“If you seek the Anvil, then you must care about my story or be doomed to relive it.”
Caridin is a revered Paragon of the dwarves, who created the Anvil of the Void around -255 Ancient (940 TE). As a Paragon, he founded the noble House Caridin.
Background[]
Caridin was born during the First Blight when the surface world was ravaged by the darkspawn, his mother was a noblewoman of House Ortan and his father Smith caste worker. As per dwarven tradition, the male child inherits the caste of his father so Caridin became a smith. But his mother fought to keep him close, and devised a plan in which both father and son could serve House Ortan officially as smiths. Caridin proved from a young age his smithing talent and he often employed creative techniques in his work. A few years later he had taken most of his father's commissions and was entrusted with outfitting House Ortan's finest warriors, many of whom were also his close friends.[1]
House Caridin's heraldry
As more of the Deep Roads fell to the darkspawn, the dwarves became ever more desperate to push them back from their dwindling cities. Caridin envisioned a solution, based on a years-old idea, one that would turn the tide of battle in the dwarves' favor. The smith sequestered himself to his workshop, where he spent years refining his plans. When he finally emerged, he presented what he had made to the Assembly; the Anvil of the Void. Marrying the disciplines of smithing and lyrium enchantment, the Anvil allowed Caridin to create golems. In -255 Ancient, Caridin made the world's first golem[2], and for his achievement, he was declared a living Paragon by the Assembly and given his own noble house.[3] Following his ascendance, Caridin went on to design a stronghold for the Legion of the Dead, which was named Bownammar.
The golems allowed the dwarves to not only hold their ground against the darkspawn but push them back. Many victories were won against the darkspawn. But in -248 Ancient[4], after six years of constant output, Caridin and the Anvil vanished, and with them, the process of golem manufacture.
The dwarves mounted numerous expeditions to find the Anvil, but the darkspawn pushed them each time. One major operation was conducted during the second year of the reign of Queen Getha, not long after Caridin's disappearance. She sent the entire Legion of Steel, a total of 126 golems, but none of the golems returned. Due to the incalculable loss of the Legion of Steel, Queen Getha was deposed, and the Shaperate declared Caridin dead, extinguishing the dwarves' last kindle of hope of reclaiming their fallen empire.[5]
Caridin never mentioned the cost of such victory; namely the sacrifice of the lives of those who volunteered in order to animate the golems. He produced golems until King Valtor started using the Anvil to turn casteless, criminals, and political enemies into golems, instead of just volunteers.[6] Caridin objected, and in turn, was made into a golem himself. However, his apprentices knew not how to properly construct a control rod, allowing Caridin to retain his free will and mind. Caridin disappeared into the Deep Roads, taking his followers and the Anvil with him.[7] No one knew what became of Caridin until thousands of years later.
Shayle of House Cadash was the only woman who volunteered to become a golem. She was very loyal to Caridin and supported him against King Valtor. At some point however Caridin sent her away, "out of mercy".
Involvement[]
For years, Caridin entombed himself with the Anvil of the Void—trying to figure out a way to destroy it. No golem is able to touch it and since Caridin was a golem himself, neither can he. All Caridin can do was lay out traps through out the Dead Trenches to prevent anybody from finding it.
He is involved with the quest, A Paragon of Her Kind, in which the Warden can decide to either aid him or Branka. If the Warden decides to aid him, he will forge a crown for the new king of Orzammar, telling the Warden to give it to the candidate of their choice.
Caridin throwing himself into a river of lava.
Quests[]
Strategy[]
If Caridin eventually fights the Warden, it will be assisted by two normal stone golems and two elite stone golems as well, while Branka will be unable to assist. If Shale is in the party at the time, it will also turn hostile. As allies, the Warden has two normal stone golems. During the course of the battle, it is imperative that a party member is sent to collect every lyrium vein in the area as soon as possible, otherwise Caridin can use these to heal itself.
Quotes[]
- "The Anvil of the Void allowed me to forge a man of stone and steel, and because of it I was made into a Paragon."
- "Aye... trapped forever in my own creation. A fitting punishment, I suppose."
- "You have my eternal thanks, stranger. Atrast nal tunsha -- may you always find your way in the dark."
- (If turned hostile) "I cannot allow you to do this stranger. To me, golems! Defend the Anvil, whatever the cost!"
- (If Shale is present) "Ah, there is a voice I recognize. Shayle of House Cadash, step forward."
Codex entries[]
Notes[]
- For unknown reasons, if Paragon Caridin creates the crown for Orzammar's next king, he uses the ancient seal of House Ortan on the crown instead of the seal of his own house.[8]
- Despite the dwarves giving little credit to the Chantry's teachings and having no particular story related to the origins of the darkspawn, Caridin seems to believe the Chantry's version.[9]
Gallery[]
See also[]
References[]
- ↑
Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 2, p. 24
- ↑ Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 1, p. 32
- ↑ Codex entry: Orzammar History: Chapter Two
- ↑ Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 1, p. 33
- ↑ Codex entry: The Legion of Steel
- ↑ Caridin and Golems. BioWare wiki.
- ↑ Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 2, p. 91
- ↑ See this image.
- ↑ Codex entry: Caridin's Journal
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