How to Complete “Echoes of the Past” Quest – Dragon Age: The Veilguard

Embark on Bellara’s companion quest, “Echoes of the Past,” in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, accessible early in the game. This personal mission takes you to Arlathan, where you’ll solve puzzles and gain insight into your companion’s past.

Locate vital power crystals, restore artifacts, and engage in an intimate conversation with Bellara to complete this quest.

Here’s a step-by-step walkthrough on how to complete the “Echoes of the Past” Quest in Dragon Age: The Veilguard.

1. Echoes of the Past Quest – Dragon Age: The Veilguard

In Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Bellara’s initial companion quest, “Echoes of the Past,” you’ll need to retrieve Power Crystals for three specific artifacts across various locations. Enter the Arlathan Forest and locate the power crystals required to restore the artifacts – 2 for the first, 3 for the second, and 2 again for the last artifact.

i. Triggering the Quest

To start Bellara’s “Echoes of the Past” quest, fulfill these prerequisites:

• Complete “Smuggled Relic Case” and “Sea of Blood” story quests.
• Return to the Lighthouse and engage with Bellara, triggering a cutscene where she struggles to repair the Nadas Dirthalen archive.
• Advance the main storyline by completing the “Shadows of Minrathous” quest.
• Revisit Bellara at the Lighthouse and initiate a conversation to launch the “Echoes of the Past” companion quest.

ii. Initiating the Quest

Reach the Arlathan Forest for Bellara’s quest:

• Explore Crossroads to unlock direct fast travel (if necessary).
• Follow quest markers through Crossroads to reach the Arlathan Forest entrance.
• Defeat Antaam and unblock the path, advancing the Winding Ways side quest.
• Locate the Eluvian portal, a portal leading back to the Arlathan Forest.
• Head north to the beacon, initiating the quest’s main phase.

2. Restoring the Artifacts

Bellara’s “Echoes of the Past” quest requires finding Power Crystals to restore three key artifacts scattered across distinct locations. Here are the locations for all the artifacts and their corresponding power crystals.

i. Artifact #1

Locate the first two Power Crystals within the enclosed artifact vault:

• Northwest side: Find the first crystal beside the staircase and a stag statue artifact.
• Southwest side: Retrieve the second crystal near a Hastily Scrawled Note and an unlabelled wheel of cheese artifact.

Return each crystal to Bellara individually, as only one can be carried at a time. This will unlock progress to the next area.

ii. Artifact #2

Proceed upstairs and outside to reach a new area with a sealed artifact requiring three Power Crystals. Locate them as follows:

• Central area, West of the artifact: Break crates to reveal the first crystal.
• South side, raised rubble near entrance staircase: Find the second crystal.
• Artifact’s left side, accessible via ladder: Climb up, follow the platform, and discover the third crystal.

Once you’ve collected all three Power Crystals, return them to the artifact to progress.

iii. Artifact #3

Navigate the ruins alongside Bellara, uncovering a hidden chest among the debris. Reach the final artifact in the expansive stone space, divided by a floor split. Two power crystals are required here.

• Interact with the wooden beam left of the artifact to create a crossing.
• Climb the adjacent ladder to retrieve the first power crystal.
• Instead of using it on the artifact, take it to the west side of the room (beyond the fallen beam).
• Activate the mechanism, forming a bridge to access the second power crystal.
• Collect the second crystal and return it to the artifact.
• Retrieve the first crystal previously used to create the bridge and return to the artifact.

(While collecting Power Crystal #1, discover a locked door on the same balcony. Break the lock to reveal a secret room filled with rewards: 3x Heartwood, 45 Gold, a Caretaker Power Memento, and the Pursuant’s Implements appearance.)

Upon completing the three artifact puzzles in Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s “Echoes of the Past,” proceed to the nearby balcony where Bellara awaits. This will trigger a heartfelt cutscene, allowing you to understand her character better.

3. About Dragon Age: The Veilguard

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is an action role-playing video game developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts. It is the fourth major installment in the Dragon Age franchise and serves as a sequel to Dragon Age: Inquisition (2014).

The game was released for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S on October 31, 2024. It has received generally positive reviews from critics.

Set ten years after the events of Inquisition, the game introduces new locations within the fictional world of Thedas for players to explore.