Varric Tethras/Approval

Dragon Age II companions

Inquisition companions

Friendship

Varric likes to talk and likes Hawkes who do too. Solving problems and gaining advantage through diplomacy, outright lies, and even blackmail will impress him, while straightforward violence and thuggery leaves him cold. He also responds well to joking, flirting and sarcasm and to mild greed. Beneath his silver tongue, however, he's a goodhearted person and will appreciate Hawkes who look out for their families and are kind to dwarves.

Act 1

• A Business Discussion: At the final dialogue choice, a cautious approach (+5) or a charming response (+15)
• Act of Mercy: Tell Grace that you will convince the Templars the mages are all dead (+10)
• Act of Mercy: Upon returning to the Templars, defer the situation to Varric (+5)
• Bait and Switch: Accept the quest from Anso with the response, "Make it worth my time." (+5)
• The Deep Roads Expedition: Agree to find Sandal (+5)
• The Deep Roads Expedition: Agree to find the Wardens for Carver or Bethany (+5)
• An Errant Letter: Tell Ser Thrask you will keep his secret (+5)
• Finders Keepers: Attempt to trick the guards by the docks with the Star response, "Fire!" (+5)
  • Note: This will only work if Merrill is not currently in your party as she will unintentionally blow the cover and receives the approval instead of Varric.
• Finders Keepers: Upon returning to Martin, refuse to tell him the location of his cargo and then choose the response, "I'll tell you for a price." (+5)
  Note: With patch 1.03 or later, you may no longer have the option of demanding for payment. Revealing the location will grant you the approval.
• The First Sacrifice: Choose the following dialogue options while speaking with Ghyslain (+5)
  1. Investigate
  2. "Don't you want her back?"
  3. "And you wonder why she's gone."
• Get Back to Work: Offer the workers a raise, and upon returning to Hubert choose a Witty response (+5)
• Loose Ends: (Athenril path) Give Pryce the goods and then lie to her about it results in (+5)
• Loose Ends: (Meeran path) When talking to Gustav, choose humorous response (+5)
• Loose Ends: (Meeran path) Spare Lord Harimann (+10) and then lie to Meeran about it (+5)
• Magistrate's Orders: Kill Kelder (+5)
• Questions and Answers: Choose one of the following dialogue options
  • Humor ("Maker, that's big!") + Humor ("So does insomnia." or "You're looking for excitement?") (+15)
  • Diplomatic ("Protecting my family") + Humor (+15)
  • Diplomatic + Diplomatic ("So, have you been there?) (+10)
  • Humor + Diplomatic (+10)
  • Diplomatic or Humor + Aggressive ("Have any war stories?") (+5)
• Shepherding Wolves: Reject the quest from Sister Petrice (you'll still get the quest) (+10)
• Shepherding Wolves: Upon returning to her at the end of the quest, choose the response, "I don't care, just pay me." (+5)
• Tranquility: Promise Lirene you won't harm Anders or "He sounds too good to be true." (+5)
• Tranquility: When conferring with the angry Ferelden refugees, use the diplomatic option "We're on the same side" available to a diplomatic Hawke (+5) xbox360 (May not happen after the 1.04 patch).
• The Way It Should Be: Upon rescuing Guardsman Donnic, choose the Witty response, "A politician's scheme." (+5)
• Wayward Son: Let Varric deal with the Slaver leader (+5)

Act 2

• All That Remains: Meet Gamlen in Lowtown at night. Speak to the Urchin and pay for information (+5)
• Plans for the Future: Choose any response first and then choose the humorous response for (+10)
• An Update: Choose the Charming response, "Let's go get some drinks." and agree to find Bartrand (+25). Alternatively, "You can tell me anything." then agreeing to find Bartrand (+20) or refusing to find him (+5)
• Family Matter:
  • Varric kills Bartrand without healing (+15)
  • Anders heals Bartrand and Varric allows him to live (+15)
• Friendly Concern: If in romance with Anders/Isabela/Fenris/Merrill, all peaceful/humorous responses (+20)
• Prime Suspect: Accept the quest from Emeric along a Humorous line of conversation (+5)
• Prime Suspect: Choose the Sarcastic response, "This I have to hear." while speaking to Gascard DuPuis (+5)
• Repentance: While speaking with Allure, select "I would never betray my friends.", then choose either of the following dialogue options: "That's a good point." or "Don't listen to her..." for (+5)
• The Tethras Signet Ring: Give Varric the gift (on the Friendship path) (+15)
• To Catch a Thief: Agree to give Isabela the relic (+10)
• Demands of the Qun: Agree to the duel with the Arishok (+10)

Act 3

• Alone: Convince Fenris to allow Varania to live (+10)

Legacy DLC

• Legacy (quest) Allow Varric to handle Gerav (+5)

Rivalry

To earn rivalry with Varric, choose aggressive responses that glorify violence and combat, and show a lack of interest in his stories, his friendship, and your place in Kirkwall.

Act 1

• Act of Mercy: Tell Ser Thrask to go after the Mages himself (+10)
  Note: No longer works after Patch 1.03
• A Business Discussion: Choose the Aggressive response (+15)
• The Deep Roads Expedition: Refuse to find Sandal (+5)
• Loose Ends: (Athenril Path) Give Pryce the goods then tell Athenril the truth (+5)
• Loose Ends: (Meeran path) When talking to Gustav, choose aggressive response (+5)
• Loose Ends: (Meeran Path) Kill Lord Harimann (+10)
• Questions and Answers:
  • Aggressive ("Bloodlust") + Aggressive ("Know any war stories?") (+15)
  • Aggressive + Diplomatic ("Have you been there?") (+10)
  • Aggressive + Humor ("So does insomnia") (+5)
• Shepherding Wolves: Accept the quest from Sister Petrice (+5)
• Shepherding Wolves: Threaten to kill Sister Petrice upon returning (+5)
• Tranquility: Threaten Lirene for the information (+5)
• An Errant Letter: When giving Thrask the letter from his daughter, choose to bribe him for your silence (+5)
• Finders Keepers: Threaten Aden (+5)
• The Way It Should Be: Upon rescuing Guardsman Donnic, choose the Aggressive response (+5)

Act 2

• All That Remains: Meet Gamlen in Lowtown at night. Speak to the Urchin and intimidate him for information (+5)
• An Update: Express disinterest in pursuing Bartrand (you'll still get the quest) (+15)
• Family Matter:
  • Anders heals Bartrand, then Varric kills him (+15)
  • Varric allows Bartrand to live without healing (+15)
• Friendly Concern: If in romance with Anders, all aggressive responses (+20)
• Plans for the Future: Choose the Aggressive response (indicating that Hawke might leave Kirkwall) (+10)
• Prime Suspect: Choose all Aggressive responses (you'll get quest anyway) (+5)
• The Tethras Signet Ring: Give Varric the gift (on the Rivalry path, patch 1.02 or later) (+15)

Act 3

• Alone: Hand Fenris over to Danarius (+10)

Legacy DLC

• Legacy (quest) Side with Larius (+5)
• Legacy (quest) Attack Gerav instead of deferring to Varric (+5)

Dragon Age: Inquisition

Note: See the Approval (Inquisition) page for an explanation on point values

Cutscenes

Are you alright?

Haven only, first attempt to speak to him...

Most people would have spread that out over more than one day.

• (Pleased) I'm just glad to be alive. - Slightly Approves
• (Confused) I can barely keep up. - Slightly Approves
• (Sad) Too many people died up there. - Slightly Approves
• (Stoic) I'm fine. - Slightly Disapproves
• (Mad) This is all bullshit. - Slightly Approves

"Bad for morale" would be an understatement. I still can't believe anyone was in there and lived.

No approval changes

After In Hushed Whispers / Champions of the Just

Haven; his initial lines vary based on which quest was completed, but the rest is the same regardless

Finding more of it really punches a hole in my "red lyrium at the temple was a coincidence" theory.

No approval changes

You just won a big victory for the Inquisition! What're you going to do to celebrate?

• Plan for what's next.
• Catch my breath. - Slightly Approves
• Anything but celebrate.
• Have a party. - Slightly Approves

After the fight with Cassandra

Skyhold...

Varric is visibly upset as he leans against a table; says nothing as Inquisitor approaches...

• Are you alright? - Slightly Approves
• She's calmed down. - Slightly Approves
• No more secrets. - Slightly Disapproves

I wasn't trying to keep secrets. I told the Inquisition everything that seemed important at the time.

• You knew about Corypheus. - Slightly Disapproves
• I believe you. - Approves
• Hawke should've joined sooner. - Slightly Disapproves
• Talk to Cassandra.
• Choose a side. - Slightly Disapproves

Corypheus is back...

Available after moving to Skyhold

First two sets of choices have no approval changes

Maker's breath, what have I let loose?

• This isn't your fault. - Slightly Approves
• I think you're confused. - Approves
• It doesn't matter.

I'm a business man

Skyhold, requires +35

Varric is writing something...

No approval changes

I'm a business man. Never really followed a chosen one before.

• I'm just like you. - Slightly Approves
• Make it up as you go. - Slightly Approves
• Just be my friend. - Approves
• Just do what I do. - Slightly Disapproves

You just don't know what you are to the people out there. The Herald of Andraste is a symbol bigger than any of us.

No approval changes

You heard the crowd singing after Haven was attacked.

• I'm still me though.
• Please don't sing. - Slightly Approves
• This is giving me a headache. - Slightly Disapproves

I have questions about Hawke.

Orsino's fate made no sense. - Slightly Disapproves

Remaining choices have no approval changes

I have a personal question.

No approval changes

Tell me about red lyrium.

Begins Seeing Red

No approval changes

A couple more options are available in this branch after In Hushed Whispers or Champions of the Just, but neither have any approval changes.

Tell me about Corypheus.

Available after speaking to Hawke

No approval changes

Let's discuss the Inquisition.

Requires +35

He talks about a random advisor or party member; never any approval changes

Do you believe I'm the Herald?

Requires some amount of approval

No approval changes

Operations

There are 8 possible War table operations from Varric:

• Hard in Hightown: Trouble in Skyhold Slightly Approves
• Others Approves

In the field

Killing a group of Red Templars with Varric in the party - Slightly Approves