Fantasy Kirkwall immortalised in graphic novel

Avid video game fans might already be aware that Kirkwall has become quite a well-known name in the world of gaming in recent years. Players of Dragon Age II — part of a prolific franchise of high fantasy role-playing — will be familiar with the real life Kirkwall’s fictional namesake, which is one of the principal settings for the game.

Now, this fantasy version of Kirkwall features in a spin-off graphic novel — Dragon Age: Hard in Hightown, released last month by Dark Horse Books.

Though — for the most part — this fictional setting is nothing like the genuine article, there are a few similarities. In the game, the coastal city of Kirkwall serves as a valuable port. It is also governed by a Viscount, a title which — in real life — was traditionally held by the heir to the Earl of Orkney.