Well, Shit

Well, Shit is a companion quest for Varric in Dragon Age: Inquisition.

Bianca says Corypheus is getting his red lyrium from the thaig Hawke and Varric discovered years ago on their expedition into the Deep Roads under Kirkwall. It may be possible to reach it using an entrance to the Deep Roads somewhere in the Hinterlands.

Acquisition[]

Available after completing the main quest Here Lies the Abyss. In the Dragon Age Keep, only an Inquisitor who is friends with Varric can mark this quest as completed.

Talk to Varric to trigger a cutscene where he is seen speaking to Bianca Davri in his usual spot. She explains that there is a lead on Corypheus' red lyrium source, as the location of a mine in Valammar has been leaked. Agreeing to help her starts the quest.

Note: It is possible to venture to Valammar earlier during the side quest Deep Trouble. Doing so has no negative consequences on this quest.

Walkthrough[]

Bianca's-Key-Valammar — The key to the red lyrium mine

Note: If this is your first time in Valammar (i.e. you've not yet completed the side quest Deep Trouble), it is advisable to have at least one mage and one warrior in your party as there is a darkspawn cavern needing to be closed by energizing it, as well as a few bashable walls. If it is not, then the vault doors will be unlocked and the party can actually take the reverse route through the area by going through the vaults rather than going upstairs. Note that darkspawn will still spawn in the vaults as the party gets near the far door.

Travel to the Hinterlands and venture to Valammar with Varric. The fastest way there is fast traveling to Upper Lake Inquisition Camp. Bianca will be waiting inside Valammar and, after a cutscene, will accompany the group. Head to the Lower Terrace and let her open the large, stone door that leads to a previously inaccessible area.

Kill the mobs in the room. A codex entry can be found here as well. The key is found in the end of the room, on the desk.

Note: Be sure that the key is the last thing you take. Picking it up will initiate a cutscene. Afterwards, you will be transported outside of the stone door and the area will not be accessible again for the remainder of the game.

In the following cutscene, it is revealed that Bianca was the leak. She gave the red lyrium mine's key to a corrupted Warden (Larius/Janeka, depending on the choices during Legacy) and therefore unknowingly aided Corypheus.

Return to Skyhold and speak to Varric about what happened to complete the quest.

Rewards[]

Varric DAI quest - DA Keep — The quest choices in *Dragon Age Keep*

1,025 XP
Influence 400
Power 3

Results[]

When talking to Varric, additional dialog options are available when asking about Bianca.
Varric's Tarot Card changes to "The Sun".
A friendship cutscene for Varric becomes available given a high enough approval.

Approval[]

Open the locked door[]

Cutscene

That was handy. - No approval change.
You were waiting to do that. - Varric Slightly Approves
There's no time to waste. - No approval change.

Finding the key[]

Bianca: I just ... wanted to figure it out.

Did you? - No approval change.
You're not saying everything. - No approval change.
That was stupid. - Varric Slightly Approves

Bianca: Then I went to you.

It isn't really your fault. - Varric Slightly Approves
You put this on us. - Varric Slightly Approves
You've done a lot of damage. - Varric Disapproves

Varric: As if i would tell stories about my own mistakes!

Varric is right. - Varric Slightly Approves
She's right. - Varric Slightly Approves
Just let it go. - No approval change.
Get a room, you two. - No approval change.

Back at Skyhold[]

Varric: And I am not good at dealing with shit like this.

Nobody is. - No approval change.
Talk your way out of it. - Varric Slightly Disapproves
Just confront it. - No approval change.

Varric: If Cassandra hadn't dragged me here, I'd be in Kirkwall right now, pretending none of this was happening.

No you wouldn't. - Varric Approves
Nothing's stopping you. - Varric Slightly Approves
She did you a favor. - Varric Slightly Disapproves

Bugs[]

If you entered Valammar previously and sealed the tunnel, a new Hurlock alpha will spawn on your return and the Inquisitor will still remark that the hole needs to be sealed even if it already has been.
If the Valammar Key is obtained during the side quest Deep Trouble before Bianca unlocks the entrance to the thaig, the quest may not complete. However, if Deep Trouble is started after this quest is resolved, it can be completed as intended.