Riwyn as a Companion
Riwyn – Female - Elf – Warrior – Specialization Reaver – Great Sword
Supports – Templars, elves, grey wardens, saving Briala and allowing Celene to remain Queen, Inquisitor drinking for the Well if not romanced and/or Inqy is Dalish/Morrigan drinking from well if not romanced and/or Inqy is not Dalish
Approval – Riwyn likes small animals, aiding innocents, justice, and stern decisions. She prefers being straight to the point rather than beating around the bush and disagrees with actions that would otherwise contradict with this mindset. Riwyn believes that those who have done wrong should be rightfully punished in kind and that second chances should never be considered lightly. Though she is Dalish, she does not hold the same views as her Clan mates due to her upbringing in Denerim’s alienage. She may agree that the Elvhen Gods exist but she does not carry them like a badge of honor either. Family is extremely important to her, even if that family is not joined by blood. Doing anything to disrupt the ones she cares for will result in great disapproval. She takes the job of closing the Breach very seriously since it is a means to protect her younger sister.
Recruitment – Shortly after the start of the game, upon return from the Hinterlands for the first time, Cassandra will ask the Inquisitor to join her in the gallows below Haven. Here she will have an elf spy locked behind bars stating that Cullen and she found the elf in the foothills. If questioned, Riwyn will say that she had been sent to spy on the Conclave and that she simply hadn’t gotten around to leaving, wanting to see if she could catch a glimpse of the person who managed to slow the Breach. When gathering information, she will agree that the Breach threatens all, especially her Clan (and more importantly, her sister Ashrill). She offers to help with closing the Tear, arguing that the Inquisitor could consider it as repentance for her “possibly” stealing some of their food and spying on their camp. The Inquisitor can than choose to let Riwyn return to her Clan, recruit her as a companion, or force her to act as an Inquisition spy gaining the Inquisition an agent. If she is made an agent she can never be recruited as a companion and vice versa.
Romance – Riwyn is ONLY available as a romance option to male elves or humans. If the Inquisitor is mage, she will appear guarded and begin with a negative approval rating – this can be brought up if the Inquisitor is understanding. Any dialogue with her is somewhat cold to start; later Riwyn will reveal that this is because she does not like becoming attached to others after what happened in Denerim. Still, flirtation options are available early on. Prying too much into her personal life upon her refusal to gather more information, however, will result in withdrawal and a disapproval from Riwyn. Giving her space and allowing her to open up at her own pace will gain much approval.
After the quest Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts, she will ask if the Inquisitor is serious in his pursuit of her or if he is simply playing around. If the Inquisitor has been flirting with others, Riwyn will point this out and mention that she doesn’t want to be toyed with. The Inquisitor can choose to commit to a romance with Riwyn at this time.
Finally, after the events at Mythal’s Temple, and if personal quests are finished favorably, Riwyn will ask if the Inquisitor could come away with her for a few days. She brings the Inquisitor to the Emerald Graves for some alone time in a place away from Skyhold. Here she will proclaim that she will stay by the Inquisitor’s side, even if it means being away from her Clan. The Inquisitor has one final chance to break off the romance or continue it at this point. If the romance is continued she will jokingly state that at least no one would have to pay a fee (it is common in alienages for their to be a dowry paid in order to compensate for the loss of an elf). If the Inquisitor is a human, she will embarrassedly say that she doesn’t know what traditions they would follow but that she would be willing to do anything to prove her love for him. She will offer a gift in the form of a sylvanwood ring (purely cosmetic).
In Trespasser, it is indicated that Riwyn has remained by the Inquisitor’s side during the past two years. She will coyly say that whenever the Inquisitor bores of political affairs, the two of them could return to Skyhold for some much needed alone time but only says this in jest, knowing how important it is for the Inquisitor to meet with the politicians. The two can be married at this time as well.
If not romanced but kept as a close friend, Riwyn will still remain with the Inquisitor, refusing to leave during the two year gap between the end of DAI and the beginning of Trespasser, and even staying further after the events of Trespasser.
Personal Quests – Family First – soon after recruitment, Riwyn will ask for a small favor stating that she’s sorry for already asking for help even though she joined so recently. Riwyn requests that the Inquisitor reach out to her sister, Ashrill, stating that she hadn’t been in contact with her sibling since the Conclave. This can be accomplished through a War Table Mission, seeking out her Clan’s Keeper. Riwyn asks for secrecy and the Inquisitor will only gain approval if Leliana’s scouts are sent, gaining disapproval if Cullen or Josie are used instead. Upon completion, the Inquisitor will learn that Ashrill had fled the Clan after Riwyn, their Keeper writing that she has been gone for several days.
If the Inquisitor withholds this information from her, Riwyn will eventually learn of the Inquisitor’s deceit when reaching Skyhold. This will result in loss of approval and cannel any romance that had been started up to that point, a romance can no longer be perused at this time. Riwyn will leave the Inquisition for a time, eventually returning with Ashrill in her arms, her sister’s body lifeless. Riwyn will blame you for this, stating that if you had been honest with her then her sister’s death could have been prevented. Conversations can still continue with Riwyn but all replies from her will be negative, blunt, and cold.
If the Inquisitor instead decides to give this information to Riwyn, she will demand that they retrace Riwyn’s steps prior to her capture by Cassandra and Cullen, insisting that Ashrill was an excellent hunter and likely followed her trail. Accepting to help her will gain great approval and will lead to the Inquisitor and Riwyn heading out alone. They will come across a set of Dalish ruins. Once near the entrance, the Inquisitor’s hand will begin to glow indicating that there is a Rift within. As they enter the ruins, a scream will be heard from within causing Riwyn to race forward crying out that that was her sister. Together they will have to fight through hordes of demons and spirits, finally reaching the Rift inside. Closing it will push the quest forward. Ashrill will be found unconscious below the Rift, her body badly injured.
When they return to Haven, Riwyn will thank the Inquisitor for helping her, but that she has one more favor to ask. She will request that Ashrill remain with the Inquisition, declaring that her sister is too weak to return to their Clan at this time. If agreed, Riwyn will greatly approve. If disagreed, Riwyn will greatly disapprove and bitterly snap that the Inquisitor is a ruthless ass for helping Ashrill only to throw her out into the cold. This will eventually lead to Riwyn leaving Skyhold later in the game, returning with Ashrill’s dead body and resulting in the locking out of romance options.
Dear Sister – Available after reaching Skyhold; approval rating must be high and Ashrill must have joined the Inquisition. Ashrill still hasn’t recovered from her attack in the Dalish ruins. Riwyn asks the Inquisitor for assistance in healing her, saying she knows of a Dalish potion that could possibly help as long as they retrieved all the ingredients. These ingredients will be scattered across the map – one in the Hinterlands, one in the Fallow Mire, one in the Emerald Graves, one in the Forbidden Oasis, and the final ingrediant can only be purchased for 3,000 gold at Val Royeaux.
The Inquisitor can refuse, causing Riwyn to greatly disapprove. Her sister’s condition will continually worsen, as indicated by small gossip around Skyhold. Eventually her sister will pass. If asked, Riwyn will reply angrily that her sister’s last moments were filled with agony no matter what Riwyn tried to do to ease the pain. She will close off from the Inquisitor and end any romance that had begun stating that she couldn’t be with someone who wouldn’t help family.
If the Inquisitor agrees to help and retrieves all of the items Riwyn has asked for, Ashrill will slowly begin to recover, as indicated by small gossip around Skyhold. If the Inquisitor leaves Skyhold and then returns, he/she will be rewarded with a small cut scene where Riwyn finally gets to formally introduce Ashrill to the Inquisitor. The siblings will express their gratitude in the form of a gift depending on the Inquisitor’s chosen class – either a sylvanwood staff (mage), sylvanwood bow (rogue archer), elvish daggers (rogue dual wielder, or ironbark plate mail (warrior). Riwyn’s approval will go up again at this time. Ashrill will become an agent as well.
Long Awaited Goodbye – Available after completing both Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts and Here Lies the Abyss; approval rating must be high enough and Ashrill must have joined the Inquisition. Riwyn will ask if the Inquisitor would like to come to the Exalted Plains with her and Ashrill. The two sisters intend to finally put their past behind them and pay respects to their parents after their death during the Fifth Blight. They intend to bury a tree in the Dalish sacred ground known as Var Bellanaris. To do so, however, they need two staves – one made of oak and one of cedar. These can be made at the Requisition Table.
Once they are completed, the Inquisitor can return to Riwyn with the items. Then the three will venture to Var Bellanaris. The sisters have no bodies to bury but instead have kept personal items that once belonged to their parents. They will bury these along with the staves, planting the seeds of a tree over them. The ceremony will be short but it will be one of the few times the Inquisitor would be able to see Riwyn at her weakest.
Upon return to Skyhold, Riwyn will become tearful, thanking the Inquisitor several times over for coming with her, that she needed his/her support through this. A romanced Inquisitor or Inquisitor that has managed to keep her approval rating fairly high, would be able to embrace her for comfort. Riwyn will attempt to laugh this off, saying she won’t make such a fuss again in an attempt to lighten the mood. She continues on saying that if the Inquisitor should need anything, all he/she would have to do is ask - that she owes the Inquisitor her life and then some for everything he/she has done for her.