Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts

The opulent Winter Palace in Orlais awaits, a gilded cage where political intrigue and assassination attempts are as common as the morning dew. "Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts" is a pivotal main story quest in Dragon Age: Inquisition, diverging significantly from typical combat-heavy missions. Here, your sharp wit, keen observation, and diplomatic finesse will be tested far more than your blade. Your ultimate goal is to uncover the true mastermind behind the plot against Empress Celene, navigate the treacherous court of Orlais, and secure a crucial alliance for the fledgling Inquisition. Your choices and actions throughout this quest will irrevocably shape the fate of Orlais and its leadership, impacting future events and character relationships.

This guide will provide a comprehensive, step-by-step walkthrough to help you master the delicate dance of Orlesian politics, maintain court approval, and achieve your desired outcome.

Quest Overview & Key Mechanics

Unlike most quests, "Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts" introduces a unique "Court Approval" mechanic, displayed as a percentage in the top-right corner of your screen. This meter fluctuates based on your actions, dialogue choices, and even your attire. Maintaining high approval is crucial for accessing certain areas, dialogue options, and ultimately, achieving the best possible outcomes. Falling to 0% approval will result in a game over.

Court Approval: Starts at 100%. Decreases for rude remarks, unauthorized entry into restricted areas, or failing to address courtly etiquette. Increases for polite dialogue, dancing with the Empress, and uncovering secrets.
Observation: Pay close attention to environmental clues, overheard conversations, and hidden documents. These often provide crucial information and opportunities to gain approval.
Dialogue Choices: Many dialogue options have approval implications. Generally, polite, inquisitive, and diplomatic responses are favored.
Exploration: The Winter Palace is vast. Explore thoroughly but be mindful of restricted areas.
Combat: While less frequent, combat encounters do occur. Be prepared for skirmishes against Venatori agents and Orlesian chevaliers.

Walkthrough: Navigating the Winter Palace

Arrival and Initial Impressions

Upon arrival at the Winter Palace, you'll be greeted by Grand Duchess Florianne. Your initial interactions are crucial for setting the tone. Be polite and diplomatic. You'll then be ushered into the ballroom.

Ballroom Etiquette: Your first task is to speak with various nobles. Engage in polite conversation. Look for opportunities to gain approval.
First Secret: Head to the left side of the ballroom (facing the stage). Overhear a conversation between two nobles discussing a secret meeting. This will trigger the "Find the Secret" objective.
Courtyard Exploration: Exit the ballroom through the doors on the left. You'll enter the Grand Courtyard.

Uncovering Secrets and Gaining Approval

The core of this quest involves finding "Caprice Coins" and "Halla Statues" to unlock secrets and gain access to restricted areas. Each Caprice Coin found grants +1 Court Approval. Each Halla Statue allows you to open a locked door.

Caprice Coins: There are 10 scattered throughout the palace. Collect them all for maximum approval. Many are in plain sight, others require careful searching.
Halla Statues: There are 5 Halla Statues. These are used to unlock specific doors, often leading to crucial evidence or shortcuts.

Key Locations & Actions:

Grand Courtyard:
- Caprice Coin 1: On a bench near the entrance.
- Halla Statue 1: On a fountain in the center.
- Overheard Conversation: Listen to the two nobles near the fountain discussing a "hushed meeting" in the guest wing.
- Garden Access: Use the Halla Statue to open the locked gate to the Royal Garden (right side).
Royal Garden:
- Caprice Coin 2 & 3: Scattered among the hedges and benches.
- Halla Statue 2: Near a small pond.
- First Combat: You'll encounter a group of Venatori agents. These are standard enemies, but be mindful of your party's health.
- Evidence: After the fight, investigate the area for a "Letter from a Venatori Agent." This provides crucial information.
- Return to Ballroom: After finding evidence, return to the ballroom to report your findings to Cullen or Josephine for a significant approval boost.
Guest Wing:
- Access: From the ballroom, take the left exit again, but instead of going to the courtyard, take the door straight ahead to the Guest Wing.
- Caprice Coin 4 & 5: In various guest rooms.
- Halla Statue 3: In one of the guest rooms, often hidden behind a screen.
- Overheard Conversation: Listen to the servants discussing the "Empress's private chambers."
- Secret Room: Use a Halla Statue to open a locked door leading to a hidden study. Inside, you'll find "Gaspard's Letters" and a "Journal Entry."
Servants' Quarters:
- Access: From the Guest Wing, find the stairs leading down.
- Caprice Coin 6 & 7: In the kitchen and servant dormitories.
- Halla Statue 4: In a storage room.
- Overheard Conversation: Listen to the servants discussing the "Duke's plans" and "secret tunnels."
- Combat: Another skirmish with Venatori agents.
Library:
- Access: From the ballroom, take the right exit.
- Caprice Coin 8 & 9: On bookshelves and tables.
- Halla Statue 5: On a high shelf, requiring a jump or careful positioning.
- Research: Interact with the various books and scrolls. You'll find "Orlesian History" and "Court Records" that shed light on the political landscape.
Empress's Private Chambers (Restricted Area):
- Access: Requires high approval (usually 75%+) or a specific dialogue choice with Florianne. Entering without permission will severely drop approval.
- Caprice Coin 10: On a vanity table.
- Evidence: Find "Celene's Private Correspondence" and a "Hidden Dagger."

The Grand Game & Key Decisions

As you gather evidence, you'll be called back to the ballroom for various events. These are critical junctures where your choices have significant consequences.

Dancing with the Empress: At one point, Empress Celene will invite you to dance. Accept this opportunity. During the dance, you'll have several dialogue options. Choose diplomatic and inquisitive responses to gain approval and learn more about her perspective.
The Assassin's Attack: An assassination attempt will occur. You'll have to fight off a group of elite Venatori assassins. Focus fire on the mages first.
Confronting Florianne: After the attack, you'll have the opportunity to confront Grand Duchess Florianne. Your dialogue choices here are paramount.
- Option 1: Accuse Directly: If you have sufficient evidence, you can directly accuse her. This can lead to a quick resolution but may not reveal the full truth.
- Option 2: Play Along: Pretend to be ignorant or sympathetic to her. This allows you to gather more information and potentially set a trap.
The Council Meeting: You'll be called to a council meeting with Empress Celene, Duke Gaspard, and Briala. This is the climax of the political maneuvering. You must present your evidence and make a choice about the future of Orlais.

Outcomes and Consequences

The choices you make during the council meeting, particularly regarding who you support and what evidence you present, will determine the fate of Orlais. There are several major outcomes:

Celene Rules Alone: If you present overwhelming evidence against Gaspard and Briala, and have high approval with Celene, she will remain Empress. This is generally considered the "best" outcome for stability.
Celene and Briala Reconcile: If you have uncovered evidence of Briala's loyalty to Celene and facilitate their reconciliation, they can rule together, leading to a more progressive Orlais.
Gaspard Rules: If you support Gaspard or fail to present compelling evidence against him, he can become Emperor. This often leads to a more militaristic Orlais.
All Three Rule (Triumvirate): A complex outcome where all three leaders are forced to share power. This is achieved by carefully balancing evidence and making specific dialogue choices. It can be unstable but offers a unique political landscape.
Florianne's Fate: Depending on your actions, Florianne can be arrested, killed, or even escape.

Recommended Outcome Strategy (Celene Rules Alone or Celene & Briala Reconcile):

To achieve a stable Orlais under Celene's rule (or with Briala's influence), focus on:

Maintaining high court approval throughout.
Collecting all Caprice Coins and Halla Statues.
Finding all incriminating evidence against Gaspard and the Venatori.
Finding evidence of Briala's true intentions (if aiming for reconciliation).
Being diplomatic and polite in all conversations.
Choosing dialogue options that support Celene's authority and expose the plot against her.

Rewards

Completing "Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts" yields significant rewards, regardless of the outcome:

Experience: A substantial amount of experience points for your party.
Influence: A large boost to Inquisition Influence.
Power: Several Power points, crucial for unlocking new operations.
Orlesian Alliance: A powerful political alliance for the Inquisition.
Unique Items: Depending on your choices and exploration, you may find unique schematics, weapons, or armor pieces. For example, finding all Caprice Coins often rewards a unique accessory.

This quest is a masterclass in political intrigue and offers immense replayability due to its branching narrative. Take your time, explore thoroughly, and choose your words wisely to secure the best possible future for Orlais and the Inquisition.