Should you side with Lödwyn or Ryngrim in Avowed?

Picking between Lödwyn or Ryngrim in Avowed‘s “Shadow of the Past” quest leaves you with no good options. People suffer no matter what you do, and your companions hold a bit of a grudge in one outcome, despite offering little help guiding you toward a decent choice.

Unlike some big choices in Obsidian’s RPG, this one does have far-reaching consequences, even determining what new Godlike skill you acquire.

This Avowed guide explains what happens if you side with Lödwyn or Ryngrim during “Shadows of the Past” and how it plays out in the ending as well.

[Ed. note: This guide contains spoilers for Avowed.]

Should you side with Lödwyn or Ryngrim in Avowed?

Despite the appearance of an option that lets you pick nothing, you ultimately have to choose between Lödwyn or Ryngrim.

Both choices have three different possible branches during the Thirdborn section of Avowed‘s ending that depend on whether you side with Lödwyn in the finale, hold a grefam, or push for a united Living Lands.

Neither of these outcomes has a consequence over how the rest of the story plays out until the end. You’ll get different ending illustrations and outcomes depending on which choice you make here and then how you decide to handle the crises that unfold in the Garden and beyond.

If you side with Lödwyn during ‘Shadow of the Past’

If you side with Lödwyn during “Shadow of the Past” and destroy the ruins, here’s what happens, and what Godlike ability you get:

• Your companions, especially Yatzli, aren’t particularly happy with you for destroying a trove of knowledge and supporting the Steel Garrote. Sapadal isn’t pleased either, though from our testing, their annoyance is contextual. You can still side with Lodwyn here and oppose the inquisitor and the Steel Garrote during Avowed‘s finale.
• There are no results that affect what you can do in Thirdborn after this decision, but Temerti and a few others in the city will begin displaying Dreamscourge symptoms.
• You get the Scion of the Immortal Land Godlike ability, which increases your damage and health regeneration for 12 seconds. This only happens if you accept Sapadal’s power before leaving Naku Kubel.

If you side with Ryngrim during ‘Shadows of the Past’

• Your companions are less unhappy and express hope that the results won’t be as bad as Lodwyn predicted.
• They’re wrong. Three dozen people die in Thirdborn, including Glaedwine, if you helped him and his wife escape Shantytown in Dawnshore. Temerti harbors a deep hatred toward you as a result of these deaths, and you’ll hear citizens commenting about the spate of sudden death around the city.
• You get the Severed Branch Godlike skill, which increases movement speed for 20 seconds. This only happens if you accept Sapadal’s power before leaving Naku Kubel.

For more Avowed guides, while you’re in Shatterscarp, here’s where to find all Totem of Revelations pieces, plus where to find all of the region’s treasure maps — Dead Man’s Mail, Robe of the Arcane Cheater, and Seafarer’s Boots — and a walkthrough for the “That Which Remains” side quest.