Is it wise to spare Xanthe in The Blood of Dawnwalker?

Deciding whether to spare Xanthe and strike a deal in Blood of Dawnwalker is a challenging dilemma. On one hand, she’s a malevolent ancient vampire responsible for the abduction and murder of numerous innocent women. On the other, she merely used Brencis as a means to an end, which might lead you to consider the potential benefits of an alliance with her.

This guide will reveal spoilers for Xanthe’s The Cycle of Love quest, but here’s what happens if you choose to spare her.

The primary consequence of letting Xanthe live after defeating her in her mansion during The Cycle of Love quest is felt during the final assault on Griefberg Castle.

Is it worth it to let the Vrakhiri survive? Not really. If you eliminate Xanthe, you won’t have to face her in the castle, so the main benefit of allying with her is avoiding battles with Blood Guard enemies and skipping the brief nightmare puzzle sequence involving spectre foes that Xanthe unleashes from beyond the grave. Additionally, if you kill Xanthe and consume her blood, you’ll unlock the Blood Surge ability.

If you choose to spare Xanthe, it becomes evident later that she plans to continue her killing spree to keep her daughter Chariklea alive. It’s clear from your encounter during The Cycle of Love quest that Chariklea is essentially a mortal kept alive against her will through dark magic and gruesome surgery—all because Xanthe, in her quest for immortality, couldn’t let her go.

Should you decide to kill Xanthe, you’ll face a choice regarding Chariklea. You can leave her alone, which likely means she will starve in the mansion or remain there until the dark magic sustaining her life fades. Alternatively, you can choose to end her suffering, which is undoubtedly the more compassionate option available.