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The Ben-Hassrath, meaning "the Heart of the Many" in Qunlat, form a significant portion of the Qunari priesthood.[1] The Ben-Hassrath fall under the authority of the Ariqun, as such the Qunari consider them priests.[2] The purpose of the Ben-Hassrath is protecting the faith[2] and the innocents.[3] They are leaders who maintain unity, which Qunari believe to be a strength.[2]

Involvement[]

Mark of the Assassin[]


This section contains spoilers for:
Dragon Age II.


After turning Tal-Vashoth, the former member of the Ben-Hassrath known as Salit attempts to sell a list of undercover Qunari spies living throughout Thedas to Duke Prosper de Montfort of Orlais. The trade is interrupted by Tallis, Salit's former protégée in the Ben-Hassrath, and Hawke. Both Salit and Prosper are killed in the ensuing confrontation. Tallis retrieves the list for safekeeping.


Dragon Age: Inquisition[]


This section contains spoilers for:
Dragon Age: Inquisition.


In 9:41 Dragon, the Ben-Hassrath became concerned about the Breach and were worried that it could endanger all of Thedas. Thus the Ben-Hassrath ordered one of their agents, who has been going under the alias The Iron Bull, to join the Inquisition, get close to the organization's leadership, and send back reports to them on the developing situation.

The Iron Bull offers the services of himself and his mercenary company, the Bull's Chargers, to the Inquisition. Should the Inquisitor hire them and build a decent rapport with Iron Bull, then the Ben-Hassrath will offer an alliance with the Inquisition. The Qunari condemn Corypheus, his Venatori, and the spread of Red lyrium and believe this unprecedented alliance could be mutually beneficial in stopping their common enemies. Should the Inquisitor take up the Qunari's offer, they must accompany The Iron Bull and his Chargers and help the Qunari disrupt a Venatori red lyrium shipping operation on the Storm Coast. The Qunari fear that if that red lyrium shipment reaches Minrathous, the Imperium will feed it to their slaves and create a Red Templar army to wrest Seheron from them.

The Bull's Chargers and the Inquisitor's party was meant to clear the Storm Coast of the Venatori, then signal the Qunari dreadnought so it can come in and take out the smuggler ship. The Inquisition is accompanied by another Ben-Hassrath agent named Gatt who acts as the Qunari liason on the ground. While the Inquisition manages to take out most of the Venatori, the plan went awry when the Chargers' position became overwhelmed by unforeseen Venatori numbers. The Inquisitor can either sacrifice the Chargers to lock down the Venatori so the Qunari dreadnought can destroy the smuggler ship—thus preserving the Qunari-Inquisition alliance—or call for the Chargers' retreat which will allow the Venatori to destroy the dreadnought, let the smuggler ship escape, and end the Qunari-Inquisition alliance.[4]

Should the Inquisitor preserve the Chargers and end the alliance, Iron Bull will become Tal-Vashoth. Ben-Hassrath agents try to poison Iron Bull with saar-qamek but die in the attempt.

If the Inquisitor preserves the Qunari-Inquisition alliance, the Ben-Hassrath's spy network helps the Inquisition uncover a Venatori plot to burn Denerim down. The Ben-Hassrath continue to send Bull some of their reports, in the form of a war table quest chain that starts with Failed Assassination Attempt Inquiry. The Denerim attack plot can be successfully thwarted depending on war table actions. If not stopped, Denerim will take significant damage.


Trespasser[]


This section contains spoilers for:
Trespasser.


The Viddasala leads the 'Dragon's Breath' plot against southern Thedas. The original plan was to take out southern leadership with strategically placed barrels of gaatlok in seats of power. However, agents of Fen'Harel have disrupted those plans and uncovered its existence to the Inquisitor. They pursue the Viddasala to the Darvaarad, where she reveals that Solas is the one who has been opposing her. The Viddasala is turned to stone by Solas when she tries to kill him.


Dragon Age: Blue Wraith[]


This section contains spoilers for:
Dragon Age: Knight Errant.


BioWare canon
The plot follows BioWare's own canon, meaning it may not follow some of the player's choices in the games.

Qunari led by a male Viddasala attack the estate of Magister Nenealeus. They interrogate the elven slaves as to their master's motives and whereabouts. One slave tells the Viddasala that Nenealeus is planning on using a sarcophagus that imbues elves with lyrium. The Viddasala slits her throat before escaping from Fenris, who had infiltrated the estate himself and attacks the Qunari when the sarcophagus is mentioned.


Dragon Age: Tevinter Nights[]


This section contains spoilers for:
Dragon Age: Tevinter Nights.


BioWare canon
The plot follows BioWare's own canon, meaning it may not follow some of the player's choices in the games.

The Antaam invades Tevinter without the blessing of the other Qunari. After rumors that they did not act in accordance with the Qun in Ventus, Saarbrak of the Ben-Hassrath poses as the Huntmaster to investigate the actions of Bas-taar, leader of a work camp for bas prisoners. He concludes that Qunari like Bas-taar are what threaten the Qun, and lets the prisoners he was pursuing in his guise as the Huntmaster go.[5]

After the Inquisitor infiltrated the Darvaarad fortress, the Ben-Hassrath thought it would be safer to pursue their study of magical energies on a dreadnought, thinking that a mobile fortress with speed and secrecy would prove more effective than fortifications. However, the vessel is destroyed after an agent of Fen'Harel within their ranks tricks them into placing a volatile artefact on board. Their ultimate goal was to force the Ben-Hassrath out of neutrality and into the war between Tevinter and the Antaam by tricking an Altus into destroying Kont-aar. This plan was thwarted by Vadis and Irian Cestes.[6]


Duties[]

"We're... the soul of the Qun. We keep its spirit alive and protect it, from both outside and from within. Not every Qunari agrees. Nor do they always do what is best for all. The Ben-Hassrath remind us of our common goal."
Tallis
Ben-Hassrath (Those Who Speak)

Ben-Hassrath educating new converts in Rivain

In Qunari society, Ben-Hassrath primarily act as enforcers of religious law,[7] responsible for policing the populace[8] and "re-educating" both the Qunari who do not follow the established norms[8] and new converts.[9] They also act as spies[2] and assassins as well as perform other clandestine missions.

The entire group is under the jurisdiction of the Ariqun and would therefore be considered priests. The Qunari divide all Ben-Hassrath activities into three distinct categories: "Dangerous Purpose," "Dangerous Action," and "Dangerous Questions." Three priests form a mini-triumvirate that manages all their operations, with each priest presiding over actions in a single category.

The "Dangerous Questions" branch seems to handle the vast majority of the Qunari intelligence gathering and sabotage missions.

The "Dangerous Actions" branch appears to be the branch responsible for enforcement; their agents almost never leave Qunari-controlled territory except to hunt defectors.

The "Dangerous Purpose" branch is run by a priestess called the Viddasala, or "one who converts purpose," handles the conversion of foreigners, the reeducation of Qunari dissidents, and the collection and quarantine of magic. Things that, by Qunari definition, are threats to themselves and others by nature.[10]

While both genders can be Ben-Hassrath, they're separated by specialization:[8] female Ben-Hassrath watch and re-educate adult females and children, while male Ben-Hassrath deal with adult males.[9] Male Qunari can join the Ben-Hassrath despite the fact that they fall under the priesthood.[2] Female Ben-Hassrath learn how to fight—but in a different manner from a soldier, and unlike soldiers, the Ben-Hassrath do not live by their blade.[7] As a result, they do not possess a weapon that signifies their soul like the Antaam do, but are instead free to use whatever tools are most effective at their task.[11] In fact, it seems that the Ben-Hassrath prefer to use non-violent means to achieve their goals, as Tallis argues: "There are other paths. They do not all need to lead to the same destination."

As most of the Qunari Ben-Hassrath are hornless, Qunari consider a lack of horns to be very intimidating.[12] The Qunari prefer Ben-Hassrath from races other than Qunari to be spies in foreign lands since they are better suited to this role.[2]

The Ben-Hassrath are usually in charge of interrogating mages, to determine which should live and what doses of qamek to give them.[13]

Ranks[]

  • Ariqun – supreme priest of the Ben-Hassrath
  • Hissrad – a spy; "one who creates illusions; liar"[14]
  • Tallis – an assassin; "to solve"[15]
  • Saarbrak – unknown function
  • Salit – unknown function
  • Viddasala – high ranking member specializing in finding, studying, and stopping magic; handles the conversion of foreigners and the reeducation of Qunari dissidents; in charge of the "Dangerous Purpose" branch

Known Ben-Hassrath[]

HoDA Ben-Hassrath

Tier progression of a Ben-Hassrath agent in Heroes of Dragon Age

Codex entries[]

Codex entry: Qunari: Ben-Hassrath Codex entry: Qunari: Ben-Hassrath
Codex entry: The Ben-Hassrath Codex entry: The Ben-Hassrath
Codex entry: Ben-Hassrath Reeducators Codex entry: Ben-Hassrath Reeducators
Codex entry: Seheron Codex entry: Seheron
Codex entry: Viddasala Codex entry: Viddasala

Trivia[]

See also[]

Bow of the Beresaad Bow of the Beresaad

Gallery[]

References[]

  1. Codex entry: Qunari: Ben-Hassrath
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 BSN Gaider, David (October 12, 2011). "Mark of the Assassin feedback" . The BioWare Forum. Retrieved on April 13, 2014.
  3. Party banter: Aveline and Tallis
  4. Demands of the Qun (Inquisition)
  5. Dragon Age: Tevinter Nights, Three Trees to Midnight
  6. Dragon Age: Tevinter Nights, Half Up Front
  7. 7.0 7.1 BSN Gaider, David (August 9, 2010). "Female Qunari Fighters" . The BioWare Forum. Retrieved on April 13, 2014.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 BSN Gaider, David, & Kirby, Mary (August, 2010). "Questions about the Qunari" . The BioWare Forum. Retrieved on April 13, 2014.
  9. 9.0 9.1 Codex entry: The Ben-Hassrath
  10. Codex entry: Viddasala
  11. Conversation between Varric and Iron Bull
  12. BSN David Gaider"Game Informer: A Look At The Qunari, Evolved" . The BioWare Forum.
  13. According to Bas-taar in Dragon Age: Tevinter Nights, Three Trees to Midnight
  14. Dragon Age logo - new Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 2, pp. 239-240
  15. Per Tallis in Dragon Age: Redemption
  16. Per item description for the Bow of the Beresaad
  17. Codex entry: Calpernia
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