Here Lies the Abyss is one of the most consequential main story quests in Dragon Age: Inquisition, ending in the assault on Adamant Fortress and forcing two of the game’s most significant decisions — who dies to save the party, and what happens to the Grey Wardens themselves. Here’s a full walkthrough covering how to start the quest and what each major choice actually leads to.
How the Quest Begins
The quest starts shortly after the Inquisition establishes itself at Skyhold. To start “Here Lies The Abyss,” you need to find and speak to Varric, who reveals a surprise — he’s known where Hawke was hiding all along.
Behind this quest is a longstanding mystery involving the Grey Wardens. When the Inquisition began searching for the Wardens as potential allies, they’d seemingly disappeared without a trace, and the Inquisitor’s own Grey Warden ally, Blackwall, claimed to have no idea where they’d gone. Varric’s old friend Hawke has been in contact with a Grey Warden on the run from his order, and is convinced he can lead the Inquisition to the missing Wardens.
Meeting Hawke’s Warden Contact
Following the quest markers leads you through a village on the eastern edge of the map, where you eventually reach a cave containing Hawke’s Warden friend. Which specific character you meet here depends entirely on choices you made in the original Dragon Age: Origins:
- Alistair appears if he didn’t die or become king.
- Loghain appears if Alistair died or became king, and Loghain was spared rather than killed during the ritual to capture the Archdemon’s soul.
- Stroud appears if Alistair died or became king, and Loghain was killed, one way or another.
This Warden reveals that the Grey Wardens believe they can use blood magic to permanently end future Blights — though your new Warden contact suspects Corypheus is manipulating that plan for his own purposes.
An Optional Side Choice: Jana
Along the way, you may encounter a character named Jana, who reveals she’s amazed by the Grey Wardens and wants to become one herself. You can either support her, resulting in her becoming a Grey Warden, or dissuade her, in which case she becomes an agent of the Inquisition instead. Neither choice affects the main quest’s outcome, but it’s worth knowing before making a snap decision.
The Assault on Adamant Fortress
Once you’ve gathered enough information, return to Skyhold’s war table and select “Here Lies the Abyss” for 20 Power to begin the assault on Adamant Fortress. If you have Blackwall in your party roster, it’s worth bringing him along specifically, since he has unique dialogue tied to this particular mission.
The battle itself starts at the Lower Bailey, where the first wave of enemies consists of Shades and a Warden Spellbinder that tend to group together — area attacks are effective here. Continuing up through the fortress leads to a group of Wardens, including a Senior Warden worth focusing down first for a rare accessory drop.
The Fade Sequence and Its Hidden Rewards
Following the main assault, the quest leads into a sequence set within the Fade itself. This section includes an optional side quest requiring you to locate five Dreamers — yellow apparitions scattered throughout the area, each with specific item requirements. Giving each Dreamer their requested item rewards an additional point in a random attribute, making this a worthwhile detour if you’re willing to explore the full Fade sequence rather than rushing through it.
The First Major Choice: Who Stays Behind
As you approach the exit from the Fade, a giant spider demon blocks the way out, forcing the quest’s first major decision. Both Hawke and the Warden companion will offer to stay behind so the rest of the party can escape, and it’s up to the Inquisitor to choose which one sacrifices themselves.
The emotional weight of this choice differs depending on who you pick. Leaving Hawke behind results in a farewell to Varric and Hawke’s love interest before charging into a final battle, while leaving the Warden behind leaves the Grey Wardens outside without a leader. It’s worth knowing going in that Varric will not be pleased if Hawke is the one sacrificed, which can affect your relationship with him going forward.
The Second Major Choice: The Fate of the Grey Wardens
After escaping the Fade, the quest presents its second major decision: what to do with the surviving Grey Wardens. You can either drive the Wardens away entirely or bring them into the fold as allies of the Inquisition. This decision directly determines what Grey Warden-related operations become available from the war table for the remainder of the game, so it’s worth thinking through based on how you want to use them strategically later.
The choice carries real narrative weight beyond the mechanics, too. The Grey Wardens have historically been given wide latitude throughout Thedas, given their unique role as the only force capable of driving back a Blight and defeating Archdemons — but their vulnerability to Corypheus’s influence makes them a genuinely dangerous ally to bring into the Inquisition’s ranks, even if the Inquisition is no stranger to taking on risky allies.
Tips for a Smoother Playthrough
- Manage companion potion usage carefully during Fade combat — enemies here can overwhelm companions quickly if they burn through healing too early in a fight.
- Bring Blackwall if possible, given his mission-specific dialogue that adds extra context you won’t get with other party compositions.
- Consider the Dreamer side quest before rushing the exit, since the attribute point rewards are a solid, low-risk bonus if you have time to explore.
Join The Discussion
Who did you choose to leave behind in the Fade — Hawke or the Warden — and how did that decision affect the rest of your playthrough? Share how Varric reacted if you sacrificed Hawke, and whether you ultimately brought the Grey Wardens into the Inquisition or drove them away. If you’ve played through this quest multiple times with different Origins choices determining which Warden you meet, it’d be great to hear how that changed the experience for you.
