At the beginning of *Avowed*, players are faced with a pivotal decision: whether to free Ilora, a mysterious prisoner locked in Fort Northreach, or leave her behind. Ultimately, your goal is to reach Paradis using her boat—but the choice you make here can significantly impact your journey ahead. Below is a detailed breakdown of the consequences and implications of each path to help guide your decision.
Should You Free or Leave Ilora?
While role-playing games allow for personal character interpretation, freeing Ilora in *Avowed* is the better option overall. Doing so makes navigating Fort Northreach easier and unlocks additional content later on, including an important side quest. Here’s what you need to know before making your choice.
What Happens If You Free Ilora in Avowed?
Freeing Ilora grants you a powerful ally early in the game. She actively assists you in battling enemies throughout Fort Northreach, including Steadman Ralke, the area’s main antagonist. Given that you start *Avowed* with limited gear and combat capabilities, having Ilora by your side can be a significant advantage.
Additionally, saving Ilora sets up a future side quest titled “Escape Plan.” While details of this mission remain spoiler-free here, it's worth noting that keeping Ilora alive streamlines its progression significantly.
How to Free Ilora
Ilora informs you that the key to her cell is located in the Warden’s Room. To retrieve it, head toward the end of the hallway and climb the crates. Leap across platforms until you find a passageway overhead. On your right, break through some wooden boards to drop into the Warden’s Room. The key will be just beside the door.
Regardless of your decision to free Ilora or not, use the key to unlock the adjacent cell to obtain the Deerskin Gloves, a useful early-game item found within.
What Happens If You Don’t Free Ilora in Avowed?
Choosing not to free Ilora makes Fort Northreach more challenging. Without her aid, you’ll face tougher battles and may struggle with enemy encounters due to your underpowered state at this stage of the game.
Later in the story, during the “Escape Plan” quest, you'll find that skipping out on helping Ilora complicates the mission further. Also, rather than remaining imprisoned, she eventually becomes hostile—forcing you into a difficult fight inside the fort.
On the upside, if you decide against freeing her, you’ll later have the opportunity to loot her body for a collection of valuable items. Just don't expect any kudos from the moral standpoint.
Ultimately, while both paths are viable, freeing Ilora provides tangible benefits and enhances your gameplay experience in *Avowed*. Choose wisely—and enjoy the adventure ahead.
*Avowed is available now.*
