Upon arriving at Ostagar, your primary goal is to gather the necessary items to undertake the ritual known as the Joining. Few survive it, but those who do become powerful Grey Wardens capable of going toe-to-toe with the darkspawn. “Part of the pull of taking on the role of the Grey Warden is that you are given the opportunity to rise above the flawed people around you,” Laidlaw remarks. “Even more alluring is that you don’t have to take that opportunity.”

You’ll soon also learn, however, that fighting the enemy is just one part of Dragon Age: Ferelden’s political unrest must be settled during the build-up to your climactic showdown against the Archdemon who leads the darkspawn. The various dwarf, elf, and human factions that populate the kingdom don’t always see eye-to-eye, and King Calain is so determined to forge a place in history that he’s willing to risk death by fighting on the front lines. If he were to perish, the political situation would become even more tenuous, despite the common enemy.

***

Among the characters you’ll meet in Ostagar are a pair of other Grey Warden initiates. They will be your companions during the quests that lead up to the Joining, and later you will find yourself in the company of another Grey Warden, Alistair, along with other characters who join and leave your group during the course of the story. Some will do so because of plot-driven events while others will react to what you say and do.

“In terms of decisions, it really depends on what goals I have for the game,” Laidlaw muses. “Is my eye on the throne? Expect me to be ruthless and political and surrounded by those party members with a taste for power. Am I feeling altruistic? Expect me to help everyone I meet and be surrounded by party members who cheer me on.”

Subtle effects from your decisions will also ripple through the world, altering Ferelden’s political structure in ways large and small. Of course, this is a world too large to be experienced in one game, says Laidlaw: “Origins is just the tip of the iceberg. There are a lot of exciting ideas about the future of the franchise. While I can’t talk about them all, I will say that ‘Origins’ was an aptly-chosen name. It was definitely the start of something big.”