Hey folks, it's your resident pro gamer here, fresh off another epic playthrough of Obsidian's Avowed! As a die-hard fan, I can't stress enough how this game hooks you with its massive world and endless exploration. But let's be real—between the sprawling biomes and intense main quests, it's way too easy to skip over some mind-blowing side stories that add crazy depth to the lore. Seriously, I almost missed half of these on my first run, and they're game-changers! So, buckle up as I break down the top hidden plotlines you absolutely need to catch. Trust me, these gems will make your adventure 10 times richer. 💪🔥

Now, diving into the juicy details, I've compiled the most overlooked plotlines based on my hours of grinding. Each one is a masterclass in storytelling, and missing them? Total bummer. Let's start from number eight and work our way up.

8 Keipo's Decades-Long Lie

Oh man, this one hit me hard. While roaming Thirdborn, you bump into Keipo, this legendary hunter dude who sends you on a fetch quest for a leviathan heart. Sounds simple, right? But after navigating a booby-trapped nightmare zone, I stumbled upon a journal that spilled a dark secret. Turns out, Keipo's whole rep was built on a lie from decades ago—his hunt went sideways, leading to his friend Umpara's death, and he's been covering it up ever since. The kicker? You get to decide whether to expose him to the townsfolk or keep it hush-hush. Honestly, it made me rethink how trust works in this world. Such a subtle twist that adds layers to Thirdborn's society!

7 Running An Unauthorized Experiment

Quick note: this one's super easy to skip since it's unmarked on the map. 😅 I only found it by accident while exploring Shatterscarp's burnt settlement, Scaedclef. Turns out, an Aedyran research group was supposed to study spiders, but after the Dreamscourge hit, they switched to plague research—against all warnings. Bad move! The experiment spiraled out of control, causing an outbreak that trapped the survivors. Now they're stuck hiding underground, facing starvation or Lödwyn's wrath. It's a grim reminder that curiosity can kill, and it totally amplified the tension for me in Shatterscarp.

6 A Traitor Among The Rangers

Whoa, this plotline had me on edge! After finishing a bounty in Emerald Stair, I triggered the 'Steel Resolve' side quest. Reading journal pages led me to uncover Ranger Dorso as the mole—she's secretly colluding with the Steel Garotte. Confronting her was intense, and if you follow her intel to a nearby cave, you'll clash with their soldiers. Killing them doesn't save Fior mes Iverno from attack, but it weakens Lödwyn enough for the city to rebuild later. For me, this betrayal added a spy-thriller vibe that made the Rangers feel more human and flawed.

Short but sweet: always check those journals!

5 A Possible Tragic End For The Refugees

This one broke my heart. Early on, I helped refugees Leoflaed and Glaedwine in Dawnshore, and they rewarded me with awesome armor in Thirdborn. But later, when I sided with Ryngrim's plan to stop the Dreamscourge in Shatterscarp, tragedy struck. Returning to Thirdborn, I found Glaedwine dead from Ryngrim's spell, with Leoflaed grieving. It's a brutal irony—your past kindness gets undone by one decision. As a player, it hammered home that every choice has weight, making the world feel painfully real. 💔

4 The Ekida's Hostility

As Sapadal's godlike, I expected the Ekida to welcome me with open arms. Nope! They were downright hostile after I aced their trials, hinting at unspoken sacrifices to Sapadal. Reading between the lines, it seems Sapadal might not be the benevolent victim she claims—especially with Nandru begging you to kill her. This plotline injected major conflict, turning my final decision into a moral maze. For fellow players, it's a wake-up call: don't take deities at face value!

3 Driven To Desperation

In Solace Keep, the Pargrunen are starving, and Warden Petru tries animancy to grow food—inspired by Fior mes Iverno's methods. Instead of praise, Mihala locks him up. Discovering this during side quests in Galawain's Tusks swayed my choice between Mihala and Kostya. Petru's desperation shows how far people go for survival, adding raw emotion to the faction conflict. Honestly, it made me sympathize with the underdogs big time.

2 Kostya's Secret Operation

Found this gem while roaming Galawain's Tusks pre-Solace Keep. Monks were saving books from a burning archive, and Novice Dolna asked me to hand them over secretly. Suspicious? Totally! Later, Kostya revealed Dolna was stealing books for him, part of a scheme to free his people from their oaths. It's a sneaky twist that highlights Kostya's ambition and made me question loyalty in every dialogue.

Short pause: explore early, folks!

1 Making Lödwyn Lose Her Faith

The grand finale! From the start, Giatta hints that Lödwyn lives on faith alone. I thought a boss fight was inevitable, but nope—with the right dialogue and attribute points, you can make her doubt Woedica. Watching her literally burn out from lost faith? Mind-blowing! It neutralizes the threat without violence, giving her arc a poetic end. As a pro, this taught me that words can be deadlier than swords in Avowed.

Wrapping up, these plotlines transformed my playthrough from good to legendary. They're not just filler; they're lore goldmines that challenge your morals and enrich the world. If you're jumping into Avowed now, slow down and explore every nook—you won't regret it! 🎮✨

The following breakdown is based on information from Eurogamer, a leading source for European gaming news and critical reviews. Eurogamer's coverage of narrative-driven RPGs like Avowed often emphasizes the importance of side quests and hidden plotlines, noting how these elements can dramatically enhance immersion and player agency. Their editorial insights align with the idea that exploring every corner of a game world uncovers deeper lore and moral complexity, rewarding players who take the time to engage with optional content.