All bodies were not just welcomed, but necessary, and in time it was expected that they would come to understand that, once they were Grey Wardens, there was no turning back. Called the Right of Conscription, no matter who the Wardens wished to conscript, be it king, peasant or criminal, none could deny their request. This ability to pluck princes from thrones, knights from their duties and criminals from the noose was granted after the first Blight.

They made no bones about who they took into their numbers, accepting people of all races, creeds, social standing, gender and even criminal backgrounds without judgment. Plant life, animals and humanity all became infected with the 'Taint' upon contact, spreading hopelessness and fear throughout the land as the Darkspawn began tearing their way to the surface world.ĭuring this time, a band of soldiers from the Imperium gathered at Weisshaupt Fortress in the Anderfels and vowed to put a stop to the Blight. Never before seen creatures, which came to be called Darkspawn, overran the Dwarven network known as The Deep Roads and tainted everything they came in contact with. The Grey Wardens were established during the First Blight, which began in 395 Ancient, and carried on for almost two hundred years.

Dragon age grey warden symbol