The Frostback Basin is a unique region near the southwestern border of Ferelden. Multiple terrain types can be found across The Basin as it lies near the base of the Frostback Mountains.
Background[]
The Basin is an overgrown wilderness filled with fiercely independent hunters known as Avvar. They settled in the southern mountains of Thedas, spreading their culture across the Basin. An ancient Tevinter ruin lay dormant, hidden away in the Basin in hopes of reawakening a mysterious darkness.
Throughout history, few have dared explore the Frostback Basin. Ancient Tevinter ruins lie overgrown by thick forest, their purpose here forgotten. Rare expeditions in ages past returned with little information - or did not return at all. The exception is the Avvar, who have long travelled the basin, and, in more recent generations, established a hold along its steep mountain cliffs.
—Excerpt from the quest journal
Involvement[]
“We have found it. Hakkon himself welcomed us. An ancient Tevinter fortress, sheathed in a wall of ice. It was untouched by lowlanders, who could find no way to breach the walls. Our mages alone, blessed by Silent Hakkon with the gifts of ice, could part the wall for a few heartbeats, giving our people time to climb inside.” ―Gurd Harofsen
The reformed Inquisition launches an expedition to the Frostback Basin on the advice of Bram Kenric, a professor from the University of Orlais. Kenric had sent word to the Inquisition in regards to clues that had been discovered regarding the final resting place of the prior Inquisitor that led the Inquisition during the Divine Age. Kendric is tenured in the histories and formation of the last Inquisition; and is eager to uncover new evidence pertaining to Inquisitor Ameridan.
Ameridan's disappearance has remained a mystery to Orlesian scholars including the circumstances surrounding his sudden departure to the Basin. Kendric believes that the Basin contains all the needed clues to piece the enigma back together as the discovery would be beneficial to both academia and to the Inquisition. The Inquisitor rendezvous with Kendric at a newly set up Inquisition Camp established in the Frostback Basin. Kendric discloses that the region is home to two feuding Avvar tribes. Those that are allied with the Inquisition are found in Stone-Bear Hold; while those that are hostile call themselves the Jaws of Hakkon.
During their investigation, the Inquisitor learns that Ameridan came to the Basin on Emperor Drakon I's orders to stop an invasion of the lowlands by the original Jaws of Hakkon. To help them in their endeavor, the Hakkonites had bound the spirit of their god Hakkon Wintersbreath to a high dragon. As Orlais was already facing the Second Blight, a concurrent invasion from the Hakkonites would have proved devastating to the region.
Ameridan's mission proved triumphant as he succeeded in stopping the Hakkonites by binding himself to Hakkon's dragon form. Ameridan froze time itself around the both of them—knowing that they would bound to one another for all eternity.[1]
“The lowland warrior trapped our god in some strange magic the mages cannot understand. They say time is twisted upon itself, like a knot within a knot. They say it may be old Tevinter magic that made it possible... regardless the spirit of Hakkon remains in the dragon, that much is clear. Perhaps we can bring forth Hakkon himself and bind him anew―to another worthy beast.[2]”
The modern-day Hakkonites have found a way to transfer Hakkon to another vessel, and are planning on finishing their predecessors' work of invading the lowlands. The Inquisitor enlists the aid of the Avvar at Stone-Bear Hold to assist with the assault of the Hakkonite fortress. The combined forces allow the Inquisitor to get inside to confront the cults leader, Gurd Harofsen. Though Harofsen is defeated, he successfully manages to complete the ritual, allowing for the massive dragon to break free from the fortress. Coincidentally, Inquisitor Ameridan is freed in the process as the magic that bound the two to one another was shattered.
With the destruction of Ameriden's grasp over Hakkon, the concept of time also returned to Ameriden's mortal form, allowing only a few final moments in his new reality. He discloses the circumstances regarding his mission and gives his blessing to the Inquisitor to finish what he couldn't. The Inquisitor confronts the ice dragon in hopes of finally freeing Hakkon Wintersbreath from centuries of confinement―the Inquisitor can gain access to The Basin by completing the Investigate Frostback Basin war table scouting operation in Skyhold.
Places[]
Regions[]
- Abandoned Jail
- Ancient Culvert
- Basin Floor
- Boathouse
- Cliffside Path
- Cloudcap Lake
- Eastern Riverbank
- Endarsen Pass
- Fortress Gates
- The Lady's Rest
- Lakeside Road
- Nigel’s Point
- The Old Drains
- Overgrown Courtyard
- Razikale’s Reach
- Research Outpost
- The Rockspit
- The Shallows
- Stone-Bear Hold
- Swamp Kuldsdotten
- Varsdotten River
- Western Riverbank
Additional places[]
- Lowland Fortress
- Old Temple
Inquisition camps[]
- Basin Floor Camp
- Canyon Camp
- Cliffside Camp
- Ridgline Camp
- River Camp
- Swampside Camp
Characters[]
Inquisition[]
- Inquisitor Ameridan
- Professor Bram Kenric
- Colette
- Scribe Dunwich
- Lieutenant Farrow
- Scout Grandin
- Scout Harding
- Knight-Templar Haron (mentioned)
- Baron Havard-Pierre d'Amortisan
- Alchemist Orinna (mentioned)
- Dreamer Telana (mentioned)
Stone-Bear Hold[]
- Trainer Arrken
- Arvid Rolfsen
- The Augur
- Einar
- Finn
- Skald Fullna Hethsdotten
- Gyda Myrdotten
- Hask
- Linna
- Master of the Hunt
- Parve
- Runa
- Sigrid Gulsdotten
- Storvacker
- Thane Svarah Sun-Hair
Merchants[]
- Trader Helsdim
- Stone-Bear Hold Crafting Materials Merchant
- Stone-Bear Hold Weapons & Schematics Merchant
Jaws of Hakkon[]
- Thane Gurd Harofsen
Quests[]
- Ameridan's End
- Avvar Allies
- The Basin Beckons
- Beasts at Bay
- A Father's Name
- Guests of the Hold
- Hakkon Wintersbreath
- Hakkon's Trials
- Holding Frostback Basin
- In Exile
- It Remains to be Seen
- Jawbreaker
- Jaws of Hakkon
- Lead the Charge
- The Loss of a Friend
- The Mystery of Winter
- The Nox Morta
- On Ameridan's Trail
- Storvacker Caged
- They Came From Somewhere Else
- Up and Away
- What Yet Lingers
- Where Once We Walked
- Worthy of Publication
Rifts[]
War table operations[]
- An Appeal to the Shaperate
- A Conspiracy of Dunces
- A Cultured Exchange
- Assuage Ameridan's Heirs
- Celebrate With Ameridan's Heirs
- Investigate Frostback Basin
- Send Relics of Tyrdda Bright-Axe
- Send Skywatcher to Stone-Bear Hold
- Too Grizzly To Bear
Creatures[]
- Bogfisher
- Nox Morta (a unique bogfisher)
- Snoufleur
- Tusket
- Imbued Tusket
Hostile creatures[]
- Gurgut
- Fade-Touched gurgut
- Ice Giant
- Lurker
- Fade-Touched lurker
- Poison spider
- Giant spider
- Fade-Touched spider
- Hakkon Wintersbreath
- Frosted Gibbering horror
Enemies[]
- Jaws of Hakkon
- Hakkonite Spellbinder (Mage)
- Hakkonite Spy (Rogue - Double Daggers)
- Hakkonite Champion (Warrior - Two-Handed Great Maul)
- Hakkonite Bruiser (Warrior - Two-Handed Great Maul)
- Hakkonite Defender (Warrior - Mace and Tower Shield)
- Hakkonite Bowman (Rogue - Archer)
- Hakkonite Warrior (Warrior - One-Handed Weapon)
Collections[]
Astrariums[]
Dragon Hunter[]
Landmarks[]
Shards[]
Skyhold Customizations[]
The following Avvarcentric Skyhold customization items are available for purchase from Trader Helsdim in Stone-Bear Hold:
- Avvar Glass for 3136
- Avvar Bed for 1426
- Avvar Throne for 712
- Avvar Heraldry for 712
- Avvar Drapery for 712
- Avvar Decor for 712
Resources[]
Herbs[]
Cloth[]
Leather[]
- Ice Dragon Hide
- Imbued Tusket Hide
- Hardened Gurgut Skin
- Hardened Tusket Skin
- Lurker Scales
- Craggy Skin
Metal[]
Notable items[]
Veilfire glyphs[]
The following are all obtained by reading a hidden rune in the cave where Gyda Myrdotten is located:
Loot[]
- Accuser's Staff - looted from the sarcophagus inside The Mystery of Winter chamber.
- Armor of the Dragon Hunter - acquired in The Old Temple upon completing the main quest Ameridan's End if the Inquisitor is a rogue.
- Avvar War-Maul - looted from a massive Avvar warrior found in Razikale's Reach, see main quest On Ameridan's Trail and from Gurd Harofsen after becoming a Revenant in the Old Temple; see main quest Ameridan's End.
- Bitter Axe - looted from Fade rifts.
- Compound Crossbow Arms - looted from a pile of bones located near the Fade-Touched lurker found northwest of the initial starting camp established; see side quest A Father's Name.
- Dhal Vallasan - available at the Weapons and Schematics Merchant in Stone-Bear Hold for 16508 and looted from a chest next to the Varsdotten River fast travel marker; see main quest On Ameridan's Trail.
- Hakkon's Wisdom - looted from the high dragon Hakkon Wintersbreath.
- Hakkon's Honor - acquired in the cave revealed from unlocking Astrariums in Frostback Basin.
- Hakkon's Mercy - looted from a chest inside the west vault at Razikale's Reach upon the correct completion of the floor puzzle; see main quest On Ameridan's Trail.
- Hakkon's Valor - acquired upon a second completion in Stone-Bear Hold's arena, after completing the side quest Hakkon's Trials.
- Hakkon's Wrath - looted from the Ice Giant.
- Heartstring Bow - looted from a skeleton after opening the Fade rift in The Lady's Rest.
- Helm of the Dragon Hunter - looted off the corpse of the Nox Morta in Swamp Kuldsdotten if the Inquisitor is a dwarf, elf or human; see side quest the Nox Morta.
- Knight's Hunting Blade - looted from a corpse located near the Fade-Touched gurgut in Swamp Kuldsdotten (northwest of the Swampside Inquisition Camp, near the Fade-Touched gurgut); see side quest A Father's Name.
- Master Cooldown Amulet - looted from the high dragon Hakkon Wintersbreath.
- Master Stamina Amulet - looted from Fade rifts.
- Master Belt of Focus - looted from a pile of bones located near the Fade-Touched lurker found northwest of the initial starting camp established; see side quest A Father's Name.
- Master Belt of Grenades - looted from a chest, behind the eastern most locked door, in the Abandoned Jail during the main quest Storvacker Caged.
- Master Belt of Tonics - looted from the high dragon Hakkon Wintersbreath.
- Master Guard Belt - looted from a corpse dangling on a wall located southwest from the Mystery of Winter temple door.
- Masterwork Enchanter Staff Schematic - looted from a nearby corpse after defeating the Fade-Touched spider; see side quest A Father's Name.
- Masterwork Grey Warden Shield Schematic - looted from a corpse located in Swamp Kuldsdotten (northwest of the Swampside Inquisition Camp, near the Fade-Touched gurgut); see side quest A Father's Name.
- Masterwork Jagged Battleaxe Schematic - acquired in the cave revealed from unlocking Astrariums in Frostback Basin.
- Plate Mail of the Dragon Hunter - acquired in the Old Temple upon completing the main quest Ameridan's End if the Inquisitor is a warrior.
- Ritual Breaker - available at the Stone-Bear Hold Weapons and Schematics Merchant in Stone-Bear Hold for 13192 .
- Saboteur's Knife - available at the Weapons and Schematics Merchant in Stone-Bear Hold for 8572 .
- Savage Thorn - looted from the fade rift in Endarsen Pass.
- Scepter of Razikale - looted from a chest behind the western most locked door in the Abandoned Jail; see main quest Storvacker Caged.
- Skywatcher's Cleaver - looted from a pile of bones located near the Fade-Touched lurker found northwest of the initial starting camp established.
- Swift Greataxe - looted upon sealing a rift; see side quest Rift in the Floor.
- The Jade Ham - rewarded upon completing Send Relics of Tyrdda Bright-Axe war table operation.
- Torn Page - looted from the Revenant version of Gurd Harofsen in the Old Temple; see main quest Ameridan's End (unlocks Codex entry: Journal of Gurd Harofsen).
- Vestments of the Dragon Hunter - acquired in The Old Temple upon completing the main quest Ameridan's End if the Inquisitor is a mage.
- Vitaar of the Dragon Hunter - looted off the corpse of the Nox Morta in Swamp Kuldsdotten if the Inquisitor is a qunari; see side quest the Nox Morta.
Codex entries[]
- Codex entry: A Celebration Of Wardens
- Codex entry: A Good Marriage
- Codex entry: A Letter to Harding
- Codex entry: A Tradition of Rebirth
- Codex entry: Ameridan and the Mage
- Codex entry: Ancient Document Protected in a Scroll Case
- Codex entry: Arboreal Fort
- Codex entry: At What Cost
- Codex entry: Ballad of the Murderer's Gold
- Codex entry: Blood-Stained Shrine
- Codex entry: Colette's Notes
- Codex entry: Constellation: Belenas
- Codex entry: Constellation: Fulmenos
- Codex entry: Constellation: Visus
- Codex entry: From a Mage's Journal
- Codex entry: Frostback Basin
- Codex entry: Geldauran's Claim
- Codex entry: Inquisitor Ameridan
- Codex entry: Journal of Gurd Harofsen
- Codex entry: Leather-Bound Hakkonite Journal
- Codex entry: Mouth of Echoes
- Codex entry: Mysteries of the Frostback Basin
- Codex entry: Nigel's Point
- Codex entry: On Avvar Cuisine
- Codex entry: Pages near an Old Campfire
- Codex entry: Questions of Accuracy
- Codex entry: Razikale's Reach
- Codex entry: Scout Harding
- Codex entry: Storvacker
- Codex entry: Tale of Hryngnar, Ice-Troll
- Codex entry: Thane Svarah Sun-Hair
- Codex entry: The Death
- Codex entry: The Frozen Gate
- Codex entry: The Hunt of the Fell Wolf
- Codex entry: The Mourning
- Codex entry: The Naming of Stone-Bear Hold
- Codex entry: The Return
- Codex entry: Two Marked in Battle
- Codex entry: Unfallen Shack
Note texts[]
- A Baffled Note
- Field Notes
- From the Journal of Havard-Pierre d'Amortisan
- Grandin's Orders
- A Half-Chewed Label
- Journal of the Giant Watcher
- Letter Found near Many Corpses
- A Memory Saved
- Messages Left at the Outpost
- A Neatly Penned Note
- Property of Colette
- Sketches Found in a Meat Shop
- Soldier's Note
- Tevinter Carving (The Old Drains)
- Tevinter Carving (Razikale's Reach)
- Tevinter Inscription
- Torn Page
- An Unsent Letter (Jace)
- A Warning
Notes[]
- The veilfire torch found near the Fade-Touched lurker nest can be used to find Veil Quartz on the western ledge above the camp. The Veil Quartz deposit is a bit tricky to reach, for a detailed map see Veil Quartz gallery.
Trivia[]
- After the completion of Ameridan's End, the basin will turn from day to night (see gallery below).
See also[]
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ Taken from Codex entry: Journal of Gurd Harofsen
- ↑ Expanded from Codex entry: Journal of Gurd Harofsen