An Academic Interest is a Hossberg Wetlands side quest that starts with a guard named Bastian in Lavendel. To complete it, travel through the Blighted Tunnel and Cavernous Tunnels to Gaspin Manor, clear the manor’s crystal barriers, defeat the Consuming Obsession in the cellar, inspect the note by the skeleton, and return to Bastian.
Start An Academic Interest in Lavendel
Find the guard, Bastian, at the southern end of Lavendel, just south of the beacon, and speak with him to take the quest.
The southern Wetlands route can depend on main-story progress. Gamer Guides says the Wetlands opens during “Something Wrong,” and a barrier may remain until you have accepted this side quest. If the route is blocked, check your active objectives and story progress before searching for another entrance. Gamer Guides’ walkthrough, last updated February 3, 2025, covers the route for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Travel through the Blighted Tunnel and Cavernous Tunnels
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From Lavendel, head southeast to the Blighted Tunnel. Destroy the blight cyst at the entrance and collect the sample.
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Follow the blight vein through the tunnel. Deal with the next cyst and any darkspawn on the route out, then continue toward Old Crossroads.
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Enter the Cavernous Tunnels. Break the crystal shards that shield the barrier crystal; removing the exposed shards in sequence opens access to the next. Destroy the barrier crystal when it is exposed.
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Continue through the tunnels and clear the remaining crystal barriers on the way to Gaspin Manor. In rooms with a surging crystal, its pulses cause damage, so move out of danger while breaking the shielding shards in order.
Clear Gaspin Manor and find the cellar
Defeat the enemies in the manor courtyard, then destroy the red crystals blocking access to the cellar. Look for boards in the northwest part of the courtyard; break through them to find the cellar entrance. Follow the passage and open the hidden area to reach the demon.
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Defeat the Consuming Obsession and finish the quest
Fight the Consuming Obsession in the hidden area. After the fight, inspect the note beside the skeleton, then return to Bastian in Lavendel to complete the quest. The notes and extra chests around the manor are optional; they are not required to finish the objective.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Rewards
Gamer Guides lists these rewards for completing the quest:
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- 500 XP
- 200 gold
- 5 Fade-Touched Ore
- +100 Mourn Watch Strength
- +100 Grey Wardens Strength
Reward lists differ among surfaced guides, so treat these amounts as the Gamer Guides listing rather than a guaranteed universal result across every game version. The walkthroughs do not establish a choice that changes the quest’s ending.
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