- See Dragon Age: Inquisition for information on the game with the same name.
“Into darkness, unafraid.” ―Old Inquisition motto[1]
The first Inquisition was a group of people who, following the First Blight, rose up to defend Thedas from the dangers of magic and heretics. The Inquisition later joined with the Chantry and became the Seekers of Truth and the Templar Order.[10] The Inquisition is reformed midway through the Dragon Age to investigate a new threat to Thedas.[11]
The Inquisition of old
In the years before the founding of the Chantry and the start of the Divine Age, Thedas was plunged into chaos. The First Blight had ended, the Imperium had broken apart following Andraste's March, and despite the spread of the Maker's teachings, blood mages and Old Gods cults were widespread.[10] The Inquisition was formed around -100 Ancient[12] with the goal of protecting the people from the tyranny of magic in whatever form it might take; blood mages, abominations, cultists or heretics.[13] A loose association of Andrastian hard-liners, the group combed the land in search of these threats and some say theirs was a reign of terror.[14] Others say they were cast in a negative light by history because their investigations and even application of justice, protecting both mages and common people impartially, crossed too many powerful groups. In these accounts it is suggested that the group was already known as the Seekers of Truth and that the "Inquisition" moniker was perhaps pejorative.[15]
In 1:20 Divine, the newly founded Chantry found common cause with the Inquisition and they signed the Nevarran Accord.[16] As part of the agreement, the Inquisition became the new martial arm of the Chantry, the Templar Order, and its senior members became known as the Seekers of Truth. Another result was the creation of the Circle of Magi,[16] with the templars serving as wardens for the Circles.
The modern Inquisition
“As of this moment, I declare the Inquisition reborn. We will close the Breach, we will restore order, with or without your approval.” ―Cassandra Pentaghast
Some time after the Revolt at the White Spire in 9:40, the Inquisition is reformed. Like its ancient predecessor, the new Inquisition is an independent body, beholden to none. The reformed organization's mission is to track down and suppress the agents of chaos threatening Thedas, close the Breach, and restore order. The Inquisition's sovereignty however is derived from the allies who validate it and as the Inquisition's influence spreads, many will begin to look to it as a beacon of law that must bring justice upon criminal parties. What form that justice takes however is dependent on how the Inquisitor applies it to each situation. Sometimes the Inquisition's allies will request the Inquisition's expertise on other matters, such as counsel or protection.
The modern Inquisition, in a fledgling state, begins with the interrogation of Varric Tethras by Seeker Cassandra Pentaghast. [17] The Inquisition's reconstruction is, in fact, a back-up plan by Divine Justinia V in case of a calamity within the Chantry or if her attempt to restore peace between mages and templars failed.[18] Justinia hoped that with enough support, the Inquisition could challenge the very tenets of the Chantry to enforce rights for mages. The Divine's servants searched for a worthy candidate to lead the Inquisition, such as the Warden or Hawke, but they both had disappeared.
Following the massive explosion that killed the Divine and conclave, Thedas falls into chaos as the Breach threatens to consume the world. The late Divine's writ was invoked by her Hands, Cassandra Pentaghast and Leliana, declaring the Inquisition reborn and independent of Chantry authority. However, the Chantry has denounced the Inquisition, calling them heretics for harbouring the Inquisitor, who had been labeled the Herald of Andraste by witnesses from the failed conclave at the Temple of Sacred Ashes.
After either allying with or conscripting the mage rebels or templars, the Inquisitor manages to seal the Breach. But the celebrations are cut short, as Haven comes under attack by Corypheus. The Inquisitor distracts him long enough for the village to be evacuated before causing an avalanche to bury his army and the village. When the Inquisitor reunites with the Inquisition, the Herald leads them to Skyhold, where the Inquisitor is formally declared their leader.
The Inquisition later leads a siege of Adamant Fortress to stop Venatori magister Livius Erimond from binding Grey Warden mages to Corypheus, enabling the darkspawn to control an army of demons. In the aftermath, the Inquisitor can either ally with the surviving Wardens or banish them from Orlais.
After the resolution of the Orlesian Civil War, Orlais formally allies with the Inquisition and they march on the Arbor Wilds to purge the remainder of Corypheus' army. Unfortunately, Corypheus returns to the Temple of Sacred Ashes to reopen the Breach, forcing the Inquisitor to engage him without the support of the army.
Following Corypheus' defeat, the Inquisition received renown throughout southern Thedas. However, Morrigan predicts that the Inquisitor's foes hide in the shadows, waiting to strike, but shall face the full might of the Inquisition when the day comes.
Members of the Inquisition
Leadership
- The Inquisitor — The leader of the modern Inquisition.
- Cullen — A templar who is in charge of commanding the Inquisition's Forces.
- Josephine Montilyet — An ambassador who is in charge of maintaining the Inquisition's Connections.
- Leliana — A bard acting as spymaster in charge of collecting the Inquisition's Secrets, in addition to being co-founder of the Inquisition, officially addressed as a seneschal. Also formerly the Left Hand of the Divine.
Notable members
- Argent, an agent
- Belinda Darrow, an agent
- Cassandra Pentaghast, a companion and co-founder of the Inquisition (also formerly the Right Hand of the Divine)
- Cillian, an agent
- Dagna, Arcanist of the Inquisition
- Hall, an agent
- Helisma Derington, a tranquil mage scholar
- Katari, an agent
- Korbin, an agent
- Lace Harding, head scout and lieutenant
- Luka, an agent
- Minaeve, a mage scholar
- Neria, an agent
- Rion, an agent
- Rosslin, a corporal
- Rylen, a former Templar and Cullen's second-in-command
- Sidony, an agent
- Solas, a companion and elven apostate
- Tamar, an agent
- Thornton, an agent
- Varric Tethras, a companion and a deshyr of the Dwarven Merchants' Guild
Recruitable members
- See also: Agents
- Blackwall, a companion and a Grey Warden
- Cole, a companion and (before coming to Thedas) a Spirit of Compassion
- Dorian, a companion and Altus mage of the Tevinter Imperium
- Iron Bull, a companion and company head of the Bull's Chargers
- Sera, a companion and a ranking member of the Friends of Red Jenny
- Vivienne, a companion and First Enchanter of Montsimmard
Heraldry
- After the establishment of the Nevarra Accord the Inquisition divided into the Templar Order & the Seekers of Truth. This is reflected in their heraldries, as the Inquisition's sigil was split in two: the Blade of Mercy became the Templars' icon, while the all-seeing eye became the crest of the Seekers of Truth.
Trivia
- In The Sims 3 University Life there are various mobile phone skins, one called "Age of Dragon" which has an Inquisition theme.[19]
See also
Codex entry: The Seekers of Truth
Codex entry: The History of the Chantry: Chapter 4
Codex entry: The First Inquisition
Gallery
References
- ↑ Party banter between Cassandra and Sera
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ [2]
- ↑ Dragon Age: Inquisition Developer Interview with BioWare's Cameron Lee - AusGamers.com 23rd April, 2014
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Dragon Age: Inquisition on Twitch
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 www.gameinformer.com - The Return Of Races In Dragon Age: Inquisition
- ↑ From Bioware Twitch Stream, 25 October, 2014. http://youtu.be/bKSxPWkGFMw?t=6m28s
- ↑ Rosslin.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 PC Gamer Magazine: Issue 246, pp 24-25
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Thedas UK (January 14, 2012). "David Gaider Interview". Retrieved September 17, 2012.
- ↑ www.gameinformer.com - September Cover Revealed – Dragon Age: Inquisition
- ↑ Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 1, p. 50
- ↑ "On Templars, Raiders, City Guards and The Coterie". Official BioWare blog. Retrieved September 17, 2012.
- ↑ Codex entry: The Seekers of Truth
- ↑ Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 1, p. 106
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Gaider, D. Dragon Age: Asunder. Epilogue. p. 412.
- ↑ Varric Character Profile.
- ↑ AusGamers Interview with Cameron Lee.
- ↑ See caption from The Sims 3 University Life.
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