I might be a little bit invested in a certain part of Dragon Age lore...
Jaws of Hakkon DLC transcript - a transcript of all dialogue lines from JoH DLC, including variations dependent on the Inquisitor's race, previous choices, and quest order.
Avvar history reconstruction - a 7-part series delineating the history of the Avvar tribe
Avvar first names spreadsheet - a thorough list of Avvar first names that appear in canon sources, organized by their real-life origin if possible
Avvar name structure - a detailed analysis of how Avvar names are constructed, including first names, surnames, legend-marks, and clan names
Avvar symbolism - collages of visual symbols related to the Lady of the Skies, Hakkon Wintersbreath, Korth the Mountain-Father
Hello everyone. While we wait for the contributor application to open, we'd be honoured to share with you the fascinating facts of the Avvar lore. Today we'll tell the story of Korth, the Mountain- Father.
Our big thanks go to the awesome Andarateia (fromTwitter) who created the lore graphic cards.
Sigrid Gulsdotten exiled herself from Stone-Bear Hold. Though Sigrid refuses to explain why, it may still be possible to discover the reason.
Part 1: Approach Sigrid.
Sigrid: No, no, no! I cannot have guests, lowlanders. Even those who don't hail from the hold. [1]
[1] Dialogue options:
General: What are you doing here? [2]
General: Goodbye. [3]
[2] General: What are you doing here?
PC: Who are you? And why are you out here?
Sigrid: If I tell you, will you leave me be?
Party comments:
Blackwall: There's a first time for everything.
Sigrid: (Sighs.) I am Sigrid Gulsdotten, augur's apprentice. I exiled myself from Stone-Bear Hold.
PC: You exiled yourself?
Sigrid: Aye, I did. And my tongue will say no more on that. [Exits the conversation]
[3] General: Goodbye.
PC: I’ll be on my way.
Sigrid: Goodbye. [Exits the conversation]
Part 2: Learn more about Sigrid from someone in the hold.
(Talk to Augur about Sigrid’s self-exile. He’ll point you to the ritual site.)
[4] Dialogue options:
General: I met an exile in the woods. [5]
[5] General: I met an exile in the woods.
PC: I met a mage in the woods who said she used to be an "augur's apprentice."
Augur: Sigrid Gulsdotten? She left the hold when I told her she must release her teacher.
PC: Aren't you her teacher?
Augur: She might have heeded me if I were. (Laughs.) Or perhaps not. It's time the spirit in her was free.
Party comments:
Cassandra : She’s an abomination?
Dorian: She's possessed, and you do nothing?
(If no companion makes a comment) PC: She's possessed? An abomination?
Augur: Every mage in the hold is made one with the gods until they're strong enough. I thought Sigrid strong enough. Exile was her own notion. [6]
[6] Special: Why did Sigrid exile herself?
PC: Why did Sigrid go into exile?
Augur: Sigrid built an altar by the shore for her rite of thanks-giving. A ritual to part her from her teacher. Sigrid claims her offering was spurned by the gods. The spirit remains with her, and she's taken to exile.
Part 3: Investigate the ritual site.
PC: This is the place the augur said that mage, Sigrid, tried and failed to release her spirit. It looks like the tools for her ritual are still here.
(Interact with the points of evidence.)
[7] A skinned bird, and a... (Sniffs.) ...bundle of incense?
Party comments:
Iron Bull: Ritual offerings. But if this mage did the ritual, why are the offerings still here?
Blackwall: Offerings for a ritual. Why haven't they been used?
Cassandra: Offerings for this mage's ritual. Why are they still here?
PC: Good question.
(If no companion makes a comment.) PC: If these were offerings for a ritual, why haven't they been used?
[8] PC: What are these marks? (I wasn’t able to trigger this point of evidence in-game, but these dialogue lines are connected to this questline.)
Party comments:
Sera: Arrows. Someone's target, right?
Varric: Missed shots. I think some hunter was just using this tree for target practice.
Cole: Little nicks. A hunter practicing with a bow. He pretended it was a bear.
PC: Probably not important, then.
(If no companion makes a comment.) PC: Here's an old arrowhead. Someone used this tree as target practice.
[9] PC: Scorch marks. Left by magic?
Party comments:
Dorian: I think it's excess energy, from stopping a spell mid-cast.
Solas: Residual magic. Someone was casting a spell, and was interrupted. Or stopped.
Vivienne: Aetheric feedback. It happens from time to time if one stops a spell mid-incantation.
PC: Maybe Sigrid never completed this ritual.
(If no companion makes a comment, or if the Inquisitor is a mage themselves.) PC: Scorch marks. Left by some kind of interrupted spell. Perhaps the ritual was never completed?
[10] PC: A vial of lyrium.
Party comments:
Dorian: If you don't know what you're doing, it takes a lot of energy to banish a spirit.
Solas: If a mage was performing a ritual to part with a spirit, she may have needed to replenish her strength.
Vivienne: An inexperienced mage might use up a good deal of energy banishing a spirit.
PC: Then why is the vial still full?
(If no companion makes a comment.) PC: It's still full. If this mage was performing a spirit banishment, why didn't she use it?
[11] PC: The grass is trampled down here. A fight?
Party comments:
Blackwall: No, I see tracks. An animal slept here for the night.
Iron Bull: No, see the hoof-prints? Just an animal passing through.
Cassandra: I do not think so. There are tracks. It was likely a hart.
PC: Probably not important, then.
(If no companion makes a comment.) PC: No, I see hoof-prints. Just an animal going by.
Part 4: Confront Sigrid.
Sigrid: You returned. [12]
[12] Dialogue options:
General: I learned why you're exiled. [13]
[13] General: I learned why you're exiled.
PC: The augur told me why you're here.
Sigrid: That... that chatter jay! What business is it of his to tell that to a lowlander? [14]
[14] General: Tell me about this ritual.
PC: About the ritual you were performing, Sigrid...
Sigrid: (Sighs.) I had to burn a proper offering, then let my guiding spirit free. I made the offering. The gods did not accept. [15]
[15] Special: I found your offering. Intact.
PC: I found a bird and incense by the altar. They weren't burnt at all.
Sigrid: I... I'd brought more than I needed. When I fled, I left everything. [16]
[16] Special: Even the lyrium?
PC: You would've needed to take the lyrium at the start of the ritual, not the end.
Sigrid: Aye? And so?
PC: The vial I found was full.
Sigrid: Do you accuse me, stranger? [17]
[17] Subsequent dialogue options:
Mage: I'm a mage. Maybe I can help. [18]
General: I think you're in trouble. [19]
General: You tell me. [20]
General: You're a terrible liar. [21]
[18] Mage: I'm a mage. Maybe I can help.
PC: I'd just like to help another mage, if you need it.
Sigrid: Will you understand? I hear lowlander mages see the gods differently. [22]
[19] General: I think you're in trouble.
PC: Perhaps it would be easier to confess what happened to a stranger than to your people.
Sigrid: So even a stranger senses my shame. [22]
[20] General: You tell me.
PC: What I saw doesn't make sense. Like you never did the ritual at all.
Sigrid: So even a stranger senses my shame. [22]
[21] General: You're a terrible liar.
PC: I may be a stranger, but you're obviously not telling the truth.
Sigrid: (Sighs.) Then the hold will find out, whether I wish it or not. [22]
[22] Sigrid: I made no offering. I prepared, I began the spell to release the spirit here, with me…
PC: And?
Sigrid: I could not do it! I have no close companions in the hold! No kin! I cannot lose my only friend. [23]
[23] Subsequent dialogue options:
Investigate: It means that much to you? [24]
General: It must be hard. [25]
General: What does the spirit want? [26]
General: Your spirit-bond is unnatural. [27]
[24] Investigate: It means that much to you?
PC: You're friends with this... spirit?
Sigrid: It has taught me with patience and kindness since I was a child, frightened of the fire I could suddenly call down.
Party comments:
Cole: It loves you, too. It will stay if you want it.
Sigrid: I know. But I was oath-sworn to release it when the time came. I do not want to lose the one who loves me.
(Alternatively)
Solas: A great comfort. But you are no longer a child.
Sigrid: Some mages need the help of a god all their lives.
Solas: Very well. Perhaps, however, ask yourself if it is help you need, or companionship.
(Alternatively, if no companion makes a comment.)
Sigrid: The gods change, the gods can die, and yet… I do not want to lose the one who loves me.
[Back to 23]
[25] General: It must be hard.
PC: It would be hard to let go of such a unique friendship.
Sigrid: It is. Yet I swore an oath. [28]
[26] General: What does the spirit want?
PC: So how does your "teacher" feel about this? Does it... he want to stay?
Sigrid: He would, if I asked. The gods that teach the spirit-touched are kind. [28]
[27] General: Your spirit-bond is unnatural.
PC: You're bonded with something inhuman and you don't want it gone?
Sigrid: To be worthy of help from the gods is a great gift. [28]
[28] Sigrid: (Sighs.) I think the augur knew. All this time, he knew I never cast the ritual. It is not right to stay in pity. I will confess to him. [29]
[29] Dialogue options:
General: Or you could become my agent. [30]
General: That’s a good idea. [31]
[30] General: Or you could become my agent.
PC: The Inquisition could use a mage with a unique perspective. You and your spirit certainly qualify.
Sigrid: You want me to pledge my staff to your "Inquisition"? Even bound to a spirit?
PC: Your people consider it a gift. I'm sure you can handle yourself.
Party comments:
Varric: The abomination thing didn't work out so well for Kirkwall.
Sera: That makes no.... Bad idea. Just... bad.
Vivienne: If she cannot, Inquisitor, the consequences are yours to bear.
Iron Bull: (Indistinct muttering.) Avvar... (Indistinct muttering.) ...spirits, just as bad.
Cassandra: Inquisitor! She is an abomination.
Cole: It's good to have a home where you can feel yourself.
Sigrid: (Sighs.) It must be a punishment from the gods: to serve a lowlander for my oath-breaking. It fits my shame. I'll find your camps and join you. [Exits the conversation]
[31] General: That’s a good idea.
PC: It's for the best. Maybe the augur will help you release your... spirit-friend.
Sigrid: I do not need his help. I would... I would ask for his advice. Farewell, lowlander. [Exits the conversation]
(Return to the augur after completing “In Exile” and recruiting Sigrid into the Inquisition.)
Augur: So Sigrid Gulsdotten will come out of exile to join your Inquisition.
PC: Do you object?
Augur: It would be good for Sigrid to see what lies beyond the hold. Under the Inquisition's protection. The lowlands treat mages... differently than the Avvar.
(Return to the augur after completing “In Exile” and telling Sigrid to talk to the augur.)
Augur: I had a visit from Sigrid Gulsdotten. She had much to tell me.
PC: Will you separate her from her spirit?
Augur: Only she may fulfill that oath... but together we will seek guidance from the other gods.
~~
Side note: Sigrid Gulsdotten might be a daughter of the previous skald of Stone-Bear Hold, Gulda “Gilden-Song” Elsdotten.
These are just some bits of Avvar lore that I consider interesting, though I rarely find an excuse to bring them up in discussions about Dragon Age lore. They might not be terribly relevant but I think they're worth mentioning! If you're working on a fic that incorporates Avvar characters, you might even find these bits useful for adding flavour.
The Lady of the Skies has favourite species of birds.
“Bluebirds carry the goodwill of the Lady.” (Amund, DAI multiplayer)
“Budgerigars are sacred to the Lady. I think she likes the chirping.” (Amund, DAI multiplayer)
The Avvar call the shards "elfstones" and were able to locate them with help of Hakkon Wintersbreath before he got locked away.
"In the old times, the first Jaws of Hakkon spoke with the great spirit himself. He opened their eyes that they might see the elfstones hidden across the world, and they entered the old cave and learned the mysteries of winter." (Codex entry: Leather-Bound Hakkonite Journal)
The ability to read and write is not widespread among the Avvar (and may even be seen as odd) but hold leaders and augurs are usually literate.
"Script style and surrounding symbolism mark text as Avvar. Writing not widespread in holds—place marked by a leader or augur? Few lowlanders known to be in area at time.” (Codex entry: Colette's Notes)
“Thane Harofsen thinks he alone can work the words of lowlanders, as though the augurs had not learned the tale-drawing runes to study the old magic.” (Codex entry: Leather-Bound Hakkonite Journal)
They refer to the Tranquil as "dream-slain".
"The lowlanders, though, have found a new way to see them. The skull of dream-slain, set with the right magicks, can bring the elfstones to our sight." (Codex entry: Leather-Bound Hakkonite Journal)
An Avvar warrior won the Grand Tourney once.
The Grand Tourney is the oldest, and perhaps only, tradition of the Free Marches. [...] Contestants come from all over Thedas. [...] Once, the champion was an Avvar mountain man. (Codex entry: The Celebrant)
Their swearwords often involve gods/legendary heroes
Korth's stony arse, Korth-cursed, Tyrdda’s tits
Another common type of profanity is tied to domesticated animals and/or body waste
Stone-Bear hold has changed its physical location a few decades prior.
"Stone-Bear Hold's been here a few generations. I was born further north, but we left before I could remember." (Arvid Rolfsen, DAI)
Each of the chief gods has a test associated with them that can be used to settle disputes. The test of the Lady is climbing, as witnessed when first entering Stone-Bear Hold. The test of Hakkon involves fighting with blunted weapon, similar to the Hakkon's Trials quest where you face local warriors and fight until surrender. The one test that wasn't shown in any shape or form is the test of Korth, which incorporates flyting - an exchange of insults conducted in verse.
"The test of the Lady. We use it to settle disputes when it is not clear who has the right of it. There are others. For the test of the Mountain-Father, you battle with verse while those who favor you hold you aloft. The test of Hakkon is battle, with blunted weapons." (Svarah Sun-Hair, DAI)
Veilfire runes are known as "god-runes" to the Avvar.
"Stone-hidden lie the tales of this hold. Here's the means to find them. Return when you've seen all the god-runes, and I'll tell you why the Jaws of Hakkon did this." (Augur, DAI)
Center piece of the Frostback Basin Glass (Skyhold decor).
Right panel of the Avvar Glass (Skyhold decor).
Seat of the Legacy Ferelden Throne (Skyhold decor).
Unused texture asset of an astrarium puzzle.
Korth's heraldry.
Part of the menu banner for some of the Frostback Basin quests, likely depicting the stone-bear that Korth appeared as in the legend about the naming of Stone-Bear Hold.
Texture of the carving that can be found in a cave in the Frostback Basin beside symbols of the Lady and Korth.
Constellation Fulmenos, its texture is called "constellation_hakkon". The codex entry says that the constellation depicts a wrathful god throwing a bolt of lightning.
There are several patterns of Avvar names presented within the Dragon Age media. The least clear aspect is surname structure, which varies from one installment to another. I decided to compile all the info I could find about the Avvar naming conventions. Without further ado, Avvar names are made up of three parts:
First name
Surname
The surname may eventually be replaced by a legend-mark
Clan name
1. First names
First names used by the Avvar people tend to be rather short, in most instances they consist of just one or two syllables (e.g. Gurd, Hask, Finn, Jerrik, Runa, Tyrdda, Movran). Very rarely they’re three syllables long (e.g. Storvacker, Ruadan), and I found only one longer than that, namely: Morrighan’nan (which, curiously, glues an elven suffix “-nan” to a human name).
The names are largely borrowed from real-life languages, usually of the Germanic family, North Germanic in particular (e.g. Amund, Bjorn, Ragnarr, Sindri). Some derive from Celtic cultures (e.g. Finn, Morrighan, Movran, Ruadan).
According to the “Core Rulebook'' (p.42) Avvar first names are “roughly Nordic or Germanic inspired”.
If you’d like to browse through all examples, I made a spreadsheet listing Avvar first names sorted by their real-life origin (if identifiable).
2. Surnames
Avvar surnames are created using the first name of one of the parents – that much is clear. From here, things get complicated. The main canon sources don’t offer an in-depth explanation behind the Avvar surname structure. In the Jaws of Hakkon DLC, we see that the surnames end with two possible suffixes:
“-sen”, indicating a son
“-dotten”, indicating a daughter
It’s clearly inspired by the Icelandic name structure (which has been used by all Nordic countries in the past but continues to be actively used by just Icelanders). In real life, it goes “-son” for a son, and “-dóttir” for a daughter. Recently, the suffix “-bur”, meaning "child of", received official recognition and can be used by non-binary people. Icelandic surnames are typically patronymic (based on the father’s first name), occasionally matronymic (based on the mother’s first name). Some people use both a matronymic and a patronymic.
Back to the world of Thedas… It’s not decisively said which one of the parents, the mother or the father, is the source of the name, and if the rules are universal across all Avvar communities.
DA tabletop RPG guides do present some answers to this question, but it needs to be noted that:
A: TTRPG guides were written by Green Ronin (an external company specialising in tabletop RPGs) on the basis of lore provided to them by BioWare, but it’s not known which elements came directly from BioWare and which were created by Green Ronin, and that makes it hard to say if the new lore additions are 100% in line with BioWare’s vision.
B: the naming structure from the older TTRPG guides, “Blood in Ferelden” and “Player’s Guide Set 1”, has not been applied to any of the Avvar characters from the main canon and appears to have been phased out
C: the explanation from the newer TTRPG guide, “Core Rulebook”, appears to have been adjusted to fit the main canon (particularly the Jaws of Hakkon DLC that was released in 2015), however, one of the naming rules it lists is difficult to verify against the main canon sources
“Player’s Guide Set 1” (p. 31) says the following:
“ Avvar names have three parts: first name, byname, and clan name. The clans are matrilineal (as they say, one’s mother is obvious to all), so the byname indicates an Avvar’s mother by use of “An” (daughter of) or “Ar” (son of) and then the clan’s name.”
As I mentioned, this naming structure has not really been used outside of the Green Ronin’s tabletop guides, so I’m not going to focus on it right now (I’ll return to it at the end of this section).
“Core Rulebook” (p.42) says instead:
“Avvar go by two names, a first name and either a byname or a legend-mark. First names are roughly Nordic or Germanic inspired. Bynames indicate the parent of the same gender as the child with “sen” for son or “dotten” for daughter.”
“sen” and “dotten” were indeed used in the main canon, so I assume that the TTRPG guide updated its infobox because of the Jaws of Hakkon DLC (most of the Core Rulebook conveys the same information as the older Player’s Guide, with notable exceptions such as this). However, there’s no clear evidence that “bynames indicate the parent of the same gender as the child” is a rule used in the Avvar communities.
Let’s now take a look at the Jaws of Hakkon DLC, which I generally believe to be the vision of the Avvar as BioWare wished to present them to the audience.
Examples of Avvar surnames:
Stone-Bear Hold:
Finn Caldansen – his father was Caldan Enversen
Fullna Hethsdotten – her father was Heth Mule’s-Head
Arvid Rolfsen & Helsdim Rolfsen – their parents are not identified; Rolf is a masculine name, thus likely indicating a father (also it’s not made explicit if Arvid and Helsdim are brothers, or if their fathers simply have the same first name)
Arrken Feldsen – his parents are not identified; Feld is not an existing first name
Caldan Enversen – his parents are not identified; Enver is a masculine name
Gulda Elsdotten – her parents are not identified; El is a masculine name (there’s a possibility it might stem from Elsa instead, which is a feminine name)
Gyda Myrdotten – her parents are not identified; Myr is not an existing first name
Ivar Jerriksen – his parents are not identified; Jerrik is a masculine name
Runa Lyrsdotten – her parents are not identified; Lyr is not an existing first name
Sigrid Gulsdotten – her parents are not identified; Gul is not an existing first name
Svarah Janesdotten – her parents are not identified; Jane is a feminine name
Jaws of Hakkon, formerly Red-Lion Hold:
Gurd Harofsen – his father was Harof Talespinner
Unspecified hold
Ivatt Jovsen – his parents are not identified
Rekkas Hildsen – his parents are not identified; “Hild” might stem from Hilda, a feminine first name (that’d mean Rekkas was using his mother’s name as a surname)
Virmik Torsen – his parents are not identified; Tor is a masculine name
Seddra Yildsdotten – her parents are not identified; Yild is not an existing first name
The sample size is rather small, so it’s impossible to definitively declare what kind of a rule do people of Stone-Bear Hold (or other Avvar holds, for that matter) follow when it comes to creating surnames. Among the characters whose parents are identified, all of them bear surnames derived from their fathers’ names.
There is only one woman with a given surname whose parentage is established, namely Fullna Hethsdotten. She identifies herself as a daughter, yet her surname is created using her father’s name as the basis – so it doesn’t follow the “bynames indicate the parent of the same gender as the child” rule presented in the “Core Rulebook” (I’ll be calling it the “same-gendered parent” rule from now on. There’s a possibility that she’s supposed to be an exception; perhaps because her father earned himself a legend-mark (a derogatory one, but a legend-mark still) and this supersedes the usual naming traditions. Or perhaps her mother died early, or left the hold, or did something else that led Fulna to taking her father’s name for the surname – instead of her mother’s name as the “Core Rulebook” claims is customary.
Examining the names of characters whose parents are not identified isn’t especially helpful, since many of their surnames are based on first names that don’t seem to exist in real life, e.g. Feld, Lyr, Myr, Gul, Yild; and so it’s unclear whether they’re supposed to be feminine or masculine, and consequently which parent they’re meant to indicate. Out of the few character names that do offer such clues, we’ve got : Rolfsen (fits the “same-gendered parent” rule), Enversen (fits the rule), Elsdotten (may or may not fit the rule), Jerriksen (fits the rule), Janesdotten (fits the rule, and would be the only example of a woman’s surname being based on her mother’s first name), Hildsen (goes against the rule), Torsen (fits the rule).
On another note, you can notice that in women’s surnames, the suffix “-dotten” is usually preceded by the letter “s” (e.g. Hethsdotten, Lyrsdotten, Gulsdotten, Janesdotten, Yildsdotten). The one exception is Gyda’s surname, Myrdotten. I’m pretty sure that this “s” serves as a possessive ‘s; e.g. Fullna is Heth’s daughter => Hethsdotten. This is how Icelandic names are formed, e.g. Einar’s daughter would have the surname Einarsdóttir. In case of male Avvar surnames, possessive “s” + “sen” might’ve become contracted to just “sen”; e.g. Finn is Caldan’s son => Caldanssen => Caldansen. In real life, there’s no contraction, e.g. Einar’s son would be called Einarsson.
Let’s check out the seemingly retired name structure that has been featured in the older TTRPG guide. As I explained, the new guide makes no mention of it, and the main canon sources have never followed it. The basic rule goes like this:
“An” = daughter of
“Ar” = son of
So the old TTRPG guide claims that the clans who use “ar/an” name structure are matrilineal… but even the example they give doesn’t seem to be following that rule.
Arcill Ar Dubne – example of an Avvar name; it means that Arcill is the son of Dubne, yet Dubne is listed as a male name
Kothag Ar Daeorn – appears in the “Buried Pasts” adventure; his father is Thane Daeorn
Azur Ar Brosna – his parent are not identified; Brosna is likely a feminine name
Balan Ar Malad – his parent are not identified; Malad is not an existing first name
Lowenna an Aenor – her parent are not identified; Aenor is a feminine name
Owyne Ar Rainne – his parent are not identified; Rainne is not an existing first name
Visant Ar Norig – his parent are not identified; Norig is a feminine name
So are the clans that use this name structure actually matrilineal? Who knows…
As a side note, Kell ap Morgan, an Avvar Grey Warden from the second DA novel, “The Calling”, bears a unique name, falling neither into the “sen/dotten” nor “ar/an” category. It uses yet another term “ap”, though its in-universe significance isn’t made explicit. “ap” was likely inspired by Welsh surnames. Historically, Welsh people utilized patronymics, which were formed in the following way: “ap” or “ab” meant “son of”, while “ferch” meant “daughter of”. In the early DA installments, such as the first game and the novels written by David Gaider (including the aforementioned “The Calling”), a lot of elements of Avvar&Alamarri cultures were borrowed from real-life Celtic nations (e.g. Bann Conobar, old husband of Flemeth in the times of Alamarri tribes, takes his name after Conchobar from Irish mythology; Ruadan, an Avvar mage, shares a name with the son of Bres and Brigit, Ruadán, likewise from Irish mythology).
Perhaps the TTRPG writers took this inspiration and modified it so as not to borrow from real-life wholesale, creating “ar/an” structure as a result. It works basically like “ap/ferch” does.
For my own headcanon purposes, I just settled on the idea that all of these surname styles are used among the Avvar to an extent; different holds have different traditions. I imagine some holds are matrilineal, some are patrilineal, some use both matro- and patronymics, some follow the “same-gendered parent” rule, and some use other factors to determine the byname.
Going back to the main canon, there’s one more fact that should be brought up – it’s possible to lose one’s surname under certain circumstances. Finn Caldansen faces such a possibility in the event of his father’s death, as Finn was unable to provide the required funeral offering due to his injury.
Finn: Inquisitor, I’m honored by your visit. I’m Finn Cal… um, Finn Caldansen. Forgive me if I don’t stand to greet you properly. [...]
Finn: He won’t be my father much longer. [...]
Finn: I can’t make the offering. When the sky burial’s complete, I’ll lose the right to bear my father’s name.
~~
Master of the Hunt: Finn failed to complete the rites. That’ll see him disowned when the burial’s complete.
~~
Gyda: Some souls—such as Caldan's—are chosen to return. The augur reads the signs at birth. It is a rare honor. In order to return, an offering is made to Korth the Mountain-Father and buried beneath the body. A piece of the soul thus remains, allowing the rest to return to this world and be reborn.
Inquisitor: Will someone not be given proper rites?
Gyda: Caldan Enversen is one of the few whose soul may return. Blood-kin must make an offering to the huntmaster, who prepares it. Or so it should be. Caldan’s son, Finn, has failed in this duty.
It’s not quite clear if the loss of a parent’s name is a risk in all cases of failure to provide the funeral offering, or only when it’s the special offering to Korth that’s made in rare cases of souls chosen to return. I assume it can occur with regular sky burials too, as the Avvar place importance on proper rituals. As Gyda says, she must “prepare these souls for their greater journey—particularly those who depart without the reverence due.”
Gyda suggests the Inquisitor be the one to provide the offering in Finn’s place, as a gift from them cannot be refused. You get the choice to either bring the offering directly to the Master of the Hunt, or bend the tradition and hand it to Finn. If you decide to give the offering to the Master of the Hunt, Finn indeed loses his surname.
Finn: The offering will be prepared for burial. My father… no, I’m only Finn. Still, I rest easy knowing Caldan’s soul will journey well. Thank you, Inquisitor.
2.1 Legend-marks
A legend-mark typically consists of two hyphenated parts. Once granted, it’s used in place of the surname. (Example: “My father was Heth Mule’s-Head.”) Sometimes, even the first name is omitted, leaving the legend-mark as the only identifier of a person. (Example: “They say many things about Bright-Ax and the Lady.”)
A legend-mark represents a significant trait or accomplishment – it can be positive as well as negative, the former being more common. The cognomen is bestowed by other members of the hold; the person who receives a legend-mark cannot decide how it should sound. Choosing a legend-mark for yourself is considered childish behaviour.
Inquisitor: Can you choose a legend-mark for yourself?
Fullna: (Laughs.) Only if I wanted to be scorned as a child!
Covert attempts to suggest your own legend-mark’s style are also looked down upon.
Avvar woman 1: The Master of the Hunt saw me shoot that Hakkonite archer through the eye! Said I had an eagle's sight...
Avvar woman 2: (Scoffs.) You're not trying to spread your own legend-mark!
Avvar woman 1: What? No! 'Course not.
Known legend-marks and their roots:
Svarah Sun-Hair – thane of Stone-Bear Hold, her hair was lit on fire during a battle but she kept fighting despite it.
Tyrdda Bright-Axe (also spelled Bright-Ax) – founder of the Avvar, defended her tribe using a fire-staff that was gifted to her by her leaf-eared lover.
Thelm Gold-Handed – adversary of Tyrdda, wished to travel across the Waking Sea and assail the golden city in order to gain its riches.
Ivatt Stone-Thunder – deterred lowlanders from attacking his hold by rolling a boulder off the edge of a cliff and killing half of the enemies.
Rekkas Feather-Fall – was jealous of Ivatt’s legend-mark and wanted to get one for himself by killing a flying monster that lived near their hold. He managed to grab it, but the beast took off with Rekkas on its back. Eventually, he plummeted down with torn feathers floating around him.
Ivar Snow-Favored – founder of Stone-Bear Hold, led his people out of a snowstorm by following a sight of a great bear that turned out to be a piece of stone, which the Avvar interpreted as a sign of Korth’s favour.
Sindri Sky-Breaker – climbed the summit of mountain Belenas where Korth’s throne used to stand. Korth gave him great gifts, which prompted other adventurers to scale the mountain, eventually leading Korth to ask the Lady of the Skies to make the peak of Belanas inaccessible to mortals.
Heth Mule's-Head – father of Fullna Hethsdotten, refused to let go of any quarrel.
Gulda Gilden-Song – skald of Stone-Bear Hold before Fullna Hethsdotten, she created a new tale that was well-liked by her tribesmen and spirits.
Inquisitor First-Thaw – if the Inquisitor gains the recognition of Stone-Bear Hold, defeats the Jaws of Hakkon and releases Hakkon from the form of an ice-dragon, they will receive the title "First-Thaw" from the people of Stone-Bear Hold.
Bjorn Reed-Beard - local deity of Stone-Bear Hold, patron of fishermen.
Harof Talespinner - father of Gurd Harofsen, origin of the title unknown. He might’ve been the skald of Red-Lion Hold, or just someone who liked telling stories. Gurd seemingly inherited his talent, as in his journal he boasts “I bed many women with my tales.”
Star-Caller - sample legend-mark from the TTRPG, Core Rulebook; origin of the title unknown.
As you can see, most legend-marks are positive, serving as a reminder of an individual’s merits, talents, accomplishments - especially in connection to protecting or improving an Avvar hold. Conversely, a negative legend-mark is an “alert” of traits that can be harmful to the community, such as greed, jealousy, argumentativeness.
I believe that the structure “the [Something]”, e.g. Movran the Under, is also a form of a legend-mark. This hasn’t been confirmed in the lore, but I’m pretty sure it falls into the same category. “the [Something]“ functions similarly to a regular legend-mark, replacing the surname of a person with a descriptive title.
Examples:
Gurd the Cutter – leader of the Jaws of Hakkon. “Gurd Harofsen, called the Cutter, wyvern-slayer, lowland-bane” is a verse in the “song of savage Hakkon'' that Gurd chants to summon the spirit into himself.
Havard the Aegis – childhood friend of Maferath, they were born in the same Avvar clan. Maferath was the one who dubbed Havard “the Aegis” because they fought many battles side by side.
Imhar the Clever – legendary trickster, local deity of Redhold, is known for his clever and inventive approach to problem solving.
Movran the Under – leader of an Avvar clan from the Fallow Mire, father of Hand of Korth, origin of the title unknown.
3. Clan names
The Avvar people are divided into clans that live in settlements referred to as holds. Each clan is linked to a sacred animal called a hold-beast, which is where the clan&hold name usually stems from. Hold names are often hyphenated, the animal species being paired with a significant descriptor, e.g. Stone-Bear. Alternatively, holds are sometimes named after local landmarks, e.g. Kinloch Hold. The physical settlement can be relocated to another area but the hold’s name appears to stay the same. For example, Arvid Rolfsen says that his hold used to be located further north, but they migrated when he was very young and have been living in the Basin for a few generations now.
Known holds and their hold-beasts:
Stone-Bear Hold – currently located in the Frostback Basin, named after a vision of a great bear that an Avvar tribe, led by Ivar Jerriksen, was following through a snowstorm. When approached, the animal turned out to be a piece of stone, which the Avvar interpreted as a sign of Korth’s favour. Their hold-beast is a bear, currently a she-bear named Storvacker.
Red Lion Hold – defunct hold, suffered heavy losses during the Fifth Blight, rebranded itself as the Jaws of Hakkon under Gurd Harofsen’s leadership. Their hold-beast died with “genlock blood in his jaws” according to Gurd’s journal. It was most likely a red lion.
Wyvern Hold – extinct hold, it was located north of the Waking Sea; when the Tevinter Imperium began expanding, inhabitants of Wyvern Hold vanished in mysterious circumstances. Their hold-beast was most likely a wyvern. Wyverns are common in the Vimmark Mountains, especially the western ranges where the Chateau Haine is currently located. An Avvar altar can be found in this area.
Fennec-Tooth Hold – hold of an unknown status and location; it was once visited by an Orlesian noble. Their hold-beast was probably a fennec fox.
Fort of a Thousand Vigil’s – extinct hold, it was located on the south-eastern coast of the Waking Sea, serving as a lookout and defense against the invading Tevinters. In the caves underneath the fort, the Avvar befriended a group of dwarves. Their hold-beast isn’t known.
Kinloch Hold – extinct hold, it was located on the island on the lake that is now known as Lake Calenhad. With dwarven help, the Avvar had built a watchtower there. The hold was razed by Tevinters. Their hold-beast isn’t known. Kinloch, or Ceann Loch, from Scottish Gaelic literally means “head of the lake”, which refers to the end of the lake that the water flows out of. The island that Kinloch Hold was built on is located near the northern shores of the lake, close to the end from which the water drains into a river and later into the Waking Sea via the Storm Coast.
Skyhold – the fortress was probably inhabited by the Avvar at some point in history, as it changed hands often; other southern human tribes like the Alamarri and the Chasind had also resided in Skyhold in the past. The name “Skyhold” adheres to the style of Avvar hold names, and the fortress is located in the Frostback Mountains, so Avvar influence seems likely. Moreover, there’s an entry examining a set of “Mabari Avvar Pillars” left in Skyhold, though it’s noted as a possible example of early Fereldan imagery (oddly, with Tevene elements mixed in).
Redhold – a hold featured in “Where Eagles Lair” TTRPG adventure. Their hold-beast is a red lion. The fate of the hold depends on the party’s choices, it can be defended from darkspawn onslaught or left to its own devices, in which case the hold is destroyed. (It probably isn’t meant to be the same as Red Lion Hold from DAI, I think the game writers rather used the TTRPG narrative as an inspiration for the Jaws of Hakkon’s backstory.)
Frosthold – a hold briefly mentioned in the “Duty Unto Death” TTRPG adventure. Their hold-beast isn’t known.
Sunhold – a hold featured in the “Buried Pasts” TTRPG adventure. Their hold-beast isn’t known.
Bearhold – a hold briefly mentioned in the “Buried Pasts” TTRPG adventure. Their hold-beast isn’t known.
Treehold – a hold briefly mentioned in the “Buried Pasts” TTRPG adventure. Their hold-beast isn’t known.
Sample clan names from TTRPG:
Eagle-Reach Hold
Craghold
Falconhold
Helmhold
Peakhold
Spearhold
Stormhold
Wyrmhold
As you can see, the “animal-based” hold names are much more prevalent. In those cases, their hold-beast’s species is either clearly identified or can be inferred from the name itself. On the other hand, none of the “landmark-based” holds have had their hold-beast confirmed. I would assume these settlements are linked with their own sacred animals, as the Avvar believe a hold-beast reflects the community’s well-being and ties them to the gods. An illness or death of a hold-beast is a really unfortunate omen, so I think not having a hold-beast at all would be a highly undesirable situation too. I’d imagine the “landmark-based” holds like Kinloch Hold or Sunhold would choose hold-beasts that are somehow related to their founding history and local gods. Maybe Kinloch Hold revered an aquatic animal from the surrounding lake, Frosthold chose an animal that thrives in the cold, and so on.
Whew, that got pretty long! Who knew it’s possible to write down this much on the topic of Avvar names. If you’ve read through it all, I commend you. I hope at least some of it was useful!
