The capital of both the Orlesian Empire and the Chantry, Val Royeaux is undoubtedly one of the most important cities on Thedas. The city sits on the northern edge of the western end of the Waking Sea, and to the northwest of Skyhold. While pretty on the surface, it is also an inherently dangerous place as it is the heart of the shadowy Game of the Orlesian nobles. It is also home to various very important buildings including the Imperial Palace, the Grand Cathedral of the Chantry, the White Spire, which used to house the city’s Circle of Magi and the leaders of the Templar Order, the University of Orlais, and the headquarters of the Seekers of Truth. I visited precisely none of those places while inquisiting, however, and spent almost all of my time in the Summer Bazaar, which sits isolated on a fake lake with only one road in or out. All of the business I ever had in the city itself took place there. Some might call that coincidence, personally I think it was a deliberate effort by the powerful people of the city to have me kept in a place where they would know where I was at all times. Not that I can really blame them, mind you.

I visited Val Royeaux several times throughout my inquisiting, though more early on. I first went there shortly after meeting Mother Giselle in the Hinterlands. The remaining Revered Mothers were doing their best to denounce me, and I went to confront them and hopefully assuage their fears. Which didn’t really work. While there, I also met a pair of people who would become important members of the Inquisition. Vivienne and Sera both made my acquaintance in or near the city. After those meetings, I only occasionally went back to the capital to run errands, everything from helping Josephine get her family out of trouble, to shopping for Skyhold and Cassandra, to attending an aborted execution and having a friend released from prison. So, a bit of everything, really. Overall, Val Royeaux is definitely not my favorite place in the world. There’s nothing really wrong with it, and it has plenty of fantastic features, it’s just not for me. Despite this, and with how important it is to the overall politics of Thedas, my inquisiting is sure to lead me to Val Royeaux again, so maybe I shouldn’t be too harsh on it.
No, I don’t care, I don’t like the place. Deal with it.