“Like Father, Like Son” is the short training quest that follows “Withering Away” in The Blood of Dawnwalker, and it does two jobs at once. It teaches Coen the basics of swordplay against his father, Pieter, and it drops the first real hint of the rebellion brewing against Brencis. It is over in a matter of minutes, but the conversation that follows the duel sets up the rest of the village’s storyline.
Quick answer: Follow Pieter up the mountain path to the clearing at Losen Glen, beat him in the sparring duel until he yields, then pick your dialogue responses about Vladimir’s plan. The quest ends automatically when night falls and “Sacred Covenant” begins at the church.
How Like Father, Like Son starts
The quest chains directly off “Withering Away,” which pays out 100 XP when it wraps. There is nothing to accept and no NPC to find. As soon as the previous quest closes, the journal swaps over and the first objective, “Follow Pieter,” appears with a marker on Pieter himself.
Pieter sets off up a mountain path toward Losen Glen. He walks at his own pace and stops to talk along the way, so sprinting ahead does nothing useful. If the marker distance stops shrinking, you have outrun him and need to let him catch up.
Winning the duel against Pieter, Retired Sellsword
Once you both reach the clearing, a cutscene plays and the two draw their swords. The objective changes to “Train with Pieter,” and your opponent is labeled on screen as Pieter, Retired Sellsword.
Pieter spends the fight warning Coen about what real combat actually costs, which is the whole point of the scene. His hesitation matters later.
The rebellion conversation and dialogue options
After the duel, Pieter lays out what Vladimir is planning. The villagers intend to rise against Brencis and take back the silver mines, and they want Pieter’s military experience to lead it. He is not sold on the idea, largely because 100 vrakhir soldiers are stationed close by.
You get several responses here. None of them stop the quest from progressing, but they shape how Coen positions himself between his father and the rebellion.
| Dialogue option | What it pushes |
|---|---|
| “It’s about time we stand up for ourselves.” | Backs the uprising outright |
| “This plan is crazy. We’ll never win.” | Sides with Pieter’s doubts |
| “They need your military experience.” | Presses Pieter to take command |
| “Brencis’s men know something’s afoot.” | Raises the risk of exposure |
| “People say the mines are haunted.” | Brings up the mines themselves |
| “So I have no say over what happens next?” | Challenges Pieter’s authority |
| “Whatever you decide, you can count on me.” | Defers to Pieter’s judgment |
| “What are you sorry for?” | Follows up on Pieter’s apology |
Work through the options you care about. When the conversation ends, a cutscene shows the moon rising and the clock moves from Evening to Moonrise.
How to confirm the quest is finished
There is no manual hand-in. Control returns after the night transition and Coen walks to the church alongside Pieter, Esme, and the rest of the villagers. Inside, you can look over a dark tapestry before Vladimir pulls Coen aside and asks him to talk his father into joining the rebellion.
The clean confirmation is the journal itself. “Like Father, Like Son” closes out and “Sacred Covenant” takes its place, opening with the objectives “Sit in the pew next to Pieter and Esme” and “Talk with other villagers.” That new quest runs during the Blood Mass, where Brencis collects tithes from the congregation.
The Manuals tutorial popup
A “MANUALS” tutorial card appears once gameplay resumes in the church. Manuals are items that unlock new Perks or Abilities, and you use them from the inventory rather than the skill menu. It is easy to dismiss the popup and forget about it, so check your inventory for anything you have picked up so far.
Nothing in the training sequence is missable, and the fight cannot be lost in a way that blocks progress. The only real decision point is how Coen answers Pieter in the clearing, which is worth a moment of thought before you tap through it.
