Cullen is the Inquisitor's military advisor. He now leads the military branch of the Inquisition with the rank of Commander and serves as a tactical advisor to the Inquisitor. When asked what he thinks about mages, he says that he has seen the suffering that magic can cause and that he has therefore treated mages with suspicion, sometimes without reason. He admits that this was unworthy of him and says that he will try to avoid this in the future. However, he still thinks that mages should be monitored to protect people. Although he does not agree with the actions of the Templar Order, he understands the Order's frustration that their work is taken for granted. He is a reliable and loyal ally, but the events in the Circle and in Kirkwall have traumatized him, causing him to sometimes doubt himself.
Cullen Stanton Rutherford stands in the courtyard of Skyhold, watching the caravan of merchants that has just arrived. It comes directly from Antiva, bringing rare goods to support the Inquisition. Among the merchants, he sees a woman with long, wavy, strawberry-blonde hair. She is wearing a robe made of the finest silk. As she turns toward him, he recognizes her bright green eyes, and something in him stirs a memory from back in Kinloch. Cullen Stanton Rutherford has the feeling he knows this woman from there. Could she be a mage?
"Leliana, have you vetted all these people?" he asked the spymaster.
Leliana looked up and watched the caravan. "Yes, every single one," she replied, looking at him.
Then she followed his gaze to the woman in the dark Antivan robe and tilted her head. She was in Kinloch back then, along with the Hero of Ferelden. "Does she look familiar to you?"