Antaam

The Antaam, meaning "body" in Qunlat, is the military of the Qunari led by the Arishok. Metaphorically, the Antaam are the eyes, ears, legs, arms and hands of the creature, everything that one needs to interact with the world, and so most Qunari encountered by Thedosians belong to the military. Due to Qunari belief that only males can be professional warriors, members of the antaam are always male, or more exactly always regarded as male. A female who has both the talent and dedication to fight can join the Antaam as part of a military classification known as the Aqun-Athlok where they are for all intents and purposes treated as if they were male despite being born otherwise.Dialogue with Iron Bull.
All Qunari are given a tool which signifies their role in Qunari society. For soldiers, this tool is always a weapon of some kind. Soldiers who lose this tool are branded as soulless and one who is to be executed on sight by the Antaam. These items are held in high regard, and upon the owner's death the Qunari may take the item to honor the fallen individual.As seen in The Lost Swords.
== Involvement ==
== Duties ==
The purpose of the Antaam is to gather military intelligence for the Qunari, seek and destroy the enemies of Qunari society, conquer any who becomes a menace to the Qun, and protect or recover its votaries, revered artifacts, and technology.
The Antaam is also meant to act as the go-between for the Qunari mind (i.e., the Qunari workers), the Qunari soul (i.e., the Qunari priests), and the world. Thus, the Antaam is not only the agents of the Qunari, but also their spokesperson.Codex entry: The Qunari
The beresaad serves as the vanguard of the Antaam, branching beyond Qunari lands to find answers to the Arishok's questions. They also task their youngest soldiers with protecting the port of Seheron. It is a relatively easy task, mostly requiring a tolerance for boredom and the ability to pay close attention even after hours of inactivity. There are occasional threats to the city's security—assassins, spies, and infiltrators—and the young beresaad stationed there, most of them under eighteen years old, are the city's first line of defense.
Taarbas is another rank in the Antaam. Those with this position are tasked with finding and gathering the weapons of fallen Qunari.
The Arvaarad is an individual that, according to the Qun, holds back evil. Since one of the greatest values for a Qunari is mastery of the self, there is little trust for those who are most likely to be deceived from knowing who they are, like Saarebas. As such, the role of the Arvaarad is to hunt Tal-Vashoth or bas who have not yet been enlightened, and also to hold the leash of the Saarebas in their care. The latter task, however, takes precedent over any other that may come to an Arvaarad. An Arvaarad is the Qunari equivalent of a templar; one who takes care of (or imprisons, depending on where in Thedas the organisation is) mages.
If a Saarebas has been outside their Karataam, a group of several mages held together on the same leash, then they are considered at risk for certain corruption, if not already corrupted. When this occurs, the mage, and all who have come in contact with it, are to be killed.
== Ranks ==
* Arishok – supreme commander of the Antaam
* Kathaban – leader of the Qunari naval forces; the admiral
* Kithshok – leaders of the Qunari army of Seheron; a general; they also are in charge of negotiating trade between the Qunari and foreign traders at ports
* Karasten – infantry commanderCodex entry: Karasten's Belt
* Arvaarad – "one who holds back evil";Codex entry: The Qunari - Saarebas a Qunari who watches over the saarebas (Qunari mages) and hunts Tal-Vashoth
* Sten – infantry platoon commander; Page since deleted. a vanguardAs explained by Sten during the first conversation with him Youtube
* Bas-taar – "keeper of bas"; leader of the work camp for bas prisoners
* The Huntmaster – tracks down bas prisoners who try to escape
* Karasaad – soldier rank; a melee Qunari warriorShepherding Wolves
* Karashok – infantry privateDuring Shepherding Wolves in Dragon Age II; one appears in Sten's dream, the latter states the former was decapitated by darkspawn
* Katari – "one who brings death"
* Ashaad – a Qunari scout; Ash, "to seek" and Aad "unit"One of them with a sense of humor appears in Sten's dream.
* Taarbas – apparent role is to retrieve the weapons of fallen Qunari
* Saarebas – a "dangerous thing"; the Qunari word and title for mages
== Notable members ==
* Arishok
* Arvaarad
* Katari (formerly)
* Ketojan
* Saarebas
* Sten
== Codex entries ==
:
== See also ==
:
:
== Gallery ==
Qunari Defender.png|A Qunari 'Defender'
Qunari Spearman.png|A Qunari 'Spearman'
Qunari Shock Trooper.png|Qunari 'Shock Trooper'
Qunari 'Spearman' Tarot Design.png|Tarot Card of a Qunari warrior of the Antaam
Qunari Shock Trooper HoDA.png| A Qunari 'Shock Trooper' in Heroes of Dragon Age
AshaadHoDA.png|An Ashaad in Heroes of Dragon Age
KarashokHoDA.png|A Karashok from Heroes of Dragon Age
StenHODA.png| Tier progression for a Sten from Heroes of Dragon Age
== References ==
Category:Groups
Category:Antaam
Category:Qunari lore