Ageofdragon - Blog Posts

How much canon info is there about Highever? I haven't been able to find much apart from: It has an alienage, is by the coast and makes a signature kind of cloth (wool industry?). How big is the city? Is it near/around Castle Cousland? Does it have a harbour? How big is the alienage and what is it like?

(Alright, for you I’m going to make this into an official lore post, because this is actually small and specific).

Disclaimer: All of this is completely canonical knowledge. Nothing headcanoned, there are sources for it and I’ve gathered from every source that I could. This includes: Codice (Highever, Construction Report: Brickmarks, ), Dragon Age Origins Ultimate/Collector’s Edition Prima Guide, Dragon AGE Core Rulebook. Nothing is headcanon and nothing is taken from an unreliable sources (i.e. Wikipedia).

 Highever

Location

Highever is a Teyrnir in northern Thedas, one of the few that set on the Coastlands. It sets on the coast of the Waking Sea, west of Amaranthine, across the sea from Kirkwall and the Vimmark Mountains, and North of The Bannorn.

In the very center of the Highever Teyrnir, is Harper’s Ford, this area used to belong to the Howes of Amaranthine. However, during the Orlesian Occupation, Tarleton Howe sided with the Orlesians, Harper’s Ford was marched upon by the Couslands and Howe hung.

Highever is the name of a village in the Teyrnir along the coast, as well as being the name of the Teyrnir (all lands, holdings, and bannorns within in area).

Castle Cousland is located in the Highever Teyrnir, the exact location is unknown.

Highever possesses an Alienage, though the location of it is unknown.

There was a Silver Temple in Highever where Andraste’s Ashes were first held, before being moved to a secret location. Whether the Temple still stands in unknown.

History

In -165 Ancient, Andraste’s “sons” (Maferath’s sons were adopted by Andraste, though many tried to claim to be her birth son in order to earn leadership of the Alamarri tribes) sought to steal Andraste’s ashes from Highever’s Silver Temple and strengthen their claim to Chief of the Alamarri. The ashes were moved to Haven, but the location was never revealed and eventually lost.

Castle Highever, eventually known as Castle Cousland, was built in the Divine Age and was considered no more than an outpost to the Amaranthine Bannorn. The oupost was held by the cousins of the Howes, the Elstans until the Tower Age.

In the Age of Towers, Bann Conobar Elstan was murdered by his wife, Flemeth, leaving no heir behind. Cononbar’s Captain, Sarim Cousland, stepped up and took the land instead.

The Couslands would declare themselves an independent Bannorn from Amaranthine and start a 30 year war, until Highever was freed and owned southwest Amaranthine as well.

It wasn’t until the Black Age that Highever would be named a Teynir under Haelia Cousland, who would unite the nearby lords against the werewolves and earn herself the title along with their fealty.

4:80 Black, Orlais tried to take Highever in hopes to conquer Ferelden, in the first Orlesian Invasion. They would use Highever to supply their troops by sea. However, Redcliffe stood strong against the Invasion and Orlesian was forced to retreat, unable to pass into Highever.

 During the Exalted Age, Eletha Cousland would fight Ferelden’s future king, Calenhad, to remain independent. She would lose, but Highever would remain one of two Teynirs and Eletha would remain their teyrna.

However, in the Dragon  Age, the Couslands would be betrayed and Castle Cousland would be stormed by Arl Howes forces, the Cousland family almost completely wiped out. The only to survive would Fergus Cousland, who would be lost in the Korcari Wilds until after the Fifth Blight ended. 

(Conditional: The youngest Cousland would also survive the attack and go on to become a Grey Warden, swearing vengeance on Howe.)

Highever would be relinquished after Howe’s death by the Warden and returned to the Couslands.

Fergus Cousland is the current Teyrn of Highever.

Heraldry

Highever has two major Heraldry, The Cousland Heraldry (Left) and The Highever Heraldy (Right).

Known People from Highever

Ardal Cousland (A knight/soldier to King Vanedrin Theirin)

Bryce Cousland

Calenhad Theirin

Duncan

Fergus Cousland

Flemeth

Helena (Jory’s Wife)

Oren Cousland

Riordan

Roderick Gilmore

Ser Eryhn (A Templar woman with unmatched grace with a sword and shield)

Warden Cousland

Facts

Highever has a population of 20,000.

Highever has given Ferelden the most famous Alamarri Legends so far (Calenhad, and Flemeth)

Nelaros’ Wedding Ring was forged in Highever, it is also where Tabris’ bride/groom comes from.

Sarethia is the Hahren of Highever’s Alienage.

Warpaint of the Tempest, is the traditional kaddis for mabari in Highever.

Highever Weave is most likely a cloth originating from Highever and may be an export.

Skyhold has bricks stolen from Highever, apparently before the First Orlesian Invasion.

Currency in Thedas, Part 2

So World of Thedas 2 comes out and more Currency Lore! Yay! Also I added on a lot to my old post and so I’m going to write/sort that out too.

Disclaimer: All of this is completely canonical knowledge. Nothing headcanoned, there are sources for it and I’ve gathered from every source that I could. This includes: The World of Thedas Vol.1&2, Dragon AGE (the tabletop RPG), Dragon Age Origins & Dragon Age 2 Game Guides, and a forum discussion with Mary Kirby & David Gaider (Information regarding Qunari economy). Nothing is headcanon and nothing is taken from an unreliable sources (i.e. Wikipedia).

Most of Thedas uses the same currency system, run by the Dwarven Merchants Guild. The Dwarves were the first to set and use the present currency standard; the Dwarven Merchants Guild refusing to accept any other currency, if it did not meet their specifications, and forcing many nations to convert to the new standard immediately.

Every nation and race within Thedas uses the same metals/basis for their currency, the standard fare being Gold, Silver, and Copper. Most of these come in the form of coins and their names and appearances vary country to country. Larger, more expensive transactions may be used in the form of bars (solid bricks) or strands (stacked groups), these seen used more between guild contracts or governments/nations than in daily commerce.  For example: Hawke would pay gold pieces to buy new armor, while Varric would buy a new estate or make an investment in bars and strands.

1 Gold piece is equal to 100 Silvers which is equal to 10,000 coppers.

Or

1 Gold = 100 Silvers 1 Silver = 100 Coppers

However, prices do inflate depending on location. 5 Gold pieces/Sovereigns in Ferelden will buy you a meal (probably for 2 if you know where to look) and an okay cowl will run you maybe 10 gold pieces/Sovereigns, where as in Orlais a single ring will run you around almost 60 gold pieces at the least and a decent meal is probably around 50 gold pieces per a person.

The Imperial Highway

While the Imperial Highway (the trade route throughout Thedas) does not have it’s own currency, it does have it’s own practice related to currency. Usually merchants and travelers will carry Traveler’s Bends, Gold coins that are beaten curved so they can be hidden beneath the tongue. The practice is done to protect small amounts of coin (for emergency or bribes) from bandits patrolling the roads; however it is very easy to swallow or choke on the coin rolling around in one’s mouth. It is also a common case for Hunter Fell currency (containing lead) to cause a condition called “Miser’s Madness”, which is lead poisoning.

Ferelden

In Ferelden, Gold pieces are referred to as Sovereigns, Silvers are Silvers, and Coppers are called Bits or simply Coppers.

Orlais

In Orlais, “Gold” pieces are referred to as Royals; however due to different and more expensive lifestyles of Orlais, Royals are equal to 20 Sovereigns/General Gold pieces. Silver pieces are referred to as Crowns and Copper pieces are Bits (like Fereldans) or Pennies. 

There are also the traditional Caprice coins of Orlais. They are made of very little gold and more often use low grade materials, as Caprices are made to be disposable. Most Caprices are decorated with a single family’s heraldry or a specific event. They are not used in normal economic exchanges, but rather in a party game at high-class, Orlesian, social gatherings. Nobles hand Caprices back and forth during parties, rewarding cleverness and grace. The Caprices are then thrown into a fountain at the end of the party or a fireplace in a more rural setting, for well wishing. Reusing a Caprice is thought to be both bad luck and a great embarrassment.

Serault

Serault has the same base currency as the rest of Orlais, but they do have a special coin. This coin is known as the Andraste’s Tear, a nonmetal coin that has the same equivalence as 5 Royals (or 100 Gold Pieces). Andraste’s Tears were made in a very small, limited quantity; created by pressing Serault glass together, trapping “the still of the air as they watched Our Lady breathe her last” (later discovered by a coin collector to be a waft of alcohol) between the slates of glass, and then a signet is pressed into the glass like wax.

Nevarra

Nevarra uses a coin referred to the King’s Gulder, it is implied this is their Gold coin as it is seen equivalent to the Fereldan Sovereign and Orlesian Royal. Another name for the King’s Gulders are Dragons. The term is both due to Nevarra’s culture association with dragons, and the naming of their Dwarven Guild/Enclave.

Anderfels

The Anderfels has a coin named the Double Griffon, it is implied to be their Gold piece as it is compared to the Fereldan Sovereign, Orlesian Royal, and Nevarran King’s Gulder.

Antiva

Antivan Andris are Antiva’s “Gold” pieces worth the same as an Orlesian Royal (20 typical Gold pieces), they are actually struck with the faces of leaders operating major groups within the Antivan limits rather than faces of their Royalty. For example one Andris appeared to be struck with a (familiar) Pirate Queen’s visage, one who operates within the Antivan seas.

Also 5,000 Andris are considered to be one Bastard, which is an offer used as an insult in business negotiations.

Tevinter

Tevinter uses a coin similar to Orlesian Caprices for their own gatherings, Imperial Tesseraes are tokens and/or tiles that are used as invitations and passes into certain events. The events can range from political meetings (like Magister congregations) to celebrations (name day parties) to competitive gathering or betting at said gathering (sport contests like Jousting) to private performance (of a famous bard/minstrel or celebrated play troupe). Coins are usually specially made for each event, depicting the event, a favorite athlete, an animal, or the subject/guest of the event. Tokens for a private performance are considered the rarest Tesserae to acquire and are highly sought by collectors. However Tesseraes lose value the minute the event or gathering has ended, since there is little interest in tokens of a rival’s family, success, and/or vanity.

Par Vollen, Seheron, Parts of Rivain (Qunari)

Qunari follow a completely different economic system that the rest of Thedas, as they do not have currency or a trade system. Rather Qunari run on a communist system. They do not own property; they do not trade, buy, or sell things amongst one another. Any example given by Mary Kirby:

“Merchants” in qunari cities have the job of making sure goods are distributed appropriately.

Because Qunari do not buy goods, the goods instead provided to everyone fairly and evenly. The “merchants” deliver the essentials to live, to everyone equally and the goods they need to perform their role/jobs (bakers get their flour for the day, farmers their seeds for the season, etc.)

Qunari do follow Thedosian currency out of curiosity, trading and borrowing with the rest of Thedas to interact with and explore the activities, behavior, and goods/products that come from the other nations. However, they do not actively participate nor adopt Thedosian economic standards among their own communities. It is unknown whether the currency they use to participate in Thedosian economy has special names like the rest of Thedas and are rather just Golds, Silvers, and Coppers.