So I just finished up with a complete playthrough of the three games, Origins and 2 for the first time and been perusing some theories. I like seeing how everyone interprets the games, but honestly a lot of the ones I see also leave out a LOT of conflicting details.

I actually think the Black City is Arlathan. In DAI there’s several different pieces of various lore that describe both as being “in the heart of the world” and I picked that up on my last play through (which I just finished, trying to get all the codex entries), and several pieces of elven lore that suggest Arlathan was sealed in the Beyond along with the Evanuris.

The Black City sits in the Fade’s “center” where all points are equidistant. I believe the only way to GET to the Black City is if the Veil is thinned enough for the material world to “anchor” (get it?) the Fade so it’s possible to traverse distance using the rules of the real world rather than the rules of the Fade.

I believe that’s how the Magisters did it in the first place at the Old God’s urging, which explains the entirety of Kirkwall and why the Veil is said to be paper thin there, as well as the backstory uncovered that it was built to resemble magic symbols, and have grooves in the lowest parts of the city to syphon blood if you get the right codexes. The magisters building Kirkwall were also said to slaughter slaves in the thousands every year, and the Band of Three wondered rightfully why they would even need so much power. I think Kirkwall is where the Magisters entered, and it left a metaphysical scar there. (Another Codex described Kirkwall’s name means “black wall”)


That’s probably how Solas sealed the Evanuris away, and probably why the “Old Gods”, aka the Forgotten Gods (why is Geldauran’s secret chamber right underneath where the Tevinters dedicated Razikale’s reach?) wanted the Magisters to go there.

There’s also heavy implications the Evanuris started the Blights. If the Evanuris did, that would explain why the Golden City had been corrupted as Corypheus said.

Anyway, that’s enough rambling for now. Maybe when I get the last few codices I missed I might have a few more thoughts.