Redcliffe Castle

Redcliffe Castle is the seat of the Guerrin family. In the valley below is Redcliffe Village. The castle provides soldiers for the entire Redcliffe region. Redcliffe's coat of arms is a tower atop a red cliff on a white background.

Redcliffecastle-upperfloor — Map of the Upper Floor

Background Edit

Castle Redcliffe has stood for far longer than the village it protects. Since the days of the Alamarri clans, the castle has guarded the main pass through the Frostback Mountains into Orlais. Redcliffe Castle is the first and last line of defense for the sole land route into Ferelden, and the country has never fallen to any force that did not first take Redcliffe.^[1]

It was here that the Avvar hill folk came to strike at the lowlands to the east, and it was this castle that the Orlesian Empire needed to control before conquering Ferelden. That was no easy task, for while the folk of Redcliffe may be simple, they are also proud of their ancient role as Ferelden's protectors from incursion. "There is iron in the hills, as there is in the people" goes the local saying, and no one disbelieves it.

The fortress has endured many sieges. On only three such occasions was it successfully taken - first by Calenhad Theirin,^[2] much later by Orlesian nobility, and most recently when restored to the Guerrins in the Fereldan Rebellion. The castle is popularly described as "unassailable" in spite of these three attacks.^[1]

InvolvementEdit

Dragon Age: Origins Edit

This section contains spoilers for:
Dragon Age: Origins.

Upon the Warden's arrival at Redcliffe, the castle has been taken over by an undead horde which is attacking the village. No matter if they decide to help the village or not, he or she will have to fight through the undead guarding the castle where they will, in the end, find Connor Guerrin possessed by a desire demon.

Later Redcliffe Castle serves as a staging area for troops fighting against the Blight.

Dragon Age: Inquisition Edit

This section contains spoilers for:
Dragon Age: Inquisition.

The Monarchy offered the rebel mages sanctuary in Ferelden, in the Arling of Redcliffe. The mages gratefully accepted the offer however the Templar host pursued them across the border.

Chaos erupted after the explosion that caused the Breach destroyed the Chantry's peace Conclave. Eventually Venatori infiltrators persuaded the desperate mages under Fiona that their only hope of survival was to escape to the Tevinter Imperium. One of the Venatori, Magister Gereon Alexius, travelled in time to the rebel mages' most desperate moment and offered the mages citizenship in exchange for ten years indentured servitude. Feeling they had no choice, the mages accepted. Alexius banished Arl Teagan Guerrin and seized Redcliffe Castle as his stronghold.

Alexius' Redcliffe Castle — Redcliffe Castle after a year of Alexius' rule

Inquisitor recruits the Mages: Magister Alexius invites the Herald of Andraste to Redcliffe Castle to negotiate for the southern mages' aid. Secretly he intends to capture the Herald and present them as a trophy to the Venatori's mysterious deity; The Elder One. Inquisition soldiers infiltrate the castle during the negotiation however and kill the Venatori before they can proceed with their plan. In desperation Alexius attempts to use his unique time-distorting magic and kill the Herald, however Dorian Pavus intervenes and the Herald and Dorian are flung forward through time a year into the future.

They discover that Alexius has held on to Redcliffe Castle, turning it into a major Venatori stronghold in southern Thedas and both the Inquisition and Ferelden have failed in their attempts to oust the Venatori from the fortress. Magister Alexius has greatly expanded the Castle's underground chambers and outer fortifications and the castle is now overgrown with Red lyrium deposits. Alexius has also allowed rifts into the Fade to open throughout the Castle, leaving whole sections of the fortress overrun with Demons. Alexius himself has installed a unique and seemingly impenetrable barrier door which blocks access to the throne room, a door that can only be opened with all five of the red lyrium rings held by his most trusted Venatori mages.

The Herald and Dorian, together with their allies, kill Alexius and return to their original time and Magister Alexius is swiftly captured thus preventing Alexius' version of Redcliffe Castle from ever coming to be.

Quests Edit

Dragon Age: Origins Edit

Main Quests Edit

The Arl of Redcliffe

Side Quests Edit

Lost in the Castle

Skin Deep

Dragon Age: Inquisition Edit

Main Quests Edit

In Hushed Whispers

Characters Edit

Arl Eamon Guerrin
Arlessa Isolde Guerrin
Bann Teagan - Eamon's younger brother, Bann of Rainsfere.
Connor Guerrin - Son of Isolde and Eamon.
Jowan - A mage imprisoned in the dungeon.
Valena - Servant to Arlessa Isolde and daughter of the village blacksmith Owen.
Ser Perth - He enters the Castle as soon as the Gate Lever is activated.
First Enchanter Irving (only if certain choices are made during Broken Circle and Arl of Redcliffe)
Cassian (only after a particular decision during Nature of the Beast)

Enemies Edit

Dragon Age: Origins

Revenant (Demon, Lieutenant)
Skeleton archer (Demon, Normal)
Shambling corpse (Demon, Normal)
Lesser shade (Demon, Normal)
Greater shade (Demon, Lieutenant)
Enraged corpse (Demon, Normal)
Undead corpses of various named villagers (Demon, Normal) - only if the Warden failed to aid Redcliffe.
Devouring corpse (Demon, Normal & Lieutenant)
Mabari (Animal, Normal & Lieutenant)
Bann Teagan (Human,Lieutenant,Champion) (while temporarily ensorceled)
Guard (Human, Critter) - Two sword-and-shield warriors (with Shield Pummel and Assault) and 4 Crossbowmen (with Aim and Shattering Shot)
Suit of armor (Human, Normal, Warrior, Champion) - These appear decorative, but as the Warden passes through the hall they will become animated and attack.
Chamberlain (Human, Normal)
Desire Demon (Demon, Boss) (if a possessed Connor is incited to combat)

Dragon Age: Inquisition

Venatori
- Venatori Zealot
- Venatori Marksman
- Venatori Spellbinder
- Venatori Gladiator
Lesser Shade
Wraith

Notable items Edit

Dragon Age: OriginsEdit

Main Floor Edit

Black Leather Collar

Heavy Maul

Kaddis of Hakkon Wintersbreath

Redcliffe Shield

Redcliffe Vault Key, carried by the Chamberlain

Warpaint of the Tempest

Upper Floor Edit

Eamon's Shield

Notable gifts for companionsEdit

Main Floor

Alistair's Mother's Amulet for Alistair, found on the desk in Arl Eamon's study

Lamb Bone for Dog, in a chest.

Botanist's Map of Thedas for the Secret Companion, in a chest.

Bug! Cannot be obtained via normal means. See the page for more info.

Small Silver Ring, in a chest.

Upper Floor

Stone Dragon Statuette for Alistair, in a chest on the Second Floor.

Silver-Framed Still Life for Sten, in a chest.

The Guerrins of Ferelden for Wynne, on a bookshelf.

Map of Occupied Ferelden for Secret Companion, in a chest (only during the Final Onslaught)

Dragon Age: InquisitionEdit

Circle of Magi Banner - from a box in the Upper Royal Wing

Masterwork Wave Blade Schematic - in a room before the Main Hall

Codex entries Edit

Dragon Age: Origins

Codex entry: Connor Guerrin

Codex entry: The History of the Chantry: Chapter 2, book in upstairs chantry

Codex entry: Geography of Ferelden

Codex entry: The Orlesian Empire, book in Eamon's study

Codex entry: Journal of the Tranquil, book in guest room

Codex entry: Aveline, Knight of Orlais, book in Connor's room

Codex entry: History of Ferelden: Chapter 1, book in Eamon's room

Codex entry: The First Blight: Chapter 2, book in Eamon's room

Dragon Age: Inquisition

Spellbinder's Journal

Alexius' Journal

Studies on the Blight

A Guard's Journal

Containers Edit

Courtyard

Barrel (Generic, Elite)
Barrel (Generic, Elite)

Armoury

Armor Stand (Generic Armor, Normal)
Chest (Generic Armor, Elite)
Chest (Generic Weapons, Elite)
Weapon Stand (Generic Weapons, Normal)
Weapon Stand (Generic Weapons, Normal)
Weapon Stand (Generic Weapons, Normal) - contains Heavy Maul

Kennels

Chest (Special) - contains kaddis and lamb bone
Charred Corpse (Generic, Critter)

Main Floor, north corridor

Armoire (Generic, Normal)
Cabinet (Generic, Normal)
Cabinet (Generic, Normal)
Wooden Crate (Generic, Normal)
Wooden Crate (Generic, Normal)

Main Floor, south

Desk (Books and Scrolls, Critter) - contains Alistair's Mother's Amulet
Chest (Ferelden, Elite) - locked

Upper Floor, bedrooms

Chest (Ferelden, Normal) - locked
Chest (Generic, Elite)

The Vault

Armor Stand (Generic Armor, Boss)
Chest (Orlesian, Elite) - contains Silver-Framed Still Life
Chest (Ferelden, Boss) - contains Eamon's Shield
Chest (Ferelden, Elite)
Weapon Stand (Generic Weapons, Boss) - contains The Fox's Bow
Weapon Stand (Generic Weapons, Elite) - contains Chevalier's Mace

Special objects Edit

Gate Lever - pulling it opens the inner gate, beyond which Ser Perth and his surviving knights wait to join the liberation of the castle
Landmark Tree - for Dog, in the courtyard

Trivia Edit

If the vault is looted before "The Arl of Redcliffe" is advanced, the castle's Quartermaster and a servant can be overheard mentioning that not much of the treasury remains.