The Cauldron is a main quest in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. The Gloom Howler has reportedly been spotted at an old Grey Warden location and Davrin is eager to find out why.
Acquisition[]
Walkthrough[]
Davrin received word that the Gloom Howler has attacked a secret Grey Warden redoubt, the Cauldron.
Find the Cauldron[]
Explore south from the Swamp Road area to find the area marked on the map. Approaching the gate triggers a short cutscene.
Help Davrin investigate the Cauldron[]
Through the gate is a platform that Assan can release, allowing the team access to a new courtyard area called Castle Grounds that remains open to explore after the conclusion of the quest.
To gain entry to the actual castle another platform must be lowered in the center of the courtyard. It is covered in four blight tendrils that each must be destroyed to free it. In one of the areas with a blight bulb there's an ambush of darkspawn as well as many dead Wardens who had tried to confront the Gloom Howler before the Veilguard. This area is also a chamber used by the Wardens to safekeep multiple dangerous artifacts, perhaps explaining the Gloom Howler's interest.
Free the platform completely from the blight, then use Assan to lower it and enter the castle proper. Inside there are great, sealed doors each inscribed with the year when a blight ended. At the end of this corridor is a smaller door at which the actual quest begins.
Investigate the Cauldron (quest proper)[]
Speak to Davrin and Assan to explore deeper into the Cauldron. A horrifying sight greets them; shelves filled with urns containing the remains of griffons stretching into the darkness in every direction, a monument to just how devastating their loss truly was. But just why they were unceremoniously abandoned in this unmarked grave instead of honored like the beloved friends and heroes they were is a mystery to the team. Investigate the remains of a griffon in the middle of the room to discover that they are actually blighted, then destroy a blight bulb to unlock the path forward - but open the chest revealed by the blight before proceeding.
In the next room lies the remains of the archdemon Zazikel, implying that each of the marked chambers in the corridor must contain their own archdemon corpse. Enter the middle of the chamber and the Gloom Howler will summon blight and darkspawn in the room.
Find the Gloom Howler[]
Rook must destroy multiple boils to access the upper floor while fighting off a continuous horde of darkspawn, starting with one on each side of the room. Climb the stairs, removing boils until only one inside of the archdemon remains. Crush it to confront the Gloom Howler while the team shelters from the onslaught inside the ribcage. The Gloom Howler tells them that she is "a ward against the darkness" and that she is "liberating" the griffons. She also expresses anger at the treatment of the griffons buried in the Cauldron before shockingly revealing that she plans to blight the remaining griffons using blood taken from this archdemon as some sort of "protection".
Assan takes this monologue as an opening to distract her, allowing the team to press back the horde and strike back. Defeat the horde while the Gloom Howler flutily attempts to entice Assan to join her. By the time the enemies have been dispatched the Gloom Howler is gone, leaving behind only a strip of cloth snatched by Assan for Davrin to track her with. Loot the chest and speak to Davrin to leave the place.
Rewards[]
- +100 Grey Wardens Strength
- Bond increase with party companions
Results[]
The Gloom Howler has reportedly attacked a Grey Warden redoubt known as the Cauldron. Davrin must investigate in his ongoing quest to rescue the kidnapped griffons.
Having breached the Cauldron, Davrin continues his urgent hunt for the Gloom Howler in hopes of rescuing the kidnapped griffons.
After confronting the Gloom Howler at the Cauldron, Davrin was horrified to learn that the monster was there to extract Archdemon blood in a dastardly plan to blight the kidnapped griffons. The Gloom Howler escaped and remains at large, threatening Assan's brothers and sisters with unspeakable evil.
Notable loot[]
- Castle Ground
- Grey Emblem (amulet)
- Recruit's War Hat (light helm) / Vitaar of Vigilance (light vitaar)
- Inner Courtyard
- Dark Shard (rogue) / Etched Raider's Axe (warrior) / Frostbranch (mage)
- The Cauldron
- Warden's Signet (ring)
- Griffon Great Helm (heavy helm) / Spawn Blood (heavy vitaar)
- Winged Cape (Davrin)
Approval[]
At the Lighthouse[]
- Because whatever atttacked it sounds like the Gloom Howler
- (Diplomatic) What's your plan? - Davrin Approves
- (Alarmed) That... thing?
- (Stoic) Now's our chance. - Davrin Approves
- I'm supposed to be the bodyguard. Keep that feathery butt safe.
- (Romantic) You're a softy.
- He needs to learn.
- He's ready.
- It's okay to worry.
Arriving at the Cauldron[]
- And what are our Warden cousins hiding inside?
- (Diplomatic) Must be important. - Davrin Approves
- (Humorous) Their best drinks? (Or if Rook is a Warden) Like I'd know?
- (Stoic) No time to waste. - Davrin Approves
- Defeating darkspawn in the Castle Grounds - Davrin bond increase (×4)
Facing the Gloom Howler[]
- I liberated them.
- (Stoic) They aren't yours. - Davrin Approves
- (Alarmed) Liberated?
- (Assertive) Liar!
After the fight[]
- It's okay. Let it go. - No changes
- (Diplomatic) If you say so.
- (Humorous) Some clever plan?
- (Assertive) It needed to die!
Codex entries[]
Codex entry: From Davrin's Journal: The Cauldron- Codex entry: From Davrin's Journal: Griffon Extinction Pt. 2
- Codex entry: From Davrin's Journal: The Gloom Howler, Pt. 2
Codex entry: Archdemon Bones
