Leliana

Leliana is an Orlesian bard who can accompany the Warden through Dragon Age: Origins. She came to the village of Lothering seeking the refuge of the local chantry, where she expected to spend her time in meditation and prayer to the Maker, asking Him for forgiveness for her past deeds. She is a possible companion and romance option for either gender. She can also teach the bard specialization.

She is also a playable character in Leliana's Song, a DLC revealing more of her past.

Background
Although Leliana's mother was from Ferelden, she was raised after her mother's death by an Orlesian noble, Lady Cecile, whom her mother served during the Orlesian occupation and followed to Orlais after Ferelden's liberation. Living in Orlais, Leliana learned a great deal about the royal court and Orlesian culture.

Involvement
Leliana believes she has received a "vision from the Maker" which compels her to assist the Warden in thwarting the impending Blight. {{DAOSpoiler| Leliana is first encountered at Dane's Refuge, a tavern at Lothering. When the Warden is set upon by soldiers loyal to Loghain, Leliana will aid the Warden in the battle. When the battle is over, she will say that she wants to join the party due to her vision. Despite the Chantry's claim that the Maker does not communicate directly with people, Leliana is firm in her belief. This causes Alistair to suspect she is mentally unstable.

If Leliana is rejected initially, it is possible to ask other people in Lothering about her. She will be waiting at the exit from Lothering and will ask to join the party again. At this point, Alistair will suggest accepting her.

The Urn of Sacred Ashes
During The Urn of Sacred Ashes, the Guardian briefly talks to each of the party members about their past. When he speaks to Leliana, he states that the Maker only spoke to Andraste, and accuses her of making her vision up. He says that she feared her life would become dull after joining the Chantry, so she fabricated the story about the vision, reveling in the negative and positive attention it brought her. She seems taken aback by the claim and denies it, saying that she knows and still believes in her vision.

Due to her devout nature, Leliana will not stand idly by if the Warden chooses to defile the Ashes of Andraste. If she is in the party, she will attack, resulting in her death. She can be intimidated to avoid this; she will not forgive the Warden for the desecration, but cannot go against the Warden and will stay as a companion. If she is not in the party at the time, she will confront the Warden at the Party Camp. If she cannot be persuaded, she will leave permanently.

Marjolaine
Eventually, Marjolaine sends assassins after Leliana. The assassins reveal that Marjolaine is in Ferelden. During the quest, Leliana's personality can be "hardened" through certain dialogue options. Doing this will make her less likely to object to evil actions taken by party, will change her attitude towards Morrigan, and will alter her possible endings.

Awakening
Leliana never appears in Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening and is only mentioned once. If she was in love with the Warden at the end of Dragon Age: Origins then the following entry may appear in the epilogue of Awakening:

''Some claimed the commander reunited with the red-haired bard known as Leliana, and that they adventure together still. The pair were spotted together in Denerim a year after the Blight's end. No matter the truth, the commander never did return to Vigil's Keep.''

There is also a letter from her to her love interest.

Romance
There are two conversational opportunities in the game to start a romance with Leliana. The first opportunity is different for male and female wardens, while the second opportunity is the same regardless of gender.

First Opportunity (Male Warden only)

 * Begin by clicking on Leliana in camp. The start of the conversation will vary depending on her approval score. While this conversation is also available to female wardens, the final choices that will initiate the romance are not.


 * If Leliana is friendly (approval 76 or higher):
 * Leliana: "I know that look--you have something on your mind, don't you?"
 * Warden: "We need to talk."
 * Leliana: "Of course."
 * Warden: "What would someone like you be doing in Lothering's chantry?"
 * (see below for rest)


 * If Leliana is warm (approval between 51 and 75):
 * Leliana: "Something I can help you with?"
 * Warden: "What would someone like you be doing in Lothering's chantry?"
 * (see below for rest)


 * Otherwise (approval 50 or below):
 * Leliana: "Yes?"
 * Warden: "I'd like to talk."
 * Leliana:"Well here I am."
 * Warden: "What would someone like you be doing in Lothering's chantry?"
 * (see below for rest)


 * All of the above:
 * Leliana: "What is meant by "someone like me?""
 * Warden: "You know, a beautiful charming woman like yourself."
 * Leliana: "And there are no beautiful, charming women in the cloisters, you think? Oh, you would be wrong."
 * Leliana: "There were many lovely young initiates in the Lothering cloister--all of them chaste and virtuous. Ah, it added to their mystique."
 * Leliana: "Because then... then they were forbidden, and forbidden fruit is the sweeter, no?"
 * Warden: Those initiates can't have been more lovely than you.
 * -or-
 * Warden: What about your fruit? Is it forbidden?
 * APP_LELIANA_ROMANCE_ACTIVE is set. (The rest of the conversation has no effect on Leliana's romance status.)

First Opportunity (Female Warden only)

 * This conversational possibility is automatically initiated by Leliana the first time she and a female warden are in camp together after her approval rating has reached warm (51 or higher).


 * Leliana: "I... have I ever told you I really like the way you wear your hair?"
 * Warden: any response
 * Leliana: "It's very nice and it suits you. Simple, not like the elaborate hairstyles we wore in Orlais. They involved flowers, ribbons, jewels..."
 * Leliana: "One year, feathers were all the rage, and Lady Elise decided she needed to outdo everyone else, and actually wore live songbirds in her voluminous hair."
 * Leliana: "The chirping was quite charming for a while, but you must realize, terrified little birdies often have loose bowels."
 * Warden: any response
 * Leliana: varies depending on above
 * Leliana: "But I was trying to say something nice to you, wasn't I? Oh, forgive me. My mind wanders so."
 * Leliana: "It's just that I... I feel so comfortable talking to you, like I could say anything and you wouldn't judge me."
 * Warden: Any response EXCEPT: "You're mistaken. You are far too frivolous for my liking."
 * Leliana: varies depending on above
 * Leliana: I haven't felt this close to anyone in a long time. I really enjoy your company.
 * Warden: "And do you often enjoy the company of other women?" 
 * Leliana: "And do you often enjoy the company of other women?"
 * Warden: "I think I might giggle, maybe look coy?"
 * -or-
 * Warden: "I'm flattered that you like my company then."
 * Leliana: varies depending on above
 * APP_LELIANA_ROMANCE_ACTIVE is set.

Second Opportunity (Male or Female Warden)

 * This conversational possibility only occurs if:
 * 1) Leliana's approval is friendly (76 or higher).
 * 2) Marjolaine's quest has been completed and discussed (LELIANA_MAIN_TALKED_ABOUT_MOTIVATION has been set).
 * Click on Leliana in camp.
 * Leliana: "I know that look--you have something on your mind, don't you?"
 * Warden: "We need to talk."
 * Leliana: "Of course."
 * Warden: "Are you feeling better about what happened with Marjolaine?"
 * Leliana: "Yes... a little better. Time heals all wounds, so they say. Scars remain but they are just... colors in the painting that is my life, no?"
 * Warden: any response
 * ... (there may or may not be 1 or 2 additional lines here with no choices)
 * Leliana: "I wish things had happened differently but knowing her and knowing me, I don't think it could have."
 * Leliana: "We had good times though, and I look back on those fondly. Whatever happened after will never change the truth of the past."
 * Warden: "She was special to you, wasn't she?"  (Due to a bug, the romance options for the other two selections will not appear.)
 * Leliana: "Yes, once, a long time ago. She was a worldly woman and there was so much she knew and was willing to share with me."
 * Leliana: "I would have done anything for her, once."
 * Warden: "I'm sorry it ended so badly." 
 * -or-
 * Warden: "She didn't deserve you." 
 * Leliana: "She used to be different. Happier, I think. She loved music... and had a weakness for sugary cakes..."
 * Leliana: "Maybe she was always lying about who she was, or maybe she changed over the years."
 * Warden: any response
 * ... (there will be a few lines here without choices that are dependent on your last dialogue selection.)
 * Leliana: "You are how she used to be, years ago--a joy to be around, a constant companion and a listening ear in times of need."
 * Warden: any response
 * ... (there may or may not be 1 or 2 additional lines here with no choices)
 * Leliana: "I have never regretted leaving Orlais. I do not regret any of the pain, the anger, the loneliness, because it brought me to you."
 * Leliana: "And I... love you. It's so wonderful to say that to someone again."
 * Leliana: "Oh, but people are starting to look at me strangely. We will speak of this again, I promise."
 * APP_LELIANA_ROMANCE_ACTIVE is set.


 * Note: The walkthrough above navigates around several bugs that exist in this dialogue. Other dialogue choices that may at first appear to advance the possibility :of romance may turn out to be dead ends, eliminating the last opportunity to start/restart a romance with Leliana since this dialogue opportunity only occurs once.

Romance Advancement
The Warden's first opportunity to kiss her occurs when her approval reaches "Adore" (71 or higher) and she starts a conversation in camp with the opening sentence "I enjoy the nights at camp. The night always seems more peaceful, to me. Safer." Nevertheless she isn't interested in a fling and will only bed the Warden once she's fallen in love with him/her. She will not fall in love with the Warden until her quest has been completed and her approval rating has reached 91 or higher. To increase her approval, talk to her a lot, listen to what she tells you, be supportive, avoid criticizing her when she talks about "the Maker", give her gifts that are personally meaningful to her, do good deeds while she is in the party, and avoid evil acts (or at least avoid having Leliana in the party when performing them).

Love Triangles

 * See Romance:Love Triangles for information regarding simultaneous romances involving both Leliana and another companion.

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Quests Given

 * Leliana's Past

Gifts
Leliana prefers gifts with "Andraste" in their name, as well as other symbols of the Chantry. The white flowers called Andraste's Grace work particularly well. She loves shoes, too. Leliana can also be given a pet nug from the Idle Dwarf in Dust Town. It will stay with her throughout the game.

Origins
Relative Attribute Weightings on Auto-Level: Strength 0.6, Dexterity 1.2, Willpower 0.4, Magic 0, Cunning 1.2, Constitution 0.6.

Class: Rogue

Specialization: Bard

Skills: Stealing level 2, Poison level 1, Combat training level 2

Starting Talents:

Bard: Song of Valor

Rogue: Dirty Fighting, Below the Belt, Deft Hands, Improved Tools

Archery: Pinning Shot, Crippling Shot, Rapid Shot, Shattering Shot

Leliana's Song DLC
Class: Rogue

Level: 10

Specialization: Bard

Attributes (1 available point)
 * Strength: 20
 * Dexterity: 26
 * Willpower: 18
 * Magic: 14
 * Cunning: 18
 * Constitution: 10

Skills (no available points)
 * Stealing, Improved Stealing, Expert Stealing
 * Poison-Making
 * Combat Training, Improved Combat Training, Expert Combat Training

Talents (2 available points)
 * Bard: Song of Valor
 * Rogue: Dirty Fighting, Combat Movement, Coup De Grace, Below the Belt, Deft Hands, Improved Tools
 * Dual Weapon: Dual-Weapon Training
 * Archery: Pinning Shot, Rapid Shot

Plot Skills
As you befriend Leliana and gain her approval she will gain additional abilities, including the following:

Quotes

 * "I tried to be merciful!"
 * "The righteous stand before the darkness, and the Maker shall guide their hand."
 * "I came to Ferelden and the Chantry because I was being hunted. I walked where the Maker led me and he has rewarded me for my faith. I found you."
 * "Walking corpses? Do you think it's something in the water?"
 * "I never liked this part!" (when entering combat)
 * "My bruises form a pretty pattern!" (Getting up at the end of combat)
 * "I can't go on like this." (when badly injured)
 * "There were many lovely young initiates in the Lothering cloister -- all of them chaste and virtuous. Ah, it added to their mystique."
 * "Ooh! A windmill. I once took a ride on the sails of a windmill. Didn't turn out well." (at Redcliffe village)
 * "Ooh, this looks fun! I'll bet we'll have to work together, join hands, and sing a happy song to get across." (when confronted with floor puzzle)
 * "Look at what that woman's wearing! Is she drunk or does she just have bad taste?"
 * "I suppose violence is a solution... sometimes!"
 * "Try not to look too incompetent, it's embarrassing!"
 * "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." (At the gates of Denerim if you bring her with you to fight the Archdemon)
 * "You are my Grey Warden, and our savior. Win this war for us my love and... come home." (At the gates of Denerim if you do not bring her with you to fight the Archdemon)

Trivia

 * In Bioware's character file for her, her appearance is described as: "Red hair, pale, slender."
 * Leliana's CGI model from the Sacred Ashes trailer is based on adult model Alexandra "Alleykatze" Stein.
 * When asked to compare a list of NPC companions to food, BioWare employee Mary Kirby described Leliana as "A sticky cinnamon bun. No question."
 * Sheryl Chee described her as, "a macaron; very French and very girly."
 * After the "Nature of the Beast" quest, Leliana can sing a song in the camp if she likes you enough. It is called "Leliana's Song."
 * If Leliana is given the cute nug, she will name it Schmooples. (To see for yourself, hold down tab on the PC version to highlight your companions names or left trigger on the console versions to note all names in the vicinity.)
 * At one point when discussing Orlais fashion with Leliana, she will mention how one trend had shoes with soles "as big as bricks." This is obviously a nod to platform shoes, similarly fashionable a few years ago and just as impractical.
 * Leliana is one of three companions who appears in the Sacred Ashes trailer.
 * If Leliana's approval is high enough, it is possible that she will hum a little melody when the player takes control of Leliana.
 * When in the fade, there are 2 NPCs that look like Leliana.
 * In Leliana's Song, Leliana's hair is tied up, while in Dragon Age Origins, her hair is down.

Bugs

 * One important dialogue option that leads to Leliana's background quest can be lost if you get her approval too high without talking to her. Therefore, do not simply shower Leliana with gifts -- talk to her and make sure you choose "I heard that in Orlais, minstrels are often spies" when that option appears. As her approval increases further, you can no longer ask it. Leliana's background quest requires her to first tell you a lie about her background, and then feel bad and come clean on it. If the question about spies disappears from the dialogue options before you ask it, you will never learn of Leliana's past and you will not get the quest to seek out her former bard master, Marjolaine. Using Feastday Gifts and Pranks is also a useful way to deal with this problem for those still encountering it.


 * A female human noble Warden who does not engage in a romance with Leliana and becomes Alistair's queen during the Landsmeet can still get a heartbroken speech from her back at camp on the topic if her approval rating is high. Oddly, it is possible to squeeze a few more approval points out of this dialogue if you are regretful about having to "end it" with Leliana, even if you were never in a romance with her to begin with.
 * If you give Leliana lots of gifts and have her at 100 approval, in Orzammar's Proving Grounds, when you are in the championship battle and are almost finished, Leliana will blurt out, "Oh thanks, that's wonderful!" as though she has been given a gift.
 * When Leliana asks elven mages about living in the Alienage, there is no option to say that you don't remember the Alienage. This occurs even if you have already established that you remember nothing in the origin story.
 * Leliana has blue eyes, yet when she has blood all over herself her eyes turn a greenish colour.