Setting
The Blood of Dawnwalker takes place in Vale Sangora, a fictional kingdom located in the Carpathian Mountains during the 14th century, specifically AD 1347. The game's time period coincides with the Black Death pandemic sweeping through Europe. Vale Sangora is encompassed on all sides by the Carpathians and accessible solely through narrow gorges, and only during summer months. This geographic isolation is central to the story: the valley is effectively cut off from the outside world.
Historical backdrop
The Black Death weakened Vale Sangora's human population, and Lord Skender (the human ruler before Brencis) resorted to wiping out entire villages to prevent its spread. When Brencis, born Caeso Burrienus Laurentius in AD 131, a Roman-era vampire, arrived with the Vrakhiri vampire faction, they offered their blood as a cure for the plague. This act led many citizens to begin worshiping the vampires as religious saviors, giving Brencis a dual grip on the valley: military control from Greifberg and spiritual authority through his supposed healing power.
The open world
Rebel Wolves built the game's open world as a hand-crafted environment featuring forests, plains, swamps, mountains, and medieval settlements with discoverable ruins. The Carpathian setting draws heavily from Eastern European folklore, incorporating supernatural creatures, moral dilemmas, and political intrigue. The landscape includes biomes ranging from meadows and peatbogs to dense forests and cave systems.
Key locations within Vale Sangora include Svartrau (the only true city, dominated by Greifberg castle and its imposing cathedral), Silberkreis (the wealthiest district), The Middens, and the Silver Mines that originally drew settlers to the valley.
Day and night
The Carpathian setting transforms dramatically between day and night. During the day, the valley looks like a living medieval world with bustling markets, craftsmen, and travelers. At night, the landscape becomes hostile territory controlled by vampires and their agents. This duality is reflected in Coen's own transformation: human by day, vampiric by night. Full exploration of certain areas, particularly Svartrau's rooftops and vertical spaces, requires vampire abilities that are only available after sunset.
Cultural influences
The development team at Rebel Wolves is based in Warsaw, Poland, and the game's Eastern European setting reflects their cultural proximity to the Carpathian region. The folklore, architecture, and social structures draw from Slavic and Romanian traditions, though Vale Sangora is an original creation rather than a recreation of any historical location. The presence of the Black Death, feudal politics, and religious institutions grounds the fantasy elements in a recognizable historical context.