One of the four recruitment objectives that make up the seventh main quest of the Dragon Age: Origins video-game. The story follows the player and company after arriving at the village of Redcliffe in order to recruit Arl Eamon and his human soldiers into the new Ferelden army. However, things become complicated when it turns out that Eamon has fallen ill, and that the village has come under attack by the undead.
Alistair's Past
Beginning the quest to recruit Arl Eamon's human forces into the new Ferelden army, the player and company arrive at the outskirts of Redcliffe Village, which is situated in the southwest of Ferelden along the southern edge of Lake Calenhad. Throughout the early portions of the main story, Alistair will have suggested that they should first seek out aid from Arl Eamon Guerrin, who's the elder of King Cailan's maternal uncles, and a popular man amongst Ferelden's nobility. Eamon's forces of Redcliffe did not fight at Ostagar, so his army of human soldiers remains the largest not sworn to Loghain. Unfortunately, it's heard amongst rumors that Eamon has been struck down by a strange and mysterious illness that defies all efforts to heal it. So much so that it's believed that only Andraste's ashes can cure him.
If Alistair was taken along, he'll stop the player for a private conversation before entering Redcliffe, which he reveals how he knows Arl Eamon. That he's actually a bastard son of one of Redcliffe Castle's serving girls, and that Eamon took him in before sending Alistair off to the Chantry where he became a templar soldier. In addition, he reveals that his father who knocked up the serving girl was King Maric. Thus, revealing that Alistair is actually a member of Ferelden royalty as King Cailan's half-brother. Alistair explains that he's never really told anyone about this, because of how inconvenient it is to him that he could have posed a threat to Cailan's rule, so other than a few Ferelden higher-ups knowing, like Eamon, Duncan, and Loghain, anything regarding the fact that he has royal blood was kept secret.
Alistair continues on explaining his life growing up in Redcliffe as Eamon's adopted son. That Eamon would eventually marry a woman of Orlais named Isolde, who came to live with the Arl at Redcliffe. However, Isolde had a hatred for Alistair believing that he was Eamon's bastard son from another woman, and fearing the rumors of him possibly being related to King Maric. Thus, she was the reason that Alistair was sent away to live at the Chantry. Alistair brings up how he once had an amulet with Andraste's holy symbol on it that belonged to his mother, but he ended up shattering it on accident because he threw it at a wall of the castle out of anger the moment he found out that he was being sent away from Redcliffe. In addition, he grew to hate Eamon for sending him off to the church, which Eamon would come visit him at the Chantry from time to time, but eventually stopped visiting due to Alistair remaining angry with him. With his story told, Alistair asks that they move on now to investigate Eamon's sickness, and that he will go back to pretending that he's just a random Grey Warden that got lucky to survive Ostagar.
A Village Under Siege
At the bridge entrance leading into Redcliffe Village, the player's group is met by one of Redcliffe's militiamen named Tomas. The militiaman notes how he spotted the player and company's arrival at the village asking if they're here as reinforcements, which leaves the player's group confused. The player states that they're here to see Arl Eamon, but Tomas explains that they don't actually know what Eamon's current status is, because there hasn't been any news for days out of Eamon's Castle Redcliffe due to a certain situation that's going on. Tomas reveals that Redcliffe Village is currently under attack. That monsters appear out of the castle every night, and attack the villagers, which has resulted in a lot of fighting and death since Eamon's illness has left him unable to call in his soldiers to defend them. The player's group questions what it is that's attacking Redcliffe Village, but Tomas answers that no one actually knows.
Tomas then suggests that they need to see Bann Teagan Guerrin within Redcliffe Village as he's the only one that's managing to hold the village together during this trying time. The militiaman leads the player and company to Redcliffe's Chantry where the villagers have taken up shelter from what's been attacking them. Teagan is seen as the one leading the villagers from within the Chantry as Tomas brings the player's group up to him. He introduces himself to the player and company as Eamon's brother, and is glad to see that Alistair's alive given Loghain's treachery that cost him his nephew's life at Ostagar. Bann Teagan makes it clear that he doesn't believe Loghain's claims of how the latter retreated from Ostagar as a means to save his men because of King Cailan being a glory hound that could have gotten everyone killed. He also calls Loghain a desperate man for falsely labeling the Grey Wardens as traitors and murderers of the King.
Teagan then notices how the player is a Grey Warden like Alistair, which he wishes that they could have met under better circumstances. Knowing that the player and company are here to see Arl Eamon, Teagan provides the bad news that along with Eamon's strange illness, they've been hearing nothing out of Castle Redcliffe for the past few days, the Redcliffe soldiers are nowhere to be seen, and that Teagan's complaints about the odd attacks on them from the castle have gone unanswered. That for the past few nights, they've been at war with the evil creatures that have been surging out of the castle, which has resulted in the deaths of many Redcliffe villagers. The player asks what the evil creatures are, which Teagan answers that they appear to be corpses risen from the ground as undead soldiers, and that they've been gaining in numbers each night. Teagan points out that they're in serious trouble given King Cailan's death, Loghain's treachery, and no one responding to Teagan's calls for help, which he asks for the help of the player and company believing that the next undead night attack will be the worst one yet.
Preparing for the Undead Attack
The player agrees to help Teagan fend off the next undead attack, which Teagan greatly appreciates. (There's a dark option to just outright abandon the village to their doom, which would result in everyone in Redcliffe Village being killed off to the undead). Teagon announces that there's many preparations that need to be done for the next night's undead attack, which he suggests for the player to meet with the two people he left in charge outside of the Chantry. These being the village mayor, Murdock, and one of Eamon's knights, Ser Perth. The player and company head out into Redcliffe Village to help with war preparations. Amongst the villagers seeking refuge within the Chantry, there's a side-quest to locate the missing brother of the villager, Kaitlyn, before the battle against the undead starts. The brother, Bevin, is found within Kaitlyn's house hiding within the house dresser. Upon meeting with Murdock, the mayor mentions that they need what little armor and weapons they have repaired and fast. However, the village blacksmith, Owen, is being too stubborn to take orders from anyone due to Redcliffe's villagers refusing to go rescue his daughter that's hold up within the castle. Thus, the player needs to convince Owen to help them with repairs.
Arriving at Owen's smithy, Owen is clearly upset that his blacksmith was cleared out of its items for the fight against the undead, and because Murdock refused to have the villagers go into Redcliffe Castle and rescue his daughter. Despite being told to go away, the player asks Owen about the needed repairs, which Owen realizes that the player was sent by Murdock. The player finds a way to get into the smithy, which Owen's been drinking away his sorrows. Trying to convince Owen to repair the armor and weapons for the villagers, Owen refuses due to Murdock's refusal to help him save his daughter, Valena. The player mentions their intention to save Redcliffe Village from the undead, which seeing the player's confidence, Owen believes the player, and makes a deal that he will go through with repairing the armor and weapons as long as the player promises that they search for his daughter in Redcliffe Castle. The player agrees, which Owen gets to work. Returning to Murdock, the mayor's glad to hear that Owen's repairing what he can before the night attack.
The player next meets with the knight, Ser Perth, who introduces himself as someone who's in direct service to Arl Eamon, but is now currently in charge of defending Redcliffe Village from the undead. Ser Perth mentions that he's glad to have Grey Wardens helping out given that while there's still many of Redcliffe's soldiers still hold within Castle Redcliffe, many other soldiers are currently out searching for the Urn of Sacred Ashes hoping to use it as a cure for the sick Arl Eamon. He mentions that even after bringing in a mage to try to cure Eamon, his pious wife, Lady Isolde, is convinced that the only thing that can save her husband from his strange illness now is the Urn of Sacred Ashes. The urn being the container for the mortal remains of Andraste, the Chantry's messianic figure, and is said to have incredible healing powers, which is said to be hidden somewhere in Ferelden. Next, the player asks what they could help him with regarding the night attacks, which Ser Perth answers that his knights require assistance.
Ser Perth asks for the player to convince the Chantry's Mother Hannah to provide them some holy protection that will help defend them against the undead, which the player agrees to help out. The player's group arrives back at the Redcliffe Chantry to speak with Mother Hannah. The Chantry mother is grateful that the player and company are fighting to defend villagers they're complete strangers to, which the player brings up how Ser Perth would like holy protection cast upon him and his knights. However, Mother Hannah reveals that she's not capable of casting such magic as this is not how their Maker works. The player points out that she could just lie by making it seem like she's casting a protection spell on them to boost their confidence for the upcoming battle against hte undead, which despite not liking the idea of trickery, she agrees to do it knowing that it will help keep Ser Perth and his knights alive. She tells the player of a batch of silver-cast holy symbols to be provided to Ser Perth to make him believe that they're holy protection charms. Returning to Ser Perth, the player informs the knight about the holy symbols, which he's glad to hear, and sends a knight to the Chantry to pick them up.
After completing the tasks for Owen's repairs and Mother Hannah's holy symbols, the player can claim to either Murdock or Ser Perth that they're now ready for the night attack. However, more preparations could be done before nightfall. First, a surface dwarf named Dwyn, who's a veteran soldier, has locked himself up within his Redcliffe home, which Murdock asks the player to recruit him for the battle. The player would break into Dwyn's home to meet with the surface dwarf, and convince Dwyn to take part in the night battle against the undead. Next, the player's group heads over to the Redcliffe Tavern. The soldiers that are having drinks will be complaining about not being able to drink for free given the upcoming battle against the undead. The player meets with the tavern bartender, Lloyd, to convince him to let the soldiers drink for free for the time being to boost their morale for the battle. There's even an option to convince Lloyd to take part in the battle as well. Finally, within the tavern is an elf named Berwick, who's discovered to be working as a spy for Arl Howe. Upon confronting Berwick, the player could convince the elf to seek redemption by helping Redcliffe Village against the undead.
The Attack at Nightfall
After the player confirms to Murdock or Ser Perth that they're ready for battle, the story jumps ahead to nighttime, and the battle against the undead begins. An army of undead comes charging out of Castle Redcliffe, and down the frontal bridge into Redcliffe Village, which the villagers evacuate while the player's group and Redcliffe's militia led by Bann Teagan stay behind for the battle. The player's group, Ser Perth, and his knights, have set up a barricade at the village's outer edge windmill as it's one of the main entrances into Redcliffe Village. They're also supported by Dwyn and Berwick if they were recruited. Once the undead appears, a battle with the undead erupts.
After the undead attack on the sawmill is repelled, a militiaman appears to inform the player's group that they need help at the village center due to a group of undead that attacked from the coastline by crossing Lake Calenhad. The player and company make their way down into Redcliffe Village where Murdock and his militiamen have set up a barricade outside the village Chantry, and are currently engaged in battle with the undead. Tomas is seen fighting with Murdock along with Lloyd if he was recruited. The player's group helps them fight off the undead until there's none left. Thus, the night battle is won.
Following the battle, everyone regroups within the Redcliffe Chantry. Teagan declares that they're victorious having survived another night against the undead, much to everyone's cheers. He then thanks the player's group for helping them out, and that at the very least, there should be a short celebration, and a moment of silence to those that were lost in the battle, before moving on to the next subject. Once that's done with, Teagan announces that given how the undead numbers are low for the time being, there's an opening for him to charge into Castle Redcliffe to find out what's become of the ill Arl Eamon. He also asks for the player and company to meet with him privately back at the windmill to discuss more on the matter.
Isolde's Favor
At the Redcliffe windmill, the player and company meet up with Teagan. Not having to worry about the safety of the village for the time being, Teagan mentions that he has a plan to enter the castle. That there's a secret passage beneath the windmill known only by his Guerrin family that will allow for them to sneak into the castle. Before he could explain any further however, Teagan is shocked to see Isolde suddenly approaching them; having escaped from the castle. Glad to see that Teagan's still alive, Isolde states that she doesn't have long to stay, but that she has to inform them of something first before heading back. However, she refuses to say anything more unless Teagan agrees to return to the castle with her alone. The player asks for a real explanation, which confuses Isolde as to who the newcomer speaking to her is. If Alistair's amongst the group, she's disgusted to see him.
Teagan informs her that the player is a Grey Warden, and that he owes the player his life for helping them against the undead attack. Isolde apologizes for her rudeness given that she's not in the best circumstances at the moment, which the player's group ask her to explain what's going on at Castle Redcliffe. However, Isolde doesn't know if it's truly safe to answer or not. She complains to Teagan that there's a terrible evil within the castle that's causing the dead to awaken, and that while the mage that brought the curse to the castle was caught, the evil still continues to plague the castle. Isolde also informs Teagan of how her son, Connor, appears to have gone mad, and won't leave the castle. Thus, she begs Teagan to return to the castle with her hoping that as Connor's uncle, he can talk some sense into her son.
The player next asks about the status of Arl Eamon. In return, Isolde assures the group that despite Eamon's illness, he's being kept alive at the castle for the time being. Teagan asks what she means by "kept alive," which she explains that the "thing" that the mage unleashed is allowing Eamon, Connor, and Isolde to keep living. However, she reveals that others within the castle weren't so lucky due to the thing killing many, and turning them into the undead, which were the things that have been attacking Redcliffe Village. Isolde adds that she's only here now because the thing allowed her to leave after she begged it to get Teagan to help Connor. The player's group mention that the evil thing is sounding like the work of a demon, which causes Isolde to worry further, and starts begging Teagan to return with her.
The player and company also ask about the mage that caused the issue, which Isolde mentions that after they captured him, he admitted to being an infiltrator hired by Loghain to try to poison Eamon. Isolde continues to beg Teagan to go with her back to Castle Redcliffe for Connor's sake, which he finally relents, and agrees to return with Isolde alone, much leaves her really grateful. The player asks what good Teagan going alone will do, which Teagan admits that he doesn't know and sounds like an obvious trap. However, he states that given how this is his own family he's dealing with, he has to try something to help out. Before departing, Teagan asks for a moment of privacy with the player, which Isolde accepts, and waits off on the side until he's ready.
Teagan then states the tweaked plan to the player's group that while he goes through the castle's main gate with Isolde, the player and company sneak in using the mill's secret passage, which he hands over his signet ring that acts as the key to unlock the passage door. Teagan adds that it should be much easier now that he will be at the castle to potentially distract the evil that Isolde mentioned in order for the player's group to sneak in unnoticed. The player agrees to the plan, which Teagan explains that Ser Perth and his knights can storm the castle if the player and company manage to open the castle's front gate for them after sneaking in. However, he also provides a final warning that if everything goes bad, the main goal is to make sure that Arl Eamon gets out of Redcliffe Castle while everyone else is expendable. He then bids the player's group farewell, and heads off with Isolde back to the castle while the player and company enter the mill's secret passage.
Redcliffe's Imprisoned Mage
Making their way through the secret passage, the player's group enter into the basement prison area of Redcliffe Castle. The undead roam are seen roaming the castle, which the player and company fight through the basement prison. However, they stumble across a mage locked up within one of the prison cells, who turns out to be Jowan, the escaped Blood Mage from the Magi Origin story. Investigating the prisoner, Jowan sees that the player's group aren't Isolde's soldiers, and asks if they came from outside the castle. The player admits that they were, and asks who the prisoner is, which Jowan introduces himself as a mage that was hired to tutor her son, Connor, but ended up getting thrown into a prison cell. The player's group get the gist that Jowan was the one behind the attempt to poison Arl Eamon, which Jowan admits that was him. However, he tries to convince the player and company that he's not behind the undead and their killings as he was already behind bars by the time the undead started appearing.
Jowan explains that Isolde came to him at his cell the other day, which he believed that she was going to demand him to reverse his attempt to poison Arl Eamon. However, he ended up confused when it turned out that she was defending him to reverse the undead curse he never did, which Isolde apparently believes that Jowan summoned in a demon to torment her family and destroy Redcliffe. He then reveals that Isolde had him tortured, and has now been left to rot as nothing he said to her will appease her. The player asks why Jowan tries to poison Eamon, which the mage explains that he was instructed by Loghain, and that he promised that he would settle the dispute between Jowan and the Circle of Magi if he did the job. Jowan explains of how he's a Blood Mage that was condemned to death by the templars for practicing such magic arts, but was caught and sent off to Denerim for execution. However, he was brought to Loghain, which the Teyrn led him to believe that Loghain was giving him a chance to redeem himself by helping Ferelden through disposing of a threat to the kingdom.
Jowan then states that he's caught on that Loghain has abandoned him, and that since he's the one responsible for everything falling apart, he has to make things right somehow. The player asks why Connor needed a tutor, which Jowan explains that the boy was starting to show signs of being a mage. That the signs ended up freaking out Isolde to the point of worrying that the Circle of Magi was going to come and take her son away for training, which would strip Connor's status to inherit a noble title despite being Eamon's son. Jowan explains of how it was Isolde's idea to seek out an apostate mage outside of the Circle, him being said mage, that would train Connor in secret without Arl Eamon knowing so that he could learn to hide his powers. He also states that Isolde was quite clear at hiding this from Eamon as she knows that the Arl would do the right thing by sending Connor to the Circle, which the thought of losing her son infuriated her.
The player next asks what Jowan taught Connor, which the mage explains that given how Connor's still a young boy, it was only minor spells. Jowan states that the only thing possible that could have happened is that Connor unintentionally cast some sort of larger spell he couldn't control that ended up tearing open the Veil at Redcliffe Castle. Thus, resulting in a demonic presence from the Fade hanging over said castle, which has allowed demons and spirits to infiltrate into the castle, and raise up corpses as undead. After hearing Jowan's story, the mage begs to be let go so that he can help fix the mess at Castle Redcliffe. The player asks how Jowan would fix things, which the mage states that he would just save who he can, but then expects to possibly be punished and executed afterwards. However, he assures the player that he's tired of running from the Circle of Magi, and now wants to take responsibility for his actions.
Several choices are provided as to what to do with Jowan. Either the player kills Jowan for his crimes, the player leaves him in his cell, the player agrees to release him, or the player orders him to run away. The big difference with killing Jowan is that it becomes impossible to resolve the issue regarding Connor. Meanwhile, leaving Jowan within the cell keeps him there until he's picked up later to help with the Connor situation. By releasing Jowan, he promises to stick around Redcliffe, which he disappears into the castle to search for his own method to resolve the problem with Connor. By ordering Jowan to run away, he does so, and disappears from Redcliffe. The run away option actually starts another Chantry side-quest later on to hunt down Jowan in the Ferelden wilderness.
Storming Castle Redcliffe
Continuing on through Castle Redcliffe, the player's group find the stairwell that takes them up to castle's main floor. They battle through more of the undead that roam the castle halls, which in one of the rooms, the player and company will come across Owen's daughter, Valena, hiding within it. Given the promise made to Owen, the player informs her that there's a safe secret passage in the castle's basement that will allow her to escape back to Redcliffe Village, and that most of the undead have been cleared out to allow her to get there. Valena is thankful to hear it, and makes a run for the secret passage while the player and company continue on through the castle.
Eventually, the player's group makes their way out into the courtyard of Castle Redcliffe, and battle the undead in the area that's led by a revenant commander. A lever in the courtyard can be pulled to open the frontal gate, which Ser Perth, his knights, and village militiamen charge in to help with the battle. Once the courtyard is cleared out of the undead, Ser Perth's forces hold down the courtyard while the player and company enter into the castle's mail hall. Within the hall however, the player's group stumbled upon Teagan putting on an odd dance in front of Isolde, Connor, and the soldiers that have been stationed within the castle. Amongst them, Connor appears to be the only one actually enjoying the sight of Teagan dancing.
The Possessed Child
Once Teagan's done dancing, the player and company approach Connor, who stands with Isolde and a sitting Teagan. Connor realizes that he's dealing with the group of people that his mother, Isolde, told him about, which it's clear that something's off about the boy's voice due to how deep it is. The boy continues on complaining how he's now in front of the group of people that killed his "soldiers" that were trying to reclaim Redcliffe Village. A frightened Isolde tells his son that this is all true as Connor asks who the people are that are before him. Isolde tries to explain to her son that the player is just another man like his father, Eamon. However, Connor will hear none of it due to how obviously different Eamon and the player are where the former is ill while the latter's perfectly fine. Connor threatens that he could change that for the player, which Isolde begs her son not to hurt anyone.
It's at this point that Connor holds his head as if his mind has became clear again, which he questions where he is and what's happening in a more normal sounding voice. Thus, making it clear that Connor is currently possessed by a demon. Isolde's grateful to see her son return, but the demon quickly takes back possession over Connor, which it orders Isolde to get away from it due to how much she bores him. Isolde turns to the player and company begging the Grey Wardens to not hurt her son as Connor's not responsible for the current issues going on. The player gets the gist of what's going on that Connor's the evil that she spoke of earlier, which hurts Isolde not wanting to say such things about her son.
Isolde goes on to accuse the mage they've captured that they know poisoned Arl Eamon; claiming that Jowan started all this by summoning the demon that has taken hold over Connor, and that her son was just using magic to try to help his sick father. The possessed Connor informs everyone that it was a fair deal. That because of the deal between Connor and the demon, the demon's keeping the ill Eamon alive, and now, it's the demon's turn of the bargain where it gets to sit on the Redcliffe throne, and send out its armies (the undead warriors) to conquer the world. Teagan laughs in agreement, which makes it obvious that the possessed Connor has taken control over Teagan as well. The demon within Connor then asks what it is that the player and company came for. In return, the player states that they're here to see Arl Eamon, which the possessed Connor finds amusing that sneaking around and killing his undead soldiers was unnecessary if that's all it was.
The possessed Connor reminds the player's group that they can't see Eamon given the latter's illness. Isolde doesn't quite agree with just leaving Eamon on his own, but is unable to say anything further, which the possessed Connor complains that his mother is ruining the fun, especially after Redcliffe's knights were sent away. Craving excitement, the demon claims that the player and company have spoiled its fun by saving Redcliffe Village, and orders them that they repay it. The result is the possessed Connor running out of the castle's main hall as it orders the possessed Teagan and Redcliffe soldiers to attack the player and company. A battle breaks out within the hall that eventually results in Teagan being freed from his possession. The worried Isolde checks on her defeated brother-in-law, which Teagan assures everyone that he's back to normal again. Isolde states that she never would have forgiven herself had Teagan died after being the one that brought him to Castle Redcliffe, which she then begs everyone for an answer hoping that they know of a method to save Connor from the demonic possession.
The player calls out Isolde for knowing about Connor being the problem all along, and points out that there's no way this will end happily for the boy. If Jowan wasn't killed or kept within the prison cell, he will pop up within the Redcliffe main hall having been spying on the conversation, and is in agreement with the player (there's also the option to go and fetch Jowan for help if he was kept within the cell). The mage provides the bad news to Isolde that Connor is no longer her son and has become an abomination. Shocked to see Jowan out of his cell, Isolde once more accuses him for what he did to Connor, but the mage once more tries to convince her that he never summoned the demon that possessed the boy, and states his desire to help. However, Isolde becomes enraged finding such a claim hard to believe given that the person she hired to teach her son ended up poisoning her husband.
Teagan notes how he heard that Jowan was supposed to be locked up in the dungeon, which Isolde figures that the mage must have been set free. The player admits that they released Jowan knowing that the latter could prove useful, but Isolde complains that the mage should be executed for all that's happened. However, Teagan chimes in that Jowan never should have been here had it not been for Isolde's actions trying to keep her son's mage powers a secret. Jowan than apologizes for his actions stating that he never thought his actions would create such a mess, which Teagan accepts the mage's offer to help.
Trying to convince everyone that Connor hasn't become an abomination, Isolde points out that the real Connor is still in there. That his original persona will break back to the surface over the demon's possession at times, which she states that she just wants to protect him. Teagon once more calls Isolde out for her secrets starting the whole mess, which she tries to excuse her actions that she was worried about the Circle of Magi taking Connor away. The player asks where Connor ran off to, which Teagan explains that the boy ran up to the main hall's second floor as it's the Guerrin family quarters, which is where the ill Eamon is currently residing. (There's an option to just go and kill the possessed Connor on the castle's 2nd floor, which would rid of the demon, and jump the player ahead to the next section of the questline to find the cure for Arl Eamon.) Isolde explains that Connor tends to run back to his room since the boy doesn't like violence, but that since the demon within Connor is keeping Eamon alive, killing it will result in Eamon's death.
Blood Magic Ritual or Lyrium Ritual
Asking for Jowan's opinion on the matter, the mage explains that it's a given that the demon needs to be disposed of, which killing Connor's the easiest way to do it. However, Jowan explains that there's another method. One where a mage confronts the demon within the Fade, which would leave Connor untouched (if Jowan was killed, one of the players' mage companions will reveal this method instead). Teagan asks what he means by this, which Jowan explains that the demon connected to Connor through a dream, which established a connection where the demon is actually controlling Connor from the Fade. Thus, they should be able to locate the demon within the Fade by using Connor's connection to it as a tracker.
Isolde asks if this means that Jowan can enter the Fade and kill the demon without hurting Connor. In return, Jowan states that he specifically can't do it given that he will be performing the blood magic ritual just to open the Fade for another mage to enter. He also mentions that there's another option that would require multiple mages and lyrium to pull off. The player asks why blood magic isn't allowed, which Jowan explains that the ritual to enter the Fade requires a lot of lyrium. Jowan states that his blood magic is used as a substitute over lyrium to enter the Fade, but using blood magic would require so much life force from someone that he would have to use all of it; killing the person he took the blood from. Teagan notes the issue that it means that no matter what, someone has to be sacrificed to save Connor. Thus, Jowan reminds them that while he would be doing the blood magic ritual, another mage would get sent into the Fade to kill the demon.
The player asks if there's truly no other option, which Jowan states that to power the ritual where no one has to die entering the Fade, they would have to get a lot of lyrium from somewhere as a replacement for blood magic. Isolde offers herself as the blood magic sacrifice in order for her son to live much to Teagan's disagreement as Eamon would never agree to seeing the woman he loves die. Overall, the decision is given to the player as to how Connor's predicament should be handled. If the player doesn't go along with the blood magic idea where someone has to die, they ask if there's any other way to enter the Fade. As a result, the group informs the player of how they can find lyrium at the Circle of Magi if the mages are willing to help out. The choice is made to either go through with the blood magic ritual right now that would kill Isolde, or the player's group holds off on removing the demon from Connor until they've convinced the Circle of Magi to provide them with the needed lyrium to perform a lyrium ritual.
There's also a scenario of having to deal with Connor's demonic possession without Jowan if said mage was killed beforehand or the player forced him to run away. Without the option of Jowan's blood magic ritual, the player either has to kill Connor in order to remove the Desire Demon, or a mage in the group will inform the player about going to the Circle Tower to recruit mages for the lyrium ritual. If the player chooses to kill Connor, the player and company fight through the undead to the boy's room on the 2nd floor of Redcliffe castle, the boy would forcibly be transformed into the Desire Demon that's possessing him, and is fought in killed; resulting in the deaths of both the Desire Demon and Connor.
If the player chooses to hold off until they can perform a lyrium ritual, everyone agrees to go along with it. Though Isolde will be left worrying about what they should do with the possessed Connor for the time being. As a result, Teagan states that given Jowan's offer to help, it will be the mage that watches over Connor until the player returns with the Circle of Magi's lyrium. Having to wait for the time being, Teagan asks for the player to hurry as there's no telling what disaster will come if Connor remains possessed for too long. The player and company then depart from Castle Redcliffe. The primary destination being the Circle of Magi due to the need for lyrium.
Disposing of Connor's Demon
If the choice to kill Connor wasn't made, it will eventually reach a point where the boy needs to be saved from his demonic possession. Jowan's blood magic ritual or the Circle of Magi's lyrium ritual then begins. If it's a blood magic ritual, Jowan casts his blood magic upon Isolde to take her blood at the cost of her life in order to open a path to the Fade. If it's the lyrium ritual, the Circle of Magi's First Enchanter Irving will be seen having arrived at Castle Redcliffe with several other mages along with the lyrium needed to perform the ritual. The Circle mages together then perform the lyrium ritual in order to open a path to the Fade without needing to sacrifice anyone. Whatever mage is sent into the Fade that needs to kill the Desire Demon possessing Connor is either a player of mage origin, Morrigan, or Wynne once the latter's been recruited at the Circle of Magi. It's also possible to convince either Jowan or First Enchanter Irving to be the mage that goes in.
Once the chosen mage is within the Fade, they enter a floating island domain formed by the Desire Demon, which it's holding Arl Eamon's soul captive on the island. Coming across Eamon first, the Arl appears to currently not have his sanity. Eamon remains lost within the Fade trying to find his son, which he can hear Connor's voice nearby. When the chosen mage tries to explain the situation to Eamon, he refuses to listen, and continues to ask where his son is. Continuing on from Eamon, the chosen mage enters a Fade area that looks like Connor's room. The chosen mage comes across the Desire Demon within the room shape-shifted as Connor, which it asks why they're here. When the chosen mage tells it to leave, the Desire Demon refuses to give up Eamon and attacks. The fight goes through three initial stages where each time the Desire Demon is defeated, it tries to convince the chosen mage to back off. Each time the chosen mage refuses, the Desire Demon attacks once more while summoning in Rage Demons as support.
After defeating the Desire Demon the 3rd time, it will finally appear before the chosen mage in its true form. The Desire Demon offers a deal rather than result to fighting. If the chosen mage was Morrigan, Wynne, Irving or Jowan, they only choose to refuse, and attack the Desire Demon. A mage origin player could also just fight and kill the Desire Demon here. However, a player mage has the option to hear about the offer. The Desire Demon states that in return for staying with Connor, it offers to the player to pick from 1 of 4 rewards: either to learn the Blood Mage specialization, to get a kiss from a Desire Demon, get a great increase to a companion's approval rating, or receive a tome that increases a talent or spell. The player would choose one of the rewards, which the demon would then stay with Connor but go dormant until a later time. Thus, making it look like the current Connor's been freed. There's also the option to refuse the reward, and fight the Desire Demon a 4th time, which would finally kill it and free Connor. The only way to get both a reward while also freeing Connor is to intimidate the Desire Demon into running away after getting the reward. With the Desire Demon problem done with, the chosen mage returns out of the Fade.
Redcliffe Village Aftermath
Despite the threat of the Desire Demon and its undead being removed from Redcliffe, there's still the problem to deal with regarding the comatose Arl Eamon needing to be awoken from his illness. With Bann Teagan currently running Redcliffe Village while Eamon remains in a coma, the surviving villagers are seen rebuilding the village while disposing of the dead. Meanwhile, the player's group meets back up with Teagan within Redcliffe Castle. If Connor, Isolde, or both died, there will be mourning for their loss, which Teagan questions how he's supposed to explain it to Eamon once he finally wakes up. If Isolde and Connor are both alive, Teagan and Isolde will be glad to see that the boy appears to be back to his old self as he doesn't remember anything about his demonic possession. They also accept the fact that since Connor's a boy that can wield magic, he will have to be sent off to the Circle Tower in order to become a mage.
If Jowan's still around, Teagan next focuses on what to do with the former given that it was said blood mage that poisoned Arl Eamon. Teagan doesn't know how to handle the situation, especially if Jowan chose to help resolve the mess he created, and asks for the player's opinion. The first choice is to have Jowan executed, which either Teagan quickly executes him, or Jowan would be sent back to his cell to either be killed by the player, or left there to rot to death. The second choice is the player asking for Jowan to be released. Teagan voices his complaint about not liking what Jowan did to his family and home, and informs the player that the decision to release the prisoner is not his to make. That Jowan would only be let go if an awoken Eamon allows it. As a result, Jowan is forced to stay in his cell for the time being.
Returning the focus back to the comatose Arl Eamon, Teagan and Isolde will inform the player that they only have one hope of waking him up, the Urn of Sacred Ashes. The two of them bring up the quest that Isolde sent their Redcliffe knights out to find the Urn of Sacred Ashes that is said to hold the ashes of Andraste. They also describe how a Denerim scholar named Brother Genitivi has been working to decipher inscriptions on Andraste's Birth Rock. Teagan and Isolde explain how after Eamon fell ill, they sent off the Redcliffe knights to meet with Genitivi in the hopes that he discovered Andraste's final resting place. However, it turned out that Genitivi had disappeared, which has left Teagan and Isolde at a dead end as their knights searching around Ferelden have found nothing so far. As a result, the player agrees to help search for the Urn of Sacred Ashes, which Teagan and Isolde appreciate. They state that the player's group should begin their search at Brother Genitivi's home in Denerim as there may be a clue there as to where Genitivi went. Teagan then heads off to help Redcliffe Village rebuild while the player's group departs to begin their search for the Urn of Sacred Ashes.
Redcliffe Side-Quests
After it becomes possible to explore around Redcliffe Village, several side-quests are provided. The first is to finally hand over the lockbox to the villager, Jetta, that was picked up off her dead husband and son in the Korcari Wilds. After informing Jetta of her family's deaths, the player either hands the lockbox over, or they get to keep the contents within it. In addition, Redcliffe's Blackstone Irregular representative asks for the player to deliver five Letters of Appreciation to their five couriers stationed around Denerim.
Next, the Redcliffe Chantry provides two quests. One is to investigate the fate of a missing caravan. Upon investigating the caravan's location on Ferelden's world map, it turns out that the caravan was attacked and killed by a group of darkspawn. The other Chantry quest is to investigate what happened to the the conscripts of Company Easthill. Upon investigating the conscripts' battlefield location on Ferelden's world map, it turns out that the conscripts were killed off, which it's implied that they died to wolves and bears.
Finally, there's the Mages' Collective, a group of Apostate and Circle Mages that are operating outside the Circle of Magi, which they have a representative at the docks of Redcliffe Village. They ask for the player to provide a bribe of ten Lyrium Potions to the templar's Knight-Commander Harrith in order to solidify the partnership between the Collective and the Templars. However, the player can choose to inform Knight-Commander Tavish in Denerim about this illegal dealing. The next collective side-quest involves needing to stop a group of adventurers along the road from giving a false testimony about a mage using blood magic. The adventurers would either be killed or persuaded somehow to stop. Another mage collective side-quest is to find the five Scrolls of Banastor around Ferelden. Two are within the Circle Tower, one is at the Lair of the Werewolves, and two are found in Andraste's Ruined Temple.
The Urn of Sacred Ashes
The second half of the Redcliffe recruitment objective revolves around the journey to wake up Arl Eamon from his coma. This main questline can be started early if the player goes to the Ferelden capital city of Denerim first to begin the search for Andraste's Urn of Sacred Ashes, but in all likelihood, the player completes the Redcliffe main questline first by freeing Connor from his demonic possession, which they'll be tasked by Teagan and Isolde to search for the urn. Due to the information the player was given regarding where to begin the search, the player's group heads off to Denerim in order to meet with Brother Genitivi, a scholar who's been studying Andraste's history.
Investigating Brother Genitivi's Home
Arriving at Denerim in the northeast of Ferelden, the capital is now watched over by Arl Rendon Howe and his men for Loghain, which they're on the hunt for surviving Grey Wardens. Staying out of trouble to not get noticed by Howe and Loghain, the player's group arrives at the residence of Brother Genitivi within Denerim's Market District. It's here that the player and company meet Weylon, a Denerim citizen who works at the residence as Genitivi's loyal assistant. The player states to Weylon that they wish to speak to Genitivi about his Urn of Sacred Ashes research. However, Weylon provides the bad news that Genitivi hasn't been seen in weeks, which the worried assistant assumes that Genitivi's research into the urn ran him into danger. Weylon also notes that the Redcliffe guards that came by to help search for Genitivi have also gone missing. Despite Weylon not wanting to deal with the dangers of the urn search anymore, the player makes it clear that they will take the risk as they need to find the urn to wake Arl Eamon from his coma. As a result, Weylon relents, and reveals that Genitivi was last seen at the Lake Calenhad Docks inn.
Some time after, the player's group heads off to the Lake Calenhad Docks in western Ferelden, and enters its Spoiled Princess inn. The player speaks to the male innkeeper about Genitivi and the missing Redcliffe guards that passed through the inn, which the innkeeper gets nervous, and tries to deny that such people were ever here. Thus, making it obvious that the innkeeper knows something, but is too scared to tell. After convincing the innkeeper to talk, the latter warns to keep voices down due to a certain group of people watching him, which said enemy ordered the innkeeper to keep quiet about anything related to Brother Genitivi or the missing Redcliffe guards. The innkeeper reveals that while he didn't see Genitivi, the Redcliffe guards did pass through trying to achieve the same search as the player, but that he doesn't know where the guards went afterwards. The player and company then depart from the Spoiled Princess after retrieving the information from the innkeeper. However, they're suddenly attacked outside the inn by a group of mysterious cultists that the innkeeper warned were the people watching him. After the cultists are disposed of, the player's group heads back to Denerim to confront Weylon over leading them into a trap.
Upon arriving back at Brother Genitivi's Denerim residence, Weylon is caught off-guard seeing that the player and company are back in one piece. A confrontation with Weylon takes place as he's revealed to be in league with the enemy cultists. The player could accuse Weylon right away for trying to kill them, which he doesn't deny it, and proudly claims that he's a servant of Andraste. Weylon then attacks the player's group, which results in his death. If the player tries to investigate Genitivi's home without killing Weylon, he will try to attack the player's group to keep them from going any further, which also results in his death. The latter scenario can also be done if the player doesn't head off to the Lake Calenhad Docks, which Weylon will attack the player's group right away. After Weylon is disposed of, the player and company proceed to investigate Genitivi's home. Within the residence's back room, a corpse is discovered of the real Weylon. Thus, showing that a cultist had been impersonating him after killing him. In addition, Brother Genitivi's research book is found in the back room, which Genitivi wrote in the notes his decision to go to the village of Haven to search for the Urn of Sacred Ashes.
The Village of Haven
Continuing the search for Genitivi, the player's group heads off to Haven; a remote village that resides in southwest Ferelden amongst the Frostback Mountains. Upon arriving at Haven, the player and company are greeted by a guard at the village entrance. The guard orders the player's group to leave as there's nothing to see in Haven, which the player would inform the guard that they're here to see Genitivi regarding his search for the Urn of Sacred Ashes. The guard replies that while he doesn't know about Genitivi or the urn of myth, the village's leader and Revered Father, Eirik, may have answers. The player's group would become suspicious as the Chantry is only watched over by Revered Mothers, which it's made obvious that Haven is an isolated village that follows its own traditions. Despite the guard originally telling them to leave, he allows the player's group to enter Haven. Though suspicion grows that the guard and the people of Haven are hiding something. Exploring around Haven, the three locations of note is the Haven Chantry, the village store, and a suspicious empty house. All of which have ways that will turn the village hostile to the player.
The first method is investigating the empty house, which has an altar covered in human blood within it. Thus confirming that the people of Haven are cultists who are up to no good. Questioning Haven's citizens about it will result in them turning hostile, and try to kill the player and company. The second method is entering the Haven Chantry. The player's group would come across Father Eirik in the middle of a sermon that he's reciting to his listening Haven citizens. Sermons that badmouth the true Chantry. Despite being irritated by the interruption, he ends the sermon due to the arrival of the player and company. The player asks for information about Genitivi and the Urn of Sared Ashes, but Eirik refuses to answer, and just claims that he will defend his home from outside interruption. The result is a fight breaking out within the Haven Chantry between the player's group and Eirik and his followers, which results in Eirik's side being killed. The player loots a special Cultist Medallion off the Father, and due to Eirik's death, the rest of the village would turn hostile to the player's group.
The final method is to check is the village store. The shopkeeper will offer items at first, but the player would notice a suspicious brick wall within the shop that looks like it can be moved. Upon trying to investigate the wall, the shopkeeper would try to attack the player and company, which would result in the rest of the village turning hostile. After the threat is dealt with, the player's group enters the store room that was hidden behind the suspicious wall. Here, they find a man lying hurt on the floor. The man turns out to be Brother Genitivi, which having been tortured by the cultists of Haven, he's glad to see that rescue has arrived.
The player would inform Genitivi that they've been following the trail he left behind regarding his search for the Urn of Sacred Ashes, which Genitivi understands. He informs the player and company that they're actually really close to potentially discovering Andraste's urn. That he discovered how there's a nearby old temple within the Frostback Mountains that the village of Haven was trying to keep hidden. Genitivi would then mention that there's a special Cultist Medallion needed to open the temple entrance, which the player either already has it, or still needs to kill Father Eirik to retrieve it. A choice is then made to either take Brother Genitivi along to the ruined temple, or he's ordered to head back to Denerim to rest given that he's injured. If the player agrees to take Genitivi along, they all head off to the mountain location where Andraste's ruined temple resides. Otherwise, it's just the player's group that goes to the temple after Genitivi informs them where it's located in the mountains.
Andraste's Ruined Temple
Upon arriving at the mountain temple's locked entrance, the player, or Genitivi if he was taken along, would place Eirik's Cultist Medallion into the door slot, which acts as the key to open it. The player's group and Genitivi would then enter into the massive frontal hall of the temple, which given that the place is in ruins, Genitivi mentions how he would have loved to see how the temple of Andraste looked in its original state. Due to wanting to study a temple, Genitivi decides to stay behind at the entrance, especially knowing that he would slow the player's group down due to being injured. Genitivi then provides some last minute information he knows about needing to reach the Urn of Sacred Ashes, such as warning the player that the temple was designed in such a way to safeguard the urn, and the legends claiming that only those faithful can look upon the sacred ashes or else misfortune will be brought upon them.
After leaving Genitivi behind, the player and company make their way through Andraste's ruined temple. The path forward turns out to be blocked by a locked door that can only be opened after the nearby Holy Brazier is lit with certain items. As a result, the player's group explores the side areas of the ruined temple searching for the two items, a Taper and a Black Pearl, that are required to light the Holy Brazier. While fighting through any cultist they come across within the temple, the player and company eventually locates the Taper and Black Pearl, which they then use them to light the Holy Brazier to open the path forward. The temple rooms beyond the locked door involve more fights with cultists where they even start to summon in Fade demons to fight the player's group. Eventually, the player and company locate a stairwell that takes them out of the temple, and into a noteworthy mountain cavern.
The Wyrmling Lair
Upon exiting Andraste's ruined temple, the player's group enters into a large mountainside cavern known as the Wyrmling Lair. The lair appears to be an area where the cultists have been breeding dragons, which said cultists along with drakes and dragonlings that are loyal to them are seen throughout the cavern. The player's group makes their way through the tunnels of the Wyrmling Lair while disposing of any cultist or dragon they come across. In the final room of the lair where the exit out of the lair lies just beyond, the player and company's path is blocked by a group of cultists led by a certain man who dislikes how the player and company have been slaughtering his people, and have defiled their temple.
The man blocking the way out of the Wyrmling Lair introduces himself as Father Kolgrim, the leader of the Disciples of Andraste cultists that the player's group has been fighting up to this point. He orders the player to explain why they've come here, which the player states that they need to reach the Urn of Sacred Ashes. Kolgrim explains how his people have been guarding the urn, but that things have changed after it has appeared that prophet Andraste has returned from death in the form of a dragon. If the player refuses to believe it, and calls Kolgrim mad for thinking that Andraste has revived, it angers Kolgrim and his cultist followers into attacking, which Kolgrim and company would be killed off. However, the player could choose to agree in order to see the revived dragon. Kolgrim assures the player that the "dragon Andraste" isn't ready yet to be let loose upon the world, but he makes an offer to the player to make up for past transgressions against the Disciples of Andraste. The player could refuse, which results in Kolgrim and his cultists attacking. However, should the player hear Kolgrim out, he will explain his plan.
Kolgrim explains how there's a certain guardian that watches over the Urn of Sacred Ashes, which the guardian refuses to believe that Andraste has returned as a dragon. Thus, the guardian blocks Kolgrim and his followers from approaching the urn. the cultist leader then further explains how the ashes still existing is keeping Andraste stuck to the past rather than accepting her new dragon form. Thus, Kolgrim's plan is to have the player's group get by the guardian, and use a vial of holy Andraste (dragon's blood) to have it poured upon the urn's ashes. This would defile the Urn of Sacred Ashes, but it would lead Kolgrim and his followers to believe that Andraste will be unshackled from the past, and accept the dragon as her new form. If the player chooses to go along with it, Leliana and Wynne will be the most disapproving of defiling the urn if they're amongst the group. If the player rejects going along with Kolgrim, the cultist leader and his Disciples of Andraste will attack the player's group. After Kolgrim's disposed of, Kolgrim's Horn can be looted off his body, which can be used to call down the dragon that he claims is Andraste's new form.
The High Dragon on the Mountain Top
Exiting out of the Wyrmling Lair beyond Kolgrim's room, the player's group finds themselves back outside at a high mountain top location of the Frostback Mountains, which the entrance to the temple the urn is housed in lies just beyond. A large High Dragon that the cultists have been viewing as Andraste is seen flying overhead, which how the player and company deal with it plays out. If it was decided to defile the urn with dragon's blood, Kolgrim will appear, and asks for the dragon to allow the player and company to pass unharmed. However, the player could choose to back out of the deal, and attack, which results in a fight against the High Dragon and Kolgrim. If Kolgrim was killed due to choosing to not to defile the urn, the High Dragon will remain perched atop a nearby mountain. The player's group would then either avoid the High Dragon encounter, or the player uses Kolgrim's Horn to call the High Dragon down to their location, and slay it. Afterwards, the player and company makes their way over to the entrance of the temple housing the Urn of Sacred Ashes.
The Guardian of the Ashes
Upon arriving at the mountain temple, the player's group is met by the Guardian that Kolgrim warned them about. Standing guard at the entrance to a temple area known as the Gauntlet, the Guardian appears as a normal human soldier. In actuality, the Guardian's a powerful being that has lived for centuries as a Disciple of Andraste that's been guarding the Urn of Sacred Ashes. The Guardian introduces itself having been waiting for the player's arrival, and that it will continue to guard the ashes until the day comes that Imperium (the remnants of the old Tevinter Imperium kingdom in northern Thedas) is destroyed. Speaking to the Guardian provides history surrounding the Urn of Sacred Ashes Temple, such as how the Disciples of Andraste led by Kolgrim have lost their way regarding their loyalty to Andraste, and that the High Dragon is in no way a reborn Andraste.
The player next asks about how to reach the Urn of Sacred Ashes, which the Guardian states that one must prove themselves worthy within the Gauntlet first. That once one is proven worthy, they will be allowed to take a pinch of Andraste's ashes out from the urn. The Guardian then explains how the Gauntlet will put its guest through four tests of faith in order to see if their soul is true or false. The player accepts to take the test, but before the Guardian lets the player's group through, it can tell that something's troubling the player. Depending on the player's choice of origin story, the Guardian will question their regrets about leaving the Cousland parents to die (Human Noble), the incident surrounding Jowan's escape (Circle Mage), Tamlen's tragic fate (Dalish Elf), Shianni being attacked (City Elf), the incident surrounding Trian's death (Dwarf Noble), or leaving your mother and Rica to fend for themselves in the Orzammar slums (Dwarf Commoner). The player would then provide an answer where they either admit regret for not trying to do things differently, has no regrets as such a choice had to be done, or the player refuses to tell. Whatever answer is made, the Guardian accepts it. The Guardian then questions the player's three companions depending on which three are in the current group.
Alistair would be asked if he regrets what happened to Cailan and Duncan, which Alistair admits that it should have been him that died. If Dog was brought along, the Guardian ignores it. Morrigan would refuse to answer anything, which the Guardian respects her wishes before it could ask something about her mother, Flemeth. Leliana would get called out as an attention seeker as her "vision" where she claimed to have seen herself fighting with the Grey Wardens didn't happen, which Leliana denies it. Wynne would be asked if she's truly sincere regarding her beliefs about the Mage Circle and Chantry, which Wynne agrees that she would be a fool to completely believe their ways. Sten would be asked if he feels like he failed his Qunari people due to him murdering a Ferelden family, which Sten assures the Guardian that he never denied to have not failed. If Oghren was brought along, he speaks to the Guardian before it even questions him about his regrets of not being able to save his wife, Branka, his home, or his honor. Thus, he was too ashamed of himself, and left for the surface to join the player's group. Zevran would be asked if he regrets any of his assassinations. Especially one certain assassination in particular, which obviously hitting a sore spot, Zevran refuses to answer. Finally, Shale isn't asked any questions, but the Guardian would note that it can see Shale's golem existence as a respectful test of will and courage.
The Gauntlet: A Test of Faith
With all its questions asked, the Guardian allows the player and company to enter the temple's Gauntlet. The player enters into the tunnel-like Gauntlet of the temple where at the other end of it is the stairwell that leads up to the platform housing the Urn of Sacred Ashes. Starting their trek through the tunnel, the player's group encounters the Gauntlet's 1st Trial. They're greeted by spirits who provide a series of eight riddles, which those that are answered wrong results in the player being attacked by an Ash Wraith. Once the riddles are completed, the next room has a spirit encounter of someone from the players' origin story. The encounter being Bryce Cousland (Human Noble), Jowan (Circle Mage), Tamlen (Dalish Elf), Shianni (City Elf), Trian Aeducan (Dwarf Noble), or Leske (Dwarf Commoner). Speaking to the encounter serves as a moment for the player to learn to not dwell on what went wrong in the past, which the player would be given a Reflection amulet as long as they gave an answer to the Guardian earlier.
After the story origin encounter, the player's group comes across the Gauntlet's 2nd Trial in the next area. The 2nd Trial is basically a battle in combat with oneself. Four spectral versions of the player's group appears, which results in a mirror match battle. After completing the mirror match battle, the player's group continues on through the tunnel until arriving at the 3rd Trial, which consists of a floor tile puzzle. The player and company have to step on certain tiles to make the one true bridge that will allow them to cross. Beyond the bridge puzzle is the 4th Trial, which is a wall of fire right before the stairwell that leads up to the Urn of Sacred Ashes. The fire wall doesn't actually damage the player, but is more a last minute security check.
The player is then given a choice. Either the player's group takes off all their equipment at the altar before the wall of fire, and then they walk through the fire unequipped to show that they mean no harm, or the player's group goes through the wall of fire with all their armor and weapons still equipped. If the player's group goes through the wall of fire with their stuff still equipped, it will result in the Guardian becoming suspicious of the player's intentions, and attacks the group, which the Guardian will have to be defeated before the player can continue on. If the player chose instead to walk through the wall of fire unequipped, the Guardian appears afterwards, and congratulates the player and company for proving themselves worthy by completing the Gauntlet's four trials.
Obtaining Andraste's Ashes
If the Guardian's still alive, it grants the player access to approach the Urn of Sacred Ashes. The player walks up the stairwell to the platform where the Urn of Sacred Ashes resides. The urn being placed before a statue of what is believed to be a depiction of Andraste. Opening the urn, the player takes a pinch of the Ashes, and puts said ashes into a bag for safekeeping since they're needed to awaken Arl Eamon from his coma. After taking out the pinch of ashes, the choice would be there to go through with Kolgrim's goal if the player agreed to defile the Urn of Sacred Ashes with a vial of dragon's blood. There's the option to not go through with it, which Kolgrim would confront and try to kill the player upon exiting the temple.
However, if the player does decide to defile the urn, it will result in the Guardian attacking the player if it's still alive. In addition, Leliana and Wynne will turn on the player out of disgust if they're currently in the group, which would result in them being killed off. If they weren't in the group, Leliana and Wynne would confront and attack the player at camp having heard about the urn's defilement, but if certain conditions are met, such as hardening Leliana, or Wynne hasn't been recruited yet, it's possible to keep the two of them around as companions. Overall, due to completing the task to defile the Urn of Sacred Ashes, the player returns to Kolgrim, who congratulates the player by deeming them as Andraste's champion, and rewards the player by teaching the Reaver specialization for the Warrior class. However, if the player chooses to do so, they could kill Kolgrim afterwards.
After the choice is made regarding the urn (leave it alone or defile it), the player's group begins their trek back down the mountain. If Brother Genitivi was taken along, the player and company would meet back up with him at the Ruined Temple entrance. The player would show to Genitivi that they've retrieved Andraste's ashes, along with explaining the tests they had to go through to get it. The revelation amazes Genitivi to the point of wanting to start an expedition to study Andraste's temple and have people come visit the urn, which results in a choice. Either the player agrees to let Genitivi head off and spread the word about the discovery, or Genitivi is killed to keep Andraste's temple a secret. If Genitivi leaves, he returns to his home in Denerim, which he offers the player rewards there for all the help that they provided him.
Eamon Awakens
Having obtained a pinch of Andraste's ashes, the player's group finally returns to Redcliffe in order to wake up Arl Eamon from his coma. At Redcliffe Castle, the player shows the ashes to Teagan and Isolde, which brightens their spirits now that they know that they finally have a chance. As a result, everyone heads over to Eamon's bedside to see if the healing powers from the Urn of Sacred Ashes lives up to its reputation. Shortly after, mages are seen within Eamon's room combining their magic with Andraste's ashes to perform a spell upon the comatose Arl while the player and company watch. Eventually, the spell proves to be successful, which results in Arl Eamon finally waking up. Eamon wakes up confused as to what's going on, which his brother, Teagan, informs him that he was suffering an illness. Depending on the statuses of Isolde and Connor, Isolde happily reunites with her awoken husband if she's alive. Meanwhile, Connor is either dead, or had to depart since he turned out to be a mage, and had to be sent off to the Circle Tower.
Some time after, the player's group is seen with Eamon, Teagan and Isolde holding a meeting in the main hall of Redcliffe Castle. Eamon just had it explained to him the current problems that have befallen Ferelden, such as the threats of Loghain and the darkspawn Blight. Before dealing with said threats however, Eamon figures that a reward should be given first to the player and company for helping him out. The player asks for Redcliffe's army of human soldiers to help face the Blight, which Eamon accepts along with further rewarding the player's group by naming them as Champions of Redcliffe who are free to come and go as they please, and provides the player with a special warrior shield, the Redcliffe Elite Shield.
Eamon's Plan to Defeat Loghain
After the rewards are done with, Teagan brings the focus back to the problems at hand by pointing out that Loghain will surely be caught off-guard by Arl Eamon's sudden recovery. Eamon remains confused as to why a sensible man like Loghain who had no desire for power would suddenly instigate a civil war while the threat of the darkspawn is going on. In return, Teagan assures his brother that he witnessed Loghain's mad ambition to take over Ferelden's throne during a past Denerim meeting. Eamon is then forced to admit Loghain's madness due to the growing criminal evidence, such as the role Loghain played in killing King Cailan, and his attempt to destroy Redcliffe and its Arl. Overall, Eamon agrees that he and the people of Redcliffe will fight to the bitter end to make sure that Loghain is stopped.
The player asks if Eamon's status as one of Ferelden's higher nobles is enough to turn Ferelden's nobility against Loghain. In return, Eamon explains that while he may be capable of turning some of them, Loghain will still have several loyal and powerful allies that will make things difficult. Thus, Eamon believes it's quite clear that one side will surely have to surrender if they're to have any chance against the darkspawn. The player asks if there's any way to deal with Loghain, which Eamon explains that he will be sure to make Loghain pay, but will do it without the army of Redcliffe as his forces will be needed to face the darkspawn Blight. Thus, Eamon states that he will start spreading the word of Loghain's treachery. However, Eamon points out the big issue that he will be calling out Loghain without any surefire proof against him.
Eamon explains that his words against Loghain will pause the enemy for a brief time, but that if they're truly going to pose a challenge to Loghain's rule, they will need to bring forth something that Loghain can't ignore. That something being a certain someone who has a stronger claim to the Ferelden throne over Loghain's daughter, Anora. Teagan realizes that Eamon is referring to Alistair, who's the bastard son of the late King Maric Theirin. Eamon admits that he wouldn't force this scenario on Alistair if there was an alternative, but the Arl points out that they have no choice due to the situation that Loghain's put them in. If Alistair's in the group and complains about no one taking into account what he wants, he's forced to accept it when Eamon points out that without Alistair trying to claim the throne, Eamon would be forced to accept Loghain as Ferelden's ruler.
With the idea to make Alistair the new King of Ferelden established, Eamon announces that he will call for a Landsmeet, which will be a gathering amongst Ferelden's nobility within Denerim. Eamon states that it will be the Landsmeet that the decision will be made regarding who will rule Ferelden. Before continuing any further, Eamon asks for the player's blessing. Eamon explaining that after hearing about all that the player has accomplished so far, such as bringing Alistair to Redcliffe, and discovering the Urn of Sacred Ashes, the player should be the one who leads them against Loghain. Eamon also assures the player that the Landsmeet is their only option to end Loghain's rule as breaking out into civil war will just leave them too weak to face the darkspawn afterwards. He also mentions that he can hold off on calling for the Landsmeet until the player has gathered all other potential allies, and that Redcliffe should be able to hold off potential threats from Loghain until then. In the end, the player agrees to be the one who leads the Landsmeet plan.
Jowan's Fate
If Jowan's still around up to this point, Eamon next turns his focus to said mage given that Jowan was the one who poisoned him, and secretly tutored his son in magic. Teagan informs his brother that Jowan is currently locked up in the dungeon, which Eamon would ask to have said mage brought to him. Shortly after, Jowan is shown to have been brought before Eamon within Redcliffe Castle's main hall. Eamon makes it clear Jowan's crimes, such as the attempt on the Arl's life, and Jowan's actions almost destroying everything that the Arl holds dear. He asks if Jowan has any words to say in defense, which Jowan states that he doesn't, and just apologizes for the problems he caused. He accepts whatever punishment is decided for him, which Eamon asks the player for their opinion on Jowan. If the player comes to Jowan's defense regarding the fact that Jowan has repented by choosing to help resolve the issues he caused, Eamon will accept sparing Jowan, and sends him off back to the Circle Tower. If the player says nothing, Eamon chooses to execute him on the spot.
Overall, Jowan accepts his fate of being killed, or being sent back to the Circle Tower. After the issue with Jowan is dealt with, Eamon assures the player that they got time before the Landsmeet to gather other allies since he will be busy gathering up Redcliffe's forces for their eventual fight against the darkspawn. Thus, he orders the player off to gather up the remaining allies that can be recruited through the Grey Warden treaties.
Arl of Redcliffe Quest Completed
Having completed the task to recruit Arl Eamon and his forces, the player's group departs from Redcliffe Village in order to continue the journey around Ferelden, such as completing the other main recruitment objectives.
While journeying around Ferelden after the Arl of Redcliffe's quest has been completed, there's a world encounter that will pop up along the road where a group of Redcliffe soldiers will be battling it out with the darkspawn. After the player's group helps dispose of the darkspawn, the Redcliffe soldiers continue on towards Denerim as they're recruits that are joining up with the Grey Wardens' new army of Ferelden.
Jowan's Intention
The only way Jowan truly becomes free is if the player told him to run away from Redcliffe when they initially met one another at the Redcliffe prison cell. After Jowan runs away from Redcliffe, a new Chantry side-quest will pop up on a Chanter's Board after Eamon's been cured. Brother Bism asks for adventurers to pursue the escaped apostate mage, Jowan, and eliminate the threat he poses. After accepting the quest, a new world location to travel to pops up north of Brecilian Forest.
Upon traveling to the wilderness location, Jowan's seen protecting a group of Ferelden refugees from Blight Wolves and Bereskarn. Confronting Jowan after the fight, the blood mage explains how he's decided to do some good by helping others, which the refugees are calling him "Levyn" due to Jowan going under a new alias. The choice is then made to either attack and kill Jowan by revealing to the refugees his blood mage status, or the player plays along with "Levyn," and lets Jowan depart with the refugees to live out his free life. Afterwards, the player returns to a Chanter's Board representative to inform them that the Jowan problem's been dealt with.
