Dragon Age: The Calling
- Sneaky Mage
- Mar 12
- 5 min read
Written by: David Gaider
Be warned: this will be a bit longer than say The Stolen Throne, due to its relevance to the games and the main story line.
The Calling takes place a good twenty years before the start of DA:Origins and approximately five years after the events of the first book (The Stolen Throne). And starts with the investigation into the disappearance of a certain senior Grey Warden, who is supposed to have gone to his Calling. Remember how GW, at the end of their lives, start hearing voices announcing that their time has come to an end and head to the Deep Roads to kill as many Darkspawns as possible before turning into them themselves?
Well, this senior GW named Bregan, supposedly went to his calling, but there are suspicions that he never actually finished it aka died. Which could be problematic given that he was one of the select few who knew the locations of the Old Gods otherwise known as the Archdemons. Yes, the “dragons” who lead blights.
In short: There is a suspicion that the Darkspawn have captured him and that they could somehow manage to obtain this information, which could lead to a new Blight and all that goes along with it. Hence, a small group of Grey Wardens goes on a secret rescue operation to save him, or at worst – kill him.
A rough outline of the situation at the time:
While this is happening, Grey Wardens are still expelled from Ferelden, due to that fiasco with Sofia Dryden from the Warden's Keep DLC for DA:Origins.
All the Grey Wardens are therefore from Orlais/Orlesians. Which is kind of awkward, after Orlais tried to kill off the entire royal line and the war that followed. You know. Ups. Why are they in Ferelden you ask? Conveniently the only secret and most convenient entrance to the Deep Roads known is located right there. And not only that, King Maric and Loghain are the only ones who know its exact location (they accidentally discovered it during the Liberation War). Like I said. Awkward.
The party of said Grey Wardens consists of Duncan.
Yes, The Duncan (albeit a lot younger version of him.)
The rest of the group consists of Genevive (Commander of GW in Orlais and also twin sister of the missing Bregan), Fiona (elf mage, the only one in the group in the same age and rank as Duncan), an Avvar warrior Kell ap Morgan (aka ultimate badass) and his faithful mabari Hafter, Utha (a dwarf and a member of the warrior order of the Silent Sisters – the ones who cut off their own language, remember? Also badass.) and two other awesome warriors, Julien and Nicolas, long-time lovers and partners for life.
After very tense and lengthy negotiations, they manage to convince King Maric to allow them to carry out this mission. Which he agrees, but only on the condition that he goes with them. And leaves Loghain to take care of the kingdom. Makes sense? Not really. But it’s kind of necessary plot-vise, as you’ll see.
Over the course of this expedition, various friendships are forged, a few people die, others are lost but most importantly – the forbidden romance between Fiona and Maric blossoms. See? That is why he had to come along. Don’t get it? Play the game.
The mission is ultimately successful, they find Bregan, but at the same time, they also encounter something unexpected and inexplicable – the thinking and talking Darkspawn: The Architect.
It turns out that this ting captured Bregan and ran experiments on him (if you've played...exactly the same as in the Awakening DLC). It basically wanted to understand the reason for its existence, and at the same time discover a way for the denizens of Thedas and Darkspawn to live happily ever after in peace and harmony for the rest of their days...
Lovely thingy isn't he/it?
Still, it manages to convince Bregan, as well as Utha, who then joins him in exchange for releasing the last surviving members of this expedition (Duncan, Fiona and King Maric).
The final proceeds of the expedition (SPOILERS!...obviously):
Duncan, Fiona, and Maric survive.
GW return to Ferelden; Duncan is declared their Commander (to keep an eye on the Architect.)
That crazy darkspawn turns out to be the real culprit responsible for The Blight in DA:Origins.
That crazy darkspawn was also somehow involved in a conspiracy with Orlais -
With the help of the (now previous) Grand Enchanter, it tried to accelerate the corruption of the Grey Wardens involved in the expedition, by giving them magic amulets that were supposed to "protect" them from being sensed/discovered by the other Darkspawn...which technically they did... (darkspawn don’t attack other darkspawn). Thus practically trapping Maric for Orlais and handing over Ferelden. Again (those pesky orlesians).
Since Duncan was relatively young when he received this amulet, he wasn't that affected by it, but he paid that price later – it pretty much shortened his life (if you’ve played through Dragon Age Origins, it was mentioned that Duncan had already heard his Calling).
On the other hand Fiona, as the only Grey Warden in history, recovered and literally "healed" from taint. So Grey Wardens were kind of forced to kick her out of their ranks and send her back to the nearest Circle. But wait, there is more! She was also pregnant and later gave birth to a little blonde, half-elf.... Alistair. Yup. The Alistair.
So, Alistair was, in fact, some kind of miracle baby, who, by all logic, shouldn't have existed at all. Grey Wardens can't have kids, remember?
Anyway, in the end she delivers little Ali to Maric, who was completely miserable that he wasn't allowed to admit the child was his. Fiona after all was his true love; his wife—the queen—on the other hand, was married to him for political reasons, but she loved Loghain and he loved her. (Yup, you've got to love them love triangles).
But wait! Even that is not all! Alistair was half-elven and also a child of a mage – a completely forbidden love affair in all respects.
However, Duncan, who was a very good friend of Maric and Fiona at that point, helped them create a false story about Alistair's origins and swearing to take care of him.
So you see, Duncan's conscription of Alistair to GW was by NO means accidental, nor was Alistair's impression that Duncan was paternally protective of him...
And that is it, want to know how the story continues? Go (re)play Dragon Age: Origins.
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