“Nature vs Nurture” is one of several side-quests found in Avowed‘s Emerald Stair region. You’ll find the quest fairly early if you explore the area outside Fior mes Iverno when you first reach the region. Like many of the side-quests in Avowed, “Nature vs. Nurture” presents you with a difficult choice. A common theme throughout the game is the question of whether Xaurips – especially the non-violent factions – are actually ‘monsters’? At first glance, the quest seems to present a fairly straightforward problem, but as you investigate further, the “correct” outcomes become less and less obvious. Here, we’ll provide you with a complete guide to Avowed‘s “Nature vs. Nurture” side quest, and do our best to answer whether you should help Amadio or the farmers.
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Nature vs. Nurture Video Walkthrough – Avowed
How to Begin Nature vs. Nurture in Avowed
Visit the Animancy Farmers – Dolina & Masco Laima:
To begin the “Nature vs. Nurture” side quest in Avowed, you’ll need to visit the Animancy Farmers who claim they are being harmed by a group of Xaurips. To find these farmers – whose names are Dolina and Masco Laima – head northeast from the Farmer’s Market, past the massive root that rises from the field. You’ll come across a small cabin in a grove of trees. This is where you’ll begin “Nature vs. Nurture.”
After explaining that a group of Xaurips have taken their farming equipment, Dolina and Masco will task the Envoy with locating the Xaurip’s camp, and solving the problem for good. If you check the map, you’ll find that the Xaurip camp is far to the north, just past the end of the river that runs vertically through the center of the region.
Visiting the Xaurip Camp in Nature vs. Nurture – Avowed
Stay Your Blade:
As previously mentioned, the camp you are looking for is near the northernmost point in Emerald Stair. The region you are trying to reach is called the Grim Wetlands, due to its dark and swampy nature. The Fortified Xaurip Camp is found to the northwest of the Moldering Godless Ruins, on the eastern edge of the Grim Wetlands.
Once you reach the camp, you’ll find that it is very clearly defined by its fences. You are safe to attack the many Xaurips outside the fence, but if you want to have the option to settle this quest peacefully, you should absolutely avoid attacking any of the Xaurips within the Fortified Xaurip Camp.
Your task inside the camp is to locate Amadio, the hermit that seems to hold some kind of power over these Xaurips. To find him, you’ll need to use the wooden platforms that lead to the rock wall at the back of the camp. Follow the path up the rocks, and you’ll find the entrance to a cave that is also labeled as the Fortified Xaurip Camp. Enter the cave and approach Amadio at the back. This is where the quest’s major choice occurs.
Should You Help or Kill Amadio the Hermit in Nature vs. Nurture – Avowed
I’m Like, Just Trying to Help, Man:
When you speak to Amadio, he reveals that he believes that the animancers are “poisoning the land,” and in turn, causing the Dreamscourge. Because of this, he is using the Xaurips to attack farms that use Animancy, destroying their equipment, and doing his part to help nature fight back. Unfortunately, how he gains control over the Xaurips is never directly addressed.
Amadio asks you to convince the farmers to call off the rangers, which will allow him to continue his wave of conservation by vandalism. You have the option to ask your companions for their opinions, and how they react will differ greatly depending on who is in your party. The gist is as follows:
- Marius, as a character who is already skeptical of animancy to begin with, will encourage you to help Amadio.
- Giatta, as an animancer, thinks Amadio is out of his mind.
Choosing to Help Amadio:
If you decide to help the hermit Amadio, you must return to Dolina and Masco, and convince them to call off the rangers. The scenario plays out thusly:
- If you tell them the truth, they will call off the rangers, but they will not be happy at all. You will not receive any reward from the farmers.
-
If you choose to Lie, the farmers will call off the rangers because they believe there is no reason to keep them on the case. They will reward you with the
Ring of Pain Amplificationand some skeyt.
You’ll then need to return to Amadio, who will now be standing in the center of camp outside the cave. Speak to him, and he will reward you with the 
Wolf Boots
.
Choosing to Help Dolina and Masco Laima:
If you decide not to side with the farmers, or simply do not like Amadio, you can either attack him when the prompt appears during the initial conversation, or, if you change your mind after choosing to help him, you can return any time before speaking to the farmers and let him know you will not be helping. Both options will lead to Amadio and the entire camp of Xaurips becoming hostile.
Should you decide to fight Amadio and his Xaurip army, make sure that you are fully prepared for a tough fight. The fight will be much easier if you wait until you have your favorite Unique Weapon upgraded to the Exceptional tier.
Once the fight is over, you can loot the Wolf Boots
from Amadio’s dead body. Upon returning to the farmers, you’ll receive the 
Ring of Pain Amplification
and skeyt.
Which Option is Best?
In terms of rewards, both choices have a path to collecting all possible rewards, so in that sense it is hard to say that any one option is better. However, once you have completed the game, there is a detail that leads us to believe one of the choices in this quest is technically better. We refer to the fact that, technically, Amadio is wrong. The animancers are absolutely not to blame for the Dreamscourge, and while we will not spoil the ultimate cause, we feel can assert that he is wrong with 100% confidence.
Whether Amadio deserves to die for this mistake is another question entirely, but he is using one group of innocent Xaurips to punish a group of innocent animancers. If there is a villain in this quest, it is Amadio. Whether intentional or not, he is causing the most pain. If it helps, you will earn far more XP for taking out the Xaurip camp, so that should provide an added incentive for choosing to help the farmers in “Nature vs. Nurture“
Avowed
7/10
- Released
-
February 18, 2025
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