Dougal Keane

Dougal Keane

Race

Human

Profession

Thief

Locations

• Postern Ward
  (Lion's Arch)
  
• Fort Marriner
  (Memory of Old Lion's Arch)

Organization

Guild Initiative
Vigil

Image(s)

Keane as the head of the Guild Initiative.

“

Never adventure with people you like.

— Dougal Keane

Dougal Keane is a famous human adventurer. He is best known for his journey to the ruins of Ascalon City where he and his team recovered the Claw of the Khan-Ur, allowing open peace talks regarding the human-charr conflict to take place. Upon his return, he wrote a landmark historical treatise on the fall of Ascalon and the Foefire entitled Ghosts of Ascalon. He has since become the head of the Guild Initiative in Lion's Arch and has hosted meetings of the Tyrian Alliance. Dougal's adventures have inspired troubadours to sing about the Tale of the Honorable Rogue.

Biography

Early years

Dougal Keane was born in Divinity's Reach at around the time of the sylvari's first appearance in Tyria. As a child, he emigrated to Ebonhawke and later served in the Ebon Vanguard, where he met Vala and later married her. He deserted in 1319 AE with his unit, comprised of Dak Turnbull, Jervis, Marga, and Vala. Left behind was Riona Grady, who was forced to take the blame for their actions. The group traveled to Ascalon City Ruins to raid the Royal Treasury, but were not prepared for the ferocity of the Ascalonian ghosts there. All but Dougal were quickly killed, including his wife.

Dougal did not return to Ebonhawke, and went on to have many adventures as far afield as the Bloodtide Coast and Caledon Forest. His name came up in an incident involving the Temple of the Ages, and he briefly worked for the Durmand Priory before parting after a disagreement about their book-lending policy (specifically, whether or not they had one).

Ghosts of Ascalon

Forming the group

In 1324 AE, Dougal was hired by an asura named Clagg to help his krewe, including their norn bodyguard Gyda Oddsdottir and the sylvari Killeen, in disarming traps and recovering the late asuran inventor Blimm's magically infused ruby known as the Golem's Eye from the crypts below Divinity's Reach. Dougal and Gyda did not get along during the mission, and Gyda made sure that Dougal was aware of it. The mission led to Gyda's death as she battled against the tomb guardian which the Golem's Eye had created as a security measure while the rest of the party fled to safety.

Shortly after Dougal and his group had resurfaced and been arrested by the Seraph, he was released by Riona, now a Crusader of the Vigil, on General Almorra Soulkeeper and Queen Jennah's orders. Almorra explained that she wanted Dougal to join Riona and the charr Crusader Ember Doomforge on an upcoming Vigil mission due to Dougal's knowledge about Ascalon City layout as he had been the only survivor from his group's expedition to the fallen city. The goal of the mission was to retrieve the Claw of the Khan-Ur, a lost charr relic of the Khan-Ur which the pro-truce party wanted to hand over to Queen Jennah who, in turn, would return it to the charr High Legions in a symbolic gesture of friendship to begin negotiations for a ceasefire. Ember was also meant to act as the party's guide while in the charr-controlled Ascalon and help them keep a low profile as the party could not let their intentions be known to either local humans or charr lest the anti-truce factions on both sides tried to stop their mission.

Upon meeting her traveling companions in Vigil Centerhouse, Ember did not initially get along with her fellow Crusader Riona and the treasure hunter Dougal whose spiteful remarks about charr savagery annoyed her, and she made sure to remind them of the charr view on the human-charr conflict and justifying the charr's actions against humanity who, in her view, had stolen the charr's rightful homeland from them. She also made a point to educate the party about charr history involving the charr rebellion and Kalla Scorchrazor's part in it, as well as the concept of fahrars. Killeen volunteered to join the party as well despite Dougal initially suggesting that the curious sylvari should stay behind due to the dangers they would be facing in Ascalon.

As night fell, Dougal was assaulted in the centerhouse by a drunken norn who had come to claim the treasure hunter's life. In the ensuing scuffle Ember came to Dougal's rescue and helped restrain the rampaging norn. As the norn was interrogated, he revealed himself as Gullik Oddsson who had learned about his cousin Gyda's death. He had confronted Clagg who in turn had directed the norn to seek out Dougal whom the asura had claimed to have been responsible for Gyda's death. Gullik's anger did not stem from Gyda's death, however; he had wanted revenge because Dougal had not shared the story of Gyda's death and thus had prevented the spreading of her legend. After a brief talk with Almorra, Gullik eagerly volunteered to join Dougal's mission in hopes of amending the misunderstanding caused from his drunkenness, as well as because he had grown bored of Kryta.

Adventures in Ascalon

Ember fiercely protested being placed in chains during the party's trip to Ebonhawke as she viewed Kalla Scorchrazor, who had freed female charr from the chains of servitude, as an inspiration and did not want to tarnish Kalla's legacy by becoming a human captive. However, after a bit of persuasion from Dougal and the others, Ember eventually understood that there was no other way for the party to get past Ebonhawke as the citizens there, who had been fighting against besieging charr for generations, would become suspicious if a charr was seen walking around without any restraints. While spending time in the city, Dougal and Riona had a conversation about their respective pasts and how Dougal had wronged her. The two grew closer with potentially romantic attraction forming between them.

However, the party's journey nearly ended before it could begin when local guards were tipped off about their presence. They were forced to recruit another Vigil member, the local asuran engineer Kranxx, so he could lead them to an underground passage and help them flee from the pursuers. During the escape, the party were forced to kill several humans and charr in order to maintain the secrecy of their mission, which left some party members shaken. In the chase's aftermath, they began viewing one another with suspicion, wondering if one of them was secretly a spy for one of the anti-truce factions and had warned the guards in order to make the mission fail.

As the party continued the journey to Ascalon City, they were forced to venture into the Dragonbrand where Killeen lost her life in a Branded assault. Saddened by their sylvari companion's demise, Dougal and Ember slowly began to warm up to one another as they gradually learned more about their respective pasts and conflicting allegiances.

By the time they were closing in on the Plains of Ashford and thus the territory of the Iron Legion, Ember got to place Dougal and Riona in chains as this time the local charr would grow suspicious if they saw free humans wandering about. Although understanding the humans' frustration after what she had been through, Ember could not help but be delighted by this reversal of fortune. Their journey through Ascalon went smoothly until they witnessed members of the High Legions fighting against zealous Flame Legion. Realizing that the Flame Legion might overcome the charr forces if left unchecked, the party resolved to aid the High Legions and help the charr secure victory against the Flame shamans.

In the ensuing chaos Riona had left her post and chased after a fleeing Flame Legion member to prevent him from taking intel to Flame reinforcements, but eventually both she and Dougal were found and apprehended. Ember came face to face with the legion forces' commander who was Tribune Rytlock Brimstone of the Blood Legion, a celebrated hero among the charr. Rytlock took the party as his "guests" and interrogated Ember, who had identified herself as a member of the Ash Legion, about such an odd transport of human "prisoners." Ember's lies seemed to convince Rytlock; however, she was fully aware that the tribune had sensed something was amiss in her story but did not want to press the matter further because he hated mysteries and he could always ask Malice Swordshadow, Imperator of the Ash Legion, for answers once the two met.

Recognizing Ember's lineage and realizing that whatever mission she was on had to be important, Rytlock ultimately let the party continue their journey although he warned them not to cross paths with his forces again. The rest of the party figured out that Ember's true allegiance actually lay with Malice who had sent her to spy on Almorra. Ember admitted as much; however, she was unable to answer the party's questions about if Malice was part of the secretive truce faction among the charr although Dougal heavily suspected it.

Retrieving the Claw

Upon reaching Ascalon City, the party attempted to locate the Claw of the Khan-Ur based on Dougal's memory of seeing it when he had last braved the dangers of the ruins. They ended up alerting the vigilant Foefire ghosts to their location, and Gullik seemingly lost his life in the resulting brawl. The party were briefly saved by Savione, the chief courtier of King Adelbern and the only friendly ghost in all of Ascalon due to having died moments before the Sorcerer-King had cast the Foefire curse. The party learned that Savione had been responsible for the suspiciously detailed maps of Ascalon City and the royal vault which had spread around the countryside, and which Dougal's group had used during their doomed expedition in the past, as the courtier had hoped that adventurers would help him have his revenge on Adelbern who had stabbed him when he had tried to stop the king from casting the Foefire curse. The courtier also revealed that the charr account of the events of the Foefire was closer to the truth and that Adelbern had cast the Foefire out of desperation and madness rather than facing the Imperator of the Flame Legion in a duel.

With Savione's help, the party were able to decipher the clues of the Claw's current whereabouts in Adelbern's trap-filled vault and proceeded to secure it. Riona convinced Ember to accompany Kranxx as a decoy to lure the ghosts away so Riona and Dougal could sneak into the king's treasure vault. Although the distraction worked for a time, Adelbern eventually spotted the intruders. Dougal attempted to continue distracting the Sorcerer-King by truthfully stating that he was a descendant from an Ascalonian family, and then lying that he had come to the ruins on the behalf of Adelbern's lost son, Prince Rurik. The treasure hunter's statements caught Adelbern off guard, but the ghost king quickly regained his composure when he remembered how Rurik had betrayed his trust in the past.

Before Adelbern could attack the party, however, he was distracted again when Savione appeared near him and renounced his position in the king's court. Angered, Adelbern pulled out a dagger from Savione's chest—a ghostly version of the weapon he had originally killed the courtier with—and sliced him in two. Releasing Savione from the weapon's hold, the Sorcerer-King unwittingly freed the ghostly courtier from his remaining burden, which allowed Savione to fade away into the Mists. The courtier's sacrifice had bought enough time for Dougal and Riona to slip away much to Adelbern's frustration.

Despite the party's attempts to evade the ghosts, the Sorcerer-King eventually found them in the ruins. Adelbern summoned his spectral army to kill the trespassers, promising to forcibly recruit the party as his undead soldiers and then lead an invasion of the surface world so he would finally have his revenge against the charr invaders and any who sympathized with charr. For a time Dougal's party believed that Ember had perished as well when the ghosts closed in on them.

Before the Sorcerer-King could defeat the party with his magic, however, Kranxx arrived in the nick of time. The asura battled Adelbern and the ghost army with a massive golem made from the bones of Ascalon's long-dead soldiers and infused with the magic of the Golem's Eye. Although Kranxx perished in the clash, he successfully managed to evaporate Adelbern for a time with the sheer mass of the golem and the city's architecture, granting the rest of the party valuable few moments to locate the Claw and flee from the ruins before the ghosts would reform.

Once Dougal had retrieved the Claw from the depths of the vault and handed it over to Riona while expecting to be pulled up to the surface, however, the human Crusader showed her true colours by refusing to help him. Riona revealed herself as the traitor who had alerted the guards to the party's presence in Ebonhawke and justified her actions by the crimes which the charr had committed against humanity for centuries and which had cost the lives of her loved ones. Riona had not slain the Flame Legion scout she had been chasing after but had made a secret deal with him: instead of delivering the Claw to Almorra, she would hand it over to the Flame Legion to embolden their forces and ensure that the truce negotiations would never begin. While the charr tore themselves apart in a brutal civil war that would ensue from the Flame Legion's rise, the humans could step in, destroy any charr who remained in the aftermath of the civil war, and reclaim Ascalon at long last.

However, Ember had survived her battle with the ghosts and had managed to track down the pair, overhearing Riona's confession. She managed to surprise the treacherous Crusader and attack her, giving Dougal enough time to find the way up and prevent Riona's escape. Ember had been weakened by her prior battle with the ghosts, however, allowing Riona to fatally slice her with the Claw. Dougal managed to surprise Riona and battled her, ultimately killing the Crusader, who had been his former friend, while snatching the Claw from her as she fell to her death into Adelbern's vault. Dougal pulled out a rejuvenating potion, which Kranxx had given him before his demise, and used it on Ember and himself, allowing both of them to slowly heal from their grave wounds.

As Ember regained her strength, she worried out loud if Riona's words to Dougal had managed to persuade him to keep the Claw from the Vigil. However, she was relieved to hear that Dougal intended to honor his deal with Almorra and ensure that the truce negotiations could begin as he had come to see value in saving charr lives as well. Ember responded that she, too, would honor Almorra's wishes despite being unsure about most humans' motivations as she did not want to face her granddam empty-handed. At that moment Dougal finally recognized the familial connection between Ember and Almorra.

The pair's conversation was cut off by Gullik who staggered into view, revealing that he had survived the ghost attack as well thanks in part to Kranxx's intervention. Upon informing the norn about Kranxx and Riona's demise, the pair acknowledged that while the Claw of the Khan-Ur was not as impressive a weapon as Adelbern's sword Magdaer, it would play an important role to ensure a ceasefire for charr and humans and in turn free their forces to face a greater foe that threatened all of Tyria: the Elder Dragons.

After taking some of the treasures of Ascalon City with them as compensation for their troubles, the trio returned to Almorra with the Claw. The retrieval of the Khan-Ur's weapon set up the events that would eventually lead to the signing of the Ebonhawke Treaty.

Personal story

After the retrieval of the Claw of the Khan-Ur, Dougal continued serving the Vigil and mentored younger Vigil members on the dangers of fieldwork, particularly dungeons which were his speciality. Due to owing Dougal a favor, Almorra allowed him to ignore Vigil dress code while on duty. He was stationed in Lion's Arch where he met with the soon-to-be-Pact Commander in 1325 AE, informing them that his sources had kept him up to date on the Commander's heroic activities. He also told the Commander about his adventure to retrieve the Claw, and about the losses his party had endured along the way.

Interim years

Following the rebuilding of Lion's Arch after Scarlet Briar's attack and the Elder Dragon Mordremoth's subsequent rise in 1328 AE, Dougal became the head of the Guild Initiative as a favor to Queen Jennah. He was joined by his old ally Ember Doomforge who promoted the initiative to existing and new guilds outside the initiative's new headquarters.

Janthir Wilds

Act 1

In 1337 AE, Countess Anise reached out to Dougal and requested the use of Guild Initiative Headquarters for the inaugural meeting of the Tyrian Alliance due to the building's presence within neutral territory. Anise's remarks in the letter indicated that Dougal had gotten close to a person named Leonie. The remainder of the correspondence was shrouded by supposed mesmer magic. While the meeting took place Dougal could be found in a back office with the various gifts brought by the delegates.

During the second meeting of the Tyrian Alliance Dougal could be found in the upstairs portion of the headquarters. While conversing with the Pact Commander, Dougal remarked on his boredom and how he could get nothing done with the alliance's surprise meetings. He then inquired if the Commander might be interested in taking him on a future adventure so he could leave retirement, and the Commander remarked that they could discuss the proposal another time.

Absolution

After the titan threat had been dealt with in Janthir in 1338 AE, Dougal participated in the Tyrian Alliance's victory celebration held in the Guild Initiative's headquarters in Lion's Arch. He chose to observe the proceedings and did not exchange words with the visiting Pact Commander.

Visions of Eternity

Dougal's adventures inspired wandering sylvari troubadours such as Cillian to regale Tyrians with tales about him and spread these songs to new troubadours after the races of the Tyrian Alliance had begun exchanging information and techniques to bolster deeper cooperation between the alliance's various factions.

Locations

Kryta

• Lion's Arch
  • Postern Ward
    • Guild Initiative Headquarters (2nd floor)

• Memory of Old Lion's Arch
  • Fort Marriner

Historical locations

Kryta

• Gendarran Fields
  • Vigil Keep (during Escape from Lion's Arch until Battle for Lion's Arch: Aftermath)
• Lion's Arch
  • Fort Marriner (prior to Escape from Lion's Arch)

Story involvement

Janthir Wilds story

• Act 1
  • Prologue: The Tyrian Alliance
  • Strangers among Lands
• Absolution
  • Salvation's Cost

Dialogue

In Guild Initiative Headquarters

Hello, adventurer. I'm Dougal Keane, head of the Guild Initiative. What can I do for you today?

Tell me more about the Guild Initiative.

The Guild Initiative is an arm of the Tyrian Explorer's Society. We operate with the endorsement of the five major nations of Tyria and the Captain's Council here in Lion's Arch.

What is the Tyrian Explorer's Society?

The Tyrian Explorer's Society is a group of cartographers, adventurers, and wanderers. They've made it their purpose to create a complete map of Tyria.

About the Guild Initiative...

Thank you.

How was the Guild Initiative formed?

When the Pact fleet was decimated, a decentralized solution to fighting the Elder Dragons was necessary. The successes of notable guilds inspired the formation of the Initiative.

Which guilds inspired the formation of the Guild Initiative?

Destiny's Edge was an inspiration, of course, but honestly, Commander, you and your comrades' battle against Scarlet Briar has been a guiding light.

Oh?

I've been following your exploits. Thank you for all the good you do! The Initiative wouldn't exist without you.

I'm glad to hear it, but I have more questions.

Thank you.

I have more questions about the Guild Initiative.

Thank you.

I have more questions about the Guild Initiative.

Thank you.

I have other questions.

Thank you.

Haven't I heard of you?

Oh, well, possibly. I'm something of an archaeologist. I was on the expedition to retrieve the Claw of Khan-Ur from the fallen city of Ascalon.

Oh! Now you're in charge of the Guild Initiative?

Well, yes. See, there was this old Krytan artifact, and...let's just say I ended up owing Queen Jennah a favor. She asked, and here I am.

I have another question for you.

Thank you.

What are your personal thoughts about the Initiative?

It's a steady paycheck, I suppose. I'd like to be out finding lost artifacts, but if I can't do that...well, I can say that I'm proud of what we're accomplishing.

I have another question for you.

Thank you.

I have other questions.;

Nothing, thank you.

In the Memory of Old Lion's Arch

I recognize you. <Character name>, right? My name is Dougal Keane. I'd been wondering if I'd see you come through here at some point.

Do I know you?

As a member of the Vigil, I get pertinent information sent my way. You've been making a name for yourself, but I'm sure you're aware of that fact.

You're with the Vigil? You don't look like it.

I've never been one for uniforms. General Soulkeeper made an exception on the whole dress code thing. She kind of owes me one.

What do you do for the Vigil?

I mentor the younger Vigil members about the dangers they may face in the field. Of course, I do keep an eye out to see if anything interesting pops up. Still an adventurer at heart, I guess.

What can you teach me, Vigil teacher?

I've got a lot of experience as an adventurer, which I'd be happy to pass along. How can I help you?

Have any tips on navigating dungeons?

That happens to be a specialty of mine. I can tell you about traps, combat tactics, or just general techniques for survival.

Tell me about traps.

Traps are not to be taken lightly, but every trap has a mechanism. Once you work out what that is, there's always a way to get past it.

I want to know more about navigating dungeons.

Thanks. See you around.

Tell me about fighting enemies in dungeons.

Things that are strong enough to live in dungeons are the most dangerous members of their kind. Never take your eyes off of them and never give them a chance to surround you.

I want to know more about navigating dungeons.

Thanks. See you around.

Tell me about surviving in dungeons.

Watch your teammates. Play off each other, and don't be afraid to change things up. A quick swap of your tactics can be the difference between victory and defeat.

I want to know more about navigating dungeons.

Thanks. See you around.

Actually, I'd like to hear your stories instead.

I suppose I'm most known for being one of the group of adventurers who traveled into Ascalon City to retrieve the Claw of the Khan-Ur.

How'd you get into Ascalon City? Isn't it overrun with ghosts?

I'd been there before, though that's a memory too painful for me to talk about. We found the Claw in the Royal Treasury there and returned it to Lion's Arch.

What happened on the way back?

Very little, honestly. We returned and delivered the Claw to the charr, which brought them to the negotiating table. The rest is history.

I want to know more.

Interesting. Talk to you later.

Thanks for the information. Talk to you later.

Tell me about your group.

There were five of us. Riona and Ember, human and charr. Both of the Vigil. Gullik, a norn warrior. And then there...were the sylvari Killeen and the asura Kranxx.

Why the hesitation when you mentioned Killeen and Kranxx?

They didn't survive the journey. Killeen was killed by a Branded creature and Kranxx...well, he died a hero. And that's all I'll say about that.

Do you keep in touch with the others?

I'm still close with Ember, and Gullik comes through Lion's Arch on some wild adventure.

You didn't mention Riona.

Riona betrayed our group. She wanted to give the Claw to the Flame Legion hoping it would lead to a charr civil war. It's kind of a sore spot for me.

I want to know more.

Good-bye.

Thanks.

Why was the Claw so important?

Simply put, it opened up the chance for peace between the humans and the charr. But there were a lot of people making strides in that direction before I came into the picture.

I want to know more.

Thanks for the chat.

What are you doing now?

I mentor the younger Vigil members about the dangers they may face in the field. Of course, I do keep an eye out to see if anything interesting pops up. Still an adventurer at heart, I guess.

I want to know more.

Good luck.

Good-bye.

I must be on my way. See you later!

Actually, I think I've got everything I need. Thanks!

Well met. I must go.

Talk to you later.

Good to see you. I've got to get moving, though. Good-bye.

I've heard of you!

Whatever you've heard about me was probably exaggerated. I'm just a man who knows how to get things done.

You recovered the Claw of the Khan-Ur!

Simply put, it opened up the chance for peace between the humans and the charr. But there were a lot of people making strides in that direction before I came into the picture.

How'd you get the Claw out of Ascalon City? (same as "How'd you get into Ascalon City? Isn't it overrun with ghosts?")

Have any advice you'd be willing to share? (same as "What can you teach me, Vigil teacher?")

Thanks for the chat.

Good to see you, I'll be on my way now. Good-bye.

I'm just passing through.

Quotes

Greets

How are you?

Good to meet you.

Be careful out there.

Hey, there.

Related achievements

• Janthir Wilds: Act 1: Meeting Notes — Read every document in the Tyrian Alliance meeting area. (1)

Trivia

• Dougal wears no shoulders, a Rogue Coat, no gloves, Rubicon Leggings, and Leather Shoes.
• The name Dougal is of Gaelic/Celtic origin and means "dark stranger".
• The surname Keane is of Old English origin and means "fighter" or other descriptions such as "sharp-witted" and "brave in battle". Can also be translated in some cultures to "Warrior's Son".
• It has been mentioned in video interviews that Dougal could be comparable to Indiana Jones.
• The reason Dougal Keane was originally found in Fort Marriner next to the dungeon armor vendors was that he was planned to be one of the key NPC's that players would have gone along on adventures with for post-ship dungeons (taking over from Destiny's Edge). Plans changed, and he has remained in Lion's Arch instead.

See also

•   Tale of the Honorable Rogue