Venturing into the mystical forests north of Vernworth in Dragon’s Dogma 2 will lead you to Sacred Arbor, home to the enigmatic elves. However, your initial arrival might be met with confusion as you realize you can’t understand a word they’re saying! This language barrier isn’t just flavor text; understanding Elvish is crucial to fully engaging with Sacred Arbor, unlocking quests, and uncovering the secrets hidden within this unique location.
Fortunately, Dragon’s Dogma 2 offers a couple of pathways to learn Elvish, allowing you to bridge the communication gap and immerse yourself in elven culture. This guide will detail the most effective methods to learn Elvish, ensuring you don’t miss out on any of the content Sacred Arbor has to offer. Whether you prefer a temporary fix or a permanent understanding, we’ve got you covered.
Method 1: The Swift Solution – Hiring a Woodland Wordsmith Pawn
The quickest way to decipher Elvish in Dragon’s Dogma 2 is to enlist the services of a Pawn with the “Woodland Wordsmith” specialization. Pawns, those customizable AI companions, can possess unique skills that aid you on your journey, and Woodland Wordsmith is precisely what you need for language translation.
To find such a Pawn, your first stop should be the Grand Riftstone in Vernworth. Located in the heart of the city, this towering structure serves as a hub for recruiting Pawns from the Rift.
Alt Text: The Grand Riftstone of Vernworth, a massive stone structure emitting a blue glow, is the location to hire Pawns with specializations like Woodland Wordsmith to understand Elvish in Dragon’s Dogma 2.
Navigating the Grand Riftstone is straightforward. Simply interact with it to enter the Rift and browse available Pawns. While Pawn specializations are somewhat random, Woodland Wordsmith Pawns are not excessively rare. Look through the Pawn descriptions, specifically checking the “Specialization” category.
Alt Text: Map showing the location of the Grand Riftstone in Vernworth within Dragon’s Dogma 2, crucial for finding Pawns with the Woodland Wordsmith specialization for Elvish translation.
The image below highlights what to look for – a Pawn description clearly stating “Woodland Wordsmith” under Specialization. Hiring a Pawn with this skill will grant you immediate Elvish translation within Sacred Arbor.
Alt Text: A Pawn profile in Dragon’s Dogma 2 showcasing the Woodland Wordsmith specialization, enabling players to understand Elvish by hiring such Pawns from the Riftstone.
Once a Woodland Wordsmith Pawn joins your party, they will automatically translate Elvish conversations in Sacred Arbor in real-time. This allows you to immediately interact with the elven villagers, accept quests, and progress storylines within the area.
However, it’s crucial to remember that this is a temporary solution. Dismissing the Woodland Wordsmith Pawn means losing the ability to understand Elvish. For a permanent understanding, you’ll need to pursue the second method.
Method 2: Permanent Comprehension – Befriending Kough and the Woodland Wordsmith’s Tome
For a lasting grasp of Elvish, Dragon’s Dogma 2 offers a more involved but permanent method: obtaining the “Woodland Wordsmith’s Tome.” This special item, when used, teaches your Main Pawn the Woodland Wordsmith specialization, granting your Arisen (your player character) permanent Elvish comprehension.
The key to acquiring the Tome lies in befriending an NPC named Kough, who runs the Inn in Sacred Arbor. Building rapport with Kough involves a bit of gift-giving, specifically with “Bunch of Flowers.”
Gathering Bunch of Flowers
To create a “Bunch of Flowers,” you’ll need to combine two different types of flowers. Sunblooms and Noonblooms are readily available in the vicinity of Vernworth. Exit Vernworth through the north gate and explore the cliffs and hillsides. You can also find Sunblooms along the path leading to Sacred Arbor. Moonglow flowers are another option, found in a field near the entrance to Sacred Arbor itself.
For visual guidance, consult the flower location map:
Alt Text: Map of flower locations in Dragon’s Dogma 2, pinpointing Sunbloom, Noonbloom, and Moonglow spawns near Vernworth and Sacred Arbor, essential for crafting Bunch of Flowers to befriend Kough.
Once you’ve collected at least two different flower types, open your inventory and access the “combine” menu. Combine two flowers (e.g., Sunbloom and Noonbloom, or Sunbloom and Moonglow) to craft a “Bunch of Flowers.” You’ll need at least four Bunches of Flowers to fully befriend Kough and acquire the Tome.
Alt Text: The crafting menu in Dragon’s Dogma 2 demonstrating how to combine Sunbloom and Noonbloom flowers to create a Bunch of Flowers, a key item for learning Elvish through Kough.
Journey to Sacred Arbor
With your floral gifts prepared, it’s time to travel to Sacred Arbor. The elven village is located north of Vernworth. An efficient route is to take an Oxcart from Rest Town to Vernworth. Sometimes, Oxcart journeys are interrupted by monster attacks, which can conveniently drop you off near the path leading directly to Sacred Arbor, saving you some travel time.
The path to Sacred Arbor is marked on the map:
Alt Text: Map highlighting the location of Sacred Arbor in Dragon’s Dogma 2, showing the path north of Vernworth that players need to follow to reach the elven village and learn Elvish.
Once you arrive in Sacred Arbor, navigate to Kough’s Inn. It’s marked with a bed icon on your map and is situated near the city entrance, making it easily accessible.
Alt Text: Kough’s Inn in Sacred Arbor, Dragon’s Dogma 2, identified by a bed icon on the map, is where players need to go to befriend Kough and obtain the Woodland Wordsmith’s Tome.
Gifting Flowers to Kough
Enter Kough’s Inn and speak with Kough. Initiate the gift-giving process by pressing the designated button (Square on PlayStation, X on Xbox). Gift her three Bunches of Flowers, one at a time, speaking to her after each gift.
Alt Text: Gifting a Bunch of Flowers to Kough at her inn in Dragon’s Dogma 2, a necessary step to increase affinity and learn Elvish permanently.
After the third gift, speak to Kough again and select the top dialogue option – this is the “Rest” option, prompting you to stay at the Inn overnight. The next morning, speak to Kough one final time and give her the fourth Bunch of Flowers (or any other gift if you’re out of flowers). In return for your generosity, Kough will bestow upon you the coveted “Woodland Wordsmith’s Tome.”
Alt Text: Kough gifting the Woodland Wordsmith’s Tome to the player in Dragon’s Dogma 2 after receiving gifts, enabling permanent Elvish language learning.
Using the Woodland Wordsmith’s Tome
With the Woodland Wordsmith’s Tome in your possession, navigate to your inventory. Select the Tome and use it. This action teaches the Woodland Wordsmith specialization to your Main Pawn. Since your Main Pawn is intrinsically linked to your Arisen, this grants you, the player character, permanent understanding of Elvish.
Alt Text: Using the Woodland Wordsmith’s Tome in Dragon’s Dogma 2 to teach the specialization to the Main Pawn, resulting in the Arisen permanently understanding Elvish.
While befriending other elven NPCs might also lead to learning Elvish, gifting flowers to Kough and obtaining the Woodland Wordsmith’s Tome is arguably the quickest and most reliable method for permanent Elvish comprehension in Dragon’s Dogma 2. Now you can fully immerse yourself in Sacred Arbor, understand its inhabitants, and unlock all the quests and secrets it holds.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 is available now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
