Dragon’s Dogma 2 Dark Arisen: Sage’s Wisdom Walkthrough (All Three Riddles)

In Norgan’s frozen north, the Sage is actually a Sphinx. She will reveal why the Fallen Dragon can survive death only after you demonstrate your grasp of what forms a life. Her test consists of three riddles, all solved by presenting an object rather than speaking an answer. Expect two tough monster battles and a return to a place you have already explored.

Quick answer: Take a Mournful Giant’s Tusk (Body), Frozen Wyrmslife Crystal (Soul), and Decorative Brooch (Will) to the Sphinx at the Shrine of Wisdom. Present them one by one, then go back to Polyeidus in the Norgandian Settlement.

Before you accept the riddles

The Sphinx gives you all three riddles together, and you may solve them in any sequence or pursue multiple ones at once. Defeating the correct creature or finding the correct object is not enough by itself; each puzzle is resolved only when you personally deliver its evidence to her. She also grants the Eye of the Sphinx, a tool that identifies monster encounters worth farming for improved gear before the battles.

Before leaving, speak with Polyeidus in the Norgandian Settlement. He provides clues for the trials and directs you to the final one. Each boss is found amid an unending blizzard that saps stamina and inflicts Chilled. Pack no fewer than five Heatstones, along with ample healing supplies.

Activate the fixed Portcrystal next to the Shrine of Wisdom before you leave. You return here three times, and Ferrystone hops beat retracing the entire mountain route.

Full-screen world map with the Norgan Portcrystal: Norgandian Settlement label and a control bar listing map actions. — The Map screen shows the Norgan Portcrystal: Norgandian Settlement with the option to Use Ferrystone.

Riddle of the Body: defeat the Mournful Giant

For this trial, the clue points to dawn at Norgan’s most restful spot, followed by a search for a pain-insensitive giant and a piece of its body. You’ll find the resting place at the village inn; the Mournful Giant wanders the northern mountains.

Go to the Norgandian Settlement and find Dwayne at the inn. Continue the conversation until he mentions the giant from his father’s tales. He says he’ll share anything he discovers.

Traveling to Norgandian Settlement — The Norgandian Settlement on the world map, the base you return to between riddles. Shown at 00:44 in UnyPhi’s video. Image: CAPCOM Co., Ltd.

Rest at the inn until morning. A tremendous roar wakes everyone, and a short cutscene shows the giant rampaging north of the village. Searching the mountains before this event does not start the encounter properly.

Leave through the northern gate and follow the trail of broken trees and monster remains toward Nival Gorge Collapse. Dorin waits near the entrance beside the corpse of another giant. He hands over two Vitalic Drench and a Regeneration Elixir, then leaves the pursuit up the cliffs to you.

Follow the slope upward with the left-hand wall close by; the giant may roar and set off an avalanche that sends you tumbling. Battle the Mournful Giant at the summit. Its weapon is a massive tree branch, and its freezing breath can trap anyone it hits. Quickly pull any caught Pawns to safety.

Fighting the Mournful Giant — Fire works best on the Mournful Giant; a Pawn's Fire Boon keeps your whole party's weapons burning. Shown at 02:56 in UnyPhi’s video. Image: CAPCOM Co., Ltd.

Target the tusks to build up stagger, then topple the giant and use the opening to deal heavy damage. You can also climb onto its back and wrench out the torn blades stuck there; this staggers it and can yield spoils like the Ancient Bowstaff. Fire works particularly well, so ask a mage to apply Fire Boon to your party’s weapons.

With the giant down you automatically receive the Mournful Giant’s Tusk. The log reads “Completed: Sage’s Wisdom – Riddle of the Body” once you present it to the Sphinx.

Slaying the Giant & Acquiring Tusk — The tusk drops automatically when the giant falls. Shown at 03:45 in UnyPhi’s video. Image: CAPCOM Co., Ltd.

Riddle of the Soul: beat Fimbl at Beorcan Stronghold

The Sphinx wants the frozen lifeblood of a “red dragon that might have been,” hidden inside a blizzard that never fades. That points to the Beorcan Stronghold northwest of the settlement, the same frozen keep from earlier in the story. The endless storm there comes from a dragon called Fimbl.

Make your way to Beorcan Stronghold. Stamina drains in the blizzard, so take at least three Heatstones to cover both the journey and the battle.

Map Route to Beorcan Stronghold — The map route to Beorcan Stronghold, northwest of the Norgandian Settlement. Shown at 04:12 in UnyPhi’s video. Image: CAPCOM Co., Ltd.

Don’t try the locked main entrance. Stand facing it, pivot left, and follow the outside wall past the frozen soldiers. Find the wooden-log area and search the ground for an opening hidden under snow. Clear it by striking the snow or walking over it, then use the ladder to climb down.

Pass through the chamber below, ascend the ladder beyond it, and keep going until you reach the opposite side of the keep near a riftstone. This underground passage avoids the gate, making the Twinned Keys unnecessary for this riddle. Fimbl is waiting ahead at the courtyard’s top.

Take down Fimbl. Its ground slam sends icicles sweeping across the area; when airborne, it calls lightning and ice shards from above. At low health, it unleashes a broad icicle attack. Build stagger and hit the heart exposed on its chest. Fire-affinity weapons and Fire Boon make the battle much quicker.

Fighting Fimbl the Frost Wyrm — Fimbl fills the arena with ice; hit the heart on its chest while it is staggered. Shown at 05:59 in UnyPhi’s video. Image: CAPCOM Co., Ltd.

Let the battle reach Fimbl’s last health bars and it will summon a hailstorm that gradually wears down every party member. End the fight fast, or wear relic gear that protects against ice and hailstorm damage.

Defeating Fimbl yields the Frozen Wyrmslife Crystal and permanently clears the stronghold’s blizzard. When you return to the Sphinx, find the crystal under the Valuables tab on the Deliver screen.

Riddle of the Will: recover the Decorative Brooch

This final trial is simpler than the others: it calls for an item embodying the resolve to resist ruin. You won’t need to face another boss. Polyeidus says the clue refers to the mountain stronghold where you first battled the Fallen Dragon.

Head back to the Mountain Stronghold. Using fast travel to the Rivercave Campground Portcrystal makes the trip considerably shorter. After Polyeidus sends you there, your objective becomes “Scour the mountain stronghold for clues.”

Map Route to Mountain Stronghold — The Mountain Stronghold location, where you first fought the Fallen Dragon. Shown at 07:04 in UnyPhi’s video. Image: CAPCOM Co., Ltd.

Retrieve the Decorative Brooch from the center of the arena. As soon as you take it, a horde of ghouls ambushes you.

Battle toward the main entrance. Once the horde is defeated, a brief cutscene shows the soldiers recognizing what you’ve done. The objective “Escape the mountain stronghold” displays “No Destination,” leaving you without a marker. Rubble seals the arch you used to enter; scale the pile of fallen blocks by the chamber wall and drop down into the lower courtyard, where additional ghouls are waiting.

Once you’ve escaped with the brooch, go back to the Sphinx and hand it over to complete the Riddle of the Will.

Delivering the items and claiming the chests

Return to the Shrine of Wisdom, select each riddle, and present the matching item. Watch the selection carefully, because the Sphinx can reject an item even when it comes from the right monster. If she refuses, check your inventory for the specific tusk or crystal rather than offering other loot from the fight.

Each answer unlocks one of the three stone chests behind her. The rewards are handed out in sequence rather than tied to a particular riddle, so you receive the same set no matter which order you solve them in.

Chest	Reward
First answer	Norgan Portcrystal x1
Second answer	6,000 Rift Crystals
Third answer	Eternal Wakestone x1

Once all three items are handed over, the Sphinx shares what she knows about slaying the Fallen Dragon, and the objective changes to “Consult with Polyeidus.” Finishing that conversation back at the Norgandian Settlement ends Seeking the Sage and immediately begins the next main quest, Sealed History. That transition is how you confirm everything registered.

Delivery menu with a Letter to Dorin item selected, its description at right and a character portrait at far right. — The Deliver menu lists the Letter to Dorin, a sealed letter from Ilda to Dorin, ready to be handed over.

Norgan Giant combat data and riddle payouts

The Mournful Giant is a Norgan Giant, a Beast-type foe that is weak to Fire and resistant to Ice. The head takes extra fire damage, which is why burning weapons help so much on the slope. These are the figures to plan the fight around.

Options menu listing HUD settings such as Pawn Commands and Aiming Reticle, with a preview of a character facing a white beast on rocks. — The Options menu shows the interface settings, with Formidable Foe Indicators set to On to display icons over the heads of formidable foes in Norgan.

Stat	Value
Health	240,000
Strength	4,500
Defense	450
Magick / Magick Defense	3,500 / 450
Knockdown power	750
Weak to	Fire
Resistant to	Ice
Drops	Ponderous Bone, Scrag of Beast, Boreal Tuber, Frigid Fungus

Both the Body and Soul riddles are logged as full Forsaken Dominion main quests and pay out on completion. Each one grants 25,000 experience and 20,000 gold, on top of the Sphinx’s chest.

Quest	Experience	Gold
Riddle of the Body	25,000	20,000
Riddle of the Soul	25,000	20,000

After you’ve handed over all three tokens and opened the chests, the Sphinx’s knowledge lets you continue the Forsaken Dominion storyline, beginning with Sealed History.