BioWare announced a new downloadable content pack for their medieval RPG Dragon Age: Origins today. The Darkspawn Chronicles DLC allows you to play as a member of the marauding darkspawn horde.

The DLC takes place in an alternate history, in which your character from Dragon Age: Origins died during his Joining ceremony. As a result, there's no hero to turn the tide against the darkspawn. Fortunately, you'll be on the winning side here. Looks like you'll finally get your chance to bash Alistair's head in, too.

For the adventure module, you'll play as a hurlock vanguard. You will have an "enthrall" ability that allows you to recruit other darkspawn - genlocks, hurlocks, shrieks, and ogres. Presumably you'll have some leeway over their behavior in battle as well. Upon competing Darkspawn Chronicles, you'll earn an "epic darkspawn item" that can be used in the Origins campaign or its Awakening expansion.

Darkspawn Chronicles will be released for the Xbox 360 and PC on May 18th for 400 MS Points ($5). The PS3 will get this new content as well. The exact date that'll happen wasn't announced, though.

While I imagine Dragon Age fans will be thrilled to get another adventure, the price indicates it won't be huge. Bit of a shame, as it seems like this idea could've been stretched into a full-fledged expansion.