The 'Our Rotten Roots' quest in The Blood of Dawnwalker offers a significant opportunity for player interaction with Lacra, introducing a moral quandary regarding the fate of Isbrand. The quest becomes available after completing earlier parts of Lacra's storyline, including "A Friend Like This," "Song of the Mountain," and "Hive and Seek." To initiate it, players must travel to Svartrau City and investigate a specific alley in the northeast.
Following the "Hive and Seek" quest, a one-day waiting period is required before returning to Lacra at Westridge Outpost. Her quests are exclusively available during nighttime hours. Agreeing to accompany her to Anachora marks the beginning of 'Our Rotten Roots.' The quest involves finding Isbrand's memories, making a critical decision at a crossroads, confronting Isbrand in combat, and finally deciding whether to invite him into your consciousness.
Players should be prepared for a quest that consumes four time segments and involves considerable combat, necessitating prior gear and skill upgrades. Upon entering Anachora, players must utilize the Shadowstep ability to follow a linear path, teleporting between walls and avoiding spectral red figures that can materialize into attacking undead soldiers. This initial traversal leads to Isbrand's second memory, which is discovered by entering a sandstorm.
Navigating the Crossroads
After witnessing Isbrand's second memory, the path diverges. Lacra will advocate for taking the right path, leading toward the memory of Svartrau. However, players have the option to ignore her suggestion and proceed left. Choosing the left path requires players to navigate alone, with Lacra eventually stating she will not accompany the player. This deviation leads to a memory concerning Lacra's animosity towards Isbrand and Brencis, though it does not directly assist with the current objective. The practical consequence of taking the left path involves facing more enemies and a longer completion time. Crucially, this choice does not preclude the possibility of romancing Lacra later in the game.
Conversely, proceeding to the right, towards Svartrau, allows players to bypass Isbrand's memory of Lacra. Lacra expresses gratitude for this decision, and players can opt to hear her full account of the events. This route is more direct, avoiding additional combat encounters and allowing immediate progression to Isbrand's final memory.
Confronting Isbrand and Making a Choice
Regardless of the path chosen at the crossroads, players must follow a linear route to a red throne. This throne teleports Coen and Lacra to Isbrand's final memory. Following the cutscene, players must immediately engage Isbrand, The Broken Shade, in combat. It is important to note that the Voracious Bite skill cannot be used against Isbrand.
Upon Isbrand's defeat, Lacra states her intention not to invite him into her consciousness. Players can inquire further, learning that Isbrand is fated to be absorbed by the Anachora unless invited into the player character's mind, where he would exist eternally. If players wish to spare him, they can accept his plea by selecting the dialogue options, "Can I do it instead?" followed by "I'll do it." This results in Isbrand being 'saved' in a sense, as he will inhabit Coen's mind and occasionally offer commentary throughout the remainder of the game, though his interactions are less frequent than other vampires.
Alternatively, players can choose not to invite Isbrand in by remaining silent or selecting the dialogue option, "I'm sorry. You'll stay here, forever." This outcome leads to Isbrand's consciousness withering away within the Anachora, effectively signifying his demise. The quest concludes with the player receiving the Piercing Shriek vampirism ability as a reward, irrespective of the final decision concerning Isbrand.