After BioWare released a teaser trailer for Dragon Age 4, fans of the franchise immediately began to formulate theories about what the next installment of the Dragon Age series might entail. Given the enigmatic nature of the teaser, filled with symbols familiar to fans, some of those theories could prove correct.
Dragon Age: Origins, the first title in the franchise, released in 2009 and immediately captured the imaginations of players who loved the game's high fantasy setting, its well-developed characters, and role-playing elements that allows the player to make choices that affect the outcome of the game. In that first Dragon Age game, the player becomes a Grey Warden, a member of an ancient order destined to end the Blight by casting an Archdemon out of the world. Dragon Age II followed in 2011, which put players in the shoes of a human who has to navigate that same world in the midst of political and social upheaval. Dragon Age: Inquisition landed in 2014; in that game, players become The Inquisitor whose mission is to settle the unrest left behind after events of Dragon Age II, as well as seal a breach unleashing demons into the world.
Related: Dragon Age 4 Is Still Years Away
All three Dragon Age titles are full of fantastical details about the characters of this fictional world, as well as their beliefs, religions, history, races, and communities. So the teaser trailer of Dragon Age 4 must elude to the franchise's lore in some meaningful way, right? Many fans have studied the teaser and come up with theories that could provide hints as to what they can expect in Dragon Age 4 - and here are the best theories out there.
Dragon Age 4 Will Search For Hawke In The Fade
At the end of the quest "Here Lies the Abyss" for Dragon Age: Inquisition, Hawke, the story's protagonist, goes into the Fade, a metaphysical realm separated by the Veil. In one version at the end of that DLC, Hawke remains in the Fade, presumably dead. However, it's likely that Hawke can survive the Fade; fans believe if BioWare had meant to kill the character off, they would have done so in a definite manner with an actual death scene. And, obviously, this did not happen.
However, "Here Lies the Abyss" left the player with a choice of who to leave in the Fade, so if it isn't Hawke, then there's someone else left there; either Stroud, Alistair or Loghain. And none of these characters are specifically dead either. So it stands that, at the beginning of Dragon Age 4, Hawke and the other characters remain alive in the Fade, thus meaning that one of the plot points of the Dragon Age 4 could have a new protagonist going into the Fade to find Hawke, Stroud, Alistair, or Loghain (via Reddit user RavensTear) - whoever ended up there at the end of "Here Lies the Abyss."
Another theory that ties into this is that whoever gets left behind in the Fade comes back as some sort of possessed enemy. Wouldn't it be just like BioWare to keep the drama going by making it necessary to kill a well-known character from a previous game? Considering that it's likely Solas wants to destroy the Veil completely, which could leave the entire world in the Fade, everyone may end up there and having to search for each other.
Red Lyrium Will Play A Major Role In Dragon Age 4
One of the very first things that fans noticed in the Dragon Age 4 teaser is the presence of the red lyrium idol (via Reddit user michajlo), thus suggesting that red lyrium will somehow play into the events of the new game. Red lyrium is a more potent form of lyrium, a dangerous mineral that can cause those around it to go insane; it can also kill mages on contact. The dwarves mine and process lyrium into an addictive drug that the Chantry uses on Templars, not just to enhance their talents but also to keep them under control.
Red lyrium is a far more dangerous version of lyrium, thus meaning that there are those who would want to get their hands on it as a weapon. One of the Dragon Age comics, Knight Errant, mentions that there are those in the Tevinter Imperium who are interested in red lyrium. With the world as unsettled as it is, red lyrium could come in handy during a war.
Red lyrium can even thin the Veil and allow spirits and demons to interact with the "real" world. But what's most interesting about it is that no one knows where it originally came from. That might change in Dragon Age 4, though, given that the teaser shows hints of the red lyrium idol. Will players finally learn how this mysterious substance originated? And will that allow characters in the game a way to learn how to control it or even stop its adverse effects?
Dragon Age 4 Is About Falon'Din, Not Solas
The Dragon Age 4 teaser trailer seems pretty clear, at least in one aspect. There's the figure of the Dread Wolf on the right and the figure of Solas on the left, essentially outlining the struggle between the dual personalities of Solas himself. But what if the figure on the left isn't Solas? One theory suggests that this is the case, and that that mysterious figure is Falon'Din instead (via Robert Brookes). In Dragon Age lore, Falon'Din is the elven god of death and fortune; the god responsible for guiding those who have died to the Beyond. There are statues across the world of the game of this god, so fans have a general idea of what he looks like.
So how is this figure in the teaser mural not Solas? Well, the theory suggests looking more closely at the robe worn by that figure, comparing it to the depiction of the Fade in another part of the mural. The iconography is nearly identical. The figure also carries a staff, similar to the oaken staff that Falon'Din wields and is depicted with in statues and art throughout the world of Dragon Age. Therefore, that figure could represent Falon'Din and hint that the elven guardian of the spirits of the dead will somehow play a part in Dragon Age 4. Another important point to remember is that Solas isn't the only bald elf in Dragon Age: Falon'Din is also bald, just like the figure in the teaser. Furthermore, the figure is pointing, something often seen in other representations of the elven god of the dead.
Page 2 of 2: Even More Dragon Age 4 Theories
The Inquisitor Will Return In Dragon Age 4
Perhaps this particular theory is just wishful thinking, but there are some fans who believe that the Inquisitor will return as the main protagonist in Dragon Age 4 (via Reddit user cupcake2hotcupcake). In Dragon Age: Inquisition, the Inquisitor becomes the "chosen one" to help unsettle the unrest throughout the world and seal the breaches that allow demons to come into it. The final DLC for that game, "Trespasser," left the Inquisitor's final fate up in the air, save for the fact that the character was missing a hand.
Of all the games, it seems that fans are most compelled by the story of the Inquisitor, meaning that they want to return to this character, despite previous games introducing new protagonists into the story. What gives this theory some traction, though, are the words in the Dragon Age 4 teaser trailer. In the trailer, Solas says, "So you found me at last." These are very similar words he once said to the Inquisitor, thus suggesting that the Inquisitor has found him again. Considering the Inquisitor's history with Solas, it almost makes sense to continue the story with that character as the protagonist, as they still feel important to the story of the Dread Wolf.
Beyond Solas' words, there are no other indications that the Inquisitor will return as the protagonist, but it's likely that the character will somehow show up in the game; the Inquisitor is too important not to. But many fans think it would be nice for Dragon Age 4 to return to a character they have invested so much time and emotion in.
Tevinter Will Be Dragon Age 4's Setting
There are many hints throughout Dragon Age: Inquisition, its DLC, and the Dragon Age 4 teaser trailer to suggest that the next game will feature Tevinter as the main setting (via Reddit user michajlo). First, the depiction of the red lyrium idol in the trailer is important because of the Knight Errant comic book mention that Tevinter has a great interest in red lyrium, potentially to use as a weapon.
At the end of "Trespasser," Dorian, one of the main characters in Dragon Age: Inquisition, also returned to Tevinter. Given the popularity of the character, it's likely he will turn up again in the Dragon Age 4. And if he turns up, it will presumably be in his homeland. Also, considering that the Qunari are likely to attack soon, this will provide the main source of conflict in the new game. In the comic Dragon Age Deception, there's a mention that the Qunari may attack the city of Ventus - the city once known as Qunaris - soon. It even states, "Some say that war is imminent," and "that the city will fall."
It's already a good bet that Dragon Age 4 will feature a new setting, as its previous titles did. Tevinter makes sense, especially considering how important it seems to have become at the end of Dragon Age: Inquisition. Also, most fans would like to see Dorian again, at least in some capacity. Although the protagonist still wanders all over the world during gameplay, there is always a home base to return to, and in this case, it could very well be somewhere in Tevinter.