Accept or Refuse Makal Damas’ Offer in Dragon Age: The Veilguard – Which Choice is Best for Your Questline?

James1 week ago

Key Takeaways:

Choice Impact: Deciding whether to accept or reject Makal Damas’ offer shapes Neve’s storyline and affects the support you’ll receive in future quests.
Quest Consequences: Accepting Makal’s offer aligns with Neve’s approval and brings support from the Threads syndicate, while refusing keeps Neve’s path flexible but removes the Threads’ aid.
Storyline Branching: Previous choices, like saving Treviso or Minrathous, influence how Makal Damas’ offer unfolds, underscoring the interconnectedness of decisions in Dragon Age: The Veilguard.

In Dragon Age: The Veilguard, every choice you make has a ripple effect, shaping your relationships with allies and the paths your quests take. One of the pivotal choices in this latest installment of the medieval RPG is presented in “The Cobbled Swan Case” quest, where you’re faced with a decision: accept or reject Makal Damas’ offer. This decision not only affects the course of Neve’s companion quests but also influences the overall support structure in your battle against the Venatori.

Let’s dive into the details of what happens if you choose to accept or refuse Makal Damas’ deal, and how it impacts your journey through The Veilguard.

How to Reach the Choice: Starting “The Cobbled Swan Case”

Before making this critical decision, you’ll need to complete some preliminary steps. Start by meeting Neve outside the Threads’ hideout in Dock Town, where you’ll receive updates about the situation. Elek and Cida, other key figures in the Threads syndicate, inform you that their leader, Makal Damas, has been abducted by the Venatori, a powerful faction that poses a constant threat throughout The Veilguard storyline.

Your task is to head to the Thread Market, a hub bustling with intrigue and danger, and rescue Damas. Along the way, you’ll encounter Venatori mages, so be prepared for a tough fight. While exploring the area, keep an eye out for hidden items, including three chests and a Dream-Inspired Statue Memento loot that could prove useful in your quest.

Upon defeating the Venatori mages and advancing through the market, you eventually come face-to-face with Makal Damas. However, he’s under the influence of Aelia, a Venatori agent with sinister control over him. After a fierce battle, you’ll break Aelia’s spell over Damas, freeing him from her control. In gratitude, Damas offers to help you and the Threads syndicate in taking down Bataris, a formidable adversary. Here’s where you have to make your choice: will you accept or reject Damas’ offer?

Understanding the Context: How Prior Decisions Affect This Choice

Your previous decisions in the quest “A Warden’s Best Friend” significantly influence “The Cobbled Swan Case.” If, for instance, you chose to save Minrathous, this encounter with Damas unfolds as part of Neve’s companion questline. However, if you sided with Treviso, the battle with Damas falls under the main storyline instead.

These branching paths in The Veilguard highlight the intricate design of BioWare’s narrative choices, where every decision has consequences. Saving Treviso also alters Neve’s reaction to your decision regarding Damas’ offer, creating a more dynamic storytelling experience.

What Happens If You Accept Makal Damas’ Offer?

If you decide to accept Damas’ offer, you’ll gain the backing of the Threads syndicate in upcoming battles against the Venatori. This choice ensures that Rook and Neve receive additional support during Neve’s companion quests, making the path forward a bit easier.

From a character perspective, Neve appreciates this decision, as it aligns with her desire to keep the Threads involved in their fight. Accepting the offer also simplifies her questline by predetermining her role, rather than leaving it open-ended. However, this choice does come with some limitations.

Pros of Accepting the Offer:

Threads’ Support: Rook and Neve receive assistance from the Threads in battles, strengthening your position in fights against the Venatori.
Neve’s Approval: Neve is more inclined to support this decision, which can deepen your bond with her as a companion.
Smoother Progression: Accepting the offer streamlines Neve’s storyline, making her path more straightforward without leaving choices up for debate later.

Cons of Accepting the Offer:

Less Flexibility: By accepting Damas’ help, you eliminate Neve’s ‘Hero of the Veilguard’ choice in her final companion quest, which may limit your control over her arc.
Predetermined Path: This choice means Neve’s journey becomes more set, without the option to steer her story in different directions.

What Happens If You Refuse Makal Damas’ Offer?

Choosing to refuse Makal Damas’ offer leads to a different set of consequences. By declining, you opt to cut ties with the Threads for Neve’s future quests. This means that Rook and Neve must face the Venatori without the additional aid, resulting in more challenging battles. However, rejecting the offer allows you to preserve Neve’s choice at the end of her companion quest, keeping her path open to different possibilities.

If you’ve saved Treviso earlier in the game, Neve’s reaction to your refusal will be noticeably different. In this case, she’s forced to accept the Threads’ support regardless of your decision, as the ruined city of Minrathous weighs heavily on her, pushing her to take whatever aid she can get.

Pros of Refusing the Offer:

Retain Choice for Neve’s Story: By refusing, you keep Neve’s ‘Hero of the Veilguard’ choice intact, allowing for a more flexible and personalized narrative in her companion questline.
Independence: Refusing Damas’ help may give a sense of autonomy, as you and Neve rely solely on your own abilities in the fight against the Venatori.

Cons of Refusing the Offer:

Lack of Support: Without the Threads’ assistance, future battles in Neve’s quests will be harder, as you face the Venatori on your own.
Neve’s Disapproval: If you’ve saved Minrathous, Neve may disapprove of this decision, which could impact your relationship and her loyalty to you.

How the Choice Affects Neve’s Final Quest: “The Returned Cultist Case”

It’s important to note that your decision in “The Cobbled Swan Case” doesn’t have a far-reaching impact on Neve’s ultimate quest, “The Returned Cultist Case.” In this final storyline, you’re given another critical choice: whether to protect Dock Town or bring hope to its people. Regardless of whether you accepted or rejected Damas’ offer, this final decision remains unaffected. However, the journey up to that point and the narrative experience can feel distinctly different depending on your earlier choices.

Should You Accept or Refuse Makal Damas’ Deal?

Ultimately, the choice boils down to your preferred playstyle and narrative preferences. If you want an easier path and value Neve’s approval, accepting Damas’ offer is the way to go. This choice provides you with additional support and strengthens your alliance with Neve, albeit at the cost of limiting her final quest choices.

On the other hand, if you prefer a more challenging experience and want to keep Neve’s storyline open-ended, refusing Damas’ offer makes sense. This route may come with Neve’s disapproval, but it allows you to retain greater control over her arc and keeps her final choice available.

FAQs

Q: What happens if I saved Treviso instead of Minrathous? A: Saving Treviso shifts the dynamics in Neve’s companion quests. If you refuse Damas’ offer, Neve will still accept his help due to the consequences Treviso faced, showing her desperation for aid regardless of your decision.

Q: Does accepting or rejecting Damas’ offer affect Neve’s loyalty? A: Yes, Neve approves if you accept the offer, which can strengthen your bond. Refusing may result in disapproval, especially if you saved Minrathous, but this doesn’t necessarily lead to her becoming disloyal.

Q: Will this choice impact the ending of Dragon Age: The Veilguard? A: While this decision shapes Neve’s companion quests, it doesn’t drastically alter the main storyline or the ending. However, it influences the type of support and challenges you face along the way.

Q: Can I reverse my decision later in the game? A: No, once you make your choice regarding Damas’ offer, it’s set for the remainder of Neve’s questline. Choose carefully based on your gameplay and narrative goals.

In the richly layered world of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, choices like these add depth and agency, allowing players to shape their journey in meaningful ways. Whether you accept or refuse Makal Damas’ offer, remember that each decision builds your unique path through the game’s intricate narrative web.