Dereliction Of Duty Dragon Age Quest Walkthrough And Choices
In Dragon Age: Origins, side quests offered by mercenary factions allow players to earn extra coin, experience, and lore while traveling across Ferelden. One notable assignment from the Blackstone Irregulars board is Dereliction of Duty, which tasks the Grey Warden with hunting down former members who abandoned their posts. Completing this quest requires tracking down multiple deserters hidden in various locations throughout the game world.
How to Unlock the Dereliction of Duty Quest
To begin the Dereliction of Duty quest, you must locate a Blackstone Irregulars representative or job board in major hubs such as Lothering or Redcliffe. Accepting the contract adds the mission to your quest journal and marks the targets you need to locate. You must progress through several regions of Ferelden to find each missing deserter.
Each deserter has taken refuge in a different area, requiring patience as you complete main story quests in those regions. Keeping track of your journal entries helps ensure you do not miss any targets during your travels. Reaching these locations unlocks unique dialogue options and combat encounters.
Locating the Blackstone Deserters Across Ferelden
The quest requires you to track down three distinct deserter groups hidden in key settlements. One deserter named Larana can be found resting inside the Spoiled Princess tavern near the Lake Calenhad Docks. Interacting with her gives players the opportunity to resolve her situation according to their moral alignment.
Another target named Layson is located near the entrance of the Frostback Mountains on the way to Orzammar. The final target, Sarris, leads a group of hostile mercenaries hiding within the back alleys of Denerim. Finding all three groups completes the tracking objective required by the Blackstone Irregulars.
Quest Choices and Moral Consequences
When encountering each deserter, players are presented with choices regarding how to handle the situation. You can strictly fulfill your contract by eliminating the deserters in battle to secure full payment from the mercenary guild. Alternatively, some encounters allow players to show mercy or convince targets to surrender peacefully.
Choosing to spare deserters may alter the immediate outcome and dialogue without failing the overall quest goals. However, taking a compassionate approach might displease more pragmatic companion characters in your active party. Weighing your choices allows you to align the mission's outcome with your Warden's personal morals.
Rewards and Final Turn In
Once all deserter groups have been located and dealt with, return to any Blackstone Irregulars representative to collect your reward. Completing the mission grants valuable experience points, silver, and faction reputation. It also unlocks subsequent mercenary contracts as you advance further into the campaign.
Finishing these faction tasks helps fund your party's equipment upgrades and consumables for upcoming boss fights. Players seeking full completion of Dragon Age: Origins will find this quest essential for mastering the mercenary storyline. Planning your route efficiently minimizes unnecessary backtracking across the kingdom.