Cullen Rutherford

From Fanlore
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Character
Name: Cullen Rutherford
Occupation: Templar (formerly), Commander of the Inquisition
Relationships: Mia Rutherford (sister), Branson Rutherford (brother), Rosalie Rutherford (sister), The Inquisitor (wife - player determinant)
Fandom: Dragon Age
Other: voiced by Greg Ellis

Cullen by YoungGirlBlues
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

Cullen Rutherford is a fictional character in the Dragon Age franchise. He has appeared in every game in the series, with his largest role being in Dragon Age: Inquisition, in which he is an advisor and possible love interest for female human and elf player characters.

Fandom

Pairings

Character Ship
Anders Anders/Cullen
The Inquisitor Cullen/Inquisitor
Cassandra Pentaghast Cullen/Cassandra
Dorian Pavus Dorian/Cullen
Raleigh Samson Cullen/Samson
The Warden Cullen/Warden

Common Tropes in Fanworks

I Will Endure by CinnaMinion. Cullen's addiction to lyrium, a magical drug, is a common element of fanworks.
  • Cinnamon Roll: Cullen is often characterized as shy, sweet, and awkward.
  • Dark!Cullen: Dark or morally ambiguous characterizations of Cullen are not uncommon. Such fanworks often focus on Cullen's years as a Templar, portraying him as cruel, tyrannical, and even sadistic toward the Circle mages under his charge. Frequent objects of Dark!Cullen's cruelty include The Warden and The Inquisitor. Some fanworks also explore AU scenarios in which Cullen became a Red Templar.
  • Redemption: Cullen's desire to atone for the errors of his past features in many fanworks. Fics set during the events of DA:I often focus on his dedication to the Inquisition. Cullen/Mage!Inquisitor fics often have him reckon with his participation in mage persecution through his relationship. Some post-canon works focus on his plan to set up a rehab facility for ex-Templars (something he does in some epilogues of the Trespasser DLC).
  • Substance Abuse/Recovery: Cullen-centric fanworks often focus on Cullen's addiction to lyrium or the difficulties of withdrawal after he decides to stop using it.
  • Unrequited Love: Cullen was in love with The Warden during his time at Kinloch Hold. He never acted on his feelings, however, as he felt it would be inappropriate. Some fics focus on this aspect of Cullen's history. This may involve him grieving for her if the author is writing a world state in which the Warden sacrificed her life to end the Fifth Blight.
  • Whump: Cullen has had a number of terrible experiences throughout his life. He was the sole survivor of the fall of the Circle of Magic in Ferelden, during which he was magically imprisoned and mind-raped by a demon. This caused him to be afflicted with nightmares afterward. Many fanworks focus on the lasting trauma of these experiences, or on the physical and psychological toll of lyrium withdrawal. It's also common for Cullen to be injured in fics, generally during the course of serving the Inquisition.

Fanworks

Fan Art

Fanfiction


Meta

Cosplay

Gallery

Fanart

  • Cullen by Daniela Barisone

  • Cullen Portrait by Amber Brantley

  • Strength by Taylor Cobb – Tarot card with an out-of-frame Inquisitor touching Cullen's face.

  • Tarot card by Eamikkir with an out-of-frame Inquisitor embracing Cullen.

  • Cullen Rutherford by ellieshep

  • Lionheart by Emorenji

  • Cullen Rutherford by g-ivanov

  • Sad lion by hellenys

  • Cullen by hyena-smile

  • Cullen by Liedeke

  • Knight Commander by KuraNova – Dark AU art envisioning Cullen as a Red Templar.

  • Aftermath by Nazgullow

  • Cullen by Nifriel

  • Cullen Stanton Rutherford by Nifriel

  • Cullen Rutherford by Noweria

  • Cullen Approaching by oblivionscribe

  • Dawn by ReelLifeJaneway2

  • Vigilance by ReelLifeJaneway2

  • Cullen by YoungGirlBlues

  • "The Dawn Will Come", Cullen and a female Lavellan Inquisitor by Goldkit (2020)

Cosplay

  • A genderbent Cullen cosplay by EiliseRose

  • Female!Cullen by EiliseRose

  • Female!Cullen by EiliseRose

  • Female!Cullen by EiliseRose

  • Female!Cullen by EiliseRose

  • VUNoxcraft (costume), the.only.vu (model)

Archives and Links

Retrieved from "https://fanlore.org/w/index.php?title=Cullen_Rutherford&oldid=2577515"