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“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

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[]


This section contains spoilers for:
Dragon Age: The Masked Empire.


After Grand Duke Gaspard de Chalons openly moves against her in a bid for her throne, Empress Celene travels to the Winter Palace through the network of eluvians. She learns from the palace's seneschal that Comte Pierre has handed over Halamshiral to Grand Duke Gaspard de Chalons and is requesting that the palace guards also surrender. Celene summons Pierre to the Winter Palace to discuss terms. Upon discovering Celene is free, Comte Pierre immediately surrenders the city to her and re-affirms his loyalty to the Empress.


Dragon Age: Inquisition[]


This section contains spoilers for:
Dragon Age: Inquisition.


The Winter Palace is chosen by Grand Duchess Florianne de Chalons to hold the peace talks between Empress Celene, Grand Duke Gaspard de Chalons, and Briala. The Inquisitor attends the masquerade to find Corypheus' assassin hiding among the guests. The assassin turns out to be none other than Grand Duchess Florianne. The Inquisitor foils her plan to plunge Orlais into chaos by putting an end to the War of the Lions and determining its victor: Empress Celene or Emperor Gaspard.


Trespasser[]


This section contains spoilers for:
Trespasser.


In 9:44 Dragon, Ferelden, Orlais and the Chantry come together to call an Exalted Council to determine the fate of the Inquisition as an independent order. The Winter Palace is chosen as the site to hold the council. With the assistance of the Agents of Fen'Harel, the Inquisitor stops the Viddasala from destroying the Winter Palace as a prelude to Qunari invasion of the southern nations.


Dragon Age: Inquisition[]

Areas[]

Palace Exterior
  • The Emerald Crown
    • Eastern Storage Room
Palace Interior
  • Vestibule
  • Grand Ballroom
Guest Wing
  • Hall of Heroes
  • Trophy Room
  • Guest Garden
    • Upper Guest Garden
    • Lower Guest Garden
      • Fumeur
  • Grand Library
    • Secret Study
  • Servants' Quarters
    • Servants' Kitchen
  • Gardens
  • Grand Apartments
    • Celene's Vault
Royal Wing
  • Royal Quarters
  • Empress' Private Quarters
  • Jardin de Rȇverie
  • Le Requiem
  • La Serrure
  • Kitchens
  • Dining Room

Characters[]

Templatetools This section is incomplete and requires expansion.

Quests[]

Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts
The Great Blackmail Hunt The Great Blackmail Hunt
Herd of Stone Halla Herd of Stone Halla
Red Jenny's Stashes Red Jenny's Stashes
Throwing Away Money Throwing Away Money

Enemies[]

Harlequin
Venatori

Collections[]

Skyhold Customizations[]

Orlesian Banner 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:

Song icon "Empress of Fire"
Song icon "Enchanters"
Song icon "I Am The One"
Song icon "Maker"
Song icon "Nightingale's Eyes"
Song icon "Oh, Grey Warden"
Song icon "Once We Were"
Song icon "Rise"
Song icon "Samson's Tale"
Song icon "Sera Was Never"

Resources[]

Herbs[]

Elfroot Elfroot
Embrium Embrium
Royal Elfroot Royal Elfroot

Notable items[]

Loot[]

Confusion Grenade Recipe Confusion Grenade Recipe - in the Secret Study of the Grand Library.
Crescent Slicer Crescent Slicer - looted from the Harlequin in the Grand Apartments.
Masterwork Crow Blade Schematic Masterwork Crow Blade Schematic - inside Celene's Vault.
Masterwork Magister Staff Blade Schematic Masterwork Magister Staff Blade Schematic - in the Secret Study of the Grand Library.

Codex entries[]

Codex entry: Briala Codex entry: Briala
Codex entry: A Compendium of Orlesian Theater Codex entry: A Compendium of Orlesian Theater
Codex entry: Council of Heralds Codex entry: Council of Heralds
Codex entry: Empress Celene Valmont Codex entry: Empress Celene Valmont
Codex entry: A Ghoulish Delight Codex entry: A Ghoulish Delight
Codex entry: Grand Duchess Florianne de Chalons Codex entry: Grand Duchess Florianne de Chalons
Codex entry: Grand Duke Gaspard de Chalons Codex entry: Grand Duke Gaspard de Chalons
Codex entry: Halamshiral Codex entry: Halamshiral
Codex entry: Jeshavis, Mother of Orlais Codex entry: Jeshavis, Mother of Orlais
Codex entry: The Lion of Orlais Codex entry: The Lion of Orlais
Codex entry: Mad Emperor Reville Codex entry: Mad Emperor Reville
Codex entry: Morrigan Codex entry: Morrigan
Codex entry: Orlesian Caprice Coins Codex entry: Orlesian Caprice Coins
Codex entry: Superstitions of the Royal Family Codex entry: Superstitions of the Royal Family
Codex entry: Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts Codex entry: Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts
Codex entry: Winter Palace Codex entry: Winter Palace

Songs[]

Codex entry: "Empress of Fire" Codex entry: "Empress of Fire"
Codex entry: "Enchanters" Codex entry: "Enchanters"
Codex entry: "I Am The One" Codex entry: "I Am The One"
Codex entry: "Maker" Codex entry: "Maker"
Codex entry: "Nightingale's Eyes" Codex entry: "Nightingale's Eyes"
Codex entry: "Oh, Grey Warden" Codex entry: "Oh, Grey Warden"
Codex entry: "Once We Were" Codex entry: "Once We Were"
Codex entry: "Rise" Codex entry: "Rise"
Codex entry: "Samson's Tale" Codex entry: "Samson's Tale"
Codex entry: "Sera Was Never" Codex entry: "Sera Was Never"

Note texts[]

The Art of the Winter Palace (Bronto) The Art of the Winter Palace (Bronto)
The Art of the Winter Palace (Deepstalker) The Art of the Winter Palace (Deepstalker)
The Art of the Winter Palace (Guest Garden) The Art of the Winter Palace (Guest Garden)
The Art of the Winter Palace (Lambert Valmont) The Art of the Winter Palace (Lambert Valmont)
The Art of the Winter Palace (Maferath) The Art of the Winter Palace (Maferath)
The Art of the Winter Palace (Triumph) The Art of the Winter Palace (Triumph)
The Art of the Winter Palace (Unknown) The Art of the Winter Palace (Unknown)
Diary of a Nosy Servant Diary of a Nosy Servant
Halamshiral Investigation - Clues (Briala) Halamshiral Investigation - Clues (Briala)
Halamshiral Investigation - Clues (Celene) Halamshiral Investigation - Clues (Celene)
Halamshiral Investigation - Clues (Gaspard) Halamshiral Investigation - Clues (Gaspard)
Halamshiral Investigation - Clues (Grand Library) Halamshiral Investigation - Clues (Grand Library)
Halamshiral Investigation - Clues (Trophy Room) Halamshiral Investigation - Clues (Trophy Room)
The Valmont Emperors (Etienne I) The Valmont Emperors (Etienne I)
The Valmont Emperors (Etienne II) The Valmont Emperors (Etienne II)
The Valmont Emperors (Florian) The Valmont Emperors (Florian)
The Valmont Emperors (Judicael I) The Valmont Emperors (Judicael I)
The Valmont Emperors (Judicael II) The Valmont Emperors (Judicael II)
The Valmont Emperors (Reville) The Valmont Emperors (Reville)

Trespasser[]

Areas[]

  • Baths
  • Foundry
  • Main Plaza
  • Palace Entrance

Characters[]

Templatetools This section is incomplete and requires expansion.

Merchants[]

Quests[]

Trespasser Trespasser
Expensive Bones Expensive Bones (unmarked side quest)
Fireworks Fireworks (unmarked side quest)
Halla Treasure Hunt Halla Treasure Hunt (unmarked side quest)
Harlequin Tag Harlequin Tag (unmarked side quest)
Painting Correction Painting Correction (unmarked side quest)

Notable items[]

Golden Nug[]

  • Located in the Foundry next to the Modify Weapons table.

Loot[]

The Clasping Maw The Clasping Maw - available at the Winter Palace Merchant for 184680 Currency (Inquisition).

Codex entries[]

Codex entry: "Blackwall" and the Last Few Years Codex entry: "Blackwall" and the Last Few Years
Codex entry: A Dispatch from the Crown of Ferelden Codex entry: A Dispatch from the Crown of Ferelden
Codex entry: Activity in the Winter Palace Codex entry: Activity in the Winter Palace
Codex entry: Cassandra and the Last Few Years Codex entry: Cassandra and the Last Few Years
Codex entry: Cole and the Last Few Years Codex entry: Cole and the Last Few Years
Codex entry: Conduct Becoming the Inquisition Codex entry: Conduct Becoming the Inquisition
Codex entry: Cullen and the Last Few Years Codex entry: Cullen and the Last Few Years
Codex entry: Dorian and the Last Few Years Codex entry: Dorian and the Last Few Years
Codex entry: Emergency Measures Codex entry: Emergency Measures
Codex entry: Hard in Hightown: Chapter Ten Codex entry: Hard in Hightown: Chapter Ten
Codex entry: Hard in Hightown: Chapter Eleven Codex entry: Hard in Hightown: Chapter Eleven
Codex entry: Hard in Hightown: Chapter Twelve Codex entry: Hard in Hightown: Chapter Twelve
Codex entry: Hard in Hightown: Chapter Thirteen Codex entry: Hard in Hightown: Chapter Thirteen
Codex entry: Hard in Hightown: Chapter Fourteen Codex entry: Hard in Hightown: Chapter Fourteen
Codex entry: Hard in Hightown: Chapter Fifteen Codex entry: Hard in Hightown: Chapter Fifteen
Codex entry: Hard in Hightown: Chapter Sixteen Codex entry: Hard in Hightown: Chapter Sixteen
Codex entry: Hard in Hightown: Chapter Seventeen Codex entry: Hard in Hightown: Chapter Seventeen
Codex entry: Hard in Hightown: Chapter Eighteen Codex entry: Hard in Hightown: Chapter Eighteen
Codex entry: Iron Bull and the Last Few Years Codex entry: Iron Bull and the Last Few Years
Codex entry: Josephine and the Last Few Years Codex entry: Josephine and the Last Few Years
Codex entry: Leliana and the Last Few Years Codex entry: Leliana and the Last Few Years
Codex entry: Notes on Palace Guests Codex entry: Notes on Palace Guests
Codex entry: Scandalous Gossip Codex entry: Scandalous Gossip
Codex entry: Storms of Temptation Codex entry: Storms of Temptation
Codex entry: Tattered Tome Codex entry: Tattered Tome
Codex entry: The First Grand Enchanter Codex entry: The First Grand Enchanter
Codex entry: Varric and the Last Few Years Codex entry: Varric and the Last Few Years
Codex entry: Vivienne and the Last Few Years Codex entry: Vivienne and the Last Few Years
Codex entry: Wager Notes Codex entry: Wager Notes
Codex entry: Winter Palace (map) Codex entry: Winter Palace (map)

Note texts[]

Barrel Removal Barrel Removal
Containment Containment
Cook's Note Cook's Note
Dedication Dedication
The Gilded Horn's Drink List The Gilded Horn's Drink List
Half-Finished Poem Half-Finished Poem
Letter to Arl Teagan Letter to Arl Teagan
Licentious Gossip Licentious Gossip
Missing Servant Missing Servant
Paper Dog Paper Dog
A Reminder A Reminder
A Ruined Picnic A Ruined Picnic
Sera's Past and Now Things Sera's Past and Now Things

Notes[]

Gallery[]

References[]

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