Dorian Pavus

Last updated
Dorian Pavus
Dragon Age character
Dorian in Haven.png
Dorian as he appears in Dragon Age: Inquisition.
First appearance Dragon Age: Inquisition (2014)
Created by David Gaider
Voiced by Ramon Tikaram
In-universe information
OriginTevinter Imperium
ClassMage
SpecializationNecromancer

Dorian Pavus is a fictional character in BioWare's Dragon Age franchise. The character made his debut in the 2014 video game Dragon Age: Inquisition , where he serves as a companion and party member. Within the series, he is a human mage from a proud noble bloodline of the Tevinter Imperium, a realm governed by a powerful magic-using oligarchy situated in the northern region of Thedas, the continent in which the Dragon Age series is set in. A self-assured man born with magical virtuosity, he is nonetheless considered a pariah as his morals and ideals do not line up with the rest of his family nor the rest of the general populace living in Tevinter. Though he rejects the decadence and corruption which is prevalent throughout Tevinter society, he loves his homeland and wants his vision of a Tevinter where prejudices don't run rampant realized. Seeking to halt what he perceives as the moral decay of his countrymen and the fundamentalist zealotry of his former mentor, he decides to join the Inquisition, believing he could not return without first eliminating the forces corrupting his homeland.

Contents

Dorian received a positive reception in Inquisition, with attention drawn to his complex and richly written character, as well as his identities as an openly gay man and person of colour. Dorian is voiced by Ramon Tikaram.

Character overview

A Tevinter native who has a flair for magic that made him the envy of his peers, Dorian knows who he is and what he is capable of, and he revels in it. [1] He is described as "charming and confident", with a wit "as sharp as any blade, and if some suggest his manner cocky, it could be attributed to being a powerful mage in a land where mages rule". [2] Dorian would have been the pride of his family, had he not opposed everything the Tevinter Imperium has come to stand for. He wears the labels of "pariah" and "outcast" proudly, knowing that views of the Imperium are unlikely to change until and unless someone of his ability stands up to make a difference. [2] Despite his cocky and self-absorbed demeanor, Dorian has a troubled past. [3] He grew frustrated and lost respect for his former mentor, Magister Gereon Alexius, once an influential member of the Magisterium who was in favour of reforming the Imperium, now a zealot who has joined an armed cult of Tevinter nationalist supremacists known as the Venatori.

He is a potential romance option for a male Inquisitor. If he is not in a relationship with the Inquisitor and Iron Bull is recruited as a member of the Inquisition, Dorian and Bull may form a relationship with each other, which may last well beyond the ending of the Dragon Age: Inquisition – Trespasser DLC. Dorian's personal storyline in Inquisition included what could be considered an "ex-gay" allegory. His father had attempted to change his sexual orientation by a dismal blood magic ritual, and Dorian responded by running away from home. The player can either choose to help Dorian reconcile with his apologetic father, or to remain estranged.

Concept and creation

"No character ever has to justify why they're straight, white, and male. The moment you make them anything else, you suddenly need reasons why that's okay…or do you? A certain amount of deliberateness is required to challenge the idea of a default, and while it feels a bit unnatural to do so, it's absolutely necessary. It's a way to create without unthinkingly doing things the same way simply because that's how you've always done them."

David Gaider on his thought process behind Dorian's conception. [4]

Dorian was created and mainly written by David Gaider prior to his departure from BioWare. [5] He is named after the character "Prince Dorian" from the cartoon series The Mighty Hercules, which ran from 1962 to 1966. [6] Gaider explained in an interview that Dorian's sexuality was a natural evolution as the character of a genuinely good mage took shape; after that it was about rounding out the other facets of Dorian as a character. Once he'd taken form, however, BioWare was interested to include this particular character in Inquisition. [4] Gaider further notes that, "it's very little in comparison to the entire rest of the game and thus, considering what it means to those fans who receive that validation almost nowhere else, it's not too much to demand a bit of tolerance and compassion from the portion of the audience for whom this content is not even intended." "Dorian is gay–he is, in fact, the first fully gay character I've had the opportunity to write. It added an interesting dimension to his back story, considering he comes from a place where "perfection" is the face that every mage puts on and anything that smacks of deviancy is shameful and meant to be hidden. Dorian's refusal to play along with that facade is seen as stubborn and pointless by his family, which has contributed to his status as a pariah."

Gaider would later clarify that his previous use of the term "fully gay" was meant to communicate that Dorian would only be a love interest for male characters, where previous romance options would be open to romance from both men and women. [5] He noted in a 2015 interview that his then-colleagues in BioWare, who themselves identified as heterosexual, went ahead and included same-sex relationships into the optional romance subplots for 2005's Jade Empire . This inspired him to be bolder about writing openly gay characters and integrating LGBT themes into the main narratives of the video games he would go on to work on. [7] Gaider acknowledged that the presentation of Dorian's homosexuality may be "controversial in some corners", but said that fans will find him "a fully realized character" in the end. [5]

After he left Bioware in 2016, Gaider wrote and posted a fan fiction story on his Medium account in 2018, which attempts to provide closure about Dorian's handling of his family's matters after his permanent return to the Tevinter Imperium. [8]

Visual design

"Dorian wears the magic robes of the Imperium, but like a good black sheep, he makes them his own."

— The Art of Dragon Age: Inquisition, page 86 [1]

Gaider had explored the idea of a "rock star mage" long before Dorian had a name; his inclusion in Inquisition offers the game's designers an opportunity to explore the visual language of the Tevinter Imperium. [1] Dorian is designed with a view to offer a glimpse of the depth, artistry and richness of Tevinter culture, which is often perceived by the cultures of Southern Thedas as exotic and often menacing. [1] According to the character kit published by Bioware's official blog, Dorian wears an ashen mage's cloak which is embellished with the image of a twisting viper. A satchel is positioned on his belt, which is meant to store reagents. He wears leather gauntlets which provides a solid grip for his staff, so that he could swing it about with good precision. A coiled viper clasp secures his cloak, which is meant to serve as a reminder that the bite of his magic can sting as much as his wit. [2]

Dorian is noted as a gay person of color in a AAA-standard video game. [9] The Lead Narrative Designer of Inquisition, John Epler, once commented that "Indian would be the closest real world analogue" with regard to Dorian's ethnicity. [10]

Appearances

Dragon Age: Inquisition

The Inquisition will encounter Dorian in two distinctly different scenarios, depending on whether the player decides to recruit the rebel mage faction or the templars to help seal the Breach.

If the Inquisitor travels to Redcliffe, Alexius' son, Felix, secretly passes them a note asking to meet in the Chantry. They will then meet Dorian, who asks for help in sealing a Fade rift which is present inside the Chantry building. After the rift is sealed, Dorian introduces himself and reveals Alexius' allegiance to the Venatori, who are interested in the mark on the Inquisitor's hand. He also reveals that Alexius has invoked time-traveling magic, once thought theoretical back in Tevinter, which is how he arrived at Redcliffe first.

If the Inquisitor chooses to confront Alexius, Dorian will walk in on the war council in Haven, stating he could help the Inquisition's agents infiltrate Castle Redcliffe and outsmart his former mentor. Unfortunately, once they meet Alexius at the Redcliffe Castle, he pulls out an amulet to attempt to travel back in time before the Inquisitor interfered with the Elder One's ritual at the Temple of Sacred Ashes. Dorian interrupts him, but accidentally sending both himself and the Inquisitor one year into the future, where the Elder One rules over southern Thedas. They are able to track down the future Alexius and claim the amulet from him. Using it, the two are able to return to the exact moment they left and defeat Alexius. Afterwards, the Inquisitor may decide to formally recruit Dorian into the Inquisition.

Alternatively, if the Inquisitor has recruited the templars to seal the Breach, Dorian turns up at Haven to help the Inquisition, warning them that the rebel mages are now under control of the Venatori and have arrived at Haven along with the Elder One, now revealed to be the ancient darkspawn and former Tevinter Magister Corypheus. The Inquisitor may decide to formally recruit Dorian into the Inquisition after they move to Skyhold.

After settling in at Skyhold, Mother Giselle informs the Inquisitor of a letter sent by Dorian's father, Halward, asking to meet with the family retainer at the Gull and Lantern in Redcliffe, but asks that they not tell Dorian. The Inquisitor can choose to reveal the letter to Dorian and either convince Dorian not to go or go with him to the tavern. The Inquisitor can also choose not to show Dorian the letter and instead just bring him to the tavern. Upon entering the Gull and Lantern, Dorian is surprised to see his father instead. Dorian gets angry, revealing to the Inquisitor that when his father learned that he was gay and didn't want to keep up appearances by marrying his betrothed, he tried to use a blood magic ritual, which Dorian was taught was "the last resort of the weak mind", to change his sexuality and make him comply with his family's wishes. Halward defended that he wanted what was best for his son, but Dorian retorts that he only cared about himself and his legacy. The Inquisitor can encourage Dorian to try to reconcile with Halward. Halward will then reveal that he feels guilty for having driven Dorian to the Inquisition, and wanted to ask for his forgiveness. Alternatively, the Inquisitor can suggest that they leave instead of talking with Halward, ending the quest. Either way, Dorian is grateful and thanks the Inquisitor for taking him to the meeting.

After the events at the Temple of Mythal, Dorian feels inspired to return to Tevinter. If he was in the party at the Temple, having learned from Abelas that the Imperium didn't destroy Arlathan, he observes that this truth would reflect badly on his countrymen, as it'd reduce their ancestors to scavengers, though he believes that his people must accept the truth. If he wasn't in the party, he remarks on the ancient elven sentinels' survival and states that his countrymen can make amends. For either outcome, he feels that some Tevinter magisters would resist but he believes he can follow the Inquisitor's example.

Trespasser

In the two years after Corypheus' defeat, Dorian has since become the official Tevinter ambassador to the Inquisition. The Inquisitor re-encounters him at the Winter Palace while he is in the middle of a conversation with the Exalted Council's Orlesian representative, Duke Cyril de Montfort. Dorian explains to the Inquisitor that his father is dead, presumably by assassination, and he is to inherit his seat in the Magisterium, the upper house of the Tevinter Imperial Senate. He indicates he will be permanently departing the Inquisitor's company imminently, and he also states that his friend Maevaris Tilani is making a push for reforms in the Imperium that he'd like to be a part of; Varric Tethras and several of the Inquisitor's companions would hold a farewell toast to Dorian.

Other appearances

In the lead-up to Inquisition's release, BioWare released character kits for the major characters of Inquisition in order to assist cosplayers. [2]

Dorian appears in Dragon Age: Magekiller , a comic series which runs concurrently with the events of Inquisition. He is sent along with some of the Bull's Chargers to help Marius and Tessa Forsythia clear out the remaining Venatori, whose position has actually grown stronger since the Inquisitor left. Though he is initially wary of Marius, a former Tevinter slave who specializes in killing mages, they work well together and manage to destroy the camp while rescuing the Venatori's captive slaves. Dorian saves Marius' life during the battle, and they part on friendly terms.

Dorian makes a further appearance in Dragon Age: Deception , a comic series which tells the tale of Olivia Pryde, a failed actress turned con artist. Now a full-fledged member of the Magisterium, Dorian meets with Ser Aaron Hawthorne in Ventus to help him with his mission of infiltrating the Qintara estate. In the same tavern, he briefly encounters Olivia Pryde under her guise of Magister Aramis, and her mark-turned-rival Calix, who very unsuccessfully attempts to con him. Later, when Olivia and Calix are confronted by one of their angry marks, Dorian uses his authority as a magister to make the problem go away, enabling Ser Aaron and Vaea to recruit them to infiltrate the Qintara mansion. As Ventus falls to the Qunari, Dorian provides Ser Aaron's group with the means of escaping the city while he stays behind to try and get as many people out as he can.

Heroes of Dragon Age , an iOS and Android game released in 2013, featured Dorian as an unlockable character.

Reception

Cosplay of Dorian Pavus at PAX South 2015. PAX South 2015 - Dorian (16174598749).jpg
Cosplay of Dorian Pavus at PAX South 2015.

Dorian received a very positive reception from critics, with appearances in multiple "top" character lists. Staff from GamesRadar and PC Gamer ranked Dorian among the most iconic characters in the video game medium. [11] [12] Matt Kane from GLAAD included Dorian and fellow Inquisition characters Krem, Sera and the Iron Bull in his list of 2014's Most Intriguing LGBT Characters. [13] Engadget staff named Dorian among their "Favorite New Characters of 2014" list. [14] In 2015, Logo TV ranked Dorian as the fourth on their list of the sexiest male video game characters. [15] Justin Davis from IGN rated Dorian's moustache as among the most "glorious" examples in video games, describing it as "classy and refined, but maybe just a tiny bit over-the-top". [16]

Some commentators consider Dorian to be a breakout character, specifically as an openly gay male character in the video game medium. [4] [17] [18] [19] [20] Aimee Hart from Techradar said Dorian is a character she would want to see return for any future installments of the Dragon Age series. [21] Paul Tassi from Forbes notes that Dorian is a companion who is a permanent fixture in his party because he was a lot of fun compared to the other party members, and felt that while he was somewhat flamboyant in a possibly stereotypical manner, it was a non-issue given Dorian's strong characterization. [22] Kelly Peirce said Dorian is her favourite among the large LGBT cast of characters in Inquisition; while he is noted to be sharp and fun to chat with no matter the protagonist's gender, some of the most emotional moments for Kelly in Inquisition involved earning Dorian's loyalty for the Inquisitor and learning about his past. [23]

Cian Maher from TheGamer consider Dorian to be "one of the most important characters ever written for a video game", as well as "one of the most prominent LGBTQ characters in contemporary fiction, even outside of video games". [24] Joe Parlock from The Daily Telegraph lamented the lack of proper representation for gay men in video games in a 2016 article. He posited that gaming publishers perceive their audiences as primarily straight males who would respond negatively to seeing male-male romance in their games, leading to video game writers relying on lesbian and bisexual women to cater to diversity instead of being creative about getting their players to care about gay male characters. He reflected on Dorian's portrayal in Inquisition, where his backstory and dialogue fleshed out the numerous experiences he has had because of his being a gay man, which added significantly to his characterization. [25] Gaspard Pelurson noted in his 2018 article Mustaches, Blood Magic and Interspecies Sex: Navigating the Non-Heterosexuality of Dorian Pavus that, "while video games are now catching up on LGBTQ representation, only a few characters are granted a role that is as significant as that of Dorian". [20] The Advocate's Alley Hector notes that his sexuality wasn't merely a player's option but his identity, with his backstory of running away from home after his family tried to make him straight. [26]

Although Dorian is statistically the least popular romance option for the Inquisitor, [24] several critics have lauded the way the character is depicted within the context of Inquisition's romantic side content. Kenneth Shepard from Fanbyte said Dorian's romance subplot is the best among Inquisition's eight options. [27] Emma Osborne, writing for Junkee, concurred and said "there's a real love story in the narrative". [28] Kotaku's Mike Rougeau realised some hours into his playthrough with a male character, that he found Dorian's personality to be more attractive than the two female romance options who are available for a male Inquisitor, and decided to have his character start a romantic relationship with Dorian. Rougeau explains that even though he identifies as heterosexual, he saw this as an opportunity to build empathy and role-play a video game protagonist as something other than an avatar for himself, noting that his character has taken on a life of its own. [29] For The Guardian's Kate Gray, the most "human response" she believed that she ever experienced in a video game, was when Dorian apologized to Kate's female Inquisitor for leading her on and admitting that he couldn't change his sexual orientation or have a romantic relationship with her. Kate explained that her character had previously exchanged flirtatious banter with Dorian repeatedly, but did not realize until Dorian's apology that he was in fact written as a homosexual character. She appreciated the attention to detail by Bioware's writers and noted that somehow, "someone at Bioware had predicted this very situation - that I would fall virtual head over digital heels for the wrong man - and had written heartfelt dialogue just for someone like her". [30]

Related Research Articles

Dragon Age is a Canadian media franchise centered on a series of fantasy role-playing video games created and developed by BioWare, which have seen releases on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Microsoft Windows, OS X, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. The franchise takes place on the fictional continent Thedas, and follows the experiences of its various inhabitants.

Hawke (<i>Dragon Age</i>) Player character in Dragon Age II

Hawke is a character from BioWare's Dragon Age media franchise, first appearing as the player character of the 2011 video game Dragon Age II. Hawke is the eldest child of the human Hawke family and hails from the nation of Ferelden in the world of Thedas, the setting of the Dragon Age franchise. The opening sequence of Dragon Age II follows Hawke's family as they flee northwards to the Free Marches region as refugees from the invading Darkspawn hordes. Settling down in the city-state of Kirkwall soon after arrival, Hawke emerges as a prominent figure within the span of a decade, rising in power and influence to become the "Champion of Kirkwall". Hawke is a pivotal figure behind the origins of the worldwide conflict between the setting's magicians and their custodians the Templar Order, and also plays an important role during a subsequent extradimensional invasion of Thedas by demonic beings as depicted in Dragon Age: Inquisition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Gaider</span> Canadian writer and game designer

David Gaider is a Canadian narrative designer and writer. He was the lead writer and creator of the setting for the role-playing video game series Dragon Age.

<i>Dragon Age: Inquisition</i> 2014 video game

Dragon Age: Inquisition is a 2014 action role-playing video game developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts. The third major game in the Dragon Age franchise, Inquisition is the sequel to Dragon Age II (2011). The story follows a player character known as the Inquisitor on a journey to settle the civil unrest in the continent of Thedas and close a mysterious tear in the sky called the "Breach", which is unleashing dangerous demons upon the world. Dragon Age: Inquisition's gameplay is similar to its predecessors, although it consists of several semi-open worlds for players to explore. Players control the Inquisitor or their companions mainly from a third-person perspective, although a traditional role-playing game top-down camera angle is also available.

Alistair (<i>Dragon Age</i>) Fictional character

Alistair is a fictional character in Dragon Age, a role-playing video game series created by Canadian video game developer BioWare. He is introduced as one of many companions that can join the party of the player character in Dragon Age: Origins. Alistair is a Grey Warden who fought alongside The Warden against the Darkspawn to end the Fifth Blight. Alistair is eventually revealed to be the illegitimate child of King Maric, making him an heir to the throne of Ferelden. Depending on the player character's choices during the events of Dragon Age: Origins, Alistair may be installed as king of Ferelden, remain as a Grey Warden, become a wandering drunk, or be executed by Queen Anora.

Characters of <i>Dragon Age: Inquisition</i>

Dragon Age: Inquisition, the third main video game in BioWare's Dragon Age series, is the most successful video game launch in BioWare history based on units sold. The game features a large number of characters who are members or potential allies of the organization known as the Inquisition; its formation was sanctioned by Divine Justinia V of the Andrastrian Chantry, the dominant religious organization in the Dragon Age series, prior to the events of Inquisition. The organization's primary purpose is to restore order to the continent of Thedas, the setting of Inquisition, where civil unrest and civil wars have already plunged entire nations and societies across the known world into chaos. A supernatural calamity in the beginning of Inquisition led to the deaths of the Divine and the majority of the Chantry leadership, and the subsequent opening of a mysterious metaphysical tear in the sky called the "Breach", which is unleashing dangerous demons upon the world and sends Thedas deeper into crisis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cassandra Pentaghast</span> Fictional character

Cassandra Pentaghast is a fictional character in BioWare's Dragon Age franchise. She is the "Right Hand" of the Divine, the leader of the dominant religion in the Dragon Age setting, and a Seeker of Truth, an order of said religious organization. The character made her debut in 2011's Dragon Age II, where she appeared as part of the game's framing device. An anime film prequel, Dragon Age: Dawn of the Seeker, was released in 2012, covering the character's backstory. She appeared again in 2014's Dragon Age: Inquisition, where she serves as a party member. Cassandra makes a cameo appearance in the first episode of the 2022 Netflix animated series Absolution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Varric Tethras</span> Fictional videogame character

Varric Tethras is a fictional character from BioWare's Dragon Age franchise. The character made his debut in 2011's Dragon Age II, where he appeared as part of the game's framing device as the unreliable narrator of its plot. He also serves as a party member, a role which he reprises in its sequel, Dragon Age: Inquisition. In-universe, he is a renowned novelist as well as a self-appointed biographer to Hawke and the Inquisitor, the protagonists of Dragon Age II and Dragon Age: Inquisition respectively. Brian Bloom provides the voice for Varric in all media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leliana</span> Fictional character

Leliana is a fictional character from BioWare's Dragon Age media franchise, first appearing as a party member in the 2009 role-playing game Dragon Age: Origins. A bard who is originally from the nation of Orlais, she came to Ferelden prior to the events of the Dragon Age series. Following the events of Leliana's Song, a DLC pack which serves as a prequel to the base game, she encounters the surviving Grey Wardens of Ferelden in the town of Lothering, and accompanies them to stop the monstrous Darkspawn from overrunning the world of Thedas. Leliana has appeared as a supporting character in subsequent video game sequels to Origins as well as other expanded media. She is voiced by French actress Corinne Kempa.

Morrigan (<i>Dragon Age</i>) Fictional character

Morrigan is a fictional character from BioWare's Dragon Age franchise, first appearing as a party member in Dragon Age: Origins. She is a shapeshifting Witch of the Wilds, one of several sorceresses whose legends originate in the Korcari Wilds region of the kingdom of Ferelden, the setting of Origins. Morrigan leaves her home to accompany the protagonist of Origins, the would-be Hero of Ferelden, at the request of her mother Flemeth to stop the monstrous Darkspawn from overrunning the world of Thedas. Morrigan also appears in Dragon Age: Inquisition as a supporting character. She is voiced by Claudia Black.

Solas (<i>Dragon Age</i>) Video game fictional character

Solas is a character in BioWare's Dragon Age franchise. He first appears in the 2014 video game Dragon Age: Inquisition, where he serves as a party member. He presents himself as an elven outlaw mage who operates outside of the edicts of the Chantry, the dominant religious organization in Thedas, the world setting of Dragon Age. Solas joins the Inquisition and serves as an expert on the Fade, a metaphysical realm that is tied to Thedas which is normally accessible only through dreaming, and its denizens. His knowledge and expertise prove instrumental in aiding the Inquisition's struggle to close the Breach, a massive dimensional tear in the sky that allows multitudes of demonic spirits to pass through into the physical world through dimensional rifts. A post-credit scene of Inquisition reveals his true identity as Fen'Harel. Trespasser, the final DLC pack released for Inquisition, provides further insight into his backstory and motives, as well as his involvement in the current world state of Thedas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iron Bull</span> Fictional character from Dragon Age video game

The Iron Bull is a fictional character in BioWare's Dragon Age franchise. He appears in the 2014 video game Dragon Age: Inquisition, where he serves as a companion party member. He is a Qunari, a member of metallic-skinned race of large humanoids who live in the northern part of Thedas, the setting of the Dragon Age series, that venerates a civil religion known as The Qun. He is a spy commissioned by the Ben'Hassrath, the secret police of the Qunari government, to operate in southern Thedas. As part of his cover, he leads a mercenary company known as the Bull's Chargers. Freddie Prinze Jr. voices the character.

Sera (<i>Dragon Age</i>) Fictional character in Dragon Age franchise

Sera is a fictional character in BioWare's Dragon Age franchise. She first appears in 2014's Dragon Age: Inquisition, where she serves as a party member. She is a member of a secret society called the Friends of Red Jenny, an enigmatic group of subversive vigilantes trying to undermine the perceived abuse committed by the nobility of Thedas, the setting of Dragon Age, by engaging in espionage and social banditry. Sera is voiced by English actress Robyn Addison.

Krem (<i>Dragon Age</i>) Fictional character

Cremisius "Krem" Aclassi is a fictional character in the 2014 video game Dragon Age: Inquisition. He is a former soldier in the Tevinter Imperium's military forces, and is currently a member of the Bull's Chargers, a mercenary company led by the Iron Bull. He was created and written by Patrick Weekes. Canadian-American voice actress Jennifer Hale voiced Krem in Inquisition.

Anders (<i>Dragon Age</i>) Fictional character

Anders is a fictional character in BioWare's Dragon Age franchise. The character made his debut in Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening as a human mage pursued by members of the Templar Order, the military arm of the Chantry, which is the dominant religious organization in the Dragon Age series. He joins the player character as a party member. He appears again as a companion character in 2011's Dragon Age II.

<i>Dragon Age: Inquisition – Jaws of Hakkon</i> 2015 video game

Dragon Age: Inquisition – Jaws of Hakkon is a downloadable content (DLC) pack developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts for the 2014 action role-playing video game Dragon Age: Inquisition. It was initially released for Xbox One and Microsoft Windows through Electronic Arts' digital distribution platform Origin, on March 24, 2015, and for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and Xbox 360 on May 26, 2015. The pack follows the Inquisition's exploration of the Frostback Basin, an overgrown wilderness area populated by Avvar barbarian tribes and the site of an ancient Tevinter fortress, to determine the fate of the last Inquisitor and the powerful dragon he hunted.

<i>Dragon Age: Magekiller</i> 2015–2016 fantasy comic book series

Dragon Age: Magekiller is a five-issue dark fantasy comic book series published by Dark Horse Comics set in the Dragon Age universe, and released between December 2015 and April 2016. The series was written by Greg Rucka, with artwork by Carmen Carnero and Terry Pallot. The timeline of the series run concurrently with the events of Dragon Age: Inquisition and tells the story, in several arcs, of the "mage-killer" Marius and his loquacious handler Tessa Forsythia. The series also tells the origin story and rise of the Venatori faction, and features appearances by several secondary characters from the Dragon Age series.

Vivienne (<i>Dragon Age</i>) Fictional character from BioWares Dragon Age franchise

Vivienne is a fictional character from BioWare's Dragon Age franchise, first appearing as a party member in Dragon Age: Inquisition. Within the series, she is the official enchanter to the Imperial Court of the Orlesian Empire who achieved her position through political savvy. She presents herself to the Inquisition as a representative of the Orlesian Court and a self-styled leader among the mage community of Thedas, the world setting of the Dragon Age series, who supports the status quo of cloistering magic users into supervised training facilities known as the Circles of Magi. The character was featured prominently in promotional material and advertisements released by Bioware's parent company EA leading up to the release of Inquisition. She is voiced by British actress Indira Varma.

<i>Dragon Age: Inquisition – Trespasser</i> 2015 video game

Dragon Age: Inquisition – Trespasser is a downloadable content (DLC) pack developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts for the 2014 action role-playing video game Dragon Age: Inquisition. It was released for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Microsoft Windows through Electronic Arts' digital distribution platform Origin, on September 8, 2015. The pack follows members of the Inquisition as they uncover a conspiracy to invade southern Thedas, while at the same time being confronted over their relevancy as an organization two years after a cataclysmic series of events which unfolded in Inquisition. As the Inquisition works to undermine a secret invasion by the Qunari, its leadership will eventually have to decide whether the organization itself should continue to exist.

<i>Dragon Age: Absolution</i> 2022 fantasy animated series

Dragon Age: Absolution is an adult animated fantasy television series created by Mairghread Scott for Netflix. Produced by Red Dog Culture House under the supervision of BioWare, the series was released on December 9, 2022. Set in BioWare's Dragon Age fictional universe, it focuses on the fallout from a heist gone wrong in the Tevinter Imperium.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 The Art of Dragon Age: Inquisition. Milwaukie, Oregon: Dark Horse Books. October 2014. ISBN   978-1-61655-186-5.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Sean Trayner (May 28, 2015). "Dorian Character Kit". BioWare. Archived from the original on February 19, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  3. ↑ Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, Volume 2, pg 232-234.
  4. 1 2 3 Luke Karmali (November 13, 2015). "How Gaming's Breakout Gay Character Came to be". IGN . Archived from the original on February 19, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 Ludwig Kietzmann (July 1, 2014). "Dragon Age gets Dorian, a gay guy with a 'stache of magic". Engadget . Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  6. ↑ "David Gaider on Twitter". Twitter. Archived from the original on 2021-05-01. Retrieved 2020-03-14.
  7. ↑ VGS - Video Game Sophistry (May 16, 2015). "BioWare Interview: Lead Writer David Gaider on Krem, Dorian and Sexual Diversity in Gaming". YouTube. Archived from the original on March 12, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  8. ↑ Aimee Hart (July 18, 2018). "Former Dragon Age Lead Writer David Gaider Writes Dorian Pavus Fanfiction, And It's Fantastic". VGR. Archived from the original on February 19, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  9. ↑ Amanda Jean (June 13, 2017). "Stop Whitewashing Dorian Pavus". Medium . Archived from the original on February 19, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  10. ↑ Jason Villemez (September 30, 2020). "Press A, Be Gay: LGBTQ Representation in Video Games". Philadelphia Gay News . Archived from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  11. ↑ "The 50 most iconic video game characters of all time". GamesRadar+ . November 7, 2021. Archived from the original on November 30, 2022. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  12. ↑ Rick Lane (November 12, 2021). "The 50 most iconic characters in PC gaming". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on November 26, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  13. ↑ Matt Kane (December 22, 2014). "2014's Most Intriguing LGBT Characters". GLAAD . Archived from the original on February 26, 2020. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Favorite New Characters of 2014". Engadget . Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  15. ↑ "The 20 Hottest Video Game Hunk". Logo . 2015-12-16. Archived from the original on 2017-02-23. Retrieved 2017-02-22.
  16. ↑ Justin Davis (November 24, 2014). "The Most Glorious Moustaches in Video Games". IGN . Archived from the original on October 5, 2021. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  17. ↑ Matt Baume (July 13, 2015). "Dorian of Dragon Age: Inquisition: Why Gaming's 'Breakout' Gay Character Matters". Out . Archived from the original on February 19, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  18. ↑ Ed Kennedy (July 10, 2015). ""Dragon Age: Inquisition" Creator Says Gay Character Was Created With Care". NewNowNext . Archived from the original on February 19, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  19. ↑ Juri Honkanen. "Here Be Queers: LGBT+ Representations in Dragon Age: Inquisition" (PDF). University of Jyväskylä. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 23, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  20. 1 2 Gaspard Pelurson (April 2018). "Mustaches, Blood Magic and Interspecies Sex: Navigating the Non-Heterosexuality of Dorian Pavus". Game Studies. 18 (1). Archived from the original on February 19, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  21. ↑ Robert Purchese (February 13, 2020). "Dragon Age 4 characters: who we want to see return". Tech Radar . Archived from the original on February 19, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  22. ↑ Paul Tassi (June 30, 2015). "The Best Gay Characters In Mainstream Video Games". Forbes . Archived from the original on September 25, 2019. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  23. ↑ Kelly Peirce (June 20, 2019). "All the strongest LGBTQ+ characters in PS4 games". Android Central. Archived from the original on February 19, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  24. 1 2 Maher, Cian (August 20, 2021). "David Gaider On The Creation Of Dragon Age: Inquisition's Dorian". TheGamer.com. Archived from the original on August 20, 2021. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  25. ↑ Joe Parlock (February 24, 2016). "Why gaming's gay male representation needs to change". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on April 28, 2019. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  26. ↑ Alley Hector (May 24, 2018). "The 15 Queerest Video Games, Ranked". The Advocate . Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  27. ↑ Kenneth Shepard (August 20, 2021). "Dragon Age: Inquisition's Best Romance Was its Least Popular". Fanbyte. Archived from the original on October 5, 2021. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  28. ↑ Emma Osborne (July 3, 2019). "The Unique Joy Of Discovering Your Queerness In Video Games". Junkee. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  29. ↑ Mike Rougeau (January 11, 2015). "How I Realised My Dragon Age: Inquisition Character Is Gay". Kotaku . Archived from the original on August 3, 2015. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  30. ↑ Kate Gray (January 14, 2015). "My boyfriend in Dragon Age: Inquisition broke my heart when he told me he was gay". The Guardian . Archived from the original on December 30, 2019. Retrieved February 20, 2020.

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.