After waiting six dragon-less years for a proper look at the newest game in the Dragon Age franchise, the team at BioWare have finally given us a new sneak peek during this year’s Game Awards. While the trailer itself focuses largely on the return of the Dread Wolf (who most fans will know better as Solas), it also gives us a look at Thedas unlike anything we have ever seen before.
Rumors have flown for some time, now, that Dragon Age 4 is going to feature the first appearance of the Tevinter Imperium, where popular characters like Krem and Dorian hail from. The gothic architecture in the new trailer is believed to have confirmed it. But very little is known about the Imperium outside of lore pieces and the few things we have heard from the people of Thedas. Here are ten interesting facts about Thedas’ mage-run society.
10 It Is The Oldest Extant Human Nation in Thedas
As the word Thedas is Tevene for “world”, it comes as no surprise that the Tevinter Imperium is the oldest extant human nation in the franchise. Founded by merchants settling in the capital city of Minrathous, Tevinter began as a dynasty and slowly developed into a society focused on and controlled by mages.
The society in Tevinter is famously decadent, but also immensely proud of its achievements, treasures, and history. Ambition is seen as the makings of a great man, and the ruling elite compete with their neighbors to rise to ever more power. That said, there is more to the Imperium than just glitter and gold and lyrium.
9 The Imperium Is A Magocracy
Unlike most of Thedas that we have seen in the previous games, Tevinter is best known for being a magocracy. What this means in layman’s terms is that those with magical power (mages) are the ones who wield the political power.
How this works in Tevinter is painstakingly laid out. In fact, one of the companions of Dragon Age: Inquisition, Dorian, is quick to correct you if you mistake him for the wrong class! At the top of the food-chain we have the Archon, followed by the Court of Magisters, the ruling class — Altus — and then Laetens (mages born into families with no previous magical ability; think ‘muggle-born’). Below them are the non-mages of Tevinter or Soporati.
8 The Archon Has Practically God-Like Authority
The Imperial Archon is the head honcho in the Tevinter Imperium. Inherited either through blood relation or through apprenticeship to the previous Archon, this is the most powerful position in Tevinter. Back when Tevinter held most of Thedas, they were the most powerful person in the whole continent.
Archons are considered to be part of the Magisters, although one-third of them have risen from non-mage families in the past. The current Archon as of Dragon Age: Inquisition is Radonis, who is described as “politically well-versed” and as being fond of cats.
7 Slavery Is Alive And Kicking In Tevinter
Though the majority of Thedas has ‘officially’ outlawed slavery — though of course, we hear from Isabela in Dragon Age 2 that is still happens — it is just another part of the culture in the Tevinter Imperium. Humans, Elves, and even Qunari are sold as slaves. Fenris, a companion in Dragon Age 2, was once a slave in Tevinter.
Interestingly, there is a word in Tevene (the language of Tevinter) for a free slave — Liberati. It functions, however, as a sub-class; a slave cannot be freed unless their Master allows it, and their rights are limited. Freed slaves cannot vote, or join the army, but they can start a trade or join the Circle of Magi.
6 They Have A Great Relationship With Orzammar
Surprisingly, one of the nations that the Tevinter Imperium has the best relationship with is none other than Orzammar! Their history can be traced back more than 2,000 years, and, in fact, the dwarves even have a sort of council in Minrathous called the Ambassadoria that advises the Archon on matters of trade and cultural interests.
There’s a pretty big reason for this partnership — lyrium. A dangerous but valuable mineral that can be found underground in Thedas, lyrium is essential in enchantments, runes, and some potions and spells. As the Tevinter Imperium has a lot of mages, and the Mining Caste of dwarves are the only ones who can mine lyrium without it exploding… well, you can put two and two together.
5 Tevinter Did Not Sign The Peace Treaty With The Qun
In the early days of Thedas, the largely militant Qunari nation attempted to take over all of Thedas. When The Llomeryn Accords were signed with the rest of Thedas to bring an end to the Qunari Invasion, Tevinter refused to sign; likely because they were those most closely bordering the territory that the Qunari would be left with.
While a casual player can be mistaken for thinking that qunari refers to the tall race of warriors with the spectacular horns, you’d be mistaken in thinking that was its only use. Any species can be Qunari so long as they convert. In their language, the word translates to “People of the Qun.” So, yes, that does mean that you can have a Qunari Qunari!
4 The Magisters Keep Genealogies Of Mage-Heavy Families
The easiest way for a family with little political ‘oomph’ to rise in notoriety within the Tevinter Imperium is to have mage children. To this end, we learn from the dwarven arcanist Dagna that the Imperial Magisters keep precise records of families who often give birth to children with magical abilities.
Since magical ability is a sign of status, Altus families go out of their way to ensure that their bloodlines remain ‘pure’. This careful breeding discourages homosexual relationships, and also leads to a culture of memorizing genealogy in order to make the most successful genetic matches. It is not, however, unheard of for LGBT+ mages to disdain this tradition.
3 They Have No Qualms About Using Blood Magic
One rule that is laid down pretty quickly in the Dragon Age games goes as follows: blood magic, like swooping, is bad. (Although one interesting quirk is that when the playable hero practices it, everybody seems to be suddenly engrossed in admiring the scenery.) As always, Tevinter is the exception.
While a number of characters in the franchise use blood magic — most notably the Dalish elf, Merrill — it is the only the ones from Tevinter who do so without shame or fear. By far the most stigmatized type of magic in Thedas, though who practice blood magic typically paint an image of mages that is somewhat unflattering.
2 Tevinter Has Its Own Denomination Of The Chantry
Whilst many video games often fail to represent religion in a flattering light, when implemented well they can be an excellent tool for world-building. Religion features heavily in the Dragon Age games, and Tevinter is no exception. However, while most of Thedas’ human societies follow the religion of the Chantry, Tevinter has its own denomination.
The Imperial Chantry elects its own leader known as the “Black Divine”, who is also a member of Tevinter’s Circle of Magic. It does not recognize the authority of the Chantry of Andraste. Unlike the Andrastian Chantry, their views are also more tolerant of both male priests, and mages in general, and they also have their own troops and teachings.
1 Corypheus Is Originally From Tevinter
The big bad of Dragon Age: Inquisition, Corypheus, is originally from Tevinter. His name means ’the Conductor’ in Tevene, and while he was once a mage, he is now an ancient darkspawn that escaped his prison below the Vinmark Mountains in Dragon Age 2.
Corypheus was once a Magister by the name of Sethius Amladaris and a High Priest of Dumat, a powerful dragon deity. Together with the Magisters Sideral he successfully entered the Fade in an attempt to control the Golden City and become a God. His corruption of the Maker’s throne city caused it to fall and be renamed the Black City.
NEXT: New Dragon Age Day Short Stories “Paint the Picture” For the Series’ Future
