Mirror Image - p. 2; Back from Sundermount Dragon Age II Guide
Last update: 11 May 2016
Step 3: Kill varterral
You do not have to run after Pol, because you won't be able to save him anyway. Go down the stairs and after reaching the den (M68, 6) you'll see another cut-scene showing a death of the elf #1. Prepare because you will now have to fight with varterral #2 which is very difficult.
Order your warriors and rogues to attack the beast #1 and keep your mages at a safe distance. This strategy works best because varterral, like for example ogres, stomps from time to time, which knocks out nearby characters and deal them some damages. Do not place your warriors behind the monster because they might be easily slowed down #2.
Spiders are an additional difficulty in this fight. I do not advise to ignore them completely because otherwise they can attack you mages. Fortunately small cave spiders #1 will die very quickly and only elimination of standard spiders will take a bit more time #2.
During fights keep controlling your party members' health bars and also regenerate their stamina and mana bars. You have to fight until varterral and all spiders are dead #1. You'll watch now a short cut-scene involving Merrill #2 who wants to say goodbye to Pol.
Depending on whether you show Merrill your compassion #1 or you rush her, you'll gain 5 friendship points (do not ask her why Pol was running away from her) or 10 rivalry points with this character. Take an opportunity and look around (I recommend to examine a pile of treasures where you can find the Honeycut dagger). Examine also a varterral's body #2, because you'll need its heart for one of the secondary quests.
Step 4: Return to Keeper Marethari
Now you have to go back to the exit from caves (M68, 1) but it won't be so easy. You'll be attacked by two groups of monsters and the first fight will take place near the area where you've found a corpse of third hunter #1. Fortunately you have to fight only a small group of skeleton archers #2.
A second fight awaits you near the exit from caves and it will be much more difficult than previous one, and that's because enemies are led by the frost horror #1. Try to kill it fast and then attack corpses and skeleton archers #2. I advise to examine horror's body - you'll find the Hubris staff.
After you return to the [Sundermount] location, you have to go to the dalish elves camp in order to talk to Keeper Marethari about your expedition #1 (M25, 3). She'll give you an elven artifact desired by Merrill and now you'll have to make an important decision about how you react #2. You can:
- give Merrill the arulin'holm artifact (upper right dialog option): +15 friendship points with her
- keep the arulin'holm artifact saying that fixing the mirror would be too dangerous: Merrill will be MAD at you which eventually leads to gaining 85 rivalry points with her (!!!); the Honeycut dagger
Regardless of your choice you'll obtain a new quest connected with Merrill.
Unlocked companion quest: Back From Sundermount
Back From Sundermount
The quest giver: automatically after completing the quest Mirror Image [Sundermount - Dalish Camp]
Step 1: Talk to Merrill
You'll get this quest automatically after completing the companion quest Mirror Image, regardless of whether you decided to give Merrill an artifact or to keep it for yourself. You can now leave the Sundermount area and travel to the [Lowtown - Merrill's House] location. Click on Merrill. A conversation with elf may be played in two different ways. If you gave her an artifact, then you can talk with her calmly and of course would be able to flirt with her #1. But if you kept an artifact for yourself, then this conversation will be real challenge for you #2 and regardless of the dialog options you choose, you'll gain 25 rivalry points with her.