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{{SpoilerDAI|[[Corypheus]] rejects the accusation that they "brought darkness into the world", asserting that they "''discovered'' the darkness", "claimed it as their own, let it permeate their being".<ref name=CM>[[Corypheus's Memories]]</ref> |
{{SpoilerDAI|[[Corypheus]] rejects the accusation that they "brought darkness into the world", asserting that they "''discovered'' the darkness", "claimed it as their own, let it permeate their being".<ref name=CM>[[Corypheus's Memories]]</ref> |
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| − | A [[Nevarra]]n cult known as "The Empty Ones" believed the [[Blight]] to have originated from a place called the [[Void]] ("a place of nothing"), and that it is by the Maker's will for all of his creation to return to it.<ref>[[Codex entry: The Empty Ones]]</ref> |
+ | A [[Nevarra]]n cult known as "The Empty Ones" believed the [[Blight]] to have originated from a place called the [[Void]] ("a place of nothing"), and that it is by the [[Maker]]'s will for all of his creation to return to it.<ref>[[Codex entry: The Empty Ones]]</ref> |
Ancient elven sources mention "plague" that ate [[Andruil]]'s lands after she entered the Void.<ref>[[Codex entry: Elven God Andruil]]</ref>}} |
Ancient elven sources mention "plague" that ate [[Andruil]]'s lands after she entered the Void.<ref>[[Codex entry: Elven God Andruil]]</ref>}} |
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Revision as of 00:24, 19 February 2017
“There is a taint that is within the darkspawn. A darkness that pervades us, compels us, drives us to rail against the light.” ― the Architect[1]
Fleshy sack in the Dead Trenches
The taint is a physical corruption spread by the darkspawn that ultimately makes the victim hear the call of the Old Gods. It can be transmitted through contact with darkspawn blood and fluids, or through objects imbued with the taint,[2] such as eluvians. The contact does not automatically make one sick, but there is a great chance of it.[3]
Taint also manifests as spidery tendrils of black rot, along with a dry shiny film covering underground passages used by darkspawn.[4] As the corruption progresses, it gathers into black sacs the size of a man lining the floor or hanging from the ceiling.[5]
Origin
Races of Thedas had no knowledge of the taint prior to -395 Ancient when the Golden City blackened and first darkspawn appeared underground. The Chantry teaches that the magisters who entered the city "brought sin to heaven" and were "corrupted by their crime".[6]
Corypheus rejects the accusation that they "brought darkness into the world", asserting that they "discovered the darkness", "claimed it as their own, let it permeate their being".[7]
A Nevarran cult known as "The Empty Ones" believed the Blight to have originated from a place called the Void ("a place of nothing"), and that it is by the Maker's will for all of his creation to return to it.[8]
Ancient elven sources mention "plague" that ate Andruil's lands after she entered the Void.[9]
The infected
Wesley infected with the taint
The taint spread by the darkspawn corrupts the living. Many who have contracted the Blight sickness die within hours.[10] Others wither away slowly[11] from a "wasting illness".[12][13] In its more contagious form the disease is often referred to as "a plague".[14][15][16][17] It is spread by Blight-touched rats[18] far beyond the areas directly affected by the Blight[19] and can be sporadically seen centuries after it.[13] Those infected with the darkspawn plague are often segregated and/or locked up[15][20][21]. An entire species of animals can die out from the plague.[22]
The infected are known to be killed as a precaution[20] or an act of mercy[23], or abandoned to their fate.[24]
The tainted
Darkspawn
- Main article: Darkspawn
The darkspawn horde is connected through the taint, functioning as a hive-mind. While high ranking darkspawn like emissaries or alphas have a limited influence upon small groups, and the Architect and the Mother also command larger groups, only an Archdemon can command the entire horde.
Ghouls
- Main article: Ghoul
Some people and animals exposed to the taint are transformed into ghouls, who pay for a prolonged existence with their sanity. The longer an infected creature lives, the more it will manifest aggressive or even rabid behaviour, hair loss and numerous deformities, protrusions, boils and sores. Once the taint progresses enough, the darkspawn recognize ghouls as their own kind, and ghouls can sense darkspawn and hear the call of an Archdemon.[25][26] Even "ghouled" victims will ultimately be killed by the disease, leaving whole areas completely lifeless.
Other
When the taint comes into contact with the local flora it usually poisons and kills the plants and trees making the area infertile for many years. However deep mushrooms often grow close to darkspawn bodies and tend to carry the taint even though they can't transmit it,[27] while the nearly extinct felicidus aria is the only plant growing on the blighted Silent Plains.[28]
The Black City taints those spirits foolish enough to draw too close.[29]
Blight magic
A genlock using magic
The taint carries magical power that allows darkspawn emissaries to cast spells.
Boundaries
Some areas below the darkspawn-infested Deep Roads are surprisingly free of the taint.
Managing the taint
Acceleration
Resistance
Some people may harbor natural resistance to the taint.[10]
Dalish Keepers can combine herbal tinctures and a magic ritual to slow down the taint in recently infected victims, but only for a time.[35]
The Joining ritual dramatically slows the taint in Grey Wardens, but eventually the major effects of corruption set in. When a Grey Warden begins to hear the call of the Old Gods, they set off into the Deep Roads to fight to the death before they turn into ghouls themselves.
Cure
In rare cases an infected subject (e.g. The Mabari Hound) may make a full recovery if given early care.
Trivia
- David Gaider stated that Anders being merged with Justice may have one of the two effects: "One is that the spirit within Anders can affect the level of his corruption, so it may delay or remove the necessity for his Calling altogether. Either that or at some point the corruption within Anders is going to corrupt the spirit." He refused to tell which one the writers prefer.[39]
References
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