A Closer Look Walkthrough
Follow Marat's personal quest through the key conversation and romance scene. One choice sets up the first kiss, but the romance is not actually committed until a later decision.
Quick Answer
Find Marat outside Farriers's Gate, across from Greifberg. This objective is time-sensitive, so don't leave it sitting while you spend time elsewhere.
Show romance spoilers
First-kiss setup
“Hey. Nothing you say can change the way I see you.”
→ Leads to the first kiss
Romance commit
[kiss him back]
→ Romance committed
The first kiss alone does not commit Marat's romance.
Show romance spoilers
Romance setup
“Hey. Nothing you say can change the way I see you.”
First kiss
A first-kiss scene follows.
Not committed yet
Not committed yet
[kiss him back]
[kiss him back]
Romance committed
Romance committed
Phase 1
Reach Marat's Private Conversation
What to do
Find Marat outside Farriers's Gate, across from Greifberg.
What matters here
This is the conversation that can open Marat's romance route.
View in-game quest description
I don’t understand why Marat reacted with such fury. Should I follow him and find out what’s truly driving him?
Not triggering?
- □ Marat is available and alive.
- □ The current journal objective is Find Marat.
- □ A Closer Look is on the Distant Shadows questline.
Phase 2
How to Get Marat's First Kiss
“Hey. Nothing you say can change the way I see you.”
- Immediate result
- First-kiss scene begins
- Romance status
- Not committed yet
Other dialogue at this stage does not create the confirmed first-kiss route. “I’m sorry – but I’m not interested.” does not enter the first-kiss scene.
Phase 3
First-kiss scene
Phase 3
✓ First-kiss scene reached
- Romance status
- Not committed yet
- Next critical decision
- [kiss him back]
Reveal scene details
The first-kiss cutscene plays, then dialogue resumes. You still have a later choice to make.
Phase 4
⚠ Should You Kiss Marat Back?
Romance commitment
[kiss him back]
This is the confirmed Marat romance commit point.
What this does
- ✓ Starts the intimate follow-up scene
- ✓ Commits Marat romance
- ✓ Confirms Marat’s romance ending
Missable
If this opportunity passes, do not assume the romance can still be committed later.
Following Marat beyond this quest?
See the complete romance route, prerequisites and missable decisions.
Marat Romance Guide →Phase 5
Finish A Closer Look
Quest completion and romance commitment are separate states.
Can You Still Romance Marat?
Quest complete is not romance committed
Quest completion and romance commitment are separate states.
Quest status
A Closer Look
In progress
Romance status
Marat Romance
Depends on [kiss him back]
Your Marat route
- Quest
- A Closer Look
- First kiss
- Not reached
- Romance
- Not determined
- Epilogue
- Not determined
In progress
Not determined
Not determined
Not determined
Does A Closer Look Affect Marat's Ending?
Yes — confirming the romance can change Marat's later ending.
- [kiss him back]
- ↓ Marat romance
- ↓ Marat epilogue
This primarily affects Marat's epilogue outcome.
Add Marat Romance to Ending CalculatorA Closer Look Not Progressing?
What isn't working?
In-game quest data
Official journal text and objectives. This is reference data, not the walkthrough.
View in-game quest description
I don’t understand why Marat reacted with such fury. Should I follow him and find out what’s truly driving him?
Show official objective list
- Find Marat
The first kiss starts the scene. [kiss him back] is the choice that actually commits Marat’s romance.
People and commerce in this quest
Who you can trade with here
Quest vendor
Sarah
Quest-context supplies during A Closer Look.
Open Sarah →Quest vendor
Guard Post Trader
Quest-context trading at the Guard Post.
Characters in this quest
Continue Your Playthrough
Quick questions
How do you romance Marat in A Closer Look?
Choose the first-kiss setup line, then choose [kiss him back] after the kiss to commit the romance.
Does the first kiss automatically romance Marat?
No. The confirmed commitment happens at [kiss him back].
Is Marat romance missable?
Yes. The confirmed commitment opportunity is marked as missable in the production rule.
Does Marat romance affect the ending?
It affects Marat's epilogue romance outcome.