Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne

Last updated
Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne
Dragon Age The Stolen Throne cover.jpg
Cover of Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne
AuthorVarious
CountryCanada/United States
LanguageEnglish
Series Dragon Age
Genre Fantasy
Publisher Tor Books
Dark Horse Books (deluxe edition)
Publication date
March 3, 2009
September 17, 2019 (deluxe edition)
Media typePrint (Paperback)
Print (Hardcover) (deluxe edition)
Pages400
ISBN 978-0-7653-2408-5
OCLC 277196552
813/.6 22
LC Class PR9199.4.G337 D73 2009
Followed byDragon Age: The Calling 

Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne is a fantasy novel written by David Gaider, released in March 2009. It is Gaider's first novel, as well as the first novel set in Thedas, the setting of BioWare's Dragon Age role-playing video game franchise. The Stolen Throne serves as a prequel to the BioWare role-playing game Dragon Age: Origins . [1] Set thirty years before the events of Origins, this novel tells the backstory of characters important to the game, such as Loghain Mac Tir, as well as how the kingdom of Ferelden, the setting of Origins, achieved independence from the neighboring nation of Orlais.

Contents

The Stolen Throne was first published on March 3, 2009 by Tor Books. [1] A deluxe hardcover edition was released by Dark Horse Books on September 12, 2018, featuring new illustrations by Stefano Martino, Andres Ponce, German Ponce and Alvaro Sarraseca. [2]

Development

David Gaider was the lead writer of the Dragon Age series during his tenure at BioWare. Gaider commented that while he did discuss with BioWare management about the possibility of doing a novel earlier in the development cycle for Origins, the fact that both the Dragon Age and Mass Effect series have book-based prequels was "completely incidental". [3] He said in an interview with Gamasutra that publishing company Tor Books first approached BioWare about a tie-in novelization for the then-upcoming Dragon Age: Origins, due to the positive reception of Mass Effect: Revelation by Drew Karpyshyn. BioWare offered the opportunity as author of the project to Gaider, who accepted as he was responsible for the majority of the writing work which fleshed out the lore and history of the Dragon Age setting. [3] In Gaider's own words, the benefit of having someone like him writing the book was that he would know exactly what a Dragon Age story is supposed to sound like, [3] and that the Dragon Age series was his "baby". [4]

Gaider said that the protagonist of a novel is always pre-determined and non-interactive unlike that of a video game; as the novel's author, Gaider had access to information that players will not read in the game, which he could use to articulate the character's motivations or inner thoughts if it serves the story, and he had the freedom to change the point of view between characters during the course of the narrative. [5] He noted that unlike his work in video games, he could put down on paper for the novel anything from his own imagination without facing the physical limitations of technology and what he could actually show. [6] He found the overall experience to be "novel" and "unique" given his usual occupation as a game designer and writer, and not as hard of an experience he anticipated it to be. [5] On the other hand, Gaider commented that players have agency when playing a video game character, and would tend to identify more strongly with their characters since they get to direct the action. [6]

For the novel's theme, Gaider decided to explore some of the possible stories he seeded in parts of Thedas when he first made the setting; he did not know at first whether they would ultimately be utilized for Origins. [3] Eventually he decided that the novel would be about the history of Ferelden's struggle for independence against the Orlesian Empire, an event referred to many times in the game, with Gaider noting that he and the rest of the development team initially tried to incorporate that story into the narrative for Origins. [3] He recognized that the continuity between the games' narrative and the tie-in material will not "necessarily going to mix that well", noting that it is problematic to incorporate a character originally introduced in the novelizations into the games, as the character ought to be presented in a manner which do not confuse players who do not have knowledge of the tie-in material, while at the same time satisfying players who did read the novels and not giving the impression of "a rehash of what they already know". [6]

Plot

The novel opens with the country of Ferelden occupied by the neighbouring Orlesian Empire. Queen Moira, who sought to expel the Orlesians, has been murdered by traitor nobles, but her son Maric has escaped. While attempting to flee the assassins who killed his mother, Maric encounters Loghain, who is part of a band of Fereldan outlaws. Having no real alternatives, Maric joins up with them. However Maric is not able to stay at the outlaw camp long, as an Orlesian army looking for Maric attacks. Yet, Loghain is able to lead Maric to safety by taking him to the Korcari Wilds, a region avoided by most due to its danger. Here they meet the mysterious Witch of the Wilds, who enables them to pass through the Wilds safely. She provides this help on the condition that Maric makes her a promise. The specifics of this promise are unknown. She also tells Maric that a Blight will one day come to Ferelden and gives him a cryptic warning about Loghain's loyalty.

After escaping the Wilds, Maric and Loghain are led to the remaining rebel army by Maric's betrothed, Rowan Guerrin, just in time to defeat an Orlesian army about to attack them using Loghain's aptitude for strategy. The next few years see Maric, Loghain and Rowan become close friends as they strengthen the rebel army until it is in a position to take Gwaren, a Fereldan town. Katriel, an elf woman who claims to be a messenger, warns them of an impending attack on Gwaren and they are able to repel it. After this, Katriel and Maric begin a relationship. However, Katriel is a spy for Meghren, the Orlesian King of Ferelden. She provides Maric with false information that convinces him to attack the town of West Hill. This attack results in massive loss of life for the rebel army, and Maric, Loghain and Rowan being separated from the remainder of the army.

Regretting her deception and developing real feelings for Maric, Katriel leads Maric, Loghain and Rowan to the Deep Roads, a series of tunnels, in order to return to Gwaren. After facing the dangers of the Deep Roads, including giant spiders and darkspawn, and escaping in the company of a dwarven warband, whom Maric convinces to join the rebellion, the group reach the surface. Once they return to Gwaren, they find the remnants of the rebel army and once again secure the town against an Orlesian army sent to wipe out the last remnants of the rebellion. Maric's miraculous return inspires nationwide revolution by the Fereldan people against Orlesian rule, and Meghren's heavy-handed efforts to restore order only cause further insurrection and his reluctant allies amongst the Fereldan nobility to side with Maric.

By this time, Loghain and Rowan have formed a romantic bond (in part due to Maric abandoning Rowan for Katriel), but Loghain has also discovered Katriel's betrayal and reveals it to Maric, omitting that Katriel had reneged on her orders out of love for Maric. After discovering her actions, Maric kills Katriel in blind rage, only to discover later that Katriel had been loyal out of love for him; Loghain wished to impress on Maric the importance of a king doing what has to be done, as opposed to what he wants to do. Following her death, Loghain encourages Rowan to become Maric's wife and queen, for Maric and Ferelden's benefit. She agrees (though the relationship between Maric and Loghain becomes much colder as a result of this and Katriel's death) and with increased momentum and growing outrage at the continuing cruelty of the Orlesians, there is now widespread support for Maric and the rebel cause. Victory is all but assured for the rebels. Maric also exacts justice on the traitor nobles who murdered his mother, luring them to a meeting under the pretense of a truce, then killing them for their crimes, before Loghain and Rowan break the back of Meghren's armies at the Battle of River Dane, ensuring Meghren's downfall and the eventual defeat of the occupation.

The novel closes with Mother Ailis, a Chantry priestess who once lived within the outlaw camp, telling Maric and Rowan's son Cailan stories of his father; after the victory at River Dane, Orlais abandoned its occupation of Ferelden as a lost cause, and after three more years of war, Denerim fell to the rebels after a long siege, Meghren was overthrown and executed for his crimes and Maric is crowned as king. Ailis tells that Maric has become a popular king, Loghain has become a powerful lord and has married and had a daughter, and that Rowan has died after a long illness. After relating this, Ailis hobbles after Cailan, who has run off into the distance.

Reception

Matt Litten, writing for VGBlogger.com, commented on The Stolen Throne's dark and mature tone, noting that "Gaider doesn’t hold much back in describing the harrowing nature of battle" and that the novel's overall depiction of violence is "much more intense than most fantasy novels". He concluded that the novel "serves its purpose beautifully" as a tie-in prequel, and that its story is "very well written, and the strong character relationships that develop will surely tug on your emotions". [7] RPGWatch concluded that reading The Stolen Throne will enhance the immersive experience of Origins for players, though the novel is found to be uneven quality with flaws like "occasionally clumsy writing", "plot points given away in advance", as well as overuse of typical fantasy and romance clichés. [8] Nevertheless, Gaider's enthusiasm for the novel's setting was complimented, and that the kingdom of Ferelden "springs to life in all of its endearingly clichéd splendor" from his earnest articulation.

Nick Gazin from Vice praised The Stolen Throne as a great read. [9] Clive Webster from Bit-Tech was enthused about The Stolen Throne and said that it "does read like a typical fantasy book and not merely a narration of a video game". [10] Gamesradar recommended that readers who intend to explore the Dragon Age novel series should start from The Stolen Throne. [11]

Sequel

A sequel to The Stone Throne, Dragon Age: The Calling , was released on October 13, 2009. Also written by David Gaider, the novel is centered on the relationship between King Maric Theirin and the Grey Wardens; Maric allowed the latter to return to Ferelden after they were exiled by his predecessor two hundred years ago. One of the Wardens apparently defects and aligns himself with the darkspawn, and the Wardens seek help from Maric and Loghain to find him. [12] A deluxe edition of The Calling was also released by Dark Horse Books on December 12, 2018. [13]

Related Research Articles

<i>Dragon Age: Origins</i> 2009 video game

Dragon Age: Origins is a 2009 role-playing video game developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts. It is the first game in the Dragon Age franchise. Set in the fictional kingdom of Ferelden during a period of civil strife, the game puts the player in the role of a warrior, mage, or rogue coming from an elven, human, or dwarven background. The player character is recruited into the Grey Wardens, an ancient order that stands against monstrous forces known as "Darkspawn", and is tasked with defeating the Archdemon that commands them and ending their invasion. The game is played from a third-person perspective that can be shifted to a top-down perspective. Throughout the game, players encounter various companions, who play major roles in the game's plot and gameplay.

Dragon Age is a 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.

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

Dragon Age: Origins is a story-driven role-playing game set in a world called Thedas, where the player usually assumes control of one primary character as the protagonist of the story. Throughout the course of the story, player characters in Origins are continually presented with choices for how to deal with major game events, and any decisions made usually influence the overarching narrative. While the player does retain control over forks in the narrative, the overarching narrative in each game follows a specified path, and the player's influence is confined to certain pre-ordained events in the game rather than the entire narrative itself.

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.

Patrick Weekes is an American author. They are a writer at BioWare who has written for both the Mass Effect and the Dragon Age writing team. In 2015 Weekes replaced David Gaider as the Lead Writer for the Dragon Age franchise.

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">Flemeth</span> Fictional character from Dragon Age

Flemeth is a character in BioWare's Dragon Age franchise. She first appears in the 2009 novel The Stolen Throne as the Witch of the Wilds, a notorious sorceress who resides in the Korcari Wilds region within the Kingdom of Ferelden in the world of Thedas, and provides conditional aid to the novel's main characters when they pass through her territory. Her first video game appearance is Dragon Age: Origins, which is set several decades after the events of The Stolen Throne, and again aids the game's protagonists. She saves the Hawke family and guides them to Kirkwall, which sets the events of Dragon Age II in motion, and provides insight on how to defeat the main antagonist of Dragon Age: Inquisition. She is voiced by American actress Kate Mulgrew for all relevant media.

<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">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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darkspawn</span>

The Darkspawn are a fictional collective of humanoid monsters who serve as recurring antagonists of the Dragon Age video game media franchise, developed by BioWare and owned by Electronic Arts. Within the series, they mostly dwell in the subterranean realms beneath the world of Thedas, the setting of the Dragon Age series. The Darkspawn are depicted as malevolent and ugly creatures who are capable of infecting other beings with a supernatural disease known as the "Taint", which twist its victims into monstrous creatures. The supposed origins of the Darkspawn is presented in Dragon Age: Origins as a religious creation myth by the Chantry, the dominant religious organization of Thedas. The Darkspawn are portrayed as an overarching threat to the world of Thedas, as they periodically rise to the surface as a unified force led by an Archdemon, the corrupted form of ancient draconic beings once worshipped as deities by human civilizations in antiquity, killing indiscriminately and corrupting anything they encounter. The Darkspawn hordes are primarily opposed by the dwarven civilization of Thedas as well as the Grey Wardens, a sworn brotherhood of warriors formed to stop the rampaging hordes of monsters from overrunning the surface world by any necessary means.

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.

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

Loghain Mac Tir is a fictional character from BioWare's Dragon Age franchise. He hails from the kingdom of Ferelden, a realm in the world of Thedas, where the Dragon Age series is set. Loghain first appears in the 2009 novel The Stolen Throne as one of its main characters alongside his friend, King Maric Theirin. The novel's story is set during their youth, where Loghain served as Maric's right hand during Ferelden's war against the Orlesian Empire. He would next appear in The Calling, eleven years after King Maric and his companions ventured into the Deep Roads as described in The Stolen Throne, and eight years after the rebellion led by Prince Maric managed to liberate Ferelden from the Orlesians.

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.

Downloadable content for Dragon Age: Origins, a role-playing game developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts, was announced prior to the game's release in late 2009 along with a commitment from BioWare to support two years of content. Up to seven major content packs were released: The Stone Prisoner, Warden's Keep, Return to Ostagar, The Darkspawn Chronicles, Leliana's Song, The Golems of Amgarrak, and Witch Hunt. The downloadable content (DLC) packs were distributed via Xbox Live, PlayStation Network, and BioWare's website for the PC platform.

Characters of <i>Dragon Age II</i>

Dragon Age II, the second main video game in BioWare's Dragon Age series, features an ensemble cast of characters. Several returning characters from its antecedent Dragon Age: Origins may appear in a major or minor capacity, including Flemeth, Anders, Merrill, Isabela, Alistair, Zevran, Leliana, Marethari, Bodahn and Sandal Feddic.

<i>Dragon Age: The Silent Grove</i> Comics based on video games

Dragon Age: The Silent Grove is a six-issue heroic fantasy comic book limited series set in the Dragon Age universe. The first in a series of Dragon Age visual media to be published by Dark Horse Comics, it was originally a exclusive digital release between February to May 2012. The series was primarily written by David Gaider, with Alexander Freed as scriptwriter and artwork by Chad Hardin.

References

  1. 1 2 Mike Fahey (January 14, 2009). "Dragon Age Prequel Novel Released This March". Kotaku . Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  2. ↑ "DRAGON AGE: THE STOLEN THRONE DELUXE EDITION HC". Dark Horse Books . Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Chris Remo (June 8, 2009). "The Story Thing: BioWare's David Gaider Speaks". Gamasutra. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  4. ↑ David Gaider (December 9, 2008). "Writing a Novel, p1". BioWare. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  5. 1 2 Chris Remo (June 8, 2009). "The Story Thing: BioWare's David Gaider Speaks". Gamasutra. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 Louis Garcia (August 25, 2010). "Interview with David Gaider: Part 2 — Creativity and His Dragon Age Novels". VentureBeat . Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  7. ↑ Matt Litten (April 3, 2009). "Book Review: Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne". VGBlogger.com. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Book Review - Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne". RPGWatch. August 26, 2009. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  9. ↑ Nick Gazin (April 29, 2009). "Literary - Nine things to look at/read". Vice . Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  10. ↑ Clive Webster (June 12, 2009). "Things I've learned from The Stolen Throne". Bit-Tech. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  11. ↑ Rob Dwiar (March 27, 2020). "Best gaming books 2020: novels, retro compendiums and other page-turners". GamesRadar . Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  12. ↑ Stephany Nunneley (September 15, 2009). "Second Dragon Age novel "The Calling" to be released in October". VG247 . Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  13. ↑ "DRAGON AGE: THE CALLING DELUXE EDITION HC". Dark Horse Books . Retrieved April 21, 2020.
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.