Viscount's Keep

The Viscount's Keep is the residence of the Viscount of Kirkwall and the seat of government for the city. It towers above the other manors and estates of Hightown and is only rivaled in size by the Chantry.

Background[]

Viscounts Keep heraldry DA2 — Viscount's Keep heraldry

The keep was originally constructed for Tevinter nobles by the dwarves.^[1] It is located just off Hightown and by 9:30 Dragon is the home of Viscount Marlowe Dumar and his heir Saemus Dumar. In addition to this the Keep serves several other functions for the city. It provides facilities for various institutions of Kirkwall's government and also function as a meeting place for petitions to the Viscount's office. It also serves as a site for the conduct of public ceremonies.

The barracks, home of the Kirkwall City Guard, is located in the southern wing along with the Guard Captain's office. The Viscount's office and Seneschal's office are situated in the northern wing. The eastern wing houses the throne room which is used for the conduct of public ceremonies as well as the coronation of the new Viscount or Viscountess.

Day-to-day affairs in the keep are administered by Seneschal Bran Cavin, who is usually found near the Viscount's offices in the north wing.

Involvement[]

This section contains spoilers for:
Dragon Age II.

In 9:34, the Arishok launches a full-scale invasion of Kirkwall. He beheads Viscount Dumar inside the Keep in front of the city's nobility but is quickly stopped by Hawke, who either defeats him in combat or convinces him to leave the city. Hawke is named Champion of Kirkwall for stopping the Qunari invasion.