10 Dragon Age Game Myths Based On Real Life | Screen Rant
Bioware is no stranger to creating detailed and beautiful games filled with their own inhabitants and worlds. From galaxy-hopping adventures in Mass Effect to the fantastical lands of Dragon Age, they have created some of the most critically acclaimed games among their franchises.
The brilliant Dragon Age games have built many myths, legends, and fantastical civilizations over the years. But some of them share many similarities with actual countries and historical empires, and the writers have certainly turned to real-world people, events, or history as the inspiration for some of their greatest in-game creations.
After the destruction of their advanced and civilized cities of Elvhenan and Dales, the elves lost their homes and scattered across the world of Dragon Age. But the Dalish are a group of elves who try to preserve the knowledge of their society and recover from the fall of their homes.
In the real world, the Romani people migrate around Europe, passing down their ancestors' skills from generation to generation as they travel to look for a new home. But despite years of enslavement and forced labor, they hold onto these skills and continue to pass them and other traditions down to future generations. Hopefully, Dragon Age 4 won't take too long to find out what will happen to the elves that were inspired by this group of people, but at least there are other RPGs to play until then.
Known as one of the oldest human nations in the region of Thedas, Tevinter Imperium is also home to many mages and warriors who protect their homes from endless invaders. In the most recent game, Dragon Age: Inquisition, players can become companions with one of its residents, the mustachioed mage, Dorian Pavus.
Throughout history, many kingdoms and nations met the same fate, but the Byzantine Empire was the most likely source for this fictional country. Fighting off nations between 355 to 1453, the empire fought against the Bulgarian Empire and Abbasids during its long reign before it eventually fell.
Another Thedas nation, Nevarra is unlike any other, for they deal with the death of their citizens in a different way. They preserve the bodies in crypts and embrace death on their heraldry, showing symbols of a crowned skull among the soldiers' equipment. And a clue to Dragon Age 4 from the books hints that players might venture to this place.
While the statues and monuments across the nation may resemble crypts from Latin America, it also shares the same fascination with death as medieval Transylvania did. Famed for its ruler Vlad the Impaler, religion and death played a huge role in his reign, and he was known for allegedly impaling corpses and heads onto spikes. Despite most Nevarrians respecting the dead, some mages seem to exploit it to plant fear into their foes, much like how Vlad apparently did during his reign.
The Qun is the philosophical writings of a Kossith founder named Ashkaari Koslun and his influence inspired many to become the Qunari. These tall humanoids tried to expand their territory by converting those willing to join, playing a key role in some of the best storytelling in the series.
During the middle ages, Islamic empires also employed this practice in order to expand into and teach others from surrounding nations. And after this expansion, millions of people continue to follow the faith today.
As the name suggests, Elvhenan was the original home of the elves and the advanced city was filled with magic, giving the race the ability to become immortal. However, the city became abandoned after a terrible war, and in the process, the remaining elves lost their ability to retain their immortality.
Ancient Greece was also home to an advanced and powerful civilization that continues to fascinate, while remnants of this age can still be seen today. But after their war with the Roman Empire concluded, the people of Greece also faced an unstoppable and unimaginable force.
Located in Nevara City, the Grand Necropolis is a towering mausoleum where some of the dead are laid to rest after mummification. Keeping guard of anyone who dares to enter the restricted areas are The Mourn Watchers, guardians who protect the dead within the walls.
From the large-scale statues and architecture that demonstrate their belief in the afterlife to the ruling Pharaohs, Ancient Egypt could have been a real-life inspiration for the path that the citizens of Nevara follow. And with their practice with mummification, it's easy to draw these comparisons.
In the Eastern part of Thedas, players will find the Free Marches. This collection of city-states each has its own laws and unique rulers, acting independently rather than as one great nation.
While some city-states do exist in the real world today, several European countries had their own cities that acted on their own laws and also had unique rulers. Among them, Italy had several during the Renaissance, with Milan and Florence acting independently from the rest of the country.
As previously mentioned on the list, the Qunari are the people who follow the writings and teachings of Qun. Their homeland is Par Vollen and is portrayed in the games as a chain of tropical islands, a somewhat more peaceful nation compared to their propensity for war with those that oppose them, a big part of some of the coolest Dragon Age games.
The Ottoman Empire was a dynasty that ruled over various countries and ruled for hundreds of years between the 14th and 20th centuries. They conquered various lands under multiple leaderships and eventually defeated the Byzantine Empire by 1479.
One of Thedus' northern nations, Rivain is known to be surrounded by the ocean and has limited access to the mainland. With many ports and villages positioned close to the water, the Rivaini have become accustomed to their peaceful lives by the sea.
From the year 711, Spain saw inhabitants from multiple countries travel and settle within the European country. With the citizens of Rivain also originally descended from families from other fictional neighboring countries and making the coastline their new home, it's easy to see some resemblances.
Unlike the large kingdoms and empires discussed on the list, Avvar is the name given to human tribes who live in small villages amongst the forests that make up the world of Dragon Age. Despite their peaceful and humble living, the warriors who defend them are instantly recognized for their black and white face paint during war.
The Celts were made up of multiple tribes across Europe and one of the most well-known, Boudica, even led a war against the Roman Empire when they invaded England. They were known as fearless warriors who used war paint before heading into a battle.