Sand and Ruin is a side quest in Dragon Age: Inquisition.
There is a sizeable Venatori presence in the Hissing Wastes. It is an odd place for them to be dispatched at all, let alone in such significant numbers.
Acquisition[]
This quest becomes available after the Inquisitor has relocated to Skyhold; it serves both as an introduction to the Hissing Wastes and as a significant quest plot in the region.
Walkthrough[]
After completing the war table scouting operation Stop Venatori Activity in the West, which costs 20 Power, accessibility to the Wastes becomes available. Upon arrival, Scout Harding will inform the Inquisitor of the Red Templars in the area scouting a dwarven ruin under Venatori supervision. She will provide the Inquisitor with a map she found on a dead Venatori and tell them she just saw a group of Venatori traveling northwest.
The next objective is to search the Venatori camps scattered all over the Wastes. To successfully complete the quest the player must find the Venatori camps scatted across the region and read the various correspondences between Venatori agents, found at the camp sites.
Start by heading north from the Cove towards the Sand Crags region to establish the Sand Crags Inquisition Camp as part of the side quest Holding the Hissing Wastes. On a table nearby, a folded letter can be found, reading it will progress the quest.
Head west towards the next Venatori Camp in the Shallow Basin, located near the Canyon. After fighting off a group of Venatori, read the short note. A sketch of the Canyon Tomb and a sketch of the Burial Grounds Tomb can also be obtained in the area; both are relevant to the side quest the Tomb of Fairel.
Proceed to the Sunstop Mountains to locate the next Venatori Camp. On the other side of the mountain are additional Venatori, dispatch them and claim the Sunstop Mountain Camp. Here an additional note, titled Venatori Orders, can be found. A sketch of the Colossus Tomb needed for side quest the Tomb of Fairel is situated beside the orders. The quest will update and instruct the Inquisitor to search for the Venatori Mountain Camp further in the mountains.
The Venatori Mountain Camp is the final main camp needing to be cleared and is located southeast of the Inquisition's Sunstop Mountain Camp. Upon reaching the Venatori Camp, the main gates will be closed. Head around it in order to reach the inner part of the camp. There will be several groups of enemies in the area. A Sacrifice piece can be looted at one of the campfires, and a bottle of Silent Plains Piquette can be found further in near the other campfire. At the end of the camp the party will encounter a level 19 elite Venatori Overseer. After dealing with him, reading the letter drafted to Venatori Magisters will complete the quest.
Rewards[]
Finding the folded letter yields:
- 5,076 XP
- Influence 600
- Power 2
Finding the short note yields:
- Influence 150
Finding the Venatori Orders yields:
- 5,076 XP
- Influence 600
- Power 2
Finding the draft of letter to Venatori Magisters yields:
- 1,269 XP
- Influence 150
Defeating the Venatori Overseer yields:
- Bloodwake
- Amulet of Power (Dorian) prior to Patch 5
Codex entries[]
- Codex entry: Blood-Spotted Venatori Diary
- Codex entry: Draft of Letter to Venatori Magisters
- Codex entry: Folded Letter
- Codex entry: Sketch of Burial Grounds Tomb
- Codex entry: Sketch of Canyon Tomb
- Codex entry: Sketch of Colossus Tomb
Note texts[]
Notes[]
- It is possible to leave the camp through an eastern exit. This leads you to an abandoned camp where you will encounter a random group of leveled demons and can loot another Sacrifice piece. If you continue northwest from there, you can find Codex entry: Blood-Spotted Venatori Diary which will trigger some comments from the companions in your party.