The people of Thedas enjoy many leisure activities. Even in the face of great difficulty, people of all ages and backgrounds find pleasurable ways to pass the time.
Games[]
A pile of cards found in The Blooming Rose
Thedosians are partial to card games, and it is common that these games involve gambling. Places like Lowtown's gambling dens offer a place for rougher customers to try their luck.[1]
- Archon – likely a Tevene strategy game that involves pieces called Magister, Archon, and Black Divine (possibly more); the goal is for the magister to reach the throne at the center of the board; skilled players can perform a gambit that involves a move dubbed the "slave-sacrifice."[2]
- Chanson d'Argent – likely an Orlesian betting game played by Gamlen Amell.[3]
- Chess – a hexagonal form of this strategy game is played at Skyhold; a square version exists as well, as evidenced by the banter between Solas and Iron Bull who engage in a mental game of chess using the algebraic notation; the moves made by them are a recreation of the famous chess game The Immortal Game, with Solas's moves copying Anderssen's and Iron Bull's copying Kieseritzky's. The chess pieces themselves can go by different names, seemingly influenced by the players' background, as Solas takes to calling the Bishop pieces Mages while Iron Bull calls them Tamassrans. The same goes for Knights and Ben-Hassrath, and the Queen and Arishok, respectively. The Rook piece is referred to as a Tower by both.[4] The square version is Orlesian in origin and the pieces are sometimes made from ivory.[5]
- Wicked Grace – a card game similar to poker with an emphasis on deception, cleverness, and the matching of various hands of cards to achieve a numerically winning hand. The Inquisition possibly plays a "strip poker" variation of this game.
- Dead Man's Tricks – a betting game played by Gamlen Amell.[3]
- Diamondback – a game most commonly played by Dwarven Noble hunters, though not exclusively. It often involves a strip variation.[6] Fenris hosts a weekly game at his mansion.
- Shepherd's Six – a children's card game;[7] the name is a reference to the original six squadmates in Mass Effect.
Sports[]
Gamlen Amell's wallop mallet
Thedosians enjoy various sports as both casual pastimes and thrilling, possibly bloody competitions. Some sports, like jousting, are spectator sports.
- Archery – this sport is played during the Wintersend tournaments in Nevarra.[8]
- Ice skating – during the winter in Nevarra, people often skate on the frozen over Minanter river.[8]
- Jousting – a sport popular in the Free Marches and played during Grand Tourneys. Reeve Asa and Lady Honorine Chastain are known players.[9]
- Racing – this sport is played in Tevinter. It is unknown whether it entails chariot, horse, or footraces.[10]
- Rock climbing – while not strictly for recreational purposes, the Avvar use rock climbing contests to settle disputes.[11]
- Sword fighting – Nevarran Wintersend tournaments usually feature this among other tests of arms.[8]
- Wallop – Gamlen Amell played this croquet-style game in his youth. His mallet was carved from the Kirkwall alienage's vhenadahl.[12]
- Wrestling – often the result of mundane drunkenness,[13] though some events are more formal, as is the case with gladiator-style public battles in Tevinter.[10]
Entertainment[]
A dance at the Winter Palace
Upper class Thedosians are the most likely patrons of the performing arts, but street shows open to the general public also occur.[14]
- Dances – at high society occasions like the ball at the Winter Palace, dances are a must. Dances mentioned include the Remigold (described as being the cancan in localization notes in the Dragon Age: Origins toolset)[15], the Dance of Six Candles[16], the waltz[17], the tourdion[18], the galliard[8], the allemande[19], and the courante[20], the latter five being real life dances. Anders jokingly mentions doing a dance called "Anders' Spicy Shimmy"[21] and Carver Hawke is known to do a jig to cheer his siblings up.[22] Lace Harding offers to teach dance lessons at Skyhold.[23]
- Opera – not much is known about opera in Thedas, though it appears to enjoy popularity in Antiva. Carlota Montivecchio, nicknamed 'the Songbird,' was a famous opera singer who was targeted by the Antivan Crows.[24] High opera is known to use ornate puppetry.[14]
- Puppetry – Antiva has a long history of puppetry, and Orlais takes many of these puppetry traditions from them as well. While the primary purpose of puppet shows is to entertain, many street shows comment on political issues. The Antivan Crows are known to use these shows as a way to send public messages. The Antivan tradition of puppetry might have been influenced by Antivan Dalish clans' habit of building "forest marionettes" to scare humans away from their clans. The most famous puppet shows are baroquely ornate creations created for high opera or religious festivals. In the Dragon Age, shadow puppetry has risen in popularity. One notable production featuring puppetry is The Fall of Elderath, a puppet play about Andraste's father.[14]
Theater[]
A laser light show in Minrathous
In the Tevinter Imperium, laser light show "movies" created through magic are shown.[26] The Grande Royeaux Theater in Val Royeaux is an important representation of Orlesian cultural heritage and is considered unique for its use of Chantry sanctioned mages to provide visual effects.[27] During his reign, Mad Emperor Reville had restricted the theater to wordless pantomimes for fear plays were being used to foment rebellion, while Emperor Florian had nearly shut the theater down for making light of the Orlesian occupation of Ferelden.[27]
Notable plays[]
- Death in the Mansion, by Violette Armand – the first play to use "False Face", or characters changing masks during the story. Though highly controversial at the time, it has become unremarkable in recent history.[28]
- The Heir of Verchiel, by Paul Legrand – its first performance featured city elf Victor Boyet in the lead role, who was so well received the emperor rose from his seat when Boyet took the stage.[28]
- The Setting of the Light, by Lumiere Bartlet – historians claim that the play's conclusion was at once so hauntingly beautiful and shockingly vile it sparked the Great Riot of Val Royeaux in 4:52 Black. Only 14 pages remain today.[28]
- The Sword of Drakon: an Examination of the Life and History of the Father of Orlais, by Marquise Freyette – the first play to portray Drakon as a man beset by doubts, now a staple of Orlesian theater.[28]
- Wilkshire Downs, by A. Pourri – an enduringly popular play about heavily stereotyped Fereldans in which flatulence plays a major role.[28]
- Unnamed play about Andraste – this play was performed at the Grande Royeaux Theatre. The plot centers around Andraste being punished by Maferath for taking the elf Shartan as her lover; a thinly veiled attack on Empress Celene's secret affair with her handmaiden Briala orchestrated by Grand Duke Gaspard.[27]
Literature[]
Books, aside from being a source of knowledge, are also an important form of entertainment in Thedas. Though the ability to read is not widespread in the general populace, it's prevalent among mages and wealthy classes of society.[29] The invention of printing press[30] has allowed literature to become more accessible. Some books are widely known across Thedas, accruing fans among nobility and commonfolk alike.
Notable books[]
Hard in Hightown
Cover of Sword & Shields
- The Dasher's Men, by Varric Tethras, features the feud between two Carta clans, with a pair of casteless brothers.[31]
- Darktown's Deal, by Varric Tethras, a serial about the Coterie of Kirkwall.[31]
- The Viper's Nest, by Varric Tethras, a story about an elven courtier that gets in the friction between the two families in the Dwarven Merchants Guild.[31]
- Hard in Hightown, by Varric Tethras, features the clash between agents of the Divine and the Executors over a mysterious artifact, with a weary member of the Kirkwall City Guard, Donnen Brennokovic, caught between the fronts. It has become the widest-read book in Thedas outside of Tevinter.[31]
- Hard in Hightown: Siege Harder, a sequel to Hard in Hightown.[32]
- Hard in Hightown 3: The Re-Punchening, by Worthy, an unathorized continuation of Hard in Hightown series.[33]
- In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of a Chantry Scholar, by Ferdinand Genitivi, a collection of entries detailing Thedosian history, geography, culture, architecture, and so on. It used to be the most popular book on the continent until Hard in Hightown overtook it.[31]
- The Seer's Yarn: A Treasury of Tales for Children All Over, by Seer Agata, a collection of fairy tales from all over Thedas.[34]
- Swords & Shields, by Varric Tethras, a romance series about a guard-captain that falls in love with a Templar knight-captain.[35]
- The Tale of the Champion, by Varric Tethras, a story about the rise of his close friend Hawke and their involvement in the Kirkwall Rebellion.[36]
- Tales of the Inquisition's Agents, by Varric Tethras, a story about the adventures of the various agents of the Inquisition.[37]
- All This Shit is Weird, by Varric Tethras, a story of the Herald of Andraste and the adventures of the Inquisition.[38]
Music[]
Maryden and Zither in Val Royeaux
Music is a popular form of entertainment that can be found in both humble taverns and grand events like the ball at the Winter Palace. Bards such as Maryden Halewell are professional singers, and musicians such as Zither are known to hold concerts.
Known artists[]
- Apostacy – this band opened for Zither once.[39]
- Bluebird Coop – a possible reference to the performance art band Blue Man Group, Zither describes them as "avant-garde rubbish."[40]
- Evading Demons – Zither opened for them early in his career. They possibly lost their singer to an abomination.[41]
- Fuchsia Lotus – a possible reference to the artist Flying Lotus. Zither mentions they had a song called “I Need to Live” or “Hey! Don’t Kill Me!”, but he does not recall exactly.[39]
- Gemstone and the Oculara – a possible reference to the fictional band Gem and the Holograms. Zither describes them as marvelous, sexy, and possessing "mad skills."[42]
- Maryden Halewell
- Spymaster – Zither mentions playing a couple of sets with this band in Montsimmard once and that they are "great musicians, but rubbish in the sack."[40]
- ZITHER!
List of named songs[]
- Andraste's Mabari
- Empress of Fire
- Enchanters
- Hero in Every Port (Ballad of Nuggins)
- I Am the One
- King Meghren's Mabari – a Fereldan folk song where King Meghren is comically frustrated at every turn by rough Fereldan culture, including an incident in which a mabari eats his prized mask. While initially popular, the song lost popularity after the Orlesian occupation ended in 9:02 Dragon.[43]
- The Lack of Silence[44] – possibly a reference to "The Sound of Silence" by Simon & Garfunkel.
- The Little Bluebird of Summer[45]
- Maker
- Nightingale's Eyes
- Oh, Grey Warden
- Once We Were
- Rise
- Saga of Tyrdda Bright-Axe, Avvar-Mother
- Samson's Tale
- Sera Was Never
- She of the Highwaymen Repents
- Shred of Blue
- Skyhold Garden
- Take Back the Sky: a Tavern Cheer
- The Bull's Chargers' Song[46]
- The Girl in Red Crossing
- The Red-Breasted Robin – a lute tune known for its intricate melodies that Leandra Amell mastered at the age of eight.[47]
- The Silver Knight
- The Soldier and the Seawolf – a sea chantey describing the first meeting between Bryce Cousland, an officer in King Maric's army, and Eleanor Mac Eanraig, the Seawolf. Later on, Bryce tried to propose to Eleanor by singing the chantey in full, but she stopped him after three verses.[48]
- The Storm Coast's Claim
- Three Little Empresses
Instruments[]
Concept art of Orlesian musical instruments from The Art of Dragon Age: Inquisition
Concept art of Fereldan musical instruments from The Art of Dragon Age: Inquisition
- Bicorder[49]
- Lillo Flute[50]
- Long Horn[49][51]
- Lute[52]
- Megalute[49]
- Tingler[49]
- Tremelo[49]
- Urhu[49]
- Wazoon[49]
Toys[]
Alistair using the Grey Warden hand puppet
While most of these objects are playthings intended for children, some can be given as gifts to adults.
- Alistair doll
- Antique porcelain doll
- Antivan pirate doll – The Anchoress is gifted this by her father as a child. The waistcoat is real silk, the boots have little brass buckles, and the stitching is gold thread.[53]
- Carved ivory toy horse
- Grey warden hand puppet
- Mabari toy – given to Shianni by Cyrion Tabris when she was a child to ease her fears.[54]
- Misshapen Child's Doll
- Miss Maggie – Delilah Howe's favorite childhood doll. As a boy, Nathaniel ripped the doll's arms off.[55]
- Moldy rag doll
- Pet rock
- Small painted box – Sera mentions playing with one as a child.
- Tattered doll
- Teddy bear
- Toy chariot
- Toy horse
- Toy soldier – A popular toy across Thedas that comes in many different varieties, including Ander, Antivan, Avvar, Dalish, Dwarven, Fereldan, Nevarran, Orlesian, Qunari, Rivaini, and Tevinter.
- Wooden toy sword
- Wyvern toy – given as a third birthday gift to Prince Baldewin Augustin of the Anderfels on behalf of the Inquisition.[56]
Other[]
A bathhouse in Minrathous
- Beaches – Isabela and Hawke can both express a desire for relaxing on the beach.[57][58]
- Boating – Dorian mentions his family's servants taking him out boating during the summer.[59]
- Hunting – trophy hunting is a popular activity for both the sake of sport and accruing status among more wealthy Thedosians. The Montfort family have an annual wyvern hunt to keep the population down.[60]
- Spas and bathhouses – during Trespasser, Vivienne can invite the Inquisitor to the Imperial Gardens Spa at the Winter Palace, where they use miniature cheese wheels on the eyes as some sort of luxury treatment. Minrathous also has a Roman style bathhouse and adjoining massage parlor that Calpernia visits.[61]
Codex entries[]
Trivia[]
The Builder's Tower puzzle from The Descent is a variation of the Towers of Hanoi puzzle
- Lord Enzo of Antiva attends the theatre on the same night each week.[62]
- Hawke's mabari is known to play Diamondback with Varric, a reference to the famous "Dogs Playing Poker" painting.[63]
- Diamondback is a reference to the card game of the same name from the comic series Cerebus. A real set of Diamondback cards was produced.[64]
- Josephine Montilyet is said to secretly still play with her doll collection.[65]
- Two nobles at the Winter Palace can be heard discussing the rules to 'Towers of Hanoi', a famous puzzle game which has become a BioWare running gag and was used in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Mass Effect, Mass Effect 3's Citadel DLC, and in Dragon Age: Inquisition's The Descent DLC. A gravestone in Haven reads "T.O. Hanoi. Unloved, unmourned."
- Developers planned to include a playable form of "dwarven chess" in Dragon Age: Inquisition; they worked on the project during "DA Week"–a five-day period when they can pursue various ideas. In the end, however, they didn't implement the dwarven chess and only referenced it.[66]
