Darkspawn (Dragon Age)
The Darkspawn are a species that feature in the setting of Dragon Age.
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History
The Darkspawn were a monstrous race that plagued the lands of Thedas whose origins were largely mysterious. According to one account, they were tied to the seven members of the Magisters Sidereal who were part of the Magisterium of the Tevinter Imperium. Each was a high priest of one of the Old Gods who whispered to them that they could claim the power of the Maker's throne by breaking into the Golden City that was the heavenly city existing in the heart of the Fade. However, only one of them could achieve this goal leading to each of the seven being competitors with one another. It was said that their breach resulted in a corruption that turned the heaven into the Black City and led to the creation of the Darkspawn with the magisters being the first of their kind. From them came the corruption of the Blight which infected others turning them into more of the Darkspawn. This was the view of the Chantry though the Tevinter disputed any involvement by them and stated that the creatures had always existed in the world. Similarly, the Dwarves claimed that the Darkspawn arose from deep underground but knew not their true origins.
With the fall of the Golden City and the beginning of the First Blight in -395 Ancient (800 TE), a dark age descended onto Thedas as the darkspawn rampaged across the continent, destroying everything in their path. The Tevinter Imperium suffered greatly, becoming severely weakened and fractured under the strain of the invasion, while the subterranean empire of the dwarves was laid waste, with only their four major kingdoms Orzammar, Gundaar, Hormak and Kal-Sharok surviving. After nearly a century of hopeless, unending war, the Order of the Grey Wardens was established at Weisshaupt Fortress in -305 Ancient (890 TE), and proved instrumental in the defeat of the Archdemon Dumat at the Battle of the Silent Plains. The darkspawn invasion had been beaten, but the darkspawn would retreat underground to rebuild and recover. Ancient Grey Warden records dating back to 1004 TE revealed that in the wake of the First Blight, Grey Wardens discovered that some darkspawn could think and speak; and also commanded portions of the darkspawn horde even after the Archdemon's death. A few could wield magic with the skill of a Tevinter magister, and the Wardens greatly feared them.
Over the centuries, four more Blights would occur and impact the lands of Thedas with the latest occurring in 9:30 Dragon. Each time, the Blight would be stopped with heavy losses, with the darkspawn destroying entire cities or even kingdoms before being beaten back by the nations of Thedas and the Grey Wardens. With the exception of Anderfels, darkspawn appearances on the surface most frequently promote fears of a Blight, however this does not occur until an Archdemon is awakened by the darkspawn. Without an Archdemon leading them, darkspawn hordes are much smaller and less effective in the raids they often launch, but are still dangerous. However, that is not the case in the underground, as the dwarves have been constantly fighting a losing battle against the darkspawn for more than a millennium. This has resulted in the underground of Thedas being almost entirely controlled by darkspawn with the exception of what remains of the kingdoms of Orzammar and Kal-Sharok. Some thaigs have been recently reclaimed, but at heavy costs to the dwarves.
Overview
In appearance, Darkspawn were described as pale creatures with strange blackness bleeding out of their eyes and mouths. It was shown that a black ichor flowed through their bodies. They did not need to eat as the taint sustained them, however they can eat for reasons other than dietary. Furthermore, the taint provided them quick healing from wounds which also explained the absence of healing skills among the darkspawn. As such, ogres could regenerate to full health within a matter of minutes. This healing even allowed the re-creation of lost body parts after some time.
Those that contracted the Darkspawn taint were transformed into creatures called Ghouls. The creature developed a sickly complexion as they fell under the influence of the Darkspawn with the infected seeking them out. Humanoids and even animals were capable of being transformed into Ghouls if they were not killed by the taint. As a species, the Darkspawn were incapable of reproducing and thus asexual. Instead, the birth of new members of their kind fell to captured infected female prisoners that succumbed to the taint where they transformed into a kind of Ghoul whereupon they ate the flesh of their fellow captives. This led to the females transformation into creatures known as Broodmothers with those that survived the process becoming massively swollen creatures that existed only to birth more Darkspawn. A single broodmother was capable of giving birth to thousands of darkspawn during their lives, and each race produced a different type of darkspawn. Humans produced hurlocks, dwarves produced genlocks, elves produced the sharlocks, and Qunari produced ogres. Darkspawn feature similar traits to the race their broodmother once was, such as genlocks having magical resistance. Newborn darkspawn look more or less like the Children.
It was common knowledge that the average darkspawn could barely be considered sapient and possessed no intelligence beyond a simple animal cunning. Darkspawn were capable of coordinated action. Darkspawn seem to show little fear, and though they will retreat if they begin to lose a fight without an Archdemon guiding them, they will never surrender to their foes and will continue fighting even if countless numbers of their brethren have been slain.
The darkspawn rank and file do not possess any language beyond hissing, roars and grunts. Despite this, they communicate well with one another, and some can be heard laughing cruelly as they attack and slay their foes, and are often seen making taunting and/or threatening gestures towards their opponents before fighting, especially before a major battle. All darkspawn are connected through the taint, functioning as a hive-mind. They can even sense Grey Wardens just as the latter sense them.
Newborn darkspawn will inevitably fight amongst themselves and try to kill each other, possibly by instinct. This serves to weed out the weaker darkspawn. Occasionally one young darkspawn will be so much more powerful than the rest that it kills the entire brood. This darkspawn is called an alpha. They are generally taller, stronger and much more intelligent than the rest of their kind.
Darkspawn exist solely for one purpose - war against all sentient beings in Thedas. As a rule, they are completely hostile to outsiders. Anyone caught venturing underground will be attacked, and anything caught in their path during a raid or a Blight will be mercilessly slaughtered. Surrendering to darkspawn is generally foolish; even if they spare a prisoner's life, they will still drag them back to the Deep Roads. Those who come in contact with darkspawn will eventually contract the blight disease and either perish outright or turn into ghouls. Once the taint progresses enough, the darkspawn recognize them as their own kind and ghouls can sense darkspawn. Such people often show signs of insanity and usually work for the darkspawn in order to craft their weapons and armor.
Known breeds of Darkspawn included:
- Genlock :
- Hurlock :
- Ogres : towering over their darkspawn kin, the massive ogres are a rare sight on the battlefield. Traditionally, they only appear during a Blight, but some records claim that ogres have been spotted in the Deep Roads hunting alone or in small groups. At least one report by the Grey Wardens claims that an ogre was spotted alone in the Korcari Wilds in 9:19 Dragon, though it was weakened and easily dispatched. Up to a hundred of these creatures can accompany a darkspawn horde at any one time during a Blight, often using their great strength to burst through fortifications and demolish the front lines of the opposing army. They use brute force to charge their enemies like bulls, slam the ground with their fists to shake enemies off their feet, and hurl great rocks into the face of oncoming foes. Melee can be difficult against a giant that snatches a warrior up in one hand, crushing the life out of him or beating him into oblivion with the other hand. The nimble can try to wiggle his way free, or an ally can attempt an array of stunning blows on an ogre to free the comrade in danger. Grey Warden lore urges caution when slaying an ogre. Unless it is ensured that they have received a major wound to the head or the heart, it is possible that they are lying dormant and will regenerate to full health within a matter of minutes. During a Blight, most Grey Wardens recommend burning all darkspawn to ashes.
Emissaries were highly intelligent darkspawn that draw on the power of the taint to cast spells. They acted as 'shamans' or spiritual leaders to the darkspawn. Emissary alphas were the most powerful of the magic wielding darkspawn.
During their raids, it was known that they often took captives that were dragged alive into the Deep Roads with evidence suggesting that these were eaten. As such, they were compared to spiders in that they preferred their food to be still alive when they consumed them.
During a Blight, an Archdemon could take command of an entire horde of darkspawn. In such times, Alphas served as the commanders and generals whilst omegas acted as 'second-in-command' to the Archdemon. The strongest alphas and omegas received direct orders from the Archdemon itself. Meanwhile, Emissaries ensured that darkspawn followed the Archdemon's will and that alphas serve the Archdemon's interests and not their own.
Without a Blight, the darkspawn remain underground except for raids. When there isn't an Archdemon to direct the darkspawn, the 'chain of command' within the communal mind of the darkspawn breaks down, with individual alphas and omegas assuming a sort of leadership position as 'tyrants', splitting the horde amongst themselves and fighting for dominance. Emissaries ensure that darkspawn search for the Archdemons outside of a Blight. Darkspawn constantly wage war with the dwarves outside of the Blights (except the First Blight); this has led many subterranean dwarves to view Blights as a grand and peaceful time, as these are the only occasions when the darkspawn empty the Deep Roads and cease attacking them.
Darkspawn possess a certain limited crafting expertise. It is primarily related to the production of crude armor and weaponry, as well as primitive fortifications from the remnants of dwarven supplies found in the Deep Roads.
Members
- Corypheus :
- Architect :
- The First :
- The Herald :
- Laryn :
- The Lost :
- The Messenger :
- The Mother :
- The Withered :
Notes
- The Darkspawn were created by David Gaider and appeared as antagonists where they featured in the setting of the Dragon Age universe.
Appearances
- Dragon Age: Origins:
- Dragon Age II:
- Dragon Age: Inquisition:
External Links
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