Once you've entered the Shatterscarp region of Avowed, you'll eventually come across the "Fires in the Mines" quest, where Seyon and Kada will ask you to venture down into a mine and clear out some spider nests. Seyon is an Aedyran who's doing his best to help restore Thirdborn, while Kada is a Thirdborn who is rightfully skeptical of the Aedyran presence in the region. On the way into the mines, however, you'll come across a knight named Darle who is blocking the path. With a little convincing, he'll let you through, but that's not the last you'll see of him.
Once you've fully cleared the spiders from the mine and restored power to the lift, Darle will be waiting at the entrance yet again, only this time with a surplus of explosives to bring the whole place down. At this point, he's going to try to convince you to allow him to blow up the mine, and your decision will have a big impact on what happens in the region. Whether you choose to stop Darle from blowing the place up or let him go through with it, the conversation afterward with Kada and Seyon is really the most important thing to consider before making a decision.
What Happens When You Let Darle Destroy The Mines In Avowed
Most Companions Won't Like It, But A Little White Lie Can Make Things Alright
Once you've reactivated the lift inside the mine and grabbed people of Thirdborn from starting a war against the Aedyrans in the area, or at least that's what he claims.
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The sulfur in the mine is intended to be used for firearms to fight the Dreamthralls, and he's convinced that arming Thirdborn will ultimately result in conflict. There will be a few dialogue options before it dwindles down to the choice of either letting him go through with his plans or fighting him to the death.
Allowing Darle to blow up the mine will prevent you from going back there ever again, so if you want to go down this path, be sure to fully explore the area before leaving.
Unfortunately for Darle, no matter what you do, there's no way to save him — he's either going to blow himself up or you're going to take him down in combat. However, if you do let him blow up the mine, you'll have to explain to Seyon and Kada what happened. The only way to get the cash reward in this instance is to the Intellect (8) dialogue check and convince them that the mine was bound to implode at some point anyway. Otherwise, you'll miss out on the reward, and Kada will not be happy with Seyon.
What Happens If You Kill Darle & Prevent Him From Destroying The Mine
He Doesn't Drop Much Loot, But The Truth Will Set You Free
If you decide to listen to your more cautionary companions and prevent Darle from destroying the mine and blowing himself up in the process, the only other choice is to fight him to the death. If you're properly leveled up and your gear is upgraded, Darle is a pretty straightforward fight, and there will be plenty of explosives around the mine to use to your advantage.
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Darle has a whirlwind attack similar to Avowed's Clear Out ability, but his moves are otherwise pretty standard. Once you take him down, he's got some food on him but not much else, and you'll earn some experience. After leaving the mine, you'll still have to answer to Seyon and Kada and for what happened down there.
In this case, your best bet is to simply tell the truth about what happened. Kada will be upset at first, but Seyon promises to do a full review of the ranks and deal with any rats himself. Telling the truth will get you the cash reward and strengthen the relationship between Seyon and Kada, as well as some more experience points. You will also be able to re-enter the mines at your leisure, assuming you missed any loot the first time.
Why You Should Choose To Stop Darle
He's Doomed Either Way, So Don't Feel Bad
Darle's fate is pretty much sealed in this quest, and whether you decide to let him blow up the mine or not, he'll end up dead. While you might get a few snacks off his corpse, his loot drop isn't anything to write home about, but you'll be guaranteed a cash reward from Seyon as long as you tell the truth about what happened down there. If you have high intellect or have the cash to respec and invest in Intellect before the conversation with Seyon, you can choose to destroy the mine and still receive the cash reward.
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However, blowing up the mine has negative consequences for Thirdborn and only makes sense if you are doing an "evil" playthrough (insofar as there is one in Avowed) and plan to aid the Inquisitor. Darle's stated interest in avoiding war makes sense, but it's hard to argue that it's his judgment call to make, especially when the sulfer is intended for use against the threat of the Dreamthralls. Ultimately, Darle's death is inconsequential as long as you don't try to lie about what happened.
As it turns out Kada has a strong BS meter and will see through any lies you try to tell (save the Intellect check when you blow up the mine). This won't result in a fight, but the degree to which Kada remains obviously unconvinced makes for a sour end to the conversation. For this reason, it makes most sense to just take Darle out and tell the truth about it at the end of the "Fires in the Mine" quest in Avowed.
Avowed
- Released
- February 18, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Obsidian Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Xbox Game Studios
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Franchise
- Pillars of Eternity
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