Completing 'A Deal with the Devil' in The Blood of Dawnwalker is a pivotal moment in the game, significantly impacting character fates. Access to this quest is gated behind achieving the maximum Infamy level, which requires engaging in various vampire court activities such as sabotaging distilleries, ambushing blood transports, and liberating prisoners.
Unlocking the Quest
To reach maximum Infamy, players must actively participate in vampire court objectives and eliminate some or all of Brencis' vampire lieutenants. Once maximum Infamy is attained, the game advances to the next day, triggering a herald cutscene and an invitation from Brencis for a parlay via letter.
The Parlay with Brencis
Upon receiving the quest, players should travel to the designated location, Shrike's Crag. The meeting must occur at nighttime. At the upper levels of the Scouting Tower, a brazier can be lit for the cost of 4x Time Segments. It is advisable to create a backup save before proceeding. Lighting the brazier initiates a cutscene where Brencis arrives accompanied by Pieter, Coen’s father. Players have the option to interact with Pieter, even offering a hug to confirm his presence. Brencis will then recount the history of Shrike's Crag as a site of a past massacre, where the former ruler Skender executed surrendered peasants. Brencis asserts his intention to maintain control and suppress a brewing rebellion led by the Manumits. Pieter's presence serves as a display of Brencis' intentions.
The Crucial Decision
During the dialogue, players are presented with choices that shape the quest's outcome. Selecting options such as "I just want my family back" or "What do I have to do with it?" leads Brencis to propose a deal: he will secure the player's family in exchange for betraying the Manumits. Players can accept this offer immediately or opt to "think about it." Some dialogue options are indicated by a sword icon, which will instigate a boss battle against Brencis. It is important to note that even if a deal is considered, players are not obligated to betray the Manumits and can pursue other questlines. If combat is avoided, numerous Vidmo Specters and Spectral Skeletons will appear. Brencis will assist in these encounters, fighting alongside the player. Following these events, Brencis departs with Pieter to Greifberg Castle, setting the stage for potential endings.
Consequences of Fighting Brencis
Engaging Brencis in direct combat involves a two-phase battle. The initial phase pits the player against Brencis in his humanoid form, alongside many Vidmo Specter enemies. Upon depleting his health, the fight continues in the hellish realm of Anachora. Victory in this battle unfortunately does not guarantee a positive outcome. A subsequent cutscene reveals that Coen’s father, Pieter, was killed during the combat. The epilogue at Laslea Glen confirms the loss of the rest of Coen’s family. This tragic outcome is attributed to Brencis' forces holding the family hostage. Coen's actions, including a rapid increase in Infamy and the killing of vampire-aligned soldiers, could be perceived as those of a bloodthirsty maniac, leading to the execution of his loved ones by Brencis. This leaves Coen isolated.
Consequences of Betraying the Manumits
If the player chooses to betray the Manumits, they must first have completed the 'Where Loyalty Lies' quest to be invited to the Manumit hideout. The player then marks the hideout's entrance with Brencis’ blood. This action triggers a cutscene where Brencis breaches the hideout, incapacitating several rebels. He then kills Crake, and acknowledges the player with a nod. The epilogue at Laslea Glen shows Crake meeting his demise. This path concludes the 'A Deal with the Devil' questline, though players retain the option to confront Brencis directly in his citadel even after making other choices.