Dragon Age: The Veilguard is Teasing Answers to a Big Qunari Mystery

The Qunari are a race of tall, horned people whose main society is located on an island off the coast of Northern Thedas called Par Vollen. The Qunari have always been a major part of Dragon Age, with the introduction of Sten as a party member in Dragon Age Origins, the Qunari as a major plot point in Dragon Age 2, and Iron Bull as a party member in Dragon Age: Inquisition. Despite their presence in all three games, the origins of the Qunari are unknown. Dragon Age: Inquisition gave some hints as to the true origins of the Qunari, and it appears that Dragon Age: The Veilguardmay follow through with the answer.

Varric's line in the trailer, spoken over Taash's introduction, has a surface meaning that she's passionate and intense, but within the broader context of Dragon Age, it has a different meaning. Dragon Age: The Veilguard also introduces Ghilan'nain, the Evanuris closely associated with a popular fan theory about the creation of the Qunari.

The Link Between Qunari and Dragons in Dragon Age

Dragon Age Has Teased Qunari Origins Before

After killing a dragon in Dragon Age: Inquisition, Iron Bull and the Inquisitor drink together at the bar, where Iron Bull shares a theory the Ben-Hassrath have developed about the origins of the Qunari as a race. The Ben-Hassrath theorized that the Qunari had dragon mixed in their blood many generations ago, thanks to the Tamassrans eugenics program. Iron Bull cites his evidence as the general rush of excitement he and other Qunari feel when they encounter and kill dragons, along with the presence of their horns.

If the Inquisitor becomes a Reaver, which involves drinking dragon blood, Iron Bull comments that they “smell good.” When pressed, he goes on to explain that he's “always had a thing for dragons. Most Qunari do. Maybe there’s something tying us to them, deep in the blood.”

If Kieran has the soul of the Old God, he provides further insight into this theory if the Inquisitor is a Qunari. When speaking to him, Kieran comments, “I noticed your blood. It doesn’t belong to your people.” Corypheus’ comments in the battle during Doom Upon All The World take this theory a step further. If the Inquisitor is a Qunari, Corypheus comments, “What do they call you, a Qunari? Your blood is engorged with decay, your race is not a race, it is a mistake.” While Corypheus’ comment doesn’t connect Qunari and dragons, it does show that he’s unfamiliar with them and didn’t encounter them when he lived as a mortal before the First Blight.

Proving the Theory in Dragon Age: The Veilguard

The Qunari May Have Dark Origins

With Dragon Age: Inquisition’s emphasis on Qunari blood and their possible connection to dragons, the Dragon Age: The Veilguard trailer’s introduction for Taash becomes more of a hint than a simple throwaway line. Varric’s comment is, “We’ll need someone with fire in their blood.” This line is spoken as Taash is shown fighting a high dragon. With the previous hints dropped in Dragon Age: Inquisition, and the high dragon on-screen with Taash, it may be possible that Dragon Age: The Veilguard could finally solve the mystery of the origins of the Qunari, and how they’re linked to dragons.

One popular fan theory is that Ghilan’nain, the elven goddess of the halla, created the Qunari by combining elves with dragons. As Horror of Hormak explained, Ghilan’nain was a mad scientist who experimented with living people and animals by combining them into new monsters and other creations. With Ghilan’nain’s return in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, there’s a chance that this theory will be proven correct.