History Characters / DragonAgeOriginsPlayableCharacters

* Characters/DragonAgeOriginsPlayableCharactersTheWarriors
* Characters/DragonAgeOriginsPlayableCharactersTheMages
* Characters/DragonAgeOriginsPlayableCharactersTheRogues

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Playable Characters from ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'':

[[folder: The Player Character]]
[[WMG: The Warden]]

->''"I am a Grey Warden. Together we will make our stand. Together we will save this world."''

The main protagonist of the game. You become a Grey Warden after going through a unique origin story tailored to your race and background. Afterwards, you go to Ostagar in order to join King Cailan [[WrongGenreSavvy in a supposedly final battle against the Darkspawn.]] You also need to undergo The Joining, a ceremony in which you are initiated into the Grey Wardens.

Things in Ostagar don't go exactly as planned, so the Warden, along with Alistair, Morrigan, and [[RagtagBunchOfMisfits others who join you along the way,]] goes off into Ferelden [[GondorCallsForAid in order to gather armies against the Blight.]]

* HundredPercentAdorationRating: You can achieve this with any member of your party - it helps a lot when you're trying to romance one of them. You can even achieve it with ''every single one of them at the same time'', though most of them will be a strictly platonic adoration.
* AccidentalPornomancer: On numerous occasions, you can actually use sex or marriage as a bargaining tool.
** In particular, you can use it to persuade Isabela to teach you to be a Duelist without playing her game. If female, you can invite Alistair to participate. Or, if you romanced Leliana, she will automatically invite herself along, and you can then choose if Zevran participates.
** If playing as a Mage and you go into the Fade in order to save Connor, one of the ways you can bargain with the Desire Demon controlling him is to have sex with her in exchange for leaving or pretending to leave.
** This is pretty much what [[spoiler:Morrigan wants from you, and you either have to accept, make someone else do it, or sacrifice a life]].
** If playing as the Human Noble, you have additional options for resolving the Landsmeet, being able to [[spoiler:marry Queen Anora (if male) or marry soon-to-be-King Alistair (if female).]]
* TheAce: Evolves into this over the course of the game.
* ActionGirl: If female, then very much so.
* AffectionateNickname: The Human Noble, being the youngest, is frequently called "Pup" by their father.
* AntiHero: Without a Karma meter, it's very easy to play the Warden as one. You can inflict crimes ranging from petty theft to mass genocide to child killing.
* AnythingThatMoves[=/=]ExtremeOmnisexual: The Warden can definitely be played as such.
** You can even claim after finding out [[spoiler: Shale was once a dwarven woman that suddenly, she's ''very'' cute.]]
* TheArchmage: The Mage Warden, despite their youth, clearly shows signs of becoming this, being the apprentice and star pupil of the First Enchanter and setting an unprecedented record for the "quickest, cleanest Harrowing ever seen" in the Circle. This also may apply if they choose to specialize as an Arcane Warrior. Arguably, they have reached this status by endgame when they battle the Archdemon.
** Another indication of this is during the battle with Uldred, who despite being a Senior Enchanter with BloodMagic and the power of a Pride Demon behind him, decides to transform [[GenreSavvy immediately]] instead of attempting to engage the Mage Warden in a straight-up WizardDuel.
** Archmage is even the name of the achievement for getting to level 20 as a mage character.
* [[spoiler: AscendedToAHigherPlaneOfExistence: If choosing to follow Morrigan through the Eluvian at the end of ''Witch Hunt'', departing to parts unknown]].
* AssKickingEqualsAuthority: If the Warden manages to survive the Blight, they will become Warden-Commander of all the Grey Wardens in Ferelden, which also effectively makes them the Arl/Arlessa of Amaranthine. In addition, a dwarf Warden will become a Paragon, which is not only an honor equal to or higher than that of a king, but also grants them their own house and followers; meanwhile, a city elf Warden has the option of representing his people as the first elven Bann of the Alienage in Denerim. Depending on your actions in-game, you can also add a Teyrnir (Dukedom), another Arling (Denerim), the Kingdom of Ferelden (as a Prince or Princess Consort), and a Lord Chancellorship (Prime Ministership) into the bargain, although the latter titles are mostly derived by [[YouKillItYouBoughtIt forcibly removing their incumbents from the position]]. This all represents quite a lot of legitimate authority.
** According to ''Awakening'' and ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'', the Warden mysteriously disappears after a few years. It's implied that that they either set off to combat a new threat [[spoiler: or potentially went through the Eluvian]].
*** If the quest ''Secret Rendezvous'' and Alistair's [[spoiler: appearance as king]] during DAII are any indication, the Warden ruled Amaranthine for six years, and was competent enough to quickly turn Arl Howe's den of provincial aristocratic corruption into a powerful rival of Kirkwall itself, so apparently Asskicking equals [[ReasonableAuthorityFigure competent authority]].
* AwesomeMomentOfCrowning: In ''Awakening'', [[spoiler:a Dwarven Commoner Warden will discover that he/she, a ''Casteless'', has been named a '''Paragon'''.]]
** [[spoiler: A Female Human Noble romancing Alistair can become ''Queen of Ferelden'']].
** Likewise, [[spoiler: a male Human Noble can [[ArrangedMarriage marry Anora]] and become her King Consort.]]
* {{Badass}}: It's mandatory if you want to become a Grey Warden.
* BadassBookworm: The Mage Warden in particular, having been the apprentice and star-pupil of First Enchanter Irving.
** Dialogue implies that Irving often praised the Warden's talents to his colleagues, as both Wynne and Duncan immediately recognise the Warden on sight. Even Uldred, someone who is mentioned to ''never'' have worked with any Mages in the Circle, knows of the Warden and mocks him/her for having been a teacher's pet.
** During their origins, the Human Noble mentions that they spent a lot of time in their grandfather's library, while the Dwarven Noble mentions greatly enjoying a scholar's book about their ancestor, implying each is very well read about Ferelden and Dwarven history, respectively.
* BadassFamily: If a Human Noble, the Warden comes from one of these. The Couslands have served as a BigGood in Ferelden for ''centuries'' and when the call came in that King was massing an army to take on the Darkspawn, Teyrn Cousland and his heir-apparent were prepared to personally lead their forces into the fray. Teyrna Cousland is no slouch with her bow and arrows, either.
** The City Elf had an ActionMom, Adaia, whom Duncan wanted to recruit into the Grey Wardens; he was talked out of it by Elder Valendrian, seeing as there wasn't an urgent need for recruits back then. Their cousins Shianni and Soris are both [[BadassNormal pretty awesome as well]].
** The Dwarf Noble is a member of the Aeducan royal family, descended from the Paragon Aeducan who united Orzammar, had relatives who served in the Grey Wardens in generations previously, and whose current generation's members don't hide their predisposition towards badassery either.
** The Dalish Elf came from one of these as well; their father was a powerful Keeper, and their mother was a gifted hunter and archer.
** ''Dragon Age II'' adds the Human Mage to the pile, as both the Amells and their relatives in the Hawke family are incredibly badass. Not to mention the revelation that the Human Mage has ''other'' siblings who are mages.
** Began one if playing as a Male Warden who performed the Dark Ritual and later followed Morrigan through the Eluvian, having sired a child who has two of the most powerful people in Thedas as parents [[spoiler: as well as the soul of an untainted Old God]].
* BadassNormal: Every non-mage Warden is clearly this before they undergo the Joining.
** Particularly the Dalish Origin, where the Warden survives being infected with the Taint through a mixture of their Keeper's magic and their own ''[[HeroicWillpower sheer willpower]]''. They aren't even cured of actively having the Taint until after they've fought darkspawn in the Brecilian Forest, traveled all the way to Ostagar, and battled more darkspawn in the Korcari Wilds. Even Duncan is amazed the Dalish Warden survives so long.
** The Dwarf Noble is no slouch either. With no armor and just a cruddy sword and shield (unless you've been a good boy... in which case the sword is decent), they chop through a couple dozen darkspawn and track Duncan down in the Deep Roads. Alone. Hell, given how the tunnels the Wardens were in connected to the outside (otherwise they'd never have been able to get the Dwarf Noble to the surface for plot reasons), the DN could conceivably have massacred his/her way to the surface, since most darkspawn were gone due to the Blight.
** The Dwarf Commoner in some ways tops the Noble one. While the entire Proving Arena erupts in a furious uproar when your true identity is discovered, we cut to Duncan stroking his beard in quiet contemplation that a casteless, penniless sellsword with no formal weapons training whatsoever has nonetheless somehow managed to beat the most seasoned Warriors in Orzammar and veterans of countless Darkspawn campaigns. Later when he invokes the Right of Conscription, he states that he recognizes they have untapped potential that with Warden training [[DareToBeBadass would make them even greater.]]
--> '''Proving Master''': This wo/man is ''not'' a Warrior! They are Casteless! Rejected by the Ancestors! His/her very footsteps pollute the stone! S/he has no place here!\\
'''Duncan''': Except as ''your'' Champion...
** The City Elf leaves Bann Vaughan lying dead in "''a river of blood''" that runs throughout the Arl of Denerim's Estate, during their RoaringRampageOfRevenge over the abduction and rape of countless elven women (including their cousin Shianni) at his hands. The sheer scale of the destruction wrought is lampshaded by Elder Valendrian and the Guard Captain who comes to arrest the City Elf.
--> '''Guard-Captain''': Do you expect me to believe that ''one'' wo/man did all of ''that?''\\
'''Valendrian''': [[BewareTheNiceOnes We are not]] [[AwakeningTheSleepingGiant all so helpless]], Captain.
** The Human Noble essentially mows through a large crowd of Arl Howe's personal soldiers in order to safely escort his/her mother through the family castle in the dark of night.
* BadassPrincess: The female Human and Dwarf Nobles. The Dwarf Noble is the daughter of the dwarven king, and thus rightfully a princess; the Human Noble's father rules what the codex states is actually a {{principality}} within Ferelden, though the Couslands don't refer to themselves by princely titles.
* BattleCouple: With their love interest.
* TheBeastmaster: The Ranger specialisation for Rogues.
* BecauseYouWereNiceToMe: It depends on how you choose to treat them, of course. But if you make the effort to befriend the members of your party, you learn that you are one of the only real friends (if not ''the'' only one) that most of them have ever had. This is particularly true of Morrigan (who has never known anyone that she even ''liked'' before meeting you), Zevran (whose closest friend is willing to kill him), and Shale (who has never before known a person who didn't exploit it).
* BenevolentBoss[=/=]BadBoss: The Human Noble can choose dialogue options for either toward their servants [[EstablishingCharacterMoment during the origin story]].
* BerserkButton: Arl Rendon Howe becomes one to the Human Noble.
--> '''Human Noble''': I want Howe dead '''NOW!'''
** If framed for killing Trian, one of the Dwarf Noble's potential responses to the Scout [[BlatantLies explaining how they murdered Trian]] is to immediately stick a knife directly in the Scout's gut for questioning their honour.
* BettyAndVeronica: Depending on how the RomanceSidequest unfolds, this can exist between Leliana and Morrigan/Zevran for men and Alistair/Leliana and Zevran for women. A bisexual PC has the option of picking a ThirdOptionLoveInterest.
* BewareTheNiceOnes: The Warden can be played as the most shining paragon of virtue to ever exist... just ''don't'' get in their way!
* {{BFS}}: A special mention to the Dwarven and Elven Wardens: If they wield a two-handed weapon, [[UpToEleven it's bigger than their whole fricking body!]]
* BiTheWay: Can be played this way.
* BigEater: It's a Grey Warden thing, apparently.
* BigGood: Can be played this way. If playing as the Human Noble, the Warden is a member of the Cousland family, who have for centuries been the BigGood of all Ferelden.
* BlessedWithSuck[=/=]CursedWithAwesome: Congratulations! You've been selected as a Grey Warden recruit -- the highest honor to which you could ever aspire! It means any birthright or title you had is now forfeit. But wait, you have yet to become a Grey Warden - first you have to [[spoiler:drink darkspawn blood, which will often kill you right away. If it doesn't, congratulations on becoming a Grey Warden! You can now sense the darkspawn and destroy archdemons at the low cost of obliterating your soul if you try the latter. Of course, they can sense ''you'' just as easily as you sense them. Oh, and you have about thirty years to live until the taint starts turning you into a darkspawn, at which point the Grey Warden instruction troubleshooting manual tells you to go on a suicide run against the darkspawn hordes. Oh, and good luck ever having children, especially if the other parent is also a Grey Warden.]]
* BloodKnight: The Violent voice set.
* BloodSplatteredWeddingDress: A female City Elf who fights in her wedding dress.
* BlueBlood: If of the Human or Dwarven Noble origin (the Human Noble's origin icon depicts a drop of blue blood, in fact). The Human Mage comes from a wealthy family which is part of the nobility of Kirkwall, in the Free Marches, but this has no effect on the origin story.
* BrutalHonesty: Every background has a brutally honest response option for when you meet King Cailan. For example, when meeting a City Elf, Cailan apparently thinks of the Alienages as a somewhat poor but fair chance for the elves to rebuild themselves after an age of slavery. A City Elf PC has the option to exercise this trope to correct him:
-->'''King Cailan''': Ah, so you're from one of our Alienages. Tell me, how do things fare there?\\
'''The City Elf Warden''': [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge I killed an Arl's son]] for [[RapeAsBackstory raping my friend]].\\
'''King Cailan''': You... w-what?!
* ButNowIMustGo: [[spoiler: The Warden abandons his or her life and party members in pursuit of a mysterious mission (or woman) at some point in the decade between the end of the first two games.]]
* ButThouMust: If the protagonist doesn't join the Grey Wardens voluntarily during the origin story, s/he'll be conscripted.
* CanineCompanion: Regardless of your origin story, you get a dog - specifically, a giant mabari warhound, whose loyalty to you is absolute. If playing as the human noble, the dog has been your pet since childhood; otherwise, there's a quest in Ostagar where you can save the poisoned dog's life, and he imprints on you and tracks you down when you first leave for Lothering.
* CelibateHero [=and/or=] ReallyGetsAround: As with the hero[=/=]anti-hero status, the Warden can be anywhere in between these two. The hero can get UpToEleven by having a foursome with Zevran, Leliana, and Pirate Queen Isabela. And then taking the edge off by sleeping with male hookers, female hookers, nugs, a transvestite ''dwarf'', or having some rather unusual things done to you using some rather [[NoodleImplements interesting tools]].
* TheChessmaster: At the Landsmeet, it's possible to manipulate every single lord but one into supporting you over Loghain, including Queen Anora, ''his own daughter.'' You can then [[spoiler:execute Loghain in front of her,]] and she'll still go along with [[spoiler:marrying Alistair and]] lending her support for the Warden.
** Lampshaded by Loghain during the Landsmeet, who [[AlternateCharacterInterpretation suggests]] that while Arl Eamon might believe that putting [[spoiler: Alistair]] on the throne would guarantee him a PuppetKing to control and influence, in reality even ''his'' strings are being pulled by the Warden.
--> '''Loghain''': And here comes [[TheManBehindTheMan the Puppeteer]] him/herself!
** This can also be a possible interpretation of the resolution of the Dwarf arc, particularly if s/he chooses Bhelen, which leads to the dwarves becoming more united with the surface world.
* ChickMagnet[=/=]HelloNurse: Aside from various party members (male and female for both genders), serving girls and a few elves are smitten with the male PC and Bann Teagan seems to be considering proposing to the female PC after a few days of knowing her, explicitly stating that it doesn't matter one bit that she's a dwarf, an elf and/or a mage. Oghren points this out in a conversation with Wynne.
* TheChooserOfTheOne: The Warden decides who ends up on the thrones of Orzammar and Ferelden.
* TheChosenOne: Averted, as the Warden in each origin is merely the RightManInTheWrongPlace. [[spoiler: Further averted with the ''Darkspawn Chronicles'', which depicts a non-canonical AlternateHistory where the Warden died during the Joining and Alistair was forced to step up. It didn't end well]].
** Played straight with a Mage Warden who takes time to befriend Wynne, who comes to believe that they could help reform the Circle. Wynne notes that they have a unique worldview, having experienced life as a Circle Mage, a Grey Warden and (technically) an Apostate, allowing them to bring just the right new ideas and practices to the table. After slaying the Archdemon, the Mage Warden can even ask for the Circle's independence as their boon.
** [[spoiler: Ultimately averted however after the events of ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII''. It's revealed that the Divine refused to grant the Boon declaring the Ferelden Circle's independence, the Warden mysteriously disappeared and only seven years later, every single Circle rose up in open rebellion]].
* ClearMyName: Subverted. The Dwarf Noble never has the chance to prove their innocence if they were framed for killing Trian.
** Similarly, the Human Noble never has a chance to prove that his/her family was not about to sell Ferelden out to Orlais, which is the excuse Arl Howe gives for his attack on Castle Cousland. (However, it's also noted that very few of the other nobles believe this story.)
** Not to mention that a Warden of ''any'' background goes through the entire game knowing that Loghain is doing his best to convince the entire country that they betrayed the king to his death.
* ComesGreatResponsibility: An honourable Mage Warden under the tutelage of Wynne. While their remarkable self-confidence is one of their greatest strengths, Wynne reminds them that mages should ''never'' indulge in ''[[FatalFlaw pride]]'' because of their abilities, lest it corrupt them.
* CommandingCoolness: The Warden becomes "Warden-Commander of Ferelden" in ''Awakening''.
** They also are referred to as "Commander of the Grey" by some characters.
** The Dwarf Noble is stated to be a Commander in Orzammar's Army. Sadly due to Bhelen's machinations, they hold the post less than a day.
* CloudCuckooLander: Some dialogue options, if they're not to be considered snarky, can come across as... loony:
--> '''Chantry Priest''': We are all sinners. The fire symbolizes our hope that forgiveness is possible. Thus, we all serve by feeding its flames.\\
'''Warden''': So if I sin, I should just set myself on fire?
* CoolUncle (or Aunt): The Human Noble is very clearly seen as this by their nephew, Oren.
** The Dwarf Noble and Dwarf Commoner respectively. Granted, while we [[TheUnseen never actually see]] their mutual nephew, the child of Bhelen Aeducan and Rica Brosca, as one of the legendary Grey Wardens and a Paragon of Orzammar, their nephew Endrin will most likely be hearing the incredible stories about their Aunt/Uncle for ''years'' to come.
* CourtMage: A potential reward for a Mage Warden after the final battle.
* DaddysGirl[=/=]LikeFatherLikeSon: The Human Noble and Dwarf Noble are heavily implied to greatly take after their fathers.
* DamselOutOfDistress: The Female City Elf Origin. After getting captured by Vaughan's guards, who announce their intention to rape and murder her (and not necessarily in that order), her cousin Soris breaks into the room. While they're distracted by his sudden appearance, he quickly slides a sword across the floor to the City Elf, who immediately picks it up and adopts a fighting stance. Cue two very terrified, soon-to-be-dead guards:
--> '''Guard''': [[OhCrap Oh sod...]]
* DeadpanSnarker: The {{player character}} now has 100% more snarky lines than recent Bioware games. Especially notable if the Warden is given the Violent voice; Suave (for males) and Sultry (for females) are also fairly snarky.
* DeathSeeker: A potential interpretation of the [[NobleFugitive Dwarf Noble]] and [[LastOfTheirKind Human Noble]] Wardens, particularly if these Wardens made the ultimate sacrifice at the end of the game.
* DefiantToTheEnd: The Warden can be played as this.
** The Human Noble definitely is this, much to the chagrin of Arl Rendon Howe.
* {{Determinator}}: The Warden is forced to become this in order to unite Ferelden and defeat the Blight.
** For the reasons why Male Wardens who romanced Morrigan ''definitely'' apply, see IWillFindYou below.
* DisappearedDad: A male Dwarf Noble can be this to a child he conceives with one of the casteless {{Gold Digger}}s encountered during his origin story. He does come back later, of course, but his status being what it is, the mother of his child isn't exactly thrilled to see him.
** [[spoiler:Male Wardens who performed the Dark Ritual with Morrigan end up becoming this, due to Morrigan [[DaddyHadAGoodReasonForAbandoningYou leaving with their unborn child]] after the final battle is over, with the intention of never seeing each other again.]]
** [[spoiler: Possibly averted at the end of ''Witch Hunt'' however, when after reuniting with Morrigan, the Warden can elect to reaffirm their relationship and plan to meet their child, passing through the Eluvian to parts unknown]].
* TheDreaded: The Warden becomes this to Loghain and Arl Howe, the latter ''[[YouKilledMyFather particularly]]'' if they're the Human Noble.
** During "Unrest at the Alienage", when the Warden runs into a bunch of Tevinter slavers and tells them who they are;
--> '''Guard''': [[OhCrap Oh no!]] I've heard of ''you!''
** In ''Awakening,'' simply informing a group of kidnappers that you're the ''Commander of the Grey'' is enough to reduce one into to a gibbering wreck that he's dealing with the one to slay an ''Archdemon''. Further intimidation causes half of the bandits to run away and one decides he'd rather ''jump off a cliff to his death'' rather than have to face the Warden.
* TheDrifter: For the Grey Wardens, it's practically their ''raison d'être''.
* [[TheDutifulSon The Dutiful Son/Daughter]]: The Couslands taught the Human Noble to ''always'' do their duty. King Aeducan similarly invokes this almost word-for-word when the Dwarf Noble is proclaimed Orzammar's newest Commander during their Origin.
* EnemyMine: The Dwarves and Dalish Elves can potentially be played this way regarding Ferelden in general, as you have technically no interest in their kingdom's problems and can play it as being only concerned with the darkspawn menace against your people.
--> '''Loghain''': Pray our King is amenable to reason.\\
'''Dalish/Dwarf''': The Dalish ''have no Kings.'' / He's not ''my'' King.
** It's also possible to pull this off if you play as an unlawful mage: refusing to sell out Jowan, rejecting the Circle's teachings and embracing Morrigan's philosophy of allowing the old magics to prosper. The Knight Commander is not at all happy to see you again and the Circle pulls itself together again to fight the darkspawn less because they like you and more because the Blight will kill them all if they don't.
* EmpoweredBadassNormal: As a warrior, you can gain access to the slightly mystical templar and reaver specializations, and even more in the expansion. Avernus' blood draughts also give a warrior or rogue upgraded abilities.
* EvenTheGirlsWantHer[=/=]EvenTheGuysWantHim: The men and women who love/lust after the PC are not limited to love interests or even his/her own race, which is somewhat uncommon in Ferelden nowadays.
* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: Despite having established surnames for every origin, only two of these ever seem to get used: Cousland for the human noble and Aeducan for the dwarf noble, since both are tied to the main story. The other names - Amell for the human mage, Surana for the elf mage, Brosca for the dwarf commoner, Tabris for the city elf, and Mahariel for the Dalish elf - appear only in the character creation screen.
** However, if you play ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'' and import a save with a Dalish Warden, both Merrill and Marethari talk about Mahariel, since they are from the same clan, and were involved in the events of the Dalish Origin.
** Similarly, if the Warden in an imported game was a Human Female Mage (an Amell, same surname as Hawke's maternal lineage), Cullen remembers her fondly.
** In ''Awakening'', Sigrun is amazed to meet the Dwarf Commoner, as apparently Paragon Brosca has become a FolkHero amongst the Dusters.
** Lampshaded in the second game, if Teagan says that "the Hero of Ferelden" is back in Denerim, Alistair mutters, "S/he has a name, you know!"
* TheExile: The Dwarf Noble is exiled from Orzammar at the end of their Origin. Upon their return to Orzammar later in the game, the guards only grudgingly let them return due to their membership in the Wardens.
* FantasticRacism: The [[FightingForAHomeland Dalish]] and [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Dwarven]] Wardens can display this, though slightly more prevalent in the former given the rather ''complicated'' history between the races of Elves and Man.
* [[AFatherToHisMen A Father/Mother To Their Men]]: The Warden spends almost as much time guiding their followers through their personal demons as they do fighting ''actual'' demons.
* TheFettered: Can be played this way.
* FightingForAHomeland: The Dalish Warden can be granted the Hinterlands for their people to settle, as their boon for stopping the Fifth Blight.
* FigureItOutYourself: The Warden can be played as doing this with companions. Particularly noticeable with Alistair; if you convince him to [[spoiler: take the throne]], despite his reticence, he proves to be a ''great'' leader.
** Also noticeable with a romanced Morrigan, where the Warden's dialogue implies that he has been aware of her feelings for a ''long'' time, but has patiently waited for Morrigan to notice the penny drop.
** The Warden says this verbatim when [[spoiler: Loghain]] openly asks why you didn't take him with you to kill the Archdemon, since he assumed this was the Warden's reason for [[spoiler:making him go through the Joining]].
* FolkHero: According to Sigrun in ''Awakening'', the Dwarf Commoner apparently became one amongst the Casteless, being the lowly Duster who defeated Orzammar's finest warriors in a Proving, became a Warden, then was even made into a ''Paragon''.
** By the second game, the Warden is commonly referred to as "the Hero of Ferelden."
** One of the epilogues reveals that Bevin, the little boy in Redcliffe, grows into a famous adventurer and often regales his companions with the tale of how the Warden came to Redcliffe, took up his grandfather's sword to fight off an army of undead, then returned it to him.
** Bella renames the tavern in Redcliffe "The Grey Warden's Rest," though in the years to come, travelers find it hard to believe the "tall tales" of the Warden's exploits recounted there.
** In ''Awakening,'' you meet an individual calling themselves the "Dark Wolf" in Amaranthine. If you did some thievery quests in ''Origins'', you get to call him out that he's ''not'' the real "Dark Wolf," because ''[[ActuallyIAmHim you are!]]''
* FriendToAllChildren: Depending on the player, the Warden can be this. There are a few opportunities to do things like give money to orphaned children and protect a child from a demon who wants to possess her.
* FriendlyEnemy: The Mage Warden can invoke this several times towards Jowan. Despite making it clear that you haven't forgiven him and you're not really friends due to his BloodMagic, several dialogue options refer to him as "Old friend" and [[spoiler: letting him go during Redcliffe leads to his successful HeelFaceTurn in the (sadly bugged) quest, "Jowan's Intention"]].
** The Dwarf Commoner can similarly express this towards [[spoiler: [[TurnCoat Leske]]]] upon their return to Orzammar, upon learning [[spoiler: that he's sold you out to the Carta and is now TheDragon to Janka]].
** Dwarf Nobles who side with Bhelen tend to veer between this and EnemyMine.
* {{Gaydar}}: The Warden's functions with 100% accuracy, ensuring that he/she will never hit on a member of the same gender unless such an individual would at least potentially be receptive.
* TheGlovesComeOff: The Mage Warden, due to having lived for most of their life under the restrictions of the Templars. After becoming a Grey Warden, the Mage Warden is free to demonstrate just how truly powerful they ''really'' are.
* TheGoodChancellor: Depending on who ends up on the throne, a particularly honorable Warden can become this to [[spoiler: Alistair]] and/or Anora.
** In ''Awakening'', the Warden can become this as the new Arl of Amaranthine.
* GoodIsNotSoft: More Heroic Wardens, in particular, seem to excel at delivering CruelMercy to people.
** A good example is Nathaniel Howe in the ''Awakening'' expansion. He tried to break into Vigil's Keep in order to kill the Warden. Moreover, if the Warden is the Human Noble, Nathaniel is the son of the man who massacred the Warden's entire family. The Warden can decide that the most fitting punishment of all for him is... to make him become a ''Grey Warden''.
** Also from ''Awakening'', you are required to pass sentence on a man who stole in order to feed his starving family. The best result comes if you [[spoiler:make him join the army.]]
* GuileHero: You have to play the game to truly understand the freedom it gives you.
* HandsomeLech: Potentially. A frightening amount of possible interactions with members of the opposite sex (and even a few of the same sex) allows the Warden to hit on them, if not outright sleep with them. Heck, a female Human Noble can even hit on ''Duncan'', though he demurs.
* HappilyMarried: Heavily abundant in the Human Noble origin story. Your parents, Teyrn Bryce Cousland and his wife Eleanor are this, as well as your older brother Fergus and his wife Oriana. [[spoiler: Unfortunately the Origin doesn't end well for most of them]].
** [[spoiler:The female Human Noble who romances Alistair and becomes Queen during the Landsmeet. The epilogue slide even states that during their grand tour of Ferelden, one reason the population love Alistair as their new King is because of how much he openly adores his new wife, and a ''Dragon Age II'' game using an imported save further illustrates how good their marriage continues to be.]]
** [[spoiler: In ''Awakening'', Alistair laments how he can't join her coming out of retirement, not because of the crimp it's put on their honeymoon period, but because he would rather be at her side and busting in darkspawn skulls than have to deal with the mundane matters at court by himself. At the end, the epilogue slide says that when she returns to Denerim, he's waiting for her at the palace gate with a huge smile because he missed her so.]]
** Surprisingly, ''Awakening'' shows that [[spoiler: Anora and male Cousland seem to have developed an amicable relationship, and the final epilogue slide states that when he returns to Denerim, even Anora is glad to have him back.]]
** While not technically married, the Warden and a romanced Morrigan can have shades of this, although both would be the first to [[SheIsNotMyGirlfriend ruthlessly deny it]]. Lampshaded in ''Witch Hunt'', when Ariane comments that the Warden often idly plays with the ring Morrigan gave them when they think no-one is looking, before asking if her knowledge about couples in Thedas exchanging rings is accurate.
* TheHeart: Can be played this way.
* HelloNurse: Everyone wants the Warden. Seriously. No matter how long you spend beating your character with the Ugly Stick in Character Creation, he or she (especially she, and especially if she's a human) will constantly be referred to as drop-dead gorgeous.
* TheHero
* HeroicSeductress: If playing a female Warden, this is possible. See AccidentalPornomancer for details.
* HeroWithBadPublicity: Played with. Despite Loghain's claim that the Grey Wardens are responsible for the King's death, the only people who really believe that, and subsequently antagonize you, are either Loghain's men or mercenaries/desperate refugees with their eye on your bounty. There are some people gossiping in various settlements, but their opinion seems to fluctuate from moment to moment.
** In a similar vein, Arl Howe will attempt to tarnish the Human Noble's family name by claiming the Couslands were killed whilst attempting to start a rebellion, as part of a conspiracy to seize the throne for Orlais. However, when the Human Noble Warden speaks to other Nobles in the Landsmeet, many offer their condolences and make it clear very few of them actually believe Howe's version of events.
** Played straight in ''Awakening'' if you start off fresh as an Orlesian Grey Warden. Everybody in Ferelden will hold your Orlesian heritage against you. It's understandable, since Ferelden just freed itself from a brutal occupation at the hands of the Orlesians a scant few decades ago, only for an Orlesian to become the new Arl of Amaranthine. Depending on how you play the game, their mistrust can be justified.
* HopeBringer: All you have to do is flash the Grey Warden credentials to get most people to listen to whatever you have to say. Of course, it's up to you whether or not you want to fulfill the spirit of this trope.
* [[spoiler: HotDad: Potentially becomes one if male. A male Dwarf Noble actually has the potential to father ''two'' children in the course of the game - one during his origin story and one later.]]
* HypercompetentSidekick: More or less ends up as this at the end to [[spoiler:either Alistair or Anora.]] They lead the kingdom and deliver the {{Rousing Speech}}es, the Warden leads the armies.
* IDidWhatIHadToDo: Ruthless but well-meaning Wardens will find themselves adopting this as their creed.
* InformedAttractiveness: Even if you make a Warden that looks like the uglier cousin of ThePhantomOfTheOpera that fell down in a vat of acid and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking has mismatched hair and eyebrows]], everyone you ever meet will find him/her especially attractive.
* InSeriesNickname: Nearly everyone refers to the PC as "the Warden." It's a logical enough nickname, but it comes off a little bit strangely given that s/he isn't ''the'' Warden - there are two.
** Dialogue with Wynne implies that the Human Noble is known as "[[LastOfHisKind the last of the Couslands]]."
** In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'', the Warden is known as "the Hero of Ferelden".
* InterspeciesAdoption: In ways both subverted and played straight with the Mage Warden, who has grown up in the Circle raised and tutored by human and elf mages while being either a human or an elf him/herself.
* ItsAllMyFault: Every Origin has an event happen for which the Warden can blame him/herself. During the "Urn of Sacred Ashes", the Warden undergoes the Gauntlet, where they can confront these feelings of guilt or deny having them.
* ItsPersonal: The Human Noble vows revenge on Arl Howe for the brutal murder of his/her entire family.
** The City Elf Warden's Origin has the male Warden taking revenge on Vaughn for the abduction of his bride and rape of his cousin, while the female Warden kills her captors and cuts a bloody swath to Vaughn, who had planned to rape (and then murder) her.
** The Mage Warden can appear to display this towards Uldred for his atrocities in the Circle Tower.
** An Aeducan Warden supporting Harrowmont against Bhelen can have this as the primary motivation.
* [[JointheArmyTheySaid Join the Grey Wardens, They Said]]
* IWillFindYou: At the end of ''Origins'', a male Warden who romanced Morrigan can state their intention to set off in search of her, although this gets interrupted due to the events of ''Awakening''. They finally succeed in catching up with Morrigan during ''Witch Hunt''.
** If romanced, it adds an interesting subtext to the fact that one of their first acts as Warden-Commander was to send scouts to watch over the Korcari Wilds for over ''two years''. While officially it's because they were hunting down the last darkspawn stragglers on the surface, it's mentioned they were ''also'' given Morrigan's description and told to closely watch Flemeth's hut on the off-chance she might return.
* KleptomaniacHero: You can enter any dwelling and help yourself to anything that isn't nailed down, even if you need to pick locks in the process. Unlike pickpocketing, this never antagonizes the inhabitants, with ''very few exceptions'' (these being, if the person who owns the place is afraid you will find the dead body they haven't had time to dispose of).
** The mage origin ends with your senior mage asking you if you took anything from the dungeon you were just in. Tell the truth, and he'll take away a staff you took.
** Also, getting caught pickpocketing in Denerim will [[spoiler: spawn an army (not an exaggeration) of angry guards while you travel from one point of the city to another.]]
** There is at least one instance where there actually are consequences for looting, even though it's not pickpocketing. [[spoiler:Taking Zathrian's songbook before The Nature of The Beast is completed will eventually trigger a random encounter with a ''very'' pissed off Dalish archer.]]
** If you hesitate to accept Zevran's gift to you during his romance arc, he'll lampshade it, asking why there's a problem with it when you've picked up every ''other'' shiny object you've come across in their travels.
* KnifeNut: The PC always uses the same knife to murder people in dialogue scenes. Examples include the hungry deserter in Ostagar, the Elven Messenger, [[spoiler:Brother Genitivi, Avernus]]... The knife is known in the ''Dragon Age'' fandom as the [[FanNickname Murder Knife]].
* KnightInSourArmor: Can be played like this. A natural fit in particular for an elf - even if you're a Dalish who regards the Grey Wardens and Ferelden as an EnemyMine situation at best, every human assumes you care about their kingdom.
* LadyOfWar: Again, the female PC.
** The Female Dwarf Noble is noteworthy as the Origin ''begins'' with their being declared [[AsskickingEqualsAuthority Commander of Orzammar's Army]], a position that various dialogue shows is ''very'' much deserved.
** The Female Human Noble (who is often addressed as "my lady") gets this lampshaded, albeit mockingly, by Arl Howe:
--> '''Arl Howe''': Well, well. Bryce Cousland's little [[TheLadette spitfire]]. All grown up and [[StayInTheKitchen still playing the man!]]
* LargeHam: The Warden never outright [[TheStoic chews the scenery]], but there are some dialogue options that teeter on the edge. This is only exacerbated by some of the voice sets (such as Violent) whose lines can range from snarky to completely hammy.
* LastOfHisKind: While there are other Grey Wardens in the world, you and Alistair are the only ones left in Ferelden, and thus the only ones close enough to end the Blight in a timely and decisive manner.
** If playing a Human Noble, you're also the last member of House Cousland. [[spoiler:Almost. In fact, your brother is alive, but you don't learn this until the ending and he ceases to be important to the plot after Ostagar.]]
** Should the Dwarf Noble put Harrowmont on the throne, then Bhelen will attack and you are forced to kill him, leaving the Dwarf Noble as the ''last'' Aeducan (aside from distant cousins). Alternatively, should ''any'' Warden put Bhelen on the throne, he begins a campaign of outright slaughter against Harrowmont and his entire extended family - in a DAII game using an imported save, Hawke encounters the sole surviving Harrowmont.
* TheLeader: Can run the entire gambit.
* LikeAGodToMe: Some of the bits of party banter show that with high enough approval rating, the other party members feel this way about the Warden. Zevran calls him/her "an object worthy of worship."
** In ''Awakening'', if [[spoiler:Alistair is king and married to the human female noble, he fondly notes that "I married an indestructible goddess."]]
* LikeBrotherAndSister: The female mage PC and Jowan. He even mentions that he considers her a sister.
* LivingEmotionalCrutch: Various epilogues and the ''Darkspawn Chronicles'' DLC show that the group falls apart after the death of the Warden. They drift apart rather quickly even if the Warden survives to the end, but it's just because they each have things they want to do.
* LivingLegend: The Warden becomes one during ''Origins''.
* LovedINotHonourMore: Wynne lampshades this, reminding the Warden that they ''will'' have to put their duty as a Grey Warden ahead of their romance when it comes to saving the world.
** If the female Warden is in a romance with Alistair, even ''Morrigan'' brings this up in party banter, pointing out to Alistair that "fraternization" between two Grey Wardens could be problematic if [[{{Foreshadowing}} they ever have to choose between saving Ferelden or saving each other.]]
** By ''Awakening,'' even if the Warden previously decided to travel with their chosen love interest at the end of ''Origins'', they are [[TheCallKnowsWhereYouLive back in the fray]] serving as Warden-Commander of Ferelden only ''six months later''. Yes, even if [[spoiler:she is the Queen]]!
** Possibly subverted in ''Witch Hunt'', where if romanced, the Warden can decide to leave with Morrigan and [[spoiler: enter the Eluvian to meet their child]]. Of course, one could argue that since it's been ''two years'' since the end of the Blight and Ferelden is at peace, there is simply no need for the Warden anymore.
*** [[spoiler: Another interpretation is that as a Warden, they are duty-bound to watch over the child and the Old God soul it carries. In this, they are taking full responsibility for having performed the Dark Ritual to save their own life and know full well that if it shows signs of being malevolent, they may potentially have to [[SadisticChoice slay their own child]]... not to mention the Old God inside of it ''again''.]]
* MagicKnight: Mage Wardens can become ''Arcane Warriors''.
** Warriors can become a ''[[YourSoulIsMine Reaver]]'' and inverted as a ''[[AntiMagic Templar]]''.
* [[MommasBoy Momma's Boy/Girl]]: The City Elf takes after his/her ActionMom.
* ManicPixieDreamGirl: A female Warden can come off as this if the player tends towards the more snarky and quirky dialogue choices and goes out of their way to do things like break Zevran and/or Alistair out of their shells.
* ManipulativeBastard: You can be an utter douche, kicking dogs, desecrating holy artifacts and supporting crazy dwarves while still having all your most noble companions falling in love with your every word. Just make sure you have a good (and sometimes ''really'' good) coercion rank, a lot of gifts, and careful consideration of who you bring along with you and when.
* MagneticHero: You can also be this.
* MeaningfulName: The Dwarf Noble's last name is Aeducan, deriving from the dwarven word ''Aeduc''. While the precise translation hasn't been revealed, clues hint that it likely means either "Shield" or "Stone".
* [[MemeticSexGod Memetic Sex God(dess)]]: Is an in-universe case in ''Witch Hunt''.
* TheMessiah[=/=]VillainProtagonist: The Warden can be either and everything in between.
* [[spoiler:TheMistress: One outcome of Alistair's romance - the non-human noble Warden can become this for him if he's hardened and king. (The human noble can, too, but she also has the option to marry him and become queen.)]]
* MistakenForGay: Possibly for a female Warden. Gossips in ''Witch Hunt'' seem to think that the female Warden is gay/bisexual and something happened between her and Isabela, even if no such encounter took place and the Warden was played as completely straight or asexual.
* ModestRoyalty: If you are a Human Noble, your entire family is this. Despite being the most powerful nobility in all of Ferelden beside the King, they frequently talk to each other and allies informally. The Human Noble often has the option to ask other Nobles to just use his/her given name in lieu of a title when they recognize you as being a Cousland.
* MoralityChain: Jowan is implied to be this to a Mage Warden if one chooses not to use Blood Magic. While the Warden can defend their decision to attempt to help Jowan and Lily escape the Circle in their Origin, upon re-encountering him in Redcliffe, the Warden berates Jowan for using Blood Magic to escape the Templars and even considering to turn to forbidden magic in the first place.
* MoralityPet: The Warden can be this for the more morally-dubious characters (like Morrigan and Zevran) should he or she befriend or romance them.
* MrExposition: In ''Witch Hunt'', the Warden has several dialogue options that allude to their previous visits to various locations and allow them to explain important plot elements. Justified as Finn and Ariane weren't around to witness any of these things, while [[CanineCompanion Dog]], who ''was'' there for most of them, naturally isn't able to speak of them.
* MuggleBornOfMages: The Dalish Warden, whose father is mentioned as having been the Keeper of the Sabrae Clan before Marethari.
* MySignificanceSenseIsTingling: The Joining allows all Grey Wardens to sense Darkspawn.
--> '''Warden''': Warden-senses tingling.
** If the Warden has the Templar specialisation, a conversation with Ser Otto reveals the Warden has the ability to sense Demons.
* MythologyGag: In ''Awakening'', you are now called Warden-Commander - [[Franchise/MassEffect similar to what they call that other guy from that other Bioware game.]] It also sounds similar to the [[VideoGame/NeverwinterNights2 Knight-Commander of Crossroad Keep]].
* NeverAcceptedInHisHometown: Aside from the Dalish Elf, each Warden initially suffers this as [[YouCantGoHomeAgain a result]] of their respective Origin. The Human Noble's home was seized by Arl Howe, the Dwarven Noble was exiled from Orzammar, the City Elf and the Dwarf Commoner were wanted criminals in Denerim and Orzammar respectively and Templars are not particularly thrilled to see the Mage Warden again.
** In ''Witch Hunt'', while Finn recognises the Mage Warden immediately, he still launches into his lecture that just because they left the Circle to join the Wardens, defeated the Archdemon and saved the country, it ''doesn't'' give them the right to [[BerserkButton mishandle books]] in the Circle Library!
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Depending on your options, this can definitely occur more than once.
** The Warden is indirectly responsible for [[spoiler: the Mage-Templar War]], having canonically recruited Anders and the Spirit of Justice in ''Awakening''. This takes on a much darker tone after the events of ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'' when Anders, who has become Justice's new host, ends up [[spoiler:blowing up the Kirkwall Chantry in order to force a confrontation between the Mages and the Templars, setting up the means for ''every'' Circle in Thedas to rise up in rebellion. Made worse that this was likely due to the Grey Wardens' philosophy teaching him that UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans.]]
* NobleFugitive: If of the Human Noble or the Dwarf Noble origin.
* OccultDetective: While the darkspawn are their primary concern, the Wardens do train themselves to be able to deal with ''any'' threat.
* OddFriendship: With ''everyone'' in the party, aside from your fellow Warden and [[BigFriendlyDog your dog]]. When your closest friends include a [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Qunari Warrior]], a Stone {{Golem}}, [[HotWitch the daughter of]] ''[[TheDreaded Flemeth]]'', [[ProfessionalKiller a member of the Antivan Crows]], [[WhiteMage an elderly Mage]] kept alive by [[spoiler:a Fade Spirit]], a MataHari who had a FaithHeelTurn, a [[TheAlcoholic constantly drunk]] [[OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame Dwarf]] and potentially [[spoiler: the FallenHero who left your King to die and [[TheScapegoat blamed]] your [[DeceasedFallGuyGambit fallen comrades]] for it]], it's worth considering the possibility that ''you'' are the odd person in this friendship.
** If the character is a Human Noble, in ''Awakening'' they can befriend Nathaniel Howe, the son of the man who murdered their entire family. Giving the Howes a chance to redeem themselves seems to be a [[MagneticHero Cousland]] trait.
** The party in ''Awakening'' includes [[NobleFugitive a Howe]] who [[DefeatMeansFriendship tried to murder you]] to [[YouKilledMyFather avenge his father]], an apostate mage on his [[EscapeArtist seventh escape attempt]] from the Circle, a [[PerkyGoth perky]] female Dwarf from the [[ArmyOfThievesAndWhores Legion of the Dead]], a [[{{Tsundere}} rather prickly]] Dalish [[GreenThumb First]] searching for her [[IHaveYourWife kidnapped]] [[BigBrotherInstinct sister]], the corpse of a Grey Warden inhabited by a [[OurSpiritsAreDifferent Spirit of Justice]] and the [[InHarmsWay return]] of the [[TheAlcoholic constantly drunk]] Dwarf.
** In ''Golems of Amgarrak'', the party includes a Dwarf Beastmaster who is [[BigBrotherInstinct searching for his brother]] and the [[TheseAreThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow secrets of Amgarrak]], his brother who went [[GoMadFromTheRevelation mad from what he found there]], and a salvaged Runic {{Golem}}.
** In ''Witch Hunt'', the party includes a [[ThePrankster impish]] Dalish warrior searching for an [[BigBookOfEverything Ancient Tome]] stolen from her clan by Morrigan, and a [[BadassBookworm bookish]] Circle Mage [[AfraidOfBlood afraid of blood]] and [[NeatFreak dirt]], as well as the return of your [[BigFriendlyDog faithful dog]], who's finally finished [[ReallyGetsAround repopulating]] Ferelden's Mabari kennels.
** Recruiting Zevran, Nathaniel and potentially [[spoiler: Loghain]]. As the Warden can casually remark in ''Awakening'';
--> '''Warden''': You'd be surprised how many of my closest friends have tried to kill me at some point.
* OldHeroNewPals: Imported Wardens in ''Awakening'' trade in one RagtagBunchOfMisfits for another, with Oghren only staying due to his lack of screentime in the main game. It happens again in ''Witch Hunt'' as well.
* OneDegreeOfSeparation: The Warden to the other "[[SchrodingersPlayerCharacter potential]]" Wardens from the other Origins.
** A good example can be found in the Dwarf Noble origin, where the first person encountered is Bhelen's secret concubine, Rica Brosca, the sister of the Dwarf Commoner. It's similarly implied that the Dwarf Commoner origin takes place a few days beforehand, with the Proving they won being voided after they were unmasked as a Casteless, leading to another being arranged in which the Dwarf Noble has the option to compete.
* OnlySaneEmployee: Given that the only other Warden in Ferelden is ''Alistair'', the Warden frequently comes across as this.
* [[OnlySaneMan Only Sane Wo/Man]]: Also a possibility.
* TheParagon: The Warden can be played as one.
** Dwarf Warden can be literally declared one by the Orzammar Assembly, becoming a "Living Ancestor."
* TheParagonAlwaysRebels: The reaction of many in Orzammar when the Dwarf Noble gets exiled for committing fratricide. Played straight if they actually ''did'' kill Trian, but subverted if they were merely framed from the crime.
* ParentalAbandonment: With only a few exceptions, really bad things tend to happen to the Warden's parents in every origin, if they were even present at all:
** ''The Human Noble'' origin is the only one where both of the player character's parents are present; they are both likable, genuinely good people who clearly love their children and each other very much. Naturally, they are both brutally murdered during the origin story.
** In the ''Mage'' Origin, this is played completely straight, but is also explained and justified very well. When a person is found to have magical ability, which they usually display at a very young age, then by law they must be shipped off to the Tower of Magi for the rest of their life. Virtually all mages will never see or have any contact with their families ever again, and the player character is no exception. Some of the Mage Warden's dialogue can imply that [[TheArchMage Irving]] and/or [[TeamMom Wynne]] have served as [[ParentalSubstitute Parental Substitutes]]
** The ''Dwarf Commoner's'' mother is an angsty, abusive and emotionally distant alcoholic. The player's father is never seen, but it is implied that he simply abandoned the family and left them forever when the player character and their sister were very young.
** The ''Dwarf Noble's'' father plays a role in the plot during the origin story, but after that he is never seen again, because when the player returns to Orzammar later in the story, they discover that he has already passed away. The player's mother is nowhere to be found, though when the subject comes up in a conversation with Morrigan, the Dwarf Noble player can tell her that his/her mother died a long time ago.
** The ''City Elf’s'' mother was murdered by humans sometime prior to the beginning of the story. Their father is still alive and well, and actually ''doesn't'' end up dying, but after the prologue he isn't seen again until very near the end of the story, because the Alienage is closed off and inaccessible for most of the game. If the player chose to abandon Shianni to be raped by Vaughn in the prologue, he will completely disown the PC and refuse to speak to him/her.
** The ''Dalish Elf’s'' father was killed before they were born and their heartbroken mother disappeared sometime when they were small, leaving Ashalle as a ParentalSubstitute.
* PragmaticHero: The Warden can be played as such.
** A good example of this is the "Trial of Crows" questline. While the Warden still has a price on their head and the Antivan Crows ''never'' abandon a contract, by agreeing to carry out assassinations on [[AssholeVictim disreputable individuals]] for them, they will have earned enough favour that if the Guildmaster after them calls for aid in performing the hit, the other cells will be less inclined to agree.
** In ''Awakening'' if the Warden decides to [[spoiler: ally with the Architect]], a difficult speech check allows them to justify their decision as being this, depending whether any the companions present objected. The epilogue reveals that while many of the other senior Grey Wardens also questioned this decision, they did notice [[spoiler: the mysterious drop in Darkspawn activity all across the Deep Roads as a result]].
* PrincessInRags: The female Dwarf Noble and Human Noble origin. The Dwarf Noble is the exiled daughter of the King; the Human Noble's family is slaughtered and their lands and titles usurped.
* ProtagonistWithoutAPast: Inverted. Every origin has a clearly-defined past, complete with friends and relatives that have their own part in the story.
* PunchClockVillain: The Dwarf Commoner origin, having been forced to work for the crime lord Beraht.
** NobleTopEnforcer: Can have shades of this with [[GuileHero sufficient]] [[TheCharmer persuasion]]. The Commoner can politely negotiate for a bribe and let an embezzling smuggler escape to the surface; then, when Beraht confronts them about people witnessing the smuggler leaving the tavern alone after an exchange, they persuade him that they shook the guy down, handing a ''single'' piece of lyrium as proof, then allowed him to leave Tapster's in view of the public so that when they pushed him into the lava out of view, no one would know.
* TheQuest: Played straight or subverted, depending on player choices.
* RagsToRiches: [[spoiler:A City Elf can become the Denerim Alienage's first-ever bann, a Dwarf Commoner will be named Paragon and their family will live in Orzammar's Royal Palace if Bhelen is king, and any origin can succeed Loghain as Teyrn of Gwaren.]] In the Human Noble's case, it's riches to rags and back again, especially if [[spoiler: you become queen-consort by marrying Alistair or king-consort by marrying Anora.]]
** RichesToRags: The Human Mage Origin; because they had magic, it caused the prominent Amell family to lose political favour in Kirkwall. The Human Noble and Dwarven Noble also are former royalty/nobility who [[LastOfTheirKind lost most of their family members]] and [[NobleFugitive became exiled.]]
* RetiredBadass: Between ''Origins'' and ''Awakening'', though it's only a [[TenMinuteRetirement Six Month Retirement]].
** In ''Witch Hunt'', since Ferelden is at peace, Amaranthine is prospering and the Blight is over, a male Warden who romanced Morrigan can decide that he is no longer needed. [[spoiler: He can then choose to depart through the Eluvian with Morrigan to see their child.]]
* RevengeBeforeReason: The Human Noble invokes this numerous times when discussing Arl Howe.
* RightManInTheWrongPlace: All possible Wardens begin as well-trained but (mostly) unimportant figures, and rise to their station through skill and pure luck.
* RookieRedRanger: Became the leader of the Grey Wardens of Ferelden one day after joining. Granted, it's just because the other surviving Warden doesn't want the responsibility of leading, but still.
* RoyalBrat: A Dwarf Noble can be this in spades.
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: As a scion of House Cousland, second-highest in precedence among the noble houses of Ferelden, the Human Noble is just one step under being a prince(ss), and [[spoiler:can actually become royalty by marrying Alistair or Anora]]. The Dwarf Noble ''is'' royalty, the second child of King Endrin Aeducan of Orzammar and the exiled former-Commander of Orzammar's Army.
** The Human Mage is also part of the Amell nobility of Kirkwall, but is unaware of this because mages are legally forbidden to hold titles.
* SchrodingersPlayerCharacter: Actually averted. No matter which of the Origin stories you choose to play, you'll come across hints in the main storyline that the others played out, with only the fact that Duncan happened to be around during your chosen origin story determining which of the potential player characters became the protagonist. Probably the most obvious example of this is the existence of Dog (see below) - unless you are playing the Human Noble origin, the kennel master in Ostagar will say that Dog used to belong to a young noble who died.
** ForWantOfANail: ''The Darkspawn Chronicles'' is a look what could have potentially happened if the Warden wasn't recruited by Duncan, or didn't survive the Joining. Needless to say, things don't end well.
* SeenItAll: In ''Awakening'', when Anders and Nathaniel bring up the strangeness factor of getting into fights with Dragons, Demons and Darkspawn on a semi-regular basis, [[WeirdnessMagnet the Warden's]] dialogue seems to suggest that they really ''have'' [[FantasticallyIndifferent stopped being fazed]] by it at this point;
--> '''Warden''': Stick around, this happens all the time!
* [[HeWhoMustNotBeSeen S/He Who Must Not Be Seen]]: The Warden's actions had a very notable impact on ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'', and they will get brought up directly by Varric and Cassandra, indirectly by Flemeth, and by mention on [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking the loading screen]]. Depending on your playthrough, they can also be mentioned by Anders, Merrill, Isabela, Bethany, Cullen, Nuncio, Bodahn Feddic, [[spoiler: Zevran, Alistair, Leliana, Nathaniel Howe, Sophia Dryden,]] a letter found in the Wounded Coast, an ex-werewolf, several Codex entries, and Hawke him/herself. Despite this, the Warden never shows up in-game.
* ShutUpHannibal: The Human Noble's defiant response during their final confrontation with Arl Howe.
--> '''Human Noble''': You lie, Howe. To yourself most of all. I am a Grey Warden!\\
'''Arl Howe''': There it is, right there. That damned look in the eye that marked every Cousland success that held me back! It seems you have made something of yourself after all. Your father would be proud. I, on the other hand, want you dead more than ever.
* SilentProtagonist: Inconsistently played straight; you can select your PC's voice from a short list, and sometimes hear comments in battle and exploration. But in any cutscene where the player has dialogue choices, the lines go unvoiced.
* SinkOrSwimMentor: Often can be seen as both this and TricksterMentor in regards to Alistair, keeping him from [[HeroicBlueScreenOfDeath falling apart]] after the loss of Duncan and the Wardens at Ostagar, as well as if they put him forward as King during the Landsmeet.
* [[TenMinuteRetirement Six Month Retirement]]: Between ''Origins'' and ''Awakening''.
* SpoiledSweet: The Human and Dwarven Noble Wardens can potentially be this, especially when female.
* TheSquadette: The female PC. Alistair even lampshades it by wondering why there never were very many female Grey Wardens.
** The Warden herself lampshades this too at one point, when Daveth and Jory are fretting over the Joining.
--> '''Female Warden''': I swear, I'm the bravest one here and I'm a woman.
* TheStoic: Due to the lack of any facial animation, you ''will'' come off as this whenever the camera switches to you in conversation.
** NotSoStoic: The Warden looks absolutely horrified after Duncan stabs Ser Jory, and will be visibly surprised at seeing Wynne collapse. In both cases, however, facial expressions are largely limited to the mouth, which can come off as DullSurprise for the player.
** Also NotSoStoic: A human noble Warden looks completely heartbroken upon finding [[spoiler:the dead bodies of his/her sister-in-law and nephew]] during the origin story, and any Warden looks genuinely distraught when the party finds [[spoiler:Cailan's body]] in the ''Return to Ostagar'' DLC. Both of these are done much more believably than the above examples.
* SuperPowerfulGenetics: The Mage Warden is revealed in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'' to have several siblings who were ''all'' mages, much to the heartbreak of their mother Revka, who was forced to watch all of her children get taken away by the Circle, [[TraumaCongaLine one after another]]. The Amell family is so prone to creating mages that it's become considered something of a stain on their lineage and has frequently jeopardised their noble standing in Kirkwall.
* SuspiciouslySpecificDenial: Male Wardens can lapse into this frequently in ''Witch Hunt'' when Ariane asks about their relationship with Morrigan. Particularly interesting is the conversation when she asks if the Warden realises he unconsciously plays with the ring he was given by Morrigan, when he thinks no one is looking. Ariane proceeds to ask if her knowledge of the significance of two people sharing rings in human culture is accurate.
--> '''Warden''': We're ''not'' married, if that's what you're asking.
* TeachersPet: As Irving's [[BadassBookworm star pupil]], the Mage Warden is mockingly accused of being this by Uldred.
* TokenMinority: Among the Ferelden nobility in ''Awakening'' if you play as an Elf, Dwarf, or Mage that becomes Arl/essa of Amaranthine.
* TranquilFury: Implied to be the case when the Human Noble Warden finally faces off with [[YouKilledMyFather Arl Howe]].
* TryToFitThatOnABusinessCard: If you are playing as the human noble, your full titles and styles could be, if you play your cards right:
--> "[[RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething His/Her Royal Highness]], Prince/ss ______ [[BadassFamily Cousland]], Prince/ss-Consort of Ferelden, Teryn/a of Gwaren, Arl/essa of Amaranthine, Arl/essa of Denerim, [[CommandingCoolness Warden-Commander]] of the Order of the Grey Wardens, [[BigDamnHeroes Hero/ine of Ferelden.]]"
** You're also first in line to the Teyrnir of Highever. [[spoiler: Though, as the heir presumptive of your elder brother, you may be pushed down by his issue if he remarries.]]
* TheUnchosenOne: Went from random idiot who survived because Duncan and Flemeth happened to be around at the right times to Hero of Ferelden in about a year. If you complain that you don't have a choice in the matter, Morrigan and Wynne will be quick to point out that you could just sit on your ass and do nothing to stop the Blight - ultimately, you do choose.
* UndyingLoyalty: The Human Noble is from a family of ardent royalists, with Bryce Cousland even having turned down the throne when it was offered to him, in favor of the ''true'' heir to the throne. Their loyalty is such that the only time we ever see Bryce even get remotely angry is when Arl Howe ''[[BerserkButton insults]]'' their King.
** It's also worth noting that only time the Couslands turned against their King was during the reign of [[TheCaligula King Arland]], who was such a tyrant, they were forced to rebel against him for the good of Ferelden.
*** They also fought the man who would become King Calenhad, since they felt he was an invader seeking to conquer Ferelden. After he defeated their army, he let them keep their Teyrnir in exchange for [[DefeatMeansFriendship supporting his claim for the throne.]] However, this was prior to the existence of Ferelden as a unified country - the Cousland line goes back a ''long'' way, which is part of why they're held in such high esteem by the other nobility.
* TheUnfettered: The Grey Wardens fully encourage their members to be this, and you can choose to fully embrace this mantra.
** One of the possible default histories for the Warden in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'' is appropriately titled "[[VillainProtagonist Ruthless]]".
* UnscrupulousHero: The Warden can fall into this, particularly attempting for 100% completion. Doing every sidequest will mean having to engage in murder, blackmail, assassinations, coverups, bribery and petty larceny.
* TheUnwantedHarem: Saying nice things to your party members is enough to convince them that they are becoming your LoveInterest. This can lead to awkwardness when one of the BettyAndVeronica pair forces you to choose between them; sometimes, being forced into making that choice is the first time you'll even be aware of the situation.
* WalkingTheEarth: The Grey Wardens go where they are most needed.
** The Dalish Warden is from a culture that is forced to live a nomadic existence.
* [[MySignificanceSenseIsTingling Warden Senses...Tingling.]] Your PC may actually say this at the start of combat, depending on which voice you chose for them. Hell, s/he'll say it even before becoming a Warden.
* [[FighterMageThief Warrior, Mage, Rogue:]] Your class options.
* WarriorTherapist: If you want your party at maximum effectiveness, the Warden will exemplify this trope.
* WeakButSkilled: Duncan recruits the Dwarf Commoner and City Elf Warden for precisely this reason.
** According to the Dwarf Noble Origin, the potential Dwarf Commoner got the entire Warrior Caste into an uproar, wondering how a Casteless with only second hand weapons available to train with, could have ever learned to fight like ''that?!''
* WellIntentionedExtremist: Particularly [[TheUnfettered ruthless]] Wardens tend to exemplify this, seeking to end the Blight at any cost. Even a heroic Warden will fall into this in ''Awakening'', if choosing to [[spoiler: ally with [[HeroicTokenOrc the Architect]]]] at the end.
* [[TheWisePrince The Wise Prince/ss]]: The Human and Dwarf Noble can be played as this.
** Certain dialogue implies that this was one of the reasons why the Dwarf Noble was preferred by the Assembly to become the next ruler of Orzammar, instead of their elder brother [[PrinceCharmless Trian]]. In order to seize the throne for himself, [[TheEvilPrince Bhelen]] had to remove them from the equation, since he knew he'd never win in a popularity contest.
** It's also mentioned by an NPC during the Human Noble origin story that, although big brother Fergus is technically next in line to be Teyrn of Highever, many of the people would be pleased to see the PC in that role because of their popularity, intellect, and battle skill.
* YouCantGoHomeAgain: Warden enrollment is a lifelong deal. Mages get this by default from their respective homes even before becoming Wardens. Several Wardens just don't have any home to go back to at all, especially Elven Mages, whose combined elven heritage, magic powers and human upbringing make them outsiders to basically every culture.
** Mages are somewhat of a subversion, as the ''Witch Hunt'' expansion shows the Circle Tower rebuilt; the Warden may not be able to come back to live in the Tower as they have the duty to rule Amaranthine, but they can visit anytime they want.
[[/folder]]

!The Warriors

[[folder:Alistair]]
[[quoteright:308:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Alistair_9351.jpeg]]
->''"Just so you know, if the King ever asks me to put on a dress and dance the Remigold, I'm drawing the line. Darkspawn or no."''

-->'''Voiced by:''' Steve Valentine

One of the junior Grey Wardens and Duncan's protege, he's the first true party member to join the player's party (unless the player is a Human Noble, in which case it's the dog). A former KnightTemplar in training, he's a central character to the story, and the only remaining Grey Warden in Ferelden aside from the player character. A possible female LoveInterest. Shale refers to him as 'the second Warden'.
----
* AccidentalPornomancer: Alistair is a virgin. In fact, he's practically frightened by the prospect of sex. However, let's look at the number of potential bedmates he can have in a ''single'' playthrough: Isabela, Anora, Morrigan, and yourself (if you're female). He can bed all four women in one game, but it's actually ''you'' who has to do the work for him.
* {{Adorkable}}: As Leliana comments in party banter, his sense of humour, coupled with his awkwardness and nervousness around women makes him strangely endearing and is a large part of his charm.
* TheAlcoholic: [[spoiler:Should the player spare Loghain, Alistair will leave the party. Unless he was already persuaded to marry Anora and keeps that promise, he ends up as a drunkard rambling about how he used to be a prince and a Grey Warden. You can find him at the Hanged Man in ''II''--thankfully, Bann Teagan shows up and persuades him to come home and make a fresh start.]]
* AlwaysSaveTheGirl: If romanced, he makes it clear he values the Warden's life over his own [[spoiler:If he is brought along to the final battle without completing Morrigan's ritual, he refuses to allow the female PC to deliver the finishing blow to the Archdemon. Unless hardened, he's under the impression that he'd make a worse king than Anora. This way, he can go out a glorious king and save the woman he loves all at the same time. However, this can also be averted if the player decides to leave him behind.]]
* ArrangedMarriage: [[spoiler:The Warden can organise one between him and Anora, leaving both a Theirin and a competent, experienced ruler in charge of Ferelden. Or two, if he's hardened. If she's the Human Female Noble, the Warden can also potentially arrange one between him and ''herself''.]]
* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: His description of what's wrong with Orlais at the moment if [[spoiler:he's king]] in II.
-->'''Alistair''': Oh the usual: attempted assassinations, uprisings, fancy parties with stinky cheeses...
* BattleCouple: If romanced, he's this with the Female Warden.
** [[spoiler: If romanced by the Female Human Noble, they can end up being elected King and Queen of Ferelden at the Landsmeet. Let's face it, Ferelden seriously just got a ''lot'' more badass.]]
* BerserkButton: Loghain becomes this to him after his betrayal of Cailan leads to the death of all the other Grey Wardens, and Duncan in particular.
* BettyAndVeronica: Very much Betty to Zevran's Veronica.
* BigEater: It's a Grey Warden thing, apparently.
* BrokenPedestal: Like most, he holds Loghain in high regard before the Battle of Ostagar, privately admitting that while Cailan is the King, it's Loghain they have to look to for victory. Then Loghain retreats from the battle, leaving the King, the Grey Wardens and Duncan to an ignoble death. From then on, Alistair has an undying hatred for the man and it becomes ''very'' personal.
* BuffySpeak: Tends to lapse into this at times.
-->'''Alistair''': "You stole them, didn't you? You're some sort of... sneaky... witch-thief!"
* ButtMonkey: ''Everyone'' gets a turn to mock him. ''Even the dog''. (You alone have the option not to do so.)
** Meta-example of a [[spoiler: CosmicPlaything as well, in that ''you'' ultimately decide his fate. He can either become King, remain in the Grey Wardens, die, or end up a drunk loser - all as a direct result of your actions.]]
* ContemplateOurNavels: Morrigan accuses him of doing this while traveling to Lothering, in so many words.
* CorruptTheCutie: If you choose to "harden" him, he loses many of his squeaky-clean morals.
* CovertPervert: In addition to the GirlOnGirlIsHot moments mentioned below, he also apparently spends a fair deal of his time ogling a romanced Warden's ass. Wynne teases him about it.
* TheCreon: Alistair intentionally avoids mentioning the fact that he is actually the senior Grey Warden - because he doesn't ''want'' to lead. In fact, he even [[spoiler: refuses to take ''the throne of Ferelden'' for exactly the same reason]].
* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: Despite the fact that he's... well, ''Alistair'', he is very much capable of holding his own in a fight, being able to take on numerically superior opponents and even dragons. [[spoiler: Should the player choose him to duel Loghain at the Landsmeet, Alistair wins and wastes no time in delivering the fatal blow.]]
* DareToBeBadass: The Warden can often invoke this if they convince Alistair [[spoiler:to take the throne]].
* DeadpanSnarker: [[spoiler:Like father, like son: Maric snarked just as much as him.]]
* [[spoiler: DisappearedDad: Although he understands why King Maric couldn't acknowledge him as his illegitimate son]].
* DorkKnight: While Alistair is heroic, noble, and brave, he also lacks confidence and fumbles when talking to women.
* EnsignNewbie: During the Korcari Wilds mission, but he soon makes his clear that he'd rather have the Warden take this role. Morrigan even lampshades it. The ''Darkspawn Chronicles'' DLC shows [[ForWantOfANail what would have happened if he hadn't been able to pass the buck.]] [[spoiler: He manages to make it all the way to the Archdemon. But then it ends badly.]]
* EntendreFailure: He'd happily hop borders with Zevran given the chance - after all, he's never even been close to leaving Ferelden.
* EvilLaugh: He has a very impressive one that he breaks out on a couple of occasions, such as when [[DeadpanSnarker revealing his nefarious plan to make the other party members mutiny and have him take over as group leader.]] In a subversion, he once breaks into a cough mid-evil laugh.
* TheFettered: As much as or (depending on player choices) even more than the PC, especially if [[spoiler:he becomes king]].
* FirstGirlWins: The female PC is the first woman his own age he encounters in the story (having been sent to the Chantry at age 10 to be a Templar and then being a part of the Wardens, who in Ferelden have no women in the order). Unless you count that one time in Denerim... but those women were not like you.
* [[spoiler: GenerationXerox: Potentially to both his parents. He's a Grey Warden like Fiona and can become King of Ferelden like Maric]].
* GirlOnGirlIsHot: His reaction to a female Warden propositioning Isabela. If he's hardened and you invite him along, he'll eventually succumb with a sudden "What can I say? I am a weak, weak man." Even if he's not hardened (and therefore willing to give it a go), at you and Isabela he'll note, "And here I am, awake and everything..." Also, if he confronts you about choosing between him and Leliana, and you choose him, he'll ask what about her? "I get it, sure - ''hot''. But-" and so on.
* [[spoiler:HalfHumanHybrid: Zig-zagged; WordOfGod has confirmed what was first hinted in the novel ''The Calling'' (written by [[WordOfGod David Gaider]]) - that Alistair's mother is actually Fiona, an elven Grey Warden and lover of King Maric. However, the children of elves and humans are always human, so he doesn't look elven.]]
* [[spoiler:HappilyMarried: Provided you're a Human Noble ''and'' you're persuasive enough to convince the entire Landsmeet as well as Alistair privately that the infertility issue is not a problem. Otherwise, get ready to be dumped like a sack of potatoes, true love or not, unless he's been hardened or you make Anora queen instead.]]
* [[spoiler: HenpeckedHusband: In ''Dragon Age II'', if he's King and married to the Female Human Noble, it's clear who wears the trousers in the relationship. It's treated very lightheartedly, however, and when Alistair calls her "the old ball and chain," it's said with obvious affection.]]
--> [[spoiler: '''Alistair''': Just because she killed an ''Archdemon'', she doesn't scare me!]]\\
[[spoiler: '''Teagan''': You just keep telling yourself that, Your Majesty.]]
* [[spoiler:HeroicBastard]]: [[spoiler:And a ''royal'' bastard at that. He notes he should use that line more often.]]
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice: If you refuse Morrigan's ritual and allow him to finish the Archdemon (he'll insist on it no matter what if you're in a romance).]]
* [[spoiler:HiddenBackupPrince: He's a bastard, and in line to the throne!]]
* HilariouslyAbusiveChildhood: His party banter brings his former status as Eamon's ward to this. Among other things, he slept in the kennels and was left in a cage for an entire day after accidentally locking himself inside it.
* HurtingHero: He rarely says it outright, but the massacre of Duncan and the other Wardens scars him pretty deeply, such that he harbors an intense and bitter hatred for Loghain.
* IdiotHero: Morrigan and Anora both accuse him of being one. Although he has his moments, they're never at critical junctions. He even calls himself an idiot hero at times.
--> '''Alistair''': [[spoiler:Look, I can't be king]]. Some days I have trouble figuring out which boot goes on which foot.
* {{Irony}}: [[spoiler: Alistair is a Templar Grey Warden. His (real) mother is a Mage Grey Warden]].
* ItsPersonal: Towards Loghain for causing the deaths of the Grey Wardens and Duncan in particular.
** Best shown during the Landsmeet if Alistair is the one chosen to duel Loghain.
--> [[spoiler: '''Loghain''': So there is some of [[LikeFatherLikeSon Maric]] in you after all?! Good!]]\\
[[spoiler: '''Alistair''': Forget Maric! [[AndThisIsFor This is for]] ''Duncan!'']]
* KnightInSourArmor: Although he's aware that Grey Wardens often must do pretty bad things for the greater good, and lives in a world that has rarely shown him any kindness, he still feels as if it's still worth being a decent person and protector.
* KnightTemplar: He was training to be one, though only in job description - he flat out states that a life devoted to single-mindedly hunting down maleficars was not for him, and he didn't get to choose whether he would be raised as one or not.
* LadyAndKnight: It's more accurately Knight and Knight, but if the PC romances him, he definitely behaves like a White Knight to a Bright Lady. This is perhaps especially fitting if the female is the human noble.
* TheLancer: Alistair is the only member of your party (besides the dog) that you can't kick out, as well as the only other Grey Warden, and main character outside of your PC. Fits this trope completely, if the Warden is on the darker end of GreyAndGrayMorality.
* LethalChef: When Morrigan joins the party, one of the first things he asks is "Can you cook?" Then he explains that if ''he'' has to cook, they're all as good as dead.
** A party banter between him and Leliana can be triggered where Leliana asks him what was in the dish he made for the party's supper the previous night. When he tells her it was a lamb and pea stew, she comments that it had a texture she didn't normally associate with lamb.
-->'''Alistair''': We take our ingredients, throw them into the largest pot we can find, and cook them for as long as possible until everything is a uniform grey color. As soon as it looks completely bland and unappetizing, that's when I know it's done.
* LoveInterest: One of four potential ones.
* ManChild: At times, his decisions are more reminiscent of [[AlternateCharacterInterpretation a temperamental teenager]] than a defender of the whole land. These are often potential {{Jerkass}} moments. He gets called a lad/boy several times.
* AManIsNotAVirgin: Averted. Alistair ''is'' a virgin, at least when you first meet him. Although he's a little embarrassed to tell you, he is otherwise very normal and adjusted, and will say outright that he's in no urge to rush anything since he may not even survive the Blight. This can become a point of his character if you romance him, [[spoiler:or if you decide to have him sleep with Morrigan to conceive the god baby.]]
** NatureAbhorsAVirgin: While Alistair himself is pretty okay with the idea (aside from teasing), the ''plot'' is most definitely against him. [[spoiler:For him to have the happiest ending with a female Warden, he ''must'' sleep with Morrigan - other options mean that either he or the Warden must make a HeroicSacrifice, leaving him either dead or in mourning, or that he becomes a wandering drunk if Loghain is around to do the deed. Marrying him off to Anora can allow you to skip the cheating, but he doesn't seem particularly happy with her, either. Apparently, a man can be a virgin, but can't remain one for long and can't have just ''one'' woman in his lifetime for things to work out to his benefit.]]
* MeaningfulName: It's the Anglicized version of Alexander, which means "to defend and help". [[spoiler: Alexander is also the name of one of the greatest warrior-kings who ever lived.]]
* [[spoiler:TheMistress: One outcome of his romance - the non-human noble Warden can become this for him if he's hardened and king. The human noble can, too, but she also has a chance to marry him and become queen.]]
* MrFanservice
* [[spoiler: MuggleBornOfMages: Confirmed by WordOfGod. [=BioWare=] has released an addendum to their ''World of Thedas'' book which confirms that Alistair's mother is Fiona, a Grey Warden mage, who is currently serving as Grand Enchanter of the entire Circle of Magi throughout Thedas.]]
* OddFriendship: Despite being a former Templar, he quickly strikes up a friendship with Wynne and seems closer to her than any of the other companions. Somewhat understandable as he freely admits he was ''terrible'' at being a Templar and never wanted to be one in the first place.
** Similarly, aside from some initial awkwardness upon their first meeting, he has no problem with Mage Wardens.
* OrphansPlotTrinket: Averted - he had an amulet from his mother, but threw it at a wall and smashed it. The player can find it [[spoiler:after his foster father Arl Eamon painstakingly glued it back together]] and give it back as a gift, but it has no further relevance to the story.
* ParentalAbandonment: Both his mother and father weren't present in his upbringing, primarily due to reasons of death [[spoiler:(or so he believes)]] and not being able to recognise him due to his illegitimacy.
** After [[ParentalSubstitute Arl Eamon]] married an Orlesian, who took an immediate dislike to him, Alistair was sent to a monastery.
** And then Duncan, who was the closest thing he ever had to a real father, dies in the battle of Ostagar. If Alistair has abandonment issues, they're not hard to understand.
* ThePigPen: According to Wynne, he smells just as bad as the dog (she asks you to make them sleep on the same side of camp (opposite everyone else) to try to contain the stink). When he mentions being [[RaisedByWolves raised by flying dogs]], telling him "That would explain the smell" will ''not'' hurt your approval rating at all, and will actually open up a line of banter that ''increases'' it.
* ProperlyParanoid: His suspicions that [[spoiler: Flemeth had ulterior motives for sending Morrigan with the party]] are completely correct.
* RaisedByWolves: He jokes about this to the Warden if s/he gets pushy before he's ready. He was raised by dogs. With wings. Who were devout Andrastians. And hated cheese.
* ReluctantRuler: Though he's the senior Grey Warden, he's not ''at all'' interested in being party leader. [[spoiler: Despite, or perhaps [[LikeFatherLikeSon because of]], his lineage, Alistair is very clear that he does ''not'' want to be a leader. Nevertheless, if given the crown, he proves to be good at the job.]]
* [[spoiler:RevengeBeforeReason: A heroic example. No matter how you present the argument for needing more Wardens, Alistair never stays in the party if Loghain is recruited.]]
* RousingSpeech: Gives a good one to the Warden's army before [[spoiler:the assault on Denerim, if you made him king (otherwise Anora gives one).]]
* [[spoiler: RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: If Alistair becomes King at the Landsmeet, he makes it perfectly clear that he'll be on the front lines and leading the charge during the ''Battle of Denerim'' and the assault to take down the Archdemon.]]
* SadClown: The game doesn't expect you are fooled, however; you can outright say "Is this the part where you deflect questions with humor?". He responds, "I'd use my shield, but I think you'd actually see me hiding behind it." None of the other party members are fooled either, and his humor is often irritating to other people; Shale says as much outright.
* ShuttingUpNow: Most obviously when the female Warden rejects his confession of love and when she's the one to suggest sex first. Each for different reasons.
* [[spoiler: SiblingYinYang: Unlike Cailan, who merely thought himself the WarriorPrince, Alistair proves to actually ''be'' one.]]
* SickeninglySweethearts: His romance with the Warden comes close to this if Wynne and Morrigan are to be believed.
* SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan: With this trope in mind, his romance is certainly one of the best-written ones for a female PC.
* [[spoiler:SpareToTheThrone]]: [[spoiler:Unfortunately he's a bastard, so he wasn't raised to the task. Needless to say, he's not happy about the idea of becoming king after being trained for something completely different and being quite forcefully assured that his illegitimate status would prevent the question.]]
* TheTalk: Wynne starts giving him one when he begins an intimate relationship with the female PC. Once he realizes what she's going on about, he interrupts with a highly-embarrassed "Andraste's flaming sword, ''I '''know''' where babies come from!''"
* TrademarkFavoriteFood: Jokingly admits to having "an unholy obsession with very fine cheeses". [[{{Flanderization}} The fandom has kind of run away with this one.]]
* TurnOutLikeHisFather: Oh yeah.
* UndyingLoyalty: As noted above, he is the only party member besides Dog who can't be made to leave. Everyone else will leave if you tell them to or if you get their approval rating down low enough, but you can be the biggest JerkAss ever seen in Ferelden and Alistair will be right by your side (at least until the Landsmeet). It's easy enough to understand, really - Alistair considered the Grey Wardens to be his family, and ''you're all he has left''.
* [[UptownGirl Uptown Guy]]: Unless you're the Human Noble, this can present a problem for characters romancing him. [[spoiler: If you make him King, the best non-Couslands can do is become his secret mistress, and that's only possible if you harden him.]]
* [[spoiler:WarriorPrince]]
* WhatTheHellHero: He lets the hero have it if they [[spoiler:resort to killing either Connor or Isolde to resolve the situation at Redcliffe instead of [[TakeAThirdOption taking the third option]].]] He will also be outraged and immediately quit [[spoiler:if you spare Loghain, even though you're condemning him to death, one way or the other, by forcing him to do the Joining]].
* [[spoiler:TheWrongfulHeirToTheThrone: He sees himself as this.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Dog]]
[[quoteright:324:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Dog_image_1411.png]]

The faithful Mabari hound of the PC with human-level intelligence and a mean bite. Can be cute when he needs to be, though; even Morrigan is moved by his puppy eyes once. The player may give Dog any name they wish, but according to writer Mary Kirby, his "official" name is Rabbit.

* ArchEnemy: Oghren considers him this.
* BecauseYouWereNiceToMe: Unless you're the Human Noble (who already has a pet Mabari), it's implied that the Dog is the same one that the Warden cured in Ostagar and he intentionally sought the Warden, having chosen them to be his new master.
* BigFriendlyDog: To everyone but those who threaten his master.
** Except [[SitcomArchnemesis Alistair... and Oghren]].
* BilingualDialogue: Late in the game Dog goes running off in the market in Denerim, and comes back with a human boy [[ImTakingHerHomeWithMe he wants to keep]]. The Warden's response options make clear that Dog is capable of making fairly complex statements using his array of yelps, barks, and whines, and that the Warden is capable of understanding them. Perhaps justified by the fact that Mabari are supposed to have human-level intelligence, but they do just sound like standard dog noises. (A proverb mentioned many times in game is that mabari are "smart enough to talk, wise enough not to.")
** He will also have full-blown conversations with Sten and [[spoiler:Loghain]] in ''Origins'' and Ariane in ''Witch Hunt''.
* CanineCompanion: Of the Warden. [[spoiler: And Sten, if the Warden makes the Ultimate Sacrifice]].
* DefectorFromDecadence: According to Fenris in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'', the Mabari Warhounds were created by Tevinter magisters to help them with their conquest of the lands that would become Ferelden. After seeing the kindness of the native Alamarri (the ancestors of the Fereldan people), the Mabari decided to defect and chose to side with them instead. Since then, a contingent of Mabari has been a staple of their military forces.
* ADogNamedDog: His default name is, well, Dog.
* DogsAreDumb: Averted; Mabari were bred by mages to be incredibly intelligent. As the game will remind you ''over and over and over again'', a Fereldan proverb has it that mabari are smart enough to speak, and wise enough to know not to.
* EvilDetectingDog: Several times.
** In the ''Stone Prisoner'' DLC, Dog will immediately sense that something's very very wrong with [[spoiler: "Kitty". Either that or he just hates cats like any other dog. You'll find out why he was barking when her eyes start glowing purple and she talks.]]
** Dog goes absolutely apeshit the first time you encounter Witherfang, barking furiously.
** Dog will also start growling at [[spoiler:Zathrian, perhaps sensing his connection to the werewolf curse.]]
* HelloInsertNameHere: The only party member besides the player character that you can name. One of the more popular choices (and [[AscendedMeme referenced in one DLC]]) is "[[JustForPun Barkspawn]]."
* HeroesLoveDogs: Ferelden culture is heavily dog-friendly. You'll see dog motifs all over...their torches, wardrobes, support beams...
** Heck, it's even on the royal coat of arms: Instead of Lions Rampant, you have Mabari Hounds Rampant.
** Some nobles, as exemplified by Bryce Cousland, even address their children "Lad" and "Pup" as TermsOfEndearment.
** Which goes along with Ferelden being the FantasyCounterpartCulture to Britain. During the days of the [[AncientRome the Roman Empire]] Britain's most famous export was its dogs. The Romans would import them all the way across the continent to use as guard dogs.
* HeroicDog: In five of the six Origin stories, Dog fought as part of the King's Army ''before'' meeting the Warden.
** The exception is the Human Noble, who brings Dog with him/her to Ostagar. He was previously part of the defense forces at Castle Cousland, and during the battle assists his master/mistress with the race to light the signal beacon.
* ImprobableWeaponUser: Not exactly, since being a dog he attacks with his teeth and/or claws, but you can enhance his physical attacks by equipping him with... paints. And different fancy collars.
** Not entirely odd, though, considering this is a world where magic is very real and magical weapons and items are reasonably commonplace. The paints and collars are enchanted, as specified in their FlavorText.
* ImTakingHerHomeWithMe: If you take him with you to the Denerim Market, he will suddenly run off and come back with a (rather enthusiastic) young boy in tow. You'll then have to convince him that he can't keep the boy and has to return him.
** Because Mabari choose their owners, this even applies to the Warden themselves.
* KillerRabbit[=/=]ShoutOut: Dog's "official" name is "Rabbit", which could be a Shout Out to ''Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail''.
* LostForever: If you don't get the cure to the kennel master at Ostagar, Dog will die and never be available as a party member (unless you're playing as the Human Noble, in which case it's a different dog you save).
* MiniGame: Has a couple, one being a territory marking game and another trying to collect all the objects he can find in various areas of the game world.
* NonHumanSidekick: Some of his barks and head-tilts even veer into SnarkyNonHumanSidekick territory.
* ThePigPen: Wynne apparently is not a fan of Dog's tendency to get muddy and covered in grime.
--> '''Wynne''': You're dog is filthy, I can smell him from fifty yards off!
--> '''Dog''': *''Hurt whine''*
--> '''Warden''': Good! He will fell our enemies with his stench!
--> '''Dog''': *''Happy Bark''*
* PuppyDogEyes: Even Morrigan is affected by his manipulative whine.
* QuizzicalTilt: Occasionally does this during conversations.
* TeamPet: The only members of your party who ''don't'' get along with him are Oghren... and ''Alistair'', oddly enough.
** Oghren gets along well enough with Dog... he's just pissed that dog doesn't want to be the first of his "Wardog Charioteers." That, and in one of his drunken rants, he believes the dog has stolen his pants. Even though Oghren's wearing them at the time.
** Alistair has some difficulty remembering that Dog is a sentient war hound and should be treated as such. Dog doesn't cut him any slack for this. Alistair also probably didn't score any points with Dog when he got too close to his food and accused him of eating people. Party banter implies that they get along decently later in the game.
* TrueCompanions: His approval rating is over 100% and he is utterly devoted to the Warden
** Which makes sense, considering the Mabari are the ones to ''choose'' their own masters.
* UndyingLoyalty: No matter what you do, Dog will always have a 100% approval rating.
** The Mabari War Hounds [[DefectorFromDecadence abandoned the Tevinter magisters]] to fight alongside the "barbarians" who would become the Fereldan people. More than a thousand years later, they are still part of the elite force of Ferelden's military.
** It's mentioned that one cannot simply acquire a pet Mabari, they choose ''you''.
* UrineTrouble: One of the Dog's [[MiniGame minigames]] involves finding landmark objects for him to pee on. Seriously. He's marking his territory. It actually makes him stronger.
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: It's explained that your loyal hound does not follow you in the ''Awakening'' expansion because he's busy repopulating Ferelden's mabari kennels. He returns to your side in the ''Witch Hunt'' DLC.
* WorthyOpponent: What Sten considers him to be.
--> '''Sten''': You are a true warrior and worthy of respect.\\
'''Dog''': *''Happily''* Ruff!
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Oghren]]
[[quoteright:240:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ASSCHABS3_4207.jpg]]
->''"If you've ever heard of me before, it's probably all been about how I piss ale and murder young boys who look at me wrong. And that's mostly true."''

-->'''Voiced by:''' SteveBlum

A former dwarf warrior from Orzammar, Oghren is now best known for his drinking and the fact that he was forbidden to carry weapons; a great insult to his status. He was shamed when his wife Branka left with their entire clan to search the Deep Roads for something important to her, leaving only him behind. Shale's nickname for him is "The Drunken Dwarf." He returns in ''Awakening'', where he becomes a Grey Warden himself.

* AcquiredPoisonImmunity: His decades of alcoholic mistreatment of his body has left him pretty much impervious to the negative affects of drinking things. Even ''the Joining'' doesn't give him more than slight indigestion where it knocks everyone else out cold (or worse) in seconds.
* AesopAmnesia: Regardless of whether he decided to try to become a better person, he's back to being a disreputable drunkard in ''Awakening.''
* TheAlcoholic: Talking to him at camp frequently results in him going on drunken (and hilarious) tirades.
* AllGirlsWantBadBoys: Gets lampshaded. Apparently, this is his strategy for wooing women. Standing still while looking mysteriously angry does wonders.
* {{Badass}}: How much? In ''Awakening'', [[spoiler: when he drinks Darkspawn Blood to become a Grey Warden, he simply ''burps'' and essentially says, "That's it?". This is the same stuff that will at the very ''minimum'' knock you unconscious for a few hours, and is potentially ''lethal''.]]
* BadassBaritone: Even for a dwarf.
* BadassBeard: Comes with being a dwarf.
* BadassBoast: Oghren's final words before the TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon to fight the Archdemon are both Badass and a CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming:
-->'''Oghren:''' This is it, Warden. "When from the blood of battle the Stone has fed, let the heroes prevail and the blighters lie dead." As one of the blighters, [[ItHasBeenAnHonor I sodding salute you.]] '''''Let us show them our hearts, and then show them THEIRS.'''''
* BerserkButton: Aside from the literal one he gets from his specialization, there's also this:
-->"[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79S4oGC8K5o&feature=related No one touches Oghren's junk and LIVES!]]"
* TheBerserker: His fighting style of choice.
* TheBigGuy: Which is rather ironic if you consider that only Dog is shorter than him.
* BloodKnight: [[DeconstructedTrope A deconstuction]]. Oghren at one points laments that Dwarven society trains you to become a BloodKnight and the Deshyrs applaud when it wins you victories in the Deep Roads. But the moment you're back in Orzammar, unable to stop your training kicking in and accidentally kill someone during a Proving, they immediately throw you to the Deepstalkers for it.
** Though his introduction in ''Awakening'' has him cheerfully wave to the Warden in between mowing through a wave of Darkspawn.
*** In fairness, Oghren is now on the ''surface'' (he even says he can't go back to Orzammar because they consider him a "surfacer" now) and showed up at Vigil's Keep to join the Wardens ''because'' they'd allow him to finally satisfy his BloodKnight tendencies. The Wardens don't mind if he's been at the booze as long as he kills Darkspawn, which is a ''major'' incentive.
* BoisterousBruiser: [[DeconstructedTrope Deconstructed]], as he is shunned by almost everyone for his behavior, all of his relationships have been ruined because of it, and he knows his life is a mess beneath all that drinking and fighting.
* BraidsOfBarbarism: The braids in his beard are probably the tidiest thing about Oghren.
* CasanovaWannabe: He hits on all female party members, the Female Warden included. It's most often done under the influence of alcohol and to the disgust or snarkiness of all of them.
--> '''Oghren:''' Hey you...yeah, you...where can I get some sauce for that rump roast?\\
'''Warden:''' ''[completely deadpan]'' Right here, you mad dwarven stallion you.
** He once even drunkenly tries to hit on a ''Male'' Warden, due to a case of serious [[TenWithATwo Beer Goggles]].
* CruelMercy: Due to his training as a [[TheBerserker Berserker]], Oghren accidentally killed someone during a Proving that was only meant to be to first blood. Because of his victories in the Deep Roads, the Assembly decided not to exile or execute him, instead stripping him of all his weapons and forbidding him their use in city limits. Part of the reason Oghren is hammered most of the time is because he's got ''nothing'' to do anymore! He's a born warrior that has been forbidden from ''fighting!''
* DeadpanSnarker
-->"Oh, you can't keep the Archdemon waiting. You hurt its feelings, it might just turn the whole Blight around and go home. Nobody wants that."
* DidISayThatOutLoud: Invoked verbatim.
-->'''Oghren''': I swear. The things I could do to you.\\
'''Morrigan''': Ugh. It is leering at me once again...\\
'''Oghren''': Oh. {{Did I say that out loud}}?
* [[spoiler: DisappearedDad: Ran off on Felsi and his child to join the Grey Wardens. He does feel guilt about this later on and can be convinced to try and be a part of his child's life via letters.]]
* DontExplainTheJoke: Oghren is prone to this.
-->''(on seeing the Circle Tower)'' Ooh, that's huge. ''(giggles)'' I wonder how long it took to erect it. ''(giggles)'' Get it? ''Erect'' it!"
** Also, this:
-->'''Oghren:''' ''(to Shale)'' Sounds like you're passing a stone, there. ''(laughs)'' Get it? "''Passing a stone''?"\\
'''Shale:''' [[DeadpanSnarker I do get it, yes]].
* DrowningMySorrows: The reason for his alcoholism, after Branka deserted him and took their entire house into the Deep Roads. It didn't help that shortly afterwards, he was barred for using all weaponry in Orzammar.
* EatTheDog: Leliana's pet nug just makes him hungry. Somewhat justified, as nugs are food livestock to dwarves.
* ElvesVersusDwarves: Invoked, and inverted, subverted, and played straight by turns - Oghren denies any interest in an elf vs. dwarf rivalry with Zevran when the latter asks about it, but the two do develop something of a friendly rivalry nonetheless.
** Played more straight (so to speak) with one of his stock lines in the ''Awakening'':
-->'''Oghren:''' Look at me! I'm an elf! Trees are pretty! Tra-la-la!
* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: Oghren gets an axe in ''Awakening'' which he dubs "Darkspawn Ravager." Its special effect? + 10 damage to Darkspawn and ''explosive hits''. The weapon's description: "Oghren named this axe the Darkspawn Ravager because that's what it does."
* {{Expy}}: Of [[JadeEmpire Black Whirlwind]], right down to the missing relative, drinking, the axes and the general BloodKnight attitude.
* FieryRedhead: And a badass one as that.
* FirstNameBasis: The [[AllThereInTheManual Codex]] mentions that he's originally from House Kondrat of the warrior caste, then later joined his wife in rising to the noble-caste in the newly created House Branka. It's unclear which surname (if any) he currently goes by.
* {{Flanderization}}: In ''Awakening'', where his crude and drunken habits are emphasized.
* GameplayAndStorySegregation: Oghren has supposedly been banned from fighting or even bearing weapons in Orzammar upon pain of exile, but when he joins the party (in the city) he's carrying a battle axe, and from that point on you can traipse around the city having him kill as many Dust Town thugs and Proving contestants as you like without anyone saying peep about it.
** Look at it this way. Would ''you'' go up to the drunk violent dwarf with a large instrument of death who's cheerfully gutting people in plain view in the company of three other people who all give off the 'those guys are bad news' vibe each in their own way, possibly including a giant golem, a Qunari (which is more than twice a dwarf's size and similarly built like a brick) and a dog larger than most adult dwarves, and tell him he can't do that crap? Dwarves may be duplicitous, but they aren't ''suicidal'', usually.
** There's also the fact that simply being part of a Grey Warden's entourage seems to excuse you for a lot of things, like being an apostate mage.
* GargleBlaster: His homebrewed ale will knock the PC out if s/he doesn't have a high enough constitution. [[spoiler: To him, Darkspawn Blood is barely this.]]
** Many of his favorite gifts are this as well. These include: two spirits with lyrium in them, a whiskey that is "best taken by the drop", and a mysterious brew called "Dragon Piss".
** Wynne, however, can't get enough of his ale.
* GenreSavvy: If brought to the Gauntlet, when the Guardian starts talking to him, Oghren will immediately cut him off and proceed to BreakingSpeech himself.
* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: He's generally a pervert, but in ''Awakening'', he fires off a ''doozy''.
-->'''Oghren:''' Where's the big cup? I'll gargle and spit!\\
'''Warden:''' You're not allowed to spit.\\
'''Oghren:''' Hehe, that's what I always say too.
* GirlOnGirlIsHot:
** Both over Hespith and [[spoiler:Branka]], and if a female Warden brings him to the Pearl and gets a female whore, Oghren interupts:
-->'''Whore:''' Oh... that's just ''(shriek)''.
-->'''Oghren:''' Oops, heh heh, wrong room.
** You can also [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNwdWgYxwIc short circuit his mind]] if you as a female PC propose a threesome with hot pirate Isabela and Leliana.
* GutturalGrowler: Even moreso than other male Dwarves.
* HiddenHeartOfGold: Taking the time to befriend him in both ''Origins'' and ''Awakening'' makes it clear that despite being a disreputable drunk with a severe lack of personal hygiene, at the end of the day, Oghren's heart is definitely in the right place.
* HotBlooded / HairTriggerTemper: He's a ''berserker'', so naturally.
* IllBeInMyBunk: After he imagines the relationship between Hespith and [[spoiler:Branka]].
* InHarmsWay: He becomes a Grey Warden in ''Awakening'' because his BloodKnight nature couldn't accept simply settling down with Felsi.
* InnocentInnuendo: Mentions "polishing his weapon" to relieve tension to Alistair, as well as mentioning to Wynne that he sees Alistair "twirling his pike" when he thinks no one is watching. Apparently he's talking about actual weapons (he says).
* ItHasBeenAnHonor: He can say this to the Warden just before the final battle.
* LateCharacterSyndrome: According to the developers, this is why he returns in ''Awakening''.
* [[LikeASonToMe Like Family To Me]]: Get your approval rating with Oghren high enough, and he'll tell you that he sees you this way. (Unfortunately, ''Awakening'' resets his approval rating back to zero.)
* LoopholeAbuse: He's not permitted to use weapons while he's within Orzammar's city limits. The Deep Roads are considered ''outside'' of the city, meaning that by joining the Warden, in addition to searching for Branka, he can ''finally'' get back to cracking skulls.
** Being part of the Warden's retinue also allows him to carry weapons. It's possible that like in Ferelden, Dwarven law accepts that if a Grey Warden vouches for someone, responsibility for their actions falls on them instead.
* [[spoiler:LoveMartyr]]: He gets better, though.
* MyGreatestFailure: [[spoiler:If he's there for the Gauntlet, he straight-up tells the Guardian that he feels that he's ultimately failed Branka and his family, believing that if he'd been a better husband, she might not have gone for the Anvil, taking the rest of his family along to their deaths.]]
* MySignificanceSenseIsTingling: Aside from the Warden-Sense he gets in Awakening, his dwarven "stone sense" perks up if he's brought to the Urn of Sacred Ashes, saying that there's a huge lyrium lode under the mountain and that [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane any number of weird things could be happening]].
* OddFriendship: With the Warden if befriended, who seems to be the only one in the party who actually likes him.
** Strikes one up with Nathaniel Howe in ''Awakening'', offering him to take him under his wing and reassuring him not to let others look down on him, just because of what [[SinsOfOurFathers his father did]] during the Ferelden Civil War.
** He and Wynne bond over ale.
* PluckyComicRelief: Often engages in crude humour and drunken ramblings.
* RedHeadedHero: Of the the FieryRedhead kind.
* {{Retcon}}: If the Warden hooked him up with Felsi, achieved a high approval rate, and fell to the Archdemon, the epilogue will announce he sobered up and happily married Felsi, [[DeadGuyJunior naming his child after the Warden]]. (This is not to be seen as an Orlesian Warden.)
* ShoutOut: Oghren's battle cry "let's see what yer innards look like!" is very similar to that of another drunken, bloodthirsty dwarven berserker in a BioWare game, [[BaldursGate Korgan Bloodaxe]], who shouted "let's see what yer guts be lookin' like" on entering combat.
* SlapSlapKiss: [[spoiler:Apparently, Felsi isn't so negatively disposed to him after all. They're even married by the time of ''Awakening'', though when he decides to join the Grey Wardens for real after confessing to her that he just wasn't cut out to be anything more than a warrior, the marriage dissolves.]]
** Freely admits that his marriage to Branka mostly revolved around bouts of angry or make-up sex, depending on what day it was.
* ATankardOfMooseUrine: One of his gifts in ''Awakening'' is Dragon Piss, which the description says ''may'' be a figurative name, but no one knows for sure. Of course, [[{{Squick}} one may only wonder where he gets his own home-brewed ale]], as hinted by him and Zevran in party banter in ''Origins''.
** In camp, [[FromBadToWorse Oghren may even offer the Warden a chance to try out his ale]]; it will knock him/her for a loop if their constitution stat isn't high enough. Although Wynne enjoys it...
* UglyGuyHotWife: [[spoiler:His wife Felsi, in ''Awakening'', is quite a looker among Dwarven women.]]
* UnEntendre: For a dwarf with a perverted mind, Oghren makes a few of these when talking about weapons in party banter.
* VirginVision: He tells Alistair that he can smell purity a mile away. It's not actually that useful, though. "Be much better if I could smell cheese."
* VitriolicBestBuds: With Zevran, perhaps as a small homage to [[LordOfTheRings Legolas and Gimli]], and again with Anders in ''Awakening''.
* WouldntHurtAChild: Oghren may love to solve problems with an axe but killing Connor will cause a huge loss of approval from him, even moreso than from more idealistic and moral teammates like Alistair and Leliana.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Secret Companion]]
See [[Characters/DragonAgeOriginsNonPlayableCharacters Ferelden's Nobility]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Shale]]
[[quoteright:275:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/BIRDS_7959.JPG]]
-->''"The darkspawn are an evil that must be destroyed, it's true. Though not as evil as the birds... damnable feathered fiends!"''

-->'''Voiced by:''' Geraldine Blecker

A golem of the old dwarven kingdoms who was found by a human mage called Wilhelm in the Deep Roads and brought to the surface. Shale was paralyzed after Wilhelm died (Shale killed him), and has spent the last thirty years frozen as a statue in the village of Honnleath, completely conscious but unable to move. Abhors birds above all else because of it.

* AmnesiacDissonance: Shale is amnesiac and cannot remember much of what life (for a given value of "life") was like previous to Honnleath. It is possible, through bringing Shale to [[spoiler:The Anvil of the Void to meet Caridin]], to unlock some former memories. Learning of them, [[spoiler:especially that Shale used to be a dwarf woman]], has this form of effect.
* AndIMustScream: Was frozen in place in a village for three decades, was fully aware the entire time, and could do nothing about the abuse and humiliation from people, dogs, and ''especially'' birds. Mostly played for laughs. Played less for laughs was Shale's indeterminate amount of time spent in complete darkness in the Deep Roads before Wilhelm found it.
* AnotherSideAnotherStory: We see what became of Shale in the novel ''Dragon Age: Asunder''.
* {{Asexuality}}: Despite being a Golem who is incapable of the act, she is not a fan of the whole sex thing, as she mentions to Zevran in party banter.
* BadassNormal: Caridin mentions [[spoiler:she was an unparalleled warrior and the first woman to volunteer to become a Golem. He also suspects that Shale's free will is due to the fact that Shayle was a highly stubborn and determined dwarven woman.]]
* [[spoiler: BecomeARealBoy: In one of the possible {{Where Are They Now Epilogue}}s, she mentions how she wants to find a way to become mortal again. She succeeds in at least one as well, although no details are given.]]
* BerserkButton:
** Birds.
** The description of Wilhelm's death suggests that Shale may have been called 'Golem' one too many times. Though the real circumstances are left to speculation, Shale does nothing to dispel the impression.
* TheBigGuy
* CompanionCube: You can give Shale a pet rock as a gift; it's only available in the ''Feastday Gifts'' DLC.
* CurseCutShort:
-->'''Leliana:''' I do not understand why you hate birds so much.\\
'''Shale:''' It is because I had to endure their chirping, their perching, and most especially their constant sh-\\
'''Leliana:''' No, I understand that part.
* DeadpanSnarker: Many examples.
-->'''Wynne:''' Shale, why do you insist on calling me "the elder mage?"\\
'''Shale:''' Clearly because it is purple. And a hyena.
* DoesNotKnowHowToSayThanks: One of its responses to being given a gift (even one that it really likes) is "I'm to carry this around, am I?"
* DoesThisMakeMeLookFat?:
--> '''Shale:''' I see it found some augmentation crystals. I was not even aware it knew about them... well done! So? What does it think? They don't make me look any wider, do they? I find I am already too wide as it is.
* [[EverythingsSparklyWithJewelry Everything's Sparkly With Crystals]]: The crystals serve a battle function, as noted below. However, if the PC is female, she can at one point comment to Shale that "I think they're pretty!" which will cause Shale to gush about them too. It's oddly endearing.
* {{Foreshadowing}}:
-->[[spoiler:'''Oghren:''' I think I had a wife like you, once.]]
* FreudianSlip: Shale has this in an exchange with Sten:
-->'''Shale:''' I could watch you fight all day long. The skill you display, the form... how the light plays on its muscles... I mean, yes. Well done. With the fighting.
* {{Golem}}
* HandWave: Shale being significantly smaller than other golems is explained as a result of being chiseled down in order to fit through doors. This is a developer in-joke referencing the fact that Shale's original, larger character model caused problems in development, partially because it couldn't fit through doorways.
* HeroicComedicSociopath: "Crush their skulls and be done with it. Fast. Efficient. Fun." Played much more for laughs than either Morrigan or Zevran, making Shale by far the most clear-cut example of this trope in the game.
-->'''Alistair:''' So, Shale... when you were standing there all that time? Did you... sleep?\\
'''Shale:''' I have no need to sleep. My body does not tire or do -- ugh -- other flesh-related functions.\\
'''Alistair:''' But don't you get bored? Wouldn't you want to dream, at least?\\
'''Shale:''' I do not dream. This is what it does when it sleeps? It paws its nose and mumbles incoherently.\\
'''Alistair:''' Yes, of course. I thought we all -- huh... you watch me?\\
'''Shale:''' I watch all closely when they are still at night. There is little else to do.\\
'''Alistair:''' For... hours and hours?\\
'''Shale:''' I count the breaths. it helps to overcome the overwhelming urge to '''CRUSH''' their faces while they sleep.\\
'''Alistair:''' Well. I won't be doing much of that anymore.
* {{Homage}}: [[KnightsOfTheOldRepublic To a certain organic-hating droid.]]
* ImprobableWeaponUser: They're explicitly stated to be magical, so it's somewhat [[JustifiedTrope justified]], but Shale attacks with crystals in lieu of conventional weapons.
** Technically speaking, Shale is a BareFistedMonk, and the crystals enhance the punches. Still, removing the arm crystals does reset Shale's punches to some rather pathetic unarmed damage.
* InformedAbility: In dialogue, Shale is often described as being superhumanly strong and NighInvulnerable, but in actual gameplay is no more powerful or less squishy than other warrior-type characters (albeit for [[CompetitiveBalance understandable]] [[GameBreaker reasons]]).
** Funnily enough, Shale's actually a horrible tank at higher levels. The golem does make a pretty good buffer/aoer, due to the unique way the skill trees function, but Shale throws out a lot of friendly fire.
** The "superhumanly strong" part could arguably qualify as played with. Although Shale's damage is not greater than any other warrior type, the abilities ''do'' show greater strength than the rest of the party. For example, the Slam ability [[PunchedAcrossTheRoom sends enemies a good distance from Shale]].
* ItIsDehumanizing: Shale was treated like a thing for so long, that the golem refuses to use pronouns for anyone purely out of spite. Shale only ever refers to people as "it," never as "you."
** Later in the game however, provided her approval of the Warden is high enough, she may refer to the Warden as 'you' then one more time right before the final battle.
* {{Jerkass}}: Shale is quite open about feeling contempt for most everybody.
** JerkWithAHeartOfGold: According to Leliana. Shale doesn't understand the metaphor.
* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: Tell it that being different is not so bad and it'll ask whether you're easy to please or just fishing for approval.
* MaddenIntoMisanthropy: After having been experimented on, used as a slave, paralyzed for 30 years in a small village and fully aware the entire time, Shale has ''not'' come to have any love for "squishy" organic creatures.
* [[MadeOfIron Made Of Stone]]: Quite literally, [[InformedAbility not that it's apparent in actual gameplay]].
* MurderIsTheBestSolution: Shale firmly believes this: people problems should be squished.
* TheNicknamer: Shale never refers to people by name (with the exception of Sten, on one occasion), instead preferring to use epithets (and, should they protest, shamelessly insulting epithets). The only exception is the main character; Shale refers to the Warden simply as "It."
* PetTheDog: [[spoiler:In ''Asunder'', Shale is spotted mourning Wynne's death with Leliana.]]
* POVSequel: Shale and Wynne's story continues in ''Dragon Age: Asunder''.
* PunnyName: Has an appropriate name for a being of living stone. [[spoiler:Funnily enough, it's her original dwarven name, though spelled differently.]]
** Lampshaded by the the Warden:
--> '''Warden''': Is that your name, or what you're made of?
* ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: It's mentioned in the Codex that Caridin created Golems during the period 940-947 TE (-255 to -247 Ancient), after which he vanished along with the Forge. Presuming that Shale was one of the first Golems to be created, this puts her at 1185 years old at the most. [[spoiler: At least, [[WasOnceAMan her Golem form anyway]]]].
** Her being one of the older Golems is somewhat supported due to the fact that most later Golems seem to be made of Steel, suggesting a refinement of the process and because [[spoiler: she was one of the many who volunteered, as well as being the first woman to undergo the process. Later Golems were forcibly conscripted from Orzammar's criminals and the King's political enemies]].
* RestoredMyFaithInHumanity: Shale's relationship with The Warden can [[spoiler:make her seek out a way to become mortal once more]].
* [[spoiler:SamusIsAGirl]]
* ShipTease: With Sten.
* SitcomArchNemesis: Birds, the damnable feathered fiends!
** In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'', even people in the Free Marches are commenting on the mysterious drop in the Ferelden pigeon population since the end of the Blight. Shale's portrait in Cassandra's GreatBigBookOfEverything is also depicted chasing pigeons.
* SuperSoldier: Golems were originally created to serve the Dwarven kingdom as such. [[spoiler:Shale herself was a dwarf who volunteered to become a golem in order to better defend her homeland.]]
* TokenEvilTeammate: Not actively malicious, but decidedly amoral, indifferent to acts that could be deemed as such, and often in favor of more violent solutions.
--> '''Shale:''' Oh, please, somebody kill somebody!
* [[spoiler:TomboyAndGirlyGirl: Tomboy to Leliana's girly-girl. Their dialogue is mostly Leliana trying to bring out Shale's good side. They disagree for a lot of it, but they seem to compromise on both liking pretty things and nice shoes.]]
* [[spoiler: UndyingLoyalty: To Caridin, whom she will protect if the Warden attempts to fight him. In her forgotten dwarven life as Shayle, she was similarly the most loyal of his friends.]]
* UnwinnableByMistake: The map for Shale's nightmare in the Fade during the "Broken Circle" quest has poorly drawn movement zones, making it possible for the Warden to get stuck there with no way out. Fortunately you don't need to do so to complete the quest, and can re-load a recent save and go on, though it does mean [[spoiler:defeating the Sloth Demon]] with at most three party members, and [[LostForever missing the Traveler achievement.]]
* VerbalTic: Shale always refers to all 'organics' as 'it', which is especially noticeable considering the way Shale always speaks of people in the third person, even when directly talking to them.
** [[spoiler:If you manage to get her happy enough, she'll actually catch herself, and refer to the Warden as "You" rather then "It" when you talk to her during the ending.]]
* VitriolicBestBuds: Seems to have some respect for Wynne in a few dialogues (especially in ''Asunder''), though the casual snark and insults never really stop, and Wynne certainly fires back sometimes. A friendship with the Warden also comes off as this.
* [[spoiler: [[WasOnceAMan Was Once A Dwarf]]: And [[SamusIsAGirl a Female Dwarf]], no less]].
* WhatTheHellHero: [[spoiler:Turns on you should you decide to battle Caridin.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Sten]]
[[quoteright:282:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sten1_8495.png]]
->''"The ''arishok'' asked 'What is the Blight?' By his curiosity, I am now here."''

-->'''Voiced by:''' Music/MarkHildreth

A Qunari warrior sent to scout out the situation in Ferelden, Sten slew a whole family of farmers that saved him from death. Now he is imprisoned in Lothering by the Chantry, where the priestess might be persuaded to release him into Grey Warden custody. Shale has no nickname for him beyond "Qunari," but Sten refers to the golem as "Kadan."

* AntiHero: Type IV
* AntiMutiny: Will try to pull this at Haven if he's at low approval. If he's at high approval instead, he'll just state his opinions and leave it at that.
* TheAtoner
* {{BFS}}: Like most Qunari warriors, he's extremely attached to his. [[spoiler:Even though he no longer has it.]]
** [[spoiler:You can help him get it back via a side quest, after which it becomes an equipable weapon specific to him.]]
* TheBigGuy
* BlatantLies:
-->'''Sten:''' ''(after Leliana witnesses him playing with a kitten)'' ...There was no kitten.\\
'''Leliana:''' Sten, I saw you. You were dangling a piece of twine for it.\\
'''Sten:''' I was helping it train.
** An alternative version of the above that can occur:
-->'''Leliana:''' Outside, you were picking flowers!\\
'''Sten:''' ...No, I wasn't.\\
'''Leliana:''' You were!\\
'''Sten:''' ...They were medicinal.
* CatchPhrase: "Pashaara!" Literally translates as "Enough!", but in practice tends to be used closer to "I'm SurroundedByIdiots! Where is the dwarf? INeedAFreakingDrink!"
** BorrowedCatchphrase: If you [[spoiler:get his sword back for him]], one of your possible responses is "Pashaara?" It is probably [[CrowningMomentOfHeartWarming one of the sweetest moments possible]].
* TheComicallySerious: Particularly when [[spoiler:he's chosen to break the Warden out of prison.]]
** Interestingly enough, Sten ''does'' appear to have a sense of humor. If you comment that you find his deadpan snarking funny, you'll even get a big approval bonus.
* CommanderContrarian: Prone to questioning your actions once in a while, though he'll respect you more if you actually stand your ground in an argument.
** BilingualBonus: This becomes mildly funny when you realize he's also literally a commander.
* CommandingCoolness: Sten translates as "Infantry Platoon Commander", though he only had seven men under his command on his last trip to Ferelden.
* CommonalityConnection: This exchange:
-->'''Sten:''' I'm a simple creature. I like swords. I follow orders. There's nothing else to know about me.\\
'''Warden:''' You like swords? Me too!\\
'''Sten:''' I knew there had to be some reason I continue to travel with you.
* CulturedBadass: Oddly enough.
* DeadpanSnarker: Another one, and a ''master'' of the "deadpan" half.
-->''The Rescue the Warden Scenario''\\
'''Leliana:''' Aren't you having fun? Infiltrating a fort? Isn't it exciting?\\
'''Sten:''' [[SarcasmMode Yes, truly my life has reached its apex.]]
** His reaction to Anora [[spoiler:betraying The Warden]] is amazing:
-->'''Anora:''' Eamon! I may have done a terrible thing.\\
'''Sten:''' No honor, no gratitude, slight grasp of the obvious... [[SarcasmMode fine ruler you have there]].
** One of the highest approval boosts you can get is to tell him you think he's funny, which indicates that he is pleased you recognize his deadpan snarking.
* DefeatMeansFriendship: In Haven, depending on his affection level, he might challenge the Warden to a duel over who should lead the party. If defeated, he immediately withdraws his objections, as the Warden is clearly worthy to follow.
** [[spoiler: In ''Those Who Speak'', he ends up being defeated in a duel with Alistair. Instead of slaying his former comrade, Alistair proposes an alliance against the Magister who has become [[EnemyMine their mutual enemy]], which Sten accepts.]]
* DirtyForeigner: Inverted; he's the one who thinks Ferelden smells funny.
--> '''Sten''': Ferelden smells like [[HeroesLoveDogs wet dogs]].\\
'''Warden''': [[SelfDeprecation You forgot the rotting garbage!]]\\
'''Sten''': True. I was trying to forget that part.
* [[HatesEveryoneEqually Disdains Everyone Equally]]:
-->'''Zevran:''' You seem to have quite the disdainful attitude towards elves, my Qunari friend.\\
'''Sten:''' Don't take it personally, elf. I have a disdainful attitude towards everyone.
* DreadlockWarrior
* EloquentInMyNativeTongue: According to his game file bio (accessible via [[http://social.bioware.com/page/da-toolset the developers' official toolset]]), his terseness is partly due to believing everyone not a Qunari is beneath him, and partly due to just not being comfortable with the Fereldan language (though he can't resist the chance to snark).
* EnemyMine: If you press him for why he joined you at the start, he'll respond, "For the moment, you are the enemy of my enemy."
** Considering that he explains ''Beresaad'' translates as "Vanguard of the Qunari people", he basically introduces himself to the Warden as being part of an advanced scouting party, meant to pave the way for a future invasion force.
* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep[=/=]HisNameReallyIsBarkeep: Qunari refer to themselves by their ranks; their names are mostly just Social Security numbers to them.
* FanNickname: [[SesameStreet Cookie Monster]], in honor of his TrademarkFavoriteFood. As of the comic ''Those Who Speak'', he's also picked up [[spoiler: Stenishok[=/=]Aristen, as he was promoted to Arishok after the death of the one in ''Dragon Age II''.]]
* FishOutOfWater: Much of his interaction with both the Warden and the other members of the party consists of him questioning what to him are the odd ways of the Fereldans.
* TheFriendNobodyLikes: Played with. Most in the camp are justifiably ''terrified'' of him, at least at first, and the Warden is the first to befriend him. Eventually, Alistair acknowledges that he's actually quite reasonable in conversation, Leliana enjoys teasing him about [[FriendToAllLivingThings his soft side]], Morrigan thinks he's attractive, Shale even ''flirts'' with him, and Dog acknowledges him as a fellow warrior.
* FriendToAllLivingThings: He's shown to have a soft spot for Mabari and kittens.
* GeniusBruiser: Despite having the fewest lines and shortest dialogue of any member of the team that doesn't communicate by barking, Sten is pretty clearly the most intelligent member of the party overall. His fondness of paintings implies he may even be the most well-rounded.
* GentleGiant: He loves cookies, plays with kittens, enjoys paintings, and is highly upset that [[VideoGame/{{Portal}} the cake is a lie.]]
* GoingNative: To a minor degree. He starts to affectionately refer to the Warden and Shale as "Kadan," gains a love of cookies, and [[LoopholeAbuse deliberately reinterprets his orders]] that the only way he can ''properly'' answer the Arishok's question, "[[ExactWords What is the Blight?]]" is to remain in Ferelden until ''after'' it is over.
** Some of the writers have suggested that after his lengthy debriefing, he had to go for some re-education by the Ben-Hassrath because of the bad habits he's picked up whilst in Ferelden. [[spoiler: They still [[RankUp made him]] the new [[AsskickingEqualsAuthority Arishok]] however, after the death of the old one in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'']].
** Sten seems somewhat aware of this if he and Dog are the ones to rescue the Warden from Fort Drakon:
--> '''Sten''': And now I am ''talking'' to an animal. I have been in this country ''too long''.
* HatesSmallTalk
-->"You mean that I should remark upon the weather before I cut off a man's head?"
* HiddenDepths: He may try to pass himself off as just another warrior who likes swords, but you'll gain an approval bonus if you tell him you think there's more to him than that. ([[SubvertedTrope but you'll also get half as many points for just agreeing that you like swords, too]], [[DoubleSubverted though he is a little upset if you just agree that you expected that from him]]).
* HugeGuyTinyGirl: Sten is almost twice the size of a female Dwarf Warden.
** OneHeadTaller: Than any non-Dwarf.
* ICallItVera: His sword Asala.
* JokeWeapon: A downplayed example in the form of the Butterfly Sword from the ''Feastday Pranks'' DLC, a 2-handed sword that flashes rainbows and has butterflies coming out of it. Just giving it to him initially will cause him to lose 50 respect points for you. It is, however, a pretty good early game weapon.
* KarmaHoudini: Killed a family of eight, including children, in a blind panic when he lost his sword. While this haunts him, he never really pays for it.
** When he joins you, he admits to all of this and adds that he never expects to survive following the Warden against the Blight, so his certain death will be his atonement. Thus [[RedemptionEarnsLife he's on a]] [[TheAtoner quest with you]].
** When the Guardian questions him on this during the Gauntlet about whether he believes he failed his people by letting the Qunari be seen in that light:
--> '''Sten''': I have ''never'' denied that I failed.
* LeaderWannabe: Sten sort of drifts into this in Haven, when he confronts the player character before going into the cultist village and claims he is taking control of the party.
* LetUsNeverSpeakOfThisAgain: When Leliana sees him playing with a kitten and/or picking some flowers. She constantly calls him a "softie" ever after.
* LiteralMinded: Since the language of Ferelden isn't his native tongue, this leads to amusement.
--> '''Sten:''' "Wonders of Thedas"? What does that even mean? Do they sell geography questions?
** Also, if the Warden says that he/she would never have thought that Sten would have a sweet tooth, Sten responds with confusion: "None of my teeth are sweet."
** While some of it is genuine confusion, at least part is just Sten's way of messing with people:
-->'''Warden:''' Do you have to be so literal?\\
'''Sten:''' No, it's a choice, not a necessity.
* LiteralistSnarking: To go along with his intentional moments of {{Literal Minded}}ness.
-->'''Warden:''' What were you doing in that cage?\\
'''Sten:''' Sitting, as you observed.\\
'''Warden:''' That's not what I meant.\\
'''Sten:''' [[ExactWords It's what you asked.]]
* MadeOfIron: Spent 28 days in a cage in Lothering, refusing food or water before the Warden recruited him. When the Warden is amazed that he lasted so long, Sten replies that going for prolonged periods without sustenance is actually ''normal'' for his people.
* MarsAndVenusGenderContrast: He has ''no'' idea how to deal with a female Warden, as Qunari society considers women more intellectual than men, hence why becoming a warrior is seen as a waste of their talents. It's telling that his first assumption is that the Warden was lying about being a ''woman'', as he certainly can't say she is not a formidable warrior.
* MeaningfulName: Sten is a Scandinavian name which literally means "stone."
** However, it's pronounced completely different, and in fact is not his given name, but rather his rank. Despite the similarity in spelling, the connection is almost certainly coincidental.
* MyGreatestFailure: Had a brief psychotic break due to the trauma of losing his sword, Asala, which led to him murdering eight people, ''including'' children. [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone After he realised what he'd done]], he waited for several days for the authorities to apprehend him and freely accepted that his punishment was to wait in a cage until he starved to death. As noted above, he acknowledges his failure to the Guardian if present for the Gauntlet.
* MySpeciesDothProtestTooMuch: A rather slight and perhaps subtle example, but it's worth noting unlike most Qunari, he doesn't treat Mages any less than he does the rest of the Warden's companions, and it's about as easy to befriend him as a Mage Warden as it is any other class.
* NobleBigot / InnocentBigot: Justified as Qunari beliefs are ''[[ValuesDissonance very]]'' different from the rest of Thedas. For instance, while tolerant of the Mages in the party, he doesn't see any problem with the Qunari treating their own ''Saarebas'' as "beasts in the shape of men", who are locked in cages with their tongues cut out to prevent them from being dangerous. He also finds it hard to reconcile the Warden being [[StayInTheKitchen a Woman]] and a Warrior, with the ''former'' being what he actually questions.
** Similarly, his comment on the Elves being a race that "excel in poverty", could also be seen as less racist and simply an observation on the Elves living outside the Qun, who are either confined to the slum-like Alienages or reduced to becoming wandering nomads like the Dalish. Of course, he ''is'' explicitly using it as an example of ludicrous over-simplification of a culture.
* NoSympathy: Sten believes in action and duty. Angst, navel-contemplation or sappiness, no matter how justified, just ''annoy'' him. As such, conversation options that tend to earn the highest approval are those which you stand your ground instead of backing down compliantly.
* NotSoAboveItAll: Sten likes to make you believe he is stoic and uncompromising, but he holds conversations with Dog and even ''plays fetch'' with him in party banter, in addition to his more infamous fascination with cookies, flowers, and kittens.
* TheStoic
** NotSoStoic: Leliana teases him about this a lot.
* OldSoldier: Has elements of this character type in that he doesn't initially respect the leadership of the (much younger and less experienced) Warden.
* OptionalPartyMember: Can lead to GuideDangIt, if you couldn't persuade the Chantry to let him go from his cage (or simply forgot to collect him). Useful tip: Have Leliana pick the lock.
* [[PardonMyKlingon Pardon My Qunlat]]: In addition to "[[CatchPhrase Pashaara!]]", he'll mutter "Vashedan!" ("Garbage!") if you take him out of the party, as well as dropping Qunari words when he doesn't know or doesn't care to use the CommonTongue - normally when discussing something he dislikes. It isn't all bad, though, as many players will agree that getting him to call them [[TrueCompanions Kadan]] is one of their favorite moments.
* PerpetualFrowner: [[http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/7614/stendisapproves.jpg Sten disapproves.]]
** He does crack a smile [[spoiler:if you get his sword back for him]], and if you [[spoiler:nominate him to lead the group holding the gates in the endgame]].
* PlanetOfHats: At least partially subverted, though we don't really meet any other Qunari to talk to.
-->'''Warden:''' Tell me about the Qunari.\\
'''Sten:''' No.\\
'''Warden:''' Well, that wasn't what I expected to hear.\\
'''Sten:''' Get used to disappointment. People are not simple. They cannot be defined for easy reference in the manner of "the elves are a lithe, pointy-eared people who excel at poverty".
** He later acts surprised when Leliana assumes he is typical of his people. Non-soldier Qunari are apparently quite different in behaviour and interests.
* ProudWarriorRaceGuy: Actually may be a subversion; Sten acts surprised if the Warden assumes his values or personality are typical of his people. Their society is divided into a strict caste system and the implication is that non-warrior Qunari aren't necessarily anything like him, though the player never encounters any of them to confirm this.
* TheQuietOne: Dislikes talking to the point that he'll reply to the Warden's questions with single word answers whenever he can.
** After telling a parable in regards to mages:
-->'''Warden:''' That's more words than I've ever heard you say.\\
'''Sten:''' I've been saving them up.
* RankUp: He gets a pretty hefty promotion in ''Those Who Speak'' - [[spoiler: he's now the new Arishok.]]
** Depending on your adventures, he may get promoted in the end upon returning to Seheron. If you ''did not'' befriend him (and thus he did not [[GoingNative Go Native]]) and made the ultimate sacrifice at the end, he'll be promoted to [[FourStarBadass general]] and put in charge of fighting humans in Seheron, which [[GeneralRipper pleases him greatly]].
* ScaryBlackMan: There are even a couple of dialogue options with certain [=NPCs=] that allow the Warden to refer to Sten as "my large friend" with clearly threatening intent, playing off of Sten's intimidation factor rather than their own.
* ShoutOut: One of his banters with Dog seems to be a Shout Out to ''Series/{{Lassie}}''.
-->'''Sten:''' I do not understand what you are saying.\\
'''Dog:''' *Barking*\\
'''Sten:''' What? There's a child trapped down a well?
* StayInTheKitchen: He has a very comprehensive list of the professions of women, as the Qunari believe [[ValuesDissonance these are the jobs meant for women]] - choice has no factor in it. The same is true for men, however. The former are shopkeepers, artisans, or priests; the latter are laborers and soldiers. With the Female Warden being an ActionGirl, he doesn't question his beliefs, he questions if she's actually a ''woman''.
* TheStoic
* StrangerInAFamiliarLand: A possibility. If you befriended Sten and speak to him after defeating the Archdemon, he'll suggest that Seheron might not be quite the same to him as it would have been, since your adventures have changed his view of the world somewhat. This is ''especially'' true if your Warden is a female mage, since Qunari believe [[StayInTheKitchen women are not competent warriors]] and [[AntiMagicalFaction mages aren't even people]], and you've just killed both of those ideas. [[WordOfGod His writer Mary Kirby]] says he may even have had to spend some time with the [[CulturePolice Ben-Hassrath]] for all the strange ideas he's picked up (though ''ComicBook/ThoseWhoSpeak'' shows he's reintegrated pretty well, if [[spoiler:being promoted to Arishok]] is any indication). If you didn't befriend him, he'll just be happy to be able to go home and get away from Ferelden's strangeness.
* StrawmanHasAPoint: [[InvokedTrope He approves]] when the Warden debates Qunari philosophy with him and stands their ground on their own beliefs. A good example comes when he calls non-Qunari foolish for wanting to change their purpose, when they carry their old life into their new one like a turtle carries its shell. He's somewhat impressed when the Warden points out that "having a shell" can actually make someone ''stronger''.
* SugarAndIcePersonality: He can eventually come to see the Warden as a close companion as he becomes a [[TrueCompanions True Companion]].
* SweetTooth
* TerseTalker: When he's being deflective.
* UndyingLoyalty: If the Warden [[spoiler: recovers his sword]] and befriends him, he explicitly states that he trusts him/her with his life and calls him/her ''kadan'', which is a Qunari word meaning something akin to 'close to the heart'.
** Some fangirls bemoan the lack of a Sten romance. [[WordOfGod Mary Kirby]] (perhaps jokingly) pointed out that it's there. [[AlternateCharacterInterpretation You just have to know how to look]], apparently.
** Another WordOfGod states that Qunari don't have sex to show affection like humans do. Sex is solely for breeding, and a Qunari who has sex with someone they love is considered a serious oddball. So he could be in love with the Warden, it just has nothing to do with sex. Also, the [[NoodleImplements Qunari act as described to Morrigan]] [[InterplayOfSexAndViolence doesn't sound so fun]], unless he was teasing her.
** Incidentally the translation of "kadan" is very similar to the Arabic word "habibi"; which makes sense seeing as the Qunari and the Chantry have been referred to as comparable to the Thedasian equivalent of medieval Islam and Christianity.
* VitriolicBestBuds: One of the best ways to befriend him is to get in his face and argue. Even if his approval is quite high, he'll still enjoy snarking with you.
* WeWillMeetAgain: While Sten is not a villain, he admits it's only a matter of time before the Qunari invade Thedas again. If his approval is high enough, he adds that when that day comes, he will '''not''' look for the Warden [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming on the battlefield]].
* WhatTheHellHero: He will get angry anytime you aren't focused on getting to the Archdemon, like going to Haven.
* WorthyOpponent: He grows very fond of the Dog, viewing him as a warrior worthy of his respect.
** Also sees the Warden as this when his approval becomes high. When he voices his objection that the Urn of Sacred Ashes is taking them away from their goal of the Blight, he gains respect for the Warden when the Warden doesn't back down and bests him in a duel to decide who leads the group. Once the Warden helps him recover his sword Asala, Sten admits that he was wrong about the Warden and declares them a warrior worthy of fighting among the Beressad, later stating that the Qunari will inevitably invade Ferelden one day, but if that day comes Sten [[CrowningMomentOfHeartWarming will not look for the Warden on the battlefield.]]
*** If the Warden sacrifices him/herself, Sten explicitly states to the Arishok, when asked if he found any worthy warriors outside Par Vollen, that he only found ''one''. We later learn in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'' that to be considered "''Basalit-an'', an outsider worthy of respect," is the highest form of praise a Qunari can give. It also tells us that Qunari view a dead body as little more than useless refuse to be disposed of in the manner most convenient, worthy of no concern for the life it used to be, making his single bow to the Warden's remains much more poignant: how much respect must you earn for even your ''empty husk'' to merit a small token?
* YouCantGoHomeAgain: Not if you're a Qunari warrior of the Beresaad and you [[spoiler:lose your weapon]], you can't.
* YouDoNotWantToKnow: Apparently having sex with a Qunari is at the least lethal for humans. Morrigan is initially interested, but Sten dissuades her when he tells her that she'll need some armor and that he might try to nuzzle...
** WordOfGod is that Qunari don't have sex to express love (they feel love, just don't associate it with sex) or for pleasure, just for reproduction. The developers' toolset notes to MarkHildreth (and [[http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/141/index/3308675/1#3326549 confirmation by Mary Kirby]]) make it sound likely that he's just trying to freak Morrigan out to get her to drop the teasing - and perhaps just because he likes messing with people.
* YoungerThanTheyLook: His developer toolset bio lists him as 30, two years ''younger'' than Alistair. The white hair, weathered face, and OldSoldier attitude add a few decades.
* YouWouldntLikeMeWhenImAngry:
-->'''Sten:''' In fear, I kill people. Pray that you don't see me in anger.
** Which becomes a bit hilarious if you spec him as a Berserker.
[[/folder]]

!The Mages

[[folder:Morrigan]]
[[quoteright:235:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/IDONTAPROVE2_3381.jpg]]
-->''"Apparently everyone seems to agree that a Blight is the perfect time to start killing each other. Marvelous, really."''

-->'''Voiced by:''' Creator/ClaudiaBlack

Daughter of Flemeth, the mysterious Witch of the Wilds, Morrigan is a LadyOfBlackMagic forced to join the party by her own mother for reasons that are very unclear at first. [[spoiler: Eventually, she reveals that Flemeth sent her so that she could get impregnated by one of the Grey Wardens, have the Archdemon killed and make its soul meld with the child, so that she could thereby give birth to an Old God. Why, she refuses to tell.]] Shale's nickname for her is "The Swamp Witch."

* AbsoluteCleavage: Combined nicely with {{Sideboob}}.
* AbusiveParents: Being raised by Flemeth definitely qualifies. Particularly heartbreaking is the story of how as a young girl she stole a golden mirror as she had never been given beautiful gifts, only practical ones. She ran back to the Wilds with it held tightly in her hands for fear she would drop it, only for Flemeth to find out and smash it against a wall.
* AllAmazonsWantHercules: While not physically an amazon, Morrigan does have a wildly independent and SocialDarwinist personality, valuing strength and power. Accordingly, the only characters she expresses interest in are a male Warden, and Sten. While the former is subject to change, they're generally strong-willed and very competent, with decisive personalities, while the latter displays both incredible mental and physical strength. This keeps with the spirit of the trope, that strong women are only interested in stronger men.
* [[AllGirlsWantBadBoys All Guys Want Bad Girls]]: Definitely if you romance her. Goes both ways if the Warden is a bit morally ambiguous himself, although more noble-minded Wardens can win her over as well. While she tends to get irritated by your more decent actions, being nice to her and providing her with gifts can do the trick. See {{Tsundere}} below.
* AmbiguousDisorder: Likely due to her upbringing, she displays several signs consistent with Antisocial Personality Disorder.
* AnimalMotifs: Being a Shapeshifter, this is to be expected.
** Shale comments that Morrigan resembles a bird, particularly the way she gazes at people.
*** And, as commented below, she does have a rather magpie-ish interest in jewelry.
** Some have compared her attitude to that of a [[CatsAreMean cat]].
** Sten knows a viper when he sees one.
* [[spoiler:AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence]]: [[spoiler:She passes through an Eluvian to a place that is neither Thedas nor the Fade. It is impossible to know at this time if this is simply another dimension, or another Plane of Existence.]]
* BadPowersBadPeople: The most ruthless and unpleasant of the companions, she starts off with spells tilted toward destroying things and screwing with peoples' minds.
* BerserkButton: Morrigan greatly values freedom and hates it when people are imprisoned, such as Sten and [[spoiler: Jowan]]. Those who willingly submit to imprisonment - such as the Circle of Magi - earn even more of her contempt. Also, as a VainSorceress, she has another fear:
-->'''Morrigan:''' You... do not truly think I look as my mother does, do you?\\
'''Alistair:''' Have you really been thinking about that all this time?\\
'''Morrigan:''' I am simply curious.\\
'''Alistair:''' And not insecure in the slightest, I'm sure.\\
'''Morrigan:''' I think I look nothing like her.\\
'''Alistair:''' I don't know. Give it a few hundred years and it'll be a spot-on match.\\
'''Morrigan:''' I said that I look nothing like her!\\
'''Alistair''': All right. Got it. Totally different. I see that now.
* BettyAndVeronica: The Veronica to Leliana's Betty as far as female love interests go.
* BlackWidow[=/=]DeathBySex: She tends to respond to men hitting on her with threats of this sort. [[spoiler:Like mother, like daughter]].
* BreakHisHeartToSaveHim: She attempts to invoke this on a male Warden who romances her, straight up begging him to say he doesn't love her at one point.
* BrokenBird: Has the detached, cynical personality, the troubled backstory, and the dark Gothic look, but slightly subverts it in that there's no evidence she ever had a more innocent or idealistic personality or changed as the result of a particularly traumatic experience. The closest that might count is the mirror.
** Actually the entire mirror story, as well as her other dialogue, suggests that Morrigan is secretly desperate for a [[IJustWantToBeLoved connection with the outside world]], but she doesn't know ''how'' to go about it after years of Flemeth's abusive upbringing.
* ClingyJealousGirl: Immediately after initiating a relationship with a male Warden, she will repeatedly and in no uncertain terms tell him that they do not want any sort of romantic connection and that, in particular, she "[has] no designs on [his] independence." ''She lies.'' She will tear the Warden a new one if she catches him trying to seduce other women or carrying on a relationship with another companion. [[{{Hypocrite}} But Maker help him if he actually tries to get her to admit that she has feelings for him or anything crazy like that]].
* DamselErrant: Serves this role at the end of ''Witch Hunt'', particularly if a romanced male [[KnightErrant Warden]] chooses to follow her [[spoiler: through the Eluvian]].
* DangerouslyGenreSavvy: Towards the motives of Flemeth. She casually admits that she wouldn't be surprised if Flemeth ''wasn't'' her real mother and had simply abducted her as a child, as well as noting that while she's never seen her legendary ''other'' sisters, she doesn't discount the possibility that they might exist somewhere else.
** [[spoiler: Turns out, she was right. While it was initially assumed that all were simply possessed by Flemeth's ritual, ''The Silent Grove'' revealed a sister named Yavana residing in the Tellari swamps of Antiva, who claimed the ritual was actually a "gift" from Flemeth.]]
* DarkActionGirl
* DarkIsNotEvil: Subverted. When the Warden first encounters Morrigan, she muses about whether they'll immediately assume she's evil because she's one of the (legendarily evil) Witches of the Wilds. Once she's spent a little time on the team, though, she turns out to have a very nasty Darwinist streak [[spoiler: and in the end game, it turns out that she's been assigned to help the Wardens solely to perform a dark ritual and capture the soul of the Archdemon for purposes unknown]]. She gets a ''little'' closer to playing this trope straight in the ending of ''Witch Hunt'', given that she's apparently had enough time to defrost a little further, but how close she gets is up to the player.
* DeadpanSnarker: And she hates Alistair. Thus their banter is [[CaptainObvious highly snarky.]]
* DefrostingIceQueen: If you romance Morrigan, this trope is upheld in classic style for most of the trip [[spoiler:and then subverted all to hell when Morrigan panics at actually feeling something for your character, and immediately cuts you off and frantically retreats back into her snarky persona.]] Of course, [[spoiler:the ''Witch Hunt'' DLC can end with the male Warden leaving Ferelden with Morrigan to see their son, making this a DoubleSubversion.]]
* [[spoiler:DeusSexMachina: Though not used to titillate the audience, for once.]]
* {{Druid}}: A bit of a Deconstruction of the type. While not fond of cities, she doesn't go on about it. Though she's clearly a SocialDarwinist, she doesn't go out of her way to try to get anyone killed but Flemeth, and that only after she realizes that Flemeth's working on killing her. She's clearly modeled after the D&D druids, but doesn't care for such notions as balance.
* EeriePaleSkinnedBrunette: The first half of which is odd, considering she has spent most of her life outdoors. FridgeBrilliance kicks in when you remember her VoluntaryShapeshifting hobby.
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Morrigan immediately expresses disgust that [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Sten]] has been caged like an animal in Lothering to serve as darkspawn chow by the "mercy" of the Chantry. Though he did kill innocent people, the game makes it clear that being captured by the darkspawn is one of the most horrible fates imaginable that ''nobody'' deserves.
* EvilCannotComprehendGood: The very idea of acting altruistically seems to be both alien and offensive to her for most of her time in the group, presumably due to Flemeth's teachings.
* EvilCounterpart: Could be considered this to a heroic Mage Warden.
* {{Expy}}: Of Viconia from ''BaldursGate''.
* FemmeFatale: Something of a subversion, however, in that she doesn't actively try to seduce the Warden. [[spoiler:At least not in the manner of a typical FemmeFatale.]]
** Two-part banter with Sten [[spoiler:in which they speak about the Qunari act]]
** Multiple instances where she talks about women only needing to bat their eyelashes to get men to do what they want.
* TheFriendNobodyLikes: And vice versa. The only people who get along with her to any degree are Zevran, the Dog, and possibly the Warden him/herself.
* GameplayAndStorySegregation: When you ask about her shapeshifting magic, she says that she's studied many of the creatures of the Korcari Wilds and learned to assume their forms. When she joins your party, however, the only shapeshifting form she's learned is Giant Spider. Possibly justified as being the only form she finds useful in combat - the form of a bird (which she mentions) and a wolf (which you witness) aren't strong enough for her purposes.
* HatesBeingTouched: Well, at least when it comes to simple greetings. Morrigan's just not a handshake person.
** This doesn't seem to include more intimate touching. Of all the possible lovers, she requires the least amount of approval to get her to sleep with you.
*** FridgeBrilliance: [[spoiler: Considering what her plans are, she wouldn't need to like the Warden to start sleeping with him.]]
* HollywoodAtheist: Not so much in the reasons for her non-belief, which are fairly realistic, but in that her atheism goes along with being selfish, misanthropic, and actively contemptuous of religious people.
* HotWitch: {{Lampshade}}d, not that it's all that unusual for the setting.
* ILoveYouBecauseICantControlYou: Her relationship with a romanced Male Warden.
* TheImmodestOrgasm: According to some dialogue that didn't make it into the retail game but can be accessed on the PC via mods;
-->'''Leliana:''' So you're saying you're wild and uninhibited? I suppose he must like your shrieking, you sound like a genlock being murdered - a sweet, sweet sound to a Grey Warden. You should try a little harder next time he takes you. I don't think they heard you in the Anderfels.
* ImpossiblyCoolClothes: The blouse of her 'robes' are loose and draping from the shoulders and down the front, yet has a laced cinch at the back. It's possible but difficult to make and impractical to wear. Especially implausible as most of what she knew about humans came from observation, but there are no role models shown for her design.
* [[spoiler: InLoveWithTheMark: She was meant to be impregnated by a male Warden, not fall in ''love'' with him!]]
* IneffectualLoner: Morrigan's not a "people" person. In camp, her tent is placed far from all the others.
* InsufferableGenius: According to Alistair, who tries to use a Chantry-related question to mock her for it.
* {{Jerkass}}: Almost all the time. The only people who seem to get along with her are Zevran, Dog, and the Warden him/herself.
* LadyOfBlackMagic: Self-explanatory.
* LickedByTheDog: By Dog, of course.
* LongestPregnancyEver: If you sleep with her early in the game, and don't do it again later, [[spoiler: in ''Witch Hunt'' you find out she bore your son. He isn't the OGB, but still. The pregnancy lasted all of ''Origins'' and never ever showed...]]
* LoveInterest: One of four potential ones.
* LoveIsAWeakness: Morrigan has a conversation with Leliana where where she expresses with venom her feelings that love is a cancer; she doesn't want to love the Warden, as it only complicates her plan, and begs him to leave her be or tell her that he doesn't love her.
** When reuniting with a romanced Warden in ''Witch Hunt'', she points out the ironic role-reversal:
--> '''Morrigan''': And you once argued with me that "[[IronicEcho love is not a weakness]]"...
* LoveRedeems: Averted. She notices that a romance does soften her up and desperately backpedals into her old bitchiness out of fear of such unfamiliar feelings. [[spoiler:Then potentially played straight at the end of ''Witch Hunt''.]]
** Wynne invokes this in banter with Alistair when they discuss the Warden's relationship with Morrigan. While Alistair believes she will lead him astray, Wynne points out that [[MagneticHero he may be a good influence on her]].
* [[MagicPants Magic Bra]]: Whenever Morrigan strips down to her underwear for any reason, she's always wearing a white bra and panties, even though she [[AbsoluteCleavage clearly]] doesn't wear a bra with her standard outfit.
** Her original concept art on the other hand, depicts her wearing a bra underneath her robes.
* MeaningfulName: The Morrigan was a shapeshifting Celtic deity of war and death, but she averts the trope, since the lead writer said that Morrigan is named after a character of a friend of his and all similarities with the Celtic goddess are coincidental, as they are with [[KingArthur Morgan le Fay]].
** Seems the outfit designers didn't get that memo. The crow feathers on her shoulder are symbolic of Morrigan.
* MerlinAndNimue: Her relationship with a more heroic male Mage Warden often has this vibe.
* NamesTheSame: Don't confuse her with a certain [[VideoGame/{{Darkstalkers}} other Morrigan]], even though they're both very beautiful.
* NoSocialSkills: She is largely tactless and ignorant of/annoyed by social mores (she considers shaking hands an offensive breach of her personal space, for example). This is because she was raised in the wilds, largely forbidden to interact with outside world.
** It should be noted, however, that she is not blind to this fault, but has long since given up trying to learn.
* NoSympathy: A big part of her character. Morrigan just doesn't do empathy. She may surprise you every now and then, however - once befriended, she genuinely cares about the PC and their feelings, expressing sympathy over their mother's death or having girl talk with the Grey Warden.
** Interestingly, she shows a little bit more kindness to Alistair when the Warden reawakens in Flemeth's hut. She still accuses him of blubbering, but she is nowhere near as caustic about his grief while talking about it in private than she is to his face in front of the rest of the party. [[FridgeBrilliance Perhaps she simply thinks that ripping into his angst is the quickest and simplest way of getting him to deal with it and become more effective.]]
* NotGoodWithPeople: She freely admits that due to her time in the Korcari Wilds, she's better at understanding animals than people.
* NotSoDifferent: To Flemeth.
** Potentially can be seen as this to a Mage Warden. The Mage Warden was trapped in the Circle Tower for many years under the watchful eyes of Templars who molded the Warden into the type of Mage they deemed acceptable; in contrast, Morrigan was trapped in the Korcari Wilds for years under the watchful eyes of Flemeth, who molded her into the Mage she wanted. Both can thus be seen as somewhat naive when it comes to the outside world at large. Morrigan herself seems somewhat surprised when the Mage Warden admits to finding the Circle sometimes suffocating and actually believes the traditions of magic she learnt are worth preserving and would be willing to learn them, unlike the Chantry puppets she assumed Circle Mages to be who foolishly live under the thumb of Templars without question.
* [[spoiler:ObliviousGuiltSlinging: Entirely possible, if you romance her. Of course, if you've already played the game through and are aware of her true objectives, there's nothing oblivious about it.]]
** [[spoiler:In the ''Witch Hunt'' DLC, she appears surprisingly sympathetic and nice, and seems actually surprised and sad if the Warden decides to kill her. And she even says that she is sorry for everything.]]
* OddFriendship: ''Any'' friendship she forms, given her complete lack of social skills. Especially notable with a more heroic male Warden who does not romance her.
** OnlyFriend: If the Warden is female and grows close to Morrigan, Morrigan will admit that the Warden is the first friend she's ever had and that she views the Warden almost as a sister.
* PetTheDog: Get a high-enough affinity with her, and she'll apologize to the Warden for her {{Jerkass}} tendencies and say that she appreciates his/her friendship.
** In ''Witch Hunt'', [[spoiler:she practically does this literally. When you finally catch up to her, both she and Dog are quite happy to see each other and she even cracks a rare smile.]]
* PleaseDumpMe: One of the conversations in the romance line.
* [[spoiler:PreClimaxClimax: With the PC, Alistair, or Loghain, potentially.]]
* SarcasticDevotee: As much as she snarks at both the Warden and the other companions, and as easy as it is to earn her disapproval by doing anything heroic or altruistic (even if the motivation for it is completely pragmatic), it's actually pretty difficult to piss her off to the point that she'll leave the party. Furthermore, there is no single moral choice in the game that will cause her to leave if mishandled, which with the exception of Dog is not the case for any of the other companions. [[spoiler:This is perhaps because she has a reason for following the Warden besides helping him/her fight the Blight.]]
* SequelHook: [[spoiler:You just know the child she conceives by one of the Wardens at the end is going to show up again.]]
* ShooTheDog: If you're intimate, have helped save her from Flemeth, and gotten her approval above 90%, she gets desperate to get you to break up with her, down to flat out ''begging'' you to say you don't love her.
* {{Sideboob}}
* TheSmartGuy
* SocialDarwinist: Flemeth raised her to be a pretty severe example of this. As a result, Morrigan believes that people who can't solve their own problems without help are worth less than nothing. It actually explains many of Morrigan's more "StupidEvil" tendencies. Perhaps best shown in the "Broken Circle" quest, where [[spoiler:she insists you leave the Mages to their fate, claiming that their current plight is their own fault for a) agreeing to be caged in the Tower in the first place and b) not being strong enough to stop Uldred before things got out of hand.]]
* SomeoneToRememberHimBy: This can happen if a male PC romanced her, but refused to make love to her before the final battle as part of her "dark ritual". If he slays the Archdemon himself, he will die. However, the epilogue tells that she is pregnant with their child, having conceived at some point beforehand.
* [[spoiler: StalkerWithATestTube: Her real reason for joining the party is that she needs to become pregnant by a Grey Warden in order to complete a dark ritual.]]
* [[spoiler: TheStarscream: To Flemeth, albeit out of self-defense rather than ambition.]]
* {{Stripperific}}: Her default costume. Although every human female in Thedas shares the same body type, Morrigan is the only one who can wear it.
* StupidEvil: Often falls into this. She seems to take the position that helping others is universally wrong, even if such aid is explicitly rendered solely on the condition of later repayment (and even if the person being helped is absolutely critical to stopping the Blight).
* SuspiciouslySpecificDenial: Morrigan falls into this when she realises she's actually started to fall in love with the Warden.
** She completely denies that just because she gave a ring to a romanced Warden, that was part of a set, which are magically bonded, has ''any'' kind of deeper meaning... [[EveryoneCanSeeIt Yeah, right!]]
* TeacherStudentRomance: If a Mage Warden has Morrigan teach him Shapeshifting, then romances her.
* TheTease: Towards Male Warden, Sten, and even occasionally Alistair.
* TokenEvilTeammate: Unlike Zevran or Shale, who with [[EvenEvilHasStandards some]] [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes exceptions]] merely fail to object when the Warden does "evil" things, Morrigan actively ''[[MemeticMutation disapproves]]'' of acting selflessly and helping others.
* TooManyBelts: Her default outfit features a skirt that appears to be made out of rags and strips of cloth stitched together with belts.
* {{Tsundere}}: Oh yes. Type A, mostly tsuntsun, but being nice to her and/or romancing her brings out the deredere (as much as she is capable of, anyway).
** If you get her approval high enough, she even apologises for her behaviour in a very roundabout {{Tsundere}}-ish manner.
* {{Tykebomb}}: One of many raised by Flemeth. Unusually, she ends up [[DefusingTheTykeBomb defusing herself]] to a certain extent, planning Flemeth's death the moment she realises her end-use; it's not until ''Witch Hunt'' that she finally slips her leash altogether, though.
* UselessUsefulSpell: Her shapeshifting powers sound cool in theory, but in practice are nearly useless as they don't enhance her combat ability all that much, take far too long to activate, and prevent her from using her other spells. Although her swarm form is easily the quickest method of moving around as long as you don't mind the other three characters trailing a mile and a half behind you.
** Building Morrigan into a tank-mage with the Arcane Warrior specialization, however, makes her shapechanging powers ''much'' more useful. She can kite, she can tank, she can beat-down opponents in melee, and she can do everything an Arcane Warrior does. The only problem with Shapeshift is like it is with any other skill: if you don't develop it ''and'' learn how and when to use it properly, it won't be useful.
* VainSorceress: She's a magpie when it comes to jewelry.
* TheVamp: Played with for Male Wardens. Morrigan fully intends to play this trope straight when she joins the Grey Warden, and ''every'' member of the party is certain that this is what she is, but how it all comes down depends on you. If you romance her, she begins to panic when she ''actually'' starts to feel something for you. Several times, she tries to warn or mock you in order to [[ShooTheDog force you to break up with her]]. If you don't listen, she only becomes more upset and flat out begs you to say you don't love her. And then, in the ending, she uses you for her own purposes, regardless of what her feelings may be.
* VerbalTic: Almost all of her dialogue is spoken in a sing-song rhythmic style, which is not that noticeable at first but becomes far more apparent the more you talk to her. She also has a noticeable fondness for the word "'tis" and she uses the "over" instead of "too" as in "overlong and "overmuch".
** FridgeBrilliance: She largely learned to speak from books, which would have been written in a more archaic language than is in common use, and would have often been written using a meter to aid memorization.
* VoluntaryShapeshifting
* VoodooDoll: Her ''Feastday Pranks'' DLC gift is an Alistair voodoo doll with a variety of effects on the poor guy.
* [[WhatDoesSheSeeInHim What Does He See In Her?]]: She'll pretty much ask a male Warden this word for word if he chooses to romance Leliana instead of her.
** The other companions say the same thing for a male Warden who ''does'' romance her.
* WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove: The very concept of forming attachments to others confuses and terrifies her. She's quite disdainful of "sentiment," so the fact that she becomes genuinely fond of the Warden drives her crazy, although she's not as distressed by the platonic affection she can develop for a non-romanced Warden.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Wynne]]
[[quoteright:275:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/epicstuf_3771.png]]
->''"I'm not the sort of person that leaves things unfinished. I'll see this through, I promise."''

-->'''Voiced by:''' Susan Boyd Joyce

A senior enchanter of the Circle of Magi, Wynne is a notable voice among the mages, preferring action over sitting around in the Tower. Prior to the start of the game, she is among the mages who volunteer to go to Ostagar and battle against the darkspawn; later, the PC meets her during the "Broken Circle" quest, where she eventually joins the party. Shale's nickname for her is "The Elder Mage," much to her chagrin.

* TheArchmage: If the Circle was saved, she mentions that Irving wanted her to take his place as First Enchanter, but she refused.
* BadassBookworm: A senior Enchanter in the Circle.
* BewareTheNiceOnes: She's almost always nice, but she can occasionally get downright nasty when provoked. In one banter with Morrigan:
-->'''Morrigan:''' Of course I am still young, beautiful, and my life is my own--while you are bound to that Circle. Hmm. I wonder why I asked. It would be a silly thing, prolonging your life. A waste.\\
'''Wynne:''' Think what you will, Morrigan. When the end comes, I will go gladly to my rest, proud of my achievements. While you...you will see how empty your life was. You will realize that because you never had love for others, you never received love in return. And you will die alone and unmourned.
** While she's a little politer to a Mage Warden, her reaction to seeing non-Mage Wardens for the first time since Ostagar is to calmly ask what they're doing at the Circle Tower and inform them that if they try to hurt the children, she will ''end them''.
* CantLiveWithoutYou: [[spoiler:Wynne is dependent on a friendly Fade spirit to keep her alive.]]
* [[spoiler: CantStopTheSignal: In the novel ''Asunder'', she sends a message to all the Circles in Thedas on the way back from the Adamant Fortress, ensuring that all mages everywhere will know it's possible to reverse the Rite of Tranquility even if she and her companions don't get the chance to spread the word in person.]]
* CategoryTraitor: In ''Literature/{{Asunder}}'', it's mentioned that many mages have come to feel this way about Wynne, due to her leading the vote ''not'' to break away from the Chantry.
* CoolOldLady: She may be relentlessly nice, but she's a tough old broad, too.
* CryIntoChest: Zevran asks her if he may do this. She's having none of it.
* DangerousForbiddenTechnique: [[spoiler:Vessel of the Spirit weakens the spirit that keeps Wynne alive, further reducing her life span.]]
* [[spoiler: DatingCatwoman: ''Asunder'' reveals the father of her son, Rhys, was actually a Templar.]]
* [[spoiler:DeadAllAlong: She is already dead when she appears in your party as a HeroicRROD. A spirit from the Fade helps her to stay in the material world a little more.]]
* DeadManWalking: Wynne [[spoiler:is already dead, but is able to remain among the living due to the intervention of a benevolent spirit from the Fade]]. She has no idea how long she has left.
* GoodCounterpart: Wynne can arguably be considered this when compared to [[spoiler: Flemeth]]. Wynne and [[spoiler: Flemeth]] are both old ladies that are powerful mages [[spoiler: and are the hosts of a benevolent Fade Spirit and... whatever the hell Flemeth ''actually'' is, respectively]]. The key difference, besides alignment, lies in how each treats their students. [[spoiler: After her Greatest Failure]] Wynne is devoted to her students and willing to [[spoiler: die]] to protect them. On the other hand, [[spoiler: Flemeth raises her daughters]] and teaches them her magic [[spoiler: just to make it easier for her to bodysnatch them]]. To a lesser extent she is also a Good Counterpart to [[spoiler: Uldred, another HumanoidAbomination]].
** In-party, she serves as Morrigan's almost exact opposite; their values almost always oppose one another, making it difficult to bring both along without upsetting at least one. Probably done to cut down on the number of [[GameBreaker mages]] you'll be using. Not surprisingly, their banter is some of the most vicious dialogue in video game history.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: [[spoiler: One of Wynne's first conversations with you is about the nature of abominations. Later, you find out why she's grateful if you tell her that if an abomination doesn't behave evilly, it really isn't an abomination.]]
** Which can later double as a [[CrowningMomentofHeartwarming crowning moment]] of [[VideoGameCaringPotential heartwarming in hindsight for the player]] (if s/he chose the sympathetic dialogue options) in light of the absolute horror that [[spoiler: abominations invoke]] and how mages are treated near sub-humanly to begin with.
* GrandmaWhatMassiveHotnessYouHave: She has really smooth skin for someone her age, and her body model is exactly the same as that of the younger Morrigan and Leliana. Zevran comments a couple of times on her 'magical bosom.'
** She was not amused: "Zevran, I'm old enough to be your grandmother."
-->'''Zevran:''' [[LikesOlderWomen You say that like it's a bad thing.]]
** Parodied by Shamus Young [[http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/comics/stolen-pixels/6848-Stolen-Pixels-148-Dragon-Aged here]].
** Oghren seems to think so too.
** When Alistair compliments that she looks younger every day, she jokes that he should watch who he flirts with... it would not be the first time she's woken up to a younger man beside her in bed.
* [[spoiler:HeroicFatigue: Starts to show signs of this early on in ''Asunder''. Which leads to...]]
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice: She sacrifices herself to save the mage-sympathetic Templar Evangeline in ''Asunder''. Though, actually, she'd already done a HeroicSacrifice back in ''Origins'' to save the Tower's child apprentices from a demon, but a Spirit of Faith who was intrigued by her since her youth bound itself to her to save her. The two events are related: she passes the Spirit on to Evangeline, who herself was just killed, and the spirit was the only thing keeping Wynne alive.]]
* HiddenDepths: You really wouldn't expect a sweet, grandmotherly old woman like Wynne to know so much about alcohol; one of the best gifts for her other than books is a bottle of wine. She even enjoys ''Oghren's homemade ale'' - [[GargleBlaster the same stuff that can KO the Warden if his or her Constitution is too low]] - and manages to correctly identify the ingredients he uses for spicing. [[spoiler: This surprises Rhys, Adrian, and Evangeline in the novel ''Asunder'', when they stop at a local inn to rest and eat.]]
* [[spoiler:HumanoidAbomination: Ironically, despite being probably the most moral of any of the party members, she'd count as one by the standards of at least some Templars.]]
* KnightErrant: She's firmly convinced Grey Wardens are supposed to be this, which is her argument for why the Warden should be a CelibateHero (though you can convince her otherwise).
* [[spoiler:TheLastDance]]
* [[spoiler:LivingOnBorrowedTime]]
* MeaningfulName: Wynne's name has many appropriate meanings in Old English and Welsh, as seen [[http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Wynne here.]] All apply to the character. It may just be fan opinion, but Wynne is pronounced "Win" for a reason.
* TheMedic[=/=]CombatMedic
* MentorArchetype: Especially pronounced with a mage Warden.
* MissingMom: Wynne is this to her own son, assuming he is even still alive. The delivery was extremely difficult, and the newborn was sent away before she'd even recovered enough to se him, as is the policy for all children born to magi. She reveals this to Alistair, and admits that she would have liked her son to be like him.
-->'''Alistair:''' Do you ever think about him?\\
'''Wynne:''' [[TearJerker ...All the time]].
** You'd think ''this'' would be her personal quest.
*** [[spoiler:He becomes a major character and reunites with his mother in the novel ''Dragon Age: Asunder'', which reveals his name is [[http://dragonage.wikia.com/wiki/Rhys Rhys.]]]]
* MrsRobinson: Hints at it when she [[{{Squick}} flirts with Alistair]] in ''Return to Ostagar''. It's not treated very seriously, though, probably because of the mother-son sort of attachment they share.
* MyGreatestFailure: Her first teaching assignment ended badly. [[spoiler: She was apparently [[SternTeacher such a bitch]] to her student that he fled the Circle Tower. He was hunted down by the Templars and presumed dead]]. The only silver lining of that incident was that it taught her how to be a better mentor to new mages (something the Grey Warden can point out). You can help Wynne find closure in her personal quest by discovering [[spoiler:that her former student actually survived and bears her no ill will.]]
* NeverMessWithGranny: Or you'll get a [[DishingOutDirt Stonefist]] to the face.
* NotAfraidToDie
* NotEvenBotheringWithTheAccent: Fereldan humans almost all speak with different kinds of English accents. Wynne speaks with a standard American accent, like elves do. Part of this can be explained by Wynne growing up in the Tower, where humans and elves co-mingle freely. Even [[TheArchmage Irving]] seems to speak with a New England accent.
* OrphansOrdeal: In a conversation with the Warden, she mentions that she cannot recall her parents and that her earliest memories are of living on the streets. She briefly lived with a family who let her sleep in the barn, until the day she accidentally set their son's hair ''[[PlayingWithFire on fire]]'' because he was tormenting her. The Templars arrived to take her to the Circle shortly afterwards.
* ParentalSubstitute: To Alistair and the Mage Warden in particular.
* PowerStrainBlackout: Wynne's plot power Vessel of the Spirit leaves her stunned and disoriented after every time she uses it. This effect is only alleviated after completing her personal sidequest.
* [[spoiler:SequelHook: If you speak to Wynne at the end of the story, she will explain that she will be travelling with Shale, claiming that Shale wants to become organic again. As Shale is inspired by the Warden, they apparently travel to Tevinter to see if there is a "cure" of some kind.]]
* TheSmartGuy
* SternTeacher: Was an incredibly strict demanding teacher in her youth, [[MyGreatestFailure much to her shame]]. She's far more mellow these days, although she occasionally slips back into this when she feels the Warden and Alistair aren't taking their duty as Wardens seriously.
** Similarly occurs whenever she offers advice to the Mage Warden.
* SuperMode: [[spoiler: Her Vessel of The Spirit power can give her a truly massive boost to Spellpower, the [[OneStatToRuleThemAll most critical stat for a mage]], especially after her personal quest is complete and she gets an item to augment the power.]]
* TheTalk: Teasingly given by Wynne to Alistair in a bit of party dialogue after the female PC begins a romance with him.
** She will also (more seriously) engage with TheTalk with the Warden if he/she is engaged in a romance, express her disapproval, and offer a recommendation of NoHuggingNoKissing. She especially has concerns if the relationship is with Alistair, given his inexperience with women and the fact that both are Wardens. She will, however, eventually change her mind and apologize to the Warden, provided you get your love interest's approval rating high enough. She'll even defend your relationship with Morrigan to Alistair during party banter.
* TeamMom: Alistair likes to act as if she were his grandmother. If the Warden is a mage, she has a great deal of additional dialogue, some of which imply, if the player chooses, that the Warden does in fact look up to Wynne in an almost parental fashion, no doubt since the Circle commonly assigns Mages to older mentors. Non-Mage Wardens can also have a feeling like this toward her, but not nearly as explicitly.
** She plots to knit a sweater for Sten. How much more motherly can you get?
** [[spoiler:Yes, she has a son. His name is Rhys, and he appears with her in ''Asunder''.]]
** She lectures the Warden regarding who (s)he chooses to romance. [[spoiler: Morrigan will even yell at her to stop treating the Warden and Alistair like they are her kids.]]
** When helping to prepare Redcliffe Village for the nightly onslaught of undead from the keep, having Wynne along when trying to coax a child out of the cabinet results in her scolding the kid out of there. The kid complies readily.
* TokenGoodTeammate: Out of the entire party, she is the only one who starts with and refuses to abandon her selfless sense of morals. Alistair and Leliana can be hardened and convinced to turn a blind eye to some/most evil, self-serving actions. Not Wynne.
* WhatTheHellHero: She will get pissed if you make unscrupulous decisions, especially if [[spoiler:you destroy the Urn of Sacred Ashes, which causes her to attack you or abandon you depending on whether she is present when you do it.]] Any romance concerns her as well, but she will relent if the romance blooms to Love.
** It's mentioned in ''Literature/{{Asunder}}'' that amongst the Circle of Enchanters, she lead the vote ''not'' to break away from the Chantry entirely. Unfortunately, this has caused many Mages to regard her as something of a [[CategoryTraitor traitor]] as a result.
* WhiteMagicianGirl
* [[spoiler:YourDaysAreNumbered: She survives the massacre at the Circle Tower only thanks to the intervention of a spirit of faith, which soon begins to weaken, meaning that she is literally living on borrowed time. Apparently she has more time than she thought, considering several of the epilogues mention her leaving to travel the world for several years, or becoming the head of the Circle of Magi after the current one dies.]]
** [[spoiler:She meets her end in ''Asunder'', sacrificing her life to save Evangeline.]]
[[/folder]]

!The Rogues

[[folder:Leliana]]
[[quoteright:253:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/yeah_7362.jpg]]
-->''"I came to Ferelden and the Chantry because I was being hunted. I walked where the Maker led me and he has rewarded me for my faith. I found ''you''."''

-->'''Voiced by:''' Corinne Kempa

Leliana is a former Orlesian bard and a lay sister at the Chantry in Lothering. After receiving a prophetic dream about the Blight, she decides to join the PC on his/her quest. Basically, she's a bisexual nun/ninja/minstrel/spy. She's complicated like that. Shale's nickname for her is "The Sister" and occasionally "The Bard."

* ActionGirl: Seemingly inexplicably at first.
* AllWomenLoveShoes
-->Leliana: Oh I could talk about shoes all day...
* AndThisIsFor: The ''Leliana's Song'' [=DLC=] has Leliana say this in her final confrontation with Raleigh.
--> '''Raleigh''': I still remember that scared little girl in my cell!\\
'''Leliana''': I remember her too. This is for her.\\
''[pushes him backwards off of a cliff]''
* AntiHero: Type V or IV in her past, currently repentant but can slip down to a Type II if hardened by the player.
* ArcherArchetype: She claims to be skilled in knife combat, and even starts the game equipping a dagger, but all of her skills are in archery and her best weapon is Marjolaine's favorite bow. While not possessing any "AloofAlly" qualities in the present, her past self featured in ''Leliana's Song'' has shades of this.
* TheAtoner: Though more in her backstory than in the game itself.
* BadLiar: About matters dealing with emotion and her own feelings.
* TheBard: Her specific character class to boot. She claims its training will involve throwing knives and combat but...[[GameplayAndStorySegregation it doesn't]].
* BeautifulDreamer: Part of her romance - she likes watching the PC sleep. The Warden can reply to her that this is creepy.
* [[spoiler:BecomingTheMask: She originally adopted the guise of a simple, pious, religious convert in order to escape the notice of Marjolaine, her former employer/lover and now mortal enemy. It was only later, when she found herself content in that life, that she actually started to become that person for real.]]
* BettyAndVeronica: Betty to Morrigan's ([[GayOption And Zevran's]]) Veronica. [[spoiler:She's not as Betty-like as she seems, however]].
* BewareTheNiceOnes
* BiTheWay: Is one of two romance options for [=PCs=] of either gender.
* BlatantLies: "I'm just flushed from the... heat!"
* TheCameo: Shows up [[spoiler: at the end of ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'', where she's revealed to work as a member of the Seekers alongside Cassandra. She appears chronologically earlier as an Agent of the Divine in the ''Exiled Prince DLC'' going under the codename of "Sister Nightingale", as well as a guest at Chateau-Haine in the ''Mark of the Assassin DLC'', where she's revealed to know Tallis. She also appears in the novel ''Asunder'', set in the aftermath of Anders destruction of the Chantry and the beginning the Mage-Templar War.]]
* TheChick:
* ChurchMilitant: While not an ordained member of the Chantry (she never got around to her vows), she's very open about her faith. Surprisingly, this doesn't put her at odds with [[ReligiousBruiser Sten]].
** ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'' reveals [[spoiler: she later became an Agent of the Divine and a member of the Seekers of Truth]].
* ClingyJealousGirl: If romanced, she's extremely affectionate to the Warden, but makes it clear she in no way approves of the Warden even ''looking'' at another woman (or man). That said, you can convince her to have a threesome with you and Isabela, or a ''foursome'' with Zevran too if she is "hardened".
* CorruptTheCutie: A tame example. You are given the option of "hardening" her. Subverted, however, in that [[spoiler:Leliana is not the naive innocent she at first appears to be.]]
* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: The Warden can mistake her for one at first, as Chantry Sisters aren't generally renowned for their fighting ability [[CloudCuckooLander and she can seem a bit loopy at times]]. But Leliana's no ordinary Chantry Sister.
* CultureClash: With an elf Grey Warden. Leliana tries to talk to the Warden about the situation of elves from what the Warden will recognize as a rather warped perspective. Said Warden can bite her head off about her notions about the elves and directly call her and everyone in the society she hails from a bunch of naive fools... and gain approval for opening her eyes.
* [[spoiler:DarkAndTroubledPast: Surprisingly.]]
* ADayInTheLimelight: The ''Leliana's Song'' DLC, which follows her final missions as a bard.
* DoggedNiceGirl: Due to a dialogue glitch, she may act like she is in a relationship with the Warden even if the Warden has made it clear that they are not interested in her.
* DreamingOfThingsToCome: A dream which she interprets as being the Blight is what convinces her that she was meant to join the Grey Warden's quest. Whether it's a real vision or not is up for you to interpret.
* FanNickname: Based on an in-game Alistair line, "Princess Stabbity-Stab."
* FemmeFatale: Used to be one. [[spoiler: As a bard, she was taught to become "the woman people fall in love with", whatever that might be depending on the situation]]
* FriendlySniper
* GayOption: For a female PC.
* GirlyBruiser: Her love of shoes, fashion, romantic starlit evenings, cute animals, etc. doesn't mean she can't also be a dungeon-crawling, arrow-slinging ActionGirl.
* TheHeart: She advocates the party helping others whenever possible.
* [[spoiler: HeelFaceTurn: In her backstory, from murderous troublemaker to pious bard.]]
* HeelFaithTurn: She initially went to the Chantry to hide from her enemies, only to discover her faith.
* HeroesWantRedheads: Possibly.
* HitchhikerHeroes: Although she has her reasons, the way she joins the party fits this trope to a 'T', which the Warden can {{lampshade}} by asking her why she's so eager to go off adventuring with someone she's just met.
* [[spoiler: HoneyTrap: She used to prefer this tactic to actual murder as a bard. Not that she didn't use both at times.]]
* TheImmodestOrgasm: Alluded to in the second game if she had a threesome with the Warden and Isabela in ''Origins''.
--> '''Isabela''': *''Laughs''* "[[CodeName Sister Nightingale]]" indeed, I remember it didn't take much to make you ''sing''.
* ImTakingHerHomeWithMe: She just loves the nugs in Orzammar. You can actually get her one... and she names it Schmooples.
* InformedAbility: She is supposed to be a skilled storyteller, but her storytelling skills really don't rise above the rest of the cast. Also by her accounts, the smooth talking, courtly connivers seem to be stock and trade and a survival necessity for Orlesian bards. Yet her repartee is less evident than her loss of words; she's often flustered and easily embarrassed. One could infer that her former skills have become somewhat rusty as a result of BecomingTheMask. In comparison, we see a far more cunning, devious and altogether darker side of her in the prequel DLC, ''Leliana's Song''.
** And if the Warden sleeps around on her, she comes off as painfully naive and easily lied to. On the other hand, Leliana [[FridgeBrilliance consistently demonstrates]] that if she's emotionally invested in a person she lets her emotions [[LoveMakesYouDumb affect her judgement]]. This is best demonstrated in her prequel DLC ''Leliana's Song'', where Marjolaine used Leliana's feelings for her to play her effortlessly.
* InnocentBigot: She'll make some well-intentioned but racist comments to you if you're playing as an elf. If you tell her you're offended, she'll apologize and thank you for [[CharacterDevelopment opening her eyes]].
* JeanneDArchetype: ActionGirl? Check. Devoutly religious? Check. French (or [[FantasyCounterpartCulture the equivalent]])? Check. Visions telling her to fight? Check. Case closed.
* JumpedAtTheCall
* LadyOfAdventure: To some players' surprise, as well as that of her former partner in crime (and bed) Marjolaine.
* LadyLegionnaireWear
* LoveableRogue: At the beginning of the ''Leliana's Song'' DLC.
* LoveInterest: One of four potential ones.
* MagicMusic: Standard for a bard.
* MataHari: Orlesian Bards fill this role. Leliana eventually admits that part of her enjoyed it.
* MeaningfulName: Close enough to Leliana (apparently without a meaning) is the name Eliana, which means 'God has answered' in Hebrew. This fits her reasons for joining very well.
** The same name also means, loosely, "daughter of the sun" in Italian, which is suitable for a sister of the Chantry of Light.
* TheMistress: Can become this (if hardened) for a Male Warden who has asked for the Queen's hand. Leliana decides to stay by the Warden's side in Denerim, and even sends him a letter if he is exported to the ''Awakening'' expansion pack. However, perhaps due to a glitch, this can only happen if the player stops talking to her altogether (at least until the epilogue) after having made the decision to marry the Queen. If talked to before the epilogue, she will immediately end her relationship with the PC, even if she was previously hardened.
* NaughtyNuns: Zevran definitely wishes. Leliana herself seems to wish it too, a little. Oghren wonders if the Chantry girls wear anything under the robes too.
* OlderThanTheyLook:
--> '''Wynne''': It is sometimes so hard to believe that you have been through so much, at such a young age.
--> '''Leliana''': I think I look younger than I am.
** Though this is highly disputable, considering Leliana's mother left Fereldan around 9:05, and gave birth to Leliana after that, in Orlais, making Leliana about 25, which is rather young.
* ParentalAbandonment: Her mother had her out of wedlock and died when she was young.
* [[spoiler:RapeAsBackstory]]: Implied heavily in the ''Leliana's Song'' DLC. However, it should be noted that this is not stated explicitly, and therefore should be taken with a grain of salt.
** Due to the brutally pragmatic environment bards usually work in, she also seems to have come to terms with it much more efficiently than most examples of this trope.
* RealityIsUnrealistic: Leliana's Orlesian (French) accent is criticized as sounding fake, although her voice actress is actually French.
* SickeninglySweethearts: If romanced, she and the Warden come dangerously close to this if Wynne and Morrigan are to be believed.
* [[SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan Single Woman Seeks Good Man or Woman]]: Her romance path requires a Warden to be particularly kind-hearted to [=NPCs=] and/or extremely generous with gifts.
* SpoonyBard: Averted - bards in this game (and Leliana in particular) are extremely deadly if built and utilized correctly.
** It makes sense within Orlesian society that "bards" are synonymous with spies - after all, seeing as the nobility of Orlais is a DeadlyDecadentCourt, they are apt to throwing raucous parties involving all number of performers and musicians. Who better to slip past security than the entertainment?
* TagalongChronicler
* TechnicalPacifist: Sort of. She's a quasi-nun and interested in peace and contemplation, but while she prefers non-violent solutions, she's perfectly willing to resort to bloodshed when she has to.
* [[spoiler:[[ThatManIsDead That Woman Is Dead]]: What she tells Marjolaine when she's asked about her past in Orlais.]]
* AThreesomeIsHot: She'll join the Warden and Isabela for some fun if hardened.
* [[spoiler:TogetherInDeath: If the player completes Leliana's romance and and then sacrifices him/herself to kill the Archdemon, the epilogue says that Leliana had a vision that showed her a way to be reunited with her love. One possible interpretation of this epilogue is that she killed herself.]]
* UnexplainedRecovery: If you killed her in ''Origins'', she basically says "I got better" to Hawke in ''The Exiled Prince'', suggesting 'GodWasMyCopilot' as the explanation.
* TheUnfairSex: Played with for laughs, as one of Leliana's quips when nearing the end of her RomanceSidequest, after she'd told you how she felt, and then gets flustered after you tell her you feel the same way.
--> '''Warden''': I thought you felt comfortable around me?\\
'''Leliana''': (stammers) Well yes, but...D-Don't question me! I am a woman, and I reserve the right to be inconsistent!
** A thousand times funnier if you're [[BiTheWay romancing her as a woman]].
* UnreliableNarrator: Her account of her [[spoiler: betrayal by Marjolaine and subsequent capture]] doesn't quite match up with the events of her prequel DLC. Of course, given that the majority of the Warden's retinue are native Fereldans, one can understand why she lied and said she was imprisoned for stealing military documents from ''Orlais'' instead. In the same DLC she explicitly says in voiceover that she changes it with every telling (which is why it has multiple endings despite being framed as her telling the Warden the story later).
* WanderingMinstrel
* WhatTheHellHero: [[spoiler:She turns on you if you destroy the Urn of Sacred Ashes in front of her and she is not hardened. If hardened she won't turn on you, but she thoroughly resents you for it.]]
* WideEyedIdealist: Averted/subverted. Despite [[spoiler:a fairly violent and traumatic past]], Leliana is the resident idealist in a story that is on the whole [[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism pretty]] [[DarkerAndEdgier cynical]], and it's usually difficult to write a character like that without succumbing to the temptation to either [[NaiveNewcomer condescend to]], [[WhatAnIdiot belittle]], or [[BreakTheCutie fundamentally alter]] the character's worldview. The writers avoided those traps, however, and managed to create a multi-layered personality who fits in well and demonstrates how idealism is possible even in a very dark world. [[spoiler:She's even quite nice to Loghain, who hates her on sight.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Zevran Arainai]]
[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Leather_9772.png]]
->''"We all do our share of murdering around here, don't we?"''

-->'''Voiced by:''' Jon Curry

An elven assassin from Antiva sent to kill the remaining Grey Wardens. Upon defeat, he offers his services to them, figuring he's as good as dead anyway, and the player has an option to kill him or let him join the party. He's unabashedly bisexual and a romance option for male or female Wardens. Shale's nickname for him is "The Painted Elf," which Zevran rather likes.

* AffablyEvil: Despite being a professional assassin with no morals to speak of, he's almost perpetually cheerful - as he notes, he's an eternal optimist. [[spoiler: It's a defense mechanism, as you quickly learn if pursuing a romance.]]
* AllGirlsWantBadBoys: Lampshaded in a conversation between Alistair and Leliana:
---> '''Alistair''': ''...he's an assassin who's tried to kill us more than once...do women go for that sort of thing?''\\
'''Leliana''': ''Where I come from they do, oh yes.''
** [[spoiler: Subverted when it becomes clear that even his bad boy persona is mostly an act - if romanced, he stays with the Warden no matter what, practically proposes to them and calls them the best thing that ever happened to him. If dumped, he lets the Warden go with dignity and even considers the other love interest's POV when suggesting that the Warden decide between them.]]
* AntiHero: In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'', [[spoiler:he is dedicating his life to killing and bringing down the Antivan Crows, showing that he has settled down to UnscrupulousHero.]]
* AnythingThatMoves: Or at least, "Anything That Moves and [[{{Squick}} Isn't]] [[CasanovaWannabe Oghren]]."
* AssassinOutclassin
* TheAtoner: Subverted: Wynne assumes he wants to leave the Crows because of a crisis of conscience.
--> '''Zevran''': [[SarcasmMode That is precisely it.]]
** DoubleSubverted. Zevran doesn't want to leave the Crows to find redemption. [[spoiler: He wants to [[RedemptionEqualsDeath die]]]].
* {{Backstab}}: His primary combat M.O., and a vital ability (both literally and figuratively) for an Antivan Crow to have.
* BecauseImGoodAtIt: He fully intends to continue his assassin career even when he gets away from the Crows. One reason is this trope; the other is that he notes his lack of other skills that wouldn't get him arrested for performing in public.
* BecauseYouWereNiceToMe: [[spoiler: If the player gains high friendship with him, he will willingly betray the Crows to protect them in the endgame. If questioned afterwards, he admits the the Warden was the first real friend he ever had and that gave him to courage to accept facing the Crows' wrath.]]
* BecomingTheMask: Inverted, if he gets romanced. [[spoiler: Falling in love with the Warden breaks his confident ladykiller facade to bits.]]
** BeneathTheMask: Bring him along during the search for the Sacred Urn and it's shown that he's not as apathetic as he pretends to be.
* BettyAndVeronica: Veronica, with Alistair ([[GayOption or Leliana]]) as Betty.
* BiTheWay: Is one of two romance options for [=PCs=] of either gender.
* BlitheSpirit: Antiva seems even more uninhibited than Ferelden, really. Add to that that the Crows look for a willingness to cross certain limits in their assassins...
* BlondGuysAreEvil: [[spoiler:Potentially]] subverted.
* BreadEggsMilkSquick: "Magic can kill. Knives can kill. Even small children, launched at great speed, could kill."
* [[spoiler: BreakTheHaughty: As if Rinna's death wasn't enough, the Crow master who assigned them the mission already knew of it and was very quick to remind the two surviving assassins that they were entirely expendable tools worth little more than nothing to even the Crows.]]
* BrutalHonesty: Most prominent after the Warden defeats and revives him.
-->'''Zevran''': Ah, so I am to be interrogated? Let me save you some time. My name is Zevran - Zev to my friends. I am a member of the Antivan Crows, brought here for the sole purpose of assassinating any remaining Grey Wardens. Which I have failed at, sadly.
* TheCameo: If you upload a save from the first game, he can appear in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'' for one mission - and [[spoiler: as a guest in the final battle against Meredith]]. Predictably, he and Isabela can have a threesome with Hawke.
* CaptainObvious: If you recruit [[spoiler:Loghain]] and put them in your party together.
-->'''Zevran:''' You know who I am, yes? I was one of the Crows you hired to kill the Grey Wardens.\\
[[spoiler:'''Loghain:''']] I thought you looked familiar.\\
'''Zevran:''' Well, I just wanted to report that I failed my mission, [[spoiler:Loghain]].\\
[[spoiler:'''Loghain:''']] You don't say.\\
'''Zevran:''' I'm terribly broken up over it.\\
[[spoiler:'''Loghain:''']] Hmm. Well, thank you kindly for informing me.
* CartwrightCurse: All of his love interests tend to end up dead. [[spoiler: Rinna, Taliesin, his first mage lover, a romanced PC who sacrifices themselves...]]
* TheCasanova[=/=]ChivalrousPervert: He apparently specializes in being a LatinLover as part of his job, along with a healthy dose of StealthHiBye. Curiously, when it's not part of a job, he becomes the latter. If romanced [[spoiler: and the Warden survives]], he ends up developing into TheCharmer.
* TheChick: Peculiarly, yes. Make [[ProfessionalKiller of]] [[CombatPragmatist that]] [[TheCasanova what]] [[ReallyGetsAround you will]].
* ChildSoldiers: Buy them young and raise them to know nothing but murder. Trademark recruitment motto of the Antivan Crows.
* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: A must if you want to make your way among the Antivan Crows, it seems. [[spoiler:If you're not careful to cultivate his loyalty, Zevran has no trouble adding the Warden to the list of people he's backstabbed.]]
* [[spoiler:ColdBloodedTorture: Was apparently subjected to this by the Crows as a means of building up pain tolerance - as with all their recruits.]]
* CombatPragmatist: When explaining the assassin specialization, he mentions poison and crippling one's opponent as his preferred strategies. Alistair even wonders why the Crows didn't send their best on the task of killing the Wardens, mentioning that Zevran is no master of straight-up combat. [[spoiler:He eventually explains he was the only one who wanted the job.]]
** GameplayAndStorySegregation: If used properly, Zevran can be one of the best melee fighters in the party.
* ContractOnTheHitman: Avoiding this trope is his primary reason for asking to join the Warden; the Antivan Crows have a very bad "retirement package", as he himself mentions, so the only way to get out is to have them assume you died or sign up with someone even they can't touch. [[spoiler: Subverted with Master Ignacio, who tells Zevran that other Crows might hunt him, but he's already dead in his eyes. Once Taliesen shows up to finish the job, this can be either subverted when Zevran accepts the offer to rejoin the Crows and turns on the Warden or played straight if he refuses and avoids the battle/fights against his former comrade.]]
** In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'', not only is he still alive after seven years of the Crows hunting him, but he's leading a crusade against them and winning. His codex entry says he's killed one guildmaster, bribed two others, and has developed a knack for finding assassins as disaffected as he was in the first game.
* CryIntoChest: He asks Wynne to let him do this because he feels bad about being a killer. She assures him that he can cry well away from her bosom.
* DarkSkinnedBlond
* DashingHispanic: His voice actor apparently summed him up with a [[Film/ThePrincessBride "So he's like a sexed-up Inigo Montoya?"]] before recording started. Ironically, Antiva is based on a prototype Venetian state, according to WordOfGod.
* DeadpanSnarker: Not too heavy on the deadpan bit, but he does get snarky when Alistair questions his motives, when he's trying to coerce Leliana into telling him about her vision or when Wynne assumes that his reason for wanting to leave the Crows is a crisis of conscience. He's more fond of cheerful sarcasm.
* DeathBySex: Apparently, this is his favorite assassination strategy.
* [[spoiler:DeathSeeker: You read that right. He eventually admits that he took the assignment to kill the PC mostly in the hopes that he would get killed in the attempt. He settles for searching for a new beginning later.]]
* DefeatMeansFriendship: And, if he gets his way, RedemptionEqualsSex.
** Zevran's later [[spoiler:potential FaceHeelTurn]] makes this a partial subversion. It's more like [[spoiler:"defeat means a ''chance at'' friendship."]]
* DepravedBisexual: Well, he's depraved, and he's bisexual, but the trope doesn't apply unless the two are related, which [[AvertedTrope they are not]]. He swings both ways, has a thing for [[HellBentForLeather leather]], and has no moral compunction against killing. Would qualify for BiTheWay if he wasn't ''very'' open about this - he even laughs in the male PC's face if he gets a somewhat taken aback response to his propositioning, only later apologizing for forgetting that he wasn't in Antiva anymore.
* TheDreaded: [[spoiler: In his possible one-man revenge spree against his former employers in the second game, a few of the Crow bosses submitted to and allied with him to avoid his knives in their backs.]]
* EasilyForgiven: He goes from being an assassin hired to kill the player to a companion rather quickly, though Alistair is initially very wary of him. Of course, the fact that he wants to get out of the Crows - which he never wanted to join in the first place - helps. To top it all, his RedemptionEqualsSex, if the PC wants it to.
** [[spoiler:It works both ways, no less. If he doesn't like you enough, the Crows will forgive him for his betrayal and welcome him back... provided he turns on you, which he does without a second thought.]]
-->'''The Warden''': You tried to kill me!\\
'''Zevran''': Unsuccessfully! Besides, someone in your position can't take these things so personally, can you?
* {{Elfeminate}}: In Oghren's words, Zevran's "got small breasts for a gal."
* EthicalSlut: Eventually evolves into this [[spoiler: assuming he doesn't FaceHeelTurn.]]
* EvenEvilHasStandards: He tolerates most evil acts, but acts of genocide disgust him.
** He tends to react badly to pointless cruelty, such as when the Warden torments a widower in the Dalish Camp by refusing to tell him about his dead wife. He may be an assassin, but at least ''he'' gives his victims a quick death.
** He also has issues with slavery, but then, with his background, it's to be expected.
** He also disapproves of anything you do against elves, such as [[spoiler: massacring a Dalish clan or sacrificing city elves with blood magic]]. He also doesn't approve of killing the mages for the Templars, though he doesn't lose actual approval points if you go through with it.
* EveryoneIsBi: In Antiva this is the case, or at least so Zevran implies.
* ExtremeOmnisexual: In short - for any OptionalSexualEncounter the Warden has, Zevran has stories about five similar, wilder ones.
* [[spoiler:FaceHeelTurn: If the player fails to keep a close eye on Zevran's approval ratings, s/he will be in for an unpleasant surprise when the party runs into another Crow.]]
* FreudianExcuse: Oh dear, where to start? His father (is implied to have) died before he was born, his mother died giving birth to him (which he seems to blame himself for), and he was raised in a whorehouse. At the age of 7, he was auctioned off to a ruthless assassination syndicate and had to endure severe torture. [[spoiler:He then fell in love with one of his colleagues, who was accused of betraying the Crows, and he helped to kill her for it. He later found out that she was innocent.]]
* TheGadfly: See LikesOlderWomen, though that's not the only way he harasses Wynne. He also does it to Leliana, but if hardened she gets to call his bluff on the lecherous behavior at least.
* GallowsHumor: It's his preferred way of dealing with a bad situation, as you will discover if you interrogate him when you have him at your mercy after his failed attempt to assassinate the party. [[ParentalAbandonment Given]] [[TrainingFromHell his]] [[FreudianExcuse backstory]], it's almost certainly another defense mechanism.
* GayOption: For a male PC.
* GenreSavvy: Correctly identifies TheHero in both games, and knows how to appeal to the player to save his life. He approaches the Warden with a bit of a death wish, but later he's very opposed to dying at the Champion's hands.
** Also lampshades in the second game why mooks seem to believe they have any chance of being able to kill people like the Champion and the Warden. Also counts as a moment of SelfDeprecation that he himself was introduced as a mook doing this very thing.
* GuestStarPartyMember: If he's alive at the end of the first game [[spoiler: and made a HeelFaceTurn]], [[PlayerCharacter Hawke]] runs into him in VideoGame/DragonAgeII during a sidequest. [[spoiler: And if you help him get away from the Crows that are trying to kill him in that sidequest, he will return to help you in the FinalBattle against Meredith.]]
* [[spoiler:HeartbrokenBadass: Was in love with one of his fellow Crows who was accused of betraying the organization; he laughed and watched as she was killed, and then found out that she was innocent.]]
** [[spoiler: The player has the potential to (permanently) turn him into this a second time if the Warden romances him and then performs a HeroicSacrifice at the end of the game; Zevran returns to Antiva, takes over the Crows, and continues his [[TheCasanova Casanova]] tendencies without ever loving anyone again.]]
* [[spoiler:HeelFaceTurn: He is a possible party member.]]
* HeroicComedicSociopath:
-->'''Zevran''': So let us pretend that I do, indeed, believe that murder is wrong...
* HiddenDepths: He puts effort into trying to convince the player he has none. Some gamers are quick to write him off as a highly one-dimensional character.
** Protip: check out his remarks on your surroundings and his thoughts about the current situation (he'll have something to say when you're talking to a significant NPC). Don't forget his conversations with other party members, especially Sten and Morrigan. Basically you gotta put him in your party a lot to actually see these.
*** Even Leliana remarks on it, as she can comment that there's "more to him than he lets on, isn't there?". Admittedly, Leliana seems to have been watching him ''very'' closely...
* [[spoiler:HitmanWithAHeart: Double-subverted: He does actually have one, under all the Crow training, but after his FirstLove turned out to be a supposed traitor to the Crows and he watched her killed without remorse only to find out that she had been innocent, he's not at all keen to let such sentiment surface again.]]
* [[spoiler:HunterOfHisOwnKind]]: In ''Dragon Age II'', [[spoiler:if he survives the first game.]]
* InLoveWithTheMark: It takes a while and it's carefully subverted in places, but the romance does have elements of this.
* IntimateHealing: His solution to the PC's apparent tiredness is a private massage.
* [[spoiler:IUhYouToo: Like Morrigan, he gets highly confused by falling in love with the Warden, but eventually doesn't shirk away from admitting it, in a fashion.]]
* LadykillerInLove: And it works without being cliche. [[spoiler: If his earring is refused the first time on the grounds that the Warden will only accept gifts with a meaning behind them, he offers it once again later. That leads to an exchange made of this trope and a CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming:]]
-->'''Zevran:''' [[spoiler: I... still have the earring. I would like to give it to you... as a token of affection. Will you accept it?]]\\
'''Warden:'''[[spoiler: That almost sounds like a proposal.]]\\
'''Zevran:'''[[spoiler: (slowly) Not unless you wish it.]]
* LastSecondWordSwap: In the RomanceSidequest.
-->'''Zevran:''' It has meant a lot to me but so have -- so has what you've done.
* LatinLover: All the way.
* LikesOlderWomen: Zevran seems to ''really'' have a thing for Wynne. Or for making Wynne very uncomfortable.
-->'''Wynne:''' Zevran, I am old enough to be your grandmother.\\
'''Zevran:''' You say that like it's a bad thing.\\
'''Wynne:''' And what would you do if you had me, hmm? This is a game you play, nothing more.\\
'''Zevran:''' Oh, you are a cynical woman, Wynne. Cynical and powerful. It drives me mad with desire!
** One of the [[CrowningMomentofFunny funniest dialogues]] is after Zevran has learned of Wynne's condition.
-->'''Zevran:''' I couldn't help hearing about your... predicament. Forgive me if I am prying...\\
'''Wynne:''' Yes, you are.\\
'''Zevran:''' ... but what does it feel like being possessed by a spirit?\\
'''Wynne:''' Why does this interest you so?\\
'''Zevran:''' I simply wish to get to know those that I travel with. Is that wrong of me?\\
'''Wynne:''' No, of course it isn't. Well... let me see. It is hard to describe. It is comforting... I... I feel safe, loved.\\
'''Zevran:''' Comforted, loved, yes...\\
'''Wynne:''' It is like being held close, cradled... the bond is so complete that I am unable to extricate myself, nor do I wish to. Wait... why do you have that look on your face?\\
'''Zevran:''' Mmm, I... I am simply imagining it. Continue, please.\\
'''Wynne:''' And there is a constant warmth, that spreads outwards from the very center of my being, infusing my body with--\\
'''Zevran:''' [[TheImmodestOrgasm Ooh...]]\\
'''Wynne:''' Andraste's grace, what are you thinking about now? ''No, I don't want to know.'' I feel dirty. Do not speak to me.
* LovableRogue
* LovableSexManiac: Most of his interactions with other party members seem to revolve in some way around sex, although he's obviously turning it UpToEleven with Wynne and Morrigan just to irritate them.
* LoveInterest: One of four potential ones.
* LoveRedeems: Actually averted - being on TheDarkSide isn't really his choice, so he makes the HeelFaceTurn almost on his own account, if given enough incentive.
* [[strike:Love]] [[LoveAtFirstPunch Lust At First Punch]]: Even after getting beaten within an inch of his life, bound and interrogated by the party, he wastes no time in propositioning the PC. This is especially pronounced with the female PC:
-->'''Female Warden:''' (after Zevran proposes to join the party): You must think I'm royally stupid.\\
'''Zevran:''' I think you're royally tough to kill. And ''utterly'' gorgeous. Not that I think you'll respond to simple flattery. But there are worse things in life than [[HappinessInSlavery serving the whims of a deadly sex goddess.]]
* [[spoiler:TheMourningAfter: See HeartbrokenBadass entry above.]]
* MrFanservice: Lampshaded when he lists "stand around and look pretty" as one of the various skills and services he can offer you as an ally.
* NoPronunciationGuide: Appears to be a literal case when the time came to record the dialogue - poor Zev is the only one who pronounces his name correctly (emphasis on the second syllable, not the first).
* NoSneakAttacks: Despite admitting easily that he wasn't planning on a fair fight, singing praises about poison usage and crippling one's opponent, he tries to take the PC head on (subverted in the fact that he's somewhat CrazyPrepared with tons of traps, archers and even a mage). [[spoiler: Most likely because of the fact that he's a DeathSeeker.]]
* NothingPersonal: After failing to assassinate you, he explains that he has no idea what Loghain's issues are with you and that you can't afford to take that sort of thing personally.
* ObfuscatingStupidity: His conversation with Morrigan after completing her personal quest is, basically, [[spoiler:"I know your mother sent you here because she had a plan, and I know you're here because ''you'' have a plan." And if the Warden is in a romance with Morrigan, Zevran will note that she is 'biding her time']]. Pretty much what GenreSavvy players want to say to her face.
* OneManArmy: A codex entry in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'' reveals that he's single-handedly ''annihilating'' the entire Crow organization. Publicly, his former employers are still trying to assassinate him out of principle. Privately, however, they're all ''terrified'' of him.
* ParentalAbandonment: He's the son of a whore who [[DeathByChildbirth died in childbirth]].
* PlayingHardToGet: A possible response to repeated propositioning from the Warden. Zevran playfully considers it for about two seconds.
* ProfessionalKiller
* PunchClockVillain
* ReallyGetsAround
* [[spoiler:SadClown]]
* SarcasmMode: He's quite fond of it.
* [[spoiler:SecondLove: The Warden becomes this for him if he gets romanced; the first girl was killed because she allegedly betrayed the Crows.]]
* SonOfAWhore
* StepfordSmiler: His backstory almost makes him TheWoobie. If the PC enters the mage tower with him, his Fade nightmare shows the torture he was made to endure to become an assassin. Aside from that, [[spoiler:he allowed the woman he loved to be killed for betraying the Crows while she was professing her innocence and love for him - it turned out later on that she had indeed been innocent]]. Most of his cheerful perversity is the result of trying to accept his cruel and twisted upbringing.
* TattooedCrook: Some of the tattoos (like the one on his face) have certain meanings within the Crows organization. Others (such as the ones that he implies are around his... *ahem* ) are just there for decoration.
* TokenEvilTeammate: More pragmatic than outright evil, but yes, this game has ''three'' of them.
* TooKinkyToTorture: Rebuffs Morrigan's threats of bodily harm with this [[spoiler: but averts it in the Fade, where he briefly becomes TheDeterminator in his nightmare.]]
* TrainingFromHell: Take him along to the Circle Tower and watch his nightmare. That should give you a general idea.
* TroubledButCute: An elf with [[spoiler:[[TheCasanova layers]] upon [[SadClown layers]] upon [[AngstWhatAngst layers]] of defense mechanisms [[HiddenDepths covering up]] an [[ParentalAbandonment incredibly]] [[TrainingFromHell traumatic]] [[HeartbrokenBadass past]].]] He goes to great pains to [[SubvertedTrope deny this]] until befriended/romanced deeply enough.
* TurnCoat: Very willingly when the Warden beats him.
* UnusualEuphemism: When he tells the Warden about how he misses the smell of Antivan leather, the PC can ask if he's using this trope. In a subversion, he bursts out laughing and admits that he may as well be, but isn't (this time).
* VitriolicBestBuds: With Oghren, perhaps as a small homage to [[LordOfTheRings Legolas and Gimli.]]
** Lampshaded when Zevran asks whether they're going to engage in the standard elf/dwarf banter. Oghren's response is "Nah."
* WeakButSkilled: Dialogue with Alistair and his own recounts of his past reveals that Zevran isn't exactly the best fighter. [[spoiler: He even reveals to Alistair that he was commissioned to kill the party because he was the only member of the Crows who actually signed up for the job.]] This can, of course, be subverted in gameplay.
** GameplayAndStorySegregation: On the other hand, if properly built, he can deal more damage than anyone else in the party, hands down.
* WhatDoesSheSeeInHim: Alistair loudly invokes this trope after Zevran joins the party and the Warden gains some favor with him, asking if the hair and clothes aren't too much and if women really go for men who tried to kill them. Leliana promptly responds that a) the elf is attractive to some and b) where she comes from, [[AllGirlsWantBadBoys they very much do]].
* WildCard: He can do a genuine turn, but if his RelationshipValues are neglected, he remains the WildCard.
** In ''Dragon Age II'', he appears as a HeroOfAnotherStory with enough GenreSavvy not to meddle in yours. He still appears to be the WildCard in his own story.
* WouldntHurtAChild: Hinted at. In the ''Stone Prisoner'' DLC, if you choose the 'best' result and free the little girl of the demon, Zevran nets a higher approval than [[NiceGuy Alistair]].
[[/folder]]

* MrExposition: In ''Witch Hunt'', the Warden has several dialogue options that allude to their previous visits to various locations and allow them to explain important plot elements. Justified as Finn and Ariane weren't around to witness any of these things and [[CanineCompanion the Dog]] who ''was'' there for most of them, naturally isn't able too.

** In the ''Stone Prisoner'' DLC, Dog will immediately sense that something's very very wrong with [[spoiler: "Kitty". Either that or he just hates cats like any other dog. You'll find out why he was barking when her eyes start glowing purple and she talks]]

* HeroicDog: The Dog fought as part of the King's Army ''before'' meeting the Warden.
** With the Human Noble origin, their Mabari came from Highever kennels and was presumably part of the castle's defense forces.

* LostForever: If you don't get the cure to the kennel master at Ostagar, Dog will die and never be available as a party member.

* TeamPet: The only members of your party who ''don't'' get along with him are Oghren...and ''Alistair'', oddly enough.

** Alistair has some difficulty remembering that Dog is a sentient war hound and should be treated as such. Dog doesn't cut him any slack for this. Alistair also probably didn't score any points with Dog when he got too close to his food and accused him of eating people.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: It's explained that your loyal hound does not follow you in the ''Awakening'' expansion because he's busy repopulating Ferelden's mabari kennels. He does however return in the ''Witch Hunt DLC''.

* AcquiredPoisonImmunity: His decades of alcoholic mistreatment of his body has left him pretty much impervious to the negative affects of drinking things. Even ''the Joining'' doesn't give him more than slight indigestion where it knocks everyone else out cold in seconds.

** In the "Stone Prisoner" DLC, Dog will immediately sense that something's very very wrong with [[spoiler: "Kitty". Either that or he just hates cats like any other dog. You'll find out why he was barking when her eyes start glowing purple and she talks]]

** BadassBookworm: The Mage Warden in particular, having been the apprentice and star-pupil of First Enchanter Irving.

** BadassDamsel: The Female City Elf Origin. After getting captured by Vaughan's guards, who announce their intention to rape and murder her (and not necessarily in that order), her cousin Soris breaks into the room. While they're distracted by his sudden appearance, he quickly slides a sword across the floor to the City Elf, who immediately picks it up and adopts a fighting stance. Cue two very terrified, soon-to-be-dead guards:
--> '''Guard''': [[OhCrap Oh sod...]]
** BadassFamily: If a Human Noble, the Warden comes from one of these. The Couslands have served as a BigGood in Ferelden for ''centuries'' and when the call came in that King was massing an army to take on the Darkspawn, Teyrn Cousland and his heir-apparent were prepared to personally lead their forces into the fray. Teyrna Cousland is no slouch with her bow and arrows, either.

** BadassNormal: Every non-mage Warden is clearly this before they undergo the Joining.

** BadassPrincess: The female Human and Dwarf Nobles. The Dwarf Noble is the daughter of the dwarven king, and thus rightfully a princess; the Human Noble's father rules what the codex states is actually a {{principality}} within Ferelden, though the Couslands don't refer to themselves by princely titles.
** BattleCouple: With their love interest.

* BigGood: Can be played this way.
** If playing as the Human Noble, the Warden is a member of the Cousland family, who have for centuries been the BigGood of all Ferelden.

** Some of the writers have suggested that after his lengthy debriefing, he will have to go for some re-education by the Ben-Hassrath because of the bad habits he's picked up whilst in Ferelden.

* {{Adorkable}}

* BuffySpeak:

* OddFriendship: With ''everyone'' in the party, aside from your fellow Warden and [[BigFriendlyDog your dog]]. When your closest friends include a [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Qunari Warrior]], a Stone {{Golem}}, [[HotWitch the daughter of]] ''[[TheDreaded Flemeth]]'', [[ProfessionalKiller a member of the Antivan Crows]], [[WhiteMage an elderly Mage]] kept alive by [[spoiler:a Fade Spirit]], a MataHari who had a FaithHeelTurn, and a [[TheAlcoholic constantly drunk]] [[OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame Dwarf]] and potentially [[spoiler: the FallenHero who left your King to die and [[TheScapegoat blamed]] your [[DeceasedFallGuyGambit fallen comrades]] for it]], it's worth considering the possibility that ''you'' are the odd person in this friendship.

* OddFriendship: With ''everyone'' in the party, aside from your fellow Warden and [[BigFriendlyDog your dog]]. When your closest friends include a [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Qunari Warrior]], a Stone {{Golem}}, [[HotWitch the daughter of]] ''[[TheDreaded Flemeth]]'', [[ProfessionalKiller a member of the Antivan Crows]], [[WhiteMage an elderly Mage]] kept alive by [[spoiler:a Fade Spirit]], a MataHari who had a FaithHeelTurn, and a [[TheAlcoholic constantly drunk]] [[OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame Dwarf]], it's worth considering the possibility that ''you'' are the odd person in this friendship.

** The Dwarf Noble and Dwarf Commoner respectively. Granted, while we [[TheUnseen never actually see]] their mutual nephew, the child of Bhelen Aeducan and Rica Brosca, one could argue that as one of the legendary Grey Wardens and a Paragon of Orzammar, their nephew Endrin will be hearing the incredible stories about them for ''years''.

* CategoryTraitor: In ''Literature/Asunder'', it's mentioned that many mages have come to feel this way about Wynne, due to her leading the vote ''not'' to break away from the Chantry.

** It's mentioned in ''Literature/Asunder'' that amongst the Circle of Enchanters, she lead the vote ''not'' to break away from the Chantry entirely. Unfortunately, this has caused many Mages to regard her as something of a [[CategoryTraitor traitor]] as a result.

* BadassBookworm

* TeamMom: Alistair likes to act as if she were his grandmother. If the Warden is a mage, she has a great deal of additional dialogue, some of which imply, if the player chooses, that the Warden does in fact look up to Wynne in an almost parental fashion due to the Circle's approach of TheCorpsIsMother. Non-Mage Wardens can also have a feeling like this toward her, but not nearly as explicitly.

* [[spoiler: HotMom: Potentially becomes one.]]

* HotMom: Several party members believe so, despite her being old enough to make her their grandmother.

* UnreliableNarrator: Her account of her [[spoiler: betrayal by Marjolaine and subsequent capture]] doesn't quite match up with the events of her prequel DLC. Of course, given that the majority of the Warden's retinue are native Fereldans, one can undestand why she lied and said she was imprisoned for stealing military documents from ''Orlais'' instead. In the same DLC she explicitly says in voiceover that she changes it with every telling (which is why it has multiple endings despite being framed as her telling the Warden the story later).

* UnreliableNarrator: Her account of her [[spoiler: betrayal by Marjolaine and subsequent capture]] doesn't quite match up with the events of her prequel DLC. Of course, given that the majority of the Warden's retinue are native Fereldans, one can undestand why she lied and said she was imprisoned for stealing military documents from ''Orlais'' instead.

** Similarly, his comment on the Elves being a race that "excel in poverty", could also be seen as less racist and simply an observation on the Elves living outside the Qun, who are either confined to the slum-like Alienages or reduced to becoming wandering nomads like the Dalish.

*** Dialogue implies that Irving often praised the Warden's talents to his colleagues, as both Wynne and Duncan immediately recognise the Warden on sight. Even Uldred, someone who is mentioned to ''never'' have worked with any Mages in the Circle, knows of the Warden and mocks him/her for having been a teacher's pet.
*** During their origins, the Human Noble mentions that they spent a lot of time in their grandfather's library, while the Dwarven Noble mentions greatly enjoying a scholar's book about their ancestor, implying each is very well read about Ferelden and Dwarven history, respectively.

*** The City Elf had an ActionMom, Adaia, whom Duncan wanted to recruit into the Grey Wardens; he was talked out of it by Elder Valendrian, seeing as there wasn't an urgent need for recruits back then. Their cousins Shianni and Soris are both [[BadassNormal pretty awesome as well]].
*** The Dwarf Noble is a member of the Aeducan royal family, descended from the Paragon Aeducan who united Orzammar, had relatives who served in the Grey Wardens in generations previously, and whose current generation's members don't hide their predisposition towards badassery either.
*** The Dalish Elf came from one of these as well; their father was a powerful Keeper, and their mother was a gifted hunter and archer.
*** ''Dragon Age II'' adds the Human Mage to the pile, as both the Amells and their relatives in the Hawke family are incredibly badass. Not to mention the revelation that the Human Mage has ''other'' siblings who are mages.
*** Began one if playing as a Male Warden who performed the Dark Ritual and later followed Morrigan through the Eluvian, having sired a child who has two of the most powerful people in Thedas as parents [[spoiler: as well as the soul of an untainted Old God]].

*** Particularly the Dalish Origin, where the Warden survives being infected with the Taint through a mixture of their Keeper's magic and their own ''[[HeroicWillpower sheer willpower]]''. They aren't even cured of actively having the Taint until after they've fought darkspawn in the Brecilian Forest, traveled all the way to Ostagar, and battled more darkspawn in the Korcari Wilds. Even Duncan is amazed the Dalish Warden survives so long.
*** The Dwarf Noble is no slouch either. With no armor and just a cruddy sword and shield (unless you've been a good boy... in which case the sword is decent), they chop through a couple dozen darkspawn and track Duncan down in the Deep Roads. Alone. Hell, given how the tunnels the Wardens were in connected to the outside (otherwise they'd never have been able to get the Dwarf Noble to the surface for plot reasons), the DN could conceivably have massacred his/her way to the surface, since most darkspawn were gone due to the Blight.
*** The Dwarf Commoner in some ways tops the Noble one. While the entire Proving Arena erupts in a furious uproar when your true identity is discovered, we cut to Duncan stroking his beard in quiet contemplation that a casteless, penniless sellsword with no formal weapons training whatsoever has nonetheless somehow managed to beat the most seasoned Warriors in Orzammar and veterans of countless Darkspawn campaigns. Later when he invokes the Right of Conscription, he states that he recognizes they have untapped potential that with Warden training [[DareToBeBadass would make them even greater.]]

*** The City Elf leaves Bann Vaughan lying dead in "''a river of blood''" that runs throughout the Arl of Denerim's Estate, during their RoaringRampageOfRevenge over the abduction and rape of countless elven women (including their cousin Shianni) at his hands. The sheer scale of the destruction wrought is lampshaded by Elder Valendrian and the Guard Captain who comes to arrest the City Elf.

*** The Human Noble essentially mows through a large crowd of Arl Howe's personal soldiers in order to safely escort his/her mother through the family castle in the dark of night.

---> '''Proving Master''': This wo/man is ''not'' a Warrior! They are Casteless! Rejected by the Ancestors! His/her very footsteps pollute the stone! S/he has no place here!\\

---> '''Guard-Captain''': Do you expect me to believe that ''one'' wo/man did all of ''that?''\\

* TheLeader

--->'''Alistair''': "You stole them, didn't you? You're some sort of... sneaky... witch-thief!"

---> '''Alistair''': [[spoiler:Look, I can't be king]]. Some days I have trouble figuring out which boot goes on which foot.

--->'''Anora:''' Eamon! I may have done a terrible thing.\\

--->'''Warden:''' Do you have to be so literal?\\

--->'''Warden:''' What were you doing in that cage?\\

--->'''Warden:''' That's more words than I've ever heard you say.\\

--->'''Sten:''' I do not understand what you are saying.\\

--->'''Sten:''' In fear, I kill people. Pray that you don't see me in anger.

--->'''Zevran:''' [[LikesOlderWomen You say that like it's a bad thing.]]

---> '''Warden''': I thought you felt comfortable around me?\\

--->'''Zevran''':[[SarcasmMode That is precisely it.]]

--->'''Zevran''': Ah, so I am to be interrogated? Let me save you some time. My name is Zevran - Zev to my friends. I am a member of the Antivan Crows, brought here for the sole purpose of assassinating any remaining Grey Wardens. Which I have failed at, sadly.

--->'''Zevran:''' You know who I am, yes? I was one of the Crows you hired to kill the Grey Wardens.\\

--->'''Zevran''': So let us pretend that I do, indeed, believe that murder is wrong...

--->'''Zevran:''' I couldn't help hearing about your... predicament. Forgive me if I am prying...\\