One of a few moments that really struck me in DA: Origins was walking into that castle near the endgame... dozens of darkspawn splattered across the room... and there, on the other side of the killing floor, is a blood-splattered Sandal, happy to see his friend who gets him to do enchantment! It actually made me wonder if the Tranquil were capable of the same thing.
I thought the lore was that Sandal was in the Deep Roads for a while. He was lost and likely ate darkspawn flesh. If I had to guess, his parents either left him there or became crazy themselves after consuming blighted flesh. Those who do this not only take the taint but also the call of it. There was a dwarf found in the deep roads who went crazy and they also found that he was able to avoid darkspawn because he could sense them. Sandel has expressed a couple of times that 'they are near', meaning the darkspawn are close. Then, later, you go back into the deep roads (in inquisition) where you excavate the deep roads with a dwarf who could hear the song from the lyrium they were researching. Turns out, lyrium was the blood of a giant, and the woman you traveled with could hear that song pretty clearly. Maybe Sandel could hear it's call aswell?
Same thing happens in DA2, where you find Sandal at the end of a trail of slaughtered Darkspawn and a frozen Ogre. You get a unique staff after the encounter, which I think is pretty neat.
Ever since the first encounters in Dragon Age Origins, and all that followed, I always found him one of the most interesting characters in the game series. For sure a well designed side character with a mystery that always got me to wonder more about him, especially that encounter in the deep roads or in the Battle of Denerim where he clearly defended himself from an overwhelming force. Always made me tilt my head side ways after finding him in those scenes and wonder more...
I think the Veil is coming down in Dreadwolf, and when it does, certain dwarves will find that they have magical abilities. At least Sandal, Valta, Dagna, and maybe more.
Tbh he def was just a joke we took way too seriously, and they ran with it lol. But honestly I think they have been listening to us and his role has become more important. I like the idea of him being a Old God Baby or, what happens when a dwarf is directly controlled/influenced by a very powerful spirit of the Fade.
I wished Sandal was featured in Inquisition, I was really intrigued by him when I was playing DA II and was looking forward to more of him in Inquisition when I found out Varric was in it but alas the writers are cruel. Hope he appears on Dreadwolf!!!
I agree, we should have seen him. He was mentioned in the Trespasser DLC though, there's a book/journal with "enchantment" repeated over and over in the fade-connected library.
Yeah he wasn't, sadly. But if you played Trespasser, his notes are written all over the place and scattered in the library in the Eluvian, almost as if he had been there. Little guy is fascinating, I really hope he's got a bigger role to play in Deadwolf
When I saw the codex in the Trespasser DLC, I have a feeling that Sandal arrived in Thedas through other eluvians. We only know of the massive continent that is Thedas and know nothing about lands beyond it seas, Eluvians function as inter planetary "mass relays" in this world so who knows what other kind of things are beyond the lands of Thedas.
If one look at Dwarven hierarchy. I think that Sandal was the child of some casteless female dwarf and the father most likely would be a mage. If one look at human mages, they typically start showing their powers from age 5. Which is the age Bodan found Sandal in the deep roads. Imagine a dwarven child showing some magic from that age. The dwarfs would have chased the mother to the surface. So out of fear the mother would have abandon such a child to the deep roads.
Except Dwarves can't breed with humans and Dwarves can't use magic cause they have no connection to the Fade also if Bodan was a mage he wouldn't be able to do enchantment since only Dwarves and Tranquil can handle the raw lyrium with no side effects
@@internetjerk2839 plot-twist: she only said that because she's really into Dwarves and wanted to lock Warden Dwarf as exclusive lover w/o him seeking other women
Was waiting the entire trilogy for them to introduce Dwarf Magic. Starting with him and Dagna. I mean how many times have dwarves and companion dwaeves been in the fade. Its clearly they have a way to do it. Would be an amazing storyline
With the Descent DLC my old Theory from Dragon Age Origins was validated. My evidence was he existence of Genlock Emissaries, My Theory was that the Blight awakened dormant magic in the Dwarven Broodmothers and in result her spawn could be born with Magic.
@@Agustinguss The way I always saw it was that if you had no magical inclination, you couldn't use Blight Magic, otherwise all Darkspawn would have it. Blight Magic is just another school of magic, akin to Blood Magic.
I get kind of Tom Bombadil vibes from Sandal, someone kind of removed from the events of the world in a way. While we're unaware he is incredibly powerful.
When I first encountered Sandal in DA:O, I thought he was a cute, loveable and useful character for my Warden. But I became intrigued when my Warden's party finds him in Fort Drakon surrounded by annihilated darkspawn leading up to the final fight with the archdemon. Now that I'm playing DA2, this fascination continues with a similar scene in the deep roads. And also when Sandal hands Hawke a special rune giving a one word explanation: "Boom!" I can't wait to find out what Bioware has in store for us regarding Sandal. A wild ride had by all, no doubt.
One has to try and imagine what Dwarves must have been like before the Veil was created. Admittedly that must be complicated, but I think that is the key to understanding Sandal. Paragons conceptually are the closest thing in living memory that is any similar to the ancient elven gods, and you can be sure that Sandal would fit the mold of a true Paragon, had modern dwarven society the sense to look for real dwarven talent among the surfacer dwarves as well.
My theory was that Sandal was small dwarven boy who had died within the Deep Roads. His body was then taken as a vessel for an old god like with Morrigan's son and Flemeth. Hence the ability to cast magic and make runes like no other dwarf could.
I remember the first time I heard sandal say that whole magic will be back speech and it was late at night and I was freaked out lol I always stayed clicking on him and he’d say something short like “I like salamanders” and then all of sudden he whipped out that ominous speech
You know, I never connected the "old lady" that visits Sandal at night to be Flemeth. That could also be another parentage link - maybe the reason he has "magical" talent and it would give Flemeth another reason to visit him (as her only known son?)
ENCHANTMENT!!! I've been firmly in the camp of believing he's a half-elf (since to me that seemed like the most likely combo for his specialness), but I love the thought that he's just a dwarf. I don't care what he is, tbh, I just need him to appear in Dreadwolf.
All Hail The Mighty Sandal! For he is truly the Maker! lol in all seriousness though, I think he's nothing mroe than a joke character that the writers are having fun with. If he ever becomes something more it'll be entirely due to fan pressure/intrigue and not some long sighted planning lol. I think the most plausible thing they can do with him is connect him with a Titan, but we'll see... hopefully. lol
I do think that Sandal can use magic to a certain extent, and that's how he was able to survive. Maybe a Titan reached out to him and granted his abilities the way Valta was given some sort of magic. When Valta said she was pure now what does that even mean lol. I do think that he dreams though, I don't have any doubts about that.
Just imagine Sandal turns out to be the maker in disguise 🥸 changing his looks Infront of our very eyes saying: I fooled all of you. Edit: I'd reload the game just to hear it again to make sure my ears haven't failed me. Damn that would be so weird 🤯
I think he's Dragon Age's version of UMA in Witcher 3. A highly intelligent magical warrior/sage that's under a curse. Maybe CDPR got their idea for UMA talking with Bioware devs, we know that it's a community that sometimes shares ideas.
@@sarialue It feels like the prophecy makes more sense since Sandal states "the magic will come back. All of it. Everyone will be just like they were." Relating to how Solas explains his plans to the Inquisitor of restoring the world to what it once was. I'm starting to believe that Solas will win (like Thanos) and this may be a unique new beginning rather than just a sorrowful end for Thedas.
@@SeventhheavenDK I just watched 10 Video Games You Won't Believe Share the Same Universe, by WhatCulture and They gave me a gut punch about Dragon Age (if they are onto something).
~Whispers Written in Red Lyrium~ We are here We have waited We have slept We are sundered We are crippled We are polluted We endure We wait We have found the dreams again We will awaken
This may be out there, but I think he is related to Solas and Mythal in the sense that he could be hosting a spirit from the time of the Evanurus like Flemmeth.
Definitely inspired me to replay all the DA games I have. I’ve always found Sandal to be a pleasant surprise, especially his interaction with the dog in DA: Origins & DA2
Enchantment! I just love Sandal and want to adopt him. I know there is a way all this knits together. I hope he comes back because I missed him in inquisition (although I actually played the games in reverse order lol). Who will sell me desperate last minute potions just before I fight the Dreadwolf or final boss 😱 😭
Idk if it is at all worth mentioning, but he is one of the few male dwarves completely clean shaven.. like no stubble, nothing. Which makes me believe that is an inherited trait from an elven parent. Even Varric, the self described "undwarfiest dwarf", that jokes about sprouting a beard during Trespasser, is stubbly. Not saying it's impossible or unheard of for the male dwarves to be clean shaven, but it isn't all that common as far as I am aware.
Nice ideas, thanks! I really thought at some point that he was the maker, since I don't believe "The Maker" to be an actual "God", but more like an old soul with immense powers, but now I'm not sure anymore...
You manage to make games with a tiny current playerbase want to delve straight into the games again. You'd crush it with games such as the Witcher 3 or Elden Ring. Such a great content creator!
I honestly wonder if Sandal is a fragment of another Old God, just like Morigans son had the soul of an old god. Flemeth talks about how mythal clawed and crawled her way until she found flemeth, so isn’t their a possibility that another old one like mythal happened to find someone suitable to house its soul? Sandal being slightly awkward, yet simple and innocent would be a perfect disguise or mask to hide behind and it would explain how he was able to keep himself safe. I know it’s a bit of a stretch but honestly Solas, Mythal and another one of the old gods are all alive along with as far as we know 2 of the old magisters that broke into the golden city, the architect and the conductor/coryphius. So why can’t another ancient being have found their way to the dragon age.
Mmmmm, I find it very unlikely. Mythal was able to do that because unlike the other Elven Gods, Mythal wasn't sealed in the Fade or wherever the Elven Gods were sealed by Solas. Urthemiel's soul is/was potentially in Kieran only due to the Dark Ritual (conceived by Flemeth/Mythal) but only after defeating that Archdemon, not before that. Sandal's origins must be more related to the Titans side, just as Valta was able to use magic after being in contact with him. Not everything has to be Elven related.
That lyrium poisoning theory does offer an interesting question. What happens when a dwarf is effectively put through the rite of tranquility? Could it be as though a connection that did not exist before is forced on them, potentially granting them access to magic?
Well, obviously, Sandal was put in to give a hand waved excuse for the player to have access to easy enchanting. The lore on enchanting, however, makes it clear that what Sandal does is equivalent to having the resources of an entire mage tower at your beck and call. In real world terms, he is like having a major part of the military industrial complex on call in your campsite, or basically a pocket Tony Stark to build war machines for you. If any nation learned of his existence, armies would move, if Sandal ever worked anywhere but where he needed to be, nations would fall. All in all, the way the world doesn't remember and people don't react to Sandal is most comparable to Cole from Inquisition. The mural he was found in front of was of such grand make, it was actually a window into a part of the fade, and after aeons, when a dwarf happened to walk in front of that window in danger from Dark Spawn, Something stepped through to help.
Sandal is probably the most memorable character in DA, i can here him say the “Word” and easily visualize him. I love the relationship he has with bodan. Hope to see more of them in the next DA
A lot of this seems like wild speculation. His strangness could be explained that he was a child abandoned by a family from kal-sharok those people are described by others as being strange who survived the fall of the empire by unknown means. Oh as im watching you just mentioned kal-sharok. Well as a fun fact dwarves have been shown to be able to use blood magic.
That's very interesting and my theory is what IF sandal parents was infected with darkspawn taint just before he was born and some of the taint made it's way to him and altered him in someway. 😒
I always thought Sandal was some ancient legendary paragon, just with some crucial component intentionally removed & hidden from himself (which is why he behaves so strangely). Maybe his missing component is the anchor, or the idol, or maybe HE is a missing component to the Black City
When my friend was playing through Tresspasser, we found Sandal's journal and were like "WTF is this? Since we hadn't played the other games. We just figured it was some joke or from someone who'd gone crazy. Then I played Origins and I was like "OH IT'S THIS GUY!"
Only just found your channel and will check out more of it. A short but really nice bit of lore. I follow several lore-type channels and will definitely be checking out more of yours.
My favourite Sandal Feddic, theory. Must be, with a Warden Mother, most likely an Elf. And King Endrin's possible "cheating ways." The idea has crossed me at times, What if Sandal was technically the oldest heir to the Orzammar throne? He would older than Trian. So we could get a Cailan and Alistair situation. But this time its Sandal Vs his younger brother Behlen. Then again the Assembly might not be so eager to support a bastard heir that also happens to have magic? Instead of pursuing more traditional dwarven combat training.
ive thought about sandle being similar to cole and being a demon and thats the form he chooses to present and nobody questions it besides being really strange
Well considering that flemeith and Solas are as of inquisition DLC are in fact elven old gods precludes the ability of prophecy due to Flemith's attempts to bring the world back in order by her mind and will
I just wanted to mention that since Morrigan is absolutely certain that the dark ritual will work, that would prove that the ritual has been done before, Kieran is NOT the first old god baby; of course, this doesen't mean that Sandal is involved in any way, since the timeline doesen't exactly match, unless the old god soul was passed trough several people until it made it's way to him (we know that Flemeth can take Kieran's soul fragment, so it is posible) but, again, I can't prove that there is a real conection between Sandal and an old god. Also: ENCHANTMENT!!! :D
When I saw Solas turn Qun into stone, I immediately thought of when Sandal did it to an Ogre. Id bet that since dwarf minds dont dream, that an old gods spirit inside of him damaged his brain. I know. Year old video, but I just now bought and finished the dragon age games.
I think Sandal was a joke about people with mental disabilities, which is why he doesn't appear in Inquisition, the game where BioWare started to sanitize their politically incorrect attitudes. As for how Sandal kills enemies, he probably uses runes in special ways because he knows how to make them do things most people can't understand.
@@sarialue I mean, there's no way to confirm it, but I suspect this was the case. In Witch Hunt you can even hear Yuri Lowethal steering into the "speech impediment" skid when he says the line "Enchantment". You can hear it in DA2 for certain lines as well. And as for the idea of mocking certain groups, the "Female" Elf (quotation marks added by BioWare) in Origins' Pearl, and Serendipity in DA2 tell you all you need to know about how BioWare didn't shy away from making fun of certain people.
@@BelieveIt1051 I don’t necessarily think it’s mean spirited mocking (perhaps I’m being charitable) but rather riffing off the idea of savant syndrome (better known as, sorry, idiot savants) where people have suffered brain damage or are otherwise mentally impaired but show incredible and sometimes inexplicable skill in a very specific field
@@Chickpeas12453 . Yeah, I agree with both takes. i didn't find it mean spirited, but old Bioware was braver to cover some "delicate" topics, in the end Sandal is actually very smart and talented despite his condition. But I also agree that Inquisition becoming more political correct is one of the possible reasons Sandal wasn't there.
So I’m not the only one who believes that he could be from a titan possible it’s sleeker or ex speaker. Super strong, can use magic, lost ability to speak partially, found in one of the deepest and most abandoned roads right next to a ‘collapsed’ tunnel. That just screams titan or to be more precise sha bortal. Their so rare that we’ve only seen their city once (which was huge) he’ll we’ve never seen the titan just a guardian and a few of its left over precurs/elementals. We barely know anything about them after all so a lost sha child to use would just seem like a weird dwarf boy with lyrum poisoning.
if you walk near the red cliff town tabern in inquisition, you can clearly hear sandal voice actor say "good day" . I never found out what NPC has that voice.
Honestly, I like the thought of Sandal simply being blessed with something that has eluded Dwarves for so long. The ability to use magic and dream. A one in a million Dwarf born with a unique trait that could change Dwarven history. A form of mystic figure who, while is hindered by mental afflictions, is blessed with the power to forge things of beauty and of war. Perhaps through him, the Dwarves can finally achieve enlightenment and become one with the greater world.
As others have said, I remember finding Sandal inside Fort Drakon with all of those dead darkspawn in front of him. He had to have killed them all somehow.. We definitely need to see more on his background and learn more lore in upcoming games lol. Maybe even a cameo in the next game. But, it's up to the Bioware devs. He's an interesting character for sure!
So what if he is Elgar'nan Mythal's husband, his soul was damaged and got stuck somehow in sandal maybe thats why flemeth visits him from time to time, amnesia a classic story
What if solas made Samuel an inheritor or a holder of dreadwolf like Flemith did to items as a backup plan to protect from death. I actually wonder if that was an elven gods standard operating procedure so it gave the elves they were the illusion of immortal gods. Sorry for spelling, grammar, and a tin foil hat. Please forgive.
i . . . had always percieved "not enchantment" . . as an enchantment to stop movement/freeze . . as in the person can't . . do . . anymore as it's now enchanted to not . .Which in my mind fit with his characters lack of vocabulary to express what was being said. Not being his version (or my perspective of it) of immobile/not moving.
Sandal is the old god Lusacan who has escaped his prison. I think Lusacan was originally the elvish god Falon'Din. "In Dalish stories Falon'Din and his twin brother Dirthamen are the eldest children of Elgar'nan and Mythal. Falon'Din had no fear of the night (which I interpret to also include the darkness of the deeproads) and would walk where the People could not live." Also, since Falon'Din has a twin brother Dirthamen, each time we meet Sandal it may not actually be Sandal but it may actually be his twin brother (such as in Origins where Sandal appears in the castle right before the Archdemon confrontation).
One of a few moments that really struck me in DA: Origins was walking into that castle near the endgame... dozens of darkspawn splattered across the room... and there, on the other side of the killing floor, is a blood-splattered Sandal, happy to see his friend who gets him to do enchantment!
It actually made me wonder if the Tranquil were capable of the same thing.
Exactly...it was at that point i figured he may somehow be the first dwarf to become a mage. I wish they went more into sandal.
I thought the lore was that Sandal was in the Deep Roads for a while. He was lost and likely ate darkspawn flesh. If I had to guess, his parents either left him there or became crazy themselves after consuming blighted flesh.
Those who do this not only take the taint but also the call of it. There was a dwarf found in the deep roads who went crazy and they also found that he was able to avoid darkspawn because he could sense them.
Sandel has expressed a couple of times that 'they are near', meaning the darkspawn are close.
Then, later, you go back into the deep roads (in inquisition) where you excavate the deep roads with a dwarf who could hear the song from the lyrium they were researching. Turns out, lyrium was the blood of a giant, and the woman you traveled with could hear that song pretty clearly.
Maybe Sandel could hear it's call aswell?
@@PheoBlitz05 Yes Lyrium is the blood of a Titan, Shapers of the world.
Same thing happens in DA2, where you find Sandal at the end of a trail of slaughtered Darkspawn and a frozen Ogre. You get a unique staff after the encounter, which I think is pretty neat.
Tranquil can not defend themselves at all.. Remember ?...
Sandal is the Maker.
Ever since the first encounters in Dragon Age Origins, and all that followed, I always found him one of the most interesting characters in the game series. For sure a well designed side character with a mystery that always got me to wonder more about him, especially that encounter in the deep roads or in the Battle of Denerim where he clearly defended himself from an overwhelming force. Always made me tilt my head side ways after finding him in those scenes and wonder more...
Same, I really hope he does come back but I'm completely okay with him remaining enigmatic in the process. He's just a good lad.
I think the Veil is coming down in Dreadwolf, and when it does, certain dwarves will find that they have magical abilities. At least Sandal, Valta, Dagna, and maybe more.
I hope Dagna gets more screentime. She's awesome.
Magical dwarves would be awesome
It’s Harding!
Hey new DA fans, did you know Sandal is a trans-dimensional being that actually came from the Mass Effect world after he defeated the Reapers?
Conrad is that you?
@@archangelgabriel5316 no it’s not
Oh
@@conradkorbol Stop pretending being me, you impostor
@@nachoyoutube2732 whatever you notrad
I have only one thing to say.
ENCHANTMENT???!?
Tbh he def was just a joke we took way too seriously, and they ran with it lol. But honestly I think they have been listening to us and his role has become more important. I like the idea of him being a Old God Baby or, what happens when a dwarf is directly controlled/influenced by a very powerful spirit of the Fade.
Sandal is the M’aiq of Dragon Age
I wished Sandal was featured in Inquisition, I was really intrigued by him when I was playing DA II and was looking forward to more of him in Inquisition when I found out Varric was in it but alas the writers are cruel. Hope he appears on Dreadwolf!!!
They were supposed to go to the Winter Palace, weren't they? It would have been such a good opportunity to include them 😔
I agree, we should have seen him. He was mentioned in the Trespasser DLC though, there's a book/journal with "enchantment" repeated over and over in the fade-connected library.
Yeah he wasn't, sadly. But if you played Trespasser, his notes are written all over the place and scattered in the library in the Eluvian, almost as if he had been there. Little guy is fascinating, I really hope he's got a bigger role to play in Deadwolf
You actually encounter them in the game, they just dont' follow you
@@marc0lin00elaborate?….
When I saw the codex in the Trespasser DLC, I have a feeling that Sandal arrived in Thedas through other eluvians. We only know of the massive continent that is Thedas and know nothing about lands beyond it seas, Eluvians function as inter planetary "mass relays" in this world so who knows what other kind of things are beyond the lands of Thedas.
If one look at Dwarven hierarchy. I think that Sandal was the child of some casteless female dwarf and the father most likely would be a mage. If one look at human mages, they typically start showing their powers from age 5. Which is the age Bodan found Sandal in the deep roads. Imagine a dwarven child showing some magic from that age. The dwarfs would have chased the mother to the surface. So out of fear the mother would have abandon such a child to the deep roads.
Except Dwarves can't breed with humans and Dwarves can't use magic cause they have no connection to the Fade also if Bodan was a mage he wouldn't be able to do enchantment since only Dwarves and Tranquil can handle the raw lyrium with no side effects
@@internetjerk2839 They literally can, Kieran can be one.
@@ShadowWolfRising except it's stated by Morrigan that's only possible because of the Blood ritual
@@internetjerk2839 plot-twist: she only said that because she's really into Dwarves and wanted to lock Warden Dwarf as exclusive lover w/o him seeking other women
Was waiting the entire trilogy for them to introduce Dwarf Magic. Starting with him and Dagna. I mean how many times have dwarves and companion dwaeves been in the fade. Its clearly they have a way to do it. Would be an amazing storyline
With the Descent DLC my old Theory from Dragon Age Origins was validated. My evidence was he existence of Genlock Emissaries, My Theory was that the Blight awakened dormant magic in the Dwarven Broodmothers and in result her spawn could be born with Magic.
Descent DLC made me think about this a lot
@@Shadowpack95 didn't darkspawn use blight magic?? It's not the same as regular magic
@@Agustinguss The way I always saw it was that if you had no magical inclination, you couldn't use Blight Magic, otherwise all Darkspawn would have it. Blight Magic is just another school of magic, akin to Blood Magic.
I get kind of Tom Bombadil vibes from Sandal, someone kind of removed from the events of the world in a way. While we're unaware he is incredibly powerful.
When I first encountered Sandal in DA:O, I thought he was a cute, loveable and useful character for my Warden. But I became intrigued when my Warden's party finds him in Fort Drakon surrounded by annihilated darkspawn leading up to the final fight with the archdemon.
Now that I'm playing DA2, this fascination continues with a similar scene in the deep roads. And also when Sandal hands Hawke a special rune giving a one word explanation: "Boom!"
I can't wait to find out what Bioware has in store for us regarding Sandal. A wild ride had by all, no doubt.
One has to try and imagine what Dwarves must have been like before the Veil was created. Admittedly that must be complicated, but I think that is the key to understanding Sandal. Paragons conceptually are the closest thing in living memory that is any similar to the ancient elven gods, and you can be sure that Sandal would fit the mold of a true Paragon, had modern dwarven society the sense to look for real dwarven talent among the surfacer dwarves as well.
My theory was that Sandal was small dwarven boy who had died within the Deep Roads. His body was then taken as a vessel for an old god like with Morrigan's son and Flemeth. Hence the ability to cast magic and make runes like no other dwarf could.
I remember the first time I heard sandal say that whole magic will be back speech and it was late at night and I was freaked out lol
I always stayed clicking on him and he’d say something short like “I like salamanders” and then all of sudden he whipped out that ominous speech
What?
@@superiorrule34 6:11
@@mggentry oh yep ex Employee Sandal was a joke at first but everyone liked him.
You know, I never connected the "old lady" that visits Sandal at night to be Flemeth. That could also be another parentage link - maybe the reason he has "magical" talent and it would give Flemeth another reason to visit him (as her only known son?)
ENCHANTMENT!!!
I've been firmly in the camp of believing he's a half-elf (since to me that seemed like the most likely combo for his specialness), but I love the thought that he's just a dwarf. I don't care what he is, tbh, I just need him to appear in Dreadwolf.
Sandal video for Christmas! So enchanting 🎉
All Hail The Mighty Sandal! For he is truly the Maker!
lol in all seriousness though, I think he's nothing mroe than a joke character that the writers are having fun with. If he ever becomes something more it'll be entirely due to fan pressure/intrigue and not some long sighted planning lol. I think the most plausible thing they can do with him is connect him with a Titan, but we'll see... hopefully. lol
I actually expected that, especially after _The Descent_
Definitely feels like a lost Sha-Brytol for sure
Totally agree with this.
I really want Sandal's prophecy to come true. I want the veil to come down regardless of if you do redeem Solas or not. I want it to be too late.
This was fun. I never gave Sandal much thought but now my mind is going down a rabbit hole. 🤣 Thanks for the video!
I do think that Sandal can use magic to a certain extent, and that's how he was able to survive. Maybe a Titan reached out to him and granted his abilities the way Valta was given some sort of magic. When Valta said she was pure now what does that even mean lol. I do think that he dreams though, I don't have any doubts about that.
I believe when Valta says "She is pure" it's because she is reconnected with her ability to wield magic.
I think the same. It's might be more related to Valta.
hope we get to see sandal in dreadwolf!
“The veilguard”
“The veilguard”
Just imagine Sandal turns out to be the maker in disguise 🥸 changing his looks Infront of our very eyes saying:
I fooled all of you.
Edit: I'd reload the game just to hear it again to make sure my ears haven't failed me.
Damn that would be so weird 🤯
The chantry would be in chaos.
I like it
or maby the son of andraste and the maker^^
I still think he's a true Paragon, one created by the Titans, not named by the other dwarfs.
Enchantment!
You can't say en-CHANT-ment without the word chant.
The Chantry has chants.
The Chantry believes in the Maker.
Sandal = Maker
I mean it would be the ultimate plot twist 🤔 if he can beat solas ass before cataclysm all the world it would be cool with me XD
I think he's Dragon Age's version of UMA in Witcher 3. A highly intelligent magical warrior/sage that's under a curse. Maybe CDPR got their idea for UMA talking with Bioware devs, we know that it's a community that sometimes shares ideas.
When Sandal shares the prophecy at 6:10 is he talking about Corypheus, during Inquisition or Solas during Dreadwolf?
who knows? but since BioWare made the hashtag #TheDreadWolfRises, i'm still assuming it is Solas
@@sarialue It feels like the prophecy makes more sense since Sandal states "the magic will come back. All of it. Everyone will be just like they were." Relating to how Solas explains his plans to the Inquisitor of restoring the world to what it once was. I'm starting to believe that Solas will win (like Thanos) and this may be a unique new beginning rather than just a sorrowful end for Thedas.
@@KedemothThePaladin . Or Solas will win just like Thanos and we will find a way to mend and fix his selfish BS as the Avengers did.
@@SeventhheavenDK I just watched 10 Video Games You Won't Believe Share the Same Universe, by WhatCulture and They gave me a gut punch about Dragon Age (if they are onto something).
Both?
Awesome present sadly all I got you was a like and comment. But honestly I did not know there were this many theories on Sandal, this was great.
I love Sandal and he'll always have a place in my homes.
My Christmas gift came early this year.
What we need in a future DA game: Sandal wielding a grenade launcher that fires barrages of his elemental rune stones 🫢
~Whispers Written in Red Lyrium~
We are here
We have waited
We have slept
We are sundered
We are crippled
We are polluted
We endure
We wait
We have found the dreams again
We will awaken
This may be out there, but I think he is related to Solas and Mythal in the sense that he could be hosting a spirit from the time of the Evanurus like Flemmeth.
I think he's a child of the Titans.
Definitely inspired me to replay all the DA games I have. I’ve always found Sandal to be a pleasant surprise, especially his interaction with the dog in DA: Origins & DA2
*Bodies of dark spawn strewn across the room, frozen ogre*
"Not Enchantment"
*Refuses too elaborate further*
Enchantment! I just love Sandal and want to adopt him. I know there is a way all this knits together. I hope he comes back because I missed him in inquisition (although I actually played the games in reverse order lol). Who will sell me desperate last minute potions just before I fight the Dreadwolf or final boss 😱 😭
Idk if it is at all worth mentioning, but he is one of the few male dwarves completely clean shaven.. like no stubble, nothing. Which makes me believe that is an inherited trait from an elven parent.
Even Varric, the self described "undwarfiest dwarf", that jokes about sprouting a beard during Trespasser, is stubbly. Not saying it's impossible or unheard of for the male dwarves to be clean shaven, but it isn't all that common as far as I am aware.
New joke: Sandal is the one really on the writing board.
Nice ideas, thanks! I really thought at some point that he was the maker, since I don't believe "The Maker" to be an actual "God", but more like an old soul with immense powers, but now I'm not sure anymore...
You manage to make games with a tiny current playerbase want to delve straight into the games again. You'd crush it with games such as the Witcher 3 or Elden Ring. Such a great content creator!
DA is a cult, man. There’s a shabibble of us still playing DA:O.🤣
Enchantment?,enchantment!😆😆😆
When you make a very mysterious character Sandal is the best to think about.
Merry Christmas, great video and keep up the amazing work.
He is clearly Solas' son with Mythal.
AYO?
@@sarialue Sandal is the actual antagonist of Dreadwolf
I actually never gave this topic much thought, so .... Enchantment!
I honestly wonder if Sandal is a fragment of another Old God, just like Morigans son had the soul of an old god. Flemeth talks about how mythal clawed and crawled her way until she found flemeth, so isn’t their a possibility that another old one like mythal happened to find someone suitable to house its soul? Sandal being slightly awkward, yet simple and innocent would be a perfect disguise or mask to hide behind and it would explain how he was able to keep himself safe.
I know it’s a bit of a stretch but honestly Solas, Mythal and another one of the old gods are all alive along with as far as we know 2 of the old magisters that broke into the golden city, the architect and the conductor/coryphius. So why can’t another ancient being have found their way to the dragon age.
Mmmmm, I find it very unlikely.
Mythal was able to do that because unlike the other Elven Gods, Mythal wasn't sealed in the Fade or wherever the Elven Gods were sealed by Solas.
Urthemiel's soul is/was potentially in Kieran only due to the Dark Ritual (conceived by Flemeth/Mythal) but only after defeating that Archdemon, not before that.
Sandal's origins must be more related to the Titans side, just as Valta was able to use magic after being in contact with him.
Not everything has to be Elven related.
That lyrium poisoning theory does offer an interesting question. What happens when a dwarf is effectively put through the rite of tranquility? Could it be as though a connection that did not exist before is forced on them, potentially granting them access to magic?
Well, obviously, Sandal was put in to give a hand waved excuse for the player to have access to easy enchanting. The lore on enchanting, however, makes it clear that what Sandal does is equivalent to having the resources of an entire mage tower at your beck and call. In real world terms, he is like having a major part of the military industrial complex on call in your campsite, or basically a pocket Tony Stark to build war machines for you. If any nation learned of his existence, armies would move, if Sandal ever worked anywhere but where he needed to be, nations would fall. All in all, the way the world doesn't remember and people don't react to Sandal is most comparable to Cole from Inquisition. The mural he was found in front of was of such grand make, it was actually a window into a part of the fade, and after aeons, when a dwarf happened to walk in front of that window in danger from Dark Spawn, Something stepped through to help.
If we see Sandal in DA4 man oh boy the reveal
**Handles a rune.** "Boom!"
Sandal is probably the most memorable character in DA, i can here him say the “Word” and easily visualize him. I love the relationship he has with bodan. Hope to see more of them in the next DA
this video was on my top recommended today. I'm happy it led me here
welcome!!!
Ooooh, enchantment?
A lot of this seems like wild speculation. His strangness could be explained that he was a child abandoned by a family from kal-sharok those people are described by others as being strange who survived the fall of the empire by unknown means.
Oh as im watching you just mentioned kal-sharok.
Well as a fun fact dwarves have been shown to be able to use blood magic.
Enchantment?........ENCHANTMENT!
That's very interesting and my theory is what IF sandal parents was infected with darkspawn taint just before he was born and some of the taint made it's way to him and altered him in someway. 😒
This video is about to get alot more views. Congrats
I always thought Sandal was some ancient legendary paragon, just with some crucial component intentionally removed & hidden from himself (which is why he behaves so strangely). Maybe his missing component is the anchor, or the idol, or maybe HE is a missing component to the Black City
Well, you heard her...ENCHANTMENT!
Enchantment!!!
Always love your videos!! Thank you for this
Happy holidays!
Not Enchantment
When my friend was playing through Tresspasser, we found Sandal's journal and were like "WTF is this? Since we hadn't played the other games. We just figured it was some joke or from someone who'd gone crazy. Then I played Origins and I was like "OH IT'S THIS GUY!"
Sandal is a dwarven mage. Possibly fused with a spirit or demon
Only just found your channel and will check out more of it. A short but really nice bit of lore. I follow several lore-type channels and will definitely be checking out more of yours.
Glad you enjoy it!
Even if it's just a joke in INQ I missed the funny little guy, hoping he comes back in Dreadwolf even if it's as a little side easter egg.
My favourite Sandal Feddic, theory. Must be, with a Warden Mother, most likely an Elf. And King Endrin's possible "cheating ways."
The idea has crossed me at times, What if Sandal was technically the oldest heir to the Orzammar throne? He would older than Trian. So we could get a Cailan and Alistair situation. But this time its Sandal Vs his younger brother Behlen.
Then again the Assembly might not be so eager to support a bastard heir that also happens to have magic? Instead of pursuing more traditional dwarven combat training.
ive thought about sandle being similar to cole and being a demon and thats the form he chooses to present and nobody questions it besides being really strange
Well considering that flemeith and Solas are as of inquisition DLC are in fact elven old gods precludes the ability of prophecy due to Flemith's attempts to bring the world back in order by her mind and will
I always figured Sandal was a Sha Brytol child who got separated from them and wandered up into the Deep Roads.
I just wanted to mention that since Morrigan is absolutely certain that the dark ritual will work, that would prove that the ritual has been done before, Kieran is NOT the first old god baby; of course, this doesen't mean that Sandal is involved in any way, since the timeline doesen't exactly match, unless the old god soul was passed trough several people until it made it's way to him (we know that Flemeth can take Kieran's soul fragment, so it is posible) but, again, I can't prove that there is a real conection between Sandal and an old god.
Also: ENCHANTMENT!!! :D
When I saw Solas turn Qun into stone, I immediately thought of when Sandal did it to an Ogre. Id bet that since dwarf minds dont dream, that an old gods spirit inside of him damaged his brain. I know. Year old video, but I just now bought and finished the dragon age games.
hope you're liking the games!
What I theorized that Sandal, just like Grunt in Mass Effect 2, is a pure combination of other of his kind in this case Paragons.
And here I thought Sandal was the "Maker"
I think Sandal was a joke about people with mental disabilities, which is why he doesn't appear in Inquisition, the game where BioWare started to sanitize their politically incorrect attitudes. As for how Sandal kills enemies, he probably uses runes in special ways because he knows how to make them do things most people can't understand.
wait that makes me so sad if this is true (if the devs thought that was funny)
@@sarialue I mean, there's no way to confirm it, but I suspect this was the case. In Witch Hunt you can even hear Yuri Lowethal steering into the "speech impediment" skid when he says the line "Enchantment". You can hear it in DA2 for certain lines as well.
And as for the idea of mocking certain groups, the "Female" Elf (quotation marks added by BioWare) in Origins' Pearl, and Serendipity in DA2 tell you all you need to know about how BioWare didn't shy away from making fun of certain people.
@@BelieveIt1051 I don’t necessarily think it’s mean spirited mocking (perhaps I’m being charitable) but rather riffing off the idea of savant syndrome (better known as, sorry, idiot savants) where people have suffered brain damage or are otherwise mentally impaired but show incredible and sometimes inexplicable skill in a very specific field
@@Chickpeas12453 Yeah I think that's how they meant it as well.
@@Chickpeas12453 . Yeah, I agree with both takes. i didn't find it mean spirited, but old Bioware was braver to cover some "delicate" topics, in the end Sandal is actually very smart and talented despite his condition.
But I also agree that Inquisition becoming more political correct is one of the possible reasons Sandal wasn't there.
So I’m not the only one who believes that he could be from a titan possible it’s sleeker or ex speaker. Super strong, can use magic, lost ability to speak partially, found in one of the deepest and most abandoned roads right next to a ‘collapsed’ tunnel.
That just screams titan or to be more precise sha bortal. Their so rare that we’ve only seen their city once (which was huge) he’ll we’ve never seen the titan just a guardian and a few of its left over precurs/elementals. We barely know anything about them after all so a lost sha child to use would just seem like a weird dwarf boy with lyrum poisoning.
if you walk near the red cliff town tabern in inquisition, you can clearly hear sandal voice actor say "good day" . I never found out what NPC has that voice.
Honestly, I like the thought of Sandal simply being blessed with something that has eluded Dwarves for so long. The ability to use magic and dream. A one in a million Dwarf born with a unique trait that could change Dwarven history. A form of mystic figure who, while is hindered by mental afflictions, is blessed with the power to forge things of beauty and of war. Perhaps through him, the Dwarves can finally achieve enlightenment and become one with the greater world.
As others have said, I remember finding Sandal inside Fort Drakon with all of those dead darkspawn in front of him. He had to have killed them all somehow.. We definitely need to see more on his background and learn more lore in upcoming games lol. Maybe even a cameo in the next game. But, it's up to the Bioware devs. He's an interesting character for sure!
Enchantment. I really need to finish DA2 keeps on dragging on and on.
ENCHANTMENT!
Enchantment!
So what if he is Elgar'nan Mythal's husband, his soul was damaged and got stuck somehow in sandal maybe thats why flemeth visits him from time to time, amnesia a classic story
ooooo i love that theory!
What if solas made Samuel an inheritor or a holder of dreadwolf like Flemith did to items as a backup plan to protect from death. I actually wonder if that was an elven gods standard operating procedure so it gave the elves they were the illusion of immortal gods. Sorry for spelling, grammar, and a tin foil hat. Please forgive.
loving the content soo far, cant wait for dreadwolf
ENCHANTMENT!!!!!!
I love Sandal's spooky prophesy only because even Bodahn gets freaked out by it and Sandal just goes Enchaantment
Your my official DA UA-camr I'm subbed!
i . . . had always percieved "not enchantment" . . as an enchantment to stop movement/freeze . . as in the person can't . . do . . anymore as it's now enchanted to not . .Which in my mind fit with his characters lack of vocabulary to express what was being said. Not being his version (or my perspective of it) of immobile/not moving.
I just assumed Sandal is actually June
Enchantment? ENCHANTMENT!
*ENCHANTMENT!!!*
I for one believe he is a God that is still hiding w/o any evidence yet. Watching mortals...
I always thought that Sandal was the Maker or someone sent by the Maker himself
Sandal is the old god Lusacan who has escaped his prison. I think Lusacan was originally the elvish god Falon'Din. "In Dalish stories Falon'Din and his twin brother Dirthamen are the eldest children of Elgar'nan and Mythal. Falon'Din had no fear of the night (which I interpret to also include the darkness of the deeproads) and would walk where the People could not live." Also, since Falon'Din has a twin brother Dirthamen, each time we meet Sandal it may not actually be Sandal but it may actually be his twin brother (such as in Origins where Sandal appears in the castle right before the Archdemon confrontation).
Enchantment?
Enchantment!