Dead Trenches

Dead Trenches
Type	Fortress
Terrain	Rift Dwarven Architecture Underground
Location	Underground
Inhabitants	Dwarves (formerly) Darkspawn Undead Demons Brontos Spiders
Factions	Legion of the Dead
Exits	Deep Roads Anvil of the Void
Appearances	Dragon Age: Origins Dragon Age II (mentioned) Dragon Age: Inquisition (mentioned)

The Dead Trenches is an underground fortress, accessible via the Deep Roads. The area becomes accessible after traversing Ortan Thaig.

Background

Bownammar, also known as the City of the Dead was once the headquarters of the Legion of the Dead. The fortress was reclaimed by the dwarves and lost again to the darkspawn so many times that even the Memories cannot track it. Eventually it was permanently lost in 9:13 Dragon only with great regret. It is now called the Dead Trenches. Paragon Caridin designed it long ago and it is considered one of the finest works of the dwarves.

Involvement

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This section contains spoilers for:
Dragon Age: Origins.

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The first bridge contains a wave of darkspawn being fought by the Legion of the Dead. Halfway through the second bridge, the Warden will be ambushed by a large number of Shrieks.

In the final area, the Warden will face a broodmother.

Characters

Kardol – the Warden can speak with Kardol about his mission there and the Blight

Hespith – a member of House Branka encountered in the small room prior to entering the final area

Laryn – a former member of House Branka, who has turned into a broodmother

Note: Multiple members of the Legion of the Dead are encountered fighting darkspawn on a bridge when the Warden approaches.

Quests

Map of the area

A Paragon of Her Kind

An Admirable Topsider

The Dead Caste

The Gangue Shade

The Shaper's Life

Hostile creatures

Bronto (Lieutenant)

Corrupted spider (Normal)

Enemies

A statue found in a Legion of the Dead mausoleum

Darkspawn

• Genlock (Critter)
• Genlock (Normal)
• Genlock alpha (Lieutenant)
• Genlock emissary (Lieutenant, Mage)
• Genlock forge master (Boss)
• Hurlock (Normal)
• Hurlock alpha (Lieutenant)
• Hurlock emissary (Lieutenant, Mage)
• Ancient darkspawn (Boss) (conditional)
• Shriek (Normal)
• Ogre (Lieutenant)
• Broodmother (Boss)
• Broodmother tentacle (Lieutenant)

Demons

• Legion spirit (Normal) (only if the Helm of the Legion is taken from the Legionnaire altar)
• Gangue shade (Boss) (summoned during the quest The Gangue Shade)

Undead

• Devouring skeleton (Normal)

Notable items

Armor of the Legion - source: Sarcophagus.

Boots of the Legion - source: Sarcophagus.

Gloves of the Legion - source: Sarcophagus.

Helm of the Legion - source: Legionnaire Altar.

Legionnaire Key - source: Legionnaire Altar.

Dead Caste Insignia - source: coffin - during the side quest the Dead Caste.

Topsider's Blade - source: looted from the Ancient darkspawn in the south-central most tunnel on the map (only available after acquiring the quest An Admirable Topsider from the Warrior's Grave in Ortan Thaig).

Forge Master's Hammer - source: looted from the Genlock forge master.

Spear-Thrower - source: looted from the Genlock forge master.

Effort - source: looted from Laryn.

Ring of Selection - source: looted from Laryn.

Containers

A statue of a legionnaire

• Broken Chest (Darkspawn, Normal)
• Fractured Stone (Stone, Normal)
• Fractured Stone (Stone, Normal)
• Fractured Stone (Stone, Critter)
• Fractured Stone (Stone, Critter)
• Fractured Stone (Stone, Normal)
• Fractured Stone (Stone, Normal)

Mausoleums

• Sarcophagus (Dwarven, Normal)
• Sarcophagus (Dwarven, Normal)
• Sarcophagus (Dwarven, Normal)
• Sarcophagus (Dwarven, Critter)
• Sarcophagus (Special) - contains Boots of the Legion.
• Sarcophagus (Dwarven, Critter)
• Sarcophagus (Dwarven, Normal)
• Sarcophagus (Dwarven, Normal)
• Sarcophagus (Dwarven, Normal)
• Sarcophagus (Dwarven, Elite)
• Chest (Darkspawn, Normal)
• Sarcophagus (Special) - contains Gloves of the Legion.
• Sarcophagus (Dwarven, Normal)
• Sarcophagus (Dwarven, Normal)

Forge Master's camp

• Sarcophagus (Dwarven, Normal)
• Sarcophagus (Dwarven, Normal)
• Sarcophagus (Dwarven, Elite)
• Chest (Darkspawn, Elite)
• Broken Crate (Darkspawn, Normal)

Inside Bownammar

The Corruption

• Sarcophagus (Special) - contains Armor of the Legion.
• Fractured Stone (Stone, Elite)
• Sarcophagus (Dwarven, Normal)
• Sarcophagus (Dwarven, Normal)
• Fractured Stone (Stone, Normal)
• Chest (Darkspawn, Boss) - locked (60 XP).
• Chest (Darkspawn, Normal) - locked
• Fleshy Sack (Generic, Critter)

Bownammar

• Fractured Stone (Stone, Elite)
• Legionnaire Altar (Special) - contains Helm of the Legion.
• Fleshy Sack (Generic, Critter)
• Sarcophagus (Special) - contains the Dead Caste Insignia.
• Fractured Stone (Stone, Normal)

Special objects

• Pressure Plates (2) - detect and disarm for 40 XP.
• An automatically resetting tripwire - unless disarmed (40 XP difficulty); in order for a rogue to disable it, switch to 3rd-person top-down view and then move the mouse pointer along the tripwire to either side and into the wall until the disarm icon appears. (PC Only)
• Ominous Door - the door is locked and needs a key that can be found in the southernmost room of the final large area near the Legionnaire Altar.

Codex entries

Codex entry: Load Limit Reached - source: Rubble.

Codex entry: Orzammar History: Chapter Two - source: Statue of Paragon Branka.

Codex entry: Stalata Negat - source: multiple Runestones.

Codex entry: The Dead Caste (4) - source: Sarcophagi (3) and the Legionnaire Altar.

Codex entry: The Gangue Shade - source: Legion of the Dead Relic.

Codex entry: The Shaper's Life - source: Runestone.

Codex entry: Broodmother - source: Broodmother.

Notes

• You must have received the quest to find Branka in order to get to the Dead Trenches. This area is only accessible once you have found Branka's journal in Ortan Thaig. Getting through the Dead Trenches leads to Anvil of the Void.
• The Genlock forge master when defeated drops the Forge Master's Hammer, Spear-Thrower and over 4 .
• The Ancient darkspawn appears only if the Warrior's Grave in Ortan Thaig has been examined. When defeated, the Topsider's Blade, Grey Warden Helmet and some random loot can be looted; this will also update the quest An Admirable Topsider.
• While fighting the Broodmother multiple Shrieks, Hurlocks and Genlocks will move in. Defeating her unlocks the exit to the Anvil of the Void and yields Codex entry: Broodmother, the Rock-Knocker, Effort, the Ring of Selection and random leveled loot.

See also

Bownammer Plate