Wikia

Location
Ostagar

Terrain:

Forest

Type:

Ruin

Location:

Southern Ferelden

Inhabitants:

Humans, Elves, Mabari War Dogs

Characters:

Several

Exits:

Korcari Wilds
Tower of Ishal

Appearances:

Dragon Age: Origins

Representing the furthest point of encroachment by the ancient Tevinter Imperium into the barbarian lands of the southeast, the fortress of Ostagar was once one of the most important defensive Imperial holdings south of the Waking Sea. Standing at the edge of the Korcari Wilds, its Tevinter garrisons watched for any signs of invasion by barbarians (those known to Ferelden as the Chasind Wilders). Straddling a narrow pass in the hills, the fortress kept the Chasind from the fertile lowlands of the north, being exceedingly difficult to attack due to its naturally defensible position.

Like most southern Imperial holdings, Ostagar was abandoned after Tevinter's collapse during the First Blight. It was sacked from the south at least once, but the Chasind threat has dwindled since their defeat by the hand of Hafter after the Second Blight and no troops have been stationed the area for centuries - though most of the walls still stand, as does the Tower of Ishal (named after the Archon who ordered its construction). Ostagar remains a testament to the power of the Tevinter Imperium.

Involvement Edit

See Battle of Ostagar.

“We now have a dog and Alistair is still the dumbest one in the party.” — Morrigan
This article contains spoilers for Dragon Age: Origins. Click here to reveal them.

Ostagar was the staging ground for the armies of Ferelden to battle the Blight. Before the Warden arrived with Duncan, the armies under King Cailan had already defeated two waves of darkspawn. After The Warden underwent the Joining alongside Daveth and Ser Jory, it was time for the final plans to be made for the battle. King Cailan ordered Alistair and the Warden to light a beacon atop the Tower of Ishal, a signal for Loghain and his troops to charge and rush the flanks of the darkspawn already engaged with Cailan's forces.

All did not go according to plan, however, as darkspawn swarmed the tower from subterranean tunnels. Those tasked with lighting the beacon had to fight their way to the top and pit themselves against an ogre before they could complete their mission. Then, Loghain ordered his forces to retreat, abandoning the rest of the army in the valley beneath Ostagar. King Cailan and Duncan were slain and their troops massacred, leaving only two Grey Wardens in all of Ferelden.

Shortly thereafter, more darkspawn stormed the tower and overwhelmed the two Wardens. Ostagar was lost.

Return to Ostagar

See Return to Ostagar.

With this DLC installed, the Warden has a chance to return to Ostagar, finding it covered with snow and tenacious darkspawn. By driving off several groups of stragglers, the party can recover King Cailan's body and equipment, the royal arms chest, and Duncan's sword and dagger, among a few other special items.

Quests Edit

The Hungry Deserter

The Mabari Hound

Joining the Grey Wardens

Tainted Blood

The Grey Wardens' Cache

After the Joining

The Tower of Ishal

Characters Edit

Notable items Edit

See Quartermaster and The Hungry Deserter.

Ser Garlen's Sword, source: Elven Messenger

Key to Mages' Chest, source: The Hungry Deserter

Hardy's Belt, source: Quartermaster (see Stealing, below)

Novice Flame Rune, source: chest by Alistair

Novice Slow Rune, source: chest by Alistair

Beef Bone, source: Sacks

Joining Chalice, source: Return to Ostagar

Codex entriesEdit

Codex entry: Archdemon - unlocked upon arrival

Codex entry: Dogs in Ferelden - note in empty kennel in Ostagar after completing Tainted Blood quest

Codex entry: King Cailan Theirin - meet Cailan

Codex entry: The Korcari Wilds - unlocked upon arrival

Codex entry: Loghain Mac Tir - unlocked when Cailan mentions Loghain

Codex entry: Ostagar - talk to the guard at the end of the bridge

Codex entry: Wynne - talk to Wynne

Containers Edit

Daytime

Chest (generic, critter) - southeast of the gate to the Tower of Ishal; locked (10 XP)
Chest (Ferelden, normal) - by Quartermaster; locked (5 XP)
Chest (Ferelden, critter) - by infirmary; locked (10 XP)
Chest (Ferelden, critter) - by sergeant; locked (5 XP)
Chest (Ferelden, critter) - by war council table; locked (5 XP)
Chest (Special, see above) - by Alistair; locked (5 XP)
Sack (Ferelden, normal) - platform behind Cailan's tent
Sack (Ferelden, critter) - platform behind Cailan's tent
Sack (generic, critter) - platform east of bridge
Sacks (generic, normal) - platform east of bridge, always includes Beef Bone

Evening

Chest (Circle, normal) - see The Hungry Deserter

Tower of Ishal sector

Barrel (generic, critter)
Barrel (generic, normal)
Chest (Ferelden, normal) - locked (10 XP)
Wooden Crate (Ferelden, normal)
Wooden Crate (Ferelden, elite)
Wooden Crate (Ferelden, critter)
Wooden Crate (Ferelden, critter)

Stealing Edit

Daytime

Stealing targets:

Normal

The Chantry sister leading prayer by the benches, where Ser Jory begins.
- Both shield-bearing Knights in this prayer group.
A female Ash Warrior.
A male Ash Warrior without a helmet.
A soldier (bearing a round shield) close to Duncan's fire.
A soldier (bearing a round shield) attending the Cleric's sermon.
Tower Guard.
A soldier (bearing a shield) near the Quartermaster.
Both soldiers (bearing metal shields) near the Sergeant.
The first soldier bearing a round shield as you come up the ramp towards the Sergeant.

Elite

The Sergeant lecturing over the genlock corpse on the platform south of Loghain's tent (though not while he is speaking).
Ash Warrior Leader.
The Kennel Master.
The Quartermaster (always yields Hardy's Belt).

Boss

Duncan (requires at least 20 cunning)

Evening

Due to a lasting exploit, all of the daytime targets can be pick-pocketed a second time; three more 'normal' targets also become available:

A soldier (bearing a metal shield) near the Sergeant.
A male soldier (bearing a metal shield) in the group across the ramp from the Sergeant.
A soldier on the bridge.
Alistair after the joining before you go to the meeting with the King.

Notes Edit

See Tainted Blood regarding an experience exploit.
When Morrigan guides you back from Flemeth's Hut, evening has fallen. The Quartermaster will have restocked inventory (i.e. everything bought from him during the day can be bought again); see also Stealing above.
xbox360 The Deathroot (Elfroot on the pc) due south of the King's Highway map marker resets when it becomes night in Ostagar, allowing it to be acquired once when you first arrive, and then again before the attending the strategy meeting (where it will now be a deathroot on the pc).
If you fail a pickpocket attempt on some of the soldiers at Ostagar, a knight reports this to Duncan (who will defend The Warden) and, when spoken to, will give a stern yet understanding lecture on when not to steal from people and the importance of not getting caught.
- Speaking to the Knight after this report causes him to state, "People sometimes forget that the Wardens recruit from all walks of life, even thieves. I have not forgotten."
When you have found the treaties and return to the night time Ostagar as a Human Noble, the Kennel Master has a ! hovering over his head and on the minimap/map, but there is nothing you can do. Confirmed on pc

Bugs Edit

Bug! There are several places on this map where you can go "out of bounds" and enter areas that should be inaccessible. The first two of these will leave your character trapped, so remember to save your game.

On the lookout platform southeast of the main camp area, there is a broken ledge that you can walk off of to land on the inaccessible platform below.
Once Tower of Ishal has started, it is possible to walk onto one of the ballistae on the bridge and step off the ledge, landing in the middle of the battle below. The participants in the battle are low-resolution sprites that cannot be interacted with.
You can walk off the worn-away part of the southwest lookout next to the Tower of Ishal and travel down the slope.
You can go back to "within the bounds". Go to the Army Camp from the outside, click on the Cleric to get through the barrier and talk with the guard. He'll give his standard line and you'll be back in the game.
It's possible to use the map hole along with the "hold/follow" command for party members to manuver the party into the off limits area of Ishal. Getting to this area will allow the player enter Ishal and start the quest to light the beacon early. This can allow the player to take Daveth and Ser Jory into later areas of the game, as they will stay in the party until manually removed.

Wikia

Ostagar

Contents