In Dragon’s Dogma 2, the “Tensions on the High Road” quest plunges you into a shadowy political trap where every choice matters. Tasked with escorting a noble’s oxcart, you must decide whether to side with the brash soldier Simon or the enigmatic Raghnall-each path leading to a dangerous confrontation and a deeper conspiracy that could see you framed for murder. Choose wisely, as your allegiance will shape your journey through a collapsing cavern filled with deadly foes and hidden truths.
How to start ’Tensions on High Road’ in Dragon’s Dogma 2
To start the “Tensions on the High Road” quest in Dragon’s Dogma 2, first complete your initial trip to Bakbattahl and then return to Vernworth. Head to the northern Oxcart Station near the fountain or the stairs by the Pawn Guild, where you will be approached by a soldier named Simon who will offer you an escort mission. After accepting, fast travel or travel to the marked location near Checkpoint Rest Town, where the escort will officially begin and the quest will unfold with key choices and confrontations.
After you finally make your way to Battahl in Dragon’s Dogma 2, you’ll be able to enter Bakbattahl, the nation’s capital city. There you’ll meet Raghnall, a key NPC for this side quest.
Once you’ve been to Bakbattahl and met Raghnall, return to Vernworth and walk through the square by the fountain – the same fountain from the “A Begger’s Tale” quest. A guard named Simon will approach you. He’ll say he needs help escorting Ser Augustin from Checkpoint Rest Town back to Vernworth, and (suspiciously) commands you not to tell Captain Brant.
Talking to Simon will give you the “Tensions on the High Road” quest. To start it in earnest, fast travel via oxcart to the Checkpoint Rest Town and leave the town heading north like you’re going back to Vernworth. Simon will stop you at the crossroads and the escort will begin.
Should you side with Raghnall or Simon in ’Tensions on the High Road?’
In the Dragon’s Dogma 2 quest “Tensions on the High Road,” you must choose between siding with Raghnall, a mercenary with a mysterious agenda, or Simon, a guard escorting Ser Augustin. While the quest’s outcome and rewards remain largely the same regardless of your choice, siding with Raghnall is generally recommended. Choosing Raghnall leads to a deeper understanding of the mission’s true nature-that it is a setup to frame you and Augustin-and improves your affinity with him. On the other hand, siding with Simon results in a similar progression but may negatively affect your relationship with Raghnall later on. Ultimately, following Raghnall allows you to uncover the conspiracy behind the escort mission and experience subtle narrative benefits.
Almost instantly after you start the escort mission, your party will be interrupted by Raghnall standing on a bluff during a cutscene. He’ll tell you that Simon and the guards are not to be trusted, and beg you to liberate Ser Augustin from their company. Simon implores you to ignore and kill Raghnall. Once you regain control, a battle will break out and the quest will tell you to pick a side.
All you have to do is attack the party you’re siding against. Things will be pretty hectic as the battle starts, so time your first attack carefully. Also, be warned: Simply picking up one of the characters will be seen as an attack here, so be certain of your choice before pressing any buttons.
What happens if you side with Raghnall?
If you side with Raghnall in the “Tensions on the High Road” quest, you will fight alongside him to defeat the guards, after which Raghnall will thank you and lead you and Ser Augustin into the nearby woods. Following him leads you into Guerco Cavern, where the floor collapses, separating you from your pawns. Together with Raghnall, you fend off monsters and uncover that the escort mission was a setup to kill both you and Augustin, orchestrated by Augustin himself. The next day, you find an exit from the cave, but the path collapses again, separating you from Raghnall, who bids you farewell. Choosing Raghnall does not change the quest rewards but increases your affinity with him and provides minor benefits later on.
If you side with Raghnall, you’ll slaughter the guards together. Raghnall will thank you for your service and ask that you follow him and Ser Augustin into the nearby woods. While you can certainly continue the quest now, you don’t have to, as the characters will wait for you.
What happens if you side with Simon?
If you side with Simon in the “Tensions on the High Road” quest in Dragon’s Dogma 2, you will initially attack Raghnall, causing him to flee into the nearby woods. You then have to chase him into Guerco Cavern, a collapsing mine filled with monsters, where you become separated from your pawns and must fight alongside Raghnall to survive. Although the mission progresses similarly regardless of your choice, siding with Simon may negatively affect your affinity with Raghnall later in the game. The quest’s rewards remain the same either way, but helping Simon means you will face Raghnall as an enemy in a later encounter, whereas siding with Raghnall leads to a more favorable relationship and clearer understanding of the mission’s true nature-a setup to frame you for an assassination.
If you choose to side with Simon and attack Raghnall, Raghnall will flee into the woods with the first hit you land on him – with Ser Augusten in tow. From there, the rest of the quest plays out exactly the same.
Pursue Raghnall
In the “Pursue Raghnall” segment of the “Tensions on the High Road” quest in Dragon’s Dogma 2, after siding with Raghnall during the initial confrontation, he flees into the nearby woods and the player must follow him to continue the mission. This pursuit leads into Guerco Cavern, where the player faces enemies and navigates a collapsing path that separates them from their party. Raghnall reappears to assist in combat, and together they reach an outdoor camp where Raghnall reveals that the mission was a setup intended to kill both the player and Augustin. The next morning, as they attempt to exit, the path collapses again, separating Raghnall from the player and ending the quest segment with a promise to meet again.
When you’re ready to continue, head toward the quest marker to chase down Raghnall – whether you’ve declared him friend or foe.
Make your way to Guerco Cavern – you may have to run past (or kill) a sleeping drake and will likely run into some choppers. Inside the cave, as you walk along the boards, you’ll fall through and find Raghnall in a pit. Assist him with fighting some monsters and then follow him through the cave.
Raghnall will then tell you all about the plot to kill Ser Augustin and how you were going to take the fall for it. After the two of you rest, keep following the tunnel out to complete the quest.
You’ll get 12,000 gold and 4,000 XP no matter which side you initially took. The only difference is going to be in Raghnall’s opinion of you at the end of the game.
What are the key choices that influence the outcome of ‘Tensions on the High Road’ in Dragon’s Dogma 2
The key choices in the “Tensions on the High Road” quest in Dragon’s Dogma 2 revolve around siding with either Simon, the caravan bodyguard, or Raghnall, the mercenary. When the confrontation begins, you must choose whom to support by attacking the opposing side, which locks in your allies and enemies for the ensuing battle.
Although the quest’s outcome and rewards remain the same regardless of your choice, siding with Raghnall increases his affinity toward you and reveals more of the underlying plot, including that the escort mission was a setup intended to frame you for murder. Following Raghnall leads you willingly into a dangerous cave where you learn the truth, while siding with Simon results in chasing Raghnall into the cave under hostile circumstances.
In summary, the choice affects your relationship with Raghnall and the narrative flavor but does not change the quest’s ultimate progression or rewards.
How does choosing Raghnall or Simon affect the final story and character bonds
Choosing Raghnall or Simon in the “Tensions on the High Road” quest affects your character bonds and the narrative tone but not the quest’s ultimate outcome or rewards.
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Choosing Raghnall: You fight alongside him against Simon’s guards, then follow Raghnall willingly into the cave where he reveals the escort mission was a setup to frame you for murder. This choice increases your affinity with Raghnall and positions you on the “right side of history,” deepening your relationship with him for potential future encounters. Raghnall appreciates your support, and this bond can influence later story developments where his survival and allegiance matter.
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Choosing Simon: You initially side with Simon and attack Raghnall, who then flees. You end up chasing Raghnall into the collapsing cave under more hostile circumstances, separated from your pawns and forced to fight alongside him for survival. This choice may lower your affinity with Raghnall and could lead to a future confrontation with him, as he may become an adversary later in the story.
In summary, siding with Raghnall fosters a stronger alliance and understanding of the plot, while siding with Simon leads to a more adversarial relationship with Raghnall and potential conflict down the line. The core story and rewards remain unchanged either way, but your choice shapes character dynamics and future interactions.
