#oc - bryland cousland

[shannaraisles]

In Adversity, Hope - Chapter 3

[Excerpt -

“Couldn’t wait to see us, hmmm?”

“Dermot!”

Bryland caught his brother in a rough embrace, one arm opening to grab hold of Elinar before she could edge away and pull her into the tangle of limbs as well.

“What happened?” the youngest Cousland demanded, eager for news that he still wasn’t entirely sure he wanted to hear. “The night captain said something about you coming in with the Warden Commander, but I thought you were staying back to defend Highever.”

The sudden tension was all he truly needed to witness to understand that the answer he dreaded was the truth. But he had to hear them say it. One of them had to tell him that truth, or he would never believe it. Dermot swallowed, looking away from Bryland’s earnest gaze, abandoning Elinar to meet that eager look head on.

“Bry ...” She stopped, taking a swift breath before continuing. “Highever has fallen. Howe betrayed us.”

[READ ON AO3]

[stylographic-blue-rhapsody]

Warden OC as a Companion: Felix

Part 1 | Part 2

pictures made on these picrew: picrew 1, picrew 2

Tagged by @wild-houseplant , made for DAO by @boom-crunch3r

Warden’s Name: Felix Mikel Mac Enraig Cousland (Felix)

Race / Class / Specialization: Human Warrior, Champion, Weapon and Shield

Pronouns: he/him

Introduction: Felix, nephew and godson to Teyrna Eleanor Cousland, joined the Grey Wardens by his own volition prior to the massacre by Rendon Howe of his home of Highever. He is clever, principled, and kind, contrasting greatly with his intimidating physical appearance.

If the player is of Human Noble Origin, Felix is the Warden’s adoptive brother. This can unlock special dialogue options.

Recruitment: Found with Alistair at Ostagar.

Where can they be found in camp? Standing near Dog, keeping watch on the camp entrance.

Companion Quest: Speak to him at the beginning of Lothering and the Imperial Highway. He will tell the Warden that he wishes to look for his adoptive brother, Fergus Cousland, as he was present at Ostagar, but that Morrigan has said a search would be impossible without guidance. He will ask the Warden to help him get a message to Arl Leonas Bryland, the Arl of South Reach and his father’s friend, imploring him to search for his brother and any survivors. Convince Knight-Commander Bryant in Lothering to send a runner to the Arling. +40 approval.

Can your warden be hardened?Yes, but it requires completion of three separate hardening dialogues, each of which results in -20 disapproval. Hardened Felix is less talkative and no longer pushes for you to accept side-quests that have no reward.

Gain approval by: Telling the truth; choosing mercy options when available; choosing pro-elf and pro-mage dialogue options; choosing kind dialogue options; accepting side-quests that help people in need; choosing supportive dialogue when he reveals his homosexuality

Gain disapproval by: Being unnecessarily cruel; attempting to harden him; hardening Alistair or Leliana; making homophobic remarks; killing an enemy who has surrendered

What gifts would your Warden appreciate? Steel Bracers, Current Map of Ferelden, Steel Symbol of Andraste, The Rose of Orlais

”Thank you, it was very kind of you to think of me.”

Feast Day gift? (Gain +50 Approval) Book of Poetry.

”Oh, for me? Many thanks! How did you know this was my favorite bard?”

Feast Day prank? (Gain -50 Disapproval) Noble History of the Howes.

”This is in poor taste.”

Can your Warden be romanced? Yes (male only, unavailable by a Cousland Warden)

Would they be interested in sex? Yes, but is not required to further the romance.

Is there a gift your warden will give to their partner? Yes. At +100 (love), Felix will ask the Warden to marry him once the Archdemon is defeated. If accepted, he will give the Warden a plain silver ring that gives +12 defense and 50% physical resistance when equipped (Bulwark Ring).

How do they react if another companion is being romanced? Felix will ask the Warden what he means to them, and if the romance with the other companion is serious.

If the Warden responds that they don’t feel seriously about Felix, regardless of their answer to the second question, Felix will remain with the Warden but approval will be capped at +70 (care).

If the Warden responds that they feel seriously about Felix and not the other companion, Felix will insist on the other romance being broken off. If the Warden promises to do so but doesn’t before initiating dialogue again, Felix will dump them. The romance cannot be restarted. -40 disapproval.

If the Warden responds that they feel seriously about both companions, Felix will tell the Warden that he needs a break to think about things. During this time he will not accept any gifts and will not offer romance dialogue options. He will eventually return to the Warden and say that while he himself is monogamous, he doesn’t think it’s right to insist on making someone else choose between their genuine feelings, and will accept their affections once again without asking the Warden to dump the other companion.

What companions do they…

Like the most? Zevran, Alistair, Morrigan, Leliana, Dog

Flirt with? Zevran. If neither companion is romanced by the Warden, Felix and Zevran will enter into a relationship.

Just get along? Wynne, Shale, Sten, Oghren

Start a rivalry with? None

Does Shale have a name for them? Shield Bearer

What’s your warden’s opinion on handling the Blight? Use diplomacy to gain support and resources. Work efficiently but never at the expense of civilians in need of aid.

What allies does your warden wish to seek aid from? (Would they rather preserve the mages in the tower to gain their assistance? Would they rather assist Harrowmont to get the support of the Dwarves? Etc.) Felix believes the Warden should support the mages, the Dalish elves, and Bhelen Aeducan.

Is there anything that would make your warden turn on the party? Because he is highly principled, it is very easy to make Felix leave your party. Felix will leave the party permanently if the Warden:

Sides with the Templars to kill the mages >”Mages are people, you can’t just slaughter them like diseased livestock!” (Felix will attack prior to entry to the tower, and cannot be persuaded otherwise. He will fight to the death.)

Corrupts the Urn Of Sacred Ashes

”You’ll pay for your greed!” (Felix won’t attack until after tainting the Urn. With a successful coercion attempt, he will leave without violence. He will flee if you drop him below quarter health.)

Kills the Lady of the Forest (regardless of whether the Warden sides with the Dalish, the Werewolves, or both. If he has been Hardened, he won’t leave, but you will net -50 disapproval.)

”This… this was wrong. Sick. She was the heart of this land… I’m sorry, I can’t follow you anymore.” (If present, Felix will participate in the fight against the Lady, and won’t leave until after it is over.)

Allows Caladrius to escape with the slaves or accepts the blood ritual during Unrest in the Alienage

”I won’t let you treat these people like things.” (Felix will attack once the Warden has agreed to either with Caladrius, and cannot be persuaded otherwise. He will fight to the death.)

What do they do following the Blight (if they had an Epilogue Card what would it say)?

If the Warden lives): Felix led many of Ferelden’s rebuilding efforts, organizing soldiers and commoners alike to heal his country. He was looked to for his leadership and kindness, and drastically accelerated the reestablishment of those displaced by the Blight. Eventually he reunited with the Warden (if romanced, or Zevran if not) and began an investigation into a cure for the Taint.

(If the Warden made the US): After the funeral of his friend, Felix spent the next year in efforts to rebuild and aid those displaced from their homes. He was then named Warden-Commander, and took charge of Vigil’s Keep in Amaranthine as he worked to rebuild the Grey Wardens and Ferelden itself. Eventually he passed on his mantle and traveled to Antiva to live with Zevran and to begin researching a cure for the Taint.

❗️Special Events❗️

Mage Tower: What vision is created to trick your warden while in the fade? He is in his chambers in Highever, praying to Andraste to help him overcome and abandon his unnatural love for his friend Garrett. A demon lays over his shoulder, speaking with a woman’s voice to mock and degrade his prayers.

Haven: What does The Guardian say about your warden before beginning the trial?

”You claim to be driven by duty, but what of the duty you abandoned when you chose to break your engagement with Amelia?”

What is their reaction to finding the Urn of Sacred Ashes?

”I almost don’t believe it’s real… how incredible for it to have survived all this time. What blessings…”

Denerim: Does your warden have any parting words before the final battle with the Darkspawn?

(Standard)

”Stay behind me, I’ll clear you a path. Be smart, be safe. There’ll be plenty of time for stupidity after we’ve won and have drink in hand.”

(Romanced)

”I have no doubt that we can do this, my love. Let me be your shield until you can get close enough to take it down. You’re the most capable person I’ve had the pleasure of knowing, never mistrust that.”

If they can be spoken to after the battle during the celebration do they mention what they’re going to do next?

”I’m so grateful we’ve made it, my friend (If romanced: “my love”), and I’m proud to have been in your company. There’s still much to do, though. I think I’ll help with the rebuilding effort here, but do call on me if you are in need of my assistance. No rest for the poor bastards who helped the Hero of Ferelden, I think the saying goes.”

Awakening: Does your warden return to help at Vigil’s Keep? Or does a letter arrive to the Keep to just check in? If he remains with the party to the end of Origins, Felix is available as a companion at Vigil’s Keep.

this was fun, thanks for the tag, plant!

[ocean-in-my-rebel-soul]

A-J for rhiona cousland? and/or 7, 15, 17, and 18? i love your OCs!! ^^

Yaaaasssssss! Thank you for the asks!

Rhiona Cousland, as drawn by @lady-scribbles​

===

Author Questions

A) Why are you excited about this character?

I really love redemption stories. I love sincerity in the face of adversity. I love strong moral compasses. I love her trait of lovingkindness, her compassion and her honor, even though she has to make the hard decisions. She doesn’t take this responsibility lightly, even though it should never have been hers in the first place. 

B) What inspired you to create them?

I wanted to see a world where Loghain wasn’t only the evil villain, but had motives and wants and needs and flaws beyond being the adversary. I wanted a character who knew this, who knows the game of politics vs personal interest. I wanted a true patriot--not a nationalist who favors the sovereignty of Ferelden over all others, but someone who wants the best for her country and fights for it, shedding her blood on the front line because she only asks others of what she’s willing to do herself. She is Loghain’s catalyst to become a better man, better than who he is in Origins, but Rhiona first and foremost is a great woman. She is my Mother Ferelden kind of figure, noble and heroic and complicated and at her core, honorable and loving. 

C) Did you have trouble figuring out where they fit in their own story?

Not really. My only trouble really has been not letting her be a sexy lamp for Loghain’s development. She is important to his growth and eventual redemption, but the story is about her having to face the Blight and risk losing everything. My Surana fought because she had to--she had no other choice, being swept away from the Circle and all--but Rhiona fights because she feels it’s her duty as a Ferelden. These are both “had no other choice” kind of situations, but Rhiona’s sense of honor would have pointed her in that direction anyway. 

D) Have they always had the same physical appearance, or have you had to edit how they look?

I kind of come at characters with certain traits--what length and texture of hair do they have, what’s their general age and look, etc.--then fill in the blanks. She’s always had long, wavy hair, hazel eyes, and a fairly glowy complexion, and I just go from there. 

E) Are they someone you would get along with? Would they get along with you?

I think so. She is kind of my ideal patriot, who I would want to be. Honorable, noble, ethical, strong in her convictions, these traits I see in myself and want to highlight. Not to say she’s infallibleor perfect, but these good traits are things I see and try to activelycultivate in myself. 

F) What do you feel when you think of your OC (pride,excitement, frustration, etc)?

Pride,I’d say. I really enjoy her story. It comes with high stakes and high risks,but the reward is pretty great.

G) What trait of theirs bothers you the most?

Shecan be naïve. For as badass as she can be, as worldly as she thinks she is, shecan be pretty naïve about people’s motivations. She wants to see the best infolks. Rhiona wants people to have integrity, to be honorable, to be rational,reasonable people. Her faith in the Maker and Andraste urges her to see thebest and redeemable qualities of a person, but that sometimes gives them toorosy a glow in her eyes.

H) What trait do you admire most?

Iadmire that she does keep searching for the best in people, even when they hurther. She so desperately wants people to be capital-g Good, because surely that wouldbe best for everyone, and so she goes to great lengths to affirm the goodnessin others. She also is steadfast, and loyal. When she gives her word, she willmove mountains to keep it. She takes oaths very seriously, and does not makethem lightly.

I) Do you prefer to keep them in their canon universe?

 Ithink so! There’s a lot to her story that is directly influenced by the eventsof Origins in its canon universe, but I suppose there could be an AU that wouldsupport her growth in similar ways. I mean, more of an AU than her canon is,already.

J) Did you have to manipulate or exclude canon factors toallow them to create their character? 

Ha, oh yeah. She fucks with thecanon in that Fergus ends up king-consort to Anora, to assuage the Landsmeetand reconcile the various factions (especially those who have been calling/vyingfor a Cousland monarch); her younger sister Elissa becomes Teyrna of Highever; andshe and Loghain eventually reconcile and marry after Anora awards her Gwarenand its wealth as thanks for her service to Ferelden. She even manages to helpAlistair thoroughly abdicate any claim to the throne, and he becomes WardenCommander of the Grey Wardens of Ferelden.

===

OC Questions

7) What triggers nostalgiafor them, most often? Do they enjoy that feeling? 

After she settles into Gwaren, she spends a lot of her free timein the solarium. It reminds her of her mother, with whom she was particularlyclose. It’s nice, but bittersweet. She misses her parents, misses the way lifewas before the Blight. It seemed so simple back then, but she knows she didn’tknow a lot of things about the world and the people in it. The scent of campfire reminds her of the blight, of being on the road. She has mixed feelings about that, for sure.

15) How do they speak? Iswhat they say usually thought of on the spot, or do they rehearse it in theirmind first? 

It depends. With people she’s close to she’s more cavalier and casual,even a touch flirtatious, but if she doesn’t know someone very well, orespecially if she feels they’re more important or better than her (particularlywhen she’s still young and a bit sheltered), she tends to be much morethoughtful about what she says and how she presents herself.

17) Are they easilyembarrassed?

Not particularly, but she doesn’t like it, all the same.

18) What embarrasses them?

Reminders of when she doesn’tor didn’t live up to her ideals. Case in point: she pushed Lady Habren Bryland,daughter of Arl Bryland of South Reach, into a pond in the Highever gardensafter days of listening to her badmouth her sister and generally be a pissyhouseguest. It wasn’t her proudest moment, and she’d do it again in a heartbeat(*no one* messes with Elissa), but it embarrasses her that she didn’t dosomething more constructive and meaningful. 

===

Ask your own questions!

[shannaraisles]

Works In Progress, or Niamh Might Be Committing To Narrative Sometime Soon

Okay, I think I have control over my muse again. Possibly.

Burn With Me

Pairing: Sebastian Vael/Freya Hawke

Rating: Mature

Setting: Pre-game, into DA2

Premise: What if there was a fourth Hawke sibling who sacrificed themselves to let their family escape cleanly a few years before the Blight? Freya Hawke has been in Chantry hands for almost a full year, and still they haven’t managed to induce her to tell them anything about the mages she is protecting. Interrogation in Ferelden didn’t work; cruelty and neglect in Kirkwall didn’t work; it doesn’t seem as though kindness in Tantervale is going to work, either. So Elthina brings in her secret weapon - Sebastian Vael. Will he be able to get the information out of Freya Hawke, or will he realise that some bonds are just too sacred to break?

[Read on AO3]

Forget Me Not

Pairing: Knight Captain Rylen/Ksenia Trevelyan

Rating: Teen and Up, may venture into Mature later

Setting: Modern AU (Dear Friend universe)

Premise: Ksenia Trevelyan has spent her whole life trying to live up to her parents’ impossible standards. Finally at breaking point, she has abandoned her intense job at a prestigious university hospital in favour of taking a position as a small town family doctor several hundred miles away from her parents. She meets a friendly neighbourhood templar (policeman) named Rylen, who seems vaguely familiar, and strikes up a friendship with him. Very Hallmarky, predict-a-romance plot.

[Read on AO3]

In Adversity, Hope

Pairing: Bryland Cousland/Aislynn Theirin (both OCs)

Rating: Teen and Up, possibly straying into Mature as we go

Setting: Origins

Premise: It’s a what-if. What if Alistair had a twin sister? What if she was raised by the Couslands? And what if she and Alistair had an actually healthy sibling relationship that doesn’t involve ripping his heart out and stomping on it, or even anything to do with Goldanna at all? Aaaand then it morphed into ... what if I dropped this premise into my Hounds of Highever universe, where Dermot is the Warden, his little sister is sweet on Anora, and his little brother needs someone to rein him in a bit. Thank goodness Origins already has a plot.

[Read on AO3]

[shannaraisles]

OC - Bryland Cousland

BASICS:

Full Name: Bryland Roan Cousland Gender: Male Sexuality: Heterosexual Pronouns: He/him

OTHER:

Family: Teryn Fergus Cousland (brother); Lady Elinar Mac Tir (sister); Grey Warden Dermot Cousland (brother) - all older; Kieran (nephew) Birthplace: Highever Job(s): Noble Phobias: Claustrophobia Guilty Pleasures: He doesn’t really have any pleasures he would class a “guilty”. In certain company, he can become a little embarrassed by his fascination with Dalish history and culture, but even then, he’ll defend it passionately Hobbies: Archery, sword-training, riding, reading, chess, alchemy, spending time with his mabari, socializing

MORALS:

Moral alignment: Neutral good Sins: lust / greed / envy / gluttony / pride / wrath / sloth Virtues: charity / chastity / diligence / humility / justice / kindness / patience

THIS-OR-THAT:

introvert / extrovert organized / disorganized close-minded / open-minded calm / anxious / restless disagreeable / agreeable / in-between patient / impatient outspoken / reserved leader / follower / flexible empathetic / unempathetic optimistic / pessimistic / realistic traditional / modern / in-between hard-working / lazy

RELATIONSHIPS:

OTP: Bryland x Aislynn (OC) Acceptable ships: A brief fling with Isabela; he could be persuaded to woo Josephine or Merrill, under the right circumstances OT3: He’s not a sharer BROTP: Alistair, Zevran, Dermot NOTP: Sadly, he is pointedly straight (not for lack of trying, but he’s stubborn), so NOTPs include all men.

(This may look familiar, but it is a rewrite of an old OC who may actually be preparing to tell his story for once. Wouldn’t that be nice?)

[shannaraisles]

@kagetsukai made me do it!

Okay, maybe she didn’t make me, but she mentioned a lack of male Couslands, and ... now I have two. I have a whole Cousland family! Top pictures are them during the Blight, bottom are them during Inquisition. From left to right, we have:

Dermot Cousland - (2nd Drakonis, 9:03 Dragon) - Second eldest son of the Cousland line; trained as a sword and shield warrior; inducted into the Grey Wardens in exchange for the rescue of his sister’s life by Duncan during the attack on Highever. Romanced Zevran, fathered Kieran, is searching for a cure to the Calling.

Elinar Cousland - (27th Solace, 9:05 Dragon) - Only daughter of the Cousland line; trained with Dermot in sword and shield; accompanied him on his journey to end the Blight. Became Queen Anora’s bodyguard following the Battle of Denerim, and eventually, princess-consort to the throne.

Bryland Cousland - (20th Harvestmere, 9:08 Dragon) - Youngest son of the Cousland line; trained as a rogue in bow and daggers; accompanied Fergus to Ostagar, but was left at the camp when Fergus went scouting; chose to accompany his brother and sister on their quest when he met up with them in Lothering following the defeat. Returned to Highever briefly, but left again to become an adventurer, eventually joining the Inquisition early on after the explosion at the Conclave. Will romance Eralen Lavellan, Herald of Andraste. Sort of.

[shannaraisles]

OC - Bryland Cousland

BRYLAND COUSLAND

BASICS:

Full Name: Bryland Roan Cousland Gender: Male Sexuality: Heterosexual Pronouns: He/him

OTHER:

Family: Teryn Fergus Cousland (brother); Princess-Consort Elinar Mac Tir (sister); Grey Warden Dermot Cousland (brother) - all older; Kieran (nephew) Birthplace: Highever Job(s): Noble; Inquisitor Phobias: Claustrophobia Guilty Pleasures: He doesn't really have any pleasures he would class a "guilty". In certain company, he can become a little embarrassed by his fascination with Dalish history and culture, but even then, he'll defend it passionately Hobbies: Archery, sword-training, riding, reading, chess, alchemy, spending time with his mabari, socializing

MORALS:

Moral alignment: Chaotic good Sins: lust / greed / envy / gluttony / pride / wrath / sloth Virtues: charity / chastity / diligence / humility / justice / kindness / patience

THIS-OR-THAT:

introvert / extrovert organized / disorganized close-minded / open-minded calm / anxious / restless disagreeable / agreeable / in-between patient / impatient outspoken / reserved leader / follower / flexible empathetic / unempathetic optimistic / pessimistic / realistic traditional / modern / in-between hard-working / lazy

RELATIONSHIPS:

OTP: Bryland x Eralen (Dalish OC) Acceptable ships: A brief fling with Isabela, possibly, but as yet nothing canon or other OC springs to mind OT3: None that come to mind, but he could be swayed in the right circumstances BROTP: Varric, Dorian, Cassandra, Vivienne, Leliana, Kieran NOTP: Sadly, he is pointedly straight (not for lack of trying, but he's stubborn), so NOTPs include all men.

[shannaraisles]

WIP Update

Okay, it’s official. I have failed in keeping myself interested in just one story. ~chuckles~ Here’s what I am now working on.

Irish Eyes

An Old West Dragon Age AU, featuring my OC, Erin MacNamara, and Cullen Rutherford. A straight-forward romance that should be gloriously predictable and hopefully not boring.

Ena’Vun

A canon-divergent retelling of Inquisition, featuring Bryland Cousland as the Inquisitor, and a romance with Eralen Calmar, another of my OCs.

[shannaraisles]

My Non-Active OCs

For the list of active OCs, click here. Just because these are currently non-active, it does not mean they won’t be available for prompts. Keep an eye on the tags of any prompt lists I post to see who is available for writing.

Mila Trevelyan

(Face claim - Gal Gadot)

Appears in: Dear Friend (Modern AU); Not Always In Writing (prompt anthology) Class/Profession: Zookeeper Game Setting: N/A Romances: Cullen Rutherford

Felicita (Fabs)

(Face claim - Maite Perroni)

Appears in: The Rose In The Crown Series Class/Profession: Queen Game Setting: Post-Inquisition/Pre-Trespasser Romances: Alistair Theirin

Poppy Hawke

(Face claim - Miranda Kerr)

Appears in: In Marcher Fields Class/Profession: Dual daggers rogue Game Setting: Dragon Age 2 Romances: Cullen Rutherford

Berenice Adaar

(Face claim - Ashley Graham)

Appears in: TBD Class/Profession: Mage Game Setting: Dragon Age: Inquisition Romances: TBD (torn between Carver, Fenris, & Cullen)

Dermot Cousland

(face claim - JJ Feild)

Appears in: The Hounds of Highever (month challenge) Class/Profession: Sword and shield warrior/Grey Warden Game/Setting: Dragon Age Origins Romances: Zevran Arainai

Rumor

(Face claim - Alexandra Daddario)

Appears in: Wasn’t Me (WIP) Class/Profession: Rogue/Information broker Game Setting: Dragon Age 2 Romances: Callum Hawke

Callum Hawke

(Face claim - Chris Evans (with beard!))

Appears in: Wasn’t Me (WIP) Class/Profession: Two-handed warrior Game Setting: Dragon Age 2 Romances: Rumor

Katrina Trevelyan

(Face claim - Elizabeth Olsen)

Appears in: Eclipsed (WIP) Class/Profession: Hospitality Game/Setting: Modern Urban Fantasy AU/Paranormal Romance AU Romances: Cullen Rutherford

Elizabeth Trevelyan

(Face claim - Lily James)

Appears in: Fire & Fidelity (WIP) Class/Profession: Rogue/Lady Game/Setting: Regency AU Romances: Cullen Rutherford

Bryland Cousland

(Face claim - Tom Hiddleston)

Appears in: Ena’Vun (WIP, not yet posted) Class/Profession: Inquisitor Game Setting: Inquisition Romances: Eralen Calmar (OC)

Eralen Calmar

(Face claim - Marina Aleksandrova)

Appears in: Ena’Vun (WIP, not yet posted) Class/Profession: Dalish Hunter/Halla Keeper Game Setting: Inquisition Romances: Bryland Cousland (OC Inquisitor)

[shannaraisles]

TMI Tuesday!

Shaking things up a little with an offering of my newest OCs to see if anyone catches your attention!

Right to left, top line first -

Anne Trevelyan - former Inquisitor of the disbanded Inquisition, her story will pick up soon after Trespasser and involves an arranged marriage with Sebastian Vael.

Bryland Cousland - youngest of the Cousland family to survive the Blight, a peripheral character to his older siblings’ stories, and get his own romance in 9:41 Dragon.

Dermot Cousland - second eldest of the Cousland family to survive the Blight. The Warden who will romance Morrigan and father Kieran before disappearing (you know, as the Warden does).

Elinar Cousland - only Cousland daughter, also survives the Blight. Following the Blight, becomes bodyguard to Queen Anora, and a few years later, becomes Princess-consort after marrying her. ;)

Eralen Lavellan - Dalish mage Inquisitor, she is Bryland’s romance, and it’s all very cute, I promise.

Valya Malinsdotten O Bearhold - a member of an Avvar tribe discovered in a Modern AU, who will visit the modern world and embarrass the hell out of Cullen Rutherford while simultaneously falling in love. Think George of the Jungle without the ineptitude.

Want to know more? Ask me - it’s TMI Tuesday!

[ocean-in-my-rebel-soul]

8 OC Facts!

Tagged by @heraldofwho, and this is fun! Who wants to play? @buttsonthebeach, @tk-duveraun, @lyriumyue, @galadrieljones, @ironbullsmissingeye, @absinthianajones, @amaranthine-daydream? No pressure, I just find these so fun! 

If anyone plays along, tag me! I wanna know about your OCs!

Rhiona “Ree” Cousland, from the “Traitorous Hearts” series

1. She’s the middle child; Fergus is a year and a half older than her, and Elissa is seven years younger. 

2. Prefers tea over coffee, and prefers it with milk but no sugar. 

3. Once got into a “disagreement” with Habren Bryland, Arl Bryland’s daughter, over her treatment of Rhiona’s sister. Said disagreement almost ended up with Rhiona punching Habren in the face, but instead she only pushed her into a pond. Bryce had made Rhiona write a long letter of apology to both Habren and her lord father... to which Arl Bryland replied with candy and an apology of his own. 

4. When she was 8 years old, she cut her foot pretty badly when trying to play with one of Bryce’s old swords from the war, after retrieving it from the decorative plaque on the wall of her father’s study. Once she healed and was cleared for activities again, Eleanor started teaching her how to use a sword.

5. She once gave herself a haircut at 5 years old with some scissors, and hated the results. Rhiona cried every time she saw herself in a mirror, and ever since, has had long hair. 

6. Her favorite places in Castle Cousland are the inner courtyard, where the castle guard spar, and the kitchen. Her favorite places in Highever are the docks and the market. 

7. She’s a fan of people-watching. Part of the joy of hanging out at the docks, market, and other places is sitting down and imagining stories for everyone. It’s especially fun when the Couslands have guests or visit Denerim, as the gossip makes it even better. 

8. She’s not exactly a devout Andrastian, but she can’t help but rely on her faith in times of trouble. Andraste’s faith in the Maker, if not the Chantry that sprang up behind her, gives her peace. If pressed, she would argue that she believes in Andraste, not the Chant. (She and Fergus have argued this. He doesn’t exactly call her a heretic, but he finds the Chantry and Andraste too linked to be separate ideas, and is more of a run-of-the-mill Andrastian, himself.)

Well, that’s some facts and tidbits about Rhiona! Tag me in your OC posts, if you decide to play along, friends!