Kirkwall Chantry

The Kirkwall chantry is the seat of the Chantry in Kirkwall.

Background

The Kirkwall chantry towers above the opulant estates of Hightown, rivalled by the Viscount's Keep only. It serves as a symbol as much as it does a place of worship, a symbol of the Chantry's stranglehold over Kirkwall, and it's iron grip on the mages and citizens alike.

Built following the collapse of Tevinter influence in Kirkwall as a result of the slave rebellion, the construction was completed primarily by the Orlesian Empire during their rather long reign in this region following their expansion into northern Thedas.

Involvement

The chantry is home to Grand Cleric Elthina, the voice of the Divine in Kirkwall. It also houses the exiled prince of Starkhaven, Sebastian Vael. One of the forbidden tomes from the Forbidden Knowledge quest can also be found here on the upper left side of the building.

This section contains spoilers for:
Dragon Age II.

The chantry and its courtyard are the locations of several quests, and it plays a pivotal role towards the end of the game. The chantry is destroyed, along with all those within it, by Anders, in an attempt to free the Circle of Magi. He succeeded in igniting a war between mages and templars when Meredith Stannard invoked the Right of Annulment due to the death of the Grand Cleric at Anders' hands.