“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[]
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[]
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[]
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.
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.
Gallery[]
Winter Palace[3]
Winter Palace Ballroom
Royal Wing
Winter Palace Garden
Winter Palace Ballroom Concept Art
Winter Palace Exterior Garden overview
Winter Palace Exterior Garden Map
Winter Palace Exterior Upper Balcony Map
Winter Palace Lower Level Map
Winter Palace Main Level Map
Winter Palace Servants Quarters and Grand Apartments Main Level Map
Winter Palace Servants Quarters and Grand Apartments Upper Level Map
Winter Palace Upper Level Map
Winter Palace Outer Grounds
Note: Requires Trespasser DLC.
Winter Palace
