Ortan Thaig is an ancient thaig located somewhere beneath Ferelden.[1] Named after Paragon Ortan, this used to be the ancient home of House Ortan but was lost to the darkspawn during the Fourth Blight.[2]
Background 
Edit
This is where the Paragon Branka took her entire House in order to search for the Anvil of the Void. It was the birthplace of the great Paragon Caridin, and he preferred to stay there even when he became a Paragon.
According to historians, this thaig is believed to be the place where Caridin constructed the Anvil of the Void.[3]
Involvement Edit
Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne Edit
Dragon Age: The Calling Edit
In 9:10 Dragon, King Maric Theirin and a group of Grey Wardens travel to Ortan Thaig in order to find Bregan. This time, the thaig is empty. However, when they enter the palace, they find the throne occupied by the skeleton of a dwarven ruler, with other corpses spread within thirty feet of the throne. The corpse is actually possessed by a demon, which killed all the defending dwarves inside the throne room and the darkspawn which were invading the palace. Its own power fading, the demon sends Maric and the Wardens into the Fade. Maric is the first to break free of his dream and manages to rescue the Wardens, though Nicolas refuses to leave the Fade, as his body in the real world soon dies. While in the Fade, the demon tries to possess Fiona in order to become an abomination, however it is defeated in its own realm by the ones it trapped. Shortly afterwards the group returns to the mortal world and hurriedly leaves the palace.
Utha also finds dwarven runes which indicate that her House once owned a building in Ortan Thaig.[4] Dragon Age: Origins Edit
As part of their quest to crown a new king, the Warden must journey through here. In order to visit this area, the Warden must first traverse Caridin's Cross. It is populated by darkspawn, shades, spiders and golems. The party also notices that the Legion of the Dead passed through the area, leaving numerous darkspawn corpses behind them.[5]
Ruck's camp
Ruck can be found in the northeastern area near the bridges. Talking to him nets some information about Branka, and is also necessary to complete the quest A Mother's Hope.
The Warden will first encounter Ruck in the thaig proper, where he will engage in a brief dialogue with them before running back to his cave while giant spiders surround the party. If the Warden pursues him to his cave, Ruck can be persuaded or intimidated into trading with the Warden, being the only merchant to sell or buy items in an underground location except Orzammar. If Zevran or Oghren is present, he might force the Warden to mercy kill Ruck if the conversation goes on long enough.
- In the area where Ruck is first seen, near the two bridges, is the chest containing the documents requested by Orta for Lost to the Memories.
- This is also the resting place for Willem Trialmont, who died in 7:5 Storm, and whose sword is involved in An Admirable Topsider quest.
- There is also a place of power for the Places of Power quest next to the Altar of Sundering.
Characters Edit
- Ruck, a dwarf who turned into a ghoul.
- Fade beast, when on the quest Asunder and using the Altar of Sundering to summon him.
Enemies Edit
- Genlock (Darkspawn, Normal)
- Genlock emissary (Darkspawn, Normal)
- Hurlock (Darkspawn, Normal)
- Thaig crawler (Animal, Critter)
- Giant spider (Animal, Normal)
- Poisonous spider (Animal, Normal)
- Giant poisonous spider (Animal, Lieutenant)
- Ogre (Darkspawn, Lieutenant)
- Shriek alpha (Darkspawn, Lieutenant) (Assassin)
- Stone golem (Golem, Lieutenant)
- Indignant spirit (Shades, Normal) Ranged
- Forgotten spirit (Shades, Normal) Melee - weapon and shield
- Enraged spirit (Shades, Normal) Melee - two-handed weapon
- Corrupted spider (Animal, Boss)
- Corrupted spider queen (Animal, Boss)
- Fade beast (Demon, Boss) Optional, when on the quest Asunder and choosing to fight the demon.
- Ruck (Dwarf, Lieutenant) Optional, when speaking to him in wrong way
Underground river crossing the Ortan Thaig
Notable items Edit
Ortan Records — source: Ortan Thaig Chest
Bloodline, source: corpse of corrupted spider queen
Silk Weave Gloves, source: corpse of corrupted spider queen
Smith's Heart — source: Cocoon (in spider lair)
Topsider's Pommel — source: Vase (in Ruck's camp)
Armor of the Divine Will — source: Ruck
Destructionist's Belt — source: Ruck
Grandmaster Cold Iron Rune — source: Ruck
Shield of the Legion — source: Ruck
Deep Mushroom — unlimited source: Ruck
Lifestone — unlimited source: RuckNotable gifts for companions:
Etched Silver Symbol — source: Ruck Special objects Edit
- Altar of Sundering — can be interacted during Asunder quest.
- Warrior's Grave — can be interacted during An Admirable Topsider quest.
Codex entries Edit
Codex entry: Asunder, source: Altar of Sundering
Codex entry: Caridin's Journal, source: Book
Codex entry: Topsider's Honor, source: Warrior's Grave
Map of the area
Containers Edit
Darkspawn vs. spiders area
- Chest (Dwarven, Normal) - locked
- Darkspawn Corpse (Darkspawn, Critter)
- Darkspawn Corpse (Darkspawn, Critter)
- Darkspawn Corpse (Darkspawn, Critter)
- Fractured Stone (Stone, Normal)
- Fractured Stone (Stone, Normal)
- Fractured Stone (Stone, Normal)
Ruins
- Broken Chest (Dwarven, Normal)
- Broken Chest (Dwarven, Normal)
- Broken Chest (Dwarven, Elite)
- Chest (Dwarven, Normal) - locked
- Chest (Dwarven, Normal) - locked
- Darkspawn Corpse (Darkspawn, Critter)
- Darkspawn Corpse (Darkspawn, Critter)
- Fractured Stone (Stone, Normal)
- Fractured Stone (Stone, Normal)
- Ortan Thaig Chest (Special) - Ortan Records
- Vase (Special) - Topsider's Pommel
Spider lair
- Chest (Dwarven, Elite) - locked
- Chest (Ferelden, Elite) - locked
- Chest (Dwarven, Normal) - locked
- Cocoon (Special) - contains Smith's Heart
- Fractured Stone (Stone, Normal)
Notes Edit
- According to Oghren, no dwarf has reached Ortan Thaig for five hundred years. However that is incorrect as the thaig fell during the Fourth Blight which is a little more than four hundred years before the events in Dragon Age: Origins.[3]
References Edit
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ortan Thaig should be somewhere beneath Ferelden as the main characters in Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne crossed it in order to reach Gwaren from West Hill. Furthermore, the surface entrance near West Hill which is leading to the Deep Roads was again used by Maric Theirin and the Orlesian Grey Wardens years later in order to reach the thaig in Dragon Age: The Calling.
- ↑ Mentioned by Orta.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Mentioned by Oghren before he joins the party at the beginning of the third task in A Paragon of Her Kind quest line.
- ↑ Dragon Age: The Calling, pp. 246-247
- ↑ Mentioned by various companions in party banter.
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