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.

Background[edit | edit source]

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]

Involvement[edit | edit source]

Dragon Age: Origins[edit | edit source]

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 | edit source]

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.

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.

Dragon Age: Origins[edit | edit source]

Characters[edit | edit source]

Arlessa Isolde Guerrin

Cassian (only after a particular decision during Nature of the Beast)

Connor Guerrin, son of Isolde and Eamon

Arl Eamon Guerrin

First Enchanter Irving (only if certain choices are made during Broken Circle and Arl of Redcliffe)

Jowan, a mage imprisoned in the dungeon

Ser Perth (he enters the Castle as soon as the Gate Lever is activated)

Bann Teagan Guerrin, Bann of Rainsfere, Eamon's younger brother

Valena, servant to Arlessa Isolde and daughter of Owen the village blacksmith

Quests[edit | edit source]

Desire (Boss) - if a possessed Connor is incited to combat
Revenant (Lieutenant)
Greater Shade (Lieutenant)
Lesser Shade (Normal)

Undead

Devouring corpse (Normal & Lieutenant)
Enraged corpse (Normal)
Shambling corpse (Normal)
Skeleton archer (Normal)
Suit of armor (Normal, Warrior, Champion) - these appear decorative, but as the Warden passes through the hall they will become animated and attack
Undead corpses of various named villagers (Normal) - only if the Warden failed to aid Redcliffe

Animals

Mabari (Normal & Lieutenant)

Humans

Bann Teagan (Lieutenant, Champion) - while temporarily ensorceled
Chamberlain (Normal)
Sword-and-Shield Warrior Guards (Critter) - with Shield Pummel and Assault
Crossbowmen Guards (Critter) - with Aim and Shattering Shot

Notable items[edit | edit source]

Main Floor[edit | edit source]

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 | edit source]

Eamon's Shield

Notable gifts for companions[edit | edit source]

Main Floor[edit | edit source]

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

Small Silver Ring, in a chest

Upper Floor[edit | edit source]

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)

Containers[edit | edit source]

Courtyard[edit | edit source]

Barrel (Generic, Elite)

Armory[edit | edit source]

Armor Stand (Generic Armor, Normal)

Chest (Generic Armor, Elite)

Chest (Generic Weapons, Elite)

Weapon Stand (Generic Weapons, Normal)

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

Kennels[edit | edit source]

Chest (Special) - contains kaddis and lamb bone

Charred Corpse (Generic, Critter)

Main Floor, north corridor[edit | edit source]

Armoire (Generic, Normal)

Cabinet (Generic, Normal)

Wooden Crate (Generic, Normal)

Main Floor, south[edit | edit source]

Desk (Books and Scrolls, Critter) - contains Alistair's Mother's Amulet

Chest (Ferelden, Elite) - locked

Upper Floor, bedrooms[edit | edit source]

Chest (Ferelden, Normal) - locked

Chest (Generic, Elite)

The Vault[edit | edit source]

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 | edit source]

Gate Lever - opens the inner gate, which allows for Ser Perth and his knights to assist with liberating the castle

Landmark Tree - for Dog, in the courtyard

Codex entries[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

Characters[edit | edit source]

King Alistair (conditional)

Queen Anora (conditional)

Connor Guerrin (conditional)

Dorian Pavus

Felix Alexius

Grand Enchanter Fiona

Gereon Alexius

Hanley D'Urvain

Leliana

Linnea

Lysas

Talwyn

Areas[edit | edit source]

Upper Royal Wing

Lower Royal Wing

Courtyard

Docks

Torture Chambers

Guard Barracks

Upper Cells

Lower Cells

Quests[edit | edit source]

In Hushed Whispers

Enemies[edit | edit source]

Venatori

Venatori Zealot
Venatori Marksman
Venatori Spellbinder
Venatori Gladiator

Demons

Lesser Shade
Wraith

Notable items[edit | edit source]

Bianca Arms II - looted from Hanley.

Bleeder of Souls - looted from Hanley.

Masterwork Wave Blade Schematic - looted from a room in the Upper Royal Wing (east side).

Staff of Stasis - looted after defeating Alexius.

Circle of Magi Banner - looted from a pyramid shaped chest in the Upper Royal Wing.

Codex entries[edit | edit source]

Codex entry: Magister Gereon Alexius

Codex entry: Dorian Pavus

Codex entry: The Venatori

Note texts[edit | edit source]

Spellbinder's Journal

Alexius' Journal

Studies on the Blight

A Guard's Journal

Trivia[edit | edit source]

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