Dragon Ageis back in a big way, and fans are close to getting answers to some of their most burning questions. Stories set in Thedas are fascinating because of their comprehensive lore, while giving each new story a unique tone. With a fresh installment of this excellent dark fantasy on its way, some familiar subplots and enemies have been revealed or suggested to play a significant part in the events to come.
There’s great potential forDragon Age: The Veilguardto raise the stakes based on established lore. What starts as an obscure side quest inOriginsand grows into an ancient conspiracy byInquisitioncould end up as the biggest bombshell reveal yet. Or it could just be a garden variety demonic influence with one surprise act left. There are plenty of pressing questions: Is Mythal really dead? Will players be able to sway Solas with sweet words? With a new gameplay trailer, fans have their first confirmations and clues.
If The Tell-Tale “Veil Tear” Ambient Sounds Aren’t Hint Enough
Evidence:
Veilguardwill undoubtedly feature new problems regarding the Veil separating the Fade from the mortal realm. This time, players won’t have the Inquisitor’s Anchor to sew up the world at its splitting seams, but they might have other talents at their disposal.
It seemsVeilguardpicks up whereInquisition’s Trespasser DLC left off. The new game hints at how the titular Veilguard will handle the Veil, withnew classes like Veil Jumperscoming about in response to rifts in the Arlathan Forest.
“A Hole Leading Into The Fade. I Wouldn’t Touch It.”
The dwarves are the only species known not to dream or have innate magical abilities. Yet, they’re the only ones who can safely mine and handle lyrium, which is essential to magical practice and reaching into the Fade. This curious fact has few explanations.
Events inInquisitionand its DLCs indicate dwarves may not beincapable of magic after all, and there’s a bigger mystery behind this question. One thing that hints that this might be a core subject forVeilguardis that the Veil might be part of the reason dwarves can’t dream or wield magic.
Slaying Like Zevran In A Murder Of Crows
The Antivan Crows have been a fan favorite and occasional nemesis organization since players first encountered them as the Hero of Ferelden. Their popularit has a lot to do with the charmingassassin andOriginscompanion, Zevran, but this secretive guild has a dark appeal all its own.
If Zevran’s experience is any guide, even if players choose to make Rook one of them, the Antivan Crows might still be hired against the Veilguard. The only way around that is to secure a guarantee that the Crows will refuse all contracts on them. With Lucanis in the team, there may be other reasons why the Crows could be antagonists.
6The Darkspawn
Thedas Might Not Be Ready To Face A Sixth Blight
Theoriginal ghastly nemesisplayers face inOriginsreturns. However, the darkspawn inVeilguardare nothing like what players have seen before. For one, they have eyes that glow red. The presence of darkspawn inVeilguardmakes sense considering the return of the Order of the Grey Wardens. How many Rook will encounter might differ depending on whether the Grey Warden background was chosen.
Glowing Red Eyes Never Mean Anything Good
Dragon Agecanon keeps circling back tothe subject of lyriumand its tainted red variety. InDragon Age 2,players might have passed it off as a dangerous curiosity, but byInquisition, its powers spread well beyond those infected bythe lyrium idol.
There’s still a lot to learn about the origins and nature of any variety of lyrium. It’s easy to imagine the Evanuris knowing more about this, and there’s also the link to Titans that the Inquisitor discovers in The Descent DLC.
“In War, Victory. In Peace, Vigilance. In Death, Sacrifice.”
To saythe Grey Wardens are centraltoDragon Ageis an understatement. Much to fans' delight,Veilguardincludes Davrin as a new Warden companion, and players can take up the Griffon mantle of the Order once more as Rook. With such strong ties to the Grey Wardens, it’s conceivable thatVeilguardmight offer some significant advances in learning more about the true origins of the Taint, Archdemons, Blights, and other mysteries that this organization deals with.
3The Venatori
The Inquisitor Crushed Them, But The Imperium Is Home
The Inquisitor’s work is never done with the Venatori. Seeing asVeilguardis set in Tevinter, it’s hardly surprising that players will encounter them in their homeland. It’s clearthat Corypheus' deathhasn’t deterred these xenophobic nationalists from trying to bring back the glory days of their magocracy.
Although they no longer have Corypheus at their helm, their goals and political schemes seem far from over. The Venatori are also at the heart ofevents inTevinter Nightsinvestigated by Neve, another new companion inVeilguard.
Questions Have Been Eating Away At Fans
According to Corypheus’ ramblingsin the Legacy DLC and inInquisition, the Old God Dumat promised the Tevinter Magisters the Golden City in the Fade. Instead, they found the Black City. They were cast out and transformed into the first darkspawn, if the semi-lucid Magister’s timeline is to be believed.
Hawke proves Corypheus unkillable, and Corypheus goes on to become the main villain ofInquisition. He’s a mere distraction from the real showdown, however. There may be more to the infamousDread Wolf and Mythalencounter than first meets the eye.
Players Have A Lot Of Questions
The highlight of the recent Veilguard gameplay trailer is the long-anticipatedreturn of Solas. Regardless of whether players want to save him with a kiss or punish him with a blade, he is the architect of the Veil, and therefore at the epicenter of events.
Although the “Dreadwolf” working title has been scrapped in favor ofThe Veilguard, it’s obvious that BioWare has no intention of leaving fans hanging when it comes to this most epic and tragic of elvish plotlines. Whether thiscrafty elf is redeemable, and whether players have a choice in the matter, remains to be seen.
