Main Quests

Cole Main Quest Scenes

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Champions of the Just

Conversation: It’s Going to be Loud

The PC approaches Cole at Haven.

Cole (templars conscripted): You took in the templars but made them yours. They won’t make the same mistake.
Cole (templars allied): You took in the templars. You let them stay in strength even after what they did. Their own people.

Cole: It’s dangerous when too many men in the same armor think they’re right. You should prepare. It’s already getting louder.

Dialogue options:

General: What is? [1]
General: This is hurting my head. [2]
General: I’m not sure what you are. [3]

1 - General: What is?
PC: What’s going to be loud?
Cole: I don’t know, but there are echoes, rushing back across us, ripples in a pond from a stone, but backwards. [4]

2 - General: This is hurting my head.
PC: We’re going to have these talks… less often, Cole.
Cole: Maybe. Not everything happens. [4]

3 - General: I’m not sure what you are.
PC: I’m still not certain what you are, exactly. Are you a mage? A demon?
Cole: I’m different. The elven mage understands me. He isn’t afraid. [4]

4 - Scene continues.

Cole: But first, you seal it. I hope it hurts less. I’ll help if I can, but I don’t always say it right.

Dialogue options:

General: Try to act normally. [5]
General: You’re fine as you are. [6]

5 - General: Try to act normally.
PC: If you could act like a normal person, that would probably help.
Cole: Yes. Probably. [7]

6 - General: You’re fine as you are.
PC: You helped me at the Seeker Fortress. Say it however you like.
Cole: I helped. It’s good to hear. I will try. [7]

7 - Scene ends.

Recruitment

Cutscene: The Forgotten Boy

Cole sits in the grass while party members argue nearby.

Choice dependent dialogue:

Vivienne recruited [1]
Vivienne not recruited [2]

1 - Vivienne recruited:

Vivienne: This thing is not a stray puppy you can make into a pet. It has no business being here.

Solas: Wouldn’t you say the same of an apostate?

Cassandra (to PC): Inquisitor. I wondered if Cole was perhaps a mage, given his unusual abilities.

Solas: He can cause people to forget him, or even fail entirely to notice him. These are not the abilities of a mage. It seems that Cole is a spirit.

Vivienne: It is a demon.

Solas: If you prefer, although the truth is somewhat more complex.

Dialogue options:

General: He helped us. [3]
- Solas slightly approves
- Vivienne slightly disapproves
General: How complex? [4]
General: If he’s a demon, he’s gone. [5]
- Vivienne approves
- Solas disapproves

3 - General: He helped us.
PC (mages allied): Cole warned us about Corypheus at Haven. He saved a lot of lives.
Vivienne: And what will its help cost? How many lives will this demon later claim? [9]

PC (templars allied): Cole helped me escape the envy demon. I already agreed to let him stay.
Vivienne: That was before we knew what it was. Honoring deals with demons is a swift path to an early grave. [9]

4 - General: How complex?
PC: I’m not sure how much more complexity I need, Solas.
Vivienne: Indeed, my dear. He may call it whatever he likes, but it is still a threat. [9]

5 - General: If he’s a demon, he’s gone.
PC: I will have nothing to do with demons. [9]

Solas (mages allied): In fairness, Cole’s warning at Haven allowed you to escape… and saved many lives.
Vivienne: And what will its help cost? How many lives will this demon later claim? [9]

Solas (templars allied): In fairness, Cole helped you against the envy demon. You agreed to let him stay, even knowing his odd nature.
Vivienne: That was before we knew what it was. Honoring deals with demons is a swift path to an early grave. [9]

2 - Vivienne not recruited:

Cassandra: But this violates everything we know about the Fade.

Solas: So it does.

Cassandra (to PC): Inquisitor. I wondered if Cole was perhaps a mage, given his unusual abilities.

Solas: He can cause people to forget him, or even fail entirely to notice him. These are not the abilities of a mage. It seems that Cole is a spirit.

Cassandra: A demon, more likely.

Solas: If you prefer, although the truth is somewhat more complex.

Dialogue options:

General: He helped us. [3]
- Solas slightly approves
General: How complex? [4]
General: If he’s a demon, he’s gone. [5]
- Solas disapproves

6 - General: He helped us.
PC (mages allied): Cole warned us about Corypheus at Haven. He saved a lot of lives.
Cassandra: We cannot know the true motivations of a demon. [9]

PC (templars allied): Cole helped me escape the envy demon. I already agreed to let him stay.
Cassandra: It’s one thing to know the boy is peculiar. It is another to know he is a demon. [9]

7 - General: How complex?
PC: I’m not sure how much more complexity I need, Solas.
Solas: You must understand what makes this particular spirit unique. [9]

8 - General: If he’s a demon, he’s gone.
PC: I will have nothing to do with demons. [9]

Solas (mages allied): In fairness, Cole’s warning at Haven allowed you to escape… and saved many lives.
Cassandra: We cannot know the true motivations of a demon. [9]

Solas (templars allied): In fairness, Cole helped you against the envy demon. You agreed to let him stay, even knowing his odd nature.
Cassandra: It’s one thing to know the boy is peculiar. It is another to know he is a demon. [9]

9 - End choice dependent dialogue.

Scene continues.

Solas: In fact, his nature is not so easily defined.

Cassandra: Speak plainly, Solas. What are we dealing with?

Solas: Demons normally enter this world by possessing something. In their true form, they look bizarre, monstrous.

Cassandra (templars allied): But Cole looks like a young man. Could it be possession?
Cassandra (mages allied): But you claim Cole looks like a young man. Is it possession?

Solas: No. He has possessed nothing and no one, and yet he appears human in all respects.

Solas (to PC): Cole is unique, Inquisitor. More than that, he wishes to help. I suggest you allow him to do so.

10 - Dialogue options:

Investigate: Explain more of possession. [11]
General: I’ll talk with him. [12]
- Cole slightly approves
General: I’ll get rid of him. [13]
- Vivienne approves
- Solas slightly disapproves

11 - Investigate: Explain more of possession.
PC (non-mage human/Qunari): What do you mean by possession?
Solas: Spirits and demons cross over from the Fade by attaching themselves to something in this world. But Cole has willfully manifested in human form without possessing anyone.

PC (mage): In my studies, demons either possess something from this world or were summoned and bound. They almost never look like something you’d mistake for a person.
Solas: Normally, you’d be correct. But Cole has willfully manifested in human form without possessing anyone.

PC (dwarf): Dwarves don’t have much cause to learn about demon possession. What do you mean?
Solas: Yes, dwarves rarely draw the attention of spirits, possibly because of your ties to the Stone. Spirits and demons cross over from the Fade by attaching themselves to something in this world. But Cole has willfully manifested in human form without possessing anyone.

Dialogue options:

Special: What of demons at the Breach? [14]

Solas slightly approves

[Back to 10]

14 - Special: What of demons at the Breach?
PC: The demons who came through the Breach, or through the rifts, weren’t possessing anything.
Solas: These demons were drawn through against their will, driven mad by this world. But Cole predates the Breach. From what we can tell, he has lived here for months, perhaps years. He looks like a young man. For all intents and purposes, he is a young man. It is remarkable.
[Back to 10]

12 - General: I’ll talk with him.
PC: I should hear what Cole has to say for himself. [15]

13 - General: I’ll get rid of him.
PC: We have enough uncertainty without throwing a demon into the mix. I’ll have Cole removed. [15]

15 - Scene continues.

The PC looks around but Cole is gone.

PC: Where is he now?

Cassandra (templars allied): He was right…
Cassandra (mages allied): If none of us remember him, he could be anywhere…

They look around and spot Cole by some medical tents. The PC approaches him.

Cole: Haven. So many soldiers fought to protect the pilgrims so they could escape. Choking fear, can’t think from the medicine but the cuts wrack me with every heartbeat. Hot white pain, everything burns. I can’t. I can’t. I’m going to… I’m doing. I’m…
(There might be other dialogue depending on when the PC does this “quest” i.e. after Adamant. Needs further testing).

An injured soldier lying nearby stills.

Cole: …dead.

Dialogue options:

General: Are you all right? [16]
General: That’s disconcerting. [17]
General: Stop that! [18]

16 - General: Are you all right?
PC: You’re feeling their pain?
Cole: It’s louder this close, with so many of them.
PC: Would you like to go somewhere more comfortable?
Cole: Yes. But here is where I can help. [19]

17 - General: That’s disconcerting.
PC: Glad to see you’re settling in, Cole. Here I was worried you’d have trouble making friends. [19]

18 - General: Stop that!
PC: Get out of their heads!
Cole: They’re in mine. [19]

19 - Scene continues.

Cole approaches another soldier.

Cole: Every breath slower. Like lying in a warm bath. Sliding away. Smell of my daughter’s hair when I kiss her goodnight.

The soldier closes their eyes.

Cole: Gone.

He turns to yet another soldier.

Cole: Cracked brown pain, dry, scraping. Thirsty.

Cole offers them water.

Cole: Here.

Soldier: Thank you.

Cole (to PC): It’s all right. She won’t remember me.

Dialogue options:

**General: You’re a friendly spirit?
**PC: You’re using your powers as a spirit to help people? [20]
**General: You’re… what are you?
**PC: Solas tried to explain what you are, but honestly, I stopped listening after a while. Any chance you could explain it? [20]
General: Because you’re a demon.
PC: Demons have the power to cloud people’s minds. [20]

20 - Scene continues.

Cole: Yes. I used to think I was a ghost. I didn’t know. I made mistakes… but I made friends, too. Then a templar proved I wasn’t real. I lost my friends. I lost everything. I learned how to be more like what I am. It made me different, but stronger. I can feel more. I can help.

Dialogue options:

Leave. Now. (Cole will leave the Inquisition forever) [21]
- Vivienne approves
- Solas greatly disapproves
Stay and help us. (Cole will join the Inquisition) [22]
- Solas approves
- Vivienne disapproves

21 - Leave. Now.
PC: I want you out of here, Cole. Leave the Inquisition before I have you destroyed.
Cole: But… but I… they need me. No one else is listening.
PC: Now!
Cole: So angry, so many eyes pressing down, so much fear and hate and worry. Too many problems, at least I can remove one.
Cole raises a hand.
Cole: Forget.
He disappears, and the PC looks around confused. Solas approaches.
Solas: What brings you here?
PC: I… just wanted to see the wounded. [26]

22 - Stay and help us.
PC: If you’re willing, the Inquisition could use your help.
Cole: Yes, helping. I help the hurt, the helpless, there’s someone…
Cole stops.
Cole: Hurts, it hurts, it hurts, someone make it stop hurting. Maker please…
He draws a dagger.
Cole: The healers have done all they can. It will take him hours to die. Every moment will be agony. He wants mercy. Help.

Dialogue options:

General: End his pain. [23]

General: Give him a chance. [24]

23 - General: End his pain.
PC: All right. Help him.
Cole kneels in front of the soldier.
Cole: It’s all right. [26]
Cole kills him.

24 - General: Give him a chance.
PC: You say he won’t die for hours yet, but you can’t know that for certain.
Cole: His body is failing.
PC: He could recover. Or the healers could find another way to help him.
Cole: How do you know?
Inquisitor: I don’t. And neither do you. That’s part of life.
Cole: Try.

25 - Scene continues.

Cole: I want to stay. [26]

From the Ashes

Conversation: A Fine Young Man

(Only available if sided with mages.)
The PC speaks to Cole in the rafters of the tavern at Skyhold.

Cole: Roderick was sorry before he died.

1 - Dialogue options:

Investigate: You knew Roderick? [2]
Investigate: I hope you didn’t kill him. [3]
- Cole slightly disapproves
General: Did he tell you why he was sorry? [4]
General: I’m glad to hear it. [5]
General: Don’t speak of him. [6]
- Cole slightly disapproves

2 - Investigate: You knew Roderick?
PC: I wasn’t aware you and Roderick were acquainted.
Cole: He was hurt. Red inside from the templar, but red outside from the templar, too. Needed help to walk. Limping, light, leaning on the young like old Pepe when the road was icy. He called me a fine young man. He was sorry for what he did to you.
[Back to 1]

3 - Investigate: I hope you didn’t kill him.
PC: You didn’t try to… end his suffering, did you?
Cole: No. He was dying already, and he welcomed it. The pain wasn’t too much. He saw it at the end. Loving light, open arms. Andraste was taking him home. He was happy. And sorry.
[Back to 1]

4 - General: Did he tell you why he was sorry?
PC: Did he tell you why he was sorry?
Cole: Blood everywhere, monsters, madness, dying, we’re all dying. The Herald stands against it, and heads turn. Desperate and simple. Pure. Voices in the Chantry. Years since I’d sung the song and felt it flowing through me, but this is real. This is real. So ling since I’d felt it, falling, flying. Faith. And I fought [them]. Maker forgive me. I hope I did enough. [7]

5 - General: I’m glad to hear it.
PC: Roderick was a pebble in the Inquisition’s boot. A little remorse only seems fair.
Cole: Blood everywhere, monsters, madness, dying, we’re all dying. The Herald stands against it, and heads turn. Desperate and simple. Pure. Voices in the Chantry. Years since I’d sung the song and felt it flowing through me, but this is real. This is real. So ling since I’d felt it, falling, flying. Faith. And I fought [them]. Maker forgive me. I hope I did enough. [7]

6 - General: Don’t speak of him.
PC: I didn’t come to talk about Roderick.
Cole: What did you some to talk about? [7]

7 - Scene ends.

If the PC speaks to him again Cole: He hates it all because of the darkness behind the door. Some doors should stay shut.

Here Lies the Abyss

Conversation: Helpful

The PC approaches Cole in the tavern rafters.

Cole: It started out helping, taking the fear away. I won’t take too much. I am not that.

If Cole was in the party at Adamant, the option to speak with him about it appears.

Dialogue options:

Investigate: Let’s discuss Adamant.

Investigate: Let’s discuss Adamant.
PC: What did you think of what happened at Adamant?

Cole: What do you want to hear?

1 - Dialogue options:

Investigate: Tell me about the fortress. [2]
Investigate: What about the Wardens? [3]
Investigate: You were back in the Fade. [4]
Investigate: The Nightmare spoke to you. [5]
Investigate: What was the divine? [6]
General: Goodbye. [7]

2 - Investigate: Tell me about the fortress.
PC: What did you think of the fortress itself?
Cole: It scared me before. I couldn’t feel through the fear. This time it was sad. Too much pain, darkness. They die in waves against the wall, bleeding, but the blood inside is the same. No one should live there. Bad things happen. [Back to 1]

3 - Investigate: What about the Wardens?
PC: What did you think of the Grey Wardens?
Cole: They obeyed orders to hurt people they were supposed to protect. They were like the bad templars.
Cole (banished Wardens): It’s good that you banished them. If they come back, you should kill them.
Cole (allied Wardens): You should have banished them. [Back to 1]

4 - Investigate: You were back in the Fade.
PC: You seemed uncomfortable in the Fade.
Cole: Yes. Wrought right and rigid. Can’t relax. Can’t release… Shouldn’t have been there like that. Like looking at a picture of a picture of yourself, but you’re a picture, too. I wanted to flit, fly flow back to freedom, but frozen instead, frightened. Not like that. It should be like me. [Back to 1]

5 - Investigate: The Nightmare spoke to you.
PC: The Nightmare said terrible things to all of us… you included.
Cole: It said it was like me. No. I was like it. A lie, twisted to hurt, unless it isn’t. I help the hurt, them make them forget so I fly free. It steals their fear, gloating, gluttonous. I don’t make the forget for me. It’s for them, easier for them but it’s for me too, so I can wash clean. I’m not like it, I’m not, I’m not, I’m me. And if I’m not, you’ll stop me? You’ll kill me?

Dialogue options:

General: I’m not going to kill you. [8]

Cole greatly disapproves.

General: Yes, I’ll kill you. [9]

Cole approves.

8 - General: I’m not going to kill you.
PC: It’s all right, Cole. No one is going to kill you.
Cole: No, don’t say that! You need to. If I’m bound or broken, you need to kill me. [Back to 1]

9 - General: Yes, I’ll kill you.
PC: If you start hurting innocent people, I’ll kill you.
Cole: Good. Before was wrong, but that was when I didn’t know. I can’t not know again. No one gets hurt because of me. Please. [Back to 1]

6 - Investigate: What was the divine?
PC: You saw the Divine… or the spirit acting like her. What do you think she was?
Cole: Helpful.
PC: That isn’t an answer.
Cole: It was hers. Spirits aren’t able to do what I do, but I can. I am me. She was her, whatever she was. [Back to 1]

7 - General: Goodbye.
PC: I’ll talk to you later.

Scene ends.

Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts

Conversation: Masks

Cole: She’s still behind the curtains in the reading room, watching the blood pool on the floor.

Cole: I didn’t understand the Grand Ball. It would have been easier if they said what they wanted.

Dialogue options:

General: It’s the Game. [1] -Cole slightly disapproves
General: Did you like the masks? [2]
General: I agree. [3] +Cole slightly approves

1 - General: It’s the Game. PC: Orlesian nobles see politics as a great competition. Cole: Yes, but none of them win. [4]

2 - General: Did you like the masks? PC: What did you think of the masks? Cole: What masks? PC: The masks. Everyone had them on their faces. Cole: Those weren’t their faces? [4]

3 - General: I agree. PC: That would have made everything much simpler. Cole: The colors were pretty though. [4]

4 - Scene ends.

What Pride Had Wrought

Cutscene: Died and then Didn’t

The PC finds Cole on the ramparts at night.

Cole: Corypheus died, and then he didn’t. That’s why he always felt wrong, like he didn’t fit inside himself. He wears another man’s life. I thought dying was forever.

Dialogue options:

General: It’s confusing. PC: It’s hard for any of us to make sense of. Corypheus is using ancient magic. ㅤㅤ ㅤ
General: You and me both. PC: So did I. Corypheus seems to break a lot of rules. ㅤㅤ ㅤ
General: We’ll kill him. PC: We’ll make it forever. We’re working on a plan to kill Corypheus permanently.

Cole (have not found amulet for Cole): We still need the amulet, the one Solas talked about. I can’t fight Corypheus without it. I won’t. Cole (amulet found, personal quest not completed): We still need to get the amulet working. I won’t face Corypheus without it. I can’t.

Cole: But is it him? Is he real? If a man can be dead and then not…

Cole (personal quest completed): Could I have saved the real Cole? Cole (personal quest not completed): There was a young man. He died alone. I didn’t know how to help. Could I have saved him?

Dialogue options:

General: You did all you could. PC: What happened to him wasn’t your fault. ㅤㅤ ㅤ
General: I don’t know. PC: I have no idea. I’m sorry. I hardly understand any of this myself. ㅤㅤ ㅤ
General: No. PC: Corypheus is using his connection to the blight to make himself immortal. You couldn’t do that.

Choice dependent dialogue:

Cole became more human[1]
Cole becomes more spirit [2]
Cole’s quest not completed [3]

1 - Cole became more human: Cole: His hands were bruised from beating on the wall. It was dark like the cabinet where he hid to escape his father. His belly hurt like knives, throat cracked dry. He was alone. I pushed through and held his hand. It was all I could do. He said, “Thank you.” Cole: Thank you. Scene ends.

2 - Cole becomes more spirit: Cole: It gnawed at me, hooks in the hollows, pain of not knowing like the knot in his belly. But that is a hurt, and hurts can heal. I can heal.

Cole: Forget. PC: Cole? Cole, are you… Cole: You may still use that name, if you like. I am here to help you. Scene ends.

3 - Cole’s quest not completed: Cole: I get heavy when I think of him. It pushes me down, holds me here. It would hurt less to forget.

Dialogue options:

General: Then do that. [4]
General: You need to remember. [5]

4 - General: Then do that. PC: If it helps you, Cole, let it go. Cole: Forget. Forget! PC: Cole? Cole: It’s still here. I’m still here. For a while, anyway. Scene ends.

5 - General: You need to remember. PC: That feeling is part of what makes you who you are. Don’t forget that. Cole: Heels of the hands brushed from beating on the wall. Dark like the cabinet where I hid from Father before the bad day. I will remember. Scene ends.

If the PC speaks to Cole again Cole: He meant to watch forever. He called himself Sorrow.

Post-game Conversation

[This dialogue appears to be bugged in some games with no consistent trigger.]

Cole: I’m sorry Cole, but with your gift, I fear that you might see the path I now must walk in solitude forever. This fate is mine alone. Indeed, I would not wish it on an enemy, much less someone that I once cared for. Though you reach out in compassion, I must not insist that you forget. I’m… what were we talking about? I’m ready to help people when you are.

—

Post-game greetings

Cole: There are still people who need help. I’m ready.