World of Thedas 1

100 MAG IC DRAGON AGE:

The Lake Calenhad The Harrowing PHYLACTERIES
Circle Tower in A magc who has survived C ircle train ing has not done so easily. Every Circle apprentice provides a sample of blood to be kept in a
Fereldenison~ Years of instruction culminate in a difficult test known as "the phylactery, a special vial imbued with magic. The phylactery can be
Harrowing." Those who fa il face death, and mages who do not used to track down or even remotely cast a spell on a fugitive mage.
accessible by boat. wish to undergo the trial are made Tranquil. The holder ofa mage's phylactery essentially controls that mage.

The actual test, kept secret from apprentices, begins with the considers mages who have passed the Harrowing no longer a
novice mage sitting in a room surrounded by numerous senior danger to society- until they prove otherwise- and gives them
spellcasters and templars. The apprentice uses lyrium to proj- a limited license to practice m agic.
ect their mind into the Fade. There, the apprentice must face a
demonic spirit and the threat ofpossession. If the mage resists the Any living, full.fledged mage who has spent time in the Circle
spirit, the test is passed. Those who fa il become abominations, has undergone this test.
and are killed on the spot by templars supervising the ritual.

The Harrowing separates skilled magic users from those
too weak or unstable to be trusted with their gift. The Chantry

The Grey Warden Garahel leads Darkspaw n all but devastate the Free Marches. Chateau Haine becomes
an army ofWardens and Anders to Fortress Haine, a make shift Warden garrison. A refuge known as the Retreat is
breakthesiegeatHossberg. dug into the mountain. At the most dire point of the Fourth Blight, hundreds
of fleeing Kirkwall and Cumberland residents call the Retreat home.
5:10fXALTED
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THE WORLD OF THEDAS MAG IC IOI

The Tranquil of others. Tranquil possess an abnormal ability to concentrate on The Harrowing
The "Rite ofTranquility" completely severs a mage's connection even the most tedious tasks.
to the Fade in an attempt to permanently block the potential for
spirit possession. The forced excising ofemotion is controversial among mages,
who argue the ethics ofthe practice. But while non-Tranquil may
You can tell a Tranquil from the sunburst marking burned into consider an emotionless existence to be horrifying, the Tranquil
the mage's fo rehead and their deliberate, monotone manner of do not possess the desire to object.
speech. As a side effect of the rite, a Tranquil loses all capacity for
emotions, as well as the ability to dream. Tranquil can no longer While the rite makes demon possessio n difficult, it does not
cast spells, and although free will persists, they rarely exercise it. actually render it impossible. Without emotion to mine, spirits
Without emotions, they have nothing to guide them but the will are simply uninterested in Tranquil mages. If a spirit is coaxed
to touch a Tranquil's mind, however, the rite may be reversed.

Garahel gathers Wardens from Orlais and the Anderfels, then marches Antiva is freed from the dukspawn during the infamous
to Starkhaven, where he organizes an alliance between the leaders of the battleatAyesleigh,whereGaraheldies defcatingthe
Free Marches. A united army marches north under the griffon banner. Archdemon. So many darkspawn are slaughtered that
manybe\ievetheywillneverreturn.
5:1WALHD
5:14EXALHD

102 MAGIC

Kirkwall'sFirst THE ANNULMENT AT DAIRSMUID THE FRATERNITY OF ENCHANTERS
Enchanter Orsino
When we heard of the injustices against our fellow mages at the Mages with strong political leanings may join noble orders known as
resisted Knight· White Spire, the Circle of Magi in Val Royeaux, I feared what fraternities, which serve to lobby mage leadership based on ideology.
Commander Meredith was to come. Our Circle at Dairsmuid is small and isolated; it Representatives are traditionally called to vote on contentious issues
exists largely as a fa(fade to appease the Chantry. that affect all mages, such as independence.
Stannard'sRightof
Annulmentin9:37 When the other Circles rose up, the Chantry sent Seekers Aequitarians, one of the most popular fraternities, advocate temper-
across the bay from Ayesleigh to investigate. They found us ance and rationality.
Dragon. mixing freely with our families, training female mages in the
traditions ofthe seers, and denounced us as apostates. Perhaps The Libertarians are a growing fraternity that petitions for greater
they thought we were spineless robes who could be intimi- power for mages. Some Libertarians have pushed for a complete split
dated with a little bloodshed. Before I was First Enchanter, [ from the Chantry.
was the daughter ofCaptain Revaud, ofthe Felicisima Armada.
I know how to plan a battle. From Libertarian ranks has emerged a more radical group known as
the Resolutionists, who openly accept apostates and support mage
They brought with them a small army of templars. We freedom at all costs. Many Resolutionists have connections to a grow-
fought. And we might have won. But they invoked the Right ing mage underground.
ofAnnulment, with all the unrelenting brutality that allowed.
It is their right to put screaming apprentices to the sword, burn The Isolationists are a smaller group of mages who believe their gifts
our utainted~ libraries, crush irreplaceable artifacts under their are dangerous. They preach withdrawal to remote territories in extreme
heels, tear down the very walls ofour home. No mage has the cases, and seek to avoid conflicts with non-mages.
right to disagree.
Loyalists advocate loyalty and obedience to the Chantry.
We ofthe Dairsmuid Circle wait now, behind barricades. I
have sent word to our brother and sister mages ofthis outrage. Lucrosians maintain that the Circle must do what is profitable first,
When they break through, we will not die alone. putting wealth before politics.

-Final journal entry of First Enchanter Rivel/a,
slai,1 in Dairsmuid, 9:40 Dragon

Circle Politics
Under the current Circle hierarchy ofauthority, the leader ofthe

Circle is the Grand Enchanter, elected by the Circle's First
Enchanters. Traditionally, the Grand Enchanter acts
as an advisor to the Divine, in addition to leading
all mages under Chantry control.
At the head of each local Circle is a
First Enchanter, implicitly the leader of
all mages in that Circle's jurisdiction. He
or she assumes this position for life and
retains the right to choose a successor,
taking into consideration the astrong sug-
gestions" ofthe templars. Only in recent
years, amid increasing friction, have First
Enchanters denied templar choices for
succession.
Under the First Enchanter are senior
enchanters, who mentor junior enchanters,
who in turn mentor apprentices.

Nobody but the Wa rd ens seems to care M a n y g r i f f o n s a r e k ill e d d u ring
that darkspawncontinuctoinfestthe the Fourth Blight. Their numbers
Deep Roads all the way to O rzammar. decimated, thecreaturessoon dieout.

5:15 fXALHO

T H E W ORLD OF T H E DAS MAG IC 103

MAGIC'S PLACE IN Saarebas and the Qun TheQunaritakeextreme
DIFFERENT CULTURES The Qunari fear and loathe magic. But it is ofcourse still possible measures to ensure their
for a follower of the Qun to be born with the power to use it.A mages,calledsaarebas,
There's a saying that "humans are lucky to be born and mages Qunari mage is known as a saarebas, meaning "dangerous thing." are controlled
luck'}' to be born in Tevinter." How mages are treated varies greatly The Qunari treat them with brutality and caution. The seer of
among cultures in Thedas. ln nations beyond the Chantry's con~ Kont-aar once wrote: "Saarebas must be carefully controlled by
trol, mage life can be a blessing or a curse. someone else, an arvaarad, 'one who holds back evil,' because
they cannot truly control themselves."
The Qunari fear magic's potential, but take its treatment
of mages to extremes even the Chantry might consider cruel. The Qun teaches that those who can control magic cannot
Ln contrast, mages are the backbone of society in the Tevinter control themselves. Because of this, it is common practice for
lmperium. Their government is a totalitarian magocracy where saarebas to be chained, masked, and kept on a short leash. Their
the rights of mages are both paramount and glorified. lips may, in extreme cases, be stitched together. An arvaarad may
also use a rod, similar to one used to control a golem, to restrain a
Dwarves are the only common race in Thedas unable to wield saarebas. All this is done to prevent saarebas from casting spells.
magic through natural means. Their resistance to magic, and by
extension, lyrium, has allowed them to hone skills in enchant- ~ The evil is not the mage, but the loss of the mage, the loss
ment. Enchanted dwarven weapons are prized throughoutThedas. of the mage's self, and the suffering that inevi-
tably follows," the Seer of Kont-aar wrote in
Magic in Tevinter 8:41 Blessed. "The Qunari pity and honor the
The Tevin ter lmperium, in sharp contrast to much ofThedas, saarebas, for striving while under constant
celebrates magic use among its people. The ability to wield magic th reat from with in is
is seen as a mark of favo r from the Maker, and the Old Gods truly selfless, which
before him. Political and religious leaders in the lmperium are is the highest virtue
a\J mages. of the Qun."

Because magic use is not discouraged, Tevinter mages
have delved far deeper into magic's potential than
mages in the rest ofThedas. Spells developed in the
northern nation exceed what mages elsewhere would
ever dream of casting. Imperial Circles, in contrast
to the Circle of Magi, are places of honor where the
art of magic is celebrated and freely passed down
to young mages. Attendance at a Circle in Tevinter
is not mandatory. It is a privilege.

The lmperium's mastery of magic led to an extended
period of conquest over much of the continent prior to
the rise of the Chantry.

So pervasive is magic's influence in the lmperium that
non-mages are a sizable underclass. The lucky non-
mages who are not slaves can own land, but cannot
hold senior political positions. The non-mage
Soporati are said to dream of having a magc
child and the prestige that comes with one.
Many non-mages in the lmperium live in
fear of mages and the power they wield.

104 MAG IC DRAGON AGE:

Elves don't know the The Death Mages ofNevarra The Forgotten Magic ofthe Dalish
purpose of ancient In Nevarra, mages have more The no madic Dali sh elves have practiced magic free
power than those in most C hantry- from Chantry con trol for generations. It is a proud
eluvians.Themagical contro llcd nations. Th ey arc well part of their culture, albe it one they still struggle
mirrors are a symbol organized, wealthy, and hold polit i- to understand.
oflostelvhenways. cal sway. Nevarran mages push the Many of the old elvhen ways were lost with
boundaries of what magic can do, the fa ll of Arlathan, and magic is no exception.
and are arguably the most wcll- Remnants of the unique magic they once prac-
schooled m ages outside Tevinter. ticed do surface at times. A hand ful of ancient,
magical mirrors called eluvians have survived,
Among t he special aspects of although they no longer seem to work an d
magic practice in Nevarra is the secre- their purpose remai ns a mystery. Some have
tive Mortalitasi order. These magcs arc speculated that the mirrors allow commu-
experts in t he art o f mumm ificat ion, ni cation ove r vast distances. Rum o rs
a burial practice unique to Nevarran cul- persist that it may even be possible to
ture. The order studies death extensively, enter a working cluvian.
and its members are known to experi- The magic the Dal ish now use
ment with necromancy. is largely a product of thei r surround-
ings. Th eir spells have evolved to be
Members of the order rarely leave deeply rooted in nature, manipulating
Nevarra. While they are well respected earthly forces with a heavy emphasis
within t he kingdom, mages outside o n herbalism and heali ng. Unli ke
the nation's borders fear the m. other spellcasters, Dalish mages
Propaganda perpetuates the belief do not use any magic involving
in som e that the Mortali tasi are spirits, as they believe all
actually a death cult who carry out spirits arc dangerous.
macabre rituals in the catacombs of
their Grand Necropolis.

'""" Tylus, the first Va n Markham king of th e
Nevarran city-state, comes to power in a coup,
killin g th eruling Pentaghast.Ah eroofth e rece nt Blig ht ,
he claims to bea desce ndant ofKordillus Drakon.

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THE WORLD OF TH E DAS MAG IC 105

APOSTATES & including blood magic. The word "maleficar" comes fro m the
BLOOD MAGIC Tevinter language, an old word meaning one who is depraved.
AJthough many apostates never p ractice the forbidden arts, the
APOSTATES stigma is such that many look upon all apostates as maleficarum.

In C hantry lands, mages who operate outside the C ircle have AJso among the ranks of apostates are hedge mages, who are
historically been dubbed apostates, a loaded term synonymous untrained and wield powers developed independent of standard
with "rebel mage.~ teach ings. Hedge mages have been known to possess unusual,
sometimes previously unseen abilities. Often their skills may be
The most dangerous of the apostates are the maleficarum, harmless enough that they are ignored by authorities.
who actively pursue dangerous and forbidde n schools of magic,
Traditionally, the C hantry 's opinion is that any mage who
lives outside of the Circle is breaking the commandments of the

Kin gTylus Va n Markham turns th e west ern Fre e Marches against Morrigan,ahero
the growi ng powe r ofOrlais. He wins several majo r ho rde r wars oftheFihhBlight,
againstth e Orles ia ns, ex pandingNeva rrai nto apro pernation. is an apostate

5:38fXAlHO Calenhad l heiriniscrownedkin g in
De nerim, uniting the long-warrin g tribes
ofFerelde nunde r as inglebann er.

5:42 fXAlHO

106 MAG IC DRAGON AGE:

Maker and must be hunted . The Chantry believes apostates are THE FIRST INQUISITION
at greater risk of falling prey to demons, being possessed, and
becoming abominations. The birth of the Chantry took place more than nine ages
ago, and the mists of time have obscured what were once
It is not uncommon for mages to refuse to bow to Chantry well-known facts. It is commonly believed that the Chantry
control. Though it is a dangerous path, rebel mages survive even alone created the templars and the Circle ofMagi. Few recall
in nations with a heavy Chantry or Qunari presence, hiding in that there was ever an Inquisition. Those who do believe it
plain sight or banding together on the fringes of society. predated the Chantry, hunting cultists and mages in a reign
of terror that ended only upon its transformation into the
There are also mages, technically apostates, who adhere to Templar Order. This, however, is not quite the truth.
traditions predating the Circle's creation. This kind of
apostate may be a shaman in a barbarian village, a local One must keep in mind the state ofThedas prior to the
Chantry's creation. It was a world where the only source of
order, the Tevinter lmperium, had fallen apart. People blamed
magic for the death ofAndraste, the Blight, the terror they
saw every day- and not without basis. Abominations and
demons rampaged the countryside. No one was safe. The
Seekers of Truth were initially formed by disparate groups
of men and women, determined to restore order because no
one else would do what was necessary. The truth they sought,
the question they tried to answer, was how to restore sanity
in a world gone mad.

Was theirs a reign of terror? Perhaps. But all evidence
shows they were just as vigilant in their protection of mages
as they were of regular people. Any time they intervened, an
ad hoc trial was convened to determine the guilty party. This
even application of justice led to their poor reputation, as
the Seekers came down against every group at one time or
another, their "JnquisitionH gaining notoriety as being on no
one's side other than their own.

They believed themselves good people, however, and
followers ofthe Maker's true commandments. This was never
more evident than when they laid down their own banner
in support of the fledgling Chantry. 111ey believed, with all
their heart, that the Templar Order was the answer a desper-
ate Thedas needed most in a terrible time. Ultimately, the
Inquisition was composed of independent idealists and not
Chantry zealots, and that is the truth.

- From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of a
Chantry Scholar, by Brother Genitivi

Anders is an apostate alchemist who makes love charms, a hermit witch who casts
magewhocla imed curses on intruders, and most notably a keeper of the Dal ish.
responsibility for
The line between mage and apostate is blurring as beneficial
destroying the chantry magic use outside Chantry law becomes more common. H igh-
profile mages like those involved in the quelling ofthe Fifth Blight
inKirkwall. in Fereldcn and those who fought in the mage-templar conflicts
in Kirk\vall and Val Royeaux have complicated debates about the
definition of an apostate and where they fit in society.

years inpower. Sh e leaves ale gacy as D ivine Amara III is elected. The famously fanatical
one ofthe most compassionate women leaderissaidtoenjoybo nfiresfu el edbyburning
toeveroccupy the post. maleficar.Herreig ndoes notlastlong.

5:71 EXAllEO 5:71 EXAlEO

THE WORLD OF THEDAS MA G I C 107

BLOOD MAGIC thoughts," famed First Enchanter Josephus once wrote. 'Just as
treacherous, blood magic allows the Veil to be opened completely
Not up for debate, however, is the practice of blood magic. Using so that demons may physically pass through it into our world."
pain or death to cast or strengthen spells is forbidden through-
out Thedas. Josephus wrote that it was once common practice for a
Tevinter magister to keep a number of slaves on hand, to use
The ancient Tevinter magisters were the first to experiment their blood to strengthen spells. A rare Tevinter maleficar may
with blood magic. They saw it as a means to achieve greater still use slaves for this purpose.
power in all schools. Over time, they discovered spells that could
only be worked by spilling blood. Rituals involving violence With the rise of the Chant of Light and subsequent decline
became a significant part of the Old God worship, and blood of Old God worship, the use of blood magic was all but stamped
mages rose to incredible heights of power and influence. out across ll1edas. Chantry faithful believe those who practice
blood magic are criminals, as common wisdom holds there is no
Blood magic allows feats otherwise thought impossible. way to use blood magic with good intentions. They say all blood
"Although lyrium will allow a mage to send his conscious mind mages who use their own blood will eventually find themselves
into the Fade, blood would allow him to find the sleeping minds tempted by the additional power to be gained from spilling the
of others, view their dreams, and even influence or dominate their blood of others.

QueenMadrigalofAntiva Divine Theodosia I receives news of Queen Madrigal's
isassassinatedon ahunt, assassi nation. The image oft he quee n with four swords
stabbedinthec hestbyfour plungedinto herc hest hauntstheD ivin e'sdreams that
steel blades. night. Upon awaken ing, she declares the Steel Age.

5:99fXAlHO 5:99 UAlHO

STEELAGf '"'"' Dragonsarehuntednearlytoextinctionthanks TI1eQunari\and inl'ar Voll cn
to methods pioneered by the Pentaghast family of inmassivcnumbersandh andil y
Nevarra. The Pentag ha sts become known across conquer it- unbeknownst to the
thecontincntaslcgcndarydragonhunters. restofthccontincnt.

6:15Slm 6:30STEEL

THE WORLD OF THE DAS MAG IC 109

While blood magic is discouraged even in the pro-mage Themoreviolentthepain
lmperium, it is still widely, if quietly, practiced there. Since most ordeathused inblood
of the heroes ofTevinter folklore used or benefited from blood magic,themorepowertul
magic, the practice does not carry as much stigma with most a spell becomes
Tevinters. However, since Andraste specifically spoke against
blood magic, it has been removed from public ceremonies and
is not formally taught in Imperial Circles.

In the lmpcrium, the traditions ofblood magic are now passed
down quietly from master to apprentice and parent to child. To
this day, even the most devout mage in the Imperial Chantry
knows at least a little blood magic.

RESPONSIBLE BLOOD MAGIC Mages who
experiment with
Let me correct you, apprentice. While it is true that blood blood magic are more
magic is woven through the history ofTevinter, there are good susceptible to demonic
reasons, quite aside from the Chantry's sermons, that such spirits, such as pride
arts are now frowned upon. Consider the ancient magisters demons(opposite),
who once attempted to map the Fade itself. A worthy goal, and risk becoming
perhaps, but a costly one. When their spells exhausted their abominations by way
lyrium supply, the magisters spilled the blood of countless of possession
slaves. To what end? The shifting nature of the Fade made
the effort futile, and so much death left the magistcrs open
to possession by demons. Wasteful!

Some still idolize Tirena of the Rock, who used blood
magic against the Qµnari during the Steel Age. They

say she cut her flesh on the shore of Mamas Pell as the
dreadnoughts sailed in, turned her spells against their
crews, and boiled the very blood in their veins. A
terrifying display, to be sure, but against Qunari?
It only made them more determined when they
besieged the ports of Carastes.
And what of Magistcr Calanthus, that
fool who believed he could make himself
the ~Ascended Man» with blood magic?
Thirty-three slaves died in that rite, and
Calanthus became an abomination so
horrific that his apprentices tore out
their eyes at the sight of him.

You quote the example of the lovers Crescens and
Seraphinian. Yes, Seraphinian offered his own blood to cure
Crescens ofherwasting disease, and Crescens lived a long life.
But if the noblest use of blood magic still calls for the death
of a good man, is that not enough reason to reconsider?

- Letterfrom Magister Aestliia to lier apprentice, 7:71 Storn1

Qunariships arri\'eenmassein Seheronandnorthern
Ri va in. The First Qunari War begins in earnest.

6:31S!EEL

\

'

Qunari advances claim much oft he lmperium, Rivain, The Avvar organize forces under the great warlord
and Antiva. lhey begi n an assault on 1he Free Marches. Balak and sweep into the heart of the Ferelden Valley
in mass ive numbers. The bannorn is put to the torch.
6:41STm
6:50 SHEL

THE MAKER royals, but barbarians in a fractured land ofdog lords. Prevailing lcon icrepre·
& THE CHANTRY wisdom says Andrastc came into this world in the small village of sentationsof
Denerim, now a bustling capital. Her father was chief of one of Andrastevary
No one group Jn recorded history has impacted life in Thedas the largest Alamarri tribes in what is presently northern Ferelden. widely across
more than the Chantry. The influence of this church ofthe Maker Thedas.This
prevails across most of the continent's kingdoms, and the bulk From an early age, Andraste suffered troubling dreams of a Fereldanstatue
of humanity pays at least lip service to its tenets. Belief in the then obscure god known as the Maker. Slowly, portraysAndraste
Maker has started wars and forced those outside the Chantry to she began to make sense of these dreams,
the fringes ofsociety. Even the most common calendar in Thedas, and came to interpret them as answers to
which breaks time into ages, is kept by the Chantry. the questions that plagued her. 111e Maker
was a supreme being, the supreme being,
At the heart ofthis monotheistic religion arc the teachings of who had abandoned the world and
the prophet Andraste, collected in the Chantry's holy book, the the people he created when they
Chant of Light. Chantry faithfu l believe in the divine authority took up worship of the Old Gods.
of the Maker and worship him in temples called chantries.
According to the Chant of
Their faith is rooted in four core principles; Light, the Maker emerged from
h is retreat after falling in love with
I. Magic is a co rrupting influence in t he world. Andraste and the beautiful song
II. Humanki nd's sin of prid e destroyed the Golden City and she sang for him. The Maker came
created the darkspawn, terrible embo diments o f that sin. to Andraste and offered to take her
III. Andraste was the bride ofthe Maker, a p rophet and martyr away from the flawed mortal world as
whose ultimate sacrifice must be remembered and honored . his divine bride. Reluctant to leave her
IV. Humankind has si nned an d m us t seek penance to earn life and new husband Maferath, she
the Maker 's fo rgiveness. When all p eoples unite to praise the begged the Maker to instead return to
Maker, he will return to the world and make it a paradise. his people and create a new paradise
in Thedas. The Maker agreed to this
THE RISE & FALL OF ANDRASTE only if Andraste convinced his people
to destroy their false idols. To aid her in
It is said that the Maker's prophet, so revered by class-obsessed this task, the Maker promised to use his
Orlais, wasn't born to Val Royeaux nobles, or even Nevarran power against her enemies. Andraste thus
became the Maker's betrothed.

The Av va r are pushed out ofFerelden proper. The period results in one
of the worst fami nes in Fereldan history. Memories of Avvar savagery
sourrelationsiretween thebarba riansandFerelda nkingsfor ages.

6:51 SHEl

112 RELIGION D R A GON AGE :

Intricate tapestries Prophet of the Maker Archon of the lmperium, declaring a truce in exchange for
or stained-glass Andraste began to preach openly of the Maker as the true cre- Andraste's capture. lmperium forces caught up with Andraste
ator of all things. Among his commandments was that magic as she traveled to a strong-
images on chantry must serve man, not rule over him. The idea proved attractive to hold in Nevarra. At the time,
walls are used to the oppressed people ofTevinter-occupied nations in southern Maferath's betrayal was not
tell the story of Thedas. They had long suffered under the power ofsorcerer kings made public, and he feigned
Andraste'slile who used the teachings of the Old Gods to justify their rule. outrage at the capture.
and death. Andraste taught that it was one of these Old Gods that turned on
the world, wreaking havoc as an Archdemon in the First Blight. At the command ofthe
This only discouraged worship of the Old Gods further, and any Archon, they burned Andraste
remaining confidence in the ruling magisters dwindled. Upon alive in front of a grand Minrathous
hearing of the miracles and victories that followed Andraste on crowd . The death was meant to be
her quest, belief in the one true god who fought by her side swept a message to any who would dare
across 111edas like wildfire. With Maferath as general, Andraste's wage war on the lmperium. It is
armies grew, expanding north and bringing rebellion. written that Hessarian took pity on
Andraste in her last moments tied
Together, Andraste and Maferath carved a path into the very to that burning stake, and put an
heart of the lmperium: the capital, Minrathous. West of the city, end to her suffering with one
at the Battle of Valarian Fields, they won a hard"fought victory thrust ofhis sword. Later
to prove the Maker's might. the Archon claimed
that the voice of the
Maferath's Betrayal Maker ordered him
Not all was well, however. Maferath, as valiantly as he fought on to do it. When he saw
behalf of the Maker, was believed to be gripped by jealousy of
his wife's betrothal to their god. Her superior power and influ- AnOrlesiansculpture
ence also may have vexed him. Following the Battle ofValarian depictsasorrowfulMaferath
Fields, he made a secret pact with Hessarian, then the embattled afterhebetrayedhiswile,Andraste

Human resis1a ncefinally manages to D ivine Ho rte nsia Ill names the Storm Age,
chipawayat Qunari li nes inTev inter. foreseeing a grow ing storm of violence across 'fhedas

6:85 Slm 6:99 Slm

THE WORLD OF TH E DAS RELIGION 113

OF GODS & DOUBT A band of Andraste's followers smuggled her ashes out of
Forgive me. I claimed belief once, swore with tears in my Minrathous to bury them in Ferelden, near the place of her birth,
eyes that Our Lady was the Light, and through Her blessing, but the ashes were famous ly lost along the way.
I knew the Maker. But I cannot brook the division between
what I have tried to know, and what I cannot ignore. Maferath took charge of the lands conquered in Andraste's
name, and ruled them for the better part of a decade. His su p-
ls the Maker less silent than the profane elven pantheon, port waned when he refused to go to war with the lmperium to
or the Old Gods ofTevinter? And what of Archdemons avenge his wife's death. W hen Hessarian publicly professed his
that are not silent at all? We have real, ongoing strife-all conversion to belief in the Maker, he also exposed Mafe rath's
of us, every people and creed- that we each blame on the betrayal. Maferath's own sons overthrew him and divided his
heretical actions of others. And yet ifany one ofour truths lands to fou nd the nations today known as Orlais, Nevarra, and
was Truth, that blame would be impossible. It is not just that Ferelden. What became of Maferath is a mystery, but his name
these claims of divinity cannot coexist. It is that no other is now synonymous with betrayal.
claims could be made, if any one of those worshipped were
ever truly ugod.n Birth of the Chantry
It is written that the Maker once again abandoned his people
I am shamed my faith cannot withstand so pedestrian after Andraste's execution. Andraste is said to have ascended to
an argument. All I have learned in my time here is fear. his side, where she conti nues to watch over Thedas.

- lnitiateMicae/aChevais After Andraste's death, her cult had no central leadership,
and believers carried on her teachings in fragmented pockets. It
Go as you must, as must we all, but know that the only thing took Kordill us Drakon, the legendary first emperor of Orlais, to
worse than a faith broken, is a faith untested. centralize the movement and solidify its power under the orga-
nization known as the Chantry. Drakon was a ferve nt believer
-Correspondence and tcacliings ofMotlier Hcvara, in the Maker, often claiming the god had personally charged
Va/Royeauxarchive him with ministering the Chant of Ligh t. H e used the Second
Blight to expand the Orlesian Em pire and, by extension, the
her blood spill, they say he became a faithfu l servant of her god. influence of his Chantry.
Others alleged that Hessarian only converted to the faith when he
realized he could not fight the influe nce of her cult on his people.

STORMAGf Afterl osing th eFereldanth roneto her cousinArland, Arla nd is a tyra nt. Bann s approach Sophia, asking her
Soph ia Dryden jo ins th eG rey Wardensand rises to to int ercede. Sheagreesand attemptsacou pagainst
thera nko f Wa rde n-Co mmande rin Ferelden. her cousin. Arland ba ns Warde ns from Fereld en and
killsSophia at Soldi er 's Peak.
7:5STOR M
7:5STORM

114 RELIGION DRAGON AGE:

At the time of D rakon's death, the Chant ry had spread fa r directly from the songs she sang of t he Maker. A written copy
and wide, and D rakon was declared ''Anointed." The e mperor's can be foun d in every chantry. Because many Thedosians are
image is now as prominent in Orlesian chantries as Andraste's. illiterate, cop ies outside chantries arc uncommon and usually
owned o nly by the very rich.
The C ha ntry continues actively to spread Andraste's teach-
ings, believing that the Maker will only return to Thedas if people The Chant of Light was first sung sixteen years after Andraste's
from all corners of the world praise him. execution. The full text is lengthy and only sung regularly at the
Grand Cathedral in Val Royeaux.
THE CHANT OF LIGHT
Beyond prayers and songs of praise, it covers history from
The Chant of Light is the primary religious text oft he C hantry, a the perspective of the fa it h: the Maker's creation of the world,
holy book that contains the core teachings ofAndraste. H er fol- the rise ofOld God worship and subsequent abandonment of
lowers wrote the Chant, though portions are said to be transcribed the Maker, the life and death of Andraste, the First Blight, and
the prophecy of the Maker's return.
THE CHANT ON THE VOID
There are also dissonant verses removed from the wider text
All that the Maker has wrought is in His hand because they reference controversial topics, such
Beloved and precious to Him. as Andraste's elven disciple Shartan.
Where the Maker has turned His face away,
Is a Void in all things; All fa it h fu l mu st rec ite t he
ln the world, in the Fade, Chant at least once a week.
ln the hearts and minds of men.
CHANTRY BELIEFS
Passing out of the world, in that Void shall they wander;
Andraste taught that ev il exists
0 unrepentant, faithless, treacherous, because of hu manki nd's pride.
For this reason, Thedas brought
They who are judged and found wanting the darkspawn upon itself. When
the Maker returns, he will destroy
Shall know forever the loss of the Maker's love. all evil, including the darkspawn.

Only Our Lady shall weep for them.

- 111re1wdies 12:5

The first Exalted March on the Qunari is The second Exalted March on th e
calledb y bo1hthe lmpe rial C hantr y toretake Qunaricnds indisaster,withthe
SeheronandtheChantry to freeRi vain. Qunari capturing most o f Anti va.

7:15STOR M 7:51STOR M

THE WORLD OF THEDAS RELIGION 11 5

Until this return, the faithful believe the Maker watches, 'The Exalted an d Anointed: The Chantry has called Exalted
not so much an absent god as a patient observer. They do not Marches against the elves, the Qunari, and, more than once, the
believe the Maker will perform miracles on their behalf. But he lmperium. The faithful who give their lives to these holy wars
will shed a tear for the suffering of those who do not deserve it. earn a special place at the side of the Maker as the "Exalted." A
still greater honor for service is to be declared "Anointed," those
The Chantry's interpretation ofAndraste's teachings empha- seen as the hands of the Maker. This title is exceptionally rare.
sizes death, guilt, and the differences among races and genders.

Fi re: Andraste went up in flames, her sins cleansed as she died. Magic: The Chantry believes magic is a terrible gift, corrupt-
Flame is now a symbol ofpurity in the Chantry. Each temple main- ing all if left unchecked. Andraste preached extreme caution
tains a brazier lit with an eternal flame in her memory, including with magic, and regulating its use is one of the Chantry's
the famed Holy Brazier at the Grand Cathedral. It is considered central missions.
a bad omen for a Chantry brazier to go out. Chantry members
may also ritually burn themselves, passing their hand over flame ANDRASTE' S DISCIPLES
or burning a paper upon which their sins are written. ln extreme
cases, the faithful may undergo branding or even self-immolation. Hessarian, the Redeem ed: Ordered Andraste's execution but later repented. He is credited
with turning the lmperium to the worship of the Maker.
Penance: Guilt is a virtue in the Chantry. Andraste taught that Brona: Andraste's mother.
Thedosians have sinned in the eyes of the Maker and all must Hei;:tor: Lord of the fortress ofNevarra, one of Andraste's great strongholds. When
atone for this. Even the poor and unsavory arc seen as requiring Maferath betrayed Andraste and she was captured, Hector was murdered.
this atonement. Chantry charity focuses on these underclasses. Sharta n : Leader of the elven slave rebellion. He and other elves joined Andraste's cause
against the lmperium after she freed them.
Death: At death, the Chantry believes spirits ofthe virtuous rise Justinia: A Tevinter slave and a friend to Andraste. She stood by Andraste in her war
to the side of the Maker. The spirits of sinners are not so lucky, against the lmpe rium. The first Divine tookj ustinia's name in tribute.
doomed to spend the afterlife wandering the Fade, forever seek- Havard: The disciple who gathered Andraste's ashes and took them to a safe place in
ing the Maker's grace. The Chantry burn their dead, a reflection the mountains.
ofAndraste's fate.

The Qunari land in Estwatch and use it as a Raiders from Llomerryn unite under the banner of
bunchingpo intforHeetsofdreadnough ts. theFe\icisimaArmada. Togcther, theirpirate Heets
helpturnthetideagainsttheQunariatsea.
7:54 STORM
7:55 STORM





11 8 RELIGION DRAGON AG E :

Gender: Gender roles are dearly defined in the Chantry, which
sees women as the purer sex. Only women can be priests. Only a
woman can be Divine. Men are all judged by Mafcrath's betrayal,
and the Chantry does not permit them to rise to any senior spiri-
tual role. They may be brothers at most, expected to study and
serve, but never lead. The exception to this is the Templar
Order, where most members, including those In positions
of authority, are male.

Nonhumans: The Chantry began and has continued to
be a predominantly human organization. Other races
are seen to be further from the Maker. The elves have
their false pantheon of idols. The dwarves worship
themselves. The Qunari are worst of all, actively crush-
ing worship of the Maker and desecrating Chantry
values in the name of the Qun. For these reasons, other
races are considered all the more worthy ofsaving. The
Chantry believes the Maker won't return until even the
Qunari sing his name.

ELVEN RELIGION

So complete was the elven fall that no artifacts oftheir CHANTRY HIERARCHY
culture survive from before the arrival of humans. The
eldest of the Dalish have assembled a patchwork of Divine : The Divine is the revered head of the Chantry,
what might have been, and believe the lost glory of which she oversees from her sunburst throne at the Grand
their people was unparalleled. Cathedral in Val Royeaux. She is traditionally elected for life
by the College of Clerics. The first Divine took the
They claim elves ruled Thedas from an ancient
nation called Elvhenan. They had their own pantheon ofgods who
were said to bestow all life's gifts and dole out its punishments.
A few even claim their ancestors were immortal, and it was only
the arrival ofhumans- "shemlen" or "q uicklings ~- that brought
death to the "elvhen" people.

It is all conjecture. Belief persists in a few forgotten corners,
but if elven gods existed, they are long silent.

THE ELVEN PANTHEON erful representatives ofthe Divine in regional
matters. Each grand cleric oversees multiple temp les
According to Dalish lore, the world was created by Mythal, god- in a region or city, and enjoys t he power and influ-
dess of motherhood, justice, and protection, and Elgar'nan, god ence reserved for their jurisdiction's highest nobility.
offatherhood and vengeance. Together they make up the College of Clerics.

Their eldest children are remembered as twin brothers. OivineBeatrixllladornedintheofflcial
Falon'Din was the Friend of the Dead, who guided elders on robesandheaddressofherstation.
journeys of enlightenment in their long sleep and later carried

A thi rd and fina l Exalted March The Qunari hi t the Free Marches hard. Stark.haven and
ontheQunariiscalled. Ost wick are able to ho ld them back, but Kirkwall is invaded.

7:55 STORM 7:56 STORM

THE WORLD OF THEDAS RELIGION 119

Triptychs areanother
common way that
Andraste'sl ifeis
expressed through
Chantry artistry.

Mothers : Mothers arc priests who tend to a particular chantry. The senior priest Templar practices have proven controversial, notably the use of highly addictive
at the temple is known as a revered mother. Mothers lead recitations of the Chant, lyrium to resist magic. The order has been accused of exploiting the addictions of
as well as the preaching and practice ofAndraste's teachings. its members, forcing them to stay with the promise of a steady supply of the rare
and powerful mineral.
Brothers and Sisters: Under Chantry mothers come the rank-and-file members
who devote their lives to the Chantry. Brothers and sisters may come from all walks A large contingent of templars has, in recent years, severed ties with the Chantry
of life, be they nobles, orphans, or even criminals. They are given an education over differences regarding mage freedom. Nonetheless, its core remains dedicated
based on the virtues of the Chantry and occupy a variety of roles. Clerics may be to the teachings of Andraste, in particular the importance of controlling magic.
Chantry academics who pursue and preserve its knowledge. A senior cleric, called
an elder, typically maintains a chantry's archives. Seekers ofTruth: The other arm of Andrastian justice is far smaller and more
secretive. The Seekers are the Divine's investigators-highly skilled agents that
Chanters: Chanters are among the most devout members ofthe Chantry. They take root out hidden threats to the Chantry and its interests. While Seeker leadership
strict oaths that include helping others above themselves and never uttering a word tends to run parallel to the templars, senior Seekers ultimately outrank any templar.
that is not from the Chant. Chanters are often penitent sinners looking for atonement. Traditionally the Seekers answered directly to the Divine. However, like templars,
many Seekers now reject the authority of the Divine.
Templar Order: The templars are a proud and disciplined order of mostly human,
mostly male warriors. H istorically they arc the policing arm of the Chantry. The
primary focus of the templars is to restrict the use of magic.

Kirkwall is liberated from Qunari invaders b y famed Orlesian The Kirkwall Cit y Guard is fou nded.
che val ier SerMichelLafaille.Heis appointedtheci1 y's fi rst
viscount.Kirkwall falls underOrlesian control. J:SO STORM

J:SO STORM

120 RELIGION DRAGON AGE:

them beyond the Veil in death. H is brother Dirthamen gave the THE ELVEN PANTHEON
elves the gift of knowledge, and taught them the value ofloyalty
and faith in family. Andr uil: Goddess of the hunt
Dir thamen: God of secrets and knowledge
There was also their daughter Andruil, goddess of the Elgar'nan: God of vengeance and the sun, the All-Father
hu nt, who watched over the animals and taught the elves to Falo n' Oin : Guide and Friend of the Dead, god of fortune
respect them. Fen' Harel: The Dread Wolf, trickster god
Ghilan'nain: Goddess of navigation, Mother of the Halla
Andrui l's godly sister Sylaise, the Hearthkeeper, stayed home June : God of craft
to sing and make art while wild Andruil frolicked. She is credited Mythal: The Great Protector, the All-Mother
with teaching the elves to use fire, heal with herbs and magic, and Sylaise: The Hearthkeeper
spin fi bers to make thread and ro pe.

Their brother, the god of craft June, used Sylaise's lessons to
teach the elves to fas hion bows for hunting Andruil's gifts.

1 h e Fe licisima Armad a takes lhe third Exa lt ed Ma rch on the Qunari ends in a
Estwa tchfollo winga mass ive sta lemat e. Th e Q u nari have only on e stronghold
navat batt lew iththeQunari. leftonthecontine nt:the cityo fKont-aar.

J:JB STORM 7:84STORM

THE WORLD OF THEDAS RELIGION 121

THE LADY OF THE SKIES RELIGION IN TEVINTER

My father died with honor, so we gave him to the sky. My OLD GODS
husband and I led the procession to the peaks, singing. With
knife and hammer, we scoured the flesh and split the bones. The Old Gods were a set of seven dragon deities worshiped by
As we left, I saw the carrion crows descending to carry my the majority of humans in Thedas prior to the rise ofthe Chantry.
father home in pieces. I knew the Lady of the Skies smiled. Worship of the Old Gods first gained popularity in the ancient
Tevinter lmperium. As the lmperium's influence spread across
Our tribe has never failed to do the Lady honor. The Thedas, so too did worship ofthese dragons. Many elves enslaved
flights ofher birds reveal the future to our shaman. We sacrifice by the lmperium were forced to worship them instead of their
wolves upon her altars. ln return, she sends prize game in the own gods.
hunt and victory in war. When a couple is bound together by
the sacred knots, it is the Lady's hymn we sing. Two main factors contributed to the decline of Old God
worship: the rise of Blights, blamed on Old Gods that awakened
We Avvar never leave the ice and the stone. We never as blighted Arch demons, and the spread of the Chantry, which
bowed to Calenhad as the Alamarri did, nor shall we be taught that the Old Gods were spirits that betrayed the Maker.
enslaved by the words oftheir new prophet. We are constant
as the sky, and from us our Lady shall have her due. Archdemons are said to be the physical form of the Old Gods.

- From the meditations ofAnashe,
Avvar tribeswoman andfalconer

Andruil's influence was wide and she had many follow- History EarlyTevinter
ers. Among them was Ghilan'nain, an elf chosen by Andruil to Before there were the magisters or a uni fi ed lmperium, there mag istersused
rise to a godly rank as Mother of the Halla for her devotion to were the Dreamers. The first Dreamers emerged from the tribes blood magic rituals
the animals. of the Neromenian people. They claimed to have visions of a in their worship of
Realm of the Gods, and as proof of their visions, demonstrated the Old Gods.
GODS IMPRISONED miraculous powers.

The Dalish tell stories ofan ancient conflict during the reign of the The legendary Thalsian was the fi rst Dreamer. It is said he
elven gods. They say the pantheon, led by Mythal and Elgar'nan, communicated with and learned blood magic from the Old
warred endlessly with gods of terror, malice, spite, and pestilence God Dumat after encountering him in visions of what is now
known as the Forgotten Ones. assumed to be the Fade. The Neromenian tribes, who had wor-
shipped fallen heroes reborn as dragons, adopted Dreamers
In between was Fen'H arel, a god of tricks who walked as kin
with the pantheon, but was also regarded by the Forgotten Ones
as one of their own.

The Dalish believe Fen' H arel conspired to lock away both
good and evil to have Elvhenan for himself. It is said that he
promised a truce between the good gods and the Forgotten Ones.

He sealed the gods away in their respective realms, leaving the
elves to fend for themselves. It was then that the humans came,
and, later under Tevinter, the great elven city of Arlathan fell.

"After the destruction of Arlathan, when the gods could no
longer hear our prayers, it is said that Fen'H arel spent centuries
in a far corner ofthe earth, giggling madly and hugging himself in
glee," wrote Gisharel, once the keeper of the Dalish clan Ralafcrin.

1hs story of elven downfall, whether true or not, serves to
reinforce and justify the divide between human and elf.

Much ofnorthernlhedasis lai d wasteinthedecades A meeting between the Qunari and envoys from all Thedosian
ofQunari in vasion. Rebuilding is co nside red more nat ions exce pt Tevi nter is called at Llomerryn. The Llomerryn
important than dri vi ng the Qunari from Kont-aar. Accordsaresigncd, usheringinanuneasypeace.

7:84SIORM 7:84SIOR M

122 RELIGION DRAGON AGE:

The Old God as their leaders, and began to instead worship the Dreamers' their honor, wi th each Old God depicted as a great dragon .
Urthemiel,awakened gods, also as dragons. By the time the lmperium unified under The organ ized worship of the Old Gods was at its highest
the Dreamer Darinius, the first Arch on, worship of t he Old
as the Dragon of Gods was ubiquitous. Darinius established the magistcrium prior to the First Blight, when it is written that Dumat himself
Beauty,heraldedthe from the priesthood of these seven gods. Thalsian was named rose from his prison as the first Archdemon. While the Chantry
an honorary Archon. insists the darkspawn created the first Archdcmon, some ancient
Fifth Blight. lore says that Dumat created the first darkspawn and led them
Worship of the seven Old Gods was the re ligion of the against Thedas. Either way, Old God faithful were betrayed to
lmpcrium for hundreds o f years. Great temples were built in discover one of their deities could turn against them.

lheendofwar wi ththeQunaria ndthebirth mssrnm Kirkwall,stillunderOrlesiancontrolafter
of twin boys to Emperor Etienne I ofOrlais theQun ari Wars, erupts inunrest. Ci tizens
usher in theBlessedAge. rebelandtakethecityforthemselves.

7:99 STORM 8:05 8lESSrn

T H E W ORLD OF T H E DA S RELIGION 123

that have not risen as Archdemons. The dragon still remains
Tevinter's most prominent symbol-even if its true significance
has been largely forgotten.

IMPERIAL CHANTRY

Following Andraste's execution A stained.glass
in Minrathous, the prophe t's depictionofArchon
barbarian hordes dispersed. Hessarianashe
But the influence of her teach- mercifully kills
ings remained. Ten years to the Andraste
day after Andraste's execution,
Worship of the Old Gods continued to wane, especially Archon Hessarian publicly
with the creation of the Imperial Chantry under Hessarian. By announced he heard the Maker's
the time the Second Blight ended, spots of worship persisted voice whe n he put his sword
only in isolated pockets.111e Chantry was thorough in stamping through Andraste. Hessarian
most out, razing temples and driving the congregants under- declared himself a disci ple of
ground. The temples that survived were converted to Circles Andraste and admitted that the
ofthe lmperium. prophet was betrayed by her
husband Maferath.
A rare few cults are still devoted to those two Old Gods
Hessar ian declared the
Maker the one true god, and
Andrastianism the religion of
the lmperium. The priests of
the Seven Temples were given
a choice: convert or die.

Most of the high-ranking clergy, including nearly all of the
ruling Altus magisters, refused to give up their Old Gods. Many
of the underclass Laetan mages also refused to convert to a god
that maligned magic. But the common people of the non-mage
Soporati overwhelmingly supported Hessarian, and gleefully
participated in casting down their magisters. Bloodshed fol-
lowed in a violent overthrowing of the magisters in a period
known as the Transfiguration . The lmperium became the first
Exalted State, more than one hundred years before Orlais.

To this day, Hessarian is a hero to the common classes and
considered the great reformer of the lmpcrium.

In the bloodbath, some mages came forward and converted.
Many who converted claimed to have encountered Andraste's
spirit in the Fade, and this meeting forever changed them.

With the High Priests dead, Hessarian repurposed the Old
God temples, even authorizing the reconstruction ofthe ruined
Temple of Dumat. They became centers of study and educa-
tion for mages, in essence the first Circles of Magi. The Maker's
greatest commandment was that magic must serve man, so it

lnagrandgesture,Qunari in Par Vo ll en The Orlesian Empire, under the
we lcome a gro up of Ri vaini diploma ts. Th e directio n oft he"Mad Emperor" Reville,
visi t d ispels many myths about Q u nari society. invadesFereldenfort hesecondtime.

8:10 8LESSEO 8:14 8LESSEO

124 RELIGION DRAGON AGE:

OuringtheTevinter
Transfiguration,
temples to the
Old Gods were
repurposedas

schoolsformages.

was Hessarian's intention that the mages of the lmperium must back as the Altus who survived the Transfiguration converted
be properly prepared for a lifetime of public service to Tevinter. and joined the new priesthood. The long-standing association
in Tcvintcr culture between the Altus and spi ritual authority
Under Hessarian's dual leadership as Archon and head of restored mages to roles of prominence in the Chantry within a
the Chantry, Soporati were admitted to the clergy of a Tevinter few generations.
religion for the first time in lmperium history. For a hundred years,
the highest-ranking clerics in the lmperium were non-mages and The Schism
actually held seats in the Magisterium, but this gradually shifted One hundred and ten years after the Transfiguration, Orlesian
emperor Kordillus Drakon decreed Divine Justinia I head of the
Unlike the Chantry, Andrastian religion. This greatly upset the people ofTevinter, who
the Imperial Chantry had organized the religion while Orlais was still a fragmented
land of warring tribes. The Tevinter considered their country
allows males to the Holy Land, as Andraste had lived and died there. What was
become priests O rlais? Relations between the Tevinter Chantry and Drakon's
Orlesian Chantry were strained from the onset. In an effort to
appease the Orlesian Chantry, the Archon's role in the Chantry
was reduced to a ceremonial position, and authority over the
faith was transferred to the grand clerics.

The grand clerics ofTevinter repeatedly petitioned for recog-
nition by the Orlesian Chantry, and were refused on the grounds
that the Imperial Chantry admitted men into the priesthood. At
the time, the Orlesian Chantry was unaware that mages were
also members of the Tevinter clergy.

Fereldan King Vanedrin Theirin is killed Young KingBrandel,Vanedrin'sson, isunable
by Orlesian invaders. Calenhad's sword, tounite1hecounlrybeneathhim,andFerelden
Ne metos, is los t. is miredinbloodandbattle.

8:14BlfSSEO 8:15BUSSEO

THE WORLD OF THEDAS RELIGION 125

StatuaryportraysvariousChantrydisciplesandmartyrs The Imperial Chantry Today
While most aspects of the Imperial Chantry's teachings are
In 2 :80 Glo ry, the Orlesians called an Exalted March on the same, all issues against magic have been dropped and male
Stark.haven to free the Marcher city-state from Tevinter rule. priests are quite prevalent. All the revered mothers and fathers
They did so to prevent Tevinter from once again gaining ground and grand clerics are members of one of the Circles, as it is vir-
in the important region. After the Third Blight, the Chantry in tually impossible fo r a mage to rise to a prominent position in
Orlais promoted t he story that it was the ancient magisters of Tevinterwithout belonging to one. It is also difficult for Soporati
Tevinter who brought the Blights on the world through their to rise high in the Chantry, an extension ofTevinter's ingrained
heresy. Anti-Tevinter and anti-mage sentiment grew along with class system.
the divide between the two powerful nations.
Both men and women serve in all levels of the Tevinter clergy,
It was ultimately the interpretation of the Maker's second though the majority of Divines have been men. Nearly all priests
commandment, "Magic must serve man, not rule over him," in the lmperium marry, and work in the clergy tends to run in
that split the Imperial and Orlesian Chantries. The Tevinters families, as with most professions in Tevinter.
claimed that the commandment only meant that magic should
not be used to control the minds of others. They said the best The grand clerics and the Imperial Divine all occupy seats in
way for magic to serve man was to serve the rulers ofman. When the Magisterium, giving the Imperial Chantry more direct power
the clerics ofTevinter altered the Chant of Light to reflect this over the state than the Orlesian Chantry. They elect a new Divine
interpretation of the commandment, the Divine in Val Royeaux by simple majority, but in the event of a tie, the Archon casts the
ordered the clerics to revert to the original Chant. The Tevinter deciding vote. As with the Orlesian Chantry, Divines are tradition-
temples refused, claiming corruption within Val Royeaux. ally elected from the ranks of the grand clerics.

When the Divine declared the entire Tevinter clergy heretics, Although all chantries in 111edas have an Eternal
the Archon responded by appointing Grand Cleric Valhail (who Flame which is lit and kept burning by magic, in
also happened to be one of the most prominent members of the the lmperium a religious holiday and ceremony
Tevinter Circle) as Divine of the Tevinter Chantry. This magic mark the day a spell is cast to renew the flame.
user, dubbed the "Black Divine" by t he Orlesians, was rev iled Indeed, magic is openly performed in the
outside ofTevinter, and his existence was a slap in the face to Imperial Chantry during all services.
the Chantry in Val Royeaux.
The anniversary of the death ofArchon
After four successive Exalted Marches failed to force the Hessarian is also treated as a religious holiday
"heretics" into submission, the Imperial Chantry solidified as a in Tevinter, and there is an additional feast day
distinct body outside the Chantry proper. for the "Visitations," celebrating the appear-
ance of Blessed Andraste in dreams to many
mages as she crossed the Fade.

The Imperial Chantry's version of the
Chant of Light contains several addition-
al Canticles that the Orlesian C hantry
does not recognize. Archon Hessarian,
in essence the Imperial C hantry's
founder, is conside red the most
important ofAndraste's disciples,
and is treated with consider-
ably more reverence in the
lmperium than elsewhere
in Thedas.

ArchonHessarian

The O rlesia n Empire sacks the ci ty o fDen erim,
claimingvictory inFereld enanddri ving King
Brandel into hiding.

8:448 lES Srn

126 RELIGION DRA G ON AGE :

THE STONE PARAGONS KNOWN &
LESSER KNOWN
The dwarves do not believe in a supreme being or pantheon of
gods. They instead practice a form ofliving ancestor worship by The criteria the dwarves use to name a Paragon never cease
way of naming Paragons, while also maintaining a close connec- to fascinate me. While a relatively rare distinction, it seems
t ion to "the Stone" that surrounds them. almost any achievement ofsignificance warrants the title. Some
Paragons are the victors ofgreat battles. Others write books or
Most dwarves live their whole lives in the Stone. 111ey forge songs. The only common thread is an act that betters or sustains
their home from her. They are protected by her.They claim to actu- the dwarven way oflife in some notable fashion.
ally come from her, even calling themselves the Stone's children.
Aeducan is among the oldest and perhaps most famous
When the dwarves die, they say they return to the Stone. Paragons. Not to be confused with his descendent, King
While those above ground may burn their dead or send them Endrin Aeducan, this prior Aeducan was a humble member
out to sea, deceased dwarves are buried. Paragons and nobility ofthe Warrior Caste whose brave leadership during the First
are typically interred within ornate crypts, while the remains Blight saved Orz.ammar. When other thaigs were lost, Aeducan
of common dwarves arc encased within stone cairns. Failing claimed defeat- but his service made him a hero. History now
that, they are buried in the dirt, though this is never ideal. remembers Aeducan as the quintessential Paragon.

A dwarf who has achieved much- a great warrior, renowned Other Paragons have been more controversial. Caridin,
craftsman, or especially a Paragon - is said to strengthen the a master smith, created the powerful golems who helped the
Stone, while those who have shamed their clans are said to dwarves immeasurably in their battles with the darkspawn.
weaken her. Caridin then disappeared amid much speculation, taking the
secret of his craft with him.
A casteless or disgraced dwarf may be outright rejected
by her. There is also Astyth the Grey, a Paragon of the Warrior
Caste. She was famous for her skilts in unarmed combat and
cut out her own tongue to focus on the art without distrac-
tion. An order of female dwarven warriors known as the Silent
Sisters persists; they remove their tongues in her honor.

But these arc the most well known of the dwarvcn
Paragons. Others have earned the rank over the ages for far
less noble pursuits. I've found references to Paragons who
made their names writing particularly good rhymes or brew-
ing stronger ales.

Then there's the Paragon named Varen, who separated
from his legion and lost his way in the Deep Roads. Varen
nearly starved to death before breaking down and eating a
nug, believed at the time as appetizing to dwarves as a rat.
Devouring the creature not only saved his life but opened his
palate to a new world of flavor. When they finally found him,
Varen was fatter than ever and raving about the miraculous
subtleties of nug flesh. The creatures are now considered a
dwarven delicacy.

- From Stone Halls of the Dwarves, by Brother Genitivi,
Clrantrysclrolar

Any dead dwarf returned to the Stone is said to become a guid-
ing spirit who cares for his descendants for eternity. However, the
Stone is said to reject the worst transgressors. Their spirits arc left
to wander remote caverns as rock wraiths. These creatures appear
often in dwarven children's stories, where they abduct lost miners
and cause cave-ins, scaring young dwarves into good behavior.

TheFerelda n nob ili tycon tinueaguerrilla
war againsttheoccupyingOrlesians, ledby
Bra nd el's d aught er Mo ira, th e ~ Rebel Q ueen."

8:45 BlfSSEO

T H E WO R L D OF T H E DAS THE SOUL CANTO 127

PARAGONS Atraveler asked the Ashkaarl:
Wlwt was your vision ofour purpose?
Paragon is the title given to the "living ancestors,~ dwarves recog-
nized as so important, they are worthy of reverence as ancestors The Great Ashkaari replied: I'll tell ym1 a story.
in their own lifetime. In traditional dwarven society, it is a rank
bestowed only upon the greatest warriors, artisans, and smiths. Avast granite statue stands on an island, holding back the sea.
Any house that has a Paragon relative is elevated to noble status. The heavens crown its brow. It sees to the edge of the world.
The sea drowns its feet with every tide.
The vote of a Paragon carries a great deal of weight in the The heavens turn overhead, light and dark. The tide rises to
dwarven Assembly, even though the title doesn't grant official devour the earth, and falls back.
power. Orzammar honors Paragons with statues in the Hall of The sun and the stars fall to the sea one by one in their turn,
Heroes, revering them long after death . only to rise again.
The tide rises, the tide falls, but the sea is changeless.
In Kal-Sharok, Paragon Elect is the highest elected govern- Struggle is an illusion. There is nothing to struggle against.
ment office. Kal-Sharok was isolated in the First Blight, and no The deception flows deeper. The statue resists the ebb and
longer recognizes a hereditary dwarven king. The practice of flow ofthe sea,
nominating Paragons evolved from recognition of past deeds And is whittled away by each wave.
into recognition of promised deeds. In Kal-Sharok, the likenesses It protests the setting sun, and its face is burned looking
of Paragons are not rendered as giant statues, but instead hon- upon it. It does not know itself.
ored posthumously with carvings that subtly span vast lengths Stubbornly, it resists wisdom, and is transformed.
of t he Deep Roads. lfyou love purpose, fall into the tide. Let it carry you.
Do not fear the dark. The sun and the stars will return to
THE Q.UN guide you.
You have seen the greatest kings build monuments to
There was a time when the kossith race prayed to animist gods. their glory
They were wild then, devoted to a chaos t hat kept them from Only to have them crumble and fade.
greatness. Then came Ashkaari Koslun, a great thinker whose How much greater is the world than their glory?
teachings molded the kossith into the godless, disciplined Qunari. The purpose of the world renews itself with each season.
Each change only marks
Their guide now is the Qun, a philosophical text Koslun Apart of the greater whole.
penned. At the book's heart are two concepts: The sea and sky themselves:
Nothing special. Only pieces.

- Tome of Koslim, the Soul Carrto

Mastery (iss qun) : 'To know something is to understand it, to religions. When the Qun became law, the temples kossith built to
u nderstand why it is, what it is, as well as what it is not. To know honor their animist gods were destroyed, and their priests were
something is to possess the power to master it, and o nly in the reeducated or driven into exile.
lack of knowing lies weakness."
Any worship ofa god or gods, such as the Maker, is forbidden
Balance (a qu11 ):"To exist without balance is to fa ll, to break, to and is stopped with violence if necessary.
yield. Only with balance can true stillness be achieved. When one
is still, one is free to listen and know. In knowing, become strong. For those who believe in the Qun, t he lack of individ ual
With strength, become steel. And as steel, endure." freedoms does not matter. They find comfort and stability in the
order of it all. But for those who value freedom over the better-
Any discussion of the Qun as a philosophy must extend to ment of society, living under the Qun can be nothing short of
Qunari society as a whole, for the two are intrinsically linked. unbearab le.
The Qu n dictates all aspects ofQmari life. Strict adherence to
its teachings is put before any concept of individual freedom . Koslun is said to have come to his philosophy while search-
ing fo r a society without hopelessness or despair. He wandered
Because of this, the Qun does not allow for the existence of far, d iscove ring no such place existed . He found groups of
people happy and free, but always at the expense of othe rs.
Disappointed, Koslun exiled h imself for a time in the desert.

Empe ror Reville, fearing th e co urt turni ng favor toward ri val Gra nd Em perorRev ille diesafie r spending
Duke Gnti en, has Gn ti en, his wife, th ree grow n childre n, and all eight mo re th an ayearl ocked in hi s
grand ch ild re n murdered. The yo unges t, Camill e, is only eight mo nths old. room,fearing ret ributio n for his
assassinationo f theG nti enfamil y.
B:47BlfSSEU
B:51 BlfSSEU

128 RELIGION DRAGON AGE:

There, after encountering a massive swarm of locusts, he had SAAREBAS, THE QUN'S ANSWER TO MAGIC
an epiphany. H e went on to pen many poetic lessons on how to
build a new society that he believed would benefit all . According to the Qm, some things are too dangerous to know. With their
focus on absolute order, magic fulls into this category. The Qunari believe
CULTURE they can never control magic. Jn turn, they both fear and respect it.

Every Qunari has a role under t he Qun, and Qunari are raised When Qunari show themselves to be capable ofmagic, the Qun demands
to p lay the role exp ected of them. They may become wa r- they be kept under rigid control. Their methods, which can include
riors, bringing the laws of the Qun to the bas by force. Others leashes and sewing mouths shut, are undoubtedly severe.
may research ways to better society. Still others wi ll raise the
Qun's children. C hildhood
There are no family units in Q unari society. They do not marry or
"The Qunari view their whole society as a single creature," even choose their own partners. Qunari do not know to whom
the seer of Kont-aar once wrote, "a living entity whose health they are related. A fat he r's involvement ends at conception. A
and well-being are the responsibility of all." mother's ends at birth. A Q unari's "family" are his or her peers,
called brothers or sisters.
A Qunari's role comes before even a name. They are known
by what they do. A sold ier with the rank of stcn takes the name A powerful class of female priestesses called Tamassrans
Sten. A mage, or saarebas, is named Saarebas. lf a role changes, arranges and approves conception. They are also charged with
so does the name. raising children from birth. The Tamassrans determine who may
have child ren and see these children are properly taught the way
The Qunari language, called Qunlat, is steeped in metaphor of the Qu n, educating them and evaluating their strengths.
and assigns m ultiple meanings to words. The word for "mind"
also means "worker." The word for "body" also m eans "army." Qunari are officially assigned their roles when they are hvelve
As far as the Qunari are concerned, a symbol and its signifier are years old. The Tamassrans use tests- oral or physical, ratherthan
the same th ing. Because of this, artists arc part of the priesthood. written- to determine where a young Qunari will be most useful.
Their role is considered to be o ne of research, d iscovering things Because they raise the society's children, the Tamassrans wield
that were not already apparent, rather than making things new. great influence.

There is no real currency in Qunari society. "Merchants" in Gender Roles
Qunari ci ties have the job of making sure goods are distributed The Qunari believe that both men and women are capable of
appropriately. While Qunari do n't buy and sell things am ong leadership. However, Qunari deem o ne gender o r the other better
one another, they will trade with the rest ofThedas in a lim ited at certain roles in their society. No matter how much aptitude a
manner. To the Qunari, this trade is less a way to obtain goods male shows for management, he will never be as good at it as a
as an opportunity to learn more about those who do not yet female. Therefore, they would consider it inefficient to put him
accept the Qun as law. in such a role when a wom an would be better.

THE TRIUMVIRATE Most roles are gender specific. But the odd, very rare excep-
Qunari leadership has three heads, together known as the Salasari: tion is made. A male Qunari will fa rm, ifhe must, just as a female
Qunari will fight.
Arigena: Head of worker Qunari. She is responsible for nurturing Qunari society and
maintaining health in the community. There are fields like philosophy o r sciences that make ample
use of both genders, but even then, there is a division by disci-
Ariqun: Head ofthe Qunari priesthood. He or she is responsible for ensuring the Qun is pline. Men do one sort of research and women do another. The
taught and pushing the progress of science. Ben· Hassrath count both genders am o ng its ranks, but they're
also separated by specialization.
Arishok: Head ofthe Qunari military. He is responsible for the protection and safety of
society, as well as its expansion. The military is also responsible for dealing with foreign- There is almost no role in Qunari society occupied by both
ers, making the Arishok the nominal head of state. Because of this, outsiders may mistake genders doing exactly the same task.
him for a king.

1 hc Qu nari re take Sehcron. Tev intcr is left to war with :-..-: Aurelian Pe ntaghast att emp ts to ass ume the Neva rra n throne
them o n its ow n. Severa l attempt s by the Qunari to before it is revealed he is not a l'entagh ast. The disgraced
\and o n thecontin ent and di rectlyattack Tevinte rfa il. Aurelian jo ins th e dwa rven Legio n oft he Dead, the o nl y
human ever todo so.
8:558HSSrn
8:608 LE SSrn

T H E WO RLD OF T H E DAS RELIGION 129

Ben · Hassrath: The Secret Po lice TAL-VASHOTH
The Ben-Hassrath are the secret police in Qunari society who The Tal-Vashoth arc those who have lived under the Qµn and rejected it. This rebellion
enforce the law of the Q!.m. They will also venture outside against its principles makes Tal-Vashoth traitors in the eyes of the Qunari. Tal-Vashoth
Qunari society to perform covert missions in foreign lands, frequently clash with Qunari, but they are not large enough in number to be a formidable
hunting Tal-Vashoth and other enemies of the Qun, sometimes threat to the Qun. Still, they are seen as a problem, and their ranks are consistently targeted
acting as spies. by the Ben-Hassrath.

While the Qunari accept the Bcn-Hassrath as a fact of life, Tal-Vashoth usually stick together. Most are kossith. Since many in TI1edas see kossith and
other races vilify the Qun's secret police. These notorious ham- think "Qunari,~ the Tal-Vashoth arc often forced into a life ofbanditry and mercenary work,
mers of Qun justice do not usually kill their prisoners. To do unaccepted and unable to find safer work.
so is seen as a waste, as all people have value. Instead of death, Tal-Vashoth means "the true gray ones.~ It is a name they give themselves.
prisoners are put to work in labor camps and taught the way of
the Qin. They are fed well and given simple, dean cells. that can be cured, and they took these men to the viddathlok,
temples dedicated to healing and recovery. I do not know what
The Ben-Hassrath are responsible for "reeducation" and the happened there. The men who returned were changed in pro-
assimilation of conquered peoples. found ways. Others, we never saw again. I can only assume the
'cure' did not take.''
"Some of my platoon resisted the indoctrination, refusing
even to pretend," an unnamed lmperium soldier, captured by
the Ben-Hassrath, once wrote in recovered memoirs.
"The Bcn-Hassrath sec rebellion and discontent as an illness

A war between Nevarra an d O rlais over Queen Moira is assassi nated. O rlesian
controloft hewestern hillsaround fo rces leverage herdeathto tightenthe ir
Perendale results in Nevarran victory. grip on Ferelden. Her son Marie esca pes.

8:70 BUSSEU 8:96 BUSSEU

EndrinAeducantakes thethrone The Fereldan rebels, led by the young King
Marie, take the isolated port town ofGwaren,
8:96 BlfSSEO theirfirstmajorvictorysincethedeathof
Queen Moira.

8:98BlfSSEO

T HE FADE IS AN OTHERWORLDLY REALM OF GREAT POWER
AND MYSTERY, a wellspring of magic, and, to some, the source of
creation. They say you enter this kingdom of spirits when you sleep, as well as
when you die, and that a corruption at its heart set in motion the Blight.

The Fade is home to a great many spirits- some evil, some in the Fade, they return immediately to their sleepi ng bodies,
benevolent. These single-minded creatures are ceaselessly curious waking before the moment of death. But the magic that keeps
about the complexities of a sleeper's mind and life beyond the lucid minds in the Fad e also p revents them from return ing
Fade. The spirits shape their world to cater to the unconscious to their bodies at that moment of death, meaning they die in
thoughts of the living, creating what the living call dreams. both realms.

It is possible to enter the Fade through one's mind and remain W hen you enter the Fade, you do so in mind only. It is near-
lucid. This is usually done wit h magic bolstered by ingesting ly impossible for any person to physically set foot there. Only a
lyrium. Only those who use lyrium to enter the Fade remain group of ancient Tevinter magisters was famously able to accom-
able to separate their dreams from reality. plish the feat, and only by invoking blood magic of unimaginable
power. The act was sai d to spur the Blight, an d has not since
Entering the Fade in one's mind while lucid is a consider- been achieved.
able risk. When the soul s of the d ream ing are harmed or killed

House Tethras isexiledt o the s urface fo r The souls of the
den ying theVoi ce of theAncestors andw illfully dreaming wander
manipulatin g thesacredProvings. the Fade.

8:98 8lESSrn At th e Battle of West Hi ll, the Fe reldan arm y is
de vastatedhy Orlesianforces. Survivors retrea t
to Gware n. Ma ri e is presumed dead.

8:99 BlESSrn

132 THE FADE DRAGON AGE:

GEOGRAPHY & TRAVEL mimicking reality. What dreamers and lucid visitors alike see
WITHIN THE FADE is a skewed versio n of reality, b uilt to the scale of the memories
attached to real places. Spirits shape these illusions for their own
Accounts of the Fade in its raw form describe a twisted, fright- purposes, ofte n focusing on a key emotion they find especially
eni ng world of d ark rock and raw lyriu m where it is always intriguing. It can seem to the li ving that some spirits simply
night. An ominous ribbon of light stretches across the sky an d enjoy toying with them.
a shadowy metropolis known as the Black City looms, always
in the distance. The Fade is separated into smaller realms reigned over by the
most infl uential spirits. There are realms of fear, where dream-
When shaped by dreams, the Fade may appear as something crs may face horrors. There arc realms of pain, where torturous
else entirely: at ti mes strikingly sim ilar to the waking world, dungeons or a moment of loss may surface. It is impossible to

Beliewd hunt ed to extin ction, d rago ns e merge first in Anli va, With the aid of th e Legion of th e Dead, King Marie e merges from
th en devastate rural Orlais and Neva rra. Repeated attemp ts to the Deep Roads under Gwaren. At the Battle of Ri ver Dane, Fe reldan
c ulltheirnumbersendinheavycasualties. rebels commanded by Loghain Mac T ir turn th e tide against their
Orlesianoccupie rs.
8:998HSSrn
8:99BlfSSrn

THE WORLD OF THEDAS THE FADE 133

Tile Fade is often
a terrifying place.

travel between these realms unless the visitor is lucid. Even then, Visitors to the Fade may encounter dreamers. It is also possible
the destination may be difficult to control. for dreamers to interact with other dreamers in the same realm, but
they will often not remember such contact when they wake. For
Ifone is to travel in the Fade by any means other than by foot, the lucid, attempting to communicate with dreamers can prove
it must be with the aid of a spirit. Even the lowliest wisp possesses difficult, as they are preoccupied by whatever dreams the spirits
enough power to shape the Fade to the traveler's needs. Travelers, have created for them.
and especially magcs, must be cautious, however. lfa spirit figures
out that they are not sleeping, it will attempt to use them to cross With so many dreamers, it can be difficult to locate a particular
over into the real world, possessing the traveler's physical body. A one. Even ifcommunication is established, there is also no guaran-
mage is not powerless in the Fade, as spells do work to a degree. But tee that the dreamer will remember what is said when they wake;
they often do not behave as expected, as natural laws do not apply. dreams arc readily forgotte n, after all.

The Dragon Age begins. It is predicted DRAGON AGE KingMaricsucceedsindrivingoutthcOrlesian
to bea nagcof violenceandupheaval. occupyingforcc.Hekills theusurpcrking
Meghrcn in a duel at Fort Drakon.
8:99 8lESSrn
9:00DRAGON

" THE FADE IS IN CONSTANT F LUX ."

The study of the Fade is as old as humankind. For so long as
men have dreamed, we have walked its twisting paths, some·
times atching a glimpse ofthe city at its heart. Always as dose
as our own thoughts, but impossibly separated from our world.

The Tevinter lmperium once spent vast fortunes ofgold,
lyrium, and human slaves in an effort to map the terrain ofthe
Fade, an ultimately futile endeavor. Although portions of it
belong to powerful spirits, all of the Fade is in constant flux.
The lmperium succeeded in finding the disparate and ever-
shifting realms of a dozen demon lords, as well as cataloging
a few hundred types of spirits, before they were forced to
abandon the project.

The relationship ofdreamers to the Fade is complex. Even
when entering the Fade th rough the use of lyrium, mortals
are not able to control or affect it. The spirits who dwell there,
however, can, and as the Chantry teaches us, the great fl aw of
the spirits is that they have neither imagination nor ambition.
They create what they see through their sleeping visitors,
building elaborate copies of our cities, people, and events,
which, like the reflections in a mirror, ultimately lack context
or life of their own. Even the most powerful demons merely
plagiarize the worst thoughts and fears of mortals, and build
their realms with no other ambition than to taste life.

- From Tranquility and the Role of the Fade in Human
Culture, by First Enchanter Josephus



136 THE FADE "I DRIFTED THROUGH
FROZEN MOMENTS."
SPIRITS & DEMONS
I once studied the Fade as a scholar, dissecting it, as a child
TheFade's Spirits are creatures native to the Fade. These powerful beings take might a rat or a frog. I was young and craved the power conquer-
geography varies the form ofvirtues, or, in the case ofdemons, sins. What seems so ing the Fade could bring. I tried in vain to chart its paths, and
strange, and often frightening, to a visitor is commonplace to these when that failed, I attempted to secure them. ln my arrogance,
from realm Fade dwellers. Spirits, in turn, arc mystified by the waking world. I struggled against the Fade's very nature. How docs one pin
to realm, but down a dream? How can one control a thought so that it might
natural laws are Fade spirits shift the Fade's appearance, dimensions, and travel always the same course from conception to completion?
nearly every sensory aspect of the realm at their leisure. When
mimicked. spirits encounter a visitor, most can't help but mine the visitor's Only when I let go ofmy desires and humbled myself was
mind for their thoughts and memories, and may use these to the Fade opened to me. The spirits came and took it upon
shape the visitor's perceptions and trick them into thinking their themselves to be my guides, my lanterns in the darkness. At
dreams are reality. their command, the paths grew still, and I could walk them
again and again. I was shown vast oceans, containing not water,
Spirits embody and latch onto singular purposes. These pur- but memories, drawn from the minds of dreamers. 1drifted
poses can be perceived as good, such as spirits of faith or valor. through frozen moments, like paintings, perfect in each detail.
Demons embody the darker side of the living, and will shape the As I explored this impossible realm, the spirits kept darker
Fade to reflect this. They often take on horrific forms represent- things at bay. I came to trust them, even love them, and I saw
ing everything from pride or rage to desire incarnate. Like good my own love reflected in them.
spirits, they may also possess the living or dead.
To know the Fade, one cannot seek to master it. The Fade
A spirit with a purpose does its all to fulfill that purpose. A is the master, the teacher. We are merely apprentices.
hunger demon, for instance, will do anything within its power
to feed . -Writings ofMagister Callistus of Taraevyn,
known to some as uCallistus the Fade-Toucliedn

I found myselfon a plateau of swirling smoke and mist. I could
not see my feet, or perhaps I had no feet in that place. Each
step was treacherous. I had to believe there was a ground. If
I didn't, there wouldn't be, and I would fall into nothingness.
I was protected only by my will and my magic.

Tue demon they made me face took the shape of a great
cat. As we battled, it spoke in my mind. It told me that I would
eventually stumble, and then it would pounce. Tue demon
talked to me of the templars beyond the Veil, standing over
my paralyzed body, their swords pointed at my heart, waiting
for the moment of my failure. All it would take was a splinter
offcar, a seed ofdoubt, and I would be unmade. The demon
would devour my mind, and the templars would destroy what
was left of me.

This was my Harrowing. They force this upon all mages
and call it good. But it is neither good nor right. It is evil
and unjust.

-From a partially destroyed journal bearing no name,
fmmd in a Kinloch Hold cistern

The Fade? I've got one word for you: "unnatural." See, we
dwarves sleep like the Stone. No dreams. But find enough
lyrium or blood and you can even send a dwarf across the
Veil. Trust me when I say we don't like it.

I've followed the Hero ofFerelden into the deepest pits of
Tuedas. I'd do it all over again before you can say, "I'l! pay you in
ale." But cross the Veil again? That'll give me second thoughts.

-Oglrren, dwarf

CaiIan, crown prince ofFerelden, is Celene,futureOrlesia n 9:8 0AAGON
born to Marie and Queen Rowan. empress, is born.

9:50AAGON 9:6 0AAGON

THE WORLD OF THEDAS THE FADE 137

King Marie allows the Grey Wardens to ret urn to Ferelden A young female smith named Branka is made
a f t e r t w o a g e s o f c x i l e f o r t h e i r f a i le d c o u p a t t e m p t . l ' a r a g o n f o r h e r i n v e n t i o n o f smokeles s c o a l.

9:10 0RAGON 9:10 0RAGON





Alistair,afutureherooftheFifth Kal -S harokisredis.;:o,·eredi n1he
Blight , is borninFerelden. HunterhornMou ntains.

9:100RAGON 9:11 0RAGON

T H E W ORLD OF T H E DAS " THE VEIL IS AN IDEA." 141

There is a great hierarchy of spirits, ranging from those who I detest this notion that the Veil is some manner of invisible
rule the dream realms to minor spirits that have little influence "curtain~ that separates the world of the living from the world
over the ether. Some spirits, like wisps, are often too simple and ofthe spirits (whether it be called the Fade or the Beyond is a
impressionable to be good or evil. ll1ey wander aimlessly until matter ofracial politics I refuse to indulge in at the moment).
driven into action by a master with a purpose to give them. Mages There is no ~ this side" and "that side" when it comes to the
may use wisps to help guide them through the Fade. Veil. One cannot think ofit as a physical thing or a barrier or
even a "shimmering wall ofholy light" (thank you very much
As fascinating as the waking world is to a spirit, it can also be for that image, Your Perfection).
very confusing, sometimes even terrifying. Spirits that wander
across the boundary known as the Veil are u n predictable and Think of the Veil, instead, as opening one's eyes.
often extremely dangerous. Before you opened them, you saw our world as you see it
now: static, solid, unchanging. Now that they are open, you
THE VEIL see our world as the spirits see it: chaotic, ever changing, a
realm where the imagined and the remembered have as much
The Veil is what separates the Fade from the waking world. It substance as that which is real-more, in fact. A spirit sees
may be weakened in places where great death lingers or through everything as defined by will and memory, and this is why
the use of magic. they are so very lost when they cross the Veil. In our world,
imagination has no substance. Objects exist independently of
In these weak spots, spirits gain entry to the living world. how we remember them or what emotions we associate with
Most weaker spirits that cross the Veil w ill m indlessly seek to them. Mages alone possess the power to change the world with
possess any sign of life they encounter. ln the absence oflife, they their minds, and perhaps this forms the nature of a demon's
may possess the dead. The Veil is particularly thin at night, when attraction to them-who can say?
most people sleep and spirits are most active. Regardless, the act ofpassing through the Veil is much more
about changing one's perceptions than a physical transition. The
On extremely rare occasions, the Veil may tear. This may be Veil is an idea, it is the act of transition itself, and it is only the
done with powerful magic, or come about after the slaughter of fact that both living beings and spirits find the transition difficult
a great many people in a short period. that gives the Veil any credence as a physical barrier at all.

- From A Dissertation on the Fade as a Physical
Manifestation, by Mareno, senior enchanter oftlie

Mirrrat!ious Circle ofMagi, 6:55 Steel

THE BLACK CITY ln the shifting otherworld of the Fade, the only geographi- The Chantry teaches
cal absolute seems to be that all points arc equidistant from the that when the Chant
Standing at the center of the Fade, viewable from all points, is Black City. oflightspreadstoall
the Black City. This ominous shadow of once-golden towers is corners of the world
ever present, but forever out of reach. The Chant teaches that the Black City was once the Golden and mankind is without
City, the seat of the Maker when he ruled the Fade. The faithful sin,theMakerwill
believe the Maker abandoned his throne when humanity aban- return and restore the
doned him. Black City

The ancient Tevinter magisters said the Fade was the realm
of their Old Gods, and the Golden City was the center of the
deities' power. It was beautiful then, a metropolis of impossible
majesty. It is written that the magisters heard the whispers ofthe
gods from across the Veil. It was from them that the magisters fi rst
learned the art of magic. But the magisters wanted more. They
used magic, fue led by blood, to ph ysically step into the Fade and
approach the Golden City. For their audacity, they were cast o ut
as the first darks pawn, and the corrupted Golden City blackened.

What secrets hide behind the Black City"s walls, no mortal
could know. Even the most powerful demons keep their distance.

Bownam mar, the fortress of the Legion Underneat h Feretden, the intelligent darkspawn known as
oft heDead,fallsto thedarkspawn. th e Architect attem pts to unearth and kill the remaining
O ld Gods and taint the entire $Urface world. His efforts are
9:130AAG ON thwartedbyKing Marica nda ban d ofWardens.

9:14 0AAGON

142 THE FADE DRAGON AGE:

"THE TEVINTER BROKE INTO CULTURAL INTERPRETATIONS
THE MAKER'S HOUSE." OF THE FADE

Those who had been cast down, the demons who would be Chantr y
gods, began to whisper to men from their tombs within the According to the Chantry, the Fade is a land of primeval matter
earth. And the men ofTevinter heard, and raised altars to the from which the Maker formed the world and all living beings. When
pretender gods once more, and in return were given, in hushed the living die, their souls enter the Fade, and if they are faithful,
whispers, the secrets of darkest magic. pass through to join the Maker at his side. The wicked and unfaith-
ful, however, are stuck in the Fade, doomed to wander endlessly.
But it was not worship the fulse gods craved.
They urged the magisters to ever-greater depravity,
rewarding them with power and more. Arrogance became a
great caged beast in the lands ofTevinter, an emptiness that
consumed all and could never be filled. To satisfy its hunger,
the mage lords, at the goading of their gods, assaulted the
Golden City, heart of all creation, to take the Maker's power
for themselves.
With magic born of mingled blood and lyrium, the
Tevinter broke into the Maker's House. But the promised
power did not await them there.
'TI1e moment they entered the city of the Make r, their
sin poisoned it. What had been golden turned black, and
violently they were flung from the world ofdreams back into
the waking world. Twisted and corrupted by their crime and
their magic into monsters, they fled underground, unable to
bear the light of day. The first darkspawn.

- Tl1m1odics 8:21 - 27, the Canticle of Transfigurations

Empress Celene I ascends SoonalterCelenelassumesthe
tothethroneinOrlais. ~ Orlesianthrone, Fereldenand

9:100RAGO N Orlaisofficiallymakepeace.

9:100RAGO N

THE WORLD OF THEDAS THE FADE 143

E lves Dwarves Qunari

Old elven beliefs call it Hthe Beyond," a holy place A dwarf entering the Fade is a rare thing. The under- The Qunari believe the Fade is the Land of the Dead.
once home to their gods. What little of elven lore ground dwellers do not dream, and ages of lyrium Entering it in any fashion is strictly forbidden by the
has survived speaks ofFen'Harel, a trickster god who exposure have made them largely immune to its power. Qun, and the idea that a sleeping Qµnari might ever
schemed to take the Beyond for himself, imprisoning Because no dwarven souls are found in the Fade, the enter such a realm is reprehensible. Qunari insist
his brethren in the Eternal City at its heart. The elves Chantry claims that the dwarves were not created that they do not dream as others do. Since they are
believe their gods remain trapped in the prison to this by the Maker. rarely encountered in the Fade, it can be hard to refute
day, as Fen'Harel, the Dread Wolf, gleefully patrols this claim.
the Beyond to feast upon the souls of the dead.

Kirkwall Viscount Perrin Threnhold is The Grand Cathedral is set upon by dragons during a ten -year
over1hrown by Knight-Commander Meredith gathering of Chantr y faithful. A young Seeker named Cassandra
and Marlowe Dumar is made the new viscount. Pentaghast foils what is revealed to be a conspiracy to kill Divine
Beatrixlll.SheisnamedahandoftheDivine.
9:11 ORAGON
9:110RAGO N

KingMaricispresumeddeadatsea Cail an marries Anora Mac Tir,
andhi sson Cailaniscrownedking. dau ghter ofTeyrn Loghain Mac Tir.

9:150RAGO N 9:150R AG ON

WhyBlightsh,ppenisdeb,ted. Thep<e,,ilingbeliefisth" ANATOMY OF A BLIGHT
Archdemons are Tevinter Old Gods, trying to regain power after
their home in the Fade was corrupted by the ancient nation's The Wardens teach that the catalyst of a Blight is the awakcn-
magisters. The Wardens believe that defeating the remaining ing of an Old God lurking somewhere down below. When the
Archdemons means stopping future Blights. darkspawn find and wake one, the Old God is corrupted, creating
an Archdemon.
Recent evidence ofdarkspawn capable ofspeech and ratio-
nal thought has complicated theories surrounding the Blight's As the darkspawn advance to the surface, the land around
purpose. Only a few fringe scholars argue the point, as the death them is sucked of moisture, bringing a wasting force that blackens
and destruction a Blight brings tend to render the question of the earth and withers plants to dust. The sky fills with rolling black
"why" irrelevant. clouds that block the sun. Where the darkspawn go, disease and
rot follow. The degenerative diseases born of the taint persist and
spread long after a Blight is over.

With the exception of the Fifth Blight, which started and
stopped in Ferclden, Blights have historically brought all civilized
races to the edge ofdestruction before the Wardens managed to
destroy the Archdemon.

ARCHDEMON

Few people have ever seen an Archdemon. What little is known
about them comes from the Wardens. They say an Archdemon
is a fearsome creature with gnarled teeth, rotting purple scales,
and bent wings. Despite its monstrous appearance, the dragon
is believed to be quite intelligent.

The call of an Archdemon can be heard by darkspawn over
great d istances. Wardens may hear it too, one dear signal that
a Blight is looming. What the call is exactly has proven hard
to define. In a Warden's ears, it sounds like strange music, an
intoxicating melody that grows louder and more appealing as
corruption advances. Darkspawn are consumed by its draw and
can think of nothing else but uncovering its source.

ParagonBranka\'enturcs into theOccpRoads The Fifth Blight begi ns in the Korcari Wilds ofFerelden
in search ofCaridi n's An>"il o f the Void. afterthcArchitectattc mptstomakeadiscipleofthe
O ldGodUrt hem iel.
9:18 0RAGON
9:300 RA GON

146 THE BLIGHT DRAGON AGE:

AseniorFere\danWardennamedDuncanrecruits Endrin Aeducan dies of grief over the loss of his o ldest and
AlistairandotherstoputdowntheimpendingBlight. youngestchildren, leavingon lymidd lechildBhdentoinherit1he
AmonghisrecruitsisthefutureHeroofFerelden. throne. A conflict breaks out in OrLammar over succession when
Lord Pyral Harrowmont accuses Bhelen offratricide.
9:300RAGON
9:300RAGON

THE WORLD OF TH E DAS THE BLIGHT 147

A FINE TIME TO CLOSE A BORDER
The news is dire. There are rumors that our Warden brothers
and sisters in Ferelden have all perished. Without the Grey
Wardens, the Blight will take Ferelden. Then it will undoubt-
edly spread. It will go north to Nevarra and the Marches. It will
come west to Orlais. At the head will be an Archdemon, and in
its wake will come thousands upon thousands ofdarkspawn.
We must be ready to stare squarely into the eyes ofoblivion.

Many of you have asked why we remain here when such
threats arc mounting in the cast. The problem, you sec, is not
a new one for us. Politics. To say Fcrclden and Orlais have
been at odds is an understatement. These two are like dogs
and cats. We Wardens are Orlesian by address only, but that
does not seem to matter to Ferelden's leaders.

Word is that the king ofFerelden is dead. And his succes-
sor, Loghain Mac Tir, decrees that no Warden set foot in the
country. Mac Tir, a national hero who helped expel invading
Orlesian forces from Ferelden, seems to have it out for our
Order too. Maybe he doubts our abilities. Maybe he is more
foolish than the history books make him out to be.

lhis is why we must wait, even as Ferelden willingly
welcomes its fate.

-An address by Warden-Constable Blackwall
of Val Chevin to his recruits, 9:30 Dragon

DARKSPAWN

The darkspawn arc twisted shadows of hum ans, elves, and other
common races. They normally remain below the surface, free to
reign over expansive stretches of the long-abandoned dwarven
Deep Roads. Great numbers of darkspawn lurk in th e deepest
caverns and tunnels.

Darkspawn are normally not very organized. Though their
constant presence in the Deep Roads bet\veen Blights has pushed
the dwarves to edge of extinction, it is only under the leader-
ship o f an Archdemon that the darksp awn pose any significant
threat above ground. Unified, a darkspawn arm y is capable of
unfathomable devastation.

Origins
l11e C hantry teaches that th e first darkspawn came fro m what 's
know n as the "second si n .~ They were the Tevinter magisters
who to u ch ed the Golden City. Upon steppin g into the godly
realm, the magisters turned it black. Their sin created the taint and
they were transformed into the firs t darkspawn. As they carried
the taint to others, more darkspawn were created.

The Batt le o(Ostagar is los t whe n Loghain qu its th e fi eld, leaving the The Hawke family fl ees the destru ctio n ofLothe ring and
asse mbled Ward ens trapped behind da rkspawn lines. The Warden s, wi th trave ls to Kirkwall, wherethey begi nindentured servi tud e
th eexce ption of Alistair andth e futu reHe roof Fe relden,areslaught ered. inorder to obtain e ntr y to thecity.

9:300R AGO N 9:300RAGO N

148 THE BLIGHT DRAGON AGE:

Broodmothersare When a person is tainted, their body and mind waste away Some darkspawn, including a few alphas, may prove adept at
horrific creatures until they are little more than a snarling ghoul. Darkspawn arc magic. These darkspawn, dubbed by the Wardens as emissaries,
capable of giving born to broodmothers: females of a given race ravaged and tainted tend to only show themselves on the surface during Blights. The
birth to dozens of by the darkspawn to become horrid creatures. A broodmothcr spells they cast arc rooted in a strange form of blood magic.
will birth thousands of darkspawn in her lifetime, all variants
darkspawn ina of her former race. Elven broodmothers give birth to shrieks. Intellect
single litter. Dwarven broodmothcrs spawn gcnlocks. Humans birth hurlocks While it is true that most darkspawn do not speak beyond grunts
and kossith birth ogres. and hisses, and subsist in unfathomably fi lthy, desperate condi-
tions, it would be wrong to call them stup id . The darkspawn
A bloated broodmother will give birth to a large litter at o nce, possess a cunning that must not be discounted. They are skilled
between twenty and fifty children. They emerge from her giant on the battlefield, capable of sophisticated tactics. They can build
womb as toddlers, often already able to walk, and develop rapidly structures and craft powerful, albeit ugly, weapons and armor.
during their first few weeks on their own. Young darkspawn arc Genlocks are particularly good at construction, a remnant of
expected to compete with each other to surv ive. They will try their dwarvcn origins.
to kill each other, perhaps a natural instinct. This serves to thin
out the weaker offspring. Though common darkspawn don't speak a language by any
surface standards, they are able to understand each other. A cry
Occasionally one young darkspawn will be so much more of alarm at the sight of an intruder is always understood.
powerful than the rest that it kills the entire brood. This dark-
spawn is called an alpha. They arc generally taller, stronger, or W hen there isn't an Archdcmon to direct the darkspawn, the
much more intelligent than the rest of their kind. Alphas will chain of command breaks down. Alphas become tyrants, split-
inevitably take command of weaker darkspawn. ting the horde amongst themselves and fighting for dominance.

AunitedFerelden, ledbytheHeroof The Architect frees an intelligent broodmother Anewbreedofta lkingdarkspawnemerge.
Ferelden,slaysUrthemiel attheBattle called the Mother from th e call of the Old Gods. Someplcdge allcgiance totheMother.
ofDenerim,endingtheFifthBlight. She goes insane and attempts to undo his work. Others follow the Architect.

9:310 RAGON 9:310RAGON 9:310 RAGON

THE WORLD OF TH E DAS THE BLIGHT 149

Whendarkspawn
spill from below the
earthenmasse,
the subsequent
Blight threatens the
very existence of
civilizedThedas.

The Mo th er is slain h y the Hero ofFerelden, The d warves ofOru mmar Amgarrak is o\·errun by tw isted creature s known
now th e natio n's \ Varden-Commander. redaimKal' Hirolthaig. as Ha rvestersafter fa iled attempts tore-create
Caridin"sgole mresea rch.
9:31 DRAGON 9:31 DRAGON
9:31 DRAGON