Today I'm uncovering the seventh entry in my new lore series. By now. you all know how this series goes, it’s a set of anthological videos paving the road for the anticipated release of the next Dragon Age game with the most relevant lore going forward. I have each episode collated in a playlist that you can binge-watch until we actually have the next game in our hands.
Last episode I discussed the lingering blights that are in-store for Thedas, and need to be dealt with accordingly, for all our sakes. Continuing from that, I’m exploring one of the most enigmatic factions that’ve recently graced the lands of Thedas.
Known as “The Executors”, this mysterious shadow-syndicate speaks "on behalf of powers across the sea", revealing themselves to other key factions only when absolutely necessary, however, their true intentions for Thedas and its people are largely unknown...
Speaking "on behalf of powers across the sea", one assumes The Executors come from a distant land beyond the known oceans of Thedas. The powers they represent are also just as unknown.
Considering there are so many concealed revelations about this shadow society, we know very little about The Executors, which I suppose is expected from an ambiguous secretive organisation that represent mystifying powers.
The World of Thedas Volume 2 states that The Executors are viewed as a secret society among the populace of Thedas.
"Some credit the secret society known as the Executors." (WoT. V2).
However, even before that widespread view, the group have been depicted as myth - a rubbish tale that everyone knows aren't real. This outlook was amplified in Varric’s book - “Hard in Hightown,” where even Varric’s fictional characters boast about how nonsensical the Executor’s reality truly is.
"What you have claimed belongs to greater powers. You will answer to us.' That's a lot of rubbish." ... "Oh, it's the Executors, of course!" Maysie peered excitedly at the wax seal, holding it up to the window for better light.
"I should have guessed it from the silly 'great powers' nonsense. There's only been one example, on the letter claiming responsibility for the assassination of Queen Madrigal in 5:99! And this one is so much better! Just look at that imprint!"
"Any idea how I'd contact these 'Executors'?" Donnen asked.
"Oh, they're not real, of course. Everyone knows that." (Hard in Hightown).
Nevertheless, The Executors are more than just tales, they are a real organisation in Thedas today. In a rare occasion, when an Executor agent was witnessed physically, they were described as covered head to toe in dark robes of Vyrantium samite, with a thin mesh dropping down to cover their hood. Their robes trimmed in a twisted shape pattern that curled to points in places that make one's eyes hurt. “A figure covered head to toe in dark robes of Vyrantium samite, with a thin mesh dropping down to cover the hood. The dark robes were trimmed in a pattern Charter had never seen, twisting shapes that curled to points in places that made her eyes hurt.” (Tevinter Nights).
Behind the hooded robes, their appearance is unknown... When the Executor spoke, their voice carried no distinction of gender, or age. Almost as if their speech was a presence that filled the room, rather than a person behind hooded robes.
“The voice that came from the Executor could have been male or female, young or old. It was less a voice than the idea of a voice, rendered acceptably but no more” (Tevinter Nights).
And, unsurprisingly, the Executor carried a faint whiff of the ocean, and something beyond the ocean.
“But she caught a faint whiff of the ocean from his robes, and something beyond the ocean. The Executor.” (Tevinter Nights).
While that description of an Executor creates more questions than answers, we have somewhat of an outline on their appearance, we know what to look out for going forward - fully-covered, dark-robed, hooded figures with no distinction of gender, race and age, that carry a stench which is prominently of the ocean.
In 9:41 Dragon, The Executors made themselves known to the Inquisition and their allies by marking their symbol in chalk at nearly every Inquisition outpost. The symbol itself is, of course, very ominous - a downward-pointed triangle with two wavy lines drawn through it.
After investigating the strange markings, the Inquisition recognised this symbol in a ledger belonging to the Comtesse de Bayard.
Commander Cullen requested that the Inquisition focused on Corypheus instead of concerning themselves with little chalk drawings. Whereas Spymaster Leliana insisted they investigated further.
If the Inquisitor heeded the advice of Cullen and decided not to investigate further, a letter from the Executors was left at three abandoned Inquisition outposts along the Nevarran border.
It stated that while the Executors hold the Inquisition in high esteem, Corypheus is a true enemy to Thedas, but the Inquisition has the strength the meet and conquer him. The Executors prepare for the day when more troubles will present themselves to Thedas, staying vigil. The Inquisition men who died here gave themselves of their own free will to a higher cause.
"We hold your Inquisition in high esteem. Thedas' present troubles are great, but you have the strength to meet and conquer them. More will come. We prepare for the day and hold vigil. Do not look for your men; do not mourn them. They have given themselves of their own free will to a higher cause. On behalf of powers across the sea, The Executors." (Unmask "Those Across the Sea").
If the Inquisitor deferred to Leliana for a further investigation, she traced an Executor agent to Caimen Brea, a settlement in the Tevinter Imperium. However, before the Inquisition strikes the Executors, they receive a letter from them.
The letter paid compliments to Leliana’s resourcefulness, telling the Inquisitor to call off her dogs, and to save them for Corypheus instead. They suspect that Leliana also got all she could from Ser Helmuth, an Executor agent. They continue stating that the Inquisition will not hear any more from them. Their intention was to watch, and they’ve seen enough. Corypheus threatens all, and the Inquisition is Thedas's only hope for stopping him. For the moment, the Executors are not an enemy.
"Compliments to your spymaster. She is a resourceful woman. Once she traced our agent to Caimen Brea, the match was ruled in her favour. Tell Sister Leliana to call off her dogs. Save them for Corypheus. We suspect also that she has gotten all she can from Ser Helmuth."
"A caterpillar on a leaf does not know there is a forest about him. You will hear no more from us. Our intention was to watch, and we have seen enough. Corypheus threatens us all, and the Inquisition is Thedas's only hope for stopping him. Remember that, for the moment, we are not your enemy. As a gesture of goodwill, we share our knowledge. May it prove valuable in your coming battle. On behalf of powers across the sea, The Executors." (Unmask "Those Across the Sea").
Regardless of the Inquisitor’s actions, the Executors appealed to the Inquisition, not to be antagonistic, but to determine if their forces could defeat Corypheus. Once they believed the Inquisition could, they simply left them to it.
“Our intention was to watch, and we have seen enough.”
After Corypheus was defeated, The Executors made their first physical appearance with many intelligence factions of Thedas. An agent of the Inquisition, Carta Assassin, Orlesian Bard, Mortalitasi Mage and an Executor gathered to discuss the latest threat that endangers the world – The Dread Wolf, otherwise known as Solas.
“The lamps were dim and the walls bare of both windows and any painting where a peephole might have been concealed, but a fireplace against the wall crackled merrily, and seated around the fire in comfortable overstuffed chairs were four figures.” (Tevinter Nights).
“Enough.” The voice that came from the Executor could have been male or female, young or old. It was less a voice than the idea of a voice, rendered acceptably but no more. “We came because we possess a shared interest in the Wolf.” (Tevinter Nights).
Intending on keeping Thedas afloat, The Executors came to this meeting to share their knowledge on the Wolf’s movements. The overall goal being that each of these factions could collaborate and work together against Solas’s plan that threatens all. This gathering being a chance for many factions to meet for the first time.
“You said that this would be a meeting of the best spies on the continent. Where are the Tevinter Siccari?” “And the Ben-Hassrath,” the Executor added. “Do the Qunari fear to speak with us?” (Tevinter Nights).
Each member of the group shared their individual reports and personal experiences with the Dread Wolf and his scheme, pooling each of their stories together in a rough timeline. When it was time for The Executor to share their insights, they had been petrified to stone by the Orlesian Bard who was revealed to be Solas in disguise. “Beyond that, the Inquisition knows little about what Solas intends. Much of his research involves the Veil that separates our world from the world of the spirits. He claimed to have created it, and he asked the Inquisition for help activating artifacts to strengthen the Veil. That seems a possible place to start.” (Tevinter Nights).
"Before the Executor could answer, the Bard raised his hands. “I believe I know where the mage carrying the lyrium idol went next. S’il vous plaît, allow me to continue its tale." (Tevinter Nights).
Out of all the agents in the room who shared knowledge on Solas and his scheme, the Executor was the only one who was killed before they could share their intelligence. While the rest, other than the Inquisition agent were later killed, they were at least able to share their intel.
“Second, that the Executor has not moved since you touched his hand while he and the Assassin argued. And third . . . that you never drank your tea.” (Tevinter Nights).
“The Assassin and the Mortalitasi were still where they stood, their skin and clothes suddenly the gray of dead, dull stone.” (Tevinter Nights).
Which begs the question, what do the Executors actually know about Solas and his scheme that he’d rather not have the rest of Thedas’s intelligence factions know? It seems that the concealment of their intel was worth it to Solas, who physically infiltrating the meeting to silence the Executor.
There’s something about this shadowy society that Solas finds threatening, whether that’s the information they have on him, or the powers they speak on behalf of. Solas’s hostility with the Executors is unknown... Like most things with this faction.
Ironically, after killing one, Solas called the Executors "dangerous", meaning that they’ve potentially done something to Solas for them to earn that description. Or he’s witnessed their danger first-hand.
“I would caution you in dealing with those across the sea,” he said. “They are dangerous.” (Tevinter Nights).
Regardless, out of all the opposing factions against him, Solas thinks the Executors are the most dangerous, do they actually have a way to stop Solas? And therefore, are worthwhile allies for the rest of Thedas?
It’s certainly plausible given that the Executor’s first appealed to the Inquisition because they believed they would stop Corypheus, and they were right. They attended the meeting of spies because they too seek a demise to the Wolf, also for the same reason - to ensure Thedas is safe from its present troubles.
Henceforth, the Executor’s true intention is to ensure Thedas is safe from any threat who dare oppose it, by any means.
“Thedas' present troubles are great (…) More will come. We prepare for the day and hold vigil. (Unmask "Those Across the Sea").
“We came because we possess a shared interest in the Wolf.” (Tevinter Nights).
Going forward, Solas is the greatest adversary against Thedas, having revealed his plan to the Inquisition, he seeks to destroy this world by bringing down the Veil and restoring his time. As of which, The Executor’s seek to understand his goals and means of accomplishing them, so they can eliminate him.
“We across the ocean care only for his goals and means of accomplishing them. (…) This does not help us eliminate the Wolf. You might as well suggest we throw a rock at him.” The Executor turned. (Tevinter Nights).
With that understanding of the Executor’s aim, we have plenty of plot threads going forward that require further explanation on this shadowy group.
The Executor’s Origin & Ties
I could spit ball about what the Executor’s could look like, if they’re a new race, or just a deeply hidden illuminating secret society of a known group. Truth be told, we don’t have enough on them to determine what they are, where they come from, and what powers they speak on behalf of. However, I believe these mysteries will certainly be answered if and when we experience them again.
In my honest opinion, while I do enjoy the dots connecting, I’d like it if the Executor’s were not elven in origin, and have a more enigmatic background. If it turns out they’re Ghilan’nain's Creations or The Forbidden Ones/Forgotton Ones, then no wonder they oppose Solas. Personally, I’d like an original and new opposition against Solas that doesn’t relate to the elves.
When the Executors made contact with the Inquisition, they left letters at three abandoned Inquisition outposts along the Nevarran border. So, while we relate this faction a lot to the sea, and coming from beyond Thedas, they have been sighted on the main land.
Even further, as mentioned, Leliana tracked an Executor agent to Caimen Brea, a settlement of Tevinter. Do the Executor’s have a stronghold here? Is this one of their main land locations? It may be worth a visit going forward.
Solas's Knowledge
I mentioned it before, and I’m mentioning it again here. Solas killed an Executor, that’s one agent that isn’t reporting back home. Re-enforcing the Executors as a rival against Solas. They already want to eliminate him, however, Solas by killing an Executor has initiated a war. Surely, they will not forget that, and continue to pursue him.
They have knowledge on Solas that needs to be shared to the oppositions against Solas, so they can each find a way to work together and stop him from destroying the Veil. This knowledge needs to be shared.
The Executor’s Allegiance
While the Executor’s oppose Solas, and see him as the greatest threat currently, they’re still a rather neutral party in Thedas’s war effort. They have their own side in this war, being whatever powers they speak on behalf of. When contacting the Inquisition, they said “Remember that, for the moment, we are not your enemy.”
Meaning that, at any point they could just switch and decide that in fact, the factions of Thedas are now their enemies because they have their own way of doing things. Solas cautioned the Inquisition in dealing with the Executors. Even he believes they’re dangerous.
“I would caution you in dealing with those across the sea,” he said. “They are dangerous.” (Tevinter Nights).
So, can we really say that the Executors will be on our side in the future? While they have Thedas’s best interest at heart, that doesn’t mean they care for the people in the world. Who knows what the powers they speak on are, and what they desire? They could be just as formidable as Solas.
So, while we may take all the help we can get to rival the Dread Wolf, I wouldn’t trust the Executors unless we see what powers they speak on behalf of first-hand, and prove to us that their intention is the same as ours.
But we’re just going to have to see what the Executor’s have in-mind for Thedas when dealing with the Wolf, if of course, they still have a course of action against him. We’ll just have to see. As a warning, we must caution ourselves when dealing with them, just in case.
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