The last companion quest for Emmrich in Dragon Age: The Veilguard is titled “Sacrifice of Souls.” In this quest, you will face the rival necromancer Hezenkoss for the final time. Successfully completing this quest unlocks Emmrich’s Veilguard skill, which is arguably the most powerful ability available for this character. Your choices during the quest can also lead to obtaining valuable gear.
If you’re aiming to strengthen your relationship with Emmrich, consider helping him unlock new abilities while joining him on his quests. Beyond simply giving companions gifts in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, participating in their unique quests will enhance your bond with them. By making the right dialogue choices, you can also pursue romantic relationships with certain NPCs throughout the game.
How to Locate Hezenkoss’s Lantern
Help Free Captive Spirits
After completing the “Blood of Arlathan” quest, you can start “Sacrifice of Souls” by heading to Blackthorne Manor. Your main task is to liberate the trapped souls contained within Hezenkoss’s Lantern, a potent artifact wielded by the necromancer. Before you can do that, however, you need to find a way into Blackthorne Manor, as the entrance is locked while Hezenkoss hosts several guests.
Don’t stress about your dialogue choices during the initial cutscene at Blackthorne Manor with Rook and Emmrich. Unlike later choices in the quest, these don’t impact your overall relationship with Emmrich.
Head west from the Manor’s entrance until you spot a ladder on your right in the small graveyard beside the building. Climbing this ladder will allow you to access the Manor from the balcony, where you should take the immediate left to continue deeper into the area. Follow your quest marker to the upper balconies until you reach a spot where you can view the ongoing party and its attendees.
How to Find the Spectral Tome
While the guests await Hezenkoss’s “grand announcement,” return to the Library within the Manor. This area is located to the east, where you previously closed Hezenkoss’s portal to The Fade. Upon entering the Library, you must combat a series of undead enemies occupying the numerous bookshelves.
Depending on your character’s build in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, this battle will vary in difficulty. Once you’ve defeated the enemies in the Library, retrieve the Spectral Tome that Hezenkoss was utilizing from among the books. After locating it, follow your quest marker and hand the Spectral Tome over to the skeletal servant Manfred, who is waiting at a door leading outside where the party is happening.
Where to Find the Lantern
Return to the balcony and observe as Manfred delivers the tome to the guest inquiring about Hezenkoss’s shrine, presumed to be linked to the Lantern. After this, retrace your steps to Manfred, who will inform you he has found a key to the shrine itself. Venture down into the tunnels beneath the shrine and follow the red tapestries to locate the Lantern.
Eventually, you’ll arrive at a hidden door that Manfred can open by squeezing through a crack in the wall and unlocking it from the opposite side. Upon entering, a brief cutscene plays between Rook and Emmrich, where you can choose the “Admire it Later?” dialogue option to enhance your bond with Emmrich.
Take the elevator further down into the shrine, where you’ll encounter a gigantic bone golem powered by the Lantern. Fight through waves of enemies to reach the Lantern, which is positioned within a detached chamber that Hezenkoss has taken from the Grand Necropolis.
During this side quest in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, you can utilize Emmrich’s Soothe Torment companion ability on a rift visible in the secret room. This will unlock a chest filled with rewards, including Gold and a Unique Ring item.
Defeat the numerous undead in this area, particularly the Deathchill Pride Demon, who serves as the main guardian of the Lantern. Once the area is cleared, take some time to explore for additional treasures before interacting with the Lantern to progress to the next stage of the quest.
How to Defeat Hezenkoss
Defeat the Waves of Undead Minions
As you interact with the Lantern, a cutscene will unfold featuring Hezenkoss confronting Rook and Emmrich. This segues into a boss battle against Hezenkoss alongside the massive Bone Golem they resurrect in the party room full of guests. During your conversation with Hezenkoss, select the “You call your plans art?” dialogue option for an additional bond boost with Emmrich.
To conquer Hezenkoss, pursue them around the arena and deal damage whenever possible. Emmrich’s Time Stop ability can provide you with crucial moments of uninterrupted offense, allowing you to inflict as much damage as possible before Hezenkoss escapes. Throughout the encounter, Hezenkoss will summon undead minions that you should eliminate quickly to prevent being overwhelmed.
The Bone Golem allied with Hezenkoss generates massive AoE attacks that you need to avoid during the fight. These attacks are indicated by large red circles on the ground, so steer clear of these areas to protect your party from harm. Keep defeating the minions and applying pressure to Hezenkoss whenever you can as the battle escalates.
Hezenkoss is resistant to Cold damage but vulnerable to Necrotic damage. Utilize this weakness to chip away at the necromancer’s health whenever they manifest in the boss arena.
If you’re equipped with a strong party composition in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, you should be able to handle this fight without too much trouble. Upon your victory, Manfred will come forward to assist the guests, concluding the quest. As Rook and Emmrich discuss Manfred’s sacrifice, you’ll face an important decision regarding Emmrich’s future from the following options:
|
Choice |
Reward |
Item Effect |
|---|---|---|
|
Transform Emmrich into a Lich |
Death’s Caress |
Veilguard Skill – All of Emmrich’s abilities apply Necrosis when dealing damage, increasing party Affliction damage by 25%. |
|
Revive Manfred |
Life’s Embrace |
Heroic Armor – Increases your Low Health threshold by 10%. Party damage increases by 50% when at low health. |
Depending on your choice, you will deepen your bond with Emmrich while simultaneously enhancing your party’s strength. Completing the “Sacrifice of Souls” quest in Dragon Age: The Veilguard may conclude Emmrich’s storyline but does not diminish his potential value in your team moving forward.
