14 DAY TRIAL // BioWare might have run out of party members to reveal for Dragon Age: Inquisition, but the company is continuing to show off characters from the upcoming title and is starting with an old fan favorite, Leliana.
Sheryl Chee, the writer who is working on the Chantry operative, is quoted on the official site of the game as saying that the skilled archer whom the fans know from Dragon Age: Origins has been called back to Val Royeaux after the events of the game and is currently serving as the left Hand for the Divine.
Because time has passed, Leliana is no longer a carefree, optimistic youngster, as she is now bearing more responsibility and needs to deal with some internal demons.
The game maker states, "She’s a high-ranking member of the Inquisition with a great deal of responsibility, and she has to present herself a certain way for the Inquisition’s sake. However, if you prove that you're trustworthy, and that you understand where she's come from, she might let her guard down a little."
Chee goes on to talk about the way Origins and novels like Asunder and Masked Empire have contributed to the backstory of the character.
The writer adds, "Leliana is always a little tricky because of how the player’s choices in Origins can affect her. I had to make sure that no matter what the player did in Origins, Leliana’s role and character in Inquisition made sense. It's a matter of respecting her core nature, so that regardless of what happened (or happens) to her, she's always clearly 'Leliana.'"
The character's new role as the Left Hand of the Divine means that she is tasked with holding back, staying in the shadow in order to get the info that the Chantry needs, and then act on it stealthily, just as Cassandra, the Right Hand of the Divine, acts directly as a warrior.
The two powerful women in the Inquisition have a healthy respect for each other, although they do not always agree on how to act to further the interests of the organization.
BioWare has already said that it is aiming to create a set of nuanced and interesting characters for the new Dragon Age title.
The game will ask the player to deal with a breach in the Veil of the Fade which is allowing demons to pour into the world of humans and other races.
Dragon Age: Inquisition will be launched on the PC, the PlayStation 4, the Xbox One and current-gen consoles on October 7.