When you first load into Avowed, you’re thrust onto a mysterious island where you’ll also start the opening quest of the game.
This is called On Stranger Shores and while it gives you an introductory look as to what to expect, you’ll also be given your first major choice to make.
This is whether you should free or leave Ilora, a character that has quite a story to tell, and here, we’ll take you through what each outcome looks like.
Avowed Stranger Shores: Free or leave Illora?
After beginning On Stranger Shores by talking to your fellow survivor Garryck, you’ll be taken through a bit of a tutorial, getting accustomed to the weapon mechanics, and taking on some enemies.
Once you learn how to do power attacks, you’ll then reach a jail area where you’ll find the character in question — Ilora — who is locked in a cell.
Upon talking to her, she is quite a hostile person and states that soldiers put her behind bars for the unjust reason of simply defending herself.
Garryck thinks this a bit of a ploy just to get out of prison, leaving it up to you to make the ‘right’ decision.
If you choose to free her, you’ll then need to find the Fort Northreach Jail Key which requires some traversal upward and then down through a broken part of the floor.
Using the key on the jail cell will let Illora out and she will join your party for the remainder of your time on this island, aiding you in defeating enemies as you progress toward her boat.
If you choose to leave Illora there, you won’t have her help in the quest, making things a little harder since there are a bunch of enemies to take on.
Additionally, as you progress through the game, you’ll learn that Illora makes it out of the cell anyway and will actually become an adversary that you will need to fight.
What we recommend is that you free her since the rest of the quest will go more smoothly and you won’t need to fight her when she ultimately escapes anyway later down the line.
