Halamshiral

“We were going home. And so we walked. […] And the gods rewarded those of us who did not waver by bringing us to the Dales. Our people called the new city Halamshiral—"the end of the journey." And for a time, it was home.” ―Keeper Gisharel^[1]

Halamshiral is a city in Orlais and the former capital of the Dales. It is situated in the eastern part of the country, south of the Waking Sea and close to the border with Ferelden.

History[]

Halamshiral was built by the elves at the end of The Long Walk sometime between -165 and -140 Ancient, its name meaning "the end of the journey" in the elven language. It was built just off the Imperial Highway so that elves from all corners of the world could find it easily by simply following the Highway. The city was under elven control for nearly 300 years. It was conquered by Orlais in 2:20 Glory during the Exalted March of the Dales.

The Winter Palace, which was rebuilt on the ruins of Chateau Lion by Emperor Judicael I, is the most prominent structure in Halamshiral and the seasonal retreat of the Imperial Court.

Involvement[]

Dragon Age: The Masked Empire[]

This section contains spoilers for:
Dragon Age: The Masked Empire.

In 9:40 Dragon, the city elves of Halamshiral start to rebel after Lemet, a well-liked elven trader, is brutally killed after taking the blame for a child who threw a rock at Lord Mainserai's coach. Mainserai's actions ostracize him from his fellow nobles. Some choose to leave for their autumn estates, while others, such as Comte Pierre, remain in the city and double their guards in hopes that the situation will calm down.

Eventually, Empress Celene's handmaid and lover, Briala, convinces the Empress to assassinate Mainserai to appease the elves. While she succeeds, Celene decides to have her troops burn down the elven slums in Halamshiral to quell the uprising, as well as rumors of her leniency towards elves and her illicit relationship with Briala. Grand Duke Gaspard de Chalons takes advantage of the situation to ambush Celene, attempting to kill her to claim the throne for himself. The Empress' forces are routed, Celene herself flees into the countryside with her champion, Ser Michel de Chevin, and Orlais descends into civil war. Gaspard is able to coerce Comte Pierre into telling him Celene's intended destination by threatening to burn down Halamshiral to locate her.^[2]

Celene later reclaims Halamshiral after summoning Pierre to the Winter Palace and having him reaffirm his loyalty to her.

Dragon Age: Inquisition[]

This section contains spoilers for:
Dragon Age: Inquisition.

The Winter Palace is chosen by Grand Duchess Florianne de Chalons to hold the peace talks between Empress Celene, Grand Duke Gaspard de Chalons, and Briala. The Inquisitor attends the masquerade to find Corypheus' assassin hiding among the guests. The assassin turns out to be none other than Grand Duchess Florianne. The Inquisitor foils her plan to plunge Orlais into chaos by putting an end to the War of the Lions and determining its victor: Empress Celene or Emperor Gaspard.

Trespasser[]

This section contains spoilers for:
Trespasser.

In 9:44 Dragon, Ferelden, Orlais and the Chantry come together to call an Exalted Council to determine the fate of the Inquisition as an independent order. The Winter Palace is chosen as the site to hold the council. With the assistance of the Agents of Fen'Harel, the Inquisitor stops the Viddasala from destroying the Winter Palace as a prelude to Qunari invasion of the southern nations.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard[]

This section contains spoilers for:
Dragon Age: The Veilguard.

The strange, new darkspawn that Elgar'nan and Ghilan'nain had deployed to southern Thedas have spread fear and corruption greater than any previous Blight in history. Darkspawn have cut through the center of Orlais. Halamshiral is barely holding out.^[3]

Culture[]

Halamshiral is mostly populated by elves and therefore has no alienage. Humans that form the privileged minority live separately in the High Quarter instead.^[2]

According to Fenris, a large Arlathvhen (gathering of Dalish clans) was planned to commence in Halamshiral sometime between 9:31 and 9:37 Dragon.^[4]