If there's one area in which BioWare has managed to distinguish their Dragon Age series, it's building a fictional world overflowing with rich history. Obviously that's something they hope to continue with Dragon Age: Inquisition, and information on the new locations set to be unveiled in the team's largest open world thus far is coming quickly. The latest screenshots put the Fortress of Adamant into the spotlight, and hint that the former Grey Warden stronghold will play a pivotal role in the Inquisitor's journey.

Those who have followed the series (or its fiction) will know that the Grey Wardens are an iconic group in the game's universe; tasked with defeating the Darkspawn scourges and keeping everyday citizens safe from otherworldly threats. After playing the Warden-Commander in Dragon Age: Origins, players will be taking on a threat that makes all others seem small - with more authority as the Inquisitor than ever before.

To raise an army will take players to some stunning locales (and head-to-head with some strange enemies), and the Adamant Fortress - explored in the "Dragon Age: Asunder" novel - looks to be one of the most impressive. Take a look at the screenshots below, along with a look at the new designs for the game's Darkspawn enemies:

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Besides showing off yet another climate and environment waiting to be explored in the wilds of Thedas, the images confirm that even though the Grey Wardens and Darkspawn may not be central plot points in Inquisition's marketing, the influence of both will still be visible. The Fortress of Adamant may appear small in the sandy wastes of the world's 'Western Approach,' but concealed beneath the surface is a near-impregnable base. Built into the cliffs surrounding the Abyssal Rift (where Darkspawn originate), centuries of complacency has led to the base becoming a shadow of its former self.

Since base-building and recruiting allies will be key elements of Inquisition, it's safe to assume that players will be dusting off the Fortress for their own purposes. The first official gameplay trailer showed that players will be clashing with the Wardens in their effort to seal the mysterious Breach that has opened in the sky, offering a glimpse of a heated battle which could take place in the Fortress of Adamant.

It's been assumed that a battle with the Wardens may only be an option available to players, not a mandatory story line (as has been confirmed to be the case with the Red Templars). The developers have promised to be more ambitious with Inquisition than the previous game, so fans can likely expect an evolved form of the base-building seen in Origins' Awakening expansion.

What do you think of the Fortress of Adamant so far? Are the next-gen visuals and style what you were hoping to see in the next Dragon Age, or is it the story and characters you're most interested in? Sound off in the comments.

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Dragon Age: Inquisition releases October 7, 2014 for the PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.

Follow Andrew on Twitter @andrew_dyce.

Source: BioWare