campbell

For those of you planning to purchase/play BioWare's newest RPG, Dragon Age: Origins, you should probably be aware that two prequel novels to the saga were released this year.  The first, The Stolen Throne, sets up the political world of Ferelden.  The second, The Calling, helps detail the nature of the Grey Wardens and their nemesis, the Darkspawn.  I recently got my hands on the latter and am highlighting below elements of the lore that I believe may prove handy to know when playing the game.  Obviously, novel spoilers follow.

Caveat:  These are the details that we are meant to "know" going into the game;  obviously plot twists in the game may render some of the following fallacious.

- Ferelden is not the entire world, but rather a kingdom constituent within the larger world/continent of Thedas.  Thedas is dominated by the Orlesian Empire, of which Ferelden was very recently a client/satellite state.

- The Grey Wardens serve no nation in particular, but Thedas at large.

- The Darkspawn carry within themselves a "taint" that "corrupts" all they encounter.  Evidence of this is particularly noteworthy within the Deep Roads, the ancient Dwarven underground ruins, that have subsequently been overrun with Darkspawn.

- The Darkspawn's senses are consumed by what's described as a "humming" that compels them to search for the "Olde Gods."  Upon reaching an "Olde God," the Darkspawn (via corruption) transform it into an "Arch demon," which allows the Darkspawn to swarm Thedas' surface and ushers in what humans/dwarves/elves term the "Blight."

- One Darkspawn, called the Architect, is different from the others in that he/she senses the humming, but is immune to its compulsive effects.  The Architect is a mage character, and while he/she could be described as the Darkspawn 'leader,' he/she lacks any political, persuasive, or coercive authority over the others.

- Prospective Grey Wardens, upon initiation, undertake a ritual termed the "Joining" that grants an immunity to the Darkspawn taint.  Few recruits servive the ceremony, however, as it necessitates drinking Darkspawn blood.

- This 'immunity' is not one in the truest sense, however.  Eventually, the taint overwhelms a Grey Warden's body, as he/she suffers from dark splotches cropping up over his/her body.  At this juncture, the Grey Warden undertakes another ritual, the "Calling," in which he/she travels down to the Deep Roads and allows him/herself to be slain by the Darkspawn.

- The Architect found one such Grey Warden, Bregan (who, as Warden Commander, was privy to the location(s) of the Olde Gods), and rather than allow him his demise, the Architect kept him locked up in a makeshift cell.  Eventually, Bregan's physical form transformed fully into that of a Darkspawn.  The Architect then explained a plan to Bregan in which the Blight could be purportedly aborted;  Bregan, and possibly others of his order, would assist the Architect in slaying the remaining Olde Gods, in theory ending the compulsive humming (and resultantly, the Blight) for good. 

- However, such a humanoid/Darkspawn alliance, the Architect believed, would necessitate a "middle way" for humanity:  each individual would need to undergo a Joining of sorts, and either perish or become like the Darkspawn.  Thus peace, no doubt "in our time," could be established.

- [Editorializing]:  We may either believe in the Architect's sincerity or not.  I personally do not, as if humanity ceases to be human, but rather becomes indistinguishable from Darkspawn, then what remains to be Blighted?  Further, the idea of slaying the Olde Gods sounds rather similar to what initiated the Blight in the first place, which was a group of magi attempting to place themselves on a level with gods, and being cast down & tainted/corrupted as a result.

- The (co-)protagonist of the novel, Duncan (who figures prominently in the game), starts off as a rather petulant & impetuous thieving rogue who is recruited by the Grey Wardens as a result of his murdering one of their members.  The novel is a coming-of-age story of sorts, as he grows into a sense of duty-bound maturity.

- The King of Ferelden at the time of the novel, Maric, has a son with an elven Grey Warden mage, Fiona, who is to be raised by Duncan.  One can theorize as to the likelihood of this character appearing in the game.

- Many Orlesians make up the mage and other classes of society in Ferelden, and are rightfully viewed warily by many, especially Maric's right hand, confidant, and resistance fighter compatriot, Loghain.  There is an Orlesian plot to overthrow Maric, which is foiled by Loghain and the Grey Wardens.

- Loghain, while more fully developed in the previous novel, comes off as arrogant and the archetypal 'true power behind the throne.'

- The Architect, along with one dwarven Grey Warden whom he has convinced to go along with his scheme, survive the novel's conclusion and disappear.