Dragon Age 4 will be the next title in BioWare's popular fantasy RPG series. While the game doesn't yet have a release window, we have received some hints about what will be in it. The two main certainties are that Dragon Age 4 will be at least partially set in Tevinter, and that Solas will be the antagonist.
Solas the elven mage started out as a companion in Dragon Age: Inquisition, and the reveal of his true nature is probably the biggest twist in the entire Dragon Age series. Players already have some idea of his goals in Dragon Age 4, and the nomadic Dalish are sure to be central to them. Suffice to say, spoilers ahead for any players who haven't yet completed Dragon Age: Inquisition and its Trespasser DLC.
The Dread Wolf
Solas is one of the first companions that players meet in Dragon Age: Inquisition. An elven hedge mage and scholar, he is an expert on the Fade, the spirit realm that is separated from Thedas by the Veil. Throughout the game he serves as a warrior and advisor to the Inquisition, offering his knowledge of the Fade freely.
It's only at the very end of Dragon Age: Inquisition that the truth about Solas comes out. He real name is Fen'Harel, also known as the Dread Wolf, "He Who Hunts Alone," or Lord of Tricksters. He is the elven god of betrayal (or possibly of rebellion), who sealed away the the rest of the elven pantheon in an act that is known by the Dalish elves as The Great Betrayal.
What the Dalish Think
To the Dalish elves, the only members of their race who have tried to maintain their ancient traditions, Fen'Harel is an evil god. They blame his creation of the Veil and sealing away of the rest of the elven pantheon for the fall of their civilization. In Dragon Age: Inquisition's Trespasser DLC, it's revealed that the story may be more nuanced that the Dalish know.
Although Fen'Harel truly did banish the elven pantheon, it was in response to their apparent murder of Mythal, one of the other elven gods. The other gods attacked Mythal in their lust for power, and she fled as a mere wisp to seek shelter by possessing the witch Flemeth. It's this power that Solas/Fen'Harel reclaimed from Flemeth at the very end of Dragon Age: Inquisition. None of this is known to the Dalish, who still view Fen'Harel as a betrayer. However, his actions in Dragon Age 4 are likely to give them a very different impression.
True Purpose Revealed
By the end of Dragon Age: Inquisition's Trespasser DLC Solas is fully awakened, and reveals his ultimate intention. He has regained many of the powers he had in ancient times, including the ability to petrify his enemies with a look. With these powers, as well as the following he is rapidly building among the elves of Thedas, he intends to restore their ancient civilization. He gave his Orb to Corypheus for that very reason, so that he could destroy the Veil. This act triggered all the wars and chaos of Dragon Age: Inquisition, leaving Solas directly responsible.
It's unclear how the Dalish people will react to the idea of the civilization that they've been struggling to keep alive finally returning for good. Particularly as the centuries have left the Dalish with a very muddled version of the true ancient elven civilization. For example, the facial tattoos that the Dalish proudly wear were once marks of slavery to the elven pantheon.
Following the Great Betrayal, Fen'Harel removed many of these tattoos to symbolically free the elves who wore them. Solas pities the plight of all elves, and particularly the Dalish, so much so that he's willing to destroy Thedas to restore their glory. How the Dalish will feel about him doing this is less certain, but it's clear that they'll never be the same when they learn of their true history.
Dragon Age 4 is in development.