Gran Soren

Gran Soren
Location Info
Region	Gransys

Gran Soren is a location in Dragon's Dogma.

"Gran Soren, the beating heart of all Gransys."

Overview

Gran Soren is the capital and main habitation of the duchy of Gransys. It serves as a safe location where the Arisen and their party can rest, change vocations, trade items, and restock on curatives for the next adventure.

As the owner of Gran Soren's finest ale house, I've met just about every inhabitant of Gran Soren and heard a story from each. So of course there's much I can tell you about the city's storied past and present. Around 250 years ago the Liogran Peninsula was divided into Liore in the west and Gransys in the east. The dukes of each region were forced to answer to officials sent from the mainland. Not long after, Gran Soren was named the capital of Gransys. The town was given stone-paved roads and a water treatment system using the most incredible of current technologies. The palace was built using iron, bronze and the finest of stones, and it's not surprising to find it still standing immaculately today, 250 years later.
Modern Gran Soren is divided into numerous districts, including the Urban Quarter, the Craftsman's Quarter, a fallen area of Slums, and the Noble Quarter, where the most wealthy citizens hobnob. Our high fortress walls and surrounding plains ensure a defended stronghold with a thriving ecosystem. Wheat, livestock and yes, alcohol, are natural products of a beautifully stable climate.

Arsmith

Gran Soren viewed from Moonshower Cliffs (looking north)

The city is divided into four main sections :

• The Urban Quarter and Venery form one section, with much of the city's trade taking place here. Gran Soren's main south gate is here.

• The Craftsman's Quarter contains the Pawn Guild, some manufacturing trades, as well as a large open Field where some agriculture takes place. Gran Soren's main north gate is here beyond the field.

• The Noble Quarter contains the houses of rich merchants, as well as Gran Soren Cathedral. A guarded gate leads to the four section - the Duke's Demesne. The Passage Gate and Castle Gate connect this place to the Craftman's and Urban quarters.

• The Duke's Demesne contains the keep and castle gardens, in which the Duke and other most important persons live.

Each area is separated from the others by high walls and gates, and all are surrounded by the city walls. An an Aqueduct passed through the Venery and under the city and part of it is used as slums by the poorest in the town. A third exit from the city is made where the aqueduct water exits the city.

Characters

I hear the streets have emptied since the Dragon's coming. I oft wonder what this place was like before. Would my own country grow so bare should the wyrm strike? Homes left empty as the people flee to safety.

Lord Julien

There are over 100 characters within the walls of Gran Soren. Some stay in one area all the time. Some wander between two or three areas. Many will leave the city at night, and a few will only be out at night. This lends the city a very dynamic feel, since you will see different people depending what time it is, and what part of the city you visit.

In addition to the city's residents and visitors, Escort Missions for every person living outside of Cassardis will start from the notice board in the Union Inn here.

For persons living or staying in the Duke's Demesne see the same.

Gran Soren and the ruins of the city's former outer fortifications from the Estan Plains (looking northeast)

Nobility

Mostly found within the Noble Quarter :

• Bawdwyn
• Fancey
• Jolette
• Mellard
• Pipa
• Vanna
• Willhem
• also Fournival and his daughter Symone

Tradespeople

• Arsmith, Nettie, Marla - Arsmith's Alehouse
• Asalam, Emme, and Meridith - Union Inn
• Caxton, and Gwine - Caxton's Armoury
• Camellia and Judith - Camellia's Apothecary
• Brice, Lena, Mathewe, Osip, Simond - Fountain Square stalls
• Devyn - barber shop
• Mountebank - the Black cat
• Madeleine
• Fournival
• Reynard, travelling merchant

Carriers

• Eugen, female courier
• Josua
• Maurin, messenger or courier

Craftsmen and farmers

• Austine, blacksmith and his son Wilhem
• Carel, assistant
• Garvin, blacksmith
• Howlen, carpenter
• Humphrauy, carpenter
• Lucie, farmer
• Josias, farmer

General citizenry

• Abram
• Agnes, Baudric's friend
• Amity
• Baden
• Cale
• Cornelius
• Danton
• Frost
• Hender
• Isabel, Fournival's servant
• Jenlyns
• Kassie
• Nils
• Pip, Sara and Jaspar's son
• Rychard
• Sara, Jasper's wife
• Sylvie
• Tomlin, boy, Ansell's son
• Vander

Other

• Barnaby, pawn guild
• Baudric, mystick
• Merrick, scholar
• Steffen, magic scholar
• Aric, Guston, Hobert- trouble causers
• Katlyn, Martha, Milberowe, Pernill : street walkers

Slum dwellers

• Aemelie
• Hewrey
• Philippa
• Walter
• Mason, temporarily

Religious orders

• Edgar, monk
• Geffrey, priest
• Haslett, monk
• Hilde, nun
• Jean, monk
• Maxson, monk
• Milly, nun

Public speakers

• Flavian
• Jasper

Soldiery

• Ser Adraenn
• Ser Aerick
• Ser Alvert
• Ser Auguste
• Ser Basius
• Ser Bayard
• Ser Camillus
• Ser Cyriac
• Ser Fedor
• Ser Folke
• Ser Gauwyn
• Ser Gregor
• Ser Henning
• Ser Hewrey
• Ser Ivo
• Ser Jakys
• Ser Jareth
• Ser Jovan
• Ser Kestril
• Ser Laurent
• Ser Marcas
• Ser Malkovich
• Ser Mathys
• Ser Maximilian
• Ser Nichol
• Ser Raulin
• Ser Raffe
• Ser Sairus
• Ser Vyctor

Quests

Gran Soren viewed in mist from the Deos Hills (looking east)

Gran Soren is a relatively safe harbor, and few quests take place within its walls. It is however the starting (or ending) place of many quests - A Matter of Myrmidons and Lure of the Abyss begin at the Pawn Guild early in the Arisen's adventures; whilst in the Noble Quarter all the Wyrm Hunt Quests are handed out by Ser Maximilian.

Several quests require inquiring with (or overhearing) the populace of the city, including Seeking Salvation, The Wyrmking's Ring and The Cypher. An overheard conversation also leads to the quest to rescue Selene during Witch Hunt.

Other quests involve investigating Salvation incognito within the city - these are Chasing Shadows and Rise of the Fallen.

Further quests take place or begin in the Duke's Demesne, after the invitation during Come to Court. These include all the Royal Orders Quests - of which Trial and Tribulations takes place mostly within the city. During Honor and Treachery an attack on the city must be thwarted.

Members of the Royal court also request the Arisen's assistance, including Fedel (The Conspirators) and Mirabelle (Arousing Suspicion and Duchess In Distress). Quests involving the Duke directly include Reward and Responsibility and A Warm Welcome.

Lesser quests involve helping persons in the city - including Reaper's Scorn, Land of Opportunity, Escort Duty, Idol Worship, Supplier's Demand, and A Troublesome Tome. Madeleine's questline comes to an end with her fleeing the city during Bad Business.

Furthermore, almost all of the general populace may request escort to one location or another at some point. For more details see each persons biography, or Escort quests.

Notice board quests

There are notice boards for quests at: Arsmith's Alehouse, two at the Pawn Guild, and one at the Union Inn. The quests at the Union inn are usual Escort Quests, whilst persons seeking special items oft advertize at Arsmith's. Those wishing rid of some monstrous foe usually place their requests at the Pawn Guild.

For lists see the individual locations or Notice Board Quests

Pawn Travel Knowledge

• The Gran Soren Port Crystal array is the easiest location knowledge star to obtain if a pawn has never been to Gran Soren before. Otherwise, entering the front gate the first time, usually together with the award of the achievement/trophy The Courier, does this. The front gate's knowledge area is large:
  • The street in front of the barber has triggered a comment and knowledge star.
  • The fountain square where the market is often grants a knowledge comment and star if it was not triggered at the gate. Sometimes this happens on a rental if it was not obtained upon initial arrival.
• Visiting the tree in front of the Gran Soren Cathedral grants one star.
• Accessing the rooftops using the ladder near The Black Cat and travelling to the buildings north of the Venery map marker grants one star.

Notes

The Duke's Shield

• The flag oft seen in Gran Soren, that of a red dragon pierced with a sword on a blue and white saltire (diagonal flag) is not that of Gran Soren, but of the Duke. Gran Soren's seal is a gold griffin, such as seen on the Sectional Iron Plate or Arm Crest.
• There are numerous chests concealed around Gran Soren; most of them can be found around and within the fortress walls. Loot from these chests is random and respawns every 2–3 days, and has been noted to include: Seeker's Token, War Bugles and Royal Banners.
  • Some chests (~4) are only accessible via Rooftops and can be accessed via ladders in the Venery or at the top of the staircase between Fountain Square and the Castle Gate. One chest can be found on a patio directly over Caxton's Armory with the possibility of offering a Trusty Sword, while the others are scattered around the Venery, one of which contains the Third Journal Entry for the Search Party mission. There does not seem to be any chests above the Urban Quarter, though there is a patio close to the Castle Gate entrance offering breakable boxes which may offer a curative.
  • There are also 'hidden' chests that aren't readily seen while looking around the city roofs. Doorways leading to attic rooms that cannot be accessed from inside the building. They can be identified by bright lights at night (in some of them) and windows that are unshuttered and can be seen into (after locating one its usually only a matter of looking for the opening into the room). An example would be the opening above The Black Cat which often contains a Wakestone Shard Forgery.
• It is quite common, while shopping in the marketplace, to hear a pawn shout "I've been drenched!" or "Soaked to the bone!" etc. as a result of retrieving Rocks or gold from the Fountain. They do not attempt to climb the pillar to reach the bag of gold (and/or Rocks) that respawns on top of it every 7 days.
• Gran Soren and Cassardis are the only locations within Gransys with a fixed Portcrystal location. 
• Post-Game, pawns can be found wandering across the rooftops in the marketplace, and in parts of the battlements and towers.

Gallery

An exit by the Slums