The Sword of the Beresaad

The Sword of the Beresaad is a companion side quest given by Sten of the Beresaad - the qunari party member.

Walkthrough
Once enough approval is gained, Sten will properly answer the question "Why were you in that cage?" or, alternatively, if asked before- the question will be "Now will you tell me what you were doing in that cage?". That willingness to answer will lead up to a revelation as to why Sten is in Ferelden and shed some light on his view and the culture of the qunari people. He will eventually reveal that his panic over losing his sword, a vital part of his qunari identity, was the reason he killed the farming family. He wants his sword back.

Your first destination will be Lake Calenhad Docks where Sten last remembers to have had the blade.

As soon as you arrive, turn left and you will see a Scavenger going over his 'acquisitions'.

Initiate a conversation with him and he will answer your questions without hesitation (Coercion is not required for this quest). He will tell you that the spot was 'sold' to him by another looter named Faryn who is supposedly in Orzammar.

The second looter (Faryn) is a bright-red haired man standing near the entrance to Orzammar and is very easy to spot. You might want to bring Sten along for this part as it allows a rather interesting conversation option. If Sten is not in your party, it is possible to blackmail him into giving you 3 gold. However, Faryn has sold the sword to a dwarven mercenary in Redcliffe named Dwyn.

Dwyn can be found in a locked house near the lake in Redcliffe - at the end of the straight path between the houses. Once you pay/kill/verbally convince him (may require Sten's presence) - he will give you a key to a chest in the room on your right side, therein is the Asala.

It is possible to kill the dwarf (Dwyn) before obtaining the quest from Sten. If this is the case, there will be a chest spawn inside Dwyn's house in Redcliffe.

The sword can be given to Sten as a gift, and he will immediately equip it.

Depending on your dialogue choices you may raise Sten's approval by between 18 and 26. Completion of this quest slightly changes dialogue with Sten after the climax in Denerim.

Reward
Asala (Steel)

Greatsword, two-handed

Steel (Tier 3)

Requires: 22 strength

Restriction: Sten

Damage: 12

Critical chance: 1.80%

Armor penetrarion: 3.90

Strength modifier: 1.10 +1 willpower

+1.5 armor penetration

+12 attack

+1 empty rune slot

"A great blade plundered by the qunari during their first invasion of Thedas, this was granted to Sten by the arishok upon being given his mission to journey into human lands."

Known Issues

 * PC, PS3 & Xbox 360: If you talk to the dwarf in Redcliffe before you are on the step in the quest line to talk to him, he will still have a dialogue option to discuss the sword. If you convince him to give it to you, he will give you the key to his strongbox, but the container cannot be interacted with. You have to go back to Faryn and discuss the sword with him to unlock the box.