After completing Avowed, I found myself delving into the myriad of possible endings, and I was taken aback by the sheer number of variations available. Among these, the most elusive and challenging conclusion requires a steadfast commitment throughout the game, ultimately leaving the Living Lands in a state of disarray, with all your companions harboring animosity towards you. Spoilers ahead for Avowed’s endings.
Exploring the Steel Garrote Ending
Throughout Avowed, players are subtly led to consider an alliance with the formidable Lödwyn, whose character embodies a blend of Kreia’s cunning and Legate Lanius’s ruthlessness, alongside her fervent Steel Garrote paladins. Similar to other endings in the game, players are not strictly barred from pursuing the Steel Garrote conclusion based on significant choices; however, a lack of ideological consistency can complicate matters.
For those eager to align with Lödwyn without meeting an untimely demise, Big Dan Gaming on YouTube has crafted a comprehensive guide. This path unlocks the coveted “Tyranny” achievement, currently claimed by a mere 0.2% of players on Steam. The key to success lies in making pro-Aedyr, pro-Lödwyn, or anti-Sapadal decisions at pivotal moments in the narrative. The essential choices include:
- Eliminate Ygwulf in Paradis.
- Allow the Steel Garrote to incinerate Fior.
- Permit Kostya to obliterate Solace Keep.
- Dispatch Sapadal in the Garden.
Securing Lödwyn’s favor through these decisions will lead to her bestowing knighthood upon you at the game’s conclusion, rather than delivering a fatal blow. However, this choice comes at a steep price: all your companions will forsake you, and the final slideshow starkly illustrates Lödwyn’s vision for the Living Lands as one dominated by oppression.
While this particular ending may not resonate with everyone, it serves as a compelling testament to the significance of player choices in Avowed. The narrative depth offered by Obsidian’s latest title rivals that of Baldur’s Gate 3, featuring quests that remain intact regardless of the order in which they are completed, and characters who reference even the most minor decisions and background details. However, Avowed does fall short in terms of systemic interactions, and it seems unlikely that any game will match the extensive edge case accommodations found in Baldur’s Gate 3.
Nonetheless, I have thoroughly enjoyed the storytelling in Avowed, as well as the fresh perspective it offers on the world of Eora, previously established in Pillars of Eternity. There may still be more to come from the Avowed universe, as project director Carrie Patel has hinted at the possibility of sequels or downloadable content in the future.
