The Revolutionary Influence of Tevinter on Dragon Age: Unleashing the Power of Dreadwolf's Playable Races

Highlights

Tevinter Imperium, the setting of Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, is a corrupt and decaying empire known for its slavery and blood magic.

In Tevinter, Elves experience discrimination, often being enslaved or marginalized as a lower social class known as Liberati. Human individuals also encounter obstacles in Tevinter due to the inflexible social class structure, whereas dwarves tend to have a more favorable position due to their longstanding association with the Imperium.

Since the release of Dragon Age: Origins, players have become acquainted with tales of the Tevinter Imperium. This empire, known for its corruption and decay, has been established on the foundations of slavery and blood magic. In the first two games, Tevinter slavers and Magisters appeared as minor adversaries. However, Inquisition elevated them to significant antagonists through Corypheus and his Venatori cultists. Dragon Age: Dreadwolf marks the first game to be set solely in Tevinter.

The inclusion of Tevinter as a setting also brings forth inquiries regarding the playable races in the game. Throughout Thedas, the Elven population encounters discrimination, while the Qunari are met with similar disdain. However, Tevinter takes this animosity to a heightened level. Building upon the foundation set by its predecessors, Dragon Age: Dreadwolf suggests that players' choice of race will greatly influence their journey within the game.

Tevinter and the Races in Dragon Age: Dreadwolf

Elves in Thedas, particularly in Tevinter, are consistently at a disadvantage. While slavery is officially outlawed in most regions of Thedas, the Tevinter Imperium still actively participates in the slave trade. Although individuals of various races are affected, elves have historically borne the brunt of the oppression.

However, it is important to note that not all elves in Tevinter are enslaved. There are exceptions like Devra in Dragon Age: Origins, who claims to be a citizen of Tevinter. Nevertheless, the majority of free elves in Tevinter belong to the Liberati class, a group of non-citizens composed of former slaves and their descendants. In a 2014 interview with DAI lead writer David Gaider, it was revealed that while the Liberati have some rights under Imperial law, they remain an underprivileged class with fewer rights than full citizens.

Some characters in Origins and Inquisition automatically assume that if the protagonist is an elf, they must be a servant or laborer. Similarly, Tevinters may assume any elf they see is a slave or Liberati. As a result, it wouldn't be surprising if certain characters attempted to give orders to the protagonist or took offense if the player didn't show what they believe to be enough deference.

However, humans in Dragon Age: Dreadwolf don't necessarily have an easier time. Many of them are also slaves or Liberati, while the rest still have to deal with Tevinter's strict social class hierarchy. The difference between mages in the Altus and Letan classes mainly lies in their prestige. Both classes have authority over the non-mage soporati, who, in turn, have more privileges compared to slaves and Liberati. As for foreigners, they have no rights at all in the Imperium. Therefore, a human player character's experiences and challenges will vary depending on their position in the hierarchy.

Interestingly, the dwarves are a Dragon Age race that could thrive in the Imperium. For thousands of years, Tevinter has maintained a strong and mutually beneficial relationship with the dwarven Kingdom of Orzammar, back when both empires were at their peak. Orzammar still holds official embassies in the Tevinter capital and other major cities, resulting in a larger population of surface dwarves in the Imperium. These dwarves, while not full citizens, are afforded higher status and respect as representatives of Orzammar.

However, the Qunari are an unpopular group in Tevinter. The Imperium has been at war with them for centuries, especially after a major invasion of the Tevinter homeland by the Qunari following the events of the Trespasser DLC in Dragon Age: Inquisition. It is important to note that the Qunari are followers of a religion rather than a distinct race. The Qunari Inquisitor in Inquisition, for instance, was a Vashoth and never adhered to the Qun.

Most humans in Thedas are unaware of this distinction, and the Tevinters are unlikely to show any concern. BioWare is unlikely to restrict players from accessing content or make the game substantially more challenging based on the character's race. However, players should expect their "Qunari" protagonist to face hostility. The development of Dragon Age: Dreadwolf is currently underway.