BioWare reveals new details on the upcoming fantasy RPG’s cast of core companions, as well as Solas and Varric.

The companions that you recruit and get to know over the course of your journey are always a critical part of any RPG made by BioWare, but the developer is emphasizing that even more in the upcoming Dragon Age: The Veilguard. In a video uploaded by IGN, BioWare has revealed new details on each of the core party members that will together form the titular Veilguard, as well as other crucial characters that veteran series fans will be very familiar with.

Game director Corinne Busche goes into detail on each of the seven core characters who will become members of the Veilguard and accompany the protagonist, Rook, on their travels. There’s the detective Neve Gallus, a Shadow Dragon and an Ice Mage who’s primary goal is the betterment of the city of Minrathas; Lucanis, an assassin of the Antivan Crows, who, according to Busche, went through more changes during development than any other character; and Bellara, a curious and optimistic Veil Jumper elf who takes to the battlefield with electrical abilities.

Then there’s Emmrich, a Necromancer of the Mourn Watch who has an almost father-son relationship with a wisp that he has given a second chance at life inside of a skeleton; Davrin the Grey Warden, who also has a companion of his own in Assan, a young griffin who accompanies him in combat; Taash, a dragon hunting Qunari who has allied with the Lords of Fortune; and of course, Harding, who makes a return after appearing in Dragon Age: Inquisition, and will provide a stronger narrative link to The Veilguard’s predecessor.

Interestingly enough, Busche also revealed that players will earn skill points to upgrade their party members with only by getting to know them better, making their narrative and mechanical progression more deeply intertwined.

On top of the core cast of party members, the video also talks about returning key characters in the game who won’t be part of the Veilguard but will still play a crucial role, in the form of Solas and Varric, with creative director Jon Epler speaking about the latter in particular. Check out the video below for more details.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard launches on October 31 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.