Side quests have long defined the heart of role-playing games, turning a straightforward main story into a sprawling personal adventure. Yet many modern titles still drown players in uninspired errands devoid of charm or consequence. Avowed, Obsidian Entertainment’s 2025 fantasy RPG, breaks that mold with side content that feels meaningful, surprising, and mechanically generous. Before the gates of Paradis even swing open, the Living Lands teem with charismatic quest-givers, hidden godlike visions, and loot that can define an entire early-game build. Valuable weapons, unique trinkets, and permanent stat boosts await those willing to wander off the beaten path.
Adventurers who pause to explore the coastal cliffs, sun-dappled ruins, and cramped shantytowns around Paradis will unearth some of the most worthwhile diversions in the opening hours. The following side quests deliver not only compelling micro-narratives but also rewards that far outstrip the effort required—from a fiery one-handed sword to a pistol that crackles with lightning.
Ancient Memory — The Godlike’s Echo
Location: Watcher’s Mirror
Rewards: Remembrance of Kishamal (Godlike ability), Drawn in Winter (Hand Axe)
East of Paradis, the crumbling aqueducts and shattered arches of Watcher’s Mirror hide a secret that needs no quest giver. At the edge of a collapsed bridge, an ethereal shimmer invites interaction. This triggers a flashback with another Godlike, a fellow being touched by the same mysterious forces that mark the Envoy. The conversation matters little—whatever dialogue choices the player makes, the vision bestows the Remembrance of Kishamal, a permanent increase to maximum health. In a game where health gates can be punishing, this passive boost is invaluable.
But the ruins offer more than a soul-deep vision. Nearby, a skeletal trial pits the Envoy against waves of undead warriors. Surviving this challenge rewards the Drawn in Winter hand axe, a vicious frost-aligned weapon that can slow enemies with each strike. For melee-focused builds, combining this axe with a fire spell or a companion’s abilities creates immediate elemental synergies.
Cabin Fever — Poison Blooms at Claviger’s Landing
Location: Claviger’s Landing
Reward: Vindictive Band (Ring)
Almost immedirately after stepping out of the tutorial and meeting the first companion, Kai, the Envoy encounters Dehengen, a distressed woman near the makeshift market at Claviger’s Landing. A straightforwad extermination request quickly spirals into something far stranger. She needs her cabin cleared of “pests,” but the true nature of the infestation involves narrative twists best experienced firsthand.
Completing the quest grants the Vindictive Band, a ring that imbues critical hits with a toxic payload. Poisoned enemies suffer damage over time that continues ticking even while the Envoy switches targets or takes cover. In the early hours, few accessories offer such a reliable damage multiplier. Paired with a fast-attacking weapon, the Vindictive Band can turn quick skirmishes into effortless victories.
Dawntreader — A Blazing Sword and Climbing Grace
Location: Pilgrim’s Path
Rewards: Last Light of Day (Sword), Delver’s Caution (Ring)
Few side quests in the game’s opening arc pack as much narrative weight and tangible loot as Dawntreader. Outside the Temple of Eothas, two sentries, Secgwin and Kauia, explain that a rescue mission has gone wrong. As the Envoy, the player is welcomed into the sunlit halls to find any survivors. Inside, they meet Sargamis, the temple’s enigmatic keeper, whose fervent devotion to a dead god leads to difficult moral choices.
For those prioritizing power over piety, the optimal path is to defy Sargamis and cut him down. His corpse yields the Last Light of Day, a longsword whose blade carries permanent fire enchantment. This early weapon can ignite entire groups with a single swing, making it one of the best offensive tools available before reaching Paradis. After reporting the mission’s outcome inside the city, the quest concludes with a second reward: Delver’s Caution, a ring that boosts climbing speed and Dexterity, a precious boon for anyone who craves vertical exploration and quicker attacks.
Lost Suoles — Greed Against Seagulls
Location: Shantytown
Reward: Enchanted Suolenet (Amulet)
Just outside Paradis’ towering walls, the squalid neighborhood of Shantytown presents a request both humorous and practical. Miteno, a man completely paralyzed by his fear of seagulls, begs the Envoy to recover four Suolenets—small medallions snatched by the birds and scattered across nearby nests. The task is trivial, but the reward is uniquely lucrative.
The Enchanted Suolenet amulet adds a flat 20% bonus to all coins looted from the environment and slain foes. While this does not apply to quest rewards or merchant sales, the constant stream of extra currency adds up rapidly. Any player who enjoys hoarding gold for enchantments or unique gear will want to slot this accessory early.
Bounty Hunts — Spider Queens and Pirate Pistols
Bounty side quests in Avowed present a delightful paradox: the official bounty board sits inside Paradis, locked behind story progression, yet all targets already lurk in their lairs whether the quest is accepted or not. This means savvy explorers can claim kills, loot, and rewards before ever setting foot in the city.
Nacib the Broodmother — Ruinous Cavern
Location: Ruinous Cavern, west of Paradis
Rewards: Steel Garrote Medallion (Amulet), Steel Garrote Plate (Armor), Common Grimoire of Elements (Grimoire), bounty gold
Inside the damp, web-choked tunnels of the Ruinous Cavern, a gargantuan spider known as Nacib waits in ambush. The fight itself tests dodging and stamina management, but the cave holds a trove of valuable items. Two pieces of the sturdy Steel Garrote set—an amulet and a plate armor—lie amid the corpses of previous victims, along with a grimoire packed with elemental spells. Returning to the bounty board later secures an extra pouch of golden scellings.
Tempestuous Luandi — Ondra’s Reach
Location: Ondra’s Reach, along the eastern coast
Reward: Caeroc’s Pride (Handgun)
En route to the longer Precious Light quest, adventurers should detour to the wave-lashed cliffs of Ondra’s Reach. A pirate named Tempestuous Luandi and her crew spring an ambush, but the real treasure is the weapon they guard. Defeating Luandi grants Caeroc’s Pride, a flintlock-style handgun that fires electrified bullets. This sidearm not only shocks enemies into convulsive stuns but can also activate electrical mechanisms deep inside ancient dungeons. For gunslinger builds or mages who need a reliable off-hand tool, no other early-game firearm compares.
Precious Light — A Perilous Cargo Run
Location: Castol’s Folly
Rewards: 300 Golden Scellings, The Fantastic Alembic (Amulet)
Along the lower eastern edge of the region, the grizzled Captain Trevik waits beside a damaged ship. He needs the Envoy to transport a shipment of luminous Adra to a contact inside Paradis. Accepting the job initiates Precious Light, a lengthy journey filled with hostile wildlife, treacherous terrain, and a wealth of corpse loot along the way.
The immediate payout includes 300 Golden Scellings and The Fantastic Alembic, a glass amulet that cures status effects whenever the wearer consumes a health potion. In a game where poison, burn, and bleed can quickly spiral out of control, this item provides a massive safety net. An optional confrontation with Captain Bardatto can further escalate the adventure into a grueling boss encounter, making the entire expedition feel like a self-contained mini-campaign.
Why These Quests Matter Early On
Avowed rewards curiosity with more than just experience points. Each of these early side tasks introduces a piece of gear that can anchor a build for dozens of hours—whether it’s the frost axe Drawn in Winter, the molten sword Last Light of Day, or the zapping Caeroc’s Pride. The Godlike ability gained from the Ancient Memory bolsters survivability, while utility trinkets like the Enchanted Suolenet and The Fantastic Alembic offer long-term economic and defensive benefits.
Moreover, these quests weave the world’s lore into gameplay. Fleeting conversations with godlike echoes, desperate priests, and terrified townsfolk paint the Living Lands as a place where every ruin has a history and every coastline holds a story. For players who want to walk into Paradis fully prepared and deeply enriched, the wilds outside the city are not just a preamble—they are the true beginning of the adventure.