Western Approach

The Western Approach is a large, arid expanse in the southernwestern Orlais.^[1] Farther west lie the Hunterhorn Mountains and uninhabited steppes and forests.

Background

This area was the site of a major battle during the Second Blight. The darkspawn swarmed out of the great chasm to the south named the Abyssal Rift and corrupted the land beyond recovery. Now it is a stark and sad place with unstable purple sands, occasional rocky pillars and ridges jutting out of them and strong howling winds. At night the air grows still and the sky is alight with shimmering auroras, but this is also the time when the darkspawn come out of hiding.

The Orlesians put iron towers at least a hundred feet high to mark the path in the badlands: a traveler who reaches one of them is able to see the next. The towers are now old and rusted. Adamant Fortress, built by the dwarves and used as a Grey Warden outpost, stands on the lip of the chasm.^[2]

Involvement

This section contains spoilers for:
Dragon Age: Inquisition.

The Western Approach becomes available by performing the Into the Approach War Table mission, which is available once The Inquisition relocates to Skyhold. During the inquisition quest Here Lies the Abyss, the Inquisitor will meet a Warden ally in Crestwood, and be directed to the Western Approach to find the Grey Wardens.

The Wardens will be found while engaged in a Blood magic ritual that Warden-Commander Clarel believes will bring an end to Blights forever, although it requires the sacrifices of the Wardens themselves. The ritual, led by Venatori Magister Livius Erimond, is actually enslaving the Wardens to Corypheus.

After an initial confrontation, Magister Erimond will flee to the old Warden fortress in the region, the Adamant Fortress.

Places

Lost Spring Canyon
The Abyssal Rift
Adamant Fortress
Griffon Wing Keep
The Canyons
Gates of Toth
Sand Rock Mine
Forgotten Mine
Valemont Pass
Lost Wash Creek
Death Drink Springs (claiming this area will unlock the war table operation Crossing the Sulphurus Pits)
Giant's Staircase
Coracavus
Blight Overlook
Abyssal Ledge
Oasis Cave
Nazaire's Pass
Sand Flats
Iska's Stand
Shimmer Stone Mine
Dustytop Fort
The Wastes
Dust Plains
Outpost Well
The Still Ruins
Echoback Canyon
Old Prison Road
Prison Ruins

Landmarks (15, see Landmarks in the Approach):
- The Lost Idol
- Tesoro Tower
- Hidden Stairway
- Zhores Tower
- The Shortcut
- Lamarr Tower
- The Surveyor
- Griffon Wing Monument
- Shimmer Stone Mine
- The Old Well
- Gates of Andoral
- The Thing in the Dark

Camps (see Holding the Western Approach):
- Lost Spring Canyon Camp
- Craggy Ridge Camp
- Nazaire's Pass Camp

Resources:
- Logging stand, north-east of Lost Spring Canyon Camp
- Logging stand, west of Valemont Pass, a few steps down from the trail
- Quarry, south-west of Sand Rock Mine
- Quarry, at Shimmer Stone Mine (descend the first wooden stairs into the mine)