage]] and imprisoning any loose ends that could threaten Loghain's rule, he imprisons Anora in his [[Denerim]] [[Arl of Denerim's Estate|estate]] after she visits to inquire about the negative rumors about her father. He also tries to convince Loghain to murder his daughter and pin the crime on Arl Eamon, in the hopes of sullying Eamon's popularity at [[the Landsmeet]] and is also [[A Fistful of Silver|implied to be embezzling]] funds from Denerim's treasury behind Loghain's back.
-However, his plan goes awry when the Warden is enlisted to [[Rescue the Queen|rescue Anora]] from her captivity. While doing so, the Warden tracks Howe to the dungeons of his estate and kills him and most of his men-at-arms. He died, but not before saying he deserved more.}}
+However, his plan goes awry when the Warden is enlisted to [[Rescue the Queen|rescue Anora]] from her captivity. While doing so, the Warden tracks Howe to the [[Arl of Denerim's Estate - Dungeon|dungeons]] of his estate and kills him and most of his men-at-arms. He dies cursing the Warden, lamenting that he "deserved more."}}
+=== ''The Darkspawn Chronicles'' ===
-{{SpoilerDC|Rendon Howe appears in ''[[The Darkspawn Chronicles]]''. Howe survives [[the Landsmeet]] and joins forces with [[Alistair]] in the battle against the darkspawn. He is fought as a boss in the quest [[Kill the Arl]] alongside [[Cauthrien|Ser Cauthrien]], who leads his bodyguards.}}
+{{SpoilerDC|Rendon Howe survives [[the Landsmeet]] and joins forces with [[Alistair]] in the battle against the darkspawn. He leads a strike force to the [[Denerim City Gates]] and must be fought during the quest [[Kill the Arl]] alongside [[Cauthrien|Ser Cauthrien]], who leads his bodyguards at the [[Denerim City Gates]].}}
 == Strategy ==
@@ Line 47: / Line 52: @@
 == Notes ==
-* According to the quest, [[Crime Wave]], Arl Howe is intimate with a noble known as Lady Sophie, and embezzling from Denerim's treasury.
+* According to the quest, [[Crime Wave]], Arl Howe is intimate with a noble known as Lady Sophie, and is embezzling from Denerim's treasury.
 * It could be speculated that the [[Scout's Medal]], bought from [[Yuriah]] at [[Vigil's Keep]], is the medal Howe won at the [[Fereldan Rebellion|Battle of White River]].
 == Quotes ==
+* ''(Regarding [[Cailan Theirin|Cailan]])'' "I think of him as much as he thinks at all."
-''(Speaking to a Human Noble Warden)''
-* ''(Regarding [[Cailan Theirin|Cailan]])'' "I think of the King as much as ''he'' thinks at all."
-* ''(Speaking to a male Human Noble)'' "Well, well. Bryce Cousland's little boy. All grown up and still trying to fit into daddy's armor."
 * ''(Speaking to a female Human Noble)'' "Well, well. Bryce Cousland's little spitfire. All grown up and still playing the man."
-* ''(Speaking to any other origin)'' "You should have left when you had the chance, Warden. Slunk off back to the Anderfels with the rest of your kind. This Landsmeet is a farce. Loghain will triumph, and ''you'' will ''die!''"
-* ''(Last threat to a Human Noble)'' "There it is. Right there. That damn look in the eye that marked every Couslands' success that held me back. It may appear that you've made something of yourself after all. Your father would be proud. I on the other hand want you dead more than ever."
-* ''(Last words)'' "Maker ''spit'' on you!... I... deserved... more!"
 == Trivia ==
 * Howe suggests a match between the male Human Noble and his daughter Delilah; in Awakening, Delilah mentions this in passing. The male Human Noble Warden has an opportunity to respond to her.
 * If playing as a female Human Noble, then he will suggest a match between you and Thomas, his son. However, Thomas does not survive the Blight.
+* After the Fifth Blight, Howe has been nicknamed by some "The Butcher of Denerim".<ref> The title is mentioned by [[Hawke]] in ''[[Dragon Age II]]'' if [[Anders]] is not in the party during the conversation with [[Delilah Howe]].</ref>
-* At the time of his death, Howe controlled the arlings of Amaranthine and Denerim, and had claimed the teyrnir of Highever. Together, these made up the entire northeastern border of [[Ferelden]]; in conjunction with his alliance with Loghain, these made him the most powerful person in the country besides the Regent.
-* In ''[[Dragon Age II]]'', Howe is referred to as the "Butcher of Denerim."
 == Gallery ==
@@ Line 75: / Line 73: @@
 {{:Codex entry: Arl Rendon Howe|style=iconmini}}{{clrl}}
 {{:Codex entry: Letter to Rendon Howe|style=iconmini}}{{clrl}}
+{{:Codex entry: Response from Rendon Howe|style=iconmini}}{{clrl}}
 == References ==
-<references/>
+<references />
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Howe, Rendon}}
+[[ru:Рендон Хоу]]
 [[Category:Characters]]
 [[Category:Dragon Age: Origins characters]]
@@ Line 87: / Line 87: @@
 [[Category:Rogues]]
 [[Category:Assassins]]
+[[Category:Heroes of Dragon Age characters]]