In the rugged, fractured landscape of Shatterscarp, where the wind carries whispers of forgotten empires and ancient magic, a seemingly straightforward mission unfolds into a profound moral test. The 'Don't Look Down' quest, discovered in the treacherous Shark's Teeth region, is not merely about delivering supplies; it is a vertical journey into the heart of human desperation and the heavy price of survival. It begins with a plea from a man named Moapo, who speaks of two brave souls single-handedly holding back a horde of Dreamthralls from a high tower. Yet, as the seeker ascends the crumbling stone of Tago's Tower, the truth becomes as perilous as the climb itself, revealing a story far darker than the one told at the base.
How to Begin the Ascent
The path to the quest starts in the northeastern reaches of Shatterscarp, within the aptly named Shark's Teeth area. One must take the southern entrance, where the air is thick with salt and the promise of danger. There, Moapo waits, his voice a mixture of urgency and awe, speaking of the incredible feat unfolding high above. He tasks the adventurer with carrying supplies to the tower's defenders, Katoa and Haiako, who are reportedly fighting a desperate, heroic battle. The quest is accepted with a simple handoff, but the journey ahead is anything but simple. The true challenge lies not in the walk to the tower, but in the formidable climb that awaits.
The Perilous Climb of Tago's Tower
Tago's Tower stands as a silent sentinel on the western edge of Shark's Teeth, a crumbling monument to a bygone age. Reaching its base is the easy part. To gain entry, one must find a small, hidden path winding to the tower's rear. There, a giant, frosted window presents the first obstacle. It cannot be opened by force alone; it requires a specific key—either the chilling power of an Eye of Rymrgand or a weapon imbued with frost damage. A single, well-placed strike shatters the ice and glass, granting passage into the dusty, silent interior.
Upon entering, the immediate instinct is to climb, but wisdom dictates a descent. One must first journey to the bottom to unbar the main door, securing an escape route. Only then does the true ascent begin. The interior is a vertical labyrinth of ancient wooden beams, precarious ladders, and ascended platforms clinging to the side walls. Yet, the most significant threat is nearly invisible: a network of deadly tripwires crisscrossing every viable path.
These traps are a silent guardian, capable of unleashing devastating force on the unwary. Each must be carefully disarmed by approaching one of their anchor points. Patience is the greatest ally here. As one climbs higher, past the skeletal remains of previous climbers, a beacon of hope appears: a yellow lever that, when pulled, disables all remaining mechanical traps in the tower. With the immediate dangers neutralized, the final stretch involves navigating a series of ancient wooden beams near the very top before finding the last ladder that leads to the summit and the awaited meeting.
The Grim Truth and the Final Choice
The climb is punctuated by a grim revelation. The scattered bodies are not those of monstrous Dreamthralls, but of Aedyrans—ordinary people who attempted this same climb. The 'dozen killings' Moapo spoke of are not acts of heroism against monsters, but a desperate, violent defense against anyone approaching the tower. Katoa and Haiako are not protectors; they are survivors, cornered and terrified, defending their precarious sanctuary with lethal force.
Reaching the summit presents a poignant and irreversible choice. The two figures, worn and wary, stand ready to defend their post. The player's words will determine their fate:
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The Path of Mercy (Non-Violent Resolution): 💬
This is the most difficult path, requiring specific prior actions in the world of Avowed. To convince Katoa and Haiako to stand down peacefully, one must have either:
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Completed a hidden quest in Scaedclef that provides crucial context or an item of persuasion.
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Recruited the companion Yatzli, whose unique connection or diplomacy can reach them where others cannot.
Choosing this path spares two lives burdened by fear and violence. However, it offers no material reward beyond the peace of a bloodless resolution and the unique armor found in the tower's chest.
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The Path of Conflict (Violent Resolution): ⚔️
Almost every other dialogue choice will inevitably lead to combat. Katoa and Haiako will fight to the death, forcing the player to cut them down. This choice yields immediate, tangible benefits:
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A substantial amount of currency.
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Exceptional gear looted from their bodies.
It is a transaction of lives for loot, a stark reflection of the world's harsh economy.
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The Summit's Prize
Regardless of the choice made above the clouds, one treasure awaits all who complete the climb. A golden chest rests at the apex of Tago's Tower. Within it lies the Thirdborn Brigandine Jack, a unique piece of armor that serves as a tangible, if silent, reward for enduring the tower's trials and bearing the weight of the decision made at its peak. It is a relic of the journey, a garment that may well carry the memory of the wind at that great height and the echoes of the choice that was left there.