In Avowed, your mission takes a dark turn when an assassin’s blade cuts your life short just before delivering a crucial message to the Aedyran Ambassador. But death is not the end. A mysterious Voice intervenes, offering you a second chance setting you on a path to uncover the truth behind your attack. As you awaken within the cosmopolitan city of Paradis, this guide will help guide you through its lethal streets, acquire highly influential allies, and hunt down your would-be murderer. From unraveling political conspiracies to battling lethal foes within hidden lairs, your pursuit of justice has just begun.
An untimely end in Avowed
Just before delivering your Message from Afar to the Aedyran Ambassador in Paradis, fate takes an unexpected turn. You fall victim to an assassin’s blade. But death may not be the end of your story. A mysterious Voice intervenes, offering you a second chance.
Awakening to a New Purpose
Your quest starts in the afterlife, as your soul floats toward the Wheel, yet to be diverted elsewhere by the mysterious Voice. It grants you another chance, and you awaken in the care of Kai and a healer named Liviana. While Liviana urges you to seek out an expert in soul-reading to understand what has happened, Kai reminds you of your duty to inform the Ambassador. With these two paths before you, the choice is yours.
Discovering Paradis: Getting Started
Take a moment to glance around before departing Liviana’s Clinic. You will notice a Health Potion and a mysterious Friendly Warning Note within reach. Stepping outside, you’ll be at the edge of the Underbelly, a seedy neighborhood of Paradis.
Your destination, the Embassy, lies uphill. Paradis is a vast city filled with secrets, so take your time exploring. Heading up the stairs left of the clinic, you’ll find a locked box at the base, if you have lockpicks, you can open it. At the top, you’ll arrive at the Administration District, where Remei Gardiola requests your help in aiding two refugees escaping their past in Shantytown, starting the Escape Plan Sidequest.
The Embassy and its Secrets
To the west of the plaza, you’ll spot a large building draped in purple and yellow flags, the Embassy. Outside, an injured soldier, Ofryc, tells you about a troubled expedition to the north and a rumored Godlike in a temple. Offering to help him starts the Dawntreader Sidequest, which may lead to a valuable weapon. Inside the Embassy, you’ll reunite with an old friend, Garryck, gather lore books, and speak with Tycg, the Ambassador’s secretary. Tycg provides insight into The Living Lands, its people, and the major settlements of Fior, Thirdborn, and Solace.
Track Down Your Killer
Finally, stepping into Ambassador Hylgard’s office, you deliver the Emperor’s missive. Your mission to investigate the Dreamscourge on behalf of the Aedyran Empire is now official. However, Inquisitor Lödwyn, more focused on insurgents than the spreading sickness, poses a new challenge. Hylgard agrees that your assassination attempt cannot go unanswered. To track your would-be killer, Kai suggests seeking out Marius, the best tracker in the Living Lands, at the Grinning Balarok tavern near Liviana’s clinic.
The Market District: A Hub of Opportunities
Leaving the Embassy, cross the Administration District’s plaza and head east to the Market District. Here, you’ll meet Sapiento de Falva, who seeks help tracking a missing shipment of Luminous Adra, starting the Precious Light Sidequest. The Market District also houses two merchants, one selling magical supplies and another offering weapons and armor. Across from the blacksmith, you’ll find a Bounty Board listing five dangerous targets across Dawnshore, including a formidable spider, Nacib, that’s worth considering early on.
Finding Marius at the Grinning Balarok
Beyond the Bounty Master, a guard checks out a body by stairs that go down into the underbelly, where the Grinning Balarok lurks. Inside, Marius is being bullied by two drunks, whether you get involved or let him deal with them is up to you. After the issue is resolved, talk to Marius and have him join as your second permanent companion. His tracking abilities enable him to point out invisible objects, making him a treasure. Check the tavern’s back alley for an destructible wall that contains a hidden chest, as well as a chest on the scaffolding of the tavern.
Following the Assassin’s Trail
With Marius at your side, return to the Administration District and head south past the Embassy to the site of your attack, your bloodstains still marking the ground. Along the way, a guard interrogates a trader about contraband.
If you inspect the cart, you’ll uncover hidden grenades, leaving you with the choice to report or ignore them. Marius determines that the assassin fired from the Embassy rooftop, making it your next stop. Climbing up the scaffolding on the Embassy’s left side, you’ll find spider-infested alleys and a path to a Derelict Garden. At the top, you’ll uncover arrows, a poisoned flask, and Blackwing Gloves in a glowing backpack.
Marius suggests an Apothecary might identify the poison, but they reside in the Pearl District, controlled by the hostile Sparrohawks gang. Before venturing into their territory, it may be wise to light the East Paradis Gate Beacon and complete any unfinished objectives.
Venturing Beyond Paradis
As you step out of Paradis through the East Gate, you’ll find yourself on a main path leading eastward toward the Southern Embrace. Here, you’ll come across the Southern Embrace Party Camp, a perfect place to rest and bond with your new companion. Kai might even have something to say about your strange return from the dead.
Further east, the bridge to the Emerald Stair remains closed until your business in Dawnshore is settled. Instead, head north, but be on guard, Shadows patrol this area, and they’re formidable enemies. If you haven’t upgraded your weapons and armor to at least +2, you might want to avoid them for now.
The God’s Gate Beacon and The Rise
Beyond the Shadows, keep an eye out for a hill to your left, where Skeletons roam the area known as Usher’s Hand. This is where Sanza’s cartographer was last seen. You can explore Usher’s Hand in-depth or take a more direct route to the God’s Gate Beacon in the north. Once inside, you’ll discover Giermund’s remains and a fragment of the Woedica Totem, both valuable finds.
The God’s Gate Beacon leads back to upper Paradis, though your journey will take you further north along the cobbled path toward The Rise. As you approach a stone bridge, be wary of a large group of Xaurips, ranging in difficulty from Level 1 to Level 2. If you want to avoid a fight, you can take a climbing path to the left and reach The Rise Party Camp safely.
A Meeting with the Watcher
The area around the Party Camp is rich with discoveries. If you’ve rested enough, you might receive a task from The Voice, directing you eastward to uncover an Ancient Memory hidden in the Godless Ruin. Heading north across the bridge, you’ll come across a ruined shrine, now dedicated to Woedica. If you break through the wooden boards at its base, you’ll find a chest containing the powerful Arcanist’s Gloves.
Speaking to the stationed soldiers reveals more about this place, and one will entrust you with the Woedica Totem Base. By placing this at your Party Camp, you unlock passive bonuses that grow stronger as you gather more fragments. Nearby, a wooden bridge is broken, but a local Eye of Rymrgand plant can be used to create an ice platform, allowing you to cross.
Into the Pearl District
Following the northern path, keep an eye out for a ridge to the left, where several aggressive black bears stand guard over a fallen skeleton. If you defeat them, you’ll be rewarded with the Wayfarer’s Ring. Continuing on, you’ll arrive at Runyd’s House, home to the local Watcher. Just below, a troubled patron wrestles with memories of a past life. Offering guidance may earn you a coin to toss into the pond behind Runyd’s house for good luck.
Inside, Runyd will provide insight into your soul’s unusual state and the mysterious Voice tied to it. While her theories raise more questions than answers, she assures you that despite your resurrection, your soul remains healthy. Before leaving, be sure to check upstairs for a gold-glowing Lockbox containing valuable Adra, which can be used to upgrade Unique Items.
The Apothecary Under Siege
With your exploration complete, it’s time to return to the Pearl District in search of an Apothecary. Upon arrival, a Sparrowhawk gang member will attempt to intimidate you but ultimately lets you pass. At the top of the district, their leader, Thalla the Taskmaster, will try the same tactic. While he won’t attack without reason, it’s clear tensions are high.
The Pearl District has several points of interest, including balconies and homes to explore. Inside one of these homes, you can locate the Thirdborn Land Deeds needed for the Escape Plan Sidequest. Just ahead, a group of thugs harasses a courtesan, but they’ll back down without a fight, allowing you to initiate the A Lady Never Tells Sidequest by visiting the nearby bathhouse.
The Fight Against Thalla
Heading left from the bathhouse, you’ll find a wooden shack with breakable boards concealing a chest. Further down the alley, in a larger yard, the Apothecary is under siege by gang members. Unlike previous encounters, this isn’t a situation you can talk your way out of, Wetenu, the thug in charge, is dead set on violence.
Choosing to call out his cowardice by saying, “Why don’t you pick on someone your own size, like my friend Kai,” will make his allies hesitant to engage. However, Wetenu himself will attack, and reinforcements will soon arrive. To survive, you’ll need to strategize and take down your enemies quickly because the real fight is just beginning. Just when you think you’re in the clear, Thalla the Ogre will come charging in from behind, ready to smash anything in his path.
Entering Hightown
Thalla wields a massive two-handed club and doesn’t hesitate to swing it with terrifying force. He’ll charge straight at you, unleashing powerful attacks that can sometimes be blocked, but don’t count on it. He’s known to unleash up to three consecutive overhead slams, forcing you to stay on your toes.
Use Marius’ brambles to root him in place, making it easier to dodge. Even when immobilized, he can still perform a deadly stomp attack. The moment you see him lift his foot, dash backward, and get out of the red circle to avoid being knocked to the ground.
Preparing for the Challenges Ahead
Before taking on Thalla, eliminate any lingering Sparrowhawks in the area so you and your team can focus entirely on him. Once he starts losing health, he’ll become even more aggressive. The real danger at this stage is his overhead slams, which now trigger a delayed, unblockable shockwave around him. You’ll have to not only dodge the initial hit but also backpedal quickly to avoid the aftershock, making counterattacks tricky.
Navigating the Mini-Dungeon
Your best strategy is to have Kai act as the main tank, drawing Thalla’s attention while you and Marius attack from behind. Coordinate your team’s abilities to keep him off balance, Kai’s jump attack, for example, can sometimes interrupt Thalla’s moves. If you can manage to fill his stun meter, you’ll have a chance to land critical hits, but be mindful, certain abilities, like the Ranger’s invisibility attack, will reset the meter.
Overcoming Traps and Enemies
When Thalla finally goes down, you can loot some Adra from his body and speak to the grateful Apothecary. Unfortunately, he won’t name the person who bought poison from him. If you press him, he’ll admit he never saw their face, only that they were dressed as a Mystic, suggesting they might be from a nearby church. Marius will suggest heading to the Temple of Ondra, while Kai will remind you that the late Claviger was also associated with Mystics, his estate might hold some clues. Both locations are in the northern part of the city, Paradis Hightown, your next destination.
Battling the Spiders of the Caverns
To reach Hightown, head back through the Administration District past the merchant stalls. Be on high alert, the town crier’s plaza is now crawling with Paradisan Rebels who’ve caught on to your investigation. Hightown itself is an upscale district, home to various shops, places of worship, and the Claviger’s Estate. There’s also some commotion at the High Market Beacon.
If you take a left across the moat, you’ll find Philosopher’s Alley, where a shady vendor named Cutty sells stolen goods. There’s also a crowd gathered around a so-called Watcher, whether you choose to expose them as a fraud is entirely up to you.
Entering the Mini-Dungeon
As you step into the mini-dungeon, you’ll follow a path leading to a spacious room with a high wooden platform that’s out of reach. Nearby, you can collect some Electric Lily Seeds to electrocute enemies and find a small crate containing a Health Potion. Heading left, you’ll enter a towering chamber with pillars where several Rebels lie in wait.
These enemies can be quite resilient, so focus on taking them down one at a time using your allies’ abilities. Marius’ entangling roots can be especially useful for immobilizing them, preventing them from flanking you. Keep an eye out for explosive red barrels, detonating them with Magran’s Fury can be a game-changer if enemies are nearby.
A Deadly Encounter with Rebels
Once you’ve cleared the first group, check to the right of a large locked door to find a Lockbox and Ygwulf’s Log 1. To unlock the door, you’ll need to explore a bit. Past an explosive barrel, look southwest for a tunnel blocked by weak wooden boards, through to find a new pathway and a corpse. In the next room, Marius will warn you about pressure plates on the floor that trigger a volley of poison darts.
You can take cover behind a large spider corpse, then jump over the plates to reach a yellow lever that disables the trap, allowing your allies to cross safely. Be sure to loot the large Treasure Chest in the corner before moving forward.
Finding Ygwulf’s Log and Unlocking the Door
As you continue, have Kai burn through some spider webbing near Ygwulf’s Log 2. The next tall chamber is filled with pillars and crawling with spiders, sniping them from a distance can help thin their numbers before engaging.
A Health Potion can be found in the center of the room, while more webbing conceals additional paths that Kai can clear. Deeper into the caverns, look for a glowing spider egg that can be burned to reveal an Essence Potion. Moving right, you’ll face more spiders, including larger and stronger ones, so take out the weaker ones quickly before focusing on the main threats.
Navigating Deadly Traps
The main path leads left past a large cavern, but take a moment to check a webbed room to the right, where a cracked wall can be blasted open with a grenade. This leads to a cistern room with more webbing to burn, revealing a locked Treasure Chest filled with loot. In the back right corner, climb a wooden platform to find a Backpack and Essence Potion, and in the back left, break open some crates to create a crawlspace leading to a corpse with a Dagger and a Skaenite Prayer.
Beyond the spider cavern, a flooded stone tunnel awaits. Use the Eye of Rymrgand along the wall to form an ice platform and jump across. The next cavern contains a water pool and ice grenades, use one to create a path to a ledge where a dead body holds the Lower Cistern Key.
Facing the Spider Nest
Moving forward, you’ll encounter a trap room with swinging pendulum blades and an enemy sniper beyond them. If you have ranged attacks, take him out first before carefully timing your movement between the blades. After disabling the trap, you’ll enter a storeroom with more Rebels, if you’re quick, you might land a powerful Godlike Thorn strike on them.
One enemy will try to snipe from above, conveniently positioned next to an explosive barrel, perfect for a well-placed grenade. Another Rebel may attempt to heal his allies, so eliminate him swiftly. After defeating them, search for grenades, a locked Treasure Chest on the ground floor, and an unlocked one on the upper level. Finally, head through the tall pillar room where more Rebels await, loot the area for potions and Ygwulf’s final notes, and push forward to uncover the dungeon’s last secrets.
Discovering Hidden Loot and Shortcuts
Before heading through the final walkway to face your next challenge, grab one last Health Potion. This is a crucial moment, and your companions have their own thoughts on what should be done—Kai believes in giving second chances, while Marius prefers eliminating threats outright. The Voice will also weigh in, taking note of your choices so far. No matter how you decide to proceed, the battle ahead won’t be easy.
Breaking Through to the Cistern Room
If you choose to fight, you’ll be up against Ygwulf and a group of rebels. Ygwulf himself is no ordinary opponent, he’s of Fine +3 Quality, making him incredibly tough even if your gear is fully upgraded. He’s a swift fighter, using twin knives to dash in and out of combat, and can even vanish at will to reposition and strike from the shadows. His one major weakness is bleeding damage, so if you have attacks that can cause it, now’s the time to use them.
Finding the Lower Cistern Key
Before focusing on Ygwulf, it’s best to take out the three assassins accompanying him. They may not be as strong, but they’ll make the fight much harder if left unchecked. If you need an edge, use the red explosive barrels scattered around the area, luring Ygwulf near them and setting them off can temporarily stun him, giving you an opening.
Ice grenades can also help slow him down. When his health drops to half, reinforcements will arrive, and he’ll use his vanish ability again. This time, he’ll retreat to the top of the stairs to heal himself. That’s why eliminating his allies early is key, otherwise, you’ll have to fight them all over again while Ygwulf recovers.
Surviving the Pendulum Trap Room
Once Ygwulf is alone, hit him with everything you’ve got. Use all available abilities to keep him from moving, stacking damage over time with effects like fire, poison, or bleed. If you manage to defeat him, you’ll obtain Ygwulf’s Key, which you’d also get by sparing him, but only by killing him will you claim the Blackwing Armor. With Ygwulf dealt with, you’re free to explore the Rebel Lair and collect loot, including a Lockbox on the bottom floor and a locked Treasure Chest upstairs. Before leaving, grab another Health Potion as you drop back down into the Cistern Entrance.
A Fierce Battle in the Storeroom
Back at the Aedyran Embassy, you’ll report to Ambassador Hylgard, who will react based on how you handled the rebels. If you let them go, you can either craft an excuse, blame someone else, or take full responsibility. No matter your response, your next mission is clear, travel to Fior mes Iverno in the Emerald Stair, where Valian animancers may have information on the Dreamscourge.
With the main path west destroyed, you’ll be given access to the eastern gatehouse bridge to leave Dawnshore. However, before you can go, Inquisitor Lödwyn makes a dramatic entrance. Though she was believed to be dead, Woedica has bound her soul to a decayed body, turning her into a relentless Death Guard.
Regardless of how you handled Ygwulf, the Ambassador will take the brunt of her wrath, sparing you for now. As you exit, a rebel named Stecg will approach you with a message based on your actions, if you spared Ygwulf, you’ll receive a Writ of Passage for safe travel in rebel territory.
