Dead Trenches

Dead Trenches
Terrain	Rift
Type	Fortress
Location	Underground
Inhabitants	Dwarves (formerly) Darkspawn
Exits	Deep Roads
Appearances	Dragon Age: Origins

The Dead Trenches is an underground fortress, accessible via the Deep Roads only after Ortan Thaig has been traversed.

Background

Map of the area

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 and some Legionnaires of the The Legion of the Dead. They are fighting on the bridge when the Warden approaches, after the first battle the Warden can speak with Kardol about his mission there and the Blight.
• Hespith: A member of House Branka. She is located in the small room just before the final large open area.
• Laryn: A member of House Branka, now turned into a broodmother.

Quests

A Paragon of Her Kind
An Admirable Topsider
The Dead Caste
The Gangue Shade
The Shaper's Life

Enemies

• Genlock (Darkspawn, Normal and Critter versions.)
• Genlock alpha (Darkspawn, Lieutenant)
• Genlock emissary (Darkspawn, Lieutenant) - Mage
• Genlock forge master (Darkspawn, Boss) When defeated drops, Forge Master's Hammer, Spear-Thrower and over 4 .
• Hurlock (Darkspawn, Normal)
• Hurlock alpha (Darkspawn, Lieutenant)
• Hurlock emissary (Darkspawn, Lieutenant) - Mage
• Ancient darkspawn (Darkspawn, Boss) Appears only if the Warrior's Grave in Ortan Thaig has been examined. When defeated, drops Topsider's Blade, Grey Warden Helmet and some random loot. It will also update the quest An Admirable Topsider.
• Shriek (Darkspawn, Normal)
• Ogre (Darkspawn, Lieutenant)
• Bronto (Beast, Lieutenant)
• Corrupted spider (Animal, Normal)
• Devouring skeleton (Skeleton, Normal)
• Broodmother (Darkspawn, Boss) While fighting her, more Shrieks, Hurlocks and Genlocks will move in. Defeating her unlocks the exit of the instance to Anvil of the Void and yields Codex entry: Broodmother, the items Rock-Knocker, Effort and Ring of Selection plus random levelled loot.
• Broodmother tentacle (Darkspawn, Lieutenant)
• Legion spirit (Shades, Normal) They attack only after the Helm of the Legion is taken from the Legionnaire altar.
• Gangue shade (Shades, Boss) Summoned during The Gangue Shade quest.

Notable items

A statue found in a Legion of the Dead mausoleum

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 - part of the Dead Caste side-quest
Topsider's Blade, source: dropped by the Ancient darkspawn in the south-central tunnel on the map (only available after acquiring An Admirable Topsider quest from the Warrior's Grave in Ortan Thaig).
Forge Master's Hammer, source: corpse of genlock forge master
Spear-Thrower, source: corpse of genlock forge master
Effort, source: corpse of broodmother
Ring of Selection, source: corpse of broodmother

Codex entries

Codex entry: Load Limit Reached, source: Rubble
Codex entry: Orzammar History: Chapter Two, source: Statue (Paragon Branka)
Codex entry: Stalata Negat, source: multiple Runestones
Codex entry: The Dead Caste, source: x3 Sarcophagi and Legionnaire Altar
Codex entry: The Gangue Shade, source: Legion of the Dead Relic
Codex entry: The Shaper's Life, source: Runestone

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) - Boots of the Legion
• Sarcophagus (Dwarven, Critter)
• Sarcophagus (Dwarven, Normal)
• Sarcophagus (Dwarven, Normal)
• Sarcophagus (Dwarven, Normal)
• Sarcophagus (Dwarven, Elite)
• Chest (Darkspawn, Normal)
• Sarcophagus (Special) - 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) - 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) - Helm of the Legion
• Fleshy Sack (Generic, Critter)
• Sarcophagus (Special) - Dead Caste Insignia
• Fractured Stone (Stone, Normal)

Special objects

• x2 Pressure Plates (detect/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: Locked, needs a key that can be found in the southernmost room of the final large area in the Legionnaire Altar.

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.

See also

Bownammer Plate