Lacra presents a darker, more vampiric romance option in The Blood of Dawnwalker. Successfully navigating her questline not only deepens your relationship with her but also unveils significant lore concerning the game's antagonist, Brencis, and the role of vampires in the world. Her missions offer access to the uriashi village, a sanctuary from the horrors of Vale Sangora, and provide opportunities to acquire valuable loot.
To romance Lacra, players must complete her entire questline, paying close attention to dialogue choices. Her quests primarily take place at night, a notable difference from other romance options.
How to Romance Lacra
1. A Friend Like This
Lacra can be elusive, and it is possible to miss her entirely. She is located in northern Svartrau City. Players may learn of her through Vicho, another vrakhir, during the quest 'A Study in Crimson.' Alternatively, her existence might be revealed after defeating Ambrus and finding a letter on his body, or through natural discovery while exploring Svartrau at night. Her initial quest, 'A Friend Like This,' involves investigating signs of a struggle throughout Svartrau. Using the Focus mode to follow blood splatters and damaged tiles, and Shadowstep to access rooftops, will lead players to a balcony where Lacra is interrogating an uriashi.
Upon entering, combat will initiate. After defeating Lacra, players have a dialogue opportunity. Lacra seeks the location of the uriashi village to find Brencis' sire, Isbrand. The captive uriashi is unwilling to speak, presenting a choice: allow Lacra to torture him or approach with empathy. Choosing the latter, by selecting dialogue options such as "Gladly, but we will actually talk," "I need to know how to get to your village," "You have my word," "I promise," and "You're not killing him," will lead to a more peaceful resolution. While both violent and pacifist approaches can lead to romance, Lacra is often more impressed by non-violent actions.
2. Song of the Mountain
Players must meet Lacra at Crown Rock at night to begin this quest. She may offer a choice to feed on a shepherd before the ascent, which is optional. The climb involves following wind chimes and defeating wildlife. Upon reaching a clearing, uriashi will emerge. A violent confrontation can lead to slaughtering the entire village for loot, but a peaceful approach involves speaking with the uriashi Matriarch. To gain her trust, players should select dialogue options that de-escalate the situation, such as "All right, fine," "Lacra, calm down," "Nobody needs to die" or "Everybody shut up for a second," "Can we stop the hostilities?", "We've already proven it," and "What more proof do you need?" This path requires enduring a barrage of rocks thrown by the uriashi, proving Coen's peaceful intentions.
If players have previously met the Matriarch's daughter, Ocha, in Svartrau during the quest 'The Heart Wants What It Wants,' the Matriarch will recognize them, potentially bypassing the rock-throwing trial. Once inside the village, players can rest and interact with merchants before continuing Lacra's quest.
3. Hive and Seek
This quest involves descending into kobold territory to find Isbrand. Players must navigate treacherous silver rivers, which cause damage, and contend with heavily armored kobolds known as Wrongs, who attack with poison. A decision arises on whether to cooperate with the kobolds. Accepting their offer provides an NPC guide through the confusing caverns and tasks players with defeating a large Wrong named "Chonk." After defeating Chonk and his allies, players can negotiate with the remaining kobolds to avoid further conflict by choosing options like "Calm down and think for a moment," "You can't all eat at once," and "You will lose your bond if you eat it."
Isbrand is found chained up, having been fed upon by the Wrongs for two years. After a cutscene, Chonk and his posse will attack. Defeating them allows players to loot the area, including the Legendary armor set, 'Isbrand's Plate.'
4. Our Rotten Roots
'Our Rotten Roots' takes players and Lacra into Anachora, a hellscape inhabited by vrakhir. This surreal environment requires platforming across shadowy realms while fighting various enemies, including the boss 'Essence of Grief.' Players will witness flashbacks detailing Brencis' past and plans. Near Svartrau City, a choice arises at a fork in the road: follow Lacra's suggestion to veer right or confront her by going left. Choosing to go left, though it leads to Lacra temporarily leaving and facing enemies alone, provides insight into her backstory and involves scenes with a younger Lacra, Brencis, and Isbrand. Upon reuniting, choosing dialogue options like "I'm sorry for going there," "I needed to know what you were hiding," and "I'm still sorry" can mend Lacra's frustration.
The quest culminates below Svartrau with a cutscene showing Brencis trapping Isbrand, followed by a battle against 'Isbrand, the Broken Shade.' After defeating him, players can choose to drain him or let his soul wander Anachora. This choice does not affect the romance.
5. The Night of Horrors
This quest requires waiting until the next night and unlocks alongside 'Midnight Reckoning.' Crucially, 'Midnight Reckoning' should not be started before 'The Night of Horrors' to avoid locking players out of romance scenes and backstory revelations. The quest begins in the swamp, seeking the lair of an ancient vrakhir named Kallias. Following Lacra leads to a shrine where players learn about Will-o'-the-wisps, which feed on suffering. To guide the way, both Coen and Lacra must share their painful pasts.
This involves following wisps, fighting enemies, and sharing intimate details. Dialogue choices during these 'trauma-dump' scenes can reflect the player's established characterization of Coen. The journey ends in a cave filled with experimental monsters, culminating in Kallias' corpse and a Mandrake plant. Eating the Mandrake is essential for unlocking the final romance scene.
Following Lacra after consuming the Mandrake, players should choose dialogue options such as [follow Lacra], "Who says I'm not?", [drink], and [kiss her]. This leads to an intimate scene between Coen and Lacra. Afterward, players gain access to new skills: Mesmerise, which allows temporary mind control of enemies, and Mandrake Ward, a life-saving ability that restores health segments once per night.
