Lost to the Curse

Lost to the Curse
Location	Dalish Camp East Brecilian Forest
Quest Giver	Athras
End	Athras
Other NPCs	Danyla
Appearances	Dragon Age: Origins

Lost to the Curse is a side quest in Dragon Age: Origins, that begins in the Dalish Camp. Athras's wife, Danyla, was infected by the werewolf disease. Zathrian says she is dead but will not allow Athras to see her body. Athras believes that she is still alive, but has become a werewolf. He hopes you find her when you venture out into the forest.

Walkthrough

If the Warden is not of Dalish Elf origin, Athras will be reluctant to share the reasons why Zathrian has forbidden him from entering the forest. However, with enough Coercion (two points are required), he will be convinced to share his trouble.

Note:

• The Warden can complete this quest even if their Coercion score is not high enough to receive it from Athras in the first place by talking to Danyla.
• If you tell Athras that you don't have time to be a search party then you do not get this quest from him, but you can still get it by talking to Danyla.

Danyla is found in the East Brecilian Forest, in between the two entrances from the West Brecilian Forest, closer to the northern passage. A pack of werewolves (including rabid ones) is just north of her, while Wild Sylvans are found on the passage between the southern entrance and her position.

Danyla's dialogue will present the Warden with two options:

• Agree to kill her
• Refuse to kill her, which results in Danyla attacking the party, forcing them to kill her

Note: Dragging the conversation on for too long results in Danyla making the decision for the Warden and attacking the party

Danyla will drop a scarf, which gives the Warden the option to:

• Return the scarf to Athras, saying either that she died from the curse or that it's too horrible to speak of what happened, after which he rewards you
• Trade the scarf with the Mad Hermit; the Warden can still tell Athras about Danyla's fate, completing the quest, and - based on a Coercion check - even obtain the same reward

If you chose to side with the werewolves and kill the Dalish while this quest is in progress, Athras will also attack the Warden and the werewolves, forcing them to kill him. If this is the case, your Journal will state you have completed the quest, saying "Athras has died, his hopes with him."

If you don't talk to Danyla and lift the curse on the werewolves while the quest is in progress, Danyla will disappear. If you tell Athras that you didn't find her, he refers to the lifted curse and also tells you about finding Danyla himself. The quest will be completed but you won't receive any reward.

Plot-wise, there is a way to complete the quest with the optimal outcome: Speak to Danyla but refuse to kill her, triggering combat. The quest item, scarf, is given at the end of conversation, meaning the warden can retrieve the scarf without killing Danyla. Proceed with a petrify or force field, and flee the scene. After curing the curse, speak to Athras and hand him the scarf. No reward is given.

Approval

Talking to Athras

If the Warden is willing to help, i.e. said "I'll see what I can do." after offering to attempt to get the current Keeper to tell him what really happened or tell him that you're sorry:

• Alistair approves (+1)

If you attempt to get the current Keeper to tell him what really happened or that you're sorry and then tell him to forget his idea for a reward:

• Morrigan approves (+2)
• Wynne disapproves (-3) if you tell her you have better things to do.

If you tell him you don't have time to be a search party:

• Morrigan approves (+2)
• Wynne disapproves (-3) if you tell her you have better things to do.

Note: Selecting this right after persuading him (or letting Leliana persuade him) allows you to start the conversation over and repeat this option indefinitely.

Talking to Danyla

If you agree to kill Danyla:

• Leliana approves (+1)
• Wynne approves (+1) ps3 No approval change.

Note: If you first persuade her to tell you what she knows then you do not get either of these Approval changes.

If you try to leave Danyla without killing her:

• Leliana disapproves (-1)

When reporting to Athras

• If the Warden mentions that Danyla "sends her love":
  • Morrigan disapproves (-3)
  • Leliana approves (+2)
• If the Warden chooses "It... it's too horrible to repeat... so awful", followed by "No, this has been too fun":
  • Alistair disapproves (-5)
  • Leliana disapproves (-5)
  • Morrigan approves (+2)
  • Wynne disapproves (-5)
  • Zevran disapproves (-10)
• If the Warden started this quest with Danyla and you tell him that you will tell him everything if he compensates you, and then you leave without telling him anything:
  • Alistair disapproves (-5)
  • Leliana disapproves (-5)
  • Morrigan approves (+2)
  • Wynne disapproves (-5)
  • Zevran disapproves (-10)

Rewards

Athras's Pendant, which can be traded with the Mad Hermit

Bugs

• If neither Leliana nor Morrigan are in the party, and the quest is completed by telling Athras that Danyla became a werewolf and sent her love, he may not give any reward (neither the amulet nor experience). Completing the quest in the same manner with either Leliana or Morrigan in the party can counter this bug.
• After accepting the quest from Athras, speaking to him before finding Danyla offers the dialogue option "I haven't even been looking", or if you get the scarf and talk to him afterwards, you have the option to lie to Athras that you didn't find Danyla. Choosing these options may cause Athras to disappear, making the quest impossible to complete. This bug can be fixed by loading a previous save, or by using the Toolset:
  • Open the affected savegame in the toolset and search the SAVEGAME_AREALIST for all entries of the name ntb100ar_dalish_camp
  • Look through the SAVEGAME_AREA_CREATURES section for the entry ntb100cr_athras
  • In that entry, change the SAVEGAME_OBJECT_ACTIVE value to 1
  • Save the savegame, then load it in-game