dragonage

A New Path is an Act 3 companion quest for Merrill in Dragon Age II.

Acquisition

You will receive it when you visit Merrill's Home (or enter and leave your home) after you have completed the On the Loose quest.

Walkthrough

Merrill's Home

Speak with Merrill at her home at the Kirkwall Alienage in Lowtown. Merrill is disappointed that the Eluvian is still inactive.

Regardless of previous options, she plans to consult the demon trapped at Pride's End, and asks for assistance and company.

No matter what you say to Merrill, you can continue the quest.

Sundermount

Go to Sundermount with Merrill in the party.

Note: If you go without her you get the party selection screen on arrival, with Merrill as mandatory companion.

As you head to the peak of Sundermount, Keeper Marethari stands nearby the trail. You do not have to talk to her, but if you do, she greets Merrill. But Merrill is annoyed, as the clan has not left the mountains for six years. The Keeper justifies that she has tasks to accomplish. She then asks the purpose of Merrill's visit.

Note: Though speaking with her is optional, you miss a chance in gaining more friendship and rivalry points if you don't.

Marethari warns Merrill not to seek the demon's help, but Merrill continues no matter what.

, the that possessed

Audacity, the pride demon that possessed Marethari Talas

Climb Sundermount. You are attacked by Giant spiders at the second clearing. Go through the Sundermount Passage.

Sundermount Caverns

Go through the Sundermount Caverns and exit to the Mountain Graveyard. If you have not explored this area yet, there is a Lyrium and an Orichalcum crafting resource in the caverns, if you are seeking the Supplier achievement.

Mountain Graveyard

Go past the Sundermount Graveyard to reach Pride's End at the peak.

Note: If A Murder of Crows was not started or finished prior to entering Pride's End, then that particular quest could disappear (along with the exclusive characters) depending on what chat options you chose when you again exit the cave.

If you didn't clear the graveyard earlier, it has a couple of lootable graves; clicking on them will summon corpses and a skeleton archer. One of the graves contains Robes of the Overseer which is part of the Overseer light armor set. Another grave contains Andruil's Braid. Looting all the graves summons two waves of mobs: first a couple of corpses and a Shadow Warrior, followed by skeleton archers and a Shadow Assassin.

After the fight you can interact with the nearby altar, which results in a cutscene with Merrill saying a short prayer for Mythal and commenting "Sorry. I didn't mean to hold us. You just - It's never wise to ignore Mythal."

Continue along the path; if you have the The Awiergan Scrolls quest active then you will encounter three enemies that are part of the Second Aspect (see the quest page for tactics).

If you have not already explored this area there is a fight near the peak with dragonlings and a dragon, who drops The Jade Serpent. Don't forget to loot Glitterdust on the little curve off the path before the entrance to Pride's End.

Right before the entrance itself you have yet another encounter with corpses, a Shadow Assassin and Shades.

Pride's End

As Hawke approaches the Strange Idol, Merrill is disturbed; the artifact does not contain the demon anymore. The party finds out that Keeper Marethari has allowed Audacity to possess her to stop Merrill from repairing the Eluvian. She goes on to claim that the demon would have gone through the Eluvian once it was restored, with Merrill as its destined victim. The party is then forced to kill the Keeper. Dalish elders, Marethari, and the dead hunters from Honoring The Fallen, in spirit form spawn near the altars on the sides, attacking the party and sermonizing Merrill for her mistakes.

After fighting for a while there is a cutscene where Audacity talks to you and heals itself a bit, then the battle resumes. All characters' Health and Stamina/Mana are fully regenerated. If you haven’t fought the entire list of spirits before this happens, the remaining spirits do not appear now.

After defeating Audacity, Keeper Marethari claims that it's over.

Merrill then grieves for Marethari's death; she didn't wish for this happen.

Exiting Pride's End

Upon exiting the cave, the party is confronted by the other Dalish who say Marethari came up here and hasn't returned.

Note: If you have not completed A Murder of Crows (and you wish to) you must take responsibility. Any other chat option will lead to a battle with the Dalish.
Note: Engaging into arms against the Dalish will make them unavailable for the rest of the act. Otherwise, they remain there as if the incident had not taken place.

Result

Merrill, Friend or Foe? appears in the quest log *if* Merrill is at 100% Friendship or Rivalry.

Rewards

Notes

Trivia

Bugs