The Architect

The Architect is a darkspawn Emissary and the main antagonist of Dragon Age: The Calling. It will reappear as an antagonist in Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening. The Architect is the first darkspawn to develop a will of its own--an unusual outcast who does not appear to be subject to the call of the Old Gods, nor to other darkspawn compulsions. Although he is highly intelligent, the Architect has little understanding of humanity. Treating him as anything other than what it is – a darkspawn – could be folly.

Normally, the Architect shows a calm, polite personality. However, it is shown to be cold, decisive, and manipulative, carrying out its plans even if that means sacrificing its allies. It is largely ignorant of the ways of other races, and is unable to understand most of their actions. Despite this, it can prove a potent ally, and it may be wise to employ his services in the final battle against the Mother

Background
{{TCSpoiler| The Architect was apparently born vastly different from his darkspawn brethren. Unlike other darkspawn, it is able to think independently of the darkspawn group mind, and, as such, is able to resist the calling of the Old Gods. Its goal is to bring peace between the darkspawn and the other races of Thedas, at any cost. It hopes to find a middle ground between the two groups, and finds this middle ground in the Grey Wardens, as they are slowly transformed by the taint they take in during their Joining. Using Bregan and First Enchanter Remille and his mages to spread the taint through enchantments and magic exclusive to the Emissaries, the Architect hoped to make all of Thedas take in the taint, despite the fact that this would involve an extraordinary number of deaths of those who could not take the taint and that it would change the survivors into darkspawn-like hybrids. Its compromise is that it will use the call of the Old Gods to locate them and kill them before the blight could taint them and create an archdemon, thereby ending all future Blights. This is how it gains Bregan's and Genevieve's assistance in its plans.

Due to the fact that the Architect can resist the Old Gods' call and its independence, it is seen with fear by its darkspawn brethren, though they do obey its commands to some extent. Its control over other darkspawn is tenuous, as it is able to keep the other darkspawn from pursuing Genevieve and her group. However, if their blood lust comes to a point, it is unable to control them.

Involvement in the Calling
The Architect is first seen by Bregan after he is captured by the darkspawn and taken to a prison cell in a section of the Deep Roads. It begins to explain the situation to Bregan, and attempts to persuade him off of his suicidal path. However, Bregan soon attempts an escape, only to be captured shortly after.

The Architect is next seen after Bregan awakes back in his cell. It further explains that the taint is rapidly spreading through his body, and will eventually turn him into a darkspawn-like hybrid. It explains his plans to use the Grey Wardens in a way to bring lasting peace between the darkspawn and the other races of Thedas. It then leads Bregan through the Deep Roads and offers him a chance to escape. Bregan refuses and is persuaded to aid the Architect in its plans.

The Architect then accelerates to the taint in Bregan's body, so that when he next awakes, he is very similar to a Hurlock. Bregan, after awaking and finding the Architect in a small dwarven library. There, the Architect further explains his plans to use the taint on all of Thedas and to kill the Old Gods before they can be turned into archdemons, thus ending all future Blights and creating a lasting peace between darkspawn and other races. Though it also states that it is aware of the large death toll this course will involve, it simply states that the sacrifices will be necessary.

The Architect is not seen again until it and Bregan come upon Genevieve as she is heading through the Deep Roads by herself. Bregan is able to persuade her to listen to the Architect, although he advises it to withhold many parts of the plan from her, such as the deaths of much of the population of Thedas. After Duncan, Maric, Kell, Utha, and Fiona are captured, he comes to try and persuade them as well to join its cause. However, only Utha complies. It then uses its magic to accelerate the taint in Utha and turn her into a darkspawn in mere moments. The others, however, refuse, and are left to themselves. They then escape to the surface.

The Architect is last seen during the events at Kinloch Hold, after Duncan, Fiona, and Maric are captured by Remile, where it is revealed that it conspired with First Enchanter Remile and his followers for their aid in spreading the taint through their enchantments and teaching Remile darkspawn magic. In exchange, Remile can save certain important people in Orlais and may present Maric as a captive to the Emperor of Orlais. A struggle ensues, however, after Genevieve learns more of the Architects plan and its results, where she eventually turns on her brother and the Architect. However, the Architect swiftly kills her using his magic. Bregan, enraged by this, turns on the Architect as well, cutting off its hand. Utha aids the Architect and protects him from Bregan. Remile eventually betrays them as well, hitting them with a lightning spell and preparing to kill them all. He is engaged by Duncan and his group before he is able to, however. During Duncan's struggle with Remile, the Architect and Utha manage to escape before Loghain and his forces arrive. Their whereabouts are currently unknown.}}

Involvement in Awakening
In Awakening, the player first encounters the Architect in the Silverite Mine. He is accompanied by Utha from The Calling, and Velanna's sister, Seranni, from the Wending Woods. The Architect forces the player and their party into a sleep. When the player next awakes, they are in a cell with the rest of the party with only basic clothes on, and must escape. As the player is about to finally make their way outside, the Architect calls down two Dragon Thralls and then escapes when the party has taken care of them.

The second encounter comes near the end of the game. This time, he proposes that you and he work together, for the greater purpose of preventing future Blights. Since The Calling, he has learned that the blood of a Grey Warden can disrupt the connection between the darkspawn and the Old Gods- if all the darkspawn are exposed to the blood of a Warden, they will be unable to hear the Old Gods' calling, leaving them unable to begin a Blight. Your party members will express different levels of approval or disapproval based on your choice, some going so far as to attack you.

If the player sides with the Architect, the Mother will reveal that the Architect's botched attempt at making Urthemiel into a Disciple led to the Fifth Blight; interestingly though, the ending will mention how he held on to his promise of preventing further attacks from the darkspawn against humans.

Quotes

 * "I apologize for what I must do....I am simply The Architect"thumb|500px|right|Solo Archer Rogue destroys Nightmare The Architect