Dragon's Dogma Scale
Dragon’s Dogma Scale
Credits to Dienomite22 from the vs wiki who compiled a large portion of this blog and provided a considerable amount of sources and evidence.
This blog was made in order to properly inform newcomers and/or those who just aren't familiar with the cosmology of Dragon's Dogma and its composition in a simple and concise way. To start, it is necessary for me to give a brief description of some important terms:
• Arisen: Those whose heart was taken by the Dragon. Chosen for their abnormal will and courage upon their encounter with the Dragon have their heart taken and are bound to live until the Dragon is slain by another Arisen or the Arisen dies in combat. More than one Arisen can exist in one world. All player characters are Arisen.
• Pawn: Originating from the Rift, Pawns are a race of humanoid beings created and given form by Arisen at Rift Stones. Pawns act as the party members for Arisen and are only controlled by Arisen. They lack emotions and the fear of death as they simply return to the Rift fully restored upon being gravely injured. Pawns also heal and replenish stamina when the Arisen is near a Rift Stone.
• The Dragon: The Dragon being used here, is in reference to the dragons like Grigori or Ur-Dragon, who are the most powerful of their species that were created and sent by the Seneschal. They are the ones who seek out mortals with abnormal will and drive to steal their heart. Ultimately, their goal is to find an Arisen with enough willpower to take over for the Seneschal. This term doesn't refer to lesser dragons such Drakes, Wyrms and Wyverns who don't appear to have the same authority or power to make mortals into Arisen.
• Seneschal: Closest being to what could be called God in the Dragon's Dogma cosmology. Formally Arisen who successfully slayed The Dragon and best the former Seneschal in combat, they maintain the grand cycle of the world through willpower alone and serve as the battery to the world itself. Although they are very powerful, the willpower to maintain the world eventually wanes. The Seneschal creates The Dragon in order to find a successor to their position as Seneschal.
The Universe
Dragon's Dogma is a verse composed of parallel universes, or more commonly referred to as "worlds" in-game. These parallel worlds are each a different player's world and playthrough of the game. Each of these worlds are both spatially and temporally infinite in terms of size, existing in an endless loop with no beginning nor end. This is not surprising as Dragon's Dogma 1's DLC Dark Arisen and, more so, the post-game, explores the concept of the parallel worlds further.
~ Seneschal
Conclusion: Each universe within Dragon's Dogma is both spatially and temporally infinite in size and therefore Universe level+ (Low 2-C).
The Multiverse
As stated above, Dragon's Dogma is composed of parallel universes. Without getting too deep and spoiling the rest of the blog, I'll keep this part short. If you didn't know, Hideaki Itsuno, the director of Devil May Cry 2, 3, 4 and 5, is the director and mastermind of Dragon's Dogma 1 and 2. In 2013, he held a presentation (Time Stamp: 34:35) at GDC for Dragon's Dogma called, "Behind the Scenes of Dragon's Dogma: A Look at the Development of Capcom's Open-World Action Role-Playing Game in which Itsuno explained things in regards to development of Dragon's Dogma. The most important bit for this section of the blog is a statement regarding the parallel world system.
"Conceptually, it's a world of parallel worlds stacked endlessly above and below each other.....each of these parallel worlds are being played locally."
~ Itsuno GDC 2013 "Behind the Scenes of Dragon's Dogma: A Look at the Development of Capcom's Open-World Action Role-Playing Game"
Now I understand some may have an issue with using information from a presentation about Dragon's Dogma development and not the final product but thankfully Itsuno tells us what changed between development to final product was the endless tower being changed to the Everfall meaning his statement about endlessly stacked parallel worlds remains usable.
"...The only point or connection between the worlds is the endless tower that's going down the center of this diagram here and that's shared in real time between all the worlds. In the final product, instead of the tower, it's a room called Everfall. It was very difficult to explain this world in the setting so this was my attempt to communicate how this all works..."
~ Itsuno
As a final confirmation, we have a Japanese interview with Itsuno and Yoshiaki Hirabayashi, the producer for Dragon's Dogma 2, in regards to Dragon's Dogma 2. The interviewer asks a question about the setting of Dragon's Dogma 2 in which Itsuno directly confirms that there are an infinite number of worlds in the series and Dragon's Dogma 2 takes place in a parallel world.
――「ドラゴンズドグマ 2」は時代設定として、前作「ドラゴンズドグマ」の未来が舞台なのでしょうか？ だとすれば、新たに獣人の国が登場するというのは、数年後ではなく数百年単位の遠い未来ですか？
伊津野：前提として「ドラゴンズドグマ」シリーズは共通して、プレイヤーごとに“無限の並行世界”があるという設定です。それぞれの世界に覚者がいて、ポーンだけが別々の世界を自由に行き来できます。
レッドドラゴンに心臓を奪われて、これを取り返しに行くという物語もまた、「ドラゴンズドグマ」と「ドラゴンズドグマ 2」で共通していながら、それぞれが別の並行世界での出来事なんです
Semi-rough translation with DeepL:
--Is "Dragon's Dogma 2" set in the future of the previous "Dragon's Dogma"? If so, is the appearance of a new beastman country in the distant future, not a few years later, but a few hundred years?
Itzuno: The premise of the "Dragon's Dogma" series is that each player has an "infinite number of parallel worlds" in common. Each world has its own sentient beings, and only pawns can move freely between the different worlds.
The story of the Red Dragon's stolen heart and the player's quest to get it back is also common to both "Dragon's Dogma" and "Dragon's Dogma 2," but each takes place in a different parallel world.
In addition to Itsuno's word, we also have in-game pawn chatter that supports it by stating there are countless worlds.
"The countless worlds are linked. Bound to this place, all...."
~ Everfall Pawn Chatter
It should be noted that each of these parallel worlds have their own unique space-time continuum as indicated by the details section in various Bitterblack Isle quests from other Arisen that begin with the same few words: "To you, traveler from a place and time far distant...."
Conveniently, the Dragon's Dogma 2 interview above also confirms this idea as Hirabayashi tells us that although Dragon's Dogma 2 takes place in a parallel world, it is not a part of Dragon's Dogma 1's timeline, past or future meaning each of these parallel worlds have their own unique timeline:
――では前作の冒険を経た同じ世界に獣人が現れた、といった歴史があるわけではなく、「ドラゴンズドグマ」、「ドラゴンズドグマ 2」それぞれが独立した並行世界であると？
伊津野：さぁ、どうでしょうね？（笑）
平林：前作と共通した時系列上での「未来や過去」という話ではないことは確かです。そのため、リリースなどの資料では「（前作と）同じ世界」ではなく、「同じ世界観」と表現しています。
Semi-rough translation with DeepL:
--So you are saying that "Dragon's Dogma" and "Dragon's Dogma 2" are independent parallel worlds, not that there is a history of the beastmen appearing in the same world where the previous adventure took place?
Itzuno: Well, I don't know. (laughs)
Hirabayashi: It is certain that we are not talking about "the future or the past" on a timeline that is common to the previous work. For this reason, in our releases and other materials, we do not refer to "the same world (as the previous work)" but rather "the same worldview.
Dragon's Dogma 2 reaffirms this in-game by explicitly mentioning that there are an uncountable number of universes in the cosmology and Pawns frequently mention other worlds they've traveled to.
Conclusion: Endlessly stacked parallel worlds.....textbook Multiverse level+ (2-A+).
The Rift and Rifts
The Rift is the dimension from which Pawns originate from after their wisp of non-living consciousness is conceptualized and given physical form by an Arisen at a Rift stone. Rifts are the space between the parallel universes and serve as the gateway to the other worlds. However Pawns and The Dragons are the only few capable of traversing through other worlds via rifts. Although it is confusing, based on the wording in various dialogue below, a clear distinction between "the rift" and "rifts" or "a rift" need to be considered when reading as it is very important in regards to the conclusion section. "The rift" refers to the entirety of rifts as the dimension which pawns originate from while "rifts" or "a rift" refers to the rift spaces individually. To put it simply, pawns come from the rift and rifts are the individual spaces between worlds that are encompassed by the overarching rift dimension. The novella tells us past, present, future and time itself holds no meaning in the rift which is illustrated in-game by rift spaces being the few locations where time doesn't pass. The novella further tells us that eternity and a swift moment, infinite and a single point in space are all blended together in the chaos of rift spaces. The rift serves as the location to find and look up other pawns and recruit them into your Arisen's party.
~ Barnaby
"My kind are nomads.. We belong to no world, and to all."
~ Everfall Pawn chatter
"The pawns exist astride the rift. They speak of a multitude of worlds, each infinite unto itself. Limitless in span and lost to time, these worlds extend in an eternal, perfect loop. Just as a ring lacks start and end, so this world has no origin, no final terminus. If it does, they lie beyond our ken. We are prisoners of unpassing time, wandering an unending land. What lies beyond, we cannot know."
~ Seneschal
"Even we who traverse the rift do not ken what lies beyond."
~ Seneschal's Chamber Pawn Chatter
"This bears the look of ...Of the world beyond the rift."
~ Seneschal's Chamber Pawn Chatter
"This is a rift...a space between realms from which any and all manner of pawns may be found."
~ In-game pop-up text upon first entering the rift.
~ 'Dragon's Dogma: The Beginning' Novella
Interestingly though, Dragon Dogma 2 only bothers to mention that Pawns travel the Rift and does not mention individual Rift spaces unlike DD1. Riftstones are stated to be gates that allow passage to the Rift and by proxy other worlds, but otherwise, no individual rifts are references. Only the Rift as a whole.
Conclusion: Each "rift" are spaces between worlds where time itself holds no meaning and eternity, ephemeral, infinite and finite space all melded together in chaos. There are an infinite number of these rifts as there are an infinite number of parallel worlds that the rifts exist in between. Naturally, "The Rift", as in, the overarching dimension itself, is made up of an infinite number of these structures, but regardless of this (since DD2 is unclear on whether individual rift spaces still exist), it is still an infinite dimension with its own temporal axis that extends across and connects to an infinite number of universes in the cosmology,
This would further reinforce the cosmology as Multiverse level+ by this point.
Everfall
Normally a mysterious spiral dungeon located underneath Gran Soren, the capital of Gransys which is the Peninsula where Dragon's Dogma 1 takes place. Upon the death of the Dragon by an Arisen, the sun is blocked out by clouds, more dangerous monsters appear all over the Earth and the Everfall true appearance is revealed, sucking half of Gran Soren into a sinkhole that pierces the very depths of the world, revealing a gaping void. Described as a realm with no beginning or end, the Everfall is an endless shaft looping back out onto itself from the center of the Earth back into the sky. Although the shaft itself is only shown to pierce through the "main" universe of Dragon's Dogma 1, the Everfall in actuality pierces through all the infinite parallel worlds in lore. In fact, pawn chatter describes it as the very source of all the worlds and nexus of all worlds. Further pawn chatter tells us the Everfall is the axis along which all turns and is akin to a vast tree with universes being leaves upon its branches.
The Everfall serves as the second to last stopping point to the Seneschal's Chamber and houses many chambers that are implied to be dungeons in other parallel worlds, filled with Pawns whose masters were killed, leaving them to wander the chambers aimlessly with no emotion for all eternity until called upon by another Arisen who finds themselves inside the Everfall. Everfall is the second to last test of the Arisen, acting as a dungeon crawl for the Arisen to eliminate various powerful creatures to gather 20 Wakestones and summon an abnormally powerful rift so the Arisen can access its deepest depth, the Seneschal's Chamber.
"...The only point or connection between the worlds is the endless tower that's going down the center of this diagram here and that's shared in real time between all the worlds. In the final product, instead of the tower, it's a room called Everfall. It was very difficult to explain this world in setting so this was my attempt to communicate how this all works..."
~ Itsuno
"The countless worlds are linked. Bound to this place, all....."
~ Everfall Pawn Chatter
"'Tis shaft is the axis along which all turns... 'Tis the source."
~ Everfall Pawn Chatter
"We stand at the trunk of all the branching worlds. The very root..."
~ Everfall Pawn Chatter
"'Tis a gate... A nexus linking all worlds."
~ Everfall Pawn Chatter
"The world we knew is but a single leaf upon a vast tree..."
~ Everfall Pawn Chatter
~ Fathom Deep Quest Objective
"Evading your pursuers, you escape into the Everfall. The great hole seems unending, yet that cannot be...A voice on the far side beckons you ever deeper, ever downward, to the end of your journey."
~ Chronicle
~ Chronicle
Conclusion: The Everfall, an endless realm that is the source of the infinite worlds likened to a vast tree where a universe is but a single leaf on its branches and the axis along which all universes operate. An infinite shaft which extends through all worlds and beyond, the entire multiverse is bound to it with the rift being no exception.
Seneschal's Chamber
A realm existing beyond the multiverse and the rift itself, the Seneschal's Chamber is where the Seneschal, The Maker and Steward of the World resides and watches over all of creation. The Seneschal's Chamber exists at the deepest depths of the Everfall. The Seneschal's Chamber exists outside of time and is completely unbound by the laws of physics.
The chamber is the location where the Arisen is faced with a final test of will against the Seneschal. 1) Face off against a robed Seneschal in combat. 2) Being offered the choice between turning back and return to their world at a point before the Arisen gets their heart stolen to live a peaceful life without going on their journey and learning the truth of the world or stepping forward to face the Seneschal while key figures you've met along your journey who attempt persuade you to turn back try to kill you. And finally, 3) Face the unrobed Seneschal and his pawn while accompanied by your pawn in true combat. Upon defeating the Seneschal, they take the time to reveal to you the truth of their position and the world. However, if the Arisen chooses to face the Seneschal and loses, they become The Dragon and are sent back into the world. Savan, the same Arisen from the prologue, is the default Seneschal you face in your first playthrough. During your first NG+ playthrough, your last Arisen is the Seneschal and if you play with online features enabled during your third playthrough, the last player who defeated the Seneschal will be the Seneschal you face.
"You reach the deepest depths of the Everfall, a realm with neither beginning nor end. Now you face the Seneschal, the omnipotent presence that controls the world itself."
~ Chronicle
"Rifts are but gateways linking distant places...slivers of a world far more vast."
~ Seneschal's Chamber Pawn Chatter
"This bears the look of ...Of the world beyond the rift."
~ Seneschal's Chamber Pawn Chatter
"Even we who traverse the rift do not ken what lies beyond."
~ Seneschal's Chamber Pawn Chatter
"...A great chasm? One that leads beyond the rift..."
~ Adaro
~ Dragon's Dogma Signature Series Brady Games Guidebook
~ Dragon's Dogma Official Design Works Artbook
Conclusion: The deepest depths of the Everfall, unbound by laws of physics, common sense and existing outside of time, beyond the multiverse and even the rift itself with the rift/rifts being described as mere slivers of world far more vast by your pawns while within the Seneschal's Chamber. It is safe to say the Everfall, and by extension the Seneschal's Chamber, is a structure beyond space and time that trivializes the multiverse and the rift, which is composed of dimensions where time is meaningless and infinite and finite space and time are mixed together in chaos, making the Seneschal's Chamber at least a 5D/Low Complex Multiverse level (Low 1-C) structure that is beyond the space and dimensions of the multiverse itself.
Further proof for Superiority is that once the Arisen becomes the Seneschal, they are able to descend unto the lower world at their own leisure yet they do not inhabit a physical body, but rather are non-corporeal and invisible to everyone. This showcases the Arisen's transcendance as they are no longer bound by the physical world and have to literally descend from their higher dimensional chamber, and even then have no physical body to bind them to the world.
Also, to clear up any misconceptions, The Seneschal's Chamber being located "in the depths" of the Everfall isn't necessarily a contradiction to it being a higher realm given that:
- The Everfall is established as being a mere gate that connects all worlds yet the Seneschal's Chamber is a unique world not situated on the "tree" that is the Everfall.
- All evidence points to the Seneschal's realm being completely beyond the Rift as a whole, being inaccessible to Pawns who themselves can traverse the rifts and the rift is merely a sliver of a world "far more vast" and one that is "beyond the world" which would include both the Everfall, the multiverse and the Rift.
- The Seneschal's realm is stated to not abide by the laws of physics, notions of above or below, or common sense, therefore, this explains its unorthodox placement as well as how it truly is above the rest of the world which does abide by these concepts to a certain degree. This is also reinforced by the ending wherein the Arisen/Seneschal stabs themselves, leading to the chamber opening from above and sending them plummeting to the planet despite the entrance seemingly having been at the "bottom" of the everfall.
Dragon's Dogma 2 further reinforces this as the Japanese text (won't be using the English version as it apparently messed up the translations hard) straight up states that the Seneschal at the time, King Rothais, was upset at the fact that there was a being even higher than him authority-wise, so he somehow was able to descend from his Throne in the Seneschal chamber, and established his kingdom in the physical world, thus reinforcing the idea that the Seneschal naturally transcends the universe and the Rifts, and the Seneschal themselves can choose to either remain as a higher dimensional entity or descend and revert back to a being bound by the physical plane.
Grigori Scaling:
Grigori states that both he and the Arisen are “the axis upon which the world turns,” and that time itself "flows with their footsteps," affirming their status as metaphysical anchors of reality. Dragon's Dogma 2 reaffirms this by highlighting how the Dragon and the Arisen are the foundation of the worlds, with the Dragon acting as the embodiment of destructive force that ironically seeks to preserve the existence of the world while the Arisen opposes the Dragon's mission. Dragons like Grigori are stated to operate in a higher order while their counterpart, the Arisen, are transcendent beings.
Grigori very casually destroys a tower of a fortress by landing on it and subsequently causes a large portion of the fortress to crumble by merely flying away
He can walk through stone fortifications like they are not even there, surviving an enormous fall from the sky with no apparent harm, and fly across Gransys at incredible speeds.
Upon Grigori's arrival, he is stated to have easily destroyed several countries/nations in mere seconds:
It took the dragon only seconds to wipe entire nations from the map of the world. One of the nations which the dragon had utterly destroyed had been large and powerful, enough so that if not for the dragon's attacks it may well have come out the victor of the Endless Strife. But it was not a tragedy without survivors and among those few who lived through the horrors of that attack was the son of the king, the prince of this lost country
https://dragonsdogma.fandom.com/wiki/Salvation#:~:text=7%20Sources-,History,victor%20of%20the%20Endless%20Strife.
For context, Gransys, the location where the game takes place, is merely a small part of a peninsula and not nearly comparable to the aforementioned countries and nations. Here is a reference for Gransys' size and the following is more context regarding its size overall:
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
We know that, through lore, there are other countries out there, including the Mainland, that is implied to be a continent where there are much more powerful countries that have also been affected by the dragon (as one of the countries that send people to help may exist there). And even then, there is still the fact that Grigori would be quite fast if he could destroy nation after nation in just seconds. Dragons are described time and time again as bringing the world to near destruction, with Grigori implying that he would destroy it all if you failed to win the final battle:
• "If you lack the strength to stay my fire... to stay the fated ruin... then all shall scatter as ash."
• "The hour for turning back is past. The world will have its answer: you or me? Death, or life beyond?"
• "This battle you have begun sits at the very heart of all creation. We are the axis about which the world turns, Arisen. Time itself flows with your footsteps!"
"Dragons are creatures wreathed in mystery.
https://dragonsdogma.fandom.com/wiki/The_Dragon
The dragon's destroying of the nations that lie west of the country is described to be a wasteland product of the dragon destroying it all years ago:
*"Naught but a deathly waste stretches on west of the Greatwall. They say it was put to ruin by a dragon long ago, and so it remains now. This was before the dragon was slain by Edmun Dragonsbane, mind. Long before.*
*"Through diligent research, the Faith has become able to predict the beast's coming. Sadly, though, that foreknowledge is yet incomplete. Records show, for example, that the dragon came to this land some one hundred fifty years ago. It was then that the western lands were put to ruin."*
*"Then, again, fifty years before today the dragon came, and was slain by Duke Edmun. As far back as the Faith's records tell, this is the third time Gransys has seen the beast."
"The annals tell of such cases, where the beast besets the same land, time and again.*
https://dragonsdogma.fandom.com/wiki/Ser_Frederick
Foreign knight Julian mentions that due to the dragon's attack, the country looks so barren compared to his, and he wonders if his own country is destined to suffer a similar fate:
"Hail Arisen. Out for a walk to clear your head as well? Else on some manner of watch. 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. But forgive me. I am keeping you from your watch. Another time, Arisen. " - Julian
Grigori's power is further reinforced by the fact that even as he is dying, he has the power to collapse parts of the kingdom of Gran Soren that leads to the infinite Everfall, warps reality, and summons monsters all over Gran Soren.
Furthermore, this level of power can also be seen with the Ur-Dragon, an undead variation of Grigori from another universe that has killed countless other Arisen and stolen their hearts (in-game, the chambers in the Everfall are actually alternate universes along its "branches"). The Ur-Dragon appears to have laid waste to this reality's world, having burned almost everything down and warping the world so that there is only eternal darkness. This Dragon in particular is the first dragon in existence, seemingly exists outside the eternal cycle, and can easily fly through the Rift and into other universes, which it has done several times to acquire Arisen hearts.
So Grigori should at the very least be Country level for wiping out several nations in seconds off the map, with the term “nations” being synonymous with “country” in the context of the game. The range of his warping of reality is admittedly ambiguous, as it can either extend to continental to at MAX planetary.
Dragons like the Ur-Dragon appear to be much stronger given their special existence, ability to fly through the rifts into other worlds, and bring its world to ruins to the point where everything appears to be burnt to the ground and shrouded in complete darkness, just as Grigori said he would have done if the Arisen failed (Country ~ Continental to Planetary at Max)
Daimon Scaling
Daimon from Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen can be scaled to at least Planetary level (5-A) based on direct in-game statements, cosmological context, and environmental consistency. Daimon is the transformed state of a former Arisen named Ashe, who rejected the binary choice offered by the Dragon, the choices being to kill his beloved or sacrifice his mentor (who had *become* the Dragon). In defying this fate, Ashe was cursed and transformed into Daimon, a being consumed by despair and rage over the loss of his pawn companion, Olra. This overwhelming emotion gave rise to Bitterblack Isle, which is a metaphysical realm shaped by Daimon’s will, hatred, and cursed existence.
There are three possible origins for Bitterblack Isle, though all options ultimately support the same conclusion:
- The first, and more heavily supported by in-game dialogue, is that Daimon himself created and sustains Bitterblack Isle. His emotional torment, longing, and willpower are stated to be the source of the realm’s existence and persistence.
- The second possibility is that the Dragon who cursed Ashe created Bitterblack Isle as a prison to contain Daimon. While plausible—given that Dragons in Dragon’s Dogma can warp reality (as shown with Grigori)—this version lacks the direct evidence that the Daimon-as-creator interpretation holds.
- A third potential option regarding who created Bitterblack combines both possibilities: the Dragon could have initially created Bitterblack Isle to imprison Daimon, but as time went on, Daimon's will, rage, and power grew, eventually allowing him to claim ownership of the pocket dimension for himself. From there, he is able to somehow anchor it to infinite worlds so that Arisen from said worlds could visit and become trapped in Bitterblack as well. After gaining enough power, Daimon's goal was to destroy the eternal cycle that binded Arisen, Dragons, and infinite worlds, though this would have been over time. However, this option would still allow Daimon to scale to the creation of Bitterblack given that through sheer willpower, rage, and accumulated strength, he took it over for himself and expanded its reach and purpose far beyond its original design.
Regardless of origin, the Arisen beats both the Dragon and Daimon, so they can scale up either way.
On The Nature of Bitterblack
Bitterblack Isle contains its own moon, and a massive skybox showing what appear to be stars and galaxies.This realm and those whose power and will created/maintain it adheres to criteria laid out by VS Battles Wiki for creating and sustaining a pocket dimension with celestial bodies which qualifies as Tier 5-A.
Multiple quotes support Daimon's authorship of the realm:
*"It grows clearer, now... My circumstances here, and what it is I must do. I am not... The soul that animates this body is not its natural pair. But I had to save him, at any cost... The master of this black isle. He created these labyrinthine halls, and has the power to draw Arisen into them. In my desperation to see him redeemed, I wrested away control of this body..."*—Olra
*"The Arisen who brought this place into being is gone, but perhaps some other force yet remains which fueled his long grudge…"*—Olra
*"I can scarce imagine the sort of grudge this isle's creator must bear against the Arisen. Still less what I've done to earn my place here. I'm a simple wanderer. Keep to myself. I've no illusions of entitlement as an Arisen."*
"*You can feel it can’t you? This place is wrought from the will of some creator. I don’t mean the Maker, mind. I keep no truck with the Faith. No, this place is like a memory given form. We’re guests in someone’s imaginary world you and I, else rabbits caught in their snare."*
— Barroch
Additionally, Bitterblack Isle is metaphysically distinct from Gransys and the larger world. It exists outside the flow of time and space, something only powerful beings like the Seneschal (who governs an infinite universe while transcending it) or a corrupted anti-Seneschal figure like Daimon could maintain.
Further quotes reinforce this:
*"Where do the beasts here come from? You ever think on that, friend? We're cut off from the world. Worlds. Whichever. It's naught but Arisen and pawns what come here."*
— Barroch
*"Well, this is a surprise. Can you just come and go as you please, then? Huh...I'd thought everyone come to this place was lost to the world outside. Myself included. Ah, well. It's the exception what proves the rule, or so they say."*
— Barroch
Even Olra—whose body resides in Bitterblack—can only manifest in Gransys as a shadow, further proving Bitterblack's separation from the normal universe:
*"You... You can see me. Then you are one known to the dragon, bound within the eternal ring. I have dire need of the Arisen's strength. Please, ser, will you lend me your aid?"*
*(No) "The boon I ask can be granted only by one with ties to the wyrm. I beseech you, ser."*
*(Yes) "You have my eternal thanks... You speak now to a shadow of sorts. My flesh resides elsewhere. I would take you there now, if it please you."*
— Olra
Regarding sustaining the realm, Daimon not only created Bitterblack, but it is specifically kept going through his immense will power which is tempered by his extreme rage and anguish. Olra tells us as much when we converse with her:
*And through me, she called to you. To one whose strength of will outmatched the master of this place.*
-Olra
She distinctly refers to Daimon as the master of Bitterblack and how his will kept the realm going, only being able to be defeated by a will even greater than his. This is consistent with how Will and the nature of Arisen and Seneschal work in the lore. Will is power in Dragon's Dogma and strong wills can literally alter the world, with sheer will power granting unique entities the title of Arisen in the first place (along with having their hearts stolen by the dragon), and the most powerful Arisen that become Seneschal have a Will that can sustain entire universes.
Higher Interpretation:
In the Bitterblack Sanctum, one can see a cosmic spiral through the windows and both behind and being twisted in it are stars and galaxies. These celestial formations are similar to how real galaxies appear when viewed from great distances. Since Daimon is confirmed (or heavily implied) to have created and sustains the realm, this would also include any cosmic structures visible in the skybox. While we're never explicitly told what that structure is, we at least know that Daimon is capable of recreating entire celestial bodies such as a moon in his realm, so this would be consistent in that sense. According to VS Battles Wiki’s framework for pocket dimensions, creating a starry sky inside such a realm scales to Solar System level, though if you believe those are indeed galaxies, this can scale Daimon to Multi-Galaxy level instead.
How the Arisen Scales Up:
The Arisen scales directly to all of the aforementioned characters and their feats by directly overpowering them—the most important of which is the Seneschal. The Seneschal and their realm exist beyond linear time, above infinite space-times and the Rift—which spans an infinite number of universes and acts as the space between them by encompassing infinite Rift spaces, with the Rift itself described as a mere sliver of a world far vaster and more infinite than the already infinite universe and Rift dimension—placing them solidly at a 5D level and possibly qualifying them for immeasurable speed.
Furthermore, the Seneschal is explicitly stated to be beyond the laws of physics and common sense, and their realm exists outside conventional spatial orientation—beyond notions of "up" and "down." The laws of physics govern causality, motion, energy, space, time, and the behavior of matter. To exist beyond these laws is to transcend the fundamental framework of physical reality, including the linear flow of time, spatial structure, and material limitation. This further supports the idea that the Seneschal operates entirely outside the temporal and spatial constraints of lower-dimensional existence. The Arisen should bare minimum still be Multiversal+, even if the Seneschal's Realm is not considered a higher dimension relative to the infinite universes, Rifts, and the Everfall.
The Seneschal is not bound by time, but transcends it—meaning they exist independently of temporal progression. In this context, to exist “outside of time” is not simply to be unaffected by its passage, but to operate on a plane beyond time itself.
This is further reinforced by the mechanics of New Game+. Despite apparently killing themselves with the Seneschal’s Godsbane, the player character reappears as the next Seneschal in future cycles. This demonstrates that the Seneschal continues to exist and function after death, preserving the cycle and sustaining reality from their higher realm. Their Will alone maintains the existence of the lower universe.
Godsbaning as Seneschal does not result in true death. Based on the implications of New Game+, it instead separates the Arisen’s Will from their soul and body, which is passed to their pawn. The Seneschal then remains in their higher realm, continuing to uphold reality without physical form or mortal limitation. They even recreate their former self and summon their pawn again, demonstrating unrestricted metaphysical authority and independence from causality.
Savan pulling the Godsbane from his chest without dying is key: if self-inflicted death could break the cycle, he would have ended it himself. Yet he only truly perishes when stabbed by the next Arisen, confirming that the Seneschal’s continued existence can only end through proper succession.
Thus:
- Post-Grigori Arisen should scale to bare minimum Country level with MHS+ speeds to possibly relativistic for being able to dodge levin bolts and attacks made of pure light
- Post-Ur-Dragon Arisen should scale to at least Continent level due Ur-Dragon’s destruction of that universe’s earth and warping reality to that degree. Speed scaling should be the same though possibly higher given the Ur-Dragon can fly through the infinite Rift to reach other worlds through sheer speed
- Post-Daimon Arisen should scale from Planet level bare minimum (due to Bitterblack containing a moon) to Galaxy ~ Multi-Galaxy level (due to the stars and many galaxies present in the sky)
- Seneschal Arisen should be solidly 5D with possible immeasurable speeds, but bare minimum should be relativistic or FTL given that the Seneschal the Arisen fights attacks with pure light.
TLDR for overall cosmology:
Infinite Multiverse: 2-A
Base Universe (Low 2-C for being spatially and temporally infinite) < The Rift (2-A for extending across and acting as the space between the infinite universes in the multiverse. Time has no meaning, infinite and finite space, and eternity are all blended within the chaos of the Rift) < The Everfall (2-A; shaft on which an infinite number of universes lie on akin to leaves on a tree. Infinite in size) < Seneschal's Chamber (5D; transcends (bare minimum) the base Universe and the Rift as it is described as existing beyond the world itself and described by pawns as being the world beyond the Rift. It is a realm described as being even more vast than two infinitely sized realms, with the Rift spanning across the entire multiverse yet is only a mere sliver of this realm. It is unbound by physics or common sense, and outside of time; the Seneschal due to their transcendent nature can descend down as an ethereal presence with their true form existing in their higher realm)
Arisen Hax:
Superhuman Physical Characteristics Immeasurable Willpower
Genius Intellect
Expert of Weapon combat
Martial Arts
Acrobatics (via Thief/Strider/Assassin Vocation)
Magic
Elemental Manipulation (Of the fire, Ice, Lightning, Light/Holy, Dark, Earth, and Wind varieties)
Darkness Manipulation
Earth Manipulation
Sleep Manipulation (via Sopor)
Healing
Death Manipulation (via Exequey)
Petrification (via Petrification)
Soul Manipulation (via Necromancy)
Soul Manipulation (Can detach their spirit from their physical forms and roam undetected via Espial Incense)
Illusion Manipulation (via Trickster Vocation)
Debilitating Aura (via Blearing)
Levitation
Teleportation (via Quick Fot)
Paralysis Inducement (via Scatering Bolt)
Temporary Invulnerability (via Mirour Shelde)
Life Manipulation (Able to steal a target's vitality and transfer it to themselves as stamina via Ravinour's Hond)
Life Manipulation (Steals the targets health and gives it to themselves via High Decantor)
Can become invisible
Time Manipulation (Slows down an enemy's movement tremendously via Torpor/the Jewel of Time)
Non-physical Interaction (can perceive and defeat non-corporeal entities like Spectors, Phantasms, Wraiths, etc.)
Resurrection (via Wakestones)
Inherent Immunity to possession/mind-controlling effects (Arisen are naturally immune to being possessed by drakes or other beings due to their immense will)
Statistics Manipulation
Damage Reduction
Power Null (via silence)
Resistance to Soul Manipulation, as well as various elements depending on equipment used
Poison Manipulation (via Miasma)
Petrification (via Petrification spells)
Regeneration (Low-Mid to Mid)
Telekinesis
Immortality (Type 1) (Arisen are physically immortal so long as they are not killed in combat)
As Seneschal
All previous abilities on a much greater scale including:
Higher Dimensional Existence
Reality Warping
Spatial Manipulation (stated to be the omnipotent force that controls the world as well as can fully manipulate and alter their realm, the Seneschal's Chamber)
Nigh-Omniscience in regards to their own world
Immortality (Type 1, 4, and 8, existence is tied to the Eternal Cycle)
Immortality Negation (Type 1, 4, and 8) (Seneschals can end the existence of other Seneschals and remove them from the eternal cycle by using the Godsbane Blade)
Scale created by:
WillingnessAnxious37(on reddit)
xxwillingnessxx3776 on Discord