The Veilguard Changes Everything for the Grey Wardens

Of all the factions in Dragon Age, Grey Wardens are special. They took center stage in Dragon Age: Origins, had major lore revelations in its Awakening DLC, saw their story barely continue in Dragon Age 2, and fell to their own fears in Dragon Age: Inquisition. Grey Wardens return in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and while they are not necessarily center stage, they are really close to it. Because Ghilan’nain and Elgar’nan weaponize the Blight, the Grey Wardens have to be there – but where it goes next is still anyone’s guess.

While some may think that Dragon Age: The Veilguard signals the end of Grey Wardens, at least as a militant organization, that doesn’t necessarily seem to be the case. Based on new lore introduced in the game, as well as a few subtle hints and other lore, it could be that Thedas needs the Grey Wardens now more than ever.

Grey Wardens Have an Out in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, but They Must Remain Vigilant

At long last, fan theories that the Old Gods and the Evanuris were one and the same have been confirmed. It was not “Old Gods,” but the Evanuris who spoke to ancient Tevinter Magisters and saw the Blight released upon the world. Fans learn that Evanuris bound High Dragons to themselves and were immortal so long as their thralls, Razikale and Lusacan in this instance, lived. Fans and Grey Wardens now know more than ever before about Archdemons, but of course, there are no more traditional Archdemons.

In Dragon Age: The Veilguard, players must first kill Razikale and Lusacan to defeat Ghilan’nain and Elgar’nan. Players will kill the former themselves, while Lusacan dies at Solas’ hand. With their defeat, there is no more Archdemon and no more Blights like past ones. Combine this perspective, Solas possibly doing what he can to ease the Blight, and the Order being all but decimated, it could seem like Dragon Age: The Veilguard was a send-off for Grey Wardens. This is especially true in how Antoine and Evka’s story ends with the discovery of flowers and hope that the most destructive elements of the Blight are gone. It’s hopeful enough even that the remaining Grey Wardens, who are often small in number but perhaps more so now than ever, may see this as the end of their Calling.

But, now more than ever, peace necessitates vigilance. The Grey Wardens may see this as the final peace, but that seems unlikely. As Solas reveals, only part of the Blight exists in Thedas, while the majority of it still exists in the Fade. If someone were to ever let it out, the possible destruction of Thedas cannot be ignored. But, more than that, some storylines go unanswered (the Awakened Darkspawn from Origins‘ DLC) and subtle hints to what comes next.

The Changing Blight Means Grey Wardens Are Still Needed

As Antoine and Evka reveal in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the Blight is changing. It is more grotesque in the latest game because of Elgar’nan weaponizing it and Ghilan’nain experimenting with it, but even Antoine notices another sound in it. The normal song, as fans learn, is the same song as the Titans’ Lyrium, with the Blight being their destroyed dreams. In this way, it’s almost like Solas made the Titans tranquil. This new sound leads players to a massive Blight boil, but this is unlikely to be a one-time event. Not only does this fit in with Davrin’s realization that it is not evil incarnate but a “caged animal,” but with how Act 3 unfolds.

In Act 3, The Blight shows signs of intelligence later in the game. Without really explaining what happens, Neve or Bellara are able to disrupt Elgar’nan’s control of the Blight, helping Solas kill Lusacan. It seems to be communicating with the selected companion, informing them what to do to disrupt his control. And this makes sense.

Considering the Blight is the Titans’ dreams and that Elgar’nan (as well as Solas) are responsible for that genocide, any consciousness within that dream would not be happy about being controlled by the Elven Gods. Ghilan’nain’s experimentation may have made this intelligence possible or, at the very least, kept it more servile, but a changing Blight means Grey Wardens cannot ignore it. It may not be evil incarnate, but sometimes a rabid animal must still be put down.

There Could Still Be Another Archdemon

And all of these reasons are possibilities based on new hints and lore. There is still older Dragon Age lore to consider. A codex entry from Dragon Age: Inquisition‘s Astrariums, based on the constellation Draconis, suggests that there was an Eighth Old God (and thus an Archdemon) out there somewhere, who would obviously be a threat to the Grey Wardens. More than that, though, there is in-game speculation that this Old God was stricken from the historical record or could have been based on a sea creature. Dragon Age: The Veilguard might actually connect some dots here. The Old Gods were the Evanuris, and the Evanuris once warred amongst themselves with a section of gods (or spirits) now known as The Forgotten Ones. A forgotten Old God, by extension, is one of these Forgotten Ones.

There’s a lot more to unpack here: possible Sea titans, the Forgotten Ones, and how the Executors (who are constantly described in ways that are amorphous) are causing certain events to unfold in Thedas. Then, Anaris appears to want to escape some Eye. All of this is connected somehow, some way, I’m sure of it. But, at the bare minimum, the changing blight, more possible archdemons, and all these changes mean the Grey Wardens are not done yet.

Franchise

Dragon Age

Publisher(s)

Electronic Arts

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ // Blood, Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence

OpenCritic Rating

Strong