History Heartwarming / DragonAge

!!Other companions
* Shale, of all people, gives you one if [[spoiler:you side with Caridin, do Shale's sidequest, and get a high approval rating with the golem. The golem, for the only time in the game, refers to the Warden as something other than "it".]]
-->'''Shale''': I realize that it- you- have been good to me, when you did not have to be. I.. thank you.
** Giving Shale a pet rock from the Feast Day DLC.
** After constantly referring to Wynne as "The Elder Mage" in conversations (much to her annoyance), Shale ends one conversation with:
-->'''Shale''': I understand. Thank you for the answer... wise one.

** When you get his sword back, and tell him you still need him in the party, he [[NotSoStoic suddenly cracks a warm smile]] and simply says "Then lead the way". Like any praise from Sten, this moment is amazing.
** Also, just one word: ''Kadan.'' Every time he used that word as a greeting, I felt a little warm.
*** ''Kadan'', in the qunari tongue, literally means "where the heart lies." It adds an impressive amount of weight to this; in one word, Sten is telling you that he values you as a friend and leader and one he holds close to his heart.
** Don't forget: if the Warden dies in the final battle, Sten returns to his homeland and is asked by his leader if he found any worthy beings in his travels. He replies, "Only one."
** A marvelously understated one occurs in an early conversation with Sten about why he came to Ferelden. When he tells the Warden that he cannot go home, the Warden can respond "Well, you can stay here with us." His response is a simple "...thank you." The actual weight of his response, however, comes immediately afterward: "Sten Approves (+15)." [[hottip:+: This is one of the biggest approval bonuses you can get in the ''entire game'' from a conversation, which should say everything that needs to be said about how much that one statement means to Sten.]]

** A marvelously understated one occurs in an early conversation with Sten about why he came to Ferelden. When he tells the Warden that he cannot go home, the Warden can respond "Well, you can stay here with us." His response is a simple "...thank you." The uctual weight of his response, however, comes immediately afterward: "Sten Approves (+15)." [[hottip:+: This is one of the biggest approval bonuses you can get in the ''entire game'' from a conversation, which should say everything that needs to be said about how much that one statement means to Sten.]]

** Also, just one word: Kadan. Every time he used that word as a greeting, I felt a little warm.

* If Zevren is in love with you, and you choose not to bring him with you to slay the Archdemon, it goes into serious TearJerker territory, especially if you choose Ultimate Sacrifice. When you tell him you love him, his face breaks down and he sighs sadly, "... ever the cruel one."

** Alternated for a male Warden considered a friend.

* A quiet, subtle one happens in the Deep Roads. You can find Ruck, a dwarf who has gone quite insane. When you track him to his home/lair, he gibbers at you frantically about how he had to resort to eating darkspawn corpses to survive. It's why he is the way he is. He then says you know what he's talking about, as he can sense the darkspawn corruption in you. If you respond with the line "I'm a Grey Warden, it's not quite the same." he tilts his head, then replies in a reverent tone "Grey, like the Stone. Guardian, against the darkness." Playing as a Neutral Good Warden who put [[MagnificentBastard Bhelen]] on the throne, this Troper got a warm, fuzzy feeling. After that, I ''was'' going to defeat the Blight, I ''was'' going to save Ferelden, and I was ''not'' going to take the shortcuts and "necessary" sacrifices to do so. [[VideoGameCaringPotential I was going to save them all, dammit!]]

** And in Witch Hunt ((DLC}}, you do. Which becomes another Heartwarming Moment:

* And lastly, when you are asked what you are going to do during the post-FinalBattle scene, one of the options (right next to "help rule Ferelden", "rebuild TheOrder", and "save the world again") is that you will find Morrigan.
** And in Witch Hunt, you do.

* And lastly, when you are asked what you are going to do during the post-FinalBattle scene, one of the options (right next to "help rule Ferelden", "rebuild TheOrder", and "save the world again") is that you will find Morrigan.

* The Kar'hirol questline has one. The spectres of Kar'hirol's inhabitants and their Darkspawn attackers can still be seen while you wander its halls. At one point you witness a warrior addressing a crowd of casteless dwarves asking them to take up arms in defense of their home to prove to everyone that they aren't "dust". You later see that same warrior's last act before being mauled by an Ogre: recording the names of ''every casteless dwarf'' that died defending Kar'hirol -- he wanted them to be remembered as warriors, not forgotten like every other casteless. It's a welcome change from seeing most dwarves in Orzammar treating the casteless like crap.

**** Leliana in ''general'' is this, especially when she [[VideogameCaringPotential compliments you for being a good person]].

* Of particular note is the RomanceSidequest with your chosen LoveInterest. Examples of some of the most memorable parts of said romances:
** After you give Morrigan the true grimoire:
--->'''The Warden''': [[IWillDefinitelyProtectYou I will always protect you.]]
--->'''Morrigan''': [goes very [[{{Tsundere}} deredere]]] I... you should not be so... you have no idea what might happen in the days to come, to make such promises...
*** How about the end of the sympathetic version? YMMV, but this troper, if capable of it at this point, would have cried when Morrigan said "I will miss you... my love" in that sad, tired voice. And then [[spoiler: the thing with the ring in the epilogue]]? My GOD, this troper hasn't been so thoroughly depressed since Old Yeller!
--->''And there came a night when he was sure that she was thinking of him . . . somewhere. She felt regret and sorrow. But the ring told no more.''
*** If you're ''not'' already Morrigan's love interest, post-personal quest, she will ask if there is any possibility of being more than friends with her. If your character is already in love with Zevran or Leliana, and you answer that you've thought about it, or that there was a possibility, she'll respond with great dignity and surprising warmth. "Except...there is another." There's something very touching about the supposedly spiteful and selfish Morrigan quietly accepting that she can't have what she wants, [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy and not even attempting to take the PC from their existing partner.]]
** Alistair giving the female PC a rose he picked in Lothering.
--->'''Alistair''': I thought, how can something so beautiful exist in a world of such darkness? (...) I thought I might... give it to you, actually. In a lot of ways, I think the same thing when I look at you...
*** And Alistair caps it off in the GrandFinale if he stays with the Warden until the end and [[spoiler: you didn't TakeAThirdOption. Then, if the Warden insists on sacrificing herself to kill [[BigBad the Archdemon]]...]]
--->'''Alistair''': [[spoiler: You say that as if I'm giving you a choice. [gives her a LastKiss before [[HeroicSacrifice he rushes off...]] ] ]]
** Leliana's story about the literal StarCrossedLovers and her subsequent confession of love, after which the Warden can say that s/he already knew and felt the same:
--->'''Leliana''': Oh, chivalry is so dead, making the lady spill her guts like that.
--->'''the Warden''': [gives her a ShutUpKiss]
--->'''Leliana''': Well, I, uh... that settles it, then.
*** Another example comes if you complete Leliana's personal quest (preferably by killing Marjolaine). In your first conversation, Leliana will confess that she feels herself "slipping." This is your opportunity to harden her personality or to convince her that she's a good person. If you choose the latter, she will later thank you. During a third conversation about Marjolaine, you can comment to Leliana that you hope to be as special to her as Marjolaine was.
---> '''Leliana''': My dearest one, I think that day has already come and gone. I have never regretted leaving Orlais. I do not regret any of the pain, the anger, the loneliness… because it brought me to you. And I ... love you.
*** Both of Leliana's speeches before the final battle for a romantic partner are shining examples of this trope.
--->'''Leliana''' (taken with you): " I am not afraid. We go to fight for a good cause and there is nowhere I would rather be. You are my dearest friend and my love; you lit my path through darkness and I will stand with you, to whatever end. This day, we will forge a legend of our own."
--->'''Leliana''' (if left to defend the gate): "Whatever happens I...I will always treasure the time we shared. No darkspawn, no archdemon will ever take that from me. You are my Grey Warden, and our savior. Win this war for us my love and... come home."

** Telling Zevran that you want him to choose his own path after [[spoiler: killing Taliesin.]]
--->'''Zevran''': But that is what I am ''asking'' you. Do you want me to leave? Do you need me here?
--->'''the Warden''': I want you to do what's best for you.
--->'''Zevran''': I... am not sure how to respond to that. Nobody has ever... I mean, normally these things are decided by others. Er... I suppose I shall... stay? Is... is that... good?
*** He actually ''turns down'' the PC's offer of sex afterwards, [[LadyKillerInLove because he finally realizes he's in love with him/her.]] The rest of the romance is ''made'' of this trope.
--->'''Zevran''': To be by your side, I would willingly storm [[FireAndBrimstoneHell the Black City itself]]. Never doubt it.
*** Especially the sadly deleted "in love" dialogue before the VeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon:
--->'''Zevran''': If this should be the last we speak, I want you to know... assassinating you was the luckiest thing that could have happened to me. (he is saying something earnest before the final battle to the one he loves)
--->'''Warden''': I love you, Zevran. I hope you know that.
--->'''Zevran''': Yes. Yes, I know that. (amused -- he can't say it himself -- prelude to a kiss)
* Non-romance plots also give you this. Shale, of all people, gives you one if [[spoiler: You side with Caridin, do Shale's sidequest, and get a high approval rating with the golem. The golem, for the only time in the game, refers to the Warden as something other than "it".]]
*** [[spoiler: Shale: I realize that it- you- have been good to me, when you did not have to be. I.. thank you.]]
** Sten gets one as well, when the stiff, LawfulNeutral giant breaks his own strong social taboos to compliment the Warden.
*** "I hope that we never meet on the battlefield." Coming from Sten, that's pretty powerful.
*** Also, just one word: Kadan. Every time he used that word as a greeting, I felt a little warm.
*** Don't forget: if the Warden dies in the final battle, Sten returns to his homeland and is asked by his leader if he found any worthy beings in his travels. He replies, "Only one."
** Also, when Morrigan admits that she considers the Warden a friend after doing her personal quest.
--->'''Morrigan:''' I want you to know that while I may not always prove... worthy... of your friendship, I will always value it.
*** Try giving Morrigan the mirror available from that lyrium-addled dwarven merchant in Orzammar. It's identical to the mirror that Morrigan had stolen as a child, and which Flemeth had smashed to teach her a lesson. You can give Morrigan gifts of jewelry throughout the game, but she will be really caught off guard by the mirror. She confesses that no one has ever given her a gift like this without expecting something in return and asks how she should re-pay you. Stress that it's a gift; her voice actually wavers as she thanks you, as though she were choking back tears.
*** Also Morrigan's goodbye when you split your party when defending Denerim (presumably only if you went with her plan, have enough approval but aren't romancing her). Made more heart-breaking, since this is likely [[ButNowIMustGo the last time you will ever see her]].
--->'''Morrigan:''' Live well, my friend. Live gloriously.
*** If you are a female and have a high approval with Morrigan, she will, in one conversation, refer to you not only as a friend but as a sister.
*** If you're a female with a high approval rating and went along with her plan by getting Allistair or [[spoiler: Loghain]] to sleep with her, then its just as heartwarming and heartrending to see her call you the only friend she's ever had, and tell you goodbye while she's very obviously holding back rivers of tears over having to leave you.
*** And lastly, when you are asked what you are going to do during the post-FinalBattle scene, one of the options (right next to "help rule Ferelden", "rebuild TheOrder", and "save the world again") is that you will find Morrigan.
** Just before approaching Redcliffe for the first time, after Alistair has spilled the beans about [[spoiler: his father being King Maric]] gets me every single time:
--->'''Alistair:''' Good; and I'll just pretend you still think I'm just some nobody who was too lucky to die with the rest of the Grey Wardens.
--->'''Warden:''' Is that really what you think?
---> '''Alistair:''' No ... what I really think is that I was lucky enough to have survived with you.
Or the other option:
--->'''Alistair:''' Good; and I'll just pretend you still think I'm just some nobody who was too lucky to die with the rest of the Grey Wardens.
--->'''Warden:''' So what does that make me then?
---> '''Alistair:''' The reason I say I was lucky.
** In one conversation with Wynne, she says that she's a very old woman and she's feeling tired. The Warden can say that she looks like she's got a lot of years in her yet and her response is "You are very kind to say so."

* Of course, party members do not have a monopoly on CrowningMomentsofHeartwarming.
*** A good-aligned character will probably do [[NotQuiteTheRightThing more harm than good]] in Orzammar, but there is one example where that doesn't prove to be the case. In Dust Town, you can meet with a dwarven woman, Zerlinda, whose son is casteless. Because of this, she was told by her father to abandon the child in the Deep Roads to either starve or be eaten by darkspawn. She refused and is now reduced to begging. You can offer to convince her father to take Zerlinda back home. Upon returning to her with the good news, she can scarcely believe it.
--->'''Zerlinda:''' If this were a story, my son would grow to manhood and pledge himself as a knight in your service! I will send him to you when he comes of age; I promise!
*** It overlaps with being a TearJerker, but Niall's final farewell in the Fade is a heartwarming moment. After being trapped in the Fade and failing to save the Circle, Niall is understandably feeling a bit depressed about the prospect he's going to die alone. You can try to reassure him that he isn't alone, but he'll throw it back in your face. "Right, some complete stranger is going to be my sole companion for the rest of my short, pathetic life." By acquiring new forms and killing the demons imprisoning you, however, you can give him some hope. And when you defeat the Sloth Demon, he will tell you that he cannot leave the Fade as his body is dying. However, he does not fear death, and he can rest easy knowing that you will save the Circle. You can tell him that he did all he could and respond positively when he wonders if his mother would be proud of him. And in the end, his final words touch on this trope:

* In general, being a good-aligned character can have quite a few of these, if only because of the BlackAndGrayMorality of the setting. Ferelden is a ''dark'' setting, but through your actions, you ''can'' save the world and do good, just things for the people and the realm. Light shines brightest in the dark, and ''Dragon Age'' '''proves''' this.

* During The Urn Of Sacred Ashes quest, long after playing the Human Noble Quest and [[spoiler: speaking with the dead Bryce Cousland]] brought a tear to this troper's eye.

*** Also Morrigan's goodbye when you split your party when defending Denerim (presumably only if you went with her plan, have enough approval but aren't romancing her).