- For the story of Aveline, Knight of Orlais, see Codex entry: Aveline, Knight of Orlais.
“Protect what matters with everything you have, or you'll have nothing, and deserve it.”
Aveline Vallen is a human warrior. She was fleeing Lothering with her husband Ser Wesley during the Fifth Blight when they were set upon by darkspawn and rescued by the Hawke family. Aveline is one of Hawke's companions.
Background
Aveline is a soldier, a master of sword and shield, and a tireless guardian... to a point. The daughter of an exiled chevalier, Aveline is not the knight her father wished her to be. Although fully trained in chivalrous combat, she was raised in the shadow of a lost life and will not lose another for the sake of honor. Protecting her adopted home of Kirkwall becomes a chosen duty, not a privileged calling. The people she stands for will not be wasted on lost causes or protecting the foolish from themselves. Pride can be bandaged like any other wound—when threats are dead and everyone is safely home.[1]
Involvement
Hawke will first encounter Aveline during the escape from Lothering. Her husband, Wesley, a Templar, is corrupted by the darkspawn taint during their escape and is killed at his request by either Hawke or Aveline. Though in the end it only matters to her friendship if the decision was with her from the start, not who does the deed in the end. Aveline ultimately journeys with the Hawke family to Kirkwall. Note: There seems to be some confusion in that the friendship/rivalry for this scene doesn't show up until after the cutscene at Kirkwall. It does not seem like your conversation options there have an effect, it's whether or not you let Aveline choose.
Aveline doesn't want to be a bother for the Hawkes providing the income to join the city but accepts the offer anyway. After being confronted with Cavril's cheating methods on the refugees she is more than willing to do the deed in Athenril's name herself if asked to, providing an increase of trust with Hawke.
Aveline will later join the Kirkwall Guard. If Hawke aids her in her companion quests, she will replace the previous captain, who was selling city information to thieves, and become the Captain of the guard[2]. Later on in the story, she can begin a relationship with Guardsman Donnic Hendyr, with Hawke's help, and eventually get married to him at the Hawke Estate.
In the quest Night Terrors in Act II after you saved Feynriel in Act I from the Circle, she will ultimately give in to her desire for revenge on Wesley's behalf when you steal Feynriel from the demon of desire. She will give you the quest "Doubts that linger" afterwards.
If you take her along in the quest Offered and Lost to face the charges of the false sigil, she will not be amused to be part of an accusation against the Grand Cleric Elthina. This increases her rivalry by 5.
In the final battle she will only join Hawke in favor of the mages if she is his friend or rival, otherwise she will act on the Templars behalf. If she joined you she will vow for Anders' execution, and tell him that he must turn himself in after the fight.
Later in the gallows she admits that Hawke put her loyalty to a real test, nontheless Donnic issued the order to protect the civilians, keeping them from siding with the Templars.
- If she is, for whatever reason, not married to Donnic but remained loyal to Hawke, she will state that because some of her guards support the Templar's and side with them against the mages, she will never truly forgive Hawke for their deaths.
- Note: Like other companions, Aveline has a gift, a shield. If Hawke, has sold Ser Wesley's Shield, Aveline will mention it with clear dislike when she is presented with the new shield.
Romance
Aveline cannot be romanced like the other love interests (Fenris, Isabela, Anders, & Merrill) but Hawke can flirt with her during her personal quest, "The Long Road". However, any attempt at flirting goes right over her head. It is however possible to recieve a quick kiss at the end of the quest, although this doesn't appear to have any relation as to whether the player selected a flirt option or not.
Friendship
Friendship with Aveline can generally be earned by doing what is lawful, but even more important to her is protection of the weak and acts of kindness. Below are some specific ways to earn Aveline's friendship.
Act 1:
The Way It Should Be Congratulating her on her promotion, or expressing relief that she won't leave the group: 
Aveline: friendship (+10).
Enemies Among Us Tell Cullen that Keran should keep his status: : friendship (+5)
The Deep Roads Expedition Agree to find Sandal: : friendship (+5)
Finders Keepers Agreeing to help Martin: : friendship (+5)
Wayward Son Convincing Feynriel to go to the Circle: : friendship (+5)
Act 2:
Calling on the Captain Tell Aveline she loves her job: : friendship (+10)
Family Matter Have Varric kill Bartrand: : friendship (+5)
Night Terrors Refuse to deal with Torpor: : friendship (+10)
Offered and Lost Let Aveline deal with Oswald in the Hanged Man: : friendship (+10)
: friendship (+5)
Rivalry
Rivalry with Aveline can generally be earned by ignoring people in need or by doing things, especially unlawful things, for profit alone or by paying off other people's greed. Below are some specific ways to earn Aveline's rivalry.
Act 1
The Way It Should Be: Being rude to her, after she gets promoted: 
Aveline: rivalry (+10).
The Deep Roads Expedition: Agree to deal with the hunger demon: : rivalry (+5)
Enemies Among Us: Tell Cullen he can't take any chances with Keran: : rivalry (+5)
Finders Keepers: Paying Aden for information on the cargo: : rivalry (+5)
Loose Ends: Accept the quest from Athenril to investigate what happend to Pryce and the cargo at the Docks: : rivalry (+5)
Wayward Son: Killing the slaver leader without letting Varric talk to him: : rivalry (+5)
Wayward Son Convincing Feynriel to go to the Dalish: : rivalry (+5)
Act 2
Blackpowder Courtesy: In the Side Alley, after talking to the guard, choose "And we have to play hero": : rivalry (+5)
Mirror Image: Give Merrill the arulin'holm: : rivalry (+10)
Prime Suspect: Allow DuPuis to leave: : rivalry (+5)
Raiders on the Cliffs: Tell Harley you'll fight without her: : rivalry (+5)
: rivalry (+5)Repentance: When speaking to Allure, choose "Don't listen to her":
: rivalry (+5)
Armor
- See Companion armor for a list of all Companion Armor upgrades.
In Dragon Age II, you cannot change what armor your companions wear, but you can upgrade it. Aveline's armor may be upgraded by using the gift mechanics in Dragon Age II. You will find companion armor upgrades that can be purchased at shops in the tab designated by the Gem Icon. Aveline's armor has four slots available for upgrades. These upgrades may be purchased or found at various locations in the game. Upgrading a companion's armor once unlocks the "A Friend In Need" achievement and fully upgrading a companion's armor unlocks the "I Got Your Back" achievement.
Aveline's armor upgrades can be found in the following locations:
- Act 1: Underpadding - Guardsman Pattern. Lowtown Armor Merchant (Outside the Foundry)(+63 Attack).
- Act 2: Flex Chain - During the Raiders of the Cliffs quest. (Extra Rune Slot)*
- Act 2: Impact Plating - Guardsman Pattern. Lowtown Armor Merchant (Outside the Foundry). (+23-30 Armor)
- Act 3: Deflecting Joints - During the Favor and Fault quest. (Should be on Jevan's body but is bugged - confirmed)
Aveline's armor changes to basic guardsmen armor after Hawke's first year in Kirkwall. If Aveline becomes the new Guard Captain, her armor will change to reflect her new role.
- Note: Aveline's "Flex Chain" can be obtained during Act II with or without Aveline in your party on the southernmost tip of the Wounded Coast. You'll find it on the corpse of Fell Orden (The mage you are there to eliminate).
Talent Trees
Quotes
- "Protect what matters with everything you have, or you'll have nothing, and deserve it."
- (To darkspawn) "You will not have him!"
- (To Wesley) "They will not have you...not while I breathe."
- (To Hawke about Carver) "Bit of a tit your brother"
- (To Hawke about Dog) "Just checking on my best guardsmen. He's teaching my men respect... and how to run."
- (About Isabela) "Oh no, no, no. If anyone kicks her ass, its me."
- (About Fenris) "You talk to him, Hawke. I've had my fill for today."
- "I stand for all of us!"
- "I'm uncomfortable around Chantry sisters. All because of that red-haired trickster in Lothering."
Dialogue
- Main article: Aveline/Dialogue
Relationship with other companions
- Aveline is suspicious of Anders but is also wary of his agenda and attitude towards the Templars and Chantry.
- Aveline likes Bethany, though she is suspicious of mages.
- Aveline has a motherly/sisterly attitude towards Carver, caring for him and trying to keep him from a self destructive path.
- Aveline likes Fenris, at times the Elf has given her and the City Guard information about slave traders and at times Aveline has used her influence as Guard Captain to ensure no one distrupts Fenris.
- Aveline and Isabela are strong rivals and often bicker, though in the latter years this becomes something akin to a friendly rivalry.
- Aveline likes Merrill, but distrusts her use of blood magic, and dislikes the fact that Merrill concentrates on the distant past when she could use her talents to help the Dalish in the here and now.
- Aveline doesn't trust Sebastian because of her experiences at Ostagar, and how Sebastian's personal conflict has at times spilled over in Kirkwall
- Aveline likes Varric, though his printed stories cause problems at the barracks, it has not stopped Aveline from developing a friendship with the Dwarf.
Trivia
- Lukas Kristjanson wrote Aveline for Dragon Age II.
- In Origins, Leliana tells the tale of the female warrior Aveline, Knight of Orlais who fought and was executed, during an arena match, after she was revealed to be a woman. Her courage and skill ensured her knighthood as the first woman ever to receive that honor.
- According to Lukas Kristjanson, Aveline's writer, if Aveline were a food she'd would be "Steak. Rare. But with caramelized onions and baby corn nibbled from the side like a full cob when no one is looking." [3]
- Aveline's favorite color is green.[4]
- Aveline's unique specialization class is guardian.[5]
- Aveline was at Ostagar, and remembers Carver and Hawke (if a warrior or rogue), as is aware that Loghain betrayed King Cailan.
- Although Aveline is not a romance option, she can be flirted with by both a male and female Hawke.
- Her father's name was Benoit du Lac. All she remembers of her mother is "impossibly long hair."
- The location of Ser Wesley's Shield is referenced when you gift Aveline Shield of the Knight Herself--if it is in your inventory, equipped to Aveline, or not in your inventory she will have different comments. If it is in storage, she still believes you have sold it.
Bugs
- When using the skill "Immovable", Aveline has a chance of becoming frozen in place in the combat stance, unresponsive to even manual control. Unlike the skill associated movement reduction, this will not eventually wear off and can only be fixed by leaving the area.
Gallery
References
- ↑ BioWare site
- ↑ BioWare Forums
- ↑ Lukas Kristjanson BioWare Forums, Retrieved 01-14-11
- ↑ Lukas Kristjanson BioWare Forums, Retrieved 02-16-11
- ↑ Mike Laidlaw Bioware Forums, Retrieved 2-16-11
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