Cassandra Pentaghast

Cassandra Allegra Portia Calogera Filomena Pentaghast (born 9:03-9:04 Dragon)She was twelve years old when her brother was murdered in 9:16. is a Nevarran of the royal Pentaghast family and Seeker of the Chantry. She has been the Right Hand of the Divine since 9:22 Dragon. In Dragon Age II she investigates Hawke's actions, believing that understanding them could be the key to preventing a war that threatens to engulf Thedas. In Dragon Age: Inquisition she is one of the Inquisitor's companions and a romance option for a male Inquisitor.
Many Seekers abandoned the Chantry in response to the mage rebellion. Cassandra did not join her comrades in this, instead remaining loyal to Divine Justinia and her efforts to restore order in the face of chaos. She is both pious and driven, the sword in the right hand of the Divine, seeking justice above all else.
== Background ==
Born in a carriage halfway between Cumberland and Val Chevin, Cassandra is the seventy-eighth in line to the Nevarran throne. Cassandra was raised in her family's estate in Nevarra City. In 9:10 Cassandra's parents, Lord Matthias and Lady Tigana, took the wrong side in the second attempt to overthrow King Markus Pentaghast and were executed by the king. At the suggestion of his court, King Markus ordered the execution of most of the conspirators' immediate families, fearing reprisals from vengeful relatives down the line. Cassandra and her brother were spared because they were only children at the time and family to the king; most importantly, they had an influential relative to vouch for their behavior. Their father's brother, Vestalus, was a senior member of the Mortalitasi and as such beyond the reprisal of the king, and he took them in as his wards. Cassandra and her brother moved to the Grand Necropolis of Nevarra.
Vestalus became prelate of the Mortalitasi in 9:12 Dragon and spent less and less time with Cassandra and Anthony. They grew up isolated, with only each other for company and support. Anthony embraced swordsmanship, dreaming of becoming a dragon hunter, and Cassandra did the same. Cassandra resented her family for keeping her in a gilded cage and became estranged to Nevarra much later on.Cassandra Pentaghast (First Conversation). 
She left behind her life of privilege and wealthDragon Age: The Official Cookbook: Tastes of Thedas, p. 13 and began Seeker training at the fortress of Montsimmard, apprenticed to a senior member named Seeker Byron, where the majority of the focus was on her religious rather than martial education. Though this frustrated her at first, she eventually embraced her studies and excelled. She underwent her vigil at the age of fifteen in a remote castle in the Blasted Hills of northern Orlais, the youngest Seeker to do so since the Storm Age. Though of noble birth, Cassandra turned her back on a life of wealth and privilege to join the Seekers of Truth. The ancient order serves as a watchful eye over corruption and magical threats, granted ultimate authority in its investigations by the Chantry.
== Involvement ==
=== Dragon Age: Dawn of the Seeker ===
The events detailed below take place in 9:22 Dragon.
===Dragon Age: Redemption===
=== Dragon Age II ===
=== Dragon Age: Inquisition ===
==== Trespasser ====
=== Dragon Age: Tevinter Nights ===
=== Dragon Age: Absolution ===
Cassandra and Leliana dispatch two Inquisition agents, Fairbanks and Hira, to steal an artifact known as the Circulum Infinitus from the Tevinter Imperium.
== Quests ==
:
:
: (war table)
:
:
: (war table) (conditional)
== Approval ==
As a deeply pious individual, Cassandra is most approving of Inquisitors who express a belief in the Maker and the teachings of the Chantry, and who embrace their role as the Herald of Andraste. She is generally supportive of Chantry-derived institutions such as the Circle of Magi and the Templar Order and will often disapprove of efforts to curtail their power and influence. As a result of her religious beliefs (as well as her past experiences with apostates), Cassandra can be somewhat mistrustful of mages and will usually approve of a measure of restriction on their freedoms. She is also generally wary of magic and spirits and will sometimes look unfavorably on Inquisitors who make deals with apostates and demons or who dabble in unknown or forbidden arts.
Cassandra is strong, aggressive and militant, and often favors a "take action" approach to solving problems. She will usually approve of individuals who are assertive in their efforts towards restoring order. As a moral and compassionate person, she respects the principles of honor, sacrifice, truth and selflessness and often approves of Inquisitors who are kind to others or who go out of their way to help those in need (even if they happen to be mages). Though Cassandra is a devout Andrastian and steadfastly believes in the necessity of the Chantry as a guiding force for the world, she also recognizes the need for change within its institutions and will often favor the idea of reforming the various governing bodies of Thedas (e.g., the Chantry, the nobility, the Seekers, etc.).
Like most companions, Cassandra approves of responses that affirm her views or that are sympathetic towards her emotional state (e.g., being comforting or reassuring when she is upset or embarrassed), and will usually slightly approve of compliments and flirting from the Inquisitor. Being disrespectful or mocking towards the things she enjoys or believes in will often net disapproval, as will selfish actions or expressing a lack of concern for the things that she considers important.
Approval gains from specific events and quests are usually low to moderate; however, there are several instances that will yield :
== Romance ==
Cassandra is a potential love interest for male Inquisitors only.
A female Inquisitor may also flirt with Cassandra over the course of the game, which garners slight approval increases as Cassandra finds the Inquisitor's advances flattering. However, continuous flirting will eventually prompt a conversation during which Cassandra will tell the Inquisitor that she does not reciprocate her feelings and that she only wishes to remain friends.
* The initial flirtatious cutscene, along with its triggering requirements, are the same for male and female Inquisitors. And similar to a male inquisitor, a female inquisitor has the option to end all flirting.
* After a particular flirtatious conversation with Cassandra in Skyhold, the keep can only be accessed after completing a main plot quest. If this has not been done yet, the Inquisitor will be unable to reenter Skyhold's Main Hall by normal means ―through the front door. One solution is to use the map and fast travel; another would be to simply jump over the mural and on the roof, then down into the garden as fall damage is disabled.
=== Trespasser ===
== Statistics ==
=== Initial talents ===
:
Ability trees 	Initially selected abilities
 	 
 	
 	
 	
(specialization)	
=== Initial equipment ===
:
Weapons	
Armor 	
=== Restricted accessories ===
: (2)
== Quotes ==
=== Dragon Age II ===
* (To Varric) "Start talking, dwarf. They tell me you're good at it."
* (To Varric) "Bullshit! That's not what really happened!"
* "The righteous stand before the darkness, and the Maker shall guide their hand."
==== Dialogue ====
* Varric: "Does that not match the stories you've heard seeker?"
* Cassandra: "I'm not interested in stories. I came to hear the truth."
* Varric: "What makes you think I know the truth?"
* Cassandra: "Don't lie to me! You knew him/her even before he/she became the Champion!"
=== Dragon Age: Inquisition ===
* (About her desired changes to the Chantry) "The Circle of Magi has its place, but needs reform. Let the mages govern themselves, with our help. Let the templars stand not as the jailors of mages, but as protectors of the innocent. We must be vigilant, but we must also be compassionate to all peoples of Thedas, human or no. That is what I would change."
* (About the Seekers of Truth) "We were meant to be incorruptible, above reproach. How seldom does reality match the ideal."
* "If we are to spread the Maker's word across the world, we must do so with open hearts and open hands."
* "I see what must be done, and I do it! I see no point in running around in circles like a dog chasing its tail."
* "Cast the Chantry aside, and new problems replace old ones. We will learn nothing from history."
* "At some point, power becomes its own master. We cast aside our ideals in favor of expedience and tell ourselves it was all necessary. For the people."
* "They will stand in the fire and complain that it is hot."
* "Orlesians pretend their petty squabbles are a 'game.' Yes, let us treat murder, corruption and deceit as delightful amusements. How wonderful."
* "Romance is not the sole province of dithering ladies in frilly dresses. It is passion. It is being swept away by the pursuit of an ideal."
* "I do nothing that is not worth doing with all my heart."
== Codex entries ==
:
:
:
== Note texts ==
:
:
== Notes ==
* Jennifer Hepler was originally writing Cassandra for Dragon Age: Inquisition. David Gaider took over when Jennifer Hepler left BioWare.
* During the development of Dragon Age II, her hair changed from long black hair, to short white hair, to her current short black hair.
* Unused dialogue from Dragon Age II suggests there was a cut quest involving Cassandra encountering Hawke in Kirkwall; see cut content for details.
== Trivia ==
* In Dragon Age: Redemption, Nyree states that she once fought beside a templar named Cassandra. Cairn states that Cassandra is head of the Seeker Order. Cassandra Pentaghast, however, is not the head of the Seekers.
* Mary Kirby described her as "an extremely crusty baguette".
* She is described as "The Believer" in the promotional materials for Dragon Age: Inquisition.
* Cassandra is described as brash, impulsive, and having anger management issues, but nevertheless she’s incredibly dedicated and will do whatever it takes to set the world right.
* Cassandra reads Varric's novels and loves the "romance" title Swords and Shields.Guilty Pleasures
* Cassandra suffered from hay fever as a child. Her brother joked she should punch a tree in retaliation. Cassandra found that it helped and still punches trees when afflicted.Banter with Blackwall 
* Cassandra's greatest fear is helplessness.
* Cassandra wields her weapon right-handed in the game, both during gameplay and cutscenes. But a possible scene in Skyhold after Here Lies the Abyss shows her writing with the left hand. This could mean that she's ambidextrous or even left-handed considering the design limitations which makes all NPCs in the game wielding exclusively their weapons with their right hand.
* According to Trick Weekes, Cassandra is a faithful reformer.
* Although she has Templar as a specialization in Inquisition, she has never been part of the templar organization herself. However, the description of her specialisation reflects this, noting that her abilities are 'Templar-like'.
* Through companion dialogue with Sera, Cassandra mentions that she was trained as a Seeker when she was six. However, a letter from Cassandra's uncle to the Seekers states that she was twelve when she joined the Seekers. And she tells the Inquisitor when asked about how to become a Seeker, that even though most of them begin training in their youth, she was "much older" as an exception was made for her due to her noble birth.
* Cassandra is the only companion in Inquisition to appear for every war council meeting in Haven's War Room. However, she will never appear in Skyhold's War Room.
== Gallery ==
DotS Cassandra striking a pose.jpg|Concept art from Dawn of the Seeker
Conceptart009.jpg|Concept art from Dragon Age II
Inquisition Cassandra concept 3.png|Cassandra concept art from Dragon Age: Inquisition
cassandra wotv2.png|Cassandra in Dragon Age: The World of Thedas Volume 2
Cassandra inquisition promotional.png|Promotional CG
Cassandra Romance.png|Cassandra Romance tile in Dragon Age Keep
Cassandra-profile-260px.jpg|Cassandra's profile on the official Dragon Age: Inquisition website'
Cassandra Shield.jpg|Cassandra in combat
CassandraDAI.jpg|Cassandra in the Fires Above trailer
Cassandra jail.png|Cassandra under the influence of red lyrium during In Hushed Whispers.
=== Heroes of Dragon Age ===
== References ==
== External links ==
* Dragon Age Inquisition Character Kits #2
* Cassandra Pentaghast Character Guide
Category:Characters
Category:Dragon Age II characters
Category:Dragon Age: Dawn of the Seeker characters
Category:Heroes of Dragon Age characters
Category:Dragon Age: Inquisition characters
Category:Trespasser characters
Category:Dragon Age: Tevinter Nights characters
Category:Dragon Age: Absolution characters
Category:Humans
Category:Nevarrans
Category:Nevarran nobility
Category:Royalty
Category:Warriors
Category:Chantry members
Category:Seekers of Truth
Category:Inquisition members
Category:Companions
Category:Dragon Age: Inquisition companions
Category:Love interests
de:Cassandra Pentaghast
fr:Cassandra Pentaghast
pl:Kasandra Pentaghast
es:Cassandra Pentaghast
ru:Кассандра Пентагаст
pt-br:Cassandra Pentaghast
it:Cassandra Pentaghast