Anders

"The people fear what we can do, but to use that fear to bludgeon us into submission is wrong! And they do it with our blessing!"

Anders is a human mage determined to escape the Circle of Magi and the templars, with whom he has developed a rather antagonistic relationship. Nothing they have done to him has dampened his desire for personal freedom. Although initially only concerned with his own freedom, he develops a passion to help the downtrodden and underprivileged and has an affinity for cats. He is a companion in Dragon Age II and a potential one in Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening. In the former he is also a romance option for Hawke.

Background
Anders is a spirit healer. Upon arriving at the Circle, he refused to speak and came to be known as "Anders" due to the fact that his family was from the Anderfels. When he started to exhibit magical abilities and set a barn on fire, his father grew afraid of him. At the age of twelve, he was handcuffed and taken by the templars to the Circle Tower in Ferelden. The only personal possession he was allowed to keep was a pillow hand-embroidered by his mother. Anders despised the Circle and compared it to a prison. His first escape attempt was made six months after arriving there. When asked why he escaped, he tearfully replied that he had simply wanted to go home. He made at least seven attempts, each time being re-captured. Yet, First Enchanter Irving believed that Anders, however reckless, posed no true threat. Anders's next-to-last escape earned him a year of solitary confinement, in which the only company he had most days was the tower's mouser named Mr. Wiggums. According to Anders, the cat became possessed by a rage demon and took out three templars. The final time Anders managed to run away was prior to Uldred's uprising.

Dragon Age II
{{SpoilerDA2|

Events after Awakening
Despite the various potential outcomes of Awakening, Anders becomes a Grey Warden, meets Justice and survives. If Anders is left to defend Vigil's Keep and it was not fully upgraded, he doesn't die but rather escapes using a badly burned body in robes as a decoy. Anders tells this to Nathaniel Howe if they meet in the Deep Roads seven years later.

The Wardens force Anders to give Ser Pounce-a-lot to a friend in Amaranthine, claiming that he made Anders too soft. Anders misses the cat and keeps mentioning it.

Anders had discussed with Justice about the oppression of mages, and had been contemplating being more proactive in righting the injustice of the Circle of Magi. One day, Justice, Anders, and several other Wardens were sent on an assignment.

A former templar, Rolan, infiltrates the Grey Warden ranks to keep a close watch on Anders. After Anders allows Justice to use his body as a host, Rolan accuses him of becoming an abomination and brings the templars down on him, stating that the Wardens agreed with the decision. Anders kills Rolan, the templars, and the Wardens and flees. The Wardens investigated the disappearance of their missing men and tracked the missing Wardens' last camp to a forest south of Amaranthine. They've only found the rotting bodies of men torn limb from limb and a clearing of charred tree stumps. Neither Anders nor Justice were among the dead.

Act 1


Anders has left the Wardens to live in Kirkwall, where he uses his healing abilities to aid Fereldan refugees free of charge. He can be found in Anders's Clinic in Darktown. Hawke is led to Anders by Varric Tethras and Lirene in the search for an entrance into the Deep Roads. Anders offers to trade Grey Warden maps showing such entrances for Hawke's assistance in freeing his friend Karl who seeks to escape the Kirkwall Circle.

Upon arriving at the Chantry at night, Anders and Hawke discover that Karl has been made Tranquil and has lured Anders into a trap set by the templars. Enraged, Anders reveals himself to be possessed by Justice and kills the templars with Hawke's aid. Karl abruptly regains all his emotions, saying that Anders "brought a piece of the Fade into this world". He describes being Tranquil as a horrific experience and begs Anders to kill him before the effect wears off. Once Karl becomes Tranquil again, Anders stabs him before the party leaves the Chantry.

When Hawke visits Anders at his clinic, he explains that prior to the clash with Rolan he agreed to be Justice's host. He believed that together they could bring justice to every mage ever forced into the Circle. However, Anders's anger warped Justice into a force of Vengeance: Anders must now struggle to maintain control. Anders gives Hawke the maps and joins as a companion. The next time Hawke talks to Anders at his clinic, he apologises for putting his problems on Hawke. If Hawke replies with a diplomatic tone, Anders flirts with Hawke. Some replies lead to Vengeance manifesting again.

If Hawke takes both their sibling and Anders into the Deep Roads, Anders can prevent the tainted sibling from dying. Anders reveals that he stole the maps from a Grey Warden who came to Kirkwall; Anders wanted to know if the Warden was looking for him. In reality, the Wardens were planning their own expedition and Anders knows their location. Should Hawke choose to look for the Wardens, they will meet their leader Stroud, who is reluctant to help. Anders persuades him to allow the sibling undertake the Joining.

Act 2


After the death of Karl Anders has joined the mage underground and is helping mages escape the Kirkwall Circle. Hawke keeps finding Anders's manifestos all over the High Town estate. Anders is still healing the refugees, but is getting few cases. When Hawke comes to visit Anders, he admits that he is losing control over Justice/Vengeance.

Later, Anders asks Hawke to help him investigate the plot of the templar Ser Alrik. Anders believes that he is working on a deliberate plan to turn all mages in the Free Marches Tranquil. If Hawke refuses, the quest is canceled. Otherwise, Hawke follows Anders as he descends into the tunnels leading to the Gallows that were built by lyrium smugglers. There, they encounter Ser Alrik with a group of other templars threatening to make an escaped mage girl Ella Tranquil. Angered, Justice takes control of Anders's body and attacks the templars. Once they are dead, Ella calls Justice "a demon", which further angers him.

If the amount of friendship/rivalry with Anders is not high enough, Hawke is helpless to act and Vengeance kills the girl. Alternatively, a special dialogue option becomes available and Hawke can persuade Anders not to harm her. As Anders regains control, he flees, terrified. Searching the bodies of dead templars, Hawke gets evidence that Ser Alrik's plan existed, but was rejected by both Meredith and the Divine.

Hawke finds Anders in his clinic trashing things. He is deeply upset and convinced that he and Justice have turned into a monster. If Hawke confronts Anders and tells him to go away, he permanently leaves the party. He still shows up in the end of Act 3. If Hawke comforts him or confronts him but asks him to stay, Anders wonders whether the "Tranquil Solution" was another of his delusions. Presented with Ser Alrik's papers, he is relieved and willing to speak to the Grand Cleric who "might be more reasonable" than he thought.

Hawke can take Anders into the Fade so as to help Feynriel face his Night Terrors. There, Justice takes control of Anders again. A sloth demon Torpor offers a deal: should Hawke help the demon possess Feynriel, Hawke will receive power, knowledge, or magic in return. If the offer is accepted, Justice turns on Hawke and the Champion defeats him. If it is rejected, Anders can't be seduced by the remaining two demons as Justice protects him. If Anders was killed in the Fade, he feels angry and betrayed. However, if Hawke killed Torpor in the end instead of honoring the deal and uses the special dialogue option to tell Anders about it, Hawke gain Anders's friendship rather than rivalry.

Regardless of how Hawke handles Torpor, Anders admits he found it unnerving to be self-aware in the Fade and yet have no control over his body or Justice's responses and decisions, and that as a result he has been staying outside the Fade since the incident.

If Hawke takes Anders to Bartrand's Estate while assisting Varric with his family matter, Anders can temporarily cure Bartrand. If Anders is not in the party, Bartrand can't be healed.

The final conversation with Anders in Act 2 changes depending on the friendship or rivalry score:
 * If a rival, he is writing a manifesto to convince Hawke to side with the mages. If prompted, he reads it aloud.
 * If a friend, Anders is laying out milk for the cats. He thanks Hawke for Hawke's help and support.

Act 3
In the beginning of the Act, Anders tells Hawke that in the past three years Meredith has destroyed the mage underground, and Anders is now preparing for the worst.

Later, Anders claims that he seeks to be separated from Justice. He asks for Hawke's help in obtaining ingredients for a Tevinter potion that will let them both free without either being killed. If Hawke refuses, the quest is completed. Otherwise Hawke assists Anders in collecting Sela Petrae and Drakestone.

After that, Anders asks Hawke to distract Grand Cleric Elthina for him to get inside the Chantry unseen. Back at the clinic, Anders confesses that he lied and there is no potion, but refuses to reveal his plan. Anders insists that Hawke must help him if Hawke cares for the freedom of mages and for him personally. Hawke can refuse at this point, to which Anders angrily retorts that he has always been on his own, but only that he had forgotten for a time. Should Hawke agree, Anders promises that whatever happens, it's on his head.

If Hawke has decided not to help Anders from the beginning or not to distract Elthina, Hawke can warn Elthina via a special dialogue option. Otherwise, Hawke keeps Elthina busy discussing the mages and the templars until Anders shows up claiming that he was "looking for Hawke everywhere".

Hawke can subsequently talk to Anders only if all his requests were fulfilled:
 * If Anders is not a 100% friend, Anders says that the spirit inside him is exultant. He refuses to explain what happened in the Chantry, but says that the war will happen: the clock is ticking down and it will be midnight soon.
 * If Anders is a 100% rival, Hawke tries to convince him that whatever he planned, it is not too late to stop it. Anders agrees that there is still time, then Justice takes over and demands that Hawke leave, saying "Anders has no need of you". As Anders regains control, he does not remember what he was saying and admits that he is having more and more blank spots in his memory. He tells Hawke that he tried his best to control Vengeance and asks Hawke not to blame him for failing.
 * If Anders is a 100% friend, he hints that he is going to die for something that matters more than his life and thanks Hawke for standing by him when he gave Hawke every reason to turn away. He says that he hoped to find a better way, but states that Justice and Vengeance are too intertwined and he can't tell one from the other. Anders asks Hawke never to blame themselves for what will happen.

After any of these conversations the colour of Anders's coat changes to black.

The Last Straw
In the end, regardless of Hawke's previous actions, Anders blows up the Chantry, killing Grand Cleric Elthina and everybody else inside. Anders's magical blast was not contained, and the blast also rained deadly debris from the Chantry over half of Kirkwall. Both Meredith and Orsino leave Anders for the Champion to deal with.

Anders sits on a crate and talks facing away while he awaits Hawke's judgement:
 * If Anders is Hawke's rival, he says that Vengeance took him over and expresses deep regret for his actions. He does not trust himself to control Vengeance any longer and begs Hawke to kill him "before there is nothing left of me". Hawke can tell Anders that they forgive him if the amount of rivalry is high enough.
 * If Anders is Hawke's friend, he insists that the decision was his own as he and Justice are one now. He tells Hawke that he wanted to make Thedas see the injustice of the Circle and thus to change the world. Anders still wishes to be killed, seeing it as bringing justice to those who were sacrificed for his cause. If the amount of friendship is high enough, Hawke can tell Anders that they might have understood if he'd only told them.

Hawke has the following options:
 * Whoever the Champion has chosen to support, Hawke can kill Anders by stabbing him in the back.
 * If Anders is spared, Sebastian leaves the party, vowing to return to Starkhaven and build an army to attack Kirkwall and avenge Grand Cleric Elthina.
 * If Hawke sides with the templars then allows Anders to walk away, he later confronts Hawke inside the Gallows and all dialogue options lead to Hawke having to kill him in combat.
 * Anders maintains a firm conviction in his cause and refuses to turn against the mages, unless Hawke is his 100% rival and has previously spoken to him. If Hawke persuades him to atone for what he has done by helping the templars, he is crushed and hints at wishing to take his own life after the final battle if he is not killed first. A romanced Anders will exchange a final kiss with Hawke if the star option is chosen.
 * If Hawke supports the mages then tells Anders to leave, he is later encountered again inside the Gallows, wanting to be a part of the battle. If his aid is accepted, he rejoins the party. If it is rejected, he wishes Hawke victory and leaves permanently.
 * If Hawke asks Anders to defend the mages, he is surprised by Hawke allowing him to stay in addition to his life, but eagerly agrees to fight the templars; however, he admits that it is worse than he thought it would be. If he is in a romance with Hawke, he offers Hawke to come on the run with him as a fugitive after the final battle.

DLCs
Anders can venture with Hawke into the Grey Warden prison in Vimmark Mountains. Since Anders is a Warden, he starts hearing the voice of Corypheus through the taint. As the voice gets louder, Anders struggles to shut it out. Finally, Justice takes him over, turns hostile to Hawke and summons two shades. Once Justice is defeated and the shades are killed, Anders apologises and promises to try harder to hold against the voice and Justice. He also comments that the phrase "you never leave the Grey Wardens" rings true.

Before Corypheus attacks Hawke, he claims that he is one of the ancient magisters who entered the Golden City. Anders expresses his belief that the Chantry made up this story to induce the fear of magic and that the darkspawn were created by the Old Gods. After the battle with Corypheus, Hawke checks his remains and finds an ancient Tevinter amulet belonging to a Dumat-worshiping cult. Anders is baffled: he admits that Corypheus was one of the ancient magisters and wonders if the Chantry knows more than he thought.

If Anders accompanies Hawke to Chateau Haine, Hawke finds Arcane Feathers similar to those on Anders's coat and learns that they belong to a "simir" bird and have magical properties. }}

Friendship and rivalry
Friendship with Anders can generally be earned by siding with the mages, by confronting demons and blood mages, and by being agreeable in conversations with him.

Rivalry with Anders can generally be earned by siding with the templars and blood mages, by striking deals with demons, or by being disagreeable (i.e. referring to Anders as an abomination).

Dragon Age II
Act 1

Act 2

(gift)

Act 3

Mark of the Assassin

Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening
Anders takes great pride in his appearance and enjoys fine things.

Dragon Age II

 * The Tevinter Chantry Amulet can be found during the quest A Bitter Pill.

Skills
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Armor
Upgrades to Anders's armor, Renegade's Coat, can be found at the following locations:


 * Act 2 – – available at Lirene's Fereldan Imports in Lowtown. Increases armor.
 * Act 2 – – available at Mage Goods in the Gallows Courtyard. Increases attack.
 * Act 2 – – found during the Dissent quest. After killing Ser Alrik, search the nearby dead end chambers just west of the exit before leaving the area. +10% magic resistance.
 * Act 3 – – found during the Best Served Cold quest. Extra rune slot.

If Hawke helps Anders during the quest Justice in Act 3 and subsequently talks to him either as a part of this quest or during the follow-up quest Questioning Beliefs, Anders will wear a black version of his armour.



Other
, Anders starts with this staff. , requires Mage Item Pack DLC. , requires Legacy DLC. , requires Mage Item Pack II DLC. , requires Mark of the Assassin DLC.

Dialogue points
Below are the spots where the player can initiate dialogue with Anders in Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening:


 * Vigil's Keep: The statue of Andraste in the middle of the courtyard.
 * City of Amaranthine: A pine tree on the left side of the path just before the first gate.
 * Kal'Hirol - Trade Quarter: A basket of lyrium at the far end of the forge area (where the repair anvil is).
 * Vigil's Keep - Throne Room: By clicking on Anders.

Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening

 * "All I want is a pretty girl, a decent meal, and the right to shoot lightning at fools."
 * "After my seventh escape attempt, you think they'd have given me credit for trying."
 * "Magic isn't for your amusement! Why don't I just do a little dance? Anders' Spicy Shimmy?"
 * "The problem is that mages are tolerated. Barely. It's like you need permission to be alive."

Dragon Age II

 * (To Hawke and party upon first meeting) "I have made this place a sanctum of healing and salvation! Why do you threaten it?"
 * "Since when is Justice happy? Justice is righteous. Justice is hard."
 * "The oppression of mages stems from the fears of men. Not the will of the Maker."
 * "It is the Maker who creates mages. The Chantry was built by men, and it can be brought down by them."
 * (During The Last Straw) "I will not stand by and watch you treat all mages like criminals, while those who would lead us bow to their templar jailors!"

Trivia

 * David Gaider wrote Anders in Awakening, while Jennifer Hepler took over the role for Dragon Age II. However, David Gaider confirmed that the role Anders plays in the sequel was set by himself prior to anyone writing him.
 * Anders will recognise an imported mage Warden from the Circle in Awakening and certain dialogue choices with him are different in this case.
 * Though Anders uses a fire spell when you first meet him in Awakening, he does not have the spell when he joins the party.
 * If Anders specializes in Blood Magic, the player can have another additional line of dialogue with Anders when speaking about Anders's past with the templars. When Anders remarks there really isn't much of a reason to arrest him, the Warden can point out that Anders is an actual blood mage now, to which Anders laughs.
 * In the library in the Circle of Magi during the Witch Hunt DLC one can find some old notes left in a book in which a young mage made sketches in the margins of templars being eaten by a tiger named "Ser Pounce-a-lot".
 * The mage Finn reveals through dialogue that Anders once escaped the Circle of Magi by swimming across Lake Calenhad during a weekly training exercise for the apprentices. He was caught again one week later.
 * The writers weren't sure Anders would be the Awakening character coming over to Dragon Age II and merging with Justice — for a while it was going to be Velanna.
 * During the events of Dragon Age II, while in the Fade, when Justice takes complete control, the passive spell Vengeance is active whether or not you have assigned it to Anders. It will remain unlocked after the quest is completed.
 * If Hawke invited Anders to move in and proposed that Orana work for Hawke, you can click on the lute in Hawke's bedroom to learn that "Anders may have talents, but playing the lute isn't one of them".
 * Anders uses the line "There can be no peace" in Act 3, as does Flemeth in the beginning of the game.
 * Anders is opposed to blood magic in Dragon age II even if you make him a blood mage in Awakening.