Soul Searching Walkthrough in Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen

Soul Searching is a long Forsaken Dominion main quest that runs from the Norgan Snowfield all the way to Mordria Fault. It asks you to copy three ancient slabs, break open a castletown gate, find a demonic pit, and finally pull Rovall’s soul from a rock. The route doubles back on itself more than once and even pauses mid-quest, so it helps to know exactly where each objective points before you set out.

Before you start

Soul Searching becomes your priority quest automatically the moment The Castle in the Ice ends. Your first objective, “Consult with someone who knows Norgan’s history,” points to Polyeidus in the Sealed Study.

Polyeidus talks to the Arisen in the round Sealed Study, with three tall carved slabs standing behind him — Polyeidus in the Sealed Study, in front of the three slabs.

You can warp there with the Sealed Study Norgan Portcrystal, which stands on a snowy shelf above the study.

The Arisen stands beside a squat purple-runed portcrystal on a snowy shelf, with a ruined stone wall at the upper right — The Sealed Study portcrystal on its snowy shelf.

From it, go through the doorway in the ruined wall a few steps north, cross the snow-covered court to the stone stair on its far side, and follow the stair down into the vault where he stands. Speaking with him hands you the Transcription Kit and sets the next objective, “Find the passage beneath the Norgan Snowfield.”

Objective Soul Searching: Find the passage beneath the Norgan Snowfield, shown in the Sealed Study as Polyeidus walks back to the slabs — “Find the passage beneath the Norgan Snowfield.”

Carry at least one Climbing Hook. You need it twice, once inside the slab passage and again on the cliff down to Putrid Copse. Pack a Wakestone too, since one later fight can swallow a party member.

The three slab transcriptions in Snowfall Valley Derelict Passage

To reach it, warp to the Rivercave Campground portcrystal, climb into the Mountain Stronghold, take its hand-cranked cart, then exit through the open portcullis onto the Norgan Snowfield. The map marks the entrance as Snowfall Valley Derelict Passage, with a cave icon right beside the Mountain Stronghold.

World map with the label Snowfall Valley Derelict Passage beside a cave icon, just right beside the Mountain Stronghold on the Norgan Snowfield — The entrance on the map, right beside the Mountain Stronghold.

A broad flight of worn stone steps leads down from the open snowfield into a snow trench with a paved floor.

A broad flight of worn stone steps between snow banks, with the Arisen on the lowest steps — The stone steps between the snowfield and the trench.

At the trench’s west end, a cave mouth hung with icicles is the way in.

The Arisen walks along the paved trench floor toward a dark cave mouth hung with icicles — The cave mouth at the trench’s west end.

The area name “Snowfall Valley Derelict Passage” shows at the left edge a few steps inside.

The area name Snowfall Valley Derelict Passage at the left edge of the screen just inside the cave, with a masonry wall ahead — The area name shows a few steps inside.

Your objective updates to “Acquire all three slab transcriptions.” At every slab you use two prompts in order: Examine, then Hold to Copy. On keyboard, Examine is F and Hold to Copy is C; pressing F again on the copy screen does nothing.

Slab 1: Grotesquerie

Take the masonry corridor to the opening chamber, where enemies are waiting, and defeat them.

A few steps up, check the alcove in the wall for a tall standing stone covered in runes and topped by a relief of entwined beasts.

Examine prompt on a tall rune-covered standing stone against a masonry wall, its top relief showing entwined beasts — The Grotesquerie slab, with “Examine”.

Examine the stone, then hold to copy it and obtain the Grotesquerie transcription.

Close view of the relief of entwined beasts with small figures at its corners, with the prompts Hold to Copy and Cancel — The relief up close, with “Hold to Copy”.

The broken slab (and why you do not repair it)

Continue through the cave until the “Use climbing hook” prompt appears at a ledge. Throw the hook, then climb the rope; chests are on the ledge above.

Descend through the tunnels and down two ladders. At the bottom of the longer, second ladder, you’ll enter a broad circular stone hall. A large round disc, cracked and covered in cobwebs, sits on a dais by the wall. Approaching it identifies it as a broken slab, so there’s no prompt to copy it.

A large cracked stone disc draped in cobwebs leans on a dais in the round hall, with fallen carved blocks beside it — The broken slab on its dais; it gives no prompt.

The broken slab is a dead end by design. There is no fragment to pick up and nothing to fit back into it. Searching the hall floor only turns up loot. The slab you actually need is intact and hidden behind a blocked doorway in the same hall.

Slab 2: Evil’s Emergence behind the rubble

In that circular hall, search the walls for a doorway buried beneath a mass of boulders. The doorway is in the hall’s east wall, with an open studded door leaf on its left and a second leaf lying flat on the floor in front. Two dark explosive casks with a red mark lie on the rubble at the doorway’s left foot.

A doorway filled with boulders in the hall wall, a fallen door leaf on the floor and a red-marked explosive cask lying on the rubble to its left — The blocked doorway, with an explosive cask on the rubble at its left.

Stand right at a cask and hold Grab (E on keyboard) until the Arisen lifts it, carry it to within a few steps of the boulders, and use Throw (right mouse button) to hurl it at them. The explosion opens the way through the doorway.

The Arisen holds an explosive cask at the shoulder in front of the boulders, with the hints Cancel and Throw — Winding up the throw a few steps from the boulders.

In the room beyond, look for an intact carved slab propped against the stones. Its design shows a castle atop a peak, above a ringed circle.

Close view of a carved slab showing a castle on a peak above a ringed circle, with the prompts Hold to Copy and Cancel — The Evil’s Emergence slab with “Hold to Copy”.

Examine the carving and hold to copy it; the banner “You acquired the Evil’s Emergence transcription.” confirms it.

Banner Soul Searching: You acquired the Evil's Emergence transcription, with the item line Evil's Emergence Transcription at the right edge — “You acquired the Evil’s Emergence transcription.”

On the way back out, a large white ape ambushes you. Pawns call it a snowfoot, and its bar shows no name. It is weak to Lightning and resistant to Fire, so lean on shock attacks and cut at its legs and flanks.

Slab 3: Hero’s Blade past the lesser demon

Exit the hall using the wooden ladder on its wall, then continue through the tunnels, stairways and additional ladder shafts. You’ll encounter iron gates barred by wooden beams. At one of them, clearing the beam from the side it rests on lets the gate swing open.

A barred iron gate at the end of a stone corridor with the area name Mountain Stronghold — The barred iron gate on the way to the third slab, with the Mountain Stronghold area name. Shown at 406:04 in Shirrako’s video. Image: CAPCOM Co., Ltd.

You’ll reach a flooded room lined with square columns, where a horned demon with flaming fists attacks. Its health bar has four pips but no name; your pawns identify it as a lesser demon. Watch for charges, flaming-claw sweeps and leaping slams. Since it guards its front, target its back. When its flames die and your pawns say it has lost its elemental powers, attack hard before they return.

Once the demon is down, pass a chest and climb to the slab embedded in the wall above. The carving depicts a figure lifting a sword within a ring.

Examine prompt on a tall rune-covered standing stone set in a masonry wall, its top relief showing a figure raising a sword inside a ring — The Hero’s Blade slab in the wall, with “Examine”.

Examine it and hold to copy it for the Hero’s Blade transcription.

Banner Soul Searching: You acquired the Hero's Blade transcription, with the item line Hero's Blade Transcription at the right edge — “You acquired the Hero’s Blade transcription.”

At whichever slab you copy third, three lines appear in this order: “You acquired all three slab transcriptions.”, then the line naming the slab just copied, then “Deliver the transcriptions to Polyeidus.”

Objective Soul Searching: Deliver the transcriptions to Polyeidus, shown in front of a carved standing stone — “Deliver the transcriptions to Polyeidus.”

Deliver the slabs and wait a day

Return to the Sealed Study, talk to Polyeidus and choose “Deliver transcription”.

Polyeidus asks how the search for the slabs goes, with the choices Deliver transcription, Tell me of these slabs and Never mind — Polyeidus’s menu: “Deliver transcription” is the first choice.

On the Deliver screen, place each of the three transcriptions in its slot, confirm, and answer “Yes” to “Do you wish to deliver your selection?”

Deliver screen marked Specified Delivery Only with all three transcription slots at 1/1 and the Evil's Emergence Transcription description — The Deliver screen with all three slots filled.

The objective changes to “Wait for Polyeidus to decipher the slabs.”

Objective Soul Searching: Wait for Polyeidus to decipher the slabs, with Polyeidus standing in the Sealed Study — “Wait for Polyeidus to decipher the slabs.”

You must let a full day pass. A short line beginning “One day has passed” appears on its own wherever you are, followed by “Find out what Polyeidus learned from the slabs.” Walk up to him again and the scene starts by itself: he goes through the transcriptions one by one, and the objective becomes “Search for the soldiers in Putrid Copse.”

A transcription on a reading stand showing a castle on a peak above a ringed symbol, as Polyeidus explains it — Polyeidus goes through the transcriptions on their stands.

The place is Putrid Copse, not “Corpse.” Its banner spells it out when you arrive.

The area name Putrid Copse at the left edge of the screen as the Arisen walks a snowy path through a misty wood — The area name on the way in: Putrid Copse.

Rescue Morgus in Putrid Copse

From the Sealed Study portcrystal, walk about 90 m south-south-west over the open snow, downhill, to the cliff edge. A carved tether post wrapped in red cloth stands there; when “Use climbing hook” appears, choose the Climbing Hook in the Items window to tie the rope.

Use climbing hook prompt on a carved tether post wrapped in red cloth at a snowy cliff edge, with fir trees and castle walls beyond — The red-cloth tether post with “Use climbing hook”.

The prompt then changes to “Descend”.

Descend prompt at the red-cloth tether post once the rope is tied — With the rope tied, the prompt reads “Descend”.

Use it and climb down the rope to the snow-covered forest floor.

The Arisen climbs down a rope against a snow-dusted rock face — The climb down the rock face.

From the foot of the rope, the quest marker lies about 180 m west through the wood. As you reach the foggy clearing there, the objective changes to “Rescue the soldier from the abomination.”

Objective Soul Searching: Rescue the soldier from the abomination, with a huge beast looming in the fog ahead and a boss bar with no name at the top — “Rescue the soldier from the abomination.”

The abomination is a Blemmyae: a massive, headless beast with a mouth in its torso, and a weakness to Lightning. It can seize party members and swallow them; a pawn swallowed this way is lost, while the Arisen suffers heavy damage. Strike its mouth to make it release its prey. One dependable tactic is to cut at its legs until it falls, then attack its back, while your pawn keeps using lightning. A dark chest against the rock wall, about 30 m west of the middle of the clearing, contains 300 RC.

An opened dark wooden chest against a rock wall in the snow, with 300 RC shown at the right edge — The chest at the rock wall: 300 RC.

Win the battle and Morgus speaks to you by himself. The banner reads “You rescued Morgus.”, then “Join Wash by the gate.”

Objective Soul Searching: Join Wash by the gate, shown in the misty clearing after the fight — “Join Wash by the gate.”

Bring down the castletown gate with explosive casks

Head back to the Sealed Study portcrystal. The doorway beside it only leads down into the study, so keep to the open snow strip just west of the court wall and walk north along it for about 100 m to the court in front of the gate.

A snowy paved court below a dark stone wall with red explosive casks stacked in threes and a soldier standing beside them — The gate court, with red casks stacked in threes.

The wooden gate is in the wall on the east side of the court, and Wash waits in front of it. After the talk, the objective becomes “Use the explosive casks to bring down the gate.”

Objective Soul Searching: Use the explosive casks to bring down the gate, with the wooden gate in the wall ahead and red cask stacks to either side — “Use the explosive casks to bring down the gate.”

There are stacks of three red casks on both sides in front of the gate. Walk up to a cask, face it and hold Grab (E on keyboard) until the Arisen hoists it onto the shoulder. Carry it to the rubble in front of the gate at a walk, then use Throw (right mouse button).

The Arisen carries a red explosive cask on the shoulder in front of the plank gate, with the hints Release and Throw — A cask on the shoulder in front of the gate, with “Release” and “Throw”.

Repeat until the gate breaks apart; three casks were enough to bring it down.

The gateway stands open between two stone piers, with a snowy path and a long stair beyond — The gate gone: the way into the castletown.

Enemies rush in as soon as it gives way. If you run out of casks, the quest switches to a step that allows you to destroy the gate with your attacks. Go through the opening to see the Lorade Castletown banner. Battle your way up the stairs; once those fights are over, “You destroyed the gate.” appears, followed by “Explore the castletown and rejoin the soldiers.”

Banner Soul Searching: You destroyed the gate, shown just inside the gateway — “You destroyed the gate.”

Find the demonic pit at Abyss Ridge

A locked iron portcullis blocks the top of the long staircase.

The Arisen climbs a broad snow-covered stone stair between broken walls in Lorade Castletown — The long stair up through the castletown.

Go through the low archway in the curtain wall to the left of the portcullis, cross the roofless interior to the far wall, and climb the wooden ladder standing against it.

The Arisen stands with a lit lantern at the foot of a wooden ladder against a masonry wall, fallen blocks around it — The wooden ladder against the far wall.

Step out through the opening at the top and walk east along the wall top; a scene starts by itself and ends at the soldiers’ camp. The soldiers are quartered in the gatehouse called Castletown Campground, which contains a riftstone and a Norgan Portcrystal. Speak to Polyeidus there to set the objective “Search for the demonic pit.”

Objective Soul Searching: Search for the demonic pit, shown in the gatehouse camp with a purple portcrystal glow beyond the arch — “Search for the demonic pit.”

Cross the bridge, descend from the damaged battlement into the courtyard, and follow the snow-covered steps to Castle Barracks Ruins. In the upper courtyard, an unnamed hooded spellcaster hovers with a staff; its health bar has four pips. It teleports, launches homing spheres, uses lightning and creates ground runes, but stays still while casting. When it drops low, hit it with a jump-slash. After passing it, climb the stairs, cross a stone bridge and ascend the long outdoor staircase to Abyss Ridge, the chasm known as the demonic pit. A scene plays at the edge, after which you must tell Polyeidus about Niflhel. Go back to Castletown Campground and speak with him; the objective becomes “Seek Rovall’s will.”

Soul Searching stops here on its own. It only resumes during the quest Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way, after the scene in which you and Eir hear the heart speak. The objective then flips to “Inform Polyeidus of what you witnessed with Eir.”

Mordria Fault and Rovall’s soul

Return to Castletown Campground; the objective changes to “Track down the commission soldiers.” Go beyond the tents and continue until the banner shows Mordria Fault. There you meet up with Eir again, and the objective becomes “Investigate Mordria Fault.”

Objective Soul Searching: Investigate Mordria Fault, with Eir beside the Arisen on a snowy path between rune-carved pillars — “Investigate Mordria Fault.”

A second lesser demon is waiting on the stone stairway. The encounter follows the same pattern as the previous one, but this demon also uses lightning and ice. Defeat it to continue.

The Arisen at the foot of a wide ruined stone stairway with horned figures at its top and a boss bar with no name above — The wide stairway at Mordria Fault, with the demon at its top.

The Fallen Dragon lands and a beam of light marks the soul. The objective reads “Decide whether to aid Eir in this battle.”

Objective Soul Searching: Decide whether to aid Eir in this battle, with a boss bar and nine pips at the top of the screen — “Decide whether to aid Eir in this battle.”

Eir asks you to retrieve her master’s soul while she draws the dragon’s attack, but you can choose to fight the creature instead. No choice box appears; what you do next decides it. Staying to fight changes the objective to “Repel the Fallen Dragon.”

If you choose to fight, use the ballistas on the rampart beyond the arch. Stand on a ballista’s platform behind the stock for the “Use” prompt (F on keyboard).

Use prompt as the Arisen stands on the platform of a ballista mounted on a round wooden turntable in the snow — “Use” shows from the platform behind the stock.

Once seated, hold the left mouse button for “Draw Bowstring” and let go to loose the bolt; “Stop” (X) gets you off.

View from the ballista seat with a cross reticle and the prompts Item Shortcut, Draw Bowstring and Stop — The aim view: “Draw Bowstring” and “Stop”.

Fire from one, then move to another as the dragon’s blasts destroy them. On the ground, attack its legs before climbing up to its head and neck; ghouls continue to arrive during the fight. You won’t kill the Fallen Dragon here: it flies away, leaving a pillar of golden light and no drops. The banner reads “You repelled the Fallen Dragon.”, and your objective becomes “Acquire Rovall’s soul.”

Banner Soul Searching: You repelled the Fallen Dragon, with Eir standing nearby — “You repelled the Fallen Dragon.”

Climb the stairways, cross the terrace, then descend the rocky ledges into an enclosed courtyard with a large, shut portcullis.

Eir stands on a snowy path in the fog and says she is glad she caught up — Eir catching up on the way down.

As you step into the court, an unnamed spectral knight in armour appears beside one or two armoured companions; its bar has four pips.

A cloaked spectral knight sweeps a glowing blade beside two armoured figures, with a boss bar and four pips at the top of the screen — The spectral knight and its companions; the bar shows four pips and no name.

It teleports, swings a long blade and launches homing projectiles and lightning. Take out its companion first, block the sweeping attacks, and strike when it is knocked down. Defeating it shows a line such as “+148800 XP” and “+1638 Dcp”, and it leaves spoils to pick up that differ from kill to kill.

The knight bursts into blue shards with the lines +148800 XP and +1638 Dcp at the right and an Examine prompt on the remains — The knight’s end: “+148800 XP”, “+1638 Dcp”.

The Before Dawn Breaks trophy (an achievement on other platforms) unlocks when the knight dies.

Continue onto the rocky promontory. When you reach the cliff edge, a scene begins in which you pull the glowing sword from the rock. You wake at the Norgandian Inn to the message “You found Rovall’s soul.”, followed by “Completed: Soul Searching.”

Rewards and what comes next

Completing Soul Searching after fighting and repelling the dragon pays 240,000 XP, 35,000 G and 3,000 RC. The slabs reveal where the demons came from and how Rovall sealed them, and his soul is the sword that still holds that seal. Reunion and Into Rancor are the main quests that follow, while Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way continues with the trip to Mordria Temple.

Enemy health for this quest

These are the health pools you are chipping through on the way to the soul. The lesser demon appears twice, and versions of it range between 240,000 and 300,000 health.

Enemy	Health	Note
Snowfoot	240,000	Weak to Lightning, resists Fire
Lesser Demon	260,000	Weak to Ice; range 240,000–300,000
Blemmyae	300,000	Weak to Lightning
Fallen Dragon	500,000	Repelled, not killed here

Forsaken Dominion main quest chain and rewards

Soul Searching sits in the middle of the Norgan main story. Here is how the surrounding chain pays out.

Quest	XP	Gold / RC
Soul Searching	240,000	35,000 G / 3,000 RC
Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way	220,000	35,000 G / 3,000 RC
Reunion	450,000	100,000 G / 10,000 RC
Into Rancor	500,000	100,000 G / 15,000 RC