Netflix simply launched a brand new trailer for Dragon Age: Absolution, which is a six-episode animated present a few magical heist made in collaboration with BioWare. I criticized the final trailer for being generically bland. The brand new trailer is a big enchancment over what Netflix had initially proven. Should you’re a BioWare sicko like me, you then may need picked up on some clues in regards to the plot of Absolution. They’re not hidden, however they require a little bit of Dragon Age data to parse.
The story is about within the Tevinter Imperium, a brutal nation the place slavery remains to be authorized and slave uprisings are frequent. Our band of heroes are employed to steal a strong artifact to maintain it out of the “incorrect” fingers. Whereas I haven’t seen any references to in-game occasions, I observed that Cassandra Pentaghast was giving some exposition to the principle forged of Absolution. Cassandra is a Seeker of Reality (a form of anti-magic secret police), and he or she helped the participant save the world in Dragon Age Inquisition. Which signifies that the sequence doubtless takes place after the occasions of Inquisition. BioWare has beforehand included spin-off content material into sidequests for Inquisition, so I wouldn’t be stunned if components of the present made it into Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, the newest entry in BioWare’s action-RPG sequence. So even for those who’re on the fence about watching Absolution, it is likely to be price it for the Dreadwolf lore crumbs.
The trailer principally focuses on the protagonist Miriam, who’s an elven slave within the Imperium. It reveals her proprietor utilizing people as a part of a painful ritual. This type of spellcasting is known as blood magic, which frequently sacrifices lives with a purpose to enhance a mage’s energy. It’s protected to say that Miriam has at all times lived with the data that she could be killed by her “mom” at any time. So it feels just a little unfair when her pal Hira accuses her of being a coward who gained’t take a stand towards injustice.
However that’s what I discover enjoyable in regards to the Absolution trailer and Dragon Age as a franchise. Do-gooders and freedom fighters who’re ostensibly on the identical facet may have disagreements primarily based on their social class, experiences, and particular person traumas. If Absolution can provide me a ton of intra-factional battle in six episodes, then I’m pleased with it.
However I’m additionally just a little apprehensive about one facet of the story trailer—its antagonist. He finally obtains the present’s MacGuffin,the Circulum Infinitus. The artifact makes use of blood magic as its energy. Right here’s how Cassandra describes his actions: “I can not recall any good coming from one thing fueled by homicide.” Nevertheless, his quotes appear to recommend that he’s making an attempt to enhance the Imperium. Within the Dragon Age world, that normally means ending slavery or breaking apart the present energy construction of highly effective mages. Each of those goals are noble, and I don’t wish to see that trigger tainted by an terrible plot machine. It feels that each well-intentioned revolutionary in fantasy media inevitably finally ends up being saddled with human rights violations with a purpose to present why riot is incorrect. I solely hope that Absolution doesn’t find yourself falling into such a drained trope.
Dragon Age: Absolution can be coming to Netflix on December 9.
