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Our Rotten Roots The Blood of Dawnwalker: should you spare or abandon Isbrand?

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Our Rotten Roots The Blood of Dawnwalker: should you spare or abandon Isbrand?

Fabian Lainé 45 min ago

In brief

The Rotten Roots quest concludes Lacra's arc with a pivotal choice: spare Isbrand by absorbing his essence, or abandon him to rot eternally in Anachore. This guide details how to complete the quest, face the thousand-year-old vampire lord, and understand the implications of each decision.

Warning, this guide contains spoilers.

The quest Our Rotten Roots is part of the long narrative arc of the vampiress Lacra, and concludes with a choice heavy with consequences: sparing or abandoning Isbrand, this millennia-old vampire lord reduced to a mere husk. Here's how to complete the quest and what each decision entails.

Recap of Lacra's arc

You first meet Lacra during Volatile Alliance, then travel with her to Uriash Village during The Mountain's Melody. She then asks you to help her track down Isbrand during Hive and Nectar.

This underground descent culminates in a massive battle against hordes of kobolds and their larger kin. Once the enemies are eliminated, search a nearby chest to retrieve Isbrand's Breastplate, a legendary intermediate breastplate that grants maximum vampiric health, luck, and claw critical hit damage, as well as restoration through blood absorption.

Anachora and the fight against Isbrand

Coen and Lacra then carry Isbrand's nearly lifeless carcass to the Westridge outpost. After a day has passed, you can start Our Rotten Roots, which involves diving into Isbrand's memories, within a realm called Anachore.

In the third major area, you reach a fork in the path. Lacra doesn't want you to go left, in order to keep her past a secret. If you go anyway, you discover the terrible wrongs caused by Isbrand - and can apologize to Lacra later.
At the end of the sequence, you fight Isbrand, with Lacra as your ally. His attack patterns are erratic: block or dodge his blows whenever possible.
He also unleashes Piercing Scream in a wide frontal cone.

Spare or abandon Isbrand?

After the fight comes the decision. Lacra first orders Isbrand to beg: if you say nothing, she is inclined to spare him. Otherwise, you can reply:

"Beg for what?"
"Can I do it instead?"

Which leads to two choices:

"I'll do it. I invite you in, Isbrand." → Coen absorbs Isbrand's essence (or soul).
"I'm sorry. You'll stay here, forever." → Isbrand's soul is left to rot in Anachore for eternity.

If you invite him in, he will sometimes speak to Coen - a voice that only echoes in his head. A nice thematic detail, which also works for the other vampire lords you defeat. Good to know: whatever your decision, you receive the Piercing Scream ability as a reward.

In Coen's place, would you have spared or abandoned Isbrand?

Frequently asked questions

What is the best choice: spare or abandon Isbrand?

Both paths give the same rewards, so it's primarily a matter of roleplay and narrative attachment. Sparing Isbrand offers an interesting spectral presence (his voice in Coen's head), while abandoning him closes his arc and Lacra's more radically and definitively.

Should I explore the left path in Anachore?

Yes, it's highly recommended. You'll discover the true wrongs Isbrand inflicted on Lacra and can apologize to her later — an important narrative element for understanding the depth of this arc.

What are Isbrand's attack patterns in combat?

Isbrand has erratic patterns: block or dodge his strikes as soon as possible. He also casts Piercing Cry in a wide frontal cone, so stay alert and move away if you see the attack winding up.

What do you get as a reward after the fight?

Regardless of your final decision, you receive the Piercing Cry ability. Before that, you could already pick up Isbrand's Cuirass from the previous quest, a very solid intermediate legendary piece.

What happens if I absorb Isbrand's essence?

Coen absorbs his essence, and Isbrand will occasionally speak to Coen — but this voice only resonates in his mind. It's a thematic detail that also works for the other vampire lords you defeat, offering a persistent but subtle presence.

Key takeaways

Isbrand is fought within his own memories, in the Anachore realm, with Lacra as your combat ally.
The final choice between inviting him into yourself or leaving him to rot forever changes the narrative experience but not the rewards.
Exploring the left path reveals Isbrand's crimes against Lacra and offers an opportunity to apologize to her.
If you absorb him, his voice will occasionally echo in Coen's mind — a thematic detail that also applies to the other vampire lords.