History Monster / DragonAge

* The greedy [[AristocratsAreEvil Arl Rendon Howe]] kills the family and servants of the Human Noble [[Characters/DragonAgeOriginsPlayableCharactersTheWarden Warden]] to take control of their lands, all out of jealousy over the public love the family received. Joining [[Characters/DragonAgeLoghainMacTir Teyrn Loghain Mac Tir]], Howe [[TheCorrupter manipulates]] and carries out Loghain's most atrocious plans. Conducting a purge of Denerim's elven alienage, Howe has countless elves--including an orphanage full of children--put to death. Responsible for torturing enemies of Loghain, Howe loves this task so much he has his quarters moved next to his TortureCellar. Fearing the influences Loghain's daughter may have over him, the power-hungry Howe tries to persuade Loghain to kill her and tries murdering her himself when this fails.

* [[{{Narcissist}} Marjolaine]] is a bard from the Orlesian Empire that took the young [[Characters/DragonAgeLeliana Leliana]] under her wing, only to betray her and let her be tortured the moment she became inconvenient. In the ''Leliana's Song'' prequel DLC, Marjolaine, working for the cruel Harwen Raleigh, steals sensitive Orlesian military documents to try to incite a war between Orlais and [[Characters/DragonAgeOriginsNonPlayableCharactersFereldanNobles Ferelden]]. After Leliana takes to a quiet life in the Chantry, Marjolaine keeps an eye on her, and sends assassins after her when she leaves with the Warden, [[EvilCannotComprehendGood refusing to believe she left for any reason other than revenge]].

** [[BadBoss Danarius]] is a powerful magister of Tevinter and noted to be among the worst of them all. A consummate {{sadist}} who abuses his slaves and even murders them for sport and BloodMagic rituals, Danarius frequently abused [[Characters/DragonAgeFenris Fenris]], then named Leto, in all ways, from sexual to psychological. Having Fenris take part in an agonizing Lyrium experiment to make him a weapon, Danarius later had him massacre his own rescuers. Upon hunting Fenris down, if Danarius is successful in taking Fenris back, he [[MindRape destroys his mind]] to make him a wholly obedient slave.
** [[ANaziByAnyOtherName Ser Otto Alrik]] is a high-ranking Templar who is infamous for his habit of illegally conducting the Rite of Tranquility on unwilling mages. Forever cut off from the spirit world, known as the Fade, Tranquil mages have undergone the spiritual equivalent of a lobotomy and are left as {{Empty Shell}}s for the rest of their lives. Not content with the way things currently are, Alrik's dream is to initiate the [[FinalSolution Tranquil Solution]], a plan where every mage is forcibly made Tranquil, regardless of age or ability. When this plan was turned down by [[KnightTemplar Knight-Commander Meredith]] for [[EvenEvilHasStandards being too extreme]], Alrik began taking steps to carry out his plan in secret, turning mages Tranquil such as he did with [[Characters/DragonAgeAnders Anders]]'s first love, Karl. Also, in the mission "Dissent", while pursuing a female teenage apostate named Ella, Alrik heavily implies that he'll use the Rite of Tranquility to turn her into his willing SexSlave, with the added implication that he frequently does this. This is proven in an overheard conversation between a newly made Tranquil mage and her former lover. In response to her lover trying to break through to her, the Tranquil mage emotionlessly responds, "I am Ser Alrik's now."

** [[SatanicArchetype The Elder One]], aka Corypheus, is an ambitious being that will stop at nothing in his quest to become a god. One of the seven Magisters of Tevinter who invaded the Golden City in a bid to usurp TheMaker, Corypheus was corrupted into one of the original Darkspawn as a result and is inadvertently responsible for the Blights that constantly threaten to destroy Thedas. Having [[FaithHeelTurn failed and been punished for his attempt to serve a god once]], he has decided to become a god himself by physically entering the spirit world known as the Fade and conquering the Black City. In his mad bid for power, the Elder One tries to murder Divine Justina; causes a [[HellGate Breach into the Fade]] to tear open in the sky which kills thousands and releases murderous demons into the world; tries to brainwash the mages to serve as his army; corrupts the Templars into insane monsters by feeding them [[FantasticDrug Red Lyrium]] which is [[HumanResources made from people he's captured]]; and attempts to massacre the Templars at Therinfal Redoubt who haven't converted to the Red, attacks Haven and attempts to kill everyone within, and tricks the [[Characters/DragonAgeOriginsNonPlayableCharactersGreyWardens Grey Wardens]] into doing BloodMagic and HumanSacrifice to summon a demon army for him to use to conquer the world. In the end, after his plans are thwarted one time too many, Corypheus reopens the Breach to lure [[Characters/DragonAgeInquisitionTheInquisitor the Inquisitor]] to him, willing to destroy the world out of spite in the process.

* ''[[VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition Inquisition]]'': [[SatanicArchetype The Elder One]], aka Corypheus, is an ambitious being that will stop at nothing in his quest to become a god. One of the seven Magisters of Tevinter who invaded the Golden City in a bid to usurp TheMaker, Corypheus was corrupted into one of the original Darkspawn as a result and is inadvertently responsible for the Blights that constantly threaten to destroy Thedas. Having [[FaithHeelTurn failed and been punished for his attempt to serve a god once]], he has decided to become a god himself by physically entering the spirit world known as the Fade and conquering the Black City. In his mad bid for power, the Elder One tries to murder Divine Justina; causes a [[HellGate Breach into the Fade]] to tear open in the sky which kills thousands and releases murderous demons into the world; tries to brainwash the mages to serve as his army; corrupts the Templars into insane monsters by feeding them [[FantasticDrug Red Lyrium]] which is [[HumanResources made from people he's captured]]; and attempts to massacre the Templars at Therinfal Redoubt who haven't converted to the Red, attacks Haven and attempts to kill everyone within, and tricks the [[Characters/DragonAgeOriginsNonPlayableCharactersGreyWardens Grey Wardens]] into doing BloodMagic and HumanSacrifice to summon a demon army for him to use to conquer the world. In the end, after his plans are thwarted one time too many, Corypheus reopens the Breach to lure [[Characters/DragonAgeInquisitionTheInquisitor the Inquisitor]] to him, willing to destroy the world out of spite in the process.

* ''[[VideoGame/DragonAgeII Legacy]]'' & ''[[VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition Inquisition]]'': [[SatanicArchetype The Elder One]], aka Corypheus, is an ambitious being that will stop at nothing in his quest to become a god. One of the seven Magisters of Tevinter who invaded the Golden City in a bid to usurp TheMaker, Corypheus was corrupted into one of the original Darkspawn as a result and is inadvertently responsible for the Blights that constantly threaten to destroy Thedas. Having [[FaithHeelTurn failed and been punished for his attempt to serve a god once]], he has decided to become a god himself by physically entering the spirit world known as the Fade and conquering the Black City. In his mad bid for power, the Elder One tries to murder Divine Justina; causes a [[HellGate Breach into the Fade]] to tear open in the sky which kills thousands and releases murderous demons into the world; tries to brainwash the mages to serve as his army; corrupts the Templars into insane monsters by feeding them [[FantasticDrug Red Lyrium]] which is [[HumanResources made from people he's captured]]; and attempts to massacre the Templars at Therinfal Redoubt who haven't converted to the Red, attacks Haven and attempts to kill everyone within, and tricks the [[Characters/DragonAgeOriginsNonPlayableCharactersGreyWardens Grey Wardens]] into doing BloodMagic and HumanSacrifice to summon a demon army for him to use to conquer the world. In the end, after his plans are thwarted one time too many, Corypheus reopens the Breach to lure [[Characters/DragonAgeInquisitionTheInquisitor the Inquisitor]] to him, willing to destroy the world out of spite in the process.

* ''Literature/TevinterNights''' "The Wigmaker Job", by Courtney Woods: [[EvilSorcerer Magister Ambrose Forfex]], [[AntagonistTitle the Wigmaker]], is a high-ranking member of the Venatori with a [[MadArtist passion for making enchanted wigs]]. For this, Ambrose keeps "row after row" of his slaves chained to the ceiling and left in painful conditions such as having their [[MouthStitchedShut mouth sewn shut]], [[FateWorseThanDeath reducing them to almost lifeless husks]] and force-feeding them red lyrium, all so he can use their hair for his wigs. When confronted about this, Ambrose justifies himself by claiming morality is only a matter of perspective.

* [[{{Narcissist}} Marjolaine]] is a bard from the Orlesian Empire that took the young [[Characters/DragonAgeLeliana Leliana]] under her wing, only to betray her and let her be tortured the moment she became inconvenient. In the ''Leliana's Song'' prequel DLC, Marjolaine, working for the cruel Harwen Raleigh, steals sensitive Orlesian military documents to try to incite a war between Orlais and [[Characters/DragonAgeOriginsNonPlayableCharactersFereldanNobles Ferelden]]. After Leliana takes to a quiet life in the Chnatry, Marjolaine keeps an eye on her, and sends assassins after her when she leaves with the Warden, [[EvilCannotComprehendGood refusing to believe she left for any reason other than revenge]].

* ''Literature/PayingTheFerryman'', ''ComicBook/BlueWraith'' & ''ComicBook/DarkFortress'': [[EvilOldFolks Magister Nenealeus]], is a powerful Tevinter {{slaver|yIsASpecialKindOfEvil}} who is famous for putting all his slaves through especially harsh [[TrainingFromHell abuse and suffering]]. Sending Cedric Marquette to retrieve a magical sarcophagus and information about red lyrium, which led to many deaths, Nenealeus choose Shirallas among the elven slaves to serve as the subject of his next experiment, while ordering the rest of the elven slaves to be killed. Transforming dozens of his human underlings into feral blue humanoids, who remain in extreme pain before they explode, and sending them as "[[WhyAmITicking bombs]]" to kill the heroes and Qunari warriors, Nenealeus reached the Dark Fortress and completed his experiment, transforming Shirallas into an "ultimate warrior", openly planning to use him and his dragon to wage a bloody war upon the entire Thedas.

* The greedy [[AristocratsAreEvil Arl Rendon Howe]] kills the family and servants of the Human Noble [[Characters/DragonAgeOriginsPlayableCharactersTheWarden Warden]] to take control of their lands, all out of jealousy over the public love the family received. Joining [[Characters/DragonAgeLoghainMacTir Teyrn Loghain Mac Tir]], Howe [[TheCorrupter manipulates]] and carries out Loghain's most atrocious plans. Conducting a purge of Denerim's elven alienage, Howe has countless elves—including an orphanage full of children—-put to death. Responsible for torturing enemies of Loghain, Howe loves this task so much he has his quarters moved next to his TortureCellar. Fearing the influences Loghain's daughter may have over him, the power-hungry Howe tries to persuade Loghain to kill her and tries murdering her himself when this fails.

* ''[[VideoGame/DragonAgeOriginsAwakening Awakening]]'' ExpansionPack: The Baroness of the Blackmarsh was a VainSorceress who murdered her subjects’ children to use their blood in rituals to keep herself young. When her subjects rebelled and burned her home down, the Baroness responded by [[TakingYouWithMe killing her subjects]] and [[FateWorseThanDeath imprisoning their spirits in the Fade]]. Denied their eternal rest, the people of the Blackmarsh have their souls feasted on by the Baroness, now a Pride Demon, and are tormented by the demons prowling the spirit world. Should any person "die" they will only be revived back in the Fade for more misery. When confronted with her crimes, the Baroness brushes them off, saying that [[ItsAllAboutMe her subjects’ lives belong to her and are hers to do with as she pleases]].

* ''Literature/TheStolenThrone'': [[TheCaligula King Meghren]] is the tyrannical cousin—and rumored incestuous lover—of the Orlesian Emperor, [[ReassignedToAntarctica exiled]] for offending said cousin to rule Ferelden in his stead. Despising Ferelden and its people, viewing them as "uncultured dogs", Meghren vents his hatred out by tormenting his people, mostly through torture parties or mass executions and vehemently refusing to make any sort of appeal to them. Notable examples include intimidating a young noble over a birthday present just to get a kick out of his fear, and at another point beating a servant boy to an inch of his life. Despite all this, he expects the people of Ferelden to cater to him and is offended when they ask anything of him, or rebel against him. When a rebellion by Queen Moria rises against him, Meghren has her decapitated with [[DecapitationPresentation her head impaled on a spike]]—a frequent punishment of his—and resolves to hunt down and eventually kill her son Maric. This war results in high casualties on both sides, with Meghren frequently asking for Orlesian support, only to carelessly send his men to their deaths. When he believes Maric has been killed, only to learn of his survival, as the majority of Ferelden rise or turn against him, he [[VillainousBreakdown flies into a rage]], ordering the mass execution of anyone and everyone who sympathizes with the rebels.

-->--''[[VideoGame/DragonAgeOriginsAwakening Awakening]]''

[[AC:Video Games]]
* ''[[VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins Origins]]'':
** The greedy [[AristocratsAreEvil Arl Rendon Howe]] kills the family and servants of the Human Noble [[Characters/DragonAgeOriginsPlayableCharactersTheWarden Warden]] to take control of their lands, all out of jealousy over the public love the family received. Joining [[Characters/DragonAgeLoghainMacTir Teyrn Loghain Mac Tir]], Howe [[TheCorrupter manipulates]] and carries out Loghain's most atrocious plans. Conducting a purge of Denerim's elven alienage, Howe has countless elves--including an orphanage full of children---put to death. Responsible for torturing enemies of Loghain, Howe loves this task so much he has his quarters moved next to his TortureCellar. Fearing the influences Loghain's daughter may have over him, the power-hungry Howe tries to persuade Loghain to kill her and tries murdering her himself when this fails.
** [[AristocratsAreEvil Bann Vaughan Kendells]], the son of Arl Urien Kendells of Denerim, is a SerialRapist and murderer of elven women who justifies his crimes by saying that [[FantasticRacism elves aren't real people]]. When he appears in the City Elf Origin, Vaughan abducts the entire female half of a wedding party, including the protagonist if female, to be raped by him and his men. By the time the protagonist fights back, one woman has already been killed, and by the time the protagonist reaches Vaughan, their cousin, Shianni, has been raped by Vaughan and his friends. Unwilling to release his hostages, Vaughan instead tries to bribe the protagonist into letting him keep the women for the night and threaten to have his father burn the Denerim alienage to the ground. Such cruelty from Vaughan isn't an isolated incident, as the {{DLC}} prequel ''Leliana's Song'' features an overheard conversation where Vaughan is preparing to rape/torture one of his maids over a floor stain, and Valendrian tells of an elven dockworker's daughter who was kidnapped by Vaughan and found dead floating in the water a few days later.
** [[{{Narcissist}} Marjolaine]] is a bard from the Orlesian Empire that took the young [[Characters/DragonAgeLeliana Leliana]] under her wing, only to betray her and let her be tortured the moment she became inconvenient. In the ''Leliana's Song'' prequel DLC, Marjolaine, working for the cruel Harwen Raleigh, steals sensitive Orlesian military documents to try to incite a war between Orlais and [[Characters/DragonAgeOriginsNonPlayableCharactersFereldanNobles Ferelden]]. After Leliana takes to a quiet life in the Chnatry, Marjolaine keeps an eye on her, and sends assassins after her when she leaves with the Warden, [[EvilCannotComprehendGood refusing to believe she left for any reason other than revenge]].
** ''Leliana's Song'' prequel {{DLC}}: [[AristocratsAreEvil Harwen Raleigh]] is the commander of The Hard Line troops who fought in the first Ferelden-Orlais war and lost his lands during that war. After King Maric refused to give him new lands to rule over because of his numerous [[RapePillageAndBurn war crimes]], Raleigh was forced to serve Arl Urien. Arresting many people for minor crimes or offenses, Raleigh [[{{Sadist}} loved to torture them for days]], letting his men rape the women and then [[HumanTraffickers selling off his prisoners]] to whoever pays the most. Later on, conspiring with Marjolaine to get his hands on secret Orlesian military documents, Raleigh planned to use them to [[PretextForWar convince Ferelden leadership]] to attack Orlais, which would restart the massive war between nations and allow Raleigh to reclaim his lands.
** ''[[VideoGame/DragonAgeOriginsAwakening Awakening]]'' ExpansionPack: The Baroness of the Blackmarsh was a VainSorceress who murdered her subjects’ children to use their blood in rituals to keep herself young. When her subjects rebelled and burned her home down, the Baroness responded by [[TakingYouWithMe killing her subjects]] and [[FateWorseThanDeath imprisoning their spirits in the Fade]]. Denied their eternal rest, the people of the Blackmarsh have their souls feasted on by the Baroness, now a Pride Demon, and are tormented by the demons prowling the spirit world. Should any person "die" they will only be revived back in the Fade for more misery. When confronted with her crimes, the Baroness brushes them off, saying that [[ItsAllAboutMe her subjects’ lives belong to her and are hers to do with as she pleases]].

* ''[[VideoGame/DragonAgeII Legacy]]'' & ''[[VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition Inquisition]]'': [[SatanicArchetype The Elder One]], aka Corypheus, is an ambitious being that will stop at nothing in his quest to become a god. One of the seven Magisters of Tevinter who invaded the Golden City in a bid to usurp TheMaker, Corypheus was corrupted into one of the original Darkspawn as a result and is inadvertently responsible for the Blights that constantly threaten to destroy Thedas. Having [[FaithHeelTurn failed and been punished for his attempt to serve a god once]], he has decided to become a god himself by physically entering the spirit world known as the Fade and conquering the Black City. In his mad bid for power, the Elder One tries to murder Divine Justina; causes a [[{{HellGate}} Breach into the Fade]] to tear open in the sky which kills thousands and releases murderous demons into the world; tries to brainwash the mages to serve as his army; corrupts the Templars into insane monsters by feeding them [[FantasticDrug Red Lyrium]] which is [[HumanResources made from people he's captured]]; and attempts to massacre the Templars at Therinfal Redoubt who haven't converted to the Red, attacks Haven and attempts to kill everyone within, and tricks the [[Characters/DragonAgeOriginsNonPlayableCharactersGreyWardens Grey Wardens]] into doing BloodMagic and HumanSacrifice to summon a demon army for him to use to conquer the world. In the end, after his plans are thwarted one time too many, Corypheus reopens the Breach to lure [[Characters/DragonAgeInquisitionTheInquisitor the Inquisitor]] to him, willing to destroy the world out of spite in the process.

[[AC:Other Media (by release/publication date)]]
* ''Literature/TheStolenThrone'': [[TheCaligula King Meghren]] is the tyrannical cousin--and rumored incestuous lover--of the Orlesian Emperor, [[ReassignedToAntarctica exiled]] for offending said cousin to rule Ferelden in his stead. Despising Ferelden and its people, viewing them as "uncultured dogs", Meghren vents his hatred out by tormenting his people, mostly through torture parties or mass executions and vehemently refusing to make any sort of appeal to them. Notable examples include intimidating a young noble over a birthday present just to get a kick out of his fear, and at another point beating a servant boy to an inch of his life. Despite all this, he expects the people of Ferelden to cater to him and is offended when they ask anything of him, or rebel against him. When a rebellion by Queen Moria rises against him, Meghren has her decapitated with [[DecapitationPresentation her head impaled on a spike]]--a frequent punishment of his--and resolves to hunt down and eventually kill her son Maric. This war results in high casualties on both sides, with Meghren frequently asking for Orlesian support, only to carelessly send his men to their deaths. When he believes Maric has been killed, only to learn of his survival, as the majority of Ferelden rise or turn against him, he [[VillainousBreakdown flies into a rage]], ordering the mass execution of anyone and everyone who sympathizes with the rebels.

* ''Literature/PayingTheFerryman'', ''ComicBook/BlueWraith'' & ''ComicBook/DarkFortress'': [[EvilOldFolks Magister Nenealeus]], is a powerful Tevinter [[SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil slaver]] who is famous for putting all his slaves through especially harsh [[TrainingFromHell abuse and suffering]]. Sending Cedric Marquette to retrieve a magical sarcophagus and information about red lyrium, which led to many deaths, Nenealeus choose Shirallas among the elven slaves to serve as the subject of his next experiment, while ordering the rest of the elven slaves to be killed. Transforming dozens of his human underlings into feral blue humanoids, who remain in extreme pain before they explode, and sending them as "[[WhyAmITicking bombs]]" to kill the heroes and Qunari warriors, Nenealeus reached the Dark Fortress and completed his experiment, transforming Shirallas into an "ultimate warrior", openly planning to use him and his dragon to wage a bloody war upon the entire Thedas.

%% NOTE: Due to the controversial nature of this trope, any changes (additions, removals, edits) should be discussed [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=6vic3f9h1cy5qivsenw8llok here]].

* ''[[VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition Inquisition]]'': [[SatanicArchetype The Elder One]], aka Corypheus, is an ambitious being that will stop at nothing in his quest to become a god. One of the seven Magisters of Tevinter who invaded the Golden City in a bid to usurp TheMaker, Corypheus was corrupted into one of the original Darkspawn as a result and is inadvertently responsible for the Blights that constantly threaten to destroy Thedas. Having [[FaithHeelTurn failed and been punished for his attempt to serve a god once]], he has decided to become a god himself by physically entering the spirit world known as the Fade and conquering the Black City. In his mad bid for power, the Elder One tries to murder Divine Justina; causes a [[{{HellGate}} Breach into the Fade]] to tear open in the sky which kills thousands and releases murderous demons into the world; tries to brainwash the mages to serve as his army; corrupts the Templars into insane monsters by feeding them [[FantasticDrug Red Lyrium]] which is [[HumanResources made from people he's captured]]; and attempts to massacre the Templars at Therinfal Redoubt who haven't converted to the Red, attacks Haven and attempts to kill everyone within, and tricks the [[Characters/DragonAgeOriginsNonPlayableCharactersGreyWardens Grey Wardens]] into doing BloodMagic and HumanSacrifice to summon a demon army for him to use to conquer the world. In the end, after his plans are thwarted one time too many, Corypheus reopens the Breach to lure [[Characters/DragonAgeInquisitionTheInquisitor the Inquisitor]] to him, willing to destroy the world out of spite in the process.

* ''ComicBook/BlueWraith'' & ''ComicBook/DarkFortress'' (& "[[https://dragonage.fandom.com/wiki/Short_Story:_Paying_the_Ferryman Paying the Ferryman]]"): [[EvilOldFolks Magister Nenealeus]] is a powerful Tevinter [[SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil slaver]] who is famous for putting all his slaves through especially harsh [[TrainingFromHell abuse and suffering]]. Sending Cedric Marquette to retrieve a magical sarcophagus and information about red lyrium, which led to many deaths, Nenealeus choose Shirallas among the elven slaves to serve as the subject of his next experiment, while ordering the rest of the elven slaves to be killed. Transforming dozens of his human underlings into feral blue humanoids, who remain in extreme pain before they explode, and sending them as "[[WhyAmITicking bombs]]" to kill the heroes and Qunari warriors, Nenealeus reached the Dark Fortress and completed his experiment, transforming Shirallas into an "ultimate warrior", openly planning to use him and his dragon to wage a bloody war upon the entire Thedas.

** ''[[VideoGame/DragonAgeOriginsAwakening Awakening]]'' ExpansionPack: The Baroness of the Blackmarsh was a VainSorceress who murdered her subjects’ children to use their blood in rituals to keep herself young. When her subjects rebelled and burned her home down, the Baroness responded by [[TakingYouWithMe killing her subjects]] and [[FateWorseThanDeath imprisoning their spirits in the Fade]]. Denied their eternal rest, the people of the Blackmarsh have their souls feasted on by the Baroness, now a Pride Demon, and are tormented by the demons prowling the spirit world. Should any person "die" they will only be revived back in the Fade for more misery. When confronted with her crimes, the Baroness brushes them off, saying that [[ItsAllAboutMe her subjects’ lives belong to her and are hers to do with as she pleases]].

->'''Justice''': Foul sorceress! You will release these poor folk and submit yourself to justice!\\
'''Baroness''': Justice? Is that what you are calling it? What of their punishment, burning my home to the ground and me within it?\\
'''Villager''': Because you were stealing our children! Using their blood to feed your vanity!\\
'''Baroness''': As was my due! You lived on my land, I your rightful ruler! Your blood was mine just as your lives are now!

* ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'': [[ANaziByAnyOtherName Ser Otto Alrik]] is a high-ranking Templar who is infamous for his habit of illegally conducting the Rite of Tranquility on unwilling mages. Forever cut off from the spirit world, known as the Fade, Tranquil mages have undergone the spiritual equivalent of a lobotomy and are left as {{Empty Shell}}s for the rest of their lives. Not content with the way things currently are, Alrik's dream is to initiate the [[FinalSolution Tranquil Solution]], a plan where every mage is forcibly made Tranquil, regardless of age or ability. When this plan was turned down by [[KnightTemplar Knight-Commander Meredith]] for [[EvenEvilHasStandards being too extreme]], Alrik began taking steps to carry out his plan in secret, turning mages Tranquil such as he did with [[Characters/DragonAgeAnders Anders]]'s first love, Karl. Also, in the mission "Dissent", while pursuing a female teenage apostate named Ella, Alrik heavily implies that he'll use the Rite of Tranquility to turn her into his willing SexSlave, with the added implication that he frequently does this. This is proven in an overheard conversation between a newly made Tranquil mage and her former lover. In response to her lover trying to break through to her, the Tranquil mage emotionlessly responds, "I am Ser Alrik's now."

** The greedy [[AristocratsAreEvil Arl Rendon Howe]] kills the family and servants of the Human Noble PlayerCharacter to take control of their lands, all out of jealousy over the public love the family received. Joining [[Characters/DragonAgeLoghainMacTir Teyrn Loghain Mac Tir]], Howe [[TheCorrupter manipulates]] and carries out Loghain's most atrocious plans. Conducting a purge of Denerim's elven alienage, Howe has countless elves--including an orphanage full of children---put to death. Responsible for torturing enemies of Loghain, Howe loves this task so much he has his quarters moved next to his TortureCellar. Fearing the influences Loghain's daughter may have over him, the power-hungry Howe tries to persuade Loghain to kill her and tries murdering her himself when this fails.

** ''Leliana's Song'' prequel {{DLC}}: [[AristocratsAreEvil Harwen Raleigh]] is the commander of The Hard Line troops who fought in the first Ferelden-Orlais war and lost his lands during that war. After King Maric refused to give him new lands to rule over because of his numerous [[RapePillageAndBurn war crimes]], Raleigh was forced to serve Arl Urien. Arresting many people for minor crimes or offenses, Raleigh [[{{Sadist}} loved to torture them for days]], letting his men rape the women and then [[HumanTrafficking selling off his prisoners]] to whoever pays the most. Later on, conspiring with Marjolaine to get his hands on secret Orlesian military documents, Raleigh planned to use them to [[PretextForWar convince Ferelden leadership]] to attack Orlais, which would restart the massive war between nations and allow Raleigh to reclaim his lands.

** The greedy [[AristocratsAreEvil Arl Rendon Howe]] kills the family and servants of the Human Noble PlayerCharacter to take control of their lands, all out of jealousy over the public love the family received. Joining [[WellIntentionedExtremist Teyrn Loghain Mac Tir]], Howe [[TheCorrupter manipulates]] and carries out Loghain's most atrocious plans. Conducting a purge of Denerim's elven alienage, Howe has countless elves--including an orphanage full of children---put to death. Responsible for torturing enemies of Loghain, Howe loves this task so much he has his quarters moved next to his TortureCellar. Fearing the influences Loghain's daughter may have over him, the power-hungry Howe tries to persuade Loghain to kill her and tries murdering her himself when this fails.

* ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'': [[ANaziByAnyOtherName Ser Otto Alrik]] is a high-ranking Templar who is infamous for his habit of illegally conducting the Rite of Tranquility on unwilling mages. Forever cut off from the spirit world, known as the Fade, Tranquil mages have undergone the spiritual equivalent of a lobotomy and are left as {{Empty Shell}}s for the rest of their lives. Not content with the way things currently are, Alrik’s dream is to initiate the [[FinalSolution Tranquil Solution]], a plan where every mage is forcibly made Tranquil, regardless of age or ability. When this plan was turned down by [[KnightTemplar Knight-Commander Meredith]] for [[EvenEvilHasStandards being too extreme]], Alrik began taking steps to carry out his plan in secret, turning mages Tranquil such as he did with Anders’s first love, Karl. Also, in the mission ''Dissent'', while pursuing a female apostate named Ella, Alrik heavily implies that he’ll use the Rite of Tranquility to turn her into his willing SexSlave, with the added implication that he frequently does this. This is proven in an overheard conversation between a newly made Tranquil mage and her former lover. In response to her lover trying to break through to her, the Tranquil mage emotionlessly responds, "I am Ser Alrik’s now."
* ''[[VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition Inquisition]]'': [[SatanicArchetype The Elder One]], aka Corypheus, is an ambitious being that will stop at nothing in his quest to [[AGodAmI become a god]]. One of the seven Magisters of Tevinter who invaded the Golden City in a bid to usurp TheMaker, Corypheus was corrupted into one of the original Darkspawn as a result and is inadvertently responsible for the Blights that constantly threaten to destroy Thedas. Having [[FaithHeelTurn failed and been punished for his attempt to serve a god once]], he has decided to become a god himself by physically entering the spirit world known as the Fade and conquering the Black City. In his mad bid for power, the Elder One tries to murder Divine Justina; causes a [[{{HellGate}} Breach into the Fade]] to tear open in the sky which kills thousands and releases murderous demons into the world; tries to [[BrainwashedAndCrazy brainwash]] the mages to serve as his army; corrupts the Templars into insane monsters by feeding them [[FantasticDrug Red Lyrium]] which is [[HumanResources made from people he's captured]]; and attempts to massacre the Templars at Therinfal Redoubt who haven't converted to the Red, attacks Haven and attempts to kill everyone within, and tricks the Grey Wardens into doing BloodMagic and HumanSacrifice to summon a demon army for him to use to conquer the world. In the end, after his plans are thwarted one time too many, Corypheus reopens the Breach to lure the Inquisitor to him, willing to destroy the world out of spite in the process.

[[redirect:Monster/VideoGames]]

->'''Justice''': Foul sorceress! You will release these poor folk and submit yourself to justice!\\
'''Baroness''': Justice? Is that what you are calling it? What of their punishment, burning my home to the ground and me within it?\\
'''Villager''': Because you were stealing our children! Using their blood to feed your vanity!\\
'''Baroness''': As was my due! You lived on my land, I your rightful ruler! Your blood was mine just as your lives are now!
-->--''VideoGame/DragonAgeOriginsAwakening''

''Franchise/DragonAge'' has a few [[CompleteMonster really bad villains]].

----
* ''Literature/TheStolenThrone'': In this prequel novel, [[TheCaligula King Meghren]] is the tyrannical cousin (and rumored incestuous lover) of the Orlesian Emperor, [[ReassignedToAntarctica exiled]] for offending said cousin to rule Ferelden in his stead. Despising Ferelden and its people, viewing them as "uncultured dogs", Meghren vents his hatred out by tormenting his people, mostly through torture parties or mass executions and vehemently refusing to make any sort of appeal to them. Notable examples include intimidating a young noble over a birthday present just to get a kick out of his fear, and at another point beating a servant boy to an inch of his life. Despite all this, he expects the people of Ferelden to cater to him and is offended when they ask anything of him, or rebel against him. When a rebellion by Queen Moria rises against him, Meghren has her decapitated with [[DecapitationPresentation her head impaled on a spike]]--a frequent punishment of his--and resolves to hunt down and eventually kill her son Maric. This war results in high casualties on both sides, with Meghren frequently asking for Orlesian support, only to carelessly send his men to their deaths. When he believes Maric has been killed, only to learn of his survival, as the majority of Ferelden rise or turn against him, he [[VillainousBreakdown flies into a rage]], ordering the mass execution of anyone and everyone who sympathizes with the rebels.
* ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'':
** The greedy [[AristocratsAreEvil Arl Rendon Howe]] kills the family and servants of the Human Noble PlayerCharacter to take control of their lands, all out of jealousy over the public love the family received. Joining [[WellIntentionedExtremist Teyrn Loghain Mac Tir]], Howe [[TheCorrupter manipulates]] and carries out Loghain's most atrocious plans. Conducting a purge of Denerim's elven alienage, Howe has countless elves--including an orphanage full of children---put to death. Responsible for torturing enemies of Loghain, Howe loves this task so much he has his quarters moved next to his TortureCellar. Fearing the influences Loghain's daughter may have over him, the power-hungry Howe tries to persuade Loghain to kill her and tries murdering her himself when this fails.
** Bann Vaughan is a [[SerialRapist sex offender]] and murderer of elven women who justifies his crimes by saying that [[FantasticRacism elves aren’t real people]]. When he appears in the City Elf origin story, Vaughan abducts the entire female half of a wedding party, including the protagonist if female, to be raped by him and his men. By the time the protagonist fights back, one woman has already been killed and the protagonist’s cousin, Shianni, has already been raped by Vaughan and his friends. Unwilling to release his hostages, Vaughan instead tries to bribe the protagonist into letting him keep the women for the night. Such cruelty from Vaughan isn't an isolated incident either, as the DLC prequel ''Leliana’s Song'' features an overheard conversation where Vaughan is preparing to rape/torture one of his maids over a floor stain.
** The ExpansionPack ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOriginsAwakening'': The Baroness of the Blackmarsh was a VainSorceress who murdered her subjects’ children to use their blood in rituals to keep herself young. When her subjects rebelled and burned her home down, the Baroness responded by [[TakingYouWithMe killing her subjects]] and [[FateWorseThanDeath imprisoning their spirits in the Fade]]. Denied their eternal rest, the people of the Blackmarsh have their souls feasted on by the Baroness, [[spoiler:now a Pride Demon]], and are tormented by the demons prowling the spirit world. Should any person "die" they will only be revived back in the Fade for more misery. When confronted with her crimes, the Baroness brushes them off, saying that [[ItsAllAboutMe her subjects’ lives belong to her and are hers to do with as she pleases]].
* ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'': [[ANaziByAnyOtherName Ser Otto Alrik]] is a high-ranking Templar who is infamous for his habit of illegally conducting the Rite of Tranquility on unwilling mages. Forever cut off from the spirit world, known as the Fade, Tranquil mages have undergone the spiritual equivalent of a lobotomy and are left as {{Empty Shell}}s for the rest of their lives. Not content with the way things currently are, Alrik’s dream is to initiate the [[FinalSolution Tranquil Solution]], a plan where every mage is forcibly made Tranquil, regardless of age or ability. When this plan was turned down by [[KnightTemplar Knight-Commander Meredith]] for [[EvenEvilHasStandards being too extreme]], Alrik began taking steps to carry out his plan in secret, turning mages Tranquil such as he did with Anders’s first love, Karl. Also, in the mission ''Dissent'', while pursuing a female apostate named Ella, Alrik heavily implies that he’ll use the Rite of Tranquility to turn her into his willing SexSlave, with the added implication that he frequently does this. This is proven in an overheard conversation between a newly made Tranquil mage and her former lover. In response to her lover trying to break through to her, the Tranquil mage emotionlessly responds, "I am Ser Alrik’s now."
* ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'': [[SatanicArchetype The Elder One]], aka [[spoiler:[[BigBad Corypheus]]]], is an ambitious being that will stop at nothing in his quest to [[AGodAmI become a god]]. [[spoiler:One of the seven Magisters of Tevinter who invaded the Golden City in a bid to usurp TheMaker, Corypheus was corrupted into one of the original Darkspawn as a result and is inadvertently responsible for the Blights that constantly threaten to destroy Thedas.]] Having [[FaithHeelTurn failed and been punished for his attempt to serve a god once]], he has decided to become a god himself by physically entering the spirit world known as the Fade and conquering the Black City. In his mad bid for power, the Elder One tries to murder Divine Justina, causes a [[{{HellGate}} Breach into the Fade]] to tear open in the sky which kills thousands and releases murderous demons into the world, tries to [[BrainwashedAndCrazy brainwash]] the mages to serve as his army, corrupts the Templars into [[BodyHorror insane monsters]] by feeding them [[FantasticDrug Red Lyrium]] which is [[HumanResources made from people he's captured]] and attempts to massacre the Templars at Therinfal Redoubt who haven't converted to the Red, attacks [[spoiler:Haven]] and attempts to kill everyone within, and tricks [[spoiler:the Grey Wardens]] into doing BloodMagic and HumanSacrifice to summon a demon army for him to use to conquer the world. In the end, after his plans are thwarted one time too many, [[spoiler:Corypheus [[OmnicidalManiac reopens the Breach]] to lure the Inquisitor to him, [[PutThemAllOutOfMyMisery willing to destroy the world]] out of [[SuicidalCosmicTemperTantrum spite]] in the [[TakingYouWithMe process]]]].
----

** [[SmugSnake Arl Rendon Howe]] is a smug, ambitious and cruel [[AristocratsAreEvil aristocrat]] dedicated to gaining power through any means necessary. Should the player pick the Human Noble origin story, as a member of the Cousland they will witness as Howe betrays and murders almost all of his best friend Bryce Cousland, along with most of his family and household, before usurping lordship over his lands. Among the casualties are Bryce's [[WouldHurtAChild young grandson]] and defenseless daughter-in-law, as well as their guests. When confronting him later, Howe mocks the Cousland player about [[WouldYouLikeToHearHowTheyDied how he made their parents suffer before he killed them]], as well as revealing he was [[GreenEyedMonster envious of how beloved the Couslands were in Fereldan]], as well as trying to accuse the Couslands of treason. Howe would join [[TheHeavy Teyrn Loghain Mac Tir]] as his [[TheDragon second-in-command]]; in contrast to the [[WellIntentionedExtremist well-intentioned Loghain]], Howe is in it [[ItsAllAboutMe purely for his own benefit and ambitions]]; it's implied that Howe put Loghain's more atrocious plans in his head and carried them out. Howe is also responsible for purging Denerim's elven alienage, resulting in the deaths of numerous elves, including an entire orphanage full of innocent children, turning the orphanage into a haunted wreck. It's also hinted that he helped Loghain sell said elves into slavery. Finally, Howe is the one put in charge torturing the nobles that disagree with Loghain, a task Howe enjoys enough that he chooses to sleep in the bedroom right next to his dungeons. Howe also tries to convince Loghain into killing his own daughter Anora, and when the player goes on a rescue mission for Anora, Howe expresses an eagerness to kill the queen against her and her father's own plans.

** Arl Rendon Howe is an [[AristocratsAreEvil evil aristocrat]] dedicated to gaining power through any means necessary. Should the player pick the Human Noble origin story, they will witness as Howe betrays and murders almost all of his best friend’s family and household. Among the casualties are the player’s [[WouldHurtAChild young nephew]] and defenseless sister-in-law. When confronting him later, Howe mocks the Noble about how he made their parents suffer before he killed them. Howe is also responsible for purging Denerim's elven alienage, resulting in the deaths of numerous elves, including an entire orphanage full of innocent children. It's also hinted that he helped Loghain sell said elves into slavery. Finally, Howe is the one put in charge of conducting ColdBloodedTorture on the nobles that disagree with his boss, Loghain, a task Howe enjoys enough that he chooses to sleep in the bedroom right next to his TortureCellar.

** Bann Vaughan is a [[SerialRapist sex offender]] and murderer of elven women who justifies his crimes by saying that [[FantasticRacism elves aren’t real people]]. When he appears in the City Elf origin story, Vaughan abducts the entire female half of a wedding party, including the protagonist if female, to be raped by him and his men. By the time the protagonist fights back, one woman has already been killed and the protagonist’s cousin, Shianni, has already been raped by Vaughan and his friends. Unwilling to release his hostages, Vaughan instead tries to bribe the protagonist into letting him keep the women for the night. Such cruelty from Vaughan isn't an isolated incident either, as the DLC prequel ''Lelianna’s Song'' features an overheard conversation where Vaughan is preparing to rape/torture one of his maids over a floor stain.

* ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'': [[ANaziByAnyOtherName Ser Otto Alrik]] is a high-ranking Templar who is infamous for his habit of illegally conducting the right of Tranquility on unwilling mages. Forever cut off from the spirit world, known as the Fade, Tranquil mages have undergone the spiritual equivalent of a lobotomy and are left as {{Empty Shell}}s for the rest of their lives. Not content with the way things currently are, Alrik’s dream is to initiate the [[FinalSolution Tranquil Solution]], a plan where every mage is forcibly made Tranquil, regardless of age or ability. When this plan was turned down by [[KnightTemplar Knight-Commander Meredith]] for [[EvenEvilHasStandards being too extreme]], Alrik began taking steps to carry out his plan in secret, turning mages Tranquil such as he did with Anders’s first love, Karl. Also, in the mission ''Dissent'', while pursuing a female apostate named Ella, Alrik heavily implies that he’ll use the Right of Tranquility to turn her into his willing SexSlave, with the added implication that he frequently does this. This is proven in an overheard conversation between a newly made Tranquil mage and her former lover. In response to her lover trying to break through to her, the Tranquil mage emotionlessly responds, "I am Ser Alrik’s now."

''Monster/DragonAge''

* ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'': [[SatanicArchetype The Elder One]], aka [[spoiler:Corypheus]], is an ambitious being that will stop at nothing in his quest to [[AGodAmI become a god]]. [[spoiler:One of the seven Magisters of Tevinter who invaded the Golden City in a bid to usurp TheMaker, Corypheus was corrupted into one of the original Darkspawn as a result and is inadvertently responsible for the Blights that constantly threaten to destroy Thedas.]] Having [[FaithHeelTurn failed and been punished for his attempt to serve a god once]], he has decided to become a god himself by physically entering the spirit world known as the Fade and conquering the Black City. In his mad bid for power, the Elder One tries to murder Divine Justina, causes a [[{{HellGate}} Breach into the Fade]] to tear open in the sky which kills thousands and releases murderous demons into the world, tries to [[BrainwashedAndCrazy brainwash]] the mages to serve as his army, corrupts the Templars into [[BodyHorror insane monsters]] by feeding them [[FantasticDrug Red Lyrium]] which is [[HumanResources made from people he's captured]] and attempts to massacre the Templars at Therinfal Redoubt who haven't converted to the Red, attacks [[spoiler:Haven]] and attempts to kill everyone within, and tricks [[spoiler:the Grey Wardens]] into doing BloodMagic and HumanSacrifice to summon a demon army for him to use to conquer the world. In the end, after his plans are thwarted one time too many, [[spoiler:Corypheus reopens the Breach to lure the Inquisitor to him, [[SuicidalCosmicTemperTantrum willing to destroy the world out of spite in the process]]]].