Complete walkthrough for the Vigils Keep Basement in Dragon Age: Origins, including item locations, codex entries, and quest details for Adria's Plight and The Howe Family.
Walkthrough
- 1Speak with Maverlies to head to the basement and have the men clear the path.
- 2Loot the corpses and check the Mabari for a scroll to obtain the quest “Adria’s Plight“.
- 3Down the hall, dispose of Darkspawn and check the crate.
- 4Go south, loot the crate, and check the statue for Codex 173: The Great Strife.
- 5A Shriek Alpha and Shrieks will appear; defeat them.
- 6Find Codex 108: The Howes of Amaranthine and a Potent Lyrium Potion Recipe on the shelves.
- 7The statue gives a hint, and the torch opens a new room.
- 8In the new room, loot the chest for items including Tingler.
- 9Exit and enter the northern room to find Codex 269: Response From Rendon Howe on a letter and three crates, one containing West Hill Brandy.
- 10Return to the previous area and go west.
- 11Defeat Prisoner Ghouls that rise from the ground.
- 12Loot the Howe Correspondence for Delilah Howe’s Letters, a chest, and a soldier’s corpse.
- 13Speak to the prisoners; releasing them affects approval ratings.
- 14In the room with sarcophagi, open them for the Key of Kiveal and other items.
- 15If possible, unlock the west door. Otherwise, proceed north.
- 16In the crypt, loot Avvar sarcophagi for a Trickster’s Cap and Key of Kiveal.
- 17Examine crypt statues for codex updates.
- 18Move downstairs and take out archers first when surrounded by skeletons.
- 19Loot the sack for a Howe Bow, a gift for Nathaniel.
- 20Use the Keyhole - Kiveal and return to the previous area.
- 21Head north to find Adria the Ghoul; defeat her and her minions.
- 22Read the letter for Codex 268: Letter to Rendon Howe.
- 23Loot the knight for a Gold Earring, the Veridium Deposit for Veridium Ore, and Adria for the Ring of Mastery.
- 24Advance further and learn about the blocked passage, then return to the keep.
- 25Optionally, speak with Herren to turn in Veridium Ore.
- 26Head to the east end to find Groundskeeper Samuel, who gives news of Nathaniel’s sister, initiating the companion quest “The Howe Family“.
- 27Prepare to head to the Turnoble Estate.
Tips
- Prisoner Ghouls are easily dealt with using area of effect attacks.
- Adria the Ghoul is easily controlled with stuns.
- The Howe Bow is a great gift and bow for Nathaniel.
- Stormchaser Boots
- Tingler
- Tooth of the Mountain-Father
- Trickster’s Cap
- Key of Kiveal
- Potent Lyrium Potion Recipe
- West Hill Brandy
- Delilah Howe’s Letters
- Howe Bow
- Gold Earring
- Veridium Ore
- Ring of Mastery
- Codex 108: The Howes of Amaranthine
- Codex 173: The Great Strife
- Codex 269: Response From Rendon Howe
- Codex 268: Letter to Rendon Howe
- Quest: Adria’s Plight
- Quest: The Howe Family
100% Human-Written. AI Fact-Checked. Community Verified. Learn how AntMag verifies content