Home News "Should You Free Ilora in Avowed: A Decision Guide"

"Should You Free Ilora in Avowed: A Decision Guide"

by Nora May 13,2025

At the beginning of Avowed, you face a pivotal decision: whether to free a mysterious prisoner named Ilora from her cell at Fort Northreach or leave her behind, with the ultimate goal of using her boat to reach Paradis. Here's a detailed look at whether you should free or leave Ilora in Avowed.

Should You Free or Leave Ilora?

In Avowed, the choice to free Ilora is highly recommended. Not only does it align with a more compassionate approach, but it also significantly eases your journey through Fort Northreach and unlocks a beneficial 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 in Avowed comes with multiple advantages. She assists you in defeating enemies on the island, including the formidable boss, Steadman Ralke. Given that you start the game with limited strength and subpar weapons and armor, Ilora's help is invaluable in making the level more manageable.

Moreover, freeing Ilora paves the way for the "Escape Plan" side quest later in the game, which becomes much easier to complete with her assistance.

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 need to retrieve the key from the Warden’s Room. Head to the end of the hallway, climb up the crates, and jump across to the other platform. Enter the passageway above, break through the boards on your right, and descend into the Warden’s Room. The key to Ilora's cell is right beside the door. Additionally, use this key to unlock the adjacent cell to obtain the Deerskin Gloves.

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

Choosing not to free Ilora makes your journey through Fort Northreach much more challenging. You'll face greater difficulty not only in the immediate area but also in the "Escape Plan" quest later on. Furthermore, instead of gaining an ally, you'll have to confront and fight Ilora, complicating your escape. On the upside, defeating her allows you to loot her body, providing you with additional items.

In conclusion, freeing Ilora in Avowed is the better choice for a smoother and more rewarding gameplay experience.

Avowed is available now.