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{{SpoilerTSG|Yet there was a time before the Veil, before the mysteries were forgotten, when [[dragon]]s ruled the skies.<ref>According to [[Yavana]] in [[Dragon Age: The Silent Grove]].</ref>}} |
{{SpoilerTSG|Yet there was a time before the Veil, before the mysteries were forgotten, when [[dragon]]s ruled the skies.<ref>According to [[Yavana]] in [[Dragon Age: The Silent Grove]].</ref>}} |
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| − | {{SpoilerDAIT| In spite of Chantry belief, it wasn't the Maker who made the Veil, but [[Fen'Harel]], who "held back the [[Fade|sky]]" to banish the [[Elven pantheon|Evanuris]]. This act to prevent the Evanuris from destroying the world with their excesses, and retribution for |
+ | {{SpoilerDAIT| In spite of Chantry belief, it wasn't the Maker who made the Veil, but [[Fen'Harel]], who "held back the [[Fade|sky]]" to banish the [[Elven pantheon|Evanuris]]. This act to prevent the Evanuris from destroying the world with their excesses, and retribution for the murder of [[Mythal]]. However, since [[Elvhenan]] was so heavily dependent on magic and the Veil severed the elven people from the [[Fade]], the Veil's creation led to Elvhenan's demise and the loss of the [[elves]]' immortality.<ref>According to the [[Archivist]]s in the [[Shattered Library]] and [[Solas]] during the final conversation with him.</ref> |
[[Skyhold]]'s original name, Tarasyl'an te'las, means "the place where the sky was held back" in ancient [[Elven language|elvish]]<ref>[[Codex entry: On Skyhold]]</ref>, thus the Veil was created there. Solas also confirms that Skyhold was his castle during the time of Elvhenan.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5iRqJKl0LA According] to Solas in [[Trespasser]] (with low approval).</ref>}} |
[[Skyhold]]'s original name, Tarasyl'an te'las, means "the place where the sky was held back" in ancient [[Elven language|elvish]]<ref>[[Codex entry: On Skyhold]]</ref>, thus the Veil was created there. Solas also confirms that Skyhold was his castle during the time of Elvhenan.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5iRqJKl0LA According] to Solas in [[Trespasser]] (with low approval).</ref>}} |
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Revision as of 11:52, 12 September 2018
“Gossamer strands only stand between this world and home. Feel it?” ―Sophia Dryden
The Veil is a metaphysical barrier that exists between the physical Thedas and the Fade. Neither spirits nor mortal beings can easily pass physically through the Veil, but the consciousnesses of most mortal dreamers and all mages are a different matter (though the average dreamer is unlikely to ever be aware of such 'travels').
The Veil is not an object - it cannot be touched or seen. It is not a physical barrier, but rather something similar to a magical vibration that repels the Fade. It is a metaphor used by mortal scholars to explain the interactions between the two different realities.
History
There is no mention of a time when the Veil didn't exist in human history[1], which started from their arrival in Thedas in -3100 Ancient. The Chantry teaches that the Maker created the Veil before He created men. [2]
In spite of Chantry belief, it wasn't the Maker who made the Veil, but Fen'Harel, who "held back the sky" to banish the Evanuris. This act to prevent the Evanuris from destroying the world with their excesses, and retribution for the murder of Mythal. However, since Elvhenan was so heavily dependent on magic and the Veil severed the elven people from the Fade, the Veil's creation led to Elvhenan's demise and the loss of the elves' immortality.[4]
Skyhold's original name, Tarasyl'an te'las, means "the place where the sky was held back" in ancient elvish[5], thus the Veil was created there. Solas also confirms that Skyhold was his castle during the time of Elvhenan.[6]
Tears
It is theorized that the Veil tends to be weaker in places that feature, or have experienced, extensive death or use of magic.[7][8] The former occurs because spirits are attracted to death and they press against the Veil.[9] The Veil is particularly thin at night, when most people sleep and spirits are most active.[10] The use of blood magic can allow the Veil to be torn so that demons may physically pass through it into the waking world.[11]
An artifact used to weaken the Veil resonating green hue
Weakened Veil can be recognized by its characteristic green hue. The Dalish call places where the Veil is thin "setheneran" - a land of waking dreams.[12] Such areas are a habitat for giant spiders[13] and the rare plant felandaris, also known as "demon weed".[14] Areas where the Veil rips open are usually referred to as "tears" in the Veil, in keeping with the fabric metaphor. In fact, when the Veil itself tears it makes a sound like ripping cloth.[15]
Known instances of the Veil being torn
- The Brecilian Forest was the site of many battles, for example between the elves and humans in the ancient times, and Alamarri battling the magisters of the Tevinter Imperium. According to the Grand Oak the bloodshed weakened the Veil beyond repair and that caused many spirits and demons to cross over. This event gave rise to sylvans among other creatures as the spirits possessed the trees in the forest.
- During the Broken Circle incident, the Fereldan Circle Tower was overun by demons and abominations. Uldred used a mass amount of blood magic to pull demons from the Fade into the physical world. This caused the Circle to nearly be destroyed by demons and abominations.
- The Abandoned Orphanage became haunted by angry apparitions and demons after a massacre took place there during an elven riot.
- During the Battle of Soldier's Peak, Avernus summoned demons, but his miscalculations and the deaths caused the veil to tear.
- The Baroness's blood magic rituals in Blackmarsh and transporting all the villagers to the Fade made the Veil very weak around the village. Demons could be physically seen through the Veil.
- The Dalish possessed an artifact called Mask of Fen'Harel. It is capable of tearing the Veil and is used by Saarebas to do so.
- An enormous tear in the Veil, referred to as the Breach appears in the Frostback mountains and countless smaller Fade rifts appear throughout southern Thedas.
Closing a Tear
"Mending" these Tears, i.e. strengthening the Veil, is extremely difficult. Depending on the level of damage done to the Veil, it can be closed through several methods. For example, in Soldier's Peak, either Sophia Dryden or Avernus can accomplish such a mending, as Avernus is an expert on the Fade and Sophia is possessed by a powerful demon who crossed the Veil. The Warden-Commander can mend several Veil Tears by killing powerful spirits or demons keeping the Veil open. The Tear caused by one Saarebas was closed after the artifact used to open it was destroyed.
Removing the Veil
See also
Codex entry: Tears in the Veil
Gallery
References
- ↑ According to Vivienne in the Shattered Library after talking to the second Archivist.
- ↑ Canticle of Threnodies 5
- ↑ According to Yavana in Dragon Age: The Silent Grove.
- ↑ According to the Archivists in the Shattered Library and Solas during the final conversation with him.
- ↑ Codex entry: On Skyhold
- ↑ According to Solas in Trespasser (with low approval).
- ↑ Codex entry: Tears in the Veil
- ↑ According to Solas, see 1
- ↑ According to Solas, see 2
- ↑
Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 1, p. 141
- ↑ Codex entry: Blood Magic: The Forbidden School
- ↑ According to Tamlen in the Elven Ruins during the Dalish Elf Origin.
- ↑ Codex entry: Giant Spider, Codex entry: Giant Spider (Inquisition)
- ↑ Codex entry: Felandaris
- ↑ Dragon Age: The Masked Empire, pg. 203.
- ↑ According to Solas if the Inquisitor sides with mages.
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