Seeking the Sage Walkthrough in Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen
How to find the Spirit Compass, reach the Norgan Sphinx, and solve all three riddles to complete the quest.
How to find the Spirit Compass, reach the Norgan Sphinx, and solve all three riddles to complete the quest.
by AllThingsHow Staff · Edited by Pallav Pathak
Seeking the Sage is a Forsaken Dominion main quest in the Dark Arisen expansion for Dragon’s Dogma 2, and it follows straight on from Rumbles in the North. It strips away the usual guidance: the minimap stops working in the storms, and your only direction across Norgan’s frozen wilds is a single compass needle. At the end of the road sits the Norgan Sphinx, who refuses to help against the Fallen Dragon until you answer three riddles about what makes a life.
Quick answer: Retrieve the Spirit Compass atop the village watchtower. In the blizzards, let its yellow needle guide you to the Shrine of Wisdom; there, give the Sphinx the Mournful Giant’s Tusk, Frozen Wyrmslife Crystal, and Decorative Brooch.
The three riddles at a glance
For each riddle, bring the Sphinx its required item; choosing a dialogue response won’t solve it. The riddles can be completed in any sequence, but starting with the Riddle of the Body introduces the expansion’s major boss encounters before the more difficult fight with Fimbl.
Each riddle is added as its own quest, starting with “Hunt for clues about the Riddle of the Body.”
At the middle of the Norgandian Settlement, locate Dorin and talk to him; this begins the quest. He outlines the sage’s route and says a Spirit Compass is required for navigation. Afterward, head alongside him toward the camp watchtower.
At the tower Dorin says the compass “ought to be in here somewhere”.Dorin stands in the Norgandian Settlement, where the conversation that starts the quest takes place. Image: CAPCOM Co., Ltd. / via @FightinCowboy
Dorin says the compass is in the tower, but you have to reach its highest point to find it.
Spirit Compass. Image: Capcom
Cross the bridge, go in through the ground-level door, and climb the ladder to the upper platform. Open the chest there to obtain the Spirit Compass.
The objective changes to “Search the tower for the spirit compass.”Following Dorin across the stone bridge toward the ruined village tower. Image: CAPCOM Co., Ltd. / via @FightinCowboy
Go back down and speak to Dorin once more. He explains that a collapsed bridge blocks the route and can’t be crossed in the usual way, then gives you a climbing hook to get around it.
Dorin hands over a spare climbing hook before you set out.
Carrying the compass makes a yellow marker appear on your minimap; it points toward the sage at all times.
Back on the ground, Dorin explains what the compass does.Dorin's parting advice about the mountain route, shown over the snowy path ahead. Image: CAPCOM Co., Ltd. / via @FightinCowboy
Prepare before the long trek
Expect about 30 minutes of travel through enemy groups and severe weather, so prepare in the village before setting out. Bring at least 5 Heatstones. The Chilled condition from the blizzards cuts your maximum stamina, and keeping the party warm is essential for getting through the journey and the final battles.
Dorin agrees to lead the way to the watchtower outside the village inn. Image: CAPCOM Co., Ltd. / via @FightinCowboy
Freki, the village’s tame direwolf hound, will lead you to undiscovered treasure chests when fed meat. Higher-rarity meat such as Dried Hare Meat turns up rarer spoils, which is a quick way to top up gear before the climb.
The party follows Freki, Norgan's direwolf hound, through Valgr Ravine toward buried spoils. Image: CAPCOM Co., Ltd. / via @FightinCowboy
Follow the compass to the Shrine of Wisdom
Set off with the compass and hook, keeping its yellow needle ahead of you as you travel. Your route passes the Beorcan Stronghold before entering the wilderness, where whiteouts obscure the minimap and complicate finding your way. Even when the storm wipes out visibility, the marker remains reliable, so follow it.
Follow the compass to the Cavern of Faith. Go inside, traverse the lengthy hall, and exit at the other end. Outside, turn right and take the ascending path to the Shrine of Wisdom; its entrance shines purple. A permanent portcrystal stands close to the shrine, speeding up your return for the upcoming riddles.
At the summit, ascend the stairs to the courtyard, where you’ll encounter the Norgan Sphinx. She identifies herself as the sage, then discusses the second Arisen and the Fallen Dragon. She won’t reveal her knowledge before you complete all three riddles, and the quest remains open until you do.
The Sphinx at the Shrine of Wisdom: “Well, well. What have we here? A traveler?”
Speak to Dwayne at the Norgandian Inn. He knows which giant the Sphinx’s riddle means and says he’ll tell you more after he finds out about it. Continue talking until he keeps circling back to the giant.
Sleep at the inn through to morning, as the riddle’s clue calls for greeting the dawn. A giant’s roar stirs everyone inside; Dwayne tells you its reported location, which is then marked on your map.
Head for the marker at the settlement’s outskirts. A cutscene shows the giant walking away; continue toward the mountainside, where Dorin is waiting at the Nival Gorge Collapse entrance. He’s also pursuing the creature.
Make your way through the gorge and engage the Mournful Giant. It attacks with a tree branch and freezing breath that immobilizes your party. Since the battle unfolds in a blizzard, keep Heatstones running and evade when it prepares to breathe. Climb onto its back and break its tusks to build stagger, bringing it down for powerful attacks.
Return to the Sphinx with the Mournful Giant’s Tusk to finish the riddle. The reward is 25,000 XP and 20,000 gold.
Riddle of the Soul
Speak with Jiera in the village for the clue that points you toward the frozen stronghold. The blizzard there never lifts, and it is the storm the riddle is describing.
Jiera in conversation — the village head points toward the frozen stronghold for the Riddle of the Soul. Image: CAPCOM Co., Ltd. / via @FightinCowboy
Go to the Beorcan Stronghold. Its blizzard steadily reduces stamina, so take Heatstones for both the journey and the coming battle. Fimbl, an ice dragon sheltering in the keep, is responsible for the storm.
Leave the main gate closed and, facing it, follow the wall on your left toward the southwest. A snow-covered opening sits near the frozen soldiers and wooden logs. Strike or walk across the snow to expose it, then use the ladder to descend.
Traverse the passage below ground, climb the ladder in the following room, and take the route across to the keep’s far side. A riftstone lies along the way to the courtyard. From there, climb to the top to find Fimbl.
Take down Fimbl. It slams the ground to send out icicle shards, then attacks from the air with lightning and ice magic. When it descends low, it unleashes a prolonged hailstorm that drains the entire party’s health. Enchanting weapons with fire is among the best ways to force it down, and hitting its exposed heart while it’s staggered deals heavy damage. Its defeat ends the stronghold’s blizzard.
Speak with Polyeidus at the Norgandian Settlement. He directs you to return to the Fallen Dragon, the mountain stronghold where you battled it earlier in the story. For a quicker trip, teleport to the Rivercave Campground portcrystal.
Enter the battlefield arena and look near its center, beside the large pattern where the Commission soldiers stand, for the Decorative Brooch on the ground. Collecting it summons a horde of ghouls.
Fighting the ghouls isn’t required for this riddle: grab the brooch and get out. Deliver the Decorative Brooch to the Sphinx. Completing the riddle earns 25,000 XP and 20,000 gold.
Sphinx chest rewards
Solving a riddle opens a chest behind the Sphinx. Answered in the order Will, Body, Soul, the chests gave the following.
Riddle of the Will: Eternal Wakestone x1
Riddle of the Body: Norgan Portcrystal x1
Riddle of the Soul: 3,000 Rift Crystals
Finish the quest and confirm it worked
What counts is presenting all three items to the Sphinx. A boss defeat or finding the brooch isn’t enough by itself; she must receive each item. After you answer every riddle, she’ll send you to Polyeidus in the Norgandian Settlement.
After the third item: “The sphinx shared her wisdom.”
Go back to Polyeidus and complete your conversation with him.
“Completed: Seeking the Sage” at Polyeidus’s tent.
Seeking the Sage then ends, and Sealed History, the next main quest, begins immediately to confirm the chain is complete.
Sealed History starts in the same talk: “Polyeidus asked you to seek the sealed study.”
Mournful Giant’s Tusk
Frozen Wyrmslife Crystal
Decorative Brooch
