Back in November 2009, Dragon Age: Origins made its grand debut. Fast forward to the present, and we’re diving into the latest chapter with Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Now, while it’s been a decade and a half for us, time in Thedas has marched on even further. Our formidable Hero of Ferelden took down the Fifth Blight in 9:31 Dragon, and by 9:53 Dragon, those pesky Blighted Elven Gods resurfaced. So, we’re looking at about 22 years passing in the Dragon Age world.
Heads up: major spoilers are ahead for Dragon Age: The Veilguard!
Now, let’s try to pin down some ages. No one knows exactly how old our Hero of Ferelden is, but if you figure they were around 18-20 when the Fifth Blight wrapped up, they’re hitting their early 40s during The Veilguard saga. As for Hawke, keeping in mind they were born between 9:06-9:07 Dragon, they’d be sitting at 46 or 47 years. Provided they’ve managed to stay alive, that is. The Inquisitor’s age is deliberately left ambiguous, offering players the freedom to choose. At the time of the Inquisition, they could be anywhere between 20 and 40. With The Veilguard happening ten years later, their age ranges from 30s to 50s. As for Rook? Well, their age remains a bit of an enigma.
In Thedas, much like in our celebrity-obsessed world, it’s all about the “Who’s who?” Staying relevant is key, and Dragon Age: The Veilguard tidies up a few storylines, closing some chapters, at least for now. It’s a good moment to recall what we last heard about key figures like The Hero of Ferelden or Hawke.
Let’s touch on where The Hero of Ferelden stands today. They hold a special place in the heart of the franchise, given it’s the storyline many fans began with. Although new fans might join the adventure at various points, the Hero of Ferelden’s journey is marked by its intricate narrative choices and outcomes.
To sum it up, during the Fifth Blight, they might’ve met their end slaying the Archdemon, or they could have let Alistair or Loghain take the fall. There’s also the option of conducting a Morrigan ritual, leading to the creation of the Old God Baby, with the Archdemon’s soul moving into Morrigan’s unborn child. Not to mention, they could become the Queen of Ferelden as Alistair’s political partner or remain with the Grey Wardens. The choice matters greatly — alive or dead by the end of Origins. If they took the ultimate sacrifice, an Orlesian Warden Commander takes the spotlight in the DLC, but they’re not nearly as memorable as our Hero of Ferelden.
If they survived, later games do drop a few references. No matter their royal or warden stance, they eventually vanish around 9:40 Dragon, as inquisition unveils they’re on a quest to stop The Calling.
Even with these threads, The Veilguard doesn’t really fill in the blanks about their fate, only adding a nod to their heroic beginnings at Ostagar. Yet, the main game’s conclusion suggests there’s a shift. With the threat of Ghilan’nain and Elgar’nan vanquished and the Warden forces largely out of action, what comes next, especially regarding The Calling, is left dangling — classic BioWare style. So, the Hero of Ferelden remains a mystery in The Veilguard timeline.
Shifting focus to where Hawke is now, their last big moment was in the “Here Lies the Abyss” mission from Dragon Age: Inquisition. Players faced a tough choice: leaving Hawke or a Warden Contact (which could be Alistair, Loghain, or Stroud) behind in the Fade with the Nightmare. This creates two scenarios in The Veilguard: either Hawke is lost, perhaps not alive, or they’re alive but missing.
For those who managed to save Hawke, they report back to the Wardens about the Adamant Fortress incident. Weisshaupt becomes troubled by the news, and it’s mentioned that Hawke and Varric work together to fix up Kirkwall. That would place them at about 9:44 Dragon, leaving a good ten years since we last heard about Hawke’s whereabouts.
Now, switching gears to the Inquisitor. In stark contrast to the Hero of Ferelden or Rook, they can’t die in Dragon Age: Inquisition or in any DLC, since their mission focuses on either aiding Solas or stopping him from dismantling the Veil. Uniquely, as with Inquisition, there’s no threat of their demise in The Veilguard. They emerge as a central figure, leading the South, which, like the North, has suffered from the chaos unleashed by Ghilan’nain and Elgar’nan.
In the climactic battles of The Veilguard, the Inquisitor returns, and regardless of choices, they survive. Interestingly, in certain scenarios, Inquisitors who have a bond with Solas can choose to walk the path of redemption with him, leaving many to wonder about the future implications and potential for a rare happy ending for Solas and the Inquisitor — quite a feat in Thedas where such endings are scarce.
That brings us to Rook’s current state. As players progress through The Veilguard, Rook’s outcomes depend on their choices. In most endings, Rook survives, whether by redeeming Solas or by clever or forceful means. Getting Solas to fall for a clever ruse seems especially fitting given his trickster nature. On the other hand, ignoring key game elements can result in a bad ending, where Rook is fatally wounded by the Lyrium Dagger while binding Solas to the Veil.
The numbers spell it out: Rook makes it out alive in about 75% of scenarios, while facing demise in roughly 25% of them. Considering the game ends on a note stating “The Veilguard Remains Vigilant,” it suggests the threat to the Veil isn’t quite over. Perhaps it relates to The Veilguard’s secret ending, but for now, fans will just have to hang tight and see where the series heads next. Who knows if any of our past heroes will return? Here’s hoping!
