Tevinter Imperium

Lore & Background

Chronologically, the events of Dragon Age: Absolution take place after the conclusion of Dragon Age: Inquisition and its expansion Trespasser. The narrative occurs months after those games but approximately ten years before the events of Dragon Age: The Veilguard. This timeline is fixed by BioWare's own canon, disregarding specific player choices from previous titles. The story centers on the Tevinter Imperium, a nation known for its powerful oligarchy of magisters led by an Imperial Archon. The city of Nessus serves as the primary setting, a place with a dark history tied to the Imperium's ancient subjugation of southern Thedas. Within this society, strict caste systems and slavery are standard, while mages practice blood magic without the restrictions found elsewhere. Characters like Rezaren Ammosine, a Tevinter magister seeking a mysterious artifact, operate within this environment where an artifact fueled by blood magic is the target of a failed heist.

In Their Own Story

In the city of Nessum, a group of mercenaries attempts to steal the Circulum Infinitus, an artifact powered by blood magic. The heist goes wrong, forcing the team to deal with the immediate fallout within the rigid social structure of Tevinter. The narrative features Miriam, an elven mercenary and escaped Tevinter slave, alongside allies such as Lacklon, a dwarven fighter and Lord of Fortune, and Roland, her warrior ally. Their journey intersects with local powers like Rezaren Ammosine, who seeks the artifact, and his lover Tassia, a Knight-Commander of the Templar Order. The story also includes appearances by established Dragon Age figures; Cassandra Pentaghast makes an appearance, while Cullen Rutherford, Josephine Montilyet, and Leliana appear in non-speaking cameos in Episode 6. This sequence of events is set against the backdrop of a society where blood magic is practiced openly and slavery remains legal.

Reader's Guide

For fans exploring Dragon Age: Absolution, understanding the setting of Tevinter is crucial. The story takes place specifically in Nessum, a city within the northern Tevinter Imperium. The political structure is an oligarchy led by magisters under an Imperial Archon. Viewers should note that the timeline follows BioWare's strict canon: it occurs after Dragon Age: Inquisition and Trespasser but before Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Key moments include the botched theft of the Circulum Infinitus, which drives the plot forward. Characters like Fairbanks, a freedom fighter first seen in Dragon Age: Inquisition, and Qwydion, a light-hearted Qunari mage, navigate this dangerous world. The series highlights the cultural norms of Tevinter, including its acceptance of slavery and blood magic. Reception notes that while accessible to newcomers through heist tropes, it assumes knowledge of the franchise's broader history, particularly regarding the Inquisition era.

Did You Know?

• The city of Nessus once played a role in the Tevinter Imperium's ancient subjugation of southern Thedas before becoming the setting for Dragon Age: Absolution.
• Dragon Age: Absolution takes place approximately ten years before the events of Dragon Age: The Veilguard but only months after Dragon Age: Inquisition – Trespasser.
• Characters Cullen Rutherford, Josephine Montilyet, and Leliana appear as non-speaking cameos in Episode 6 of the series.
• The artifact central to the plot is described as being fueled by blood magic, though its name and exact nature are not established in official canon.