Keeper is one of the specializations available to the mage class in Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening
Keepers in Thedas
A Keeper is a leader of Dalish elves, both in 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 the Keeper is wise, and it is tradition. Keepers are also responsible 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.
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.
The Templars are aware that each Dalish clan has a Keeper and so hunt the Dalish. This is one of the reasons why the elves remain nomadic.
Keeper 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 purchased from Master Henley at the City of Amaranthine
Notable Keepers
Zathrian, a Keeper in a Dalish Camp
Strategys
A very high area of effect non-friendly fire DPS is achievable when One With Nature is coupled with the blood mage ability blood wound Which also paralyses most enemy's allowing One With Nature to more safely damage. To increase the damage further, with enough constitution, Nature's Vengeance can be used after the DoT's have been placed and the new Awakening Mage spell Time Spiral can be used to plant yet another stackable blood wound ability and Nature's Vengence 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 there expelling health.
Notes
- 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.
Template:Specializations