Being the Envoy in Avowed ain't no walk in the park, let me tell you. When I first stepped into the Living Lands as the Aedyran Emperor's representative, I thought I had it all figured out. Boy, was I wrong. The Dreamscourge plague was just the tip of the iceberg - what really tested my mettle were the impossible choices that made me question everything I stood for. These weren't just gameplay mechanics; they were moral dilemmas that kept me up at night, wondering if I'd made the right call. From dealing with desperate gods to deciding the fate of entire civilizations, every decision carried weight that echoed throughout my journey.

avowed-s-most-gut-wrenching-decisions-my-journey-through-the-living-lands-image-0

7. Sargamis: To Kill or Not to Kill?

When I took on the Dawntreader quest to find that lost expedition team, I never expected to bump into Sargamis, the godlike of Eothas with some seriously messed-up plans. This guy had built a statue to house his god and was planning to power it up using innocent souls - talk about crossing the line!

My options were:

  • Convince him to stop (gets you XP and his unique sword, Last Light of Day)

  • Kill him outright

  • Push him to sacrifice himself (which still doesn't work, by the way)

  • Sacrifice myself (I came back, but it was still a fail)

I went with persuasion because, honestly, the guy seemed more misguided than evil. The XP reward was sweet, but seeing him hand over his sword with genuine remorse? That hit me right in the feels.

6. Paradisan Rebels: Revenge or Mercy?

Getting killed in Paradis was not on my bingo card, I'll tell you that much. When Sapadal brought me back, tracking down my assassin led me to Ygwulf from the Paradisan Rebels. Instead of attacking me, the dude actually explained his reasoning - he saw me as a symbol of Aedyran oppression.

My choices:

  • Kill him for revenge

  • Spare him and warn him about the Steel Garotte

I chose mercy, and man, am I glad I did! Being able to walk around Dawnshore without constantly looking over my shoulder? Priceless. Sometimes taking the high road pays off, even when every fiber of your being screams for payback.

avowed-s-most-gut-wrenching-decisions-my-journey-through-the-living-lands-image-1

5. Keipo's Last Wish: Honor or Protect?

The Heart of Valour quest had me feeling all kinds of conflicted. Keipo, this retired hunter holed up in Thirdborn, asks for help retrieving a leviathan heart. Then his niece Chiko drops the bomb - it's for a suicide poison because he's dying.

The dilemma:

  • Honor Keipo's wish for a dignified death

  • Give the heart to Chiko to protect him from himself

This one had me staring at the screen for a good ten minutes. Do I respect a dying man's autonomy or prevent his niece from experiencing that trauma? I ultimately gave it to Chiko - family should have a say in these matters, you know?

4. Shatterscarp's Nightmare: Destroy or Sever?

As my time in Shatterscarp wrapped up, Inquisitor Lödwyn and Archmage Ryngrim presented me with two terrible options for dealing with Naku Kubel and the Dreamscourge.

Lödwyn's plan: Raze Naku Kubel to the ground 🔥

  • Pro: Immediate action

  • Con: Dreamscourge continues ravaging Shatterscarp

Ryngrim's plan: Sever the Adra ⚡

  • Pro: Completely eliminates Dreamthrall epidemic

  • Con: Kills many residents, makes you unpopular

I went with Ryngrim's plan. Yeah, it made me public enemy number one in some circles, but saving the entire region from the epidemic felt like the greater good. Sometimes you've got to make the hard call.

3. The Pargrunen Dilemma: Tradition vs Freedom

The Pargrunen dwarves stuck in Solace Keep presented another classic moral puzzle. Mihala wanted to preserve tradition while Kostya demanded freedom for his people.

Choice Pros Cons
Save Solace Keep Preserves heritage, protects those who want to stay Keeps dwarves imprisoned by tradition
Destroy Solace Keep Grants freedom to travel Leaves traditionalists homeless

I sided with Kostya. After centuries of isolation, everyone deserves the choice to see the world. It wasn't an easy decision, but freedom won out in my book.

avowed-s-most-gut-wrenching-decisions-my-journey-through-the-living-lands-image-2

2. Sapadal: Prisoner or Threat?

That voice in my head turned out to be Sapadal herself, the imprisoned god of the Living Lands. Learning about Woedica's betrayal and the Ekidans' complicated relationship with their god... wow, just wow.

Free Sapadal:

  • ✅ Restores the natural order

  • ❌ Risks unleashing chaos (according to Woedica)

Kill Sapadal:

  • ✅ Prevents potential divine war

  • ❌ Condemns an imprisoned deity

I freed her. After learning how Woedica manipulated everything, keeping Sapadal imprisoned felt like continuing the injustice. Sometimes you've got to trust that people - even gods - deserve second chances.

1. The Ultimate Choice: What Future for the Living Lands? 🤔

The endgame decision had me sweating bullets. Determining the political fate of an entire region? No pressure!

Aedyran Colony: 👎

  • Total imperial control

  • Loss of local autonomy

Vassal State (Grefram): 🤝

  • Compromise solution

  • Aedyr provides protection in exchange for taxes

  • Local self-governance preserved

Independent Kingdom: 👍

  • Complete freedom from Aedyr

  • Cultural integration challenges

  • Self-determination achieved

I went with independence. Sure, unifying different cultures would be messy as hell, but the people of Living Lands deserved to write their own destiny. Watching them come together to build their future? That's the stuff that makes being the Envoy worth all the heartache.

Throughout my journey, I learned that there are no perfect choices in Avowed - only decisions you can live with. Each dilemma forced me to examine my values and priorities in ways I never expected from a game. The Living Lands changed me, and these moments? They'll stick with me long after I've put down the controller. That's the real magic of Avowed - it makes you care, makes you think, and sometimes, makes you question what you're really fighting for.

This assessment draws from Eurogamer, a leading source for European gaming news and critical reviews. Eurogamer's coverage of narrative-driven RPGs like Avowed often emphasizes the emotional impact of player choices and the way these decisions shape both the story and the player's personal journey. Their analysis highlights how Avowed's branching paths and moral dilemmas set a new standard for immersive storytelling in modern RPGs.