Hinterlands

For the Village located in this region, see Redcliffe Village.

For the Castle located in this region, see Redcliffe Castle.

For the Thaig located in this region, see Valammar.

The Hinterlands is a region in Ferelden located between the fortress of Ostagar and Redcliffe.

Background[edit | edit source]

“Fereldans are a puzzle. As a people, they are one bad day away from reverting to barbarism... if you insult their dogs, they are likely to declare war.”―Empress Celene I ^[1]

The Hinterlands comprises a good deal of fertile agricultural land and as such is populated with a great many farmsteads throughout the area. The regions' main settlement is Redcliffe Village, situated in the western hills of Ferelden protected by Redcliffe Castle. Since the end of the Fifth Blight, the Hinterlands have seen an influx of settlers from Redcliffe Village looking to escape unpleasant memories of the darkspawn and the other dark events which befell Redcliffe during the last Blight.

Nestled in the heart of Ferelden are the old forests and farmsteads of the Hinterlands. This rocky, rolling getway to Redcliffe has now fallen into chaos. The conflict between mages and templars forced many off their lands, demons stalk the hills, and reports of strange magic abound near Redcliffe.
—Excerpt from the quest journal

Involvement[edit | edit source]

“The soldiers call themselves the Inquisition. They've been helping the refugees near Redcliffe. Poking around a fair bit too, though they haven't come near here. They have someone with a trick for closing those rifts.”―suspicios Hinterlands activity report

This section contains spoilers for:
Dragon Age: Inquisition.

I retired to the Hinterlands for peace and quiet away from the politics, and because the wide open spaces were perfect to let my horses run. Instead, the war between the mages and the templars has turned your beautiful hills into a series of burning battlefields. The farmers who live in the Hinterlands are good folk. Many of them left Redcliffe village because they couldn't bear to be there anymore, not after the Blight and the walking dead left so many bad memories. Now we've got apostates running around setting fire to anyone who looks at them sideways, and templars looting houses and cutting down those who protest as mage sympathizers.
—Dennet, former horsemaster to Arl Teagan of Redcliffe^[2]

Ever since the outbreak of the Mage-Templar War, the Hinterlands has suffered from ongoing confrontations between apostate mages and rebel templars. The local population has been victimized from attacks on both sides. The Inquisitor can restore order to the region by helping the inhabitants in a variety of ways, including putting an end to the Mage-Templar conflict.

“Alexius was quite clear in his orders. We must scour the countryside to find more of the shards. Without them, the Venatori cannot claim the treasure our master seeks.”―excerpt form a letter found in an abandoned house in Redcliffe Village^[3]

Oculara litter the Hinterlands with hidden shards; and up until the events surrounding the Breach, the shards had remained hidden in plain site. However, the Breach's opening somehow managed to disrupt the magic that allowed for the shards to remain undisturbed.^[3]^[4] Origins of the Ocularum can be traced back to the Venatori whom are removing the skulls of tranquil mages in order to search for something of major importance for the Elder One. At some point the Inquisitor can look into the significance of the shards collected and why the Venatori are so interested in acquiring them.

“The Inquisition's growing presence in the area represents a threat to the operation. Focus efforts on discouraging any further exploration in the area, particularly any efforts to give comfort to the refugees at the crossroads. We cannot have people putting down roots here.”―excerpt from an unsigned letter^[5]

The Inquisitor will also find themselves investigating an abundance of mercenary activity in the region.^[6]^[7] This leads to the discovery of an underground lyrium smuggling operation hosted by the Carta whom are garrisoned and functioning out of Valammar, an ancient hidden thaig.^[8] The Inquisitor can gain access to the Hinterlands by completing the Scout the Hinterlands war table operation in Haven.

Preliminary digs have been more than successful. It's extremely surprising to find such a high quantity of the product this close to the surface. If I didn't know better, I'd think it was growing. On one hand, this gives us an advantage. Without having to work with the old families back in Orzammar, or even take this through official guild channels, our families stand to make a killing. On the other hand, the proximity to the surface and to the populated areas of Redcliffe raises an interesting challenge. The war between the mages and templars should keep people out of the area for now, but as soon as the humans are done trying to kill each other, any operation we start will be uncovered. If we're going to take advantage of this opportunity, we need to keep people out of the area. I'd recommend manufacturing some bandits. This part of Ferelden is lousy with them, so they shouldn't attract much attention, and nobody will have trouble believing that bandits would stake out some territory. By the time anyone uncovers the operation, it'll either be tapped out, in which case we'll be gone, or we'll have the operation running smoothly, in which case we'll be wealthy enough to deny everything and throw some money at the throne by way of apology. Talk to the families and make it happen. This is too good to pass up.
—an unsigned letter found in the Hinterlands^[9]

Places[edit | edit source]

Regions[edit | edit source]

Note: The 29 regions below make up the Regions in the Hinterlands collection. Discovering them all grants 200 Influence.

Apostate Stronghold

Ash Warrior's Refuge

Avvar Blade Valley

Blood Cliffs

Calenhad's Foothold

The Crossroads

Dead Ram Grove

Dwarfson's Pass

East Road

Forannan Ravine

Grand Forest Villa

Gully of the Burnt Men

Hafter's Woods

Lady Shayna's Valley

Lake Luthias

Old Simeon's Cave

The Outskirts

Rebel Queen's Ravine

Redcliffe Farms

Redcliffe Road

Redcliffe Village

Smuggler's Cave

Templar Encampment

Valammar Gate

West Road

Western Outskirts

Winterwatch Tower

Witchwood

Wolf Hollow

Additional places[edit | edit source]

Gull and Lantern

Fort Connor

Redcliffe Castle

Redcliffe Village Chantry

Sothmere^[10]

Valammar

Inquisition camps[edit | edit source]

Dusklight Camp

Dwarfson's Pass Camp

Forest Camp

Outskirts Camp

Redcliffe Farms Camp

Upper Lake Camp

Characters[edit | edit source]

Anais

Recruit Belette

Lord Berand

Bianca Davri (conditional)

Blackwall

Bron

Clemence the Tranquil

Connor Guerrin (conditional)

Crossroads Merchant

Crossroads Refugee

Master Dennet

Dorian Pavus

Dwarven Bookseller

Revered Mother Eglantine

Elaina

Ellendra

Elven Widower

Felix Alexius

Grand Enchanter Fiona

Magister Gereon Alexius

Giles

Mother Giselle

Magister Halward Pavus (conditional)

Hanley D'Urvain

Hinterlands Healer

Hyndel

Linnea

Lysas

Minstrel Maryden

Mihris

One-Eyed Jimmy

Widow Maura

Ser Rebenger Torn

Redcliffe Armor & Upgrades Merchant

Redcliffe Weapons & Upgrades Merchant

Refugee Hunter

Scout Ritts

Seanna

Storyteller

Sister Tanner

Talwyn

Corporal Vale

Recruit Whittle

Worried Scout

Quests[edit | edit source]

The Threat Remains

An Advanced Treatment

Agrarian Apostate

Apostates in Witchwood

The Ballad of Lord Woolsley

Bergrit's Claws

Blood Brothers

Business Arrangements

A Common Treatment

Conscientious Objector

Holding the Hinterlands

Horses for the Inquisition

The Mercenary Fortress

My Lover's Phylactery

Open a Vein

Playing with Fire

Praise the Herald of Andraste

A Rare Treatment

Return Policy

Safeguards Against Looters

Shallow Breaths

Sketch of Calenhad's Foothold

The Vault of Valammar

Where the Druffalo Roam

Creatures[edit | edit source]

Druffalo

Druffy a unique druffalo

Fennec

Nug

Ram

Lord Woolsley a unique ram

Hostile creatures[edit | edit source]

Enemies[edit | edit source]

Rebel Mages

Rebel Spellbinder (Mage)
Sellsword

Rebel Templars

Templar Archer (Rogue)
Templar Defender (Warrior - Weapon and Tower Shield)
Templar Knight (Warrior - One-Handed Weapon)

Outlaws

Mercenary Leader
Outlaw (Warrior - One-Handed Weapon)
Outlaw Archer (Rogue)
Outlaw Enforcer (Warrior - Two-Handed Weapon)
Outlaw Lurker (Rogue - Double Daggers)

Lyrium Smugglers

Lyrium Smuggler (Warrior - One-Handed Weapon)
Lyrium Smuggler Lurker (Rogue - Double Daggers)

Red Templars

Red Templar (Warrior - One-Handed Sword)
Red Templar Guard (Warrior - Sword and Tower Shield)
Red Templar Horror
Red Templar Knight
Red Templar Marksman (Rogue - Archer)
Red Templar Shadow (Rogue - Double Daggers)

Venatori

Venatori Mage
Venatori Gladiator (Warrior - Mace and Tower Shield)
Venatori Marksman (Rogue - Archer)
Venatori Zealot (Warrior - One-Handed Sword)

Carta

Carta Leader
Carta Assassin (Rogue - Double Daggers)
Carta Bowman (Rogue - Archer)
Carta Grunt (Warrior - One-Handed Weapon)

Darkspawn

Collections[edit | edit source]

Astrariums[edit | edit source]

Astrariums in the Hinterlands

Bottles on the Wall[edit | edit source]

Butterbile 7:84 - search the table in the rounded house behind the locked door; see side quest Blood Brothers.

Carnal, 8:69 Blessed - search the first floor of Master Dennet's house on Redcliffe Farms.

Vint-9 Rowan's Rose - search the second floor of the Winterwatch Tower's tavern.

Vintage: Bethany Hawke/ Carver Hawke/ Warden Steed - search inside the Wheelhouse located near Redcliffe Village's entrance.

Note: Requires Deft Hands, Fine Tools Inquisition perk.

Dragon Hunter[edit | edit source]

Fereldan Frostback

Landmarks[edit | edit source]

Landmarks in the Hinterlands

Mosaics[edit | edit source]

The Fall numbering

The Fall (12 pieces) - see the Fall mosaic for detailed locations.

Shards[edit | edit source]

Shards in the Hinterlands

Skyhold Customizations[edit | edit source]

Dwarven Banner - looted from a container in The Vaults of Valammar. (Can also be obtained from "The Canyon Tomb" in the Hissing Wastes.)

Ferelden Banner - looted from a large chest in the room directly across from the Grand Forest Villa's main entrance; see side quest The Mercenary Fortress.

Free Marcher Banner - found on the top floor of Master Dennet's house on Redcliffe Farms.

Songs[edit | edit source]

Saga of Tyrdda Bright-Axe, Avvar-Mother - unlocked after finding all Saga of Tyrdda Bright-Axe landmarks.

Hero in Every Port (Ballad of Nuggins) - acquired from a book behind One-Eyed Jimmy's shack in Redcliffe Village.

Resources[edit | edit source]

Herbs[edit | edit source]

Leather[edit | edit source]

Metals[edit | edit source]

Notable items[edit | edit source]

Elven artifacts[edit | edit source]

• Inside the cave located directly east of the Crossroads; see Solas' companion quest Measuring the Veil.

• At the top of Winterwatch Tower; at the north end of the keep.

• In a shack located south by southeast from the Redcliffe Farms Inquisition Camp.

• Inside Old Simeon's Cave, on the right hand side next to an onyx vein.

Red lyrium veins[edit | edit source]

• Inside Ash Warrior's Refuge

• Inside Fort Connor

• At Lady Shayna's Valley

Veilfire glyphs[edit | edit source]

Fire Rune Schematic - inside the cave located directly east of the Crossroads; see Solas' companion quest Measuring the Veil.

Frost Rune Schematic - in the elven ruin located in Dead Ram Grove (labeled Dungeon Entrance on the World map, the entrance is located northwest of northernmost astrarium and northeast of the Maferath Repentant landmark).

Loot[edit | edit source]

Bleeder of Souls - looted in Redcliffe Castle from Hanley D'Urvain, the Venatori Spellbinder, who is torturing a Chantry priestess; see main quest In Hushed Whispers.

Grand Enchanter's Staff - looted from the Fereldan Frostback high dragon.

Masterwork Battlemaster Mail - randomly available at the Redcliffe Armor and Upgrades Merchant for 14212

.

Note: Requires The Short List Inquisition perk.

Masterwork Scout Armor - available at the Redcliffe Armor and Upgrades Merchant for 1161

.

Masterwork Vanguard Armor - looted from the Mercenary Leader at the Grand Forest Villa; see side quest The Mercenary Fortress.

Pitch Grenade Recipe - found in the room hidden by the destructible wall on Valammar's Upper Terrace.

Rock Armor Recipe - acquired from the side quest Sketch of Calenhad's Foothold.

Staff of Stasis - acquired from Gereon Alexius in Redcliffe Castle; see main quest In Hushed Whispers.

Stormbreak - available at the Crossroads Merchant for 439

.

Note: Requires The Short List Inquisition perk.

Superb Amulet of Constitution - looted from the Fereldan Frostback high dragon.

Superior Belt of Focus - looted from the Fereldan Frostback high dragon.

The Sweetish Fingers - looted from the elite Templar Knight on the western side of the Templar Encampment; see side quest Templars to the West.

Tyrdda's Staff - rewarded upon completing Locate Weapon of Tyrdda Bright-Axe war table operation with any advisor.

Note: Requires claiming all Tyrdda landmarks around the Hinterlands.

Wrath of Lovias - looted from the elite Rebel Mage; see side quest Apostates in Witchwood.

Codex entries[edit | edit source]

Codex entry: The Annulment at Dairsmuid

Codex entry: Astrariums

Codex entry: Blackwall

Codex entry: The Carta

Codex entry: The Circle of Magi

Codex entry: Constellation: Draconis

Codex entry: Constellation: Judex

Codex entry: Constellation: Peraquialus

Codex entry: The Crows and Queen Madrigal

Codex entry: Darktown's Deal

Codex entry: Deep Roads

Codex entry: A Different Darkspawn?

Codex entry: Dorian Pavus

Codex entry: The Dwarven Merchants Guild

Codex entry: Dwarven Runecraft

Codex entry: Ferelden After the Blight

Codex entry: Fereldan Culture

Codex entry: Fort Connor

Codex entry: Grand Forest Villa

Codex entry: Hard in Hightown: Chapter One

Codex entry: Healer's Notes at Redcliffe Crossroads

Codex entry: Hero in Every Port (Ballad of Nuggins)

Codex entry: Hero of Ferelden

Codex entry: The Hinterlands

Codex entry: A Horsemaster's Notes on Mounts

Codex entry: Hunter's View of the Mage-Templar War

Codex entry: The Inquisition

Codex entry: Letter Found in a Redcliffe Home

Codex entry: A Letter from the Carta

Codex entry: A Letter to Revered Mother Giselle

Codex entry: Lornan's Exile

Codex entry: The Lost Art of Veilfire (if veilfire used)

Codex entry: Lyrium

Codex entry: Magister Gereon Alexius

Codex entry: Map of Farmland Cave

Codex entry: Map to a Waterfall

Codex entry: Mounts

Codex entry: Oculara

Codex entry: Ocularum

Codex entry: The Orlesian Empire

Codex entry: A Page from a Journal, Edges Scorched

Codex entry: Phylacteries

Codex entry: Queen Asha of Antiva

Codex entry: Redcliffe

Codex entry: Revive

Codex entry: Saga of Tyrdda Bright-Axe, Avvar-Mother

Codex entry: Seers and the Allsmet

Codex entry: Sketch of Calenhad's Foothold

Codex entry: Stronghold of the Apostate Mages

Codex entry: Templar Encampment

Codex entry: The Tevinter Imperium

Codex entry: The Troubles of a Chantry Scholar

Codex entry: An Unsigned Letter

Codex entry: An Unsigned Letter in the Hinterlands

Codex entry: The Venatori

Codex entry: Veilfire (if veilfire used)

Note texts[edit | edit source]

An Angry Note

Carta Note on Security

Defaced Carta Notice

A Heartfelt Request

A Letter at an Abandoned Campsite

A Letter Found on a Corpse (Hinterland Who's Who)

A Letter Found on a Corpse (Playing with Fire)

A Letter Found on a Dead Body (Conscientious Objector)

A Letter Found on a Dead Body (Return Policy)

A Letter Found on a Dead Dwarf (Broken Bridge)

A Letter Found on a Dead Dwarf (Smuggler's Cave)

A Letter Found on a Dead Templar (Business Arrangements)

A Letter Found on a Dead Templar (My Lover's Phylactery)

Letter Found on a Noblewoman's Corpse

A Letter in an Abandoned Home

A Letter in an Empty Home (Safeguards Against Looters)

A Letter in an Empty Home (Blood Brothers)

Letter on a Bandit in the Hinterlands

A Note Found on a Corpse

Orders for Lake Operations

Personal Note Scrawled in a Ledger

Report on Activity in the Hinterlands

Tyrdda's Lover

An Unsigned Letter

An Unsigned Letter on a Bandit Body

Redcliffe Castle[edit | edit source]

Alexius's Journal

A Guard's Journal

A Prayer to the New God

Spellbinder's Journal

Studies on the Blight

Trivia[edit | edit source]

During the epilogue of Dragon Age: Origins, a Dalish Warden may ask that the Dalish be officially granted territorial sovereignty. The following possible conversation between Alistair and Merrill during King Alistair suggests a reason why no Dalish are seen in the Hinterlands as of Inquisition.

Merrill: We… we heard the Dalish were given land in Ferelden. Is it true?

Alistair: Yes. I wish I could say that went better.

Merrill: Why? What happened?

Alistair: It’s… a long story. I intend to make it up to your people, however. I owe an old friend of mine too much to do otherwise.

Gallery[edit | edit source]

Add a photo to this gallery

References[edit | edit source]

[1] Codex entry: Fereldan Culture

[2] Codex entry: The Hinterlands

[oculara-3] 3.0 ^3.1 Codex entry: Oculara

[4] Ocularum background excerpt

[5] Codex entry: An Unsigned Letter

[6] Codex entry: A Letter from the Carta

[7] Note: An Unsigned Letter on a Bandit Body

[8] Note: Carta Note on Security

[9] Codex entry: An Unsigned Letter in the Hinterlands

[10] Dragon Age (tabletop RPG), Amber Rage

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Contents