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Dragon Age: Inquisition

Additional Quest

Cassandra Approval Quest: Guilty Pleasures

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Swords & Shields

The PC walks up to Cassandra, who is sitting unaware, reading a book.

PC: Good book?

She jumps up and tries to hide the book.

Casandra: (Shouts in surprise.) I don’t know what you’re talking about.

Dialogue options:

  • General: Are you embarrassed? [1]
  • General: Of course you don’t. [2]
  • General: What are you hiding? [3]

1 - General: Are you embarrassed? PC: Wait… are you blushing? Cassandra: What would I have to blush about? PC: You tell me. [4]

2 - General: Of course you don’t. PC: Yes, because I suddenly went blind. Cassandra: Oh, that? Just… reports. From Commander Cullen. PC: You’re an excellent liar. [4]

3 - General: What are you hiding? PC: No? What are you hiding, exactly? Cassandra: I’m not hiding anything! Exactly. PC: I think you are. [4]

4 - Scene continues.

Cassandra: It’s of no interest to you, I’m certain.

The PC shakes their head.

Cassandra: It’s a book.

PC: I can see that.

Cassandra: It’s… one of Varric’s tales. Swords & Shields. The latest chapter.

Dialogue options:

  • General: You don’t need to hide it. [5] +Cassandra slightly approves
  • General: So you’ve read them all? [6]
  • General: Why waste your time? [7] -Cassandra slightly disapproves

5 - General: You don’t need to hide it. PC: So you like to read—what’s wrong with that? Cassandra: It’s frivolous. There are more important things for me to do. [8]

6 - General: So you’ve read them all? PC: “The latest chapter,” meaning… you’ve read them all? Cassandra: Not… since this all began. We’ve been busy. [8]

7 - General: Why waste your time? PC: I wouldn’t have expected you to waste time on that. Cassandra: What does that mean? It’s… a minor diversion. [8]

8 - Scene continues.

Sided templars, Cole in Skyhold Cole: She’s read this one three times. Cassandra: You! I told you to stop spying! Cole: You read it out loud to me. I don’t like the captain, either. Cassandra: I never did that!

Sided mages, Dorian in Skyhold Dorian: That’s just her favorite. Cassandra: Nobody asked you, Tevinter. Dorian: I couldn’t finish the last one you lent me. I actually feel dumber for having tried.

Cole/Dorian not recruited PC: Why don’t I believe you?

Cassandra: It’s literature! Smutty… literature. Whatever you do, don’t tell Varric.

Dialogue options:

  • General: He’d be pleased. [9]
  • General: Wouldn’t dream of it. [10]
  • General: Seriously? [11]
  • Flirt: I should read it. [12]

9 - General: He’d be pleased. PC: Why not? I think Varric would be pleased to have another fan. Cassandra: “Pleased.” Yes, that’s one word for it. [13]

10 - General: Wouldn’t dream of it. PC: Me? No! I would never. [13]

11 - General: Seriously? PC: I can’t believe this… Cassandra: I only started reading them when I began looking for Hawke. As research. [13]

12 - Flirt: I should read it. PC: Maybe I should read that book. Cassandra: You? No! PC: Why not me? Cassandra: You’re the Inquisitor. PC: (Laughs.) Oh, I see. [13]

13 - Scene continues.

Cassandra: (Sighs.) They’re terrible. And magnificent. And this one ends in a cliffhanger. I know Varric is working on the next, he must be!

Cassandra (if flirted with prior, high approval): You! You could ask him to finish it, command him to…

Cassandra: Pretend you don’t know this about me.

She returns to where she was sitting and the PC walks away.

Cassandra Wants a Book

The PC finds Varric in the main hall.

PC: Cassandra is waiting for the next issue of Swords & Shields.

Varric: I must have heard that wrong. It sounded like you just said that Cassandra read my books.

Dialogue options:

  • General: You sound surprised. [1]
  • General: She’s a big fan. [2] +Varric slightly approves
  • General: I did say that. [3]

1 - General: You sound surprised. PC: What’s so surprising about that? Varric: You have met Cassandra, haven’t you? [4]

2 - General: She’s a big fan. PC: She’s a pretty big fan, in fact. Varric: Are we talking about the same Cassandra? Tall, grumpy Seeker? Likes stabbing things? [4]

3 - General: I did say that. PC: That’s exactly what I just said. Varric: Maybe I’m just going crazy. [4]

4 - Scene continues.

Varric: Wait, did you say the romance serial? She’ll be waiting a while, then. I haven’t finished it and wasn’t planning to. That book is easily the worst I’ve ever written. The last issue barely sold enough to pay for the ink.

Dialogue options:

  • General: It can’t be that bad. [5] +Varric slightly approves
  • General: Cassandra seems to like it. [6] +Varric approves
  • General: I need it as a gift. [7]
  • General: No wonder she was embarrassed. [8] -Varric slightly disapproves

5 - General: It can’t be that bad. PC: I’m sure it’s not a s terrible as you think. Varric: There are a number of critics who’d be happy to argue with you. [9]

6 - General: Cassandra seems to like it. PC: Well, Cassandra seems to be hooked on it. Varric: And I honestly thought a hole in the sky was the weirdest thing that could happen. [9]

7 - General: I need it as a gift. PC: I was hoping to give it to Cassandra as a gift. Varric: Oh come on, that’s just cruel. Even the Seeker doesn’t deserve that. [9]

8 - General: No wonder she was embarrassed. PC: If it’s terrible smut, I guess that explains why Cassandra tried to hide it from me. Varric: “Smut?” (Laughs.) Is that what she called it? It’s fluff at best. I can’t compete in the smut market. That’s cutthroat. [9]

9 - Scene continues.

Varric: So… you want me to finish writing the latest issue of my worst serial. For Cassandra. That’s such a terrible idea, I have to do it. On one condition: I get to be there when you give her the book.

Dialogue options:

  • General: Fine. [10]
  • General: I don’t think so. [11]

10 - General: Fine. PC: You’ve got a deal. Varric: I’ll get to work, then. You know, the fact the book is terrible just makes it worthwhile, somehow. Scene ends.

11 - General: I don’t think so. PC: I don’t think that’s a good idea. Varric: Then you’d better find something else to give the Seeker. Scene ends.

If the PC asks again after rejecting Varric’s offer: Varric: I’ll only finish the book for you if I get to be there when you deliver it.

Don’t Tell Me

The PC walks up with Varric in tow.

Cassandra: What have you done now?

Varric (after PC meets Hawke): I get it, Seeker. You’re still sore after our spat. Cassandra: I am not a child, Varric. Do not suggest I’m without reason.

Varric (PC has not met Hawke yet): Do I really deserve that? Cassandra: No today, but it is still early.

Varric holds out the book.

Varric: A peace offering: the next chapter of Swords & Shields. I hear you’re a fan.

Cassandra turns to the PC.

Cassandra: This is your doing.

Dialogue options:

  • General: I hoped you’d like it. PC: I was hoping you’d be happy about it. ㅤㅤ ㅤ
  • General: None other! PC: Oh, yes. Do you really think I’d miss this? ㅤㅤ ㅤ
  • General: Stop pretending. PC: Stop acting like you don’t want to read it, Cassandra.

Varric: Well, if you’re not interested, you’re not interested. Still needs editing, anyhow.

Varric starts to leave.

Cassandra: Wait!

He stops.

Varric: You’re probably wondering what happens to the knight-captain after the last chapter.

Cassandra: Nothing should happen to her. She was falsely accused!

Varric: Well, it turns out the guardsman—

Cassandra snatches the book from him.

Cassandra: Don’t tell me!

Varric: This is the part where you thank the Inquisitor. I don’t normally give sneak peaks, after all.

Cassandra: I… thank you.

Dialogue options:

  • General: Thank Varric. [1]
  • General: No, thank you. [2]
  • General: That wasn’t hard, was it? [3]
  • Flirt (romanced): Anything for you. [4]

1 - General: Thank Varric. PC: Varric’s the one you should be thanking. Varric: I am but a humble servant to my loyal readers.

2 - General: No, thank you. PC: This was everything I’d hoped. Varric: I know how you feel. [5]

3 - General: That wasn’t hard, was it? PC: See? That wasn’t so difficult. [5]

4 - Flirt: Anything for you. PC: Consider it a small token of my affection. The exchange glances. Varric: Maker’s breath, get a room. [5]

5 - Scene continues.

Cassandra: I wonder if I have time to read the first part?

Varric: Don’t forget to tell all your friends! If you have any. (Sighs.) Completely worth it.

+ Cassandra greatly approves

So You’re a Romantic

The PC talks to Cassandra again.

PC: So, that book you were reading…

Cassandra: Ugh. Yes? What of it?

PC: So under that taciturn shell beats a true romantic heart.

Cassandra: Why must it be an accusation? Romance is not the sole province of dithering ladies in frilly dresses. It is passion. It is being swept away by the pursuit of an ideal. What is not to like about that?

Dialogue options:

  • General: Nothing at all. [1] +Cassandra slightly approves
  • General: It’s just unexpected. [2]
  • General: You’re wasting time. [3] -Cassandra disapproves
  • Flirt: I like that you like it. [4] +Cassandra slightly approves

1 - General: Nothing at all. PC: Oh, I quite agree with you. Then why are you laughing? PC: I wasn’t!

2 - General: It’s just unexpected. It’s just a little… unexpected. I don’t need anyone picturing me mooning over stolen kisses. Is that what you’re doing? Mooning? (Sighs.) I will never hear the end of this, will I?

3 - General: You’re wasting time. PC: Haven’t you got better things to do? Cassandra: You do now know me as well as you think. PC: Evidently.

4 - Flirt: I like that you like it. PC: Don’t get me wrong. I like this side of you. Cassandra: I don’t swoon. PC: I meant the passion. Cassandra: Ah. Well, that’s… not so bad, then.

5 - Scene ends.