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The world ofDragon Ageis a vast one. One so vast that the games have really only scratched the surface of what Bioware has created. To help expand this universe without having to create countless games within it, they elected to create a multimedia franchise, with comics and graphic novels making up the bulk of that.
One of the most prominent characters originating from the comics is Maevaris Tilani. With her appearance confirmed for Dragon Age: The Veilguard, you might be wondering just what makes her so special. Fear not, we’ll have you up to speed with her so fast you won’t even need those pesky comics.
When Did Maevaris First Appear?
While Maevaris has been suddenly shot into the spotlight because of her appearance in The Veilguard, her actual debut came quite a bit beforehand. Before even Dragon Age Inquisition. That’s right, Maevaris, despite only appearing in the mainline games now, has been plotting across Tevinter sinceher first appearance in Dragon Age: Those Who Speak back in 2012.
Featured as a prominent character within the comic, she assists Varric, Alistair, and Isabela in their hunt to find the lost King Maric, Alistair’s father, albeit in ways more custom to Tevinter. Being a magistrate herself, she is sly thoughgreatly opposes the actions of those in power.
Maevaris is an old friend of Varric from back in the day due to old family ties.Maevaris was once upon a time married to one of Varric’s cousins, Thorold. This marriage ended in tragedy with the supposedly accidental death of Thorold, though Maevaris kept close ties with the Tethras family, hence her offering of support to Varric so easily.
Though it is framed within Tevinter that Maevaris assassinated Thorold to inherit his wealth, her lovingvisions of him in the Fademake it clearhe was killed by her opponents instead.
While she does not appear inThose Who Speakagain beyond the first chapter,this debut set up her future role in later comics, ones which would delve much deeper into her own life and struggles within Tevinter.
Why Is Maevaris Controversial In Tevinter?
While Maevaris may be a Magistrate of the Tevinter Imperium, this does not make her life all roses and wine.Maevaris' problems within the Imperium are twofold, and she committed the greatest of sins in the eyes of the other magistrates.
Tevinter is a harshly patriarchal society, with men seen as the natural successors of the world. Much of that mindset is the very basis for why the Chantries of Orlais and Tevinter are so divided. Men are the best that society has to offer, and so they should be in key positions of power. Women should simply be satisfied.
Maevaris' first sin was to renounce that she was born and labelled as a man. To renounce manhood was to deny the patriarchal sexism that formed the Tevinter Imperium’s foundations. Her second sin was to thenproudly take her inherited seat as a Magisterrather than letting it pass her by with her father’s death.
Predating Crem in Dragon Age Inquisition, Maevaris is the firsttransgender characterportrayed in the Dragon Age series.
The manipulation of her father was a driving force in her fight against corruption in Tevinter, and her alliance with Thorold Tethras of Orzammar allowed her toestablish her own connections in lieu of those denied to her within Tevinter. Though never officially married, the pair were indeed close, to the point that Maevaris inherited Thorold’s wealth and connections upon his eventual death.
In the years following her ascent to Magister, she has fought tirelessly to battle corruption. At one time, this resulted inher imprisonment by Aurelian Titus, after which she was subsequently saved by Varric. This only solidified her ambitions, and she would go on toform a new organisation with Dorian Pavusin the years leading up to 9:44,the Lucerni, dedicated to battling this corruption.
Where Else Does Maevaris Appear?
While Maevaris isprimarily a comic character, she has madebrief appearances in other pieces of Dragon Age media. Below is each of her appearances so far, from comics to games.
2012
2013
2014
2020
Game
2024
You might notice that she’s said to appear in Dragon Age Inquisition in the above table. Indeed she does, though this is only a brief appearance.She is featured in two war table operations, ‘A Friend In Qarinus’ and ‘The Tevinter Resistance’. These two missions are centred on rooting out the Venatori in Tevinter and attempting to lessen their prominence in the nation. Regardless of your choice of advisors, these operations only strengthen Maevaris' position.
While the Venatori are not openly praised in Tevinter, Maevaris wants to curtail them before they gain enough power to rule.
Though not as actively featured, she is again mentioned in Trespasser in Dorian’s epilogue andher co-creation of the Lucerni groupto combat corruption and the Venatori following their weakening after the defeat of Corypheus.
Maevaris again, though briefly, appears in theTevinter Nightsanthology of short stories, alongside Dorian anddetailing the actions of the Lucernias well as assisting him in taking down a new kind of monster, a Cekorax.
