The Blood of Dawnwalker Court System Guide

Understanding the court system

The court system is an important part of progression in The Blood of Dawnwalker. Ordinary quests can provide allies and improved equipment, but sabotage missions let Coen disrupt Brencis’ court, influence his boyars and build infamy among the rebels. That notoriety can unlock new ways to challenge Brencis, although it also brings tougher consequences.

This guide covers how to increase the anger of Brencis’ vassals, raise Coen’s infamy and make sensible choices as you explore Vale Sangora. For readers who enjoy following interactive entertainment beyond the latest RPGs, RETROCADE’s arcade and gaming news is another place to browse.

How to increase vassal anger

Once the prologue is complete, the Court tab becomes available in the main menu beside the map. This screen displays Coen’s current infamy status and the anger levels of Brencis’ three vassals: Ambrus, Xanthe and Bakir.

Vassal anger rises when you complete sabotage missions. In the court menu, these activities are shown as small diamonds connected to each vassal’s portrait. Opportunities initially appear as question marks because they must first be discovered. Exploring the map and completing quests will reveal more sabotage targets.

Maxing out a vassal’s anger unlocks a quest connected to that character and provides more of their backstory. Do not kill a vassal before filling their anger level if you want to access this quest, as doing so prevents it from becoming available. If you meet one of Brencis’ associates early, keeping them alive may be worthwhile.

The quest may also take some time to begin after the anger meter reaches its maximum. It will not necessarily appear immediately in the journal; the angry Vrakhir will eventually contact Coen.

What infamy changes

Angering Brencis’ vassals also increases Coen’s infamy. When Coen reaches a new infamy level, Brencis responds with edicts designed to make the journey more difficult. These can include additional patrols in settlements and military checkpoints throughout the valley.

Building infamy too rapidly can therefore make the early game harder than necessary. Alternating sabotage missions with regular quests gives Coen more time to prepare before Brencis increases the pressure.

There is a significant reward for reaching the notorious infamy level: Coen can join the Manumits, an anti-Vrakhir rebellion. Brencis becomes more aggressive, but Coen gains new ways to oppose him.

Practical court-system strategies

Keep these points in mind when deciding how to approach Brencis’ court:

• Pay attention to regular quests. Some ordinary quests also raise anger and infamy when their outcomes affect Brencis or his vassals. Direct sabotage is usually faster, but it is not the only way to influence the court.
• Vary your sabotage missions. You do not need to complete every available objective to reach a court member’s maximum anger. With Ambrus, for example, you can sabotage a leech collector camp, intercept a blood transport and clear a blood cellar instead of repeating the same type of mission.
• Prioritise one court member. Ambrus, Xanthe and Bakir can all be targeted at once, but concentrating on one Vrakhir will unlock that character’s personal quest sooner.
• Consider starting with Ambrus. Hover over region names on the map to see which court member controls each area. A yellow, orange or red skull shows the region’s relative difficulty for Coen’s current level, with red indicating the greatest danger. Ambrus controls comparatively safer areas such as Briar Sloughs and Maragir Wealds, so his sabotage missions are generally easier than those involving Xanthe or Bakir.
• Remember that sabotage is optional. You are not required to interfere with Brencis’ vassals. Angering them can lead to additional quests, while defeating them makes Brencis angry and increases the game’s difficulty. The choice depends on whether you prefer the extra story content or a less aggressive campaign.

Taking a measured route through Vale Sangora

The Blood of Dawnwalker is a time-sensitive narrative RPG built around consequential decisions. After the prologue, you can explore Vale Sangora and confront Brencis’ boyars in the order you choose, but the range of options can feel daunting at first.

Use the court menu to track each vassal, reveal sabotage opportunities through exploration and avoid killing a vassal before completing the personal quest you want. If you are interested in how games are presented on dedicated hardware, RETROCADE’s arcade video collection offers more gaming-focused viewing.

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