Architect



The Architect is a darkspawn emissary (or possibly a of the old Tevinter Magisters who became one of the first darkspawn) and the main antagonist of Dragon Age: The Calling. It reappears as an antagonist in Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening. The Architect is the first darkspawn to develop a will of its own–an unusual outcast who does not appear to be subject to the call of the Old Gods, nor to other darkspawn compulsions. Although he is highly intelligent, the Architect has little understanding of humanity.

Normally, the Architect shows a calm, polite personality. However, it is shown to be cold, decisive, and manipulative, carrying out its plans even if that means sacrificing its allies. It is largely ignorant of the ways of other races and is unable to understand most of their actions.

Background Edit
The Architect was apparently born vastly different from his darkspawn brethren. Unlike other darkspawn, it is able to think independently of the darkspawn group-mind, and, as such, is able to resist the calling of the Old Gods. Its goal is to bring peace between the darkspawn and the other races of Thedas at any cost. It hopes to find a middle ground between the darkspawn and the population of Thedas, and it believes that this middle ground is the Grey Wardens, as they are slowly transformed by the taint that they take in during their Joining. Using Bregan as well as First Enchanter Remille and his mages (who spread the taint through enchantments and magic exclusive to the darkspawn emissaries), the Architect hoped to make all of Thedas take in the taint, despite the fact that this would involve an extraordinary number of deaths of those who could not take the taint. Ultimately, this plan would change the survivors into darkspawn-like hybrids. Its compromise is that it will use the call of the Old Gods to locate and kill them before the darkspawn can find them and turn them into archdemons, thereby ending all future Blights. This is how it gains Bregan's and Genevieve's assistance in its plans. Because the Architect is independent of the Old Gods' call, its darkspawn brethren see it with fear, and therefore obey its commands - to some extent. Its control over other darkspawn is tenuous, as it is able to keep the other darkspawn from pursuing Genevieve and her group. However, if their blood lust comes to a point, it is unable to control them. After the events of The Calling, the Architect learned how to free other darkspawn from the group mind and give them independent wills and intelligence, by having them intake Grey Warden blood in a process he likens to the Joining. In his discussions about his goals with the Warden Commander in Awakening, he does not mention his previous plan to force other races to take in the taint, and appears to instead wish to give Warden blood to all the darkspawn in order to give them self-control and free them from the call of the Old Gods.==Involvement Edit==

Dragon Age: The Calling Edit
Added by ItachouThe Architect is first seen by Bregan after the darkspawn capture and take him to a prison cell in a section of the Deep Roads. It begins to explain the situation to Bregan, and attempts to persuade him away from of his suicidal path. However, Bregan soon attempts an escape, only to be captured shortly after.

The Architect is next seen after Bregan awakens back in his cell. It further explains that the taint is rapidly spreading through his body, and will eventually turn him into a darkspawn-like hybrid. It explains its plans to use the Grey Wardens in a way to bring lasting peace between the darkspawn and the other races of Thedas. It then leads Bregan through the Deep Roads and offers him a chance to escape. Bregan refuses and agrees to aid the Architect in its plans.

The Architect then accelerates the taint in Bregan's body so that when he next awakes, he is very similar to a hurlock. After awaking, Bregan finds the Architect in a small dwarven library. There, the Architect further explains its plans: to use the taint on all of Thedas and to kill the Old Gods before they can be turned into archdemons, thus ending all future Blights and creating a lasting peace between darkspawn and other races. It also states that it is aware of the large death toll this course will involve, though it simply adds that the sacrifices will be necessary.

The Architect is not seen again until it and Bregan come upon Genevieve as she is heading through the Deep Roads by herself. Bregan is able to persuade her to listen to the Architect, although he advises it to withhold many parts of the plan from her, such as the deaths of much of the population of Thedas. After Duncan, Maric, Kell, Utha, and Fiona are captured, he comes to try and persuade them as well to join its cause; only Utha complies. It then uses its magic to accelerate the taint in Utha and turn her into a darkspawn in mere moments. The others, however, refuse, and are left to themselves. They then escape to the surface. The Architect is last seen during the events at Kinloch Hold, after First Enchanter Remile has Duncan, Fiona, and Maric captive. It is revealed that The Architect conspired with Remile and his followers for their aid in spreading the taint through their enchantments and taught Remile darkspawn magic. In exchange, Remile can save certain important people in Orlais and may present Maric as a captive to the Emperor of Orlais. A struggle ensues after Genevieve learns more of the Architect's plan and its results, where she eventually turns on her brother and the Architect. The Architect then swiftly kills her with its magic. Bregan, enraged by this, turns on the Architect as well, cutting off its hand. Utha aids the Architect and protects him from Bregan. Remile eventually betrays the lot of them, conjuring a lightning spell in an attempt to kill them all, but Duncan and his group engage him before he succeeds. During Duncan's struggle with Remile, the Architect and Utha manage to escape before Loghain and his forces arrive. Their whereabouts are currently unknown.===Dragon Age: Awakening Edit===

In Awakening, the Warden-Commander first encounters the Architect in the Silverite Mine. He is accompanied by Utha from The Calling, and Velanna's sister, Seranni, from the Wending Wood. Upon entering the mine, the Architect puts the Warden and the party to sleep and imprisons them. When the Warden and the party next awake, they are stripped of their possessions and must escape. As the party is about to finally escape, the Architect flees the mine.

The second encounter with the Architect is near the end of the game. This time, he proposes to the Warden-Commander to work together for the greater purpose of preventing future Blights. Since The Calling, he has learned that the blood of a Grey Warden can disrupt the connection between the darkspawn and the Old Gods, and if all the darkspawn are exposed to the blood of a Grey Warden, they will be unable to begin a Blight.

If the Warden-Commander doesn't side with the Architect, they will have to kill him and Utha. He drops Robes of the Architect and Belt of the Architect upon defeat. If the Warden-Commander sides with the Architect, at the final battle, the Mother will reveal that the Architect's botched attempt at making Urthemiel into a Disciple led to the Fifth Blight.===Dragon Age II Edit=== The Architect is mentioned in passing by Nathaniel Howe when Hawke is tasked with retracing the route of his Deep Roads expedition in order to look for his party. The Wardens' sources promised that, thanks to the continued existence of the Architect, the Deep Roads would still be clear, allowing safe analysis of the thaig that Hawke's expedition found. However, upon arrival, the Warden's party is overwhelmed.

If the Warden Commander chose to ally with the Architect in Awakening, Anders warns Hawke not to agree to help Janeka's plan to try and control Corypheus as they are still unsure about the consequences of siding with the Architect. If the Warden Commander chose to kill the Architect in Awakening, Anders mentions this to Hawke as a point worth noting, stating that the Warden-Commander knew the Architect to be too dangerous and that deals cannot be made with the darkspawn.

Role in the series
The Architect reprises its role from above, and once served as Chernabog's disciple alongside many other demon lords like Ryuga and the originally mortal Malefor. Nowadays,