Considered one of the more interesting characters from Dragon Age: Inquisition, The Iron Bull is one of those companions that gives the player a fairly in-depth look into their history -and surrounding culture- alongside a companion whose personality you want to get to know. “The Fun One,” is a phrase that often accompanies any fan’s description of the Ben-Hassrath turned Mercenary, and given his antics throughout the Inquisition, it’s not hard to see why. With what little Bioware has offered about the Qunari, through all its Dragon Age games, having someone like Bull in your party gives players a distinct impression of what they are all about -while also giving them an outlet for lots of shenanigans.
Culture
Where they once were a mystery, founded in rumor and regarded as only this looming threat from the most northern parts of Thedas, the Qunari (and their people) have a perfect avenue to expose their truths through Iron Bull. During the entirety of Dragon Age: Inquisition, players learn (a great deal) about how their society functions, their belief systems, and their thoughts on the rest of the Thedas, from Bull’s testimony and stories. Both true and anecdotal from a member of the Qun who’s lived and breathed his culture from the beginning.
Qunari society; by most accounts; is tyrannical, in nature, but offers up a different structure: in comparison to what players (and the lands of Thedas) would deem freedom to be. Under the Qun, the religious belief system that rules the Qunari, individualism doesn’t exist, and any deviation from their assigned role is corrected with severe punishments. Citizens don’t have names under the Qun and are only referred to by their role. Because of this, it is apparent to players from their first conversation with The Iron Bull that he is an outlier in his own right -simply for not referring to himself as Ben-Hassrath.
Personality
Arguably one of the most favorite companions in Dragon Age: Inquisition, The Iron Bull’s personality brings to the forefront both an interesting worldview and a lease on life that inherently focuses on the joy existence can offer. Genuine and empathetic, with a penchant for choosing right over wrong no matter how people will condemn him, Bull’s greatest quality is that his imposing visage is merely a façade. His heart is just as big as he is.
This is no better reflected in the game, than how the Inquisitor’s interactions with him affect their relationship and the world around them. The quickest way to find favor with the hulking Qunari is to look out for the little guy. Do right by the poor, oppressed, and downtrodden, and offer them aid whenever the player can, and the relationship will grow in leaps and bounds rather quickly. Be cruel, apathetic, or downright dismissive of them; or praise the elite, nobles of Thedas like they can do no wrong; in any way, and Iron Bull’s approval rating will tank faster than the player could realize.
Romance
Falling for the Iron Bull, on any number of levels, offers up a relationship like very few others. Given his carefree ideas about physical and friendly relationships, his canon bisexuality, and his willingness to be flexible for the comfort of his partners and friends, a relationship with Bull is a prime example of living a life without suffering from the taboos around sex and relationships that the real world often demands. A proponent for both sexual and emotional freedom, Iron Bull does not force any expectations on the relationship and sincerely believes that happiness is better than adhering to what people should do.
Iron Bull’s sentiments on the physicality of romantic relationships are not just exclusive to his relationship with the Inquisitor. Throughout Dragon Age: Inquisition, players are afforded several more anecdotal mentions of his previous and current escapades since joining up. From barmaids to even Dorian Pavus (happens only if the player doesn’t romance either) the Inquisitor learns that Bull is just one of the good ones -who finds the fun in life wherever he can, while always being attentive to those who have his attention and his heart.
Trespasser DLC
When it comes to Iron Bull, and his relationship with the Inquisitor (and their organization,) the outcomes become varied during the Trespasser DLC. Depending on the player’s choices throughout the base game, Bull’s decisions and prospects for the future, run to the extremes of both hopeful and (possibly) tragic. Making his romance and friendship, or lack thereof, quintessential to his survivability post the DLC’s dramatic and revelation-filled climax.
Should the Inquisitor romance Bull, and not allow his team of mercenaries to be sacrificed during his companion quest line; or not romance him but still keep both the Chargers alive and reputation high; Bull will side with the Inquisition when confronted by the Qunari and not be swayed by his former life. Should the player neglect those prerequisites, allow Bull to remain an agent of the Qun, or garner a rivalry instead, Iron Bull will willingly betray the Inquisitor in the end -leading to his immediate death by the player’s own hands.
Conversely, should the player defer to another romance option aside from Bull and Dorian, and trigger their off-camera relationship; mentioned only in passing dialogue during the adventure; a third outcome becomes possible. If the player triggers this relationship dynamic, they will receive an end-game title card: explaining that Bull and Dorian continue their relationship after the DLC ends. Wherein Dorian still returns to Tevinter and becomes a Magister, and Bull continues the good fight against slavers and the Venatori; all while remaining committed to each other and always within reach should the other need them.
Veilguard
Unfortunately, there have been no new updates about the Iron Bull in the run-up to Dragon Age: the Veilguard‘s release. While many fans find this fact disappointing, it’s never been more felt for those whose world-states included the romance between Dorian and Bull. Given that Dorian has been set up to be a major secondary character in the new game and considering that Tevinter will be the epicenter of the narrative’s jump point, the potential is that Bull’s storyline will continue. However, to what end is anyone’s guess as the little information we have about how the Inquisitor’s romance will affect the game is also slim to none.
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