The Long Road (Dragon Age II)

For the World Map Encounter from Dragon Age: Origins, see The Long Road (Origins).

The Long Road
Act	2
Location	The Hanged Man (Lowtown) The Wounded Coast
Quest Giver	Aveline (Viscount's Keep)
End	Aveline (Viscount's Keep)
Previous	Blackpowder Courtesy
Next	Questioning Beliefs
Appearances	Dragon Age II

The Long Road is an Act 2 companion quest for Aveline in Dragon Age II. Aveline is sweet on Guardsman Donnic and enlists Hawke's aid in helping her get his attention.

Acquisition

The quest activates just before you turn in the Blackpowder Courtesy to the Viscount.

Walkthrough

The barracks

Aveline tells Hawke that she needs a favor only they can be trusted with. First she asks them to deliver a package to Guardsman Donnic (if Aveline was in the party then she leaves the party). The package turns out to be copper marigolds, confusing both Donnic and Hawke. Once Hawke returns to Aveline, she asks them to post the duty roster this time. After Hawke does as she asks and reports Donnic's negative reaction, she will finally admit she was attempting to court Donnic, just doesn't know how to do it. Hawke suggests inviting Donnic to the Hanged Man.

• Offer to just tell Donnic, or say that you'll help if she needs this.
  • Say that it can be that easy, or flirt with her: Aveline: friendship (+5).
  • Tell her not to try at all: Aveline: rivalry (+5)
• Refuse to help: Aveline: rivalry (+10). The quest ends.

If a romanced companion is in the party, there will be an awkward exchange if Hawke questions Aveline about her crush. Also, a random party member (except for Sebastian) will participate in dialogue with Aveline.

The Hanged Man

As agreed, Hawke visits the Hanged Man at night to meet Donnic. If Hawke is male, Donnic will think he's trying to get to Aveline through him and says Hawke should have some backbone. If Hawke is female, on the other hand, Donnic thinks she's interested in him, and lets Hawke know he prefers women with a backbone. Afterwards, Hawke speaks with Aveline.

Choice 1:

• No change in friendship/rivalry

Choice 2:

• 'No excuses! Arrange a patrol!'
  • Aveline: rivalry (+5) whether she is in the party or not.
  • Isabela: friendship (+10)

• 'Trust me to help./A friendly ultimatum.' (Dialogue varies)
  • Aveline: friendship (+5) whether she is in the party or not.
  • Isabela: rivalry (+10) (Even if Isabela has maxed out friendship, she'll still gain rivalry points, so it might be best to switch her out if you want to avoid this. In later patches however, it does not occur.)

The Wounded Coast

If you go to the Wounded Coast with Aveline in the party she will not be in the party when you arrive so replace her with someone else before going there.

Visit the Wounded Coast and take the northern route. Clear all enemies and then light each of the signal fires. After each signal fire, Aveline will engage Donnic in conversation. Do this until Hawke confronts Donnic and Aveline. In the ensuing dialogue choices, you may either encourage a relationship between Donnic and Aveline (diplomatic or sarcastic responses) or end it before it begins. Either choice changes dialogue in Act 3 in Favor and Fault; a relationship with Donnic results in the respect of all of the guard while being single results in some siding with Jeven and Donnic respecting her, but calling her a bad name.

Note: There are six traps total: two standard traps (20 cunning to detect and disarm - 100 XP/trap) near the first signal fire, one standard trap (20 cunning to detect and disarm - 100 XP) and one simple trap (10 cunning to detect and disarm - 50 XP) near the second signal fire, and two standard traps (20 cunning to detect and disarm - 100 XP/trap) near the third signal fire. The traps near the second signal fire will activate after you light the first signal fire, and the traps near the third fire will activate after you light the second fire.

Back in the barracks

Return to Aveline's office in the Viscount's Keep and speak with her. Initially Aveline will be frightened of what Donnic might do, but he appears soon and reassures her that he has no intention of leaving and in fact, he's interested too. Shortly after that she thanks Hawke for all the help.

• If nothing outwardly negative was said: Aveline: friendship (+5)
• If the attitude is negative towards her, however: Aveline: rivalry (+5)
• If every opportunity was taken to flirt with her: Aveline: friendship (+15)

Additionally, if Hawke has expressed feelings for Aveline, she asks Hawke if there was possibly anything between them. You have the option to tell her:

• "Just be happy." Aveline: friendship (+5)
• "It'd be epic but destructive." Aveline: rivalry (+5)
• "No, of course not. Never." Aveline: friendship (+5)

Result

• 1000 XP upon quest completion
• Begins Aveline's Questioning Beliefs

Notes

• Bringing Varric, Anders, Fenris, Merrill or Isabela will result in extra dialogue. There is a hierarchy for which companions offer their opinions, however, with Isabela taking precedence over all other characters while Varric is the second.
• To get Aveline to acknowledge Hawke's advances, there are two flirtatious dialogue options that has to be picked at two crucial points near the end of the quest - namely right at the end of the Wounded Coast and back at her office afterwards. This way Hawke can express their jealousy during certain cutscenes. In the end, right before finishing the conversation, Aveline's question will change to asking Hawke if there was ever possibly something between the two of them. Hawke can either joke about it or tell her not to think about it.
• Having an active romance will prompt Aveline to refer to it at certain points. Having the romance option in question present provides further interactions.
• If the humorous response is chosen when Aveline talks to Hawke at the end of the quest, she will give Hawke a big kiss as a mean of thanks, which possibly requires a high friendship/rivalry standing with her. The kiss also happens if all flirtatious options have been chosen up to this point with maximum friendship.
• Donnic has been observed to say he's working "dockside on those smugglers" and "the skinnings across town", likely referring to Prime Suspect.
• Not completing this quest will result in Aveline's storyline and behavior being almost completely different during Act 3.

Bugs

• The game may freeze after giving Donnic the item and reporting back to Aveline. The only way to get past the freezing glitch is not to ask Aveline any questions and pick the flirtatious option.
• pc When inviting Donnic to the hanged man, following Aveline's request, the quest sometimes becomes bugged if you choose a sarcastic reply: Donnic will stay in the barracks and will not walk away. The quest icon will still be visible but you will not be able to talk to him preventing you from completing the quest. As a precaution, save before talking to him.
• Sometimes, after inviting Donnic to The Hanged Man, (when using the first dialogue option) the plot point will stay above his head. He will then say, "Did she just? No, she didn't." Clicking on Donnic immediately after he says this will cause him to disappear, instead of walking out of the barracks as normal.
• pc For unknown reasons, Aveline may not kiss Hawke even if all requirements are met.
• Sometimes, when inviting Donnic to The Hanged Man, he starts walking towards the door and vanishes midway. Currently there is no known solution or cause for the bug.