LOTHERING COMPANION ACQUISTION
Leliana
Leliana is an Orlesian bard who came to the village of Lothering to become a Lay Sister of the Chantry. In Dragon Age: Origins, Leliana is a possible companion and a romance option for either male or female Warden.
The only time you can recruit her is in Lothering, directly after the battle of Ostagar. Enter Danes Refuge (the tavern) and fight Loghain's soldiers there, you can either kill them or let them live to head back to Loghain with a message.
Leliana
If you don't get her before leaving Lothering, the town will be destoyed and she will be unattainable.
If you do recruit her she can teach a warden rogue the bard specialization skill.
Sten
The Qunari Prisoner (Side Quest)
Just outside the north end of Lothering proper, a Qunari warrior named Sten (Lothering M, 7) has been imprisoned for killing a family. The Warden can convince him to seek atonement by joining the battle against the Blight, but must find a way to release him from the cage. Speak with Sten in his cage. He is dismissive of most conversational options, but he may clarify that he would rather die in battle than in a cage. Regardless of how the conversation goes, most companions vocally disapprove of his situation and support releasing him.
Sten
Note: As soon you complete any of the main questlines, you will be unable to return to Lothering - so if you want Sten in the party, be sure to rescue him before said completion.
Reverend Mother
You can open the cage in several ways:
If the Warden has Mechanical Expertise or at least 20 Cunning (or Leliana is in the party,) you can pick the cage's lock.
You can persuade the Revered Mother (Lothering M, C, 8 inside Chantry) to release Sten into the Warden's custody. This is easier if you make a donation to the Chantry, gaining Leliana (+2). However, if Leliana is in the party, she alone convinces the Revered Mother to hand over the key.
You can intimidate the Revered Mother into handing over the key. Whether or not this succeeds, it amuses Morrigan (+4), but offends Alistair (-13), and severely disappoints Leliana (-15).
Return to Sten's cage and release him.
Rewards
You receive 250 XP for opening the cage, doesn't mean you have to recruit Sten.