History Literature / TheMaskedEmpire

* HonorBeforeReason: Double subverted with Gaspard. The Grand Duke believes strongly that honor does not preclude tactics and is skilled at interpreting the Chevalier's code to his advantage, but there are some situations where the code forces him to do the disadvantageous thing. In those cases, Gaspard will always choose the code over victory.

''The Masked Empire'' is the fourth ''Franchise/DragonAge'' novel, released on April 8, 2014 release. The book is written by Patrick Weekes (who previously wrote Jack, Tali, Kasumi, and Mordin's storylines across the ''Franchise/MassEffect'' series, as well as the Rannoch and Tuchanka sections of ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'') and is set in Orlais at some point after ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII''. It takes place concurrent to ''Literature/{{Asunder}}''. The main characters are the Orlesian Empress Celene I, her elven [[TheSpymaster spymaster]] and lover Briala, and Grand Duke Gaspard, a commander of the [[EliteArmy Orlesian Chevaliers]] who leads an insurrection against what he sees as a weak rule of Empress Celene.

* InsistentTerminology: "''Choice. Spirit.''"

* HonorBeforeReason: Double subverted with Gaspard. The Grand Duke believes strongly that honor does not preclude tactics and is skilled at interpreting the Chevalier's code to his advantage, but there are some situation where the code forces him to do the disadvantageous thing. In those cases, Gaspard will always choose the code over victory.

''The Masked Empire'' is the fourth ''Franchise/DragonAge'' novel, released on April 8, 2014 release. The book is written by Patrick Weekes (who previously wrote Jack, Tali, Kasumi, and Mordin's storylines across the ''Franchise/MassEffect'' series, as well as the Rannoch and Tuchanka sections of ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'') and is set in Orlais at some point after ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII''. It takes place concurrent to ''Literature/{{Asunder}}
'' The main characters are the Orlesian Empress Celene I, her elven [[TheSpymaster spymaster]] and lover Briala, and Grand Duke Gaspard, a commander of the [[EliteArmy Orlesian Chevaliers]] who leads an insurrection against what he sees as a weak rule of Empress Celene.

''The Masked Empire'' is the upcoming fourth ''Franchise/DragonAge'' novel, announced in March 2013 for April 2014 release. The book is written by Patrick Weekes (who previously wrote Jack, Tali, Kasumi, and Mordin's storylines across the ''Franchise/MassEffect'' series, as well as the Rannoch and Tuchanka sections of ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'') and is to be set in Orlais at some point after ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII''. The main characters are the Orlesian Empress Celene I, her elven [[TheSpymaster spymaster]] and lover Briala, and Grand Duke Gaspard, a commander of the [[EliteArmy Orlesian Chevaliers]] who leads an insurrection against what he sees as a weak rule of Empress Celene.

[[http://www.tor.com/blogs/2013/03/tor-books-announces-new-dragon-age-novel-with-bioware-senior-writer-patrick-weeks Read the official announcement with more plot details here.]]

* [Magnificent Bastard]: Gaspard: He used the feather duel between Teagan and Michel against her to gain support from important nobles, he helps the city elves knowing he'll look better to them than Celene when she puts down their rebellion, and he's the one that sets her up to march on Halamshiral in the first place with his theater stunt. And the theater trip was soooo publicly embarrassing for Celene, and there's nothing she can do about it

* [Magnificent Bastard]: Gaspard is superior in Game no doubt about that: He used the feather duel between Teagan and Michel against her to gain support from important nobles, he helps the city elves knowing he'll look better to them than Celene when she puts down their rebellion, and he's the one that sets her up to march on Halamshiral in the first place with his theater stunt. And the theater trip was soooo publicly embarrassing for Celene, and there's nothing she can do about it

* [[Magnificent Bastard]]: Gaspard is superior in Game no doubt about that: He used the feather duel between Teagan and Michel against her to gain support from important nobles, he helps the city elves knowing he'll look better to them than Celene when she puts down their rebellion, and he's the one that sets her up to march on Halamshiral in the first place with his theater stunt. And the theater trip was soooo publicly embarrassing for Celene, and there's nothing she can do about it

* Magnificent Bastard: Gaspard is superior in Game no doubt about that: He used the feather duel between Teagan and Michel against her to gain support from important nobles, he helps the city elves knowing he'll look better to them than Celene when she puts down their rebellion, and he's the one that sets her up to march on Halamshiral in the first place with his theater stunt. And the theater trip was soooo publicly embarrassing for Celene, and there's nothing she can do about it

* Magnificent Bastard: Gaspard is superior in Game no doubt about that

* ConflictingLoyalties: As Celene is forced to choose between the rights of elves and her hold on the throne, Briala has to question where her loyalties lie.

* ConflictingLoyalties: As Celene is forced to choose between the rights of elves and her hold on the throne, Briala has to question where her loyalties lie.

** When Briala finally meets the Dalish, she learns that they care nothing for the plight of the city elves, whom the Dalish consider to be hopelessly corrupted by the humans.

!!The novel will likely provide examples of following tropes:

* PassiveAggresiveKombat: The main feature of the Grand Game. It appears the Orlesian nobility does little else than fire undercover jabs at each other.

* CivilWar: The Thedas-wide Mage / Templar war plus Orlesian instability ''plus'' an elf uprising.

* CivilWar: The Thedas-wide Mage / Templar war plus Orlesian instability ''plus'' an elf uprising.

''The Masked Empire'' is the upcoming fourth ''Franchise/DragonAge'' novel, announced in March 2013 for April 2014 release. The book is written by Patrick Weekes (who previously wrote Jack, Tali, Kasumi, and Mordin's storylines across the ''Franchise/MassEffect'' series, as well as the Rannoch and Tuchanka sections of ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'') and is to be set in Orlais at some point after ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII''. The main characters are Empress Celene, her elf [[TheSpymaster spymaster]] and lover Briala, and Grand Duke Gaspard.

The fourth ''Franchise/DragonAge'' novel, written by Patrick Weekes. It was announced in March 2013 for a 2014 release. Set in Orlais at some point after the second game, the main characters are Empress Celene, her elf spymaster (and lover) Briala, and Grand Duke Gaspard.

''"Empress Celene of Orlais rose to the throne of the most powerful nation in Thedas through wisdom, wit, [[BreadEggsMilksquick and ruthless manipulation.]] Now, the empire she has guided into an age of enlightenment is threatened from within by imminent war between the templars and the mages, even as rebellion stirs among [[EnslavedElves the downtrodden elves]]. To save Orlais, Celene must keep her hold on the throne by any means necessary."''

[[http://www.tor.com/blogs/2013/03/tor-books-announces-new-dragon-age-novel-with-bioware-senior-writer-patrick-weeks Read more here.]]

* InterspeciesRomance: Celene and Briala.

The fourth ''Franchise/DragonAge'' novel, announced in March 2013 for a 2014 release. Set in Orlais at some point after the second game, the main characters are Empress Celene, her elf spymaster (and lover) Briala, and Grand Duke Gaspard.