History Recap / DragonAgeOrigins

The player, Alistair, Morrigan and their Mabari Hound arrive in Lothering, a hub village in the center of Ferelden that lies along the crossroads of the kingdom's Imperial Highway. Currently, the village is in disarray since the vanguard of the darkspawn horde are only days away, and bandits and criminals are preying on those trying to flee for their lives since there's no guards protecting the village anymore after many were sent off and died at Ostagar. Thus, the Chantry's templar have come in to try to restore order to Lothering. At the southern Imperial Highway entrance into Lothering, the player and company end up being blocked by a group of such bandits before being allowed to enter the village. The player either goes with one of the choices to pass by the bandits without causing a confrontation, or the player's group just disposes of them in a fight.

After the road bandits are dealt with, the player's group makes their way into Lothering, which Alistair has something to discuss. Morrigan notes that Alistair's starting to seem a bit more brighter than before only for Alistair to call her out that he just lost someone close to him (Duncan), and figures that she would feel the same way if her mother, Flemeth, died. However, Morrigan doesn't seem to care if her mother was to actually kick the bucket. As the two of them argue, the player asks what Alistair wanted to say. In return, Alistair brings up the treaties, and questions how they should go about it. Alistair explains that the treaties consist of three main groups that have pledged their support for the Grey Wardens. These being the Dalish elves, the Orzammar dwarves, and the Circle of Magi. However, he also suggest that Redcliffe is an option, and that they should go there first since gaining the support of Arl Eamon and his human soldiers would be their best bet for help. The player can ask Alistair for directions as to where each of these four groups are found in Ferelden before they continue on into Lothering.

Exploring around Lothering, the villagers remain in a bad mood due to the surrounding danger, and the templar trying to hold order advise the player's group to continue on as it's not worth staying in Lothering. One of the villagers advises the player and company to see Ser Bryant at the Chantry for information about the current state of Ferelden. Side-quests within Lothering include the following: resolving a problem with a Chantry woman hounding a merchant that's selling items for outrageous prices during a crisis, providing 3 Lesser Health Poultices for Elder Miriam, crafting 3 traps for a villager named Allison, gathering 3 flasks of Venom off the Spiders that live on the outskirts of Lothering for a poison-trapmaker named Barlin, and coming across a dead templar that was named Ser Henric on the highway, which the player loots an amulet off of Henric's corpse to return it to Ser Donall within the Lothering Chantry.

Once it's time to move on, the player's group departs from Lothering to begin tracking down the four groups who they can call upon to raise an army. As they make their way out along the Imperial Highway north of Lothering, the player and company come across two surface dwarves being attacked by a group of darkspawn. The player and company save the two dwarves, Bodahn Feddic and his adopted son Sandal, which the two of them decide to travel along with the group as a pair of helpful merchants.

!!The Fifth Blight

Following the departure from Lothering, the player and their companions will now have a camp set up in the Ferelden wilderness anytime they're traveling along the road. It's during camp that the player can speak to companions to learn more about them, along with starting up potential romances. In addition, Bodahn and Sandal have set up shot at the camp, which they offer their merchant services to help support the player's group. Meanwhile, any time the player and company are not in camp, they're off completing the main four army recruitment objectives that revolve around Arl Eamon's forces of Redcliffe, the Circle of Magi, the Dalish Elves, and the Orzammar Dwarves.

Alistair then chimes in by bringing up the overall issue. That despite Loghain thinking that the darkspawn are a minor threat, they need to warn the people of Ferelden that this isn't the case. Flemeth questions how the player and Alistair will get the people to believe them, which Alistair points out that Loghain betraying the King can't be ignored. That Eamon, the Arl of Redcliffe, would call for Loghain to be executed if he was to find out what happened at Ostagar. The player asks about Arl Eamon, which Alistair explains that along with being King Cailan's uncle, Eamon didn't send any forces to Ostagar, so he still has all his men if they were to go to him for reinforcements. Overall, Alistair sees going to Redcliffe as their best bet to appeal for help. Especially since Arl Eamon is a good man, and is respected in the Landsmeet (a meeting in Denerim amongst Ferelden's nobles to discuss the kingdom's future). Flemeth and the player seem on board, but Alistair remains unconvinced that Eamon's Redcliffe forces would be enough to face the Blight. The player asks about allies, but Alistair points out that it would take too long to get in contact with Grey Wardens from other kingdoms. That Ferelden's in such a desperate situation that they need allies now and fast.

Giving them a hint, Flemeth reminds them of how they have more resources than they think, which gives Alistair hope knowing that she's referring to the scroll treaties. Alistair explains to the player that the treaties were deals that the Grey Wardens made with the people of Ferelden, such as with its dwarves, mages, and elves, where they're obligated to help fight a Blight if they were called upon by the Grey Wardens. Along with Arl Eamon's Redcliffe forces, Flemeth points out that this is starting to sound like the very army that will replace the one that was destroyed at Ostagar. Alistair questions if they're really capable of being the ones that build up the new army, which the player answers that they have to be since they're Grey Wardens. Seeing that the player and Alistair are now ready to be true Grey Wardens, Flemeth offers Morrigan's services to them, insisting they can use her help. Morrigan is clearly against the idea, but Flemeth won't hear it knowing that Morrigan's been itching for years to depart from the Korcari Wilds, and that her knowledge of the surrounding forests will help the player and Alistair avoid the surrounding darkspawn that are pouring in from Ostagar.

Flemeth asks that the player and Alistair accept Morrigan into their group as repayment for saving their lives, which the player accepts, but Alistair notes that Morrigan being an apostate mage will have the Chantry templar after them while they're trying to raise the army. However, Alistair accepts to go along with it when Flemeth reminds him that she saved his life. Morrigan remains unconvinced, but Flemeth assures her that she must help the Grey Wardens stop the Blight, cause if they fail, the darkspawn will destroy Ferelden along with the other kingdoms. Finally accepting to go along with it, Morrigan goes back to the house to gathers her things. Afterwards, despite Alistair still not liking it, Morrigan's ready to guide the player and Alistair through the Korcari Wilds, which she suggests to go to a village north of their current position called Lothering. This northern village being where they can go about learning what is happening with the kingdom, and to determine their best course of action from there. Morrigan then bids her mother farewell as she departs with the player and Alistair to head north towards Lothering.

Returning to Sten's cage, the player shows that he's been given the key to let the Qunari out, and will now be under the player's custody. Surprised that the revered mother is letting him out after the crime he did, Sten accepts to follow along with the player to fight against the Blight. After being let out, Sten announces to the player's group that he will follow them into battle, and that he will look for the atonement for the crimes he committed. With Sten added to the party, the player and company head off.

The player, Alistair, Morrigan and their Mabari Hound arrive in Lothering, a hub village in the center of Ferelden that lies along the crossroads of the kingdom's Imperial Highway. Currently, the village is in disarray since the vanguard of the darkspawn horde are only days away, and bandits and criminals are preying on those trying to flee for their lives since there's no guards protecting the village anymore after many were sent off and died at Ostagar. Thus, the Chantry's templar have come in to try to restore order to Lothering. At the southern Imperial Highway entrance into Lothering, the player's group end up being blocked by a group of such bandit groups before being allowed to enter the village. The player either goes with one of the choices to pass by the bandits without causing a confrontation, or the player's group just disposes of them in a fight.

If the player is not a Human Noble, an encounter with darkspawn occurs along the road to Lothering. The player, Alistair, and Morrigan come across a Mabari Hound running towards them, which it starts barking at the group to warn them ahead of time of an approaching group of darkspawn. Sure enough, the darkspawn appear moments after. The player's group and the dog then proceed to defeat the darkspawn enemies. Afterwards, the Mabari Hound appears to have taken a liking to the player, which Alistair mentions that the dog appears to have chosen the player as its owner since Mabari Hounds are known to "imprint" on individuals that they've taken a liking to. While Morrigan remains disinterested in having a dog follow them around, Alistair figures that this particular Mabari Hound must be the same one that the player helped and bonded with at Ostagar. The player agrees to adopt the Mabari Hound, and the group continues on their way towards Lothering.

If you're not a Human Noble who already started off with a Mabari Hound, the player, Alistair, and Morrigan group comes across one of such hounds running towards them along the road to Lothering. It starts barking at them to warn them ahead of time of an approaching group of darkspawn, which they appear moments after. The player's group and the dog then proceed to defeat the darkspawn enemies. Afterwards, the Mabari Hound appears to have taken a liking to the player, which Alistair mentions that the dog appears to have chosen the player as its owner since Mabari Hounds are known to "imprint" on individuals that they've taken a liking to. While Morrigan remains disinterested in having a dog follow them around, Alistair figures that this particular Mabari Hound must be the same one that the player helped and bonded with at Ostagar. The player agrees to adopt the Mabari Hound, and the group continues on their way towards Lothering.

!!Lothering and the Imperial Highway

The player, Alistair and Morrigan arrive in Lothering, a hub village in the center of Ferelden that lies along the crossroads of the kingdom's Imperial Highway. Currently, the village is in disarray since the vanguard of the darkspawn horde are only days away, and bandits and criminals are preying on those trying to flee for their lives.

Gathering supplies and information before heading on, the group have the opportunity to add new companions to their ranks; Leliana, a sister of the Chantry in Lothering, who believes she has been divinely called to combat the Blight, and Sten, a warrior of the northern people known as the Qunari, who has been ordered to fight the Blight by his superiors and seeks to atone for crimes he has committed. The party then depart Lothering to track down the four groups who they can call upon to raise an army:

Fergus departs with the bulk of the Couslands' army ahead of everyone else, which leaves the castle almost empty. The player is met by Gilmore, which they're given a task by the player's mother, Teyrna Eleanor Cousland, to fetch the Cousland pet attack dog, which is trying to catch rats that invaded the kitchen. After helping out the family dog, the player meets back up with Eleanor, who's talking with Lady Landra, and accompanied by her children, Dairren and Iona. The player can entertain Landra's children by flirting with Dairren (female Human Noble) or Iona (male Human Noble), which the player then brings either of them to the player's bedroom for a night of sex.

At the larder, the player and Eleanor find a heavily wounded Bryce. Duncan is also with him having been the one who came to Bryce's rescue. However, Duncan provides the bad news that due to the castle being surrounded by Howe's forces, it will be too difficult for Bryce to escape with such a heavy injury. Thus, Bryce must be left behind. Duncan offers Bryce a deal to truly save the remainder of the Cousland family if it means that he can recruit the player into the Grey Wardens, which the player, Bryce and Eleanor accept. However, Eleanor decides to stay behind with her husband to fight Howe's forces. Having to leave their parents behind, the player and the family's attack dog depart with Duncan in order to make their escape.

!!!Human/Elf Mage Origin Story

!!Main Story

!!!Arriving at Ostagar

!!!The Witches of the Korcari Wilds

!!!Joining the Grey Wardens

!!!Battle of Ostagar

!!!Ferelden's Last Two Grey Wardens Set Off

Alistair then chimes in by bringing up the overall issue. That despite Loghain thinking that the darkspawn are a minor threat, they need to warn the people of Ferelden that this isn't the case. Flemeth questions how the player and Alistair will get the people to believe them, which Alistair points out that Loghain betraying the King can't be ignored. That Eamon, the Arl of Redcliffe, would call for Loghain to be executed if he was to find out what happened at Ostagar. The player asks about Arl Eamon, which Alistair explains that along with being King Cailan's uncle, Eamon didn't send any forces to Ostagar, so he still has all his men if they were to go to him for reinforcements. Overall, Alistair sees going to Redcliffe as their best bet to appeal for help. Especially since Arl Eamon is a good man, and is respected in the Landsmeet (a meeting in Denerim amongst Ferelden's nobles to discuss the kingdom's future). Flemeth and the player seem on board, but Alistair remains unconvinced that Eamon's Redcliffe forces would be enough to face the Blight. The player asks about allies, but Alistair points out that it would take too long to get in contact with Grey Wardens from other kingdoms. That Ferelden's in such a desperate situation that they need allies now and fast.

!!!The Fifth Blight

The player, Alistair and Morrigan arrive in Lothering only to find it in disarray: the vanguard of the darkspawn horde are only days away, and bandits and criminals are preying on those trying to flee for their lives. Gathering supplies and information before heading on, the group have the opportunity to add new companions to their ranks; Leliana, a sister of the Chantry in Lothering, who believes she has been divinely called to combat the Blight, and Sten, a warrior of the northern people known as the Qunari, who has been ordered to fight the Blight by his superiors and seeks to atone for crimes he has committed. The party then depart Lothering to track down the four groups who they can call upon to raise an army:

Simultaneously in Ferelden's capital city of Denerim, Loghain presents his own version of what happened at Ostagar to the nation's nobility; having placed the blame for the disaster squarely on the Grey Wardens. Standing alongside him is is daughter, Queen Anora, who is also King Cailan's widow. She watches at Loghain advises the people that they must rebuild from their losses at Ostagar, and that they need to refrain from taking advantage of their weakened position as they need to unite to defeat the darkspawn. One of the nobles, Bann Teagan, steps forward questioning Loghain's motives. The latter of which named himself Regent of Ferelden, and is now ordering everyone to unite under his banner. This move is met with outrage by the nobility, most of whom look down on Loghain as an upjumped commoner (though he is a war hero and veteran of Ferelden's war for independence from Orlais, he is a farmer's son and has no legitimate claim to the throne). Thus, they see his taking of the Regency as a blatant grab for power, and his dismissal of their concerns sow the seeds of civil war.

Giving them a hint, Flemeth reminds them of how they have more resources than they think, which gives Alistair hope knowing that she's referring to the scroll treaties. Alistair explains to the player that the treaties were deals that the Grey Wardens made with the people of Ferelden, such as with its dwarves, mages, and elves, where they're obligated to help fight a Blight if they were called upon for help by the Grey Wardens. Along with Arl Eamon's Redcliffe forces, Flemeth points out that this is starting to sound like the very army that will replace the one that was destroyed at Ostagar. Alistair questions if they're really capable of being the ones that build up the new army, which the player answers that they have to be since they're Grey Wardens. Seeing that the player and Alistair are now ready to be true Grey Wardens, Flemeth offers Morrigan's services to them, insisting they can use her help. Morrigan is clearly against the idea, but Flemeth won't hear it knowing that Morrigan's been itching for years to depart from the Korcari Wilds, and that her knowledge of the surrounding forests will help the player and Alistair avoid the surrounding darkspawn that are pouring in from Ostagar.

Exiting the house, the player finds Morrigan's mother alongside Alistair. The latter of which has been worried about the player's survival. Alistair's relieved to see that the player's alive, which the player thanks Morrigan's mother's rescue for that. In return, Alistair's forced to admit that they'd be dead had it not been for a timely rescue from a witch. Said witch then properly introduces herself as Flemeth, which is actually just a nickname that the Chasind folk who originally came across her started calling her as, but she has since accepted it as her name. Having heard the name of Flemeth before written in past legends, Alistair realizes that Daveth was right this whole time that the one before them is the fabled Witch of the Wilds. The player then gets to the main issue asking why Flemeth bothered saving them, which she answers that it would have put them all in a bad position had all the Grey Wardens died off since there needs to be someone to deal with the darkspawn. That it was always the Grey Warden's duty to unite the land to deal with the Blight.

Morrigan leads the player's group to the small house within the Korcari Wilds that her mother resides. Her mother, a powerful sorceress called Flemeth, is seen outside as if expecting their arrival, which Daveth points out that just like Morrigan, Flemeth is a dangerous Witch of the Wilds. The player gets to the point of their arrival that Flemeth has something that they need, which Flemeth gets the gist that they're here for the scroll treaties. However, she assures the player's group that she was just performing the role of safe-keeping the scrolls as it turns out that the seal that was protecting the scrolls had already worn off long ago. Flemeth then hands the scrolls over, but also informs the player and company that the Grey Wardens need to be warned that the Blight's danger is even greater than they think. However, she refuses to elaborate further, and asks for Morrigan to guide the player's group back out of the Korcari Wilds, which she complies to.

At that same time, a group of darkspawn charge into the top floor of the Tower of Ishal to kill the player and Alistair. The player ends up getting knocked out after being struck by an arrow, which left Alistair to fend for himself. Alistair manages to win the battle, but he's left a bloody mess, and is on the verge of falling unconscious. He remains conscious long enough to check on the player hoping that the latter's still alive before falling unconscious as well. Meanwhile, the Battle of Ostagar is completely lost as the darkspawn are seen roaming all throughout, and killing the last few Ferelden stragglers. A dragon then flies in and blows open the roof of the Tower of Ishal. Landing on the Tower's top floor, the dragon shapeshifts into human form, and is revealed to be the Witch of the Wilds, Flemeth. She checks on the player and Alistair to confirm if they're still alive, and seeing that they are, she transforms back into a dragon in order to carry the two of them away from Ostagar.

The player and Alistair wake up back at Flemeth and Morrigan's home in the Korcari Wilds. Flemeth urges the two of them to use the treaties to raise a new army to replace the one destroyed at Ostagar, as if the Blight is not stopped soon, the darkspawn will destroy Ferelden and then spread to other regions. Flemeth offers Morrigan's services to them, insisting they can use her help, then directs them to the town of Lothering, where they can learn what is happening and determine their best course of action. Simultaneously in Denerim, Ferelden's capital city, Loghain presents his own version of what happened at Ostagar to the nation's nobility, placing blame for the disaster squarely on the Grey Wardens, before declaring himself regent to Queen Anora, his daughter and Cailan's widow. This move is met with outrage by the nobility, most of whom look down on Loghain as an upjumped commoner (though he is a war hero and veteran of Ferelden's war for independence from Orlais, he is a farmer's son and has no legitimate claim to the throne) and see his taking the regency as a blatant grab for power, and his dismissal of their concerns sow the seeds of civil war.

The Warden and their companions arrive in Lothering to find it in disarray: the vanguard of the darkspawn horde are only days away, and bandits and criminals are preying on those trying to flee for their lives. Gathering supplies and information before heading on, the group have the opportunity to add new companions to their ranks; Leliana, a sister of the Chantry in Lothering, who believes she has been divinely called to combat the Blight, and Sten, a warrior of the northern people known as the Qunari, who has been ordered to fight the Blight by his superiors and seeks to atone for crimes he has committed. The party then depart Lothering to track down the four groups who they can call upon to raise an army:

The player, Alistair, and the two other new recruits, Daveth and Jory, arrive before Duncan to begin preparations for the Joining ritual. Duncan provides the three recruits their mission, which is to complete two tasks in the nearby Korcari Wilds. The first task being to collect three vials of darkspawn blood for the Joining as one vial is needed for each them. For the second task, Duncan goes over how there's an abandoned Grey Warden archive outpost within the Korcari Wilds, and that a huge discovery was made about it recently. That there's still some magically sealed scrolls there made up of old treaties that would compel certain organizations to render aid to the Grey Wardens during a Blight, which Duncan sees as an opportunity to remind past allies of their commitments to the forgotten Grey Wardens. Thus, Duncan orders Alistair to go along with the recruits to retrieve these scrolls. The group is then sent off to the Korcari Wilds.

Following the war council, Duncan holds a final meeting with the player and Alistair. The latter two being surprised to find out that they won't be partaking in the battle. However, Duncan reminds the player and Alistair that it was an order from Ferelden's own King to perform this role while also assuring them that lighting the Tower of Ishal beacon will play a major part in defeating the darkspawn. Duncan provides them directions of the nearby gorge that will lead them to the Tower of Ishal's entrance, and then bids the player and Alistair farewell. Duncan then begins to head off to join up with King Cailan's forces at the front line, but not before Alistair runs back up to him. Alistair then gives Duncan an honorable handshake goodbye since the former views that latter as a father figure.

Duncan, the player and Alistair arrive at the Ostagar war council to discuss strategy for the coming battle. Since Loghain will not hear of waiting for reinforcements the Grey Wardens of Orlais are bringing across the border to support their Fereldan compatriots, he and Cailan settle upon another strategy: Cailan, along with Duncan, the Grey Wardens and a significant force of Ferelden's army will act as bait in the valley the fortress overlooks, to lure the darkspawn into attacking. The Warden and Alistair are charged with lighting a beacon at the top of Ostagar, which will signal Loghain to charge the darkspawn in the flank once they are engaged with Cailan's forces. In the battle that follows, when the signal is lit, Loghain instead betrays Cailan and quits the field with his army. Without reinforcements, the darkspawn massacre the forces in the valley; Cailan, Duncan and the Grey Wardens are all killed.

The Warden and Alistair are rescued from death by Flemeth, who takes them back to her home in the forests. She urges them to use the treaties to raise a new army to replace the one destroyed at Ostagar, as if the Blight is not stopped soon, the darkspawn will destroy Ferelden and then spread to other regions. Flemeth offers Morrigan's services to them, insisting they can use her help, then directs them to the town of Lothering, where they can learn what is happening and determine their best course of action. Simultaneously in Denerim, Ferelden's capital city, Loghain presents his own version of what happened at Ostagar to the nation's nobility, placing blame for the disaster squarely on the Grey Wardens, before declaring himself regent to Queen Anora, his daughter and Cailan's widow. This move is met with outrage by the nobility, most of whom look down on Loghain as an upjumped commoner (though he is a war hero and veteran of Ferelden's war for independence from Orlais, he is a farmer's son and has no legitimate claim to the throne) and see his taking the regency as a blatant grab for power, and his dismissal of their concerns sow the seeds of civil war.

Upon waking up, Duncan officially welcomes the player into the Grey Wardens. Alistair mentions that only one died during his own Joining, but that what he saw regarding that death was horrible, and that he's just glad that for this Joining, at least one (the player) made it out of it alive. Checking if player's okay, the player mentions to Duncan and Alistair the dream he saw, which Duncan assures him that such a case is normal to dream of things related to the darkspawn once one becomes a Grey Warden. Alistair then brings up how after becoming a Grey Warden, the survivors put their blood into a pendent to serve as a reminder of those that didn't make it through the Joining. With the Joining now over, Duncan, the player, and Alistair head off to meet with King Cailan for the Ostagar war council.

Thanks to Morrigan guiding them out of the Korcari Wilds, the player, Alistair, Jory, and Daveth return to Ostagar, which Morrigan then returns to the forest. The player's group then returns to Duncan, who's informed by the recruits and Alistair that they've retrieved the darkspawn vials and scroll treaties. Duncan's also told about the two Witches of the Wilds that had possession of the scrolls, but hearing that they might just be apostate mages hiding from the Chantry, he sets it aside since getting the scrolls back is all that matters. Now set to begin the Joining, Duncan provides a final warning that there's a huge price to pay to become a Grey Warden. However, the three recruits agree to see it through, which Duncan asks for Alistair to lead the them to Ostagar's old temple.

The player from one of the six origin stories travels with Duncan to Ostagar, a fortress in southern Ferelden on the borders of a forest the darkspawn are said to massing an army within. There, they are introduced to several important characters in Fereldan society, including King Cailan Theirin, the young and idealistic King of Ferelden, and Loghain Mac Tir, Cailan's father-in-law, his most trusted general and a veteran war hero beloved by Ferelden's people. The new Warden encounters Alistair, a junior member of the Grey Wardens who provides background on both the Wardens and their current situation; Ferelden's army is mustering to confront the darkspawn at Ostagar because Duncan is insisting he can sense the presence of an archdemon (supposedly one of Tevinter's Old Gods incarnated in the form of a powerful and corrupted dragon with complete control over the darkspawn); the only way to permanently end the Blight is to kill the archdemon. Unfortunately, although Cailan is willing to take Duncan at his word, the Grey Wardens do not enjoy a good reputation in Ferelden: it has been over four hundred years since the last Blight and few are taking the possibility a new one has begun seriously, the Grey Wardens have relatively few numbers in Ferelden (two hundred years ago, they were exiled for participating in a revolt to overthrow a tyrant king of Ferelden, only being allowed to return twenty years earlier by King Maric, Cailan's father), and most of those are from the neighbouring kingdom of Orlais, whose brutal, century-long occupation of Ferelden (ended thirty years earlier by Maric and Loghain) is still a bitter subject for many.

Duncan orders the new Warden and Alistair, along with two other potential recruits, to go into the forests around the fortress to retrieve vials of darkspawn blood for the Joining, an initiation ritual that will induct the new recruits into the Grey Wardens, as well as treaties housed in an abandoned fort nearby that compel certain organisations to render aid to the Grey Wardens during a Blight. The treaties are not in the fort however, but a young witch by the name of Morrigan prowling the site brings the Wardens to her mother, a powerful sorceress called Flemeth, who took the scrolls for safe-keeping.

Returning to Ostagar, Duncan explains that the Joining involves drinking darkspawn blood, which will either kill the drinker (as it is highly poisonous) or will grant them the ability to sense darkspawn and a rudimentary connection into their hive mind. The player's character is the only one to survive the ritual, after which they and Duncan attend a war council to discuss strategy for the coming battle. Since Loghain will not hear of waiting for reinforcements the Grey Wardens of Orlais are bringing across the border to support their Fereldan compatriots, he and Cailan settle upon another strategy: Cailan, along with Duncan, the Grey Wardens and a significant force of Ferelden's army will act as bait in the valley the fortress overlooks, to lure the darkspawn into attacking. The Warden and Alistair are charged with lighting a beacon at the top of Ostagar, which will signal Loghain to charge the darkspawn in the flank once they are engaged with Cailan's forces. In the battle that follows, when the signal is lit, Loghain instead betrays Cailan and quits the field with his army. Without reinforcements, the darkspawn massacre the forces in the valley; Cailan, Duncan and the Grey Wardens are all killed.

After Jarvia leaves, the player and Leske manage to escape depending on how they deal with their prison locks or the nearby guard that's watching over their prison cell. Following the breakout, the two of them confront Beraht and his men within the main area of the Carta Hideout. The player and Leske manage to kill Beraht, and then escape out a secret entrance that brings them back out into Dust Town. Shortly after, the Proving Master arrives to imprison the player for impersonating Everd. However, Duncan appears to intervene as he was impressed by the player's efforts during the Provings. Duncan invites the player into the Grey Wardens, which the player sees that they have no other option left other than death or exile. Thus, after saying goodbye to Rica and Leske, the player departs from Dust Town by heading off with Duncan.

After Jarvia leaves, the player and Leske manage to escape depending on how they deal with their prison locks or the nearby guard that's watching over their prison sell. Following the breakout, the two of them confront Beraht and his men within the main area of the Carta Hideout. The player and Leske manage to kill Beraht, and then escape out a secret entrance that brings them back out into Dust Town. Shortly after, the Proving Master arrives to imprison the player for impersonating Everd. However, Duncan appears to intervene as he was impressed by the player's efforts during the Provings. Duncan invites the player into the Grey Wardens, which the player sees that they have no other option left other than death or exile. Thus, after saying goodbye to Rica and Leske, the player departs from Dust Town by heading off with Duncan.

The player takes control of a poor Dwarf Commoner of the Brosca family. Within Orzammar lies Dust Town, a highly impoverished area of Orzammar made up of casteless dwarves. In order to survive, the player has to be one of many hoodlums that resort to petty crime work, such as running errands for Dust Town's Carta crime lord, Beraht. The player also lives with a half-sister in Rica Brosca, who's been working to try to get with a wealthy male suitor while the player has to do unsavory work for Beraht. Helping with the work is the player's best friend, Leske, a fellow casteless Dust Town dwarf.

The player takes control of a poor City Elf of the Tabris Family. As a City Elf, the player lives in the walled off Elven Alienage; the impoverished elven district of Ferelden's capital city, Denerim. Currently, it's the wedding day for the player along with their cousin, Soris. However, trouble suddenly appears within the Elven Alienage when a sadistic Denerim lord, Vaughan Kendells, arrives with some of his associates. They come off abusive towards the elven women, but the player's other cousin, Shianni, stands up to them, and manages to knock Vaughan unconscious; forcing his friends to carry him off and out of the Elven Alienage. After Vaughan's removal, Duncan arrives shortly after looking for City Elves to recruit into the Grey Wardens. He takes note of the player; mentioning that he attempted to recruit the player's mother into the Grey Wardens ages ago.

At the tower's Harrowing Chamber, the player is given final warnings from Greagoir and Irving about what the player will endure within the test. The player mage then uses a mineral, lyrium, to enter the Fade; a metaphysical realm of floating islands and lyrium veins that spirits and demons reside. Within the Fade, the player takes on a demon with the help of Mouse, who's an apprentice that failed his Harrowing test. Mouse then turns out to be a pride demon that was masquerading as a human, and tries to trick the player into having it enter the player's mage body. However, the player succeeds in rejecting the temptation, and comes out of the Fade as a true mage that has graduated apprenticeship.

Fergus departs with the bulk of the Couslands' army ahead of everyone else, which leaves the castle almost empty. The player is met by Gilmore, which they're given a task by the player's mother, Teyrna Eleanor Cousland, to fetch the Cousland pet dog, which is trying to catch rats that invaded the kitchen. After helping out the family dog, the player meets back up with Eleanor, who's talking with Lady Landra, and accompanied by her children, Dairren and Iona. The player can entertain Landra's children by flirting with Dairren (female Human Noble) or Iona (male Human Noble), and bringing them to the player's bedroom for a night of sex.

At the larder, the player and Eleanor find a heavily wounded Bryce. Duncan is also with him having been the one who came to Bryce's rescue. However, Duncan provides the bad news that due to the castle being surrounded by Howe's forces, it will be difficult to escape while also having to protect the injured Bryce. Duncan offers a deal to truly save them if it means that he can recruit the player into the Grey Wardens, which the player, Bryce and Eleanor accept. However, Bryce stays behind knowing that his injury will slow them down. Eleanor stays behind with her husband to fight Howe's forces as Duncan and the player make their escape.

Over the next 600 years, the darkspawn have tried to destroy the world four different times in immense invasions called 'Blights,' and each time, it was the Grey Wardens who stood on the battlefield to defeated them. However, it's been 400 years since the last Blight, and the need of the Grey Wardens has been forgotten about. The number of Grey Wardens that remain are now few in number, and their warnings of the lingering darkspawn threat have gone ignored. However, under the leadership of Commander Duncan, the remaining Grey Wardens of Ferelden continue to keep a watchful eye on the lands, which is starting to show signs that the Fifth Blight is finally here.

An opening prologue details the history of the continent of Thedas; according to the scriptures of Thedas's central religion, the Chantry, a thousand years ago sorcerer-lords from the ancient Tevinter Imperium tried to conquer the Golden City, the heavenly seat of the Maker, and claim the power of God for themselves. Instead, their corruption and hubris irrevocably poisoned Heaven, and for their crime, they were cast back to earth, twisted and mutated into the first of a race of monsters called the darkspawn. The darkspawn multiplied into a horde that swarmed across the world, destroying everything in their path and threatening every race in Thedas with extermination, until an order of warriors called the Grey Wardens arose to combat the darkspawn. Four times the darkspawn have tried to destroy the world in immense invasions called 'Blights' and each time the Grey Wardens have defeated them.

The opening of the story, which takes place in the kingdom of Ferelden, to the south of Thedas, involves a unique origin story dependent on the player character's choice of race, ability and gender. The choices are to be: a son or daughter of the noble family of House Cousland (Human Noble), a member of the elven Tabris family (City Elf), a hunter from one of the nomadic Dalish elf clans(Dalish Elf), a son or daughter of the dwarven royal family, House Aeducan (Dwarf Noble), a castleless vagrant of the dwarven peasant classes (Dwarf Commoner) or an elven or human member of the Circle of Magi (Mage). A series of events end with the player character coming to the attention of Duncan, the commander of Ferelden's Grey Wardens, who is looking for new recruits to combat the start of what is believed to be potentially the Fifth Blight in southern Ferelden, who offers the player character a place in the Grey Wardens.

The new Warden travels with Duncan to Ostagar, a fortress in southern Ferelden on the borders of a forest the darkspawn are said to massing an army within. There, they are introduced to several important characters in Fereldan society, including King Cailan Theirin, the young and idealistic King of Ferelden, and Loghain Mac Tir, Cailan's father-in-law, his most trusted general and a veteran war hero beloved by Ferelden's people. The new Warden encounters Alistair, a junior member of the Grey Wardens who provides background on both the Wardens and their current situation; Ferelden's army is mustering to confront the darkspawn at Ostagar because Duncan is insisting he can sense the presence of an archdemon (supposedly one of Tevinter's Old Gods incarnated in the form of a powerful and corrupted dragon with complete control over the darkspawn); the only way to permanently end the Blight is to kill the archdemon. Unfortunately, although Cailan is willing to take Duncan at his word, the Grey Wardens do not enjoy a good reputation in Ferelden: it has been over four hundred years since the last Blight and few are taking the possibility a new one has begun seriously, the Grey Wardens have relatively few numbers in Ferelden (two hundred years ago, they were exiled for participating in a revolt to overthrow a tyrant king of Ferelden, only being allowed to return twenty years earlier by King Maric, Cailan's father), and most of those are from the neighbouring kingdom of Orlais, whose brutal, century-long occupation of Ferelden (ended thirty years earlier by Maric and Loghain) is still a bitter subject for many.

An opening prologue details some of the history of the nation of Thedas; according to the scriptures of Thedas's central religion, the Chantry, a thousand years before, sorcerer-lords from the ancient Tevinter Imperium tried to conquer the Golden City, the heavenly seat of the Maker, and claim the power of God for themselves. Instead, their corruption and hubris irrevocably poisoned Heaven, and for their crime, they were cast back to earth, twisted and mutated into the first of a race of monsters called the darkspawn. The darkspawn swarmed across the face of the world, destroying and contaminating everything in their path, threatening every race in Thedas with extermination, until an order of warriors called the Grey Wardens arose to combat the darkspawn. Four times the darkspawn have tried to destroy the world in immense invasions called 'Blights' and each time the Grey Wardens have defeated them.

The new Warden travels with Duncan to Ostagar, a fortress in southern Ferelden on the borders of a forest where the darkspawn are said to massing an army. There, they are introduced to several important characters in Fereldan society, including King Cailan Theirin, the young and idealistic King of Ferelden, and Loghain Mac Tir, Cailan's father-in-law, his most trusted general and a veteran war hero beloved by Ferelden's people. The new Warden is also introduced to Alistair, a junior member of the Grey Wardens who provides background on both the Wardens and their current situation. Ferelden's army is mustering to confront the darkspawn at Ostagar because Duncan is insisting he can sense the presence of an archdemon (supposedly one of Tevinter's Old Gods incarnated in the form of a powerful and corrupted dragon with complete control over the darkspawn). Unfortunately, although Cailan is willing to take Duncan at his word, the Grey Wardens do not enjoy a good reputation in Ferelden: it has been over four hundred years since the last Blight and few are taking the possibility a new one has begun seriously, the Grey Wardens have relatively few numbers in Ferelden (two hundred years ago, they were exiled for participating in a revolt to overthrow a tyrant king of Ferelden, only being allowed to return twenty years earlier by King Maric, Cailan's father), and most of those are from the neighbouring kingdom of Orlais, whose brutal, century-long occupation of Ferelden (ended thirty years earlier by Maric and Loghain) is still a bitter subject for many.

Returning to Ostagar, Duncan explains that the Joining involves drinking darkspawn blood, which will either kill the drinker (as it is highly poisonous) or will grant them the ability to sense darkspawn and a rudimentary connection into their hive mind. The player's character is the only one to survive the ritual, after which they and Duncan attend a war council to discuss strategy for the coming battle. Since Loghain will not hear of waiting for reinforcements the Grey Wardens of Orlais are bringing across the border to support their Fereldan compatriots, he and Cailan settle upon another strategy: Cailan, along with Duncan, the Grey Wardens and a significant force of Ferelden's army will act as bait in the valley the fortress overlooks, to lure the darkspawn into attacking. The Warden and Alistair are charged with lighting a beacon at the top of Ostagar, which will signal Loghain to charge the darkspawn in the flank once they are engaged with Cailan's forces. In the battle that follows, however, when the signal is lit, Loghain betrays Cailan and quits the field with his army. Without reinforcements, the darkspawn massacre the forces in the valley; Cailan, Duncan and the Grey Wardens are all killed.

Once all these allies have been gathered, the Warden returns to Redcliffe to find that concurrently to their quest, Ferelden has collapsed into civil war. Loghain, convinced the Blight is a hoax perpertrated to allow a new Orlesian invasion of Feredlden, has refused to resign the regency despite the accusations of his involvement in Cailan's death and the Fereldan nobility's refusal to bow his demands they accept his authority has caused the situation to fall into open fighting between the two sides. Even worse, the darkspawn have taken advantage of the chaos to advance further into Ferelden unopposed. At this time, Eamon and Alistair reveal a secret; Alistair is a bastard son of King Maric, King Cailan's half-brother. He was raised by Eamon away from court to stop Cailan's enemies using him as a pawn, but with Cailan dead, Alistair possesses a better claim to the throne of Ferelden as a blood son of King Maric than Queen Anora, Loghain's daughter and Cailan's widow. Eamon proposes a Landsmeet, a political gathering of all Ferelden's nobility in the capital city, Denerim, where they can put forward their case to dethrone Loghain and place Alistair on the throne.

Upon arrival in Denerim and after a brief attempt by Loghain to intimidate them into submission, the Warden is discreetly contacted by Erlina, a handmaiden of Queen Anora herself. The Queen has come to suspect her father's role in her husband's death, and fears Loghain's pigheaded stubbornness and brutality will leave Ferelden defenceless against the darkspawn horde, and is willing to offer an alliance with the aim of stopping her father. At present however, Loghain's chief lieutenant, Arl Rendon Howe, is keeping her as a virtual hostage at his estate in Denerim, and Anora believes Howe, with her father's consent, plans to assassinate her and pin the killing on Eamon and the Warden to destroy their credibility at the Landsmeet. Given the seriousness of that threat, and the fact Anora could be an invaluable source of information on Loghain, the Warden and their companions mount a rescue mission. In the course of rescuing Anora, killing Howe along the way, the Warden can free a number of prisoners whose testimony would prove damning to Loghain at the Landsmeet. Among them is an Orlesian Grey Warden called Riordan, who was sent to investigate what was going on after Ostagar and why Loghain was blaming the Grey Wardens for the disaster.

Back at Eamon's estate, the Warden must make a choice who they will back; Anora is willing to support the Warden and Eamon against her father, but makes it clear her support is conditional on them backing her claim to the throne. The two claimants for the throne have both good and bad points; Alistair has little experience with politics and ruling, but he is a good man willing to learn, and with the right guidance and direction could become a good king in time. Anora, on the other hand, is an experienced politician and diplomat, having been Ferelden's de facto ruler for years, but like her father, she is proud, stubborn and arrogantly overconfident in her abilities, and the fact she was never able to give Cailan a child cast serious doubts about her ability to continue the royal line. Anora does however provide the Warden with information regarding potentially damning acts and practices Loghain has condoned amongst his forces that would help shatter his credibility at the Landsmeet. Once they have completed their investigations, the Landsmeet begins in earnest; Loghain continues to blame the Grey Wardens for the defeat at Ostagar and being facilitators of a new Orlesian conquest of Ferelden, while the Warden argues the severity of the threat posed by the Blight and lists the atrocities Loghain has committed (including torture, assassination, murder, endorsing slavery) in a bid to retain a throne he has no right to. Whether by political or more direct means, the Landsmeet turns against Loghain and strips him of his power and authority, leaving his fate in the hands of the victorious Warden.

The opening of the story, which takes place in the kingdom of Ferelden, to the south of Thedas, involves a unique origin story dependent on the player character's choice of race, ability and gender. The choices are to be: a son or daughter of the noble family of House Cousland (Human Noble), a member of the elven Tabris family (City Elf), a hunter from one of the nomadic Dalish elf clans(Dalish Elf), a son or daughter of the dwarven royal family, House Aeducan (Dwarf Noble), a castleless vagrant of the dwarven peasant classes (Dwarf Commoner) or an elven or human member of the Circle of Magi (Mage). A series of events end with the player character coming to the attention of Duncan, the commander of Ferelden's Grey Wardens, who is looking for new recruits to combat a potential Blight in southern Ferelden, who offers the player character a place in the Grey Wardens.

The new Warden travels with Duncan to Ostagar, a fortress in southern Ferelden on the borders of a forest where the darkspawn are said to massing an army. There, they are introduced to several important characters in Fereldan society, including King Cailan Theirin, the young and idealistic King of Ferelden, and Loghain Mac Tir, Cailan's father-in-law, his most trusted general and a veteran war hero beloved by Ferelden's people. The new Warden is also introduced to Alistair, a junior member of the Grey Wardens who provides background on both the Wardens and their current situation. Ferelden's army is amassing to confront the darkspawn at Ostagar because Duncan is insisting he can sense the presence of an archdemon (supposedly one of Tevinter's Old Gods incarnated in the form of a powerful and corrupted dragon with complete control over the darkspawn). Unfortunately, although Cailan is willing to take Duncan at his word, the Grey Wardens do not enjoy a good reputation in Ferelden: it has been over four hundred years since the last Blight and few are taking the possibility a new one has begun seriously, the Grey Wardens have relatively few numbers in Ferelden (two hundred years ago, they were exiled for participating in a revolt to overthrow a tyrant king of Ferelden, only being allowed to return twenty years earlier by King Maric, Cailan's father), and most of those are from the neighbouring kingdom of Orlais, whose brutal, century-long occupation of Ferelden (ended thirty years before by Maric and Loghain) is still a bitter subject for many.

* Alistair suggests seeking aid from Arl Eamon Guerrin, the elder of King Cailan's maternal uncles and a popular man amongst Ferelden's nobility. As his forces did not fight at Ostagar, his army remains the largest not sworn to Loghain. Unfortunately, Eamon has been struck down by a strange and mysterious illness that defies all efforts to heal it. The Arl's pious wife, Lady Isolde, is convinced the only thing that can save her husband now is the Urn of Sacred Ashes, said to contain the mortal remains of Andraste, the Chantry's messianic figure, said to have incredible healing powers, and implores the Warden and their company to find the Urn.

* The Dalish clans, nomadic survivors of the long fallen elven empire, have little love for the kingdoms of humanity, but the darkspawn will not spare them either and they are compelled to aid the Grey Wardens against the Blight. Encountering a Dalish clan within the forests to the south-east of Ferelden, the Warden's party discover the elves are being attacked by werewolves, and many in the clan have been infected with lycanthropy. The clan's Keeper (a mixture of tribal chieftain and shaman) Zathrian, requests the Warden bring him the heart of the werewolves' leader, as it will allow him to cure the afflicted, but as they venture into the forests, the Wardens discover that the werewolves seek redress of an ancient wrong done to them by the elves, and the Warden must decide whose side they will take in a bitter dispute spanning centuries.

Once all these allies have been gathered, the Warden returns to Redcliffe to find that concurrently to their quest, Ferelden has collapsed into civil war. Loghain, convinced the Blight is a hoax perpertrated to allow a new Orlesian invasion of Feredlden, has refused to resign the regency despite the accusations of his involvement in Cailan's death and the Fereldan nobility's refusal to bow his demands they accept his authority descended into open fighting between the two sides. Even worse, the darkspawn have taken advantage of the chaos to advance further into Ferelden unopposed. At this, Eamon and Alistair reveal a secret; Alistair is a bastard son of King Maric, King Cailan's half-brother. He was raised by Eamon away from court to stop Cailan's enemies using him as a pawn, but with Cailan dead, Alistair possesses a better claim to the throne of Ferelden as a blood son of King Maric than Queen Anora, Loghain's daughter and Cailan's widow. Eamon proposes a Landsmeet, a political gathering of all Ferelden's nobility in the capital city, Denerim, where they can put forward their case to dethrone Loghain and place Alistair on the throne.