“Some of us know what honor and loyalty are.”
Ser Cauthrien is a knight and Teyrn Loghain's most trusted lieutenant, as well as the leader of Maric's Shield, Loghain's hand picked elite force.
Background
Cauthrien came from a poor Fereldan family. As a youth working on the farm, Cauthrien became aware of a man on horseback being chased by bandits and rushed to his assistance. After helping him fight them off, she discovered that the man was none other than Loghain Mac Tir, the Hero of River Dane. Cauthrien volunteered her service to Loghain, who took her in and offered her a position with his soldiers. Through sheer determination, Cauthrien worked her way up through the ranks to become a Knight. Eventually finally earning her place as Loghain's right hand and lieutenant, a moment she considers the proudest moment in her life. A staunch patriot of Fereldan, and unwaveringly loyal to Loghain, Cauthrien believes that serving the Hero of River Dane is the best way she can serve her country.
Involvement
Dragon Age: Origins
Cauthrien is on the battlefield following the lighting of the beacon on the Tower of Ishal at Ostagar. Loghain tells her to order a retreat. Cauthrien tries to protest at first, but reluctantly gives in and orders the troops to pull out.
Once the Landsmeet has been convened, she will join Loghain and Rendon Howe to confront Arl Eamon as well as Alistair and the Warden at the Arl of Redcliffe's Estate in Denerim. At some point, Cauthrien was known to have acquired The Summer Sword and carried it with her. Later, Cauthrien will confront the party when attempting to leave the Arl of Denerim's Estate - Interior and try to apprehend them for the death of Arl Howe. The Warden can either surrender or fight her.
If the Warden surrenders, Cauthrien will show surprise at their decision and order either the Warden or (if Alistair is present) both the Warden and Alistair to be taken in while the rest of the party and Anora and Erlina be let go, as she believes Loghain only wants the Wardens.
If Cauthrien is killed, Anora will mention upon meeting with the Warden back at the Arl Eamon's estate that Ser Cauthrien's death was a waste but something that could not be helped.
If Cauthrien survives the encounter, she will be met again at the Royal Palace outside the Landsmeet Chamber. She will attempt to stop the Warden from interfering with Loghain and it is possible to fight her for a second time. However, the Warden can also persuade her to stand down peacefully.
If Cauthrien survives the second encounter and the Warden sacrifices themself in the Battle of Denerim, she can be seen attending the Warden's funeral.
The Darkspawn Chronicles
Ser Cauthrien is said to have always distrusted Alistair but had to put aside her dislike in order to help prepare to defend Denerim against the Darkspawn.
Ser Cauthrien is encountered during the quest, Kill the Arl as an enemy boss. She is at the Denerim City Gates, leading Arl Howe's bodyguards. Cauthrien is slain along with her comrades by the Hurlock Vanguard and the Darkspawn.
Quests
Dragon Age: Origins
The Tower of Ishal- Rescue the Queen
- The Landsmeet (conditional)
The Darkspawn Chronicles
Strategy
- See Cauthrien (strategy).
Notable items
Quotes
- (To a Human Noble or City Elf threatening Howe when meeting him and Loghain) "You are either very bold or very stupid to threaten the teyrn before witnesses."
- "You have torn this nation apart to oppose my lord, and never once tried to understand why he is a hero to Ferelden."
- "I have had...so many doubts of late. Loghain is a great man, but his hatred of Orlais has driven him to madness. He has done terrible things, I know it, but I owe him everything. I cannot betray him, do not ask me to!"
Codex entries
Trivia
- Ser Cauthrien is listed as an elite boss in the first encounter during the Rescue the Queen quest. If she isn't slain while trying to arrest the Warden, she will attempt to stop the party from entering the Landsmeet, but this time she will be listed as a boss.
- At the Battle of Ostagar, when Loghain orders her to sound the retreat, she is seen with both a two-handed greatsword and a shield on her back.
- A portrait of Cauthrien in Gwaren's keep, commissioned because of her service to the village and its then-celebrated teyrn, was defaced and subsequently removed following the Battle of Ostagar.[1]
Bugs
- If you kill her in the Rescue The Queen quest but still fall to the guards accompanying her, she will survive and still try to prevent you from entering the Landsmeet. It is therefore possible to get two of The Summer Sword if you manage to defeat and loot Cauthrien before being taken prisoner by the remaining guards in Arl of Denerim's Estate. Conversely it is also possible to obtain The Summer Sword from her during Rescue the Queen and still spare her at the Landsmeet.
- If you kill Ser Cauthrien, recruit Loghain, and sacrifice yourself to kill the Archdemon, she still shows up to your funeral.
- When Ser Cauthrien tries to stop you again before the Landsmeet, the persuade option actually checks against Poison-Making, instead of the Coercion skill, but you can convince her to stand down. The intimidate option makes the right check, but you must make another intimidate or persuade check after that to convince Cauthrien that Loghain is wrong.
- If you allow yourself to be captured by Ser Cauthrien and return to the estate, Cauthrien and her soldiers will sometimes still be in the room along with Anora and Erlina, although they will not fight you.
Gallery
References
- ↑
Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 2, p. 99