The Blood of Dawnwalker features a number of quests that are not explicitly marked on the map, requiring players to actively seek them out. Among these are the "Good Home" and "Come Hither" quests, which form early parts of the Sanzhani storyline and offer important narrative choices and useful rewards.
The 'Good Home' Quest
The "Good Home" quest is the first in the Sanzhani quest line and becomes available after the game's prologue. To initiate it, players must travel to the Svartrau Outskirts, located north of Svartrau City. Look for a glowing boulder surrounded by red mushrooms, forming a fairy ring, situated directly north of the Sandy Gorge shrine. Following a trail of these mushroom fairy rings and investigating a burrow for two time segments will lead to an encounter with a young girl named Heile.
Players are tasked with finding Heile's brother, Tonis. Heile suggests two potential locations for Tonis: Oghasti Village or the Wooden Palace. Investigating Oghasti Village, which takes one time segment, provides background information on Heile's childhood and is necessary for achieving a more favorable quest outcome, though it yields no direct lead to Tonis. The Wooden Palace investigation takes two time segments and points towards a woodcutter's camp near a river, where Tonis can be found.
Alternatively, players can bypass the Wooden Palace investigation and proceed directly to the woodcutter's camp. There, questioning the Coal Burner Chief will reveal Tonis's location by following marked trees to his camp in the forest. It is also possible to find Tonis's camp without undertaking any prior investigations, provided Oghasti Village was visited.
Once Tonis is located, he will only speak if offered Millet Beer or Transylvanian White Wine. Assisting him with his work is an option but consumes three time segments. After speaking with Tonis, players can choose to go with him to meet Heile immediately or arrange to meet later. Killing Tonis is also an option; the quest can still be completed, and the reward obtained, by returning to Heile and informing her of his demise or admitting to his murder. This results in the Sanzhani being pleased and unlocks the "Letters to Lunka" quest.
Heile's Fate and the Sanzhani Dilemma
If Tonis is spared, players face a significant decision: should Heile remain with the Sanzhani or live among humans with Tonis? To convince the Sanzhani to let Heile go with Tonis, players must state that "The girl should live among her own kind" and "And what future awaits her here?" This path requires collecting three "shiny teeth" for the Sanzhani as payment. These teeth are a rare drop from any human enemy, potentially requiring the defeat of dozens of foes. Once the teeth are delivered, Heile departs with Tonis.
To persuade Tonis to let Heile stay with the Sanzhani, players must use dialogue options such as "Tonis, Heile is happy here," "You can't provide for her," and "She's safe here." This outcome is only possible if Oghasti Village was investigated. If players attempt to convince Tonis otherwise, he leaves angrily, threatening to return, and the Sanzhani kill him.
After completing "Good Home" by delivering the shiny teeth, players can visit Heile and Tonis at the woodcutters' camp. Heile expresses longing for the Sanzhani while Tonis reveals plans to marry her off in a few years. Players have the option to give Tonis 100 denarii.
The 'Come Hither' Quest
The "Come Hither" quest is another Sanzhani fairy quest that becomes available only after the completion of "Good Home." Similar to other Sanzhani quests, it does not appear as a map marker until the player is very close to its starting location. To begin, players should head north of the Vedera Marsh Guardpost, across a bridge, to find a wailing fairy. This fairy and her burrow will not be present if "Good Home" has not yet been finished.
To complete "Come Hither," players must agree to help the fairy and then defeat the Murohn within her burrow. The Murohn is described as a rabid vampire, and combat may be easier at night by utilizing the Voracious Bite ability for healing. After the battle, it is crucial not to leave without acquiring a bundle of silk threads, the quest's primary reward. This item is located next to a torch on the left side upon entering the cave. The silk threads are essential for crafting the legendary Arbiter Armor set in the "A Bulwark Against Darkness" quest. If missed, the item can be retrieved by returning to the burrow.
Speaking with the Sanzhana fairy can provide context on the Murohn's origins by selecting "What do you mean?" The reward for this quest includes a skill point and the ability to send another message to Lunka, by speaking with the Sanzhani Tsarina in the Yawning Burrow, where Heile was initially met.
Both "Good Home" and "Come Hither" highlight The Blood of Dawnwalker's emphasis on player choice and the importance of exploring the game world to uncover its narrative threads and valuable resources.
