The Harrowing is the very first side quest for anyone who chooses the Mage class in Dragon Age: Origins. During this quest, you must enter the Fade and face the unthinkable. The Harrowing is a mental puzzle where mages must remain stoic and prove to the Templar’s that they can control their magic.
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Mages must make sure they don’t get possessed or preyed upon by demons of the Fade. This quest will show players just how easy it is to get killed by a demon in the unruly Fade if you do not keep your wits about you.
Find Some Spirits
When you first enter the Fade, you can find an interactable vase in the starting area that contains some Shimmering Orbs of Light, a magical item that replenishes health and can only be used within the Fade, disappearing once you leave. Further ahead, you will bump into a character called Mouse, a lost spirit who claims to be a forgotten mage who did not pass his Harrowing test and wants to help you pass yours.
Interact with the statue near the vase to unlock a Codex entry.
As you walk through the area, you will find minor enemies called Wisp Wraiths; these are balls of light that inflict ranged magic damage, but one single use of any beginner spell should kill them in one or two attacks. There’s an arena to the right, with a Lyrium deposit that will replenish your Mana.
Continuing through the linear path, you will start to see some hills and statues ahead, and Mouse will comment that there is a spirit ahead. Before you visit this spirit, make sure to turn right and walk up a small hill. Here you will find another vase with more Shimmering Orbs of Light, as well as another statue that unlocks a Codex.
How To Convince Spirit of Valor To Help You
The next spirit you will meet is the Spirit of Valor. The goal here is to convince him to help you defeat the demon that will allow you to complete your Harrowing test, and there are two ways to convince this spirit to help you. You can either defeat him in an honorable duel or use your wits to convince him to give you aid without a fight.
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Spirit of Valor |
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Fight Valor |
If you fight him, Mouse will attack with you. Let Mouse take the forefront while you stand back. |
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Convince Valor |
With high Willpower, you can use persuasion to convince him to help you. |
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Reward |
No matter which option you choose, the reward will be the Valor’s Staff. |
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Valor’s Staff Overview |
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Material |
Iron (Tier 1) |
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Damage |
4.00 |
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Armor Penetration |
20.00 |
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Range |
50 |
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Spell Power |
1 |
After defeating the demon and completing The Harrowing, this staff will disappear from your inventory.
After acquiring the Valor’s Staff, Spirit Wolves will spawn behind you and attack; keep in mind that your basic beginner spells should kill Spirit Wolves with two hits, and to divert their attention you should be able to take them out one by one if you let Mouse take aggro. More Spirit Wolves will spawn further along the path.
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How To Convince Sloth Demon To Help You
The next spirit you will meet is called Sloth. He is supposed to be the most dangerous thing in the area, but he is too tired to care, instead teaching Mouse how to transform into a bear. This will allow Mouse to inflict more damage when he helps you defeat the demon.
There are two ways to get Sloth to help you; either defeat him or answer his riddles correctly. If you choose to fight Sloth, he will take three separate forms each time he is defeated.
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Sloth Demon’s Riddle Answers |
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“I have seas with no water, coasts with no sand, towns without people, mountains without land. What am I?” |
A map. |
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“I’m rarely touched, but often held. If you have wit, you’ll use me well. What am I?” |
My tongue. |
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“Often will I spin a tale, never will I charge a fee. I’ll amuse you an entire eve, but, alas, you won’t remember me. What am I?” |
A dream. |
If you answer one of the riddles incorrectly, you will be forced to fight the Sloth Demon.
Upon answering all the questions correctly, Mouse will turn into a bear. More Spirit Wolves and Wisp Wraiths will be waiting along the path, allowing you to gain XP, and you will have to turn around and revisit the area where Mouse said the final demon will spawn, at the end of the map.
How To Defeat The Rage Demon
When you reach the arena, a Rage Demon will spawn. During the fight, three Wisp Wraiths will surround you and Mouse; make sure to get a lot of distance and take out the Wisps first, so that they do not make fighting the demon more challenging. Mouse can distract the demon while you take on the Wisps quickly.
It is best to stand near the Lyrium Vein so that you have quick access to more Mana. Any ice or frost damage will inflict the most damage because the demon is made of fire, so Fire-based magic will not do as much damage.
Mouse becomes a party companion after he turns into a bear. You can have him consume Shimmering Orbs of Light to heal him in combat.
Upon the defeat of the Rage Demon, Mouse will reveal he was who you should have been wary of all along. He will give you the life lesson that you are always being tested and should always be on your guard, and your character will wake up back in The Circle Tower after that.
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