Dragon Age: Origins - An Idea

**TheFlax** · 05-30-2010, 06:24

Originally Posted by Double A

I thought Tevinter was just the Roman empire, not just the Byzies. Cause they aren't around any more.

Nah, Secura got it right. Tevinter is still around and kicking, fighting a lot with the Qunari. They are a lot smaller now though. Also, I remember from the Bioware forums, before the game came out, the lead writer mentioned that Tevinter was heavily inspired by the Byzantine Empire.

**Secura** · 05-30-2010, 13:53

Originally Posted by TheFlax

Nah, Secura got it right. Tevinter is still around and kicking, fighting a lot with the Qunari. They are a lot smaller now though.

Which is where I drew the Ottoman-Qunari comparison from, seems the most logical one.

Also, I remember from the Bioware forums, before the game came out, the lead writer mentioned that Tevinter was heavily inspired by the Byzantine Empire.

The wikia states that "Writer David Gaider has stated that the present, weakened state of Tevinter Imperium is influenced by the real-world Byzantine Empire". He gave real-life influences for all the nations I described in my earlier post. I don't think the Dwarves or Elves had one because their civilisations are very much under wraps; the Dwarves span across most of Ferelden (and further, p'raps) with the Deep Roads and such, while the Elves are fractured and essentially nomadic.

**Double A** · 05-30-2010, 19:00

Originally Posted by johnhughthom

The "Byzies" were the Roman Empire....

Somebody had to say it.

I know that, sheesh. But when I say the "Roman Empire" I mean when it wasn't constantly fighting Muslims and Catholics, just everyone else. Byzies are the purple guys in M2 who have Constantinople.

And I didn't know the Imperium was still around. I'll have read my codex entry for them.

Also: GAAAAH WEREWOLVES CAN TALK!!!!!!!!!!!!

**Belisarius II** · 05-30-2010, 23:39

This will help as far as geography.

There are bigger resolutions of the map, a quick google search will get you one.

**Double A** · 05-31-2010, 03:17

Oh wow I thought Orlais was where that strip of land between Orlais and Ferelden is...

And that it was on an island.

**Secura** · 05-31-2010, 13:37

Originally Posted by Double A

Oh wow I thought Orlais was where that strip of land between Orlais and Ferelden is...

As I said, Orlais draws influences from France; aside of the obvious culture comparions, there's the vast extent of the country compared to the nations around it and the sheer size of their army (which was able to effectively invade and occupy Ferelden for some time).

There's a reason that Cailan was trying to forge a Ferelden-Orlais alliance and wanted the Chevaliers to come to aid against the Darkspawn... and there's a reason why Loghain chose to abandon the forces even when the beacon was lit.

**Belisarius II** · 05-31-2010, 17:31

Originally Posted by Double A

Oh wow I thought Orlais was where that strip of land between Orlais and Ferelden is...

That is still Orlais. The one thing I don't like about this map is its lack of borders for the nations. The land between Orlais and Ferelden was once called the Dales (2nd homeland of the elves). Orlais occupied the land. The far eastern border of Orlais is actually the mountains that make up the west border of Ferelden. Orlais is huge, and is the superpower of the Thedas presently. Another way you can see that Orlais has control of the area is that there are a few towns in that have French-like names around the Dales.