The Mystery of Winter

The Mystery of Winter is a side quest from the Jaws of Hakkon DLC for Dragon Age: Inquisition.

An unnatural but strangely familiar cold emanates from a locked door within Frostback Basin.

Background

Thane Harofsen thinks he alone can work the words of lowlanders, as though the augurs had not learned the tale-drawing runes to study the old magic. He is blind, but the Jaws of Hakkon would not be here without him. A hold needs blind men with big blades sometimes.

In the old times, the first Jaws of Hakkon spoke with the great spirit himself. He opened their eyes that they might see the elfstones hidden across the world, and they entered the old cave and learned the mysteries of winter. Their working of cold let them slip through the ice-wall that wards the lowlander fortress, and we must now do the same if we are to take it as our own.

Hakkon has been silent all our lives. He cannot speak to us in dreams or open our eyes, and we remain blind to the elfstones. The lowlanders, though, have found a new way to see them. The skull of a dream-slain, set with the right magicks, can bring the elfstones to our sight.

We will regain the mystery of winter.

—From Codex entry: Leather-Bound Hakkonite Journal

Acquisition

Automatically acquired upon finding the door in the Frostback Basin, located southwest of Canyon Camp.

Walkthrough

Unlock the door with 12 shards
Enter the chamber to complete the quest
Explore the chamber

Rewards

Opening the door:

177 XP
80 Influence
1 Power

Completing the quest:

1316 XP
150 Influence

Opening the sarcophagus:

Codex entries

Notes

The +15 Cold Resistance will be provided to the Inquisitor after looting all of the sarcophagus' contents regardless of the controlled character looting the sarcophagus.
The Codex entry: Geldauran's Claim can easily be missed prior to exiting the chamber; the codex can be found on the wall in the back left corner.

Gallery