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[]

“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[]

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 by both sides. The Inquisitor travels to the Hinterlands to seek out Mother Giselle, who has been tending to refugees in the region, in an attempt to gain some Chantry support. The Inquisitor can also restore order to the region by helping the inhabitants in a variety of ways, including putting an end to the Mage-Templar conflict in the region.

Ocularum shards, which had remained hidden in plain sight until the Breach disrupted the magic that kept them hidden, are scattered about the Hinterlands.^[3]^[4] After the discovery of a workshop on the Redcliffe docks, the origins of the Ocularum can be traced back to the Venatori, who have been killing tranquil mages to use their skulls to uncover the shards. After obtaining shards, the Inquisitor can look into the significance of the shards collected and why the Venatori are so interested in acquiring them.

The Inquisitor also finds themselves investigating an abundance of mercenary activity in the region.^[5]^[6] This leads to the discovery of an underground lyrium smuggling operation run out of Valammar, an ancient hidden thaig, by the Carta.^[7]^[8]

The Inquisitor can gain access to the Hinterlands by completing the Scout the Hinterlands war table operation in Haven.

Places[]

Regions[]

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[]

Gull and Lantern

Fort Connor

Redcliffe Castle

Redcliffe Village Chantry

Sothmere^[9]

Valammar

Inquisition camps[]

Dusklight Camp

Dwarfson's Pass Camp

Forest Camp

Outskirts Camp

Redcliffe Farms Camp

Upper Lake Camp

Characters[]

Speaker 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^[10]

Redcliffe Armor & Upgrades Merchant

Redcliffe Weapons & Upgrades Merchant

Refugee Hunter

Scout Ritts

Seanna

Storyteller

Sister Tanner

Talwyn

Corporal Vale

Recruit Whittle

Worried Scout

Quests[]

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[]

Druffalo

Druffy (a unique druffalo)

Fennec

Nug

Ram

Lord Woolsley (a unique ram)

Hostile creatures[]

Enemies[]

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[]

Astrariums[]

Astrariums in the Hinterlands

Bottles on the Wall[]

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[]

Fereldan Frostback

Landmarks[]

Landmarks in the Hinterlands

Mosaics[]

The Fall numbering

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

Shards[]

Shards in the Hinterlands

Skyhold Customizations[]

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[]

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[]

Herbs[]

Leather[]

Metals[]

Notable items[]

Elven artifacts[]

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.

Logging stands[]

Head southwest of the Tyrdda Bright-Axe, Avvar Mother landmark towards the mountainside in the Avvar Blade Valley.
Against the southern side of the mountain on which the Forest Inquisition Camp is located (southwest of the Tyrdda Flying to Her Lover landmark found in Hafter's Woods).

Memories of the Grey[]

Maps of the Deep Roads - found at Calenhad's Foothold.
Pristine Griffon Feather - found in Hafter's Woods, just southeast of the Forest Camp.

Red Jenny's Caches[]

Near the Tempter Burns landmark, behind the large rock on the left.
Inside Redcliffe Village, behind the Redcliffe Weapons and Upgrades Merchant store front.
Inside Old Simeon's Cave, on the right hand side next to an onyx vein.

Red lyrium veins[]

Inside Ash Warrior's Refuge
Inside Fort Connor
At Lady Shayna's Valley

Veilfire glyphs[]

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[]

Bleeder of Souls - looted in Redcliffe Castle from Hanley D'Urvain, the Venatori Spellbinder seen 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[]

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: Culture of Ferelden

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 is 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 is used)

Note texts[]

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[]

Alexius's Journal

A Guard's Journal

A Prayer to the New God

Spellbinder's Journal

Studies on the Blight

Trivia[]

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[]

References[]

[1] Codex entry: Fereldan Culture

[2] Codex entry: The Hinterlands

[oculara-3] Codex entry: Oculara

[4] Ocularum background excerpt

[5] Codex entry: A Letter from the Carta

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

[7] Note: Carta Note on Security

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

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

[10] See side quest Unfinished Business.

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