History Characters / DragonAgeOriginsNonPlayableCharactersFereldanNobles

* ZeroPercentApprovalRating: There isn't a single nobleman in the country who supports him willingly. Not even his family, save Nathaniel, and his sister cures him of that delusion fairly quickly.

* AristocratsAreEvil: And [[IncrediblyLamePun Howe]]!

* FamousLastWords: [[spoiler:"Maker spit on you... I deserved more..."]]

* ItsAllAboutMe: Howe's only concern is for himself and his own advancement. He's willing to abuse family, murder friends and thoughtlessly help destabilize his own nation if it means getting what he wants. [[spoiler:Even his FamousLastWords are a dying curse, declaring he deserved more]].

* CoDragons: With Ser Cauthrien to Loghain. Howe functions as Loghain's chief political ally while Cauthrien is his top lieutenant and the leader of She's his top physical enforcer and most trusted lieutenant and leader of Loghain's hand picked elite force, Maric's Shield.

* DarkActionGirl: Subverted. While she's on the side of the antagonists and is a fierce-some physical opponent, she's also Loghain's most moral enforcer [[spoiler:and can be persuaded to stand down without a fight if convinced he's gone too far.]]

* CoDragons: With Rendon Howe to Loghain. Ser Cauthrien is Loghain's top lieutenant and the leader of Maric's Shield, Loghain's hand-picked elite force, while Howe handles Loghain's opposition in the political field.

* TheCharmer: He flirts with both a female Warden and [[VideoGame/DragonAgeII Lady Hawke.]] He will flirt with the latter even if one of the epilogue slides in ''Origins'' indicates that he gets married.

* JerkassHasAPoint: In ''Trespasser'', he makes it very clear he is not a friend of the Inquisition, but his main complaint is that the Inquisition is occupying Caer Bronach (a Fereldan territory) without the consent of the Fereldan government. Two of the three responses you can give to him basically amount to thumbing your nose and telling him to fuck off for objecting to something ''any'' self-respecting leader would find to be an outrage. His other criticisms (such as the Inquisition being infiltrated thoroughly by agents of the Qunari and [[spoiler:Solas]]) hold weight, and he ultimately has a point that the Inquisition has fulfilled the Divine's directive and thus has ill-founded justification for continuing. Finally, the Orlesian Empire has abandoned subtlety to the wind and are openly trying to exert control over the Inquisition; Teagan lived during their invasion, and certainly wouldn't want to see it repeated with the Inquisition's help.

* TookALevelInJerkass: In ''Inquisition'', he's far more rude and aggressive towards the Inquisitor than he was with the Hero of Fereldan.

* IDidWhatIHadToDo: Given that his Bannorn borders Loghain's Terynir of Gwaren, most people believe he's only supporting Loghain out of fear of what the regent would do to him and his lands if he refused.

* KarmaHoudini: Unlike most of Loghain's supporters, who respectively lose their lands, titles and, in some cases, their heads, Ceorlic never really faces any retribution for his support of Loghain, even being seen amongst the coronation scene after the Battle of Denerim.

* DidNotGetTheGirl: If the Warden is female, regardless of race or background, a deleted line in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'' implies that he had feelings for her, but never had the courage to tell her. [[spoiler:Since the player ''cannot'' romance Teagan, even if you flirt with him, it's little wonder he's such a cranky, miserable old man by ''Trespasser.'']]

* JerkassHasAPoint: In ''Trespasser'', he makes it very clear he is not a friend of the Inquisition, but his main complaint is that the Inquisition is occupying Caer Bronach, in Fereldan territory, without the consent of the Fereldan government. Two of the three responses you can give to him basically amount to thumbing your nose and telling him to fuck off for objecting to something ''any'' self-respecting leader would find to be an outrage. His other criticisms, such as the Inquisition being infiltrated thoroughly by agents of the Qunari and [[spoiler: Solas]], hold weight, and ultimately, he has a point that the Inquisition has fulfilled the Divine's directive, and that the justification for continuing are ill-founded. Finally, the Orlesian Empire has abandoned subtlety to the wind, and are openly trying to exert control over the Inquisition; Teagan lived during their invasion, and certainly wouldn't want to see it repeated with the Inquisition's help.

* RankUp: [[spoiler: After the Fifth Blight ended, Eamon retired to Denerim. Since Connor could not inherit his father's title due to being a mage (and possibly dead), Eamon declared Teagan as the new Arl of Redcliffe]].

* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: In ''Origins'', he's one of the only nobles who has the courage to call out Logain for fleeing the battle of Ostagar and using the opportunity to usurp the throne.

** He also [[spoiler: defies his brother's orders to protect Redcliffe and arrives at Denerim with reinforcements just in time to rout the darkspawn after the archdemon's death]].

* SupportingLeader: During the Redcliffe quest. [[spoiler: Subverted when he willingly chooses to enter the castle with Isolde to act as a diversion and give the Warden a chance to fight the monsters off.]]

* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: [[spoiler:Betrays her father to you, and then quite possibly betrays you back to him. No matter what risks you took for her sake, unless you promise to support her for queen she will cheerfully backstab you at the Landsmeet. Even if you promise to support her for queen, if you announce ahead of time your intention to have Loghain executed, she may turn on you to save her father.]] And of course, if you let her speak up for you to Ser Cauthrien, she'll immediately [[spoiler: claim that you were kidnapping her]]. She ''did'' warn you, but it still feels like a punch.

* DoubleStandard: The Couslands fought beside Sophia Dryden and the Grey Wardens against the Mad King Arland, but while ''they'' were branded usurputous traitors, stripped of their rank and exiled, and remain strongly distrusted to the present day, the Cousland family suffered ''no'' [=PR=] backlash[[note]]Yes, many of their numbers were slaughtered by the Mad King as punishment, but they were still not stigmatized for their participation in the failed rebellion, nor were they stripped of their rank, lands, or titles like the Drydens, and despite being significantly depleted in number they did not lose their status as the most wealthy and powerful family after the Theirin royal family. The Couslands also ''never'' had to work to earn back their good standing the way, say, the Rendon Howe had to during the war against Orlais after his family lost standing by siding with their Orlesian oppressors.[[/note]], to the point that when Howe claims that Bryce was an Orlesian spy and traitor (something that most Fereldens already suspect of the Grey Wardens and would believe of the Drydens due to their failed rebellion against the Mad King), absolutely ''no one'' believes him about Bryce.

* GenreThrowback: Of the Chivalric Romance and [[RichesToRags Medieval]] [[RagsToRiches Tragedy]] genres, where a stalwart king or noble is betrayed and murdered by his CardCarryingVillain [[EtTuBrute best friend]], [[CainAndAbel brother]], or [[EvilUncle uncle]], his loyal followers wiped out and his rightful lands and titles seized by the traitorous usurper, and his surviving child (if he is killed) plunged into RichesToRags harship, until they eventually [[YouKilledMyFather avenge their father by killing his murderer]], reclaim their "rightful" inheritance, and marry into the monarchy if they aren't kings already. (Which the Couslands aren't.)

* OutOfGenreExperience: In a game praised for being a DeconstructorFleet to most HighFantasy tropes, the Human Noble Origin stands out as the only one that plays its tropes ''dead straight'': The Couslands are AlwaysLawfulGood, Bryce is TheGoodKing in all but name, he's betrayed and murdered by his CardCarryingVillain [[EtTuBrute best friend]] (who ''only'' acted out of [[GreenEyedMonster jealousy]] and [[TheStarscream greed]]), his only surviving child is plunged into a YouKilledMyFather RagsToRiches [[RagsToRiches To Rags]] story, his child avenges him and the family is restored their "rightful" inheritance. At no point is Bryce ever revealed to have FeetOfClay (like virtually every other mentor or BigGood character), nor is Howe ever exonerated with extenuating details casting Bryce in a less flattering light the way Loghain is for ''his'' betrayal and usurpation of Cailan.

* BolivianArmyEnding: Ultimately left to face Howe's men with his wife at the end of the Human Noble origin.

* DoubleStandard: The Couslands fought beside Sophia Dryden and the Grey Wardens against the Mad King Arland, but while ''they'' were branded usurputous traitors, stripped of their rank and exiled, and remain strongly distrusted to the present day, the Cousland family suffered ''no'' [=PR=] backlash[[note]]Yes, many of their numbers were slaughtered by the Mad King as punishment, but they were still not stigmatized for their participation in the failed rebellion, nor were they stripped of their rank, lands, or titles like the Drydens, and despite being significantly depleted in number they did not lose their status as the most wealthy and powerful family after the Theirin royal family. The Couslands also ''never'' had to work to earn back their good standing the way, say, the Rendon Howe had to during the war against Orlais after his family lost standing by siding with their Orlesian oppressors.[[/note]], to the point that when Howe claims that Bryce was an Orlesian spy and traitor (something that most Fereldens already suspect of the Grey Wardens and would believe of the Drydens due to their failed rebellion against the Mad King, absolutely ''no one'' believes him about Bryce.

* FantasyForbiddingFather: Averted in the case of the Female Noble. Unlike other nobles in Ferelden, he seems to have no problem with his daughter studying combat training, regularly competing in local tournaments, and being a better warrior than the majority of the castle guards. He's even open to the idea of her becoming a Grey Warden, although he wants to wait to talk about it until after he gets back from Ostagar.
** Much like [[HiddenDepths Calian's treatment of Alistair]], this last fact makes sense; with both Bryce and Fergus heading off to war, that would leave the Human Noble Warden the next in line to rule Highever if the worst comes to pass.

* IdiotBall: He's a sharp and reasonable man, but has a blind spot when it comes to Rendon Howe. [[spoiler: It gets him killed.]] It's actually somewhat surprising that such a good man was best friends with possibly one of the most monstrous men in Ferelden.
** Presumably this was because he let his [[WideEyedIdealist idealism]] get the better of him, hoping that his [[FireForgedFriends wartime friendship]] with Howe could end ''centuries'' of bitterness and feuding between their two families. He never considered that Howe might fall prey to the same jealousy that had plagued previous generations.

* OutOfGenreExperience: In a game praised for being a DeconstructorFleet to most HighFantasy tropes, the Human Noble Origin stands out as the only one that plays its tropes ''dead straight'': The Couslands are AlwaysLawfulGood, Bryce is TheGoodKing in all but name, he's betrayed and murdered by his CardCarryingVillain [[EtTuBrute best friend]] (who ''only'' acted out of [[GreenEyedMonster jealousy]] and [[TheStarscream greed]]), his only surviving child is plunged into a YouKilledMyFather RagsToRiches [[RagsToRiches ToRags]] story, his child avenges him and the family is restored their "rightful" inheritence. At no point is Bryce ever revealed to have FeetOfClay (like virtually every other mentor or BigGood character), nor is Howe ever exhonorated with extranuating details casting Bryce in a less flattering light the way Loghain is for ''his'' betrayal and usurpation of Cailan.
* PapaWolf: If the PC tells Duncan that they have no interest in becoming a Grey Warden during their initial conversation, he responds to Duncan's persistence by stepping (completely unarmed, mind you) between the two of them and letting Duncan know, in no uncertain terms, that his pup isn't going to do ''anything'' they don't want to do.

* UndyingLoyalty: He's an ardent royalist and supporter of King Cailan. This is ironic because his ancestor Elethea was one of the primary foes of King Calenhad. She only reluctantly agreed to KneelBeforeZod after his forces defeated hers in battle, and he allowed the Couslands to retain their lands and authority in exchange for their support. But four hundred years of good governance by most of the Theirins has made the Teyrns of Highever very loyal.

* NeverASelfMadeWoman: ''The World of Thedas: Volume 2'' reveals that Eleanor had commanded a raiding ship and crew as early as 16, primarily attacking Orlesian vessels during Ferelden's revolution. (This was how she met Bryce, as she sailed him around to help him fight Orlesians.) ''However'', this was because her father had been a sort of privateer (a bann who was also a raider on the side) who had provided her training, ship, and crew. She then gave up the pirate princess persona her father helped her amass to marry and shadow Bryce, and gained her title of Teyrna through marriage to him.

-->'''Iona''': You're as pretty as your mother describes.
-->'''Eleanor''': And she says that after seeing you whacking stuffed men in the courtyard, sweating like a mule.

* AssholeVictim: As mentioned below, he is a contender for the role of the game's biggest ButtMonkey - and yet he is such a bastard, he ''still'' fails to make you feel sorry for him.
** When a housekeeper who knew Vaughan as a child heard he had been killed by elves, she only said "The Maker is just."

--> '''Warden''': How do I know you're really Queen Anora?
--> '''Anora''': How am I supposed to answer that? Shall I try to shove my crown under the door? Do you think the royal family has a secret knock?

* DoubleStandard: If a City Elf Warden arranges an Elven Bann for the Denerim Alienage, no matter who becomes bann the end slides reveal that eventually human bigots riot in the streets against elves. Anora does nothing about this. In response to human mistreatment, the elves also end up rioting. Anora always promptly cracks down on these.

* GodSaveUsFromTheQueen: Subverted as Anora can be very ruthless in the way she tries to maneuver herself into power, but once she becomes queen (if you allow her to be, that is) she actually is a pretty decent ruler.

** To [[spoiler:the Warden]]; it's implied in her cameo and epilogue in ''Awakening'' that they could potentially be a good couple, given some time and it's also mentioned in his codex in ''Inquisition'' that "the two lived happily until he disappeared several years later". Subverted if the Warden told their LoveInterest that the marriage is strictly political.

* OutGambitted: If you really don't like her, it is entirely possible to [[spoiler:win the support of the Landsmeet even if she sides with her father.]] Double points if you play as female Human Noble: Teyrn's daughter square-off.

* YourCheatingHeart: [[spoiler: According to Anora, Cailan had "discreet" affairs during their marriage. Loghain takes his letters to Celene as proof he was planning to drop Anora for her. WordOfGod is that Cailan ''was'' planning to divorce Anora after the battle of Ostagar.]]

* RescueRomance: Except with minimal romance. [[SubvertedTrope And hardly any need for the "rescue."]], at least as far as she thinks anyways, A male Human Noble Warden can convince the Queen to marry him after rescuing her, as part of a deal to aid her in gaining the throne - although he will have to take the initiative to make her stick to her deal. If the player then exports this save to ''Awakening'', Anora will have a cameo, and [[DefrostingIceQueen is shown to care a little more for the protagonist]]. Interestingly, her only objection to a proposition from a male Human Mage Warden is that while she's willing to entertain the notion, she knows that the other nobles would never accept a ''[[DoesNotLikeMagic Mage]]'' on the throne.

* BadDreams: As an adult, he says that he can sometimes see what he did while possessed in his dreams.

* TheWoobie: Not only did the guy lose his entire Arling to the Darkspawn, but tavern chatter amongst the other nobles reveals that both of his sons were killed during the evacuation of the West Hills.

* BlackAndWhiteMorality: In a "dark fantasy" game that prides itself on being filled with [[GreyAndGrayMorality Grey And Gray]] and BlackAndGrayMorality, the Human Noble Origin stands out as one of the few conflicts with straight up Good vs. Evil. Bryce is very much the White to Howe's Black Morality.

-->'''Arl Howe:''' [[WouldYouLikeToHearHowTheyDied Your parents died on their knees. Your brother's corpse rots in Ostagar, and his brat was burned on a scrap heap along with his Antivan bitch of a wife.]] And what's left? A fool husk of a son/daughter who is likely to end his days under a rock in the Deep Roads? Even the Wardens are gone. You are the last of nothing. This is pointless... you've lost.\\

''Arl Howe:''' And there it is, right there... that damned look in the eye that marked every Cousland success that held me back. It would 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''.

-->'''Arl Howe:''' [[WouldYouLikeToHearHowTheyDied Your parents died on their knees. Your brother's corpse rots in Ostagar, and his brat was burned on a scrap heap along with his Antivan bitch of a wife.]] And what's left? A fool husk of a son who is likely to end his days under a rock in the Deep Roads? Even the Wardens are gone. You are the last of nothing. This is pointless... you've lost.\\

-->'''Howe''': There it is, right there. That damned look in the eye that marked every Cousland success that held me back. It seems you have made something of yourself after all. Your father would be proud. I, on the other hand, want you dead more than ever.

** Under specific circumstances, a female human noble can outplay her magnificently, leading to both this and a HumiliationConga. The Noble can arrange for Anora and Alistair to marry, only for the Noble to choose Alistair as her champion in the duel with Loghain, Anora's father. Upon winning the duel, Alistair will promptly execute him in front of her, which in turn causes Anora to withdraw her support (as she will not marry the man who killed her father). At this point, the Noble can announce that ''she'' will marry Alistair and serve as Queen Consort, which causes the Landsmeet to completely dump Anora, who Alistair immediately imprisons (and likely later has executed, as she refuses to renounce her claim to the throne). All of this happens in the span of a few minutes!

* NiceToTheWaiter: Bryce is universally praised by his human castle staff for being such a kind and generous boss. His treatment of elven servants is kept a little more vague since he's never shown interacting with them, nor are their opinions of him made clear. While a visiting noblewoman's elven handmaiden, Iona, notes that Highever elves ''seem'' to be treated well, other elven characters outside the HN Origin claim that Highever elves aren't treated any better there than anywhere else. ([[Administrivia/RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgement It's best to leave it at that]].)

* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Has this reputation around Ferelden, which is seemingly confirmed by his soldiers and human staff. ([[Administrivia/RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment It's less clear how reasonable he is regarding elves.]])