- For the keep located in this region, see Griffon Wing Keep.
The Western Approach is a large, arid expanse in southwestern Orlais.[1] Farther west lie the Hunterhorn Mountains and uninhabited steppes and forests.
Background
The wastes in The Approach were once a land of plenty. The rain came north over the Gamordan Peaks, turning the plains green and verdant for several months of the year. However, eight hundred years ago, that all changed.[2] The Approach became the site of a major battle during the Second Blight. The darkspawn swarmed out of the Abyssal Rift, a great chasm to the south, and corrupted it with their foul blood never allowing for the land beyond to recover... even after the darkspawn were all driven back underground.[3]
The Grey Wardens had Adamant Fortress erected by the dwarves to stand watch over the chasm.[4] The region however became a stark and sad place with unstable purple sands looted with desolate rocky pillars engulfed in steep ridges.[5] At night, the air grows still and the sky is alight with shimmering auroras.[6]
The Orlesians at one point had iron towers built, over a hundred feet high, to mark a path in the badlands allowing for travelers to see the next when one is reached. The towers, now old, rusted and barely visible no longer pave a clear path to Adamant Fortress which stands on the lip of the chasm towering at the end of the path.[7][5] Adamant eventually lay vacant by the Wardens due to the ever encroaching sands and intense howling winds.
The desolate badlands known as the Western Approach are as massive as they are barren. Bordered to the west by steps and crawling with monsters, The Approach is a place from which few explorers return and most avoid. The Grey Warden Fortress Adamant sits on the edge of a great chasm on The Approach's southern reaches, one of the few remaining signs that the greatest battles of the second Blight were fought here.
—Excerpt from the quest journal
Involvement
During the main quest Here Lies the Abyss, the Inquisitor sets out to follow the tracks of the disappearing Grey Wardens. After meeting Hawke in Skyhold, and being introduced to their Grey Warden ally in Crestwood, the Inquisitor learns that the Wardens have been gathering in a Tevinter tower in The Western Approach. While tracking down the Wardens, wildlife, White Claw Raiders, and Venatori will present a variety of threats amidst the sandy dunes, rocky outcrops, old Warden outposts and ancient Tevinter ruins.
When the Inquisitor finally catches up to the Grey Wardens, who are intent on performing a ritual that will help them eliminate the remaining Old Gods, they discover that Warden Commander Clarel is unwittingly being led into a Venatori trap by Magister Livius Erimond. Erimond is in fact a member of the Venatori and a servant of Corypheus who intends to bring the Warden mages to Corypheus' service. The Inquisitor can gain access to The Approach by completing the Investigate the Western Approach war table scouting operation in Skyhold.
Further investigation reveals that the Venatori are trying to access the Still Ruins, the site of an ancient Tevinter magical experiment, and capture the Abyssal High Dragon, a task which requires them keeping Professor Frederic of Serault alive. There is also evidence that the Red Templars have recently abandoned their mining efforts and relocated to Emprise du Lion.
Places
Regions
Map of the Western Approach
Abyssal Ledge- Blight Overlook
- The Canyons
- Death Drink Springs
- Dust Plains
- Dustytop Fort
- Echoback Canyon
- Echoback Fort
- Forgotten Mine
- Gates of Andoral
- Gates of Toth
- Giant's Staircase
Griffon Wing Keep- Iska's Stand
- Lost Spring Canyon
- Lost Wash Creek
- Nazaire's Pass
Still Ruins overview
- Old Prison Road
- Prison Ruins
- Sand Flats
- Sand Rock Mine
Shimmer Stone Mine
The Still Ruins- Valemont Pass
- The Wastes
Additional places
Inquisition camps
Craggy Ridge Camp- Echo Back Canyon Camp
- Lost Spring Canyon Camp
- Nazaire's Pass Camp
Characters
- Alistair (conditional)
- Warden-Commander Clarel
- Overseer Crassius Servis
- Professor Frederic of Serault
- Hawke
- Jean-Marc Stroud (conditional)
- Leo of Lucien Bay[8]
- Magister Livius Erimond
- Loghain Mac Tir (conditional)
- Lucanus
- Prelate Macrinus
- Commander Rylen
Merchants
Quests
A Manuscript of Some Authority- Assault on Griffon Wing Keep
Griffon statues
- A Stranger Rift in the Ruins
- A Tevinter Relic Hunt
- Draconology
- Fortress Squatters
- Frederic's Livelihood
- Holding the Western Approach
- How to Lure a Dragon
- Hunting Patterns
- Into the Approach
- On the Chantry Trail
- Sharper White Claws
- The Abyssal High Dragon
- The Heart of the Still Ruins
- The Trouble with Darkspawn
- The Venatori
- This Water Tastes Funny
Rifts
Requisitions
- Code Requisition in the Approach
- Fauna Requisition in the Approach
- Lazurite Survey in the Approach
- Luster Survey in the Approach
War table operations
- All That Glitters
- Crossing the Sulphur Pits
- Deal with the Angry Varghests
- Find the Source of Darkspawn
- Gather Metals
- Improving Morale
- Investigate Ancient Laboratory
- Investigate the Western Approach
- Judgment: Recover Sold Artifacts
- Secure a Source of Water for Outpost
- Translate the Dragon Text
- Western Approach Resources
Creatures
Hostile creatures
Enemies
- White Claws
- White Claw Raiders (Rogue - Archer)
- White Claw Raider Escorts (Warrior - One-Handed Sword)
- White Claw Raider Footpads (Rogue - Double Daggers)
- Venatori
- Venatori Mage (Mage)
- Venatori Spellbinder (Mage)
- Venatori Marksman (Rogue - Archer)
- Venatori Stalker (Rogue - Double Daggers)
- Venatori Zealot (Warrior - One-Handed Sword)
- Venatori Gladiator (Warrior - Mace and Tower Shield)
- Venatori Brute (Warrior - Two-Handed Great Axe)
- Darkspawn
Collections
Astrariums
Bottles on the Wall
Vintage: Warden Jairn - search inside Dustytop Fort.- Vintage: Warden Eval'lal - search inside the Ritual Tower.
- West Hill Brandy - search the top of the tower directly above the Astrarium cave; climb the southern half of the east rubble slope and then traverse up the ladder.
Dragon Hunter
Landmarks
Mosaics
The Archdemon numbering
The Archdemon (12 pieces) - see the Archdemon mosaic for detailed locations.
Freed are Slaves numbering
- Freed Are Slaves (piece #8) - found in the Still Ruins, in the locked room, just to the right of the first hall encountered.
- Freed Are Slaves (piece #9) - found in Coracavus, behind a locked door in the Records Room.Note: Requires Deft Hands, Fine Tools Inquisition perk.
Shards
Skyhold Customizations
Grey Warden Banner - found in a chest at the second siege point, where Hawke is encountered in Adamant Fortress; see main quest Here Lies the Abyss.- Tevinter Banner - found in a chest located in a room off of the left side of the Main Chamber of the Still Ruins.Note: Requires Deft Hands, Fine Tools Inquisition perk.
- Inquisition Banner - capture Griffon Wing Keep (conditional: awarded after the Inquisitor captures their first keep)
- Inquisition Banner Crown - capture all three keeps: Caer Bronach, Griffon Wing Keep, and Suledin Keep.
Resources
Echoback Fort
Herbs
Amrita Vein
Blood Lotus
Deathroot
Deep Mushroom
Dragonthorn
Elfroot
Ghoul's Beard
Spindleweed
Vandal Aria (only found in Coracavus)
Witherstalk
Leather
Metals
Notable items
Elven artifacts
- In the Main Chamber of the Still Ruins.
- In the far western corner of the hidden astrarium room.
- In Griffon Wing Keep; head up the stairway located directly to the right of keep's main gate.
Logging stands
- Northeast of the Lost Spring Canyon Inquisition Camp.
- East by southeast of the Craggy Ridge Inquisition Camp, or directly northwest from The Lost Idol landmark and head up the tiny slope from the riverbank.
Memories of the Grey
- Grey Warden Sword - found atop a wooden tower inside Dustytop Fort; southwest of the Nazaire's Pass Inquisition Camp, near one of the rifts off the pass.
- Vial of Archdemon Blood - found in Echoback Fort; see side quest The Trouble with Darkspawn.
Quarries
- At Shimmer Stone Mine
- Southwest of Echoback Fort
- Southwest of Sand Rock Mine
Red lyrium veins
- Inside Sand Rock Mine
- Inside the Forgotten Mine
- Inside Shimmer Stone Mine
Veilfire glyphs
Fire Rune Schematic - acquired in the cave revealed from unlocking Astrariums in the Approach.
Frost Rune Schematic - in a small cave accessible from the center of Echoback Fort.
Spirit Rune Schematic - in Coracavus' Holding Cells; found in the cell containing the hanged man.- Spirit Rune Schematic - in the Inner Sanctum of the Still Ruins, on a plaque behind the magic staff; see side quest The Heart of the Still Ruins.
Loot
Aegis of the Order - looted from within the same cave as the Thing in the Dark landmark.Note: Requires the completion of the war table operation Crossing the Sulphur Pits.
Blizzard's Path - looted from a chest in Echoback Fort; see side quest The Trouble with Darkspawn.
Cowl of the Overseer - looted from Macrinus; see side quest Assault on Griffon Wing Keep.
Griffon Plate - acquired in the cave revealed from Astrariums in the Approach.Note: Trespasser required.
Kitty's Collar - looted from Macrinus; see side quest Assault on Griffon Wing Keep.Note: Requires installation of Patch 10.
Master Cleansing Rune Schematic - looted from Lucanus in the Still Ruins; see side quest A Tevinter Relic Hunt.
Master Corrupting Rune Schematic - looted from a chest in Echoback Fort; see side quest The Trouble with Darkspawn.
Masterwork Enchanter Mail - acquired in the cave revealed from unlocking Astrariums in the Approach.- Masterwork Vanguard Mail - looted from a chest at the top of Shimmer Stone Mine.
Nameless Blade - looted from the Abyssal High Dragon.
Pyre of the Forgotten - randomly available at the Griffon Wing Keep Merchant for 21433 
.Note: Requires The Short List Inquisition perk
Sad Splinters - looted after destroying the keep gate during the side quest Assault on Griffon Wing Keep.- Superb Amulet of Magic - randomly available at the Griffon Wing Keep Merchant for 14495 .Note: Requires The Short List Inquisition perk
Superb Belt of Magic Defense - randomly available at the Griffon Wing Keep Merchant for 14495 .Note: Requires The Short List Inquisition perk
Superb Ring of Armor Penetration - looted from the Abyssal High Dragon.- Superb Ring of Critical Damage - looted from a chest behind a locked door in Coracavus' Records Room; see side quest The Trouble with Darkspawn.Note: Requires Deft Hands, Fine Tools Inquisition perk.
Tempest - looted from the Inner Sanctum of the Still Ruins; see side side quest A Stranger Rift in the Ruins.
Templar Commander Armor - looted within the cave situated in the southernmost part of the region; see side quest On the Chantry Trail.
Codex entries
Constellation: Fenrir- Constellation: Satinalis
- Constellation: Toth
- The Creation of a Phylactery
- The Gate Guardians
- Magister Erimond
- Old Chantry Trail Signs
- Our Lady of the Anderfels
- Professor Frederic of Serault
- Ritual Tower
- Surviving the Western Approach
- The Western Approach
Adamant Fortress
Coracavus
Still Ruins
Note texts
A Letter Found on a Grey Warden Mage- Almost Illegible Note
- Ancient Tevinter
- Ancient Warden Logbook
- A Preserved Note
- Barely Readable Unsent Letter
- Chantry Logbook
- Elegantly Penned Note
- Elegantly Written Letter
- Elegantly Written Note (about research team)
- Elegantly Written Note (about Wardens)
- Faded Journal
- Griffon Wing Keep (from Servis)
- Griffon Wing Keep (to Servis)
- Intercepted Venatori Message
- Manifest
- Memorial
- Note from a Templar
- Note of Slight Jealousy
- Rebel Mage's Note
- A Scrawled Note
- Scrawled Raider Note
- Stern Note of Warning
- Venatori Orders (to Cassius)
- Warden Report
- Written Note
Adamant Fortress
Coracavus
- Ancient List of Prisoners
- A Blood-Spattered Note
- A Crumpled Note
- Faded Interrogation Notes
- Venatori Plans
Still Ruins
Notes
- There are two gates in the Approach: the Gate of Toth and the Gate of Andoral, both can be opened from the northern side; however, this requires completion of the war table operation Find the Source of Darkspawn.
- There is a sizeable stash of gold next to a skeleton situated directly above the Echo Back Canyon Inquisition Camp. In order to reach the cache (see here) use a mount to traverse to the top of the mountain edge via the eastern side. There is small nook in the foundation that can be used to access the area. Jumping on the cracked edge with a mount will allow for the player to reach the platform after several successful jumps. Missing the crack while attempting to jump will simply result in falling to desert floor.
Trivia
- In several published maps of Thedas, "the Abyssal Rift" is erroneously labeled "the Abyssal Reach"; however; the former label is correct.[9]
Gallery
References
- ↑
Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 1, p. 182
- ↑ Taken from Codex entry: The Western Approach
- ↑ Expanded from Codex entry: The Western Approach
- ↑ Codex entry: Adamant Fortress.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Dragon Age: Asunder, Chapter 9.
- ↑ Dragon Age: Asunder, Chapter 3.
- ↑ The Fortress of Adamant. Dragon Age
- ↑ Encountered during Cassandra Pentaghast's companion queest Unfinished Business.
- ↑ Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 2, p. 305, "A list of errata by Brother Genitivi"
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