Inner Demons is a companion quest for Lucanis in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. This quest is available only if Treviso was saved.
Acquisition
After completing House of the Dead and Bloodbath, speak to Lucanis and Emmrich at the Lighthouse.
Speak to Zara Renata's corpse
Interrogating Zara Renata's body.
Emmrich has agreed to use his corpse-whispering on Zara Renata's body. Emmrich presses her about Illario, and she reveals he was her lover (her "amatus") and the one who betrayed Lucanis to Zara out of his powerful desire to become First Talon.
Lucanis is dismayed Illario did not grant him the courtesy of a quick death, and Zara reveals Illario did in fact intend for the Venatori to kill Lucanis quickly. However, Zara decided on her own to imprison him in the Ossuary for experimentation instead.
Zara also reveals that Illario did not hire the Venatori to kill Caterina, and that Illario's blood magic abilities are a gift from Elgar'nan. With Emmrich no longer able to control Zara's spirit, the corpse-whispering ends, and Lucanis declares his intention to take away everything Illario has.
The next time Rook speaks to Lucanis at the Lighthouse, Inner Demons will unlock.
Walkthrough
A piece of news brings the conflict between Lucanis and Spite to a crisis point.
Meet Teia and Viago at the Cobbled Swan
Lucanis has received news. Speak to him in the pantry to discover Teia and Viago have requested to meet Lucanis at the Cobbled Swan in Minrathous. They have refused to clarify why and insist on meeting in person away from any chance of spying from the Crows.
At the Swan, Teia and Viago reveal that they have been watching the Dellamorte estate where Illario is currently living, and a Crow agent has discovered Caterina's opal ring in the estate's trash. This ring is a priceless heirloom, originally given to Lucanis's mother as a mark of Caterina's favor; when House Velardo killed her, the ring was sent back to demand Caterina's surrender of the First Talon seat. Neither Caterina nor Illario would have ever thrown it away, which means it must have been deliberately sent as a message from someone inside the house—most likely a trapped, and alive, Caterina.
Lucanis struggles with his desire to deal with Illario and his fear that moving early would risk Caterina's life. In a moment of paralysis, Spite takes over Lucanis's body and asks for Rook's help. Regardless of Rook's response, Spite draws them both into a pocket of the Fade inside Lucanis's mind.
Explore the dream of the Ossuary
Lucanis's mind appears as a faded version of the Ossuary. Spite accompanies Rook in its exploration, offering commentary during conversations. Echoes of Calivan and Zara's tortures against Lucanis can be heard throughout, lamenting his uselessness and taunting him that he will never escape.
Spite reveals that while Lucanis may have been freed from the real Ossuary, Spite has remained trapped in this prison inside Lucanis's mind. Lucanis himself remains trapped where his blood was kept, but Spite cannot break the locks or get past the guards. However, because Rook opens doors rather than closes them, Spite is convinced Rook will be able to reach him.
Break the five crystal locks
Echoes of taunts from Zara, Calivan, Venatori, and Illario continue as Rook progresses and breaks the first Venatori crystal lock. In the following room, the second lock transforms into Caterina, who is distressed that her grandson has returned as an abomination.
Rook recognizes that this is Lucanis's perception of his grandmother rather than the truth, and all responses will break the illusion and reveal the crystal to be shattered. Three thought fragments can be found in this room to provide glimpses into Lucanis's state of mind.
A projection of Harding stands in the next room, along with three more thought fragments. Harding questions Rook about whether Lucanis is even real, or if only the demon remains. Rook reassures Lucanis (through Harding) that his actions define him, not his fears, and Harding disappears to reveal the next crystal.
The next room is a replica of the room where Rook fought Calivan. Here, a projection of Neve warns Rook of the danger and cautions that even if Rook opens the door, Lucanis will refuse to walk through it. Rook insists on helping Lucanis anyway, and Neve calls Rook a sap before disappearing. Three thought fragments are in this room, including one behind where Rook initially spawns.
A projection of Illario stands in the final room. Two thought fragments are in this room, including one behind where Rook initially spawns. Illario challenges Rook on wasting time looking after Lucanis. Spite reveals Lucanis's mixed emotions regarding his cousin, and Illario asks Rook to leave Lucanis where he is.
Illario reveals Caterina had five children and eight grandchildren, and all of House Dellamorte are now dead save Lucanis and Illario. No matter how Rook challenges Illario, he suggests Lucanis has always been the real demon, and that he'll never be able to leave his mental prison. Rook tells Lucanis to dismiss Illario's words and breaks the final lock, allowing passage into the final chamber.
Confront Lucanis
Lucanis stands alone in the final chamber. Spite accuses him of refusing to leave the Ossuary, thus trapping Spite along with him. Rook realizes that while the Ossuary is terrible, it is a prison Lucanis has conquered and escaped in the real world, which makes it safer than confronting the challenges of the unknown: living as an abomination and failing those he loves.
Spite demands Rook force Lucanis to leave. Lucanis grows frustrated at his own inability to move forward, and Rook suggests he and Spite start small with a common goal. Spite, delighted with the idea, agrees.
Lucanis and Spite unifying their goals.
Rook can suggest either punishing Illario or saving Caterina. Either way, Lucanis and Spite resolve their immediate differences and agree to work together. Lucanis steps into Spite's space, the two of them now united, and the dream ends.
- If punishing Illario is selected: You've encouraged Lucanis and Spite to focus on stopping Illario, which helped them form a more harmonious bond.
- If saving Caterina is selected: You've encouraged Lucanis and Spite to focus on saving Caterina, helping them form a more harmonious bond.
Speak with Teia and Viago
Back in the Swan, Teia and Viago wonder why Lucanis and Rook have stopped speaking for several seconds. Lucanis reassures them both, then requests they watch Illario from a distance until Lucanis is ready to make his move.
Rewards
Completing the quest yields:
- +500 XP
- Bond increase for Lucanis
Results
The Crows have information for Lucanis about Illario… and Caterina.
Lucanis is trapped, and Spite, desperate for help, pulls Rook into the Fade to free them both.
When he learned that Caterina might be alive, Lucanis was locked in indecision about what to do about his family. With help from Spite and Rook, he has chosen to focus on freeing Caterina.
When he learned that Caterina might be alive, Lucanis was locked in indecision about what to do about his family. With help from Spite and Rook, he has decided to get some payback.
Approval
- It had been thrown out with the trash. Illario would never do that. He'd at least pawn it somewhere.
- (Diplomatic) You think it's a message. — Lucanis approves
- (Humorous) Maybe he tried.
- (Stoic) Be ready for what you find.
Codex entries
Note texts
Notes
- If punishing Illario is selected, Lucanis acknowledges his need for consequences but refuses to entertain the idea of killing him, since Illario and Caterina are all he has left. However, Spite approves of the idea and will declare Rook his favorite.
- Rook's selection at the end of this quest has no impact on Lucanis's final choice in A Murder of Crows.
Trivia
- Rook will reference Dragon Age: Origins and Dragon Age: Inquisition respectively in an ambient dialogue in the Fade Ossuary: "How do I get past the locks? Turn myself into a mouse? Fight a bunch of giant spiders?"
- If Rook goes to the Cantori Diamond while this quest is active, Teia and Viago will be there and can be conversed with, but they will not mention meeting in Dock Town.