In The Blood of Dawnwalker, two significant questlines, "A Study In Crimson" involving Vicho and "Buried Past" with Volk, offer players unique challenges and valuable rewards. Successfully guiding these characters through their personal arcs requires careful attention to dialogue choices and in-game actions.

Vicho's Story: "A Study In Crimson" and "Unquenchable Thirst"

To begin Vicho's quest, players must find him in Svartrau City at night. His shop is located between Altenmarkt and the Cathedral Complex. Accessing his shop requires using Shadowstep and Planeshift powers to reach a second-floor balcony, as the first-floor door remains locked after the initial encounter. Once inside, activate Focus Mode to investigate glowing items.

During the first meeting, players should respond with specific dialogue options to build trust: "Please, I mean no harm," "It’s Coen," "That’s right," "I’m looking for help," "Alright, I’m listening," "Ignorance breeds fear," and "Very well. Tell me more." These choices lead Vicho to ask for help investigating the deaths of his friends, Eli and Devora.

The investigation begins with Vicho leading the player across rooftops to the friends' ransacked home. Inside, players must examine items on the second floor, including Devora's corpse and a note, then proceed to the basement to investigate Eli's body. Locating Eli's body yields a Jeweller’s Key, which unlocks a container under the stairs containing a Lump of Silver and a Silver Cross, items that can be sold to a specific vendor. Upon leaving, guards will demand 200 denarii for a proper burial of Vicho's friends.

The quest continues with the pursuit of Doctor Simeon, who is found in a basement transformed into a vrakhiri, triggering a boss fight. Simeon attacks with swift claws and can teleport, while his Piercing Shriek ability requires sidestepping. Vicho assists in the fight, though Simeon tends to focus on the player. Post-fight dialogue with Vicho involves choices such as: "Immortality--it’s a gift," "That’s a cruel fate," and "It does make sense." Completing "A Study In Crimson" rewards the player with the Mercenary’s Amulet, Murohn Blood, Simeon’s Key, a recipe for Mortal Blood’s Infusion, and a Letter found in the Warehouse that introduces a farmer named Ivo.

After this quest, Vicho reveals himself as a curio vendor selling legendary items, accessible at night in his shop. These items include the Relic of St. Dasius, Corrupted Ring, Ring of Focus, Mindbrace Amulet, and Ring of the Night, each offering unique stat boosts and abilities.

The Good Samaritan and Unquenchable Thirst

Following the letter from Ivo, players can initiate "The Good Samaritan" quest at a medic's shop in the southeastern part of the city. This task involves delivering medicine to a farm, but investigation reveals foul play. Compelling the soul of a dead woman inside a hut and examining a farmer's sword and wedding headband suggests an escape. Following blood trails leads to the discovery of another corpse and a note, indicating Vicho's involvement in further grim events.

Returning to the medic concludes "The Good Samaritan." The player must then confront Vicho in his shop, saving the game beforehand as dialogue choices determine his fate. To ensure Vicho's survival, the player should select responses that counter his despair. These include: "Vicho, we need to talk," "You don’t remember," "I’m sorry--but I think you’re the killer, Vicho," "What happened to you--it’s terrible," "Your condition--it’s a gift," "But you have me now," "I’ll provide you with blood," "From blood transports," and "I don’t think you’re a monster." These choices prevent Vicho from contemplating suicide.

If the wrong dialogue options are chosen, Vicho will believe himself to be a monster and ask to see the sunrise, leading to his demise and the acquisition of Vicho’s Cross from a bench. If he survives, he gifts the cross directly. This cross is a legendary amulet enhancing critical hit damage, damage against supernatural enemies, and physical damage reduction.

Regardless of Vicho's survival, the "Unquenchable Thirst" quest remains active, requiring the player to provide Vicho with blood periodically. This is a time-sensitive task, and failure to supply blood when prompted can lead to quest progression failure.

Volk's "Buried Past" Questline

Volk's "Buried Past" quest begins in the village of Maragir, southeast of Laslea Glen. A vendor there directs the player to a location near the Ruined Hut shrine outside Svartrau City, where an old blind man, Volk, confronts the player for trespassing, initiating a fistfight.

Volk claims to be a former comrade of Coen's father, Pieter. Progressing this questline requires attention to the game's Time Progression system, as many tasks consume Time Segments. After the initial meeting and fistfight, Volk engages in conversations about his past adventures with Pieter. He will often require the player to return at a later time, specifically at the same time of day as the previous interaction.

Volk's Chores and Timed Encounters

The quest involves several stages, each requiring subsequent meetings and actions:

  • First Meeting: Fistfight with Volk, followed by optional chores like chopping firewood and hunting wolves. Each activity costs 1x Time Segment.
  • Second Meeting (next day): Gather herbs and prepare an ointment. This also costs 1x Time Segment.
  • Third Meeting (day after): Board up Volk's bedroom window and retrieve Volk's knife from a rooftop. Each action costs 1x Time Segment.

The Sparring Match, Buried Chest, and Monastery

Following the third conversation, Volk challenges the player to a sparring match. Winning this match rewards the Artery Strike Manual, a potent Swordsmanship ability known for high damage and a chance to decapitate foes.

Volk then reveals that Pieter may have buried mercenary gold. The player can reveal knowledge of a Secret Glade, marked on the map for 2x Time Segments. Digging for a chest in this glade costs an additional 1x Time Segment and yields Pieter’s Garb, a legendary light chestpiece that significantly boosts maximum human health and restoration, alongside weapon critical hit chance and damage. This armor is particularly beneficial for human or daytime forms.

Volk suggests Pieter might have taken the gold to a monastery. The player must return to Maragir, go to the nearby monastery, and give a monk Pieter's journal for 1x Time Segment. Within the monastery's repository, accessible via a ladder, players can find several manuals: Renewed Focus Manual, Herbal Remedies II Manual, Charge Manual, Medicus I Manual, and a Recipe for Minor Balm of Fortitude. Finally, informing Volk of these findings costs another 1x Time Segment.

"Buried Past" Conclusion

After a full day passes, returning to Volk’s hut reveals dead guards. Compelling a dead soldier's soul reveals that an old mercenary severed the soldier's arm. Volk has departed, leaving behind an epic greatsword, Volk’s Sword. This weapon offers bonuses to maximum human health, reduces cooldowns for Swordmastery and Witchcraft abilities, and increases damage against supernatural enemies. A letter left by Volk explains he departed because Brencis sent men after him, seeking further adventures.