The Architect was apparently born vastly different from his darkspawn brethren. Unlike other darkspawn, it is able to think independently of the darkspawn group-mind, and, as such, is able to resist the calling of the Old Gods. Its goal is to bring peace between the darkspawn and the other races of Thedas at any cost. It hopes to find a middle ground between the darkspawn and the population of Thedas, and it believes that this middle ground is the Grey Wardens, as they are slowly transformed by the taint that they take in during their Joining. Using Bregan as well as First Enchanter Remille and his mages (who spread the taint through enchantments and magic exclusive to the darkspawn emissaries), the Architect hoped to make all of Thedas take in the taint, despite the fact that this would involve an extraordinary number of deaths of those who could not take the taint. Ultimately, this plan would change the survivors into darkspawn-like hybrids. Its compromise is that it will use the call of the Old Gods to locate and kill them before the darkspawn can find them and turn them into archdemons, thereby ending all future Blights. This is how it gains Bregan's and Genevieve's assistance in its plans.

The Architect is first seen by Bregan after the darkspawn capture and take him to a prison cell in a section of the Deep Roads. It begins to explain the situation to Bregan, and attempts to persuade him away from his suicidal path. However, Bregan soon attempts an escape, only to be captured shortly after.

The Architect is next seen after Bregan awakens back in his cell. It further explains that the taint is rapidly spreading through his body, and will eventually turn him into a darkspawn-like hybrid. It explains its plans to use the Grey Wardens in a way to bring lasting peace between the darkspawn and the other races of Thedas. It then leads Bregan through the Deep Roads and offers him a chance to escape. Bregan refuses and agrees to aid the Architect in its plans.

The Architect then accelerates the taint in Bregan's body so that when he next awakes, he is very similar to a hurlock. After awakening, Bregan finds the Architect in a small dwarven library. There, the Architect further explains its plans: to use the taint on all of Thedas and to kill the Old Gods before they can be turned into archdemons, thus ending all future Blights and creating a lasting peace between darkspawn and other races. It also states that it is aware of the large death toll this course will involve, though it simply adds that the sacrifices will be necessary.

The Architect is not seen again until it and Bregan come upon Genevieve as she is heading through the Deep Roads by herself. Bregan is able to persuade her to listen to the Architect, although he advises it to withhold many parts of the plan from her, such as the deaths of much of the population of Thedas. After Duncan, Maric, Kell, Utha, and Fiona are captured, he comes to try and persuade them as well to join its cause; only Utha complies. It then uses its magic to accelerate the taint in Utha and turn her into a darkspawn in mere moments. The others, however, refuse, and are left to themselves. They then escape to the surface.