Keeper

Keeper
type	Mage
effects	+2 magic +3 mental resistance
description	Every Dalish clan has a keeper, a wise mentor dedicated to preserving the elves' ancient lore. It is exceptionally uncommon for a keeper to teach anyone other than a fellow clan member about the unique Dalish understanding of nature magic, which focuses on control of the roots beneath the earth.

Keeper is the leader of a Dalish clan as well as one of the specializations available to the mage class in Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening.

Background

Concept art of a Dalish Keeper from Heroes of Dragon Age.

A Keeper is a leader of the clan in both the spiritual sense, as well as the literal. They are not thought of as rulers, however. The families within a clan listen to their Keeper because they consider them to be wise, and it is tradition.

In the days of the elven Dales, a Keeper served the role of a priest in any of the temples to the elven gods or goddesses. There they functioned as magical scholars and were led by a High Keeper, or sometimes Highest One. Not all of these Keepers were benevolent, however.

Keepers are also responsible for protecting a clan from Fen'Harel, and for knowing the clan's ancient lore and passing it on to the others in the clan. Without a keeper, the clan's knowledge is lost forever. Every ten years, the Keepers of the Dalish clans convene in a meeting called the Arlathvhen, which lasts usually two days, to compare any recovered knowledge or artifacts. The intense quarreling that occurs in these conferences leads many to suspect the Dalish prefer their tribal isolation due to irreconcilable differences. Furthermore, the Keepers are the only ones who know the secret of writing the Elven language.

The Keepers are the Dalish mages, though each clan will seldom or never have more than two fully trained mages. These mages are the Keeper and the Keeper's apprentice. The apprentice is referred to as the First (First meaning the next in line of succession). Though there is only one First in a clan at any time, there can be many candidates for the apprenticeship, such as the Keeper's Second.

Should there be a clan with more than mages than needed, they may be transferred to another clan during the Arlathvhen, such as the case of Merrill, who was born to the Alerion Clan but became First of the Sabrae clan. They may also be sent away from the Dalish entirely.

The Templars are aware that each Dalish clan has a Keeper, but largely let such apostasy go rather than upset existing human-elven relations. The Dalish, in turn, are aware that their mages are tolerated only so long as they behave, and thus make it a point to never overstay their welcome in any human land.

Known Keepers

Marethari, Keeper of the Sabrae clan.

• Deshanna Istimaethoriel Lavellan, Keeper of the Lavellan clan, the clan of the elven Inquisitor and the Inquisitor's mentor (if also a mage).
• Elindra, of the Ralaferin Clan; during the Mage-Templar War.
• Ellathin, Keeper of Clan Tillahnnen.
• Gisharel, of the Ralaferin Clan; author of several Codex pages.
• Hawen, Keeper of a Dalish clan in the Exalted Plains
• Ilan'ta, member of the Dalish hahren'al
• Illoren, Keeper of an unnamed clan in the Anderfels during the Second Blight
• Ilshae, Keeper of Velanna's former clan.
• Lanaya (possible)
• Levinia Ghilain, Keeper of Ghilain Clan.
• Mahariel (first name unknown): The Dalish Elf's father was stated to have been the Keeper of the Sabrae Clan before Marethari.
• Marethari of the Sabrae Clan.
• Solan, Keeper of Ariane's Clan
• Tianna, Keeper of Sendis' clan in Dragon Age Legends
• Thelhen, Keeper of clan Virnehn.
• Yevven, replaced by his First, Josmael.
• Zathrian

Known Firsts

Merrill, First of the Sabrae clan.

• Faladhin (after Velanna's exile)
• Josmael (the new Keeper of his clan at the end of Dragon Age: Redemption)
• Lanaya
• Merrill (self-exiled)
• Mihris (a survivor of clan Virnehn)
• Neria (a playable character in Dragon Age: Inquisition's multiplayer)
• The elven Inquisitor, if a mage
• Velanna (exiled)
• Taven

Known Seconds

• Sarel, Second of the Sabrae clan and husband to Marethari Talas

Spells

One With Nature

Sustained Range: Personal Upkeep: 80 Fatigue: 10% Cooldown: 10s Requires: Level 20

The keeper's bond with the earth creates a defensive shield that immobilizes the keeper for as long as this spell is active, but inflicts nature damage and a penalty to movement speed on any enemy that enters the field.

Thornblades

Activated Range: Personal Activation: 60 Cooldown: 30s Requires: Level 22

The keeper calls roots from beneath the earth to inflict physical damage on all enemies within the field created by One With Nature. The roots also knock enemies back unless they pass a physical resistance check.

Replenishment

Passive Requires: Level 25

No living thing can escape the cycle of life; all who fall return to the earth. The mage now regains some health whenever a keeper spell inflicts damage. When an enemy dies within the field of One With Nature, the body is consumed, giving the mage a large bonus to health regeneration for a short time.

Nature's Vengeance

Activated Range: Personal Activation: 100 Cooldown: 60s Requires: Level 28

The keeper summons gigantic roots from within the ground to attack all enemies in the area, impaling the opponents for a short time unless they pass a physical resistance check.

Unlocking

• Manual: Keeper can be purchased from Master Henley at the City of Amaranthine for 12 0 0.

Strategies

A very high area of effect non-friendly fire DPS is achievable when One With Nature is coupled with the Blood Mage spell Blood Wound which also paralyzes most enemies allowing One With Nature to more safely damage. To increase the damage further, with enough constitution, Nature's Vengeance can be used after the DoTs have been placed and the new Awakening spell Time Spiral can be used to plant yet another stackable Blood Wound and Nature's Vengeance if required. This technique becomes even more devastating with two mages and is likely safest with a rogue (for trap detecting as the mages need to get up close) and a tank (mages may still be vulnerable, after all they're expelling health). Using this strategy wearing the gloves Spirit of the Woods with its +30% spirit damage +30% nature damage would assist in steady damage output.

Trivia

• As Keeper was not implemented as a specialization until Awakening, the Dalish Keepers and their Firsts seen in Origins do not actually have this specialization in terms of game mechanics (e.g. Zathrian is a blood mage instead).
• Keeper makes an excellent third specialization for a traditional Caster-type Mage; in exchange for not being able to move, the Keeper gets a last line of defense against any enemies attempting to come near them. The constant damage inflicted may be small, but the reduced movement speed can allow the Mage time to set up offensive spells to deal with the immediate threat.
• In Dragon Age II, with the Black Emporium DLC installed, Merrill will tell Hawke and their summoned mabari a story about a Keeper and their loyal courser hound, fending off the threats of the Dread Wolf, Fen'Harel.
• A Keeper's staff is crafted from the wood of the dahl'amythal, or "tree of Mythal," a tree respected by the Dalish that does not normally thrive in human settlements. These staves are given to a First upon replacing the former Keeper.
• Keepers wear rings of sylvanwood depicting Fen'Harel's betrayal of the elven gods as a reminder of their duty to protect their clan from him.