The Blood of Dawnwalker

Lore & Background

The Blood of Dawnwalker is set in the gothic kingdom of Vale Sangora, located in the Carpathian Mountains, during the 14th century. The plague ravages the land, and the king orders the execution of all infected. The ancient vampire Brencis seizes control, absolving humans of taxes and promising a cure through vampiric blood, but imposes a blood tax that often kills the weak. The protagonist, Coen, is a young man whose mother suffers from a neurological disorder. Brencis attempts to turn Coen into a vampire henchman, but the process fails, creating a Dawnwalker—half-human, half-vampire. Brencis, believing Coen dead, abducts Coen's family to be sacrificed at his investiture as Prince, giving Coen 30 days to save them.

Reader's Guide

The Blood of Dawnwalker represents a deliberate shift toward smaller, narrative-driven projects by a team of veterans from CD Projekt, including the director of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Its non-linear structure, where player decisions and time management shape the story, distinguishes it from many action RPGs. The 30-day time limit, advanced only by plot-relevant actions, forces meaningful choices, as there are more time-consuming quests than available time segments. The game's dual human-vampire mechanics—daytime swordplay and witch magic versus nighttime claw combat, wall-walking, and stealth—offer distinct gameplay styles. The reputation system and multiple difficulty levels add replayability. Rebel Wolves plans to expand the universe with self-contained stories set in other eras, making this the beginning of a saga without cliffhangers or time travel.

Did You Know?

• Time in the game advances only when the player pursues quests or plot-related activities; exploring the open world does not consume time.
• The game world is inspired by myths, archaeological finds, and ancient structures from Hungary, Romania, and the Carpathian region.
• If Coen's bloodlust is not satisfied at night, he will autonomously hunt and kill the nearest human or animal, potentially including quest givers.