The Blood of Dawnwalker: How to romance Crake

1. Complete The Firebrand quest

Straight after the prologue, you'll find yourself in Laslea Glen with plenty to do. Heading over to Vlad's hut to launch The Firebrand quest is the way you'll kick off Crake's questline. Here, you'll learn about the Manumits. This quest will then lead you to the mill to meet Mert the Miller, who has been smuggling contraband for the rebels only to be imprisoned. Visiting him in prison and having a chat will lead you to a meeting point used by the Manumits.

You'll also be able to rescue Mert the Miller from prison, but be careful how you go about this. It's easier during evening, but in my first playthrough I did it during the day and had to fight the entirety of the camp with nothing but my starting armour and sword!

2. Complete the Shadows in the Woods quest

With Mert's intel, you'll be led to a meet-up with Crake and his close comrades, Drogos and Sara. After falling into a Manumit trap, Crake will tie you to a tree. Even after he sees that you're a dawnwalker and different from normal vrakhirs, he still won't trust you. Instead, he'll want you to increase your infamy level until you reach Notorious (level 4), and the Where Loyalty Lies quest will unlock.

Overall, it's not the warmest of introductions, considering you're chained up and Crake holds a knife to your throat, but dare I say there's still room for some simmering tension.

3. Complete the Where Loyalty Lies quest

To reach the Notorious infamy level, go and complete Boyar missions, which range from taking down transports to upsetting pillories. Completing enough of these will eventually anger one of Brencis' three Boyars - Ambrus, Bakir, or Xanthe, unlocking their respective quests.

In my game, dispatching two Boyars was enough to make my Infamy level high enough. To help you get there, we've got guides on how to defeat Ambrus, how to defeat Bakir, and whether you should kill or spare Xanthe.

Once you reach infamy level 4, Crake will want to meet with you again. Go to Svartrau, and Sara will lead you to the Manumit lair.

4. Complete the What Hunts The Night quest

Finally, you're a member of the Manumits, but there's still busywork to complete. Crake asks you to investigate one of his scout's deaths, and this quest leads to a lot of fighting, including a battle against the terrifying Beast of St. Teotim's. There's also a rather harrowing moment between Crake and Sara.

Once you defeat the Beast, you'll have to escape to a hideout for a cosy night undercover. Here, you'll talk about your feelings with Crake. While it doesn't matter too much what you pick when it comes to conversation, it's better to be kind to Crake rather than blame him for what's happened. Try selecting the following choices:

• "Do you want to talk about Sara?"
• "You sure? You look upset."
• "I know what it's like to lose someone."
• "Maybe we could talk about them instead."
• "Alin loved apples."

Sharing these moments with each other is a recipe for growing closer together - and Crake will even spend the night sleeping on your shoulder.

5. Complete the What Moves The Dead quest

The next step of this romance sees you and Crake searching for some important notes, which will take you both into a crypt below the city. Again, there's lots of fighting and this time, a near-death experience for Crake. He'll thank you by letting you have his sword – and eventually he'll thank you in another way.

For now, you need to offer to walk him back to the hideout. It'll cost you one time segment, but it's a small price to pay for passion. You'll also learn that Crake is actually named Marat.

Back at the hideout, you'll be asked to decide whether you want to help Crake with his injuries or leave him. During the conversation, choose "Let me help." You'll then help him remove his armour, revealing his torso and cuts. Tell him that it's "Not that bad," and when he asks you to patch him up say, "Sure."

6. Complete the Distant Shadows quest

This quest may seem optional (it certainly did to me the first time round), but it's an integral piece to the Crake and Coen romance puzzle. Crake wants you to follow a man called Ascar. You'll need to be sneaky so he doesn't spot you, and you'll also have to avoid the guards.

You'll track him to the woods where he gets approached by guards. They'll start attacking him and you can jump in or keep hidden. It doesn't matter which of these options you pick. Afterwards, you can speak to Ascar, who will tell you he wants nothing to do with Marat.

Afterwards, you return to the hideout and speak honestly with Crake about what's happened. He's angry and storms out. Drogos approaches you and tells you where you can find him. To this, you should say, "I'll go talk to him."

7. Complete the A Closer Look quest

And this is where things get interesting. This is a timely quest, so don't delay in completing it, for if the day/night cycle changes, you'll have lost your chance. (If its night, be very certain to keep your health high here, lest your bloodlust emerge.)

Meet Crake outside Farrier's Gate, across from Greifberg. He'll be working on his swordsmanship. Choose the following dialogue options:

• "May I join you then?"
• "I'm worried about you. What's wrong?"
• "Please, just tell the truth about Ascar."
• "Hey, nothing you say can change the way I see you."

8. Romance Crake

After offering comfort, Crake will lean in for a kiss. Coen will be a bit surprised by this, but you can decide here whether to kiss him back (using a time segment) or to tell him you're not interested. But, we all know why you're reading this guide, right?

They'll get their romance on and lean against each other for comfort afterwards. When you try and talk about what's next, Crake has his head back in the game and wants to deal with Brencis first. Romance comes later. But at least the two of you trust each other on a deeper level now.