Chant of Light verses



A number of Chant of Light verses can be encountered whilst exploring Thedas. However, the full chant can take weeks to recite, so what can be gathered is incomplete. This article is intended to collect all the known verses.

Andraste 1
And there I saw the Black City, Its towers forever stain'd, Its gates forever shut. Heaven has been filled with silence, I knew then, And cross'd my heart with shame. -Andraste 1:11

Andraste 7
Let the blade pass through the flesh, Let my blood touch the ground, Let my cries touch their hearts. Let mine be the last sacrifice. -Andraste 7:12

Those who oppose thee Shall know the wrath of heaven. Field and forest shall burn, The seas shall rise and devour them, The wind shall tear their nations From the face of the earth, Lightning shall rain down from the sky, They shall cry out to their false gods, And find silence. -Andraste 7:19

Andraste 14
Here lies the abyss, the well of all souls. From these emerald waters doth life begin anew. Come to me, child, and I shall embrace you. In my arms lies Eternity. -Andraste 14:11

Benedictions 4
Blessed are they who stand before The corrupt and the wicked and do not falter. Blessed are the peacekeepers, the champions of the just. -Benedictions 4:10

Blessed are the righteous, the lights in the shadow. In their blood the Maker's will is written. -Benedictions 4:11

Erudition 2
The first of the Maker's children watched across the Veil And grew jealous of the life They could not feel, could not touch. In blackest envy were the demons born. -Erudition 2:1

Shartan 10
At Shartan's word, the sky Grew black with arrows. At Our Lady's, ten thousand swords Rang from their sheaths, A great hymn rose over Valarian Fields gladly proclaiming: Those who had been slaves were now free. -Shartan 10:1, Dissonant Verse And before them, empty, Outstretched the land Which led to the gates of Minrathous. -Shartan 10:7, Dissonant Verse

Silence 3
The Old Gods will call to you, From their ancient prisons they will sing. Dragons with wicked eyes and wicked hearts, On blacken'd wings does deceit take flight, The first of My children, lost to night. -Silence 3:6, Dissonant Verse

Threnodies 1
And so we burned. We raised nations, we waged wars, We dreamed up false gods, great demons Who could cross the Veil into the waking world, Turned our devotion upon them, and forgot you. -Threnodies 1:8

Threnodies 5


The Maker creates the Fade and the spirits There was no word For heaven or for earth, for sea or sky. All that existed was silence. Then the Voice of the Maker rang out, The first Word, And His Word became all that might be: Dream and idea, hope and fear, Endless possibilities. And from it made his firstborn. And he said to them: In My image I forge you, To you I give dominion Over all that exists. By your will May all things be done.

The Golden City Then in the center of heaven He called forth A city with towers of gold, streets with music for cobblestones, And banners which flew without wind. There, He dwelled, waiting To see the wonders His children would create.

The Maker becomes disillusioned with the spirits The children of the Maker gathered Before his golden throne And sang hymns of praise unending. But their songs Were the songs of the cobblestones. They shone with the golden light Reflected from the Maker's throne. They held forth the banners That flew on their own.

And the Voice of the Maker shook the Fade Saying: In My image I have wrought My firstborn. You have been given dominion Over all that exists. By your will All things are done. Yet you do nothing. The realm I have given you Is formless, ever-changing.

The Fade is separated from the World And He knew he had wrought amiss. So the Maker turned from his firstborn And took from the Fade A measure of its living flesh And placed it apart from the Spirits, and spoke to it, saying: Here, I decree Opposition in all things: For earth, sky For winter, summer For darkness, Light. By My Will alone is Balance sundered And the world given new life.

Man is created And no longer was it formless, ever-changing, But held fast, immutable, With Words for heaven and for earth, sea and sky. At last did the Maker From the living world Make men. Immutable, as the substance of the earth, With souls made of dream and idea, hope and fear, Endless possibilities.

Then the Maker said: To you, My second-born, I grant this gift: In your heart shall burn An unquenchable flame All-consuming, and never satisfied. From the Fade I crafted you, And to the Fade you shall return Each night in dreams That you may always remember Me.

The Maker seals himself in the Golden City And then the Maker sealed the gates Of the Golden City And there, He dwelled, waiting To see the wonders His children would create. -Threnodies 5:1-5:8

The rise of the Old Gods: Now, with their Father's eye elsewhere, the firstborn At last created something new: Envy. They looked upon the living world and the favored Sons and daughters there, covetous of all they were. Within their hearts grew An intolerable hunger. Until, at last, some of the firstborn said: "Our Father has abandoned us for these lesser things. We have power over heaven. Let us rule over earth as well And become greater gods than our Father."

The demons appeared to the children of earth in dreams And named themselves gods, demanding fealty. And a mighty voice cried out, Shaking the very foundations of heaven: "Ungrateful children! I gave you power To shape heaven itself, And you have made only poison. As you crave the earth, the earth shall be Your domain! Into the darkness I cast you! In tombs of immutable rock Shall you dwell for all time." -Threnodies 5:9-5:10

Those who had been cast down, The demons who would be gods, Began to whisper to men from their tombs within the earth. And the men of Tevinter heard and raised altars To the pretender-gods once more, And in return were given, in hushed whispers, The secrets of darkest magic. -Threnodies 5:11

Threnodies 7
And as the black clouds came upon them, They looked on what pride had wrought, And despaired. -Threnodies 7:10

The work of man and woman, By hubris of their making. The sorrow a blight unbearable. -Threnodies 7:11

Threnodies 8
The numbering of Threnodies 8 is hard to understand, as there are various sources of quotes from its verses that don't seem to quite form a coherent picture. See references for more information.



No matter their power, their triumphs, The mage-lords of Tevinter were men And doomed to die. Then a voice whispered within their hearts, Shall you surrender your power To time like the beasts of the fields? You are the Lords of the earth! Go forth to claim the empty throne Of Heaven and be gods.

In secret they worked Magic upon magic All their power and all their vanity They turned against the Veil Until at last, it gave way.

Above them, a river of Light, Before them the throne of Heaven, waiting, Beneath their feet The footprints of the Maker, And all around them echoed a vast Silence.

But when they took a single step Toward the empty throne A great voice cried out Shaking the very foundations Of Heaven and earth:

And So is the Golden City blackened With each step you take in my Hall. Marvel at perfection, for it is fleeting. You have brought Sin to Heaven And doom upon all the world. -Threnodies 8.13



Violently were they cast down, For no mortal may walk bodily In the realm of dreams, Bearing the mark of their Crime: Bodies so maimed And distorted that none should see them And know them for men.

Deep into the earth they fled, Away from the Light. In Darkness eternal they searched For those who had goaded them on, Until at last they found their prize, Their god, their betrayer: The sleeping dragon Dumat. Their taint Twisted even the false-god, and the whisperer Awoke at last, in pain and horror, and led Them to wreak havoc upon all the nations of the world: The first Blight. -Threnodies 8.7

In the absence of light, shadows thrive -Threnodies 8:21

There in the depths of the earth they dwelled, Spreading their taint as a plague, growing in number Until they were a multitude. And together they searched ever deeper Until they found their prize, Their god, their betrayer. -Threnodies 8:27

And down they fled into darkness and despair. -Threnodies 8:28

Those who had been cast down, the demons who would be gods, began to whisper to men from their tombs within the earth. And the men of Tevinter heard, and raised altars to the pretender gods once more, and in return were given, in hushed whispers, the secrets of darkest magic.

But it was not worship the false gods craved.

They urged the magisters to ever-greater depravity, rewarding them with power and more. Arrogance became a great caged beast in the lands of Tevinter, an emptiness that consumed all and could never be filled. To satisfy its hunger, the mage lords, at the goading of their gods, assaulted the Golden City, heart of all creation, to take the Maker's power for themselves.

With magic born of mingled blood and lyrium, the Tevinter broke into the Maker's House. But the promised power did not await them there.

The moment they entered the city of the maker, their sin poisoned it. What had been golden turned black, and violently they were flung from the world of dreams back into the waking world. Twisted and corrupted by their crime and their magic into monsters, they fled underground, unable to bear the light of day. The first darkspawn. -Threnodies 8:21-27 

Threnodies 12
Those who had sought to claim Heaven by violence destroyed it. What was Golden and pure turned black. Those who had once been mage-lords, The brightest of their age, Were no longer men, but monsters -Threnodies 12:1

All that the Maker has wrought is in His hand Beloved and precious to Him. Where the Maker has turned His face away, Is a Void in all things; In the world, in the Fade, In the hearts and minds of men.

Passing out of the world, in that Void shall they wander; O unrepentant, faithless, treacherous, They who are judged and found wanting Shall know forever the loss of the Maker's love. Only Our Lady shall weep for them. -Threnodies 12:5

Transfigurations 1
These truths the Maker has revealed to me: As there is but one world, One life, one death, there is But one god, and He is our Maker. They are sinners, who have given their love To false gods.

Magic exists to serve man, and never to rule over him. Foul and corrupt are they Who have taken His gift And turned it against His children. They shall be named Maleficar, accursed ones. They shall find no rest in this world Or beyond.

All men are the Work of our Maker's Hands, From the lowest slaves To the highest kings. Those who bring harm Without provocation to the least of His children Are hated and accursed by the Maker.

Those who bear false witness And work to deceive others, know this: There is but one Truth. All things are known to our Maker And He shall judge their lies.

All things in this world are finite. What one man gains, another has lost. Those who steal from their brothers and sisters Do harm to their livelihood and to their peace of mind. Our Maker sees this with a heavy heart. -Transfigurations 1:1-1:5

With passion'd breath does the darkness creep. It is the whisper in the night, the lie upon your sleep. -Transfigurations 1:5

Transfigurations 10
The one who repents, who has faith, Unshaken by the darkness of the world, She shall know true peace.

Many are those who wander in sin, Despairing that they are lost forever, But the one who repents, who has faith Unshaken by the darkness of the world, And boasts not, nor gloats Over the misfortunes of the weak, but takes delight In the Maker's law and creations, she shall know The peace of the Maker's benediction. The Light shall lead her safely Through the paths of this world, and into the next. For she who trusts in the Maker, fire is her water. As the moth sees light and goes toward flame, She should see fire and go towards Light. The Veil holds no uncertainty for her, And she will know no fear of death, for the Maker Shall be her beacon and her shield, her foundation and her sword. -Transfigurations 10:1'

Transfigurations 12
O Maker, hear my cry: Guide me through the blackest nights Steel my heart against the temptations of the wicked Make me to rest in the warmest places.

O Creator, see me kneel: For I walk only where You would bid me Stand only in places You have blessed Sing only the words You place in my throat

My Maker, know my heart Take from me a life of sorrow Lift me from a world of pain Judge me worthy of Your endless pride

My Creator, judge me whole: Find me well within Your grace Touch me with fire that I be cleansed Tell me I have sung to Your approval

O Maker, hear my cry: Seat me by Your side in death Make me one within Your glory And let the world once more see Your favor

For You are the fire at the heart of the world And comfort is only Yours to give. -Transfigurations 12:1-12:6

Transfigurations 18
Foul and corrupt are you Who have taken My gift And turned it against My children. -Transfigurations 18:10

Trials 1
Maker, my enemies are abundant. Many are those who rise up against me. But my faith sustains me; I shall not fear the legion, Should they set themselves against me. -Trials 1:1

In the long hours of the night When hope has abandoned me, I will see the stars and know Your Light remains.

I have heard the sound A song in the stillness, The echo of Your voice, Calling creation to wake from its slumber.

How can we know You? In the turning of the seasons, in life and death, In the empty space where our hearts Hunger for a forgotten face?

You have walked beside me Down the paths where a thousand arrows sought my flesh. You have stood with me when all others Have forsaken me.

I have faced armies With You as my shield, And though I bear scars beyond counting, nothing Can break me except Your absence.

When I have lost all else, when my eyes fail me And the taste of blood fills my mouth, then In the pounding of my heart I hear the glory of creation.

You have grieved as I have. You, who made worlds out of nothing. We are alike in sorrow, sculptor and clay, Comforting each other in our art.

Do not grieve for me, Maker of All. Though all others may forget You, Your name is etched into my every step. I will not forsake You, even if I forget myself. -Trials 1:2-1:9

Maker, though the darkness comes upon me, I shall embrace the light. I shall weather the storm. I shall endure. What you have created, no one can tear asunder. -Trials 1:10

Who knows me as You do? You have been there since before my first breath. You have seen me when no other would recognize my face. You composed the cadence of my heart.

Through blinding mist, I climb A sheer cliff, the summit shrouded in fog, the base Endlessly far beneath my feet The Maker is the rock to which I cling.

I cannot see the path. Perhaps there is only abyss. Trembling, I step forward, In darkness enveloped. -Trials 1:11-1:13

Though all before me is shadow, Yet shall the Maker be my guide. I shall not be left to wander the drifting roads of the Beyond. For there is no darkness in the Maker's Light And nothing that He has wrought shall be lost. -Trials 1:14

I am not alone. Even As I stumble on the path With my eyes closed, yet I see The Light is here. -Trials 1:15

Draw your last breath, my friends, Cross the Veil and the Fade and all the stars in the sky. Rest at the Maker's right hand, And be Forgiven. -Trials 1:16

Trials 5
Maker, though I am but one, I have called in your name. And those who come to serve will know your glory. I remembered for them. They will see what can be gained, And though we are few against the wind, we are yours. -Trials 5:1

Trials 15
Though I am flesh, Your Light is ever present, And those I have called, they remember, And they shall endure. I shall sing with them the Chant, and all will know, We are Yours, and none shall stand before us. -Trials 15:1

Canticle of Victoria
Now her hand is raised A sword to pierce the sun With iron shield she defends the faithful Let chaos be undone -Victoria 1:3

Other verses
This section contains verses from the Chant of Light for which the Canticle is not known.

Chanter Devons
And Eileen spoke unto the masses, "My hearth is yours, my bread is yours, my life is yours. For all who walk in the sight of the Maker are one."

Let all repeat the Chant of Light. Only the Word dispels the darkness upon us.

A learned child is a blessing upon his parents and onto the Maker.

And so Rajmael in the heathen temple recanted. "Speak only the Word; sing only the Chant. Then the Golden City is thine," spoke Andraste.

What hath man's sin wrought?

Let him take notice and shine upon thee, for thou has done His work on this day And the stars stood still, the winds did quiet, and all animals of earth and air held their breath And all was silent in prayer and thanks.

Other Chanters
Though stung with a hundred arrows, Though suffering from ailments both great and small, His Heart was strong, and he moved on.

The deep dark before dawn's first light seems eternal, But know that the sun always rises.

Though the lands suffer a thousand wrongs, The Maker yet notices the smallest of deeds.

Trivia

 * The majority of verses of the Chant of Light are written by Mary Kirby.