Dragons are extremely large and powerful reptilian animals which are capable of using elemental breath to attack their prey. They are considered one of the primeval races of Thedas, having existed since the beginning of its recorded history.
Background[]
Dragons prefer to live in old ruins and cave complexes. Throughout the Steel Age, humans often destroyed such locations to discourage dragons from nesting close to their settlements. Such precautions fell out of practice after dragon hunters from Nevarra hunted the species to near-extinction.
Most people thought that dragons had been extinct for centuries by the time of the Dragon Age, but a notable rampage by a high dragon during the end of the Blessed Age caused Divine Faustine II to name the next Age as the Dragon Age in honor of the returned beasts.
Not all humans are hostile to dragons. The "dragon cults" of ancient legend were notorious for their fanatic devotion to a particular high dragon. Although much remains unknown about them, evidence suggests that high dragons may allow such devoted humans to assist in the care of their dragonlings in exchange for small quantities of precious dragon blood.
In Dragon Age: The Silent Grove, Yavana says that there was a time "before the Veil, before the mysteries were forgotten," when dragons ruled the skies. Furthermore, she speaks in an unknown tongue to her great dragon.[1]
The scientific study of dragons and their relatives, like Wyverns and Varghests, is called "Draconology" and is taught at the University of Orlais by Professor Frederic. Examinations show that the bodies of dragons form natural cysts around areas in their bodies infected by the Taint, making them unusually resistant—but not immune—to the disease, in stark contrast to other species.[2]
Involvement[]
Dragon Age: Dawn of the Seeker[]
Dragon Age: Origins[]
The Warden encounters several dragons throughout their journey.
During the search for the Urn of Sacred Ashes, the party will come across a high dragon lurking the mountainside of the Frostback Mountains. The Warden has the choice of fighting the dragon or letting it be. The dragon's lair itself is protected by a number of drakes, dragonlings and cultists from a nearby village.
While wandering the elven ruins of the Brecilian Forest, the party will come across a dragon in one of the rooms. The dragon guards the path to the lower depths.
If the Warden opts to solve an optional puzzle at the Orzammar Royal Palace before a new king is crowned, they will come across an ancient dragon that has been caged in the throne room of Orzammar. Defeating the dragon yields the silverite greatsword Ageless.
If the Warden chooses to fight Flemeth as part of Flemeth's Real Grimoire, she will shift into a high dragon that the Warden must kill.
Dragon Age II[]
Dragon Age: The Silent Grove[]
Dragon Age: Until We Sleep[]
Dragon Age: Inquisition[]
The Inquisitor can choose to battle 10 different high dragons located throughout Thedas.
Another three high dragons appears in the form of the Red lyrium dragon, Hakkon Wintersbreath and Ataashi.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard[]
Types of dragons[]
Dragons are classified by the various forms they take as they age. Dragon Age: Inquisition introduces different types of these dragons, for example the Fereldan Frostback.[3]
Dragonling[]
Dragonling
- Main article: Dragonling
Dragons begin their lives within eggs. A newly hatched dragon is called a dragonling. These sinuous, wingless creatures are born in large numbers, as only a few ever survive to maturity, and are roughly the size of a deer. They have voracious appetites, but lack the features that distinguish their elders of their gender. Dragonlings usually remain with their mothers until they reach adulthood and venture out on their own.
Drake[]
Drake
- Main article: Drake
Male dragons never develop into the winged monsters of myth. Their forelegs grow only vestigial spurs where wing membranes would be in female dragons.
Drakes seek out the lairs of high dragons immediately after reaching maturity. Often several drakes will linger around the home of a high dragon, each hoping to receive approval. Once a drake is selected by a high dragon, he will be monogamous for life. Drakes defend their potential nest aggressively, and many would-be dragon hunters have lost their lives to a drake's fiery breath or a crushing blow from its tail.
Drakes are a step up from dragonlings. Ranked normal or elite, the Warden will encounter usually two or more at once. Drakes have an uncanny resistance to fire, being dragons, so it is not recommended to use it against them.
Dragon[]
Dragon
- Main article: Dragon (variation)
Female dragons take much longer to mature than their male counterparts. They too undergo a metamorphosis of sorts at adulthood; But while males lose the use of their forepaws, females actually grow a third set of limbs specifically to serve as wings.
Young females travel great distances looking for a suitable nesting site. Because of their nomadic habits, these are the dragons most frequently encountered by man.
With a stronger resistance to fire, dragons are mostly elites or boss-level encounters. It is rare to find even one, much less several of them altogether.
Mature dragon[]
Mature dragon
- Main article: Mature dragon
Mature dragons are mature female dragons, becoming significantly larger than the normal Dragon but lower than High Dragon. Thus, they are between the two in power.
High dragon[]
- Main article: High dragon
High dragons are venerable female dragons. They are the monsters of legend and one of the most powerful of all dragonkind. The high dragon will excavate a massive lair for herself in order to accommodate her harem of drakes, eggs, and dragonlings.
High dragon
High dragons rarely leave their lairs; they prefer to spend their time sleeping, mating, and living off the prey their drakes bring back. However, roughly once every century, the high dragon will prepare for clutching by taking wing. Commonly known as a rampage, she will fly far and wide for weeks, eating hundreds of animals, to support her growing dragonlings. Leaving devastation in her wake, she then returns to her lair to lay her eggs, restarting the cycle of dragons.
There are different breeds of high dragons, some of them breathing ice or lightning as opposed to fire.
Great dragon[]
- Main article: Great dragon
The existence of this ancient form of dragon, distinct from High dragons, was revealed in Dragon Age: The Silent Grove.[4] They were active in the time of Calenhad Theirin.[5]. They are the rarest of their kind, though it seems all except two have died out, and one of the remaining is referred to as the "Dragon queen".[confirmation needed]
Related creatures[]
Dragon thrall[]
Dragon thrall
- Main article: Dragon thrall
Dragon Thralls are normal dragons (as opposed to "Old Gods" and blighted high dragons) that were corrupted by the darkspawn taint, in the manner of Blight Wolves. Two Dragon Thralls are encountered during The Battle of Denerim. Another two are encountered at the end of The Righteous Path guarding the exit of the Silverite Mine.
Archdemon[]
Archdemon
- Main article: Archdemon
No one knows what it is that drives the darkspawn in their relentless search for the sleeping Old Gods. Perhaps it is instinct, as moths will fly into torch flames. Perhaps there is some remnant of desire for vengeance upon the ones who goaded the magisters to assault heaven. Whatever the reason, when darkspawn find one of these ancient dragons, it is immediately afflicted by the taint. It awakens twisted and corrupted, and leads the darkspawn in a full-scale invasion of the land: a Blight.
—From Codex entry: ArchdemonThe archdemon, while not an actual dragon in the traditional sense, appears somewhat similar to one once it has been awoken by darkspawn during a Blight. Archdemons are immensely more powerful and intelligent than high dragons, serving as the masterminds of darkspawn hordes during the Blights they lead against the world.
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Spectral dragon[]
Spectral dragon
- Main article: Queen of the Blackmarsh
The Queen of the Blackmarsh was once a large high dragon, that was wreaking havoc on the village of Blackmarsh and killing everyone that attempted to dispose of her. However, when the new Orlesian baroness heard of her people's plight, she went alone to the dragon. After a brief amount of time and a loud noise, she returned to the village and the high dragon was never seen again.
When the Warden-Commander travels to Blackmarsh in Awakening they can find all five missing dragon bones and return them to the skull northwest of the entrance. After doing so the Fade barrier beside the skull will dissipate leading the way to the fight with the Queen of the Blackmarsh which manifests as a spectral high dragon with powerful lightning-based attacks. After the high dragon is defeated she yields the traditional amount of rare loot as well as an Ancient Dragon Bone which is a powerful material for Wade to make into a powerful weapon.
Red Lyrium Dragon[]
The Red Lyrium Dragon
- Main article: Red Lyrium Dragon
The Red Lyrium Dragon was originally a high dragon that was subdued by Corypheus after his awakening. Infused with Red Lyrium its shape was twisted to somewhat resemble an Archdemon, the creature became the main vehicle of Corypheus power, as well as his personal mount.
The Red Lyrium Dragon features in the attacks on Haven, the siege of Adamant Fortress and the attack on the Temple of Mythal. It is slain in the last confrontation between the Inquisitor and Corypheus.
Guardian of Mythal[]
Guardian of Mythal
- Main article: Guardian of Mythal
If the Inquisitor drinks from the Well of Sorrows, a high dragon named the Guardian of Mythal must be fought to complete the main quest the Final Piece. Afterwards, the dragon will side with the Inquisitor against Corypheus and will challenge his Red Lyrium Dragon. The Guardian of Mythal is killed during the final confrontation.
Hakkon Wintersbreath[]
Hakkon Wintersbreath
- Main article: Hakkon Wintersbreath (creature)
During the Divine Age, a powerful high dragon was bound and forced to serve as the vessel for the Avvar god Hakkon Wintersbreath. Sealed by Ameridan within the Old Temple in the Frostback Basin for ages, the ancient beast was finally freed in 9:41 Dragon by Thane Gurd Harofsen, the leader of the re-formed Jaws of Hakkon. Once freed, Hakkon was confronted and slain by the Inquisitor.
Codex entries[]
Trivia[]
- Codex entry: Yusaris: The Dragonslayer transcribes the tale of the hero Dane slaying a monstrous dragon named Fenshal[6] with the mighty blade Yusaris.
See also[]
- Fauna and flora
- Gurgut
- Varghest
- Wyvern – a smaller reptile related to the dragon
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ An excerpt from Dragon Age: The Silent Grove.
- ↑ Learn More about Dragons.
- ↑ Dragon Age: Inquisition demo E3 2014
- ↑ Dragon Age Library Edition Volume 1, pg. 73, annotation by David Gaider.
- ↑ As seen in Chapter 1 of Dragon Age: Until We Sleep.
- ↑ The description of the Winter Blade also acknowledges that the hero Dane hunted Fenshal.
