With the third installment of the Dragon Age series now five years past, fans have been speculating over the many unanswered questions--some of which are raised in the novels and some of which are raised in the games. With a series containing such vast, ever-growing lore, there are a number of theories floated about. Some of these theories are of the tinfoil hat variety, while others are a bit more grounded in canon.
This list acknowledges less of the fandom's wishful thinking, and more the unexplained mysteries. These may be to-be-answered in the next installation, but (if we ever get the next game) knowing the current creative leads and writers, we'll continue to be mercilessly teased about what might be next.
10 Andraste
Its clear Andraste is the Bride of the Maker, an Alamarri woman betrayed and a former Tevinter slave, who marched on her former captors with Shartan, the elven leader, in the absence of the Old Gods. She brought freedom to elves, and the Chant of Light--after her martyrdom on a fiery stake. To many, she signifies hope and peace.
The real mystery lies in her connection to the Maker. Why did he choose her? Why did she have visions of him or the Old Gods? (Like our Andrastian Leliana, who has visions in Dragon Age: Origins (DA:O)).
9 The Maker
Quite possibly the figment of a deluded, sickly Andraste, a manipulation by the Chantry, a helpful spirit from the Fade, or even one of the Evanuris, the Maker remains one of the biggest mysteries in the Dragon Age series.
The creators of the series largely leave it up to the players to determine their belief in the Maker or not, but it certainly begs the question for Thedas--who really made it all, and who spoke to Andraste? Unless, was she really just a crazy lady with hallucinations?
8 The Elven Pantheon
Also known as the Evanuris, Solas reveals these beings as extremely powerful elves. The Creators, named so by the Dalish, include Elgar'nan, Mythal, Falon'Din, Dirthamen, Andruil, Sylaise, June, and Ghilan'nain--referenced by the vallaslin, which belong to each god.
Solas and the peoples of Thedas mention Old Gods or Forgotten Ones, who fought the Evanuris. The real mystery lies in how Fen'Harel managed to trick both sides and create the Veil, as well as if the Forgotten Ones are the same Old Gods who started the Blight. It begs the question: did the creation of the Veil, separating the Evanuris from the Fade and Thedas, have any connection to the Black City and the Magisters or not?
7 Flemeth/Mythal
Players first meet to Morrigan's mother, in DA:O. . Talking with Flemeth or her daughter reveals as much. Flemeth's power is confirmed in Dragon Age II (DAII); though Flemeth becomes a dragon and dies in DA:O, she returns in DAII to save Hawke and family as they flee Lothering.
She seems everywhere and nowhere in the series, but it isn't until Dragon Age: Inquisition that players learn Flemeth is a vessel for Mythal. The mystery lies in her future relationship to the protagonist in the next game, the Inquisitor, and Thedas, depending who drank from the Well of Sorrows, and if Morrigan's son houses an Old God soul.
6 The Qunari
With their isolationist culture, the Qunari are confusing people. There are those who blindly follow the Qun, yet the Tal Vashoth leave the Qun. Most Qunari are born into their religion and have little reason to leave their place in society, yet those like Iron Bull, an agent of the Ben Hassrath, and regularly interacts with the outside world.
Characters like him reinforce that the Qun is useful to refugees and non-mages. The real mystery: where are the Qunari from; will they dominate Thedas in the future; and what will Solas' plan for removing the Veil force them to do?
5 Lyrium
One vial, two vials... Red vial, blue vial. A drug for the templars of the Chantry, a focusing tool to seekers, a necessity for all mages, and harmless to dwarves (mostly), lyrium remains one of the most important, yet poorly understood resources in Thedas. The dwarves safeguard its mining in secret.
Until DAII, players only experienced its uncorrupted form. After entering the Deep Roads, Hawke and company discover a nasty totem of red lyrium, which players later learn is normal lyrium suffering from the taint. How is lyrium corrupted? Yet another unsolved mystery.
4 Sandal
A fan favorite from DA:O and DAII, Sandal Feddic is suspected of many things. Some view him as a potential host to an Old God soul, due to his ability to manipulate lyrium and enchant runes naturally. Additionally, when players encounter Sandal, he is often in a very dangerous place and seems entirely unaffected.
His token phrase, "Enchantment!" makes him seem incapable and addled, but his various feats of survival and badassery reveal otherwise. The real mystery about Sandal is if we will ever learn who he really is. At the very least, let's hope Sandal will cameo in the next installation of the Dragon Age series.
3 The Architect
Encountered by the Hero of Ferelden in DA:O Awakening, veterans of the series and fans of the books will recognize the Architect's second appearance. (For the first encounter with the Architect, check out The Calling by one of Dragon Age's original writers, David Gaider).
The mysterious nature of this character is why he looks exactly like a Magister, yet seeks to end the Calling and save darkspawn. The Architect's motives are not entirely selfless, as players come to find, but there remains no answer if he was successful in finding a cure for the Calling, even if aided by the Hero of Ferelden.
2 The Magisters/Corypheus
Corypheus makes his goals abundantly clear in Dragon Age: Inquisition, as he tries to take over the world using the Rift in the Veil and stolen elven magic. His first appearance in the DAII: Legacy DLC gives players a first taste of Tevinter Magisters and their power.
His various comments throughout the game, as well as this first appearance in DAII, spark more questions about the Magisters themselves, including why Corypheus is so different from the Architect, if the Magisters entered the Fade before or after the Veil's creation, and if their magic is all stolen from the ancient elves.
1 The Black City
Formerly known as the Golden City and the heart of the Fade, the Black City was corrupted by the Magisters' attempts to take control. The Black City is also seen as the former seat of the Maker of the Old Gods; it is also seen as a prison of the Old Gods after the Maker abandoned them.
Yet, Corypheus notes the city as blackened when the Magisters attempted to claim it. According to the Chant of Light, only the Maker can restore the city, who knows with Bioware? Yet another mystery...