u/PlatyWizard

Idea for possible future Dragon Age game - The Thaig Beneath The Sea

I think one direction for a future DA game could be for it to be smaller in scope. Centred on one location in the world. With only a couple of dozen characters at most. Maybe an average of 50ish hours of playtime.

This would have the benefit of being able to have a tighter focus on narrative and character arcs etc. And in meta terms would likely work out cheaper and easier to create thus being less a risk from the studios perspective.

Do you agree with the idea of a smaller in scope game being a good way forward?

If so what stories, characters, area of the world or lore etc. would you want to see it focus on?

I think some of the best parts of the franchise are when we've had a whole section of a game or a DLC etc focus on just delving into a set place and exploring etc. while uncovering a mystery or such.

One idea I had is as follows:

The Thaig Beneath The Sea

Based on the tidbit we learn in DAV where someone mentions encountering a deep road path that seems to go underneath the sea.

It would be centred on an expedition to explore this potential pathway and see where it leads.

It would eventually lead to a forgotten thaig that is underneath the sea floor.

Gameplay wise there would be some form of enemies and such for fights etc. However I would favour the story being structured as a sort of detective/investigation fic. As such more time would be spent investigating and finding answers rather than fighting all the time. So it would have new gameplay mechanics where we investigate the thaig and find clues as to how it was built and when. Why it was abandoned. What happened here.

Basically uncover the mystery as much as we can.

I go back and forth on what I would want the big mystery to be. I'd favour it having been built as a trade spot originally between Thedas and the lands beyond the sea but then having become a refuge from some previous big world event or threat as that way the game could work in some interesting lore tidbits about said history/threat etc.

If it went in this direction it could also have evidence in the thaig of people having travelled from Thedas and the lands beyond the sea.

Other plot points could be a mystery around who organised the expedition and why. Motivations of expedition members not being the same. Some work for different factions etc.

Ending wise I would want it to end on a cliff hanger where we either get a brief glimpse of the lands beyond the sea or we encounter some barrier blocking our progress for now...

The purpose of this post is to discuss theories and questions about how the events of Veilguard may affect the blight, the darkspawn and other blighted creatures. Of course I welcome people's thoughts and theories.

Two main theories come to mind.

1. The blight is now all locked away in the black city prison.

2. The blight the magisters sidereal unleashed is still in the world. But the blight the Evanuris unleashed in DAV is locked away.

For 1, if all the blight is now locked away again will the darkspawn die off without the magic of the blight to sustain them? Another possibility is existing darkspawn stay around but no new ones can be made.

If the blight is truly dead and the darkspawn die with it eventually. This would open the way for the dwarves to reclaim the deep roads. Which could make an interesting story.

For 2, if the blight is still around in some form and the darkspawn don't die off. What will become of them? Will they go the same way as the ones in Awakening? Some go mad and others start to become truly sentient again.

Could powerful figures such as the surviving magisters sidereal, the architect if it's still alive etc. exhibit some control?

Could some other powerful force find a way to control them and whisper through the blight? Maybe the Titans or the executors/the power they may serve, as others have suggested.

It's possible if the darkspawn do survive they become a race in their own right, develop culture and societies etc. who knows we could have a freed darkspawn companion in a future game.

The darkspawn are infertile I think so how could then sustain a race. Unless that changes. I suppose if they retain the ability to corrupt others that would be one way.

Another problem with the darkspawn surviving and becoming a race could be that they taint their very surroundings just with their existence. Unless this is changed by the blight being locked away.

At the end of DAV there is mention that at least some darkspawn are still fighting in Ferelden. So if they are going to die off it clearly isn't going to happen straight away. This could also hint towards them not dying off but changing in one way or another.

Some overall questions could be do the darkspawn need some form of the blight to exist for them to keep living? Or once infected do they keep going until killed?

Does the blight make darkspawn immortal or do they eventually die off?

Solus mentions using his time while sustaining the veil to try and find a way to soothe the blight. Which opens the question to how this would affect the darkspawn.

Part of me favours the idea of the darkspawn are dead and gone and we see what a post darkspawn world looks like. But then another is intrigued by the idea of the darkspawn changing and possibly not just being a mindless evil anymore. Having a talking intelligent darkspawn companion could be interesting.

If the darkspawn are weakened but are no longer controlled by evil individuals etc. and the dwarves do use this to reclaim the deep roads that could lead to some interesting conflict and story between an emerging darkspawn race just trying to survive and build their lives and the dwarves wanting their ancient home back.

Aim of this post is to discuss theories about how they may have manipulated events and what're their motivations for doing so. Also, how this may fit into some overall possible goal. I welcome people’s thoughts of course.
P.S. Meta wise I know its entirely possible the developers have no plan and haven't actually thought all this through, despite their claiming to have some grand plan they've been working to since the start. I still think its fun to speculate as if there is a plan regardless.

What we know so far (things directly mentioned in a game or official media):

• They come from across the sea or have some connection to there.
• They are/command a network of agents across Thedas.
• They had some role in manipulating key events.
• All their agents in Thedas are described as looking and speaking in a similar way.
• The Evanuris know of them and consider them dangerous. So, they have existed for a long time.
• It is not clear if they are good or evil and indeed whether they are friend or foe in general to the people of Thedas. In meta terms they may not necessarily be enemies/antagonists of any future protagonists we play. Or they may be such.
• It is unclear if the individuals we see mentioned are Executors themselves or agents of the Executors with the actual Executors still being across the sea. As has been pointed out elsewhere already the term executor refers to someone acting on another's behalf. This could support a theory that the Executors are just agents acting on behalf of some entity across the sea.

Let's go in order of game events first and then other events they had hand in or possible events they may have had a hand in. Will split each into what they manipulated, how they may have manipulated things and possibilities as to why.

 

DA1
What
Manipulated Loghain to turn on Cailan at Ostagar.
How
It is revealed in Return to Ostagar Cailan was being pushed by Eamon to divorce Anora. In the main game it is revealed Loghain and Cailan argued about the Anora. The Executors may have had their agents ensure Loghain found out about Cailan possibly considering divorcing Anora. Perhaps providing copies of the letters etc. They argued about it and he decided to turn on Cailan.
It is unclear if they agents directly interacted with Loghain or whispered in his ear etc. Also unclear if they manipulated events in the first game beyond this.
Why
It is not clear why they would want Ferelden weakened before a blight. If they are evil, it could have been so Ferelden would be weakened ahead of a possible future attempt to conquer Thedas. If they are good, it could be a classic it ultimately led to events which helped the people of Thedas etc.
In these scenarios its possible they had plans in place for if the blight got out of hand. Or maybe they wanted the blight to consume Thedas, it’s possible they see Thedas as a threat and want it destroyed no matter the cost.

 

DA2
What
Led Bartrand to the lyrium idol.
How
Likely planted the information that Bartrand used to learn about the ancient thaig's existence. Also, possible they directly led Bartrand to the room with the idol in. Especially as its unclear why he would follow Varric and the gang, on his own without guards in the very dangerous deep roads, when they said they would scout and find a way.
Why
Why would they want someone to know about the lyrium idol? Why would they want Bartrand to go mad? Likely he was just a tool, perhaps they ultimately aimed for it to end up in Meredith's hands so she would go mad and trigger the mage-templar war. This is strengthened by the fact a picture of Meredith and Orsino appear in that section of the secret ending video. If that is the case it remains unclear why they would want the mage-templar war. See previous game section for speculation on if they are good and trying to help in their own way or evil and wanting to soften Thedas up.

DAI
What/How/Why
Very unclear what exactly they manipulated here. There is an image of the breach, an image of Corypheus and image of Flemeth/Mythal. The words spoken are 'the poisoned fruit ripens'. Perhaps they caused the events of the breach in some way? We know Solas led Corypheus to his orb, so they didn't do that part. Perhaps they had a hand in Corypheus being freed? Maybe weakened the wards around the prison so he could eventually find his way out. It is never stated why Solas woke up when he did after sleeping for so long. Perhaps the Executors woke him up.
As for the Flemeth/Mythal of it all. Maybe they wanted Solas to kill that embodiment of Mythal for some reason? Shall discuss this more below in a theory about their manipulations in DAV.
Hard to answer how or why when it's not clear what they even did.

 

DAV
I have a theory that all the events of the previous games could be pieces to lead to the ultimate release and defeat of the Evanuris, including Mythal and Solas. Perhaps to even an old score and or get them out of the way for their next step whatever that is. The executors might have had information that the Evanuris would break out eventually so triggered it themselves, so it happened on their terms. This theory is strengthened by the ending of the video where they imply they are on their way to Thedas. Perhaps now their ancient enemies are dealt with they are moving on to the next phase of their plan.

 

Magisters Sidereal
What
Manipulated them to try and enter the black city? Or possibly aided them being able to do so since it is stated that the magisters pursued this due to the manipulation of the Evanuris to try and break free of their prison. Also, possible they learned of the Evanuris plot to free themselves and ensured it failed. Perhaps even manipulated events so the blight would be unleashed.
How
Depends on what their goal was but I presume provided information and manipulated events to go in the exact they wanted.
Why
The Executors are heavily implied to be enemies of the Evanuris. If this is the case there is presumably, except for my thoughts on the DAV theory, no way they would want their old enemies freed. They could have learnt of their enemy’s ability to build an empire, via command of their dragons as Tevinter gods, and decided to weaken them. To me it is more likely they wanted to stop their release. Perhaps also unleash the blight to weaken the empire their enemies controlled.
If the Executors are evil and want to conquer/control Thedas they could also have wanted to partially unleash the blight so it would weaken Thedas as a whole.
If they are good, they may have judged unleashing the blight as an acceptable consequence of stopping the Evanuris. Or it they are playing 5d chess and leading to an ultimate good goal perhaps they deemed it necessary in some way. Also, possible they wanted to stop the plot to free the Evanuris no matter what and didn't know the blight would be unleashed. In that case maybe they used their resources to help stop the first blight.

 

Overall goal
I've alluded to some of these before but here are the possibilities I can think of.

• They are evil and are playing a long game to conquer/weaken Thedas for some reason.
• They are good and all these events lead to some grand plan. Perhaps there is a greater enemy, and these events were needed to stop that enemy.
• Their manipulations in Thedas were about ultimately defeating/destroying their old enemies the Evanuris.
• Survive/stop a possible approaching apocalyptic event/ coming storm.

 

What are the Executors?
I lean towards them being a rival faction of spirts/spirts with physical bodies etc to the Evanuris. This is strengthened by their age being like the Evanuris, as well as their clear link to them. There is also a passage about what is clearly blood magic being said to be used to power a defence against them. Blood magic is known to be able to control/defeat spirits.
There is also an outstanding question of if they have been around so long why haven't they struck sooner to achieve their goals in Thedas? If they are spirits of some form then the creation of the veil may have devastated them as thoroughly as it did the Evanuris, and they needed/need time to regain their strength. If they are a rival faction of spirts are they related to or entirely separate to the forgotten ones? On that question I believe Anaris also regarded them as enemies though. Though the forgotten ones are supposed to be sealed in the abyss.

Outstanding questions
Do they have a link to the migration of humans and the qunari, both of whom are said to have originally come from across the sea? Perhaps they drove the humans from their lands so they would travel to and settle in Thedas, this would inevitably lead to conflict with the elves. Maybe they did this to weaken the elves, seeing them as allies/followers of the Evanuris. In the case of the qunari perhaps they drove them out to weaken Thedas. Or manipulated both to leave for some unseen reason.
Also, possible they had nothing to do with the migration of the human and qunari. It could be that if there is some greater enemy the Executors are preparing to fight/are already fighting against, that greater enemy could have been what drove the humans and qunari out. It is also possible the humans and qunari who travelled to Thedas are just a small portion of the main population of such who live across the sea.

What link do the Executors have to coming storm thats been heavily hinted at approaching? Are they it? Are their manipulations all steps towards stopping/surviving it?