While BioWare has been relatively open about the state ofDragon Age: Dreadwolf, there’s been relatively few official details on the game itself. Recently there wasa leak of the newDragon Age’s gameplay, and as many expected it seems that Grey Wardens and Red Lyrium will continue to play an important role. However, apart from the apparent gameplay redesign, the leak didn’t reveal too much that fans couldn’t have guessed.
The Elves, both ancient and modern, will play a prominent role inDragon Age: Dreadwolf.Dragon Age: Inquisition’sTrespasserDLC depicted Solus’ growing number of elven followers, some of whom also made an appearance in theTevinter Nightsbook. Given the new game’s focus on elves and their ancient history, it would be a big disappointment if the Elven mage Merrill didn’t appear inDragon Age: Dreadwolf.
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Merrill is One of Dragon Age’s Eluvian Experts
The player’s first opportunity to meet Merrill comes inDragon Age: Origins’ Dalish Elf Origin. As the apprentice to the DalishGrey Warden’s Keeper, she’s one of the few magic users in the clan, and her duties include helping to preserve the magic of the Elven people. However, when two of her clanmates contract the Blight from a corrupted Eluvian, she becomes obsessed with purifying and restoring it to working order. This drives Merrill to make a pact with a demon, learning blood magic and being ostracized from the clan as a consequence.
This is whereMerrill joins Hawke’s party inDragon Age 2. While the legitimacy of Merrill’s motives and actions are open to interpretation, her actions ultimately cause many problems for her clan. This potentially extends all the way to the clan’s total destruction. Players can then convince Merrill to either keep or destroy the damaged Eluvian. However, whatever she does, Merrill is one of the handful of people in Thedas who even know what an Eluvian is, let alone how to fix one.
Merrill’s insight into Eluvians has only grown more valuable as the series continues. These magic mirrors were a minor plot device inDragon Age: Origins. WhileOrigins’Witch HuntDLCforeshadowed the Eluvians importance, they had little relevance inDragon Age 2outside of Merrill’s subplot. However,Dragon Age: Inquisitionrevealed the Eluvians’ role as a form of magical transportation that can even let mortals physically enter the Fade itself.Dragon Agehadn’t explained exactly how Solas intends to tear down the barrier between worlds, but being able to move freely between them seems like it would come in handy.
Merrill’s Role in Dragon Age: Dreadwolf
Here is where Merrill’s knowledge about the Eluvians becomes crucial. Solas and Morrigan are the real experts, and Merrill never successfully restores her Eluvian inDragon Age 2, but she has more of a head start than anyone else in Thedas. Merrill might have picked up a lot more knowledge in the years betweenDragon Age 2andDreadwolftoo.
Merrill can die inDragon Age 2, so there’s a practical limit to the size of her role inDreadwolf. Still, this isn’t the first time that BioWare needed to write around a character being either dead or alive. Additionally, while the Dalish’s biases and inaccuracies limit her knowledge of Elven magic and history, it would still greatly helpDreadwolf’s protagonist as they attempt to thwart Solas’ plans. Also, apart from potentially the Elven Inquisitor,Dragon Age: Inquisitionalso didn’t really showcase a Dalish character confronting the reality of their gods and ancient history. Merrill could very well fill that role inDragon Age: Dreadwolf.
Alternatively, Merrill could also find her way into Solas’ service. It’s true thatDragon Age’s Dalish Elves don’t generally want anything to do withthe Dread Wolfor his plotting. However,Trespasser’s epilogue slides show that at least a few are signing up for his cause. It’s also not as if Merrill isn’t afraid to rebel for what she thinks is the good of her people, and Solas was the God of Rebellion, after all. Either option would be a great way of tying Merrill’s story intoDragon Age: Dreadwolf’s plot.
However, the point is not just that Merrill isa character who can return inDragon Age: Dreadwolf, but that she practically needs to. Few other main characters have such close ties to Elves and their history as Merrill, and few people in Thedas have her familiarity with ancient Elven magic. Merrill’s potential inDragon Age: Dreadwolfseems so perfect that it will be strange if she isn’t there.
