Dragon Age 4 has been confirmed to be set in the Tevinter Imperium. Though this had been suspected for a long time, the possibility remained that Tevinter might only be a small part of the game's overall setting. With the setting confirmed fans of the franchise can finally speculate with confidence about some of the regions in Tevinter that could be brought to life in the next game.
The Tevinter Imperium is a huge nation in northern Thedas. It was the first major human empire established on the continent, destroying the dominance of the Elves and relying on slavery and blood magic for its growth and survival. Many locations in Tevinter have deep ties to Dragon Age lore, so here are the places that could and should appear in Dragon Age 4.
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Minrathous is the most obvious starting point for any Dragon Age game set in Tevinter. Minrathous is the capital of the Tevinter Imperium, and the largest city on the entire continent of Thedas. For a thousand years it was the wealthiest city in the known world, and remains a reminder of Tevinter's once unchallenged dominance of Thedas.
Minrathous was also one of the only places in Tevinter that was able to withstand the Qunari invasion from Par Vollen. The city is on an island with just one bridge connecting it to the main land, and is able to deploy two massive golems known as the Juggernauts to defend itself when the need arises. It seems very likely that Minrathous is the magical city that was shown in Dragon Age 4's trailer at the Game Awards last year. If so, Dragon Age 4 stands set to show off a city unlike any other in Thedas, as magical as it is corrupt, and a bastion that has represented freedom from the Qunari while built with the stones of Kirkwall's slave quarries.
Marnas Pell is a city with a far less fortunate history than Minrathous. Located on the southern shore of the Nocen Sea, Marnas Pell has seen famine, slave rebellion, and invasion over the many eras of the Dragon Age timeline. During the prophet Andraste's campaign north the city was struck by famine and saw a brutal slave uprising.
Marnas Pell was also one of the first victims of the Third Blight in 3:10 Towers. The Darkspawn poured from the Deep Roads to swarm Marnas Pell, Vyrantium, and several Orlesian cities before a defense force could even be organized. Once the Grey Wardens were able to mount a proper counter attack the city was ultimate saved, but suffered heavy losses. Marnas Pell would come under siege from the Darkspawn once again during the Fourth Blight, during the Exalted Age. This time Marnas Pell was rescued by the intervention of the Dwarves of Orzammar.
During the Qunari Wars, Tevinter mages used blood magic to deliver a devastating blow to the Qunari fleet off the coast of Marnas Pell, which was officially denied by the Tevinter Imperium. The evidence of this act remains, however. It is said that so many Qunari were killed that the Veil between Thedas and the Fade is thinner at Marnas Pell than in many other places on the continent. This could prove vital to Solas' plan to destroy the Veil.
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Ventus is one of the oldest cities in Thedas. It sits on the northeastern coast and predates the Imperium itself. It was originally known as Qarinus, named for the human tribe which would eventually be conquered and integrated into the Imperium. The Tevinter Imperium itself was founded when the Imperium's founder Darinius united the kingdoms of Tevinter and Qarinus in -1195 Ancient. Like many Tevinter cities, Ventus was captured by the Qunari during the Storm Age.
One of Tevinter's most important cities, Ventus was the site of a great atrocity to rival the one seen at Marnas Pell. In 9:44 Dragon the Qunari invaded Ventus yet again. Due to a lack of Ben-Hassrath - Qunari Priests - to administer proper dosages, all of the mages in the captured city were given huge amounts of qamek. Qamek is a poison given to those who refuse to convert to the Qun, which in high doses can leave a mind completely blank in a similar way to the Circle's Rite of Tranquility, but far more painfully. This event will likely have made the ongoing conflict between the Qunari and Tevinter even more intense by the time Dragon Age 4 takes place.
The Silent Plains lie on the border of the Imperium and Nevarra. It also borders the Free Marches, and escaped Tevinter slaves often flee to the city of Hasmal just across the border. There is a particular reason, however, that the Silent Plains could be central to the plot of Dragon Age 4.
The Elves of Thedas have a legend about a Dalish clan that lives in the Silent Plains. The Keeper of this mysterious clan was said to have been contacted by the Dread Wolf in their dreams. With Solas the Dread Wolf's return to Thedas, the Dalish clans of the Silent Plains could be vital and may even compose the bulk of his army if he's been preparing them for his eventual return.
The Silent Plains were also the location of the final great battle of the First Blight. It was in the Silent Plains that the archdemon Dumat was finally slain after two centuries. A third of the forces across the united armies of Thedas were lost in the battle, and no plant life grew in the area for a thousand years aside from the Silent Plains Rose.
One of the most haunted places in Thedas, the Silent Plains could be a great place for Dragon Age 4's protagonist to explore, and likely one of the more dangerous areas in the game. With ties to the Dread Wolf and the history of the Grey Wardens, the Silent Plains might be a great way to bring the Grey Wardens back into the main plot of the games by integrating them into the Dread Wolf plotline.
How much of Tevinter will end up being in Dragon Age 4 remains to be seen. Hopefully these key areas from the lore make an appearance, especially if Dragon Age 4 ends up having the kind of large semi-open world seen in Dragon Age: Inquisition.
Dragon Age 4 is currently in development.
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