The Ruined Temple is the dilapidated remains of the Temple of Andraste. Sitting high atop the frigid Frostback Mountains, the temple's interior is swathed with sheets of ice and snow. Nevertheless, considering the number of years since Andraste's followers roamed its halls, the temple is remarkably intact.

Ruined Temple Map - DA:O
Contents
Background[edit | edit source]
Following the execution of Andraste, her disciple Havard retrieved her remains and carried them back to her homeland. There, her followers interred her ashes among the mountains, building a temple which became a refuge for Andrastians in Alamarri lands.
The temple was eventually abandoned, however, and became the sanctum of the Disciples of Andraste, a society composed of the violent, dragon-worshiping inhabitants of the Village of Haven. The Temple is built into the mountain itself, extending deep into its caverns, which lead to the Mountain Top.
Involvement[edit | edit source]
Dragon Age: Origins[edit | edit source]
Places[edit | edit source]
- Cultist Chambers
- Main Hall
- South Eastern Chambers
Quests[edit | edit source]
Enemies[edit | edit source]
- Cultists (Human, Critter)
- Cultist archers (Human, Normal)
- Cultist mages (Human, Normal)
- Cultist reavers (Human, Normal)
- Bronto (Animal, Lieutenant)
- Ash wraiths (Demon, Normal and Lieutenant)
Containers[edit | edit source]
Southwest chamber
- Dead Adventurer (Ferelden, Normal) - contains journal for Unbound
- Bookshelf (Books and Scrolls, Normal) - contains Discovering Dragon's Blood: Potions, Tinctures, and Spicy Sauces
- Cabinet (Special) - contains Taper
Southeast chamber
- Chest (Special) - contains Main Hall Key
- Chest (Circle, Normal) - locked
- Chest (Tevinter, Elite) - locked
Southeast library
- Ancient Texts (Special) - Scroll of Banastor
- Book (Special) - unlocks Codex entry: The Old Gods
- Scroll Pile (Special) - Ancient Encrypted Scrolls
- Chest (Tevinter, Normal) - locked
West cultist chambers
- Ancient Texts (Special) - Scroll of Banastor
- Book (Special) - unlocks Codex entry: The Sermons of Divine Renata I
- Chest (Tevinter, Normal) - locked
- Dusty Scrolls (Generic, Critter) - contains Chasind Sack Mead
- Ornate Chest (Qunari, Normal) - contains South-East Chamber Key and Black Pearl
- Wooden Crate (Tevinter, Normal)
Tunnel
- Fallen Knight (Ferelden, Normal) - contains the Armor of Diligence
Inner Sanctum
- Iron Chest (Elven, Elite) - contains Ancient Elven Gloves
- Chest (Tevinter, Elite) - locked
- Vase (Tevinter, Normal)
Notable items[edit | edit source]
Ancient Elven Gloves
Armor of Diligence
Ancient Encrypted Scrolls, for the quest Forgotten Verses
Black Pearl
Main Hall Key
Scroll of Banastor x2
South-East Chamber Key
Taper
Notable gifts for companions:
Chasind Sack Mead, source: Dusty Scrolls.
Discovering Dragon's Blood: Potions, Tinctures, and Spicy Sauces, source: Bookshelf.
Codex entries[edit | edit source]
Codex entry: The Holy Brazier, use Black Pearl and Taper at the Brazier
Codex entry: The Old Gods
Codex entry: The Sermons of Divine Renata I
Codex entry: Scrolls of Banastor
Special objects[edit | edit source]
- • x4 Tripwires (Difficulty 35 and 45 XP)
- • Ballista Will fire when the tripwire is triggered or when clicked with the mouse.
- • x4 Leghold Traps (Difficulty 45 XP)
Companion remarks[edit | edit source]
One of your companions may make interesting remarks at certain spots:
- • Entering the ruin proper
- • In the small library
- • At the statue of Archon Hessarian
- • At the statue of Maferath
Dragon Age: Inquisition[edit | edit source]

The Temple after refurbishment
A decade after its rediscovery, the temple is refurbished by the Chantry and becomes a holy site for the Andrastian faithful. In 9:41 Dragon, the Temple of Sacred Ashes hosts a peace summit for mage, templar, and Chantry leaders in hopes of negotiating peace for the ongoing Mage-Templar War. Subsequently, all those in attendance are killed by an explosion and the temple laid to ruin. The explosion creates a huge Veil tear, called the Breach, in the heart of the temple. Somehow, a lone survivor escapes unharmed and is immediately apprehended by the Left and Right hands of the Divine.
The survivor sets off with a small party to investigate the Breach at the temple remains. While there, they manage to temporarily close the Breach after battling a Pride demon. The lone survivor, now labeled the Herald of Andraste, assists the Chantry in establishing an Inquisition in hopes of closing the Breach once and for all. The Herald requires the aid of mages or templars to successfully close the Breach; in order to do so they must put an end to the Mage-Templar War by deciding to ally with one of the groups. The combined forces manage to seal the Breach, however, a larger threat emerges, revealing the Breach can only be sealed with the Orb of Destruction. A final confrontation with the Elder One results in the Breach finally being sealed.