Navigating the intricate world of Avowed, players are bound to stumble upon the early yet unforgettable Dawntreader quest. This side adventure plunges the Envoy into the depths of a cave system housing a temple dedicated to Eothas, where the search for a missing expedition quickly spirals into a profound moral dilemma. At its heart is Sargamis, a godlike priest whose calm exterior masks a turbulent soul scarred by divine abandonment. His desperate plan? To resurrect his god within a colossal statue, forcing a confrontation—a scheme funded by the essence of slain temple visitors. Discovering this dark secret places a weighty decision in the player's hands: does Sargamis deserve redemption, or does justice demand his end? 🤔

⚔️ The Path of Judgment: What Happens If You Kill Sargamis?

For many Envoys, Sargamis's crimes—the ritualistic killings to fuel his twisted ritual—are unforgivable. Avowed provides several direct methods to deliver this verdict. The most straightforward is selecting the attack dialogue option after confronting him with the truth. But is there a more... poetic form of justice? Absolutely. If you first allow his ritual to fail, a persuasive Envoy can convince Sargamis that only his own sacrifice can complete the work. Choosing this path leads to a non-violent end; pressing a nearby button disintegrates the godlike in a flash of light, a fate arguably of his own making.

Regardless of the method, the practical rewards are consistent:

• Quest Completion XP: A solid chunk of experience for progressing the Dawntreader questline.

• The Loot: You can claim The Last Light of Day, Sargamis's flaming sword, from his remains. This weapon stands as one of the best early-game items in Avowed, a powerful incentive for any combat-focused build.

Afterward, the quest concludes by reporting back to either the temple entrance or the embassy in Paradis. It's a clean, decisive ending—but is it the most interesting one? 🗡️

✨ The Path of Mercy: What Happens If You Redeem Sargamis?

Here's where Avowed's role-playing depth truly shines. While one mercy kill option exists (convincing him to sacrifice himself), there's a far more complex route to genuine redemption. This requires navigating a challenging dialogue tree, potentially needing specific character backgrounds or a Perception score of at least 2. By logically dismanting his belief that the statue can ever work, you can shatter Sargamis's conviction, leading him to question everything—his god, his purpose, and his heinous actions.

In this moment of crisis, he turns to you for guidance. The game presents four potential futures for the repentant priest:

1. Aid the Living Lands: Channel his energies into helping the frontier colony.

2. Return to Deadfire: Seek answers or atonement in the familiar islands.

3. Find Other Godlikes: Use his unique nature to seek out and help others like him.

4. Let Him Decide: Leave the choice in his hands (though this can sometimes bug out and prevent further interaction!).

The beauty of this choice? You still get the sword! 🎁 After deciding his fate, take the elevator out of the temple and then return to Sargamis's room. Speak to him about his new mission, and he will gratefully hand over The Last Light of Day as a token of thanks—no bloodshed required. It's the ultimate win-win for pragmatists who also value narrative richness.

🤷‍♂️ So, Which Choice is "Best"? A Guide to Maximizing Your Experience

Let's break it down. From a purely reward-based perspective, both paths yield the same legendary sword and experience. The real difference is narrative and long-term consequence.

Choice	Immediate Reward	Long-Term Narrative Impact	Moral Weight
Kill Sargamis	The Last Light of Day, XP	Clean end, no loose ends.	Punitive justice.
Redeem Sargamis	The Last Light of Day, XP, Continued Interaction	Sargamis may return later, enriching the world.	Offers redemption and more story content.

Why choose redemption? Simply put, more content is more interesting! Avowed is celebrated for choices that matter, and sparing Sargamis creates a living reminder of your decision. He becomes a potential recurring character, a testament to the game's reactive world. His actions were vile, but his remorse, when properly coaxed, feels genuine. Isn't the potential for a changed life more compelling than a simple corpse? 😉

Furthermore, the Dawntreader quest isn't over after Sargamis! A crucial follow-up decision awaits. Using an adra pillar, the mysterious voice in the Envoy's head will ask to claim the now-empty statue as a vessel. If Sargamis is redeemed, he will even ask about the statue's fate, though he respectfully accepts your decision. Similar to the priest's own fate, allowing the voice to claim the statue unlocks more potential future content compared to destroying it.

🎮 Final Verdict: It's Your Story

Ultimately, the "best" choice aligns with how you role-play your Envoy.

• Playing a pragmatic or vengeful character? Sargamis's crimes demand retribution. Execute him and take the sword.

• Playing a diplomatic, inquisitive, or merciful character? The redemption path offers deeper narrative layers, more dialogue, and the same tangible reward.

The Dawntreader quest is a masterclass in Avowed's design philosophy: presenting players with meaningful choices that lack a purely "optimal" solution. Whether you bring the light of justice or the light of forgiveness to Sargamis, your journey through the Living Lands will be uniquely shaped by that decision. So, what will your legacy be? 🔥