To Catch a Thief Dragon Age II Guide

Last update: 11 May 2016

Received from: automatically after completing Following the Qun [Hightown]

Step 1: Heading for the meeting in Hawke Estate

You will receive this mission automatically after finishing Following the Qun. You will be informed that Isabela wants to meet with you #1. In accordance with the received info, go to [Hightown - Hawke Estate] #2 (M4, 9).

Aveline and Isabela #1 (M14, 13) will be waiting here for you. Aveline will want to go to the Qunari camp as fast as a part of Demands of the Qun. Isabela will ask you for help in obtaining a relic as part of To Catch a Thief, suggesting that her life might be in danger. Note that you will be able to ask both ladies a few questions #2.

In the end you will have to decide which case should be the priority. The possible options are:

• Stating that helping Isabela is more important (upper right dialogue option) #1. IT will maintain the To Catch a Thief quest. In the meantime Aveline will try to buy time in the Qunari camp.
• Stating that taking care of the problems with Arishok is more important (lower right dialogue option) #2. It will deactivate To Catch a Thief and you won't be able to return to it later on. Additionally Isabela will leave the party, heading out to find the relic on her own.

Personally I'd recommend completing To Catch a Thief, as it won't influence the meeting with Arishok in any way.

Step 2: Exploring the Lost-End Foundry

As it has been stated, you only will be able to attempt this quest if you chose to help Isabela. Make sure that she's an active party member, go out of the estate and head to [Lowtown] by night. Head to the foundries and you should a group of Qunari in a backstreet #1 (M13, 12). Approach them and listen to a short conversation, after which you will be forced to fight them #2.

Start off by attacking the strongest one - Sten #1 - as he's able to buff his companions making them more effective. Only after eliminating him should you focus on Karashoks and Ashaads #2. Eliminate the later ones first, as their ranged attacks can cause significant damage.

After the fight you will be forced to speak with Isabela #1. She will tell you that she's been deceiving you up until now and she knows exactly what the relic is. In the end you will be able to choose out of two options #2, one of which is recognizing that the relic should be handed over to the Qunari (upper right dialogue option) or promising to give the relic to Isabela, so that she can get out of the tricky situation (upper right dialogue option). Paradoxically you don't have to think it over too much. By supporting Isabela you will receive 15 friendship points and by refusing to give her the relic you will get 15 rivalry points. That's the only difference, as both options will lead to the problem being solved the same way.

Irrespectively of the chosen dialogue option the action will move to [Lowtown - Lost-End Foundry] (M74, 1). Isabela will start chasing Wall-Eyed Sam #1, which will complicate things by making you fight with only three characters. On the bright side, the Qunaris and Tevinters will be focused on themselves in the beginning #2 (M74, 2).

Once you join the fight, I'd recommend gradually attacking each side. Try not to kill any of them too early, as then the whole other side would focus their attention solely on your party. As for the mages, you should eliminate the Tevinter Enchanter #1 and as for the Qunari, kill Sten as soon as you can #2.

Only after eliminating the leaders of both groups should you move to attacking the common enemies, amongst who you will find Tevinter Mages #1, Karashoks and Ashaads. Qunari will probably survive longer, as some of them will be hiding on the upper balconies #2.

Step 3: Following Isabela

After the fight it would be wise to look around the foundry. I'd especially recommend finding the chest #1 with an armour improvement for Isabela. Look out for the numerous traps on the upper floor, avoid or disarm them (manually or with a lever). Use the chance to search the corpses of fallen enemies to find, inter alia, the precious Gauntlets of the Ashaad #2.

You can head to the foundry exit #1 (M74, 3), which will take you back to [Lowtown]. Once outside, be sure to examine Wall-Eyed Sam's corpse #2 (M13, 20) to find Isabela's Letter. The letter will be similar irrespectively of whether you promised to help Isabela or not. It turns out your companion has ran away with the relic. Further events can be found in the description of Demands of the Qun.