Wynne

"I will not lie motionless in a bed with coverlets up to my chin, waiting for death to claim me."

Wynne (pronounced "win") is a mage of the Circle in Ferelden, and one of the possible companions for the Warden in Dragon Age: Origins.

Background
Wynne has served the Circle for most of her life, and is well respected for her strong sense of duty. She believes wholeheartedly in what the Circle stands for, and has been a vocal advocate of magic and for apprentices to be able to learn to control their gifts of magic and use them to serve humankind.

The fear of magic is born of misunderstanding, but Wynne cautions apprentices never to forget that the fear is also a real one. For all the good the magic gift can bring, it will also always attract demons and therefore the risk of possession. Too many times in history have possessed abominations wreaked destruction on the lands, and thus every mage has a debt to repay. "Earn your place," she has said, "and you shall not be reviled."

Her peers thought so highly of her that she was asked to become the new First Enchanter of Ferelden's Tower. She refused, saying that she had no desire to work in the upper ranks of the Circle. When word recently reached the Tower of King Cailan's call to arms against the Blight, Wynne readily volunteered to go to Ostagar.

Wynne appears to have been born into the Spirit Healer role as a natural. In her childhood, she can recall entering the Fade in her dreams and feeling a particular spirit watching over her. Later on in this game, if you get to know her, she speculates that this is a Spirit of Faith- much like the benevolent spirits of courage and compassion, but never before encountered by any mage except herself.

In a party banter with Leliana, Wynne states that she is about two decades older than her. Given that Leliana is fairly young, this doesn't put Wynne at much more than 50 years old.

Dragon Age: Origins
The Warden first meets Wynne at the army camp at Ostagar, near the mage tents. She can be talked to for limited dialogue.

Gifts
Wynne likes books and scrolls, as well as wine. See Gifts for Wynne for all of her gifts.

Initial statistics


Relative attribute weightings on auto-level: Strength 0, Dexterity 0, Willpower 1, Magic 1.25, Cunning 0.2, Constitution 1.9.

Class: Mage

Specialization: Spirit Healer

Starting abilities:

Mage: Arcane Bolt

Spirit Healer: Group Heal, Revival

Primal: Rock Armor, Stonefist

Creation: Heal, Rejuvenate, Regeneration, Heroic Offense, Heroic Aura, Glyph of Paralysis

Plot skills and spell
As you befriend Wynne and gain her approval, she will gain additional skills:

Additionally, Wynne can gain the following new spell as you progress through the story:

Quotes

 * "I'm not the sort of person that leaves things unfinished. I'll see this through, I promise."
 * "You'd think one would find a less perilous place to explore."
 * "But why should you fear death if you are happy with the life you have led, if you can look back on everything and say, 'Yes, I am content. It is enough.'"
 * (To Alistair) "Now that you're in an intimate relationship I think maybe I should tell you where babies come from."
 * (After the Spirit talents are learned) "Well, we can't all be Quickwits McSmartypants now can we? Apparently you have a monopoly on cleverness."
 * (To Zevran) "Stop talking about my bosom."
 * (After being drained when using Vessel of the Spirit the first time) "I suppose I shouldn't use that particular trick to entertain children at parties."
 * (After finding out you destroyed the Urn of Andraste) "I hope the darkspawn take you, because you're no better than them."
 * (If Wynne is chosen to duel Loghain) "I've wanted a private word with him since Ostagar, anyway."

Trivia



 * When asked to compare a set list of companions to food, BioWare employee Cori May said that Wynne was most comparable to "oatmeal with raisins and honey, and lots of them".
 * Writer Sheryl Chee, who wrote Wynne, has said that when going out for a drink Wynne would "drink the beer, but only good microbrews, none of that mass-produced swill."
 * Writer David Gaider said that of all the companions, he'd rather share a dorm room with Wynne because she'd at least be considerate and tidy.
 * Writers Sheryl Chee and Mary Kirby joked that Wynne has a "magical bosom," which is of particular interest to some of the other companions.
 * The name Wynne originates from the Welsh language, being the female form of the name Wyn (derived from Welsh gwyn meaning "blessed, white, fair"), or as the feminine form of the Anglo-Saxon 'wine', meaning friend, given both that Ferelden is based on Anglo-Saxon England and that Wynne is a companion of the warden.
 * Wynne is quite the connoisseur when it comes to fine beers and ale, which surprises Oghren.
 * Wynne is the only companion who doesn't teach her class specialization.