Avowed God Totems: Totem of Defiance Guide

Alright, gather 'round, fellow adventurers! Let me tell you about the time I decided to become the world's most dedicated hoarder in the Emerald Stair. I'm talking about the God Totems in Avowed, specifically the Totem of Defiance dedicated to the delightfully sneaky god, Skaen. These aren't your average knick-knacks; they're ancient relics shattered into seven pieces and scattered across the land like some divine, high-stakes puzzle. Finding and reassembling one isn't just for bragging rights—it unlocks a suite of passive buffs so powerful they'll have you feeling like a demigod who just discovered caffeine. So, buckle up as I recount my misadventures, triumphs, and the many, many times I got swarmed by angry beasties while hunting for these elusive fragments.

The Prize: Totem of Defiance Pieces & Powers

Before we dive into the where, let's talk about the why. What's so special about this collection of old stones and pointy objects? Each piece isn't just a quest item; it's a key to a potent blessing.

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Here’s the juicy loot you’re hunting for and what they do once the totem is whole:

Totem Piece	Power Name	What It Does (The Good Stuff)
The Schemer's Offering (Base)	The Key	Lets you activate all other pieces. No base, no party.
The Sacrificial Dagger	Furious Frenzy	Using Second Wind unleashes a Flurry of Blows. Perfect for a quick counter-attack!
The Idol of Covert Plots	The Slave's Patience	A sweet, permanent +2 to both Constitution and Dexterity. More health, more finesse!
Obsidian Prayer Beads	Bitter Thoughts	Your critical hits now pile on serious Poison buildup. Toxicity at its finest.
The Idol of Secret Hatred	Hidden Hatred	Deal 25% more damage to enemies who haven't spotted you yet. The ultimate backstabber's delight.
The Idol of Violent Rebellion	Kill the Master	Extra damage against those terrifying "skull"-level enemies. A true game-changer for tough fights.
Effigy Necklace	A Vengeful Victim	After taking damage, your next hit within 10 seconds deals +20% of the damage you just suffered. Revenge is a dish best served immediately.

Convinced yet? I was. So, let's get to the scavenger hunt!

Piece #1: The Schemer's Offering Totem Base

You can't build a house without a foundation, and you can't defy gods without their totem base. This is your first and most crucial stop. Head to the Shrine to Skaen, a towering spiral of rock that seems to be trying to poke a hole in the sky. You'll find it left of Tama's Cabin and north of the Pargrun Cache.

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The climb is no picnic—watch out for any locals who don't appreciate trespassers. Once you reach the summit, don't get distracted by the view! Look for a stone bench.

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There it is, the Schemer's Offering, just waiting for you. Grab it, and the real hunt begins!

Piece #2: The Sacrificial Dagger

This one's practically a gift... if you consider fighting through a farm overrun by Xaurips "gifting." Head north of the Rolling Crags to the Abandoned Farms. The dagger itself isn't hidden, but getting to it requires clearing out some particularly ferocious lizard-folk.

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The silver lining? These Xaurips have bounties on their heads! So, you get loot and cash. After the skirmish, don't just wander off celebrating. Check the northeastern side of the farm.

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You'll find the Sacrificial Dagger unceremoniously stabbed into the side of a shack, pinning a note. Talk about dramatic flair.

Piece #3: The Idol of Covert Plots

Now things get spooky. This idol is tucked away in a crumbling church in the enemy-infested Grim Wetlands. This area is no joke—it's packed with Skeletal Casters who love to slow you down and let their friends swarm you.

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My strategy? Lure, isolate, and obliterate. Spells like Grimoire Snap are lifesavers here for crowd control. Once the coast is (relatively) clear, don't just barge into the church. Sneak around to the left side.

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You'll find a statue of a Monk holding a lantern. This isn't just decor.

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Press the lantern! A secret door grinds open, revealing the Idol of Covert Plots. Feels very pirate treasure, doesn't it?

Piece #4: The Obsidian Prayer Beads

Time for a walk in the woods... the deadly, deadly woods of the Delemgan Glade on the western edge of the map. These tree-like Delemgan are tough customers. My advice? Come packing heat—literally. Fire or ice-based attacks are their kryptonite. A weapon like The Last Light of Day worked wonders for me.

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Fight your way to the glade's edge. On the right side, you'll find a passage. Inside, look for a massive branch you can climb.

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Scale it to a higher platform, then follow the rocky ledge up and to the left. A leap of faith over a gap will land you on a smaller ledge.

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There, lying next to a very expired adventurer (a common theme), are the Obsidian Prayer Beads.

Piece #5: The Idol of Secret Hatred

As if to balance the easy dagger find, this one is hidden in the most frustratingly obscure location: the unmarked Ancient Grotto. It's southwest of the Pargrun Cache and southeast of the Ranger Outpost. Finding the entrance is a victory in itself.

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But the fun doesn't stop there! Inside, you'll have to deal with another bounty target, Old Nuna. Handle that business, then prepare for a swim. Dive into the grotto's pool and squeeze through a tight underwater cavern.

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Surfacing on the other side, follow a dimly lit, green-glowing path. Drop down a ledge, and at the path's end, you'll find the Idol of Secret Hatred with its previous (and very dead) owner. Morbid, but effective.

Piece #6: The Idol of Violent Rebellion

This hunt takes you to the Ranger Headquarters on the east side of the map. If you have the Debt of Blood quest, it leads you right here to face a Steel Garrote Captain. But we're here for loot, not just lore!

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Your target is the tall lookout tower. This becomes a parkour puzzle. Start on the deck to the right of the tower and jump onto a stack of barrels to reach a small roof. Find a ladder, do some more internal and external acrobatics, jumping from one side of the tower to the other.

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Keep climbing and leaping until you reach the top. Behind a large, roaring bonfire, sitting on a crate as if it's just spare parts, is your prize.

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The Idol of Violent Rebellion. Try not to knock it into the fire.

Piece #7: The Effigy Necklace

The final piece crosses your path during the main story in the nightmarish dungeon of Naku Tadek. This place is a gauntlet of foes and traps, but we're making a pit stop first.

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After descending the long entrance staircase, you'll face two paths. Ignore the one leading deeper into hell (for now). Turn left. You'll see a lightning switch on the wall.

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You need an electrical attack to activate it—use a spell, an Electric Lily Seed, or a zap from your companion Giatta. This opens a hidden area. Inside, you'll see a water-filled room with a twisted log on the far side. Freeze the water solid with an ice spell or an item like the Eye of Rymrgand.

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Walk across the ice, jump onto the log, and shimmy your way to a balcony. There, resting innocently on a bench, is the Effigy Necklace. The seventh and final piece! 🎉

The Grand Finale: Reconstructing the Totem

You've braved bogs, scaled towers, and outsmarted secret switches. Now, with all seven fragments cluttering your pack, it's time for the payoff. Return to the safety of your camp.

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Look for the three stone pillars to the right of the Enchanting Station and left of the campfire. Interact with one, place down your hard-won Schemer's Offering Totem Base, and then interact with it again. Like magic (or divine will), all the other pieces you've collected will activate, flooding you with their potent powers.

A crucial heads-up! There are three different God Totems you can find in the Emerald Stair, but you can only have one active on a pillar at a time. So, choose your divine patron wisely based on your playstyle!

And that, my friends, is the tale of how I went from a simple explorer to a walking arsenal blessed by the god of rebellion. It was a grind, filled with more than a few reloads, but standing before that completed Totem of Defiance, feeling all those passive boosts kick in... absolutely worth every Xaurip bite and skeletal glare. Happy hunting, and may your defiance be triumphant! 🚀

My Wild Treasure Hunt for Avowed's Totem of Defiance: A Skaen Pilgrim's Guide