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Bioware is hard at work on the third instalment of its epic fantasy RPG, Dragon Age: Inquisition, and as we draw closer to its 2014 release the famously secretive developer is starting to reveal more details about both the game mechanics and storyline.

The game will cast you as the leader of the newly reformed Inquisition, an ancient organisation dedicated to rooting out corruption. According to Bioware, this puts you in conflict with the established sources of power in the land of Thedas, in particular the Chantry religious order. As well as developing your character, you'll also have to build the reputation of the Inquisition even as political strife sweeps the land and a portal opens in the sky, releasing demonic monsters. "You're that upstart group that everybody has to respect, but doesn't want to," the developer explains.

Unlike Dragon Age 2, which saw everyone controlling a human character called Hawke, Inquisition will return to the more elastic character creation of Dragon Age: Origins. There will be multiple playable races, as confirmed by the new issue of Game Informer magazine, along with customisable armour.

The US magazine also reveals the game, now powered by the Frostbite 3 engine, will feature "large and varied environments". This may explain why a promo video on the mag's website offers a fleeting glimpse of what looks like the player on horseback. "Is it confirmed we will have a mount?" tweeted one fan. "Yes," replied executive producer Mark Darrah.

Dragon Age: Inquisition is in development for current generation consoles Xbox One and PlayStation 4.