The Dalish Elves seek to regain their noble past as they navigate their fragmented history in a changing society.
Players exploring the Dalish Elf origin in Origins
uncover tantalizing glimpses into Thedas’ distant past and mysterious origins.
The tragic history of the Dalish reveals their struggle as outcasts and the oppressed, with deep ties to the ancient Elvhenan civilization.
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Before the Veil existed, the elves of Dragon Age: Origins were the dominant race in Thedas. In modern times, they are better known for their catastrophic downfall. No longer one people, the only remaining unifying trait of elvenkind is to be the outcasts and the oppressed of society. Those who still remember their noble past call themselves Dalish, and they seek to regain what was lost.
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For players looking to plunder dangerous secrets in Origins, the Dalish Elf origin promises tantalizing glimpses into Thedas’ distant and mysterious past. The Dalish are not one people: they are nomadic tribes only bound as one people by tradition. Dalish Elf players take on the role of Mahariel, hunter of Clan Sabrae and descendant of an Emerald Knight of the Dales.
10 Nomadic Noble Of The Forest
The History Of The Elvhenan Is More Than Just Bragging Rights
The Elvhenan Empire is a lost civilization from a time before the shemlen, the “quickened” human race.
The Dales are located in the area known today as southeastern Orlais, west of Ferelden.
Inquisition
delves much deeper into the truth of the elven myths players first learn about in Origins
.
The Dalish trace their lineage back to the elven nobles and knights of the Dales. The Dalish hold this ancestry in high regard, although much of what they know is fragmented as ancient humans scattered and enslaved their people.
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Ancient elves possessed abilities that are poorly understood today if remembered at all, and there are many hints in lore that Thedas itself was very different in those times. Dalish history is full of intrigue, as much for Mahariel as for Dalish Elf players.
9 Proud To Be Dalish
Exiles Raise Excellent Hunters
Players have a clan to fight for as Mahariel.
Mahariel has both the motivation & skill to explore the wild environs where Grey Wardens must explore.
The elves of Dragon Age are the proud – and ignorant – descendants of an ancient race quite different from their modern descendants. The unbridled magic and immortality of the Elvhenan are gone forever, but the Dalish strive to seek out and preserve whatever fragments of memory still exist.
The pride of the Dalish is a wound from which the elves draw strength. These nomadic elves live by the Oaths of the Dales, and it’s a succinct summary of their attitude: “We are the Dalish: keepers of the lost lore, walkers of the lonely path. We are the last Elvhenan. Never again shall we submit.”
8 An Origin For Lore Connoisseurs
Some Of The Most Haunting Dragon Age Puzzles Begin With This Origin
The Dalish want to remember the Elvhenan Empire, but the Dalish origin highlights just how little they know for sure & how much more complicated their past might be.
Fully appreciating the tragedy of the elves begins with understanding who they became before learning the difference between who they were & who they thought they were.
The Dalish Elf is the only origin that reveals an almost comprehensive summary of the elves’ current knowledge
about their history.
The history of the elves of Dragon Age is a gripping mystery that is unraveled for players across several games. The events of Inquisition provide crucial and surprising answers about them, but the Dalish origin of the first game is where the right questions are asked in the first place.
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To the Dalish, much of their former power as a race is kept alive in spirit only. By the conclusion of the origin, Mahariel’s story will launch into something much more tangible than a fireside story about ancient Arlathan.
7 The Sabrae Are The Social Dalish
The Sabrae Clan Makes More Appearances Than Most
Merrill fans will enjoy meeting her before Dragon Age 2
& get some insight into where her Eluvian troubles began.
The Dalish origin is the only way to meet two Dalish clans at once in Origins
.
Origins isn’t the only game where Mahariel’s clan features. Merrill, a recent transfer to Sabrae who accompanies Mahariel, later goes on to become a Dragon Age 2companion. Other notable NPCs like Flemeth and other factions also have significant ties to them.
Having a Mahariel playthrough to import into subsequent games gives players a sense of continuity despite controlling a new protagonist each time. The Dalish origin is the only way to meet the Sabrae before their stint in the Free Marches.
6 Distorted Traditions & Elvhen Gods
Philosophers Beware, Playing All Dalish Is Not For The Faint Of Heart
The fall of the Dales is the second time the elves experienced the fragmentation & downfall of their civilization.
The conquest & enslavement of elves in modern day Tevinter is the turning point in history when humans became the dominant race in Thedas & escaped elves became the Dalish, & it’s this memory that fuels the Dalish’s hatred of shems.
Andraste also plays a surprising role
in the story of the elves.
As revered as the traditions of the Dalish are, they never claim to be exact. Their history recounts how the ancient elves were at the mercy of shemlen until they were liberated, but there is much more to this story to discover.
The Dalish don’t bother with the Chantry; their mages are destined to become Keepers. Unlike in Inquisition, players can’t play a Dalish mage in Origins, but Dalish rogues and warriors know more about magic than an average shem: it’s the birthright of every elf.
5 My Life Is In Ruins
Mahariel Should Have Taken Up Archeology, For Lavellan’s Sake
The Brecilian Forest has a lot of relevant clues about elven history, but only a Dalish can fully appreciate the value of what the Warden finds.
Players who appreciate how packed with Elvhenan lore Inquisition is will want to have a Dalish Elf Origins playthrough to take some notes. This is the only origin that offers a deeper glimpse into Andraste’s time and before.
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Mahariel has a broad appeal: players interested in the history of the Blights, the origins of the Thedasian races, and Tevinter lore will all find things to appreciate in this origin. Although the Dalish claim the right to delve into Elvhenan ruins to discover pieces of their lost identity, these revelations affect all of Thedas.
4 Life Or Death Recruitment
When The Infamously Deadly Grey Warden Joining Is The Sane Choice
The Sabrae clan is camped southwest of the Brecilian forest and uncomfortably close to Ostagar.
The Dalish encounter the enemy before the rest of Ferelden cottons on.
The darkspawn encounter in the Dalish origin is more visceral due to the inexperience of Tamlen & Mahariel, & the isolated setting.
The Dalish Elf origin gives players several strong incentives to fight darkspawn. It’s not political or criminal schemes that ensnare the Dalish Elf: Mahariel has a clan to protect against the threat of a new Blight.
The Sabrae clan neither has the protection of city walls nor the resources of a nation. Mahariel’s story also links ancient elves and other races together, and curious players will be convinced that only a Grey Warden is equipped to investigate further.
3 Mahariel’s Hatred Of Darkspawn Is Personal
The Dalish Elf Origin Introduces The Darkspawn The Earliest
This origin also features a reunion of a sort, as the others do, but many players feel Mahariel’s is one of the saddest quests in the game.
The Dalish Elf origin is one of the few that gives a few hints early on that the darkspawn threat is on the rise, and not just in the Deep Roads. Only the two dwarven origins offer more clues about this.
Mahariel has a lot of personal motivation that other origins don’t, making it one of the best origins to draw players’ focus to the game’s main threat. Dalish Elf players have more than just family motivations: their legacy is also at risk.
2 The Past Of The Dalish Haunts Dragon Age
No Other Origin Explains The Deep Background Of Dragon Age: Inquisition Better
The
lost knowledge of the Elvhenan
is the missing piece that would bring a lot of ancient lore into context for players.
Players who want to play Lavellan in Inquisition
and who romance Solas will have a whole new & personal depth added to their experience after a Dalish origin playthrough.
This origin has an impressive reach into the future of Dragon Age. Players who want Elven Glory all the way will especially want to make sure the Dalish Warden is part of their experience leading to Lavellan in Inquisition and straight into The Veilguard’s opening act.
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Although Inquisition clarifies a lot of questions Origins raises, there are still plenty of blanks to fill in. Mahariel’s origin discovery isn’t just a picturesque setting: there are clues that observant players will connect some surprising plot points that are raised in the subsequent games.
1 Heir Of Arlathan
Remembering & Reclaiming The Past
Mahariel will be the pride of the Dalish, earning unprecedented recognition in the world of the shemlen.
Mahariel revives forgotten knowledge like it’s his birthright, and only Lavellan matches the Warden’s impact on the Dalish.
It’s fitting that the Dalish Elf Warden’s tragedy is as poignant as that of the Dalish: Mahariel isn’t given a choice in the sacrifice demanded. Royalty of the forests or not, this Warden’s fate is sealed with emerald blood.
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On the other hand, no other Dalish is revered as the savior of Ferelden. If anyone would test the strength of the blood of an Emerald Knight, they had better be an Archdemon–even then, not even Fen’Harel would save them from Warden Mahariel, a true heir of Arlathan.
Dragon Age Origins
Franchise
Dragon Age
ESRB
M for Mature: Blood, Intense Violence, Language, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content
First major DLC for Black Myth: Wukong may release near Chinese New Year 2025.
Game Science has not confirmed DLC details, but two major DLCs are rumored to be on the way.
The first major DLC for Game Science’s Black Myth: Wukong reportedly has a release window set for early 2025, just in time for Chinese New Year celebrations. Black Myth: Wukong is expected to receive two major DLCs that will add a slew of new content, if rumors turn out to be accurate.
Released on August 20 for PlayStation 5 and PC, Black Myth: Wukong quickly became one of 2024’s most successful game releases. B lack Myth: Wukong has sold over 18 million copies worldwide and generated roughly $700 million in revenue in just two weeks after the game’s launch. In addition, PlayStation confirmed that Black Myth: Wukong was the most downloaded PlayStation 5 game of August 2024 in North America, Europe, and Japan. Black Myth: Wukong sets a precedent for new IPs as one of the fastest selling games of all time, and its momentum may carry over into the release of the game’s first DLC.
According to gaming analyst Daniel Camilo on Twitter, sources close to Game Science claim that DLC for Black Myth: Wukong will release sometime near Chinese New Year festivities, which take place on January 29, 2025. This means that the DLC could release at the very end of January or sometime soon after in February, but a specific release date is not set in stone yet. Details about the DLC’s story and content are still unclear as well.
Black Myth: Wukong DLC Could Release in January 2025
A release is reportedly planned around the Chinese New Year celebration on January 29, 2025.
Information about the DLC’s story and content is still unknown.
Camilo claims that Black Myth: Wukong sales have already surpassed 20 million units as of September 2024, with 70% of total sales coming from the player base in China. The analyst estimates that around 20% of the game’s total player base, or roughly four million players, will purchase the upcoming DLC. According to Camilo, “novelty and national pride” are factors that contributed to Black Myth: Wukong’s strong initial sales, but this will play less of a role once the DLC is close to releasing. The game’s challenging nature is also considered as a factor, since millions of casual gamers in China may not be interested in purchasing the DLC if they do not proceed further with their Black Myth: Wukong playthrough.
It’s worth noting that the Black Myth: Wukong developers did not officially unveil the new DLC or comment on its development status. Rumors suggest that two major DLCs for Black Myth: Wukong are planned, and the game’s Xbox Series X|S version is still coming soon. Like the DLC, Black Myth: Wukong for Xbox Series X|S does not have a release date.
Terminator Zero delves into the battle between humanity and Skynet with fresh perspectives and characters.
Humanity’s hope rests in Kokoro, a complex AI created to counter Skynet’s evolving threat.
Despite facing a powerful enemy, humanity’s resilience and adaptability serve as their greatest strengths in the fight. (Characters like Malcolm and Eiko embody this survivalist spirit.)
Netflix’s anime series, Terminator Zero, is an adaptation of the legendary Terminator franchise, and it has reignited the age-old struggle between humanity and Skynet. However, unlike the film, humanity’s hope in the anime does not lie in the birth of a resistance leader post-judgment day.
Through breathtaking animation and compelling characters, the anime dives deep into the horrifying reality of living in a world controlled by a malevolent AI and injects fresh life into the franchise. Even though humanity’s fight against Skynet has been futile, this time, they have a trump card that still gives them a chance as the fight rages on.
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The Threat Of Skynet
The Challenges Ahead For Humanity
In Terminator Zero, Skynet is no longer just a supercomputer controlling an army of machines; it has transcended its original form. Skynet’s motivations go beyond simply annihilating humanity; it seeks to create a world where it is the supreme entity devoid of any organic life. This revelation and fear fueled Malcolm Lee’s invention of Kokoro. In the anime, Kokoro is presented as a highly advanced AI capable of learning, growing, and even experiencing emotions on a level that challenges Skynet’s conception of what it means to be sentient.
Malcolm programmed Kokoro to process human feelings and emotions and to give it the ability to make its own decisions. In other words, Kokoro was humanity’s gamble to escape Skynet’s horror. However, while Skynet comes alive and destroys every other country in the world, Malcolm hopes to save his country, Japan, with Kokoro’s help. The series introduces Skynet as an adaptable entity that evolves with every failed human attack or error. This means every battle lost or won by the Resistance is a lesson learned for Skynet, making it stronger and harder to outmaneuver. Skynet sends its Terminator to the past to eliminate Malcolm and stop him from activating Kokoro. Since Kokoro is humanity’s last hope, it will hinder Skynet’s mission to destroy the whole world and make it its purgatory.
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Even in the face of a common enemy, humanity in Terminator Zero is deeply fractured. The post-judgment day Resistance Army Malcom was born is far from a unified front, and they became divided due to the fear the Terminator poses. Skynet’s true power doesn’t just lie in its advanced technology; it’s in how it manipulates human emotions and vulnerabilities. Skynet understands that people are driven by fear, anger, and desperation and uses these emotions to control them. If Malcolm had not resisted his fellow soldiers’ order to stop experimentation on machines, humanity wouldn’t have had a fighting chance. Malcolm even killed his fellow soldiers to travel back in time to 1983 and stop Judgment Day. Also, he refused to open the Kokoro’s chamber door for Kenta, his eldest son, even when the Terminator threatened to kill his son. For Malcolm, the end justifies the means; hence, his aim to build an AI with emotion and activate Kokoro is worth every drop of blood spilled. In this vein, Skynet sows the seeds of doubt and mistrust within humanity, which erodes them to create a united front and fight tooth and nail against Skynet.
Can Humanity Win?
Human Resilience and Adaptation
Skynet, in Terminator Zero, is far more than just a malevolent AI. It has adapted beyond mere machines of war—it is now a global intelligence capable of controlling and manipulating all technology. This presence of Skynet leaves little room for human error, and the human resistance is forced to adapt or die. Characters like Malcolm and Eiko embody the survivalist spirit that gives humanity hope. Malcolm knows that brute force or continuous resistance is not enough to defeat Skynet, hence his desire to build humanity’s own AI even with his subordinates’ disapproval. Eiko has hope for humanity’s survival, because why else does she venture into the past without knowing what awaits her? Despite overwhelming odds, she remains committed to the idea that humans can survive Synet’s planned Doomsday.
Moreover, Kokoro, the AI created by Malcolm, stands as a symbol of what makes humanity different from Skynet. Where Skynet sees humans as expendable and inefficient, Kokoro later understands the emotional depth and complexity that drives human survival through the actions that led to the death of Malcolm. Kokoro’s temporary alliance with humanity at the end of the series gives humanity an edge that Skynet doesn’t expect —empathy. Kokoro’s interactions with Kenta after his father’s death show that while machines like Skynet lack emotional intelligence, she fills in the gap in that area and can connect with people. In this way, this unusual alliance can allow the Resistance to exploit Skynet’s blind spots. However, Kokoro’s alliance with the humans is fragile because she can decide to align with Skynet and destroy humanity. Hence, it is a risky gambit for humanity’s survival.
At the end of the series, the question of whether humanity can win against Skynet is not easily answered, considering the repetitive time loops —time travel is bound to happen. Skynet is a near-unstoppable force, but the series constantly reminds viewers that human resilience and adaptability are their greatest weapons. The series portrays humanity’s resilience through the likes of Malcolm, Eiko, and even his daughter, Reika. Thus, Skynet’s rigidity and the hell-bent desire to annihilate humanity make it predictable. While humanity’s ability to adapt and learn is its greatest asset, it can’t truly overcome the might of Skynet. Hence, humanity has a higher chance with Kokoro, as it is portrayed at the end of the series, but even that is a risky bet as the AI represents a lesser evil.
In a bid to cut e-waste, Microsoft is employing AI-powered robots to streamline the disposal of old data center hard drives.
The initiative is part of the Secure and Sustainable Disposal of Hard Disks project, which originated during the 2022 Microsoft Hackathon. Spearheaded by Principal Data Scientist Ranganathan Srikanth, the project expands on Microsoft’s Circular Centers scheme which is designed to repurpose and recycle servers and related cloud hardware.
Circular Centers are a pivotal part of Microsoft’s broader environmental goals. In 2020, Microsoft President Brad Smith committed the company to being carbon-negative by 2050, with zero waste by 2030.
#NoShred
Data centers, which house computer systems and essential components like telecommunications and storage, contribute significantly to global electricity demand. In 2022 this accounted for approximately 1-1.3%, but thanks to AI, energy use is skyrocketing and is expected to at least double by 2026. The strain on local power grids is intensifying as a result, and end-of-life data centers risk clogging landfills with e-waste.
Srikanth recognized the potential to address these mounting issues through the Hackathon project. “If it was just one hard disk, it wouldn’t be an opportunity,” Srikanth noted. “However, in 2022 alone, there were two million hard disks shredded and that would fill the cargo of up to nine 747s.”
Historically, end-of-life hard drives have been shredded to protect sensitive data, but this process also destroys valuable materials like neodymium. Up to 70 million HDDs are destroyed annually, resulting in a significant waste of rare metals.
The Hackathon team proposed a #NoShred solution, which prioritizes dismantling HDDs with robotics. “The process uses computer vision and robotics to disassemble the hard disk, sorts them, and destroys the media that contains data. The materials are then recycled,” a Microsoft narrator explained in a new video which you can watch below. By breaking down the disk drives, the robots ensure data security while preserving and recycling component parts.
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Saving the Planet One Hard Drive at a Time – With Robots – YouTube
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Microsoft’s Circular Centers employ machine learning to decommission servers onsite, sort reusable parts, and improve future equipment sustainability. A successful pilot in Amsterdam demonstrated reduced downtime, increased availability of parts, and lower carbon emissions, Microsoft says.
The Secure and Sustainable Disposal of Hard Disks project aims to achieve a 90% reuse and recycle rate of all hard disks by 2025.
