Tattoo

Facial tattoos serve an important function in several cultures in Thedas.

Lore

Humans

Facial tattoos are uncommon among most humans. However in Rivain tattoos are almost as popular as piercings. According to Isabela in Dragon Age II Rivaini sailors often have tattoos. Chasind use tattoos as well to reflect descent from a prominent tribe.

Cahir, a Chasind bodyguard

Elves

Main article: Blood Writing

I asked him about the intricate tattoos on his face; he told me they were called vallaslin--"blood writing." His were symbols of Andruil the Huntress, one of the most highly revered elven goddesses.

—From Codex entry: Vallaslin: Blood Writing

When a Dalish Elf comes of age, they are marked with intricate tattoos representing one of the elven gods. The tattooing is preceded by meditation on the gods and the ways of the Dalish, and by purifying the body and the skin. It is not known whether this practice was part of the worship of elven gods in ancient Elvhenan or is a more recent development. As Ilen says to Hawke, Dalish ink is very valuable to them, Merrill said to Fenris that blood is used to make their tattoos.

Tattoos are uncommon among city elves, though the Warden, if a city elf, may choose to wear tattoos of the same designs available to human characters.

Vallaslin, or blood writing, on the face of Athras, a Dalish hunter.

Dwarves

Among dwarves, the casteless are "branded" to set them apart from regular dwarven citizens. This also applies to surface dwarves who return to Orzammar in order to conduct business. Other dwarves may have a different pattern of facial tattoos, though this is not common. Grim tattoos are also applied at the "funerals" of the dwarves who join the Legion of the Dead.

A tattooed male noble dwarf and a branded casteless female dwarf.

Qunari

The antaam of the Qunari people use war paint on their body instead of permanent tattoos.

Qunari covered with war paint.

Other groups

Antivan Crows

According to Zevran Arainai, there are some tattoos sacred to the Antivan Crows, and Antivans may also have tattoos for aesthetic purposes. Zevran claims to have tattoos on his back and other places, as he intimates in banter with Leliana, but it is unknown if he really does considering that Dragon Age: Origins was not developed to allow body tattoos on characters.

Zevran's facial tattoo

Tal-Vashoth

Several Tal-Vashoth follow the example of the Qunari Antaam and use war paint on their bodies as well.

Salit and other Tal-Vashoth covered with war paint

On bestiary

Mabari

Mabari handlers, such as Ash Warriors use a special warpaint named kaddis on mabari so that they can distinguish allies from enemies in the thick of battle.

Warpaint of the West Hills

Kaddis of the Siege-Breaker

Warpaint of the Vanguard

Gameplay

Dragon Age: Origins

The Warden may choose to have facial tattoos, with sliders for color and intensity. The selection is limited by origin story: specifically, the Dalish, Dwarf Commoner, and Dwarf Noble have unique tattoos; the remaining three origins use the regular set. Also note that by default Dalish Elves and Dwarf Commoners will have a tattoo for story reasons (though this can be removed during character creation). Note that even if the Dwarven Commoner removes his or her face brand during character creation, other characters will still make reference to it as if it were still there, and still refer derisively to the Warden as "brand".

Dragon Age II

Hawke has the ability to choose from several facial tattoos, including an iconic red smear across the bridge of the nose.

Dragon Age: Inquisition

The Inquisitor may or may not have facial depending on the race chosen. Human and Dwarf Inquisitors have a selection that can vary by color and style using a slider, while Dalish Inquisitors are required to have one. A Qunari Inquisitor is not given to option of having one.