Absolution That Only Fans Of The Games Will Notice

In "Dragon Age: Absolution," everyone on the heist team is given a job. One of the group members is Qwydion, a sweet-tempered mage from a race known as the Qunari. To prepare for the upcoming heist, Qwydion disguises herself as a slave and goes to gather supplies from a local merchant. Her shopping list includes a number of dangerous magical tools, which naturally raises the merchant's suspicions. Qwydion comes up with a clever lie, telling the merchant in hushed tones that her master is preparing for an impending Blight. The merchant easily falls for the ruse and even offers her a look at his special stash.

For some, the Blight might be mistaken for the name of a nasty plague, but "Dragon Age" gamers know that it is much more than that. The Blight has been a threat to Thedas for centuries, and its origins are steeped in mystery. During a Blight, an evil army of creatures called darkspawn emerges from underground and spreads destruction and pestilence among every race of mortals. The only way to fight it is by killing the leader, an ancient corrupted dragon known as an Archdemon.

In the first game, "Dragon Age: Origins," putting an end to the Blight is the goal of the player character. However, it can never be fully stopped, and the cycle eventually starts over again, making it an ever-present danger to the people of Thedas.