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LOCATIONS

There are many locations across Thedas ripe for adventures. Below are short descriptions of the main kingdoms, countries, and principalities across Thedas. If you need more in depth information there are links to the Dragon Age Wiki for each that will give you as much detail as has been provided in the games and supplemental material.

Locations are divided into their geographical locations: The North, Central Thedas, and The South. The Dalish are not mentioned here as they are nomadic. Information on them can be found in the Factions page.

THE ANDERFELS
Dragon Age Wiki

This kingdom in the northwest of Thedas is considered the poorest and most desolate nation having been ravaged by multiple Blights. This is why it is the headquarters of the Grey Wardens. Darkspawn can be found here even when there is no Blight. The nobility reside entirely within the capital city of Hossberg while the peasantry is left to fend for themselves in small isolated villages. These villages rely on the Grey Wardens for protection. Because of the harsh conditions, the people of the Anderfels are often the deadliest soldiers and most devoted Andrastians.

The Anderfels is mostly devoid of life. There are places so Blighted nothing grows and corpses do not rot. What is not tainted by the Blight is mostly arid steppes and mountains. The Hunterhorn mountain range lies to the south. Farming is almost impossible in the Anderfels but the pigs are hearty.

ANTIVA
Dragon Age Wiki

Formally known as the Principality of Antiva this is a country that has few natural resources of its own outside of plentiful wine vineyards. However, it is located on Rialto Bay and has many rivers and canals that allow for easy trade of said wine and other goods to the interior of the northern continent. It is located in the northeast. Due to aggressive trade tactics most Antivian citizens live comfortably. Antiva City is one of the wealthiest nations in all of Thedas. This country has no standing army of its own, though it does have a crowned King and many merchant princes. The monarchy, however, is very weak. The merchant princes and the Antivian Crows control the country.

Much of Antiva is coastline with beautiful beaches and large port cities. These port cities usually have a canal system to allow ships to reach the interior of the country to make trade even easier. The interior enjoys a very warm, mild climate which allows for massive vineyards to grow. Wine plays a big part in why Antiva is so wealthy. There is also a very strong love of coffee in Antivian culture.

PAR VOLLEN
Dragon Age Wiki

The homeland of the Qunari, this chain of tropical islands was once inhabited by humans before the Qunari invaded and claimed it as their own. Many of those original humans willingly converted to the Qun and live peacefully among the Qunari who now consider Par Vollen to be their homeland. This is the heart and soul of Qunari culture and the only place where an outside could truly come to understand what it is like to live under the Qun, however outsiders are rarely allowed.

These islands are tropical jungles with dense rainforests. It is hot and muggy almost all year round. The capital city is full of domed buildings and large aqueducts that run throughout. Given the lush nature of the islands the Qunari are well sustained on their own and do not trade often with outsiders except by conquering them.

RIVAIN
Dragon Age Wiki

Because of its relative isolation from other kingdoms in Thedas, Rivain is unlike any other country. This country is a peninsula and connected to the mainland by a landbridge with Antiva. Every other border is water. While the Chantry has tried to spread through the country, Rivain has kept many of its original traditions including allowing mages to freely practice magic and speak with spirits. Only in the capital city will you find a strong Chantry presence. This is also the only country with a peaceful Qunari settlement and many in Rivain have willingly converted to the Qun.

This country is highly coastal with a long tradition of seafaring and pirates. It is tropical with some rainforests. The sandy soil makes it difficult to farm certain crops though it is known for its bananas and goats. These animals, much like Anderfels pigs, are hearty and play a key role in farming. There is also a strong spice and sugar trade in Rivain.

SEHERON
Dragon Age Wiki

This island doesn’t really belong to any nation. The Tevinter Imperium and the Qunari have been battling over it for centuries. Currently, the Qunari have control over most of this northern island but because it was previously held by the Imperium much of the architecture reflects that ancient style. There are parts of Seheron, closer to the interior and far north of the island, that are relatively peaceful, almost boring with how little goes on. Besides the occasional assassin and infiltration attempt, of course.

The only truly native population are the Fog Warriors who wage guerilla style warfare against both the Qunari and the Tevinter Imperium. There is also a large population of escaped elven slaves here who have willingly joined the Qun and some are even high ranking officers. Legends say the fabled griffons of the Grey Wardens originate from Seheron. There is a strong fishing culture here as well.

THE TEVINTER IMPERIUM
Dragon Age Wiki

The oldest human kingdom in all of Thedas at one point the Tevinter Imperium controlled every inch of the north and south. Blights, Exalted Marches, and a protracted war with the Qunari have pushed Tevinter back to not insubstantial territory in the northern continent. It is the only country that values and venerates mages. They are the ruling class in Tevinter’s caste system. It is also the only country that still practices slavery. These factors along with the part the magisters played in releasing the Blight on Thedas Tevinter is hated by the other kingdoms in Thedas but tolerated due to their power.

Due to its northern location Tevinter is warm and relatively damp. Its cities are ancient and well established as are the smaller farming settlements scattered around the country. It is known for growing rice and sugar as well as certain vintages of wine. Since it once ruled all of Thedas many other cultures have had an influence on Tevinter foods though they cling very tightly to the long history and former splendor.

THE FREE MARCHES
Dragon Age Wiki

This is not a nation but a collection of city-states that stretch across central Thedas. The cities within its borders are in something of a loose confederation with one around and they rarely unite unless the situation is truly dire. However, when these city-states unite their combined military might is strong enough to pose a real threat to even the most powerful national armies. There are three city-states considered the true power in the Free Marches, Kirkwall, Starkhaven, and Tantervale.

Due to the Minanter River stretching across the middle of the Free Marches, this is the breadbasket of Ferelden. Most of the Free Marches are agricultural in nature and there are large farms and orchards with little cities in between. This territory also touches the Waking Sea and the Wounded Coast allowing for fishing and trade with other countries.

NEVARRA
Dragon Age Wiki

This nation was once part of the Free Marches before it claimed independence. Because of its central location in Thedas and the wealth it holds this nation can rival older nations like Orlais. This country is known for its many royal dynasties and currently, no one’s quite sure if the King is dead or not. It is also infamous for its funerary practices which differ from the rest of Thedas. Nevarrans mummify their dead instead of burning them and there are many mausoleums and necropolis around the country watched over by specially trained mages. These practices also allow for Nevarran mages to have more freedom and political power anywhere outside of Tevinter.

Like the Free Marches the Minanter river cuts through this nation making its central valleys fertile and plentiful. To the west the Hunterhorn Mountains make the region rocky and the perfect habitat for many species of dragons hence the long tradition of Nevarran nobles engaging in dragon hunting. This is a nation that celebrates art and beauty with many festivals throughout the year.

THE DEEP ROADS & DWARVEN THAIGS
Dragon Age Wiki

Once the dwarven empire spread underground across all of Thedas and used vast networks of huge tunnels to go between thaigs. It was during the First Blight that the dwarves were forced to close many surface entrances to the Deep Roads to try and protect themselves from the spread of Darkspawn. These entrances can be found scattered around Thedas and since the Grey Wardens have come into existence there is once again trade between the surface and the three dwarven thaigs that remain.

The last remaining thaigs are the strongholds of the dwarven empire. Most dwarves spend their entire lives underground with only a handful going to the surface to trade and even less living openly on the surface. Kal-Sharok is the oldest of the thaigs and for many centuries it was thought lost due to corruption by the Blight but the dwarves there have found a way to survive and in many ways thrive. Orzammar is perhaps the best known thaig given its location beneath the Frostback Mountains allowing for easy trade with Ferelden and Orlais. Recently, a thaig was rediscovered beneath Amaranthine, Kal'Hirol.

The Deep Roads are dark, dangerous, and a wonder of engineering. In their heyday they were a wonder but after being ravaged by Darkspawn for centuries it is now very dangerous to use them except around the thaigs.

FERELDEN
Dragon Age Wiki

A large kingdom in the southeast of Thedas it stretches from the Frostback mountains to the Amaranthine Ocean. Ferelden has fought fiercely for its independence throughout its history including an occupation by Tevinter and Orlais. It is ruled by a King with a collection of noble lords that control various territories throughout the country but given Fereldens general distrust of any sort of authority the control of these lords is always up in the air. Full of fertile valleys and rich forests in a somewhat temperate climate, Ferelden is mostly self-sufficient though there is a great disparity in wealth between the peasantry and the nobility. This country is most well known for its war dogs, the Mabari, who are practically worshiped.

Given the vast size of Ferelden the landscape depends on where one is within the country. Most of central Ferelden is valley farmland with small forests. To the east is the Bercilian Forest and the Korcari Wilds dominate the south. These are mostly untamed wilderness as the names imply. The country becomes more mountainous to the west and the Frostback Mountains where it is often harsh, cold, and wet.

ORLAIS
Dragon Age Wiki

One of the largest and most powerful nations in Thedas, the Kingdom of Orlais is not only powerful for its long history and vast territory but because of the close relationship it has with the Andrastian Chantry. The Divine, the head of the Chantry, operates from the capital of Orlais. This close relationship with those representing the Maker gives Orlais a rather egotistical view of itself that rivals the Tevinter Imperium in terms of a smug sense of superiority over everyone and everything. This kingdom is known for its extravagance and wealth for the nobility. That lavish lifestyle is not for everyone, however. While the nobility are very wealthy and play the Grand Game, the poor are crushingly poor in some cases with very few avenues to gain wealth and power for themselves.

Orlais is so large that almost every type of biome can be found within its borders. There are lush valleys, tropical jungles, and even barren deserts within. This leads Orlais to be fairly self-sustaining in terms of natural resources. It shares the Frostback Mountains with Ferelden to the east.

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