- For the keep located in this region, see Griffon Wing Keep.
The Western Approach is a large, arid expanse in southwestern Orlais.[1] Farther west lie the Hunterhorn Mountains and uninhabited steppes and forests.
Contents
Background[edit | edit source]
The wastes in The Approach were once a land of plenty. The rain came north over the Gamordan Peaks, turning the plains green and verdant for several months of the year. However, eight hundred years ago, that all changed.[2] The Approach became the site of a major battle during the Second Blight. The darkspawn swarmed out of the Abyssal Rift, a great chasm to the south, and corrupted it with their foul blood never allowing for the land beyond to recover... even after the darkspawn were all driven back underground.[3]
The Grey Wardens had Adamant Fortress erected by the dwarves to stand watch over the chasm. The region however became a stark and sad place with unstable purple sands looted with desolate rocky pillars engulfed in steep ridges. At night, the air grows still and the sky is alight with shimmering auroras— the time when darkspawn still come out of hiding.[4]
The Orlesians at one point had iron towers built, over a hundred feet high, to mark a path in the badlands allowing for travelers to see the next when one is reached. The towers, now old, rusted and barely visible no longer pave a clear path to Adamant Fortress which stands on the lip of the chasm towering at the end of the path.[5] Adamant eventually lay vacant by the Wardens due to the ever encroaching sands and intense howling winds.
The desolate badlands known as the Western Approach are as massive as they are barren. Bordered to the west by steps and crawling with monsters, The Approach is a place from which few explorers return and most avoid. The Grey Warden Fortress Adamant sits on the edge of a great chasm on The Approach's southern reaches, one of the few remaining signs that the greatest battles of the second Blight were fought here.
—Excerpt from the quest journal
Involvement[edit | edit source]
During the main quest Here Lies the Abyss, the Inquisitor sets out to follow the tracks of the disappearing Grey Wardens. After meeting Hawke in Skyhold, and being introduced to their Grey Warden ally in Crestwood, the Inquisitor learns that the Wardens have been gathering in a Tevinter tower in The Western Approach. While tracking down the Wardens, wildlife, White Claw Raiders, and Venatori will present a variety of threats amidst the sandy dunes, rocky outcrops, old Warden outposts and ancient Tevinter ruins.
When the Inquisitor finally catches up to the Grey Wardens, whom are intent on performing a ritual that will supposedly eliminate all Darkspawn, they discover that the Wardens are being led into a Venatori trap unbeknownst to Warden Commander Clarel. The ritual unveils that Venatori Magister Livius Erimond, is intending to bind all the Wardens to Corypheus' service. The Inquisitor can gain access to The Approach by completing the Investigate the Western Approach war table scouting operation in Skyhold.
Places[edit | edit source]
Regions[edit | edit source]
Map of the Western Approach
- Abyssal Ledge
- Blight Overlook
- The Canyons
- Death Drink Springs
- Dust Plains
- Dustytop Fort
- Echoback Canyon
- Echoback Fort
- Forgotten Mine
- Gates of Andoral
- Gates of Toth
- Giant's Staircase
Griffon Wing Keep- Iska's Stand
- Lost Spring Canyon
- Lost Wash Creek
Still Ruins overview
- Nazaire's Pass
- Old Prison Road
- Prison Ruins
- Sand Flats
- Sand Rock Mine
- Shimmer Stone Mine
- The Still Ruins
- Valemont Pass
- The Wastes
Additional places[edit | edit source]
Inquisition camps[edit | edit source]
- Craggy Ridge Camp
- Echo Back Canyon Camp
- Lost Spring Canyon Camp
- Nazaire's Pass Camp
Characters[edit | edit source]
- Alistair (conditional)
- Warden-Commander Clarel
- Crassius Servis
- Professor Frederic of Serault
- Griffon Wing Keep Merchant
- Hawke
- Jean-Marc Stroud (conditional)
- Leo of Lucien Bay
- Livius Erimond
- Loghain Mac Tir (conditional)
- Lucanus
- Prelate Macrinus
- Commander Rylen
Quests[edit | edit source]
- A Manuscript of Some Authority
Griffon statues
- Assault on Griffon Wing Keep
- A Stranger Rift in the Ruins
- A Tevinter Relic Hunt
- Draconology
- Fortress Squatters
- Frederic's Livelihood
- Holding the Western Approach
- How to Lure a Dragon
- Hunting Patterns
- Into the Approach
- On the Chantry Trail
- Sharper White Claws
- The Abyssal High Dragon
- The Heart of the Still Ruins
- The Trouble with Darkspawn
- The Venatori
- This Water Tastes Funny
Rifts[edit | edit source]
Requisitions[edit | edit source]
- Code Requisition in the Approach
- Fauna Requisition in the Approach
- Lazurite Survey in the Approach
- Luster Survey in the Approach
War table operations[edit | edit source]
- All That Glitters
- Crossing the Sulphur Pits
- Deal with the Angry Varghests
- Find the Source of Darkspawn
- Gather Metals
- Improving Morale
- Investigate Ancient Laboratory
- Investigate the Western Approach
- Judgment: Recover Sold Artifacts
- Secure a Source of Water for Outpost
- Translate the Dragon Text
- Western Approach Resources
Creatures[edit | edit source]
Hostile creatures[edit | edit source]
Enemies[edit | edit source]
- White Claws
- White Claw Raiders (Rogue - Archer)
- White Claw Raider Escorts (Warrior - One-Handed Sword)
- White Claw Raider Footpads (Rogue - Double Daggers)
- Venatori
- Venatori Mage (Mage)
- Venatori Spellbinder (Mage)
- Venatori Marksman (Rogue - Archer)
- Venatori Stalker (Rogue - Double Daggers)
- Venatori Zealot (Warrior - One-Handed Sword)
- Venatori Gladiator (Warrior - Mace and Tower Shield)
- Venatori Brute (Warrior - Two-Handed Great Axe)
- Darkspawn
Collections[edit | edit source]
Astrariums[edit | edit source]
Bottles on the Wall[edit | edit source]
- Vintage: Warden Jairn - search inside Dustytop Fort.
- Vintage: Warden Eval'lal - search inside the Ritual Tower.
- West Hill Brandy - search the top of the tower directly above the Astrarium cave; climb the southern half of the east rubble slope and then traverse up the ladder.
Dragon Hunter[edit | edit source]
Landmarks[edit | edit source]
Mosaics[edit | edit source]
The Archdemon numbering
- The Archdemon (12 pieces) - see the Archdemon mosaic for detailed locations.
Freed are Slaves numbering
- Freed Are Slaves (piece #8) - found in the Still Ruins, in the locked room, just to the right of the first hall encountered.
- Freed Are Slaves (piece #9) - found in Coracavus, behind a locked door in the Records Room.Note: Requires Deft Hands, Fine Tools Inquisition perk.
Shards[edit | edit source]
Skyhold Customizations[edit | edit source]
- Grey Warden Banner - found in a chest at the second siege point, where Hawke is encountered in Adamant Fortress; see main quest Here Lies the Abyss.
- Tevinter Banner - found in a chest located in a room off of the left side of the Main Chamber of the Still Ruins.Note: Requires Deft Hands, Fine Tools Inquisition perk.
- Inquisition Banner - capture Griffon Wing Keep (conditional: awarded after the Inquisitor captures their first keep)
- Inquisition Banner Crown - capture all three keeps: Caer Bronach, Griffon Wing Keep, and Suledin Keep.
Resources[edit | edit source]
Echoback Fort
Herbs[edit | edit source]
- Amrita Vein
- Blood Lotus
- Deathroot
- Deep Mushroom
- Dragonthorn
- Elfroot
- Ghoul's Beard
- Spindleweed
- Vandal Aria (only found in Coracavus)
- Witherstalk
Leather[edit | edit source]
Metals[edit | edit source]
Notable items[edit | edit source]
Elven artifacts[edit | edit source]
- • In the Main Chamber of the Still Ruins.
- • In the far western corner of the hidden astrarium room.
- • In Griffon Wing Keep; head up the stairway located directly to the right of keep's main gate.
Logging stands[edit | edit source]
- • Northeast of the Lost Spring Canyon Inquisition Camp.
- • East by southeast of the Craggy Ridge Inquisition Camp, or directly northwest from The Lost Idol landmark and head up the tiny slope from the riverbank.
Memories of the Grey[edit | edit source]
- • Grey Warden Sword - found atop a wooden tower inside Dustytop Fort; southwest of the Nazaire's Pass Inquisition Camp, near one of the rifts off the pass.
- • Vial of Archdemon Blood - found in Echoback Fort; see side quest The Trouble with Darkspawn.
Quarries[edit | edit source]
- • At Shimmer Stone Mine
- • Southwest of Echoback Fort
- • Southwest of Sand Rock Mine
Red lyrium veins[edit | edit source]
- • Inside Sand Rock Mine
- • Inside the Forgotten Mine
- • Inside Shimmer Stone Mine
Veilfire glyphs[edit | edit source]
- Fire Rune Schematic - acquired in the cave revealed from unlocking Astrariums in the Approach.
- Frost Rune Schematic - in a small cave accessible from the center of Echoback Fort.
- Spirit Rune Schematic - in Coracavus' Holding Cells; found in the cell containing the hanged man.
- Spirit Rune Schematic - in the Inner Sanctum of the Still Ruins, on a plaque behind the magic staff; see side quest The Heart of the Still Ruins.
Loot[edit | edit source]
- Aegis of the Order - looted from within the same cave as the Thing in the Dark landmark.Note: Requires the completion of the war table operation Crossing the Sulphur Pits.
- Blizzard's Path - looted from a chest in Echoback Fort; see side quest The Trouble with Darkspawn.
- Cowl of the Overseer - looted from Macrinus; see side quest Assault on Griffon Wing Keep.
- Griffon Plate - acquired in the cave revealed from Astrariums in the Approach.Note: Trespasser required.
- Kitty's Collar - looted from Macrinus; see side quest Assault on Griffon Wing Keep.Note: Requires installation of Patch 10.
- Master Cleansing Rune Schematic - looted from Lucanus in the Still Ruins; see side quest A Tevinter Relic Hunt.
- Master Corrupting Rune Schematic - looted from a chest in Echoback Fort; see side quest The Trouble with Darkspawn.
- Masterwork Enchanter Mail - acquired in the cave revealed from unlocking Astrariums in the Approach.
- Masterwork Vanguard Mail - looted from a chest at the top of Shimmer Stone Mine.
- Nameless Blade - looted from the Abyssal High Dragon.
- Pyre of the Forgotten - randomly available at the Griffon Wing Keep Merchant for 21433 .Note: Requires The Short List Inquisition perk
- Sad Splinters - looted after destroying the keep gate during the side quest Assault on Griffon Wing Keep.
- Superb Amulet of Magic - randomly available at the Griffon Wing Keep Merchant for 14495 .Note: Requires The Short List Inquisition perk
- Superb Belt of Magic Defense - randomly available at the Griffon Wing Keep Merchant for 14495 .Note: Requires The Short List Inquisition perk
- Superb Ring of Armor Penetration - looted from the Abyssal High Dragon.
- Superb Ring of Critical Damage - looted from a chest behind a locked door in Coracavus' Records Room; see side quest The Trouble with Darkspawn.Note: Requires Deft Hands, Fine Tools Inquisition perk.
- Tempest - looted from the Inner Sanctum of the Still Ruins; see side side quest A Stranger Rift in the Ruins.
Codex entries[edit | edit source]
Note texts[edit | edit source]
Notes[edit | edit source]
- There are two gates in the Approach: the Gate of Toth and the Gate of Andoral, both can be opened from the northern side; however, this requires completion of the war Table operation Find the Source of Darkspawn.
- There is a sizeable stash of gold next to a skeleton situated directly above the Echo Back Canyon Inquisition Camp. In order to reach the cache (see here) use a mount to traverse to the top of the mountain edge via the eastern side. There is small nook in the foundation that can be used to access the area. Jumping on the cracked edge with a mount will allow for the player to reach the platform after several successful jumps. Missing the crack while attempting to jump will simply result in falling to desert floor.
Trivia[edit | edit source]
- In several published maps of Thedas, "the Abyssal Rift" is erroneously labeled "the Abyssal Reach"; however; the former label is correct.[6]
Gallery[edit | edit source]
Add a photo to this gallery
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 1, p. 182
- ↑ Taken from Codex entry: The Western Approach
- ↑ Expanded from Codex entry: The Western Approach
- ↑ Excerpt from Codex entry: The Western Approach
- ↑ The Fortress of Adamant. Dragon Age
- ↑ David Gaider (October 14, 2014). The Bittersweetest thing. Tumblr
