spoiler Nobility Titles

[Stormwind32]

Having played through the game several times, I am yet to find a codex that explains the ranking in noble titles. I can tell thus far that Bann is lesser than an Arl or Teryn, but not much else. Which is considered a higher rank, Teryn or Arl?

 

From speaking to Aldous in the human noble origin, I gather that a Teryn has several Bann's reporting to him. But I don't know how an Arl fits into all this. Arl Howe was looking to advance himself and killed Teryn Bryce Cousland. This makes me think an Arl is less than a Teryn. But Arl Eamon seems like a powerful man with landsmeet abilities, so I don't know what to make of the title.

 

And what is meant by 'the Bannorn'? I assume its like a group of counties ruled by Banns who do not report to a Teryn, but I don't know for sure.

 

If there is anyone who has read the books or knows of a Codex entry that explains talks more about this, I would appreciate any information they could offer.

[TGBlank]

http://dragonage.wikia.com/wiki/Codex_Entr...ics_of_Ferelden

 

http://dragonage.wikia.com/wiki/Codex_Entry:_The_Bannorn

 

Those are the relevant codex entries. Tho there are half a dozen others that mention it, particularly those about locations or Arls/Teyrns

[Sarya]

In short words bann is equivalent to a baron, arl to count and teyrn to duke. It means that teyrns are second only to king and arls follow.

[Stormwind32]

The info allowed me to determine how my human noble should treat Isolde when she acts all high and mighty. Thanks

 

Also, if you kill Loghain and make Alistair king, do the dark ritual and defeat the blight, you can request a "title and riches to go with it". Alistair then makes you the Teryn of Gwaren, thereby making the only two Teryns in Ferelden from the Cousland family (yourself and Fergus). I find that far more satisfying than asking that the rest of the Howes 'pay for what they did' since they loose Aramanthine either way.

[Sarya]

Hmmm... that doesn't make sense, since Grey Wardens are supposed to abandon their former lives whatever they may be and dedicate themselves to what they do. Alistair is a special case, but Human Noble is not, especially since Fergus is alive and can continue the line. And finding a new line is even less important.

[Stormwind32]

It can make sense of course. Don't forget as a human noble your experience with Duncan is unpleasant. Recruitment happens when your father is lying there in a pool of his own blood and begging Duncan to take you and your mother with him. Duncan chooses this to be the appropriate time to ask for something in return. And if you refuse, he invokes the right of conscription. Oh, and don't forget he leaves your mother behind too. Oh and everytime you bring up the issue of Fergus, Duncan and Alistair refuse to let you look for him. Let's not forget Ser Jory, Duncan butchered him when he tried to leave. No good reason is offered, as later on in the Landsmeet we learn that the fact that joining is 'often fatal' is in fact common knowledge.

 

So, my point is that it's easy to roleplay a human noble Warden that is resentful of Duncan, but continues the fight against the blight to honor what his/her father said about duty. However, once the blight is defeated, you can reason that it is time to strengthen the Couslands again and make sure that Howe's act of betrayal would be very difficult to implement in the future. Having the Couslands in control of 2 Terynirs seems a good way to do that (if one falls, the other can still exact revenge). With Riordan dead, and Alistair not in the Wardens anymore (he is king for instance), there is no one to stop you from leaving. If the other GWs wanted to compel you to return to the order, but that seems unlikely when the blight is over. And being the hero that saved Ferelden, it would just make them look bad. Besides, if that were the case they would have compelled Alistair if you go with drunkard ending. In fact the drunk Alistair ending proves Riordan was wrong about Wardens being bound to the darkspawn.

 

Alistair is free to leave if he does not get the throne and Loghain lives - so if you defeat the blight leaving should be no problem.

[Sarya]

Really? It seems to me that Warden's duties come first. And main character doesn't have a duty to be a noble at all, while someone has to be the king. Of course, a non-dutiful character has the right to exist, just like a non-dutiful prince, but that what you described looks like a too quick desicion. Too easy, considering Grey Wardens even have right to demand kings as recruits. Besides... there's indeed no one left, just foreign ones, so someone has to rebuild. Of course, king/queen way is just the same deserting.

[Stormwind32]

Once the blight is defeated your duty is over - more so if you were recruited against your will. Every single NPC Noble in this game tries to use the Blight to advance themselves:

 

1. Howe uses the Blight to kill off the Couslands when their army leaves

2. Loghain uses the Blight to kill Cailan and advance himself to regent, possibly King (that fool in the Frostback mountains referred to him as 'King Loghain')

3. Anora uses the Blight to try and advance herself as sole ruler (this is quite evident if you explore all dialog and landsmeet options with her).

4. Eamon uses the Blight to someone he can control on the throne (Cailan rarely listened to Eamon's advice -- Alistair will be loyal to him).

 

All of them do these things while the blight is still a threat. My noble cashing in AFTER defeating the blight hardly seems inappropriate.

[Sarya]

By the time the Warden defeats Blight it becomes certain that this duty is really far from over. Darkspawn don't lay down and die just because some dinosaur goes boom, their numbers will be constantly replenished by Brood Mothers, there are two more dinosaurs to go, though that is to take indefinite time - and the Warden already knows all that well. It doesn't seem that they exist only to act during explicit Blights and stay idle between them - their duty is to remove darkspawn threat completely. Besides, the Grey Wardens DO realise the threat much better than most to exploit it. It never ever leaves them. So the Warden should realise that at least someone should be there and rebuild the Fereldan branch.

 

That has little to do with the topic itself, though it's yours and you're free to continue.

[Stormwind32]

I don't disagree, I just see my choice as well as yours being both viable from an immersion/roleplay perspective. The game gives you these choices at the end so its up to the player to decide what they want to do.