The Breach Opening

A magical rift tears reality apart, unleashing demons upon the world of Thedas.

The Breach Opening stands as the cataclysmic inciting incident of the Inquisition's era, occurring in the year 9:41 Dragon. Orchestrated by the ancient Tevinter archon Corypheus, this event violently tore a permanent rift between the physical world of Thedas and the ethereal realm of the Fade. It resulted in the assassination of Divine Justinia V and unleashed hordes of demons across the continent, forcing disparate factions to unite under the banner of the Inquisition to seal the wound before reality collapsed entirely.

Quick Facts

Year: 9:41 Dragon
Antagonist: Corypheus
Location: Val Royeaux
Artifact used: The Anchor
Result: Divine Justinia V Assassinated
Global impact: Demon Incursions Across Thedas

Lore & Background

Corypheus sought to harness the Anchor, an ancient artifact capable of stabilizing connections between realms, to grant himself immortality and reshape the world according to Tevinter ideals. By activating it during a gathering of the Chantry's highest leadership, he bypassed natural magical safeguards. The resulting explosion did not just kill those present; it anchored a massive tear in the sky that became visible from every corner of Thedas. This breach allowed demons to manifest physically without the need for possession, turning cities into war zones and rendering traditional mage templar dynamics obsolete in the face of such raw supernatural chaos.

Reader's Guide

The narrative begins during an assassination attempt on the Divine in Val Royeaux, where Corypheus reveals himself and activates the Anchor. This action shatters the barrier between worlds, creating a massive rift known as the Breach that hangs over the sky for all to see. While most leaders perish or flee, one survivor—the Inquisitor—is marked by the power of Andraste, granting them unique authority to command others. The immediate aftermath sees the world fracturing as demons pour through the rift unchecked.

Traditional institutions like the Chantry and Templar Order are weakened by the loss of their leadership and the scale of the threat. The Inquisitor must rally survivors from different factions, including the Seekers and rogue mages, to form a new organization capable of addressing this global crisis. Key decisions revolve around who joins the Inquisition initially and how resources are managed during the early days of survival. The resolution of this opening arc involves securing Skyhold as a base of operations.

From there, the group prepares for the long campaign required to close the Breach permanently, setting the stage for the rest of the conflict against Corypheus's forces.