GamesRPGDragon Age 4Dragon Age timeline and story explained - breaking down the lore in the lead up to Dragon Age: The VeilguardWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GamesRPGDragon Age 4Dragon Age timeline and story explained - breaking down the lore in the lead up to Dragon Age: The VeilguardWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: BioWare)
Jump to:Dragon Age OriginsDragon Age 2Dragon Age Inquisition
Jump to:Dragon Age OriginsDragon Age 2Dragon Age Inquisition
It’s been 10 years since Dragon Age: Inquisition last whisked us away to Thedas, but the impending release ofDragon Age: The Veilguardwill at long last seeBioWare’s beloved RPG series return. The upcoming adventure will put us in the role of Rook, and introduce us to fresh locations, new companions to journey alongside, and another threat to face. Given that such a long time has passed since the last Dragon Age entry, the team at BioWare has emphasized that Veilguard will be a great entry point for newcomers, and added context will also be given as a refresher for anyone who’s been away from the RPGs for several years.
Even so, the Dragon Age series is known for its rich worldbuilding and lore, and there are a lot of interesting details, events, and facts in the previous games that can be worth knowing about before you step into Rook’s shoes. So, whether you’re returning and looking for a recap, or you’re new to the series and want to prepare for the next entry, you can find a helpful breakdown of the Dragon Age timeline and story, along with some useful lore facts that are especially pertinent to Veilguard below.
Dragon Age story explained
(Image credit: EA)
The Dragon Age series is home to three core games, with Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, and Dragon Age: Inquisition. Each game explores its own story and puts you in the role of a different protagonist who is unrelated to the previous heroes. For the most part, the games are set within southern parts of the world, and while you could technically call them standalones, all of the games are interconnected to an extent. Every entry builds on the world of Thedas to reveal more about the history, cultures, and tensions of its peoples.
Recapping the overarching story of Dragon Age is no simple task, but I’ve tried to put together a basic overview of each game, with key takeaways, and what they establish for the series.
Dragon Age Origins
(Image credit: BioWare)
Dragon Age 2
(Image credit: EA)
Dragon Age 2 follows the story of Hawke and their family, as they flee from their home of Lothering to Kirkwall as a result of the Fifth Blight. In the city, Hawke rises up in social standing and is thrown into the middle of rising tensions between the mages and templars. The second game also does a lot more to establish the Qunari, which is an encompassing term for anyone of any race who follows the teachings and lives under the code of The Qun.
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In the Dragon Age 2 DLC Legacy, Hawke first encounters Corypheus in an ancient Warden prison. Believed to be an ancient Tevinter Magister, Hawke and the companions fight and believe they’ve killed Corypheus at the close of the expansion, only for him to reappear as the main antagonist of Dragon Age Inquisition.
Dragon Age Inquisition
(Image credit: BioWare)
In the Trespasser DLC set some years after the events of Inquisition, an Exalted council is held to determine whether the Inquisition should keep going or be disbanded - a choice that’s ultimately left up to the player.
It’s later revealed that there’s far more to Solas than first meets the eye, however, with the end of Inquisition and the Trespasser DLC unveiling some major revelations about the true history of the elves. Solas is responsible for putting up the Veil in a bid to stop the elven gods known as the Evanuris. In creating the Veil, Solas destroyed the world of the elves as it once was, and now he seeks to restore what was lost. In doing so, he now threatens Thedas, which is where the Veilguard will come in.
Dragon Age timeline
(Image credit: EA)
Dragon Age Origins, Dragon Age 2, and Dragon Age Inquisition are all set within the Dragon Age, which is the ninth age of the Chantry calendar - the most commonly referred to calendar in-game.
So if you’re looking to play the games in order, you would follow the order they released in and play Dragon Age Origins, Dragon Age 2, and then Dragon Age Inquisition. But if you’re looking to play just one game ahead of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, then I recommend checking out Inquisition as a good primer for what’s to come.
Dragon Age key factions, organizations, and groups
(Image credit: EA)
As a fantasy RPG, the world of Thedas is brimming with magic, demons, spirits, and more. If you’re new to the series, it can be helpful to know about some of the main organizations and groups that play key roles in the world of Dragon Age. Some of these groups also tie to the background factions that can be given to your Rook in Veilguard. It’s also worth noting that some classes and races are viewed differently in different parts of Thedas, which will no doubt also come across in Veilguard as we venture to new locations in the Northern parts of the world. Don’t worry - it may seem like a lot, but it’s helpful to know the universe’s key players before diving into the story.
The Chantry: One of the main religious organizations in Southern Thedas.
Templars: The Templar order watch and guard mages to ensure they don’t become abominations, and hunt mages known as apostates, who are those that escape or live outside of the circle. There’s a lot of tension between the mages and templars, with the former being historically oppressed or persecuted for their magical talents at the hands of the latter.
The Antivan Crows: An organization of assassins and spies from Antiva who are known throughout Thedas.
The Dalish: Elves who typically live a nomadic life and seek to maintain and protect their heritage and recover the lost knowledge of the elves who came before them.
Dragon Age lore
(Image credit: BioWare)
Thanks to some exciting details revealed about Dragon Age: The Veilguard so far, there have been some hints regarding the story, some lore it may be expanding on, and some interesting tidbits to take note of. Below, you’ll find some useful nuggets of lore that will hopefully give you some more context for what’s in store in The Veilguard.
The Fade- A realm or spiritual world where both demons and spirits dwell. Mages draw from the fade for their magic, and it’s also where dreams take place.
Evanuris- A term of what was believed to have been elven gods, it’s also implied they were a group of powerful mages who enslaved their kind.
The Elves- In Southern Thedas, city elves who live in an Alienage are often mistreated, while the Dalish live out in the lands and seek to preserve their heritage and recover knowledge. Solas changed everything we thought they knew about their history towards the end of Inquisition. The world of the elves that came before is said to have been a land where spirits and people lived in harmony and magic came naturally. Elves also lived longer life spans as near-immortal figures.
The Darkspawn: Considered to be one of the greatest threats in Thedas, Darkspawn are beings that have been corrupted and spread their taint across the lands in what’s known as a Blight. The origin of the Blight and the tainted creatures is still somewhat of a mystery, but it’s implied they have ties to the sleeping Old Gods of Thedas.
This overview should get you up to speed on some of the key takeaways of the series for Dragon Age: The Veilguard.
For more on all things Dragon Age The Veilguard, head on over to ourDragon Age: The Veilguard Big Preview hub.
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