Yes. You can save Vlad in The Blood of Dawnwalker.
Vlad does not have to die during the Prologue. Whether Coen can resist feeding on him depends largely on how much health, which is also tied to Blood Hunger, you have left when you reach the encounter.
If Coen’s hunger gets too low, you may lose the ability to resist.
How Do You Keep Vlad Alive?
Before reaching Vlad, try to make sure Coen has more than one health segment remaining.
You can use Vials of Human Blood to restore health before the encounter.
This is especially important because there is a fight shortly before the decision involving Vlad, and taking too much damage can leave Coen dangerously hungry.
What Happens If Your Blood Hunger Is Too Low?
If Coen reaches Vlad with his hunger too low, he may be unable to control himself.
Instead of giving you a normal choice to spare Vlad, Coen’s vampiric hunger can take over and force the encounter toward feeding on him.
This is one of the early examples of Blood Hunger affecting more than combat.
Should You Choose “Give in to the Hunger”?
No, not if you want Vlad to survive.
If you still have control over Coen during the conversation, avoid the option that tells him to give in to his hunger.
Maintaining enough health beforehand gives you the opportunity to resist instead.
Does Saving Vlad Matter?
Yes.
If Vlad survives, he can provide Coen with useful information about the rebels in Vale Sangora and may be able to help him later.
So saving him is not simply a cosmetic variation of the Prologue.
Quick Answer
Yes, Vlad can be saved in The Blood of Dawnwalker.
Try to reach him with more than one health segment, and use Vials of Human Blood beforehand if necessary.
If Coen’s Blood Hunger gets too low, he may lose control and feed on Vlad instead.
If you want Vlad alive, keep Coen fed and do not choose to give in to the hunger.
