Summary
Bioware’sDragon Agesetting featuresa great deal of lore, helping to make the world feel fuller and more richly realized. From its ancient groups of warring tribes to the expansive and expansionist empires of the modern day, there’s a lot of lore forDragon Agefans to sink their teeth into.
But while some of the lore of Thedas has little in the way of wider implications for the setting and franchise, some lore is so big and important that it could have any number of explanations and implications for the future ofDragon Age.These particular pieces of lore come with potentially explosive implications.
10The War Between Titans And Elves
A War So Old That Everyone Forgot About It
Long, long ago - before the Fade was separated from the earth by the Veil -the ancient elveswent to war with the Titans and their dwarven servants. Scant information about this war exists during the events of theDragon Agesetting, but it involved a plot by Mythal.
Such events are massive and hint at a much bigger conflict between the ancients of Elvhenan and the Titans than anything seen in the modern-day of Thedas. Mythal rarely does anything without solid reasoning, so it’s a tantalizing peek at something big.
9The Forgotten Ones Versus The Evanuris
The Other Elven Gods
Solas, also known as Fen’Harel, was said to have walked among both groups of ancient elven gods. Although history mainly only remembers the Evanuris, the Forgotten Ones are attested in Dalish myth and legend. Fen’Harel is stated to have been part of both groups, with each one thinking him an ally.
Given that events in Thedas appear to be turning around Solas and his plans, this could have massive implications for the future, especially since Solas is responsible for locking both the Evanuris and the Forgotten Ones away in the first place.
8Andraste May Have Been A Mage
Tevinter Could Be Right
A big point of contention in Thedas between the Imperial Chantry and the Orlesian Chantry is whether or notAndraste was a mage. The Orlesian Chantry is firm in the idea that Andraste was a normal human woman blessed by the Maker, whereas the Imperial Chantry tradition asserts that Andraste was a powerful mage and was blessed by the Maker.
Although there’s evidence for both opinions, it’s unclear both outside of the universe and inside whether or not Andraste really was a mage. But if she was, the revelation could upset the apple cart in a major way for the people of Thedas - and for the institution of the Orlesian Chantry itself.
7Qunari Have The Blood Of Dragons
Dragon Blood Is Incredibly Powerful
Although the precise origins of the Qunari are shrouded in mystery, rumors persist that they’re the product of experimentation on elves using dragon blood and forbidden magic. Such speculation comes not only from fans of the game but from Qunari characters themselves. Player companion Iron Bull states that he feels aconnection to dragonsand thinks the Qunari may have been created using dragons' blood.
InDragon Age,dragons and their blood specifically are shown to be extremely powerful with a deep and mysterious connection to the lore. If Qunari really are the product of experimentation with dragon blood, that gives them an interesting connection to dragons themselves.
6Titans Are Waking Up
Has Massive Implications Regarding The Future Of Thedas
The Titans, a vast and almost incomprehensible race of beings strongly associated with the dwarves, existed in the deep past of Thedas and presided over a golden age of dwarven civilization. They warred with the elves, guided their dwarven charges, and lived out mysterious lives - until suddenly, they didn’t.
ButDragon Age: Inquisition’sThe DescentDLCshows that at least one Titan has woken up. The newly-arisen Titan managed to forge a connection with a dwarf, Shaper Valta, granting her powers that look strangely like magic - something dwarves apparently can’t do. The waking of a Titan has massive implications for Thedas, although just what it means is still unclear.
5Lyrium Is Blood
Suggests That All Magic Is Done Using Blood Magic
Lyrium is a strictly controlled substance in the world of Thedas, mined by dwarves and traded only with trusted partners for a very high price. Lyrium is used extensively by the Circles of Magi and the Templar Order - although for vastly different purposes - and is key to the magic economy in Thedas.
It’s also literally the blood of Titans. If Lyrium is blood, then is all magic done using lyrium blood magic? What, exactly, does that mean for the Templars, whose powers apparently stem from lyrium use?
4Kirkwall Is Shaped Like Magical Symbols
Symbols Have Power
Built bythe Tevinter Imperiumas a slave trading center, Kirkwall has the strange property of being built as a series of magical symbols. Players ofDragon Age 2can discover this through codex entries and rumors during the game. The exact reason for Kirkwall’s strangeness is unclear, but some have speculated that it may be the site of the Imperium’s incursion into the Fade.
Whatever the case, Kirkwall has been a center for abominations and blood magic ever since. But the potential for cities and other locations to be constructed in such a way is massive and could have major implications for Thedas moving forward in the franchise.
3Red Lyrium Has The Blight
Blighted Things Are Alive
Red Lyrium is a powerful variant of regular lyrium, which is blue, that has the strange effect of corrupting whoever uses it or comes into connection with it. The corruption of Red Lyrium is later revealed to be the Blight - the affliction caused by the darkspawn taint that only affects things that are alive.
As lyrium is the blood of titans, it has a connection with a living thing. But for it to be Blighted, even when mined and processed into a usable form, is strange and surely has major implications for Thedas.
2The Magisters Sidereal
Seven Unique Darkspawn With Connections To The Blight
The Magisters Sidereal, the seven ancient Tevinter mages who physically entered the Fade in search of the city at its center, were cast out of the Fade for their transgressions and sent back into the world of Thedas. Chantry doctrine in this regard matches the historical events, but the Magisters Sidereal were permanently altered and transformed into darkspawn.
Over the course of theDragon Agegames, players are able to meet two of the Magisters Sidereal - Corypheus and the Architect. But the others are presumably still out there and, as shown by the Architect, have some innate connection to the Blight.
Mythal Could Have A Role To Play In The Future
Mythal has persisted throughout the centuries unlike any other member of the Evanuris,save for Solas- and even Solas was inactive for the vast majority of that time. During her time abroad in the world, Mythal has achieved many things, always working to some inscrutable plan.
In her guise as Flemeth, the Witch of the Wilds, Mythal has raised untold numbers of daughters, including popularplayer companion Morrigan. Although Solas has absorbed part of Mythal’s power, Mythal herself appears intact - although incapacitated (however briefly). That said, Mythal is a canny sort, and her appearances and reappearances over the ages suggest she’s not quite down and out yet.
