Navigating the tense political climate of Kirkwall during Act 1 of Dragon Age 2 requires players to make careful moral choices while managing deadly combat encounters. The Shepherding Wolves main quest highlights the growing friction between the Chantry and the Qunari presence in the city. Completing this objective successfully demands tactical preparation, smart party composition, and an understanding of the long-term consequences of your decisions.
Starting the Quest in Lowtown
To begin this quest, Hawke must first finish the Blackpowder Promise storyline to receive the necessary rumor. Head to Lowtown during the night to intervene as Sister Petrice faces an ambush near The Hanged Man tavern. After rescuing her, she invites your party to her nearby safehouse to reveal the details of a covert escort mission.
Sister Petrice tasks you with leading a bound Qunari mage named Ketojan out of Kirkwall through hidden passages. Bringing companions like Varric or Merrill to the safehouse provides useful banter and approval adjustments during the briefing. Make sure your party is well-equipped with health potions and gear before heading into the underground tunnels.
Navigating the Undercity Warrens
Entering the Undercity Warrens presents immediate hazards in the form of aggressive spider swarms and hostile street thugs. A rogue companion with adequate cunning is vital here for detecting and disarming several floor traps along the path. Clearing these choke points carefully prevents unnecessary damage before reaching the mountain exit.
As you progress through the cavernous corridors, keep your party tightly grouped to avoid triggering multiple enemy spawns at once. Strategic use of area-of-effect spells can quickly eliminate groups of weaker enemies trapped in narrow spaces. Once the path is clear, proceed toward the Vimmark Mountain Pass to meet your contact.
Confronting the Qunari at Vimmark Pass
Upon emerging at the mountain pass, Hawke encounters a group of Qunari warriors led by an Arvaarad who demands Ketojan's return. You are faced with a pivotal choice to either hand over the Saarebas or fight the Qunari group to protect him. Turning Ketojan over angers most companions and locks you out of a future Act 2 side quest.
If you choose to fight, focus your initial heavy attacks on reducing the numbers of surrounding warriors before turning your full attention to the Arvaarad. Direct your tank to draw the leader's attention while ranged attackers keep pressure on incoming reinforcements. Following the battle, Ketojan fulfills his strict Qunari code regardless of Hawke's attempts to intervene.
Claiming Your Rewards and Final Outcomes
After the confrontation resolves, return to Lowtown to report back to Sister Petrice at her safehouse. Depending on your dialogue choices with her, you will earn coin, experience points, and adjustments to companion friendship or rivalry scales.
If you defended Ketojan, you will also acquire the Talisman of Saarebas as a unique reward for your efforts. This quest serves as an essential story bridge that deepens the main narrative arc surrounding the Qunari conflict in Kirkwall.