Caridin's Cross is a crossroads within the Deep Roads, named after the ancient Paragon, Caridin.
Background
Map of the area
Caridin's Cross was once the largest crossroads in the Deep Roads, connecting the city of Orzammar with many outlying thaigs. It is now in a state of ruin, inhabited only by the darkspawn and deepstalkers.
A deepstalker matriarch and deepstalker nests are located in the eastern portion of the map.
A makeshift darkspawn fort is located south of the starting point (in the middle of the crossroads), with three ballistae manned by genlocks watching the roads. Charging the position without first removing the ballista crews can be dangerous. Fortunately the area is small enough that area-based spells can easily dislodge them.
There are many road markers throughout Caridin's Cross.
Quests
Notes
- The exits are all marked "Deep Roads" on
, but they do not go to the same areas. The bottom one opens up Ortan Thaig on your travel map. On , the south exit is marked Ortan Thaig correctly.
Characters
Hired Goon
- Hired Goons and Elven Mercenary: Two dwarves and an elven mage hired by either Lord Harrowmont or Prince Bhelen, unless you are publicly working for one and secretly working for the other, will be waiting for you at the start of the area. After a brief speech, they will attack.
Enemies
- Bronto (Brontos, Lieutenant)
- Deepstalker (Deepstalkers, Critter)
- Deepstalker leader (Deepstalkers, Normal)
- Deepstalker matriarch (Deepstalkers, Boss)
- Elven Mercenary (Elf, Normal, Mage)
- Genlock (Darkspawn, Normal)
- Genlock emissary (Darkspawn, Lieutenant) (one of the emissaries will drop Topsider's Hilt yielding Codex entry: Topsider's Honor)
- Genlock runner (Darkspawn, Normal)
- Hired Goon (Dwarf, one Normal, one Lieutenant)
- Hurlock (Darkspawn, Normal)
- Hurlock alpha (Darkspawn, Lieutenant)
- Hurlock emissary (Darkspawn, Lieutenant)
- Shriek (Darkspawn, Normal)
- Ogre (Darkspawn, Lieutenant)
- Ogre alpha (Darkspawn, Boss)
- Revenant (Demon, Boss) (only when summoned using the Glass Phylactery)
Containers
The darkspawn fort
Northwest
- Chest (Darkspawn, Normal) - locked
- Chest (Darkspawn, Normal) - locked
- Fractured Stone (Stone, Normal)
- Rubble (Darkspawn, Normal)
- Chest (Darkspawn, Elite) - locked (50 XP)
- Chest (Darkspawn, Elite) - locked (50 XP)
- Fractured Stone (Stone, Normal)
North-central passage
Fort
- Broken Crate (Dwarven, Normal) - near vials
- Chest (Special) - Totem
- Fractured Stone (Stone, Normal)
Deepstalker nest
- Fractured Stone (Stone, Normal)
- Fractured Stone (Stone, Normal)
- Sarcophagus (Dwarven, Boss)
Southwest tunnel
- Chest (Darkspawn, Boss) - locked (60 XP)
- Fractured Stone (Stone, Normal)
- Fractured Stone (Stone, Normal)
- Drifters' Cache (Darkspawn, Boss) - see Drifter's Cache
Notable items
An underground river crossing the location
Effort's Gloves, source: Drifter's Cache
Head in a Bag, source: Small Bloody Sack
Ring of the Warrior, source: Drifter's Cache
Thorn of the Dead Gods, source: Drifter's Cache
Topsider's Hilt, source: on the genlock emissary in south cave corridor of Caridin's Cross
Torso in a Bag, source: Small Bloody Sack
Notable gifts for companions:
Codex entries
Codex entry: Asunder, source: Small Bloody Sack
Codex entry: Orzammar History: Chapter One, source: Statue near southwest exit to Deep Roads
Codex entry: The Black Vials, source: Glass Phylactery
Codex entry: The Blights, source: Firepit
Codex entry: The Crosscut Drifters, source: Rubble
Codex entry: The Shaper's Life, source: Runestone
Codex entry: Thorn of the Dead Gods, source: Drifter's Cache
Codex entry: Topsider's Honor, source: Genlock emissary
Special objects
- Road Markers
- 2 x Tripwires (40 XP and 50 XP) attached to exploding barrels.
- 8 x Leghold Traps (40 XP) next to deepstalker cage, in the darkspawn fort, and on the bridge.
- x3 Ballistae manned by genlocks.
- A Glass Phylactery containing the essence of one of The Black Vials revenants.