The World of "Dragon Age" Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Fade

The Fade is a realm where spirits and demons live, and where mortals go when they dream. The Dalish elves call it the Beyond. Dwarves, because of their immunity to magic, cannot travel to the Fade, and do not dream.

Mages can remain lucid when in the Fade, which grants them unique abilities, but also makes them vulnerable. Demons and spirits are fascinated with the real world, and will desperately seek out a host. If a normal dreamer is killed in the Fade, they wake up. If a lucid mage is killed in the Fade, the demon can possess the mage's body, turning it into an abomination. Because of this risk, mages must be trained to resist demons in the Fade. Mages without training are particularly susceptible, and mages in general are treated with suspicion and fear.

The Veil is what separates the real world the Fade. When the Veil is thin or torn, passage through becomes possible.

The Black City is a key feature of the Fade. It lies at the heart of the Fade, but cannot be reached. It is said to be the home of the Maker. It was once known as the Golden City until Tevinter mages attempted to reach it. The city turned black, and the mages became the first Darkspawn.

The Qun is the name of the religious doctrine that the Qunari follow. It is a strict and rigid code that often puts Qunari at odds with people of other faiths.

Answer: Elves

Across Thedas, elves are often considered and treated like second class citizens by humans. Elves were the first inhabitants of Thedas, and lived for hundreds of years (they were possibly immortal). When the humans arrived, they were attacked and subjugated. The elves endured the quickening, which shortened their lifespans to match those of the humans.

In the Dragon Age, some elves live in their own societies, known as the Dalish. Those who live with humans, though, endure bigotry and poverty. These elves, often called city elves, live in alienages - ghettos in large cities like Denerim and Kirkwall. Smaller towns, such as Lothering, did not have enough elves to warrant an alienage, and most elves there lived in barns or stables.

Mages often live in communes called circles, where they could be taught and monitored.

Dwarves live in underground cities that were once connected by the Deep Roads, and rarely travel above ground.

A group of Qunari lived in Kirkwall for a time in their own compound, granted to them by the Viscount. The Qunari chose to isolate themselves from Kirkwall rather than integrate with the local population.

Answer: The Free Marches

In the middle of Thedas are the Free Marches, which is a collection of city states. Each state is unique, independent, and has its own ruler (often with different titles) and laws. The citizens of the Free Marches will often identify themselves as belonging to a city rather than the region as a whole. They can unite to create a formidable combined army, though, if provoked by a larger nation or a Blight.

Krirkwall and Starkhaven are two of the largest cities in the Free Marches. During the fifth Blight (during "Dragon Age: Origins", many Fereldens fled to the Free Marches. Hawke fled to Kirkwall, and was eventually named its champion ("Dragon Age II").

The Anderfels is a nation in the north-west of Thedas. It is a mountainous, desolate, blighted place, known as the birthplace of the Grey Wardens. Three of the five Blights were ended in the Anderfels. The Grey Wardens are still headquartered there at Weisshaupt Fortress.

The Kocari Wilds is a dense swamp in southern Thedas, below Ferelden. It is home of the terrifying Witches of the Wilds that parents use to scare their children into behaving. The Wilds are where Flemeth lived and where the fifth Blight came from. The fortress of Ostagar lies just on the northern edge of the Wilds. The Kocari Wilds and any land south have not been mapped.

The Bannorn is a region in the center of Ferelden. Sprawling, fertile plains, it is known as the breadbasket of the nation.

Answer: Lyrium

Lyrium is a mineral that can boost magical properties. It is highly sought after, but also very dangerous. In its raw form, lyrium will drive those near it insane. Even after it is refined, lyrium retains addictive qualities, and both excessive use and withdrawal have unpleasant effects.

Dwarves are mostly immune to magic, and can mine and process raw lyrium. Their long exposure to lyrium may even be the source of their immunity. The lyrium trade is essential for both dwarves and topsiders.

Elfroot is a common plant used to create health poultices. Deep Mushrooms are used to create stamina droughts. Drake Scales are incredibly durable, and excellent armor material, if one can get them.

Answer: The Tevinter Imperium

The largest religion in Thedas is the Andrastian faith, or the Chantry. The Commandments of the Maker state "Magic exists to serve man, and never to rule over him." Because of this, most mages in Thedas, regardless of nation, are kept in Circles run by the Chantry, and closely watched (such as in Ferelden and Kirkwall). Mages are held responsible for creating the Darkspawn, but their usefulness during the Blights has been undeniable.

Tevinter is the anomaly. The Tevinter Imperium is the oldest nation in Thedas, and once had a claim on almost the entire continent, making most other nations resent it. In Thedas, magic is glorified, with mages holding all the political and social power. Many outside Tevinter see it as arrogant, foolish, and dangerous.

Par Vollen is an island held by the Qunari. It once belonged to the Tevinter Imperium, and lies just north of the Tevinter mainland. The Qunari distrust mages even more so than those who follow the Chantry. The Qunari treatment of mages born into its society is particularly brutal. Their proximity to Tevinter sees the two continually fighting.

The Dalish do not distrust magic users the way the rest of Thedas does, but does not glorify them either.

Answer: The Deep Roads

During a Blight, the Darkspawn coordinate a large attack on the surface of Thedas, led by an Archdemon. Between Blights, though, the Darkspawn move underground, and surfacers all but forget that the Darkspawn even exist. Without an Archdemon to control them, they fight amongst themselves, and are not as threatening.

However, they inhabited the ancient dwarven Deep Roads that connected the great dwarven thaigs (cities). The dwarves once had a sprawling network of underground roads connecting their empire. They sealed the roads to protect themselves, but many weaker thaigs were left to fend for themselves, and fell to the Darkspawn. Only the capital, Orzammar, and Kal-Sharok survived. The dwarves of Kal-Sharok never forgave Orzammar for abandoning them, and the two societies have become vastly different over hundreds of years of separation.

The dwarves have to continually fight Darkspawn, even between Blights, slowly losing more and more territory to them. The dwarves resent the surfacers for not appreciating the continued threat that the Darkspawn present. The only group that does take the Darkspawn seriously are the Grey Wardens. When the taint becomes too strong for a Warden, they enter the Deep Roads to fight Darkspawn until they are killed.

Brecilian Forest is where many of the Dalish elves in Ferelden can be found. It is a dense and dangerous forest, filled with ancient mysteries and magic. Darktown is an area in Kirkwall where the poorest residents live and work.

Answer: Templars

The first nation on Thedas was the Tevinter Imperium, which ruled nearly the entire continent. In the Imperium, magic was encouraged and praised, but also led to decadence and arrogance of the magic ruling elite. The Tevinter is now only small portion of what it once was, and the new nations that grew out of the empire are all weary of magic.

The near-universal religion of the Chantry set up the Templars to watch over mages. The mages would be kept away from the rest of society in Circles of Magi, watched by the Templar. In the Circles, young beings with magic would be taught to use it safely, and to serve society, not rule it. If a mage ever became a threat, they the Templars were to deal with the them before they escaped their Circle.

The Templars are devout, religious soldiers, and naturally harbor a distrust of all magic users. They are also given Lyrium to improve their resistance to magic. The Lyrium has strong addictive qualities, and some very harmful long-term effects. Those who command the Templars can often control the supply of Lyrium to ensure obedience.

The Legion of the Dead is a dwarf military unit. When a dwarf joins, they are stripped of their caste, and are considered already dead to the rest of dwarven society. They then venture into the Deep Roads to fight Darkspawn until they die.

The Silent Sisters are a group of dwarf women warriors. Before women were allowed to be soldiers, Astyth the Grey fought for the right. When no one listened to her, she cut out her own tongue and focused on her training. She gave her life defending the king of Orzammar, and the warrior caste was opened to women. Some women, regardless of caste, choose to join the Silent Sisters, who cut out their tongues and devote themselves to their training just as Astyth did.

Answer: Keeper

A Keeper leads a clan of Dalish elves, though not in the strict sense the way human or dwarven leaders do. Keepers guide the clans and preserve the old traditions. Keepers and their Firsts (designated future Keepers) are also mages. The Templars usually leave the Dalish alone, despite their magic users not belonging to a circle. The elves are aware of the dangers that magic poses, and are good at ensuring safe use of magic. Still, the Dalish tend to avoid human settlements so tensions don't rise.

An Arishok is a military leader in Qunari society, the Circles of Magi are led by First Enchanters, and the Devine is the leader of the Chantry.

Answer: Mages

A mage's connection to the Fade can be a dangerous link. Mages are targeted by demons for possession. If a mage cannot resist demons in the Fade, they risk becoming abominations in the real world. One solution is to cut the mage's connection, making them Tranquil.

The Tranquil cannot feel emotion, and have no goals. They can perform mind-numbing tasks for hours on end, and can safely handle Lyrium. They are often found in Circles of Magi as cheap labour.

Sometimes the Templars force a mage to become Tranquil if they begin to resist Chantry and Templar rule. While the Tranquil themselves do not regret the lives and emotions they gave up, many mages find the idea of becoming Tranquil a fate worse than death. If a mage fears that the Templars will make them Tranquil, whatever the reason, the mage will often go to desperate lengths to avoid it. This only exacerbates the tension between the Templars and magi.

Answer: Andraste

Andraste was a prophet. She was born a slave in the Tevinter Imperium, in modern day Ferelden. She had a beautiful singing voice that caught the attention of the Maker. The Maker, who had left Thedas when the people began worshiping the old gods, approached the beautiful woman. He offered her a place as his wife, but she instead implored him to return to his creations. Andraste spread the word of the Maker, and helped lead a rebellion against the Tevinter Imperium and slavery. Her forces shrank the Tevinter Imperium to its current size.

Andraste's husband, Maferath, a warlord, became jealous of his wife's fame. He made a deal with the Tevinter, and Andraste was captured. She was burned at the stake in the capital of the Imperium, Minrathous. Hessarian, who had ordered her execution, had a last-minute change of heart, and ended Andraste's life with his sword. He became a devout believer in the Maker, and the Tevinter Imperium became an Andrastian nation. Over time, the Chantry would become established based on Andraste's teachings, and would dominate Thedas.

The Warden is the player character in "Dragon Age: Origins". Hawke is the surname of the player character in "Dragon Age II". Fen'Harel is the dread wolf from the Dalish religion. He tricked both sets of gods, the Creators and the Forgotten ones, sealing them away from the mortal world, cutting their connection with the elves.