Dragon Age: The Masked Empire

Dragon Age: The Masked Empire is a novel by BioWare writer Patrick Weekes. It was announced on March 29, 2013, and released on April 8, 2014 by Tor Books.Tor Books Announces New Dragon Age™ novel with BioWare Senior Writer Patrick Weekes The book describes how the Orlesian Civil War began.
A deluxe edition was released by Dark Horse Books on June 18, 2019, featuring new illustrations by Stefano Martino, Andres Ponce, German Ponce and Alvaro Sarraseca.
== Synopsis == 
== Plot == 
== Characters ==
* Briala – Elven Spymaster of the Empress.
* Celene Valmont I – Empress of Orlais.
* Felassan – An exiled Dalish Dreamer mage.
* Gaspard de Chalons – Grand Duke and cousin of the Empress.
* Imshael – An ancient demon, one of The Forbidden Ones.
* Leliana – Bard and the Left Hand of the Divine.
* Lemet – A City Elf.
* Lienne de Montsimmard – Daughter of the Marquis de Montsimmard and an apostate.
* Melcendre – A human Bard in the service of Grand Duke Gaspard.
* Ser Michel de Chevin – A Chevalier and Champion of the Empress.
* Mihris – First of Dalish clan Virnehn.
* Teagan Guerrin – The Fereldan Ambassador.
* Thelhen – Keeper of Dalish clan Virnehn.
* Thren – A City Elf.
== Locations ==
The novel features such Orlesian locations as the royal palace, the University of Orlais, the slums in Val Royeaux and the city of Halamshiral in the Dales. 
== Notes ==
* In the first chapter, Celene notes that several birds had elected to not "fly south for the winter."Dragon Age: The Masked Empire, pp. 15 However, lore suggests the known world of Thedas lies in the southern hemisphere, with warmer climates lying to the north, and the Sunless Lands covered in snow for most of the year to the south. As such, migratory birds avoiding winter should fly north, not south.
* In the third chapter, Gaspard proposes to Celene in an offer to rule Orlais together as husband and wife. Celene notes: "The fact that they were distantly related meant little, such a marriage would bring all of Orlais together."Dragon Age: The Masked Empire, pp. 63 In actuality, Celene and Gaspard are first cousins, and their uncle, Emperor Florian Valmont, was the subject of scandal for rumours of taking his own first cousin as a lover.Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne, pp. 145, 152
== Trivia ==
* Marjolaine (who is referred to as deceased), the late Queen Moira Theirin, her son, the late King Maric, his son, the late King Cailan, Loghain, Vivienne, Clarisse de Montfort, Lady Mantillon, Calienne de Ghislain and Prosper de Montfort are mentioned by other characters.
* The cover art for the book appears in various locations in Dragon Age: Inquisition, such as in Vivienne's room in Skyhold after its third tier of renovations is complete and at Celene's own Winter Palace.
== Gallery ==
The Masked Empire Deluxe.jpg|Cover art for the Deluxe Edition
TheMaskedEmpire-coverart.jpg|Preliminary cover art by Ramil Sunga
== References ==
 
Masked Empire
Category:Real world articles
ru:Dragon Age: Империя масок
it:Dragon Age: L'Impero delle Maschere