Dragon Age

Lore & Background

The Dragon Age franchise is set in the world of Thedas, an acronym for The Dragon Age Setting, with events from the main series games taking place primarily in its southern regions. Thedas is the only continent of the known world and consists of various clans, nations and states inhabited by multiple humanoid peoples. Several kingdoms and countries have emerged over nine centuries of a calendar era based on the traditionally reckoned year of the founding of The Chantry, the dominant religious organization in the series. Three out of several human nations play a prominent role: the kingdom of Ferelden, the Orlesian Empire, and the Tevinter Imperium. Other noteworthy civilizations include the Free Marches and the Kingdom of Orzammar.

Race, class, and heritage combine to determine social class and political dynamics in Thedas. A recurring theme consists of power struggles and internal conflicts between and within various factions. Tevinter society practices slavery, while elves are often second-class citizens. Dwarven society is organized around a rigid caste system and ancestor worship. A fourth sapient humanoid species, the Qunari, are large horned humanoids who follow a totalitarian civil religion called the Qun. Magic-wielding characters known as mages have access to the Fade, a parallel dimension, and are often controlled by the Chantry in southern Thedas. The Darkspawn and their recurring Blights are considered the single biggest threat to the civilizations of Thedas.

Reader's Guide

The Dragon Age series comprises four main entries: Dragon Age: Origins (2009), Dragon Age II (2011), Dragon Age: Inquisition (2014), and Dragon Age: The Veilguard (2024). The first three main series games have been joined by a variety of expansions and downloadable content add-ons. The franchise has expanded to other media, including spin-off games, novels, graphic novels, comic books, a web series, an animated film, an animated television series, as well as other licensed products and merchandise. The games are notable for their emphasis on player choice, which affects narrative outcomes, and for their detailed world-building centered on the continent of Thedas. The series has received positive acclaim for its narrative, lore, character development, and voice acting, and has achieved commercial success. The setting's complex political and social dynamics, including the role of mages, the Chantry, and the threat of the Darkspawn, provide a rich backdrop for the stories told across the franchise.

Did You Know?

• The Chantry's calendar divides centuries into separate 'Ages'.
• Dwarves cannot wield magic but mine lyrium, which powers magic.
• The Qunari are locked in perpetual conflict with the Tevinter Imperium.