Fenris

"They know what I am. Let them come, if they find the courage."

Once a slave to the Tevinter magister Danarius, Fenris is a potential companion as well as a romance option for either a female or male Hawke. He is a warrior specializing in two-handed weapons. He can be found during the quest Bait and Switch.

Background
Once a slave of Danarius, a Tevinter Magister, Fenris bears markings of lyrium on his skin that have granted him the unnatural ability to phase through solid objects. Fenris uses this ability as a weapon, phasing through individuals and solidifying, killing them violently. However, the experiments performed on him also caused him to lose all of his memories. He has fled to Kirkwall as a fugitive, hunted by the soldiers of his former master. The lyrium burned into his body causes him pain, making him guarded against physical contact; however, it is more of an aversion to them being touched rather than physical pain.

Being a former slave himself, Fenris is happy to help slaves flee their masters or kill the ones who hold onto their chains. Because of his unpleasant experience with the Tevinter Magisters he is extremely distrustful of mages. He feels that they would do anything for power and inevitably succumb to the temptations that demons and blood magic have to offer.

Romance
Fenris can be romanced by either a female or male Hawke and by all classes. Because of his strong aversion to mages and blood magic, a Hawke looking to fulfill a friendly romance with Fenris must either follow his views on magic, or leave him behind on missions where the player will be siding with or aiding mages. If the player would like to pursue the rival romance, it doesn't matter if Hawke clashes with Fenris.

{{SpoilerDA2| Act 1

During Bait and Switch, there is a conversation with Fenris after you leave Danarius' mansion. When you ask why Danarius is after him, the first flirt option becomes available. Later Hawke can talk and flirt with him in his mansion (Fenris Recruited).

Act 2

In order for the romance to begin, use the flirt options during the quest Speak to Fenris.

During the follow-up quest Questioning Beliefs, flirt with Fenris again. Friendship Romance: near the end of the conversation a flirt option to say "Just friends?" appears. Choosing this option adds a few lines of romantic dialogue.

Fenris is waiting for Hawke in the Hawke's mansion after killing Hadriana during the quest A Bitter Pill. He apologizes for leaving and follows up with a dialogue that leads to the option of letting/asking him to stay. If the Questioning Beliefs quest has not been completed, inviting him to stay will result in him saying that it's best for both of you if he leaves. If the Questioning Beliefs quest has been completed and the flirt option is chosen, they kiss and the scene dims to the Hawke's room. If he will not stay and Hawke completes Questioning Beliefs after that or if the flirt option is not chosen, once Hawke leaves and returns to the mansion, Fenris will be there waiting again to initiate a romance scene.

Fenris always leaves after the romance scene. He tells Hawke that during their night together he experienced flashbacks to his life before lyrium was burnt into him. He sorrowfully claims that he is in no place to be with someone else (or that all he wanted was to be happy for a little while). If the player has romanced him successfully, he will be wearing a red band around his wrist and the Hawke/Amell crest on his belt.

Bugs:
 * The option 'So you're ending it' ends the romance even though it doesn't have a 'Reject' icon. Fenris will still wear a red ribbon and companions may still make comments suggesting a continued romance, but the corresponding scenes and dialogues in Act 3 will not occur.
 * Choosing to give Orana a job sometimes ends the Fenris romance entirely, causing him to leave when Hawke asks to him to stay. Reloading the save and choosing to give her money instead fixes the problem. (Xbox 360) This problem did not appear on PC as of patch 1.03.
 * If A Bitter Pill is completed before Fenris' act 2 questioning beliefs quest, it will not be possible to continue the romance because the flirt option will not appear. {{platforms|pc}} Patch 1.04

Act 3

If you turn Fenris in during the quest Alone, you lose him permanently, thus obviously ending the romance. If Hawke defends Fenris, he laments that he is now definitely alone. Hawke can tell him that he has him/her.

After this, and once friendship or rivalry has been maxed out, the second Questioning Beliefs quest will appear for Fenris, requiring Hawke to visit him at his mansion.

For a Rivalry romance, Fenris will be pacing in front of his fireplace restlessly when Hawke enters the room. After angry words about his revenge "tasting like bitter ashes", he will ask Hawke what he should do next, and after that ask for Hawke's forgiveness for ending the relationship in Act 2. Hawke has the option to forgive him, thus continuing the romance.

For a Friendship romance, Aveline and Varric will be there if you haven't spoken to Isabela yet, if not she will be there, trying to convince Fenris to find a better place to live. However, unlike Merrill and Anders, Fenris does not have the option of moving into the Hawke manor. Hawke can console Fenris at this point, and the option to state that he/she does not care what Fenris does as long as he is by his/her side will be available. Like in the Rivalry romance, he will apologize for walking out on the relationship in Act 2, and the option to forgive him is available.

If you successfully pursued a romance with another character after Fenris broke it off in Act 2, telling them that Fenris left you, this scene will still occur, but without any flirt option that would allow Fenris to apologize. He does, however, continue to wear the red armband and Amell crest for the duration of the game.

Talk to Fenris before the final battle to receive the achievement for romancing him.

Multiple romances

If you want to complete the romance with Fenris in Act 3, you can:
 * Flirt with any other companion in any Act
 * Sleep with Anders or Merrill before sleeping with Fenris. However, after a night with any of them you must choose the "broken heart" dialogue wheel option so as not to allow them to move in. (Confirmed for PC 1.03)
 * Sleep with Isabela, then with Anders or Merrill and finally with Fenris (strictly in this order). (Confirmed for PC 1.04)
 * Sleep with Zevran (who is technically not a companion).

However you must not:
 * Sleep with Isabela, Anders or Merrill after sleeping with Fenris. This will automatically end the romance with Fenris even if you break up with the other companion.

For the relationship with Fenris to proceed normally you also want to Speak to Fenris before A Bitter Pill. So it is best to avoid leaving Kirkwall while romancing other characters for A Bitter Pill not to trigger. During the quest Blackpowder Courtesy you technically leave Kirkwall for the Wounded Coast, but this does not trigger A Bitter Pill. Once you have finished romancing other characters, return to the Fenris's Mansion and Speak to Fenris.

DLCs
In Legacy, Hawke may mention (the only time it is ever talked of outside of Fenris' Questioning Beliefs quests) the night they shared together depending on the current Act and relationship status, but it does not change things between the two. Fenris also shows some eagerness for getting rid of Hawke's pursuers at the beginning of the DLC. He can also thank Hawke for letting him come along to help in an awkward tone- something most of party notices. In Mark of the Assassin, Fenris can grow irritated if Hawke flirts with Tallis, and worries over Hawke's safety when they are captured with Tallis.

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Friendship and rivalry
Friendship with Fenris can generally be earned by siding against any mages, not being sympathetic towards his problems but understanding them, being ruthless to slavers and being kind to the innocents- particularly elves and slaves- in the game.

Rivalry with Fenris can generally be earned by siding with any mages in the game.

Quests
Act 1

Act 2

(gift)

Act 3

(gift)

Mark of the Assassin

Gifts

 * The Book of Shartan can be found any time in the Alienage at night in a sack during Act 2
 * The Blade of Mercy can be found during the quest Best Served Cold. It must be given before the quest The Last Straw.

Gear


Fenris' armor upgrades can be found at the following locations:


 * Act 2: Tevinter Spirit Symbol (Robes by Jean Luc, Hightown) Extra rune slot
 * Act 2: Lyrium Scales (Shady Merchandise, Docks) Extra rune slot
 * Act 2: Reinforced Straps (Personal quest A Bitter Pill) Increases attack
 * Act 3: Enchanted Resin (Secondary quest Mine Massacre)

If Fenris is romanced in Act 2, he'll wear a red scarf around his right wrist (which is Hawke's favor to him ) and a Hawke Family Crest placard/badge on the left side of his belt.

Fenris specific gear

, requires Warrior Item Pack 1 DLC. , requires Warrior Item Pack 2 DLC. , requires Mark of the Assassin DLC.

Talent trees
(specialization)

Quotes

 * (Upon first meeting him) "I am not a slave!"
 * (During A Bitter Pill) "What has magic touched that it doesn't spoil?"
 * (To Anders during a party banter) "Mages in glass houses shouldn't throw fireballs."
 * (To Isabela during party banter) "Do you want to guess what color my underclothes are again?"
 * (To Merrill during a party banter, if he is in a romance with Hawke) "There are no puppy eyes."
 * (In the Viscount's Keep)"Ah, here we are at the center of power. Smell the oppression, everyone!"
 * (To Merrill's defense of demons) "'Ignore the tiger. Not its fault that it's going to eat you.' Sound advice."
 * (When Varric asks what he does in his mansion) " Dance, of course. I go room to room, choreographing each step. "
 * (To Hawke when they side with the Circle on the final battle) "Here I am, about to defend these mages in hopeless battle. You lead me to strange places, Hawke."
 * "Now the battle awaits us. Na via lerno victoria. 'Only the living know victory.' Fight well."
 * "I do love the way the merchants glare at me, as if I'm going to steal something."

Trivia

 * David Gaider wrote Fenris for Dragon Age II.
 * The name Fenris alludes to the name of the wolf, Fenrir of Norse mythology (spelled and pronounced Fenris in Scandinavian languages) who bit off the right hand of the god Tyr. It was also foretold that he would kill the father of the gods, Odin, at Ragnarok. He also states that his master called him "his little wolf." The Tevinter language absorbed a number of elven words, one among them being "fen" - for "wolf". The root of the Tevinter word "Fenris" shares a root with the name of the elven god "Fen'Harel", the Dread Wolf.
 * Fenris primarily swears in Tevinter, but occasionally will break into meditation-like comments on the fight. He has one of the few soundsets that never actually yells during combat.
 * The name Leto may be a possible reference to Children of Dune (by Frank Herbert). "My skin will not be my own," said by Leto in reference to accepting the sandtrout to change his own skin. In both cases, the appearance of their skin changes and grants them special abilities. It is also a Slavic name for "summer" and means "I kill" in Latin.
 * Fenris has a particular dislike for fish.
 * Fenris apparently plays cards with Varric, as during party banter in Act 3, he comments that Fenris owes him some gold, and claims he'll ask Hawke for the money when Fenris says he'll pay him. Alternatively, if Isabela is still in the party, Varric will express amusement that Fenris believes he can win enough coin from Isabela to repay him.
 * In Act 3 and Legacy, if neither Isabela nor Fenris have been romanced, then party banter between Fenris and Isabela suggests that they are in a intimate relationship, although it appears to be purely physical.
 * In a Mark of the Assassin dialogue with Sebastian, Fenris states he likes apples.
 * Fenris, as a former slave, never learned how to read. Dialogue with Hawke can open up the option to teach him how, which can lead to a comment by Hawke when selecting the bookcase at the Hawke estate in Hightown.