Dragon Age Origins Walkthrough Part 16 – Lake Calenhad Docks, The Broken Circle

Dragon Age Origins Walkthrough Part 16 – Lake Calenhad Docks, The Broken Circle

The entryway into the Circle Tower. While there are not many direct quest here, a number of quests have components that need to be fulfilled here. Still, talk with Kester and you will learn that no one has been allowed to cross the lake to the Tower for days. Once you finish, seek out the Templar leader, Greagoir. You can find him down by the docks, or at least his representative. With Leliana, you can get across with ease, otherwise you need to intimidate or persuade your way over.

Be sure to talk with the Mage Collective's Liason who is behind Kester. He will offer you the ability to do the Mage Collective side quest. This has a lot of rewards for you (experience and beyond) and is worth your time.

Side Quests
Dereliction Of Duty:
You will find Sammuel in this village. He is to the right of the fire, opposite the Spoiled Princess. Talk with him to start the fight. Kill him and his two men, then collect the stolen supplies.

Mage's Collective:
Here you can acquire the following quests, though none can be completed in Lake Calehad Docks:
Notice Of Termination, Thy Brother's Killer, Herbal Magic, Places of Power, Careless Accusation

When you make it into the Tower from the Docks you will learn that the Templars have lost control of it. You will learn that the Templars have called to wipe the Circle of Magi clean, killing every mage inside the tower.

Apprentice's Quarters – Floor 1
Once you have managed to  get inside it becomes a simple matter of talking to the Knight-Commander and convincing him you can survive heading into the the Tower itself and facing down multiple Abominations. The doors will be shut behind you and you cannot exit until this quest is complete.

Once inside the Apprentice's Quarters themselves, head north. Head into the first door on the right to find a quest, “Watchguard of the Reaching”. It is in the chest next to the bed to the right of the first door. Head straight back to the locked chest to get an Acolyte's Staff from it. Be sure to also loot the northern part of the first dorm room as well for some more goods.

Now head into the second set of dorms, just above the first. Search the chests, specifically, the Apprentice's Footlocker to find the second page of the Watchguard of the Reaching”. Head to the left and pick the chest to get a rune. Search thoroughly as there is a chest against the northern beds on the left-hand side. It has a note that will let you find a hidden cache in the first dorm room. With the note, look at the second bed on the left from the back in the southern part of the room. You will see it is Derni's bed. Loot it to find an Acid Flask, Freeze Bomb, Lyrium Potion and Injury Kit.

With that, head for the northern most door in the first corridor. Open it to start a cutscene where you will meet Wynne. She has a shield blocking access to the rest of the Tower. She can be persuaded to join your cause (or you join her's). In the same room, head up and to the right. You will find a locked chest with a Lesser Lyrium Potion inside it. When you are ready, approach the barrier and have Wynne take it down.

On the other side, head to the right. When you get to the library itself you will find yourself fighting 3 abominations: Desire, Rage and Hunger. Once they are defeated, circle around the table in front of the entrance you used to collect the codex entries, “”, blank vellum, and the side quest, “Summoning Sciences” from the torn book. After that head to the left of the table and loot the soldier's corpse for a bow and an injury kit.

Now head into the first section of the library. Start along the northern edge. One of the first things you will find is an Apprentice's note. This is the third piece of the “Watchguard of the Reaching” side quest. Search the pile next to the note to find some private documents. To the left you will find the Summoning font, the starting point for the “Summoning Sciences” side quest. Keep going to the left and loot the soldier's corpse to find 3 health poultice and a yew shortbow.

Head into the second section of the library. There you will encounter 3 abominations and 1 rage demon. Defeat them, loot what you can, getting the “Promises of Pride” codex entry. Now head through the door above you.

In the third section you face a Greater Rage Demon and 4 abominations. First, look at the table and examine the torn book to get the second half of the book for “Summoning Sciences”. Now loot the room. The Charred corpse has an Apprentice's Amulet, as well as a Lesser Injury Kit and Lesser Lyrium Potion. The soldier's corpse has 3 health poultices and a steel dagger. This will also clear the way for you to head up to the second floor. If you want to complete “Summoning Sciences”, this is a good time.

Summoning Sciences is an interesting quest as it involves things only found in the library. There are two ways to complete the quest. The first is as described in the books to fight a Bereskarn that will drop a pair of Charged Mitts. The second way, commonly called the easter egg version, adds a hidden fourth sequence and will allow you to pick pocket an apparition called “Arl Foreshadow” and gain its codex entry.

*If you are attempted the Easter Egg version, SAVE before you start just in case you do not succeed in your attempt to pick pocket the Arl. This can only be done after you complete the first three sequences of “Summoning Science”.

Normal Version
Sequence One
Touch the Summoning Font in the second section of the library.
Head to the north, into the first section and touch “Tome of Spirit Personages”. It is along the northern wall, near the door into the library.
Now touch “Summoning the First” to summon a Spirit Hog that immediately dies, dropping a Garnet.

Sequence  Two
Head to the third section of the library and touch “Rodercoms Uncommon Calling”. It is to the right of Summoning the Third”
Head to the first section of the library and touch the statue of Magus Gorvish. It is against the back wall.
Now touch “Summoning the Second”. This will summon the Trickster Whim. If you are fast enough (before it laughs) you can pickpocket Whim for a random item. This also unlocks the Chanter's Board Quest, “Unintended Consequences”.

Sequence Three
Touch the Summoning Font in the second section to begin this sequence.
Head to the third section and touch “Elvorn's Grande Bestiary”. It is against the back wall in the southwest.
Head to the first section and touch the “Common Table Carving Spot”. It is on the end of the table closest to “Summoning The First”.
Head to the third section and touch “Spiritorum Etherialis”. It is on the floor between the Bestiary and Uncommon Calling.
Head to the first section and again touch the statue of “Magus Gorvish”.
Again in the first section, touch “Novice Phylactery”. It is on the bookshelves close to “Summoning the First”.
Now head to the third section and touch “Summoning the Third”. This will call the Bereskarn.

Easter Egg Version
Touch the Summoning Font in the second section of the library.
Head to the north, into the first section and touch “Tome of Spirit Personages”. It is along the northern wall, near the door into the library.
Head to the third section of the library and touch “Rodercoms Uncommon Calling”. It is to the right of Summoning the Third”
Head to the first section of the library and touch the statue of Magus Gorvish. It is against the back wall.
Head to the third section and touch “Elvorn's Grande Bestiary”. It is against the back wall in the southwest.
Head to the first section and touch the “Common Table Carving Spot”. It is on the end of the table closest to “Summoning The First”.
Head to the third section and touch “Spiritorum Etherialis”. It is on the floor between the Bestiary and Uncommon Calling.
Head to the first section and again touch the statue of “Magus Gorvish”.
Again in the first section, touch “Novice Phylactery”. It is on the bookshelves close to “Summoning the First”.
Head into the room with the stairs leading up to the second floor. Now touch “Summon the Fourth” to call upon Arl Foreshadow. The “Summoning the Fourth” is found in the northwestern part of the room, behind the bookshelves.

Floor 2
Just beyond the entrance you will find Owain, a Tranquil Keeper of the Circle's Stockroom. He will update you as to the happenings beyond the barrier Wynne put up. Search the nearby charred corpse to find a Water-stained portrait (a gift) and the pile of filth has a deep mushroom inside it. Now head to the south and go through the archway there and investigate the rooms across from the store room.

To the immediate right you will see some toppled bookshelves and in them another of the Apprentice's notes needed for “Watchguard of the Reaching”. Likely while grabbed them you will encounter 3 Blood Mages. Defeat them and you will find yourself talking with the last one who asks for their life.

After the battle, search the room, starting with the Apprentice's Note. Head into the southern most section of this room and look at the Ancient Texts pile to find “Scroll of Banastor”. Head into the section section to find a locked chest on the right with an Iron Magic Staff. On the left you will find Bel's Cache with a Shock Bomb, Lyrium Potion, Injury Kit and Lesser Elixir of Grounding.
Now skip to the final section of the room. You will find a pile of books in the back of the row you with“The Rose of Orlais” (a gift) inside it.

Now head into the hallway, through the archway to the north, into the next part of this floor. Go through the first door on the right. You will find a pair of Hunger Abominations waiting for you inside. Beat them and loot the Charred Corpse on the left for a Lesser Lyrium Potion. On the right you will find a pile of books with blank vellum. Head up into the next room to encounter 4 shambling corpses as you open the door. Immediately to the right is a locked chest with a Lesser injury kit inside. In the first section directly in front of you, there is an amoire with an Apprentice Cowl inside it. In the next section you can find 2 Rage Abominations waiting for you. They guard a Vanity with a Silver Chain (a gift). Now turn around and head to the Closet to the left of where you just fought. Interact with it to talk with the person inside. It is a short, if funny, conversation.

Head back into the corridor and over the next room. In the top left you will find an Abomination fighting 2 Blood Mages. Defeat them all to loot the bodies and the locked chest behind them. The Chest has a Lesser Injury Kit and some Private Documents inside it. Head back toward the door and on the right you will find another Apprentice's Note for “Watchguard of the Reaching”.

Head into the corridor, through the next archway and open the door on the right. Inside, from the left, you will be attack by 2 abominations and a Lesser Rage Demon. In this room, starting the the Amoire, you can get: Iron Acolyte's Staff and Blank Vellum (from the scrolls). Head into the corridor again and go to the right.

In the next room on the right you will find a soldier's corpse with an Injury Kit, Journeyman Paralyze Rune and a Chantry Amulet (a gift). Next, look at the toppled statue. It has a small glass phyactery that you can take which will unleash a Revenant on you. Loot it for a Diamond, Emerald and a scrap of paper. The paper gives you the codex entry for “The Black Vials”. Be sure to also search the nearby charred corpse for a Novice Dweomer Rune. Now move on down the main corridor.

The next room is First Enchanter Irving's Office. Search it to find numerous things. The bookcase to the left has the codex entry “Fraternities of Enchanters”. Irving's chest has a Greater Health Poultice and a Black Grimoire (an important gift). The First Enchanter's Desk has a Small Painted Box within. The cabinet has a Lesser Lyrium Potion inside it. The locked chest next to the cabinet holds the same thing. The scrap of paper to the right has the codex entry “Circles within Circles”. Look into the Enchanter's Journal to get an interesting codex entry, “Irving's Mistake”. Now, finally, you will reach the end of the hall. Take the stairs up to the third floor.

Floor 3
Head around the pillar in front of you to find a locked chest. It has a Lesser Lyrium Potion inside it. Now head to the left and through the door. Go to the right then head north to find the Ancient Texts to expand on the “Scroll of Banastor” codex entry. Examine and loot the charred corpse to trigger 7 corpses to rise. There are a few Enraged, most Shambling but there is also an Arcane Horror that will rise. Assault it as soon as you see the spells it is casting. Be sure to get the Charm of Still Waters from the other Charred Corpse and to search the southern table in this room for the final Apprentice's Note. With this you can now attempt the “Watchguard of the Reaching” Quest. Hold off a minute as there is one more room you need access to in order to complete it.

Head into the next room and loot the charred corpse. It has a Lesser Lyrium Potion. The locked chest to the right of it has 6 silver 56 copper inside it. Now go into the next room. In there you have a trap just inside the door and 4 abominations bearing down on you. Disarm or set off the trap then deal with the abominations. After them 2 Lesser Rage Demons will appear. Defeat them all and loot the bodies for scraps of paper that can fill you in on the rest of the story. Loot the soldier's corpse for 18 Ice arrows. Continue along the corridor now.

Head into the next room on the right. You have a trap just inside the door and 2 Possessed Templars in the room that will attack you. Head into the room they came out of and look around.  The closet has a Lesser Injury Kit and Private Documents while the Pile of Books has some blank vellum. Be sure to also look at the torn page for “Five Pages, Four Mages” side quest. Search of the following rooms carefully to find all the the pages you need to complete this quest and later confront the person behind it.

In the next room, off the hallway, there are few things to find. The first is a cabinet you can loot for an Iron Magic Staff. There is also a torn page on the pedestal against the wall, the second one for the “Five Pages, Four Mages” quest.

The following room is not as easy. There are 5 Charmed Templars and 1 Desire Demon. Loot the bodies to find a Shiver on the Desire Demon. On the Templars you can find a Small Gold Bar (a gift), Rock Salve, Lesser Lyrium Potion and money. Head into the room and go to the left to find the torn page in this room that is part of the “Five Mages, Four Pages” side quest. Next loot the amoire opposite to get another Lesser Lyrium Potion and the torn page next to it for another piece of the “Five Mages, Four Pages” side quest.

Head into the final room in this hallway. On the left, inside the room, you will find another Torn Page, completing the “Five Mages, Four Pages” side quest. With this piece, you can access the Trade Route on the world map and confront the con artist who tricked the mages. To the right is a locked chest with a Lesser Injury Kit and a yes Tevinter Shield.

Head back to the center of the hallway and go through the door now on your right. This will lead to the central room. Inside here you will find 1 Shambling Skeleton, 2 Skeleton Archers, 1 Abomination, 2 Lesser Shades. Loot all the bodies to find a White Runestone (a gift) on the Abomination and money. Next head to the northern part of the room and find the charred corpse. It has an Iced Band and a Lesser Injury Kit on it. Now is a good time to do “Watchguard of the Reaching”, before you ascend to the final floor of the Circle Tower.

Watchguard of the Reaching:
Interact with the statue holding the bowl. This is found in the southwestern edge of the common room.
Interact with the statue holding the sword pointing up. This one is found at the northwestern edge of the common room
Interact with the statue holding the sword pointing down. This is found in along the western edge of the common room.
The Statue holding the shield. This statue is found in the central room of the floor, with the stairs leading up to the fourth floor.
Once you touch the Statue with the Shield, you can open up the entrance to the basement of the Circle Tower. Head down to the first level, SAVE, then interact with the Basement door. This will summon Shah Wyrd, a boss level Rage Demon. Just keep moving to avoid taking too much damage. Anyone seriously hurt should be pulled back from the fight and healed. Try to do this while the students are still in the room so you have some extra firepower behind you.

When Shah Wyrd goes down, loot the body. With only a little luck you will get a unique two-handed sword, “Yusaris” in addition to some gems.

Floor 4
While it is possible to immediate go into the central room, there are a few things to do first. Head forward into the terraced area in front of you. There is a locked chest with some private documents inside. On the opposite side of the room, in the back left corner, you will find a pile of rubble with codex entry “Extracurricular Studies”. Now head along the corridor to the north. Go into the first room on the left. There you will find a Desire Demon bewitching a Templar. Here you have the option of killing it (and the Templar) or letting them go. Attack the Desire Demon immediately to avoid any approval loss (though if Sten is there and you engage in debate, he will disapprove of it). Fighting this Desire Demon has you against it, a Bewitched Templar and 3 animated corpses: 2 Shambling and 1 Enraged. You will find Templar Armor on the Templar, a codex entry from the book in the room and a number of things in the vanity. The vanity most importantly has a Sun Blonde Vint-1 (a gift) inside it along with a Sailor's Charm, Silver Ring and potentially 18 Ice arrows.

In the next room, to the left, on this floor you will find another fight. You have 3 possessed Templars and a strong Blood Mage. Focus on the Mage, then the Templars to make this fight easier. Loot the Blood Mage to get some powerful Archon Robes. Explore the room to find more goods throughout the room.

Now save and head into the central room. There you will confront a Sloth Demon. He will put the entire party to sleep. This begins the next part of the quest, Lost in Dreams.