What’s up Guys, I’m Dave Klein.
In order to better understand the world of Dark Souls 2, and Drangleic, I thought it
would be a good idea to talk about Drangleic’s surrounding lands.
In this part, I’ll be focusing on Forossa, Volgen, Jugo, and Lanafir.
So, with that, let’s go ahead and begin.
Forossa:
Forossa was an Eastern warring state known for its ferocious and bloodthirsty warriors
until it fell to war.
The Lion Knights of the land worshipped “the war god Faraam [and] wore heavy armor.
[They] were feared for their nimble two-handed swordplay.
But their legacy was cut short with the fall of Forossa.”
And while most warriors fought two-handed, the mighty Vengarl of Forossa duel-wielded
blads.
“He [was] known as a raging, deadly warrior” and even the Lion Knights kept him at an arm’s
length.
It seemed several warriors preferred to fight without a shield in the land, for their other
great warrior was Shieldless Lothian.
“No warrior matched the ferocity of unbeatable Lothian, but abruptly retired from the battlefield
and was never heard froma gain.
Some say he grew tired of the frailty of human foes, and set off to slay the legendary dragon.”
His weapon is also known as the “Dragonslayer’s Crescent Axe” indicating this legend.
“I was born in Forossa.
It’s a land in the distant east.
When I was born, we were already mired In prolonged conflict with our neighbours.
Eventually, our kingdom fell, And our people scattered.
I’ve been a sellsword ever since.
All I ever knew was war, And I can imagine no other way to live.
What a fool I was.”
After the fall of Forossa, “its citizens were left landless, and entirely to their
own devices.
Many were reduced to thievery, while Forossan knights scattered to other lands as sellswords”.
The former citizens of Forossa became bandits on the outskirts of the land.
Of those who became sellswords, I believe it’s very possible they sold their services
to the land of Volgen.
Volgen:
Volgen is a great Western city filled with merchants and brimming with greedy upper classmen
seeking power.
“It’s a lively place, vibrant with trade.
Very competitive of course.
And y-you have to grease the wheels to get anywhere.”
Of these merchants, Fiorenza was the best known, as he was “the only truly moneyed
merchant in Volgen.
Fiorenza used his riches to buy up trinkets of luxury and rare collectibles, but was ruined
after years of excessive debauchery.”
He used his wealth to recreate the Avelyn “after reading of it in a book.”
He spent his life searching for the Engraved Gauntlets, yet it seems Pate beat him to the
punch.
Maughlin, the merchant in Majula, was not quite so lucky as Fiorenza, and moved to Drangleic
in order to seek his fortune.
He tells us:
“A group calling themselves the Blue Sentinels have gained much power in Volgen.
You can’t even run a shop without their blessing.
They claim to be working for the greater good, Oh…but it’s absolute hogwash.”
It’s not clear if this is the actual Blue Sentinels, or perhaps some clerics taking
advantage of their name and reputation, as “The clerics of the great city of Volgen
are perennially entrenched in scandalous power struggles, but among them remain a few strong-willed
upstanding noblemen.”
The slippery Laddersmith Gilligan also hails from Volgen,
“Now, don’t go near that scum near the pit.
The scoundrel’s name is Gilligan, And he’s infamous in our home town.
Yes, everyone’s heard of him, As he always manages to stir up trouble.”
“…Shush, you eejit, stay quiet!
…I’m on the run, don’t give me away!”
“…I can lend you a ladder…
…But em…ha…how much can you offer me?
…Why, you!
I’m trying to help you, you know…
…Have you no gratitude?
Downright rude, really!”
“Gilligan can certainly be helpful at times, But he’s a real conniver when it comes to
money.
Hah, thre are even people out for his life.
And you can be he brought it on himself.”
“I want you to kill a merchant named Gilligan.
A greedy foul man.
He won’t be missed, I assure you.
And the more confident Maughlin becomes, the more cocky and extortionist his prices.
Yet, there are a few who seem to retain honor.
“I was born in a land to the west, Volgen.
Famous for its merchants.
There were great, bustling cities.
But for me, they were suffocating.
And so I set out, In search of stones in faraway lands.”
Both Stone Trader Chloanne and her father, Blacksmith Lenigrast also come from the land
of Volgen, and seem much more honorable than the others.
In a place like Volgen, ripe with the ultra wealthy, the corrupt, and constant power struggles,
it’s no wonder the Falconers became common place.
“Domestic Volgen soldiers are infamously timid, so it is no wonder that this fierce
band of mercenary falconers was hired to compensate.
In practice they serve as bodyguards for the affluent elite, and they serve well, such
that nobody dare scrutinize their backgrounds.”
Their backgrounds likely being warriors from the fallen land of Forossa, and possibly some
from Mirrah.
Jugo:
Deep in the sweltering deserts lies the distant eastern land of Jugo.
A land filled with corrosive ants, sorceresses, and the homeland to Benhart.
In Jugo, “giant anthills created by the corrosive ants line the horizon of the desert
land.”
Corrosive Urns come from this desert land, and it would seem most corrosive material
comes from these ants.
An interesting tidbit about Benhart is: His armor set wasn’t from Jugo, but “apparently
Benhart found this while wandering land to land, but its origins are unknown.”
His armor depicts the sigil of a stag, which, we also find on Creighton of Mirrah’s armor.
Creighton’s armor tells us “Its design resembles that of the knight order of the
eastern land of Mirrah, but with some odd differences that catch the eye.”
It’s possible the Stag is one of these differences, or, perhaps, in his travels Benhart at one
point ended up in Mirrah, and picked up his armor set while there.
Afterall, Mirrah was known for Geisteel, an infamously strong Alloy King Vendrick sought
after for Drangleic.
Jugo was founded by Aurous, who wore a legendary set of armor that’s said to be “composed
of a mysterious substance that cannot be seen by cowards”.
Rhoy the Explorer, in his travels, picked up this armor set, and likely visited Jugo
during his time.
We also know the Desert Sorceresses who fill the Earthen Peak were from this land, and
their “enchanting looks [were] used to catch people off guard.
Oddly, even those who are perceptive enough to realize the ploy fall prey to their seductions
with alarming regularity.”
Lanafir
Lanafir is a land “farthest to the south and follows a strict edict of isolationism.
The rare visitor from Lanafir is always a little odd.”
This description from the Traveling Merchant set describes for us why we find hardly anything
from the land of Lanafir.
Yet, there are a few exceptions.
Magerold, a treasure hunting NPC who eventually lets players join the Dragon Covenent hails
from Lanaifr, as indicated by his wearing the Traveling Merchant set, and his random
assortment of goods.
This is also where Gough’s Hawk Ring eventually ended up, as the nomadic bowman Durgo, who
hailed from Lanafir, utilized this ring.
Durgo was “an expert bowman, and his brother-in-law defended their homeland from aggressors.
In spite of Lanafir’s policy of isolationism, Durgo was well known even beyond its domain.”
- Alright guys, that wraps up this part of my
Dark Souls 2 Location Guide.
In my previous part, I focused on Mirrah, Lindelt, and Melfia, so if you missed that,
make sure to check it out!
And, let me know what you guys think.
I’ll see you next time!
Peace.