Dragon Age 4 will take players north to the Tevinter Imperium for the first time in the franchise, exploring a place only mentioned and often demonized by characters in the games so far. Players will be tasked with stopping the Dread Wolf, who is gathering his forces in an attempt to bring down the Veil between Thedas and the magical realm of the Fade in hopes of restoring the ancient Elven empire.
With the very fabric of reality on the line, Dragon Age 4 will likely explore some of the biggest changes to the world seen in the series so far. The Chantry is the most widespread religion in Thedas, particularly among the continent's humans. Based on Dragon Age 4's setting and the events of Dragon Age: Inquisition, the upcoming game will likely explore some huge changes coming to the Chantry.
The Divine Victoria
The Divine Victoria is the new leader of the Andrastian Chantry, and is chosen by the player from three of their companions in Dragon Age: Inquisition. The new Divine can be Leliana, Cassandra, or Vivienne. Each of these choices come with unique implications for Dragon Age 4.
Choosing Leliana has some interesting implications for the Chantry depending on decisions made in Dragon Age: Origins. If the Warden corrupted the Urn of Sacred Ashes and killed Leliana in the Temple of Sacred Ashes, her appearance in Dragon Age: Inquisition is explained as something of a miracle.
Leliana awoke in the temple after her death, believing the Maker had brought her back to life. It's hinted that Leliana may be some kind of Lyrium ghost. If so, she could have a unique connection to the Fade, and Solas' plan to destroy the Veil could have huge implications for the Chantry's new Divine if she was killed in Origins. In Inquisition's epilogue Leliana will abolish the Circle of Magi and rededicate the Chantry to charity. This proves highly controversial. Whether her response to the opposition is diplomatic or deadly depends on her relationship with the Inquisitor.
If Cassandra Pentaghast is chosen as the Divine, she will rebuild both the Circle of Magi and the Templars. Depending on her relationship with the Inquisitor she may also reform the Seekers of Truth - the Chantry's secret police. If she attempts to dissolve the Seekers, a sect will arise to oppose her. If Vivienne is chosen as the Chantry's first mage Divine chaos breaks out immediately. Vivienne has to crush three separate revolts, though surprisingly she will also recreate the Circle of Magi and the Templars with fewer restrictions for Circle mages.
These changes have huge implications for Thedas as a whole, but are likely to be tangential to Dragon Age 4. The Inquisitor chooses the Divine of the Andrastian Chantry based in Orlais, but since the next game will be set in Tevinter, fans of the franchise are about to see a very different side of the religion altogether.
The Imperial Chantry
The Imperial Chantry is the Tevinter Imperium's unique take on the religion. Since players have never visited the Imperium before, the Imperial Chantry has yet to appear as a powerful force in-game. It has an extremely interesting history in the lore, however, with strong ties to some of Dragon Age's biggest mysteries.
The Imperial Chantry was created ten years after the execution of the prophet Andraste. She was killed by Archon Hessarian, then leader of the Imperium, who ended her suffering with a blade while she was being burned at the stake. Ten years later the Archon claimed he was spurred to act mercifully by the Maker, and the Imperial Chantry was born.
The Imperial Chantry doesn't believe that Andraste was the Maker's wife, but an extremely powerful and devout mage. They also interpret her commandment that magic was made to serve man and never to rule over him as a call for responsible governance by Dragon Age's mages, while mages were traditionally banned government in the south of Thedas.
The blade the Archon used to kill Andraste became a holy relic known as the "Blade of Mercy." Curiously, a replica of the blade was found in the corpse of the Antivan Queen Madrigal when she was murdered at the end of the Exalted Age. Fan-favorite companion Varric believes the Executors were behind this murder, which could somehow link the Executors and Queen Madrigal's murder to the Imperial Chantry.
The Fade
The Imperial Chantry is an opportunity for BioWare to explore a very different take on the same religion seen throughout the Dragon Age games so far. However, Solas' attempt to bring down the Veil could also have huge implications for the Chantry across Thedas. In Inquisition players see the Black City while in the Fade, confirming its existence.
According to the Chantry the Black City was once the Golden City and the seat of the Maker before Tevinter's Magisters Sidereal broke through the Veil and entered it. This arrogant act corrupted the city, turning it black, and supposedly led the Maker to decide that he would leave until the Chant of Light was spoken from all four corners of the world.
This event also supposedly created the Darkspawn, an account which the Imperium refutes. Before the creation of the Imperial Chantry, the Magisters believed that the Old Gods lived in the Golden City. Inquisition's Corypheus claims that when he and the other Magisters Sidereal reached the Golden City, they found the Maker's throne empty.
With Dragon Age 4's main plot deeply invested in the fate of the Fade, it seems likely that players will finally get some answers to some of the biggest questions raised about the Maker, the Old Gods, and the Black City throughout the series so far. However, these revelations will have huge implications for the Chantry, as well as theology across Thedas. Not only will the Chantry seen in Dragon Age 4 be very different to the one seen in the series so far, but it will also likely face some huge changes throughout the next game's plot.
Dragon Age 4 is in development.