If you’ve spent any time roaming the Frostback Mountains or dealing with the political headache that is Orlais, you know that nothing is ever simple. Especially not when Red Jenny attends a party. BioWare’s Dragon Age: Inquisition has its fair share of dragon-slaying and rift-closing, but it’s the high-society espionage that usually leaves the biggest mark on players. Specifically, the "Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts" quest at the Winter Palace.
It’s messy. It’s loud. It’s quintessentially Sera.
Honestly, the Friends of Red Jenny aren't your typical revolutionary cell. They don't have a grand manifesto or a secret underground bunker filled with maps and daggers. They’re just... people. Servers, stable hands, the folks who polish the silver while the nobles talk about who should sit on the throne. When Sera drags the Inquisition into her world of "pranks" that are actually calculated strikes against the elite, the vibe shifts from saving the world to sticking it to the man.
Why Red Jenny Attends a Party and Everything Goes Wrong
The Winter Palace is a nightmare of etiquette. You’re there to stop an assassination, but you’re also stuck playing a literal game of "Court Approval." If you trip, you lose points. If you talk to the wrong person, you lose points.
Then there’s Sera.
While the Inquisitor is trying to look regal and avoid getting stabbed in the back by a duchess, the Friends of Red Jenny are busy in the crawlspaces. Sera’s involvement in the Winter Palace is one of the best examples of "ludonarrative harmony" in the game, even if it feels chaotic. She isn't there to dance. She’s there to steal things. Specifically, she’s there to gather "red jenny" caches hidden around the palace grounds.
The Real Power of the Little People
Most players miss just how deep the Red Jenny lore goes during this mission. It isn't just about finding three hidden items for a quest log. It’s about the narrative weight of the underclass in a world of magic and gods. While Gaspard and Celene are arguing over borders, the people serving their wine are the ones holding the real secrets.
Sera’s logic is pretty straightforward: the "nobs" are too busy looking at each other to notice the person cleaning the floor. By the time Red Jenny attends a party, the trap is already set. You find these caches in the servants' quarters, on balconies, and tucked away in corners where the "important" people never go.
It’s a stark contrast to the rest of the game. Usually, power comes from your mark on your hand or your army at Skyhold. Here, power comes from being invisible.
🔗 Read more: Free games free online: Why we're still obsessed with browser gaming in 2026
The Mechanical Impact of Bringing Sera
You don't have to bring Sera to the Winter Palace. But if you don't, you're missing out on some of the best dialogue and a fairly significant chunk of world-building. Plus, there’s the loot.
Bringing her allows you to initiate the "Red Jenny Caches" side quest.
- The Loot: It’s mostly gold and some crafting materials, but the real reward is the approval rating.
- The Insight: Sera provides a commentary that cuts through the Orlesian fluff. She reminds you that the "Game" is actually quite stupid.
- The Influence: Completing her tasks at the party gives you a boost in influence that helps unlock Inquisition perks later.
I’ve played through Inquisition maybe five or six times? Every time, I try to go in with a different party composition, but leaving Sera behind feels wrong. The party is a farce. She knows it's a farce. Bringing her is like bringing a truth-bomb to a masquerade.
Navigating the Winter Palace Without Losing Your Mind
Let’s be real: "Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts" can be frustrating. You’re timed, sort of. You’re being judged.
If you’re hunting for the Red Jenny stashes, you have to balance your time. You can’t just wander off forever or your court approval will drop to zero and you’ll be kicked out. It’s a delicate dance of "run into the kitchen, grab the stash, run back out and bow to a noble."
Don't Forget the Halla Statues
While you’re looking for Jenny’s influence, you also need those annoying Halla statues. There are never enough of them. You have to choose which doors to open. Do you want the legendary loot behind the vault, or do you want the evidence needed to blackmail the Empress?
Sera’s perspective here is unique because she doesn't care about the blackmail. She cares about the fact that the Empress has a vault full of gold while people are starving. It’s a recurring theme in her character arc that comes to a head during this specific mission.
The complexity of Orlesian politics is a wall of noise. Red Jenny is the signal.
💡 You might also like: Catching the Blue Marlin in Animal Crossing: Why This Giant Fish Is So Hard to Find
Common Misconceptions About the Friends of Red Jenny
A lot of people think the Friends of Red Jenny are a massive, organized guild like the Dark Brotherhood in Skyrim or the Thieves Guild. They aren't.
There is no "Leader" of the Red Jennies. Even Sera isn't the boss. She’s just a "Friend." The whole point is that anyone can be a Red Jenny. If you’re tired of your boss and you decide to swap his expensive wine with vinegar, congrats, you’re basically a Red Jenny.
When Red Jenny attends a party, it’s a collective action. It’s the group soul of the commoners pushing back against the "nobs."
- Fact: The group predates the Dragon Age. They’ve been mentioned in lore books and previous games (like the "Painted Jenny" in Dragon Age: Origins).
- Fact: They have no central treasury.
- Fact: Their "sigil" is often just a crude drawing or a red silk ribbon.
How to Optimize the "Wicked Eyes" Questline
If you want the "best" outcome while making sure the Red Jennies get their due, you need a plan.
First, talk to everyone. Seriously. Use your search ping constantly. The caches for Sera’s quest often glow just like any other lootable object, but they are tucked away in the "off-limits" areas.
Second, keep an eye on your approval meter. If it dips below 50, stop exploring and go back to the ballroom. Throw some coins in the fountain or talk to the Dowager. You need that buffer so you can sneak away later to finish Sera’s business.
Third, listen to the ambient dialogue. The servants in the Winter Palace talk. A lot. They’ll give you hints about where things are hidden and what the nobles are actually up to. This is where the Red Jenny network really shines—it’s an information economy.
Dealing with Florianne
The climax of the party involves Grand Duchess Florianne. If you’ve played your cards right and gathered enough evidence (some of which comes from the areas where Red Jenny stashes are located), you can actually "publicly humiliate" her.
📖 Related: Ben 10 Ultimate Cosmic Destruction: Why This Game Still Hits Different
It’s the most satisfying ending. You don't even have to fight. You just use your words to destroy her social standing. For a character like Sera, this is better than a blade to the throat. It proves the system is fragile.
The Long-Term Impact on Your Playthrough
Completing the Red Jenny objectives at the party isn't just a "one and done" thing. It builds your relationship with Sera, which is notoriously difficult to manage if you’re playing a "lawful" or "magical" Inquisitor.
She hates "elfy" stuff. She hates "magic" stuff. But she loves it when you help the little guy.
By the time the DLC Trespasser rolls around, the events of the Winter Palace are referenced as a turning point. The Inquisition’s legacy is defined by whether they were just another group of nobles or if they actually gave a damn about the people living in the shadows.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Run
To get the most out of the experience when Red Jenny attends a party, follow this sequence:
- Recruit Sera early. You can’t do any of this if she’s not in your party. Find her in Val Royeaux immediately after the first main quest there.
- Save your Halla Statues. Don't spend them on the first door you see. Wait until you get to the upper levels where the better Red Jenny loot and story-critical evidence are hidden.
- Equip the right gear. You’ll be forced into formal wear for most of the mission, which tanks your stats. Make sure your weapons are top-tier because when the fighting starts in the gardens, you’ll feel the lack of armor.
- Talk to Sera after the mission. Head back to the tavern in Skyhold. She has a lot to say about the masks and the "stupid dancing." It’s some of the best writing in the game.
The Winter Palace is a maze of ego and silk. Having a Red Jenny by your side makes the walls feel a little less closing in. It reminds you that while you’re saving the world from a blighted magister, someone still needs to make sure the servants don't get kicked around.
The "Game" might be played by Empresses and Grand Dukes, but it’s won by the people who know where the back stairs lead. Red Jenny doesn't just attend the party; she owns the kitchen, the pantry, and every secret whispered in the hallway. Make sure you're listening.