Over the years, the Dragon Age series has created many memorable characters. While party members such as Varric and Morrigan get more attention, the series has given players many memorable NPCs. One of the best examples of these characters is Duncan, the leader of the Grey Wardens from Dragon Age Origins.
Despite his relatively short role in the story, he establishes himself as a compelling character. Furthermore, his backstory and effect on the story further highlight BioWare’s ability to give dimension to any character in their writers’ hands. Here is a breakdown of everything about Duncan from the Dragon Age series.
Duncan’s Character
Duncan is mostly known as the leader of the Ferelden branch of the Grey Wardens. Within the world of Dragon Age, the Grey Wardens are the fierce order of warriors that protect the land from the subterranean Darkspawn menace. With a natural immunity to their infection and senses alerting them, they are among the most respected fighters in Thedas.
As a commanding officer, Duncan demonstrates stoicism, level-mindedness, and deep experience. At the same time, he is also shown as a father figure, especially towards protege and deuteragonist Alistair. Given his ability to recruit warriors from across the kingdom of Ferelden, he is also a skilled negotiator.
While he never directly fights in-game, he is classified as a rogue from the game’s files. Finally, Duncan was voiced by the late Peter Renaday. He was famous for voicing Master Splinter in the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Al Mualim in Assassin’s Creed. Overall, Duncan cements himself as a wise mentor through his actions and presentation.
His Backstory
Spoilers for Dragon Age: The Calling
While Duncan plays a sizeable role through Dragon Age: Origins, he plays a substantially larger role in the tie-in novel, The Calling, written by the game’s lead writer, David Gaider. Given the scale of the fantasy universe BioWare created, they have penned nearly a dozen novels to expand upon the lore.
Originally, he was a street urchin in the Orlesian capital of Val Royeaux. However, after unwittingly killing a Grey Warden while attempting to rob him, the latter’s betrothed, Genevieve, makes him atone by serving among them. Eventually, he joins on a quest to save Genevieve’s brother, Bregan, from the Deep Roads.
He learns that Bregan betrayed the Wardens for The Architect from the DLC Awakening, who also had the high mage Remille on his side. Only through his skill as a thief, training as a Warden, and diplomacy could he uncover the conspiracy early and thwart all of them. Soon after, he would rise to the status of leader of the Wardens in Ferelden.
His Role in Dragon Age: Origins
As the leader of his branch of the Grey Wardens, Duncan naturally recruits new members to the order. Regardless of which of the six origins the player chooses, at the end of each, Duncan approaches the player and offers them a role within the order. He also proves himself to be a valuable ally in each origin story.
At the beginning of the game, he guides the players through their training to become Grey Wardens and oversees their initiation. At the same time, he, King Cailan, and the nobleman Teryn Loghain is preparing for a huge battle to curb the invading Darkspawn. At the mighty fortress of Ostagar, they have gathered not only the Grey Wardens but an entire army.
Tragically, though, his role within the series is cut short early on. During the battle against the Darkspawn in the game’s opening act, Teryn Loghain pulls a surprise retreat and leaves his king’s army for dead in battle as part of his coup. In his dying moments, Duncan effortlessly takes down an Orge while trying to defend his king before the two are overwhelmed.
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