The First Sacrifice Dragon Age II Guide
Last update: 11 May 2016
The quest giver: automatically after reading a note Reward Offered! [Hightown - Market]
Step 1: Talk to Ghyslain
You can start completing this quest after finishing the main quest Tranquility. Go then to the [Hightown - Market] location during the day and find a poster "Reward Offered!" on one of the pillars #1 (M3, 27). You'll learn that a man named Ghyslain de Carrac wants to hire someone to find his missing wife. Ghyslain can be found on the Market and you can meet him at one of the upper balconies #2 (M3, 28).
After starting the conversation you can of course ask Ghyslain few additional question #1. Ask him about disappearance details for example. It will come to light that he doesn't want to find his wife but more to clear his name being connected with her disappearance. As a result at the end of the conversation you can offer him you help (upper right dialog option) #2 or temporarily decline it (bottom right dialog option). However in both cases the quest will be added to your journal.
Step 2: Question Jethann
A first trail leads to Jethann who had an affair with missing Ninette. Leave the Hightown and return to the same location but during the night. Go to the south-eastern part of the map watching out the bandits on your way #1. Now locate the door leading to the [Hightown - Blooming Rose] location #2 (M4, 2).
Once you're inside the brothel head upstairs and enter the northern room where you'll find Jethann #1 (M6, 5). You can ask an elf few additional questions and then try to locate where Ninette is #2. Whichever dialog option you choose, Jethann will send you to a templar named Emeric who also searches for the woman.
Step 3: Find Emeric
Now you can leave the Blooming Rose and go to the [Darktown] location. Then head south. Watch out for bandits and Coterie thugs #1. After reaching the southern part of the Darktown locate a passage (M23, 14) leading to the [Darktown - Emeric's Investigation] location #2 (M93, 1).
Head north and prepare to fight a group of street thugs #1. Defeating them shouldn't be difficult, especially that there will be reinforcement. After winning the battle a conversation cut-scene with Emeric #2 (M93, 2) starts. From the templar you'll learn that he was ordered to stop the investigation but you can continue it on your own. Note, that you've received Emeric's notes and thanks to them you know that your next destination is the Dark Foundry.
Step 4: Explore the Dark Foundry
Now you can leave the Darktown and go to the [Lowtown] location during the night. Here head south from the entrance to the At the Hanged Man inn, and specifically to the foundry district #1. Here locate the door (M13, 19) leading to the [Lowtown - Dark Foundry] location #2 (M71, 1). After reaching the destination you'll watch a short cut-scene with fleeing person.
I suggest saving your game here and that's because after you enter a main foundry room (M71, 3), monsters will appear in the area. You should kill a desire demon first #1, since this creature can influence other monsters. Then start eliminating shades #2.
Watch out for new monsters appearing on upper balconies especially that there will be abominations among them #1. It is worth to eliminate them as fast as possible; otherwise they can inflict huge damages. After winning the battle, head to the balconies. In the place where you have previously seen a fleeing person, you'll find a sack of bones #2 (M71, 4). Examine it and you'll obtain a Ninette's ring among other things.
Step 5: Inform Emeric and Ghyslain about investigation results
If you want you can check this area - you'll find a locked chest. Otherwise exit the foundry and go to the [Gallows Courtyard] location. You can find Emeric at the main courtyard stairs #1 (M33, 17). Tell him about your investigation results #2. Regardless of dialog options you choose, a templar will give you 3 sovereigns.
Despite the fact that the quest is officially completed, it is worth to return to the [Hightown - Market] location and talk to Ghyslain #1 (M3, 28). Now you can choose if you want to tell him the details about finding the ring or not #2. Interestingly he will be just glad that he is free of charges and regardless of chosen dialog option he will give you 1 sovereign.