Summary
The Blight has been one of the earliest threats inDragon Age, with the Fifth Blight posing the main threat inDragon Age Origins. Since its depiction inDragon Age Originsand the series' move away fromdepicting the Grey Wardensas the point of view characters, the Blight has ironically received more lore and depth as a phenomenon acrossDragon Age 2andDragon Age: Inquisition. Although it has only lurked in the background as a threat, its true potential is likely to be unleashed inDragon Age: The Veilguardwith two blighted elven gods unleashed on Thedas.
The Blight evolved as a concept inDragon Age: Inquisition, where lore related to the elven gods implied that they began to use it as a weapon. Although the concept of the Blights, where darkspawn find an Old God and taint it, may seem simple, Solas implies that there is more to it through his dialogue and banter.Dragon Age: The Veilguardhas the protagonist face two blighted elven gods, evolved darkspawn, and possibly two archdemons, and it’s likely the threat of the Blight may be put to rest in this game.
How Dragon Age: The Veilguard Depicts the Elven Gods and the Blight
Solas clearly knows more about the Blight than he lets on inDragon Age: Inquisition, voicing hisderision for the Grey Wardensfor tainting themselves in the Joining to fight the Blight, their goal to kill the Old Gods to end the Blights, and his disdain for anyone willing to use the Blight for power like Corypheus. The implication of killing the last Old Gods angers Solas more than anything else inDragon Age: Inquisition, and he dismisses the connection between the Blight taint and the darkspawn in banter with Varric.
InTrespasser, Solas said that if he hadn’t sealed the evanurisaway behind the Veil, they would have destroyed the world. As the evanuris were Blighted, and the Blight was only unleashed on Thedas when the Magisters Sidereal opened the Black City, it’s likely the evanuris were using the Blight as a weapon. A codex entry inDragon Age: Inquisitionmentions that Andruil, the goddess of the hunt, entered the Void to hunt, and became madder every time she returned. Eventually, she began to don arms and armor made of the Void, and hunt her own people, before Mythal stopped her.
What the Blight Could Do in Dragon Age: The Veilguard
Corypheus states that when he and the other Tevinter magisters entered the Golden City, rather than being the ones to corrupt it,the Golden City was already corrupted, implying that the Blight was already there and, by opening it, all they did was release the Blight. It’s very likely that the Black City is the prison where Solas sealed away the evanuris, along with the Blight that they had unleashed.
Dragon Age: Last Flightgoes more into the implications of what the Joining can do to living beings, and describes the Grey Wardens' griffons being subjected to the Joining, alongside blood magic to force their minds to accept the taint. The griffons become incredibly aggressive, and attack darkspawn on sight until they are torn apart. The Joining in the griffons evolved to become a contagious disease, whereas the other griffons that hadn’t been subjected to the Joining also became infected with the same taint and its effects.
It’s also possible that the last two Old Gods have been tainted inDragon Age: The Veilguard, bringingDragon Ageback full circle with the Blight as the main enemy once more. With so many moving parts, it’s possible that the issue of the Blight will be solved inDragon Age: The Veilguard.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard
WHERE TO PLAY
Enter the world of Thedas, a vibrant land of rugged wilderness, treacherous labyrinths, and glittering cities – steeped in conflict and secret magics. Now, a pair of corrupt ancient gods have broken free from centuries of darkness and are hellbent on destroying the world.Thedas needs someone they can count on. Rise as Rook, Dragon Age’s newest hero. Be who you want to be and play how you want to play as you fight to stop the gods from blighting the world. But you can’t do this alone – the odds are stacked against you. Lead a team of seven companions, each with their own rich story to discover and shape, and together you will become The Veilguard.
