Stepping into Avowed Emerald Stair for the first time can feel overwhelming. The fog-covered map stretches endlessly before you, hiding countless secrets, treasures, and dangers. But don’t worry—this complete guide reveals everything you need to conquer Obsidian Entertainment’s stunning animancer paradise.
Whether you’re hunting Totem of Defiance pieces or searching for hidden Pargrun Caches, we’ve got you covered with a full breakdown of this gorgeous region.
Table of Contents
Avowed Emerald Stair Map Overview: What You Need to Know
After completing Dawnshore’s story events, you’ll travel through a gate to reach Emerald Stair—Avowed’s second major map. Unlike the building-packed Dawnshore, Emerald Stair offers vast open spaces, winding forests, and dramatic landscapes that reward exploration.
The ambassador sends you here to investigate the Dreamscourge’s spread through the main city of Fior mes Iverno, but you’ll quickly discover there’s much more to uncover in this region.
The Six Major Regions of Emerald Stair
Emerald Stair divides into six distinct zones, each with unique environments and challenges:
| Region | Location | Key Features | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fior mes Iverno | Central hub | Main city with shops and NPCs | Safe zone |
| Maxim’s Claim | Southern section | Settlement area with quests | Medium |
| Rolling Crags | Eastern region | Rocky terrain with elevation | Medium-High |
| The Wildwoods | Central forest | Dense woods with wildlife | Medium |
| The Delemgan Glade | Western area | Home to dangerous Delemgans | High |
| Grim Wetlands | Northern marshes | Swampy terrain with ambush enemies | High |
Most distinct regions cluster in the southern half of the map, but northern areas still hide valuable secrets worth investigating.
Essential Points of Interest
Fast Travel Beacons: 15 total Finding and activating these beacons dramatically reduces travel time across this expansive map. Prioritize unlocking them as you explore to avoid tedious backtracking.
Party Camps: 9 total These rest points let you resupply, manage your party, and save progress. They’re strategically placed near dangerous areas for quick recovery.
Totem of Defiance Pieces: Scattered throughout Emerald Stair, collecting all pieces rewards powerful gear upgrades. Check near Ranger Outposts and elevated positions.
Critical Locations You Can’t Miss
Strangled Adra
- Location: North of Tama’s Cabin, northeast of The Delemgan Glade
- How to reach: Climb the small cliff face—the Adra sits at the summit
- Reward: Valuable crafting materials and lore discoveries
The Voice’s Memory
- Location: Near Ranger Outpost, south of The Wildwoods
- Accessibility: Close to a fast travel beacon—easy access
- Importance: Critical for understanding the Dreamscourge’s origins
Pargrun Cache
- Location: West of The Wildwoods, south of The Delemgan Glade
- Hidden factor: Tucked in forest near western map edge
- Contains: Rare equipment and upgrade materials
Mapping the Living Lands Cartographer
- Location: Near Naku Tedek Grounds (southern Emerald Stair)
- Purpose: Unlocks additional map details and treasure locations
- Tip: Essential for completionists hunting every secret
Treasure Maps and Hidden Caches
Multiple treasure maps scatter throughout Emerald Stair, each leading to buried caches containing legendary weapons, armor, and consumables. The cartographer near Naku Tedek Grounds provides crucial hints for locating these treasures.
Pay attention to environmental clues like unusual rock formations, distinctive trees, and landmark combinations mentioned in treasure map descriptions.
According to the official Avowed website, Obsidian Entertainment designed Emerald Stair to reward thorough exploration, with secrets hiding in plain sight for observant players.
For more RPG guides and Avowed strategies, visit TechnoSports where we cover everything from character builds to optimal quest completion orders.
Pro Exploration Tips
Activate beacons first: Before treasure hunting, unlock all 15 fast travel points to minimize wasted time.
Stock up in Fior mes Iverno: The main city offers the best shops and crafting services—resupply before venturing into dangerous regions.
Approach Grim Wetlands carefully: This northern region contains ambush predators that spawn in groups. Bring AoE abilities and healing potions.
Check elevated positions: Many secrets hide on cliffs and overlooks. If you can see a ledge, there’s probably a way to reach it.
Use Party Camps strategically: These aren’t just save points—they’re tactical positions for planning routes through hostile territory.
Fior mes Iverno: Your Central Hub
When you enter this magnificent city, the map switches to show its internal layout featuring shops, quest givers, and faction headquarters. This hub connects all major roads leading to Emerald Stair’s outer regions.
Exit the city to return to the standard Emerald Stair map view, making Fior mes Iverno your safe haven between dangerous excursions.
Why Emerald Stair Stands Out
Arguably Avowed’s most beautiful map, Emerald Stair balances stunning visuals with challenging gameplay. From mushroom-infested glades to dramatic cliff faces, every corner offers something memorable.
The open design encourages experimentation with different exploration paths, meaning your journey will differ from other players’—a hallmark of excellent RPG design.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long does it take to fully explore Emerald Stair in Avowed?
A: Completely exploring Emerald Stair—including all points of interest, treasure maps, Totem pieces, and side quests—takes approximately 10-15 hours depending on your playstyle. Speedrunners focusing only on main objectives can cross the map in 3-4 hours, but you’ll miss significant content and valuable loot. The 15 fast travel beacons significantly reduce travel time once activated, so prioritize unlocking them early. Taking your time to explore thoroughly rewards you with better equipment, deeper lore understanding, and memorable encounters that rushing players miss entirely.
Q: Can I return to Dawnshore after reaching Emerald Stair?
A: Yes! Avowed allows free travel between major maps once you’ve unlocked them. You can return to Dawnshore anytime through fast travel or by walking back through the connecting gate. This is essential for completing side quests that span multiple regions or gathering materials only found in specific areas. Many players recommend partially exploring Emerald Stair before returning to Dawnshore to finish missed content with better equipment and higher levels. No quests lock you out permanently, so explore at your own pace without fear of missing critical content.
