Unveiling the World of Dragon Age: A Lore Deep Dive
The Dragon Age series, developed by BioWare, has captivated players for over a decade with its rich worldbuilding, compelling characters, and intricate lore. With the upcoming release of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, it's an opportune time to delve into the history and key elements that define this beloved RPG franchise. Whether you're a newcomer or a returning fan, understanding the lore can enhance your experience and provide a deeper appreciation for the world of Thedas.
A Journey Through Thedas: The Core Games
The Dragon Age series consists of three core games: Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, and Dragon Age: Inquisition. Each game presents a unique story with a different protagonist, yet they are all interconnected within the same world. These games are primarily set in the southern regions of Thedas, offering distinct but interwoven narratives.
Dragon Age: Origins: The Blight and the Grey Wardens
Dragon Age: Origins introduces players to the Blight, a cataclysmic event caused by the Darkspawn. Players assume the role of a Grey Warden, an ancient order dedicated to fighting the Darkspawn. The game is set during the Fifth Blight, and the player can choose to be an elf, dwarf, or human, with the option of playing as a warrior, mage, or rogue. After being betrayed by Loghain, a Teryn serving under the king, the player and their companion Alistair, the last remaining Grey Wardens, must rally support in Ferelden to combat the Blight.
Dragon Age 2: Hawke's Rise in Kirkwall
Dragon Age 2 follows the story of Hawke and their family as they flee their home in Lothering to Kirkwall due to the Fifth Blight. In Kirkwall, Hawke rises in social status and becomes embroiled in the escalating tensions between mages and templars. The game also introduces the Qunari, a term for individuals of any race who adhere to the teachings and code of The Qun. Dragon Age 2 also introduces Varric Tethras, a storytelling dwarf armed with a crossbow who serves as both the game's narrator and a companion to Hawke. Through Varric, players are introduced to Red Lyrium, a potent and corruptive substance that enhances a mage's connection to the Fade. Varric's brother is corrupted by a Red Lyrium idol discovered in the Deep Roads with Hawke. This idol later falls into the hands of Knight Commander Meredith, who is also corrupted, leading to her tyrannical persecution of mages in Kirkwall. Hawke ultimately confronts Meredith in a final battle, leaving her frozen as a Lyrium statue.
In the Dragon Age 2 DLC Legacy, Hawke first encounters Corypheus in an ancient Warden prison.
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Dragon Age: Inquisition: Restoring Order After the Breach
Dragon Age Inquisition centers on the Inquisition, an organization formed to restore order following the Breach, a tear in the Veil that allows demons to enter the world from the Fade. The player becomes the Inquisitor after gaining a mark that enables them to seal these tears. Varric returns as a companion, along with Solas, an elven mage with extensive knowledge of magic, elves, and the Fade. The Inquisitor sets out to seal the Breach and stop Corypheus, who seeks to become a god by entering the Fade. In the Trespasser DLC, set after the main events of Inquisition, the Inquisition's fate is debated, and the truth about Solas is revealed. Solas is responsible for creating the Veil to stop the elven gods, the Evanuris, inadvertently destroying the world of the elves. He now seeks to restore what was lost, posing a threat to Thedas, which sets the stage for Dragon Age: The Veilguard.
The Timeline of Thedas: Ages and Events
The games are set within the Dragon Age, the ninth age of the Chantry calendar. Dragon Age: Origins begins in 9:30 Dragon, during the Fifth Blight. Dragon Age 2 starts in 9:30 Dragon and spans approximately seven years, ending in 9:37 Dragon. Dragon Age: Inquisition is set in 9:41 Dragon, with the Trespasser DLC taking place in 9:44 Dragon. Dragon Age: The Veilguard is expected to be set around 9-10 years after Inquisition, likely in 9:52 Dragon.
Key Organizations and Groups in Thedas
Understanding the main organizations and groups in Thedas is crucial for navigating the world of Dragon Age. These groups influence the political and social landscape and play significant roles in the series' narratives.
The Chantry: A Dominant Religious Force
The Chantry is a major religious organization in Southern Thedas, shaping the beliefs and practices of many.
Mages: A Source of Contention
Magic is a contentious issue in Thedas. In Southern Thedas, mages are often confined to Circle towers due to the fear of demonic possession. In contrast, mages in Northern regions like Tevinter hold positions of power and influence.
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Templars: Guardians and Hunters of Mages
The Templar order watches over mages to prevent them from becoming abominations and hunts apostates, mages who live outside the Circle.
Lore Nuggets for Dragon Age: The Veilguard
Several key elements of Dragon Age lore will likely play a significant role in Dragon Age: The Veilguard.
The Fade: A Realm of Spirits and Dreams
The Fade is a spiritual realm inhabited by spirits and demons. Mages draw their magic from the Fade, and it is also the realm where dreams occur.
The Veil: Separating the World from the Fade
The Veil is a barrier created by Solas to separate the mortal world from the Fade.
Eluvians: Ancient Elven Mirrors
Eluvians are magical mirrors used by the elves for travel and communication.
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Evanuris: The Elven Gods
The Evanuris were believed to be elven gods, but it's implied they were powerful mages who enslaved their own people.
Fen'Harel / The Dread Wolf: A Figure of Elven Legend
Fen'Harel, also known as The Dread Wolf, is a figure in elven legend, initially believed to be a trickster god. The Trespasser DLC reveals that Fen'Harel was a moniker given to Solas by the Evanuris.
The Elves: A Race with a Lost History
In Southern Thedas, city elves often face mistreatment, while the Dalish seek to preserve their heritage. Solas' actions have reshaped the understanding of elven history, revealing a past where spirits and people lived in harmony, magic was natural, and elves had extended lifespans.
The Darkspawn: A Constant Threat
The Darkspawn are a major threat in Thedas, beings corrupted by a taint that spreads across the land, causing Blights.
Gameplay Mechanics in Dragon Age: Inquisition
Dragon Age: Inquisition refines the action role-playing gameplay of its predecessors with a semi-open world structure. Players can explore various regions, each with its own challenges and enemies. The game introduces mounts for faster navigation. Completing side activities, such as sealing Fade rifts and capturing keeps, grants players resources like Influence and Power, which are essential for progressing the story and unlocking new areas.
Customization and Character Development
Players can customize their keeps, such as rebuilding a garden as a Chantry church or an herb garden.
The game features a dialogue wheel for interacting with non-playable characters, with additional options based on the Inquisitor's race and class. Decisions made by the Inquisitor can have significant consequences on the world of Thedas.
Combat and Abilities
Players can choose from three classes: warrior, mage, and rogue, each with unique stats and attributes. Combat emphasizes team cohesion, allowing players to switch between party members during battles. Killing enemies and completing quests earn experience points, allowing players to level up and unlock new talents.
Crafting and Upgrades
At Skyhold, players can craft and customize armor and weapons using collected materials. Weapons and armor can be upgraded with accessories and enchanted with runes.
The Storyline of Dragon Age: Inquisition: A Detailed Overview
Dragon Age: Inquisition's narrative is complex and filled with political intrigue, magical conflicts, and personal stories.
The Conclave and the Breach
The game begins in medias res, with the player character regaining consciousness in the Fade after an explosion at the Conclave, a peace conference organized by Divine Justinia V to end the war between rebel mages and rogue templars. The explosion creates the Breach, a massive tear in the Veil. The player character emerges with a mark on their hand capable of closing rifts.
Re-establishment of the Inquisition
The player character, now known as the "Herald of Andraste," leads the re-establishment of the Inquisition to restore order to Thedas. The Inquisition seeks support from either the Rebel Mages or the Templar Order to seal the Breach.
Choosing Sides: Mages or Templars
The player's choice to side with either the mages or the templars significantly impacts the storyline.
Siding with the Templars: Champions of the Just
The Templars, corrupted by red lyrium, are revealed to be part of a splinter faction called "Red Templars." The Herald must confront the demon Envy, who has been manipulating the Templars.
Siding with the Mages: In Hushed Whispers
The Herald discovers that the rebel mages have allied with a Tevinter magister named Gereon Alexius, who can manipulate time. The Herald must navigate a future where Corypheus has conquered Thedas.
The Attack on Haven and the Move to Skyhold
After sealing the Breach, Haven is attacked by Corypheus, and the Herald is forced to retreat to Skyhold, an ancient fortress that becomes the Inquisition's new base of operations.
Political Intrigue and Alliances
The Inquisitor becomes involved in Orlesian politics, attempting to prevent an assassination attempt on Empress Celene I. The Inquisitor also investigates the disappearance of the Grey Wardens, discovering a plot to sacrifice Wardens and summon demons.
Unveiling the Truth in the Fade
The Inquisitor's party receives help from the spirit of Divine Justinia V, who reveals that Corypheus intended to sacrifice her to unlock the Orb and gain the Anchor.
Confronting Corypheus and Sealing the Breach
The Inquisition confronts Corypheus, ultimately defeating him and resealing the Breach.
The Aftermath and Solas' Revelation
In a post-credits scene, Solas is revealed to be the Dread Wolf Fen'Harel, setting the stage for future conflicts.
Development of Dragon Age: Inquisition
Development for Dragon Age: Inquisition began in 2011, focusing on "story", "characters", "open world", "choices", and "personalise". The game was built using EA DICE's Frostbite 3 engine, which presented significant development challenges.
Dragons in Dragon Age Lore
Dragons are powerful reptilian creatures capable of using elemental breath to attack. They prefer to live in old ruins and cave complexes. Dragons were thought to be extinct for centuries, but their return marked the naming of the Dragon Age.
Dragon Classification
Dragons are classified by their age and form. Dragonlings are newly hatched dragons. Drakes are mature male dragons. Mature dragons are female dragons larger than normal dragons. High dragons are venerable female dragons. Dragon Thralls are dragons corrupted by the darkspawn taint.
The Evanuris and Dragons
Solas reveals that the Archdemons were once high dragons bound by the Evanuris as a source of power.
Notable Dragons
The Queen of the Blackmarsh was a large high dragon. The Red Lyrium Dragon was a high dragon subdued by Corypheus. The Guardian of Mythal is a high dragon fought to complete the main quest.
The Orlesian Civil War
The Orlesian Civil War between Empress Celene and Grand Duke Gaspard de Chalons adds another layer of complexity to the political landscape of Thedas.
