Leliana

Lore & Background

Leliana's backstory is detailed in the prequel DLC Leliana's Song, which explores her past as a bard who worked as an assassin and spy in Orlais. She meets Mother Dorothea, later Divine Justinia V, before traveling to Ferelden. In Origins, she is already present at the tavern in Lothering when the Grey Wardens arrive, and she offers to join them after speaking with them, claiming a vision from the Maker. Her personal quest involves confronting Marjolaine, her former mentor and lover. In Dragon Age: Inquisition, her role depends on player choices from Origins: if she died in Origins, she appears as a spirit and cannot become Divine; if she survived, she is the Left Hand of the Divine at the start of the game. Becoming Divine Victoria requires specific decisions made during Inquisition, not just personality traits from previous games. If the Warden romanced her in Origins, this is acknowledged in Inquisition dialogue.

In Their Own Story

In Lothering, Leliana introduces herself as a lay sister of the Andrastrian Chantry after stopping a tavern fight. She insists on joining the Grey Wardens, citing a vision from the Maker. Her loyalty is tested when the Warden commits immoral acts; she may attack and die if they defile the Urn of Sacred Ashes. In Dragon Age II's ending, she confers with Cassandra Pentaghast after Varric Tethras's interrogation. As Sister Nightingale in The Exiled Prince DLC, she meets Hawke at Viscount's Keep to arrange Grand Cleric Elthina's escape. She appears briefly in Mark of the Assassin, acquainted with Qunari spy Tallis. In Dragon Age: Inquisition, she serves as spymaster, growing emotionally hardened after Justinia V's death but retaining fundamental optimism.

Reader's Guide

Leliana is an optional party member in Origins, recruited in Lothering. She is bisexual and romanceable by any player character. Her personal quest resolves her conflict with Marjolaine. In Dragon Age: Inquisition, she becomes the organization's spymaster, dealing in secrets and covert operations. Players can influence her moral alignment: softening her into a joyful leader or hardening her further. If configured from Origins, her past romance is acknowledged. Midway through Inquisition, she emerges as a candidate for Divine Victoria. Her skills include social manipulation, intelligence gathering, and agile combat with daggers or bows.

Did You Know?

• Leliana's face in Dragon Age: Origins is based on an adult model named Alleykatze.
• Her voice actress, Corinne Kempa, described performing the role as simulating conversations with hypothetical partners while adhering to specific emotional contexts set by directors.
• In Leliana's Song DLC, she meets Mother Dorothea, who later becomes Divine Justinia V in series lore.
• If a player romances Leliana in Origins, this relationship is acknowledged through dialogue in Dragon Age: Inquisition.
• Leliana can become Divine Victoria only if she survived Origins and specific decisions are made during Inquisition's narrative.

Origins and Early Career

Leliana hails from Orlais, culturally inspired by Renaissance-era France, where she worked as a bard who also served as an assassin and spy. The DLC Leliana's Song details her past, including her pivotal meeting with Mother Dorothea (later Divine Justinia V). Before joining the Grey Wardens in Ferelden, she encountered them in Lothering after breaking up a tavern brawl. She claims to have received a vision from the Maker, the deity of the Andrastrian Chantry, and insists on accompanying the surviving Wardens against the Darkspawn. Her early role blends religious devotion with her background as a professional storyteller and operative.

Character Development and Narrative Voice

Sheryl Chee wrote Leliana's iterations, describing her playlist as dominated by feminine voices with a tone of 'sweetly melancholic' mixed with self-indulgent gloom and anger. In Origins, she is a carefree, optimistic young woman; in Inquisition, she bears responsibilities as the Left Hand of the Divine. Chee ensured her core nature remained true regardless of player choices from previous games. Project director Mike Laidlaw described her as morally ambiguous: players can soften her into a joyful note amid darkness or harden her further. This reflects her growth from the naive girl in Leliana's Song to a master of espionage who understands the wider world while retaining fundamental optimism.

Visual Design and Symbolism

Leliana's face in Origins is based on an adult model named Alleykatze. In Inquisition, her armor is redesigned to evoke maximum intrigue, featuring an ashen purple hood that obscures her face to symbolize her dual nature: devout believer and rogue. Her leather tunic is lined with chain mail mesh for protection without compromising mobility, with plate greaves guarding against low swings. The Inquisition's heraldry on her tunic reminds opponents their secrets are never safe. This streamlined design reflects her role as a discreet spymaster handling covert operations.

Reception and Cultural Impact

Leliana is generally well received, featured prominently in EA promotional materials for Origins and Inquisition. GamesRadar calls her a popular companion; Kimberley Wallace praises her mystery and loyalties. Jamie Sharp highlighted her strength and persistence on International Women's Day 2020. Conversely, Charles Onyett found her unconvincing, and Hayley Williams criticized her accent as 'terrible'. Voiced by Corinne Kempa, who considered it her biggest video game role, Leliana is a mix of strength, vulnerability, humor, and sensuality. She appears in expanded media including the novels Asunder and Masked Empire, and the comic miniseries Dragon Age: Magekiller.