Factions are a key gameplay element of Dragon Age: The Veilguard. These six groups are influential in various regions of Thedas, and can ultimately give their aid to Rook in the struggle against the elven gods. Rook hails from one of these factions, and most Dragon Age: The Veilguard companions do as well. However, one faction may be slightly-confusing lore-wise: the Mourn Watch of Nevarra, which are often mixed up with the similar but not identical Mortalitasi organization.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s 'In Rook We Trust' Motto Breaks a Major Series Tradition
Dragon Age: The Veilguard's characters and companions and the view they have of Rook, the player character, breaks a major series tradition.
What Are The Mortalitasi?
The Mortalitasi are an organization native to the kingdom of Nevarra in northern Thedas. They are headquartered within the Grand Necropolis, and are considered its keepers. The primary duties of the Mortalitasi involve Nevarra's unique funeral rites, where the bodies of the dead - particularly the nobility - are mummified and entombed. According to Emmrich, anyone in Nevarra who is a necromancer is allowed to call themselves a Mortalitasi.
While the Mortalitasi were mentioned in previous Dragon Age games, they did not play a major role. This was due to a combination of the organization's secrecy and the bias against them outside Nevarra; non-Nevarran countries disparagingly call them "Death Mages" and often disapprove of their use of necromancy and study of the dead.
What Is The Mourn Watch?
The Mourn Watch are an elite faction within the Mortalitasi. Essentially, every Mourn Watcher is a Mortalitasi, but not every Mortalitasi is a Mourn Watcher - something companion Emmrich Volkarin can explain to a confused non-Watcher Rook in an optional conversation. The Mourn Watchers are the official keepers of the Grand Necropolis, and are generally mages of extreme power, such as Emmrich himself. Notably, they allow undead among their ranks, as liches and animated skeletons are mentioned as being allowed membership.
The Mourn Watchers are responsible for "maintaining the balance between the living and the dead." They handle disruptions ranging from mischief-making wisps to wayward spirits possessing living bodies without permission and demons feeding on human souls. During the events of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, many of the spirits the Mourn Watchers had previously confined to the Necropolis Halls escape into the wider world, including the terrifying Formless One and an embodiment of Death itself. Rook can aid the Mourn Watchers in their task by completing various side quests for them.
Emmrich Volkarin Is An Experienced Mourn Watcher
Companion Emmrich Volkarin is a member of the Mourn Watch - as, potentially, is Rook, should players choose that faction background for them. He describes his commitment to the Watch as "an eternal vigil," keeping watch for those things in the Fade that could potentially harm mortalkind. He is initially recruited to the Veilguard due to his expertise in the Fade, which also serves as the location of Dragon Age: The Veilguard's Lighthouse hub.
In an early conversation, a non-Watcher Rook can ask Emmrich the difference between Mourn Watchers and Mortalitasi. He describes the group as elite, having both privileges and responsibilities compared to "standard" necromancers. Within the group, there are many unique responsibilities; Emmrich, before his recruitment to the Veilguard, was responsible for both teaching necromancy classes and handling "corpse whispering" requests from family and friends of the deceased.
In addition to dealing with disturbances from the Fade, Emmrich mentions that the group also serves as a peacekeeping or law enforcement group among necromancers, preventing misuse of their powerful magic. It is this duty which brings Emmrich into contact with former Mourn Watcher Johanna Hezenkoss during his companion quest. Ultimately, Emmrich is proud of his status as both a Mortalitasi and a Mourn Watcher, even after seeing the extremes to which Hezenkoss took the necromantic magic he loves so much.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 80 /100 Critics Rec: 71%
- Released
- October 31, 2024
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood, Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- BioWare
- Publisher(s)
- Electronic Arts
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.
- Engine
- Frostbite
- Franchise
- Dragon Age
- PC Release Date
- October 31, 2024
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- October 31, 2024
- PS5 Release Date
- October 31, 2024
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
