How Old is the Inquisitor in Dragon Age? A Deep Dive into Age and Lore
Determining the precise age of the Inquisitor in Dragon Age: Inquisition is not straightforward, as it is left deliberately ambiguous by BioWare, the game’s developers. Unlike some characters whose ages are explicitly stated, the Inquisitor’s age is flexible and can be interpreted based on the chosen race and origin story of the player. However, given context from within the game and the established lore of Thedas, it is generally understood that the Inquisitor is somewhere between 20 and 40 years old at the start of the game.
The lack of a definitive age allows players to project themselves onto the character, enhancing the role-playing experience. This intentional vagueness ensures the Inquisitor’s journey feels personal and meaningful, as players can connect with a protagonist whose life stage aligns with their own perception. This contrasts with characters like the Warden in Dragon Age: Origins, whose age, while also somewhat variable based on origin, falls within a narrower range of 20-30 years of age. Understanding the relative ages of the main characters adds a rich layer of depth to the world of Thedas.
Understanding the Inquisitor’s Age Range
The Inquisitor’s age range is not randomly chosen. Several in-game factors contribute to this approximation:
- Life Experience: The Inquisitor, regardless of their origin, is established as someone who has already lived a life before the Breach. They are not children or teenagers; they have some experience of the world, be it through nobility, scholarship, or as an outlander. This implies an age beyond early adulthood.
- Responsibility and Leadership: The Inquisitor quickly shoulders immense responsibility, leading the Inquisition and making weighty decisions. This position often suggests an individual who has moved past youthful inexperience.
- Physical Appearance: While visual design choices allow for some player customization, the base model for the Inquisitor reflects a level of maturity beyond a teenager. Their features are those of someone in their 20s to 40s.
- Dialogue and Reactions: The conversations and reactions the Inquisitor has with other characters consistently show an individual who is capable of complex thought and strategic planning. These traits are often more developed in someone older than the average teenager.
It’s also important to consider that Dragon Age characters have a high degree of maturity, often because they are subjected to a world full of conflict and political intrigue. This creates the perception of characters acting older than they are, especially in contrast to the real world.
Comparing the Inquisitor’s Age to Other Characters
While the Inquisitor’s specific age is ambiguous, comparing them to the explicitly aged characters can give us further insight. For example:
- Alistair: Is roughly 30 in Inquisition, having been around 18-20 at the time of Origins.
- Cassandra Pentaghast: Is stated to be in her late 30s or early 40s in Inquisition.
- Leliana: Is around 34-35 in Inquisition.
- Cullen Rutherford: Is approximately 35 in Inquisition.
- Solas: Is described as being in his early 30s.
- Varric: Is around 35.
- Dorian Pavus: Is in his late 30s.
- Iron Bull: Is in his mid-40s.
- Blackwall: Is in his early 50s.
- Vivienne: Is in her late 30s.
- Sera: Is around 22-23.
- Cole: Is 17/18.
These comparisons solidify the Inquisitor’s placement in the 20-40 year-old range, as they generally interact with these characters as peers, showing neither the naivety of a teenager or the weariness of someone much older. While the Inquisitor’s age remains flexible, they’re clearly not a novice entering the world, but an experienced individual stepping into their role of leadership. This allows for a more impactful and mature narrative.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Dragon Age Ages
Here are 15 frequently asked questions concerning ages in the Dragon Age universe, providing even more insights into character timelines:
1. How old is the Warden from Dragon Age: Origins?
The Warden, like the Inquisitor, doesn’t have a definitive age, but is roughly between 20 and 30 years old at the start of the game. This can vary depending on the chosen origin story, with the human noble possibly being on the younger side and others a bit older.
2. How old is Morrigan in Dragon Age: Inquisition?
Morrigan is likely in her late 20s or early 30s during the events of Dragon Age: Inquisition. She was considered young in Origins, and the passage of time would place her in this age bracket.
3. Is there a possibility of the Inquisitor appearing as an NPC in Dragon Age 4?
BioWare has set a precedent for old player characters returning as NPCs. While the Inquisitor’s return is not confirmed for Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, the possibility does exist, given the precedence.
4. How old is Fenris in Dragon Age?
Fenris’ age is not explicitly stated. Based on context clues, he is estimated to be between 27 and 33 years old.
5. How old is Leliana when she becomes Divine?
Leliana is 36 at the time she becomes Divine in the game world.
6. Does Solas remove the mark from the Inquisitor’s hand?
Solas does not remove the mark. He stops it from spreading. The Inquisitor will eventually die from it.
7. Can the Inquisitor marry other companions?
Yes, the Inquisitor can marry Cullen or Sera in an on-screen wedding during the Trespasser DLC. Many more can be romanced, but only these two allow for a wedding.
8. Is Alistair half-elf?
Yes, Alistair is half-elf, but in the game’s lore, half-elf children almost always look fully human.
9. Is Dragon Age: Dreadwolf a direct sequel to Dragon Age: Inquisition?
Yes, Dragon Age: Dreadwolf is the direct sequel to Dragon Age: Inquisition.
10. What characters can the Inquisitor romance in Dragon Age: Inquisition?
The Inquisitor can romance Josephine, Blackwall, Iron Bull, Dorian, Cassandra, Sera, Solas, and Cullen.
11. How tall is Leliana?
Leliana is about 5’8″ tall.
12. Can you flirt with multiple characters in Dragon Age: Inquisition?
Yes, you can flirt with multiple characters, but you will eventually be asked to commit to one for an exclusive relationship.
13. Can you get married in the Trespasser DLC?
Yes, Sera and Cullen each propose to the Inquisitor and are the only characters that can be married in the Trespasser DLC.
14. Does Solas really love the Inquisitor?
Yes, it is strongly implied that Solas cares deeply for the Inquisitor, but he struggles to express his feelings.
15. Is Morrigan Flemeth’s daughter?
Yes, Morrigan is the daughter of Flemeth.
This information provides a comprehensive look into the ages of key characters in the Dragon Age universe, and particularly, the flexible and somewhat mysterious age of the Inquisitor. The ambiguity around the Inquisitor’s age is a testament to the way BioWare creates immersive and personalized role-playing experiences.