The Blood of Dawnwalker features two full romance routes, one with the herbalist Anca and another with the vampire Lacra. Coen can also grow closer to rebel leader Crake and learn more about him through a separate questline.Simply completing a character's quests is not enough. The romance routes include several important dialogue choices and decisions, and some quests can accidentally be completed in the wrong order, causing you to miss a required scene. In this guide, we'll explain how to start relationships with Anca and Lacra, which dialogue options to pick, and how to strengthen your friendship with Crake.
All Available Romances
In The Blood of Dawnwalker, Coen can enter romantic relationships with two characters:
Anca, the herbalist from Laslea.
Lacra, a vrakhiri vampire from Svartrau.
The game also features a separate storyline for Crake, whose real name is Marat. By completing his quests and choosing friendly dialogue options, Coen can learn more about the leader of the Manumits and strengthen their relationship.
How to Romance Anca
You meet Anca before the other characters, during the prologue, when Coen goes looking for medicinal herbs for his mother. The first opportunity to flirt appears during Withering Away, when Anca suggests staying a little longer to continue the Latin lessons.Image unavailableYou can agree and choose the book with the red cover. Several romantic dialogue options will then appear. This scene is optional, however. If you are worried about spending time and want to return to your sick mother as quickly as possible, you can safely skip the lesson. Anca's romance will still remain available.If you decide to stay, make sure to help gather all the herbs after the tree damages the shelter. Later, when Anca falls and gets hurt, help her back into the house and treat her wound. In conversations, it is better to choose warmer responses. For example, when she says she has no one to rely on but herself, remind her that there are people who care about her.As we mentioned above, however, the prologue mostly sets the tone for the relationship. The truly important decisions come later.
Echoes of Silenced Bells
After the prologue, Anca will appear again and the quest Echoes of Silenced Bells will become available on the map. There are no mandatory romance dialogue choices here. Simply complete the quest. Anca will prefer the option where you let her perform the ritual herself, but choosing differently will not block the romance.
Between the Words
The next quest includes several important choices. When Anca needs a warm drink, make her some tea. After giving it to her, choose:
It’s my pleasure.
Later, after reading the book:
Always? What do you mean?
Your feelings toward me, it’s more than just faith.
After this exchange, it becomes clear that Anca sees Coen as more than just a friend.
Where Old Devils Lie
The next important step does not begin immediately, so you may need to wait around one full day after finishing the previous quest.At the beginning of the conversation with Anca, choose:
Thank you for trying to help me.
That’s what you see me as, a friend?
When you find the required map:
Who knows what else I have in store for you.
Later, when the characters stop near the mountain lake, speak with Anca again.Choose:
Something troubling you?
I care about you.
If the option appears, you can also tell her that you enjoy spending time with her.
Stronger Than Achilles
This is the final and most important part of Anca's romance route. At one point, you will reach a statue that requires someone to put their hand inside. It is better to have Coen do it rather than making Anca take the risk. After completing the trial, an additional dialogue option appears:
Better me than you.
Later, when Anca talks about wanting to use the Font of Life, choose:
I’d do anything for you.
I love you.
The declaration of love is one of the most important dialogue choices in the entire romance route.
Who Should Use the Font of Life?
Afterward, you need to decide who will use the Font of Life. This choice does not affect the romance itself. You can let Anca use the Font or have Coen take its power. In the latter case, Coen receives a hidden bonus related to restoring health during the day.
How to Complete Anca's Romance
After finishing Stronger Than Achilles, return to the inn and speak with Anca again. When she brings up your confession, choose:
I beg to differ, or the option confirming that you truly meant what you said.
Let’s do something fun for once.
Screw decency. I want you, too.
This will trigger the romance scene with Anca.Image unavailable
How to Romance Lacra
Lacra is a vampire who can be found at night in Svartrau. The fastest way to reach her is to head to the northeastern part of the city near Svartrau Cathedral's courtyard. Search the area and find the passage leading to the required building.Other quests and notes can also lead you to Lacra, so you do not necessarily need to search for her manually. The important thing to remember is that her entire questline takes place at night.The first related quest is called A Friend Like This. Here, you simply need to meet Lacra and complete the quest.Image unavailable
Song of the Mountain
The next quest continues Coen's acquaintance with Lacra. During the mission, she may suggest drinking human blood together. This choice is not required for the romance, so do whatever you prefer. Even if you argue with Lacra or choose peaceful solutions in some situations, the romance will remain available.
Hive and Seek
There are no crucial romance decisions here either. Simply finish the quest in any way you like and continue Lacra's storyline.
Our Rotten Roots
This quest includes a moment where you can upset Lacra slightly. At one point, the path splits in two. Lacra wants to go right. If your only goal is to continue the relationship without complications, you can agree. However, the left path contains an additional memory connected to her past. You can go there despite Lacra's request. She will become angry, but this will not block the romance. Just make sure to apologize afterward:
Sorry for going in there. I shouldn’t have done that.
After completing the quest, wait one full day and speak with Lacra again at night.
An Important Note About Lacra's Quests
After Our Rotten Roots, you will receive two quests at once:
The Night of Horrors.
Midnight Reckoning.
If you want to romance Lacra, make sure to complete The Night of Horrors first. If you finish Midnight Reckoning before it, you can miss the romance scene.
The Night of Horrors
This is where Lacra's romance reaches its conclusion. Until the final part, you can choose almost any dialogue options you want. Even if you do not always agree with the vampire, the relationship will remain intact. Once you reach the mandrake, pay close attention to the dialogue.First ask:
What is a mandrake?
Then choose:
Eat the mandrake.
After that, suggest that Lacra try it too. Once the effect starts to kick in, the next important dialogue option appears:
Can vrakhiri get drunk?
After Lacra responds, make sure to choose:
Follow Lacra.
Do not choose the refusal option, or you will miss the romance scene. During the following conversation, you can pick the options about freedom, after which Lacra will offer you her blood.Agree:
Drink.
Kiss Lacra.
This will trigger the romance scene.Image unavailable
How to Befriend Crake
Crake is the leader of the Manumits, though his real name is Marat. He has a fairly extensive personal questline that lets you learn more about his past and strengthen his relationship with Coen. The Firebrand can be considered the beginning of this storyline. The quest is connected to Vlad and Mert's mill.Image unavailableAfter that, Shadows in the Woods becomes available, and you will eventually meet Crake during the quest. At your first meeting, the rebel leader will demand that Coen prove his usefulness.
How to Raise Infamy for Crake
To continue the storyline, you need to raise your Infamy to at least Level 4 and reach Notorious status. The easiest way to do this is through activities against the boyars:
Destroy Ambrus's supplies.
Free Bakir's prisoners.
Complete other activities that weaken Brencis's Court.
Once you reach the required level, the Manumits will contact Coen themselves.
Where Loyalty Lies
There are no crucial decisions here. Meet Sara near the cathedral and continue completing quests for the rebels.
What Hunts the Night
During this quest, keep a close eye on Crake's condition.When escaping the Middens, make sure to help him get out. If you leave him behind, he will die and the rest of his personal storyline will become unavailable. Later, the two characters will have a chance to talk calmly. It is better to choose friendly and supportive responses here, especially when the conversation turns to Crake's past and losses.
What Moves the Dead
After the final battle, Crake prepares to return to the hideout. You can offer to escort him:
First, I’ll walk you back to the hideout.
This costs one time segment, but unlocks an additional scene at the hideout where Coen can help Crake remove his armor and tend to his wounds.
Distant Shadows
After the previous quest, return to the Manumit Hideout and speak with Crake.Choose:
You wanted to discuss something with me.
This starts Distant Shadows.During the quest, travel to Tentari and complete the related storyline. If you encounter soldiers harassing Ascar, it is better to intervene and help him. Keep one important detail in mind: do not start Rise at Dawn before completing Distant Shadows, or part of Crake's personal storyline will become unavailable.
A Closer Look
This is the final part of Crake's personal story. The quest is time-limited, so once it appears, it is better not to postpone the meeting. Travel at night to the cliff south of Svartrau and speak with Marat. Here, you can learn more about his past and true identity.To maintain a good relationship, choose supportive responses and make it clear that what Coen has learned has not changed the way he sees him.
Can You Complete Both Romances in One Playthrough?
Yes. As we noted at the beginning of the guide, this is possible. Anca and Lacra's romance routes do not conflict with each other, so you can unlock both scenes in a single playthrough. At the same time, you can complete Crake's personal questline and maintain a good relationship with him.
What You Must Not Miss
If you want to unlock both romances in a single playthrough, remember a few key moments. With Anca, make sure to confess your love during Stronger Than Achilles, then return to the inn and continue the conversation until the final romance scene.For Lacra, after Our Rotten Roots, complete The Night of Horrors before Midnight Reckoning. At the end, eat the mandrake, follow Lacra, and choose the options that continue the romantic encounter.As for Crake, make sure to save him during What Hunts the Night and complete Distant Shadows before starting Rise at Dawn if you want to see his entire personal storyline.
