Sten

Learn how to complete Sten's personal quest, 'The Sword of the Beresaad,' in Dragon Age: Origins. Discover his gift preferences and how to keep him in your party.

Sten's a pretty straightforward guy, all about the mission and killing Darkspawn. He's got a bit of a past he's not keen on sharing, but if you push him, you can help him find closure and maybe even get a sweet sword out of it. Just try not to tick him off too much, or you might find yourself fighting him!

Crisis:

Watch out, because Sten can actually leave your party permanently. If you take him along during the 'Urn of Sacred Ashes' quest and you're rude to him about the Archdemon, he'll challenge you. You'll have to fight him, and if you win, he's gone for good. So, keep a civil tongue in your head when discussing the big bad dragon!

Personal Quest: The Sword of the Beresaad

To kick off Sten's personal quest, you'll need to chat with him at camp and ask about his history. He'll eventually open up about his sword. If you tell him you'll help him find it, you'll get the quest 'The Sword of the Beresaad'.

First, head to the Lake Calenhad Docks. Look for a Scavenger near the entrance. He'll mention that Faryn was around but already picked the area clean. With Sten in your party, make your way to the Frostback Mountains. Find Faryn there, and he'll confess he sold the sword to a dwarf named Dwyn in Redcliffe.

Now, travel to Redcliffe with Sten. Find Dwyn, the dwarf hanging out at the back of the village. Ask him for the key, and he'll hand it over. Use it to open the chest and grab Sten's Sword. Gift the sword to Sten to wrap up the quest, boost his approval, and you'll get Asala, his powerful two-handed sword, as a reward.

Miscellaneous Notes:

• Sten is all business and only really gets satisfaction from fighting Darkspawn.
• There's a critical moment where you need to free Sten from his cage before Lothering falls to the Darkspawn. If you miss this, he'll die.

Gifts Sten Likes:

Sten appreciates paintings, which might seem odd, but it ties into his Qunari upbringing and discipline. Here's where you can find gifts he'll like: