Should you free Ilora in Avowed?

There are several choices and critical decisions you have to make throughout your time playing Avowed. They stack up throughout your playthrough, dictating how people treat you and the events that unfold, even as early as meeting Ilora shortly after you land.

When you initially meet her shortly after your ship crashes and you explore the fort, she doesn’t give you the best impression. She’s off-put by how you look, given that you’re godlike. However, because of your history, everyone has this immediate impression of you and doesn’t know how to take it. Based on her starting impression, she might not encourage you to release her from jail despite her future impact. Here’s what you need to know about whether you should free Ilora in Avowed.

Should you free Ilora from her cell in Avowed?

While Ilora is a minor NPC and brief companion, the value she adds is more than worth freeing her. She aids you during the tutorial level and even helps you against the area’s boss, Steadman Ralke—it isn’t that tough of a fight, but any help is welcome. If you do not free her, Ilora escapes on her own, turning hostile once you reach the final stages of Fort Northreach.

If you release her from her jail cell, she also plays a small part in a side quest that occurs later on. In the quest Escape Plan, Ilora offers assistance regarding a smuggler who is willing to save refugees but wants you to pay them. With Ilora’s help, she convinces them it’s a better idea to work with you rather than force the refugees to pay, and the smuggler helps the refugees at no additional cost to you. Deciding to listen to Garyck‘s reasoning, however, leads to her fighting you and not appearing during said questline, leaving you with the consequences of your actions.

So, given that freeing her is an all-around net positive, you absolutely should free Ilora from her cell, as there’s no reason not to do so (unless you’re roleplaying as a big mean Aedyran, that is).

How to free Ilora

Freeing Ilora is a simple task. To the immediate left, beside the barred door, there is a bunch of platforms you can climb. Go right up, then jump over to the other side, and climb through the ruined section of the wall. Head right again and break the crumbling wooden roof to enter the room below. On a wall inside, you should find the Fort Northreach Jail Key. Pick it up, unbar the door, return to the jail cell, and then unlock it. She’ll be mighty thankful to you and immediately join your small retinue, aiding you on your travels throughout the rest of the Fort.