Demands of the Qun - p. 3 Dragon Age II Guide

Last update: 11 May 2016

Step 4: Getting inside the Viscount's Keep

A cutscene with the save First Enchanter Orsino will play (M4, 15). Interestingly, if you didn't take Bethany to Deep Roads and therefore she got arrested, you will have the chance to meet and talk with her. The hero's friend will be brought back to life by the Enchanter #1. If, on the other hand, you didn't take Carver, he will accompany Meredith #2. In this case you will be also able to talk with him for a short while.

Soon Meredith will join the conversation and both sides will start arguing on what to do next. You will have as much as four dialogue options to choose from #1, but irrespectively of whether you let someone else speak or point yourself as the leader, the action will move to nearby the Keep #2. Here you will have to make the proper decision regarding how to get inside.

The first option is supporting Meredith's plan, which assumes a frontal attack #1 (M4, 16). As it begins, immediately disarm the two standard traps by the stairs #2, thanks to which no party member will lose health because of them.

Only after disarming the traps should you head up and start attacking the Qunari. Eliminate Sten as fast as possible #1 and move to the "standard" warriors afterwards. A major facilitation of this battle will be the presence of not only the Templars, but also Meredith herself. It should lead to a rather easy victory. A short cutscene with Orsino and Meredith will start #2. They will hold off the further Qunari attacks and you should explore the Keep in the meantime (M10, 1).

The second options is supporting Orsino's plan #1. Curiously, you won't have to fight with anyone, as the First Enchanter will successfully draw the Qunari's attention #2, thanks to which your party will be able to enter the Keep without being noticed (M10, 1).

Step 5: Finding Viscount Dumar

Irrespectively of whether you have chosen Meredith's or Orsino's plan, you will end up in [Hightown - Viscount's Keep] #1. I'd strongly recommend creating a new save here, as after a few steps a large and strong Qunari group will appear #2.

As only the fight begins, it would be wise to attack the Saarebas from a distance, "motivating" him to come downstairs #1. I wouldn't however recommend trying to fight your way onto the balconies at all costs, as there are traps in the area #2 and your party members might trigger them during the fight.

Eliminate the mage and move to neutralising the Qunari #1. Try to locate and quickly eliminate Sten #2, thanks to which the enemies won't have any buffs.

After the fights, check the area (especially the corpse by the stairs) and head east. Your target is the door leading to the eastern part of the Keep #1 (M10, 2). Once you open it a cutscene will start #2, during which you will learn that Arishok has brutally murdered the Viscount.

Step 6: Meeting Arishok

The first conversation with Arishok (M10, 3) will be short and you won't have to make any important decisions #1. The Qunari leader will put you to a small test, sending a team of four Qunaris #2. Eliminating them shouldn't be really hard, as long as you remember to attack them one at a time.

As you defeat them, there will be another conversation with Arishok and it can end in the ways. The first is an unsuccessful attempt to talk sense into the Qunari leader #1, which will lead to a fight (more on that in the description of both variants of Step 7). IT can also happen that Isabela will appear #2 and return Arishok the book. However for that to happen, there are two requirements to be met:

• Being good enough friends with Isabela. You can be sure you got it if you received the Questioning Beliefs (Isabela) companion quest during the II act.
• Completing the To Catch a Thief main quest. It's worth to add that whether you promised Isabela to give her the relic or asked her to give it back to the Qunari doesn't matter.

If Isabela does show up and give back the relic, you will learn that the Qunari want to take her with them. You can react to that in three ways #1:

• Agree to hand over Isabela to Arishok (upper right dialogue option). Isabela will be furious and of course will leave the party for good, BUT choosing this option will let you complete the quest without having to fight anymore, as Qunari will immediately leave Kirkwall #2.
• Try to convince Arishok that Isabela will be punished according to Kirkwall law (middle right dialogue option). Arishok won't agree and as a result you will have to fight (more on that in the description of both variants of Step 7).
• Refuse handing over Isabela to Arishok (lower right dialogue option). Also in this case the only solution is to fight (more on that in the description of both variants of Step 7).

As you can see, every option apart from handing Isabela over to Arishok will lead to more fights. The battle with the Qunari can have two courses:

• An honourable battle with Arishok himself. The description of this option can be found in Step 7, Option A.
• Fighting all the Qunaris. The description of this option can be found in Step 7, Option B.