Dragon’s Dogma 2: How to Unlock Captain Brant’s Dark Arisen Menu

You installed the Dark Arisen expansion, walked up to Captain Brant at the Stardrop Inn, and he just repeats the same pleasantries with no sign of a new quest. Nothing is broken. The two expansion topics live inside Brant’s conversation menu, and that menu only opens after a specific point in the main story, at night, in the tavern.

Quick answer: Complete the main quest Seat of the Sovran. Once night falls, find Captain Brant inside Vernworth’s Stardrop Inn. His conversation menu offers “About the new Arisen…” (which begins Chilling Tidings) and “About the uncovered ruins…” (which begins Lost Rites).

At night in the Stardrop Inn in Vernworth, Captain Brant is hailed at the counter, the quest Seat of the Sovran is completed at his table, and his menu then offers “About the new Arisen…” (Chilling Tidings) and “About the uncovered ruins…” (Lost Rites).

Why Brant shows no new options

Brant’s menu does not exist until the main quest Seat of the Sovran is complete. Before that, approaching him at the counter only produces ordinary lines such as “Do not forget that we work to serve the citizenry.”, “You have my fullest confidence.” or “Greetings. Little did I expect to find you here.” Those lines are the tell that the story ahead of him has not been done yet.

The title screen says the same thing when the add-on is detected: one or more add-ons have been added, and to receive the quests you go to the Stardrop Inn in Vernworth and speak with Captain Brant at night.

Reach the point where the menu opens

You do not need to finish the game or start fresh. You simply need to be far enough that Seat of the Sovran is complete. If you have just arrived in Vernworth, work through the early beats first.

Play the opening main quests in order: Gaoled Awakening, Tale’s Beginning, and In Dragon’s Wake. In Dragon’s Wake has you speak with Lennart, then Gregor, then accompany Gregor to the capital.

Defeat the cyclops during One-Eyed Interloper on the road. Once the battle is over, leave the guard post on foot and head into Vernworth. On your way out, a street urchin and the soldier Norman will stop you. Brant’s tavern conversation only progresses after you make this walk.

Brant gives you the Eternal Ferrystone after his opening scene at the guard post. The stone can take you back to any Portcrystal’s location, with unlimited uses.

Get to night and find Brant at the Stardrop Inn

The Stardrop Inn is a tavern in Vernworth. Brant appears inside at night. If you arrive during the day, pass the time first.

Make it night. Stay at an inn or use one of the outdoor seats found in set locations. At the Stardrop Inn, the innkeeper Glenna offers “Buy a round 2000 G”, “Pass the time”, “Talk” and “Never mind.”

Enter the tavern and approach Brant at the counter. The prompt reads “F Hail (Hold to Talk).” A tap on F only hails him. Hold F to actually start the conversation.

Tavern counter at night showing the F Hail (Hold to Talk) prompt before speaking to Brant — At the Stardrop Inn counter, the “F Hail (Hold to Talk)” prompt. Tap only hails; hold to talk.

Brant greets you with “Your Majesty! Your timing is impeccable. I had just thought to call for you,” then says the matter is not for prying ears and leads off. Follow him to the table at the back of the tavern.

Brant at the counter with the hold-to-talk prompt before he moves to the back table — Hold F at the counter to begin; Brant then walks to a table at the back where the long talk happens.

Talk to him at the table (hold F). The long conversation here completes the story beat. You will see the banners “Monster Culling” and then “Completed: Seat of the Sovran.” That completion is what unlocks the menu.

Open the menu and start the expansion quests

Talk to Brant once more and the conversation menu opens. It has six entries in this order:

Tell me of monster culling.
Tell me of the queen regent.
Tell me of the magistrate.
About the new Arisen…
About the uncovered ruins…
That will be all.

The two expansion entries carry a small download-arrow mark, and any unread entry shows a yellow diamond. Those two marked topics are the Dark Arisen starts.

Menu topic	Quest started	First task
About the new Arisen…	Chilling Tidings	Stay at Shakir’s Inn.
About the uncovered ruins…	Lost Rites	Make for the location marked on your map.

Choosing “About the new Arisen…” has Brant explain an intercepted letter addressed to the queen regent and begins Chilling Tidings, the expansion’s Norgan story. Choosing “About the uncovered ruins…” has him tell of mysterious ruins found by soldiers on patrol and begins Lost Rites.

Brant's topic menu open with About the uncovered ruins highlighted — Brant’s topic menu with “About the uncovered ruins…” highlighted, one of the two marked expansion starts.

You can take both in one visit. After the first topic, the menu returns with “Is there aught else you would speak of, Your Majesty?” Pick the second marked topic, then close out with “That will be all.”

How to confirm it worked

A quest banner appears the moment each topic takes. Starting the Norgan storyline shows “Chilling Tidings / Stay at Shakir’s Inn.” Starting the dungeon chain shows “Lost Rites / Make for the location marked on your map.” If you see those banners, the expansion has started.

What level to be

The menu entries display no level number. Access and recommended level are separate things. Capcom’s own recommendation is level 40 for the Norgan story and level 20 for Lost Rites.