Shale is one of the war golems created by ParagonCaridin in -255 Ancient to defend the dwarventhaigs against the darkspawn during the First Blight. As such, Shale has been a golem for more than a thousand years. The golem was, for a time, a part of the Legion of Steel: a dwarven army regiment that was composed completely by golems.[1] However, Shale seems able to accurately remember only the events of approximately the last 30 years, and prior knowledge is mainly based on what has been heard from others.
This section contains spoilers for: Dragon Age: Origins.
According to Caridin, Shale was the best warrior of King Valtor and member of House Cadash. As a golem, Shale was very loyal to Caridin, even standing with him as he objected to Valtor's use of the Anvil of the Void. But, after Caridin was turned into a golem, he sent Shale away, "out of mercy". Sometime after leaving Caridin, Shale became deactivated in one of the lost thaigs.
After the war, Wilhelm settled in the village of Honnleath, taking Shale with him and continuing his study of the golem. While under Wilhelm's control, Shale was experimented on, paraded around the village like a pet, and even chiseled down to a smaller size so that it might more easily fit through the doorways in Wilhelm’s home.[1]
Before Wilhelm's death, Wilhelm speculated that the Desire demon he had trapped in his laboratory was having an influence over Shale; although he also considers that his own experiments on Shale may have also been a factor. Wilhelm had planned to temporarily deactivate Shale while he attempted to banish his imprisoned demon.[2]
Wilhelm was found dead outside his tower in 9:04 Dragon, with a deactivated Shale standing frozen over his body. Though there were no witnesses to the event, Shale was believed to have killed him. In response to the mage's seeming death at the golem's hands, Shale's control rod was sold to a merchant by Wilhelm's wife, in the hopes that Shale would never be activated again.
But, though it was deactivated, the golem was still aware of its surroundings. Shale remained that way for decades, awake but unable to move.
Involvement
Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne
This section contains spoilers for: Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne.
Shale is seen under the control of Wilhelm when Maric and Loghain meet the main rebel camp. When Wilhelm accompanied Maric to visit Ferelden nobles who had previously pledged support to the rebellion, Wilhelm brought along Shale to surprise any individuals who attempted to capture or assassinate them. Shale's presence however eventually brought attention to the group, forcing them to head towards Calenhad Lake and seek an audience with the First Enchanter at the Mage's Tower. Shale is also encountered when the party returns to Gwaren.
Dragon Age: Origins
This section contains spoilers for: Dragon Age: Origins.
After the Warden encounters a merchant called Felix de Grosbois at Sulcher's Pass, they obtain the control rod to a Golem located in the village of Honnleath. After rescuing several trapped villagers including Matthias, Wilhelm's son, The Warden re-activated and convinced Shale to join in their fight against the Fifth Blight.
During the mission to rescue the ParagonBranka, the Warden will encounter Caridin. If Shale is present at the time, Caridin will reveal much of Shale's past and trigger the quest A Golem's Memories. If the Warden sides with Branka they will be forced to kill Shale as well. Alternatively if they side with Branka and Shale is not present, a conversation in camp will trigger where the Warden can simply say they do not know what happens to Caridin and then the next time Shale is brought into the Deep Roads the quest will activate.
Shale will remember being found in Cadash Thaig where the party will discover a registry of dwarves who volunteered to become Golems in order to fight the darkspawn. The list includes Shale's original identity: Shayle, a female warrior of House Cadash.
If the Warden survives The Battle of Denerim, Shale will appear at the post-coronation ceremony. Shale intends on traveling to Tevinter, to consult the Mages at Minrathous about a possible remedy that could restore Shale's original dwarven form. If Wynne is part of the party, Shale will mention that the two will travel together. If the Warden and Shale are friendly, they can then offer to travel with Shale, which Shale does not object to.
Dragon Age: Asunder
This section contains spoilers for: Dragon Age: Asunder.
The plot follows BioWare's own canon, meaning it may not follow some of the player's choices in the games.
Shale is accompanying Wynne to an abandoned Grey Warden outpost in the Western Approach where Pharamond, a Tranquil researcher and personal friend of Wynne's, is investigating the nature of the Rite of Tranquility. According to Wynne, Pharamond's research might give insight into how to return Shale to her original female dwarven form. When Shale and Wynne arrive at the outpost, they find it overrun by demon-possessed corpses. As Wynne leaves to find help in Val Royeaux, Shale stays behind to ensure nothing escapes the outpost. After confronting the abomination, Shale was to stand watch while the others entered the Fade, but was drawn through the Veil with them. After rescuing Pharamond, Shale goes to the Circle of Magi in Montsimmard so the information about the Rite of Tranquility could be disseminated among the circles quickly. Later Shale joins Evangeline and Wynne in their raid on the White Spire and destroys the phylacteries stored there. Shale is also present at a gathering at Wynne's resting place, her ashes being buried beside an old oak tree.
Shale has a preference for "remarkable" gemstones. There is an issue with the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions which causes Shale to not give the standard +10 for the first gem; instead you receive +5, which decreases as usual, so that after receiving four of the gems, Shale seems uninterested in the others ("So I'm to keep this then, am I? Fine."), giving only +1 for the rest, giving a measly 18 approval for giving them all to Shale. Therefore, you have to rely on conversation and your actions to get higher approval.
If you have the Feastday Gifts and PranksDLC, however, you might also compensate for this bug with the thoughtful gifts and sugar cakes available from Bodahn Feddic. No matter how many are given, a Thoughtful Gift is always worth (+10), while a Sugar Cake is worth (+5).
Shale does not use conventional weapons or armor. Instead, much like Dog, the golem has two slots for specialized equipment:
Small Crystals - act as weapons and appear on Shale's wrists; they grant a bonus to the corresponding elemental attack damage, convert all damage to the crystal's element type, and can (depending on their quality and type) grant bonuses to various attacks, attributes, and health/stamina regeneration. Because Shale's damage is largely elemental based, Vulnerability Hex and Affliction Hex are helpful in boosting damage.
Large Crystals - act as armor and appear on Shale's shoulders and legs; they grant a bonus to the corresponding elemental resistance and can (depending on their quality and type) grant bonuses to various defenses, attributes, and health/stamina regeneration.
There are a total of 50 different crystals: 25 small crystals, 25 large crystals. Both sizes of crystals come in each of the five elemental types and in five varying degrees of quality.
Equipping Shale with a small and large crystal of the same elemental type will grant an additional set bonus of +10% to the corresponding resistance.
Plot skills
As you befriend Shale and gain its approval, it will gain the following additional skills:
"I would appreciate it if it didn't spread around that I said anything. Humans might start to get the wrong idea. They might start thinking their race is not completely hopeless."
"Now, let us crush something soft and watch it fountain blood. That is a girlish thing to want to do, yes?"
(While conversing with Sten about the Qun) "Does sound like a delightful place where it comes from. Mages on leashes. What will they think of next?"
Dialogue
Shale: "I see it found some augmentation crystals. I was not even aware it knew about them... well done! So? What does it think? They don't make me look any wider, do they? I find I am already too wide as it is."
The Warden: "No, no, they're quite slimming."
Shale: "They are, aren't they? I so adore them! I think it should find some more as soon as possible. I want to glitter from ear to ear... so to speak!"
As revealed in the novel Dragon Age: Asunder, Shale was apparently present during the mission to Kinloch Hold, something which even Wynne acknowledges.
Shale mentions being chiseled down to a smaller size by Wilhelm at the behest of his wife, who complained that the golem couldn't fit through the doors of their home. This refers to difficulties the developers had with getting Shale to fit through many of the game's doorways when they used the original golem graphical model. A full-sized version can be seen during Shale's nightmare in the Fade.
At Soldier's Peak (after Levi has set up shop), birds will migrate towards and follow Shale around.
To capture the ambiguity of Shale's gender, the voice actress's already gravelly voice was pitch-shifted down to sound deeper and more masculine.[3]
A painting of a Val Royeaux street scene includes an image of an androgynous dwarf standing near a number of pigeons, possibly representing Shayle of House Cadash in a restored dwarven form.
After completing the personal quest, Shale's codex entry will contain information that is inconsistent with other game lore. It says Shale became a golem "300 years earlier", presumably 300 years earlier than the current events in the game. However, Shale was created by Caridin around 1200 years before the Dragon Age.
(+10), while a Sugar Cake is worth 
Powerful 
Threaten
Precise Striking 
Taunt
Pulverizing Blows 
Slam 
Quake
Stoneheart 
Bellow 
Stone Roar (level 12)
Rock Mastery (level 8) 
Hurl Rock (level 9) 
Earthen Grasp (level 13)
Stone Aura (level 10) 
Inner Reserves (level 11)
Inspired: Minor Strength
Inspired: Moderate Strength
Inspired: Major Strength
Inspired: Massive Strength
Codex entry: Shale
Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 2, p. 91
Rob Bartel (November 10, 2009). "Is Shale a....?" (archive). The BioWare Forum. (offline). Retrieved on July 14, 2014.
David Gaider (November 21, 2018). ""Dave, why do you hate pigeons so much? Pigeons are cute. They never bothered anyone." WELL! Since you asked, strap yourself in I will tell you whence comes my hatred of those feces-spewing flying rats. (cont'd)" (archive). Twitter.