The Warden

The Warden, later known as the Hero of Ferelden, is the player-controlled protagonist of Dragon Age: Origins. 
This character will start with one of six origin stories the player can choose from when creating the character. These origins each correspond to the six combinations of race and class permitted by the game. After going through one of these origin stories, the protagonist will join the Grey Wardens at Ostagar to fight the Fifth Blight. If the Warden survives the events of Dragon Age: Origins, at the start of Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening they will be promoted to Warden-Commander and is made Arl of the Arling of Amaranthine.
== Involvement ==
=== Dragon Age: Origins ===
As the Origin story is played out, the protagonist is recruited by Duncan, the current Warden-Commander of Ferelden's, to aid King Cailan Theirin and his troops against an incoming army of darkspawn at Ostagar. This is where the main plot of Dragon Age: Origins begins. The Warden's primary mission is to gather an army and defeat the Fifth Blight; however, political tensions, disruptions and numerous other distractions (and inspirations) are bound to cross our hero's path.
The actions and words of the Warden are always chosen by the player, and have a wide range of outcomes (both for the story's end and for the fates of the Warden's allies, enemies and rivals). Unlike many other RPGs, the cumulative result of these choices is not tracked by a single meter or bar; rather, each companion has a meter reflecting that individual's reactions to the Warden's decisions.
==== Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening ====
==== The Golems of Amgarrak ====
==== Witch Hunt ====
=== Dragon Age II ===
=== Dragon Age: Inquisition ===
==== Trespasser ====
== Quests ==
=== Dragon Age: Origins ===
: Origin stories
=== Dragon Age: Inquisition ===
: (war table)
== Character creation ==
Character Creation 1.jpg|Origin selection
Character Creation 2.jpg|Facial construction
Character Creation 3.jpg|Attributes allocation
Character Creation 4.jpg|Skills allocation
Character Creation 5.jpg|Abilities allocation
The player begins by selecting a gender, race (human, elf or dwarf), and class (warrior, rogue or mage); the mage class is unavailable to dwarves. The next step is to select the character's background; depending on the chosen race/class combination, only one or two of the six backgrounds will be available. These are Human Noble for human warriors and rogues, Dalish Elf or City Elf for elven warriors and rogues, and Dwarf Commoner or Dwarf Noble for all dwarves; elven and human mages invariably share the same origin. 
Then comes the option to customize name, physical features (only above the shoulders) and portrait, and choose a voice set. Attributes and skills are selected next. If playing as a warrior or rogue, talents are selected; mages select spells instead. Finally, the player selects his or her preferred difficulty level and the story begins.
=== First name ===
The first name is determined by the player but a preset name for the quickstart is offered according to the origin and gender (with a limitation of 10 characters in length). 
Male
* Human Noble: Aedan
* Human Mage: Daylen
* Elf Mage: Alim
* City Elf: Darrian
* Dalish Elf: Theron
* Dwarf Noble: Duran
* Dwarf Commoner: Faren
Female 
* Human Noble: Elissa
* Human Mage: Solona
* Elf Mage: Neria
* City Elf: Kallian
* Dalish Elf: Lyna
* Dwarf Noble: Sereda
* Dwarf Commoner: Natia
=== Last name ===
While the player can select the first name of the character freely, each origin imposes a fixed surname:
* Human Noble: Cousland
* Human Mage: Amell
* Elf Mage: Surana
* City Elf: Tabris
* Dalish Elf: Mahariel
* Dwarf Noble: Aeducan
* Dwarf Commoner: Brosca
=== Starting abilities ===
Each character has automatically 'spent' two skill points and one spell or talent point. During character creation the player spends one more skill point and two more spell/talent points. The automatic levels depend on class and origin. On the Xbox 360, the Warden gets one additional rank in Combat Training.
:
Class 	Origin 	Starting Skills	Starting Skills 	Starting Talent/Spell
Warrior	Dalish Elf 	Combat Training	Survival 	Pinning Shot
Warrior	City Elf 	Combat Training	Coercion 	Dual-Weapon Sweep
Warrior	Dwarf Commoner	Combat Training	Stealing 	Dual-Weapon Sweep
Warrior	Dwarf Noble 	Combat Training	ImprovedCombat Training	Shield Bash
Warrior	Human Noble 	Combat Training	ImprovedCombat Training	Shield Bash
Rogue 	Dalish Elf 	Poison-Making 	Survival 	Dirty Fighting
Rogue 	City Elf 	Poison-Making 	Coercion 	Dirty Fighting
Rogue 	Dwarf Commoner	Poison-Making 	Stealing 	Dirty Fighting
Rogue 	Dwarf Noble 	Poison-Making 	Combat Training 	Dirty Fighting
Rogue 	Human Noble 	Poison-Making 	Combat Training 	Dirty Fighting
Mage 	Magi 	Herbalism 	Combat Tactics 	Arcane Bolt
== Level ==
As is typical for role-playing games, a character's level indicates the progress of the character's career and personal power. When the character "levels up", certain things are automatically increased (health and stamina/mana), while other things (talents and attributes) must be manually increased, unless Autolevel is activated. There is a "hard" level cap of 25 in Origins. Since enemies do not re-spawn, there is only enough content in the game (including DLC) to complete it between levels 17 and 24 (depending on how many side quests and codex entries are completed). A well-used rogue can gain the party significant experience over the course of their adventures by picking locks and disarming traps. In any case, level 25 can be reached by donating profusely to the Allied Supply Crates in the Camp.
In Awakening, the level cap is raised to 35; this increase also affects The Golems of Amgarrak and Witch Hunt DLC.
== Titles ==
=== Granted titles ===
* Grey Warden
* Champion of Redcliffe
* Hero of Ferelden
== Alternative Endings for other Origins ==
== Equipment ==
Player characters have the following equipment slots:
:
Main Hand WeaponHelmetGlovesArmorBoots	QuiverOff-hand Weapon / ShieldBeltAmulet2x Ring	
* For special occasions, the Warden carries the Murder Knife (this is seen only during cut-scenes involving the more ruthless strain of Warden, and has no inventory presence).
* Additionally, there is a toggle to switch between two weapon sets.
* With the exceptions of Dog and Shale, the companions have the same equipment slots.	
* For special occasions, the Warden carries the Murder Knife (this is seen only during cut-scenes involving the more ruthless strain of Warden, and has no inventory presence).
* Additionally, there is a toggle to switch between two weapon sets.
* With the exceptions of Dog and Shale, the companions have the same equipment slots.	
* For special occasions, the Warden carries the Murder Knife (this is seen only during cut-scenes involving the more ruthless strain of Warden, and has no inventory presence).
* Additionally, there is a toggle to switch between two weapon sets.
* With the exceptions of Dog and Shale, the companions have the same equipment slots.
=== Warden-restricted items ===
==== Dragon Age: Origins ====
:
:
==== Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening ====
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
== Quotes ==
* Morrigan: "Tis cold in my tent, all alone..."
* Warden: "Then get a thicker blanket."
* Sten: "Interesting strategy. Tell me: Do you intend to keep going north until it becomes south, and attack the archdemon from the rear?"
* Warden: "It'll never see this coming."
* Warden: "They will bow before my might."
* Guard: "Eh, then it's good to have you sir."
* Colbert: "Looking for some company, honey-pie? I'm always available for riveting conversations with fine women."
* Warden: "I'll rivet you to the floor if you call me that again."
== Codex entries ==
:
:
:
: 
:
== Trivia ==
* According to the series' writers and developers, the difficulty involved in bringing the Warden physically into future Dragon Age games includes giving a voice to a voiceless character as well as the sense that the Hero of Ferelden is in fact "too important" to the series for justice to be done to them at present.PC Gamer magazine, June 2015.
* A male Dwarf Noble Warden is the only Warden that can have a second child. He can have a son with Mardy, a Noble hunter.
* According to certain Circle apprentices in Witch Hunt, the Warden once bedded a lady pirate and three greased nugs. Whether this is true or not depends entirely on player actions.
* Hawke is related to the human Warden (actual or 'potential') from the Magi Origin through their mothers, who are both from the Amell family. This Warden's mother's name is Revka, according to Leandra in Dragon Age II, and she and Revka are cousins, making Hawke and the (possible) Warden second-cousins.- Lead Writer David Gaider forum post
* The nobles (human and dwarf) are the only Wardens to have their surnames (or indeed, any name) spoken by Origins NPCs; the rest are addressed at the most (as "Grey Warden", "Warden" and/or "my Lord/Lady"). However a Dalish Warden imported into Dragon Age II will be referred to by Merrill and her clan as "Mahariel".
* Dialogue in Dragon Age II implies that the Human Mage Warden has at least one sibling, as Leandra says that they are only "one of [her] cousin Revka's children." In Dragon Age: The World of Thedas Volume 2 it is explicitly noted that Revka had five children. The Amell Family codex entry from Dragon Age II further notes that all of Revka's children were mages and were taken by the Circle eventually.
* The default Warden of Dragon Age Keep is a female Dalish elf warrior who made the ultimate sacrifice.David Gaider Forum Post, Bioware Social Network 
* According to Mary Kirby, no matter the Warden's race, class, or gender, Sten views him or her as a fluke like "some sort of ambulatory pair of pants or talking horse," since a competent and honorable person outside of the Qun appears impossible to him.Bioware Social Network. Female Qunari Fighters.
* The elven Wardens are the only Wardens that do not have siblings, excluding the Magi Origin elf, as there is no evidence either way. The Elf Mage is also the only origin who is completely lacking in familial information.
* When importing the Warden into Witch Hunt, the world map will note that Miriam and the village council have returned to the area and dedicated a shrine outside of the Chantry to the Hero of Ferelden and those lost during the Fifth Blight.
* The City Elf Warden's fiance's (either Nesiara or Nelaros) family is respected in Highever, even among some humans.
== See also ==
* Tattoo
* The Sacred Heart
== Gallery ==
Warden 1 (Calling trailer).png|The Warden pictured in the Calling trailer.
Default Player CGI.jpg|The Warden seen in the Sacred Ashes trailer.
Warden 2 (Calling trailer).png|Backview of the Warden during the Calling trailer.
Grey Warden HODA.png|The Warden's story begins in Heroes of Dragon Age
== References ==
Category:Characters
Category:Playable characters
Category:Dragon Age: Origins characters
Category:Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening characters
Category:The Golems of Amgarrak characters
Category:Witch Hunt characters
Category:Humans
Category:Elves
Category:Dwarves
Category:Fereldans
Category:Free Marchers
Category:Warriors
Category:Rogues
Category:Magi
Category:Royalty
Category:Dalish
Category:Noble caste
Category:Warrior caste
Category:Fereldan nobility
Category:Free Marcher nobility
Category:City elves
Category:Circle of Magi members
Category:Sabrae clan
Category:Casteless dwarves
Category:Grey Wardens
Category:Paragons
Category:Carta members
Category:Keepers
Category:Reavers
Category:Duelists
Category:Spirit healers
Category:Blood mages
Category:Assassins
Category:Berserkers
Category:Bards
Category:Shadows
Category:Templars
Category:Champions
es:El Guarda
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ru:Серый Страж
pl:Strażnik
uk:Сірий Вартовий
it:Il Custode