SIDEQUESTS – The Western Approach
A manuscript of some authority (reward: +80 Influence)
From: Frederic (found just to the South of Nazaire's pass camp), wearing red next to a tent. You must have completed how to lure a dragon sidequest first
The ancient Tevinter manuscript has some marvelous diagrams, but Frederic is unable to read the script.
Find Tevinter writing on dragon luring
When you arrive at the marked area, you'll find an old ruin guarded by venatori enemies. Plough through them and have a mage break through the barrier blocking your path. The text below is the same as the sidequest: a Tevinter relic hunt.
When you enter the Still Ruins, you will find an ancient battle frozen in place, with present day venatori scattered amongst them. Explore the central area. A locked door on the West side can be opened with a rogue for an Amulet of Power (+1 ability point – Dorian), a Tevinter Banner for your fortress and other loot. The locked eastern door has a mosaic piece behind it, loot and a container with several rare crafting materials inside.
Go North into the hall of silence area and through the double doors and out into the courtyard. A Tevinter mage (Lucanus) will be flanked by several other venatori zealots and marksment. Defeat him to complete the quest. He will have a keystone on his body which is required for another sidequest: The heart of the Still Ruins.
After killing Lucanus, head to the nearby marker to find a book sitting on a lectern.
Deliver the manuscript to Frederic (+80 Influence)
Leave the ruins and fast travel back to the camp to give Frederic the manuscript.
(Translate the dragon text operation unlocked)
Arrange for a translation at the war table, Power required (5)
Complete the operation at your war table to unlock a new area, and complete this part of the quest.
Return to Frederic
Fast travel back to The Western Approach and hand him the translated manuscript for your measly reward.
A stranger rifts in the ruins (reward: +200 Influence, +2 Power)
From: Examining a frozen despair demon in the Still Ruins (still ruins can be found to the West of spring canyon camp
There's ancient magic at work in the Still Ruins that appears to be slowing time. A fade rift appears frozen in place and whatever's keeping the magic at work is preventing the rift from closing.
Disable the time magic
You will need to complete the quests: a Tevinter relic hunt and the heart of the still ruins to reach the sealed chamber. Inside is a strange staff powering the time stop spell. Behind the staff is a spirit rune you can examine if you are carrying a veilfire torch (you can find a veilfire source in an study to the South-West). Take the staff (tempest unique staff) to deactivate the spell and throw the ruins into chaos.
Close the fade rift
Demons and mages all over the ruins will resume their battle. You'll need to work your way back through the ruins to reach the fade rift. Battle the demons and close the rift to complete the quest.
(+200 Influence, +2 Power for closing the rift)
There is also a solas fade artifact near the rift you can activate after disabling the time stop.
(Investigate ancient laboratory investigation operation unlocked)
A Tevinter relic hunt (reward: +400 Influence, +3 Power)
From: Breaking into a ruin blocked by a barrier and venatori forces to the West of lost spring canyon camp
A group of venatori are raiding the Still Ruins under the Western Approach. Whatever lies inside was important enough to protect with a barrier.
Stop the venatori
When you enter the Still Ruins, you will find an ancient battle frozen in place, with present day venatori scattered amongst them. Explore the central area. A locked door on the West side can be opened with a rogue for an Amulet of Power (+1 ability point – Dorian), a Tevinter Banner for your fortress and other loot. The locked eastern door has a mosaic piece behind it, loot and a container with several rare crafting materials inside.
Go North into the hall of silence area and through the double doors and out into the courtyard. A Tevinter mage (Lucanus) will be flanked by several other venatori zealots and marksment. Defeat him to complete the quest. He will have a keystone on his body which is required for another sidequest: The heart of the Still Ruins.
Assault on Griffon Wing Keep (reward: +1600 Influence, +5 Power)
From: Frederic (found just to the South of Nazaire's pass camp), wearing red next to a tent or entering the keep
Venatori have occupied an isolated keep in the Western Approach, a key outpost on the treacherous trip to Adamant. It would be of great benefit to the Inquisition to capture it and drive the venatori from the area.
Capture the keep
There are multiple ways into the keep, you can break down the side doors of the keep or destroy the barrier on the South-East side and enter the cave underneath. If you take the barrier cave path, you can climb up the well to reach the keep above. Expect heavy venatori resistance no matter which way you choose. Use the battlements when you can to pin down enemies below.
At the top level next to the flag pole you'll run into Macrinus and his zealots. AoE and knockdown attacks are the way to go here. Keep Macrinus on the ground or unable to cast and you should chew through the group fast. Macrinus will drop some nice loot and an Amulet of Power (+1 ability point – Dorian). Raise the flag to capture the keep. This is definitely one of the easier keeps.
Code requisition in the Approach (reward: +200 Influence, +1 Power)
From: Requisition officer at any camp
Finding examples of venatori notes and ciphers will let Leliana decode them more effectively.
Gather venatori messages (x5 message fragments, x1 venatori cipher)
Messages and ciphers can be found on venatori forces in the area (in the Griffon Wing keep or Still ruins). Once you have enough, return to a requisition table and make the item.
Draconology (reward: ) *Note: At time of writing, could not complete, have done all Frederic quests, seems bugged (09/12/14)
From: Goods shipment found on dead white clan bandit
A shipment of goods, destined for a university of Orlais researcher named Frederic, appears to have been waylaid by bandits. The shupping label suggests his camp is somewhere in Nazaire's pass.
Find Frederic
You will need to meet Frederic (found just to the South of Nazaire's pass camp), wearing red next to a tent. You will need to complete his related sidequests to get actual rewards though.
Frederic's livelihood (reward: +80 Influence)
From: Killing white claw raider or finding researcher corpse with supplies on it
White claw raiders have made off with Frederic's supplies. Search areas where white claw raiders are active to recover the supplies.
Return Frederic's supplies
Kill more white claw raiders or loot dead researcher bodies to find more supplies. Head to Frederic's location and give him the supplies when you are done.
Fauna requisition in the Approach (reward: +200 Influence, +1 Power)
From: Requisition officer at any camp
A prominent scholar is asking for assistance in a study on how animals survive in blighted lands
Fill the requisition (x3 canine leather, x1 quillback leather, x1 phoenix scales, x1 varghest scales)
All of these animals are located in the Western Approach and you will likely meet them in your travels through the area. Return to a requisition table to complete it.
Fortress squatters (reward: +200 Influence, +2 Power)
From: Knight-Captain Rylen at Griffon Wing Keep after capturing it in assault on Griffon Wing Keep quest
Bandits have occupied an old warden fortress in the Western Approach and are raiding caravans athat Griffon Wing depends upon for supplies.
Clear out the bandits
Travel to the marked location, and kill everyone across the bridge into the fortress.
Holding the Western Approach (reward: +100 Influence, +1 Power per camp site)
From: The Inquisition automatically after arriving in the area
Establish camps to hold the Western Approach and support Inquisition activity in the region.
Camps established (4) *One camp will already be set up when you enter the area
How to lure a dragon (reward: +200 Influence, +2 Power)
From: Frederic (found just to the South of Nazaire's pass camp), wearing red next to a tent. You can also find him by completing the how to lure a dragon sidequest
Frederick wants to concoct dragon bait. He has almost everything he needs, save for two rather specific ingredients.
Gather quillback intestines
Find a phoenix tail feather
Frederic requires quillback intestines and a phoenix tailfeather. These animals are both native to the Western Approach and you will likely find them on your travels in the area.
Deliver the lure ingredients to Frederic
Once you have the ingredient's return to Frederic and give them to him.
Hunting Patterns (reward: +80 Influence)
From: Frederic (found just to the South of Nazaire's pass camp), wearing red next to a tent. You can also find him by completing the how to lure a dragon sidequest
High dragon hunting patterns are largely undocumented. Frederic is interested in the location of any dead gurn showing signs that it was killed by a dragon.
Dragon signs found (4)
Go to the marked locations, and use advanced search to find the gurn carcasses. Examine four of these to complete the objective.
Return to Frederic with hunting locations
Return to Frederic to hand in the quest.
Into the approach (reward: The Western Approach unlocked)
From: The Inquisition automatically after becoming Inquisitor
An unusually high number of travelers have been reported moving into the Western Approach, a blighted region in Western Orlais all but devoid of life.
Go to the war table to investigate the Western Approach
You need to complete the investigate the Western Approach operation to complete this sidequest.
Luster survey in the Approach (reward: +200 Influence, +1 Power)
From: Requisition officer in any camp
The university of Orlais has requested lazurite and paragon's luster samples for a geological survey of the Western Approach.
Fill the requisition (x20 lazurite, x10 paragon's luster)
Lazurite can be found mostly in caves in the area and paragon's luster is quite common on rock faces in the open. Return to a requisition table to complete it.
On the chantry trail (reward: +80 Influence)
From: Old worn stone to the South-West of lost spring canyon camp
There are chantry symbols out in the desert. They appear to lead somewhere.
Follow the trail
Head to each marked location and look for another chantry trail stone, they are pretty easy to spot. You will need to locate around six before the objective changes.
Find where the trail leads
The trail leads to a cave blocked by a magical barrier (use a mage to break through). Once you break through, the quest is complete.
Rifts in Echoback (reward: +200 Influence, +2 Power per rift)
From: Claiming Echo Back Canyon Camp, after passing through Coracavus
Active fade rifts have been spotted in Echoback Canyon.
Fade rifts closed (2)
East rift: Easy
South rift: Easy
Rifts in sand and dust (reward: +200 Influence, +2 Power per rift)
From: The Inquisition automatically after arriving in the area
Active fade rifts have been spotted in the sand flats, dust plains, and at giant's staircase
Fade rifts closed (2)
Positions relative to craggy ridge camp:
North-West rift: Easy
South-East rift: Easy
Rifts in the canyons (reward: +200 Influence, +2 Power per rift)
From: The Inquisition automatically after arriving in the area
Active fade rifts have been spotted in the canyons
Fade rifts closed (2)
Lost springs canyon camp
North-West rift: Easy
South rift: Easy
Rifts off the pass (reward: +200 Influence, +2 Power)
From: The Inquisition automatically after arriving in the area or setting up camp
Active fade rifts have been spotted in the wastes, iska's stand and at dustytop fort.
Fade rifts closed (2)
Nazaire's pass camp
North-West rift: Easy
South-West rift: Easy
Sharper white claws (reward: +200 Influence, +2 Power)
From: Frederic (found just to the South of Nazaire's pass camp), wearing red next to a tent. You must have completed how to lure a dragon sidequest first
The white claws won't be happy that their traps were destroyed. Senior raiders will likely investigate, providing an ideal moment to take them out.
Traps destroyed (5)
Go to the marked location and search for teh traps to destroy. It is a fair large area, so expect to run around a bit. The trap looks like a bear trap with a rock on it, which is assumed to be a hunk of meat. See the screenshot to see what the traps look like.
Kill the white claws
White claws will start rushing the camp. x2 Marksman, x1 Zealot, and x1 Footpad (Leader) (may be different in your play). Kill them to complete.
Return to Frederic
Head back to Frederic to hand in the quest.
The abyssal high dragon (reward: +500 Influence, +2 Power, +Agent, +100 Influence, +1 Power)
From: Frederic (found just to the South of Nazaire's pass camp), wearing red next to a tent. You must have completed all Frederic related quests, except for draconology
Frederic has determined the hunting patterns of the abyssal high dragon that reigns over the skies of The Western Approach and marked appropriate spots to place dragon lures.
Dragon lures placed (5)
Place the lures in the locations whre you disarmed the traps in Sharper white claws, locations are on the map. Once they are placed, a level 14 high dragon will fly around and descend to fight you. Kill the dragon to complete the quest. The dragon has some nice loot.
Amulet of Power (+1 Ability point) – Solas
Return to Frederic
Return triumphantly to Frederic to collect your just reward and new agent.
The heart of the Still Ruins (reward: +80 Influence)
From: Picking up a keystone in the Still Ruins (the still ruins can be found West of the lost springs canyon camp
Lucanius dropped a strange stone while searching the Still Ruins. Its distinct pattern suggests it could be a keystone of some kind. Perhaps there are more.
Keystones collected (5)
One can be found on Lucanus' corpse, the rest are simple search tasks in the marked areas.
Enter the sealed chamber
Once you have all five keystones, head up the stairs to the marker for the sealed chamber. Open the door to complete the quest.
The trouble with darkspawn (reward: ) *Mage required to block hole during Tevinter ruin section *Note: At time of writing, this quest does not go past finding Servis – He can be found and knocked down from combat, but nothing else happens (09/12/14)
From: Knight-Captain Rylen at Griffon Wing Keep after capturing it in assault on Griffon Wing Keep quest
The venatori, led by Servis, were excavating when they accidentally broke into darkspawn-infested tunnels. Servis has since fled the vicinity.
Search for more signs of darkspawn
You'll need to travel to the North-East of the keep to find an unlock operation location involving the darkspawn. Claim this and head back to Skyhold.
Find the source of the darkspawn (Power cost: 5)
At skyhold, pass the find the source of the darkspawn operation at the war table.
Access the Tevinter ruin
Head to the area north of Gryphon Wing Keep, and cross the wooden bridge and head up the mountain.
Investigate the area
Once at Coracavus, explore and kill any darkspawn inside.
Seal the hole
In the guard's hall area of the ruins, there will be some rubble with an energize prompt. Use a mage to do this, and it will close the hole.
Locate those responsible for the excavation,
Keep heading down the corridors, until you find a body next to a large door in the Front corridoor area. This body has the key to the door.
Track down Servis in The Western Approach
Continue until you reach the exit. Along the way you will have to fight a giant. In the new area, Servis can be found atop Echoback Fort, to the south-east of Echo Back Camp.
The venatori (reward: +80 Influence)
From: The Inquisition automatically after arriving in the area
The venatori seem to be busy in the Western Approach. A report from someone named Servis mentioned activity in a mine somewhere in the canyons.
Read the venatori report
The ventatori report is on a nearby table when you arrive in the lost springs canyon camp.
Search for the mine
The mine you are looking for is the left entrance of the sand rock mine to the South-West of lost spring canyon camp. Use your mage to open the mine shaft and enter. In the first open area you'll be attacked by several giant spiders. On a table in the same area is a book. Read the book to complete the quest.
This water tastes funny (reward: +80 Influence)
From: Knight-Captain Rylen at Griffon Wing Keep after capturing it in assault on Griffon Wing Keep quest
Griffon's Wing's well has been tampered with and cannot support the keep. An alternative source of fresh water must be secured. A nearby oasis called Lost Wash creek would do, if it wasn't crawling with Varghests.
Clear out the varghests at Lost Wash creek
Go to the marked location and take out the lone varghest. Seriously a keep full of soldiers couldn't handle one of these?