Hakkon Wintersbreath (deity)

Hakkon Winterbreath is one of the Avvar's three main deities. He is the god of war, as well as the Lord of Winter.^[1] He is also seen as the god of death, as while the dead belong to the Lady of the Skies, it is Hakkon who must first release them to her domain.^[2] Avvar warriors train in the martial arts in order to be found worthy by Hakkon and Hakkon in turn was said to grant such warriors who earned his favor with a natural intuition or a second wind during battle.^[3]

The Avvar say that Hakkon fell silent centuries ago for an unknown reason.

This section contains spoilers for:
Dragon Age: Inquisition.

Hakkon was bound to a dragon during the Second Blight by the first generation of the Jaws of Hakkon. Learning that Hakkon's power would make the dragon almost as strong as an Archdemon, and knowing that Orlais couldn't withstand a combined assault from the Avvar moving northward under Hakkon and the darkspawn pouring south from the Anderfels under the control of Zazikel, Inquisitor Ameridan and his party were sent by Emperor Kordillus Drakon I to prevent the possessed dragon from unleashing havoc on all of Orlais. Ameridan was only able to confine the dragon with time magic, and has been held in stasis with the dragon for centuries. In contemporary times, a new generation of the Hakkonites seek to unleash Hakkon's fury on Thedas and the new Inquisitor foils their plans by slaying Hakkon's dragon vessel; thus freeing Hakkon's spirit and allowing him to return to all Avvar.

Legends[]

The Ptarmigan[]

Korth the Mountain-Father once took his heart out of his chest and hid it within the Frostback Mountains to avoid being weakened by love. When his lack of heart turned him bitter and cruel, the Lady of the Skies sent her children to retrieve it. The tiny ptaarmigan succeeded where all other birds had failed and freed Korth's heart from the cask where he had hidden it. When the heart leapt back into Korth's chest, Hakkon bound it with three bands of iron and three bands of ice, so it could never again escape. For her great deed, the ptarmigan was honored above even the loftiest eagle by all the gods.^[4]

Symbols and shrines[]

Avvar decals hakkon — Avvar symbol found in the Frostback Basin

Some warriors who prove their vigilance, wisdom, or valor are granted special weapons to perform his will. Hakkon's Honor was bestowed on those who kept watch in his name during the darkest hours, Hakkon's Mercy to warriors and skywatchers to end the suffering of the dying on the battlefield, Hakkon's Valor to one of his champions to wage war in his name, Hakkon's Wisdom to augurs willing to put their visions to practical use on the battlefield, and Hakkon's Wrath to those who swore to avenge great wrongs through bloody battle.

The shards, which are referred to as elfstones by the Avvar, can be revealed with Hakkon's help and used to enter the cave that hold the mystery of winter.^[5]

The test in his honor is to do battle with blunted weapons.^[3]

Constellation Fulmenos, also known as the Thunderbolt, might be linked to Hakkon. It depicts a bolt of lightning thrown by a wrathful god, though there is significant debate over which god it's supposed to be. Similar symbols can be found near Avvar settlements.^[6]

Codex entries[]

Codex entry: The Avvars

Codex entry: The Frostback Mountains

Codex entry: Journal of Gurd Harofsen

Codex entry: Leather-Bound Hakkonite Journal

Notes[]

In Awakening, Hakkon's name is spelled Haakon.

Trivia[]

The following information is only mentioned in Dragon Age Tabletop. Certain portions of this media may no longer reflect currently established lore.

Hakkon is Korth the Mountain-Father's firstborn son. He is master of the two bitter colds of frost and steel, and respect for him and his power leads the Avvars to follow him into battle: they prefer to raid and wage war in winter, when their resistance to the cold gives them the advantage over lowlanders.^[7]

Gallery[]