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Where the Dead Must Go is a main quest inDragon Age: The Veilguard, which is needed to recruit Professor Emmrich Volkarin, a Fade expert. Before you can do that, however, you must help him banish the Despair Demons (and to no one’s surprise, the Venatori) infesting the Shrouded Halls in the Grand Necropolis.
Throughout the quest, you will deal with the Frenzied Undead and Venatori. Neve, Taash, and Bellara are all excellent options when it comes to companions, so choose whomever you prefer the most. Here is everything you need to know about helping Emmrich fend off the Undead, freeing the bell, and saving the Grand Necropolis.
The Disturbance In The Shrouded Halls
You will meet Professor Emmrich Volkarinin the Grand Necropolis—via the Crossroads. After the introductions, Emmrich will ask you toaccompany him deeper into the Shrouded Hallsto investigate some sort of disturbance.
Follow him outside, but after the first set of stairs, turn left for some Pure Ore and a Jeweled Brooch. Before heading down to the Despair Demon, collect some more Pure Ore, Imperial Weave, and Mineral Dust.
The Despair Demon cantemporarily isolate youfrom your party, forcing you to fight it alone. Aside from being able to teleport around the area, it can alsohurl homing orbsat you. These orbs travel pretty slowly, so it should not be hard tobait them to hit a pillaror any other piece of available cover.
Kill the Despair Demon to get Demonic Bezoar, Fade-Touched Ore, and the Abyssal Helm.
Before following Emmrich down the bridge, collect some Gold, Flawless Crystal, a Misplaced Skull, and Shatter (Common Rune) from the left side after exiting the door.Continue down the bridgetofind the Sunken Star(the bell)chained. You will need to defeat a few Undead in the area — they should not pose much of a threat at this point.
There are a fewHealing Potions in this areaif you need to replenish your HP.
Find The Wisp To Unlock The Door
Once you have defeated the Undead, head over to Emmrich neara locked door.To unlock it, you will need tofind a Wisp near the other sideof the room, and bring it back. Before leaving the area, be sure to collect some Flawless Crystals, Fade-Touched Crystal, and Necropolis Defender (Warrior playthrough) from the left side.
In the next area, you will need todeal with some more Undead, including the ranged ones, which can be slightly annoying. Once you have defeated them, search the area for some Healing Potions, Flawless Crystals, Pure Ore, Heartwood, and a few valuable items.
A little ahead, you will findmultiple Despair Demons in the long hallway. These, however,are not active, and will remain like thatunless you step inside the mistsurrounding them. attempt to avoid them the best you can, and search the top of the stairs (on both sides) to findAncient Illustration Memento, Flawless Crystals, Fade-Touched Crystals, Pure Ore, Fade-Touched Ore, Gold, and some other valuable items.
You will soon seeanother locked door on the right, which needsthree Wisps to unlock. Emmrich will summon these Wisps in the hallway — simplyfollow the objective markerson your screen to find them. While the first two are simple enough, theone near the doorat the end of the pathcan be a little tricky. You can get that one using the wooden beams near the right side.
You cannot hold onto these Wisps indefinitely. Try torush to the door before they disappear.
In the next area, you will need todefeat a small army of Undeadincludinga few Despair Demons(who can be left alone) as well assome Deathchill Mages. Deal with them however you see fit, loot the area, and head outside.
Once you are outside,stay on the leftside, andwalk over a small wooden beamto reach the other side. Collect anEtheric Remnant, some Fade-Touched Crystals, and Flawless Crystals. You will alsofind the Necrotic Jade ring and theVoluminous Notes Mementoon the nearby platform with a green brazier. You will need to jump on a narrow wooden beam to reach the said platform.
After you are ready, go to the door.
Defeat The Venatori
Inside the room, you will need tolight four braziers. Once done,interact with theskeleton in the middle of the roomto learn that the Venatori are responsible for everything.
Use the Wisp to unlock the door, and battle a few Venatori.
Remember tocharge your attacks to deal with the shieldswielded by Graverobber Captains, since your regular attacks will not be enough.
Once done, loot the area, and head to the left side for some more Venatori accompanied by a Despair Demon. At the end of the path, you willfind a Venatori Slavewhom you have just saved — you will alsofind a Vhenadahl’s Tear near him.
Destroy The Venatori Siphoning Crystals
Continue through the hallways to find the Sunken Star chained by the Venatori. You simply need todestroy the Siphoning Crystals to break the chains— four in total.
Thesecrystals also heal nearby enemies.
After destroying the chains,drop down into the chamberwhere Emmrich is, andbegin the ritual. You will need tosurvive for around three minutes. During this time, you will need to deal with theVenatori, aRage Demon, and evensome Despair Demons.
Werecommend not activating the Despair Demonsto make it a bit more manageable.
Do note that the Rage Demon in the area will leap towards you, which deals quite a lot of damage. Whenever yousee a red circle underneathyour feet,run awayfrom the area. Furthermore, its attacks can easily be blocked, so if you want to stall things out until the bell tolls, it is certainly an option that you may use.
There are also a bunch ofgreen pots scattered in the areathat you can break if you need some Healing Potions.
Once the bell tolls, all remainingenemies in the area will disappear. Search the area for any loot, open the nearby chest to learn that the VenatorI had the Hand of Glory in their possession, andspeak with Emmrich to leave the area.
At the end, you will meet up with Vorgoth and Myrna once more, Emmrich will agree to join you, and the quest will be completed. As a reward, you will receive+100 to The Mourn Watch Strength, Guardian of the Abyss(a rare Arcane Staff that Emmrich can use),and an increased bondwith the companion that you decided to bring with you.
Also, be sure to visit Emmrich at the Lighthouse if you wish to begin his questline. You should also have some unspent Passive Points for him.
