Summary
The upcoming fourth entry in the BioWare fantasy RPG franchise,Dragon Age: Dreadwolfis set to explore never-before-seen parts of the series' continent of Thedas. Across the adventures ofOrigins,DA2, andInquisition, players have explored locations around Ferelden, Kirkwall and the Free Marches, and Orlais, but the lore ofDragon Age’s world goes far beyond the borders of even these countries. One of the most influential nations, Antiva, has never actually appeared in a game yet butDragon Age: Dreadwolfappears set to feature this land in its full glory and possibly even provide context for one of Thedas' most enigmatic political situations.
Many players first became familiar with Antiva through learning about the past ofDragon Age: Originscompanion Zevran. It is a nation with a storied past that covers all the continent’s previous ages. These events have culminated in the country’s current status as an economic world power during the current ninth age thatDreadwolfwill be continuing, but there’s also a recent period that was seemingly pivotal but has yet to be detailed, the “Three-Queens” era of civil war.
The Principality of Antiva’s History Leading Up to Dragon Age: Dreadwolf
Uniting City States and the Rise of the Queen Mother of Thedas
Beginning as a collection of city-states,the lore ofDragon Age’s Antivasaw it first united as a nation in the Ancient Age, take on Andrastianism in the Divine Age, further unite against Starkhaven in the Glory Age, and support the rise of Queen Asha Campana in the Black Age. Asha became a key figure after marrying into the Campana family and birthing nobles who married into power across Thedas' other nations to strengthen Antiva, earning her the title of the “Queen Mother.”
The Fourth Blight of the Exalted Age marked inner turmoil when the Antivan Crows slew the royal family, something later repeated when they killed their Queen Madrigal and began the Steel Age. The Qunari ruled in the Steel Age and were overcome in the Storm Age before the following Blessed Age was interrupted by the return of dragons, a time when conflict within Antiva seemed to return once again.
Antivan Politics During the Dragon Age
As of the current place inDragon Age’s timeline, Antiva is characterized by the prevalence of “Merchant Princes” who rule over the nation through the success of their businesses, while a weakened monarchy remains a shell of its former self. King Fulgeno II is the ruler of Antiva as ofDreadwolf, but the events between Queen Madrigal’s death and his rise mark one of the most ambiguous time periods of the franchise’s lore.
Antiva’s Enigmatic Three-Queens Era of Civil War
The Significance of the Three-Queens Era to Antiva in Thedas' Ninth Age
There is little information confirmed regarding the period of civil war acrossAntiva’s major locationsthat apparently occurred during the beginning of the Dragon Age, as the only currently known fact of this time is that it would come to be maligned in retrospect. The immediate successors of Queen Madrigal perished or disappeared, and her death seems to have created an instability in the monarchy which has lasted for over three hundred years since.
The Three-Queens era may be known as such due to there having been three competing female nobles vying for power, but it’s clear that the Merchant Princes ended up on top of the country’s power structure in the end.
It’s unknown if this time of civil war is what allowed economics to dominate Antiva in the end, butDreadwolfmight finally come with some exposition regarding this shadowy period of Thedas' politics. Several key figures from supplementary material likeDragon Age’s Tevinter Nights comic, such as Viago De Riva and the Dellamorte family, have strong ties to Antiva that could offer an unprecedented level of insight if they end up as companions. Whether the truth is revealed through new characters or exploring the land of Antiva itself, the mystery of its Three-Queens era is one thatDreadwolfwill likely need to address when it arrives.
Dragon Age: Dreadwolf
WHERE TO PLAY
Dragon Age: Dreadwolf is the fourth game in the franchise, serving as a direct sequel to the events of Dragon Age: Inquisition. Players will attempt to stop Solas from tearing down the Veil, among other possibly major plot points. Its events see players travel to Tevinter, the Anderfels, Rivain, and Antiva.
