The Font of Life is a Witchcraft perk in The Blood of Dawnwalker that gives Coen passive health regeneration during the day. It keeps him alive through longer human fights and cuts down on the consumables you need to carry. Getting it comes down to one quest chain and one decision at the end that you cannot take back.
Quick answer: Complete the quests Where Old Devils Lie and Stronger Than Achilles with Anca, then choose to drink from the Font yourself. Any other choice locks the perk out of your playthrough.
What you need before the quest starts
The Font of Life questline only becomes available after you finish the convent storyline with Anca at St. Tyna’s Convent. Once that is done, Anca goes through the forbidden books you recovered and finds references to a Font of Life. She works through the clues with you to pin down the location of the ruins, which begins the first quest, Where Old Devils Lie.
When the quest opens, Anca asks you to meet her before noon because she will not hike to the ruins at night. Travel with her in the early morning and follow the quest marker.
Where Old Devils Lie and Stronger Than Achilles walkthrough
This is effectively one long two-part quest. It runs on investigation, some pillar-touching puzzle beats, and several combat encounters against the guardians protecting the Font.
Note: The blood in the Font comes from fallen warriors who were drained and turned into the guardians you fight. Anca is unsettled once she learns this, which sets up the decision at the end.
The final choice: drink, give it to Anca, or destroy it
There is only enough in the Font for one person. You can question Anca for her view, but the decision is yours, and only one option unlocks the perk. Choose carefully, because the outcome is locked in for the rest of the playthrough.
| Choice | Result |
|---|---|
| Coen drinks the Font | Unlocks the Font of Life perk in the Witchcraft tree; passive daytime health regeneration. Anca stays a witch. |
| Give the Font to Anca | No perk. Anca loses her witch abilities and her past no longer haunts her. No item reward. |
| Destroy the Font | No perk. You find the Ancient Greaves in a bag hidden under the platform. |
To claim the perk, pick the option where Coen drinks. Anca is put off by the ritual and is fine with you taking it, so there is no story penalty for choosing yourself. Whatever you decide, she accepts your reasoning.
How to confirm the perk unlocked
After Coen drinks, Font of Life appears as a perk in the Witchcraft skill tree. In practice you will see Coen’s human health regenerate on its own during daytime, without spending a consumable. If the perk is not in your Witchcraft tree, you selected a different option at the Font and cannot get it again on that save.
Perk or the Ancient Greaves: what to weigh
Completing the mission already grants a legendary light chestpiece called Runic Enchantment regardless of your final choice. The real trade-off is between the perk and the Ancient Greaves, since you can only ever have one.
The Ancient Greaves are legendary heavy trousers that raise Witchcraft Ability Damage, Activation Charge Restoration from Block, Passive Activation Charge Restoration, and Magical Damage Reduction. They are only available here, which makes them attractive if you are chasing a full legendary set early. The Font of Life perk, by contrast, is steady daytime survivability that reduces how much healing you carry.
Both paths keep Anca content from a story standpoint, and you can still pursue a romance with her afterward no matter what you pick. If your priority is the perk, drink from the Font. If you would rather bank a unique piece of legendary gear that scales as you upgrade it, destroy the Font for the Greaves.
