“The first time I came to the Winter Palace, I was only eighteen. I was dazzled. Such rich hangings. Such splendid marble columns. More golden lions than I could count. It's all still here. Still bright. But I no longer see that same place. […] Now all I can see are the knives in the shadows, the poison in jeweled goblets.”―Leliana[1]
The Winter Palace is a palace in Orlais built on the ruins of ancient elven grounds in the city of Halamshiral. As early as 2:30 Glory, only ten years after the Exalted Marches led to the conquest of the Dales, the site where the Winter Palace would be built had become a seasonal retreat for the Imperial Court. This remains a tradition for Orlais' high nobility even today.
Background[]

Emperor Judicael I
After the glorious reclamation of the Dales, the elven capital lay empty and in ruins for years, a haven for bandits and highwaymen and all manner of miscreants. The land lay unused until the Exalted Age, when Alphonse Valmont, the very Lion himself, declared that a palace should be built there in honor of the valiant actions of his brothers in besting the armies of false Emperor Xavier Drakon. Originally called Chateau Lion, it was designed as a grand retreat for the emperor's brothers and their families.
The city of Halamshiral grew around the palace. The first records of its existence appear in the Storm Age, when Emperor Cyril granted the title of marquis to Ser Reginald Montclair for "administration of Halamshiral."
An elven uprising destroyed Chateau Lion in the Blessed Age. When Emperor Judicael I rebuilt it, he named the new retreat the Winter Palace. It was designed more for the emperor and his immediate family than for any cadet branches of House Valmont, and became the heart of the Imperial Court in the darkest months of winter.
— An excerpt from Architectual History of Orlais, Volume I by Elodie Ferrneau[2]
Involvement[]
Dragon Age: The Masked Empire[]
Dragon Age: Inquisition[]
Trespasser[]
Areas[]
- Palace Exterior
- The Emerald Crown
- Palace Interior
- Vestibule
- Grand Ballroom
- Guest Wing
- Hall of Heroes
- Trophy Room
- Guest Gardens
- Upper Lattice
- Grand Library
- Study
- Secret Study
- Servants' Quarters
- Servants' Kitchen
- Gardens
- Grand Apartments
- Royal Wing
- Royal Quarters
- Jardin de Rȇverie
- Empress' Private Quarters
- Celene's Vault
- Le Requiem
- Kitchens
- Dining Room
Trespasser[]
- Baths
- Foundry
- Main Plaza
- Palace Entrance
Characters[]
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- Ambassador Anton
- Briala
- Council of Heralds Vassal
- Cullen Rutherford
- Duke Germain de Chalons
- Unnamed Elven Agent (Gardens)
- Unnamed Elven Servant (Royal Quarters)
- Empress Celene Valmont I
- Grand Duchess Florianne de Chalons
- Grand Duke Gaspard de Chalons
- Josephine Montilyet
- Lady Colombe
- Lady Couteau
- Lady Fleur
- Leliana
- Comte Lothaire Doucy
- Dowager Lady Mantillon
- Lady Marcellette
- Minstrel Maryden
- Unnamed Mercenary Captain
- Morrigan
- Unnamed Naked Soldier
- Unnamed Noblewoman (The Emerald Crown)
- Unnamed Nobleman (Guest Gardens)
- Philippe
- Comtesse Solange Montbelliard
- Unnamed Whispering Elf (Hall of Heroes)
- Yvette Gabriella Montilyet
Trespasser[]
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- Blackwall (conditional)
- Bran Cavin
- Cassandra Pentaghast (conditional)
- Charter
- Cole (conditional)
- Duke Cyril de Montfort
- Dorian Pavus (conditional)
- Iron Bull
- Krem (conditional)
- Minstrel Maryden
- Sera (conditional)
- Arl Teagan Guerrin
- Varric Tethras
- Divine Victoria
- Vivienne (conditional)
- Winter Palace Merchant
- Zither (conditional)
Quests[]
Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts
The Great Blackmail Hunt
Herd of Stone Halla
Red Jenny's Stashes
Throwing Away Money
Trespasser[]
Trespasser
Expensive Bones (unmarked side quest)
Fireworks (unmarked side quest)
Halla Treasure Hunt (unmarked side quest)
Harlequin Tag (unmarked side quest)
Painting Correction (unmarked side quest)
Enemies[]
- Harlequin
- Venatori
- Venatori Mage
- Venatori Spellbinder (Mage)
- Venatori Marksman (Rogue - Archer)
- Venatori Zealot (Warrior - One-Handed Sword)
Collections[]
Skyhold Customizations[]
Orlesian Banner - found in a small chest in the Guest Garden, behind the Lower Garden Door.
Note: Requires 3 Halla Statues to access.
Songs[]
The following songs can be heard in the Winter Palace's Upper Garden:
"Empress of Fire"
"Enchanters"
"I Am The One"
"Maker"
"Nightingale's Eyes"
"Oh, Grey Warden"
"Once We Were"
"Rise"
"Samson's Tale"
"Sera Was Never"
Resources[]
Herbs[]
Notable items[]
Golden Nug[]
- Located in the Foundry next to the Modify Weapons table (Trespasser)
Loot[]
Confusion Grenade Recipe - in the Secret Study of the Grand Library.
Crescent Slicer - looted from the Harlequin in the Grand Apartments.
Masterwork Crow Blade Schematic - inside Celene's Vault.
Masterwork Magister Staff Blade Schematic - in the Secret Study of the Grand Library.
The Clasping Maw - available at the Winter Palace Merchant for 184680
.
Note: Trespasser required.
Codex entries[]
Codex entry: Briala
Codex entry: A Compendium of Orlesian Theater
Codex entry: Council of Heralds
Codex entry: Empress Celene Valmont
Codex entry: A Ghoulish Delight
Codex entry: Grand Duchess Florianne de Chalons
Codex entry: Grand Duke Gaspard de Chalons
Codex entry: Halamshiral
Codex entry: Jeshavis, Mother of Orlais
Codex entry: The Lion of Orlais (Inquisition)
Codex entry: Mad Emperor Reville
Codex entry: Morrigan
Codex entry: Orlesian Caprice Coins
Codex entry: Superstitions of the Royal Family
Codex entry: Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts
Codex entry: Winter Palace
Songs[]
Codex entry: "Empress of Fire"
Codex entry: "Enchanters"
Codex entry: "I Am The One"
Codex entry: "Maker"
Codex entry: "Nightingale's Eyes"
Codex entry: "Oh, Grey Warden"
Codex entry: "Once We Were"
Codex entry: "Rise"
Codex entry: "Samson's Tale"
Codex entry: "Sera Was Never"
Trespasser[]
Codex entry: "Blackwall" and the Last Few Years
Codex entry: A Dispatch from the Crown of Ferelden
Codex entry: Activity in the Winter Palace
Codex entry: Cassandra and the Last Few Years
Codex entry: Cole and the Last Few Years
Codex entry: Conduct Becoming the Inquisition
Codex entry: Cullen and the Last Few Years
Codex entry: Dorian and the Last Few Years
Codex entry: Emergency Measures
Codex entry: Hard in Hightown: Chapter Ten
Codex entry: Hard in Hightown: Chapter Eleven
Codex entry: Hard in Hightown: Chapter Twelve
Codex entry: Hard in Hightown: Chapter Thirteen
Codex entry: Hard in Hightown: Chapter Fourteen
Codex entry: Hard in Hightown: Chapter Fifteen
Codex entry: Hard in Hightown: Chapter Sixteen
Codex entry: Hard in Hightown: Chapter Seventeen
Codex entry: Hard in Hightown: Chapter Eighteen
Codex entry: Iron Bull and the Last Few Years
Codex entry: Josephine and the Last Few Years
Codex entry: Leliana and the Last Few Years
Codex entry: Notes on Palace Guests
Codex entry: Scandalous Gossip
Codex entry: Storms of Temptation
Codex entry: Tattered Tome
Codex entry: The First Grand Enchanter
Codex entry: Varric and the Last Few Years
Codex entry: Vivienne and the Last Few Years
Codex entry: Wager Notes
Codex entry: Winter Palace (map)
Note texts[]
The Art of the Winter Palace (Bronto)
The Art of the Winter Palace (Deepstalker)
The Art of the Winter Palace (Guest Garden)
The Art of the Winter Palace (Lambert Valmont)
The Art of the Winter Palace (Maferath)
The Art of the Winter Palace (Triumph)
The Art of the Winter Palace (Unknown)
Diary of a Nosy Servant
Halamshiral Investigation - Clues (Briala)
Halamshiral Investigation - Clues (Celene)
Halamshiral Investigation - Clues (Gaspard)
Halamshiral Investigation - Clues (Grand Library)
Halamshiral Investigation - Clues (Trophy Room)
The Valmont Emperors (Etienne I)
The Valmont Emperors (Etienne II)
The Valmont Emperors (Florian)
The Valmont Emperors (Judicael I)
The Valmont Emperors (Judicael II)
The Valmont Emperors (Reville)
Trespasser[]
Barrel Removal
Containment
Cook's Note
Dedication
The Gilded Horn's Drink List
Half-Finished Poem
Letter to Arl Teagan
Licentious Gossip
Missing Servant
Paper Dog
A Reminder
A Ruined Picnic
Sera's Past and Now Things
Notes[]
Formal Attire can be destroyed, forcing a character to wear default clothes during the main quest Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts.
- During Trespasser, the Winter Palace serves as the Inquisitor's base camp, all falling damage is disabled.