Solas Concept Art Unlocks 'Dragon Age' Lore

Early Dragon Age: The Veilguard Concept Art Reveals a Darker Solas

Early concept sketches by former BioWare artist Nick Thornborrow offer a glimpse into the evolution of Solas's character in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. These sketches, showcased on Thornborrow's website, reveal a more overtly vengeful and god-like Solas than the advisor role he ultimately plays in the final game.

Thornborrow, who departed BioWare in April 2022 after 15 years, contributed to The Veilguard's development by creating a visual novel prototype. This prototype, featuring branching storylines, helped shape the game's narrative. Over 100 sketches from this prototype have been released, illustrating various characters and scenes.

While many scenes transitioned relatively unchanged from concept to the final game, Solas's portrayal shows significant differences. The sketches depict Solas in a far more sinister light, often as a colossal, shadowy figure, a stark contrast to his more subdued presence in the released game. Some sketches show him abandoning his advisory role, directly acting as a vengeful deity.

The discrepancy between concept art and the final product raises questions. Are these omitted scenes relegated to Rook's dreams, or do they represent alternate scenarios where Fen'Harel's power manifests in the real world? The ambiguity adds intrigue to Solas's hidden agenda.

The significant changes are unsurprising, given the nearly 10-year gap between Dragon Age: Inquisition and The Veilguard, and the game's last-minute title change from Dragon Age: Dreadwolf. Thornborrow's contribution provides fascinating insight into the game's development and the evolution of Solas's character, bridging the gap between initial concepts and the final product.