Isabela

"The ship is the best teacher. She will guide you with her sighs... her shudders, her gentle swaying as she rides the crests of the waves."

Isabela is the captain of the pirate ship The Siren's Call. She can teach the Duelist specialization to the Warden in Dragon Age: Origins, and is a companion and romance option for both male and female Hawke in Dragon Age II.

Background
Isabela is originally from Rivain, but has traveled far and visited many places during her life. She was once married to the original owner of The Siren's Call, until he was killed by Zevran for unknown reasons, leading her to inherit the ship. She doesn't seem too regretful over her husband's death, calling him a "greasy bastard", explaining her rather cordial relationship with Zevran. She has picked up a special fighting technique during her travels, one that depends on speed instead of strength. Since she has learned this technique by dueling many different warriors, she calls herself a "duelist".

Dragon Age: Origins
{{SpoilerDAO| {{clr}} Isabela can be found at The Pearl. Her ship is staying in Denerim to let her men fill up on supplies and other "pleasures from dry land". Zevran knows her from before and—if brought along—will announce that she is the "Queen of the Eastern Seas and the sharpest blade in Llomerryn".

In order to convince Isabela to teach the Duelist specialization, there are two options: Beat her in a game of cards, or "get to know each other better" by following her to bed.

Once you have learned the specialization from her, Isabela will no longer be available at The Pearl.

To beat Isabela in the card game, the Warden will have to be dexterous enough to catch her cheating or subtle enough to cheat. If Zevran or Leliana are in the party, they can also help the Warden to win, but will only offer assistance if their approval is high enough.

For Isabela to take the Warden up on his offer to get to know her better, the Warden will have to be persuasive (Coercion * 25 + Cunning bonus must be at least 75, so three points in coercion by itself will do the trick regardless of cunning). If the Warden is in a romance (love) with Morrigan, an unhardened Leliana or an unhardened Alistair, then the Warden's romance partner will publicly disapprove and Isabela will not go to bed with the Warden. However, if either Leliana or Alistair is not only in a love-relationship with the Warden but has also been "hardened" following their personal quests, then they will actually join in the fun for a threesome (or possibly a foursome) and their approval will increase. If Zevran is in the party, Isabela will invite him as well (regardless of his relationship status with the Warden). If the Warden accepts, Zevran's approval will increase. Nevertheless Zevran will decline the offer if Alistair is included. The following combinations are thus possible:


 * Isabela-Warden
 * Isabela-Warden-Leliana
 * Isabela-Warden-Zevran
 * Isabela-Warden-Alistair (female Warden only)
 * Isabela-Warden-Leliana-Zevran

Reactions

 * If you have flirted with Leliana but her personality has not been hardened by the time you speak to Isabela, she will get jealous, ask "what about us?", which will trigger Isabela taking back her offer to sleep with the Warden.
 * If you are female but not in a relationship with Alistair, he will wonder if he's dreaming, and then tell you he's going to jump in the ocean. This doesn't occur if Leliana or Zevran joins in.
 * Morrigan is not nearly as open-minded about Isabela as the other romanceable companions. She will strongly disapprove if you bed Isabela and tell you to rinse off the stench after you are done "rolling around in the gutter". If the Warden is romantically involved with Morrigan a different dialogue occurs. Morrigan gets furious and states that she will not touch the Warden again if he goes through with it. The Warden will not be allowed to bed Isabela in this case. (The only way then is to make sure she is not in the party)
 * (If the Warden is female) If Oghren is in your party, he will faint if the Warden and Leliana go to bed with Isabela.

Approval
Inviting one of your companions to bed with Isabela nets the following approval changes:

}}
 * if he joins.
 * if she joins and the Warden is female.
 * if you accept Isabela's invitation for him to join.
 * if you deny Isabela's invitation for him to join.

Dialogue

 * Isabela: "Hmm... strong hands. Could I entice you to leave your order and sign up as one of my crewmen? I could use those strong hands at my... helm."
 * Warden: "I don't know anything about sailing."
 * Isabela: "The ship is the best teacher. She will guide you with her sighs... her shudders, her gentle swaying as she rides the crests of the waves."


 * Isabela: "She's quite feisty, isn't she?"
 * Warden: "She bites too."
 * Leliana: "I do not!"
 * Isabela: "And you said she was a cloistered sister? I dare say the cloisters must be teaching things other than the Chant of Light."
 * Leliana: "Oh, no, no... I learned those things in Orlais. Bored noblewomen often come up with various methods of self-amusement."


 * Isabela: "She's quite feisty isn't she?"
 * Warden: "I thought her performance was lackluster today."
 * Leliana: "Lackluster! Well, that's a fine way of complimenting a lady!"
 * Isabela: "Ha! You might be many things, sweet Leliana, but as you have proven today, you are no lady."


 * Leliana: "L-let us never speak of this again."
 * Isabela: "Yes, I agree."
 * Zevran: "I don't mind never speaking of it again, as long as we could do it again."
 * Leliana: "That's a thought..."
 * Isabela: "Am I getting old, or has Zevran become even more depraved over the years?"
 * Zevran: "I've been about Grey Wardens. Perhaps the taint has rubbed off on me some, hmm? (Chuckles)"


 * Isabela: "My dear, you wouldn't consider...leaving Alistair with me, would you? Perhaps let me borrow him for a week every summer? I'm sure we could work out a deal."
 * Warden: "Would you lend me your ship?"
 * Isabela: "Of course not! You would misuse the ship-- Which, I suppose, is exactly what I would do with Alistair, though I suspect he would enjoy it while the ship wouldn't."
 * Alistair: "Not that the idea of being borrowed isn't terribly fascinating, but let's not forget the darkspawn. There may not be a week every summer, or any summer."
 * Isabela: "Darkspawn! Is this the only thing men think about these days? What about the good old obsessions? Breasts, firm buttocks, wet frocks?"
 * Alistair: "Hmm... wet frocks..."


 * Hawke: "Stab first, ask questions later?"
 * Isabela: "Trust me, it's better this way."


 * Hawke: "You haven't exactly thought this out, have you?"
 * Isabela: "I haven't exactly worked out all of the kinks. Step one, we find Castillon... step two, I don't know. Something exciting happens. Step three, profit. Any questions?"


 * Isabela: The truth is, sweetness, that men are only good for one thing, while women are good for six.
 * Bethany: Six? Which six?
 * Hawke: Isabela!


 * Isabela: Friend of yours ?
 * Flemeth: You speak the word as if it were cheap coin, meant for spending.
 * Isabela: You don't know me.
 * Flemeth: Oh, I know your type.

(if you romanced Leliana in Dragon Age: Origins and had a threesome with Isabela)
 * Isabela: Leliana!
 * Leliana: Isabela?
 * Isabela: "Sister Nightingale" indeed. I remember it didn't take much to make you sing.
 * Leliana: *laughs awkwardly*
 * Varric: Is there anyone in Ferelden you haven't slept with?
 * Leliana: Maybe we should get back to the reason I'm here.

Armor
In Dragon Age 2, you cannot change what armor your companions wear but you can upgrade it. Isabella's armor may be upgraded by using the gift mechanics in Dragon Age 2. You will find companion armor upgrades that can be purchased at shops in the tab designated by the Gem Icon. Her armor has four slots available for upgrades. These upgrades may be purchased or found at various locations in the the game. Upgrading a companion's armor once unlocks the "A Friend In Need" achievement and fully upgrading a companion's armor unlocks the "I Got Your Back" achievement.

Isabella's armor upgrades can be found at the following locations:
 * Act 2 Robes By Jean Luc Hightown: Supportive Corselet. Gives Isabella an extra rune slot.
 * Act 2 Tailor in Lowtown: Rigid Boning. Increases defense.

Trivia

 * "Isabela" is not her birth name. Her true name (and surname) are unknown.
 * Mika Simmons is not voicing Isabela as she did in Origins; this is to reduce confusion as she also voiced Anora in Origins.
 * In Dragon Age II, she will remember the sexual encounter with the Warden at the Pearl, or lack thereof.
 * Her hair color in Dragon Age II changed to black while in Origins it was brown.
 * Isabela's home base will be in The Hanged Man tavern.
 * In both games, when the player meets Isabela she is attacked by three men who are handily beaten by her and forced to flee.
 * Isabela is one of the few characters known to respond well to sarcastic dialogue, the others being Flemeth and Varric.