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- "All of this happened because of fanatics and arguments about the next world. It's time we start believing in this one."
- ―Maxwell, to Revered Mother Giselle
Inquisitor Maxwell Trevelyan (born 9:15 Dragon[1][2]), known to many Thedosians as the "Herald of Andraste", is the protagonist of Dragon Age: Inquisition. He is a member of House Trevelyan.
As the Mage-Templar War continued to ravage the world, Maxwell and several members of his family attended a summit hosted by the Chantry at Haven in the hopes of making peace between the Templars and mages. However, after a cataclysmic explosion killed everyone except him, the Veil was sundered and caused a huge tear across Thedas known as "the Breach". Although he was initially suspected by many for causing the death of Divine Justinia V, Maxwell proved his innocence by using a strange magical mark on his hand to seal multiple Fade rifts and was tasked with discovering who is responsible for the outbreak.
Following his first successful sealing of the Breach, Maxwell found himself under attack by Corypheus, where it is revealed that the ancient darkspawn was the culprit responsible for the conclave’s destruction. Haven was soon destroyed in an avalanche and Maxwell narrowly managed to escape with his life. In response to this new threat, Maxwell became leader of the reformed Inquisition. By recruiting the rebel mages into his ranks and helping Empress Celene Valmont I remain on the throne, the Inquisitor played a major role in ending the Mage-Templar War and Orlesian civil war. He also fought alongside the Grey Wardens against a Venatori plot to enslave the Order’s mages for Corypheus’s purposes. After scoring a major victory in the Battle at the Arbor Wilds, the Inquisitor defeated Corypheus by killing his red lyrium dragon and used the Anchor to banish him to the Fade, destroying his body in the process. He was declared a hero of southern Thedas and worked to assist devastated nations with reconstruction efforts.
Two years later, in the face of increasing political pressure from both Ferelden and Orlais, Maxwell re-structured the Inquisition to serve as Divine Victoria's personal honor guard and peacekeeping force. Prior to his decree, Maxwell thwarted a Qunari plot to invade southern Thedas although he was forced to amputate his left arm when the Anchor’s magic became dangerously unstable. He continues to lead the Inquisition on a smaller scale and now seeks to prevent his former companion Solas’ plans of destroying the world by finding agents he is unaware of and, if possible, to redeem him.
Background[]
- "I was born in Ostwick, and that's where most of my family is."
"The Trevelyans, is it not? A large clan with a rather clever coat of arms."
—Maxwell and Cassandra
Born on the twenty-fourth day of Bloomingtide 9:15 Dragon, Lord Maxwell Reginald Trevelyan was born as the youngest child of Bann Trevelyan, head of House Trevelyan.
The Trevelyans are nobility from Ostwick, a city-state on the southern coast of the Free Marches. It is an old distinguished family, in good standings among its peers, and with strong ties to the Chantry. Its youngest sons and daughters, those third or fourth-born children, with little chance of becoming heirs, often join the Chantry to become templars or clerics.
Maxwell initially enjoyed a life of privilege, yet detested the idea of being expected to follow suit towards a similar path in service of the Maker as a devout and loyal Andrastian—regardless of his personal feelings or motivations. His older sister, Evelyn, was sent to the Circle of Magi before fleeing to join the mage rebellion.
Involvement[]
War against the Elder One[]
Explosion at the Conclave
- "Whatever you think I did, I'm innocent!"
—Maxwell to Cassandra and Leliana
Whether he was willing or not, in 9:41 Dragon, Maxwell was sent to the Temple of Sacred Ashes as a representative of his family’s interests, along with other distant relatives in the Chantry to aid in the proceedings of a peace summit between leaders of the Chantry and the mage rebellion.
However, it didn’t go well as an explosion caused a huge Veil tear across Thedas. He was the only survivor of a tear, referred to as "the Breach", emerging unscathed after the explosion whilst others died. As he regained consciousness, Maxwell finds himself in the Fade with no memory of how he got there except remembering being chased by encroaching fearling demons and a female figure of golden light helping him to escape. After emerging from the Breach, Maxwell passes out once again and is captured by Chantry forces.
Cassandra taking Maxwell to the destroyed Temple of Sacred Ashes.
Due to his unique ability, Cassandra brings Maxwell to attempt to close the Breach, fighting off demons as they make their way to the valley. En route, they encounter Varric Tethras, a former companion of the Champion of Kirkwall, and Solas, an elven apostate who prevented Maxwell’s mark from killing him while he was unconscious earlier. With Solas’ guidance, Maxwell uses the mark to close a nearby Fade rift, then continues the march towards the temple and the Breach.
Maxwell's first attempt at sealing the Breach.
Reformation of the Inquisition
- "If you're truly trying to restore order..."
"That is the plan."
"Help us stop this, before it's too late."
—Maxwell, Leliana and Cassandra
Maxwell joins the reformed Inquisition.
As the Inquisition is not officially recognized by the Chantry, Leliana suggests that Maxwell approach Revered Mother Giselle, one of the more forward-thinking clerics who had been spotted organizing relief efforts for the refugees of the Mage-Templar War in the Fereldan Hinterlands near Redcliffe. At Mother Giselle’s suggestion, Maxwell travels to Val Royeaux next, but the Inquisition is denounced by both the Chantry and the Seekers of Truth. Lord Seeker Lucius Corin then abruptly withdraws all of the Templar Order’s forces from the capital while Maxwell is approached by the rebel Grand Enchanter Fiona, who invites him to the rebel bastion in Redcliffe. During this time Maxwell was able to recruit Sera, one of the Friends of Red Jenny, and Vivienne, former First Enchanter of the Montsimmard Circle of Magi and current leader of the Loyalist mages, into the Inquisition’s ranks.
Upon returning to Haven, Maxwell is informed that the Breach still poses a danger until it is completely sealed and to accomplish this the Inquisition has to take a side in the Mage-Templar War as they need the support of either Fiona’s rebel Circle mages or Lord Lucius’ rogue Templar Order for the proper sealing ritual. He is also given new leads to recruit Gordon Blackwall, a reclusive old Grey Warden, and the Qunari mercenary Iron Bull and his Bull’s Chargers mercenaries to bolster the Inquisition’s forces.
Ending the Mage-Templar War
At Fiona’s invitation, Maxwell and his companions travel to the village of Redcliffe. After closing a Fade rift that can seemingly warp time around itself just outside its gates, they discover that no one in the village has been expecting them and that the rebel Circle mages have, in fact, allied themselves with Gereon Alexius, a Tevinter magister who has recently usurped Redcliffe Castle from Arl Teagan Guerrin. As Maxwell begins to negotiate with Alexius, the magister’s sick son Felix interrupts them to surreptitiously pass the Herald a note asking for a meeting in Redcliffe’s chantry. There, Maxwell finds another Tevinter mage named Dorian Pavus, who explains that Alexius had found a way to manipulate time itself and used it to secure an alliance with Fiona before she ever went to Val Royeaux. Felix also reveals that his father has joined the Venatori, a cult of Tevinter supremacists that serves a mysterious deity called the "Elder One", and asks for the Inquisition’s help in stopping Alexius.
Deciding to remove Alexius from power and seek the aid of the rebel mages, Leliana devises a plan to infiltrate Redcliffe Castle: while Maxwell and Dorian distract Alexius and the Venatori, she leads her agents inside via an old secret tunnel used by Aedan Cousland, the Hero of Ferelden, during the Fifth Blight. When confronted, Alexius claims that everything he did was to have the Elder One cure Felix of the blight sickness he had contracted in a darkspawn attack several years earlier. He then attempts to erase Maxwell from the timeline, but Dorian intervenes, and he and the Herald instead find themselves transported one year into the future where, in their absence, the Elder One has crushed the Inquisition, assassinated Empress Celene and conquered southern Thedas with an army of demons while the Breach has grown to swallow the entire world. Making their way through Redcliffe’s dungeons, Maxwell and Dorian find and free Fiona, Leliana and the Herald’s companions who have been imprisoned and corrupted by red lyrium. They learn that the Elder One tasked Alexius with undoing the Herald’s interference at the Conclave, but upon discovering that time-altering magic only became possible because of the Breach, Alexius barricaded himself inside Redclife Castle, fearing the Elder One’ retribution for his failure. Upon reaching the throne room, they discover that Felix has turned into a ghoul and Leliana slits his throat, prompting Alexius to attack in rage. After he is defeated, Dorian begins preparing a ritual for him and Maxwell to return to the past, but with Venatori forces and demons at the door, their companions and Leliana sacrifice themselves to buy them time.
Back in the present, Maxwell makes Alexius realize the futility of his actions and the magister surrenders to the Inquisition. King Alistair Theirin and Queen Anora soon arrive at Redcliffe Castle and banishes Fiona and her followers from the realm. Maxwell then offers Fiona and the now-homeless mages a chance to redeem themselves and a place among the Inquisition’s ranks as free allies, an offer Fiona gratefully accepted. Either way, the Inquisition secures the mages’ help in sealing the Breach.
Rise to power
- "Inquisition, will you follow? Will you fight? Will we triumph? Your leader, your Herald, your Inquisitor!"
—Commander Cullen Rutherford
With the help of the rebel Circle mages secured, the Inquisition moves quickly and makes the necessary preparations for the ritual. At the temple, Maxwell is able to successfully seal the Breach without a hitch. However, as the Inquisition and their new allies celebrate, the victory is short-lived as Haven comes under attack by a corrupted dragon and massive army led by the Elder One, now revealed as Corypheus, who aims to capture Maxwell and reclaim his mark. At the Haven gates, Cole appears and informs the Inquisition that the rogue Templars have been corrupted into the "Red Templars", led by former Knight-Templar Raleigh Samson.
While the Inquisition evacuates Haven villagers through a secret mountain passage, Maxwell leads a desperate defense of the village, rescuing many of its residents and killing the Red Templar commander Knight-Captain Denam. As Haven is about to be overwhelmed, Maxwell uses a trebuchet to bury the entire village along with a bulk of Corypheus’ army under an avalanche. Corypheus himself attempts to stop him and to reclaim his mark with the Orb of Destruction, but the Anchor is now bound to Maxwell permanently, and he escapes, firing the trebuchet in the last moment. Corypheus is whisked away by his dragon, while Maxwell falls into an underground cavern. Regaining consciousness, he stumbles through the freezing mountains until he finds the Haven refugees’ trail and eventually catches up with them.
With morale of the Haven survivors dangerously low, Solas encourages Maxwell to take the reins of the Inquisition and reveals to them the location of Skyhold, an ancient abandoned mountain fortress that can serve as their new base of operations. After a long trek through the mountains, the Inquisition claims Skyhold where Cassandra and Leliana proclaim Maxwell its supreme leader—the Inquisitor—as the entire organization celebrates them.
Aiding the Champion of Kirkwall
As the Inquisition settles in at Skyhold, Maxwell, now serving in his capacity as the newly-appointed Inquisitor, is approached by Josephine and Varric, who have new leads on Corypheus’ activities. Josephine has followed up on the Inquisitor’s discovery of an assassination plot against Empress Celene Valmont I of Orlais and suspects that the attempt on her life will be made at the Winter Palace in Halamshiral, where the empress is currently negotiating with Grand Duke Gaspard de Chalons, her cousin and opponent in the ongoing civil war. As Orlais is the only military power in southern Thedas that can match the army of demons that Corypheus plans to summon, the Inquisition has an express interest in ending the civil war and securing the support of its victor.
Varric, meanwhile, introduces the Inquisitor to his old friend Garrett Hawke, the wayward Champion of Kirkwall, who arrives at Skyhold as soon as Varric informs him of Corypheus’ involvement. Hawke informs Maxwell that he had asked his Grey Warden ally Jean-Marc Stroud to investigate the nature of red lyrium, but became concerned about corruption in the ranks of the Order and went into hiding somewhere near Crestwood. Hawke asks for the Inquisition to locate him.
Maxwell travels to Crestwood and seeks out Hawke’s Grey Warden ally, who informs him of Corypheus’ immortality, as well as of the reason behind the sudden disappearance of all Grey Wardens from Orlais and Ferelden: having recently begun hearing the Calling all at once, the Wardens are enacting a desperate plan to complete their Order’s ultimate goal of preventing future Blights before the taint wipes them out. Said plan involves sacrificing their own fellow Wardens and then using blood magic to summon an army of demons, which they would ostensibly use to march into the Deep Roads and kill the two remaining Old Gods before the darkspawn can corrupt them into Archdemons. When Stroud objected to this plan, Warden-Commander Clarel de Chanson branded him a traitor to be killed on sight.
Following the Wardens’ trail, Maxwell meets up with Hawke and Stroud at an ancient Tevinter ritual tower in the Western Approach, where the Wardens carry out demon-binding rituals by sacrificing their own warriors under the supervision of the Tevinter magister Livius Erimond, a member of the Venatori and a devoted acolyte of Corypheus, who created the fake "Calling" in the first place and had the Nightmare demon amplify it to manipulate the Wardens. What Erimond didn’t tell the Grey Wardens is that the rituals that bind demons to the Warden mages also binds the mages themselves to Corypheus’ will, giving him a massive army of mages and demons to conquer Thedas with. After clashing with Maxwell and Hawke, Erimond and the Wardens retreat to Adamant Fortress which has since been re-occupied by the Orlesian Grey Wardens.
Siege of Adamant Fortress
Having no other options but to lay siege to the fortress head-on, Maxwell spearheads the assault and confronts Warden-Commander Clarel just as she is about to summon the Nightmare demon itself. Revealing Corypheus and Erimond’s deception and appealing to the Grey Wardens’ honor, the Inquisitor manages to sway Clarel, but Erimond summons Corypheus’ dragon to kill her and Maxwell. Enraged, Clarel battles Erimond and orders the Wardens to assist the Inquisition’s forces but is mortally wounded by the dragon, and her last spell goes awry, shattering the walkway under the Inquisitor’s party. Before they plummet to their deaths, Maxwell opens a rift in the air and drops himself, Hawke, Stroud and his companions into the Fade itself.
Finding themselves physically in the Fade, Maxwell and his companions receive help from what appears to be a spirit of the late Divine Justinia V, who reveals that the Nightmare demon stole the Inquisitor’s memories of the Conclave the last time they were in the Fade and that killing fearlings here would restore them. Him and his companions gradually piece together what had really occurred that day, despite the Nightmare’s attempts to manipulate their fears, and eventually locate a rift that would take them back to the waking world. As he recovers these memories, Maxwell remembers how the mortal Divine was bound by Grey Wardens and sacrificed to power an orb. He interrupted their ritual and when Corypheus lost control of the orb, he picked it up and gave him the Anchor on his left hand. The entity is then revealed to be the same spirit that was believed to be Andraste that helped led the Inquisitor to the Breach and that Divine Justinia had stayed behind so that Maxwell could escape as they were chased by demons. When the Nightmare blocks their way, Justinia’s "spirit" leaves a final message for Leliana and sacrifices itself to temporarily incapacitate it, but the party still has to fight its weaker aspect. While they fight, the Nightmare recovers and Maxwell is forced to leave Stroud behind to fight the Nightmare and buy the rest time to escape.
Returning to Adamant Fortress, the Inquisitor closes the Fade rift and slays the remaining demons. With Corypheus’ plans of a demonic army foiled, Maxwell demands the southern Grey Wardens fight alongside the Inquisition to atone for their mistakes and declares an alliance with them, working alongside them to rebuild their ranks. Erimond is taken prisoner after the battle and handed over to the Inquisition to face justice for his crimes. Hawke then leaves for Weisshaupt to relay what occurred to the First Warden, while Maxwell returns to Skyhold to pass the Divine’s last words to her Left Hand.
Grand Masquerade Ball
Unable to get a warning through to Empress Celene about Corpheus’ assassination plot, Maxwell accepts Grand Duke Gaspard’s invitation to the Winter Palace in Halamshiral, where his sister Grand Duchess Florianne is throwing a masquerade ball to facilitate the peace talks between Celene, Gaspard, and the elven ambassador Briala. Arriving at the Winter Palace with a retinue of Inquisition advisors and agents, Maxwell begins searching for evidence of a conspiracy against the empress in the midst of the Grand Game of Orlesian courtly intrigue. Gaspard suggests investigating Briala, who was once Celene’s spymaster and estranged secret lover but has turned her back on her and formed her own underground army of city elves. Leliana, meanwhile, points the Inquisitor towards Celene’s newest occult advisor, who is none other than Morrigan, daughter of the Witch of the Wilds, Flemeth, and a former companion of Aedan Cousland (just like Leliana). Exploring the palace, Maxwell finds evidence that both Briala’s agents and the Venatori have infiltrated the palace, which is confirmed when Morrigan reveals that the latter have attempted to sneak into her quarters.
When the assassin is revealed to be none other than Florianne herself, Maxwell publicly unravels her plan in front of the entire Imperial court; thus Empress Celene survived the attempt on her life and ordered her traitorous cousin arrested. In a private talk with the key power players of Orlais, Maxwell shows evidence of Gaspard’s plan to ambush the palace. In light of overwhelming evidence, Celene declares Gaspard an enemy of the Orlesian Empire and has him executed for treason. Before departing, the Inquisitor reveals to Celene that Briala helped him bring the evidence to light for her sake. Surprised and deeply touched, Celene and Briala reconcile their romantic relationship and in the resolution of the coup d’état, Celene grants her as the title Marquise of the Dales. Either way, the War of the Lions officially ends and Celene pledges her military support to the Inquisition and appoints Morrigan as her liaison in Skyhold.
Battle at the Arbor Wilds
With his plans to conquer the south through military might or political deceit thwarted in early 9:42, Corypheus abandons his strongholds and relocates his followers deep the Arbor Wilds, ransacking ancient elven ruins as they go. Taking the Inquisitor to the Crossroads through the eluvian she found, repaired and later brought to Skyhold, Morrigan explains to Maxwell that she believes Corypheus to be searching for an intact eluvian of his own as a way to reach the Crossroads, where he can tear down the barriers separating it from the Fade.
Calling upon their allies, the Inquisition mounts an assault on the Arbor Wilds, facing fierce resistance from Corypheus’ remaining forces, as well as from bands of strange elves hostile to both sides. In the midst of the battle, Maxwell and Morrigan lead a small force through the enemy lines to find the long-abandoned Temple of Mythal where the eluvian is located. At its gates, they learn that Corypheus is actually seeking an artifact named the "Well of Sorrows" and witness him be seemingly destroyed by the temple’s magical defenses, only to be instantly resurrected by transferring his essence to a Grey Warden corpse. The party then follows Corypheus’ general Samson into the temple, shutting its gates before he can follow in person.
Exploring the ancient temple, the Inquisitor’s party encounters Abelas, leader of the Sentinels, elven defenders of the Temple of Mythal from before the fall of Elvhenan, who offers an alliance against Corypheus to protect the Well of Sorrows—a proposal Maxwell accepts, respecting the temple’s traditions. His companions soon pursue Samson and his Red Templars to the Well of Sorrows itself and defeats him in combat. When Morrigan and Maxwell press Abelas to let them search the Well’s knowledge for a way to defeat Corypheus, the elf warns them that whoever drinks from it will be forever bound to the will of Mythal, but Morrigan points out that they will also have complete control over the temple’s eluvian, denying it to Corypheus. Morrigan felt it was best for her to drink from the Well, being well-prepared and studied in old magics. As soon as she does, Corypheus catches up with them but the party flees through the eluvian back to Skyhold. Denied access to the Crossroads, Corypheus and his dragon leave the Arbor Wilds, abandoning his followers to their fate.
Battle at the Valley of Sacred Ashes
With his plans thwarted and his followers defeated by the Inquisition, Corypheus plays his final, desperate gamble. Returning to the ruined Temple of Sacred Ashes, Corypheus uses the Orb of Destruction to reopen the Breach, challenging Maxwell to one final battle before either stepping through into the Fade victorious or destroying Thedas if he cannot rule it. With the bulk of the Inquisition’s army still returning from the Arbor Wilds, Maxwell leads a small party to confront his nemesis. When he arrives, Corypheus uses magic to raise the ruins of the temple into the air, creating a simulacrum of the Black City and cutting off Maxwell’s reinforcements or from escape. Corypheus then sends his red lyrium dragon after him, but it is intercepted by the Inquisition’s own (with Morrigan shapeshifting into a high dragon), and the two beasts battle in the air while Maxwell fights Corypheus on the ground.
The red lyrium dragon ultimately prevails against Morrigan but sustains heavy injuries, allowing the Inquisitor to finish it off. With the dragon’s death, Corypheus’ immortality is lost and in the ensuing battle, he loses control over the Orb of Destruction. Using the Anchor’s power, Maxwell rips it from Corypheus’ hands and uses it to seal the Breach permanently. He then opens a Fade rift inside Corypheus, destroying his physical body and banishing his essence to the Fade. In the aftermath of the battle, Solas finds the Orb irreparably damaged and, disappointed at his failure to save it, bids farewell to Maxwell, leaving without further explanation. The Inquisition returns to Skyhold to celebrate their victory and to plan their next course of action.
After the destruction caused by the Breach and the War against the Elder One, the nations and organizations are left with much to rebuild. The Chantry is finally free to turn towards the election of a new Divine: a month after the defeat of Corypheus, Maxwell attends Leliana’s coronation as she ascends to the Sunburst Throne as Divine Victoria. The measures she enacts are controversial from the start and several sects arise within the Chantry to remove her from her position, but is held back by the Inquisition’s agents.
Morrigan and her son Kieran leaves Skyhold, never to return. Maxwell and the Inquisition received renown throughout southern Thedas. However, Morrigan predicts that the Inquisitor’s foes hide in the shadows, waiting to strike, but shall face the full might of the Inquisition when the day comes. His political influence and military power, ever growing, soon causes concern to many across Thedas.
Hakkonite threat[]
After the Inquisition establishes a presence in the Frostback Basin, the Inquisition is spurred by Professor Bram Kenric’s archaeological findings to discover the fate of Inquisitor Ameridan – Maxwell’s predecessor. He aligns himself with the Avvar tribe of Stone-Bear Hold and discover that the hostile Jaws of Hakkon seek to unleash their imprisoned god, Hakkon Wintersbreath, on all of Thedas out of revenge.
The Inquisition located Ameridan and discovered that he has been keeping the dragon vessel of Hakkon confined with time magic, and after his bindings fail, passes on the duty to finish what he started to the Inquisitor. He foils the Hakkonite’s plans and slays the dragon vessel of Hakkon. By killing a possessed dragon and driving off the Jaws of Hakkon, Maxwell earns a respected legend-mark from Thane Svarah Sun-Hair.
Upon returning to Skyhold, Maxwell publicly presented new information about Inquisitor Ameridan and rewrote history in the progress, causing a scandal amongst Orlesian nobility by revealing that Ameridan was an elven mage and not a human noble as claimed by the Chantry. The d’Ameride family of Orlais, who claimed descent from Ameridan for centuries, were forced to make reparations to the Dalish clan Ghilain who made the same claim.
Deep Roads disaster[]
- "Every nation on the surface buys lyrium. Orzammar’s entire economy is based on the trade."
—Maxwell
A string of violent earthquakes suddenly grips the Storm Coast region. Ordinarily, it wouldn’t have been brought to the Inquisitor’s attention, but the quakes were not subsiding and threatened the Inquisition’s vital lyrium trade with the dwarves of Orzammar, collapsing mining tunnels and causing casualties. Maxwell is soon asked to meet with a Shaper on the scene named Valta. They descend into the Deep Roads to find the cause of the worsening earthquakes with Valta and Lieutenant Renn.
Along the way the battle the monstrous darkspawn and the dwarven Sha-Brytol guardians. Unfortunately, Renn was a casualty of an ambush by the Sha-Brytol. During their adventure, they discover that the source of the earthquakes is a recently stirred titan. Valta uncovers information about the ancient titans from old lyrium etchings and piece together its relationship with lyrium and the Sha-Brytol. Eventually they reach a verdant cavern that is surmised to be the inside of the titan itself. At the heart of the cavern is a massive stone of raw lyrium which strikes Valta with lyrium energy and knocks her unconscious. Rocks and stone armor the raw lyrium and form a rock-lyrium guardian that Maxwell defeats.
Following the guardian’s defeat, Valta regains consciousness but is pained by a loud song until she releases a wave of telekinetic force. Valta reveals that the raw lyrium’s energy blast established a connection between her and the titan. She reveals the titan was disturbed by the Breach but seems to have calmed now that is has established a connection with one of its "children". Valta has come to believe that everything that has transpired went according to the titan’s plan. Though she admits that she is now different, she assures the Inquisitor that she is still the same shaperate she once was and wishes to stay in the verdant cavern to commune with the titan. She hopes in time, its song will reveal more knowledge about the dwarves and their mysterious history. Maxwell respects Valta’s decision to stay with the titan and tells her to be careful as they part ways, leaving with more questions than answers.
The Exalted Council[]
- "Ferelden would have the Inquisition disband. Orlais sees its power as another feather in a chevalier's helmet. What do you wish to do with the Inquisition?"
"You once told me about the first Inquisition that took place 800 years ago. You said that when their battle was over, that Inquisition's soldiers sheathed their swords and went home. If our battle is truly over... then perhaps it's time for us to do the same."
—Revered Mother Giselle and Maxwell
Dragon's Breath
- "Deadly mysteries at the Winter Palace. Throw in a halla statue and some caprice coins, and it's just like old times."
—Maxwell to Divine Victoria
In 9:44 Dragon, representatives from Ferelden, Orlais, and the Chantry formed the Exalted Council to negotiate with the Inquisition about checking its influence. Ferelden, represented by Arl Teagan Guerrin, believes that with its original mandate fulfilled, the Inquisition should disband. Orlais, represented by Duke Cyril de Montfort, would rather see it under its control. Tevinter sends a token ambassador, the newly-appointed magister Dorian Pavus. To compound Maxwell’s problems, the Anchor’s magic has become increasingly unstable again and threatens his life.
The Exalted Council is derailed almost immediately when in the midst of the talks, Maxwell is notified by an elven Inquisition guard to meet privately with Leliana, now Divine Victoria, who reveals the discovered dead body of a fully armored Qunari warrior from the Antaam in the palace, and the Inquisitor follows the blood trail to a fully active eluvian leading to the Crossroads. The eluvian from which the dead Qunari came seems inactive, but another one takes the Inquisitor to old elven ruins populated by hostile spirits who serve Fen’Harel. Using the Anchor to interact with the magic of the ruins, it reveals a story of Fen’Harel leading a slave rebellion against the Evanuris, ancient elven god-kings. Maxwell finds more Qunari in a hidden armory at the edge of the ruins, and their papers reveal plans to infiltrate the Winter Palace.
His investigation of the Qunari threat soon finds him in the Deep Roads until he finds a former templar converted to the Qun as a Viddathari called Ser Jerran, who reveals that agents of Fen’Harel have been hindering the Qunari and also says the Qunari believe the Inquisition are part of Fen’Harel’s agents. Jerran seems wary of his superior the Viddasala, who has been stockpiling both troops and lyrium as part of a plan called "Dragon’s Breath", believing she intends to conquer southern Thedas and supplying her Saarebas with lyrium as well as making use of the eluvians for that purpose. Acting on this information, Maxwell destroys the Viddasala’s lyrium mining operations with Qunari blackpowder (gaatlok) and reports back to his war council to discuss the turn of events.
Foiling the Qunari plot
- "Shit! Damn it! We save Ferelden, and they're angry! We save Orlais, and they're angry! We close the Breach twice, and my own hand wants to kill me! Could one thing in this fucking world just stay fixed?!"
—Maxwell to Divine Victoria, Josephine and Cullen
Upon returning to the Winter Palace, Maxwell is notified that one of the Inquisition’s soldiers has assaulted an Orlesian palace servant accused of transporting suspicious barrels inside. The Inquisition begins to exert its influence to control the situation – much to the displeasure of the Exalted Council. Leliana reveals that the detained elven servant was transporting gaatlok barrels, ostensibly to assassinate every noble in the Exalted Council and thus depriving southern Thedas of effective leadership when the Qunari invades. Leaving his fiancée Josephine to deal with the political fallout, Maxwell leaves again to pursue the Viddasala while Leliana’s agents remove the gaatlok barrels planted across Thedas.
When Maxwell confronts the Viddasala at the Vir Dirthara, she accuses the Inquisitor of wielding dangerous magic and must be ended for the greater good. She also reveals that "Dragon’s Breath" was a plot to assassinate most of the southern leaders and indoctrinate those left after being conquered but claims that agents of Fen’Harel disrupted those plans and they must now resort to a conquering by war before retreating to the Darvaarad.
At the Winter Palace, Maxwell learns that barrels of gaatlok were found in seats of power all over southern Thedas, and that it appears the Inquisition is implicated as the Qunari have been using spies in the Inquisition to transport the gaatlok barrels, thus revealing that the Inquisition’s ranks are corrupted by elven Qunari spies and saboteurs and the Inquisition was partly responsible. As the Anchor gets increasingly unstable and threatens to kill him, Maxwell gives his final orders in case he does not return and pursues the Viddasala through the eluvians. Upon confronting her in the Darvaarad, Maxwell finds out from the Viddasala that Solas is the agent of Fen’Harel who has been opposing her, and that his meddling via his spies in the Inquisition is what disrupted the Qunari’s plans to convert southern Thedas.
Reuniting with an old friend
- "That should give us more time. I suspect you have questions."
"The Qunari answered some of those questions. The information I found while traveling through the eluvians answered more. You're Fen'Harel. You're the Dread Wolf."
"Well done."
—Solas and Maxwell
The Inquisitor and his companions chase the Viddasala through multiple eluvians, but although she reaches Solas before they can catch up, she and her followers are defeated and turned to stone with a blink of an eye. Solas then uses his magic to stabilize Maxwell’s Anchor so they can have some time to talk, where he reveals that he has amassed a network of spies and agents and many of his spies are also planted in the Inquisition which is how he uncovered the Qunari plot to invade southern Thedas. He disrupted the plot by having his agents discreetly help the Inquisitor uncover the Qunari invasion. The Qunari invaders, the Dragon's Breath, have pursued him as an agent of Fen'Harel but Solas proved elusive as he has complete control of the eluvians and has grown so much more powerful that he can petrify foes with a thought. He reveals he is no agent but is in fact the elven god Fen’Harel himself.
Solas then reveals that he plans to destroy the Veil, his own creation, and restore the world of the ancient elves regardless of the cost to Thedas, and he cannot be swayed. Before the time Solas has brought to converse runs out, the Anchor becomes unendurable and Maxwell doubles over in pain. He declares that Solas is making a tragic mistake and promises to show him the error of his ways by showing that the world that exists now is worth saving. Regardless, Solas severs the Inquisitor’s left forearm to prevent the Anchor from killing him and instructs him to enjoy what time he has left before departing once more.
Deciding the Inquisition's fate
- "You all know what this is? A writ from Divine Justinia authorizing the formation of the Inquisition. We pledged to close the Breach, find those responsible, and restore order. With or without anyone’s approval. You’re right, Arl Teagan. We are dangerous. We’ve been deceived, and we’ve made mistakes. You’re right as well, Duke Cyril. These are the growing pains of a young organization in need of guidance. But you would both have the Inquisition bow to your agenda, and that is precisely what we cannot do. The Inquisition will act as Divine Victoria’s personal honor guard. Answering directly to her, we will transition from a military force into a peacekeeping organization. My own adventuring days may be done, but the Inquisition—and its mission—will continue."
—Maxwell addressing the Exalted Council
Hours later, the crippled Maxwell–now missing his left arm–returns to the Exalted Council and announces the fate of the Inquisition: to serve under Divine Victoria as her personal honor guard and peacekeeping force, answering to no one’s authority but hers.
Over the next several months, Maxwell continues to serve as Inquisitor and carefully gave over many of the Inquisition’s duties it had held. As the Divine’s personal honor guard and peacekeeping force, the Inquisition shrank to a more manageable size. Many who had served went home, though the remaining force was still enough to give pause to any who might threaten the Divine’s plans.
Interlude[]
Marriage[]
Maxwell soon accompanied Josephine to Antiva, where he found himself warmly received by her family and House Montilyet soon became a second home… a place where Maxwell could, at last, find peace for a while, with Josephine happily by his side. They eventually married in Antiva City, with their friends and respective families in attendance.
Recruiting new agents[]
- "Then we will find agents [Solas] doesn't know. We will save our friend from himself... if we can."
—Maxwell to his War Council
List of characters Maxwell killed[]
This list shows the victims Maxwell Trevelyan has killed:
- Magister Gereon Alexius (alternative timeline) –
- Envy demon –
- Knight-Captain Denam –
- Hand of Korth –
- Hanley –
- Commander Duhaime –
- Maliphant –
- Lucanus –
- Gordian –
- Sister Costeau –
- Ser Auguste –
- Magister Livius Erimond –
- Corypheus –
- Hakkon Wintersbreath –
- The Guardian –
- Saarath –
Personality and traits[]
- "All of this happened because of fanatics and arguments about the next world. It’s time we start believing in this one."
Maxwell Trevelyan is a calm and perspective man who was well aware of his reputation as the "Herald of Andraste" inspired in others, but even then he is in general as apathetic, often speaking bluntly. His naturally calm attitude allows him to remain composed and focused, noticing everything around him. Even in near-death situations, Maxwell is able to stay collected and resourceful. As a result, he can quickly adjust to any situation to make keen and thought-out decisions and stay steps ahead of his opponents. Despite this, Maxwell is rather modest about his upbringings, even confessing that he was awkward during his childhood.
Titles, styles, honors and awards[]
Titles and styles[]
- 9:15–40 Dragon: His Lordship Ser Maxwell Trevelyan of Ostwick
- 9:41 Dragon–present: His Worship The Inquisitor
- 9:44 Dragon–present: His Illustriousness The Comte
Foreign honors and awards[]
- Kirkwall: Key to the City (9:44 Dragon)
Etymology[]
The name Trevelyan is a Cornish surname derived from a Cornish place meaning "Village of Elian".
Appearance[]
Maxwell Trevelyan is a tall, athletic man of lean-built, has black hair kept slicked backwards with a few bangs hanging over the sides of his head, green eyes and a fair skin color, plus a stubble around his chin which he keeps slightly trimmed. Officially he wears a white, long-sleeved collared patterned outfit, tan pants and golden-brown boots. While off-duty, Maxwell wears a purple heavy coat with somber tones, dark gloves, and a brown leather vest with a red scarf around his neck.
During his stay at the Winter Palace in Halamshiral, he wears a classic, formal cut which is colored crimson accented with royal blue.
Two years later, Maxwell loses his left arm after the Anchor's magic goes awry.
Quotes[]
Dragon Age: Inquisition[]
- (to Cassandra Pentaghast) "You hold me prisoner, accuse me of murder, and now you want my help? You’re insane. I’m not going anywhere with you."
- (to Chancellor Roderick) "So far, you are the only one who’s insisted we can’t work together."
- (recruiting the rebel mages) "The Breach threatens all of Thedas. We cannot afford to be divided now. We can’t fight it without you. Any chance of success requires your full support."
- "Corypheus will never let me live in peace. He made that clear. He intends to be a god, to rule over us all. Corypheus must be stopped."
- (about the Breach) "Unless we act, it will swallow the world."
- "Let those who would destroy us step into the light."
- (to Josephine Montilyet) "Something suggested you were special the moment I saw you."
- "Our search will take us to every corner of this land: the beautiful, the dangerous, and the ancient places where no man walks alone. This is the world we are trying to save."
- (to Amund) "The Inquisition has a purpose your leader lacks. Join me. Help us stop the Breach."
- (to Grand Duchess Florianne) "When your archers failed to kill me in the garden, I feared you wouldn’t save me this last dance. It’s so easy to lose your good graces. You even framed your brother for the murder of a Council emissary. It was an ambitious plan. Celene, Gaspard, the entire Council of Heralds… all your enemies under one roof. […] You lost this fight ages ago, Your Grace. You’re just the last to find out."
- (to the Grey Wardens of Orlais) "Warden Stroud is dead, thanks to all of you! He alone stood against Clarel’s madness! If not for him, you’d be dead – or slaves to a servant of the Blight! And you repaid that by branding him a traitor!"
- (while playing Wicked Grace) "I’ve got a story for you! Firstly, my aunt is known across the Free Marches for her love of Antivan opera. So, of course when a performance of “The Murder of Queen Madrigal” opened, she made us all attend… […] My aunt refused to speak to me for three months."
- (to Flemeth) "I know the name “Flemeth.” It belongs to an ancient Fereldan legend. It says, long ago, you left your husband for a lover. Your husband then tricked you, killed your lover, and imprisoned you. Then a spirit came to offer you vengeance. Mythal—that’s what you spoke of."
- (before destroying Corypheus) "You wanted into the Fade? Here! Have it!"
Jaws of Hakkon[]
- (to Professor Kenric) "The texts say that Inquisitor Ameridan was a dragon hunter who vanished on his last expedition."
- (to Thane Sun-Hair) "We have learned that the last Inquisitor may have died here hundreds of years ago. We seek his body."
- "The Chantry should not rewrite history to cover up inconvenient truths."
- (to Ameridan) “You disappeared in 1:20 Divine, around the time of the signing of the Nevarran Accord."
- (about Telana) "She returned to the island. From what we can tell, she died trying to reach you through dreams."
- "There are things they don’t understand, things no one outside the Inquisition will ever know."
- (responding to Harding’s joke about elfroot) "My feelings for elfroot are classified, Scout Harding."
- (to Professor Kenric, about Ameridan) "I was able to speak to the Inquisitor briefly before he died. A ritual kept Inquisitor Ameridan alive all these centuries, binding him and the dragon. […] He wasn’t just a mage, Kenric. An elven mage."
The Descent[]
- (to Valta) "Ever since we came down here, the Deep Roads have felt different. Organic. We’ve been looking for the Titan the wrong way. It isn’t like us. […] We can’t see the Titan. Because we’re inside it."
- "The Titan’s blood must keep the Sha-Brytol alive—and powerful."
- "Every nation on the surface buys lyrium. Orzammar’s entire economy is based on the trade."
- (about the Guardian) "I did not defeat Corypheus just to die down here!"
- (before departing) "I’m leaving with more questions than answers, but that doesn’t mean you have to. Just be careful. The Shaperate in Orzammar will want to know what happened to you."
Trespasser[]
- (to Arl Teagan, about Caer Bronach) "We seized it from bandits! Would you like us to give it back to them?"
- "A few years ago, we railed at the mages at Redcliffe for becoming corrupt. We did the same to the Grey Wardens. [Chuckles.] Look at us now."
- (to Leliana, Cullen and Josephine) "Shit! Damn it! We save Ferelden, and they’re angry! We save Orlais, and they’re angry! We close the Breach twice, and now my own hand wants to kill me! Could one thing in this fucking world just stay fixed?! [Sighs.] I need to get to the Darvaarad. You all can fight amongst yourselves once I’m… once I’m back."
- (to Solas) "You don’t need to destroy this world. I’ll prove it to you."
- (to the Exalted Council) "You all know what this is? A writ from Divine Justinia authorizing the formation of the Inquisition. We pledged to close the Breach, find those responsible, and restore order. With or without anyone’s approval. You’re right, Arl Teagan. We are dangerous. We’ve been deceived, and we’ve made mistakes. You’re right as well, Duke Cyril. These are the growing pains of a young organization in need of guidance. But you would both have the Inquisition bow to your agenda, and that is precisely what we cannot do. The Inquisition will act as Divine Victoria’s personal honor guard. Answering directly to her, we will transition from a military force into a peacekeeping organization. My own adventuring days may be done, but the Inquisition—and its mission—will continue."
- (about Solas) "We will save our friend from himself… if we can."
- "Is that the Inquisitor?"
"What, a Marcher? Don't be absurd."
"One of the Trevelyans, I've heard."
—Two Orlesian nobles at Halamshiral
Trivia[]
- Initially Maxwell was unnerved by his title "Herald of Andraste", mainly because he does not wish to be seen as a deity. As time passed on, he got used to it.
- Maxwell has relatives among the nobility of Nevarra and the Tevinter Imperium, most notably House Pavus.
- He enjoys playing chess.
- According to Cassandra Pentaghast, she and Leliana originally looked to Aedan Cousland and later to Garrett Hawke as their initial choice for the Inquisitor.
- He is the first in the Dragon Age series to appear as an amputee.
- During his struggle to escape the Fade, Maxwell views the fearling demons (who take the form of what their enemies fear) as spiders, suggesting he is at least slightly afraid of spiders.
Gallery[]
Predecessor
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Leader of the Inquisition
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Successor
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|---|---|---|
9:41 Dragon — |
-
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References[]
- ↑ Maxwell is approximately twenty-six in 9:41.
- ↑ He is "roughly twenty-nine" during the events of Trespasser.