Complete Guide to Skaen’s Totem Locations in Avowed

The Totem of Defiance, also known as Skaen’s Totem, is located in Emerald Stair and represents the second significant totem set within Avowed. Similar to Woedica’s Totem found in Dawnshore, this totem set consists of seven distinct pieces, including the base. As players place each piece in their camp, they receive unique and powerful buffs. These totem pieces can typically be discovered in various locations, often near other side quests or even central quests. Players can purchase hints regarding the totem locations from a particular vendor, but these hints merely offer vague clues and lack definitive map markers.

It’s advisable to collect these hints before venturing out to locate each piece of the totem, as they can simplify your search by providing a rough idea of where to begin looking. Since obtaining these items early in the game is crucial, you can choose the order in which you collect the pieces based on convenience. The pieces of Skaen’s Totem are as follows: the Schemer’s Offering, Sacrificial Dagger, Idol of Covert Plots, Idol of Secret Hatred, Idol of Violent Rebellion, Obsidian Prayer Beads, and the Effigy Necklace. Below, you’ll find information on where to find clues and how to track down the Totem of Defiance pieces throughout Avowed‘s Emerald Stair.

Where to Obtain Clues for the Totem of Defiance Pieces in Emerald Stair

Visit Llucia Melcer at the Farmer’s Market

Your journey in Emerald Stair should start at Fior mes Inverno, where you can pick up various main quests. You’ll find that the totem pieces are generally close to side quest markers, making these an excellent reference for your search. The clues for the Fragments of the Offering are found southeast of the main area, at the Farmer’s Market, located within the Coastal Farms area near Maxim’s Claim. Look for a merchant named Llucia Melcer inside a building flanked by two purple lights at the entrance.

Llucia Melcer sells the Fragments of the Offering clues for 500 Skeyt. If you have already collected the Woedica’s Totem pieces from the Dawnshore region in Avowed, these clues will seem familiar. Each clue is a cryptic rhyme that only offers general guidance for where to search. If you’re following this guide, you’re likely aware that these clues aren’t overly helpful unless you are already familiar with the area. For efficiency, consider gathering Skaen’s Totem pieces in this preferred order to minimize backtracking:

1. Idol of Violent Rebellion at the Ranger’s Headquarters
2. Sacrificial Dagger near the Abandoned Farms
3. Idol of Covert Plots in the Grim Wetlands
4. Schemer’s Offering at the Shrine to Skaen
5. Obsidian Prayer Beads in the Delemgan Glade
6. Idol of Secret Hatred in the Ancient Grotto Cave
7. Effigy Necklace inside Naku Tedek

Avowed Totem of Defiance Walkthrough: Finding Each Piece of Skaen’s Totem

The Effigy Necklace Requires Progressing the Main Story to Access Naku Tedek’s Secret Room

Starting from the Farmer’s Market, head north towards the Ranger Headquarters to find the Idol of Violent Rebellion. If you haven’t already, speak with the Rangers in front for a new quest, then make your way to the back of the tower and use your parkour skills to climb up, jumping between ledges until you spot the ladder leading to the top where the Idol rests on a few crates.

Next, travel northwest towards the Abandoned Farms, particularly if you have an active bounty for the Farm Xaurips. The Sacrificial Dagger is stuck into a letter on the back wall of one of the buildings in this area. You don’t have to eliminate the Xaurips now; I managed to handle them quite easily at Level 8, so you should be fine.

The next piece on your list, the Idol of Covert Plots, can be found directly west as you head toward the “Elder Offerings” quest marker in the Grim Wetlands. This item is situated inside a barred building where you’ll encounter some skeleton foes outside. To enter, traverse the cliffs overlooking the area and leap across a broken bridge—just be cautious of the spore enemies lurking about, as they’ll attack if you’re not stealthy. You’ll find the Idol on a table inside.

To acquire the Schemer’s Offering totem base for the Totem of Defiance, proceed south from the location of the Idol of Covert Plots until you spot the Shrine to Skaen. It’s positioned southwest of the Plateau Junction Beacon. Climb to the top of the shrine to obtain the base.

A short distance from there, you can secure the Obsidian Prayer Beads from the Delemgan Glade. The Delemgan Glade Beacon is immediately south of the Shrine to Skaen, which allows you to fast travel there before making your way west across the ravine. The beads are located at a high point in the area, and you can either sneak past enemies or confront them head-on. If you’re feeling confident and have upgraded equipment, this might be the right time to tackle the main area boss and retrieve the Adragan Heart once the foes are dispatched.

Your next goal will be to find the Idol of Secret Hatred, which is located outside the Naku Tedek Grounds, a southern island in Emerald Stair where other key quest points are situated. Before crossing the bridge into Naku Tedek, follow the ravine south until you reach the Ancient Grotto Beacon and enter the Ancient Grotto. You can dispose of Nuna, the boss bear, and the spore enemies, or alternatively, scout around them. The idol rests on a body in the back of the cave, which also has the unique Ring of the Founder.

The final piece for Skaen’s Totem, the Effigy Necklace, only becomes available after advancing in the main quest, specifically once you have entered Naku Tedek. Giatta will guide you inside, and eventually, you’ll need to activate a generator and unseal a locked door. You can reach a branch on a tree by freezing the water in front of it, which leads you directly to the location of the last totom piece. Collecting all of the Totem of Defiance pieces allows you to assemble Skaen’s Totem, which offers the following benefits:

Utilizing these bonuses as you collect them is highly recommended, particularly if you were unable to gather the complete Woedica totem set from Dawnshore. The Kill the Master feature is particularly beneficial in Emerald Stair due to the high number of skeleton enemies, while the poison accumulation effect from Bitter Thoughts represents one of the game’s most effective damage types. Collecting all of Skaen’s Totem pieces at their various locations within Avowed is certainly worth the effort, providing you with a significant advantage in Emerald Stair.