The Erdrick Trilogy refers to the first three games in the main Dragon Quest series. These titles share a similar setting and timeline, and feature a recurring theme of a bloodline chosen by divinity to repel diabolical forces that want to conquer the kingdom of Alefgard. The eponymous series takes its name from Erdrick, the original savior of the land.
Dragon Quest III is chronologically the first game in the trilogy. It tells the story of the Hero of Aliahan following in their late father's footsteps to free their native homeland from the threat of Baramos and descending to the underworld to slay the arch-fiend Zoma. After vanquishing the devil, the Hero is hailed as the realm's savior and is granted the highest honour of the title of Erdrick, which means "dwelling-land" in the ancient tongue. The Hero is trapped in the underworld when the cleft between worlds closes, siring a lineage to defend the realm from evil.
Dragon Quest tells the story of a descendant of Erdrick stepping forward to defeat a new evil foe who has taken up residence in Charlock Castle. The new hero follows in his fore-bearer's footsteps and must regain their equipment in order to defeat the Dragonlord and retrieve the stolen Sphere of Light. Upon his victory, the Hero and Princess Gwaelin leave Alefgard to explore and found new kingdoms on foreign shores. The amount of time between Dragon Quest III and Dragon Quest is left up to the player's imagination, though it is implied to take place approximately sixteen generations later through King Lorik XVI's status as the sixteenth descendant of the original king of Alefgard.
Dragon Quest II takes place a century later and begins with a demonic siege on the kingdom of Moonbrooke, one of many kingdoms founded by the hero of Dragon Quest, by the mad priest Hargon and his apocalyptic cult. In response, the Prince of Midenhall is sent by his father to join forces with his cousins to stomp out the mad man's ambitions. The Prince of Midenhall, the Prince of Cannock, the Princess of Moonbrooke, and in the HD-2D remake, the Princess of Cannock, travel together throughout Alefgard and the greater world of Torland, saving villages and towns from the cult's invasions before attacking the heart of evil in the frozen plateau of Rendarak.
