Side Quests

The Awiergan Scrolls: First, Second & Third Aspect

First Aspect

Start Location:

• The Wounded Coast

Requirements:

• Collect the Awiergan Scroll from the dead end just south of the main Wounded Coast entrance.

Walkthrough:

• After collecting the scroll, continue along the path to reach the far western side of the area. When Corpses suddenly rise from the ground, you’ll know that you’ve found the right spot. Proceed up the coast slowly and defeat each successive wave until Medan (an Arcane Horror) appears, then spread out and devote your energies to slaying this creature straight away.

Consequences:

• If this is the last Aspect completed, you can embark on the main Pride Unbound quest.

Second Aspect

Start Location:

• Sundermount

Requirements:

• Collect the Awiergan Scroll hidden behind a wall just south of the Sundermount Caverns entrance.

Walkthrough:

• Travel through the caves to the upper section of the mountain area.

• The party is attacked by a Corpse named Bysmor and two Revenants: Gifre and Beacon. Dispatch Bysmor first – with a careful approach, you may be able to lure it down the slope before its allies notice you – then direct your aggression at a single Revenant at a time. Do everything you can to impede their movement and attack capabilities, favoring electricity and spirit damage whenever possible. On Nightmare difficulty, they are immune to nature and cold, though you can still ensnare or impede them temporarily with Winter’s Grasp and Cone of Cold.

Consequences:

• If this is the last Aspect completed, you can embark on the main Pride Unbound quest.

Third Aspect

Start Location:

• Sundermount

Requirements:

• Collect the Awiergan Scroll from the path leading from the main entrance to the Dalish Camp.

Walkthrough:

• After collecting this scroll, head for Sundermount Caverns. You will encounter an Arcane Horror on the path just before the cave entrance. Though initially alone, it will be joined by a huge number of Shades as the battle progresses. Keep these under control with a blanket of suppressing AoE attacks while you direct the majority of your firepower at the primary target. The battle will not last long once it falls.

• The Second Aspect scroll can be found just behind a low wall after the battle ends.

Consequences:

• If this is the last Aspect completed, you can embark on the main Pride Unbound quest.

The Awiergan Scrolls: Pride Unbound

Requirements:

• The Journal entry for this quest is unlocked by completing The Awiergan Scrolls: First Aspect, Second Aspect or Third Aspect. However, you cannot access the Hidden Dungeon in Darktown until you have completed all three.

Walkthrough:

• Enter the Hidden Dungeon via the door (marked on the map as “Hidden Lair”) in the northeast of Darktown, just south of the clinic.

• Hybris is a resilient and highly dangerous Pride Demon. Though it initially fights alone, it is joined by Shades and Rage Demons as the battle progresses. Crowd control, then, is a mandatory task until Hybris is reduced to his final slivers of health. At this point, it’s better to pour everything into finishing him off, then deal with his minions afterwards.

• Beating Hybris unlocks the “Demon Slayer” Achievement and Trophy.

King Alistair

Start Location:

• Hawke Estate

Requirements:

• Only available if you chose the Hero of Ferelden or The Martyr world state options during initial character creation or imported a Dragon Age: Origins save in which Alistair became king.

• Complete On The Loose, then accept the letter from the Writing Desk.

Walkthrough:

• Travel to the Viscount’s Keep to meet with King Alistair. The more devoted Dragon Age: Origins players will enjoy the references to Ferelden and events past. The quest ends once the interview with the king is complete. Both Aveline and Anders have short reactions to Alistair if they are present.

The Lost Swords

Start Location:

• Hightown

Requirements:

• You must have gained the Arishok’s respect during Act 2 (see Blackpowder Courtesy on page 72 for details).

• Speak to Taarbas outside the Hawke Estate.

Walkthrough:

• Taarbas asks Hawke to retrieve ten Qunari Swords from locations throughout Kirkwall and the Free Marches. Use the table below to find each one.

• You can turn in swords to Tarbaas at any time. He will ask if you require gold for your services. Unless you have no intention of collecting all ten, you should refuse this: the payments are nominal. However, handing over the entire collection without a reward in coin will lead him to give a unique gift, the Bassrath-Kata. This is an extraordinary weapon tailored to Hawke’s class.

• The XP reward for collecting the Qunari Swords is bestowed on a per-sword basis, not as a final quest award – so those without a master lockpicker (or the dedication to find all ten) can still profit from this venture.

Qunari Sword Locations

Reining It In

Start Location:

• Docks (Night)

Requirements:

• Fight the Slave Hunters in the Docks until a pop-up message appears. Repeat visits may be required.

Walkthrough:

• Slave Hunter groups consist of melee fighters and archers, though the latter tend to be less efficient than usual in the narrow streets and piers of the Docks – they’re usually in range of the main pack if you lay down an AoE attack.

• After the pop-up notification, enter the Run Down Alley area. The gang leader (Jess “Leashmaster” Varvel) is a mage, so deal with her immediately after dispatching the initial group of Slave Hunters from the safety of the steps.

Kind of Want

Start Location:

• Lowtown (Night)

Requirements:

• Fight the gang members in Lowtown at night until a pop-up message appears. Repeat visits may be required.

Walkthrough:

• This gang boasts melee fighters and numerous archers, with an occasional Assassin popping up when you least expect it.

• After the quest notification appears, enter the Decrepit Alley. Fight from the top of the stairs until gang leader Hanker appears, then run down to kill her immediately.

Consequences:

• Once you have dealt with the three gangs in Act 3, return to The Hanged Man to claim your final prize. There is a special bonus if you have eliminated all nine.

The Last Holdouts

Requirements:

• You must have sided with Meredith during the Showdown conversation at the start of Act 3.

• Talk to the Barmaid in The Hanged Man at night, then speak to Ser Mettin and agree to help.

Walkthrough:

• Travel to Darktown and enter the Hidden Sewer. Always deal with the Blood Mages first and the other enemies will put up very little resistance. Once you’ve defeated all hostiles, collect the four Blood Mage Dispatches, then journey to the Hawke Estate and accept the new letter from the Writing Desk.

• Take a locksmith to Sundermount as your destination features a locked chest with a worthwhile reward inside. Travel through Sundermount Caverns to reach the Blood Mage Base entrance. Ser Mettin and Ser Agatha fight alongside the party for the first two battles in this area. Head north to face Bancroft and a handful of Apostate Mages. Bancroft is a vicious Blood Mage, so incapacitate him instantly. You can ignore the other mages until he dies. When the combat ends, you have a choice:

• If you attempt to persuade Ser Mettin to show mercy to the mages (“Mettin, stop”) or express ambivalence (“Not my problem”), he will attack immediately; Ser Agatha will fight alongside the party.

• If you support the templar (“Mettin is right”), you must fight Ser Agatha and her supporters. Mettin is grateful, though he offers no additional reward.

A Noble Agenda

Requirements:

• You must have sided with Orsino during the Showdown conversation at the start of Act 3.

• Speak to Ser Marlein Selbrech in Hightown and agree to help.

Walkthrough:

• Travel to Darktown, taking your favored locksmith with you as there are two secured chests with noteworthy loot, and enter the Hidden Supply Depot. Defeat the mercenaries that lie in wait when you arrive and the templars on the west side of the map.

• Visit Lowtown and approach Ser Mettin. Once he acknowledges the arrival of Hawke, he and his archer allies will attack. Try to kill Mettin quickly before a small wave of reinforcements (including a hunter) arrive.

• Return to the Hawke Estate to collect a letter detailing the next step, then head back to Lowtown at night. Approach Marlein, then fight off the templar ambush. This is a tough battle, so have a tank present and keep your weaker party members at a safe distance. Neutralize the dangerous Ser Edgert the Hound, the Templar Hunter and the Templar Lieutenant immediately. A subsequent wave of enemies features two more of the latter enemy type, so aim for survival over aggression if you experience difficulties (and don’t skimp on Potion use).

Red Run Streets

Start Location:

• Hightown (Night)

Requirements:

• Fight the Bloodrager Thrall enemies in Hightown at night until a pop-up message appears. Repeat visits may be required.

Walkthrough:

• This gang is possibly the most challenging so far, as each group also features a mage (known simply as Bloodrager) in addition to archers and melee fighters. As their title suggests, these individuals employ blood magic – and should, therefore, be your exclusive target at the start of each fight.

• Once the final quest stage has unlocked, enter the Suspicious House. Jakeson “The Bleeder” Hall is the gang leader; launch the most vicious offensive you can muster to neutralize him before the blood magic begins. In addition to the rank and file, another Bloodrager mage arrives near the end of the battle, so keep a watchful eye on proceedings and act swiftly.