Avowed: How To Conquer The 'Face Your Fears' Quest And Find Archmage Ryngrim (Updated December 20, 2025)
The "Face Your Fears" quest in Obsidian Entertainment's expansive first-person RPG, Avowed, represents a critical juncture in the main storyline, forcing players to delve into a chilling domain of illusions and moral ambiguity. As of today, December 20, 2025, this quest remains one of the most talked-about and challenging segments of the game, demanding not only combat prowess but also a keen eye for environmental puzzles and a clear head for difficult dialogue choices.
Following the events of "A Path to the Garden," this quest immediately thrusts the Envoy—your player character—into the heart of the conflict surrounding the mysterious Archmage Ryngrim. Successfully navigating the icy wastes of the Shark's Teeth region and solving the core puzzle is essential to advancing the narrative and uncovering the secrets of the Living Lands.
The Archmage and the Godless Ruin: Key Entities and Lore
The "Face Your Fears" quest is inextricably linked to two major entities: the powerful Archmage Ryngrim and the desolate, yet lore-rich, Godless Ruin at Naku. Understanding the background of these elements, and the companions involved, is key to making informed decisions.
Archmage Ryngrim: Wizard of the Circle of Archmagi
- Role: A powerful, enigmatic wizard and a high-ranking member of the Circle of Archmagi. She is the central figure the player must confront to gain crucial information about the Living Lands' escalating crisis.
- Location: Her domain is an icy, illusion-filled area located within the Shark's Teeth region of the Shatterscarp.
- Moral Crossroads: Ryngrim is often presented as a morally grey character, particularly in her conflict with Inquisitor Lödwyn and the Paladin order known as the Steel Garrote. The choices made when interacting with her can have significant, long-term consequences for the main story arc.
- Companion Connection: The Archmage is the focus of Companion Tayn's intense "friendship campaign," adding a layer of personal drama to the confrontation.
Key Quest Entities and Locations
- Shark's Teeth: A major, frigid location within the Shatterscarp region of the Living Lands. It is known for its harsh environment and hidden secrets, including the Archmage's domain.
- Godless Ruin at Naku: The ancient structure where the answers to the main puzzle lie. It is here that the player must restore the missing statue parts.
- The Envoy: The player character, who must navigate the political and magical turmoil of the Living Lands.
- Yatzli: A key NPC/Companion who often guides the Envoy and provides crucial context for the dangers ahead, suggesting gear upgrades before confronting Ryngrim.
Walkthrough: The Three Missing Pieces Puzzle
The primary mechanic of the "Face Your Fears" quest, after reaching the Godless Ruin, is the restoration of a creepy, giant statue that is missing three vital components. These components—the Hand, the Heart, and the Head—must be found within the immediate area, often requiring the player to solve environmental puzzles or defeat specific enemies.
The quest's design brilliantly lives up to its name, as each piece represents a metaphorical aspect of fear and requires the Envoy to overcome a unique challenge. This is a classic Obsidian design choice, blending combat and narrative puzzles.
Obtaining the Hand of the Statue
The Hand is typically the first piece players encounter. It often involves a minor combat challenge or navigating a short, trapped corridor. Symbolically, the Hand represents the "fear of action" or the "fear of failure," forcing the player to engage directly with their immediate surroundings.
- Location Tip: Look for a side chamber or a small, easily missed path near the entrance to the Godless Ruin.
Obtaining the Heart of the Statue
The Heart is generally considered the most challenging piece to acquire, often being guarded by a formidable mini-boss or requiring a complex platforming sequence. The Heart represents the "fear of vulnerability" or "emotional fear," placing the player in a high-pressure scenario.
Before attempting this segment, heed Yatzli's advice and ensure your gear is properly upgraded. The July 2025 Update (v1.5) introduced new mechanics for certain classes, which can be leveraged here, so check your build!
Obtaining the Head of the Statue
The Head component is frequently tied to a classic environmental puzzle, requiring the player to manipulate an object or solve a riddle to unlock a sealed area. It represents the "fear of the unknown" or "intellectual fear," demanding logic rather than brute force. One common solution involves observing the direction the statue is facing and using a fire-based ability to break a nearby burnable wall to reveal the hidden path.
- Puzzle Hint: The solution often lies within the ruins themselves, so pay close attention to any strange markings or visual cues on the walls and floors.
The Climax: Confronting Archmage Ryngrim
Once all three pieces—Hand, Heart, and Head—are placed back onto the statue, the path to Archmage Ryngrim is finally revealed. The confrontation with the Archmage is the narrative climax of the quest, and it is here that the player's role-playing choices truly come to the fore. Ryngrim's icy domain is a visual spectacle, a testament to the graphical improvements Obsidian has made since the game's launch.
The Moral Decision Point
The conversation with Ryngrim is not a simple dialogue; it's a major decision point that influences the overall direction of the *Avowed* main questline. You will be faced with a choice that often pits Ryngrim's perspective against that of Inquisitor Lödwyn, who represents a more dogmatic and destructive solution to the problems plaguing the Living Lands.
- Siding with Ryngrim: Many players find that siding with Archmage Ryngrim, while risky, often leads to the path of "least harm," preserving the delicate balance of the region and aligning with a more nuanced, lore-friendly approach to the crisis.
- Siding with Lödwyn: Choosing the Inquisitor's path involves a more aggressive, often destructive, solution, aligning with the Steel Garrote Paladins. This choice has its own set of unique consequences and future quest implications.
Ultimately, the "Face Your Fears" quest is a masterclass in RPG design, combining exploration in the expansive Shatterscarp, a multi-stage puzzle in the Godless Ruin, and a pivotal moral choice that defines the Envoy's journey. With the upcoming February 2026 Anniversary Update promising further refinements to the game's systems, revisiting this classic quest is a perfect way to prepare for *Avowed*'s continued evolution.
Detail Author:
- Name : Kristopher Ruecker III
- Username : vito72
- Email : hoppe.rachael@hotmail.com
- Birthdate : 1995-03-19
- Address : 656 Robbie Village Apt. 163 Port Americo, CA 59407-1025
- Phone : 1-860-454-0952
- Company : Yundt, Larkin and Mante
- Job : Movie Director oR Theatre Director
- Bio : Eaque sint reiciendis voluptas quae error excepturi. Velit necessitatibus quis aliquam voluptas. Perspiciatis non ut aut corrupti assumenda cum in iure. Architecto voluptatibus earum dolorum non.
Socials
tiktok:
- url : https://tiktok.com/@haskell_schimmel
- username : haskell_schimmel
- bio : Cum omnis id asperiores voluptas iusto saepe voluptatibus.
- followers : 2260
- following : 1867
twitter:
- url : https://twitter.com/haskell.schimmel
- username : haskell.schimmel
- bio : Vitae atque ratione illum sed. Et minima minus ratione fugit iure. Autem aliquam aliquam esse quia dolore.
- followers : 2145
- following : 2577
facebook:
- url : https://facebook.com/haskell.schimmel
- username : haskell.schimmel
- bio : Rerum sit cumque nisi sit praesentium dolore sed.
- followers : 4915
- following : 2222
