THE CIRCLE OF MAGI

Broken Circle

Broken Circle is one of the four main quest lines in Dragon Age: Origins that must be completed before calling the Landsmeet.

After being rescued by Flemeth from the Tower of Ishal, the Warden decides to use the treaties from The Grey Wardens' Cache to gather aid against the Blight - one of these treaties is with the Circle of Magi. This quest is added when Morrigan joins the party at Flemeth's Hut.

After Lothering and the Imperial Highway, this quest can be started at any time when it is possible to access the World Map. There are certainly considerations in favor of doing it early in the campaign, especially on a first playthrough, specifically that Wynne can join the party and a range of attribute bonuses can be obtained. However, it can be left until later if desired. Additionally, finishing this quest can later affect the Arl of Redcliffe quest.

To complete the Broken Circle quest, the Warden must first find a way to access the Circle Tower. Before heading to Lake Calenhad Docks, it is possible to hear rumors that all is not well at the Circle, for example from Ser Bryant in Lothering, innkeepers, Bodahn Feddic, or by eavesdropping on gossips.

And indeed, once the Warden arrives at the Apprentice Quarters, they discover a dire situation.

Walkthrough

When you're done with everything at Calenhad Docks you can proceed down to the dock and speak with the templar, Carrol (Calenhad Docks Map, L1). Who is tasked to deny access to the Tower. He will neither acknowledge the protagonist as a Warden nor allow them to proceed to the Tower. You have various ways to deal with the situation:

Greagoir

Carrol

• Persuade him that his superiors won't like this.

• Intimidate him that your patience is running thin.

• Even with no coercion skills, if you choose first the persuasion or intimidation option and then choose the other one, Carroll will agree to take you to the tower.

• Bribe him for 40 gold.

  If you have one of the following companions in your party while speaking to him, they will persuade or force the templar to allow you to reach the Circle Tower.

  1. If the Warden says "Can't we work something out?" and Morrigan is in the party, Carroll offers access if she stays behind. Morrigan agrees, but then frightens him so much with her plans that he hurries everyone across quickly. He will offer the same for Leliana, who will convince him to listen to her stories on the way to the tower.

  2. Sten can, in his impatience with Carroll, bribe him with cookies.

Carroll will transport you to The Circle tower (The Circle Tower Lower Levels Map, L1).

Where you’ll automatically trigger a conversation with Greagoir (templar in charge). He is organizing troops and sealing off the first floor of the Tower. He will explain that it has been overrun by abominations and demons. He doesn't know exactly what has happened, but is convinced everyone in the Tower is dead, and has sent word to the Chantry of Denerim requesting reinforcements and the Right of Annulment. Using the Right he intends to kill everything in the Tower.

The Warden can either:

• Check for any survivors of the Circle and rescue any surviving mages.

• Purge/kill everything in the tower with the idea that "they cannot be saved", to take no chances of any demon surviving.

• The first option (if successful) will obtain the aid of the mages against the Blight; the second will obtain the aid of the templars. If pressed, Greagoir says he will believe that the Tower is safe only if First Enchanter Irving stands in front of him and says so. Greagoir will allow the Warden entry into the Tower, but will bar the doors immediately afterward — there is no turning back until the quest is complete. When you are ready, pass through the doors further into the Tower.

• If you choose to enter the tower, it is strongly recommended that you bring a mage with the ability Mana Clash. You will face a large number of enemies that use mana. Mana Clash will often one-shot mana-using enemies, or if not, come close to doing so, including some of the more difficult enemies. In addition, it has a very large area of effect. This spell can be used to kill or nearly kill entire groups of enemies at once at various points in the quest. It will make completion much easier.

  Note: Once past the 'lobby' of the Tower, there is no access to the World Map until the quest is completed.

  1. The Quartermaster behind Greagoir is the last opportunity to buy and sell items.

  2. There will be an opportunity to rearrange the party before ascending to the upper levels, in the room where Wynne is encountered.

  3. You can also change party members in the room where the Sloth Demon is encountered on the 4th floor after returning from the Fade.

  Note: If Morrigan is in the party and at an advanced stage of approval, a dialogue brings up her recollection that a certain grimoire of Flemeth's was once confiscated by templars and may be stored here (see below location revealed on the map).

  1. Remember that once you've started exploring the tower you won't be allowed to go back, so you should stock up on supplies (especially on potions). Step through a nearby gate when you're ready (The Circle Tower Lower Levels M, 2).

Part One Getting Through the Tower

After the doors have closed behind The Warden, enter the north room for a cutscene. Wynne is fighting a Rage demon with the help of some apprentices in order to defend some children and has set up a barrier to prevent any more from entering. After quickly vanquishing her fiery foe, Wynne will talk to the Warden. She will want to know what's happening outside and how it is you got there. The Warden will inform her that Greagoir has sent for the Right of Annulment and that you have come to try and save those you can and stop this nightmare before it is too late. The two of you will discuss things a bit. The Warden can decide to work with Wynne, in which case she will forcibly join the party. If you tell Wynne that you think the Circle must be destroyed, she will attack you.

• Note: If Morrigan is in the party, she will join in the conversation. If Wynne discovers she is an Apostate and sees you siding with her, she will attack you. If you decide to help Wynne, Morrigan will disapprove unless you have high coercion skill. If you want to avoid losing approval with Morrigan but still want to take her along into the tower, tell Wynne that you need time to consider, take Morrigan out of your party, talk to Wynne again and tell her that you will help her, then, when Wynne joins your party, select Morrigan again (or, when Morrigan speaks up, don't ask her why she treats the Circle with such scorn, or that she is not right not to respect them). If you are a mage and spoke to Wynne at Ostagar, Wynne will not question Morrigan's presence.

• Note: If you tell Wynne that the Circle must be destroyed and either Alistair or Leliana are in the party then they say you have to listen to Wynne. If you let them change your mind and Morrigan is in the party then she does not speak up as described above (meaning Wynne does not realize she is an Apostate). If you say you didn't ask for their opinion then Alistair (whether he is in the party or not) says that killing anything that moves is not an option. If you don't change your mind, or you tell them to shut up, then you lose (-5) from Alistair and (-3) from Leliana.

Approach a nearby force field and confirm that you want to enter an unsafe area of the tower (The Circle Tower Lower Levels Map, 4).

Regardless of what the Warden chooses, the protective shield over the doorway is removed. If you search around the first room where you either fought or acquired Wynne, you will find a locked door going down to the basement. The Warden will need to return to this door to complete the Watchguard of the Reaching side quest.

• Note: Having Oghren in the party when Wynne lowers the barrier triggers a conversation between the two and gives you gain (+2) from Oghren

• Note: All combat is described from the point of view of a Level 10-11 Party.

You'll have to be very careful from now on, because you'll be dealing with different types of abominations. One of the most important things to know about these creatures is that they tend to explode shortly after they've been killed. Don't forget about that and try to stay away from their bodies to avoid unwanted injuries. As for the rest of the demons, try using ice spells to inflict major injuries if possible.

Pay close attention to all the loot options on the first floor. There are many chests and such that can be looted, but there are also many Codex entries to be found here as well. The beginning of the quests Watchguard of the Reaching and Summoning Sciences can be found on the first floor.

The first mini-boss will attack you near the main area of this level (The Circle Tower Lower Levels Map, 5) and it's going to be the greater rage demon. Once it's gone enter the last room and locate the stairs leading to The Circle Tower's Mage quarters (The Circle Tower Lower Levels Map, 6).

Owain

It will also net you more pages for the Watchguard of the Reaching quest. In the large room to the north-east; loot Vanity for Silver Chain (gift for Morrigan), The Warden will encounter the Mage Godwin (The Circle Tower Lower Levels Map, 12)

Who has locked himself inside of a cabinet.

Shortly after you've arrived at the new area you'll have a chance to talk to Owain (The Circle Tower Lower Levels Map, 7). If The Warden is a Mage, they will recognize Owain as the Tranquil keeper to the Circle stockroom.

He'll tell you some interesting things about Niall, if you want extra information don't hesitate to ask him questions. Niall had come to Owain and received the Litany of Adralla from him. The Litany is a chant that will keep a Blood Mage from dominating a person's mind.

Before leaving this area, loot for shiny things to loot. As you may find gifts for companions such as the Water-Stained Portrait for Sten.

Proceed to the next room of the tower where you'll encounter three blood mages (The Circle Tower Lower Levels M, 8). Make sure to always focus on one target and check if you have any spells or abilities which would allow you to repel possible curses. Once all the mages have been defeated, one of the Mages will beg for mercy. She tells The Warden a little about Uldred and why she and her brethren succumbed to the temptation to become blood mages. The Warden may decide to let her escape, to kill her, to recruit her into the mage army or to invite her to the party camp.

• Note: The option to recruit her seems to be limited to specific backgrounds and skill sets, with others restricted to either allowing her to escape or killing her. Player Character (PC) must be either an assassin, blood mage, or reaver, or a party member must be a blood mage. Selecting either (1) "And all you do is wallow in self-pity. Pathetic," followed by "I'm sorry, but I don't know what I can do for you," or (2) "You know we cannot allow blood mages to live," gives the option to "Fight the darkspawn. Redeem yourself." Wynne objects, but there is no approval hit.

• Note: If you have Alistair and Leliana with you, Alistair will comment that she won't find mercy at the Chantry while Leliana will reject that, prompting Alistair to say that they know different "Chantries". Afterwards you have a special dialogue option to agree with Alistair, Leliana or say that this is not the point, however the outcome afterwards is the same and there are no approval changes as well. Furthermore, even if you recruit the Blood Mage into the mage army or invite her to your party camp, she won't be found again in the game.

Once the encounter is finished, the way to the rest of the floor is clear; loot Pile of Books for The Rose of Orlais a gift for Wynne (approval can be very important for end game decisions). On the opposite side of the room, there is another pile of books marked as "Ancient Text." Loot this for The Scrolls of Banastor side quest, which you would've picked up from The Mage's Collective Quest Board.

Continue exploring other areas of the tower, heading towards the largest central room. I guess you won't be surprised to hear that along the way you'll defeat other blood mages, as well as abominations, zombies and demons.

Spoilers below for Orzammar Side Quest, skip this small drop down if haven't done that area.

Godwin

Spoilers below for Orzammar Side Quest, skip this small drop down if haven't done that area.

He is involved in the quest Precious Metals, and if you answer his question about Orzammar and persuade (or intimidate) him to tell you what he needs that lyrium for, he will tell you that the templars use it. You can then persuade him again to give a little "wealth" or people will find out, granting you additional 8 gold. He will give you a little more information on Uldred, and you can either kill him or let him go. If you let him go, regardless of the amount of carnage you left in your wake, he will quietly climb back into his little shelter and leave you to your business of saving everyone.

• Note: If you sell Godwin the Lyrium and then persuade him to give you money, when you talk to him again, you will not be able to get additional information about Uldred nor kill him.

You can ask him questions about the situation at the tower, and once done he goes back to hide in the cabinet.

Just after meeting with Godwin you will come upon a room with two blood mages having a conversation. If you wait outside of combat range for a few seconds, an elite level abomination will spawn. If you continue to wait, the blood mages will attack the abomination. One will use cone of cold, stunning the creature. This makes this (already easy) battle, even easier.

Continuing around the Tower, you will come across the former chapel. You can loot a Soldier Corpse which carries Chantry Amulet (gift for Leliana). There will be a Toppled Statue to inspect along the back wall. Behind the statue will be a phylactery; trying to pick it up will cause it to fall apart in your hands and spawn an orange Revenant (saving recommended). This Revenant is one of many The Warden must kill in order to complete The Black Vials Quest (will have the quest listed in the Side Quests section)

At least one of the group of blood mages will be caught up in a big fight and it would be a good idea to wait for this battle to end before attacking them.

In the southernmost room, just after the chapel on this floor, you will discover First Enchanter Irving's quarters. Here you will find several Codex entries, but more importantly, looted from Irving's Chest, Black Grimoire (to give to Morrigan to start her companion quest Flemeth's Real Grimoire ), and First Enchanter's Desk: Small Painted Box used in the quest Friends of Red Jenny (will have listed in the Side Quests section. Then continue following the Tower hall and take the stairs to the third floor.

Eventually you'll have to make your way to the stairs leading to The Circle Tower's Great Hall (The Circle Tower Lower Levels M, 11).