A Bitter Pill - p. 1 Dragon Age II Guide

Last update: 11 May 2016

The quest giver: automatically after meeting the slavers [Outside Kirkwall #2]

Step 1: Defeat the slavers

You can start completing this quest after you return from the Deep Roads. In order to continue you have to complete the companion quest Speak to Fenris and go with the elf outside Kirkwall (The Bone Pit, Wounded Coast etc.). If you've satisfied all requirements then you'll meet slavers in the [Outside Kirkwall #2] location #1 (M59, 1). During a conversation with tevinter mercenary you can act in three ways #2:

• declare definitely that Fenris is no longer a slave( upper right dialog option): +5 friendship points with Fenris
• try to reach an agreement (middle right dialog option): +5 rivalry points with Fenris
• attack the slavers without a warning (bottom right dialog option)

You do not have to think over your decision too long though, because regardless of your answers you have to fight slavers.

Shortly after the fight begins, I suggest attacking tevinter magister and that's because he is a mage. Try to eliminate him fast because otherwise he'll cast a protective barrier #1 and it will be harder to kill him then. After he is dead, deal with tevinter mercenary and rest of slavers #2. They are quite tough, so I suggest killing them one by one. Try to check your party members' health bars often.

After winning the battle you'll join an automatic cut-scene with one of the defeated slavers being questioned #1. It is worth to ask Fenris about Hadriana #2. Regardless of the dialog options you choose, you'll go to look for her.

Step 2: Get to the slavers' caverns

You can now leave this area and being on the world map select a new location - [Holding Caves] #1 (M60, 1). Once you get there try to run ahead, and when you reach a fork choose a right path. You should get to the small camp. Attack slavers you found here #2 (M60, 2).

You should be very careful here, and that's because another group of slavers will appear right behind your back #1. Be prepared and do not let them surprise you. After winning the battle save your game and head south. You should see mercenary archers standing on the nearby hill #2. I do not recommend attacking them now. It is better to tease them so they will follow you. You should then retreat to the camp or even to the start place.

As you've probably noticed, there is a new mage in a group #1 so you should kill him first as always. After his death, start eliminating hostile archers but watch out for new enemies running out from the nearby cave #2.

After winning the fight, you can look around. You'll find several chests with valuable items in this area. Now head towards the entrance to the cave. You'll be forced to join Fenris to your party (if he's not yet) and after that you'll have a short conversation with him #1. Use now the passage (M60, 3) leading to the [Holding Caves - Abandoned Slaver Den] #2 (M61, 1) location.

Step 3: Find Magister Hadriana

Head east. Once you get to the new room head towards the table where you'll find bloody sacrifice #1 (M61, 2) and you'll listen to some comments about blood magic. Continue east, and when you reach a longer corridor you'll have to fight again #2. Eliminate slavers and corpses which appear later.

As you've probably noticed there is a trap at the end of a corridor which is active as long as someone is standing on the trigger tile. In this particular case you would be stroked down #1 if you try to get pass the fire. So use your archers or mages to knock out or throw off skeleton archers. Then run fast towards them and kill them #2.

Go now to the northern room. There is a quite big group of slavers there, led by a slaver mage #1. You can use trigger tiles which are located in corner on your advantage #2 but this is not a must. But do not let any of your enemies stand on such a tile!

You can now head west. Once you reach a largest hall in caves, two more fights await you, but there groups of slavers are not big. First group is located in central part of a hall #1, and the second one will appear bear the passage you've just used #2 to get here.