Lyrium

Lyrium is a valuable but dangerous mineral that forms beneath the surface of Thedas.
According to Bianca Davri, the mineral is extremely volatile and sometimes explodes for no apparent reason. Physical contact with raw lyrium ore will cause serious injury and psychological damage for humans, elves, and Qunari, and any contact with the unrefined substance will kill a mage outright.
The Mining caste of the dwarves is the only group capable of safely mining and processing lyrium into a less dangerous and more useful form. How they achieve this is a tightly guarded secret.Mentioned by Solas in conversation with Varric Tethras. Further information unveiled by Varric in the Deep Roads in Trespasser DLC. In its natural state, lyrium is described as a metal. When properly refined, lyrium becomes a smooth, slightly iridescent, silvery liquid.Codex entry: Lyrium
Generations of proximity to lyrium ore veins have made dwarves naturally resistant, though not completely immune, to its effects. Even their resistance is only skin deep, as direct exposure of raw lyrium to open cuts, inhalation, or contact through the eyes or mouth leaves them vulnerable to side effects. The side effects are usually non-lethal so long as the amount of lyrium and frequency of invasive exposure is minimal. Surface dwarves lose this resistance over time.According to Garin's dialogue in Dragon Age: Origins
== Nature ==
Lyrium exists both in the mortal world and in the FadeDragon Age: Last Flight, Chapter 1 and somehow bridges the gap between them. It grows even in the Raw Fade unclaimed by spirits where it is always night. Lyrium consumption strengthens a mage's relation to the Fade, thereby boosting mana.Dragon Age II: The Complete Official Guide, "Extras", p. 252 The Chantry believes lyrium to be the emerald waters of the Fade, the very substance of creation itself, from whence the Maker fashioned the world. Dagna's research indicates that lyrium and the Fade "are linked".Conversation with Dagna after completing The Arcanist and the Fade operation.
"Isana" is the dwarven word for lyrium. They are taught that it is a gift from the Stone.According to Shaper Valta during The Descent DLC.
Some scholars believe that lyrium is alive.
== The Song ==
Raw lyrium emits a strangely soothing sound that some call the voice of the Maker.
Dwarven miners are able to find lyrium veins by earCodex entry: Lyrium (Origins)Codex entry: Journal of Tog as they claim that they hear the Stone sing.Codex entry: The Crosscut Drifters
== Mining ==
Dwarves from the mining caste traditionally mine raw lyrium and process it as they are the only ones who know how to safely mine the mineral.
== Uses ==
=== Enchantment ===
Processed lyrium is used by dwarves and the Tranquil to enchant items.
The dwarves of Orzammar give the greater portion of lyrium that they mine to their own smiths, who use it in the forging of all truly superior dwarven weapons and armor. Dwarven smiths mix lyrium with steel to produce indestructible armor and blades that hold an edge for centuries.
Trace amounts of lyrium can be infused in stones to create glowstones, which are used to light passages. This practice is most common in Orlais.Dragon Age: Asunder
The Anvil of the Void allowed Caridin to turn living dwarves into golems of steel and stone with the use of lyrium. The process involved dressing the volunteer in armor the size of the golem, then pouring molten lyrium through the eye holes, mouth hole, and joints of the armor. A magical, not mechanical, process animated the golems.Codex entry: Caridin's JournalDragon Age: Origins: Prima Official Game Guide
The smiths of Amgarrak, with the aid of a Tevinter mage, created strange contraptions known as lyrium wells, capable of shifting objects and people through different levels of the Fade and creating runic golems. However, this was used against them when one of their experiments created a monstrosity capable of manipulating the Wells. After realizing what their creation was capable of, the smiths were forced to seal the thaig to make sure that it wouldn't be able to escape.
With the proper expertize, one can infuse lyrium within one's skin which looks like markings. The agonising process makes the victims more biddable, with the potential side effect of lost memories.According to Fenris. Touching the markings may be physically painful. In Fenris' case these "lyrium tattoos" greatly enhance his combat skills, making him hard to track, giving him magic resistance, and generating bursts of damaging spirit energy. They even grant him the ability to phase through solid objects, an act that taps into the Fade.
==== Runes ====
Dwarven Shapers craft lyrium runes that contain the actual thoughts of the ones who made them. These runes comprise the Memories, the archives of Orzammar.Codex entry: Dwarven Runecraft
=== Ingestion ===
When mixed into liquid and ingested, lyrium allows mages to enter the Fade when fully aware, unlike all others who reach it only when dreaming. This unique property is essential for the Circle of Magi's Harrowing ritual.
Such potions can also be used to aid in the casting of especially taxing spells, for a short time granting a mage far greater power than the mage normally wields.
While mages use lyrium in their arcane spells and rituals, templars ingest the primordial mineral to enhance their abilities to resist and dispel magic.Codex entry: Templars It is also said that the substance gives them boldness and empowerment.Short Story: Paper & Steel
=== Rituals ===
Mages can also be branded with lyrium to become Tranquils, severing their connection to the Fade.
=== Engineering ===
Lyrium Sand is used to create Dworkin Glavonak's explosives: grenades that are said to match those used by the Qunari. 
Dwarves use lyrium blast charges to open up passages, or seal them. Dwarves used them at one point to open up some of the old tunnels under Minrathous.Dragon Age: Tevinter Nights, The Horror of Hormak They are also used by the Legion of the Dead to collapse a tunnel during The Descent.
== Exposure and adverse effects ==
Even though dwarves have a natural resistance, raw lyrium is dangerous for all but the most experienced of the mining caste to handle. Even for dwarves, exposure to the unprocessed mineral can cause deafness or memory loss. For humans and elves, direct contact with lyrium ore produces nausea, blistering of the skin, and dementia. Mages cannot even approach unprocessed lyrium. Doing so is invariably fatal. Children born from those exposed to lyrium may be adversely affected.Codex entry: The Rascal's Scale, by Coinheart
In its processed form, lyrium may be handled by anyone, but long term exposure or a single mistake while working with it can lead to serious side effects.
=== Addiction ===
Ingesting Lyrium is addictive. Since Templars are given lyrium to "develop their talents", this serves as incentive to keep them loyal to the Chantry, which controls the lyrium trade.
However Alistair seems to doubt whether it actually has any real effect and Cassandra is apparently capable of using talents similar to the Templars through the Seekers of Truth powers, although her powers originate from a different source.
==== Long-term use ====
Prolonged use by Templars becomes addictive, the cravings unbearable. Over time, they grow disoriented, incapable of distinguishing memory from present, or dream from waking. They frequently become paranoid as their worst memories and nightmares haunt their waking hours. Other known side effects than paranoia include obsession, and dementia.
Cullen Rutherford states that templars also lose their memories due to prolonged imbibing of lyrium. It starts small at first − a misplaced item or words to a song − but more fades away over time.
==== Withdrawal ====
Symptoms of lyrium hunger pangs include fatigue,Cullen Rutherford says he is less exhausted when taking lyrium regularly and that the months when he was abstaining from imbibing lyrium was "draining"—as shown in Perseverance possibly the occasional headaches,Codex entry: At What Cost forgetfulness, an unquenchable thirst, and cold hands.Codex entry: Confessions of a Lyrium Addict Withdrawal can also cause confusion, excessive weepiness, strange dreams, and possibly even hallucinations.Seen in Irminric Eremon and described by Alistair during Rescue the Queen
=== Mages ===
Mages are the most affected by exposure to lyrium, as even close proximity to the substance in its raw form is invariably fatal to them. Additionally, they have been known to suffer physical mutation from long-term use.
According to Vivienne, anything that increases the capacity of a mage's magic (such as lyrium potions) creates a damaging effect on the body. For mages, this is known as mana imbalance. Some adverse effects of mana imbalance may include conscious dreaming in the Fade (such as those experienced during the Harrowing), periods of dizziness, and hearing voices. Unlike templars, mages are able to recuperate from the adverse effects.
Justice's unique ability to equip the lyrium ring implies that spirits are resistant to lyrium's toxic effects.
== Red lyrium ==
Red lyrium is a rare, more potent and more addictive form of lyrium which contains taint.
== Codex entries ==
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== Notes ==
* Deep mushrooms often grow near lyrium veins.Based on the Deep Mushroom (Origins) description.
* Beneath the Frostback Mountains there are rich deposits of lyrium veins which have been mined by the dwarves of Orzammar for many millennia.
* Healing magics known to the Dalish can be used to alleviate the effects of lyrium withdrawal.As mentioned during Restore Order in Wycome operation.
== Trivia ==
* Effects of lyrium addiction were intended to be implemented in Dragon Age: Origins for mage and templar companions and the use of lyrium potions would have diminishing returns. However, this was ultimately dropped because most characters would need to drink lyrium potions to remain effective, guaranteeing addiction, and the developers couldn't find a way to implement addictions in a way that was neither meaningless nor excessively punishing.
* In Dragon Age: Inquisition, Cullen goes through lyrium withdrawal. When his symptoms were at their worst, he was given lots of pickled eggs by those around him, as in Ferelden pickled eggs are a very common folk remedy provided for almost any ailment.Dragon Age: The Official Cookbook: Tastes of Thedas, p. 35
* The ashes of the prophet Andraste have the miraculous powers of healing, but Oghren believes the lyrium veins in the temple's wall are richer and purer than anything he has sensed in a while, and that it is changing the building and everything in it.Upon reaching the Urn of Andraste, if Oghren and Leliana are in the party. However, according to Chantry legends, Havard experienced the healing effects of the ashes before they were taken to the temple.Codex Entry: Havard's Aegis
* Red lyrium is described as being an anti-magic substance, an opposite force to regular lyrium.
* The glowing slime is an animal living underground which leeches lyrium from the walls allowing it to develop a substance which disorients its prey as well as giving this animal a distinctive blue-green color.
== See also ==
* Lyrium Dust
* Lyrium Sand
== Gallery ==
Lyrium veins.jpg|Lyrium veins concept art
File:Red lyrium veins.jpg|Red lyrium veins concept art
Lyrium vein.png|Raw lyrium in Dragon Age: Origins
Red lyrium veins dragon age 2.png|Red lyrium veins in the Primeval Thaig
Lyrium Storage Chest.png|A Lyrium Storage Chest
Red Lyrium Storage Chest ver. 2.png|Red lyrium's inexorable growth destroying a storage chest
== References ==
Category:Objects
Category:Dragon Age: Origins objects
Category:Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening objects
Category:The Golems of Amgarrak objects
Category:Dragon Age II objects
Category:Dragon Age: Inquisition objects
Category:Magical objects
Category:Lyrium
Category:Dwarven lore
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