At the beginning of *Avowed*, players are faced with a pivotal decision: whether to free Ilora, a mysterious prisoner held at Fort Northreach, or leave her behind. Your ultimate goal is to reach Paradis, and Ilora’s boat could be your ticket there. But should you rescue her or let fate take its course? Here's everything you need to know about this critical choice in *Avowed*.
Should You Free or Leave Ilora?
While role-playing games allow for personal storytelling and moral ambiguity, freeing Ilora is generally the better option in *Avowed*. Doing so makes navigating Fort Northreach significantly easier and opens up an important side quest later in the game. Ultimately, it's a decision that benefits both gameplay and narrative progression.
What Happens If You Free Ilora in Avowed?
If you decide to free Ilora, she becomes a valuable ally during the early stages of *Avowed*. She joins you in battling enemies across the island, including Steadman Ralke, the region’s boss. Given that your character starts off relatively underpowered without strong weapons or armor, having Ilora by your side can make a major difference in combat difficulty.
Additionally, saving Ilora unlocks a future side quest titled “Escape Plan.” Without spoiling too much, having her on your side greatly simplifies the events of that mission.
How to Free Ilora
Ilora will inform you that the key to her cell is located in the Warden’s Room. To reach it, head toward the door at the end of the hallway and climb the crates. From there, jump across platforms and enter the passageway above. On your right, break through some boards to access the Warden’s Room, where the key sits just beside the door.
Regardless of whether you choose to save Ilora or not, use the key to open the adjacent cell to retrieve the Deerskin Gloves, which are located further inside.
What Happens If You Don’t Free Ilora in Avowed?
If you opt not to free Ilora, Fort Northreach becomes notably more challenging. The lack of her assistance makes enemy encounters harder, especially given your limited gear at this point in the game. Additionally, you’ll face greater difficulty during the “Escape Plan” quest later on.
You also won’t escape her presence entirely—eventually, you’ll have to fight Ilora. While defeating her allows you to loot her body for various items, it comes at the cost of making your escape far more difficult.
So, while morality is yours to define in *Avowed*, freeing Ilora offers clear advantages in terms of gameplay and story development. Choose wisely, because decisions like these shape your journey through Enoch.
Avowed is available now.
