Mabari

Mabari war hounds are a breed of intelligent dogs said to have been bred by mages.Dialogue of the Kennel Master from Dragon Age: Origins Other tales state they were specifically created by magisters in the Tevinter Imperium. The magisters are alleged to have used the mabari to help subdue the barbarian tribes of Ferelden centuries ago, but the dogs defected to the barbarians.Dialogue of Fenris with Dog in Dragon Age II Fereldan legend holds the mabari were bred from the wolves who served the legendary hero Dane.Codex entry: Mabari War Hound Whatever their origins, the Alamarri and their Fereldan descendants popularized the mabari as war hounds, status symbols, and lifelong companions.
== Background ==
Mabari are a large, well muscled, breed of dog typically seen with a short coat in colors ranging from tan, brown, and black, with some having white spots on their body, muzzle, or chest. They are highly intelligent, able to understand what they are told as well as remember and carry out complex orders. Despite being fierce combatants, mabari are highly sociable animals. They can clearly respond to speech via growls, whines, barks, or physical gestures that demonstrate intelligent comprehension.
Each mabari chooses their master for life in a process called imprinting. A mabari may be able to re-imprint after losing their master but it is typically a very difficult process. Thus to be the master of a mabari anywhere in Ferelden is to be recognized instantly as a person of worth.
The mabari are an essential part of Fereldan military strategy. Trained hounds can easily pull knights from horseback or break lines of pikemen, and the sight and sound of a wave of war dogs, howling and snarling, has been known to cause panic among even the most hardened infantry soldiers. Mabari use scent to distinguish allies from enemies, but in the frenzy of battle they can become confused. Thus hound masters will paint themselves and their mabari with a special paint called kaddis to allow them to distinguish friend from foe.Dialogue of the Ash Warrior Leader from Dragon Age: Origins Mabari have also been able to use their instincts to detect danger from inconspicuous forces. For example, they've been known to detect werewolves even in human guiseCodex entry: Werewolf and demon-possessed undead.Dog will notify The Warden of Sophia Dryden's possession during Soldier's Peak (quest).
Mabari are large mastiff-like dogs with some wolf blood mixed in, said to stand as tall (and wide) as a dwarf. Their masters -or as is preferred by those paired with Mabari: partners- will often use distinct styles of warpaint to help better pick out their Mabari from a distance during combat. Many Fereldans who fight alongside Mabari will use a pungent body paint called “kaddis” so the dogs can easily mark them as allies.Dragon Age (tabletop RPG), Core Rulebook, p. 279
Most Mabari bond with only a single person in their lifetime, whom they will follow and fight until death takes them. There are numerous tales of Mabari who avenge their master's deaths before lying down to join their master in death. Dragon Age (tabletop RPG), Core Rulebook, p. 278Dragon Age (tabletop RPG), Game Master's Guide, set 1, p. 31
== Involvement ==
=== Dragon Age: Origins ===
The Warden may have a mabari dog join their party, either by virtue of being high-born, or by helping to care for a sick dog at Ostagar. After the battle, the dog will find the party on the road, slightly ahead of a horde of pursuing darkspawn.
The Warden can also learn about mabari war hounds from the Ash Warrior Leader at Ostagar and also learn how the Ash Warriors utilizes them.
Even if the dog is not accepted after Ostagar, if the Wardens decides to Return to Ostagar the Warden has another opportunity; the mabari will be revealed to have survived the darkspawn infestation and will be alive and willing to accompany the party.
=== Dragon Age II ===
Players who have The Black Emporium DLC will obtain a mabari war hound, named Dog in the default tradition of Dragon Age: Origins. This mabari can be summoned as a small fifth party member akin to a Ranger summoning animals.
=== Dragon Age: Inquisition ===
Hostile mabaris can be found throughout the Storm Coast. The Blades of Hessarian also use Hessarian Hounds in combat, and other groups use similar Armored Mabari.
A lone mabari named Betyar can be found in the Canyon of the Hissing Wastes, guarding the shop of its owner.
=== Trespasser ===
Cullen Rutherford finds a mabari in Halamshiral during the Exalted Council, keeping it as a pet.
== Notable mabari ==
:AdallaLoghain Mac Tir's mabari.
:AutumnDragon Age: Deception
:Barkspawn, a companion in Dragon Age Legends
:BetyarThe Hissing Wastes Canyon Merchant's mabari.
:BisouAs seen in Mark of the Assassin.
:ContessaCodex entry: Scout Harding
:Dog, a companion in Dragon Age: Origins
:The Fifth Companion, a summoned temporary companion in Dragon Age II
:General Toxon
:HafterDragon Age: The Calling 
:Nicodemus
:Silvain
== Locations ==
=== Dragon Age: Origins ===
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=== Dragon Age: Inquisition ===
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== Abilities & Skills ==
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:Perceptive - can detect party members in Stealth
== Notable loot ==
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== Variations ==
:Armored Mabari
:Hessarian hound
== Codex entries == 
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== Trivia ==
* Mabari are not bred in Orlais, making them a rare imported breed there.Dragon Age: Inquisition according to dialogue with Cullen at the Winter Palace in the Trespasser DLC.
* Mabari are noted to love bacon and cheese, much the same as other inhabitants of Ferelden.Dragon Age: The Official Cookbook: Tastes of Thedas, p. 41
* In Act 3 of Dragon Age II, Hawke's mabari catches a burglar and scares him into an armoire during the quest Beware of Dog.
* The Dalish tell their dogs to "take the Dread Wolf by the ear if he comes."Dragon Age II, according to dialogue with Merrill at the Hawke mansion with the Black Emporium DLC installed. As in human culture, dogs are seen as protectors against unwanted wild beasts.
* Mabari are available in The Sims 3: Pets Limited Edition for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
* In December, 2016, a "Reindeer Mabari" was given free to players in Heroes of Dragon Age in celebration of Christmas.
== See also ==
:Fauna and flora
== Gallery ==
Kaddis 2.jpg|Concept art of a mabari with kaddis
SimpleDogAndMabari.png|A simple dog compared to a mabari
ostagarmabari.png|Mabari were used on the front line at the Battle of Ostagar.
Mabari DA2.png|A Mabari in Dragon Age II
Mabari DAI.png|A Mabari in Dragon Age: Inquisition
Brown mabari - inquisition.png|Brown variety of Mabari in Dragon Age: Inquisition
Hessarian hound mabari.png|Armored Mabari, a Hessarian hound in Dragon Age: Inquisition
H kingferea 0.png|Mabari depicted on Theirin family's heraldry
Mabari (HoDA).png|A mabari in Heroes of Dragon Age
Sweet mabari.png|A plush toy of a mabari
Loyal Betyar HoDA.png|Artwork of Betyar with Kaddis in Heroes of Dragon Age
Inquisitor Mabari.png|Concept art of the Inquisitor with a mabari from The Art of Dragon Age: Inquisition
== References ==
Category:Creatures
Category:Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne creatures
Category:Dragon Age: The Calling creatures
Category:Dragon Age: Origins creatures
Category:Dragon Age (tabletop RPG) creatures
Category:Dragon Age II creatures
Category:Heroes of Dragon Age creatures
Category:Dragon Age: Inquisition creatures
Category:Human lore