Dragon Age 4. How much is hidden behind that title! The promise of new adventures in the world of Thedas, an opportunity to visit ill-famed Minrathous, the jewel of Tevinter Imperium, dazzling Antiva City or desolate Weisshaupt of Anderfels. For some Solavellan fans, it might mean a way to save the certain proud ancient elf while others might not mind a more hands-on approach in preventing the Dread Wolf from rising.
But mostly, Dragon Age 4 is a chance for Bioware to do their magic and bring the starving community a classic single-player experience, enhanced by epic story, rich world and a cast of believable characters from various races and social standings.
There is very little we currently know for sure when it comes to DA4 besides the Dread Wolf rising. The developers have dropped a few teasers, revealed some names and shared certain short stories/books/comics that might have an indication of the things to come.
So grab some tea (Solas Greatly Disapproves), put on your tinfoil hat/hood/helmet according to your armor type and join me in looking at the scattered crumbs. Sure, there might not be much we know but with Bioware’s teases pointing certain directions, how much can we guess?
Let’s find out!
Main Location: Tevinter
I know, I know – going to Tevinter is about as obvious as it can get. There are a lot of hints that point to it, including but not limited to:
- Dragon Age: Inquisition – Trespasser ending. The Inquisitor menacingly stabs the map of Thedas through a region of Tevinter. Appropriately, there is a city called Solas in the vicinity of the dagger strike.
- Dragon Age comics such as Blue Wraith & Dark Fortress indicate that things are not going so well in Tevinter.
- Tevinter Nights book shows that there are a lot of weird and important events happening in the world of Dragon Age, most of all in the Imperium.
- Concept Art for DA4 includes some amazing depictions of Minrathous and more.
- One of the four short stories published during the DA Day takes place in Tevinter.
Not to mention, the BioWare: Stories and Secrets from 25 Years of Game Development book released in January. Here’s what it says:
“As Bioware entered its twenty-fifth year, the Dragon Age team was hard at work on Morrison, the code name of the long-awaited follow-up to Dragon Age: Inquisition. The game, helmed by executive producer Mark Darrah, will take players to Tevinter as the events of Inquisition and Trespasser threaten to forever change Thedas.”
Magisters, slavery, cultists like the Venatori, the newly-introduced Sicari, demons, ancient elves, war with the Qunari and a lengthy teasing process over the last three games – Tevinter has it all. There are also a number of characters we know who just might be spending their time in the Imperium.
And that makes it the perfect main location for a long-awaited game!
Antiva (Antiva City)
Similar to Tevinter, Antiva has a few hints pointing to it, mostly the short stories from Tevinter Nights.
Home to the Antivan Crows and the eight Talons leading the assassin organization, this country has not been ignored by the Qunari. So much so that the number of the Talons has been greatly reduced. Now, the organization – and the country with it – are preparing for war.
Players just can’t miss out on such important events happening in one of the coolest places in Thedas, right? Especially not when Bioware has gone through the trouble of introducing new Antivan Crows characters in the short stories and creating such awesome concept art!
The stories dealing with Antivan Crows Include:
- The Wigmaker Job by Courtney Woods
- An Old Crow’s Old Tricks by Arone Le Bray
- Eight Little Talons by Courtney Woods
- The Wake by Mary Kirby
Anderfels (Weisshaupt Keep)
Another country likely to make an appearance in DA4 is Anderfels, in particular the Grey Wardens’ Weisshaupt Keep. As is the case with both Antiva and Tevinter, there are multiple hints pointing that the new protagonist might drop by.
The biggest pointer so far is probably The Last Flight by Liane Merciel, a Dragon Age book released in 2014. So far, the events of the books have been incorporated into the games without fail:
- David Gaider’s Stolen Throne and Calling provided some excellent background for Dragon Age: Origins and Awakening.
- Gaider’s Asunder also gave Inquisition the best boy Cole and explained just how we found ourselves in the middle of an all-out Mage/Templar War. Surprisingly, not all of it was Hawke’s fault, just the bigger part.
- The Masked Empire by Patrick Weekes delved deeper into the troubles of Orlais and hinted at things to do with certain bald elf.
This brings us to The Last Flight. I refuse to believe that Bioware will ignore the events of the book, especially when there are other indicators that Grey Wardens will take part in the upcoming game:
- There is something fishy with the First Warden who has recalled the Greys back to the fortress
- The cure for the Calling plotline with the Hero of Ferelden
- The Fade Survivor in DA:I went to Weisshaupt
- There are new short stories about Grey Wardens both published in Tevinter Nights and shared during the D4 Day: The Horror of Hormak by John Epler, Hunger by Brianne Battye, and The Next One by Brianne Battye
- “For the Wardens!” yell from a (possible) companion in the behind the scenes video you can find above
- Concept art!
Nevarra
While other countries are dealing with the Qunari, Darkspawn or the rising of the Dread Wolf, Nevarra is too busy creating its own problems.
According to the short stories, certain Mortalitasi have decided to turn the country into Tevinter Lite by fighting for power against the noble houses as King Markus’ health grows worse.
Political unrest with a hint of decay! This is a party to die for.
There is some concept art that looks undead-y enough to be depicting some Mortalitasi necromantic ritual. And if it isn’t… We’ll certainly be needing the Mortalitasi to deal with it!
Down Among the Dead Men by Sylvia Feketekuty also introduced a new elite organization among the Mortalitasi called the Mourn Watch. We will certainly be meeting these guys!
The Fade & The Deep Roads
Let’s be honest, it is a Dragon Age game, we will be going to the Fade and delving into the Deep Roads sooner rather than later. It’s all a part of the experience!
Especially when Solas’ grubby hands want to break the Veil, undoing the mistake he made a long time ago.
Meanwhile, Grey Wardens run into an ancient spooky elven underground secret lab that makes the Darkspawn even more dangerous… and we learn that there are many more like it somewhere out there (The Horror of Hormak by John Epler).
Summing It Up:
Looking at the possible area of activity of the upcoming game, it can be titled Dragon Age: Tevinter and Neighbors.
Of course, visiting four long-awaited countries in a single game is a big ask. Each one of the above truly deserves to have its own lengthy experience, preferably an entire game dedicated to it!
It is possible that instead of actually going to a particular place, we will be able to use a system similar to the War Table in Inquisition to send forces/spies to handle a local situation and receive the tasty morsel of lore via a letter or personal report. But I do hope we get to see some of the above with our own eyes!
Stay tuned for the Dragon Age 4: What We Know & What We Can Guess Part 2 – Organizations coming very soon!
