Kirkwall

Kirkwall, also known as The City of Chains and historically as Emerius, is a coastal city-state and a major population center located in the Free Marches. It is on the southern edge of the Vimmark Mountains, east of the Planasene Forest, and north across the Waking Sea from Ferelden. Hawke is known to become the Champion of Kirkwall.

Background

City of Chains heraldry DA2 — City of Chains heraldry

Founded under the name Emerius, after Magister Emerius Krayvan, on the edge of the Imperium to be the main supplier of jet stone to build a Minrathous temple, the city gained notoriety after it was elected to be the new heart of the slave trade after a slave revolt made Archon Vanarius Issar fear for his security when he was almost killed. Magisters competed viciously for the honor of governing the port for nearly two decades before Emerius married his son to the archon's daughter. The Krayvan family constructed the Gallows, patronized the next three archons and were the main backers for the Imperial Highway into the Fereldan Valley, which devastated them when Andraste led her rebellion from there against the Imperium. At its height, Emerius was one of the mightiest Imperial cities with 1,000,000 slaves living and working in the city. The city was defended by the Fourteenth Cadre also known as The Black Cadre and was regarded by most Imperial soldiers to be a punishment to serve there. It wasn't until a massive slave revolt circa -25 Ancient that the City of Chains came to be known as Kirkwall when a popular Alamarri slave named Radun was assassinated by wary magisters for his influence, which led to extremely violent retributions, including the sacking of Hightown and the death of its Tevinter rulers.

In 7:56 Storm, Qunari invaders took Kirkwall in a night raid and occupied it for four years, forcibly converting much of the populace to the Qun and making the natives work in labor camps previously manned by slaves. It was liberated by Orlesians under the chevalier Michel Lafaille, who was appointed Viscount in 7:60 by the emperor. He pursued a campaign of religious reeducation and formed the Kirkwall City Guard to act as the city's defenders.

In 8:05 Blessed, Kirkwall rebelled against Orlesian rule and gained independence, but maintained the title of viscount as its ruler.

In 9:21 Dragon, Viscount Perrin Threnhold attempted to expel the Templar Order from Kirkwall, killing Knight-Commander Guylian in the raid of the Templar stronghold, only to be overthrown by the Templar Knight Meredith Stannard, who was promoted soon after. With the Chantry's support, she appointed Marlowe Dumar to succeed Perrin, but commands the true authority in the city from the Gallows.

This section contains spoilers for:
Dragon Age II.

In 9:31 Dragon, Qunari set out to meet Orlesians who agreed to return the Tome of Koslun to them. However, the book is intercepted by a Rivaini pirate.

Following a storm, a Qunari ship founders on the coast of Kirkwall. The Arishok and his surviving army are forced to remain in Qunari Compound, until they reclaim the Tome of Koslun.

In 9:34 Dragon, the Arishok decides to attack the city, starting the First Battle of Kirkwall and the Second Qunari Invasion of Kirkwall. In the ensuing invasion Marlowe Dumar is killed by the Arishok. Hawke drastically helps in the liberation of the city and thus is named "Champion of Kirkwall" by Kirkwall's Knight-Commander, Meredith Stannard.

In 9:37 Dragon, an apostate mage, Anders, destroys the Kirkwall Chantry, igniting the Kirkwall Rebellion and inspiring mages throughout Thedas to rebel against the Circle system. His magical blast is not contained and rains deadly debris upon half of the city.^[1] The Champion of Kirkwall kills First Enchanter Orsino and Knight-Commander Meredith Stannard during the rebellion in Kirkwall, and later becomes the Viscount or flees the city.

Governance

Kirkwall is governed by a Viscount since the Orlesian occupation of the city, as the title itself is Orlesian. It has never truly been free to determine its own course, and since the ousting of Perrin Threnhold the Templar Order holds considerable influence over his successor, Marlowe Dumar, and the city.

If the ruling line of a Viscount dies out due to no living heirs, then the nobility of Kirkwall will gather to elect a new line from their ranks.

This section contains spoilers for:
Dragon Age II.

With the death of Dumar at the hands of the Qunari, Knight-Commander Meredith was able to block any election of a new Viscount for a number of years until her death. If Hawke chose to side with the Templars, he/she is elected as the new Viscount. It is unknown who is chosen if Hawke sides with the Circle and has to escape the city.

City crest

Kirkwall heraldry DA2 — Kirkwall heraldry

This stylized knot work representation of a dragon evolved from a symbol of rebellion etched into countless walls during the time when Kirkwall was a center for the Tevinter slave trade. It was an image that catalyzed the slaves who overthrew the ruling magisters, and while the symbol has changed, its meaning has not: Kirkwall is a city unto itself, beholden to no one.^[2]

Map

Map - Kirkwall — Click (or mouse over) any location for details.

About this image — Click (or mouse over) any location for details.

Places

The Black Emporium may refer to:

The Black Emporium

Black Emporium, the emporium run by Xenon
The Black Emporium (DLC), the DLC for Dragon Age II
The Black Emporium (Inquisition DLC), the DLC for Dragon Age: Inquisition
The Black Emporium (operation), a war table operation in Dragon Age: Inquisition

Banter

Party banter may be triggered at the following spots:

Just outside the Hawke Estate
At the base of the stairway leading from Lowtown to Hightown

Trivia

Kirkwall declared the common nug a noxious vermin in 5:20 Exalted over fears that the animals carried the Blight. The extermination became known as the Battle of Squealing Plains. It is not spoken of in polite company.^[3]
Several of the nobles in Kirkwall are of Orlesian origin, such as the Launcet and the Carrac families. This might be due to Kirkwall previously being under Orlesian rule. Despite the fact that Kirkwall has been an independent state for more than a hundred years, it may still have strong connections to Orlais. Since Kirkwall was "liberated" by Orlais from Qunari rule and not conquered in the same way as Ferelden or Nevarra the people of Kirkwall need not necessarily feel resentment towards Orlais.
Kirkwall, the real world capital of the Orkney Islands in Scotland, also has a Viscount, whom is traditionally the heir of the Earl of Orkney.
A few of Kirkwall's citizens have names corresponding to virtues or characteristics. Examples of this would be Lucky, Worthy and (Lady) Elegant. Others have names corresponding to their roles within the game, e.g Charade.