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Wayward Son is an Act 1 main quest in Dragon Age II.

Hawke searches for Feynriel, a young man with a talent for magic, a fact that his mother hid out of fear of losing him to the Circle until his nightmares could no longer be ignored.

Acquisition

After completing Long Way Home, this quest can be acquired by speaking to Arianni, Feynriel's mother, an elf in the Kirkwall Alienage.

Note: Selecting the dialogue option "I will stop him" results in Rivalry Bethany: rivalry (+10). (Prior to patch 1.03, Rivalry Anders: rivalry (+5) and Rivalry Aveline: rivalry (+5) as well. (pcPCThere is no approval change with Aveline.)

Walkthrough

Arianni will suggest speaking either with Thrask, a templar at the Gallows Courtyard, or Feynriel's father Vincento, a human merchant in Lowtown.

If Hawke meets with Vincento first, then speaking to Thrask afterwards is optional. Note that Hawke cannot speak to Vincento about Feynriel if Thrask has already been questioned about the matter and told you about Samson (if you choose the aggressive option with him then he will not tell you about Samson and you can still talk to Vincento).

Thrask

Thrask will ultimately direct Hawke to Samson, a retired templar who supposedly helps runaway apostates in Lowtown at night (see the next section of the walkthrough).

Speaking to Thrask provides additional friendship/rivalry opportunities along with the tip about Samson:

  • "I want to help Feynriel."
    • Rivalry Fenris: rivalry (+10)
    • Friendship Merrill: friendship (+10)
    • Friendship Anders: friendship (+10) (does not occur after v1.04)
  • "Feynriel is a menace."
    • Rivalry Anders: rivalry (+5) (does not occur on pcPC)
    • Friendship Fenris: friendship (+10)
    • Rivalry Merrill: rivalry (+5) (does not occur on pcPC)
  • "Tell me about Feynriel."
    • No effect

Dialogue choice 2:

  • "The city guard might help." (Aveline required)
    • Friendship Aveline: friendship (+5)
  • "Can I assist you?", "And you don't need help?", "Tell me right now."
    • No effect
Bug icon Bug! Thrask tells you that Samson is in Darktown, but he is actually in Lowtown at night.

Vincento

If Hawke approaches Vincento first, he will reveal information about Feynriel and likewise mention Samson if Hawke is a mage (or Bethany is in the party) and the special dialogue option to prove yourself as a friend to apostate runaways is selected. An aggressive Hawke can threaten him for the same results. Selecting the diplomatic option ("Make up for your neglect") results in Friendship Merrill: friendship (+10) and Friendship Bethany: friendship (+5).

Bug icon Bug! Vincento tells you that Samson is in Darktown, but he is actually in Lowtown at night.

Lowtown (Night)

Samson says that he couldn't help Feynriel since the boy was unable to pay for his passage. An aggressive Hawke can threaten Samson, or a sarcastic Hawke can bribe him with 50 Silver, but the diplomatic option provides the same information. He tells Hawke that he sent Feynriel to see someone else at the Docks.

Bug icon Bug! If Hawke talks to Samson prior to this part of the quest, the quest marker may not disappear. Regardless, Hawke may proceed to the next location at the Docks.

Docks (Night)

Reiner

Captain Reiner

Upon entering Arthuris's Private Dock, the party is ambushed by a group of slavers. There are three (3) simple traps on the main floor, requiring 10 cunning to detect / disarm for 50 XP per trap.

After defeating the slavers, Hawke walks in on a mage in mid-transformation to an Abomination. It is Thrask's daughter. There are two (2) simple traps in this room, requiring 10 cunning to detect / disarm for 50 XP per trap.

Bug icon Bug! Olivia's letter may not be obtainable if a mage has Death Syphon active when the abomination is killed. See An Errant Letter for details.

After dispatching the enemies, search Captain Reiner's corpse for Bloodletter. His bill of sale directs Hawke towards another group of slavers in Darktown.

Be sure to loot the area thoroughly before leaving, as Hawke is unable to return.

Darktown

When confronting Danzig, all dialogue choices ("I just want to talk.", "Pay for me?", "Give me Feynriel!") will lead to combat and have no approval changes for companions. However, if you have Fenris in your party your choices are as follows.

  • "Fenris..."
    • "Yes."
      • Rivalry Aveline: rivalry (+5)
      • Rivalry Carver: rivalry (+5)
      • Rivalry Fenris: rivalry (+10)
    • "No." Triggers fight. An aggressive Hawke will kill Danzig during the cutscene.
      • Friendship Aveline: friendship (+5)
      • Friendship Carver: friendship (+10)
      • Friendship Fenris: friendship (+10)

Danzig drops over 3Gold along with a map directing Hawke to the Slaver Caverns at the Wounded Coast. There is a Standard Chest to loot here, so you might want to bring a rogue with a cunning level of 20 or higher.

Bug icon Bug! The map may not be found in any of the dropped loot, halting game progression. If this occurs either load a previous save, or obtain it via a mod by using the item ID code: mag130im_danzig_map

Slaver Caverns

The Slaver Caverns are located southwest of The Wounded Coast map entrance, in the south-central area. A Spindleweed node and Deep Mushroom can be found within. The Alchemist's Protective Handguards can also be found in an unlocked chest. For their locations, see the map.

After some tough battles along the way, Hawke finds the leader of the slavers, Varian Ilithis, holding a sword to Feynriel's throat:

  • "I'll risk that." Triggers fight.
    • Rivalry Aveline: rivalry (+5)
    • Friendship Fenris: friendship (+10)
  • "Let's work something out." Triggers fight.
    • Rivalry Fenris: rivalry (+10) (negated if you tell Feynriel to go to the Circle once he is released)
  • "I don't need to step." Hawke throws a dagger, killing Varian. Triggers fight. (only available for a rogue Hawke)
  • "Varric, help me out."
    • Friendship Fenris: friendship (+10) (if chosen to kill the slaver after Varric's intervention, negated if you send Feynriel to the Dalish)
    • Rivalry Fenris: rivalry (+10) (if let slaver live after Varric's intervention)
    • Friendship Varric: friendship (+5)

If Varric's help is requested and Varian is not killed, Hawke receives 3 Gold.

Afterwards Hawke can convince Feynriel to surrender to the Circle of Magi, or encourage him to seek refuge with the Dalish clan at Sundermount:

  • "Maybe there's another way.", "My sister's a Mage" (Bethany must in the party)
    • Friendship Bethany: friendship (+5)
  • "Do what you think is best."
    • Friendship Anders: friendship (+10)
    • Rivalry Aveline: rivalry (+5)
    • Friendship Bethany: friendship (+10)
    • Rivalry Carver: rivalry (+10)
    • Rivalry Fenris: rivalry (+10)
    • Friendship Isabela: friendship (+5)
    • Friendship Merrill: friendship (+10)
  • "I have friends in the Dalish" (this is only possible if you first ask him about his nightmares)
    • Friendship Anders: friendship (+10)
    • Rivalry Aveline: rivalry (+5)
    • Friendship Bethany: friendship (+10)
    • Rivalry Carver: rivalry (+10)
    • Rivalry Fenris: rivalry (+10)
    • Friendship Merrill: friendship (+10)
  • "Go to the Circle."
    • Friendship Aveline: friendship (+5)
    • Rivalry Anders: rivalry (+15)
    • Rivalry Bethany: rivalry (+10)
    • Friendship Carver: friendship (+10)
    • Friendship Fenris: friendship (+10) (negated if you negotiated his release and did not attack the Slavers after)
    • Rivalry Merrill: rivalry (+10)
Note: If Hawke is a mage there is a special option ("I am a mage") while speaking to Feynriel. When selected, Hawke demonstrates a spell with his/her right hand and says "I am you", which seems to impress Feynriel.

Be sure to loot the area thoroughly before leaving, as Hawke is unable to return. A group of spiders will ambush Hawke in the large cavern.

Kirkwall Alienage

Back in the Alienage, speak with Feynriel's mother Arianni for a reward, ending the quest.

Note: Choosing the Circle option results in Rivalry Anders: rivalry (+5) upon quest completion.

Result

  • Feynriel goes to the Circle of Magi, or seeks refuge with the Dalish elves:
    • The Circle option:
    • The Dalish option:
  • Vincento and Vincento's Northern Merchandise vanish upon completion of this quest.
    • xbox360xbox360On the Xbox version of the game, Vincento and his store will remain even after the completion of the quest. He will, however, be gone after the end of Act 1.
  • The quest Night Terrors will be automatically acquired at the start of Act 2.

Rewards

Speaking to Arianni:

Runed Silverite Ring Runed Silverite Ring and 800 XP

From Keeper Marethari if the Dalish option was chosen: 1 Gold (need to talk to Feynriel at the Dalish camp in Sundermount)

Notable items

Hidden Cave

"Hidden" cave in the Slaver Caverns.

Obtainable exclusively during this quest:

Unique armor / weapons:

Alchemist's Protective Handguards Alchemist's Protective Handguards – Medium gloves found in the Slaver Caverns.

Bloodletter BloodletterDagger found at Arthuris's Private Dock.

Crafting resources:

Cave map wayward son

Deep Mushroom, Map Location

Deep Mushroom Deep Mushroom – Found in the "hidden" cave area of the Slaver Caverns, on the platform in the room where the first battle occurs.

Spindleweed Spindleweed – Found in the Slaver Caverns behind the mine cart near the entrance.

Notes

  • After the dialog with Feynriel in the Slaver Caverns, don't leave the caverns through the nearest exit. Go back towards the entrance for a fight against some spiders and some additional XP.
  • If seeking the Supplier achievement, be sure to grab the Deep Mushroom and Spindleweed crafting resources in the Slaver Caverns. There is also Glitterdust on a side road south of the Wounded Coast's entrance, and a Deathroot at the south end of the map in Darktown (near the sewer entrance).
  • It is possible that the Gallows may not yet be unlocked while acquiring this quest. For a mage Hawke the Gallows will be unlocked earlier to complete Carver's Family History quest. But for a warrior or rogue Hawke the Gallows will be unlocked after acquiring Enemies Among Us quest. In addition, after speaking with Feynriels mother for the first time, the Gallows will be unlocked.

Trivia

  • Upon finding the map to the Slaver Caverns, a sarcastic/witty Hawke may make a joke about the Wounded Coast's name, saying it must be near the "Injured Cliffs", the "Limping Hills", and "Massive Head-Trauma Bay".
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