Dead Drops

This guide will walk you through the “Dead Drops” quest in Dragon Age: Origins. We will go through all the steps to complete this mission.

Background

You’ll receive this quest from the bartender at the Gnawed Noble Tavern in the Denerim Market District, but only after you’ve completed the quest “Untraceable“.

For this quest, “K” will ask you to deliver “deserved rewards” to some of his associates at four drop sites around Ferelden:

Denerim Market District. You’ll find the dead drop at the market stalls (near Cesar).
Redcliffe. You’ll find the dead drop on the northern side of the docks (near the mouth of the river).
Frostback Mountain Pass. You’ll find the dead drop next to Ahren’s shop.
Lake Calenhad Docks. You’ll find the dead drop inside the Spoiled Princess.

When you position the fourth “reward,” it will detonate, and you’ll realize that you’ve been placing bombs. If this is fine with you, then you can immediately return to bartender at the Gnawed Noble Tavern, and he’ll reward you with 3 sovereigns, 98 silvers, and 175 xp.

If you don’t like the idea of helping a bomber, then you’ll need to return to the other three bombs and disarm them (if you have a character with the Trap-Making skill) or poke them with a stick to detonate them (if you don’t). Once you’ve disarmed or detonated the remaining bombs, you’ll receive a reward of 3 sovereigns, 98 silvers, and 175 xp.

Note: This quest and “False Witness” will choose a side for you between “D” and “K.” If you complete this quest first (without disarming all of the bombs), then you’ll receive the quest “New Ground“, where “K” will ask you to kill “D.” If you complete “False Witness” first, then you’ll receive the quest “Harsh Decisions“, where “D” will ask you to kill “K.” There isn’t any way to complete both “New Ground” and “Harsh Decisions”.