Highlights
- The Executors are a mysterious group introduced in Dragon Age: Inquisition, with their symbol found at Inquisition outposts and a captured agent mentioning "those across the sea".
- Their role and position in Thedas is unclear, but they claim to work for unknown powers across the sea and have an extensive information network.
- The Executors have appeared in spin-off material and there is a high chance they will have a role in the upcoming game, Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, potentially as allies against Solas.
The Dragon Age series is filled with mysteries that have yet to be solved. Reasons for this are its long history, most of which is undocumented, its many cultures, and the fact that most of the continent of Thedas hasn't been depicted yet in a Dragon Age game. There is also evidence of civilizations that lie beyond Thedas that players know of thanks to hints in historical texts and notes found within Dragon Age: Inquisition, as well as spin-off material that's been released in the past decade. Among this information, the Executors are one of the biggest mysteries.
Group Name | The Executors |
|---|---|
First Appearance | Dragon Age: Inquisition |
Subsequent Appearances | Tevinter Nights Dragon Age: Hard in Hightown |
Notable Lore | Symbol: A downward pointed triangle with two wavy horizontal lines through it. Work for unknown powers in an unknown land located across the sea. Have agents across Thedas. Claimed to have assassinated Queen Madrigal of Antiva in 5:99 Exalted. |
Dragon Age: Dreadwolf Needs Its Own 'Dark Urge' Background
Dragon Age: Dreadwolf should take inspiration from Baldur's Gate 3's Dark Urge origin by having a similar background option for the player to choose.
The Introduction of the Executors in Dragon Age: Inquisition
Finding Those Across The Sea at the Inquisition War Table
The Executors are first discovered by the Inquisition after their symbol is found, marked in chalk, at nearly every Inquisition outpost. Investigating the chalk markings leads to the capture of an agent, who speaks of "those across the sea". The Inquisitor has two options to deal with the problem: ignore it, or continue the investigation. Ignoring them leads to three Inquisition outposts found abandoned, with a note from the Executors saying their Inquisition agents and soldiers joined them voluntarily and to not look for them. Continuing the investigation leads to the Executors leaving a note conceding defeat, and noting they'll assume an observational role without further interference.
The Executors' Role in Thedas
Within one of the Executor's notes, they mention they work "on behalf of the powers across the sea". Who these powers are is unknown, and it's unclear what role or position the Executors have in their society. Despite their first appearance in Dragon Age: Inquisition, their information network across Thedas is extensive and spans several countries, with their mark appearing in every Inquisition camp across southern Thedas. They may have been present in Thedas for hundreds of years, as a letter with the seal of the Executors claimed responsibility for the assassination of Queen Madrigal of Antiva in 5:99 Exalted, nearly 400 years before Dragon Age: Inquisition.
The Executors Beyond Dragon Age: Inquisition
The Appearance of the Executors
The Executors next appearance was in the short story Dread Wolf Take You in the anthology Tevinter Nights. Inquisition Scout Charter organizes a meeting of people from across Thedas who have had personal interactions or run-ins with the Dread Wolf. An Executor is in attendance at the meeting, and is described as being clothed from head to toe with no flesh showing, their face covered, and speaking in an androgynous voice that could be young or old.
Unfortunately, the potential value of having an Executor in the room with Charter is quickly taken away as Solas subtly petrifies them shortly after the meeting begins. Solas warns Charter of the danger of those across the sea before he leaves, but doesn't explain the reasons behind his warning.
The Future of the Executors in Dragon Age
Because of the appearance of the Executors in Tevinter Nights and their increasing activity across Thedas since the Breach, there is a high chance they'll appear in some capacity in Dragon Age: Dreadwolf. As Solas petrified an Executor and warned Charter of their danger, it's likely they and those they work for aren't allies of the Dread Wolf and may be allies in a fight against him. However, it's also unlikely they'll be an entirely friendly organization thanks to their loyalties.
Dragon Age: Dreadwolf
Dragon Age: Dreadwolf is the fourth game in the franchise, serving as a direct sequel to the events of Dragon Age: Inquisition. Players will attempt to stop Solas from tearing down the Veil, among other possibly major plot points. Its events see players travel to Tevinter, the Anderfels, Rivain, and Antiva.
- Franchise
- Dragon Age
- Developer(s)
- BioWare
- Publisher(s)
- Electronic Arts
