Avowed Walkthrough Guide Main Quests Side Quests and Missions

Step into the Living Lands as the Envoy of the Aedyran Empire in Avowed, where every choice shapes the fate of a land plagued by a mysterious Dreamscourge. Our comprehensive walkthrough guides you through the main story’s 11 pivotal missions-from navigating deadly politics and ancient magic to confronting terrifying threats-ensuring you uncover every secret and master every challenge on your quest to save Eora.

There are also many quests where your actions will impact the state of the world, sometimes directly affecting what you have to do next. There are also many points where your choices will give you specific abilities to use for the rest of the game, so we’ll point these out to you when they come up.

Our full Avowed walkthrough covers the entire main story at a glance, including pivotal choices and moments.

Avowed walkthrough and main mission list

The Avowed walkthrough provides a detailed guide through the main story missions set in the Living Lands, where players take on the role of the Envoy of the Aedyran Empire investigating a mysterious Soul Plague. The main questline is divided into several key regions-Dawnshore, Emerald Stair, Shatterscarp, and Galawain’s Tusks-each featuring critical missions that advance the narrative and include important decisions affecting the story’s outcome. Players begin with the prologue at Fort Northreach and progress through 11 primary missions, with an optional quest during “The Heart of the Living Lands.” Along the way, you will encounter companions, face challenging enemies, and uncover secrets tied to the Dreamscourge and the region’s fate. This walkthrough highlights major objectives, pivotal choices, and boss fights to help players navigate the main storyline efficiently while managing gear upgrades and side content for a balanced experience.

Avowed takes place in Eora, the setting for developer Obsidian Entertainment’s Pillars of Eternity series of role-playing games. You’re cast as an envoy from the Aedyran Empire and tasked with investigating a plant-like scourge infecting an island region known as the Living Lands.

The Avowed main story plays out across 11 main missions:

1. On Strange Shores
2. Message from Afar
3. An Untimely End
4. The Animancy Method
5. Ancient Soil
6. A Path to the Garden
7. Face Your Fears
8. Shadows of the Past
9. Our Dreams Divide Us Still
10. The Heart of the Living Lands
11. The Siege of Paradis

How long it takes you to finish these missions is entirely dependent on how caught up you get in optional activities. Avowed all but requires you to regularly upgrade your equipment to survive, and to do that, you’ll need to complete a lot of side quests. But if you’re looking for a summary of the main story, this Avowed walkthrough has you covered.

Bear in mind that this entire guide contains spoilers, so for extra caution, you can consult the table of contents below to jump to a specific story segment.

On Strange Shores

The “On Strange Shores” quest in Avowed serves as the game’s introductory main mission, where players awaken shipwrecked on a mysterious island off the coast of the Living Lands. This quest guides players through investigating their surroundings, acquiring a weapon, and fighting hostile creatures known as Xaurips, all while learning the basic game mechanics. Players must navigate through an outpost, find ways to burn obstructive brambles, and ultimately escape the island by reaching the smuggler’s boat to sail to Dawnshore. Along the way, interactions with survivors like Garryck and optional objectives add depth to the experience, setting the stage for the unfolding story of the Living Lands and the Dreamscourge mystery.

Avowed begins with a shipwreck. After creating a character (including deciding your background and assigning your attribute points) you end up near a dilapidated seaside fort. Pick up your first weapons and fight the Xaurips and other enemies. Here you’ll learn about using various mushrooms for elemental puzzles – in this case using the hot Magran’s Fury to burn through some brambles – and unlock your first class ability.

Now you’ll face your first choice, on whether to trust the stranger Ilora and free her or whether to leave her in prison. This won’t have a huge impact, but there will be some consequences, so choose carefully!

Either way, keep pressing forward, fighting enemies and burning brambles, until you’re able to sail to Paradis.

Message from Afar

The “Message from Afar” quest in Avowed is a pivotal early main story mission that introduces players to the dangerous Living Lands and their mysteries. After surviving a shipwreck, you meet new allies, including the companion Kai, and are tasked with investigating a troubling plague affecting the region. The quest involves navigating through the bramble-covered Strangleroot area, battling corrupted creatures like the Dreamthrall Brown Bear, and uncovering clues about the affliction. Successfully completing this quest rewards you with the powerful Unflinching Duty shield, enhancing your defense and parrying skills, which is crucial for surviving the challenges ahead in the game.

When you make it to Paradis in Dawnshore, you’ll learn that your contact has gone missing. You’ll meet your first companion, Kai, and learn that he can burn brambles with his blunderbuss. Who needs mushrooms anyway?

Once you find the ambassador, you’ll need to kill an infected bear. Then commune with the adra to speak to the strange voice in your head.

If you accept the Voice’s help, you’ll get the Godlike ability Dream Touch, which heals and revives allies while dealing damage to nearby Delemgan, Dreamthralls, and Vessels. If you instead choose to reject the help, you’ll get a bonus ability point.

An Untimely End

In “An Untimely End,” the main quest in Avowed, the protagonist begins with a shocking assassination attempt in the city of Paradis, where they are struck by a poisoned arrow. Miraculously surviving thanks to a mysterious force, the player embarks on a tense investigation to uncover their would-be assassin. The quest involves gathering clues by reporting to the ambassador, meeting the tracker Marius, exploring key locations like the Temple of Ondra and Claviger’s Estate, and ultimately confronting the killer, Ygwulf. Players face a critical choice to either spare or kill Ygwulf, each decision carrying distinct consequences for future events in the game. This quest sets a gripping tone for the unfolding story, blending intrigue, combat, and moral dilemmas in the richly detailed world of Avowed.

No spoilers, because there’s a pretty big story beat here, but once you get through it, you’ll be trying to solve a crime. Meet Marius, your newest companion, to help you track down the culprit.

Marius will point out where he thinks the crime was committed, and you’ll be able to find some evidence there that will lead you to the Apothecarist. When you arrive, he’ll be being threatened by local thugs – defeat them and their leader. This won’t make you popular in town, so watch out for people coming after you after this!

Once you save him, the Apothecarist will point you in a new direction, so head to the Temple of Ondra. Then track the culprit through the cisterns, fighting anyone who gets in your way.

Once you find the person in question, you’ll have a choice about if you should kill or spare them. This one is pretty influential on outcomes in the late-game, although it won’t affect how you play the rest of the game directly.

After choosing, you’ll be asked to visit a Watcher, a local spiritual advisor, and then sent off to the second area of the game, Emerald Stair.

The Animancy Method

The Animancy Method is a main quest in Avowed that takes players to the city of Fior mes Iverno, an intellectual hub of animancers. In this quest, you assist Giatta and her associates with their Animancy project, which involves investigating the Dreamscourge afflicting the region. The quest includes multiple objectives such as speaking with key characters like the governor and Giatta, consulting with experts, retrieving an Adragan Heart, and using it in an Animancy Device. Completing this quest rewards you with Giatta as a companion, valuable items, and experience points, while also advancing the main storyline by uncovering deeper mysteries of the Living Lands.

In the city of Fior mes Invèrno, find the governor, who will point you in the direction of Giatta, your third companion. Giatta is an “animancer” – a type of magic-user who deals with puppeting the soul. You’ll have to run errands for several of her friends before she’ll be ready to travel with you.

You can tackle these errands in any order, but chatting with Ivette and Remi at the docks and helping Elia deal with a feral revenant are fairly straightforward. The third errand, collecting an Adragan Heart for Monto Pastor, is a bit more involved.

You’ll need to head to the Delemgan Glade and ask the queen for the heart. If you can avoid combat with the enemies outside the queen’s area, you should be able to persuade her to hand it over peacefully via dialogue options. However, this is easier said than done! If you’re even spotted by her guards en route to her chamber, you’ll have a pretty big fight to deal with when it comes to the queen herself.

Whether or not that went smoothly, return the heart to Monto and (if necessary) complete the other quests for Giatta’s friends. You’ll have to head down to Giatta’s basement and learn a bit about her backstory, and then you’ll have your third companion.

Ancient Soil

The “Ancient Soil” quest in Avowed is a pivotal main story mission that takes players to the Godless Ruins of Naku Tedek, located southwest of Fior mes Iverno in the Emerald Stair region. Accompanied by the NPC Giatta, you explore the depths of these ancient ruins to locate a massive Adra pillar hidden deep within the soil, which holds the key to understanding and combating the Dreamscourge afflicting the land. This quest involves navigating hazardous environments, solving puzzles, and confronting formidable enemies, all while making critical choices that influence the fate of Fior and your character’s powers. It is considered a major point of no return in the game, so preparation and strategic decisions are essential before embarking on this journey.

[Note: This section contains extra spoilers.]

The main quest “Ancient Soil” will send you to Naku Tedek, some ruins towards the south of Emerald Stair. You’ll need to have Giatta with you for this quest.

However, there’s a good reason not to go Naku Tedek right away. Instead, go to the Waterfall Cave and see what you discover there.

Once you do go to Naku Tedek, follow along with Giatta’s experiments. When you get to a closed door, don’t forget that Giatta can electrify the wall switches. Watch out for the traps and enemies on your way down into the depths of the ruins.

In the room with the corpse pinned down with a weapon, you can either pick up the Giant’s Slumber, a unique one-handed melee weapon, and fight two waves of strong spectres, blights, and scourges, or leave it alone and continue unscathed. Either way, you’ll only be one fight with a bunch of Xaurips and a miniboss mushroom from communing with the adra.

You’ll also have to decide whether to send the animancers to Thirdborn or Paradis?

You’ll have a choice to accept or reject a gift here. Accepting will get you the Godlike ability Thorn of Sapadal, which fires a thorn of energy that pierces, deals damage, and roots enemies in place. Rejecting the power grants you a bonus ability point.

A Path to the Garden

A Path to the Garden is a key main quest in Avowed that begins immediately after completing the quest Ancient Soil. In this quest, players journey to the hostile region of Shatterscarp and the settlement of Thirdborn to meet Yatzil, who holds crucial information about the mysterious Garden and the Godless civilization. Along the way, you encounter Captain Aelfyr at the Shatterscarp Gatehouse, where you must decide whether to cooperate or engage in combat. This quest tests your combat skills and decision-making as you navigate dangerous landscapes filled with Dreamthralls and uncover important story developments that influence your path forward.

Head to Thirdborn to meet with Yatzli.

On your way, you’ll have to talk to the Steel Garrote captain, Aelfyr, and fight some Dreamthrall outside the city before you can get in, but otherwise this quest is very straightforward.

Face Your Fears

In the “Face Your Fears” quest in Avowed, you venture into Ryngrim’s Domain, a mysterious and perilous area located in the Shark’s Teeth region of Shatterscarp. Your mission is to restore a shattered statue by finding its missing parts-the hand, heart, and head-each hidden in dangerous locations. This quest requires careful preparation, as enemies you face are of high quality, so upgrading your weapons and armor is essential. You will also need the companion Yatzli, who can dispel illusions and assist you throughout the quest. The journey involves navigating through challenging enemies and eerie environments before confronting Ryngrim herself, making this a critical step in advancing the main story and unlocking new companion dynamics.

Now that you’ve officially recruited Yatzli, head to Ryngrim’s Domain, in the northeast of Shatterscarp, with her in your party. There’s a camp in Shark’s Teeth that you’ll pass on the way, so you can add her there if you don’t want her in your regular rotation.

Use her ability to dispel illusions and head into the icy area, following the path until the archmage asks you to reassemble a statue. Explore around to find the three pieces you’ll need.

Once the statue is complete, it’ll teleport you to the tower. Be prepared for a big fight with multiple waves of skeletons and spectres.

After speaking to Ryngrim, you’ll be able to teleport out of the tower.

Shadows of the Past

The “Shadows of the Past” quest in Avowed becomes available immediately after completing the main quest “Face Your Fears.” In this quest, players journey to the ancient Godless site of Naku Kubel in Shatterscarp alongside the companion Yatzli. They must dispel an arcane barrier blocking entry, investigate the ruins, and undergo a series of trials testing strength, wisdom, and resolve. During these trials, players confront Ekidan spirits and uncover vital clues about the origins of the Dreamscourge and the elusive Garden. The quest culminates in an encounter with the deity Sapadal and sets the stage for further revelations in the main story, rewarding the player with a unique Godlike ability upon completion.

Head north to Naku Kubel, again with Yatzli in your party. Enter the tower and complete the three trials: Strength, Wisdom, and an unnamed test of your soul. When you’ve finished the trials, you’ll be able to speak with the voice at the adra.

Once again, you’ll have a choice between accepting and rejecting their power for different abilities, but it will also depend on another choice made at the end of the quest.

For now, the tower is filling with Dreamthrall that seem to be endless, so make your escape.

Speak with Lödwyn and Ryngrim. You’ll have a big choice to make about what to do about the Dreamscourge here, so it may be worth making a save if you want to see the eventual impact of both outcomes.

• If you accept the offer and destroy the ruins, you’ll get the ability Scion of the Immortal Land, which increases your damage and regenerates your health for 12 seconds.
• If you accept the offer and sever the adra, you’ll get the ability Severed Branch, which grants you maximum move speed for 20 seconds.
• If you reject the offer, whatever you choose next, you’ll get a bonus ability point.

Return to Thirdborn to close out this quest.

Our Dreams Divide Us Still

The main quest “Our Dreams Divide Us Still” in Avowed propels players into a critical phase of the story where they must navigate through Galawain’s Tusks to locate the secretive Garden. Along the way, players confront the Warden Council in Solace Keep and face off against Inquisitor Lodwyn and her Dreamthrall minions. Key decisions during this quest, such as whether to save or doom Solace Keep by manipulating the sluice gates, significantly impact the fate of the region and the rewards gained, including the potential to secure the Bastion of Solace. This mission blends exploration, combat, and pivotal choices that shape the narrative and the player’s abilities moving forward.

Head to Galawain’s Tusks. You’ll be able to get as far as seeing the Garden in the distance, but won’t be able to cross the sea to it, so you’ll have to head to Solace Keep. Be sure to have Marius in the party to get in, but even when you do, they won’t help, so head back out to find the Steel Garotte.

After making your way through their camp, you’ll get a chance to speak to Lödwyn. If you agree with her plan, and your previous actions have impressed her, you can avoid a fight, but otherwise, defeat her. Then interact with the adra.

Accept help to get the ability Seeds of Vengeance, which replaces Dream Touch for the same effect while also adding three corpses as allied puppets. Reject it for another ability point.

Head back to Solace Keep and from there, through the lava tubes. When you finally reach Kostya, you’ll get to decide what happens to the city. After that, head to the Garden.

The Heart of the Living Lands

The Heart of the Living Lands is a pivotal main quest in Avowed that takes players deep into the mysterious and dangerous region known as The Garden. In this quest, you must navigate treacherous terrain, confront formidable enemies like Maegfolcs and Dreamthralls, and explore key locations such as the Enclosed Grove Camp, Maegfolc Graveyard, and the Broken Aqueduct. A critical choice awaits at the climax of the quest where you can either destroy or free Sapadal, each option granting a unique powerful ability that influences the story’s outcome. This quest blends exploration, combat, and narrative decisions, making it central to uncovering the secrets and challenges at the heart of the Living Lands.

As you progress through the Garden, you will also get the quest Pulling Back the Veil which, though marked as a Main Story quest, appears to be entirely optional. It involves helping your companions learn important lessons; speak to them when prompted if you want to complete these objectives.

Otherwise, keep going until you fight a Pristine Maegfolc, and when you do, be sure to pick up its arm as you’ll need it shortly. After you repeat this with two arms, you’ll be at a major point of no return, so save if you want to.

In the following cutscene you’ll make a major decision. This will have various outcomes for the world depending on your earlier choices, but you’ll also get a final ability.

• If you choose “destroy,” you’ll gain the ability Woedica’s Call, which summons a maegfolc to fight on your side.
• If you don’t choose “destroy,” you’ll get Sapadal’s Fury, which lifts all enemies and slams them into the ground again.

The Siege of Paradis

The Siege of Paradis is a pivotal main quest in Avowed where the player returns to the city of Dawnshore to find it under attack by the Steel Garrote and Inquisitor Lodwyn. The mission involves speaking with the leaders of the Living Lands to decide whether to help or oppose Lodwyn, a choice that significantly affects your relationships with companions and the quest’s progression. Players must fight through waves of enemies to take control of the Eastern Gate and Main Plaza before confronting Lodwyn in a decisive battle. The outcome of this quest shapes the future of the Living Lands and leads directly to the game’s conclusion.

This final quest may look very different for you depending on the choices that have led you hear, but speak with the leaders of the Living Lands and then head to Paradis.

Save before speaking to Lödwyn, as this is essentially the final point of no return.

You’re most likely going to have to kill Lödwyn again, unless you can convince her based on your actions that you’re actually on her side, in which case congratulations, monster.

What crucial choices shape the fate of the Living Lands in Avowed

The crucial choices that shape the fate of the Living Lands in Avowed revolve around three major decisions: the fate of Sapadal, the political future of the Living Lands, and the outcome of the conflict with Inquisitor Lödwyn.

1. Sapadal’s Fate: You can choose to either free Sapadal, the god residing in your head, allowing it to understand its purpose and take an active interest in the people, or destroy Sapadal, which results in its complete disappearance and an eerie silence in the world.

2. Political Choice: You decide whether the Living Lands become a unified independent nation, a colony of the Aedyran Empire, or something in between (a grefram). Uniting the Living Lands leads to the happiest ending with local leaders cooperating and animancers practicing freely. Making the Living Lands an Aedyr colony brings a central government but also tensions and restrictions, such as animancers forced underground and ongoing conflicts. The grefram option is a compromise that satisfies no one fully but maintains relative peace.

3. Final Confrontation with Lödwyn: Defeating or siding with Lödwyn dramatically affects the region’s future. Defeating Lödwyn can lead to peace and eradication of the Dreamscourge, while siding with him and the Steel Garrote enforces a harsh regime outlawing all but Woedica’s worship, instilling fear among the populace.

Additionally, gaining unanimous support from regional leaders like those of Fior mes Iverno, Thirdborn, and Solace’s Keep through various quests and decisions influences the political outcome and stability of the Living Lands.

These intertwined choices culminate in multiple distinct endings that determine the political landscape, religious freedom, and societal peace of the Living Lands.

How does siding with Lodwyn or Sapadal change the Living Lands’ future

Siding with Sapadal or Lödwyn in Avowed leads to dramatically different futures for the Living Lands:

• Siding with Sapadal: If you spare and free Sapadal, the godlike presence becomes a benevolent force that interacts with the world and its people, fostering a more independent and harmonious Living Lands. This choice tends to result in the Living Lands becoming a vassal or grefram state under the Aedyran Empire, where local leaders cooperate and animancers can practice their craft more freely. Sapadal’s influence brings hope and a sense of connection to the land, as the godlike gradually repairs their statue and enjoys nature again.

• Siding with Lödwyn: Choosing to side with Inquisitor Lödwyn means embracing the harsh rule of the Steel Garrote. After defeating Sapadal and taking Lödwyn’s place, you enforce a strict regime that promotes the exclusive worship of Woedica and suppresses other beliefs and freedoms. The Steel Garrote tightens its grip on the Living Lands, ruling with fear and paranoia. This path leads to a more tyrannical future where the godlike is free from Sapadal’s voice but faces ongoing threats and unrest under the new order.

In summary, siding with Sapadal nurtures a hopeful, if politically complex, future with some autonomy and spiritual connection, while siding with Lödwyn ushers in authoritarian control marked by religious oppression and fear.