Solitary Scholar: Solas' Origin Unraveled in Leaked Concept

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' 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 left BioWare in 2022, contributed significantly to The Veilguard's development by creating a visual novel prototype to help shape the narrative. Over 100 sketches from this prototype depict various characters and scenes, some closely resembling their in-game counterparts, others drastically different.

Solas, initially introduced in Dragon Age: Inquisition as a helpful companion, is ultimately revealed as a traitor. While the core plot point of his attempt to tear down the Veil remains consistent between concept and final game, his portrayal differs significantly. The sketches depict Solas in a much more sinister light, sometimes as a colossal, shadowy figure, a far cry from his mostly dream-based advisory role in the released game. The ambiguity surrounding these artistic interpretations leaves open the question of whether these scenes represent Rook's dreams or actual events.

The discrepancies between the concept art and the final game highlight the significant narrative shifts that occurred during The Veilguard's development. This is further emphasized by the game's late title change from Dragon Age: Dreadwolf. Thornborrow's shared sketches provide valuable insight into this evolutionary process, allowing players to better understand the creative journey behind the game's final narrative.