Leliana: Wine, Ballad, Woman

This post is dedicated to Leliana - a bard who chose to help the Grey Wardens in difficult times and won the love and sympathy of many of them. I may not be able to fully reveal her character and personality, but I will try. I want to apologize to the fans of Morrigan right away, but comparisons with her are unavoidable here.

I think everyone knows that the Dragon Age world resembles our Middle Ages. The history of Tevinter shares a lot in common with the history of Byzantium, Orlais is drawn from France, and Ferelden uncannily resembles England. There are real prototypes for bards - the minstrels.

Minstrel (English: minstrel, French: ménestrier from Latin: ministerialis - "servant") - a general term for a poet-musician (including females), a professional singer of the Middle Ages (from the 12th century) and early Renaissance, who earned a living through singing and playing instruments from memory. © Wikipedia.

Additionally, I would like to mention that minstrels, who wandered from castle to castle and town to town, were always welcome guests of any feudal lord and could expect a warm reception at any time. Consequently, they often served as secret agents, engaging in reconnaissance and espionage.

Does this fit the image of our companion? Yes, without a doubt. She sings, knows many stories, and for a long time was a spy, taking advantage of the fact that not all of her bard colleagues were engaged in gathering secret information or hired murders (although for the latter, they usually turn to professionals - the Antivan Crows).


Leliana is the only character who intervened in a conversation leading to an inevitable fight. Moreover, she is on the side of those pursued by half of Ferelden, for whose head a bounty has been placed.

"Wine, ballad, woman" - these words are not written in vain in the game achievement and are not without reason in the title. Leliana is perhaps the most romantic character in the game. While she may not be as bright and noticeable as Morrigan, she is certainly more pleasant and easy to talk to. Just consider her amusing embarrassment in response to some compliments. Or her almost childlike joy at the news that she will have her own pet - a hound named Schmopoz. Or the enchanting song she sings after visiting the ancient Brecilian Forest...

It is also interesting that her character and past are not revealed immediately. What can one say after the first meeting with the dark-haired witch? - Cold, proud, sarcastic, intelligent, beautiful - in a word, a bitch. Throughout the game, Morrigan's character will hardly change, except for a couple of moments when we may see her embarrassment.

And Leliana? At first, it is only noticeable that she is very likable and slightly obsessed with faith in the Maker. Only over time do we gradually learn that she is not just an ordinary servant of the Andraste cult (by the way, her visions are not a figment of a sick imagination), but a very pleasant and intelligent person. She is religious but not fanatic. She is willing to yield in trifles, but in crucial moments, she stands her ground until the end. Moreover, she is the only one who had to endure the terrible betrayal of her best friend (with whom she also had romantic relations), torture, flight to an unfamiliar country, and radical changes in her way of life. One could say that she has gone through a harsh school that tempered her, causing her to rethink much in her life, but she hasn't grown bitter or lost her trust in people (in particular, she, as before, is not against same-sex love, although for girls who decide on such relationships, it will be harder to win her heart than for young men).

Traveling with the Grey Wardens, Leliana keeps silent about her former life, trying not to rake up emotional wounds. Unfortunately, the past catches up with her in the form of hired assassins sent after her, after which it becomes clear that Marjolaine has not forgotten about her student, specially coming after her to Ferelden. And only the main character can determine whether Leliana will finally sever ties with the life of a spy and assassin, firmly deciding to stand on the side of good and justice, or if her former mentor's words about how our companion is no better than her will turn prophetic...


Truly a believer in the Maker, Leliana never thought she would see with her own eyes the ashes of his prophetess - Andraste.

You cannot deny Leliana her intelligence. Communicating with her can confuse or surprise Sten, Alistair, and even Morrigan.

Dialogue with Sten:

- I saw what you were doing there.

- Mmm?

- Don’t pretend to be innocent.

- What are you talking about?

- You were playing with that kitten.

- That was... not a kitten.

- Sten, I saw it all. You were playing with it with a string.

- I was helping it learn.

- You’re a big softy.

- We’re never speaking of this again.

- Softy!

Dialogue with Alistair:

- I can’t get used to the fact that you can move so quietly.

- I’ve practiced it for many years, but I have yet to achieve perfection.

- So, you don't sneak up on people when you’re spying?

- We all operate differently. Some prefer to remain completely invisible - hiding in shadows and darkness. I think there’s nothing wrong with being seen, as long as no one observes and remembers. I usually approach unnoticed, looking as if I belong here. It’s like invisibility, just a different kind.

- Ah. I’ve heard that you charm your targets. How can one forget that?

- The dead don’t remember...

- O-oh.

- Meeting death in the company of a charming lady - that’s good, isn’t it?

- I don’t know how serious you are, but sometimes you scare me.

Dialogue with Morrigan:

- Morrigan, you’re very beautiful.

- I know that very well myself.

- But you always dress in such rags. They suit you, I suppose… A hole here… a tear there… to expose skin. I understand.

- I hope you understand that I lived in the forest.

- Maybe someday we’ll get you a beautiful dress. Silk. No, perhaps velvet. Velvet is heavier, it will better protect against Ferelden's cold. Dark red velvet. Yes. And golden embroidery. Of course with a low neckline. We won’t hide your assets.

- Stop staring at my chest. It horrifies me terribly.

- Don’t you think so? With a low neckline, we’ll need to style your hair to expose that lovely neck.

- You’re insane. I’d rather let Alistair dress me.

- It will be lovely, I promise! And also, shoes. O-o, shoes! We’ll need to walk through the shops together.

Leliana will never match the popularity of the symbol of the Dragon Age - Morrigan. It is unlikely that we will see her in the next games set in this universe. But one thing is certain - she is a much deeper character than most members of the Grey Warden squad. She is a character with a beautifully developed and interesting personality, in which she is not at all inferior to the dark-haired witch from the Wilds.