Varric Tethras/Approval (Inquisition)

Inquisition companions

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

In general, you can gain Varric's approval by being friendly with him, supporting him during and after the fight with Cassandra, and occasionally joking with him, or being witty in conversations with others with him in the party. Blaming him during and after the fight with Cassandra will gain disapproval as well as showing disinterest during conversations.

Recruitment

Varric joins the Inquisitor automatically during The Wrath of Heaven.

Varric's Disposition

The player can tell generally how Varric feels about the Inquisitor by engaging him in a "generic" conversation (i.e. a conversation where his greeting is not changed by any other factors such as a quest or cutscene).

Hostile (-75 to -5):

Varric will greet the Inquisitor with "Yes?"

Neutral (-5 to 34):

Varric will greet the Inquisitor with "Need something?"

Warm (35 to 74)

Varric will greet the Inquisitor in one of the following ways:

• "I've got a minute if you need something."
• "Looking for someone to talk your ear off? I think I can oblige."
• "What can I do for you, Inquisitor?"

Friendly (75 to 125):

Varric will greet the Inquisitor in one of the following ways:

• "I can spare some time. What do you need?"
• "If you've got questions, I'm your dwarf."
• "Need something, or are you just here to admire the dwarf?"
• "Something you wanted to talk about?"
• "What can I do for you, your inquisitoralness?"

Cutscenes

Prologue

How do you think we should proceed?

• Take the mountain path. - Approves
• Charge with the soldiers.

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

The fight with Cassandra

Skyhold, after speaking to Hawke and when talking to Cassandra...

Varric: You kidnapped me! You interrogated me! What did you expect?

• [Intervene.] -   Approves
• [Stay out of it.] -  Disapproves

If [Stay out of it.] is chosen...

Varric: Look at her! She's finally lost it!

• Stop this Fighting! - Cassandra Slightly Disapproves
• This is funny. - Cassandra Disapproves
• Leave me out of this. - Slightly Disapproves, Cassandra Slightly Approves

If [Intervene.] is chosen...

Cassandra: Hawke would have been at the Conclave! If anyone could have saved Most Holy...

• Cassandra, back off! - Cassandra Disapproves
• Varric's not at fault. - Approves
• Varric, you bastard. - Greatly Disapproves
• What's done is done.

Cassandra: We all know who's side you're on, Varric. It will never be the Inquisition's.

• We need to work together. - Slightly Approves
• Varric's earned his place. - Approves, Cassandra Disapproves
• That's unfair Cassandra. - Approves, Cassandra Disapproves
• I'm well aware. - 2× Disapproves, Cassandra Approves

Varric leaves...

Cassandra: I am such a fool.

Q What if it had been different? (This will remove the romance option.))

• (Romance) I still like you. - Slightly Approves
• Don't blame yourself. - Approves
• We're all fools, Cassandra. - Approves
• We need to do better. - Disapproves

After the fight with Cassandra

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...

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
• I'm not the chosen one. - Slightly Approves

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

Crisis

Requires -30

You leave a lot of innocent people ground into the dirt behind you.

No approval changes

After Here Lies the Abyss

If Hawke survived and the Warden ally was left behind:

He wasn't the first good man to fall to Corypheus. He won't be the last. This story's no good for heroes.

• At least Hawke survived.   Greatly Approves
• We heroes might make it. Slightly Approves
• He will be the last. Slightly Approves

If Hawke was left behind and the Warden ally survived:

Their weird, foreign foodstuff arrived... alive. And one of them, true to its name, wandered off in the middle of the night.

• If it helps, tell the story. Approves
• I'm sorry, Varric.
• [Hug him] Slightly Approves
• He/She said goodbye to you. Slightly Approves

Bianca Davri

Skyhold, after Here Lies the Abyss.
Begins the quest Well, Shit.

Bianca: Well, this is a suprise. You're the Inquisitor. Bianca Davri, at your service.

• [Investigate.] - No approval change.
• It's a pleasure. - Slightly Approves
• You two look nervous. - No approval change.
• What's going on? - No approval change.

Bianca: There's a deep roads entrance crawling with strange humans carting out red lyrium by the handful.

• [Investigate.] - No approval change.
• We should shut this down. - Approves
• We have other priorities. - Slightly Disapproves

A game of Wicked Grace

Requires +75, after finishing Well, Shit
Friendship cutscene
Varric will get his alternate tarot card

There you are, I've been looking all over for you.

No approval changes

Prompted conversations

After Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts

Just a short comment without approval changes

After What Pride Had Wrought

Just a short comment without approval changes

After choosing a Specialization

After a rogue Inquisitor chooses the Artificer specialization

No approval changes

Investigate

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

Special

I have questions about Hawke.

• [Investigate.]

• Orsino's fate made no sense. - Slightly Disapproves
• Where are Hawke's friends?

Unlocks Codex entry: Notorious Raider Trash if Isabela remained in Hawke's party and was not given to the Arishok in Dragon Age II

Remaining choices have no approval changes

Cassandra wants a book.

Skyhold, after beginning Guilty Pleasures

I must have heard that wrong. It sounded like you just said that Cassandra read my books.

• You sound surprised. - No approval change
• She's a big fan. - Slightly Approves
• I did say that. - No approval change

That book is easily the worst I've ever written. The last issue barely sold enough to pay for the ink.

• It can't be that bad. - Slightly Approves
• Cassandra seems to like it. - Approves
• No wonder she was embarrassed. - Slightly Disapproves
• I need it as a gift. - No approval change

That's such a terrible idea, I have to do it. On one condition: I get to be there when you give her the book.

• I don't think so. - No approval change, cannot progress Guilty Pleasures until you agree to Varric's terms.
• Fine. - No approval change, advances Guilty Pleasures

Do you believe I'm the Herald?

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

Approval changes only occur when Varric is in the active party unless otherwise noted. Other characters' approval changes can be seen compiled on the related quest pages.

Hinterlands

• Speaking to Sister Tanner in Redcliffe Village during "Business Arrangements":
  • (Special) "Varric?" - Slightly Approves
• Speaking to Ritts during "Strange Bedfellows":
  • (Special) "Varric?" - Slightly Approves

Seeing Red Quest

• Destroying the nodes -   approves
• Destroying the nodes without Varric in the party -  slightly approves

Anywhere

• Killing a group of Red Templars - Slightly Approves