MSLewis
Contributor
Mark of the Assassin was the first downloadable content released for Dragon Age II. Available on October 11, 2011, Mark of the Assassin featured new missions, new areas, new weapons for all classes, and a new party member (Tallis). The official description of the game from Bioware’s website:
“Embark on a thrilling adventure of deception and intrigue in Mark of the Assassin, the latest downloadable expansion for Dragon Age II. In this gripping new story, Hawke is joined by a mysterious elf assassin, Tallis. Voiced by none other than actress Felicia Day, this new party member comes complete with her own unique combat style and intriguing back story. With Tallis at your side, you must Infiltrate an Orlesian estate outside Kirkwall and steal a precious relic. Along the way, you will uncover an array of impressive weapons and equipment, and confront fearsome and challenging new enemies on your journey to claim the Heart of the Many.”
This guide does include some minor spoilers, so read with caution.
Mark of the Assassin Achievement Guide
A New Day (15G)
Meet Tallis in Hightown.
Story related and cannot be missed. Meet Tallis in Hightown and the achievement is yours.
Chasing the Game (30G)
Lure and kill an alpha wyvern near Chateau Haine.
This achievement is missable if you miss any of the items needed to summon the wyvern. They are located in the western and eastern hunting grounds:
1. Dragonling Corpse (Western Hunting Ground): take the stairs to your right as soon as you enter the area. Kill the dragonlings and the dragons that appear, then interact with the dragonling corpse to loot it.
2. Blood (Western Hunting Ground): from the Dragonling Corpse, take the right path and proceed down the hill. You should pass by an altar before you find the blood in the middle of the path.
3. Mating Call (Western Hunting Ground): head back to the main path. After you encounter a first hunting party you will reach a path that goes off to the left. If you reach the second hunting party you’ve gone too far. Follow this offshoot path until you hear a wyvern mating call. Tallis will be asked if the call can be recreated. Watch the cutscene.
4. Halla Corpse (Eastern Hunting Ground): take the path to the right upon entering the area. You’ll enter a large clearing filled with ghasts. You will find the halla corpse by the group of trees and the large rock.
5. Wyvern Dung (Eastern Hunting Ground): travel to the large lake in the eastern hunting ground. There will be a small clearing nearby that includes a large pile of feces. Inspect it to pick some up.
Once you’ve collected all five items, continue to the wyvern location. When Tallis asks which items you want to use to defeat the wyvern, you MUST choose to use ALL of the items. The wyvern is a tough enemy, but with the items you should be able to defeat the opponent. Once you’ve killed the wyvern the achievement is yours.
Blackjack Subtle (15G)
Evade vault security in Chateau Haine.
Rather than fighting your way through Chateau Haine you will need to sneak through. It’s not overly difficult, but you will need to move slowly so that your Distract and Knockout skills have time to recharge. You can knockout guards or slip past them, either is fine. The Chateau is split into multiple areas, and if you are discovered you are teleported back to the beginning of that area. This DOES NOT cause you to miss the achievement! Just sneak through the area again. Being seen by the Cook does not count towards this achievement either, so don’t worry about him. Make it through the Chateau without being discovered by the guards, complete the gate puzzle, and the achievement is yours.
The Take (30G)
Disarm the fire traps in Chateau Haine's vaults.
This achievement is missable, so make sure that you go into the vaults when prompted (before leaving the dungeons through the fissure). You will need to solve 3 puzzles to disarm the fire traps. When you first enter, the puzzles will be on the left, the middle, and the right. Click the tiles corresponding to the Os in the following diagram. DO NOT touch the ones corresponding to the Xs.
LEFT:
X O X O X
O X X X O
X O X O X
MIDDLE:
O X O X O
O O O X O
O X O X O
RIGHT:
O X X X X
O O O O O
O X X X X
Secret Achievements
Mark of the Assassin (30G)
Defeated Duke Prosper, with or without Tallis.
Story related and cannot be missed. Defeat the Duke and the achievement is yours.
“Embark on a thrilling adventure of deception and intrigue in Mark of the Assassin, the latest downloadable expansion for Dragon Age II. In this gripping new story, Hawke is joined by a mysterious elf assassin, Tallis. Voiced by none other than actress Felicia Day, this new party member comes complete with her own unique combat style and intriguing back story. With Tallis at your side, you must Infiltrate an Orlesian estate outside Kirkwall and steal a precious relic. Along the way, you will uncover an array of impressive weapons and equipment, and confront fearsome and challenging new enemies on your journey to claim the Heart of the Many.”
This guide does include some minor spoilers, so read with caution.
Mark of the Assassin Achievement Guide
A New Day (15G)Meet Tallis in Hightown.
Story related and cannot be missed. Meet Tallis in Hightown and the achievement is yours.
Chasing the Game (30G)Lure and kill an alpha wyvern near Chateau Haine.
This achievement is missable if you miss any of the items needed to summon the wyvern. They are located in the western and eastern hunting grounds:
1. Dragonling Corpse (Western Hunting Ground): take the stairs to your right as soon as you enter the area. Kill the dragonlings and the dragons that appear, then interact with the dragonling corpse to loot it.
2. Blood (Western Hunting Ground): from the Dragonling Corpse, take the right path and proceed down the hill. You should pass by an altar before you find the blood in the middle of the path.
3. Mating Call (Western Hunting Ground): head back to the main path. After you encounter a first hunting party you will reach a path that goes off to the left. If you reach the second hunting party you’ve gone too far. Follow this offshoot path until you hear a wyvern mating call. Tallis will be asked if the call can be recreated. Watch the cutscene.
4. Halla Corpse (Eastern Hunting Ground): take the path to the right upon entering the area. You’ll enter a large clearing filled with ghasts. You will find the halla corpse by the group of trees and the large rock.
5. Wyvern Dung (Eastern Hunting Ground): travel to the large lake in the eastern hunting ground. There will be a small clearing nearby that includes a large pile of feces. Inspect it to pick some up.
Once you’ve collected all five items, continue to the wyvern location. When Tallis asks which items you want to use to defeat the wyvern, you MUST choose to use ALL of the items. The wyvern is a tough enemy, but with the items you should be able to defeat the opponent. Once you’ve killed the wyvern the achievement is yours.
Blackjack Subtle (15G) Evade vault security in Chateau Haine.
Rather than fighting your way through Chateau Haine you will need to sneak through. It’s not overly difficult, but you will need to move slowly so that your Distract and Knockout skills have time to recharge. You can knockout guards or slip past them, either is fine. The Chateau is split into multiple areas, and if you are discovered you are teleported back to the beginning of that area. This DOES NOT cause you to miss the achievement! Just sneak through the area again. Being seen by the Cook does not count towards this achievement either, so don’t worry about him. Make it through the Chateau without being discovered by the guards, complete the gate puzzle, and the achievement is yours.
The Take (30G)Disarm the fire traps in Chateau Haine's vaults.
This achievement is missable, so make sure that you go into the vaults when prompted (before leaving the dungeons through the fissure). You will need to solve 3 puzzles to disarm the fire traps. When you first enter, the puzzles will be on the left, the middle, and the right. Click the tiles corresponding to the Os in the following diagram. DO NOT touch the ones corresponding to the Xs.
LEFT:
X O X O X
O X X X O
X O X O X
MIDDLE:
O X O X O
O O O X O
O X O X O
RIGHT:
O X X X X
O O O O O
O X X X X
Secret Achievements
Mark of the Assassin (30G)Defeated Duke Prosper, with or without Tallis.
Story related and cannot be missed. Defeat the Duke and the achievement is yours.