Wayward Son

Wayward Son is an Act 1 main quest in Dragon Age II.

Hawke searches for Feynriel, a young man with a talent for magic, a fact that his mother hid out of fear of losing him to the Circle until his nightmares could no longer be ignored.

Acquisition
After completing Long Way Home, this quest can be acquired by speaking to Arianni, Feynriel's mother, an elf in the Kirkwall Alienage.

Walkthrough
Arianni will suggest speaking either with Thrask, a templar at the Gallows Courtyard, or Feynriel's father Vincento, a human merchant in Lowtown. If Hawke meets with Vincento first, then speaking to Thrask afterwards is optional. Note that Hawke cannot speak to Vincento about Feynriel if Thrask has already been questioned about the matter.

Thrask will ultimately direct Hawke to Samson, a retired templar who supposedly helps runaway apostates in Lowtown at night (see the next section of the walkthrough).

If Hawke approaches Vincento first, he will reveal information about Feynriel and likewise mention Samson if Hawke is a mage (or Bethany is in the party) and the special dialogue option to prove yourself as a friend to apostate runaways is selected. An aggressive Hawke can threaten him for the same results. Selecting the diplomatic option ("Make up for your neglect") results in.

Speaking to Thrask provides additional friendship/rivalry opportunities along with the tip about Samson:
 * "I want to help Feynriel."
 * (does not occur after v1.04)
 * (does not occur on 
 * "Feynriel is a menace."
 * (does not occur on )
 * (does not occur on )
 * "Tell me about Feynriel."
 * No effect
 * (does not occur on )
 * "Tell me about Feynriel."
 * No effect

Dialogue choice 2:
 * "The city guard might help." (Aveline required)
 * "Can I assist you?", "And you don't need help?", "Tell me right now."
 * No effect
 * No effect

Lowtown (Night)
Samson says that he couldn't help Feynriel since the boy was unable to pay for his passage. An aggressive Hawke can threaten Samson, or a sarcastic Hawke can bribe him with 50, but the diplomatic option provides the same information. He tells Hawke that he sent Feynriel to see someone else at the Docks.

Docks (Night)
Upon entering Arthuris's Private Dock, the party is ambushed by a group of slavers. There are three (3) simple traps on the main floor, requiring 10 cunning to detect / disarm for 50 XP per trap.

After defeating the slavers, Hawke walks in on a mage in mid-transformation to an abomination. It is Thrask's daughter Olivia, as Hawke discovers from the evidence left behind. There are two (2) simple traps in this room, requiring 10 cunning to detect / disarm for 50 XP per trap.

After dispatching the enemies, search Captain Reiner's corpse for Bloodletter. His bill of sale directs Hawke towards another group of slavers in Darktown.

Be sure to loot the area thoroughly before leaving, as Hawke is unable to return.

Darktown
When confronting Danzig, you can choose how to deal with him:
 * "Fenris..."
 * "Yes."
 * "No." Triggers fight. An aggressive Hawke will kill Danzig during the cutscene.
 * "I just want to talk.", "Pay for me?", "Give me Feynriel!"
 * Triggers fight.
 * "No." Triggers fight. An aggressive Hawke will kill Danzig during the cutscene.
 * "I just want to talk.", "Pay for me?", "Give me Feynriel!"
 * Triggers fight.
 * "I just want to talk.", "Pay for me?", "Give me Feynriel!"
 * Triggers fight.
 * Triggers fight.

Danzig drops over 3 along with a map directing Hawke to the Slaver Caverns at The Wounded Coast. There is a Standard Chest to loot here, so you might want to bring a rogue with a cunning level of 20 or higher.

Slaver Caverns
The Slaver Caverns are located southwest of The Wounded Coast map entrance, in the south-central area. A Spindleweed node and Deep Mushroom can be found within. The Alchemist's Protective Handguards can also be found in an unlocked chest. For their locations, see the map.

After some tough battles along the way, Hawke finds the leader of the slavers, Varian Ilithis, holding a sword to Feynriel's throat:
 * "I'll risk that." Triggers fight.
 * "Let's work something out." Triggers fight.
 * (negated if you tell Feynriel to go to the Circle once he is released)
 * "I don't need to step." Hawke throws a dagger, killing Varian. Triggers fight. (only available for a rogue Hawke)
 * "Varric, help me out."
 * (if chosen to kill the slaver after Varric's intervention)
 * (if let slaver live after Varric's intervention)
 * (if chosen to kill the slaver after Varric's intervention)
 * (if let slaver live after Varric's intervention)

If Varric's help is requested and Varian is not killed, Hawke receives 3.

Afterwards Hawke can convince Feynriel to surrender to the Circle of Magi, or encourage him to seek refuge with the Dalish clan at Sundermount:
 * "Do what you think is best."
 * "I have friends in the Dalish"
 * "Go to the Circle."
 * (no change PC patch 1.04)
 * (negated if you negotiated his release)
 * "I have friends in the Dalish"
 * "Go to the Circle."
 * (no change PC patch 1.04)
 * (negated if you negotiated his release)
 * "Go to the Circle."
 * (no change PC patch 1.04)
 * (negated if you negotiated his release)
 * "Go to the Circle."
 * (no change PC patch 1.04)
 * (negated if you negotiated his release)
 * (no change PC patch 1.04)
 * (negated if you negotiated his release)
 * (negated if you negotiated his release)
 * (negated if you negotiated his release)

Be sure to loot the area thoroughly before leaving, as Hawke is unable to return. A group of spiders will ambush Hawke in the large cavern.

Kirkwall Alienage
Back in the Alienage, speak with Feynriel's mother Arianni for a reward, ending the quest.

Result

 * Feynriel goes to the Circle of Magi, or seeks refuge with the Dalish elves:
 * The Circle option:
 * He will be at the Gallows Courtyard later in Act 1.
 * The quest Elves at Large will be available from the Chanter's Board during Act 2.
 * The Dalish option:
 * He will be at Sundermount for the remainder of Act 1.
 * Vincento and Vincento's Northern Merchandise vanish upon completion of this quest.
 * On the Xbox version of the game, Vincento and his store will remain even after the completion of the quest. He will, however, be gone after the end of Act 1.
 * The quest Night Terrors will be automatically acquired at the start of Act 2.

Rewards
Speaking to Arianni: and 800 XP From Keeper Marethari if the Dalish option was chosen: 1 (need to talk to Feynriel at the Dalish camp in Sundermount)

Notable items
Obtainable exclusively during this quest:

Unique armor / weapons: – Medium gloves found in the Slaver Caverns.

– Dagger found at Arthuris's Private Dock.

Crafting resources: – Found in the "hidden" cave area of the Slaver Caverns, on the platform in the room where the first battle occurs.

– Found in the Slaver Caverns behind the mine cart near the entrance.

Trivia

 * Upon finding the map to the Slaver Caverns, a sarcastic/witty Hawke may make a joke about the Wounded Coast's name, saying it must be near the "Injured Cliffs", the "Limping Hills", and "Massive Head-Trauma Bay".