Let’s talk about some of the most visual interesting concept arts that show up next in the full video.
We have one where two warriors seems to be attacking and defending against something.
If we take a closer look at what the one figure seems to be defending against, we can see black streaks with red highlights.
It seems to have a wispy, but solid appearance; yet it has the same sheen as red lyrium. I would guess it could be an attack from a blighted creature OR it could be a representation of blood magic.
In the background of the image we also see it seems to be some ruins, lighted by day.
If we next go to the defending figure. The first thing that stands out is their armor.
It is a runic gold, with sharp features. The helmet/mask piece has distinct points and the rest of the armor appears made up of cloth. This very specific armor style is something we’ve seen before that Ancient Elvhen wear. So it’s probably safe to say that this is either an Ancient Elvhen like Felassan or Abelas, or a current elf inspired by them. They could even be an agent of the Dread Wolf.
Though they cast their shield with a brand of, what I assume is, magic that I can’t recall in current Thedas. Their shield also seems to use runic pieces of metal, which looks quite similar to the Dread Wolf’s elven foci from Inquisition.
Lastly we can look at the attacking elf.
His armor is slightly different from the other’s armor, more layered with cloth and a fully metal helmet. We see he is an archer, but his bow appears made of the same incorporeal magic as the other elf’s shield. It also uses the same pieces of, possible elven foci as a base and he has loosed the arrow. So we can’t see what the arrow was made of, but it left behind some kind of elemental trail.
What all this says to me, is obviously for something referred to as The Dread Wolf Rises, we shall see more of these elven figures, their unique armor, and mysterious magic weapons. Whether we will get to use and wear them ourselves, who know? But Look At That Profile, Maker I Hope We DO.
So the next two images, I feel are pretty self-explanatory; but we can still take an in-depth look at them. These images return to showing us new locations.
The first one is a keep on a hill, flying flags.
A closer look shows the keep is weathered, worn, and perhaps abandoned; but flying blue flags with some kind of bird or winged creature statue atop the tower. It’s build into a mountain and off in the distance is a lone pillar, perhaps once housing a bridge or monument. There’s not much here to say what this at the moment, so lets move to the next picture and see if we can get a clue from there.
The second picture seems to be a continuance of the first, at least another angle. As we can see the same tower with the winged figurehead.
However, this one shows the valley below. It’s vast, empty, and full of sand. A river and water holes that cut through a canyon. It’s quite familiar to the north parts of Orlais in Inquisition: The Wastes, Approach, and Oasis. This is almost certainly the Anderfels and more specifically, a Warden’s Keep given the griffon statue in the foreground on the left.
To the bottom left, there appears to be more of that crumbled bridge or ruins, referenced in the other picture too. Perhaps a part of the Imperial Highway?
tldr; As expected we will most likely be following up on the Warden plot introduced in Inquisition. As well as getting to see at least a piece of the Anderfels, as seen above. The only question is, will it be as vast and empty as the Hissing Wastes?
Today we’re moving on to the next set of images in The Next Dragon Age video, starting with the one filled with characters in hiding.
For starters, I can say this is in Tevinter. The sharp architecture is an obvious indicator of that much. We also see the Dwarven influences in Tevinter’s streets, due to their strong alliance and dependence. It has that gritty, stone feel; while still being elegant and high quality. Other than this, there doesn’t appear to be anything too exciting with the walls and background of this image.
Though we do see a dark figure in the back that tells us, this is absolutely Tevinter.
This man is tall, imposing, and wearing garbs of the Black Divine (or something similar and clearly Tevene). He is flanked by guards and makes me believe this may be the Imperial Chantry itself.
In the foreground of the picture we see four other figures.
On the left is a large, pale gray Qunari. He appears to be hornless and it seems he might be wearing a cross between traditional Qunari fashion and Tevinter garb. It could just all be Qunari cloth, worn differently than we’ve see. However, he could also be a Tevinter agent, slave, or gladiator. He is either removing or pulling on his helmet.
In the back we have pale-haired mage. On first glance she has a familiar design and I can’t truly place where I’ve seen a similar one, but my second instinct is to wonder if it couldn’t be Calpernia. Given the circumstances of her undetermined fate in Inquisition, even if one chose the mages over the Templars; it is possible for her to show up in Tevinter again. I don’t believe it to be Maevaris Tilani, though she is the other pale-haired Tevinter mage that comes to mind. It’s also completely possible for her to be an entirely new addition. She appears to be a fire-stat mage and truly of Tevinter.
The next person, third from the left I am pretty confident to call Scout Harding. She is shorter than the rest of the members, meaning it is a high possibility of her being Dwarven. She also has Harding’s braid and a similar outfit, the only thing out of place is the crossbow. As Harding was originally a bow and arrow build. Though the replacement of a crossbow isn’t outlandish.
This is strengthened by the last figure on the right. It is uncertain who he is at as glance. However, I wonder if he is not Donal Sutherland. Those who went through his war table missions will know him as the budding leader of the Inquisition’s personal mercenary band; with the Inquisitor as his group’s patron. He is shown to still be around in Tevinter Nights and if you look closely at his chest piece, you can make out the Inquisition heraldry.
He is the only pre-existing character I can think of in this moment with those features, but doesn’t rule out others who I can’t recall. I also thought it might be the Inquisitor themselves (as a default stand-in). If that were the case this character must have a prosthetic or fixture (i.e. magic) for their arm to still be functional, as shown here, after the events of Trespasser.
The only other thing I have to say about this, is that one of the characters could be a default stand-in for the PC. I find it odd, that a concept art in this context would miss out on having one. Which has other implications. As it could mean the PC works in some way for the Inquisition, directly or indirectly.
TLDR; we are confirmed in Tevinter at least. The Black Divine will no doubt play a role in the game somehow and we see more familiar faces. Such as possibly Scout Lace Harding and Donal Sutherland of the Inquisition.
*Due to length, a Read More has been added. TDLR under cut, at the end.
It is finally time to talk about That image. There is so much going on in that image. It’s brightly colored, full of motion and detail. We see familiar faces and new ones. It’s another eye-catching and gorgeous concept art. I am of course talking about this one.
Now rather than touch the obvious first. Because oh the Obvious it is so great and exciting, that we’ll leave it for last.
Rather I want to start with the overall concept. We see a group of characters diving underwater into a coral reef area. They are doing so, presumably to escape the archers above; as we see a rain of arrows into the water.
So there are two ways this could happen. This could be a scripted event within the game, in which this scene needs to take place or is an option that can take place. This could also be showing off the PCs and NPC companions abilities to FINALLY after three games be getting a swim mechanic. As we’ve spent two games confined to land and a third insta-drowning on the Storm Coast. It would certainly open up new options for moving across maps and exploring beneath them, with new treasures and areas to unlock. The last game gave us jump puzzles, we could be looking at swim puzzles in the near future. It also makes sense for this to be the game for underwater travel and just water travel in general. As the entirety of Northern Thedas has some access and dependency on coasts, bays, and oceans surrounding it.
Now let’s return to the image. If we look closely, we can see some fish among a coral reef and far in the distance is the shadows of sharks. Which could be enemies similar to those found in the Assassin’s Creed franchise or just environmental/aesthetic additions.
I also want to point out that we can see where this group is coming from. At the top of the image is the shadows of boats, which again hint towards at least having ship exploration in cutscene or mechanic. These people aren’t jumping from a dock or shore, but from ships.
The last thing I want to touch on briefly, before moving onto the characters populating this image is the treasure. At the very bottom of this picture there is a skeleton, it has pieces of coral growing out of it. Obviously it rather gruesome in a way, but has a level of nature overcoming beauty to it (for some). So I’m not going to post a close up of it, but just wanted to point that out. The skeleton also has a treasure chest in it’s arms and the lock glints, to draw attention to it. Similar to the mechanics used in many games to distinguish loot chests, again hinting towards possible underwater exploration.
Now then…the characters, I’m still going to hold off on the obvious cause I’m cruel and I Mean ;) why not. So I’m going to start in the very back first.
In the back we see the skull-headed individual from before. Though this one doesn’t have any glow to the skull. I’ve seen a lot of other theories being brought up about this character too, so I still can’t definitively say much about them.
I am still kind of under the impression they are a Mortalitasi or tied to them. Many others have pointed out it could be a Higher Undead (mentioned in Tevinter Nights, as I stated in Analysis #1), a self-aware spirit in the body of someone who once lived and I believe similar to what Justice and Kristoff became. I’ve also heard some people wonder if it isn’t Audric, a specific higher undead that was a main character of the aforementioned Tevinter Nights story; he is known as a guardsman who was killed before filled by another character with a spirit, and later became an archivist for the Mourn Watch. Which would tie him to the Mortalitasi, but if it is him and he is shown in all concept arts; it makes me wonder why he would be performing a dissection of a Dragon.
Next we have this woman.
I have a friend who on first glance thought it to be Scout Lace Harding, which could be possible given the company. She also has similar armor, a possibility of freckles, and similar physical features. However, it is strange that they would choose to loosen her hair, unless it is specifically to give more convincing towards the underwater scene. And the foreshortening of the drawing, makes it hard to gauge the woman’s height as dwarva or not. It’s a bit of an unknown. That said, if it isn’t Scout Harding, I have a strong feeling it could be a default PC stand-in. There is no extremely distinct feature about her and her face is rather basic to be an instantly recognizable companion. Which says to me she’s a NPC, like Scout Harding or a PC stand-in. Unless of course Scout Harding is a companion, which I certainly won’t say no to.
And Finally, I suppose we can talk about our last two characters in this concept art.
Still working from the back, we have this handsome and fine piece of art who I really wish I could 100% confirm is our favorite Tevinter piece of ass art. However…I cannot. On first glance, it absolutely looks like Magister Dorian Pavus.
The hair, skin color, and even aesthetic all seem to match. However, there are subtle changes to the hair and facial hair (against his long-haired epilogue look) that could be enough to claim it’s another person.
He is also wearing something similar to a crow uniform and wielding a rapier. In fact, in another concept art, what I originally thought could have been Zevran; actually seems to be this guy. Though I can’t confirm that either and Maker do I hope the other guy is Zevran. If this guy is Dorian tho, then Dorian could be undercover or has a few new tricks (maybe dual-classing or going back to dao unrestricted-class weapon loadouts?) It could even just be a style choice, though it still begs the question why.
So the possibilities are that he is Magister Dorian Pavus of Ventus or some unknown Crow. Either of which aren’t bad options, but one is definitely more exciting to me than the other.
Lastly, my favorite character to ever grace the Dragon Age fandom. The Queen of the Seas herself, and beloved Rivaini.
Captain Isabela of the Felicia Armada (allegedly).
She is honestly the only one in this entire picture, I can say with almost no doubt, who she is. There is such a slim margin for this not to be her. She has her gold decorations (including the overly large, penis necklace), her captain’s pants as seen in the comics, and her top and sash as seen in the Dragon Age Inquisition multiplayer. Her appearance is one of the most unique in the series, so for her to be unrecognizable would be a hard sell. She even has her one shouldered armor piece and her earrings.
Which Isabela has been in every game to date and I do mean EVERY game, even the spin-offs for PC and mobile, why wouldn’t she be in the one game that goes north near her hometown and the seas she roams? She could be working for herself, the Inquisition, or even Hawke. But it seems no doubt we’ll be running into her and she’ll be running into a good bit of booty. After all is it even a Dragon Age game anymore if the Queen of the Seas isn’t there (and like fewer dragons than the number of times she shows up?).
tldr; underwater or at least the sea seems to be a part of the Next Dragon Age game. And Captain Isabela seems to be too, in passing or sticking around a while we don’t know. We can also count of some new companions and maybe more familiar faces, but wherever it takes us we’ll be in good company.
So…I kinda wanted go in order of the video. However, I really REALLY want to talk about dis ho
Because…well I love this. In concept and it’s just a gorgeous, if grotesque piece of art.
What this concept art is depicting is a study of Dragon anatomy, you can see (unfortunately) that the main person of the art is cutting into the dragon corpse. They have a saw (I’m gonna call it a bone saw, but I know 0 actual medical tools) and are removing some part of the Dragon (too small for the brain? but too big for eye?). They also have one of the dragon’s eyeball on an apparatus.
You can also see two skeleton assistants carrying away the dragon pieces in glorified trays.
So let’s take a closer look at the person first.
They’re dressed in a cross between armor, a smock, and an intricate headpiece. They also have more medical tools in their smock.
When I first looked at this and the other concept arts containing characters like this ones, I was super confused. This looks like a walking corpse, the glowing skull and all. Could what happened in Inquisition with the Fade, have allowed for such a shift in the possibility and acceptance of spirit beings in Thedosian society???
That was until I went back to this person’s assistants.
Their assistance are skeletons possessed by spirits, the bodies have been altered specifically to hold the spirits. And if you look closely, their bodies look more organic and coarse than the face of their master. Which got me to thinking about something, specifically something from Tevinter Nights.
Mortalitasi are known for Necromancy, summoning Fade spirits to possess mummified and preserved bodies. They foster these spirits and sometimes even employ them as assistants, giving them purpose. I especially noticed how similar the main figures outfit is to the statues outside the Nevarran Tomb pictured above.
Which means it is possible, the figure in the concept art isn’t a spirit themselves; rather they are a Mortalitasi in full uniform.
I don’t know why or how the skull helm/headpiece glows, if it is magic or residual spirit. If maybe they are possessed or if it’s just aesthetic. I’m just not sure the skull head is even their real head. Especially since the spirit skulls have lit eyes and they don’t. That’s honestly the most confusing and least convincing part of these concepts (as in a good argument to them Not being Mortalitasi).
I also mentioned before this figure shows up elsewhere in the video too.
They appear far right in what seems to be a silhouetted version of what could be Companions. I’m pretty sure this in them or someone like them, even though they are obscured. As you can still see the green glow and the head piece is similar to the one worn above (if slightly bigger) and zooming in, you can also see a similar smock/armor under their coat as above.
Meaning, if all my speculation isn’t just bullshit from too much Dragon Age College. It is possible (but of course not confirmed) we could be looking at a Mortalitasi Companion in the newest Dragon Age, which I think is awesome!! I definitely can’t wait for Nevarra! Which is why I had to do this one first, cause I just love the idea of this; even if I’m completely wrong or it changes. So sorry for not doing it ordered like I was going to (I’m going to try in the future posts), but come on!
Death Goth Dragon Mage Companion, who wouldn’t want that?
Going forward, these analysis will vary in length and content. However, I will link them all together and try to make it easy as possible to find. Some will be in-depth, some surface looks, and some just a ramble of conscious. I hope you can enjoy them all, but if not there are absolutely plenty of cool people out there looking at these things.
Lastly shout out to all the devs working hard on this game, it’s already looking really nice and I look forward to seeing more in the future with high hopes.
Coming back to this, it was mentioned in the comments that they also show up in the underwater concept art. Which I had thought, but wasn’t sure and originally wrote off as a darkspawn emissary (for reasons unknown to even my own brain).
But it definitely looks similar to them. It certainly makes the skull piece seem like a helm of some sort, seeing as it has crest and doesn’t glow underwater. Which I would expect spirity things too, for lack of a better term. Of course this could just be due to the restraints of the concept art (aka the glow still exists, we just can’t see it visual)
I wonder if the magic glow of their helmet (if that’s what it is), isn’t tied to their spirit assistants and necromancy. Kind of a personal imprint and focus for their brand of magic.
My guess on the spirit companion is that it is Audric, a self aware spirit guardsman who becomes part of the Mourn Watch in Down Among the Dead Men in Tevinter Nights. Which really excites me because he was one of my favourite characters in the book and has so much potential as a companion.
I think it’d be interesting from many perspectives if this was Audric, The only reason I wasn’t sure it was him, is he was essentially hired as an archivist of the Mourn Watch. The concept of the Dragon dissection is kind of weird, in that regard; if it is Audric. There are a lot of open ended things when it comes to this particular entity. Especially since I don’t even know if the ones pictured above, are all the same person.
So…I kinda wanted go in order of the video. However, I really REALLY want to talk about dis ho
Because…well I love this. In concept and it’s just a gorgeous, if grotesque piece of art.
What this concept art is depicting is a study of Dragon anatomy, you can see (unfortunately) that the main person of the art is cutting into the dragon corpse. They have a saw (I’m gonna call it a bone saw, but I know 0 actual medical tools) and are removing some part of the Dragon (too small for the brain? but too big for eye?). They also have one of the dragon’s eyeball on an apparatus.
You can also see two skeleton assistants carrying away the dragon pieces in glorified trays.
So let’s take a closer look at the person first.
They’re dressed in a cross between armor, a smock, and an intricate headpiece. They also have more medical tools in their smock.
When I first looked at this and the other concept arts containing characters like this ones, I was super confused. This looks like a walking corpse, the glowing skull and all. Could what happened in Inquisition with the Fade, have allowed for such a shift in the possibility and acceptance of spirit beings in Thedosian society???
That was until I went back to this person’s assistants.
Their assistance are skeletons possessed by spirits, the bodies have been altered specifically to hold the spirits. And if you look closely, their bodies look more organic and coarse than the face of their master. Which got me to thinking about something, specifically something from Tevinter Nights.
Mortalitasi are known for Necromancy, summoning Fade spirits to possess mummified and preserved bodies. They foster these spirits and sometimes even employ them as assistants, giving them purpose. I especially noticed how similar the main figures outfit is to the statues outside the Nevarran Tomb pictured above.
Which means it is possible, the figure in the concept art isn’t a spirit themselves; rather they are a Mortalitasi in full uniform.
I don’t know why or how the skull helm/headpiece glows, if it is magic or residual spirit. If maybe they are possessed or if it’s just aesthetic. I’m just not sure the skull head is even their real head. Especially since the spirit skulls have lit eyes and they don’t. That’s honestly the most confusing and least convincing part of these concepts (as in a good argument to them Not being Mortalitasi).
I also mentioned before this figure shows up elsewhere in the video too.
They appear far right in what seems to be a silhouetted version of what could be Companions. I’m pretty sure this in them or someone like them, even though they are obscured. As you can still see the green glow and the head piece is similar to the one worn above (if slightly bigger) and zooming in, you can also see a similar smock/armor under their coat as above.
Meaning, if all my speculation isn’t just bullshit from too much Dragon Age College. It is possible (but of course not confirmed) we could be looking at a Mortalitasi Companion in the newest Dragon Age, which I think is awesome!! I definitely can’t wait for Nevarra! Which is why I had to do this one first, cause I just love the idea of this; even if I’m completely wrong or it changes. So sorry for not doing it ordered like I was going to (I’m going to try in the future posts), but come on!
Death Goth Dragon Mage Companion, who wouldn’t want that?
Going forward, these analysis will vary in length and content. However, I will link them all together and try to make it easy as possible to find. Some will be in-depth, some surface looks, and some just a ramble of conscious. I hope you can enjoy them all, but if not there are absolutely plenty of cool people out there looking at these things.
Lastly shout out to all the devs working hard on this game, it’s already looking really nice and I look forward to seeing more in the future with high hopes.
Coming back to this, it was mentioned in the comments that they also show up in the underwater concept art. Which I had thought, but wasn’t sure and originally wrote off as a darkspawn emissary (for reasons unknown to even my own brain).
But it definitely looks similar to them. It certainly makes the skull piece seem like a helm of some sort, seeing as it has crest and doesn’t glow underwater. Which I would expect spirity things too, for lack of a better term. Of course this could just be due to the restraints of the concept art (aka the glow still exists, we just can’t see it visual)
I wonder if the magic glow of their helmet (if that’s what it is), isn’t tied to their spirit assistants and necromancy. Kind of a personal imprint and focus for their brand of magic.
So…I kinda wanted go in order of the video. However, I really REALLY want to talk about dis ho
Because…well I love this. In concept and it’s just a gorgeous, if grotesque piece of art.
What this concept art is depicting is a study of Dragon anatomy, you can see (unfortunately) that the main person of the art is cutting into the dragon corpse. They have a saw (I’m gonna call it a bone saw, but I know 0 actual medical tools) and are removing some part of the Dragon (too small for the brain? but too big for eye?). They also have one of the dragon’s eyeball on an apparatus.
You can also see two skeleton assistants carrying away the dragon pieces in glorified trays.
So let’s take a closer look at the person first.
They’re dressed in a cross between armor, a smock, and an intricate headpiece. They also have more medical tools in their smock.
When I first looked at this and the other concept arts containing characters like this ones, I was super confused. This looks like a walking corpse, the glowing skull and all. Could what happened in Inquisition with the Fade, have allowed for such a shift in the possibility and acceptance of spirit beings in Thedosian society???
That was until I went back to this person’s assistants.
Their assistance are skeletons possessed by spirits, the bodies have been altered specifically to hold the spirits. And if you look closely, their bodies look more organic and coarse than the face of their master. Which got me to thinking about something, specifically something from Tevinter Nights.
Mortalitasi are known for Necromancy, summoning Fade spirits to possess mummified and preserved bodies. They foster these spirits and sometimes even employ them as assistants, giving them purpose. I especially noticed how similar the main figures outfit is to the statues outside the Nevarran Tomb pictured above.
Which means it is possible, the figure in the concept art isn’t a spirit themselves; rather they are a Mortalitasi in full uniform.
I don’t know why or how the skull helm/headpiece glows, if it is magic or residual spirit. If maybe they are possessed or if it’s just aesthetic. I’m just not sure the skull head is even their real head. Especially since the spirit skulls have lit eyes and they don’t. That’s honestly the most confusing and least convincing part of these concepts (as in a good argument to them Not being Mortalitasi).
I also mentioned before this figure shows up elsewhere in the video too.
They appear far right in what seems to be a silhouetted version of what could be Companions. I’m pretty sure this in them or someone like them, even though they are obscured. As you can still see the green glow and the head piece is similar to the one worn above (if slightly bigger) and zooming in, you can also see a similar smock/armor under their coat as above.
Meaning, if all my speculation isn’t just bullshit from too much Dragon Age College. It is possible (but of course not confirmed) we could be looking at a Mortalitasi Companion in the newest Dragon Age, which I think is awesome!! I definitely can’t wait for Nevarra! Which is why I had to do this one first, cause I just love the idea of this; even if I’m completely wrong or it changes. So sorry for not doing it ordered like I was going to (I’m going to try in the future posts), but come on!
Death Goth Dragon Mage Companion, who wouldn’t want that?
Going forward, these analysis will vary in length and content. However, I will link them all together and try to make it easy as possible to find. Some will be in-depth, some surface looks, and some just a ramble of conscious. I hope you can enjoy them all, but if not there are absolutely plenty of cool people out there looking at these things.
Lastly shout out to all the devs working hard on this game, it’s already looking really nice and I look forward to seeing more in the future with high hopes.
I was kinda bummed, thinking 10 years has passed since Solas left Lavellan.
10 years… surely they will pass on the torch to someone younger.. when half the inquisitions companions were late 30s to 40s ? & there will be no true closure apart from a lacklustre minor nod in DA4?
Then I recalled at whatever time in the AM it was, that Elves for one, dont age like humans do.. I swear I saw they lived for much longer then we are used to.
It also made my heart ache to think Solas and Lavellan, 10 years separated and yet, he still lingers at the corner of her dreams.. just to catch a glimpse of her.. just to watch over her in the land of dreams where he roams and rules.. Always nearby yet forever out of reach.
& lavellan who lays each night, hoping to see just a glimpse of him.. Lavellan who , perhaps not every night.. but certainly more then a few , reaches for him every once in a while, beckoning he return to her.. to them… only for him to shy away.. The pain that it is to reach for someone you love , and to have them pull away? is an unbearable one..
In DA2, the statue of Hawke commemorates the Qunari being defeated and driven out of Kirkwall. Considering at least one of the likely plots of DA4, I would love if the DA4runner or whatever our protagonist’s title is could get a replica as an aspirational furnishing for good vibes.
