Choose Your Fate in Avowed: Lödwyn’s Ruins or Ryngrim’s Adra?

Avowed presents players with numerous challenging decisions, and the main story quest “Echoes of the Past” illustrates this well. Throughout the quest, players face various trials as they navigate through the remnants of Naku Kubel, engaging in dialogue with Sadapal via an Adra Pillar within the ruins. Upon completion of the quest, players are confronted with a choice: either let Archmage Ryngrim sever the region’s adra network from the Living Lands, or allow Inquisitor Lödwyn to demolish the ruins, along with the Dreamthralls residing within.

In the game Avowed, decisions aren’t always clear-cut with good vs evil options. Consequently, picking the right course might prove challenging. Essentially, both choices carry distinct outcomes, implying that there’s no straightforward solution in this scenario. A player’s choice ultimately depends on what they perceive as the best option based on the decisions they’ve made prior to this point. In Shadows of the Past, which is situated in Avowed‘s third region, players will have a more defined path and character for their Envoy. However, understanding the outcomes of each path can help make the decision-making process easier.

What Happens If You Side With Inquisitor Lödwyn & Destroy The Ruins

Destroying The Ruins Will Allow The Dreamscourge To Spread To Thirdborn

It’s hardly unexpected that Inquisitor Lödwyn proposes a solution aligned with Steel Garrote’s agenda at Naku Kubel, considering her past actions portrayed in both “Avowed” and “Pillars of Eternity 2”. By choosing to side with Lödwyn, the player allows her to level the ruins. This decision serves as a potential starting point for Lödwyn’s quest to eliminate not only the Dreamscourge but also Sapadal. While this choice doesn’t necessarily bind players to always aligning with Lödwyn in future events, it is presented as a significant milestone in the development of the Envoy’s relationship with her.

After the ruins are demolished, the Dreamscourge epidemic is likely to infect Thirdborn. As previously shown in the game, Dreamscourge contamination often results in prolonged suffering and aggressive outbursts among its victims. Consequently, opting for this action may lead to a grim existence for certain Thirdborn citizens. It’s important to note that this decision isn’t solely about advancing the story; it also affects the new power players will acquire from the quest.

In “Shadows of the Past,” some newly acquired abilities depend on whether players chose to accept or decline Sadpal’s earlier proposition during the quest. Refusing the offer ensures the acquisition of Godlike’s Will, which confers an extra ability point for the skill tree. If the offer is accepted, the power obtained can differ based on the decision made at the end of the quest.

Should the Envoy choose allegiance with Inquisitor Lödwyn and bring about the ruins’ destruction, they will acquire the Scion of the Immortal Land ability. This is an active skill that enhances the Envoy’s attack power and enables self-healing. The skill requires 30 Essence to activate and remains effective for 12 seconds, followed by a 60-second wait before it can be activated again.

What Happens If You Side With Ryngrim & Sever The Adra

Severing The Adra Stops The Spread Of The Dreamscourge

Archmage Ryngrim is less argumentative to collaborate with compared to Inquisitor Lödwyn, but her strategy isn’t flawless either. Disconnecting Shatterscarp’s adra network from the broader Living Lands, as proposed by Ryngrim, is a significant undertaking and necessitates an enormous amount of Essence for execution. Essence is linked to souls, so employing the required quantity to detach the adra would simultaneously deplete the vitality of people residing in the adjacent city of Thirdborn.

Picking Ryngrim’s side could lead to a massive loss of lives in Thirdbord, leaving corpses scattered across Shatterscarp as a grim testament to the Envoy’s actions. On the other hand, disrupting the adra will halt the progression of the Dreamscourge in Thirdborn. This implies that, although many lives would be lost instantly, there would be no dire consequences from allowing the disease to persist in the region over time.

Picking Ryngrim’s side following Sadapal’s offer will bestow upon the Envoy the capability known as Severed Branch. This is an active skill that requires 30 Essence and boosts the Envoy’s maximum movement speed. The effect persists for 20 seconds, with a 60-second cooldown in between uses. Considering both options, it seems the wiser choice to make during “Shadows of the Past” is this one.

Why You Should Side With Ryngrim & Sever The Adra

Stopping The Spread Of The Dreamscourge Will Ultimately Save More Lives

From a role-playing perspective, choosing to support Archmage Ryngrim’s decision to cut off the adra might prove advantageous. While the immediate loss of life is concerning, it does mark an end to the region’s prolonged suffering. The alternative—permitting the Dreamscourge to persist in the region—could lead to a far greater death toll. Furthermore, the deaths that would follow from allowing the Dreamscourge to continue might be less peaceful than a swift ending brought about by a spell.

If the Envoy has agreed to Sadapal’s proposal, making the decision becomes somewhat challenging due to the allure of the Scion of the Immortal Land’s ability. The boost in damage and health recovery can significantly impact a battle’s outcome. Although additional movement speed isn’t insignificant, the advantages from Severed Branch are more dependent on the player’s strategy, whereas the Scion of the Immortal Land’s enhancements always have a substantial impact on a fight.

Similar to many decisions found within the game ‘Avowed’, there isn’t necessarily a single correct answer to the question posed in “Shadows of the Past”. Some players may choose to align with Inquisitor Lödwyn, either due to their desire to collaborate with her and the Steel Garrote or because they are drawn to mechanical advantages and prefer Scion of the Immortal Land. However, when considering this decision from a role-playing perspective, it seems that choosing Archmage Ryngrim could potentially inflict the least damage and result in a more favorable outcome for the Living Lands within ‘Avowed’.

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2025-02-17 03:57