You’re standing in the Emerald Stair, the air is thick with the scent of damp earth and ancient magic, and suddenly, a god is talking to you. Not just any god, but Sapadal—the massive, half-tree, half-building deity of the Living Lands. It’s a lot to process. Honestly, most players just see the prompt to accept Sapadal’s power in Avowed and smash that button because, hey, free magic, right?
But there is a bit more to it than just getting a new shiny toy.
The choice happens during the "Ancient Soil" quest. Sapadal, who turns out to be the "Voice" that’s been living rent-free in your head, offers you a deal. They want out of their cage, and in exchange, they’ll give you a taste of their essence. It sounds like a classic RPG trap, but the reality of the Living Lands is rarely that black and white.
The Immediate Loot: What Do You Actually Get?
If you decide to lean into your destiny as a Sapadalian Godlike and take the gift, you unlock the Thorn of Sapadal.
This isn't some passive stat boost that sits in your menu doing nothing. It’s an active Godlike Ability. When you fire it, a jagged spike of energy rips through the air, piercing through every enemy in a straight line. It deals solid damage, sure, but the real kicker is the "Root" effect. It momentarily pins enemies in place.
For a melee-focused Envoy, this is a lifesaver. You can pin a charging brute, step back, and reset the fight. For casters, it’s a way to line up bigger AOE spells without worrying about getting swarmed.
The Alternative: Godlike’s Will
What if you say no? What if you don't trust the giant tree-god?
If you reject the power, you get Godlike’s Will. This isn't a spell; it’s a free Ability Point. You can dump it into the Fighter, Ranger, or Wizard trees immediately.
Kinda underwhelming, right?
On paper, a permanent skill point seems better for "min-maxing" your specific build. If you already have a perfect rotation of spells and don't want another button to manage, take the point. But honestly, Godlike Abilities are rare. You don't get many chances to feel like a literal conduit for a deity. Passing up a unique, high-damage piercing spell for 5% more crit chance or a slightly faster reload feels like a bit of a letdown in a game this weird.
Why Sapadal Isn't Your Typical God
To understand why accepting this power matters narratively, you have to look at the lore Obsidian tucked away in the margins.
In the world of Pillars of Eternity (Eora), the gods are... well, they’re manufactured. They were created by the ancient Engwithans to bring order to a chaotic world. But Sapadal is different. Sapadal is "natural." They were born from a closed loop in the Adra network beneath the Living Lands.
Basically, the Living Lands is a giant biological experiment that accidentally grew its own brain.
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When you accept the power, you aren't just taking a weapon; you're acknowledging a connection to a god that the rest of the Eoran pantheon—especially Woedica—wants suppressed. Taking the gift makes the Inquisitor Lodwyn and the Steel Garrote very unhappy. But then again, they’re already trying to control you, so what’s a little extra heresy?
Long-Term Consequences and the "Merge" Trap
Later on, the choice to accept Sapadal’s power cascades into how you handle the "Shadows of the Past" quest in Shatterscarp.
If you keep saying "yes" to Sapadal, you eventually unlock even more potent versions of these abilities, like Sapadal’s Fury. This one is a monster—it lifts everyone nearby into the air and slams them back down. It’s the ultimate "get off me" button.
But there is a catch. Or a "sorta" catch.
The ending of Avowed hinges heavily on how much of yourself you give away to Sapadal. There’s a "Merge" ending that is objectively pretty dark. If you become too intertwined with the god, your personality starts to fade. You stop being "The Envoy" and start being a vessel. It even kills off certain romance paths (looking at you, Kai) because, well, you aren't really you anymore.
Should You Do It?
If it's your first playthrough, accept the power.
The Thorn of Sapadal is just too fun to use, and the "Godlike's Will" skill point is something you'll eventually get anyway just by leveling up. The game is designed around these high-impact moments. Playing a Godlike who refuses to use their god-powers is a valid roleplay choice, but you’re effectively playing the game on "boring mode."
Actionable Steps for Your Build
If you’ve decided to take the plunge, here is how to make the most of it:
- Line 'em up: Thorn of Sapadal has infinite pierce. Don't waste it on a single target. Kite enemies into a narrow hallway or a "choke point" before firing.
- The Root Combo: Use the root effect to set up high-damage, slow-startup abilities like the Wizard’s Fireball or heavy two-handed power attacks.
- Balance the Narrative: You can accept the initial powers for the gameplay boost and still choose to free or kill Sapadal at the end. Taking the "Thorn" doesn't lock you into the "Bad" ending.
- Check your Essence: Remember that while these don't cost mana in the traditional sense, they have their own cooldowns and place in your rotation. Don't forget to use them just because they aren't on your primary weapon bar.
The Living Lands is a place of growth and decay. Accepting Sapadal’s power is the quickest way to ensure you're the one doing the growing while everyone else does the decaying. Just keep an eye on your soul—once you start hearing the trees talk back, it’s hard to make them stop.
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Next Step: Once you have the Thorn, head back to the River Fork Beacon and test the pierce damage on a group of Xaurips to get a feel for the projectile width.