Changes: Phylactery

Revision as of 16:12, 27 August 2013

A phylactery is a vessel, often a glass vial, containing the essence of a magical being. The Circle of Magi and the Chantry use small phylacteries filled with blood—taken from apprentice magi—to track down mages that turn apostate.

Background

In Ferelden, the phylacteries of apprentice mages are kept in the basement of the Circle Tower behind protective wards, but those of full mages and enchanters are kept at an undisclosed location in Denerim. It seems that phylacteries are transferred off-site soon after a mage's Harrowing. Phylacteries of all first enchanters were stored in the White Spire, an Orlesian Circle and the Templar Order stronghold. However, during the events of Dragon Age: Asunder the phylactery chambers of the White Spire were destroyed.

Workings

Phylacteries, ironically, are a form of blood magic.^[1] When a templar wishes to track down a fugitive mage they will use the phylactery as a way of homing in on the fugitive by way of a "hot and cold" situation, i.e., the phylactery glows, becoming brighter the closer it gets to its respective mage.^[2] If the mage dies, the phylactery will no longer glow.^[3] It can be even used to remotely cast a spell on its owner mage.^[4]

A rogue templar from the Gallows used a phylactery to track an escaped qunari mage, a saarebas, in a web series based on Dragon Age, Dragon Age: Redemption. The mage's phylactery was made into a necklace that works like a compass. It is implied that being in close proximity to one's phylactery weakens its owner, but it is unknown whether that is an error in writing of the series or not.

Mages who join the Grey Wardens are allowed to leave the Circle of Magi and are technically supposed to be exempt from Templar scrutiny, but as is in the case of Anders, Grey Warden phylacteries are kept by the Templars as possible means of insurance.

Trivia

Originally a Greek word (phylacterion) denoting amulet, safeguard or guard-house. In many forms of fantasy fiction, a phylactery is the vessel for the soul of an undead monster, particularly a Lich.

References

↑ Thedas UK (January 14, 2012). "David Gaider Interview". Retrieved January 29, 2012.
↑ http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/9386107
↑ Dragon Age: Asunder
↑ Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 1, p. 100

[Thedas_UK-1] Thedas UK (January 14, 2012). "David Gaider Interview". Retrieved January 29, 2012.

[2] ttp://www.ustream.tv/recorded/9386107

[3] Dragon Age: Asunder

[4] Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 1, p. 100

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 == Workings ==
-Phylacteries, ironically, are a form of [[blood magic]].<ref name="Thedas UK">Thedas UK (January 14, 2012). [http://swooping-is-bad.livejournal.com/1286233.html "David Gaider Interview"]. Retrieved January 29, 2012.</ref> When a [[Templar Order|templar]] wishes to track down a fugitive mage they will use the phylactery as a way of homing in on the fugitive by way of a "hot and cold" situation, i.e., the phylactery glows and the glow grows more intense the closer the templar gets to the mage they are tracking.<ref>http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/9386107</ref> If the mage dies, the phylactery no longer glows.<ref>''[[Dragon Age: Asunder]]''</ref> The phylactery can be even used to remotely cast a spell on a fugitive mage.<ref>{{Cite wot|100}}</ref>
+Phylacteries, ironically, are a form of [[blood magic]].<ref name="Thedas UK">Thedas UK (January 14, 2012). [http://swooping-is-bad.livejournal.com/1286233.html "David Gaider Interview"]. Retrieved January 29, 2012.</ref> When a [[Templar Order|templar]] wishes to track down a fugitive mage they will use the phylactery as a way of homing in on the fugitive by way of a "hot and cold" situation, i.e., the phylactery glows, becoming brighter the closer it gets to its respective mage.<ref>http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/9386107</ref> If the mage dies, the phylactery will no longer glow.<ref>''[[Dragon Age: Asunder]]''</ref> It can be even used to remotely cast a spell on its owner mage.<ref>{{Cite wot|100}}</ref>
 [[File:Cairn using phylactery.jpg|right|180px]]
-A rogue templar from the [[The Gallows|Gallows]] used a phylactery to track an escaped [[Qunari|qunari]] mage, a [[Saarebas (Dragon Age: Redemption)|Saarebas]] in a web series based on [[Dragon Age]], [[Dragon Age: Redemption]]. The mage's phylactery was made into a necklace that works like a compass. It is implied that being in close proximity to one's phylactery weakens its owner, but it is unknown whether that is an error in writing of the series or not.
+A rogue templar from the [[The Gallows|Gallows]] used a phylactery to track an escaped [[Qunari|qunari]] mage, a [[Saarebas (Dragon Age: Redemption)|saarebas]], in a web series based on [[Dragon Age]], [[Dragon Age: Redemption]]. The mage's phylactery was made into a necklace that works like a compass. It is implied that being in close proximity to one's phylactery weakens its owner, but it is unknown whether that is an error in writing of the series or not.
 Mages who join the [[Grey Wardens]] are allowed to leave the [[Circle of Magi]] and are technically supposed to be exempt from Templar scrutiny, but as is in the case of [[Anders]], Grey Warden phylacteries are kept by the Templars as possible means of insurance.