The Veilguard’s Secret Ending EXPLAINED | Thedas’ Next Major Threat Revealed (The Storm Quelled)

[@didihols1500]

There is something else... maybe not linked but, the wardens talk a lot of another voice in the blight... not the gods... something else... mostly on the last quest. The flowers one.

[@tyllua]

thats probably the titans. remember the blight is the dreams ripped away from the titans.

[@didihols1500]

@@tyllua May be. The Titans are, after all, the original song.

[@tyllua]

@@didihols1500 yeah that relevation was like BOOOOOOM mind blowing for me, especially since i played a dwarf. not only was i fighting an evil god this suddenly became FULL ON PERSONAL! also immersed me for like 10 seconds before taash ruined it with a shit comment once again....

[@gregorytreacy7085]

I think the executors are agents of primordial chaos the devil to the maker perhaps, or the void itself atthe end of taashs quest that tablet mentions the qunari originally fleeing their homeland across the see due to the devouring storm, I reckon that's what the executors really are, that devouring storm and they want to consume everything and return it back to nothingness. I'd rather the titans be the main antagonist of dragon age 5 and have the executors and maybe the maker as the antagonist for part 6 which would very likely be the last ever dragon age

[@sailirish7]

@@tyllua Taash was no help, but even without her the game would have been shit.

[@IkariSSJ]

Where the F*** is Sandal at

[@LuxNovuz]

YOURE ASKING THE REAL QUESTIONS

[@joelhopf8978]

Last I saw him murdering things in the crossroads in inquisition lol

[@dreadrage187ify]

Sadly they left all this lore behind so many things will never play out anymore. This game was a big let down with the story so many side story are dead now and there not going to be any DLC for this game I hope they fix with the next game if we get a next game.

[@ashleynoe1378]

That is the REAL question here.😂

[@cracmar03]

@@joelhopf8978 He was in Inquisition ? I must have skipped him then.

[@TheVeseer]

Btw on the mysterious circles in addition to the post credit scene you get something else with them. During the game when you start hearing Elgar'nan and Ghilan'nain through that tree in the cossroads they mention them. Ghil is asking elgar'nan about his dreams and she mentions dreaming about them. She honestly seemed creeped out or worried until Elgar'nan comforted her. Dude Ghilan'nain was creeped out wow

[@Allaiya.]

I need to find a video that shows all of those because I’m sure I missed a lot of

[@gurdjieff9282]

yup i confirm i had same cut scene/dialogue at the crossroads, i also remember either Elgar nan or Ghilan nain sayng to Solas that he was a fool for going against them, because "out there" there is way more dangerous things/horrors, were they referencing to The Executors?

[@gurdjieff9282]

Was also it the reason theEvanuris wanted to control and weaponize the Blight? what was it directed to? only for total control or a chance to win against these Executors?? in my opinion these motherfuckers are THE REAPERS version of Dragon Age universe.

[@michalhrdy577]

is there a scene somewhere? i didn't get that and can't find anything on it, sounds really cool

[@DarkKn1ghtBR]

@@gurdjieff9282 Also the fragment of Mythal in the Crossroads says we have no idea of what lurks outside (not these exactly words, but still)

[@akivahirsch4343]

I don't like that they made Loghain seem as if he was manipulated. What made him interesting was his motives for doing what he did.

[@lordofgingers]

It is more likely that loghain always had those motives but the executors (likely through agents and other means) subtly encouraged him to lean into that. As joker in the dark knight says “sometimes all it takes is a little push”

[@slyfer60]

More likely they just arranged for him to find out about Cailan's letters to Celene. Then they leaked the primeval thiag location to Bartrand.

[@lordofgingers]

@@slyfer60 he didn’t know about the letters until return to ostagar. The objective in regards to bartrand was getting that red lyrium to someone who would incite the mage Templar war. Destabilization seems to be their MO. My hypothesis is that the executors were members of other species but some sort of ritual was done to them to make them what they are. And their masters are the forgotten ones

[@slyfer60]

@@lordofgingers They probably don't have a specific goal with any of these actions they only care about causing upheaval. They watch then whatever the end result they declare it to be all part of the plan. It would be hilarious.

[@lordofgingers]

@@slyfer60 like I said, the eventuality of it all was the neutralizing of the evanuris threat. There is one group that would be very interested in that.

[@piotrpietrzak9790]

Whatever they are - they wanted to see chaos across Thedas, when meddling with the affairs of the world. There is also an ending to Tash's questiline you didnt mention - the tablet their mother was studying warns from the danger across the sea, calling it "Devouring Storm". There are also some codex entries mentioning threat across the sea and the "ancient enemies", one was written in Ancient Tevinter.

[@depoant]

Belara also has dialogue wirh Tash after you finish their personal quests where she says Anaris said he was going to find shelter in the storm, the second convo, she says thay she searched everywhere abourt"the gathering storm" and found strange that she didn't find any mention anywhere at all, Anaris also metion he must escape "it"s eye", maybe like the "eye of a storm"?

[@Kain-h8e]

While playing the game i also found something like that in the crossroads in island near the lighthouse Eluvian the metal tree that let you hear the gods talking in one such conversation ghilan'nain talked about Their time sleeping in the black city in Which she say she had a dream about eyes watching from beyond the sea and a storm that will devour the sky.

[@gregorytreacy7085]

I reckon that devouring storm is the void made manifest early on my playthrough I found a codex or some lime of dialogue mentioning the void directly it could have been in arlathan beside where you find the first circle, and you do get the iron veil helm from that first chest maybe that's what their faces look like, hell they could be aliens, there's not much on the cosmos outside thedas that we know anything about, maybe some ancient galactic empire trying to subjecate the universe, I'd like that as it'd almost tie dragon age and mass effect together

[@altosforteaquax5083]

The tablet HER mother was studying. There I fixed it for you. No need to thank me.

[@mac__attack8609]

@@altosforteaquax5083 Taash is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns. Taash says so explicitly in their questline multiple times. You're incorrect.

[@primo1st1]

Turns out they are EA executives themself.

[@АлександрАрхипов-д1з]

See you in 10 years friends

[@ningenKami]

No.

[@JackdawYT]

See you in ten years! haha

[@zeratul____1228]

Nope

[@Agent789_0]

I pray to God that day never comes.

[@Emanon...]

It's was Sandal along, guys. I never trusted him...

[@waterlily12]

It’s so funny. I only realized there was a secret cut scene after I was going through the trophy list and it was one of two I had left. I had defeated all the dragons too and just somehow missed collecting two of the circles. As a completionist type player, I was so disappointed in myself. 😂

[@nightingalebard]

I feel you! I thought it did every single thing in the game, but I missed getting all three circles. Even got an achievement for exploring every nook and cranny. I think the fact they aren't tied to a side quest or anything more than a codex, only insinuating that you find more upon stumbling upon the second, is enough to give us grace! The Executors *want* to be hard to find. 😌

[@KiwiNikified]

Same! 😂

[@cracmar03]

I had to return to Dragon Lair in Crossroads. I simply missed the place to climb to get last circle. As such I was doing mere ending 3 times. At first I thought I missed Arlathan's puzzle - which I did. I just forgot to do it, as I was running companion missions fussed that they might go away if I do mains. Then it turned out I forgot other circle. Lol.

[@calvinwilson3617]

To be fair i missed the one by the dragon as well. The reason I missed it and likely many others is there are two sets of treasure chests. One straight ahead, and the one to the left which also has the secret peice. As for the third one it comes from solving one of the world puzzles, but theres no quest for it

[@hanli5416]

Got the circles but somehow i missed 2 dragons.

[@owlette5395]

Thanks, Jackdaw. I’m hoping we don’t have to wait 10 more years for another game. I’m getting old lol.

[@Anna.K..]

Or making addons for DA4

[@nazimudin4089]

Regardless, Loghain is still responsible for his decisions and actiom. Being manipulated doesnt take away his owm agency. Guided doesnt mean control.

[@zk116]

It diminishes his agency. The idea that the executors would try and guide Loghain into doing what he did implies that they thought there was a chance that he wouldn't go through with it. This is an absolutely horrible idea considering what made Loghain great was his personal history and reasons for his actions.

[@nazimudin4089]

@zk116 tbf.. there was a chance Loghain wouldn't have gone through with it. He was clearly conflicted. And after the act, he fell into paranoia and justifying his actions. He knew he was wrong. Leaving the king to die would have given him pause. He's marics son. But ultimately, guided or not.. Loghain still chose to leave. It was still his decision. It doesn't diminish anything. Loghain still had the intention to abandoned Ostaghar.

[@zk116]

@@nazimudin4089 Yes Loghain still ultimately made the choice -- but tacking on the cartoonish "evil cult that's been controlling everything" troupe as something that influenced him does diminish his moment of agency. You've made a good point that he would've likely had a moment of pause before going through with it. However that moment of inner conflict and agency means little when the outcome was always going to be him abandoning Ostagar -- this is because they've added this cringe 3rd party into the mix that apparently '"guided" him.

[@balrok99]

I like the idea is him being "pushed over the edge" by their whispers. Like we know it is stupid what he did and makes no logical sense. But if someone or something pulled right strings..then maybe just maybe..his decision to throw a war and probably future of his kingdom might make sense.

[@lemonf6859]

@@zk116 It doesn't. If I tell you I'm thinking about buying a Lamborgini, because I really want one. You tell me do it! You guided me, but I myself had full agency and I was merely guided and not forced.

[@TheInterestRates]

So basically the Reapers are coming and shall indoctrinate Thedas by being the salvation through destruction.

[@albadelgadosantos]

So creative and imaginative of them, right??

[@cracmar03]

@@albadelgadosantos I think you should find a joke that used to pass on how BioWare basically redo same plot over and over again in every game they make.

[@matthewbannister4665]

"the poisoned fruit ripens" - maybe they manipulated the blight with the new song that the wardens are hearing, and that will be central to their plans? Now that all the Evanuris are gone there is nobody left who can manipulate or fight the blight...

[@mystlex3778]

Other than Solas in the ending where he willingly links his life force to the veil. He says he can't stop the blight but he can calm it which may mean he is the first target of this "Devouring Storm" as he is all that's left between it and having full control of the blight potentially

[@HeroOfTime223]

I feel like this ties into Anaris’s final line, his scientific/magical notes you find, and a few other subtle mentions in additional codices. Excited to dive back in for another playthrough with my tinfoil hat on!

[@Kain-h8e]

While playing the game i also found something like that in the crossroads the metal tree that let you hear the gods conversation in one such talk ghilan'nain talked about their time sleeping in the black city in Which she said she had a dream about eyes watching from beyond the sea and a storm that will devour the sky

[@ryankelley6469]

So glad I get to watch your spoiler-y datv content now. I just finished my playthrough last night!

[@nickohhh]

yah just finished a few mins ago! 110 hours of lovely friend making and god smashing. in my game Taash lost Harding as well as her mom so i need lots of community camaraderie!

[@ryankelley6469]

@nickohhh losing Harding in my first playthrough broke me for a bit. 🫂

[@nickohhh]

@ did she just start a relationship with taash in your game too? poor taash! i really loved how strong harding was in that moment too tho, what a hero

[@illidanstormrage2657]

I lost Davrin and Assan in my playthrough. That hurt really bad.

[@nickohhh]

@@illidanstormrage2657 oh my gosh i wondered if Assan would be in trouble too! noooo that’s not cool!

[@maosomniatrix]

It's said that the whole overarching plot of dragon age has been written already ages ago. I do wonder if everything so far being deliberat manipulations from executors was also in the story outline from gaider

[@mattc8059]

I mean the executors turned up in the Gaider led games as well, they aren't a new invention for Veilguard

[@cracmar03]

Executors were in Inquisition base game present, so maybe.

[@Allaiya.]

@@cracmar03apparently they are first mentioned in DA2

[@gregorytreacy7085]

That's big iq thinking to have your series overarching antagonist being in the game since 09 making decisions hopefully we don't have to wait to 2039 to see how it all ends😂😂😂

[@lemonf6859]

@@cracmar03 They were extremely brief in DAII.

[@Alastar2012]

OMG I missed one and was so dissapointed there was no ending scene and didn't understand what was happening with the two i had found. Thank you, Jackdaw! Looking forward to the guide to find all three.

[@ThatFont]

The only one I found was in the Formless One boss room so I thought it was a relic tying it to the land of the living lol

[@timsalem4938]

Thank you for creating Veilguard contents. KZbin is plague with haters making content for likes. I'm 300 hours in the game on my fourth run, best DA by far in my opinion.

[@Andyd4483]

Thanks for bringing this all together!

[@nicholasmalkerson1684]

There's also whatever the 1st expedition of Qunari were warning about, needing fire breathers to fight it

[@nightingalebard]

Thanks for this video!! I'd call myself well-read on Dragon Age lore, but the Executors are something I've not taken the time to research. I recalled them in DA:I and Tevinter nights, but never focused on it. This video puts everything into clear perspective very nicely!

[@DarkKing009]

LoL Is that why Loghain sold the elves into slavery? And poisoned the Lord of redcliffe? And ignored the South while it was invaded by the darkspawn?

[@AJ-AJ_AK1510]

If you finish Taash’s quests and do , WORDS OF FIRE, they reveal a ancient Qunari secret about them, fighting a then fleeing across the sea from some ancient threat known as the devouring storm.

[@moonvioletkel]

Thank you for this breakdown…I had no idea what was happening!! 😂

[@maiafay]

Could be finally the Forgotten Ones. We have very little information on them, and since the elven people have a penchant for misremembering history, the Forgotten ones could’ve relocated across the sea to flee or avoid the Evanuris. And this is why the elves assumed Fen’Harel sealed them away too. Maybe the “abyss” is across the sea, or a territory unfamiliar to the elves and the Evanuris encouraged that fear, and made it out to be something terrible. I’ve noticed in Veilguard the Evanuris churned out a ton of propaganda to reinforce their power over the elven people. No one knows what they lied about or if they ever told the truth at all. Either way, I instantly thought Forgotten Ones when I saw that ending.

[@darkskysz2102]

One of the forgotten ones was in the game, during Bella's arc. I don't think only one of them was banished while all the others was roaming free somewhere else.

[@maiafay]

@@darkskysz2102 Anaris mentioned two others on Thedas…on our side of the world- that wouldn’t exclude a group that perhaps escaped the Evanuris and fled to other places. Not sure what kind of odd logic is that. The Forgotten ones aren’t a monolith. Solas was free, while the rest of the Evanuris were banished. A group of people who are harassed and hunted are never just in “one” place. They would scatter, take refuge wherever. It’s feasible that a few took off across the sea and made their own society and plotted revenge. I mean, that’s just normal fantasy writing.

[@JustCallMeJames]

@@darkskysz2102didn’t he say the 6th and 7th were free? Wasn’t sure if he meant Evanuris or Forgotten.

[@maiafay]

@@darkskysz2102 not sure what happened to my reply, but Solas was free while Elgar’nan and Ghilan’nain were not. Not all of one group have to be in one place. That’s a little odd logically. I think a faction of Fogotten ones went across the sea to avoid the Evanuris and are now pulling strings to destroy them. With them gone now save for Solas who may be severely limited how he can interfere, they can invade unimpeded.

[@Wilsontripplets]

I wonder if this ties into the scaled ones codex entry.

[@Zathurious]

I couldn't watch this sequence because my game crashed. But, I distinctly remember hearing the voice saying those things during the game. Glad I could watch it here.

[@AlliCassandra]

Hey Jack, I’m back! Beat the game, loved it! Not going to talk spoilers in comments and ruin someone’s experience but yeah I’ve been saying since DAI the executors are important and VALIDATION. 🎉🎉🎉

[@justcast1429]

This type of writing grinds my gears it feels like lazy writing 101, it detracts from Lohgains motivations in Orgins if it’s just dumb downed to “Shadow Wizard Money Gang made me do it yo”

[@ravenblood1954]

I mean we don’t know HOW he was manipulated though. His decision to abandon the wardens was his own, but his governance of farelden is probably the result of manipulation. Which makes sense, because Loghain was never an administrator

[@AeschylusShepherd]

@@ravenblood1954 Yes, I agree. That makes sense to me.

[@nazimudin4089]

​@ravenblood1954 if you read the stolen throne, you get a massive on loghains mental state. It's not unreasonable to assume loghain became unstable as the years went on. Maric was dead. He hated orlais with a passion. And knowing thar Cailan was going to set aside Anora to marry Celene... was a betrayal in his mind. A betrayal of everything Loghain sacrificed. It would be easy for him to be manipulated... and he was. Loghain governance of Feralden was rubbish. Loghain lost himself in his own bitterness.

[@ultimatedespairgamer6722]

@@nazimudin4089except he clearly didn’t, that’s how it used to be but now shadowy organization was behind everything

[@Guava11534]

Let’s not speculate. Everything was so god damn vague in that end credit scene that I don’t even think that’s what they meant. I saw it more as they have been watching the events unfold in dragon age the major ones and are now getting ready to make their move

[@trace40]

That voice reminds me of the the hidden inquisition quest the littlest cave. Maybe it's leprechauns

[@katerinaspasova7774]

Omg! This is so exciting thank you for this video this brought my fate in DA back ❤

[@andravity]

totally missed this stuff in game, so, glad i was informed here! might have to go back and find the circles! another playthrough, here i come!

[@elisabetta611]

FASCINATING stuff. Doesn't QUITE gel with me (But their teasers rarely do) but I AM SO PUMPED for the NEXT ONE!!

[@cait8480]

huh. didn’t the forgotten one from bellara’s quest say something about avoiding “the eye”? and when we finally get the zoom out on that seal at the end of the stinger, it looks like the shape of an eye (upper and lower lid) against the black triangle.

[@Serenity-f5n]

What if its those lizard people we saw in those murals in dragon age inquisition?? Or maybe the forgotten ones or maybe it’s both of those things

[@VivieneMara]

The scaled ones ? Probably the voice is very lizard like

[@carla.n.5078]

So this hidden enemie was basically behind Logain betrayel, probably helped Varrics brother find the Red Lyrium Idol and subsequent betrayal as well as everything in Dragon Age Inquisition and Dragon Age Veilguard. But it seems like these entities existed before even the Elfs since Anaris found this yellow fluid that was bursting with power, but had corrupting property that was apparently neither lyrium or blight but something else. But what is their goal? What are they? True gods? Primodial beings? Spirits? Titans?

[@kenaaaron7122]

Also the fact that the tablet from Tash's storyline mentions that the first Qunari actually came to Thedas a lot sooner running from something across the sea, and the translation mentioned that if more came in the future they would bring this feared thing and it will be too late.

[@CanadianMoose272]

I wish Bioware would give us a DLC and sets up the Executors like Trespasser set up the Evanuris and Solas! Trespasser was fantastic and Veilguard deserves a similar send off! I still want more and as someone who doesn't care about Mass Effect, I'm sad we have to wait another 10 years for more Dragon Age. 😢

[@MolotovZav]

I seriously don't get why people are so mad about this. All the the things they hinted they have effected, the player could no effect themselves and the motivations behind a lot of the actions were never quite expanded upon. We don't know how anyone was manipulated, and we can't be sure of their subtlety yet. Mainly this has to do wtih Loghain, but they need to remeber Flemeth (maybe mythal) is on there too, and if we go back before DA:O in the story, Flemeth knows there will be a blight and that Loghain will betray Cailan, she tells Meric and Loghain, and Loghain just kinda brushes it off and says "whatever she could be lying." So for like 15 years Loghain had an inkling there would be a blight, Meric took it seriously, Loghain did not, and when actually confronted by the darkspawn he doesn't even change, he just betrays the King for his own selfish motivations. These motivations can be Loghain's completely, but still be used against him to get the outcome the executors want. Cailan didn't have the power of Ferelden, yeah he was king but he wasn't running the show. Loghain was. So if you're going to influence anyone, you influence the one with power. He believed Cailan was a fool. but ultimately leaving him to die in that battle is above and beyond what you'd expect from Loghain. It doesn't seem like the "executors" manipulated Loghain to abandon Cailain, instead it just looks like (comparing loghain from the novels to origins and even post if you make him a Grey Warden) the Executors manipulated Loghain to bring out his worst impulses. Loghain is already a shitty person, they just steered him over the edge to bring out the shittiest parts of him. It just seems like everyone is imagining these people are being straight up controlled when in fact the ending hints to influence, not control. To put it simply, if you are hanging out with a group of friends who are bad for you and influencing you to do things, the actions are still you're own. You still acting on your own shitty impulses, the friends just steered you into the direction you would act on them. No one made you do anything. Executors are just influencing things, they are controlling things to the point where agency is gone. IF anyone is taking agency away from the characters its the people claiming this ending is doing just that.

[@XxFATBOYRICHxX]

I agree 100%. There's nothing in veilguard that implies the Executors did anything more than wait and take advantage of the state of the world to further their own goals. I think people might not know how to read lol.

[@A-Rather-Dubious-Character]

It's cliche as all hell and ruins any nuance to the stories told. Oh, a typical big bad fantasy Illuminati is the reason behind everything? Revolutionary! Here, take the GOTY reward Bioware! You're all special!

[@asfsqfiaheai4545]

1. Agents of the forgotten ones 2. Agents of the titans

[@gurdjieff9282]

No, the titans are completely mad and lost reasons other than total doom and despair and rage, they wouldnt be capable of such carefully crafted manipulations, it is either the Forgotten Ones or a total different plane of existence creatures.

[@cracmar03]

@@gurdjieff9282 can't be Forgotten Ones. For one we banished across games several of them and some of them can't return to physical world for next 10000 years or so .. and second Anaris is a Forgotten One and Anaris was SCARED about 'devouring storm' and wanted to flee.

[@MsRedNebulaPlays]

Ah, dang, I remember finding two of these, and then promptly forgot all about them. Just finished the game and finally get to watch all your spoilery videos. :)

[@uhobme2028]

Honestly wish the reward was something else, the secret ending's Hollywood sequel-baiting makes the world feel flat

[@BBS-dl1lt]

They’ve been sequel baiting since dragon age 2. This is nothing new.

[@MrApoorvaSingh753]

​@@BBS-dl1lt Actually since Origins remember they hinted for Awakening and in Witch Hunt for Dragon Age 2.

[@uhobme2028]

@@BBS-dl1lt Not saying they haven't, just saying this particular one felt more Hollywood. Suddenly grandmastering all adventures and character motivations on a previous unknown.

[@Dameendmon]

This whole game makes the world feel flat and reductive

[@trevordavis6830]

Especially given that we likely won't get another Dragon Age game again until at least 2035.

[@Koutchise]

I think the current Bioware are adamant in erasing the legacy the original team set because this makes absolutely no sense and just destroys Origins for me.

[@hiatusinc]

Just finished the game and rushed here!!

[@VillianousKitty]

I CAN FINALLY WATCH THIS!!! I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS 😩

[@shadowhell8378]

There's something that might connect to the next game. In taash's quest line. Spoilers. There's a table that's from qunary from before the steel age that was when they were arrived in thades. So a group of qunary most were fire breathers like Taash run away from something and left a warning about the coming storm.

[@krasmasov6852]

Yes! The Devouring Storm and the Executors are both across the sea. Are they the same thing?

[@arg_9584]

This post credit scene feels cheap and makes any and all player choices from previous games pointless. Hell, the player choices were already useless with only three choices from inquisition being carried over. I hope bioware doesn't touch dragon age for a long time, because its clear they need it.

[@BBS-dl1lt]

None of my baldur’s gate 1 and 2 choices carried over either :(

[@FragLord]

@@BBS-dl1lt BDG 2 and 3 are 124 years apart... The veil guard is the literal sequel to Inquisition... Of a franchise that was build around CHOICE.

[@BBS-dl1lt]

@@FragLord it’s the next game in the franchise after inquisition. After a 10 year time skip. Taking place hundreds and hundreds of miles away from Ferelden and Orlais. What choices carried over from Origins to Dragon Age 2 exactly and how did it affect the story?

[@FragLord]

@@BBS-dl1lt Why you do you have to nitpick about Dragon Age 2... So 10 years and 124 years, potato, potahto right. HAHAHAHAHAHA 1) Dragon Age 2 was rushed to market. Everybody knows, even beware says so. Are you really going to use a half finished game that most people in the franchise don't like as a reason why you need to be a dumbass? :D :D They developed and shipped it in 2 years... Dragon age 2 is also considered a bad game for many reasons, lack of choices of previous games is one of them... So of all things you are proving my point, not disproving it... 2) Contrary to dragon age 2. The Veilguard has MANY characters from the previous games... Morrigan, Harding, Varric, Solas. All of their stories or the stories of others could've been relayed to us, based on our stories. That's what inquisition did right. You could choose all the different Morrigan options. With a kid, no kid, still together with the hero or the hero is dead. And each and every choice, Morrigan would talk about it. How that life was, based on your choice... Dragon age 1 best game in the franchise => Dragon age 2, rushed flop Dragon age 2 => Inquisition (overall great improvement and evolution of the game) Inquisition => veil guard (total devolution of the game) deleting core principals that made the franchise. CHOICE and tactical party play were the 2 buzz words that would describe Dragon Age in a nutshell. Both of them are gone in the veilguard. Where inquisition was an evolution and developing the franchise. Veilguard is literally and figuratively a DEvolution.

[@BBS-dl1lt]

@@FragLord it’s just funny that everyone seems to like and dislike the games for different reasons. The haters online mostly dislike inquisition too and prefer origins and dragon age 2, so you saying what you just said puts you at odds with the majority of people hating on Veilguard. Plus your biggest critiques amounts to little more than you just hoping for some fanfictionesque dialogue from Morrigan about the hero of ferelden. Harding talks about the inquisition a huge amount in this game, Solas talks about the inquisitor and the inquisitor shows up. The only example you mentioned that doesn’t have fan service dialogue is Morrigan. So it’s that the main improvement you want then? Morrigan fan service? I guess it’s a fair criticism, but I just don’t see how her talking about it would improve the game. This is a separate story. Morrigan is in her 40’s now just coming to help out. I don’t really understand how her over sharing about the sordid details of her love life to someone she just met would vastly improve the game.

[@gamingstoriestheater]

Nice to see a video not saying this ending destroys the games. I actually had the opposite reaction, I thought the fact that it references the events of all the games, this next game could very well be the one that actually does follow again choices, to make up for Veilguard not bringing all the choices (As I feel it was too late into production to integrate the keep). The reason I say this is because in a lot of dev interviews of decisions that we don't get answers to, like Hawke's fate, they say that it is not answered on this game but would get an answer later on. Am I having Hopium? Possibly! But I ended up really loving Veilguard so I'm happy to hope lol. Also, the executors are not really retconning those previous events or characters as some are saying, they just simply provided the tools to make sure those things happen. Basically make sure these bad guys didn't change their mind. I do think there is potential to bring back Rook into the fold, instead of a new protagonist specially the text at the end. Veilguard in a lot of ways feels like revisiting a lot of ideas from DA2, and originally Hawke was going to be the hero of DAI. Not to mention the final texts in this game ending makes emphasis on the stories of love are not over yet. So who knows. I imagine a lot of it will depend on sales in this game and reception. Whatever happens though I'm just happy we got Veilguard.

[@brianwt1]

Dude they had 10 years to make this game plenty of time to integrate the keep the fact is BioWare got lazy af.

[@gamingstoriestheater]

@@brianwt1 The game we got was built in about 3 years, the rest of the years before that was being worked on as an online multiplayer game.

[@brianwt1]

@ that is still plenty of time like I said they got lazy.

[@mbuhhh3605]

According to mythal elgarnan is much better than most other monsters, and he himself states that those in his new world order (his empire) will be protected and guided by him, so i guess mythal and elgarnan is telling the truth then, what a twist, i mean, if i were to live in thedas, i'd better support elgarnan than these executors. Do you think the executors are actually the forgotten ones?

[@Made4Fan]

I was hoping for a full fledge Qunari's invasion at their full might since Tervinter got weakened. It makes perfect sense for the Qunari to push for invasion.

[@kilidaikilidai]

20 year and still no qun invasion Sten have lie

[@mattc8059]

But the Qun's military had betrayed and abandoned them leaving only a few behind

[@lisdraconis2212]

​@@mattc8059I think Taash's questline with the tabled led to something deeper. The Qunari had to flee from something according to IB. What if it was the executers?

[@cracmar03]

@@lisdraconis2212 homeland of Kossith was across the sea, and Executors claim to be 'power from across the sea' .. so it could be related.

[@REAPERGAMINGGR]

Maybe they'll start seizing control of Thedas through a full blown military conquest of the Qunari from across the sea. As in influencing them to cross the sea and storm Thedas. Thus giving a multifaceted problem. A. The Qunari invasion B. The Executors At probably the same time. Or even at two different fronts. But it makes sense for a Qunari invasion to be on the way. At least as a front for the actual plans

[@FLASK904]

Lets look at what they have been influencing. They clearly wanted the blight to be brought to the forefront and destroyed. They wanted the tevintor mages that first periced through the fade to also be destroyed. However, they also seemingly aided the tevintor mages to pierce the veil (king for a day). Solas knows about them. So do the Evanuris, and are kinda scared of them. A lot has been talked about the elven lore in the past 3 games. Mythal, solas, Elghnan, Gil'hanain, have all made appearances. And the Executors have influenced, or influenced against them all. There was an interesting quote from Corypheus in Inquasition when he attacks Haven in part 1 of the game: "i have seen the throne of the gods, and it was empty." I wonder, if these executors, have more to do with the Andrastian religion than the evenuris. Dragon Age talks a lot in terms of narrative themes about how power, especially religious power, is actually nefarious, and is used by people to create a mythology to either inspire or rule. What if it wasnt "The Maker" and it was actually "The Makers". What if these executors are those who first founded the golden city, but were kicked out. We learn in Veilguard that elves are actually spirits embodying a physical form. What if these executors are the original spirits that created the world. In other words. Looking at a Tolkien like world, which dragon age draws from; these would be the Ainur, where as the elves are the Valar. They want to return to the seat of the maker, and defeat the Valar so they dont have any competition. Defeting the blight, and aiding those who do it would make sense then.

[@theazhang997]

more forgotten ones...and Titans...one of them will be conected for sure

[@TheRoguePrince0]

Dragon age 5 will probably be set at sea. You will have your own ship and crew. It's theme will be blue.

[@willsword8100]

And Isabela will be there.

[@breakstone14]

More likely just set on a different continent then sea-based,

[@Eualia]

It won't be dragon age It'll be Shanty Age Under the sea. 😂

[@ihavecrabs56]

@@Eualia shanty age 🤣

[@danmueller4021]

It'll be in thedas. The dragon age setting

[@calvinwilson3617]

I honestly felt so let down when this was the extra scene. No expansion on the ending. Just some last minute retcons to every prevoous gamr about mystery dudes who actually manipulated everything up to this point. Like are we to assume that is canon and will be the focus of the next DA game? Honestly ill be suprised if there is another one. With how quick they moved on from veilguard to mass effect i have little hope for bioware

[@DarkAgeKilla]

I'm still not sure what their motives are. What this is all about. Are they preparing an invasion? Maybe they want to take over Thedas. Do they want resources? I still don't fully understand what their interest in Thedas is, even after years of studying the entire lore...

[@ruska45684]

just watched a video on andruil back when people connected the executors to her, and this info on the bow in dai, andruils gift: "She took the gathering storm, trapped its fury in golden limbs, and strung it with the screams of the south wind. Andruil, blood and force, your people pray to you. Grant that your eye may not fall upon us. Spare us the moment we become Your prey." "She shook the radiance of the stars, divided them into grains of light, then stored them in a shaft of gold. Andruil, blood and force, save us from the time this weapon is thrown. Your people pray to You. Spare us the moment we become Your sacrifice." From this to me the gathering storm and the eye sticks out and leaves me wondering how the evanuris link to the executors

[@NopeScope14]

Trying not to sound like the typical boomer-type millennial, but when you watch the credit ending of Origins, when 30 Seconds To Mars plays "This is War" in the background with the original art rough drafts, that makes you feel something. The writers cared and there's obvious love and effort put into the game. Veil-guard is a letdown compared to it. It's fun in it's own ways as a fantasy game, but it did it's own fans and characters dirty.

[@karandullet380]

It did entire dragon ahe series dirty it is nor dragon age

[@ettedk]

I wholeheartedly agree and I'm probably going to be bitter about for a while.

[@brynnwilson2450]

30 seconds to mars was so jarring and out of place. honestly most of the marketing for both Origins and 2 was pretty cringey. like the marilyn manson trailer lol best credit sequence in the series is definitely the Trespasser credits where Cassandra reads excerpts from Varric’s book about the Inquisition

[@lordofgingers]

Forgotten Ones served by Executors Sealed in the well deep underground that links to across the sea. This land is surrounded by a storm that makes it impossible to reach the place or leave. I am assuming conditions have been met to quell this storm.why the events highlighted in this ending are required to quell the storm, dunno

[@SirDIVVI]

Setting wise that sounds like a cool theory, but we meet/fight one of the forgotten ones, Anaris, in veilguard and they seemed kinda meh, not as bad or evil as some previous lore made them out to be, and there was no mention of executors from Anaris as far as i can remember. I wonder if the evanuris worshiped something/someone before becoming "gods" themselves and since religion is sucha big thing in the series i can see bioware going that route

[@lordofgingers]

@@SirDIVVI Codex entries seem to suggest that Forgotten Ones turned elves into demons and binded them to fight for them. That's pretty dark. I think there was a very deliberate reason they did not reveal everything about them like they did the evanuris.

[@balrok99]

@@SirDIVVI Actually Solas is listed as part of the Fogotton ones along with Anaris. But maybe who really knows. They seem to be ever present, ever listening, ever watching and ever whispering and making sure events go as THEY want. And so far they got what they wanted.

[@ihavecrabs56]

u mean the well in hossberg? i was a little sad there was no further explanation for the well

[@lordofgingers]

@ no. I was thinking hormak in tevinter nights

[@zetenyvarga7428]

I don't like the implications of this ending. Like Loghain had his reasons to bitray the king. Now I have to belive that his decision was influenced by these shadowy, most likely elven people (ahh I love the elven stuff in dragon age, but after Veilguard we DON'T NEED MORE ELVEN LORE COME ON), so yeah, It seems like cheap sequelbait. Great game btw!

[@silionraven1483]

We are not sure if they are elven though right? I believe them to be somehow meant to be eldrich

[@ShaqsonYT]

Where’d you get elves at? Not mentioned or implied anywhere. Could fully be an entirely different group responsible

[@zetenyvarga7428]

@@ShaqsonYT I mean right, it is not confirmed, but come on, what else could they be? They are as ancient as the first elves, they have some ties to Ghilan'nain (in Tevinter nights) and more then likely to the Forgotten ones too. I think it is valid to think that they are elves, or at least closely tied to them. Maybe they are the scaled ones we heard about, but they don't seem to look alike.

[@silionraven1483]

@@zetenyvarga7428maybe their faces are meant to be covered by scales?

[@kelsiefenris5063]

I feel like 2 things can be true. Yes logain had his own motivations for his actions, but the executors could have seen that and used it to their advantage. It makes the most sense to me given how secretive they are.

[@jentrevellan]

Thanks for this video Jackdaw! Its super helpful, especially as i didnt get this ending (i was jusy rushing by the end to finish the game so i wasnt spoilt lol) but now i will take the time to explore everything. Im not sure how i feel about this revelation yet but i will admit, seeing the artwork of Loghain, Meredith, Flemeth etc at the end filled me with joy for a moment! I just wanted more of that in the game but i guess they set expectations early on that only 3 choices would be carried over. Time for another playthrough (and im looking forward tk you picking apart more lore)!

[@slugshotgun]

I hope this also means that we'll get more exposition on the lore behind the Maker, Andraste and the Black City. It was such a promising concept from DA:O, it sucks that it wasn't explored further after that.

[@trixy4675]

I would very much like to know the story behind the cheese in the artifact vault lols. it doesn't have a description like the rest of them.

[@sabsjones5771]

They for sure have a chance for make up for what they missed in Veilguard: The world states. If the Executives have been behind the scenes all this time, pulling the strings, I sure as hell want to import at least some very basic information from the first three games. I'm going to assume they'd give us another new protagonist in DA5. The HoF is still on a quest or dead, Hawke is either dead or god knows where (still mad that you couldn't import that and get a line about him at Weisshaupt), the Inquisitor has to clean up the South and Rook and the Veilguard have their hands full with rebuilding the North. So it would make sense to have a new hero across the sea and somehow get all those heroes (if they're alive) together in the end for a final strike and then end the series with that. There's less than 1% chance of that happening because that'd mean some effort in their writing and keeping the lore intact but a girl can dream haha

[@balrok99]

Um they dont need to. Loghain betrays the king no matter what. Varric's brother goes mad no matter what Coripheus does his ritual no matter what. So far they showed the reasons what drove the main stories of those games. Loghain's retreat allowed Blight to spread and it ended the way it did. Varric's brother had the entire Red Lyrium arc Coripheus sets in motion the events of Inquisition.

[@sabsjones5771]

@@balrok99 of course they don't need to but it would be nice for old fans. If they're going to "revisit" these events, there should be some basic information, even if it's just a line or a codex entry because they sure as hell messed that shit up in Veilguard with the bare minimum that sometimes ended up in quite ooc behavior.

[@luke-ademsaunders7766]

Am I alone in wanting (if) there’s a next game, wanting par vollen?

[@cracmar03]

"As long as the music plays - we dance." Those were Flemeth's regretful voices. Could Executor's be the Blight beings ? "Mythal speaks the Blight". Wasn't that said when you take Well of Sorrows ? Wardens talked about Blight having new voice. Bartrand insisted a voice was singing to him ever since he got Idol and even past Idol. I just don't recall Loghain talking anything about any song. However he acted like complete and utter idiot stuck in his delusions .. maybe Executors were talking him into delusions ? That would mean Executors have some serious mentat abilities. And well we did have something about how Qunari had to flee with Koslun's Qun from their homeland ... Homeland that is across the sea. My big question was why Flemeth if she was under Executors wanted desperately to save Urthamiel's soul. We still do not know where this soul is or why Flemeth or Morrigan could have wanted it. Were they collecting these souls in some capacity ? Executors speak of Blight as balancing .. and they are relieved that Evanuris are gone. Well to kill Ghilan'nain and Elgar'nan the soul of their Archdemons had to return directly to them.

[@bernova]

Saw this last night and can finally watch this video :D

[@shortangrydemonluci]

Maybe rook will be the narrator of the story this time😭

[@xubairahmed951]

This makes DA lore even more interesting. I hope we survive long enough to see the day when the next part is released.

[@shezshezshezshez7001]

I don’t like when all the bad things that happen all happen around one group. It just isn’t my thing. All these events being different bad circumstances was nice. I just don’t love that it was all one group this whole time.

[@SirDavidtheGreat]

The figure moving really fast down in the Deep Roads in the last Codex entry... There was a part in Hardings Compagnion quest where you move through a narrow spot and there is some dark shade rushing across the screen like a jumpscare in a horror movie. I thought it was the Titans embodiment of Anger but that was purple as later seen

[@darkskysz2102]

They way it is scalling, that mysterious figure will be our next and final enemy, to wrap up the story and end it in some big boom.

[@KieranHamilton-y7s]

It’s likely they told Bartrand where the Primeval Thaig was knowing what was in there so it could find its way to Solas and open the prison so the Evanuris could be made vulnerable to killing.

[@guntram3529]

The Excecutors Voice is Matt Mercers, from Critical Role

[@SisterTheohild]

Oh I only knew he voiced Manfred and the Viper.

[@guntram3529]

@@SisterTheohild Well, to be perfectly honest "I don't know" this. The only one to perfectly say this would be Matt himself, but I listened to hundreds of hours of content with his voice in it, in diffrent expressions etc.. So Let me tell you It's him ^^. I played with the thought to ask him, but I thought about it. I think it has not been revealed because he will be voicing one Executor in a future installment of Dragon Age

[@SisterTheohild]

@@guntram3529 Eh. Dunno about the last part. I think it's more realistic that they will drop the plottline with the executioners after this game. And for Matt already knowing that he will get that role, is highly unlikly. Even Morrigans VA didn't know that she will be in Veilguard till half a year ago.

[@Xelniad]

In my playthrough this was bugged and the post credits scene played for me right after I went to the lighthouse I after picked the first circle. So until I saw people talking about this I though that scene was supposed to reference the gods (somehow) and not the executioners.

[@darsfrommars]

This game seems to be "it was blank all along" when it comes to its story

[@spartan662501]

This twist seems really cringy tbh. It comes across as a bit lazy and comic booky. I dont know, maybe I'm old (played DAO when it came out) but this game doesn't excite my interest. Maybe I'll try it when it is at a significant discount.

[@khrachvikkhrachvik7049]

Okay. Hear me out. Here’s the theory my son and I have come up with. The Executors are similar to magisters, but their magic is based in the Forgotten Ones, rather than Elven Pantheon. And the Forgotten Ones are who is talking. Let’s think about it. When you speak with Mythal in the Crossroads, she tells you they were protecting people from far off dangers they couldn’t imagine. Building a wall. Keeping them safe. And all of these machinations have been for the Forgotten ones to break out of their prison. Why wouldn’t they be trying, same as Elgarnan, and the dragons/Tevinter Old Gods, right? And all of these games, they’ve pushed and pulled where they can to not only break out of their prison, but defeat their old enemies, the Evanuris, as well. And it’s an Executor who’s tracking weapons or possible weapons in the secret room in Minrathous.

[@sapkowska]

I have to admit... I'm not a fan of this... It's so cliché. But we'll see what kind of story this will be. I doubt it will be any good, but time will tell.

[@wenterinfaer1656]

Dragon Age's success formula: DA2 - introduce DAI's main antagonist DAI - introduce DAV's main antagonist, bigger threat than Corepheus DAV - introduce next biggest threat to Thedas.

[@georgelucas8815]

I don’t think we will get another game tho

[@elisabetta611]

Oh, we DEFINITELY will.

[@karandullet380]

I hope it won't be the same team they took everything that was dragon age and burned it

[@ListenHereHumptyDumpty]

Dragon age is one of the most popular IP no way they're going to stop

[@tf6026]

@@karandullet380cry

[@Shayan.junior]

​@@tf6026 bot🤡

[@Alwaysttango]

This game is bad fanfiction, not canon, the writers of BioWare are spread around other studios or not working. This whole game and ending are as much canon as the ending of GoT tv show to the book series

[@Wilsontripplets]

I this this ties into the scaled ones codex entry.

[@shadowtheshadowlord]

I hope they are related to whatever the kossith pre qun escaped from, maybe the reason the qun exists (a way to build an army to face them)

[@rprlunn93]

Not sure any of this matters the game did soo bad for many reasons soo the chances of a next game is low and dlc is rather low aswell.

[@TwistedwithPower]

All depends on sales. Not a fan of Taashs 2024 hamfisted substory nonsense but the rest of the game is decent. Ofc some youtuber reviews could play a role, but speaking for myself. I stopped listening to youtuber reviews years ago. Whether corporate or independent, too many are untrustworthy or just ragequeen at 95% of games released. I don't have enough anger to be that angry at everything all the time.

[@SquidlyFishBeans]

That secret ending did not make up for the absolute ass rewards from the blighted dragon fight.

[@Erikjust]

Lets see if there will be a sequel. Veilguard sold poorly. I think all of Biowares future hopes is now on Mass Effekt if that fails bye bye Bioware. If that happens it might be 20 years before another Studio picks up Dragon Age and makes a sequel. Or who knows maybe with enough cash and the promise of absolute freedom Larian Studios could be persuaded to pick up the franchise and give it a whirl.

[@kelsiefenris5063]

I already cant wait for the next game

[@OnefortheAges-u1c]

I’m enjoying playing Dragon Age Veilguard as a Elf-mage Veil Jumper. One thing that hits me emotionally is Verric gone. I mean I often play DA:2 and I remember going to the hanged man bar. I wonder if Verric told Rook about Hawke? Knowledge of the past would have benefits for rook. But seeing ppl play It’s either let him be with inquisitor or solas goes along.

[@Emanon...]

Retcon, "mystery box" and poor writing. They went full JJ Abrams hack.

[@Adrian7070-h4g]

It's as if they were inspired from the jailer in world of warcraft. Aka the worst thing that ever happened to the game

[@Tink6217]

If they do like a finaly big buddy then i hope all the heros come back. Like the warden and co

[@caligulaazazel2821]

For me Veilguard is not canon.

[@FragLord]

It's not and it doesn't have to be. In the next dragon age, real dragon age, they could give us back all those options.

[@FelisImpurrator]

Too bad.

[@Eualia]

Veilguard is fever dream. It was all an illusion of the mind. Next game will be the reality of the past games

[@Wesker-b7o]

Great video 👍 🥰🙂

[@Valyrael]

Let's call it what it is and not give it more credence than it deserves. This is just juvenile writing, its bad and is disrespectful to the old games. But to be fair we can say the same about a lot of things in the game. The crows being super good guys? Everything is watered down, whitewashed.

[@DarkWidget]

Oh I'm sure we all know what dragon ages greatest threat is

[@chaoticcreations1184]

I guess we'll find out in 10 years.

[@gaidenshimazu4397]

I'm sorry that the secret ending killed a lot of my love for the series. The whole game's writing was off, and you can tell that the same people aren't writing anymore. This is obvious, but this writing doesn't feel like Dragon Age. This whole game didn't, from the writing to the actual dialogue. The potential was there, but there was too much bad around it. This ruined the series for me. The lore and the characters are everything to me. Let's call this for what it is, bad writing and not understanding Dragon Age as a whole.

[@maesdejardin8648]

Origins - 2009 Dragon Age 2 - 2011 Inquisition - 2014 Veilguard - 2024 Executors - 2124 New Age, New base Title - 3124 New Age 2 - 13124 New Age 3, End of Days - 130124 Man, that Bioware release schedule is looking way ahead.

[@Darkl3g3nds150]

What if we get to play as every character from all the dragons ages games !?!

[@Kain-h8e]

Solas say that because of him that the elven gods used the blight, but what if he was wrong and it wasn't because of him but because of some unknown enemy from beyond the sea one the evanuris feared so much they turned to the blight out of desperation.

[@gurdjieff9282]

thast what i think actually, elgarn nan weaponized and wants to control the Blight to survive the Executors.