Aveline was the first female
Orlesian Chevalier.
Background
Aveline was born to Orlesian farmers in the Eastern countryside. Her father had hoped for a boy and, not wanting another mouth to feed, abandoned Aveline hoping she'd die from exposure to the cold winter. A traveling band of
Dalish elves discovered the crying child and out of pity accepted her into their clan, raising her as their own. Aveline was trained in archery, dueling, riding, and survival skills. By the time she came of age, Aveline was larger and stronger than most men her age. Her adoptive parents recognized her as a skilled warrior and encouraged her to enter an Orlesian tournament to show the
humans the folly of abandoning their child. The Dalish gathered together some of their best wood carvers and put together a suit of armor with a full helm to conceal her face. They also made her an ironbark sword of the finest quality.
Aveline entered the competition claiming to be a knight from
Antiva and refused to doff her helmet, even during the archery competition. In spite of this, Aveline bested the competition and eventually found herself face-to-face with Kaleva in the grand melee. Kaleva was one of the most acclaimed duelists in all of Orlais and was even personally selected as to work as the emperor's knight. Aveline had already defeated Kaleva in the jousting and Kaleva was determined to avenge his earlier loss.
Kaleva fought fiercely but Aveline managed to match every blow. Kaleva, in an action of desperation, tripped Aveline and hurled her to the ground. The blow knocked her helm from her head, revealing her identity. In front of the colosseum's packed crowd, Kaleva demanded the competition be declared invalid. At this point, however, Aveline had already won the crowd over and Kaleva's demand was met only be jeers and boos. In a fury at being bested by a woman, Kaleva pulled Aveline up to her knees and slit her throat.
The son of the emperor, Prince Freyan, was also present at the tourney. In spite of the fact that he'd had been bested by Aveline in an earlier bout, he recognized her valor and bravery. When his sister, Cyril, ascended to the throne, Freyan pleaded the newly crowned Empress Cyril to abolish the law which forbade women from joining the Orlesian chevaliers. Empress Cyril agreed and had Aveline posthumously knighted as such.
Although female chevaliers remain a relative rarity, all those who choose the path of knighthood revere Ser Aveline as their patron. Ser Aveline's story remains a popular tale in Orlais.
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