When Dragon Age: Inquisition came out, its collector's edition came with its own deck of tarot cards. Within the game, the tarot card designs can be seen in codices and the character selection menu. Every major character has at least one tarot card assigned to them. When it comes to the inner circle of the Inquisition, companions can have up to four different tarot cards that change depending on game choices.
Dragon Age: Inquisition's Solas is one such character, and his tarot cards reveal far more about him than he himself is willing to share. He has three tarot cards, the Hermit, the Hierophant, and the Tower. The Hermit is his default card, the Hierophant is his romance card, and the tower is his ending card.
Solas' Default Card
Solas' default card suits him greatly, as it is the Hermit which symbolizes a degree of separation from society. Upwards, the card representations self-reflection, soul-searching, and meditation. This is Solas' card when he first enters the Inquisition. It is his state of being, and the reversed reading also describes him. The card can mean loneliness, sadness, and withdrawal from loved ones when reversed.
While this card is true of Solas, he also uses it as a mask to hide other parts of himself. Through the path of a Hermit, the Inquisition will not know he is actually the Dreadwolf. As the Hermit, he can also protect his feelings. He can be close to his enemies, but not too close as to get attached to them. The Hermit is also a card of the earth element, which can mean stability and connection to the physical world.
Solas' Romance Card
Solas' romance tarot card is the Hierophant, which is also an earth element arcana. It actually comes right before the Lovers in the order of the major arcana. The card represents tradition, education, and spiritual guidance. It can also mean conformity, which is telling for Solas. In his romance with Lavellan, he almost gives up his goal. As the Dreadwolf, he wanted to challenge the status quo. In his romance, though, he begins wondering what life could be if he conformed to how Thedas is now and to live just as Solas.
The romance does end with Solas breaking up with Lavellan, which shows the Hierophant card in reverse. In reverse, the card represents personal beliefs and freedom. Solas decides not to conform, and to not move on from his personal beliefs. He must tear the Veil down, to destroy structure and the world as people know it. A reversed Hierophant does not need the approval of others; it is a card of rebellion.
Solas' End Card
For those that did not romance Solas, his card eventually becomes the Tower card. This happens at the end of the game when it is finally revealed that he is the Dreadwolf. The card symbolizes crisis, unforeseen change, and destruction. The card is connected to the element of fire, which is the element of action and passion. The Tower is everything that the Dreadwolf persona seems to be: a title given to Solas for his acts of rebellion and world-shattering change. The card is symbolic of chaos, which seems to be the fate of Thedas as long as Solas' plan comes to fruition.
However, no tarot card is pure doom and gloom. The Tower can also signify an awakening or revelation. In reverse, it can mean personal transformation. For Solas, it can even represent more his internal crisis rather than his external influence on Thedas. Based on his other cards, Solas seems to be an earth-elemented man, and the Dreadwolf is forcing him to be a figure of fire, which can be a traumatizing experience for those so connected to the physical world.
Dragon Age: Dreadwolf is in development.