Dragon Age 2 Companions, Romance Tips and Quests

What companions are there in Dragon Age 2 and how can you romance them?

Dragon Age 2 is one of the most anticipated roleplaying games of 2011 due to the massive success of its predecessor, Dragon Age: Origins. One of Origin’s brilliant elements, which I dare say is also something Bioware is famous for its fantastic characters, quality in design, personality, and dialogues. Everyone is hoping that Bioware will manage to pull something similar in Dragon Age 2.

Dragon Age 2 Characters

Let’s have a spoiler-free look at some of the important characters in Dragon Age 2.

Main Protagonist – Hawke

Hawke is a human ‘Male or Female’ who lived in Lothering during the Blight in Ferelden, escaping the darkspawn attack by fleeing north to the Free Marches and eventually rising to become “the single most important character in the world of Dragon Age”.

Along the way, they earned the title of “The Champion of Kirkwall”. Over the course of the game’s ten-year timeline, players’ actions and choices will determine Hawke’s history, relationships, and regrets to determine Hawke’s rise to power.

Anders

Folks who played the Awakening expansion will be acquainted with the care-free Anders. But Anders has changed, big time. Justice, the spirit entrapped in the body of a dead Grey Warden (also from Awakening), urged Anders to rebel harder against the Circle of Magi and the Chantry.

Already a despiser of the Chantry and the Circle, Anders decided to become host for Justice. But his hatred for the Circle and Chantry warps Justice into a demonic spirit of Vengeance.

Now Anders must struggle both physically and mentally to maintain control. His desire to overturn the Circle and Chantry still has not faded, only exacerbated. Anders is a powerful and skilled mage who specializes in Spirit Healing. Anders will join you in Act 1 when you complete Tranquility quest. Anders has a personality class with Fenris and Sebastian. You can get following items for him which you can find at the specified locations.

Armor Suits
Act 2 – You can find it in Lirene’s Fereldan Imports in Lowtown.

Lyrium Weave
Act 2 – You will find Lyrium Weave in Mage Goods in Gallows Courtyard.

Spirit Essence
Act 2 – You can find it in Dissent.

Sigil of the Mage Underground
Act 3 – You get it as a reward for completing Best Served Cold quest.

Gift – Tevinter Chantry Amulet
Act 2 – You will get it as a reward when you complete A Bitter Pill quest.

Aveline Vallen

A human warrior who once lived in Lothering, Aveline was forced to flee with her husband, Ser Wesley Vallen, due to the darkspawn attack. She was saved by the Hawke family, which allows her to be a selectable companion onwards.

Her husband, however, is corrupted by the Darkspawn and dies during their escape from Lothering. Aveline is an adept warrior, and uses the sword and shield like a finely tuned instrument. Later in Kirkwall, Aveline willingly chooses to become a part of the defenders of Kirkwall.

Aveline Joins you during Prologue, she has a personality conflict with Merrill. You can get following items for her.

Underpadding
Act 1 – Guardsman Pattern (Armor Stand, Lowtown)

Impact Plating
Act 2 – Guardsman Pattern (Armor Stand, Lowtown)

Flex-Chain
Act 2 – Guardsman Pattern (Raiders on the Cliffs)

Deflecting Joints
Act 3 – Guardsman Pattern (Favor and Fault)

Gifts – The Shield of the Knight Herself
You will get it during Act 2 when you complete Offered and Lost quest.

Bethany Hawke

Hawke’s younger sister and Carver’s fraternal twin, Bethany is an apostate mage who received her training from her father Malcolm Hawke, who was also an apostate. Bethany will accompany Hawke at the beginning of the game, and can become a possible permanent companion, depending on the class the player decides to play with.

Bethany’s appearance shall vary according to the preset the player chooses for Hawke. Her skin tone will also be the same as that of Hawke, but her hair will always remain black.

Bethany Hawke joins you at the start of the story along with Carver Hawke. One of them dies before the end of Act 1 in an unavoidable incident. Surviving sibling won’t be able to continue with your journey starting Act 2.

Heirloom Amell Protective Sigils

Act 1 – During the Birthright quest, you can find it in the Estate Vault.

Carver Hawke

Hawke’s younger brother and Bethany’s fraternal twin, Carver is a warrior. Like Bethany, Carver may or may not be a permanent companion, directly dependent on which class is chosen by the player. Carver’s appearance will also vary according to the preset chosen. His skin tone will be the same as that of Hawke, but his hair will always remain black.

Carver Hawke joins you at the start of the story along with Bethany Hawke. One of them dies before the end of Act 1 in an unavoidable incident. Surviving sibling won’t be able to continue with your journey starting Act 2.

Fereldan Girded Plating

Act 1 – During the Birthright quest, you can find it in the Estate Vault

Fenris

Although Fenris remembers very little about himself, it is known that he was once a slave to a Tevinter magister, only to have lyrium burned into his flesh; henceforth stripping his memories and altering him in a way no one could have imagined.

Fenris became a living, walking weapon. Using his abnormally increased strength, he broke free from the chains of slavery, fleeing to Kirkwall as a fugitive, constantly hunted by his former Tevinter master. The lyrium in his body causes him pain, guarding him against physical contact with anyone else. Strangely enough, Fenris is a warrior-class Elf.

He is an optional companion and you can get him in your team by completing A Bitter Pill quest in Act 1. The boy got issues with anyone wearing a robe including you. You can get the following items for him.

Tevinter Spirit Symbol
Act 2 – You can get it from Robes by Jean Luc in Hightown.

Lyrium Scales
Act 2 – You can get it from Shady Merchandise at Docks.

Reinforced Straps
Act 2 – Quest reward ‘A Bitter Pill’.

Enchanted Resin
Act 3 – Quest reward ‘Mine Massacre’.

Gift – The Book of Shartan
Act 2 – You get it in Lowtown Elven Alienage.

Gift – Blade of Mercy
Act 3 – You will get it during Best Served Cold quest.

Isabela

Equally skilled with both her sharp tongue and her sharp dagger, Isabela was once the Captain of her deceased husband’s ship, The Siren’s Call. First seen in Origins in The Pearl, Isabela has changed since then. She is no longer a captain, as she lost her crew and ship at the reefs near Kirkwall during a heavy storm.

She has now taken the embodiment of a smuggler, but her compassionate heart and hidden kindness often tamper with the smuggler’s job, and has compelled enemies to manifest. Isabela prefers speed over strength, making her an extremely agile and quick striking rogue. Her specialization is termed as ‘Swashbuckler’.

She is an optional companion which you can acquire when you complete Fools Rush In quest. You may argue with Aveline now and then but no big deal. You can get following items for her.

Rigid Boning
Act 2 – You can buy it from Apparel Shop in Lowtown.

Supportive Corselet
Act 2 – You can buy it from Robes by Jean Luc in Hightown.

Lambswool Insoles
Act 2 – You will get it as a reward when you complete To Catch a Thief quest.

Boiled Leather Plates
Act 3 – You will get it during A Murder of Crows quest.

Gift – Ship in a Bottle
Act 2 – You will get it during Blackpowder Courtesy.

Gift – Rivaini Talisman
Act 3 – You will get it during Disused Passage.

Merrill

Merril is an Elvin mage, first seen as a temporary companion in the Dalish Elf Origin. The apprentice of her clan’s Keeper Marethari, she is interested in recovering the lost lore of the elves, and has knowledge of the elves’ old magic. Now in Kirkwall, Merrill is desperate to find help for her clan and herself, even though she knows little about the world and its cruelty.

She will be available when you complete Long Way Home at the start of Act 1. She has a personality clash with Fenris and Carver. You can get the following items for her.

Samite Lining
Act 2 – You get it from Robes by Jean Luc in Hightown.

Carved Ironwood Buttons
Act 2 – You can get it from Ilen’s Crafts in Sundermount.

Silver-Threaded Dalish Embroidery
Act 2 – You will get it from Top of Sundermount.

Halla Horn Buckles
Act 3 – You will get it from A New Path.

Gift – Wooden Halla Carving
Act 2 – You can buy it from Ilen’s Crafts.

Gift – Sylvanwood Ring
Act 3 – You will find it in the remains of the Thief Leader during A Murder of Crows.

Varric

Varric is famous for two things, creating and destroying legends. As the main narrator in Dragon Age 2, he often exaggerates and over-tells the true events and history of the Champion of Kirkwall. Unlike the typical dwarf, Varric never worked with the stone. He always liked to travel, tell tales to a captivated audience, amalgamating contents within the tales to his will.

That’s how anyone who’s ever met him will explain to him, but Varric is also secretly working as a spy for dealing with troubles that come being from the Merchant Guild and the House of Tethras. Varric is a rogue class dwarf and prefers to nail enemies to the wall with his trusty crossbow named Bianca.

Varric joins you at the start of Act 1 and will stick till the end. Team player, he doesn’t have a personality clash with anyone. You can get following items for him.

Inscribed Leather Harnes
Act 1 – You can buy it from Apparel Shop in Lowtown.

Coat Lining with Concealed Pockets
Act 2 – You will find it in Shady Merchandise at Docks.

Silverite-Reinforced Buckles
Act 2 – You will get it as a reward when you complete Family Matter quest.

Drakeskin Leg Straps
Act 3 – You will get it as a reward when you complete Finding Nathaniel quest.

Gift – The Tethras Signet Ring
You will find it with Trinkets Emporium in Lowtown.

Tallis

Tallis is a temporary companion in the Mark of the Assassin DLC for Dragon Age II. She is an elven Qunari assassin who was born in Tevinter. In Tevinter, slavery is legal; her parents needed to pay off their debts so they sold their own daughter, Tallis, into slavery.

While she was on the ship, going to Carastes, the Qunari raided and captured the ship. Tallis was supposed to work as a laborer for the Qunari, until Salit (an elite Ben-Hassrath agent) intervened. Salit trained her to be a fierce assassin – a Tallis (“Those who solve”).

She committed a lot of robberies and assassinations, though, not to the complete specifications of her superiors. Her superiors finally had enough of her when she set slaves free during a mission.

Due to this botched mission, she was demoted to the rank of Athlok (laborer). Two years later, she was given a chance to redeem herself.

Sebastian

Sebastian’s parents forced him into the Chantry as they were scared he might have a bastard son, who could overthrow the throne of the Vaels. Sebastian did not want to ruin his life in service to Andraste. So, he escaped, with help from Grand Cleric Elthina.

After some time, Sebastian had a change of heart and went back to the Chantry to serve his punishment. He became a sworn brother of the Chantry until his family was brutally murdered, leaving him as the only survivor. Ergo, he is forced to participate in politics

Sebastian is a rogue, optional companion which you can acquire by completing Duty and Repentance quest. Fierce personality class with Anders. You can get the following items for Sebastian.

Enchanted Articulation
Act 2 – You can buy it from Armor Shop in Gallows Courtyard.

Reinforced Bracers
Act 2 – You can buy it from Olaf’s Armory in Hightown.

Mail Undertunic
Act 2 – Quest Reward ‘Repentance’.

Protection of the Faith
Act 3 – You will get it during Best Served Cold.

Gift – Starkhaven Longbow
Act 2 – You will get it during Repentance quest.

Romance Tips

You can give your compansions unique gifts to win their affection, complete companion quests and generally take their side in conversations while steering clear of decisions that might annoy them if you are interested in having a relationship with a companion when playing Dragon Age 2.

All of these characters can be romanced by either gender except Sebastion, with whom only female gender can romance. While you can flirt with all possible characters, keep in mind that once you enter into a relationship with one of them, all other characters become unavailable for romance.

When you wish to fully romance with a character there are three basic rules you should keep in mind:

  • You should choose all your dialogues carefully as each character has a different personality and beliefs, you should talk accordingly and try to please them with every part of your conversation.
  • You should get them gifts, each character awaits one specific gift which is only crafted for them and can be found in act 2. For Isabela, Merril and Fenris there are additional gifts that can be found in act 3.
  • If you wish to keep things on track with your companion till the end of the game you must complete their quests. Each character has a specific quest that you have to complete at each act.

Whatever character choose to have in your party during your quests, you will need to equip that character with unique weapons and unique armor pieces if you want to survive any chance against your foes in Dragon Age 2.

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Ali is a passionate RPG gamer. He believes that western RPGs still have a lot to learn from JRPGs. He is editor-in-chief at SegmentNext.com but that doesn't stop him from writing about his favorite video ...