Thedas Lore

A blog dedicated to the various cultural, religious, historical aspects of the world of Thedas. No game guide information here, just info and art.

[cassandrapntaghasts-archive]

But Antiva is not primarily renowned for its peculiar form of government, nor for its admittedly unparalleled wines. Antiva is known for the House of Crows. Since Antivans are well known for being good at everything but fighting, it is more than a little ironic that Antiva possesses the most deadly assassins in the world. Their fame is such that Antiva keeps no standing army: No king is willing to order his troops to assault her borders, and no general is mad enough to lead such an invasion. The attack would likely succeed, but its leaders would not see the day.

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

[astrariumsmoved-deactivated2021]

thedas moodboards | denerim

When anyone in Ferelden speaks of “going to the city,” they inevitably mean Denerim. There is no other place in the kingdom which rivals it: not in size, population, wealth, or importance. It is the seat of the Theirin family, the capital of Ferelden, the largest seaport, and, by ancient tradition, the meeting place of the Landsmeet.

[aeducans-deactivated20200115]

→ the fallow mire.

[ageofdragon]

Hi! This is a weird question, but um. I was just watching Champions of the Just, and the scene where Barris drinks the lyrium confused the hell out of me -- the lyrium kit Cullen has in Perseverance looks like it's more for something taken like heroin, injected or snorted, but then they just... drink it? I'm really confused on what exactly the lyrium kit Cullen has *does* or *is*. Does World of Thedas explain it, or do you have any theories?

Not weird at all, interesting actually and this is going on my list of lore I need to make a specific post for. But for now, I will simply answer your question.

Here’s the thing, Lyrium comes in several forms:

Raw

Sand

Dust

Liquid

The list above is categorized most dangerous to least dangerous.

Raw Lyrium is extremely dangerous just to touch and should never be consumed, these are the veins you find throughout the Deep Roads and are only ever mined by Dwarves. So not important to us for now.

Lyrium Sand is very volatile and explosive, it’s lyrium that has been ground course and essentially found as granules of lyrium. Not much use for this by Templars and so again, I’m skipping this for now.

Now Dust and Liquid are the two types of Lyrium you are looking at, which liquid Lyrium is Lyrium Potions. Both Dust and Liquid Lyrium have been processed by Dwarves and to an extent are completely safe for consumption. However, as you would expect Lyrium Dust requires extra preparation before you can consume it. You do not want to just shove powdered Lyrium in your mouth and hope it all makes it down (think about swallowing powdered drink mix…).

This is where a Templar’s philter comes in or as you know it, Cullen’s box of tools. Cullen can use it to at any time or place make Lyrium dust into a Lyrium draught/potion. Templars more often use philters because they are mobile and dust has a longer shelf life than liquid.

When Ser Barris is using the potions, it is 1) because he has and needs immediate access to extra lyrium reserves and 2) because he requires more than his daily dose to amp up the Templar ability they use in the quest.

So basically Barris is only using a potion to quickly supplement his lyrium dosage, while Cullen actually uses the tools in his box to turn lyrium powder into a drinkable form.

Which my source for this is actually from the crafting of potions throughout the Dragon Age series and from Ser (the character), who explains philters. Ser is the Templar specialization trainer for Warriors in Dragon Age Inquisition.

[emmadirthera]

It is important enough to add, the primary difference between the lyrium consumed by templars and that which is used by mages is the strength of the lyrium. Templars create a far more potent infusion of lyrium to be used once a day. The effect and purpose of the infusion is unknown, but this is why Templars are known for becoming addicted and mages are not: they are actually using much greater doses of it.

The means and usage employed by the templar are far stronger than even the droughts of magi, and are of considerable danger to the uninitiated. It is not something that is introduced in gradual fashion. Rather, it is a great infusion that is daily held in check by ritual maintenance.

- Way of the Templar

[inquisiitor]

[fairfaxgardens]

ultimate dragon age meme: one villian

• DARKSPAWN •

The Chantry teaches us that it is the hubris of men which brought the darkspawn into our world. The mages had sought to usurp Heaven, but instead, they destroyed it. They were cast out, twisted and cursed by their own corruption. They returned as monsters, the first of the darkspawn. They became a blight upon the lands, unstoppable and relentless. The dwarven kingdoms were the first to fall. And from the deep roads, the darkspawn drove at us again and again, until finally we neared annihilation…

[brennacedria]

Unofficial Consolidated Maps of Ferelden

Two maps for everyone, using all known sources I could find for locations in Ferelden throughout the games. That includes the “blank” map that I used...

The old WIP post of these maps is still going around and I just wanted to point out that my finalized versions (both canon locations and headcanon ones depending on the specific map) are available in color and black and white at the link above. If you can reblog either this link to the new post, or the new post itself, instead of the old one then everyone will have the most up to date information I have!

[keldornfirecam-archive]

[isometricperspective]

The Hinterlands

[elaadens]

Flora & Fauna of Dragon Age Inquisition (x) ↳ Halla

[cirillaofcintra-blog]

[galedekarios]

“It doesn’t have to be this way! The empire used to be different. When a person’s life was spent, it meant something—it bought something. If slaves had a voice the Archon could hear…”

[artemisbows]

“Your armor is very shiny, Sebastian. Doesn’t that make you an easier target?” “The Light of the Maker is my armor, Merrill. I am not afraid.” “Maybe you could ask Him to make His Light less shiny? Then you wouldn’t need as much armor”

[keldornfirecam-archive]

Tavern songs piano sheets

[estramor-deactivated20231029]

some believe the legacy of the elves to be a finished thing—a closed ending with no future to bear. but there are questions that have no known answer, arisen from the fragments we call our history. is it truly history if it is not whole? we must have it all, the good, and the bad, even the things the elders do not wish us to remember. we are more than stories. we must be more.

                                                                             —excerpt from the journals of Ethena

[achilleus]

a wash of powerful magic carries an impression of welcome; a pang of hope; a sensation of bitter fury; a sensation of determination;

[loreofthedas]

We Don’t Live Very Long

Hey there, Nugget: It's your da. You probably don't remember me, and that's good. You're better off with your ma. She's a good one. You hang on to her. There's a big fight coming up, and I thought I should say this before I lose the chance to say it at all. I'm a Grey Warden now, and there's really no way around it -- we don't live very long. If not tomorrow, it'll be soon. I just feel it. Nugget, I want to say that I'm sorry I left. I want the best for you, even if it doesn't seem like it sometimes. Or all the time. But it's true. You were the only good thing that came out of Oghren, after all's said and done. Not being there was the best I had to give. Maybe if your ma's all right with it, you can ask her to tell you about the first time we met, when I was a real warrior. I didn't do right by her. I'm only trying to do right by you. Atredum na satolva. Atrast tunsha. --A letter addressed to Oghren's child, written shortly before the siege of Vigil's Keep

[loreofthedas]

A letter written by Alistair to Arl Eamon, never sent

"I didn't think I belonged anywhere, Uncle. You said I should try my best, and I really did when I was at the chantry. Well, that's a lie, I suppose. I wanted to try. It was hard to want that, however, when everyone's always scowling at you. One templar kept telling me I was going to end up sent off to a Circle in the Anderfels after my vows. He laughed when he said it, a big laugh that made my gut turn to jelly. It made me think the Anderfels must be an awful place to have me end up there. "But the Wardens are different. Everyone who comes here...they didn't belong anywhere either, and then they found their cause. They found each other. They don't know anything about me, where I come from, and they don't care. Duncan said I was worthy, and that's all that mattered. I thought the man must have been insane to pick me out, me of all people, but now...Now I don't know. They say I'm learning fast. I beat Rondall in a spar the other day, beat him honestly, and...I think I might be good at being a Warden. They think so, too. For the first time, I'm a little glad you kicked me out. Don't take that wrong. I know you felt bad that night when you sent me off, Uncle. I just mean I landed on my feet."

[starpavus]

Many Eluvians were destroyed. An unknown number of Eluvians have survived to the present day, scattered across Thedas in forgotten or well hidden locations, but they seemingly stopped functioning or became corrupted, capable of spreading the Darkspawn taint. It was assumed that their use was lost after the fall of Arlathan.