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BioWare has been sprucing up its web site for Dragon Age: Origins Awakening. You’ve already met two new NPCs (Anders and Velanna). Now it’s time to learn about four new areas in the game: Blackmarsh, Kal’Hirol, Vigil’s Keep, and Wending Woods. Here are screenshots, official descriptions, and my take on these new lands.

Blackmarsh

Official description: The Blackmarsh is a gloomy, desolate place. All who travel the one lonely path between the trees are beset by an oppressive feeling of dread. Nothing stirs in the marsh, for even birds and beasts sense the foulness in the air and dare not stray too close. The Blackmarsh was not always this way. Once, many years ago, there was a village, bustling with people. Boats and ships arrived daily at the small port. And then, one day, it all went away. The few brave souls who ventured into the marsh to discover the villagers’ fate found burned ruins and no sign of life. As the years passed, sightings of strange creatures and eerie lights in the marsh fueled belief that the Blackmarsh was haunted, and that all who valued their lives would do well to stay away.

Raymond’s take: The Blackmarsh is gloomy and desolate? Wow. I never would have guessed. I was thinking that it was a sunny beach resort where rich Orlesians went to relax and unwind. My vision has been crushed. *sniff* *sniff*

Kal’Hirol

Official description: The dwarven fortress of Kal’Hirol was long known as a center of learning for the smith caste. Its workshops are where Paragon Hirol conceived his famous improvements to golem resilience and power, and where Hirol’s favorite student developed a method for storing refined lyrium that is still used today. These breakthroughs brought Kal’Hirol great prosperity; its passageway are said to have glittered with gold and silver. But the fall of Kal’Hirol is shrouded in mystery. All that is known is that the fortress’s elite one day showed up at Orzammar’s great doors, exhausted and in despair over the loss of their home.

Raymond’s take: All dwarven cities look the same. There’s only so much you can do with rock. Dwarven cities that are dominated by the smith caste are boring and dirty. Smithies make marvelous weapons, but they suck at cleaning up after themselves. Welcome to soot city!

Vigil’s Keep

Official description: Amaranthine was the first of the Fereldan arlings to fall to the Orlesian occupation. As the port city burned, its ruling family, the Howes, fled to the countryside to wage a guerrilla war against the invaders that lasted for generations. No matter how enormous of a bounty the Orlesians promised, they could not rid themselves of the wily Howes and their ever-growing number of sympathizers. The Howes chose the ancient fortress of Vigil’s Keep as their primary base of operations, hiding the entire rebellion within the vast complex of storage rooms and caves beneath “The Vigil” — right underneath the noses of their oppressors. When the Orlesians were finally ousted, it was at Vigil’s Keep that the flag of Amaranthine was first raised again, amidst cheers of victory. Vigil’s Keep became the new home of the Howes. But after years of faithful service to the kingdom, Arl Rendon Howe’s ambition brought about his death and his family’s ruin. Now Vigil’s Keep and the arling of Amaranthine belong to the Grey Wardens. The walls of the Vigil have been manned since the time of the Avvar barbarians. The griffon banner is only the most recent in a long chain. How long will the Wardens’ colors fly?

Raymond’s take: Arl Rendon Howe was a dick. It’s awesome that the grey wardens were awarded his lands after dispatching the coward. I’m pretty sure they’re using Howe’s private chambers to store vials of darkspawn blood, deep mushrooms, elfroots, and other mundane crap. Ha ha.

Wending Woods

Official description: The Wending Wood is an area of forested slopes and lush greenery, divided by the trade route known as the Pilgrim’s Path — named for the faithful devotees of Andraste who walk that very road to reach Amaranthine, and who have left ancient relics scattered about the wood to honor Andraste and the Maker. For centuries, the wood was known as a place of breathtaking beauty and tranquility, but things have changed in recent months: a clan of Dalish elves has set up camp within the wood, and their proximity to human villages is making the locals uneasy. Even worse, roaming bands of darkspawn have been seen in the wood, undoubtedly gathering for some nefarious purpose. For now, the people of Amaranthine can only pray that whatever troubles the Wending Wood passes soon.

Raymond’s take: This is Ferelden’s equivalent of South Central Los Angeles. Clearly there’s a gang problem here and nobody is going away any time soon. Only fools and heroic adventurers (or foolish heroic adventurers) should go here.

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