Genlock

Genlock
Variations	Genlock Genlock alpha Genlock archer Genlock assassin acolyte Genlock conjurer Genlock emissary Genlock forge master Genlock necromancer Genlock rogue Genlock runner Genlock shadow Genlock shapechanger Golem master
Appearances	Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne Dragon Age: The Calling A Tale of Orzammar Dragon Age: Origins Dragon Age: Journeys Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening Dragon Age II Dragon Age Legends Heroes of Dragon Age Dragon Age (tabletop RPG) Dragon Age: Inquisition The Descent

Genlocks are a stocky, numerous breed of darkspawn.

Background

Most numerous of the darkspawn by far, genlocks are tough and stocky fighters with a penchant for wickedly hooked axes. Unlike the majority of their brethren, they are swift to take up the more complicated weapons of their enemies, employing siege engines in battle and using clever traps to defend any terrain they control. Ferelden's Circle of Magi believes that their propensity to mine the Deep Roads for lyrium has given genlocks a resistance to magic, for they’ve been known to shrug off spells in battle with little effect. Genlocks tend to be slightly shorter than dwarves with pale white or yellowish skin. They are invariably bald, with deepset eyes and sunken cheeks. Their voices are low and harsh, punctuated by occasional grunts.

Genlock alphas are the strongest, quickest, and most cunning of their kind, bullying their way into the leadership of bands of lesser genlocks. They tend to be taller and more heavily muscled than their brethren, and have a more commanding presence, although their demeanor is more swagger and bluster than cool leadership.

Particularly cunning genlock alphas cultivate skill as sorcerers and become emissaries. However, emissaries generally only appear during a Blight, acting to rally darkspawn and carry out the more sensitive or intricate plans of the rising Archdemon. Like all darkspawn casters, genlock emissaries wield blight magic that draws on the taint rather than the Fade, allowing them to bypass the resistance to conventional magic inherited from dwarven broodmothers.

It’s not clear how genlock emissaries are able to cast spells so effectively while armored. Some Grey Warden scholars theorize that the emissaries’ magic is similar enough to blood magic (which draws directly on the blood rather than the Fade) that the emissaries can ignore the magic-damping effects of armor by simply pillaging their minions’ life force to fuel their spellcasting.

Known variations

Script found in the Wonders of Thedas which provides an analysis on genlocks

Rogues

• Genlock runner. Nimble and quick, these small genlocks are used as bait for traps. Very few are ever encountered, but when they are, it's most likely to happen in the Deep Roads.
• Genlock archer. These genlocks are the ranged fighters of their kin, and will keep their distance if cornered.
• Genlock rogue. These have the ability to use stealth, and can switch from daggers to crossbows and other ranged weapons if need be.
• Genlock assassin acolyte. This upgraded form of genlock rogue fights in small groups, and is tough in tight quarters.
• Genlock assassin. These are simply rogues with assassin skills, such as Mark of Death.
• Genlock master assassin. Perhaps the deadliest of all rogue type genlocks, this creature has the abilities of the Genlock Assassin with massively superior stats.
• Genlock shadow.These have the ability to use stealth and decoy, and they use daggers.

Warriors

• Genlock. These are the common infantry of the darkspawn horde, cannon fodder more than anything else.
• Genlock alpha. These stocky beasts are the commanders and generals of the genlock forces, bullying the others into line with group buff abilities.
• Genlock forge master. The strongest of all genlocks, this master of two-handed weapons rarely leaves the Dead Trenches, where he resides, making weapons and armor for his brethren. It fights surrounded by archers and hurlocks, and wields an enchanted war maul.

Mages

• Genlock emissary. Very few darkspawn can learn magic, but those that can are called emissaries.
• Genlock shapechanger. This rare darkspawn can become all manner of the Blight beasts, and can attack the party in these changed forms.
• Golem Master. Appearing in the ruins of Kal Hirol, this Genlock uses a stolen Control Rod to activate the very golems the city built to kill its brethren.
• Genlock conjurer. This is the rarest and most powerful of all emissary type genlocks, able to summon demons, and direct them towards the Conjurer's enemies.
• Genlock necromancer. A Emissary that has learned to bind simple demons to the bodies of the dead, including other darkspawn. When they appear as bosses, they may be immune to Mana Clash.

Locations

Dragon Age: Origins

• The Genlock Conjurer, Shapechanger and Master Assassin are all found on the Main Floor of Fort Drakon during the the Battle of Denerim.
  • The Genlock conjurer fights alongside one Greater shade and five Lesser shades.
  • The Genlock master assassin is accompanied by four Assassin Acolytes.
  • The Genlock shapechanger is surrounded by several Devouring and Enraged Corpses and a Hurlock Emissary.
  • The Genlock forge master is located in the Dead Trenches.

Notes

• The darkspawn were redesigned for the purposes of Dragon Age II, and the genlocks seem to be among the most heavily affected. Regular Genlocks are much more beast-like in appearance, using their heavy-set arms to support their weight, much like a gorilla. In addition to sporting the new skin and armor similar to those of other darkspawn, the redesigned genlock Alphas in particular are much larger: about the size of a bronto and are extremely tough, wielding massive tower shields in deadly charge attacks. They only appear in the Legacy DLC. This design was later used, and upgraded for Dragon Age: Inquisition's The Descent DLC.

Gallery

Concept Art

Concept art for Dragon Age II

A Genlock as depicted in Dragon Age II

A Genlock Brute in Heroes of Dragon Age

A Genlock as depicted in Dragon Age: Inquisition

See also

Codex entry: Genlock

Codex entry: Genlock

Codex entry: Genlock