Human Noble
For centuries, your family, the Couslands, have stewarded the lands of Highever, earning the loyalty of your people with justice and temperance. When your country was occupied by the Orlesian Empire, your father and grandfather served the embattled kings of your land. Today, your eldest brother takes up House Cousland's banner in service to the crown, not against the men of Orlais, but against the bestial darkspawn rising in the south...
Teryn Bryce Cousland, a tall, broad-shouldered man wearing his silken clothes over the only slightly faded warrior's physique of his youth faces the fireplace, silver hair framed by the flames, as he addresses his oldest friend, Arl Rendon Howe, a severe faced man not liked by many men and women of his station. "I trust then that your troops will be here shortly?"
Arl Howe winces and nods. "I expect them to arrive tonight, and we can march tomorrow. I apologize for the delay my lord, this is entirely my fault." His long-nosed face sinks into something like a emaciated blood-hound's expression as he tries to meet Bryce's eyes but fails to do so. Behind him stand two Howe soldiers, Rendon's personal guard, wearing studded leather, swords, and the bear and shield symbol emblazoned on their bucklers.
Bryce turns then and smiles back at Howe. "No no, the appearance of the darkspawn in the south has us all scrambling, doesn't it? I only received the call from the King a few days ago myself. I'll send my eldest off with my men. You and I will ride tomorrow, just like the old days!" He crosses the floor away from the fireplace to clap his old friend on the back.
Arl Howe's face seems to lift in relief although their is not much change overall in his expression. He actually chuckles however. "True, though we both had less gray in our hair then, and we fought Orlesians, not monsters..."
Bryce Cousland lets out a hearty laugh. "At least the smell will be the same!" he glances aside as the side door to the main hall opens and closes, and his two youngest sons come marching in. In the lead is the second youngest of his three sons, Olivier, and behind him, his younger, axe-shaft shouldered brother Kaidan.
"I'm sorry pups, I didn't realize you would be here so quickly. Howe, you remember my sons, Olivier and Kaidan?"
Howe nods in respect to the two young men. "I see they've both grown into fine young men. Pleasure to see you both again" He refrains from offering a hand in welcome however.
