An Academic Interest

An Academic Interest is a side quest in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. There are rumors of a cursed old manor outside of Lavendel but ancient ghost stories are not the only thing wrong with that decrepit building.

Acquisition[]

Speaking to a villager, Bastian, in Lavendel. Available as soon as the Hossberg Wetlands become accessible.

Walkthrough[]

Gaspin Manor is full of secrets—and some find that interesting.

Investigate strange occurrences at Gaspin Manor[]

The quest starts up the stairs from the Old Crossroads checkpoint in the Hossberg Wetlands, on the path to an old haunted mansion. A note on the way indicates that someone is looking for treasure there. Shatter the chain of Venatori barrier crystals to unlock the cavern ahead. There's two more sets of these ahead to get past, along with darkspawn. By the last of these barriers is a small wooden bridge leading to a cavern with a frost barrier and a chest inside. Past the Venatori barrier lies the mansion itself.

In the courtyard, kill the Venatori shouting about "Lord Gaspin's treasure" then destroy all their crystals littering the place. A creepy voice beckons the team to come investigate "below", hinting at the cellar. This is what the barrier crystals are blocking, located behind some planks on the north-west area of the courtyard.

Note: There are multiple chests in the courtyard and buildings to loot, as well as some lore clues about the plot of the quest inside the manor proper. Neither are needed to advance the quest but can be explored now.

Break the boards and final barriers to enter the cellar. Notes speak of a door that Lord Gaspin could not open and the ambitions of a Venatori trying to succeed where he failed. Rook is the one with the key to the door however, and opens it using the Wolf's Fang. This summons a demon of obsession to defeat. Investigate the newly unlocked area to find Gaspin's corpse and a chest, then return to Bastian for a reward.

Rewards[]

Completing the quest yields:

Viridian Tusk
Griffon's Talon
Bond increase with active party members
100 Grey Warden strength
100 Mourn Watch strength
200 Gold
5 Fade-touched ore

Results[]

Gaspin Manor has been abandoned for generations. Many in Lavendel believe the place is cursed. But such places draw interest. Is there something valuable hidden within the manor's walls?

Hoping to find a powerful treasure and impress Elgar'nan, Venatori have combed Gaspin Manor for its secrets. When a hidden room was revealed—along with the demon sealed inside—a fight ensued. Luckily for those in the Wetlands, the demon won't be leaving the mansion. Nor will the Venatori.