In The Blood of Dawnwalker, player character Coen faces a primary objective: the rescue of his family. This endeavor spans 30 in-game days and nights, during which players must strategize defenses against the antagonist Brencis, develop skills, acquire armor, and forge alliances. However, the path to familial safety is not solely defined by Brencis's defeat, as some resolutions, even successful confrontations, can still result in the demise of Coen's loved ones.
There are a total of seven distinct endings within The Blood of Dawnwalker, divided into four full story conclusions and three early game terminations.
Full Story Endings
A Deal with the Devil
As Coen's Infamy level rises, Vale Sangora becomes increasingly hostile, with guards recognizing him on sight and Svartrau City's gates closing indefinitely. Reaching peak Infamy triggers the 'Invitation to Parley' edict, allowing a meeting with Brencis at Shrike's Crag after sunset. By lighting a signal atop the watchtower, Brencis will descend.
Brencis arrives with Coen's father, Pieter, and offers a deal: mark the manumit's hideout, and your family's safety will be ensured. Alternatively, choosing any dialogue option that initiates combat will lead to a battle against Brencis and a horde of undead. Upon his defeat, Brencis transports Coen to Anachora to face his Grotesque Ascendant form. Victory in this second fight results in Brencis revealing he left a gift at home. Upon returning to Shrike's Crag, however, Pieter is dead, and it appears the rest of Coen's family has also perished. The player then returns to Laslea Glen to complete the 'Things Will Be Different Now' quest, interacting with Anca, who provides a mysterious potion. A stranger named Neberu appears, identifying himself as a dawnwalker and suggesting the Augurs can aid Coen with his sister, Lunka, who has been transformed into a vrakhiri after being given Anca's potion in a remote cave.
Rise at Dawn
Choosing the 'Rise at Dawn' ending involves storming the castle alongside Crake (Marat), the manumits, and Knyaz Skender's son, Catalin. This path involves daytime progression, precluding the use of Coen's Vampiric form. The assault includes battles against guards, gate breaches, and encounters with The Unblinking Blasphemy.
After securing the gate, players can access the castle via a secret passage. Catalin instructs Coen to clear the tunnels, which are infested with kobolds. Following this, Coen parts ways to rescue his family, only to find they are no longer in the dungeons. Subsequent combat involves guards and wolves, leading to a magical trap set by Xanthe. After breaking free from the loop, players face the Commander of the Blood Guard, followed by Brencis. Brencis will have Coen's family present at a feasting table, threatening to make Coen watch them die. Defeating Brencis again and then his Grotesque Ascendant form in Anachora concludes this path. If Coen acknowledges Brencis's aid in his transformation rather than reacting with hostility, he can choose to either kill Brencis or invite him in. Brencis claims to have punished Coen from beyond the grave, but Lunka still suffers the transformation, though the rest of the family is spared. Similar errands follow, with the option to assist Pieter with repairs.
A Lone Wolf's Hunt
This ending sees Coen undertaking the mission alone. Accessing Greifberg Castle is facilitated by the 'In the Name of the Father' quest found within the Svartrau Cathedral's Treasury. A key located in the cathedral's back rooms opens the Treasury, where Father Florin is found in the basement tunnels. Completing his quest, which involves retrieving armor from ancient ruins, reveals a secret side entrance to the castle. Father Florin's own rebellion uses this entrance, and a rebel at the site will grant access upon hearing the secret knock.
This solitary infiltration involves fighting numerous guards and bypassing the main gate to confront The Unblinking Blasphemy directly. The route then mirrors 'Rise at Dawn' but without the dungeon segment with Crake. After fighting guards and navigating Xanthe's trap, players face the Commander of the Blood Guard, who reveals Brencis has gone to the prisoners. Proceeding to the dungeons leads to more guards and then undead. A doorway eventually prompts a confrontation with Brencis.
If Coen begs Brencis at this point, a deal is offered where Coen can sacrifice Lacra or the manumits in exchange for his family's freedom. This results in the same outcome as the 'Rise at Dawn' ending where Brencis is killed: Lunka is transformed, but the rest of Coen's family is safe. If Coen chooses to fight, he must defeat Brencis and his Grotesque Ascendant form. This also results in Lunka's transformation and the safety of the rest of the family, with the additional reward of the Gladius, a legendary shortsword.
Midnight Reckoning
This ending culminates from quests involving Lacra, leading to a joint assault on Brencis. The castle is accessed through ruins beneath a house in Silberstein. The initial encounter is with The Unblinking Blasphemy, followed by soldiers and undead leading to Brencis's sanctum, where a ritual is underway. After defeating the guards, Lacra destroys a vessel, causing red roots to spread throughout the castle, endangering Coen's family.
Players must navigate the castle using Planeshift, encountering Xanthe's trap again and facing the Commander of the Blood Guard before reaching Brencis. Brencis holds Coen's family captive within red roots and offers a choice: take the family and betray Lacra, or fight. If Coen takes his family, Lacra dies, but the family is saved. Choosing to fight results in Lacra nearly dying during the battle with Brencis but healing herself. Fully defeating Brencis leads to a confrontation with his Grotesque Ascendant form in Anachora. This path results in Brencis's death, the salvation of Coen's family, and Lacra's survival. Lunka, however, suffers the same fate as in all other endings.
Early Endings
There are three alternative, earlier conclusions to The Blood of Dawnwalker.
One early ending can be triggered by defeating Brencis during the prologue, yielding the same outcome as 'A Lone Wolf's Hunt'.
Another can be achieved by using vrakhiri skills to exit the valley via a gate west of Briar Sloughs at night. This presents the option to leave the valley permanently.
A less favorable conclusion involves becoming trapped in the 'Home Sweet Home' nightmare quest loop. After defeating the boss four times and speaking with family, the player becomes locked in, though their family is safe.
Regardless of the chosen path, Lunka's fate remains unchanged across all endings. Players seeking to save her may find this outcome to be a lost cause. Prior to embarking on the final quest, consulting guides on optimal weapon and skill acquisition, as well as locating all points of interest in 'A Pilgrimage for Power,' is recommended.