I didn’t even realise there were elves inDragon’s Dogma 2. I thought they were implemented into the world in the same way dwarves are: through one NPC hinting at a wider mythos, but a race not explored in any more meaningful manner. In fairness, that was a good assumption to make, seeing asthe relationship between man and beastren is incredibly shallow.
I didn’t bother doing the elf’s quest in Vernsworth. I gave him a bow I found on my journey, but then he wanted to practise with me. I wasn’t going to switch my vocation just to get a bit of gold or whatever his reward would have been, so I ignored him and moved on with my life. Little did I know he is the man (elf) who shows you the route to the Sacred Arbor.
The Sacred Arbor is the secretive, hidden home of Vermund’s elven population. Situated in the north west of the map, hidden from view and way off course from any story quests, it’s a hideaway deserving of top spot on any self-respecting ‘best hidden gems in Vernsworth’ travel blog. However, when you reverse the course of history (it’s a long story) in pursuit of Dragon’s Dogma 2’s true ending, the village is revealed by its portcrystal appearing on your map whether you discovered it in the base game or not.
I immediately made use of the first Ferrystone of my campaign, slayed the beast that resided in the Arbor’s harbour (I assume the recessed crater was once a body of water, having never visited before the apocalyptic event that created the Unmoored World), and went to talk to some elves. Except, I couldn’t understand a word they were saying.
Every piece of elven dialogue is written in elvish. The voiceovers are in the same language. I just about managed to navigate to the shopkeeper thanks to the icon on the map, and I remembered where the ‘sell’ option was in the menu to pawn (pun intended) my Tiger’s Eyes. Thankfully, the elven language uses the same Arabic numerals as the game’s English, else I wouldn’t have even known how much my wares were worth.
Lost In Translation
I had forgotten how abrasive Dragon’s Dogma 2 can be. After hiring better Pawns and slicing through dragons aplenty, the frustrations of the early stages of the game had been forgotten. They came rushing back in a flood of annoyance and hilarity. Not being able to understand a single elf is inherently annoying, but I just laughed.
This is so realistic. Why would my beastren Arisen be able to understand the elven language? Why should our game protagonists carry around a portable translation machine at all times? I immediately recalled trying to struggle through basic vocabulary on holiday, failing to make my allergies known to foreign food vendors, and finally arriving at a noodle shop whose chef took me in a firm handshake and said, “You are safe here.”
The relief I felt when I found the one elf who spoke English was similar, and the fact that she has better things to do than follow you around as a personal translator is brilliant. I have no idea who the elves are, what quests they might give me, or what their culture is like, and that’s Capcom’s genius.
Dragon’s Dogma 2’s Tolkien Influences
Elves in fantasy can so often be generic abstractions of J. R. R. Tolkien’s iconic blueprint. While many take the pride and nobility without the frolicking and silliness (can you imagine Peter Jackson’s Elrond singing “O! tra-la-la-lally… O! tril-lil-lil-lolly”?), it can all get a little samey.
Shoutout toDragon Age’streatment of elves for daring to be (a little) different.
However, the aspect of Tolkien’s races that is least explored in non-literary (and, to be fair, most literary) media is language. The Oxford professor built his fantasy societies from the language up. Dwarven words have semitic backgrounds, the etymology of the Rohan language is based on ancient Welsh, and the author borrows names liberally from Norse epic Beowulf.
Spot the difference
He built entire civilisations by starting with their languages, and Dragon’s Dogma 2 is the first game I’ve seen acknowledge that, let alone engage with it. Language is an incredibly important tool when it comes to worldbuilding, and arriving at the Sacred Arbor made me realise how few games take it into account. Add this depth to the drama of the game’s apocalyptic true ending and the stressful time limit placed upon you, and you’ve got a magical gameplay experience. I know I need a translator, I know I need to save the elves before it’s too late, I know I can’t rest up to restore my health, and I know the end times are looming.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 has some of the best worldbuilding of any RPG in recent years. This is exemplified by the elves, but it really shines because of how it interacts with the gameplay and quest design. A language barrier is a unique roadblock when you’re trying to save the world, and Capcom doesn’t give you an easy route out. This is something I must navigate with the tools at my disposal if I want to remain a hero of Vermund. I’m just gladI got used to breaking up with my Pawns, because none of my current party members speak a foreign language.
