By the end ofDragon Age: Inquisition’s Trespasser DLC, fans learn of the Evanuris. In a way, though, the Evanuris has always been known. They are the elven pantheon, but it is also revealed that a lot about the pantheon is different from what the Dalish believe, at leastaccording to Solas. He invoked their old name, the Evanuris, which apparently were powerful beings and not really deities.
Knowledge about the Evanuris is difficult to extract from the many codices and dialogues in the series, as what is known and what is true appears to be muddied. With Solas proving himself to bethe Dread Wolf, he is one of the most important sources to learn about the Evanuris. Unfortunately, Solas is quite secretive. However, fans have compiled whatever they can, along with theories based on evidence found throughout their time exploring Thedas.
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What Are The Evanuris
It is most likely that the Evanuris were incredibly powerful mages, as that appears to bewhat Solas and Flemeth are, to a possibly lesser extent. According to Solas, these beings were fickle and full of pride, often having wars over personal vendettas. In the Jaws of Hakkon DLC, there is a codex that supports what Solas says about the Evanuris. It was written by a Forgotten One named Geldauran, who notes that the Evanuris' pride will consume them.
Solas told the Inquisitor that the Evanuris were not exactly born with god-like status. Instead, they started out as generals during a war, then respected elders that slowly developed into them becoming like gods to their people. The Evanuriswere a part of Thedas before humans came, back when all elves had immortality and magic. It was believed that the coming of humans made elves lose their immortality. Solas pointed out that this long believed concept was false in the Trespasser DLC, and that elves lost their magic and immortality due to him creating the Veil to trap the Evanuris in the Fade.
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What Became Of Them
From what fans have gathered, it appears that the Evanuris were tyrannical. Like Tevinter, they had their own institution of slavery. It is made apparent inDragon Age:Inquisitionthrough Solasthat Vallaslin used to be slave markings, each symbolizing one of the Evanuris which the slave’s master would serve. Murals in Trespasser, and the romance route with Solas, have shown that the Dread Wolf personally removed these markings from slaves during his rebellion against the Evanuris.
What prompted Solas to rebel against the Evanuris appears to be connected to Mythal. Fans learn that Mythal, unlike the other Evanuris, was compassionate and good (at least according to Flemeth and Solas). However, Mythal was murdered by the Evanuris. Flemeth compared this murder to a betrayal, making many fans wonder if it was Mythal’s own lover, Elgar’nan, that stabbed her in the back.
This would also give Mythal a similar sort of fate to Andraste, who was betrayed by her partner as well. A popular theory is thatthe Dread Wolf and Mythalmay have had an affair as lovers, and that is part of why the Dread Wolf was so passionate about rebelling after her murder in particular. That is just a theory from fans, though.
Solas created the Veil solely to imprison the Evanuris. He saw this as a way to free the elves from their tyrannical rule and to avenge Mythal. He successfully made the Veil and imprisoned the seven Evanuris (The fact that was seven has made fans wonder if these seven Evanuris are somehow connected to the seven Old Gods). By the end of Trespasser, it is implied that the Evanuris are still alive. WithSolas' plan to tear down the Veil, it seems likely that these powerful ancient mages could be freed. If this is pointed out to Solas in Trespasser, he simply mentions that he has a plan but does not discuss it any further.
The Nine Evanuris And The Forgotten Ones
Not all the Evanuris can be covered in a single brushstroke, as they were individuals. Other than the Dread Wolf and Mythal, little is known about their individuality outside what they represent. Elgar’nan is known to have overthrown his father, which may have a lot of truth. He is known to be the partner of Mythal, which could also be true.
As for Mythal, she was known as the goddess of love and justice and there are many stories of her mediating the other Evanuris. Falon’Din and his twin Dirthamen could likely be twins just as the lore says. There is also the hunter,Andruil, Sylaise the Hearthkeeper, June, and Ghilan’nain. Solas himself was an Evanuris, but it seemed he only became one when he began to lead his rebellion. He did not choose the Dread Wolf name or want to be treated as a god but became known as the god of rebellion.
Codices found in Mythal’s temple and Trespasser have given some interesting looks into these Evanuris. In an inscription in the Temple of Mythal, it is mentioned that Ghilan’nain made monsters. Fans also learned that Andruil hunted both animals and people. Andruil also was driven made in a hunt for the Forgotten Ones in a place called the Void. Duringthe quest “What Pride Had Wrought,“Solas mentions that Falon’Din was a vain being that killed anyone who would not bow to him, and he only stopped after Mythal rallied other Evanuris to attack his temple. There are also obscure details of Elgar’nan driving the dwarven race underground.
One piece of the Evanuris puzzle that is still an utter mystery is the Forgotten Ones. What is known about them is that they were another branch of gods that the Evanuris constantly warred against. It is said in Dread Wolf stories that the Dread Wolf could walk among both the Forgotten Ones and Evanuris. However, Solas has made no comments about the Forgotten Ones, so much is left unknown.Dalish legendalso believes that the Forgotten Ones trapped away from the world around the same time the Evanuris were.
Dragon Age: Inquisitionis available on PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.
