Dragon Age: Origins/Characters/Non Playable Characters


NPCs from Dragon Age: Origins.

Other Characters

Ferelden's Nobility

Teyrn Loghain Mac Tir

"Lords and Ladies... Stand with me and we will defeat even the blight itself!"

A hero throughout Ferelden, Loghain is the general of the army brought to fight the Darkspawn at Ostagar. His plans, however, are a little different from what King Cailan expects. The player character has the option of recruiting him rather than executing him at the Landsmeet. Voiced by Simon Templeman.

  • 24-Hour Armor: He is never seen without full-plate armor, and doesn't look at all comfortable.
  • Anti-Villain: He's not nearly as one-dimensionally evil as he seems at first.
  • The Atoner: He realizes what he's doing is wrong, but until he is subdued, Cognitive Dissonance prevents him from stopping his heinous acts.
  • Co-Dragons: Howe and Cauthrien are this to him.
  • Cool Old Guy: He mellows out into one if he's still alive during Awakening.
  • Deadpan Snarker: Not surprising, considering that nobles resent the fact that a farmer's son was elevated above them all.
  • Dying Moment of Awesome: Whether being executed or killing the archdemon, you're always reminded the man was and still can be a hero.
  • Easily Forgiven: Subverted. If you spare him, Alistair leaves the party and Loghain refuses to believe that you spared him out of mercy.
  • Eleventh-Hour Ranger. Unfortunately, by the time he's a part of your team, you have precious little time to spend with him.
  • Enemy Mine: Subverted. To be of use to the Wardens, Loghain must become one himself.
  • Evil Makes You Ugly: Just looking at him gives you the impression of a miserable fellow whose physical condition has deteriorated due to his actions. His face has sunken cheeks, his eyes are bloodshot with dark bags under them, and his hair is unwashed, uncut, and uncombed, and he tends to slouch whenever he sits down. It clearly seems that stress caused by his self-doubts and self-loathing have made him as unhygienic as he is bitter.
  • Face Death with Dignity: If you choose to execute him, though if Alistair is the one to face him in the duel, he's killed before he really has the chance to choose a way to face the inevitable.
  • Fallen Hero: He gave up everything to restore Ferelden, and as a result began to resent the very people he won it for.
  • Fantastic Racism: Hates Orlais since they invaded his homeland. And killed his dog. And raped his mother while forcing him and his father to watch. This leads to some nasty banter with Leliana on his part.
    • Loghain publicly has this for the reason he betrayed Cailan if it wasn't for the purpose of usurping the Crown's power. He voices doubt in the Landsmeet that the Orlesian soldiers which were planned to come over their borders would simply leave after the Blight is finished.
  • Figure It Out Yourself: If Loghain is a party member, and you decide not to take him with you to defeat the Archdemon, he puzzles why you spared his life if you had no intention of forcing him to kill the archdemon as an alternative to self-sacrifice, one of your answers is that someday he'll realize why. If you choose the Heroic Sacrifice, it's doubly poignant.
  • Freudian Excuse: He hates Orlais because Orlesian soldiers made him watch as they raped and murdered his mother. There's also a major element of Green-Eyed Monster regarding Loghain's relationship to Maric. Loghain lost his one true love to King Maric out of duty.
  • General Ripper: His paranoia over the Orlesians is the cause of his betrayal.
  • Glorious Leader
  • Deadly Change-of-Heart: If you choose to kill him at the landsmeet.
  • Hypercompetent Sidekick: While being The Lancer to Cailan, he's the one who single-handedly manages the war effort with his "boring" strategies.
  • I Want Grandkids: If the Warden's married to Anora and Loghain's still alive in Awakening, then he pesters the Warden about when he and Anora are going to have an heir.
  • I Did What I Had to Do: He justifies his more horrific actions with this argument. For example, he claims that he abandoned Cailan because it was impossible to save him without taking too many casualties to fight the darkspawn. Of course, he and Cailan never really got along...
  • I Need a Freaking Drink: When Arl Howe, presents the assassin he hired to kill the Grey Wardens, Loghain can be seen draining his chalice.
  • Informed Ability: His legendary tactical genius. Apparently, he pretty much won the Fereldan rebellion against Orlais singlehandedly, and background characters throughout the game will be heard to remark on all the military victories he wins against the bannorn in the civil war. The only tactical move the player will actually see him make, however, is his decision to abandon Cailan at Ostagar, a staggeringly stupid move that nearly destroys the nation.
    • During the Fereldan civil war after Ostagar several NPCs note that Loghain is doing unfortunately well against his opponents that aren't bowing to his coup. He really is a strategic genius, but his grasp of politics and public relations are abysmal.
  • It Has Been an Honor: Should Loghain be the one to kill the Archdemon one of the parting words you can give Loghain is, "For what it's worth, I salute you."
  • It's Personal: Orlais invaded his homeland, true, but he has a far more personal Freudian Excuse for being the way he is.
  • Large Ham
  • Love Hurts: He gave up the woman he loved as he knew she would be a good queen, and although he married someone else later on it is mentioned that he lives apart from his family and rarely sees them. As Maric notes, "we are all running from something".
  • The Lancer: Was one to Maric, currently serves as Cailan's. More or less takes over this role from Alistair if you recruit him.
  • Meaningful Name: Mac Tir, in modern Irish, translates roughly to "son of the land", apt given his patriotism.
  • Milking the Giant Cow: Surprisingly, in battle: he seems to like the Rally move (which requires this along with a Skyward Scream) a little too much.
  • The Obi Wrong: Up until the Landsmeet, he's the one leading Ferelden's defense and managing the entire war effort. The Warden goes from outlaw to taking over his job within a single battle.
  • Optional Party Member
  • Eerie Pale-Skinned Brunette: Black hair, almost sickly pale skin... no wonder some fans suggested Alan Rickman as a possible live-action candidate.
  • Papa Wolf: In one of the possible outcomes of the Landsmeet, the last thing he does before getting executed at the hands of the Grey Warden is to console Anora. In another outcome, when Shale questions Loghain whether Loghain would have killed Anora to take the throne of Ferelden (as Loghain previously claimed that he would do anything to protect Ferelden), Loghain replies that he would not have done so even if he had known what he knows now. Also in Awakening, if Loghain is alive and the (imported) Grey Warden is married to Anora, Loghain tells him to take good care of her or otherwise he'll be back anytime from Orlais.
    • In Return to Ostagar, its implied part of the reason he betayed Cailan was because Cailan was callously going to divorce his daughter because it was feared she was barren, and already was planning to marry the Empress of Orlais.
  • Pet the Dog: Literally, if you have him join your party. He ends up getting along very, very well with Dog, and even shares a story about a mabari he once owned.
  • Precision F-Strike: In Return to Ostagar, after finding Cailan's correspondence, calls him a "cheating bastard" and the Empress of Orlais a "bitch"
  • Redemption Equals Death: He can sacrifice himself to destroy the Archdemon. Anora will invoke this after he does so, saying that all of his crimes were absolved by his sacrifice for the good of Ferelden.
  • Reformed but Rejected: If he joins, no one is particularly fond of him, and Alistair leaves.
  • Sixth Ranger: Potentially.
  • Tall, Dark and Snarky: Especially visible if you recruit him.
  • Tragic Hero: Can be interpreted this way, especially if you consider his backstory.
  • The Strategist: A military planner of great renown, having acted as a commander and planning campaigns for the kings Theirin since before Ferelden independence.
  • The Uriah Gambit: Loghain orders his forces to retreat instead of flanking the darkspawn as had been planned. This results in the deaths of both his king and all but two of Fereldan's Grey Wardens. And how does he get away with this? By spreading the word that the wardens egregiously missled the King, leaving many blaming the wardens for the Cailens death.
  • Villainous Breakdown: If he loses at the Landsmeet, he accuses all of the Bannorn of treason.
  • Villain with Good Publicity: Brilliantly subverted, if not outright deconstructed.
  • Vitriolic Best Buds: With Maric.
  • Walking Spoiler: Even the Dragon Age Wiki tries its hardest to conceal the fact that he can join your party. Any entry on the Wiki that pertains to party members in general (as opposed to just Loghain) will refer to him as "Secret Party Member".
  • Well-Intentioned Extremist
  • Worthy Opponent: He acknowledges the warden as this if he is defeated in the vote at the Landsmeet.

Loghain: 'A man is made by the quality of his enemies.' Maric told me that once. I wonder if it's more a compliment to you or me.

  • Wrong Genre Savvy: If you read his backstory in the novels, you'll find out that every time he decided to forego the train of logic between problem and solution and decide that it was all an Orlesian plot, he was invariably right. It's no great wonder that he leaps on the same conclusion with the Gray Wardens.
  • Xanatos Gambit: One that is spectacularly thwarted at every turn.

Loghain: Fine. I confess: It was entirely my idea that Uldred consort with demons. I had a dastardly scheme in which the utter destruction of Ferelden's best weapon would benefit me, personally.

King Cailan Theirin

"I cannot wait for that glorious moment. The Grey Wardens battle beside the King of Ferelden to stem the tide of evil."

The current monarch of Ferelden, a young and idealistic, if rather foolish man. He wants a battle that will be remembered by history. Voiced by Peter Bramhill.

  • Boisterous Bruiser
  • Death by Origin Story
  • Dumb Blonde: "What's that you say, Loghain? Strategy against the overwhelming darkspawn horde? Boring! Besides, the sheer awesomeness of my Infinity+1 Sword and the Grey Wardens is far more than enough against these beasties!"
  • Glory Hound. And how.
  • The Hero: His view of things. Quoth the player: Not so fast, we're barely a few hours into the game and you're not the Player Character.
  • Leeroy Jenkins
  • Royals Who Actually Do Something: He doesn't suceed, but its the thought that counts.
  • Sibling Yin-Yang: Averted, for the most part. Cailan and his half-brother are actually pretty similar in their nonchalant approach to things, their coming off as idiots to those around them, their willingness to discard formality for friendship, and their bravery in the face of adversity. Alistair definitely acts a lot like Cailan a few times after he ascends the throne, because even if he doesn't really want the job, you will remember who is king.
  • The White Prince: Despite being a sheltered buffoon he genuinely wants to govern well. He assures the Human Noble he'll eliminate the traitorous Arl Howe once the Darkspawn are defeated, and his shock at what happens when the City Elf confronts him with the truth of what's been happening in the Alienage is genuine.
  • Wide-Eyed Idealist: He almost overlaps with The Fool, with his estimation of the coming battle. He's something of an Ascended Fanboy of the Grey Wardens who Jumped At the Call and then doesn't take things seriously enough.
  • Wrong Genre Savvy: He believes that he is the protagonist of a more idealistic fantasy story. He gets proven wrong when he dies only a few hours into the game.
    • His plan was hoping that the Wardens will push the Blight back at Ostagar, giving the Fereldan enough fame to allow a permanent alliance with Orlais without being screwed over by the Orlesians. Little did he know, keep your friends close and your enemies closer

Queen Anora Theirin (nee Mac Tir)

"We have been given the gift of freedom by our forbearers. Let us not squander it."

The current Queen of Ferelden, married to Cailan. She is the true power behind the throne, taking after her father, Loghain. Voiced by Mika Simmons.

  • Beauty Equals Goodness: Averted. Although she's beautiful, she's also scheming and manipulative. She's nobody's supportive cheerleader; she will turn on anyone if necessary to further her goals, including you.
  • Bitch in Sheep's Clothing
  • Blondes Are Evil: Debatably - Anora isn't as outright evil as some characters, but she can be every bit as ruthless as Bhelen when protecting her position.
  • The Chessmaster: She's just as clever and manipulative as her father, if not moreso.
  • Chronic Backstabbing Disorder: Betrays her father to you, and then quite possibly betrays you back to him. No matter what risks you took for her sake, unless you promise to support her for queen she will cheerfully backstab you at the Landsmeet. Even if you promise to support her for queen, if you announce ahead of time your intention to have Loghain executed, she may turn on you to save her father.
    • And of course, if you let her speak up for you to Cauthrien, she'll immediately claim that you were kidnapping her. She did warn you, but it still feels like a punch.
  • Daddy's Girl: The two most important things in her life are her country and her father and she'll do what she has to to protect both of them. If anyone else had tried what Loghain did, she'd have had them drawn and quartered within the hour.
  • Damsel in Distress: At a certain point late in the game. Subverted, however, in that she was not actually in as much danger as she claims, and played this role to gain the Warden's sympathies.
  • Fantasy Counterpart Culture / Inspired By: With her political manuevering against rivals for the throne, refusal to marry once she becomes sole ruler, and patronage of education and the arts, she's pretty clearly based on a number of historical female rulers, particularly Elizabeth I of England and Catherine the Great of Russia.
    • Not to mention her resemblence—in both appearance and personality—to a certain former Ukrainian Prime Minister...
  • Hair of Gold: Subverted. Anora plays the stereotype of the virtuous fair-haired princess for all it's worth, but while she's not outright evil, she's not exactly pure or innocent either.
  • In the Blood: Like her father, she seeks to protect Ferelden at all costs and believes that she and Loghain are the only two people capable of doing so.
  • Manipulative Bitch: Even if you decide she's the best candidate for the throne, you're likely to end up feeling this way about her.
  • Morality Pet: Loghain does love his daughter, though he doesn't show it often.
  • Rescue Romance: Except with minimal romance. And hardly any need for the "rescue". A Male (Human) Noble Warden can convince the Queen to marry him after rescuing her, as part of a deal to aid her in gaining the throne - although he will have to take the initiative to make her stick to her deal. If the player then exports this save to Awakening, Anora will have a cameo, and be slightly more caring for the protagonist.
  • The Woman Wearing the Queenly Mask: Something of a subversion. Anora likes to pretend that she's this, but one gets the impression that the mask is her true personality.

Arl Rendon Howe

The best friend of teyrn Bryce Cousland (the human noble PC's father) up until he killed him along with almost his entire family. Afterwards, he is appointed the arl of Denerim. He later serves as an advisor to Loghain and carries out his more atrocious orders. Voiced by Tim Curry.

  • And There Was Much Rejoicing: Nathaniel seems to be the only one saddened by his death, and even then he later understands why even his own daughter doesn't miss him.
  • Arranged Marriage: Subverted: he seems very eager to pass on the message that his daughter Delilah/his son Thomas appears very taken with the young Cousland, going on about his prowess as a warrior/being smitten with her after seeing her at a Denerim fair. Then comes The Untwist... A Cousland Warden can later run into Delilah, and discover that she thought he was stuck up and never really liked him.
  • Aristocrats Are Evil: And Howe!
  • Cold-Blooded Torture: To nobles that disagree with him.
  • Disappeared Dad: His father was either killed in the war against Orlais, or tried to become a Grey Warden but failed the Joining, depending on whether you believe the Codex or Nathaniel.
  • The Dragon: To Loghain.
  • Equal Opportunity Evil: Despite being a huge racist, Howe seems to have no qualms about who he hires to do his dirty work.
  • Everything's Worse with Bears: Amaranthine's logo is a bear.
  • Face Heel Turn: Not that it comes as much of a surprise.
  • Famous Last Words: "Maker spit on you... I deserved more..."
  • Freudian Excuse: According to Awakening, his dad left to become a Grey Warden and was never heard from again and his in-laws frequently complained about his family's comparative lack of sucess.
  • Genre Savvy:

Warden: After this, I'll kill your wife and daughter, too.
Howe: Isn't that precious? Is this where I lament the monster I helped create?

  • Green-Eyed Monster: His reason for killing the Couslands.
  • Irony: For all his talk about the Couslands being secret collaborators with Orlais, it's worth noting that his own father collaborated with Orlais during their occupation.
  • It's All About Me: See Famous Last Words.
  • Jerkass: Why he's disliked by most other nobles.
  • Kick the Dog: He ordered the crackdown on the Alienage after the elf riots (triggered by the events of the City Elf origin but happen regardless of what origin the Grey Warden comes from) to "put the elves in their place". He's also the one to hire assassins to kill the Grey Warden. Lampshaded by Arl Eamon if the Grey Warden is a human noble, describing Howe as "The sort of man to go around and kick stray dogs."
  • The Lancer: Was one to Bryce Cousland, though he's The Starscream by the time of the game.
  • Motive Rant: He can have an impressive one when the human noble PC confronts him late in the game, revealing that he felt inferior to Bryce Cousland and was jealous of his successes. Not to mention Loghain's motivation is shared: fear and hatred of the Orlesians.
  • Psycho Supporter
  • Smug Snake
  • Stay in the Kitchen: His greeting of the female Human Noble Warden has sexist undertones, although he's just as dismissive to a male Human Noble.

Howe: (upon facing down the female Human Noble) Well, look what we have here! Bryce Cousland's little spitfire, still playing the man!

Ser Cauthrien

"Some of us know what honor and loyalty are."

A female knight of Ferelden, Cauthrien is the commander of King Maric's Shield, Loghain's personal corps of elite soldiers. She is first seen at the battle of Ostagar, relaying somewhat disbelievingly Loghain's order to retreat from the battle, and later serves as his right hand woman. Once the gathering of the members of the Landsmeet begins, Ser Cauthrien and her soldiers will attempt to arrest the Warden after s/he breaks Anora out of Arl Howe's estate, and if she's not defeated there, she will confront the party again upon entering the Royal Palace for the Landsmeet. Voiced by Alyx Wilton Regan.

  • Action Girl
  • Anti-Villain: An honorable woman, she is bothered by the evil acts Loghain commits, but continues to serve him out of both loyalty and a sense that what he does is necessary to protect Ferelden.
  • BFS: She wields the Summer Sword, one of the game's best Greatswords.
  • Dark Action Girl: Subverted.
  • Hopeless Boss Fight: If you lose to her in the first encounter, The Warden and Alistair just end up getting captured. Still, it's possible to kill her during the fight though it's pretty damn tough.
  • Lady of War
  • My Master, Right or Wrong: She can be persuaded otherwise.
  • Save the Villain: With a high Persuasion score, she'll beg you to save Loghain from himself.
  • Skippable Boss: With a high enough persuasion or intimidation score, you can avoid a fight, which is handy because she can be pretty tough, particularly in the first encounter.
  • Talking Your Way Out: As noted above, it's possible to avoid a fight if you've got the points in coercion.
  • Undying Loyalty: Despite Loghain's crimes she remains loyal to him to the end. To the point that she'll desperately try to justify them. Confront her about Loghain allowing the Tevinter to enslave the elves in the Alienage, and she'll protest weakly that they had to fund the nation somehow.
  • Worthy Opponent: She expresses regret that she's forced to kill you if you opt to fight her.

Arl Eamon Guerrin

The Arl of Redcliffe and Cailan's favorite uncle. Voiced by Graham McTavish.

Bann Teagan Guerrin

Brother of Arl Eamon, Teagan is currently in charge of the defense of Redcliffe against the mysterious evil pouring out of the castle, where his family may not still be alive. In the Darkspawn Chronicles DLC, the Urn of Sacred Ashes was never found, so Teagan takes Eamon's place as a Supporting Leader permanently. Voiced by Timothy Watson.

  • Badass: Directly after Ostagar, he turned up to the Landsmeet in full armour, ready for a fight and calls Loghain out in front of every noble assmembled, accusing him of leaving King Cailan to die.
  • Estrogen Brigade Bait: Aided by the fact that he seems to have some interest in a female human noble Warden.
    • In a female elf Warden, as well.
      • Dwarf as well. Really, if you're a chick, he WILL have interest.
  • Large Ham: Only during the time that Demon-possessed Connor used him as his jester.

Teagan: "Nobody tells him what to do! NO-HO-HO-HOBODY!!!!"

  • Shut UP, Hannibal: When Loghain claims to be doing everything for the good of Ferelden and gets appointed Regent.

Teagan: The Bannorn will not bow to you simply because you demand it!

  • Supporting Leader: During the Redcliffe quest. Subverted when he willingly choses to enter the castle with Isolde to act as a diversion and give the Warden a chance to fight the monsters off.


Arlessa Isolde Guerrin

Wife to Arl Eamon and mother to Connor, Isolde married her husband despite her own Orlesian heritage. Voiced by Louisa Patikas.

  • Everything Sounds Sexier in French: Inverted: her Orlesian accent repulses people, since she spends most of her time shrieking.
  • Freudian Excuse: Noticeable only if you ask for a reward for your help. Apparently, her grandfather was a powerful mage and not a very nice guy to boot. Add to that the stigma of magic in Ferelden and Orlais both, and her attitude towards finding out her son inherited it is understandable. Stupid, but understandable.
  • Heroic Sacrifice: Offers to perform one to save Connor.
  • Jerkass: Towards Alistair.
  • Karma Houdini: In the best ending to the Redcliffe quest, she gets off completely scot free despite being (half) directly responsible for the crisis in the first place.
    • Connor does get sent off to the Circle in spite of her actions, however, and I highly doubt Eamon will ever fully trust his wife again. She's also probably not too popular in Redcliffe at the moment either...
  • Mama Bear: She is more than willing to sacrifice her life to save her son. When the option is presented, she doesn't even hesitate.
  • Wicked Stepmother: Sort of; though her husband was only his adoptive father, Alistair makes it clear that she wasn't very nice to him during the time he lived at Castle Redcliffe.

Connor Guerrin

The young son of Arl Eamon who serves as the host for the demon responsible for the chaos in Redcliffe. Voiced by Michael Curtis Parsons.

  • Break the Cutie / Corrupt the Cutie
  • The Caligula: The demon already shows signs of this.
  • Child Mage: Too young to cast even minor spells but still capable of tearing the Veil -- a perfect target for a demon.
  • Creepy Child: When the demon is in control.
  • Demonic Possession: With three possible solutions. One, you kill him. Two, you use blood magic to kill the demon in the fade. Three, you use the Circle's lyrium to go into the fade instead. Choices two and three make it possible to coerce the demon into granting you stuff. However, even if you end the possession, Connor will never be the same as before, even though he doesn't remember the event. Eamon notices that Connor is different, leading to fan speculation that you failed to kill the demon, but other conversations reveal that that is simply how this particular strategy of getting rid of a demon works.
    • Wynne mentions that even mages saved from possession are forever changed by the experience of having their souls and that of a demon fused together. Add to that the fact that Conner was sometimes implied to be awake while all the horror was going on and is it really suprising that the kid doesn't really act as perky as he used to?
      • If you saved Connor and kept him from being possessed, you will see him in Dragon Age: Inquisition as a background character in Redcliffe. Its at least 10 years later, he's a grown man by this point... and he's still traumatized as hell.
  • For the Evulz: Seems like this particular demon likes to torment people when it gets bored.
  • Jekyll and Hyde

Fergus Cousland

Brother of the Human Noble PC, heir to the teyrnir of Highever. Voiced by Shawn Dingwall.

Eleanor Cousland

Mother of the Human Noble PC, plays a major role in the attack on Highever Castle. Voiced by Deborah Moore.

  • Action Mom: As she puts it, she is no Orlesian wallflower and doesn't hesitate to grab a weapon and fight back when the castle is invaded.
  • The Archer
  • Badass Grandma: As per the above. Her reaction to finding her grandson (the PC's nephew) dead is to get even more angry.
  • Bolivian Army Ending: Eleanor Cousland will not abandon her husband, ever.
  • Deadpan Snarker: As much as she tries to hide it, comes off as this when sufficiently exasperated by her children and husband.
  • I Want Grandkids: She laments how difficult it's been to find an acceptable husband for a female PC, as she wants more grandchildren.
  • Retired Badass: By her own admission, she used to be quite the warrior herself, and soon proves that she still is.

Bryce Cousland

Father of the Human Noble PC, and Teyrn of Highever.

  • Action Survivor: In his backstory, alongside Arl Howe, he survives a Curb Stomp Battle against the Orlesians at White River, from which only fifty rebels escaped.
  • Authority Equals Asskicking: Second in rank only to King Cailan; was preparing to lead Highever's armies against the darkspawn.
  • Badass Grandpa
  • Big Good: The Patriarchs of the Cousland family have been this to Ferelden for centuries.
  • Bolivian Army Ending
  • Cool Old Guy: How many people could immediately think of this diplomatic yet true way to explain to their young grandson what a 'wench' is, after his oldest son was injudicious enough to use the word in front of a small child?

Teryn Cousland: ... a wench, Oryn, is the woman who pours ale in a tavern. Or a woman who drinks a lot of ale.

  • Et Tu, Brute?: He is betrayed and murdered by Rendon Howe, his best friend. It's implied that their friendship blinded him to Howe's darker side, because almost every other noble thinks Howe is a Jerkass.
  • Good Counterpart: The only other Teyrn aside from Loghain. He is Loghain's exact opposite.
  • Good Parents
  • Magnetic Hero: Immensely popular among nobles; many would have preferred him as king over Cailan, according to Dairren.
  • Not So Above It All: His wife believes that between her husband, her son(s) and her grandson, its like living with a pack of small boys.
  • Offered the Crown: Its rumoured that the Bannorn would have preferred to appoint him king over Cailan.
  • Reasonable Authority Figure
  • So Proud of You: in the Gauntlet, as a Human Noble.

Bann Vaughan Kendels

Son of Urien Arl of Denerim, Vaughan and his posse burst into the alienage to get some "female guests" for their "private party". Voiced by Nicholas Boulton.


Apostates

Flemeth

"You are required to do nothing, least of all believe."

The legendary Witch of the Wilds, mother of Morrigan and fear of Chasind tribes everywhere. She seems to have been around for centuries, loves cryptic hints and indulges in Voluntary Shapeshifting. Voiced by Kate Mulgrew.

She returns in Dragon Age II in a new form, making it clear that whatever happens to her in Origins is at best a mild inconvenience.

  • Age Without Youth: Her Grand Theft Me has this reason.
  • Ambiguously Evil: Invoked trope. If you call her out on her possession, she'll tell you that your information about that comes from a liar.
    • Ambiguous Moral Event Horizons: An in-universe combination of both tropes. Although there are plenty of terrible stories surrounding Flemeth, the player never actually physically sees her commit any truly atrocious acts. However, if you try to kill her, she laughs and states that there are "many reasons to kill (her)"; a clear indication that she's done some unspeakably horrible things to countless people and knows it.
  • Back from the Dead: Morrigan warns you that even if you manage to kill Flemeth, she'll reappear eventually. Morrigan's prepared to fight her again and again in a quasi-Sealed Evil in a Duel if need be. Thanks to Hawke and Merrill, she manages it a lot quicker than anyone expected.
  • Body Surf: She steals the bodies of her daughters, and through this method she has been around for centuries.
  • Bonus Boss
  • Captain Ersatz: Possibly, of Baba Yaga. They share many similarities: both are evil witches that have lived for centuries, both live in huts deep in the forests, both are legendary figures used to frighten children with, and both are old hags with mystical knowledge (that they usually don't share). They even share the stories of kidnapping and eating children.
  • Cryptic Conversation: She seems sensible, if brash, and a bit nutty, when you first meet her. When you come back to do Morrigan's sidequest she speaks in a bizarre, lyrical way with an impenetrable vagueness and sense that she's gone off the deep end. Of course, if you pay attention, she references several things, such as Morrigan having ulterior motives, that she'll probably live regardless of whether you kill her, and the notion that she isn't the first Flemeth. Her laugh is really unnerving too. She also seems somewhat proud of Morrigan for getting you to do her dirty work, and points out that all of your information about possession and such comes from someone you know frequently lies to get her way.
  • Demonic Possession: A possession that's gone on for centuries at that.
  • The Dreaded: Ferelden mothers apparently frighten their children by telling them Flemeth will come to get them if they don't behave themselves, and even adults seem to quaver at the mention of her name.
  • Enemy Mine / Evil Versus Evil: Subverted. She suggests that this is the reason she rescued the Wardens from Ostagar and is sending Morrigan with them, but as it turns out she has other reasons.
  • Even Evil Has Standards: Her non-romantized backstory involves a nobleman who was to pay her poor husband a princely sum in exchange for Flemeth. She suggested this deal herself. Then, double-crossing them, the nobleman had the husband killed. Cue Flemeth summoning demons to turn into a powerful abomination and going after the guy to slaughter him and his entire estate. Morrigan insists that this isn't because she loved her husband, rather because she refused to be married to a man with no honor.
  • Evil Counterpart: To Wynne. Both are elderly sorceresses who have been kept alive by being possessed by spirits - in Wynne's case a Neutral Good spirit of faith, and in Flemeth's a powerful demon. Reflective of this, they have directly opposite attitudes toward their apprentices, Wynne seeking to nurture and mentor them and Flemeth using them to further extend her lifespan. For another case of opposite-ness, in keeping with the game's theme of Beauty Equals Goodness, while Wynne's face is surprisingly smooth for a lady of her age, Flemeth has more than a few wrinkles.
  • Evil Laugh: A brief but spooky one, when she seems little more than a Talkative Loon.

Flemeth: Oh, don't mind me. You have what you came for.

  • The Fair Folk: No, she's not an elf, but she fits the trope anyway. She's considered a legendary figure amongst the Dalish.
  • Grand Theft Me: Maybe, maybe not. Morrigan claims this is the secret to her immortality. However, Flemeth implies that while Morrigan does know the secret to her immortality, she hasn't told you what it really is. And then goes along with Morrigan's attempt to kill her anyway out of what appears to be amusement. Shale points out that the only one who can read the grimoires is Morrigan, and Zevran also doesn't appear to believe her. The idea of Morrigan lying to you shouldn't come as much of a surprise.
  • Grandma, What Massive Hotness You Have!: Her new body in Dragon Age 2 has garnered this reaction from fans.
  • Hey, It's That Voice!: Turning into a dragon would certainly have helped Janeway against the Borg
  • Hidden Agenda Villain: She makes it fairly clear that none of the Warden's actions, not even killing her and running off with her back-up body will do more than inconvenience her plans.
  • Humanoid Abomination: In the Witch Hunt DLC, Morrigan states the Flemeth is something other than the creatures actually called Abominations in-game. Whether or not this is figurative is up for debate.
  • Immortality: Type IX (Parasitic); she raises her daughters and teaches them magic so that she can more easily possess them. Unlike most Parasitic Immortals, however, killing her in her current body does not necessarily mean she's Deader Than Dead.
  • I Was Quite a Looker: Morrigan says so much of her. And she will be again, if she has her way.
  • Never Mess with Granny: She is this trope brought Up to Eleven.
  • No Need for Names

Flemeth: Names are pretty, but useless. The Chasind folk call me Flemeth. I suppose it'll do.

  • Noodle Incident: What Flemeth would do to the Templars hunting her. The Penny Arcade comic is all about this.
  • Older Than They Look: Certainly she looks old, but not as old as she actually is.
  • One-Winged Angel
  • Playing Against Type: Mulgrew is most famous for her portrayal of (usually) idealistic Captain Katheryn Janeway.
  • Retired Monster: She used to rape men to death but all she wants right now is to live the remainder of her life in peace. Presumably, she'll start again once she's possessed Morrigan.
  • Scaled Up
  • Shrouded in Myth
  • So Beautiful It's a Curse: In her Backstory at least. According to her, her legendary beauty and mens' desire for her dictated the course of her entire life. While she has a Multiple Choice Past, every version of her tale agrees that she was beautiful, and that such beauty brought her no joy in life.
  • Staying Alive: Come on, do you really think Bioware would kill her off so quickly, especially with the endgame ritual? The codex entry when you kill her says that she was apparently slain.
    • Morrigan doesn't even consider the idea that she might really be dead. She's quite prepared to kill Flemeth over and over as long as she lives to avoid having her body stolen if the Grimoire won't teach her how.
    • Flemeth returns in the sequel, having taken contingencies using Hawke as her Unwitting Pawn and stating that there's no reason why she can't be in multiple places at once.
  • Talkative Loon
  • Tyke Bomb: Morrigan is the latest of many daughters she's raised to terrorize the Korcari Wilds. And provide her with a new body for when her current one gets too old.
  • Unreliable Narrator: Her legend has undergone Adaptation Decay over the centuries. While Morrigan can tell you what Flemeth claims is her true past, she notes that it is unwise to take anything that Flemeth says at face value, though she believes her story is the most accurate. In the Witch Hunt DLC, Morrigan says that Flemeth isn't a human, blood mage, or an abomination. How long she hasn't been human, or if she ever was, is unknown.
    • Her true past is finally revealed in the post-credits stinger of Dragon Age: Inquisition. Surprisingly, her claimed origin story in DA:O is the true one - she is a Chasind sorceress who was possessed/melded with a Fade spirit at the moment of her death. That spirit being the remnant of the murdered elven goddess Mythal.
  • Voluntary Shapeshifting: Just try and fight her. An Oh Crap moment will ensue.
  • Xanatos Gambit:She has very good reasons for sending Morrigan with the Wardens. Only the sequels will show their full extent.

Father Kolgrim

"All of us stumble through the darkness, before being found and shown the light. Perhaps through Andraste's mercy, her greatest enemy will become her greatest champion."

The leader of the dragon-worshipping cult known as the Disciples of Andraste, Kolgrim is encountered in a ruined Tevinter temple high in the Frostback Mountains rumored to be the final resting place of the prophetess herself. Despite the violent nature of the group he leads, and the fact that by the time the Warden encounters him s/he will have slaughtered many of its members, he doesn't attack on sight, and depending on the player's choices he can even end up giving the Warden a reward for rendering him a certain service - pouring dragon's blood onto the ashes of Andraste, which he believes will speed the prophetess' return. Voiced by Douglas Weston.

Kolgrim: "To arms my brethren! Andraste shall grant us...VICTORY!!"

Caladrius

"Sarcasm is beneath us both, my dear Warden."

A Tevinter magister who has recently set up shop in the Denerim Alienage, supposedly to provide a magical cure to the Blight sickness afflicting its citizenry. In truth, he is a blood mage and a slaver come to abduct the elves for shipment back to Tevinter, a practice which has been sanctioned by Teyrn Loghain in an attempt to raise money for his army.

Grey Wardens

Duncan

"From here, you two are on your own. Remember, you are both Grey Wardens. I expect you to be worthy of that title."

Leader of the Grey Wardens and Team Dad to Alistair, Duncan is the one who recruits the PC. He has been a Grey Warden for quite a while now and commands great respect. He also seems to have connections everywhere in Ferelden. Voiced by Peter Reneday.

  • Actor Allusion: He is voiced by Peter Renaday, who previously voiced Al-Mualim in Assassin's Creed. Duncan wears an outfit eerily similar to those worn in Assassin's Creed.
  • A Father to His Men: According to Riordan, Duncan couldn't help having a soft spot for his recruits.
  • Badass Beard
  • But Thou Must!: Thanks to the Rite of Conscription, you can't refuse being a Grey Warden. Tough titty if you don't want to be one.
  • Cool Old Guy: Even Daveth admits it.
  • Death by Origin Story: Inevitably
  • From a Certain Point of View: He tells the Dalish elf that there's nothing s/he can do for Tamlen. This is true, but you find out only near the endgame, where you encounter a very much alive Tamlen trying to resist his transformation into a shriek. You only assumed that he was dead.
  • Good Is Not Nice: While he does seem cold and detached, he makes it clear he will do anything to save Fereldan from the Blight and saves your life in most of the origins. That doesn't mean he won't withhold information concerning the lethality of the Joining and stab Jory when he panics and tries to back out. Although as Duncan points out, he only drew his dagger after Jory reached for his own sword and because he knew that Jory would not back down.
    • Duncan is nicely summed up by the Warden when discussing him with Alistair.

Warden: He seems like a kind man, if firm.

  • I Did What I Had to Do: He's quite open about his subscription to the policy of "the Grey Wardens do what they must". Poor, stupid Jory
  • Parental Substitute: For Alistair.
  • The Obi-Wan
  • Obi-Wan Moment
  • Recruiters Always Lie: not directly, but withholding vital, very unpleasant informations about the Wardens is a low blow.
  • Satisfied Street Rat: When he was younger.
  • Schrödinger's Gun: No matter what origin you get, you get recruited into the Grey Wardens by the same guy. Each origin displays that the only reason your chosen Warden is The Hero is because Duncan happened to be recruiting in your area. The five others possibilites are left to suffer their fates.
  • The Stoic: Duncan seldom ever shows emotion, and remains cool and aloof for the entire time you're associated with him. Alistair says that Duncan does let his hair down with other Wardens, however.
    • Certain humourous dialogue options when talking to him do however occasionally make him chuckle, such as the Warden's comment that before the Joining and Battle of Ostagar, some dinner might be nice first.
  • Team Dad: To all his recruits, but particularly Alistair.

Riordan

A Grey Warden from Orlais, Riordan has known Duncan for a while. He gets captured and tortured by Howe, then rescued by the PC. Voiced by Stephane Cornicord.

  • Combat Pragmatist: A pragmatic strategist, more like it. Despite the torture he was subjected to, he's willing to recruit Loghain as a Grey Warden.
  • Eleventh-Hour Ranger: Shows up quite late into the game and gets killed off just as the finale really gets going to make it more dramatic.
  • Heroic Sacrifice: Inevitably.
  • The Obi-Wan
  • Obi-Wan Moment: Which is his Crowning Moment of Awesome, by the way.
  • One-Scene Wonder: Technically, five scenes, but he has all of ten minutes of dialogue at most, in a game where even a thorough playthrough can take forty hours.
  • Supporting Leader: When he tries to go beyond this and kill the archdemon himself, he suffers a Disney Villain Death despite being a good guy. He does manage to force the dragon into a fight the PC has a chance of winning, however.
  • Violation of Common Sense: He splits with the other wardens, goes on his own to a high point. Jumps on a flying dragon in a city full of ballistas and an entire army. Was there no other way to bring the Archdemon down?
    • Remember that darkspawn can sense Grey Wardens just as much as you can sense them. Alistair barely shows up on their 'radar' (also lampshaded in the dialogue as you travel from Flemeth's hut), and the player character is so recently past the Joining that he can't sense or be sensed by the darkspawn at all... but Riordan's been in the game almost as long as Duncan and stands out to them like a beacon. He's split up from you because if he's with you he'll draw too much fire down on you. As for his attempt to kill the Archdemon, things were looking pretty desperate by that point so he's taking a wild gamble and hoping that you'll still be alive to make a second shot even if he misses.

Ser Jory

A warrior of Redcliffe who was recruited into the Grey Wardens alongside the PC. He is a nice guy, but he suffers from mild cowardice. Voiced by Mark Healy.

  • Deconstruction: Of the "Shining Knight" archetype, who only fights for glory without really understanding the sacrifices one has to take to live that life.
  • Guest Star Party Member
  • Idiot Hero
  • I Have a Family: He tries to justify his cowardice with this. It doesn't work.
  • My Girl Back Home: He has a pregnant wife in Highever.
  • Name's the Same / Shout-Out: He seems to be named after Ser Jory Cassel of A Song of Ice and Fire, one of the acknowledged inspirations for the game.
  • Retirony: He can't wait for the war to be over so he can return home to his lovely wife and child.
  • Sacrificial Lamb
  • Signed Up for the Dental: Its made explicitly clear that he joined the Grey Wardens purely for personal glory.
  • Too Dumb to Live: Oh yeah, go ahead and draw your sword on Duncan and start threatening him. That's sure to work. Agree to join the Grey Wardens--for the assumed glory, not to fight the darkspawn really--when your wife and child are more important to you, and try to chicken out when you realize that the commitment is absolute.

Daveth

"Maybe you'll die. Maybe we'll all die. One thing's for sure: everyone will die if nobody stops the darkspawn."

An ex-cutpurse who was recruited by Duncan to escape execution for his crimes. One of the three Grey Warden recruits, alongside the PC. Voiced by James Daniel Wilson.

  • The Archer
  • The Atoner
  • The Charmer
  • Estrogen Brigade Bait: Despite his minor character status. And the fact that he dies a couple of hours into the game.
  • Expy: Daveth wonders why someone like Duncan would consider him worthy of recruitment—the reason likely being that Duncan was pretty much identical to him in his youth.
  • Guest Star Party Member
  • Hidden Depths: Considering how little time he gets before his Plotline Death, Daveth manages to show a surprising amount of characterization. When you first meet him he's a Boxed Crook who doesn't seem that happy to be press-ganged into the Wardens. He says that the only reason he's there is because the alternative was a prison cell. However, he never seems to flinch in fear and trepidation the way the honorable knight Ser Jory does, and during the Joining gives a pretty good reason for any Warden to lay down their life for this cause.
  • Loveable Rogue: And a surprisingly noble one. Despite making it clear he hates the law, he states clearly and determinedly that he is perfectly willing to sacrifice his life, and much more, to put an end to the Blight. Hell, he seems more determined to fight for Ferelden than Ser Jory. He does have a superstitious attitude towards magic, but he probably would have gotten over it.
  • Refused by the Call: Unfortunately.
  • Sacrificial Lamb
  • Ship Tease: Unashamedly hits on the Female Warden, who can notice he's The Charmer
  • You Don't Want to Die a Virgin, Do You?: One of his chat up lines to a female soldier at Ostagar invokes this.

Daveth: Life is fleeting you know? Tomorrow that pretty face could be on top of some Darkspawn spear...

Residents of Denerim

Shianni

Cousin of the City Elf PC, Shianni is to be a bridesmaid at the upcoming wedding. Unfortunately, things go awry when a human nobleman arrives with his posse... Voiced by Beth Graham.

  • Badass Normal: Shianni is a perfectly ordinary elf woman with a fiery spirit but no combat training of note. She will willingly help the Grey Warden fight an army. Had circumstances been different, it seems entirely possible she, rather than a City Elf protagonist, could have been recruited as a Grey Warden and done well in her own right.
  • Bottle Fairy: Definitely comes across as one;

Shianni: Do you know what today is?
Warden: Judging by your breath, it's get drunk before noon day.

    • And this later bit of dialogue;

Warden: You'll look for any excuse to get drunk.
Shianni: Who needs an excuse to get drunk?

    • This becomes harsher when you realise this is what likely motivated her to think bottling Vaughn was a good idea.
  • Break the Cutie: Poor Shianni
  • Fiery Redhead
  • The Not Love Interest: Pretty much fills this function to the Male City Elf in the Origin and even a little post-Origin. Her dialogue actually comes across as more romantic-sounding than the woman the Warden was supposed to marry, despite the fact that Shianni is supposedly one of your cousins.
  • Rape as Drama: She is the only "guest" of Bann Vaughn to be raped before you get to her. It's implied that his friends took turns as well...
  • Took a Level in Badass: She can be persuaded to help fight the darkspawn that invade the alienage in the finale.

Soris

Another cousin of the City Elf PC. The two were scheduled to have an arranged double wedding when Bann Vaughan came and... crashed the ceremony. He goes with the PC to save the kidnapped women. Voiced by Josh Rubinow.

  • Cowardly Lion
  • Butt Monkey: Poor guy just can't catch a break no matter what happens. If he's not imprisoned for his involvement of the (attempted) murder of Vaughn, then he'll be blamed for the purge of the Alienage afterward and be ostracized by his own people.
  • Interspecies Romance: In his epilogue (City Elf PC only), he marries a human woman and has many children with her.
  • Non-Action Guy: "Don't make me regret this laterrrrr!"
  • Took a Level in Badass: The PC seems to be the only elf in the alienage who has actually been trained in combat, but Soris still does his job accompanying them storming the Arl's estate.

Marjolaine

"Oh, Leliana, do you even know why you excelled in the arts I taught you? It's because you loved the game, you loved the power it gave you."

An Orlesian Bard and Leliana's former friend and mentor. She is a key figure in Leliana's past. Voiced by Kath Soucie.

  • The Archer: In possession of one of the best longbows in the game.
  • Artificial Stupidity: Her "Captivating Song" ability continually stuns everyone in the immediate vicinity, making it quite lethal when there's backup around to take care of the damage-dealing part of combat. If you fight her, it's quite possible to lure her away from her lackeys, and she continues to sing the song even as you whale her to death at your leisure.
  • Evil Counterpart: To Leliana, obviously.
  • Fantasy Counterpart Culture: An Orlesian with a thick French accent, like Leliana.
  • Hannibal Lecture: Gives a good one if you confront her with Leliana in the party.
  • Manipulative Bitch
  • Not So Different: She insists she and Leliana aren't. You are given the option of convincing Leliana either way.
  • Skippable Boss: You can persuade her to go away and never bother Leliana again instead of fighting her if you wish.

Isabela

"The ship is the best teacher. She will guide you with her sighs... her shudders, her gentle swaying as she rides the crests of the waves."

A female pirate, captain of the ship Siren's Call, she is staying at the Pearl in Denerim during the events of Origins. She's only a minor character in that game (although she is the only person who can teach the Warden the "Duelist" specialization), but in the sequel she's slated to be a primary companion. Voiced by Mika Simmons.

  • Action Girl: She rather easily dispatches an entire crew of ruffians that accosts her when you initially encounter her, and is stated to have fought dozens if not hundreds of duels over the years.
  • Ascended Extra: She's a Companion character and Romantic Option in the sequel after only a brief appearance in the original.
  • The Captain: Casamir, one of the men on her ship, indicates that she's extremely beloved by her crew.
  • Double Entendre: She will hit on a (sufficiently charismatic) Warden of either gender with nautical-themed ones:

"I could use those strong hands at my... helm."

  • Dual-Wielding: Like most melee-oriented rogues.
  • A Foursome Is Hot / A Foursome Is Manly: She's up for pretty much any sexual configuration your party can throw at her.
  • Fragile Speedster: Her distinctive fighting style is predicated on speed and subterfuge rather than brute force, although we don't see much of it in action.
  • The Ladette: Seems to enjoy drinking, card-playing, and sex as much as any of her male crewmates.
  • Not Cheating Unless You Get Caught: She insists that the Warden beat her in a card game before she'll teach him or her what she knows; in reality this is impossible and the only way to get her to do so is by catching her cheating, or cheating yourself (or persuading her to sleep with the Warden).
  • Optional Sexual Encounter: Perhaps the most infamous one in the game, though nothing is shown.
  • One-Scene Wonder: She only has one scene in the entire game, but was popular/infamous enough to be made a full companion in the sequel.
  • Pirate Girl: She's the captain of her ship, no less.
  • Really Gets Around: According to Zevran.
  • Thigh-High Boots: Leather boots, exactly.

Wade and Herren

One of the greatest armor smiths in Ferelden, Wade is an obsessive perfectionist whose attention to detail nearly forced him into destitution. Herren is a skilled merchant and the manager of Wade's shop; under his guidance, Wade's armor shop has become a profitable enterprise. However, Wade has a tendency to ignore his commissioned orders if a customer approaches him with materials of superior quality, much to Herren's chagrin. In the Darkspawn Chronicles DLC, Herren is a Desire Demon, although since the DLC takes place in an Alternate Universe, this is not canon. The two return in Awakening. Wade is voiced by Pat Fraley whereas Herren is voiced by Cam Clarke.

Brother Ferdinand Genitivi

A Brother of the Andrastian Chantry who lives in the Market District of Denerim, Genitivi is one of the Chantry's foremost scholars and the in-universe author of a great many of the entries in the codex relating to the history, culture, and folklore of Ferelden. He's not encountered in the flesh until relatively late in the game, but once the Warden does meet him, he plays a major part in the search for the Urn of Sacred Ashes, on which he is a renowned expert. Voiced by Jason Singer.

  • Absent-Minded Professor
  • Already Undone for You: Given that he's a not much good in a fight, it's something of a mystery how Genitivi manages to get as close to the location of the Urn as he does, since the Warden has to deal with all manner of difficulties in reaching him.
    • He didn't. He was kidnapped from Denerim and held hostage for a sacrifice in Haven.
  • Deadpan Snarker
  • Fantasy Counterpart Culture: He's pretty clearly a stand-in for the real-life medieval monks who preserved ancient scholarship during the Middle Ages.
  • Gentleman and a Scholar
  • Killed to Uphold the Masquerade: Geneviti wants to essentially turn Andraste's Ashes into a tourist attraction. One of your options is to throw a dagger into his forehead.
  • The Munchausen: He has a reputation as a teller of tall tales, or at the very least a serial exaggerator, but at least in regards to the Urn he's telling the truth.
  • Non-Action Guy: As he says himself, he's a scholar, not a fighter.
  • Renaissance Man: Judging from the excerpts of his writings you get to read, he's an expert on Ferelden history, art, literature, religion, and culture, if not more.
  • Walking the Earth: In his travels he's covered the length and breadth of Thedas.

Dwarves

Bodahn Feddic

"If there's anything I can do for you, please, please tell me."

A dwarven merchant whom the Warden and his companions rescue on the Imperial Highway outside of Lothering, Bodahn and his adopted son Sandal thereafter travel with the party, providing a ready source of supplies as well as enchanting services. He appears in Dragon Age II with Sandal, later becoming Hawke's manservant. Bodahn is voiced by Dwight Schultz.

  • Adam Smith Hates Your Guts: Despite the fact that you save his life and he claims to be offering you a discount out of gratitude, Bodahn's prices are actually quite high compared to those of other merchants in the game.
  • Disc One Nuke: Provided you can afford them, he offers access to some very powerful items quite early in the game.
  • Fell Off the Back of a Truck: Or the medieval fantasy equivalent - where most of his goods come from, as he'll admit if you press him.
  • Friend in the Black Market: As he says, you're fortunate to have someone around dealing such valuable items with the Blight coming.
  • Intrepid Merchant

Sandal Feddic

"Enchantment....? ENCHANTMENT!!!"

The adopted son of the dwarven merchant, Bodahn Feddic. Sandal is...special, to say the least as he is lyrium-addled. However, he has a unique and natural talent when it comes to enchanting, displaying skill that surpasses that of even grandmasters. He follows the party along with his father and the two offer their services in the party camp. At the end of the game, Sandal can be found in the final dungeon so that the party can replenish supplies before the final battle. He is also surrounded by numerous darkspawn corpses, all of whom have mysteriously died... Voiced by Yuri Lowenthal.

Bhelen Aeducan

The cunning and intelligent Third Prince of Orzammar, and younger brother to the Dwarven Noble PC. He wishes to become king so that he may end Orzammar's isolationism, but the fact that the Dwavern Noble PC and Trian, the eldest of the three siblings, are clearly favored as candidates for the crown make his succession unlikely. Unless, of course, a tragic "accident" were to befall his siblings... Voiced by Wally Wingert.

  • Affably Evil
  • Alternative Character Interpretation: In-universe, no less. The Dwarf Noble player character can tell Bhelen that they finally realize that Bhelen was only following the unwritten rules of dwarven politics, and that Bhelen was only "playing the game", and admits that Bhelen is the only one suited to politics among his brothers. Bhelen naturally approves.
  • Ambition Is Evil: Subverted. If you are a Dwarf Noble he frames you and kills your brother, and it is implied that he poisoned his father, the king. He is eager to kill off any competitor to the throne and kicks the dog any time something gets in his way. But if he gets the throne, it can be said that he becomes a strong king and empowers Orzammar economically, recovers some of the thaigs lost to the darkspawn in certain circumstances, and gives the casteless greater rights.
  • Corrupt Politician: Debates between his supporters and Harrowmont's often result in armed combat. Side against him and town criers on his payroll will claim you worship demons. Should he win the election, he has Harrowmont executed. This guy takes the concept of an ugly smear campaign to a whole new level, and the worst part is, he's the more competent choice.
  • Defiant to the End: Should the player side against him and he lose the election, he attacks them, and must be fought as a boss; this is not a problem with Harrowmont.
  • Evil Prince: This trope fits Bhelen to a 'T', although he turns out to be a skilled, albeit ruthless ruler..
  • The Extremist Was Right: But was it worth it?
  • Like Father, Like Son: He believes his father used similar underhanded methods to remove his own elder brother.
  • Manipulative Bastard: AND HOW.
  • Malicious Slander: Not only uses it against Harrowmont, but against you if you side against him.
  • Not-So-Harmless Villain: In the Dwarf Noble origin, he seems to be a bit of an idiot. Then he tricks you into / frames you for killing Trian.
  • Pet the Dog: Some that aren't very apparent - if you play the Dwarf Commoner origin. In the Commoner origin, your sister Rica mentions that not only has she met a noble, but that he's also very kind to her and has agreed to move her and her family out of Dust Town. When you return to Orzammar, this man is revealed to be Bhelen. This is less clear otherwise for other origins, but there is some dialogue around the city which says Bhelen's in a relationship with a casteless.
    • If you go into Bhelen's room immediately after the start of the Dwarf Noble origin you'll see her there too, so its confirmed that she's Bhelen's gf even if you pick other origins.
  • Pyrrhic Victory: If the Dwarf Noble decides to make him King. Bhelen has had his father and eldest brother murdered and getting his sibling exiled to secure his throne, only for him/her to come back as a Grey Warden, still command the respect from the people of Orzammar and instead of getting revenge, be the one that Bhelen owes his throne too. Even worse, while Bhelen is the King he's always wanted to be... his sibling is then declared a Paragon.
  • The Unfettered
  • Well-Intentioned Extremist: Despite his ruthlessness, he genuinely seeks to change Orzammar for the better. And if chosen as king, he does.

Lord Pyral Harrowmont

The best friend and confidant of King Endrin Aeducan. At Endrin's request, he tries to claim the throne to stop Bhelen's schemes. Voiced by Robin Sachs.

  • Corrupt Politician: Truthfully, he's no better than Bhelen, using the same sleazy and dishonest methods to gain power.
  • Creepy Monotone: At times.
  • Fantastic Racism: He hates the casteless.
  • Honor Before Reason: He follows Orzammar's laws and traditions to the letter. So he doesn't resist if King Bhelen has him executed.
  • Laser-Guided Karma: If a falsely accused dwarf noble warden gets him his kingship.
  • Not Quite the Right Thing: If chosen as king, will turn out to be ineffectual and traditional. Harrowmont passes several isolation- and seclusion- related bills to placate the noble caste and causes further stagnation in Dwarven society.
  • Malicious Slander: Again, he's just as bad as Bhelen.
  • Not So Different: Resorts to the same malicious slander and Blatant Lies that Bhelen does.
  • Reasonable Authority Figure: In the Dwarf Noble origin.
    • Again to the Warden upon reaching Orzammar, refusing to stoop to Bhelen's underhand tactics and instead requesting the Warden only do tasks that are to the letter of Dwarven law and honour.
  • Unexpected Successor: Endrin appointed Harrowmont as his successor on his deathbed over his own son. But given said son practically killed both his brothers and then poisoned Endrin himself... Harrowmont himself claims he never wanted to be king, but runs since Endrin wished it so.

Branka

The only Paragon in four generations, Branka was a master smith who invented a new kind of fuel that allowed Orzammar to increase its production level by a third and ended many diseases related to it. She also happens to be Oghren's wife, who left him two years ago to search the Deep Roads for an artifact that was said to restore the glory of the Dwarven Kingdom. Whichever candidate for the throne the PC supports, Branka's vote is the final push they need to take the throne... assuming she can be found. Voiced by Helen Wilson.

  • All Girls Want Bad Boys: Implied to be one of the reasons she married Oghren.
  • Badass Bookworm: In addition to her intellect, is also a good fighter with a sword and shield.
  • Brainy Brunette: The only current Paragon has dark brown hair.
  • Broken Pedestal: Let's just say that by the time you actually meet her, you'll find yourself wondering why the dwarves revere her as a Paragon.
  • Butch Lesbian
  • Depraved Bisexual: Apparently.
    • Well, except that this was her only humanizing factor, which she cheerfully discarded when she was made to choose between relationship and obsession.
  • The Determinator: Insanely so when it comes to the Anvil. She has no problem in sacrificing anything and everything to get there.
  • Even Evil Has Standards: In Golems of Amgarrak, it's revealed that she knew about what was going on in the titular Thaig, but either found it too inhumane or too dangerous to consider using.
  • Girlish Pigtails: Inverted to hell and back. Branka is tough, driven and rather insane.
  • Insufferable Genius
  • Jumping Off the Slippery Slope: Its implied that she was originally a somewhat stable, though eccentric woman, but eventually she became so obsessed with finding the Anvil that by the time of the game's story, its literally the only thing she cares about anymore.
  • The Ladette: She's an interesting take on this trope, but even Oghren says that she was barely more of a woman than him.
  • Meaningful Name: Branka is a form of the slavic name Branislava, which almost literally means 'defender of glory'. Perhaps unintentional is the other meaning: the word branka means 'goal' (at least when one is referring to soccer).
  • My God, What Have I Done?: After siding with her, the Warden can convince her that she has truly gone mad and that the Anvil of the Void is an Artifact of Doom, afterwards she'll not only destroy it but jumps into lava soon afterwards.
  • Psycho Lesbian: An interesting inversion. Coldly condemning her lesbian lover to A Fate Worse Than Death to further her goal of acquiring the Anvil of the Void is part of what makes her a monster.
  • Tsundere: From Oghren's conversations, its quite clear that Branka altered between "loving and caring" to "violently beating people up" with regularity.

Oghren: Truth is, I don't know. She was almost crazier than when we were married, it looked like.
Shale: Almost? It is exaggerating, surely.
Oghren: Branka was always a bit twitchy. There was that day she took her forging hammer to my head for misplacing her tongs... ah, good times.
Shale: I am finding the nature of its relationship to this Branka difficult to imagine.
Oghren: Make-up sex. She really knew how to polish the old anvil, if you take my meaning! (Whistles) Paragon! (Laughs)
Shale: I am done imagining, now.

  • Villain Override: She turns some of the golems to her side in the fight against her.
  • Well-Intentioned Extremist: Her seeking of the Anvil of the Void is to ensure the Dwarves can build an army to wage war against the Darkspawn, retake territory, and rebuild their empire. The way she sees it, no price is too high for that. A particularly ruthless or desperate warden may agree, possibly when prompted by Zevran.

Hespith

Hespith is the commander of the Branka's troops as well as the Paragon's former lover. When Branka disappeared into the Deep Roads along with her entire House, Hespith went with her, and she's presumed lost by the people of Orzammar. She turns up near the end of the Warden's search for the Anvil of the Void, however, offering some helpful information about Branka as well as what became of the rest of the house. Voiced by Wendy Braun.

Rica

Sister of the Dwarven Commoner PC, Rica was forced into noble-hunting by the crime lord Berath, while her sibling pays off the debts from the lessons to make her act like a noble lady through dirty work. Voiced by Corri English.

  • Babies Ever After: After the dwarf commoner origin story, she gives birth to Bhelen's son Endrin and becomes an official royal concubine - given that Bhelen does apparently actually love her, she's as close to being queen as anyone in Orzammar can get. According to the town criers he intends to marry her as well.
  • Gold Digger: Not that as a casteless dwarf she has much choice about it.
  • High-Class Call Girl
  • Hooker with a Heart of Gold
  • Morality Pet: To Bhelen and possibly to a Dwarf Commoner PC.
  • Rags to Riches: Orzammar criers announce that Prince Bhelen actually intends to marry her.

Leske

Best friend of the Dwarf Commoner PC, Leske works with the PC as one of Beraht's casteless thugs. Voiced by Brian Bloom.

  • Boisterous Bruiser
  • Deadpan Snarker: His conversations can be a good source of witty banter between him and the PC.
  • Face Heel Turn
  • Genre Savvy: He gives a pretty good speech about how Your Princess Is in Another Castle if you announce your intention to take over the Carta after killing Beraht, pointing out that he has a powerful family and many connections, as well as the fact that his death left a power vacuum they couldn't possibly fill.In retrospect, this also makes him Dangerously Genre Savvy
  • Loveable Rogue: His cheerful, devil-may-care attitude, enthusiasm for his job and tendency to flirt with virtually every woman he encounters (including a female Dwarf Commoner) as well as his encouraging you to join the Grey Wardens when Duncan offers you to make him a rather archetypical one. This is tragically subverted later in the game however, when he willingly betrays you in order to secure his position as Jarvia's lover and second-in-command and doesn't express a hint of remorse.
  • My Sister Is Off-Limits: A possible reaction to his open lust for your sister.
  • Those Two Guys: If the Dwarf Commoner is male.
  • Vitriolic Best Buds: Possibly, depending on dialogue choices.

Gorim

The second of the Dwarven Noble PC. Voiced by Steve Blum. '

"Why not? I'll just wear a sign that says "assassinate me before Lady Aeducan marries beneath her'."

  • Dogged Nice Guy / Star-Crossed Lovers: Depending on what the female dwarf noble PC chooses
  • Retired Badass: If you haven't played through the Dwarf Noble origin, you would never guess that the somewhat snarky merchant you met in Denerim was formerly a badass soldier.
  • Undying Loyalty: While it's up to the player to establish what the dwarf noble PC's relationship with their second is like (lovers, friends, master and servant), Gorim's loyalty to his Lord/Lady Aeducan will be one of his defining traits throughout the origin sequence. To the point where it is neatly and efficiently used after Trian's murder to condemn him via guilt by association. "Your loyalty makes you a useless witness, Ser Gorim." He's not loyal enough to stay faithful to the female PC he's in love with, though, although in his defense, he had no way of knowing that the Warden was still alive.

Trian Aeducan

The eldest of the three Aeducan siblings, and the direct heir to Orzammar's throne. Despite his status, he isn't very popular due to his poor attitude. Voiced by Zach Hanks.

  • 0% Approval Rating: Let's just say that the only reason he's in line for the throne is because he's the eldest sibling. And its quite likely he was going to be passed over in favor of the middle child anyway.
  • Failure Is the Only Option: Even if you decide not to have him killed as per Bhelen's suggestion, he winds up dead anyway.
  • Jerkass: And how! According to Bhelen, he once told a legless boy to essentially suck it up and deal.

Beraht

The leader of the Carta, one of Orzammar's largest crime syndicates. He dreams of becoming a noble and moving to the Diamond Quarter. The Dwarf Commoner PC and his/her sister, Rica, are forced to work for him due to their Casteless status. Voiced by Pat Fraley

Jarvia

Beraht's second-in-command, who takes over the Carta after his death. Like him, she cultivates allies among the people of Orzammar, both common and noble, which makes it difficult for the authorities to act against her. Both Bhelen and Harrowmont will ask the Warden to eliminate her in order to curry favor with the assembly. Voiced by Salli Saffioti.

  • Depraved Bisexual
  • Gayngster
  • Justified Criminal: Many of the people of Dust Town consider her one, to the point that they'll attack the Warden for killing her.
  • The Mafia: Takes over as the boss after Beraht's death.
  • Villain with Good Publicity: As with her boss, she's got lots of connections, and is actually fairly well-liked among the inhabitants of Dust Town, whom she looks after. At least the ones that aren't cowering in fear at the mere mention of her.

Caridin

An ancient dwarven smith of legendary skill and one of Orzammar's most famous Paragons, Caridin was the creator of the Golems. At the time of Origins his home thaig has long since fallen to the Darkspawn and everyone assumes the discoveries he made are Lost Forever, but Branka is fascinated by his research and goes into the Deep Roads in an attempt to recover it. It turns out he's still alive, having been turned into a golem himself when he objected to the king of Orzammar forcibly conscripting his subjects to become golems. Voiced by David Lodge.

  • Artifact of Doom: In his opinion, this is what the Anvil of the Void is.
  • Fate Worse Than Death: He only realized that being turned into a golem was this when he was turned into a golem himself.
  • Forging Scene: If you choose to side with him, he forges a crown for the new king of Orzammar for you.
  • Golem
  • Human Resources: He discovers that as powerful as the Anvil of the Void is, it cannot create life from scratch - meaning he has to use dwarves to make golems.
  • I Cannot Self-Terminate: Not exactly, because he can and will once the Anvil of the Void is destroyed. But prior to that he won't, because he can't destroy the Anvil himself and is unwilling to risk allowing it to fall into the wrong hands.
  • My God, What Have I Done?: He eventually came to view his research this way.
  • Skippable Boss: Though if you don't fight him, you'll have to fight Branka instead.
  • Ultimate Blacksmith: Could seriously be a contender for the ultimate one in the history of Thedas.

Ruck

Ruck is a young Dwarf who was stranded in the Deep Roads for five years. Like anyone abandoned there, he's grown deformed and half-mad from consuming Darkspawn flesh. However, he is willing to trade with you, and is essentially a store in the middle of the Dark Roads.

The Tower of Magi

First Enchanter Irving

The First Enchanter of the Circle of Mages, Irving is a prominent and powerful mage who tries to compromise with the templars and ensure that both sides of the conflict receive fair judgment. Voiced by Steve Blum.

  • The Archmage
  • Badass Beard
  • Badass Bookworm
  • Cool Old Guy: "Maker, I'm too old for this." Doesn't impede his badassitude one bit.
  • Creepy Monotone
  • Deadpan Snarker: When Greagoir gets a bit hypocritical.
    • Also when he snarkily notes who thought it was a good idea to build the Circle in a tower with so many stairs, given the age of some of the Mages (including him).
  • Guest Star Party Member
  • The Obi-Wan: Is this to the Mage Warden. Irving gives some good last minute advice before the Harrowing and later does as much as he can to defend you to Greagoir. Its implied numerous times that Irving took on the Mage Warden as their apprentice, and apparently talks up a storm about his star pupil to others, as Duncan recognises you pretty much immediately, Wynne has heard about your "remarkable self-confidence", and even Loghain has heard of you and concedes its impressive to be so well regarded by the First Enchanter at such a young age.
  • Not So Stoic: If he confronts Connor's demon, he becomes enraged for possibly the only time in the game
  • Parental Substitute: Is implied that the Mage Warden regards him as such.
  • Shut UP, Hannibal: If he's chosen to go into the Fade to save Connor, he gives a very satisfying one to the demon.

Do you think me a FOOL?!

  • So Proud of You: To the Mage Warden after they defeat the Archdemon. Irving says he never imagined the day when people would be celebrating in the street and singing the praises of a Mage as their national hero.
  • Squishy Wizard
  • Vitriolic Best Buds: Apparently, he and Knight Commander Greagoir are not entirely unfriendly, despite their frequently clashing opinions.
  • Wizard Classic: Complete with a traditional Wizard Beard.


Knight Commander Greagoir

Leader of the templars in the Circle tower. Greagoir is unpopular with most of the mages for his strict and uncompromising attitude, but is not entirely unmovable. Voiced by Brian George.

  • By-The-Book Cop
  • Da Chief: To Cullen, should the player side with the mages.
  • Jerk with a Heart of Gold: He supports the Chantry's hard-line stance against magic and keeps the mages locked up in the Tower where he can keep an eye on them, but he is not so unreasonable as to persist with the Annulment once given the all-clear, and much of what he does is out of a sense of duty to his position.
  • Knight Templar: Subverted, as until the Grey Warden arrives, what was going on in the Circle tower more than justifies his actions. Also he is willing to draw back his order to exterminate the Circle of Magi once the Grey Warden successfully neutralizes the threat and saves Irving.
    • However, it's heavily implied that he doesn't care at all for the mages in the Tower save Irving, and will only stop the Rite if Irving, and only Irving, makes it out.
      • Given the circumstances, a truly inflexible Templar (like Meredith from DA2) would already have signed the death warrant for everything still alive in the Tower without a moment's hesitation. That Greagoir is still willing to call the Rite off if the First Enchanter can testify that the demon incursion is now rendered safe is a measure of how moderate he is. (As to why he won't accept anyone less than Irving... consider that the guy leading said demon-powered mutiny, Uldred, was effectively Irving's second-in-command.)
  • Vitriolic Best Buds: With Irving.

Jowan

The best friend of the Mage PC, Jowan is an apprentice who is highly anxious about getting to his Harrowing. He and a Chantry initiate, Lily, are in a secret relationship and wish to elope - this sentiment is reinforced when Lily finds an order to make Jowan Tranquil, as he is suspected of being a Blood Mage. Desperate, they enlist the Mage PC's help. Voiced by Desmond Askew.

  • Aborted Arc: Originally, it was intended that one of the ways to decide his fate after the resolution of the Redcliffe plotline would have been to make him undergo the Joining and become a party member, but the idea was scrapped as it didn't fit into the overall storyline. A shame, really, because there are probably too few mages among the game's recruitable characters (and too many warriors), and because the only way to gain access to the Blood Mage specialization is to agree to let a demon have the soul of a young child, unless you Take a Third Option and pass a very difficult Intimidate check.
  • The Atoner: He comes quite a Woobie when he decides that he's done enough damage and just wants to atone for everything, even quietly accepting death or A Fate Worse Than Death (becoming Tranquil), which is the entire reason he fled and became an Apostate in the first place.
  • Blood Magic
  • Dangerous Forbidden Technique: Blood Magic, obviously. Moreso in his case because he knows it's dangerous.
  • Face Death with Dignity: If you opt to execute him in the prison cell he's locked in, he accepts it quietly and understandably.
  • Good Is Dumb: Despite being a Blood Mage, he's actually quite weak, as you'll discover if you attempt to use him to rescue Connor from the Desire Demon. This comes as a surprise after he uses Blood Magic to blast his way past a small army of mages and templars attempting to apprehend him during the mage origin story. Of course all evil Blood Mages in the game are, unlike him, extremely powerful.
  • Guest Star Party Member
  • Hero with an F In Good: Poor fool can't seem to do anything well-meaning without the consquences spiraling out of control.
  • Inept Mage
  • Like Brother and Sister: Platonic with a female Mage PC. He even mentions she's like a sister to him.
  • My Greatest Failure: Learning Blood Magic, which lost him his one true love, made him a wanted Apostate and his friendship with the Mage Warden.
  • Star-Crossed Lovers: With Lily.
  • What Could Have Been: Originally meant as a party member, Jowan was cut due to no way of implementing his turning into a Grey Warden into the party roster.

Lily

A Chantry initiate working in the Circle Tower. She is in love with Jowan, despite the fact that intimacy between Mages and Chantry members is forbidden. Voiced by Wendee Lee

  • My God, What Have I Done?: When she learns that Jowan lied to her and really is a Blood Mage, she is horrified that she helped him and willingly accepts being sentenced to Aeonar.
  • Naughty Nuns: As a Chantry initiate, she is sworn to a vow of celibacy, which she violates by getting involved with Jowan.
  • Star-Crossed Lovers: With Jowan.
  • The Woobie: If the player is sufficiently forgiving of Jowan's bullshit later on in the game then Jowan can potentially end up in a relatively decent position (still alive, not in a cell, and helping refugees), but nothing can save Lily from ending up in the "mage's prison" of Aeonar. Which is basically 'Azkaban, only worse'. And she was by all appearances an entirely decent and caring young woman whose only flaw was in falling in love with the wrong man, and then believing she was justified in helping him escape the Templars.
    • And also honorable enough to turn herself in and confess the instant Jowan revealed himself as a blood mage. She could have tried telling a 'I was under the blood mage's spell!' story instead, and maybe even have succeeded, but instead she didn't hesitate at the truth. It would appear that the only reason she helped Jowan escape in the first place was her belief that he was an innocent mage about to be made Tranquil unjustly[1], which arguably roots her entire rebellion in a sincere devotion to Chantry ideals, not a rejection of them. And her reward for this? Aeonar. She truly is one of the most tragic characters in the series.
  • What the Hell, Hero?: She is not happy when she learns of Jowan's deceit.

Uldred

One of the mages of the Circle sent to help the army at Ostagar. Turns out to be a traitor when he tries to turn the Circle into abominations in his fanatic support of Loghain. Voiced by Barry Dennen.

Cullen

A young templar at the Circle tower, Cullen harbors a long-standing infatuation with the female Mage PC, despite knowing of the impossibility of this sentiment. He appears in Dragon Age II as a Knight-Captain in Kirkwall. Voiced by Greg Ellis.

  • Anguished Declaration of Love: To the female mage. Subverted horribly when he proclaims that he no longer cares that she knows, because the massacre had turned all mages into possible monsters in his eyes.
  • Break the Cutie: Especially pronounced if your character is a female mage.
  • Cowboy Cop: His method of dealing with the blood mages? Kill'Em All. Justified, though, after the Cold-Blooded Torture he was forced to endure, seeing his fellow templars break and die.
  • Cannot Spit It Out: Subverted; while he's certainly strongly infatuated with the female mage and keeps stuttering around her, his occupation forbids him from even thinking about telling her about it.
  • Everyone Can See It: Even mage apprentices around the tower gossip about how taken he is with the female mage PC. And not covertly, either.

Female Apprentice: I heard Cullen is in love with you!

  • Foreshadowing: When you first meet him in the Mage origin, he asks you if you think there are Abominations that could pass as ordinary people. Come the demon invasion on the Tower, and this seemingly innocent comment has become his entire character...
  • Jumping Off the Slippery Slope: In the epilogue, if you sided with the Mages, he loses what little sanity he has left, butchers several apprentices, and flees the Tower. Its heavily implied that he goes on to become a wanted serial killer.
    • In Dragon Age II, he gets better. He's still quite shook up over what happened to the Circle Tower, but he's not a raving loon.
  • Love Hurts: And how. Actually, if the Warden is a female mage, this goes as far as being a justified version of Love Makes You Crazy - the visions demons tormented him with contained her, presumably showing her seducing him or being married to him (which is forbidden for templars).
  • Mind Rape: The Desire Demons tempting him with visions of the female mage Warden were rather thorough.
  • Nice Guy: At first.
  • Reasonable Authority Figure: In his appearance in Dragon Age II, he's calmed down and quite reasonable, for a Templar. There's a bit of a fake-out involving him roughly interrogating a Templar apprentice, but it turns out that Templar is possessed by a demon, and Cullen admits he was just trying to intimidate the boy, not kill him.
  • Shrinking Violet: A male version towards the female mage. If the Warden is a male mage, he seems perfectly normal.
  • Star-Crossed Lovers: With the female mage PC, sort of. It's up to the player how the PC feels about it, but regardless, Cullen isn't free to act on his feelings because she's a mage and he's a templar. As the above tropes indicate, it doesn't end well for him. It's implied in Dragon Age II that he still has strong feelings for her. If you import an Origins save with a female Mage Warden, he'll comment on it if you talk to him in act two.

Cullen: I knew an Amell once. (Stares off into the distance)

  • Unexplained Recovery: No matter his fate, Cullen appears in Dragon Age II as a sane Templar relatively sympathetic of mages.

Brecilian Forest Residents

Keeper Zathrian

The keeper of the Dalish clan that the Warden seeks aid from. His clan is under attack by a pack of werewolves led by Witherfang. He created Witherfang to seek revenge on a tribe of humans who killed his family. Voiced by Tim Russ.

  • Bald of Not So Good
  • Blood Magic: He created Witherfang and the werewolf curse using his own blood as a catalyst for the ritual (granting him immortality as long as the curse is active as a bonus).
  • Casting Gag: This isn't the first stoical, pointy-eared man that Tim Russ has played.
  • Fantastic Racism: He hates humans.
    • More specifically, he hates the human tribe that used to live in the forest. He's polite enough to the Warden.
  • Immortality Immorality: He cannot die of natural causes as long as the werewolf curse exists.
  • Papa Wolf: His apprentice, Lanaya, relates a story of how he slaughtered a group of bandits who murdered one of his clan's scouts.
    • This is also the reason why he unleashes the curse on humans - his son was beaten to death and his daughter was raped and committed suicide when she learned that she was pregnant.
  • Redemption Equals Death: If he releases the curse.
  • Roaring Rampage of Revenge: Why he unleashed the curse and lets it continue.
  • The Stoic
  • Who Wants to Live Forever?: The Warden can convince him that his long life has only succeeded in making him more angry.


Witherfang or the Lady of the Forest

The werewolf responsible for the curse that is afflicting Zathrian's clan. It was created when Zathrian forced the spirit of the Brecillian Forest into the body of a powerful wolf. It has two personalities: the savage Witherfang and the maternal Lady of the Forest. The Lady of the Forest is voiced by Emma Fielding.

  • Anthropomorphic Personification: Of the Brecilian forest.
  • Black Eyes of Evil: Not evil and probably nicer than Zathrian, but her eyes are the same as those of a Desire demon. It's possible that she was one a very, very long time ago.
  • Death Seeker: The Lady knows that ending the curse would end her existence as a sapient being but wants Zathrian to do it anyway.

The Lady of the Forest: You are my maker Zathrian. You gave me form and consciousness where none existed. I have known pain and love, hope and fear, all the joy that is life. Yet of all things, I desire nothing more than an end. I beg you maker, put an end to me... we beg you... have mercy

  • Godiva Hair: As the Lady of the Forest. Though interestingly enough, she doesn't actually appear to have nipples judging by her hair falling a bit short. Though why would she?
  • Jekyll and Hyde: Witherfang is a violent, male wolf whereas the Lady is calm, female and humanoid.
  • Nature Spirit: Her appearance is basically that of a dryad.
  • Our Werewolves Are Different
  • Voluntary Shapeshifting: Both a dryad and a wolf. Both are expressions of her true self.

The Grand Oak

A sentient oak tree that dwells in the West Brecilian Forest, the Grand Oak holds the key to passing through the barriers that guard the heart of the forest, and thus stands in the way of the Warden's pursuit of the beast Witherfang. He speaks entirely in rhyme and, unlike other walking trees in the forest, does not attack the Warden on sight. Voiced by Fred Tatasciore.

Perhaps a poet's soul's in me... does that make me a poet tree?

    • If called on the pun:

It was just a simple jest, with which to entertain my guest.

Tamlen

Fellow hunter of the Dalish Elf PC, Tamlen is seen last when he and the PC discover a strange mirror in undead-infested ruins. Voiced by Chris Edgerly.

Darkspawn

The Archdemon

The leader of the armies of Darkspawn invading Fereldan. As long as he lives, the Blight will continue forever. His true identity is Urthemiel, the Tevinter god of beauty.

  • Big Bad
  • Body Surf: The Archdemon can do this among the Darkspawn, which is why it's necessary for a Grey Warden to either perform Morrigan's ritual or make a Heroic Sacrifice in order to kill it.
  • Cowardly Boss
  • Fluffy the Terrible: It's the former Old God of Beauty.
  • Gone Horribly Wrong: The Architect's attempt to turn him into a Disciple to free all darkspawn from the Old Gods at once resulted in the very Blight he sought to avoid.
  • Grand Theft Me: If slain, he can transmit his soul to the nearest Darkspawn or the Grey Warden who killed him. Doing so to the former causes it to transform the darkspawn's body into one resembling its previous one. Doing so to the latter kills them both.
  • Our Dragons Are Different
  • [[spoiler:Sequential Boss: Has four distinct phases, one for each 25% of his health.
  • Taking You with Me: He cannot be killed without the Grey Warden who delivers the final blow dying too.
  • Tragic Monster: Read his codex once you've visited the Dead Trenches and discover what he once was.
  • The Unintelligible: Like most other Darkspawn, he communicates in roars and shrieks. Alistair claims that Grey Wardens are eventually able to interpret at least some of his roars in their dreams. The Darkspawn Chronicles DLC allows the player to finally understand his screeching. Apparently he's quite tactical.

The Broodmother

A gigantic, hideous monster that dwells in an abandoned dwarven fortress in the Deep Roads, the Broodmother stands in the way of the Warden's search for the lost Paragon Branka. She is actually a former dwarf woman named Laryn, who was a member of Branka's house before being captured by the Darkspawn and infected with the taint. She and her ilk give birth to new Darkspawn.

  1. ↑ While she is clearly in love with him, her actions at the end make it plain that she does not consider 'love' a sufficient cause to aid a blood mage.
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