The Returned Cultist Case Quest Guide

This is a complete walkthrough for Neve's companion quest, The Returned Cultist Case, in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. See this guide for quest information, unlock requirements, objectives, and major decisions!

The Returned Cultist Case Overview

The Returned Cultist Case Objectives

Major Quest Objectives
Complete Keep a Light On Confronting Aelia (Major Neve Choice) Hero of the Veilguard Rewards

Complete Keep a Light On

After completing A Clear Mind and progressing through other quests, talk to Neve in the Lighthouse.

After acquiring Keep a Light On, travel to Minrathous. Travel to the Razikale Walk beacon and start the quest. The quest consists purely of dialogue.

In the conversation, you can choose to light an orb yourself if you are a Shadow Dragon. Rana will appear and have information of Aelia's whereabouts, being Sanctum Lusacan.

Stop Aelia

Return to the Cobbled Swan

Head back to the Cobbled Swan in Minrathous, and meet with the team inside. Elek will send someone to get you in the Sanctum Lusacan, and Rana will rendezvous there.

Go to the Thread Market

Move along the streets of Minrathous to get to the Thread Market. The main entrance will be sealed by a Venatori barrier.

Investigate the body of Elek's man, the Venatori got to him first. Neve will then lead the way to an alternate entrance into the Market.

Defeat the Venatori in the Market

Defeat the Venatori that have overrun the Thread Market, and continue pressing forward.

Find the Secret Entrance

Use Neve's companion ability on the device on the top right of the Condemned Warehouse, and cross the bridge to climb the ladder. Near the top of a ladder is a lever that when turned will open the way forward.

Locate Sanctum Lusacan

Head through the Nocen Corridor, utilizing the ziplines in the area to go towards the Sanctum Lusacan. There will be Venatori resistance by the entrance, defeat them and continue to the sanctum.

Find Aelia

Traverse through the sanctum, where you will encounter more Venatori resistance. Further on will be a Bloodhunting Pride Demon with more Venatori.

In that same room will be a chest found behind Resonant Slabs that can be moved with Harding's Eternal Hymn.

Go Through the Puppet Halls

Traverse through Aelia's puppet halls, where the victims of her ritual are being puppeted by her blood magic. Past the halls is the rendezvouz point with Rana and Elek.

Rendezvous with Rana and Elek

Meet the team before heading in to Aelia's ritual chamber, and prepare for the final fight against the Venatori blood mage.

Confront Aelia

Protect or Inspire Dock Town

As you arrive, Neve and Aelia will exchange words and magic, and you have a choice whether you tell Neve to become Dock Town's protector or inspiration.

Calling back to the initial dialogue in A Clear Mind, this choice is permanent, and affects Neve's story trajectory and the Hero of the Veilguard armor and skill rewards.

Should Neve Protect Dock Town or Bring It Hope?

Defeat Aelia

After Neve chooses her role in Dock Town, you must defeat Aelia. Destroy the unprotected red crystals around the arena first to gain an advantage in the fight.

Defeat her henchmen and destroy the crystals for Neve to damage Aelia's Blood Shield, which must be accomplished three (3) times. After the third phase, Aelia will be defeated and the team will return to the Lighthouse.

Hero of the Veilguard

After completing this quest and finishing the other Shadow Dragons quests around Minrathous, Neve will achieve Hero of the Veilguard status, which affects the game's endings and future quest outcomes.

You will also receive Neve's unique Veilguard skill and Hero Armor.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard Related Guides

All Quests List

All Quest Guides

List of All Neve Companion Quests