Blood of the Dawnwalker Anca - Character & Romance Guide
Complete guide to Anca in The Blood of Dawnwalker. Learn about her background in Laslea Glen, all romance quest steps, dialogue choices, and potential fail states.
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Anca is an herbalist from Laslea Glen who is one of the trusted characters in Coen’s life and a prominent romance option in The Blood of Dawnwalker. This guide details her background, questline, and dialogue choices.
Who is Anca?
In The Blood of Dawnwalker, Anca is an NPC introduced as the local herbalist and healer residing in Laslea Glen. She has long been a quiet presence at Coen’s side, patiently teaching him how to read and to see beyond what is plainly written, while offering medical aid to people in need. [source] [source] [source]
Beneath her quiet demeanor, Anca carries a secret heavy enough to set her apart from the rest of the village. She previously lived as a nun at St. Tyna’s Convent. When Coen’s family is abducted by Brencis, Anca is the first one to help Coen find out where his family is being held. [source] [source] [source]
Anca Romance Questline Walkthrough
Anca’s romance spans several connected quests across the campaign. Players are not limited to a single partner in The Blood of Dawnwalker and can pursue other companions, including Lacra and Crake. In its romance guide, PC Gamer notes that Anca is framed as the game’s most canonical romance partner, receiving the most screentime and a consistent role in the epilogue. [source] [source]
| Quest Stage | Key Actions & Dialogue Choices | Impact / Time Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Prologue: Withering Away | Retrieve herbs for Coen’s mother. Opting to study Latin costs 2 Time Segments; pick the red-covered book to read Catullus’ poem. Tend to her wounds when she gets injured. | Establishes an early bond; choosing to go costs 1 Time Segment instead of 2 without locking out the romance. |
| Echoes of Silenced Bells | Travel to St. Tyna’s Convent. Defeat Leonica in the catacombs and support Anca’s ritual to save her fellow sisters’ souls by giving her the notes rather than burning them. | Requires 1 extra Time Segment to hand over the notes; do not throw the notes into the fire. |
| Between the Words | Offer to prepare a warm brew (‘It’s my pleasure’) and decipher texts together. Choose ‘Always? What do you mean?’ and affirm that her feelings are ‘more than just faith.’ | Preparing a warm drink costs 1 Time Segment; dialogue provides an early all-but confession and declaration of interest. |
| Where Old Devils Lie | Express gratitude at the inn, talk by the mountain lake, and confess your feelings with ‘I care about you.’ | Provides further flirting and an opportunity to confess to Anca. |
| Stronger Than Achilles | Volunteer for the blood sacrifice pillar (‘Better me than you’). Reassure her with ‘I’d do anything for you’ and ‘I love you.’ | Reveals feelings with ‘I love you’, a moment referenced when returning to the inn. |
[source] [source] [source] [source]
The Font of Life Decision & Romance Scene
At the conclusion of ‘Stronger Than Achilles’, Coen faces a decision regarding what to do with the Font of Life in the final chamber. While players can romance Anca regardless of the choice made, the happiest ending for her character is linked to letting her use The Font, which also yields additional dialogue. [source] [source] [source]
Tip: After returning to the inn following ‘Stronger Than Achilles’, discuss the confession made in the ruins. Choose ‘I meant what I said’ (or ‘I beg to differ’) and ‘Screw decency, I want you too’ to kiss Anca and trigger the romance scene. [source] [source] [source]
Romance Fail States and Warnings
Securing Anca’s romance requires avoiding two specific pitfalls during the playthrough: [source]
| Fail State | Conditions & Consequences |
|---|---|
| Anca’s Death | Coen might kill Anca if he speaks to her while in vampire form and has low health, cutting her arc short. |
| Remaining Just Friends | Choosing to remain just friends or telling Anca that she is only a friend during dialogue choices locks Coen out of the romance path. |
Related
Frequently Asked Questions
Does missing the Latin lesson in the prologue prevent romancing Anca?
No. Choosing to leave instead of studying Latin does not lock you out of her romance path, as skipping it or spending time with her in the prologue will not affect your relationship opportunities later.
Can you romance other characters if you romance Anca?
Yes. The Blood of Dawnwalker does not restrict Coen to a single partner, allowing players to pursue other romantic connections such as Lacra alongside Anca.
Can Coen kill Anca while in vampire form?
Yes. Coen can accidentally kill Anca if he speaks to her while in vampire form and at low health, which serves as a permanent fail state for both her romance and her storyline.