*Spoilers* True Ending Breakdown

[Nimarus]

If you haven't finished the True Ending, you may want to turn away now. You've been warned.

I'm mostly posting this because I've played Dragon Quest sense I was a small child. Dragon Quest 4 (Well, Dragon Warrior 4 for me) being the one I loved the most as a kid.

So, we get to see the Yggdragon (guessing that's the right name) speaking to the playable character, Veronica, and Serena. They are warned that the darkness can never truely be destoryed and that it shall likely return one day. The Yggdragon even warns that she herself may one day succumb to the night.

After Serenica reunites with Edrick and the credits roll, we see a scene of a woman reading a book. Apparently reading about the exploits of Dragon Quest 11. She walks upstairs to wake a child who looks like a young Erdrick...hmmm

https://youtu.be/tqkQfT8tZ3w?t=7m31s

Starting this video at 7 minutes and 31 seconds, we see some of the intro to Dragon Quest 3. All sources I can find show this to be the earliest of the Edrick trilogy (Dragon Quest/Warrior 3, 1, then 2 in chronological order for timeline). The woman in the cutscene (DQ11) appears to be a recreation of that moment in Dragon Quest 3. Cloths are identical in color and pattern. Hair is blackish-purple as well.

I'd have to guess that the two books on her bookshelf with the Luminary Symbols would be Edrick's exploits in the first book (The green one) and then the playable character in DQ11 in the dark red book she places on the shelf. When she closes the second book, it shows a drawing of the DQ11 party looking up at Yggdrasil.

So, it would seem that Dragon Quest 11 had a little Easter Egg that suggested that DQ11 is a prequel to possibly the entire series...or at least Dragon Quest 3. Honestly, I don't know if it's even possible to create a timeline connecting all of the Dragon Quest games or not. I have heard that Dragon Quest 3, 1, and 2 are the "Erdrick Trilogy" while 4, 5, and 6 are the "Zenithian Trilogy." Or so some fans have labeled them.

Any additional thoughts on the subject?

[Noxgarm]

Originally posted by shadow695:

Originally posted by EliteOne:

I think you're spot on for the first synopsis - the true ending of Dragon Quest 11 is a prequel to the first DQ trilogy , 1, 2 and 3. It kinda spells that one out.

What I think is less obvious, is the other timelines that were created potentially lead to the other trilogies. The first timeline, you defeat Mordegon and everyone still alive lives happily ever after.

When the Luminary goes back in time, that timeline still continues, but without the Luminary and without Veronica, and with Erdwins lantern destroyed. Serenica, likely, never recovers.

Then, you have the timeline where Serenica is given the Sword of Light and returns to Erdwin and appears to have saved his life - so do they defeat Mordegon and Calasmos? That also starts a very different chain of events.

There's not enough info to go on of course, but I think you could argue that DQ11 can be the catalyst for all of the DQ trilogies.

After seeing the true ending a couple days ago, I came up with the pretty much the same theory.

In the first timline, there is no more Luminary and there is no more sword of light. I think this timeline leads to the events of DQ VII, DQ VIII and DQ IX.

In the third timeline, everything plays out differently because Serenica went back in time to save Erdwin. I think this timeline goes through the Zenthinian Trilogy. Yddragon becomes the master over Zenthenia and the sword of light becomes the Zenthenian Sword and the Luminary is called the Chosen One.

Yeah, there is no real evidence to say this is true. Though there had to be a reason why the writers went out of the way to write in the timelines especially the 3rd one.

Actually, the timeline where there is no more Luminary, the hero original timeline, is the one that leads to the Zenithian Trilogy.

The Sword of light vrafted by the hero in 11 has a very particular tip, that gets broken off quite cleanly when he smashes the orb:

http://oi65.tinypic.com/xqb3b5.jpg

The design is higly reminescent of the Zenithian Sword tip, which leads me to believe that the broken sword of light of that timeline was eventually reforged into the Zenithain sword.

https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/dragonquest/images/1/12/DQIVDS_-_Zenithian_sword.png/revision/latest?cb=20171218010300

[green]

Originally posted by Noxgarm:

Originally posted by shadow695:

After seeing the true ending a couple days ago, I came up with the pretty much the same theory.

In the first timline, there is no more Luminary and there is no more sword of light. I think this timeline leads to the events of DQ VII, DQ VIII and DQ IX.

In the third timeline, everything plays out differently because Serenica went back in time to save Erdwin. I think this timeline goes through the Zenthinian Trilogy. Yddragon becomes the master over Zenthenia and the sword of light becomes the Zenthenian Sword and the Luminary is called the Chosen One.

Yeah, there is no real evidence to say this is true. Though there had to be a reason why the writers went out of the way to write in the timelines especially the 3rd one.

Actually, the timeline where there is no more Luminary, the hero original timeline, is the one that leads to the Zenithian Trilogy.

The Sword of light vrafted by the hero in 11 has a very particular tip, that gets broken off quite cleanly when he smashes the orb:

http://oi65.tinypic.com/xqb3b5.jpg

The design is higly reminescent of the Zenithian Sword tip, which leads me to believe that the broken sword of light of that timeline was eventually reforged into the Zenithain sword.

https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/dragonquest/images/1/12/DQIVDS_-_Zenithian_sword.png/revision/latest?cb=20171218010300

It will be very interesting to see where they go for the next game. Because the DQXI -> DQIII timeline is obvious, surely it would be interesting to follow the original one that the hero left leading to the Zenithian trilogy. Then again there's still the Serenica returning to Erdwin timeline but I don't see the greatest point in following that track as it mostly felt like closure for her character.

[robb]

I think that "Luminary" is just a title. Everyone call you luminary because Yggdragon "knighted" him - Erdwin - The Luminary of legend -
So after the hero from XI, that has been named "The mightiest of heroes", all new luminaries will be called heroes.

[Hyper Gio]

That's called "♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥", according to semiotics. Much like Phantom Pain did.
The game leds the player to believe that DQXI is a sequel to Erdrick trilogy: while playing, you think that something isn't right, and finally you realize that it is a prequel.
I think they did on purpose, just to remind that time repeats itself(so their cash, I would say lol).

In my opinion we will see in next games some reboots of the old ones, not just remakes, but alternative stories, otherwise that parallel universe thing won't fit at all.

[DooG Is Eternal]

Just finished, i need more DQ!.

[Nimarus]

Originally posted by James D Bad Suzu:

Just finished, i need more DQ!.

There are Dragon Quest games dating back to the 1980s. In America, many of them had their name changed to Dragon Warrior for copyright reasons. For now, you could go back and play some of the iconic early Dragon Quest games or go for something more modern.

Many of them can be played with an emulator and roms if you can't find a copy. I'm sure Nintendo's Online Service allows you to play many of the old Dragon Quest games as well. You'll be able to find some titles on NES, Gameboy-Gameboy DS, Playstation 1, Playstation 2 and maybe some others.

Oh, and there is a Dragon Quest Movie coming out in Japan this year I think (trailer on YouTube). I haven't heard anything about an English Dub yet, but I'm sure someone will translate it. From what I've seen, the Movie is basically the story for Dragon Quest V:


https://youtu.be/ANB1TBs6RRA

[ice jump]

I know I am pretty late but I wanted to post a theory of mine.
In the short film after the end you could see 2 books with the sign of the Luminary.
what if each of them has written down the story of one of the both Timelines created with the Luminary and the 3rd. Timeline is what you see in that sequel

[jafetlopez]

I think we are missing an important detail here, while the credits roll up, we get to see scenes from all DQ up to number 10, then we see the lady finishing the book (our adventure) and putting it back in the bookshelf if you count the books, there are 10 books (just like the review of the 10 past games) and the ones she puts in, is Book number 11.
So, what is understand is, all of the DQ games were just storybooks this lady was reading to his boy, and the dragon quest universe never actually existed, were only fairy tales told to this kid who is asleep, you can actually see a wooded toy light sword and shield, that he probably made based on all those fairy tales, his mother is waking him to "a very important day" ... My theory is, all the past 30 years of games were mere stories, this kid is awaking in a completely new world, and dragon quest 12 will take place in a new universe, where this kid grows up inspired by the stories on the books his mother used to read to him

[kylemauhl]

I'm way late to this thread (waited for Switch version and just finished it last weekend) but does anyone think the whole "Wakey wakey" callback to DQIII might be teasing a remake of DQIII or the Erdrick trilogy in the new engine?

[Nimarus]

Originally posted by kylemauhl:

I'm way late to this thread (waited for Switch version and just finished it last weekend) but does anyone think the whole "Wakey wakey" callback to DQIII might be teasing a remake of DQIII or the Erdrick trilogy in the new engine?

Oh god I hope so. Though I do recall mention of a upcoming Dragon Quest movie that retells the events of an early Dragon Quest game (2 or 3 perhaps). I would LOVE to see them release a Dragon Quest Remaster of the early Dragon Quest games (1-4 at least).

I would DIE from an overload of joy if we got to see a modern retelling of Dragon Quest 4. To see the story of Rosa and Saro (Rosalee and Pizarro/Necrosaro depending on version and region) would be amazing.

Seeing gameplay of the original games, in the credits, hit my heart hard with nostalgia.

[Town Greeter NPC]

Originally posted by Nimarus:

Originally posted by kylemauhl:

I'm way late to this thread (waited for Switch version and just finished it last weekend) but does anyone think the whole "Wakey wakey" callback to DQIII might be teasing a remake of DQIII or the Erdrick trilogy in the new engine?

Oh god I hope so. Though I do recall mention of a upcoming Dragon Quest movie that retells the events of an early Dragon Quest game (2 or 3 perhaps). I would LOVE to see them release a Dragon Quest Remaster of the early Dragon Quest games (1-4 at least).

A movie came out this year that was supposedly going to be a retelling of DQ5, but instead was just another "trapped in a game" plot the industry is drowning under. Sad times.

As far as what the post-credits could mean, it's nice to be hopeful, but rather than a remake I'd like to see a game that goes into what connects the DQ3 world with the DQ1 world. If we're supposed to believe that the dragon in DQ11 corrupts into the dragon of DQ1, but that the legend of the DQ11 hero is told in the world of DQ3, there's a connection I'd appreciate having cleared up. DQ games have *never* been this coy about what's going on before and don't tend to leave unanswered questions. It's exhausting reading a bunch of over-confident internet posters ramble on about what everything totally definitely 100% means because reasons.

[thederfdude]

https://www.forbes.com/sites/olliebarder/2018/10/16/its-time-we-talked-about-the-fantastic-finale-to-dragon-quest-xi/

[AsianGirlLover]

The story is silly and complicated. I’m just here for the puff puff

[Town Greeter NPC]

Originally posted by thederfdude:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/olliebarder/2018/10/16/its-time-we-talked-about-the-fantastic-finale-to-dragon-quest-xi/

Called the protagonist from DQ1 "the original Erdrick" and lost all credibility.

[josh198160]

My personal take on the ending with the story book is that when Serenica went back in time to save Erdwin, she deleted the entire DQXI story. I think the book shown was a homage to the story and characters of DQXI who, now in the new timeline, never existed.