The setting and backstory of the Dragon Age series are as follows:
- World Infrastructure:
- Material Realm and Shadow Realm: the story mainly takes place in the continent called Sedas, which is divided into the Material Realm, where mortals reside, and the Shadow Realm, which is similar to the world of Ri. The Shadow Realm is widely considered to be the root of Sedarth’s magic, and there is no end to the magic in it. Creatures that can dream enter the Shadow Realm in their dreams, and the rules here are ‘mind over matter, mind over matter’, where creatures’ thoughts and emotions are reflected in the Shadow Realm, and individuals with strong wills can shape things as they wish in the Shadow Realm.
- Shadow Tent/Phantom Curtain: Between the Shadow Realm and the Material Realm, there is an invisible special force field that separates the two, making it impossible for the two to communicate with each other at will; this special force field is called the Shadow Tent or the Phantom Curtain. In the Material Realm, only a small portion of people can penetrate this special force field and use the magic of the Shadow Realm to cast spells, these people are called mages.
- Major Races:
- Elves: generally slender in size, with strong ties to the Shadow Realm. They used to have a glorious civilisation and an independent country, the Kingdom of the Vale, but are now second-class citizens and marginal members of human society. Some of the elves believe in the human’s Androstan orthodox religion, while a large number of elves who call themselves the ‘Remnants of the Vale’ are nomadic and migratory in the form of tribes, retaining their traditional polytheistic beliefs and the custom of tattooing their faces.
- Dwarves: Short and sturdy. Possess an underground kingdom with Ozma as its capital and its underground avenues connecting the regions. The Dwarves revere the deep rocky earth, their ancestors, and the highly decorated ‘Heroes’. The society is based on a caste system, and being stripped of one’s caste or banished to the surface as a ‘pariah’ is a severe punishment. Many Dwarves have voluntarily come to live on the surface, creating a distinction between their culture and that of their counterparts underground.
- Humans: Medium-sized and widespread, dominant on the continent of Sedarth, with a high degree of cultural diversity. Some of the more influential human nations include the Imperial Kingdom of Tavent in Northern Sedas and the Orai Empire in Southern Sedas. Most of the human nations follow the Androstean Orthodox religion, but there are exceptions, such as Leviathan. In addition, there are a number of ‘disrespectful’ human clans scattered throughout Sedas.
- Kunari: Giants with greenish-grey skin and generally horned heads. Originally known as the ‘Kossis’, they were later called the Kunari by the humans. They have a strong fighting force and a unique culture. 3.
- Religion:
- Androsti Orthodox Church: A religion practiced by most human nations, it occupies an important place in the religious beliefs of the continent of Sedas. The church holds certain views on the existence of mages and the way they are managed, such as the establishment of a unified militarised mage school to discipline and regulate mages.
- Major Events and Organisations:
- Blight : The invasion of the Darkspawn, known as the Blight, was a major threat to the continent of Sedarth. Darkspawn are evil creatures that emerge from the ground and attack creatures on the surface. In order to stop the threat of the black spirits, the races had joined forces to defend against them and formed the organisation, the Grey Wardens. But as time passed, the Dead Tide fell into oblivion, the Grey Watch declined, and the Black Spirits showed signs of making a comeback.
- Grey Wardens: An organisation dedicated to fighting the Black Spirits, with members from different races. They are specially trained to have the ability and courage to fight the Black Spirits. The Grey Wardens have played an important role in the history of the continent of Sedas, but have faced various challenges and internal conflicts.
- Specific settings for each work’s backstory:
- Dragon Age: Origins: the game takes place in the Kingdom of Ferelden. The Fifth Dead Tide erupts in the southern human kingdom of Ferelden, and players will take on the role of the newest member of the Grey Wardens, leading their teammates to fight against the invasion of the Black Spirits and save the kingdom of Ferelden. Players can customise their character’s race, profession, etc. Different choices will affect the development and ending of the story.
- Dragon Age 2: The story is structured one generation later and takes place in the city of Kirkwall, one of the Free Realms city-states. The protagonist’s family originally lived in a village called Lothlorien, but fled to the Free Realms because of the war, and the protagonist’s adventures began after a robbery occurred on the way. Players will experience various events in the city of Kirkwall and witness the rise and fall of the city as well as the struggle between different forces.
- Dragon Age: Inquisition: Players will take on the role of an Inquisitor, investigating and resolving various crises in the turbulent situation on the continent of Sedas. The game involves political strife between different countries, conflicts between mages and paladins, and the renewed threat of the Black Spirit. Players need to lead their team, explore and fight in various regions to rebuild order.
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