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"Should You Free Ilora in Avowed: The Decision Explained"

Author:Kristen Update:May 04,2025

At the beginning of Avowed, you're faced with a crucial decision: whether to free a suspicious prisoner named Ilora from her cell at Fort Northreach or leave her behind, with your ultimate aim being to use her boat to reach Paradis. Let's delve into the outcomes of both choices to help you decide.

Should You Free or Leave Ilora?

In Avowed, while role-playing allows for personal choice, freeing Ilora is highly recommended. This decision not only simplifies your journey through Fort Northreach but also unlocks a side quest later in the game.

What Happens If You Free Ilora in Avowed?

An image showing Garryck and Ilora talking in Avowed as part of a guide on whether or not you should free her.

Freeing Ilora proves beneficial as she assists in defeating enemies on the island, including the formidable boss, Steadman Ralke. Early in Avowed, your character lacks strong weapons and armor, making Ilora's help invaluable in navigating the challenges ahead. Moreover, freeing her not only eases your current path but also significantly simplifies the "Escape Plan" side quest later on.

How to Free Ilora

An image showing the Warden's Room in Avowed. There's a bookshelf on the right and the key to the prison cells directly in front of the player.

To free Ilora, you'll need the key located in the Warden's Room. Head to the end of the hallway, climb the crates, and jump to the adjacent platform, then into the passageway above. Break through the boards on your right to access the Warden's Room, where the key awaits beside the door. Whether you save Ilora or not, use this key to unlock the adjacent cell and retrieve the Deerskin Gloves.

What Happens If You Don’t Free Ilora in Avowed?

Choosing not to free Ilora makes Fort Northreach much tougher, and complicates the "Escape Plan" quest later. Moreover, Ilora won't remain imprisoned; you'll eventually confront her in battle, adding another layer of difficulty to your escape. On the upside, defeating her allows you to loot her body, gaining some valuable items, albeit at the cost of a more challenging experience.

In conclusion, freeing Ilora in Avowed is the optimal choice for easing your journey and unlocking additional content.

Avowed is available now.