Free Marches {Lore - No Spoilers}

Welcome, welcome! Would you like to know where the Inquisitor came from? Confused about all the city-states? Still unsure about how the Free Marches works? Then come and listen to what is known~
Kirkwall: • Kirkwall {Lore - No Sp...
Starkhaven: • Starkhaven {Lore - No ...
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This video does not contain story spoilers for the Dragon Age games and other related media.
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[@drakeford3238]

I've always loved the Free Marches. They're a bit disorganized, and a lot less stable than the other lands of Thedas, but there's something about having the guts to stand alone and Independent in the face of giants like Tevinter and Orlais that really gets me.

[@dylanmorris7946]

At first glance, I could never figure out why Kirkwall is the major trade hub for the free marches. Its waterways don't appear to go to deep into the continent and their is a mountain range between it and the other cities. It would make more sense for Wycome to be the center of trade (and arguably the wealthiest city) due to its location at the mouth of the Minanter river. Most of the free marches would have to go through Wycome to trade with the rest of the world via the ocean. But then I noticed that Kirkwall is positioned right at one of the narrowest parts of the Waking Sea. Anything coming up from Ferelden's heartland through Lake Callenhad and all of Orlais' trade has to go right past Kirkwall if they want to trade with the rest of the world. Kirkwall is literally Singapore.

[@Witzke231]

Then why is it still a shithole?

[@hircenedaelen]

I think ostwick would fit that better

[@AndyG94]

I wish we knew more of Ostwick, like,double walls? That takes dedication

[@glowhoo9226]

The double walls remind me of Qarth from a song of ice and fire

[@coolkid-wk3kh]

according to a bit of banter from Blackwall, the natives of Ostwick hold "cheese races". They grease up a cheese wheel about the size of a small wagon wheel and try to see how long they can race it ! pretty cute imo :)

[@TyDySan]

Big fan here! You single handedly reignited my passion for Dragon Age. I haven't played in almost 2 years until I discovered your channel a few weeks ago. Now I have since completed Origins and II, and am chin deep in Inquisition, trying to 100% everything. Thank you!!!

[@leslieoliverii9035]

Wycome is also the Revelry capital of Thedas if I remember correctly. So it is basically a giant party town with a fishing village.

[@samuelatkinson6899]

I hope we get to explore more of the city’s states in the free marches in future games or dlc.

[@prieatknight]

keep up the lore. Your voice is beautiful

[@lukecutter6763]

Uh oh, don't invoke the wrath of mr ghil!! :D

[@mrghil7954]

Hello, boys.

[@NehnBellanaris]

@@mrghil7954 lol Guess someone's in trouble.

[@jamiejangles7501]

the free marches reek of chaos and i just think that’s neat

[@XPokeSonicX]

This might be a really dumb question, but since they were under Tevinter rule for such a long time, how come the Chantry in the Free marches seems to be the southern chantry, as opposed to the Tevinter chantry (Imperial Chantry, with the male Black Divine and such). (PS: This is based on observations about mostly Starkhaven and Kirkwall).

[@GhilDirthalen]

Not a dumb question at all! They started under Tevinter rule, then were liberated by Andraste. Some city-states were controlled by Tevinter again, but all were eventually sacked and started anew under the rule of other nations who are apart of the Southern Chantry, like Orlais. So even though it all started with Tevinter, the south took it under its wing fairly quickly. The Tevinters weren't kind to the Free Marches (For example, Kirkwall used to be the center for slave trade), so I don't think they really want to be apart of that again. Although, I would imagine Hasmal (the one closest to Tevinter) might be more connected to the Tevinter Chantry because they have a lot of people from Tevinter there, but at this point, we don't really know.

[@johnkisir1456]

Great video love your commentary

[@edgardchan473]

Its like loosely based on hanseatic league where city states are free from a ruling monarchy.

[@the11382]

I would say germany/HRE.

[@thusianreaver]

They remind me of the free cities of Essos in asoif

[@dylanmcswain1075]

Keep up the great work!!! 🙌👏

[@glowhoo9226]

7:46 until Anders came along

[@ShadowninJar]

Thinking reminded me that a video on Andraste and her children would be cool. (As they are historically relevant) Also associated tinfoil. 1) Andraste was a mage (maybe) 2) Andraste was an elf (nope) 3) Hawke and the Warden Amell are descendants of Andraste's daughter's. (My headcannon.)

[@mattrichard3383]

Andraste was from across the sea? Or more accurate, Executors. Here is some recording regarding the, Executors: The woman pretends for half an hour to know nothing. When it becomes clear the ruse will not work, she kisses an Andrastian locket and says, “Glory to those across the seas.” She dies. The locket was poison. We hold your Inquisition in high esteem. Thedas's present troubles are great, but you have the strength to meet and conquer them. More will come. We prepare for the day and hold vigil. Do not look for your men; do not mourn them. They have given themselves of their own free will to a higher cause. I don't know... Something to think of?

[@LordSusaga]

We know too much of Andraste's past for that to be possible. We know her tribe was Alamarri-Ciriane, her mother was a warrior named Brona, her father was a Cheiftain named Elderath, she had a half-sister who died at a young age... That said, I do have my own tin-foil about Andraste being similar to an old god baby.

[@mattrichard3383]

Alright.. Fair enough. I thought it weird that the Executors are what appears to be followers of Andraste, which raises many implication. But I yield, and would love to hear your theory.

[@LordSusaga]

Long story short, her mother was from a tribe noted to be at the battle of the silent plains, her half-sister was had by an arcanist who spoke of old gods and, shortly after the half-sister died, Andraste was noted to occasionally be in a trance-like state. Compare that to Kieran.

[@mattrichard3383]

Well I've got to admit that Dumat died when Andraste was in the womb is quite a coincident. -203 Ancient. Plus it was never recorded who delivered the final blow.

[@redhelms9585]

ancient GrrrEECE

[@nathanp95np]

Wurd