Off the Pilfered Path

Off the Pilfered Path

Quest Location	Bakbattahl Gaol
NPC Pickup	Ekratt
Requirements	Complete certain quests
Time Limited	Yes
Quest Canceled	None
Unlocks	None
Other NPCs	Brefft, Hugo, Lanzo
Multiple Outcomes	Yes
Rewards	Told Hugo the truth, killed Lanzo, and gave Hugo a job 4500 XP White-Leather Kerchief Frosted Edges 7000 G You found Lanzo and Hugo dead 4,500 XP 7000 G Didn't tell Hugo the truth, helped him escape, and gave him a job 4500 XP White-Leather Kerchief Frosted Edges 7000 G

Off the Pilfered Path is a Quest for Dragon's Dogma 2 (DD2). Off the Pilfered Path is not affected by the passage of time. It can be completed with no time constraints. There's an innocence and kindness towards a young member of the Coral Snakes, Hugo. Although he was captured and sent to jail, there may be an underlying secret that you can learn about that can shed light on Hugo's future. As the Arisen, you are to investigate more about Hugo and help him from making a decision that can ruin his life.

Though he yearns for an honest life, banditry is all that Hugo has ever known. Now freedom is within his grasp, but he knows not what to do with it. Perhaps you can advise him?

How to Unlock Off the Pilfered Path Quest in Dragon's Dogma 2

The quest can be picked up by talking to the head guard of the Bakbattahl Gaol, Ekratt. Players must first complete the quest Mercy among Thieves to progress a vital event revolving around a man named Hugo who has been sent to prison after being apprehended at the Coral Snakes' hideout. See Off the Pilfered Path on the [Dragon's Dogma 2 Map].

You may also start this quest by talking to Benjamin (the guard who raided the Coral Snakes' Hideout with you). Find him around Bakbattahl Oxcart and talk to him to start.

Dragon's Dogma 2 Off the Pilfered Path Quest Notes & Tips

This quest has multiple outcomes:
- You killed Lanzo and recommended a job to Hugo.
- You killed Lanzo and did not recommend a job to Hugo.
- You did not tell Hugo what Brefft told you and you helped Hugo escape the prison.
- Hugo is found dead at the Ancient Battleground, as well as Lanzo.
The best or recommended outcome for this quest is not telling Hugo the truth about his parents, bribing the guards to secure a peaceful release from jail for Hugo, and offering Hugo a job. He can work at the Rose Chateau Bordelrie or Isaac's Wares.
You won't be able to fully complete the quest based on the following factors:
- If you help him escape the Gaol, this can potentially trigger the guards to attack him and he can die.
- You helped him escape the Gaol safely and you don't offer him any jobs, plus you didn't tell him about the truth.
- You helped him kill Lanzo but you didn't offer him information about where he can work.
- If you told him what Brefft told you, his body and Lanzo can be found at the Ancient Battleground if you don't go there immediately or ignore the passage of time. The gist is to reach the location as fast as you can so you can fight Lanzo yourself.
Hugo can escape the prison in different ways:
- You can bribe the head guard Ekratt with gold. He needs to be bribed 3 times across 3 different days.
- You can use a makeshift gaol key to unlock his cell.
- You can tell Hugo the truth after speaking to Brefft. Rest for a day and return to the gaol to learn that Hugo killed Brefft and escaped.
Hugo can work in different establishments if you offer him a job:
- One of them is working at the Rose Chateau Bordelrie in Vernworth. Make sure you get the best/recommended outcome for the quest Every Rose Has Its Thorns (assist Wilhemina, get away safely and don't have her arrested)
- Another is Isaac's Wares in Bakbattahl, need completion of the Short-Sighted Ambition quest. You can only offer Hugo to take over Isaac's Wares if the outcome of the Short-Sighted Ambition quest is where Isaac accidentally kills his family and leaves (bad outcome!). Additionally, offering Hugo to take over Isaac's Wares unlocks Filcher Kerchief and Wolfpack Kerchief at the store inventory.
Some have reported bugs for this quest. It's recommended that you rest at an inn before you start the quest so you can reload safely and try the quest again if you encounter any problems
Some have shared that Brefft can be resurrected with a Wakestone if you want to acquire details on where to find Hugo.

Dragon's Dogma 2 Off the Pilfered Path Quest Walkthrough

Recommended Steps Before Starting the Quest

Off the Pilfered Path is one of the more complex quests of Dragon's Dogma 2. In this walkthrough section, we'll begin by providing recommended steps on what you should do before starting this quest. Please note that our walkthrough is based on our time and experience playing the game. Some have also reported that this quest has bugs and that it has multiple outcomes and ways to approach the objectives. We highly recommend that you rest at an inn before you start the quest so you can reload safely and try the quest again if you encounter any problems.

Step 1: If you want outcome 1, complete Tolled to Rest and complete Every Rose Has Its Thorn or Short-Sighted Ambition by giving Isaac the real grimoire. If you want outcome 5, you may be able to skip doing Tolled to Rest. We indicated them here as these are related to events that will tie in later with Hugo.
Step 2: Make sure you have the Battahl Residence Permit.
Step 3: Complete the quest Shadowed Prayers. You must apprehend the correct person which is the assassin (Herman) trying to hide and blend among the group of worshippers. That quest is time-limited, so you need to hurry and identify the assassin when you start Shadowed Prayers because it can cause the quest to fail. If you catch him, he'll be sent to jail at the gaol of Bakbattahl. Speak to him there and you can bribe him with 5000 G to gain information about the Coral Snakes.
- NOTE: If you want to save money and gather information about the hideout of the Coral Snakes, you can do this by speaking to traveling NPCs by the main road of Battahl when you start Mercy among Thieves. One of them will help you pinpoint the location of the Coral Snakes' hideout.
Step 4: Complete the quest Mercy among Thieves. There is only one outcome for this quest, which will end with Hugo and Brefft being captured and sent to the gaol of Bakbattahl.

Pick up the Quest from Ekratt

Now that you've complete the previous steps, you can now pick up the quest by speaking to the head guard Ekratt, who's at the entrance of the Bakbattahl Gaol [See Dragon's Dogma 2 Map]. This quest can be difficult to do because many NPC trigger points are complex. Here is a route that hopefully covers the main points:

Enter the prison and talk to Hugo, who will send you off. The guard, Dietrich, will comment. Talk to Dietrich again after Hugo tells you to "Piss off". Now talk to Herman (apprehended from Shadowed Prayers) on the cell next door and pay him 5000 gold. Go to the bench by the Oxcart and doze off or sleep at your house, then if you talk to Benjamin he will tell you they got another snake. Now return to the Gaol and find the first cell on the opposite side of Hugo's, left from the entrance. This is Brefft, approach him in his cell and speak to him to acquire information about Hugo's parents and the Ancient Battleground. After you've spoken to Brefft and exhausted his dialogue, look for Hugo's cell and tell him what Brefft told you. This will cause Hugo to be silent.

Outcome 1: You killed Lanzo and recommended a job to Hugo

BEST/RECOMMENDED OUTCOME: Next, rest a day or pass the time, then return to the Gaol. You'll learn that Hugo has killed Brefft and that he escaped. At this point, do not waste time! Head to the Ancient Battleground [Dragon's Dogma 2 Map] and you'll find a man named Lanzo and other members of the Coral Snakes. After he gives a warning, he'll attack. Fight and kill him, and then a cutscene dialogue will trigger that shows Hugo arriving at the location who was planning on killing Lanzo to exact vengeance. But since you've already done it for him, he'll ask you if you know anything that can help him get a job.

Since you've already completed the "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" quest, you will have the option to tell him that you know a place and that you recommend him to work at the Rose Chateau Bordelrie in Vernworth. Keep in mind that you can offer him other jobs, which could be tied to specific side quests or tasks that you must first complete. If you do know any of these, please feel free to add them here. Moving forward, since you've told him about the brothel, after a few days, you can find Hugo working at the Rose Chateau Bordelrie in Vernworth.

Hugo can also be sent to work at Isaac's wares granted you've completed Short-Sighted Ambition and Isaac's shop in Bakbattahl has a note showing closed out front.

Outcome 2: You killed Lanzo and did not recommend any jobs to Hugo

If you didn't complete "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" quest nor the bad ending of "Short-Sighted Ambition quest" or any other known quest that could give him a job, the only dialogue option will be "Forget what I said" (you can also choose it among other options) and will make Hugo so mad at you that he will engage combat.

Outcome 3: Hugo is found dead at the Ancient Battleground

After a certain number of days, Hugo and Lanzo will have killed each other, though the quest screen will not update, still pointing you to the Ancient Battleground. If you go there, you will find that it's now inhabited by bandits, but you will not find Hugo or Lanzo, nor anything that will advance the quest.

Instead, the next time you pass near the ox cart station in Bakbattahl, Benjamin will inform you that he conducted a raid on the Coral Snakes' hideout and found only the two of them dead.

Outcome 4: You didn't tell Hugo about his parents, helped him escape, and didn't offer him a job

If you do not tell Hugo what Brefft told you about his parents, Hugo will not escape on his own and you will need to secure his release yourself. You can peacefully secure his release by bribing the head jailer, Ekratt. First, speak to the jailer in front of Hugo's cell to learn that Ekratt can be bribed. Ekratt can be paid 1,000 gold to secure Hugo's release, but he says it will take some time. Go wait a day and return to speak with Ekratt. He will tell you there have been some complications with securing his release and ask for another 2,500 gold. Wait another day and return. Ekratt will tell you he has secured Hugo's release and ask for a gift of 5,000 gold to show your gratitude.

Upon paying the 5,000 gold, Hugo will be released and ask you what he should do now. You will now have the option of offering him a job if you know of one, but for this outcome you must not tell him about any jobs. He will be mad at you but won't engage combat. He can be found later loafing around your house in Bakbattahl.

Note: You can also secure his release by unlocking his gaol cell, but this will initiate combat with the guards.

Outcome 5: You didn't tell Hugo about his parents, helped him escape, and offered him a job

Upon paying the 5,000 gold, Hugo will be released and ask you what he should do now. You will now have the option of offering him a job. You can offer a job at the Rose Chateau Bordelrie if you have completed the quest Every Rose Has Its Thorn or a job at Isaac's Wares if you completed the quest Short-Sighted Ambition by giving Isaac the real grimoire.

Note: You can also secure his release by unlocking his gaol cell, but this will initiate combat with the guards.

DD2 Off the Pilfered Path Quest Objectives

Offer Hugo guidance.