"Keep History Alive" is an interesting side quest found in Avowed's final major region, Galawain's Tusks. Like many of the quests in Avowed, you can learn about it through conversation with an important character, or you can stumble upon it completely by accident. Its importance to the plot is hard to overstate, though it is possible you may not realize it as you complete it. In this guide, we'll show you the outcomes of the two major decisions in Avowed's "Keep History Alive" side quest, and help you decide whether you should give the Living Archives' books to Elder Grigore, or Dolna.
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How to Start Keep History Alive in Avowed
Speak With Councilor Kostya:
While it isn't necessary, if you wait to start "Keep History Alive" until after you first speak to the Solace Keep Council for the first time – particularly Councilor Kostya – you'll have a much better idea of what is going on with Dolna, a very important side character in the quest. This will help inform the quest's main decision later.
You'll get the first information related to "Keep History Alive" when you speak to Councilor Kostya during Avowed's "Our Dreams Divide Us Stil l" main quest. After you speak with Kostya and Mihala in the Solace Keep Council chamber, you'll speak to Kostya in private, just before you exit. There, he will ask you to look in on the Living Archives.
While this is not the official start to the quest, it is your first hint that the events taking place at the Living Archives are far more important than they seem.
Speak to Novice Bojan:
As you leave Solace Keep, head north along the main road, and just after you pass the Primordial Depths South Beacon, you'll encounter a Living Archive Monk named Novice Bojan standing in the middle of the road.
On the map, you'll find Novice Bojan right next to the S in Soreena's Mercy. He will inform you that his fellow monks have turned into monsters, and begs you to help. Agreeing to aid, the monks will start "Keep History Alive" in earnest.
Reach the Living Archives:
From Novice Bojan, you'll want to make your way up to the northwest corner of Galawain's Tusks, to a region called the Ash Forest. The Living Archives are in the northeast corner of the Ash Forest. As you approach the area, you'll see a clear path that leads up the hill to the structure.
Speak to Elder Grigore:
Out front of the Living Archives, you'll find Elder Grigore, the head monk. He'll task you with entering the archives and locating two books:
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The Book of Oaths
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The Book of the Before
Finding these two books, and deciding what to do with them, are the main tasks you must complete in Avowed's "Keep History Alive" side quest.
Where to Find the Book of Oaths – Avowed
Enter the Living Archives:
To enter the Living Archives in Avowed, you can either use three lockpicks on the front door, or turn left at the entrance and use the scaffolding to climb and break and a wooden pallet blocking the entrance to the second floor. There is really no reason to waste the lockpicks here.
After climbing and entering the second floor chamber, take out the Dreamthrall Priest first, then the rest. Make sure to collect the chest and the backpack behind the bed.
Make your way up to the third floor, where you'll find two Dreamthralls, and the 
Living Archives Courtyard Key on the long dining table. There is also a chest to the right of the double doors near the table, and a backpack up against the opposite wall.
Now make your way up past the next floor, which is empty, then to the roof, where you'll find a locked purple-glowing chest that requires three lockpicks. Once you've collected the treasure, return to the double doors two floors down and go through them.
Through the doors you'll find a large outdoor shrine area with multiple Dreamthralls waiting for you. After you defeat them, head up to the main shrine, where you'll find the The Book of Oaths waiting.
To the right of the shrine, you'll find a chest that contains 
Eilara's Grimoire +1, and a single 
Adra Bán.
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Where to Find the Book of the Before – Avowed
Head To Ground Floor:
Now, with the Book of Oaths in hand, you'll want to head back into the building, and make your way down to the first floor. You'll pass the hole in the wall you originally entered just before the stairs that leads down.
When you reach the first floor, you'll see a dead body on the ground, a door on the left, and a hallway straight ahead, and a small chamber to the right. The door on the left is the Living Archives Courtyard, which you now have the key to open.
There are some small items and documents around the dead body, and in the chamber on the right. If you follow the hallway, you'll find a door that is barred, and the front door, which still requires three lockpicks. The Courtyard is the only path forward.
If you are running low on lockpicks, Merchant Alonya sells 15 lockpicks at her stall in front of the Living Archives.
Meet Novice Dolna:
In the outdoor courtyard, you'll face off with a few Dreamthralls. Once they are taken care of, collect the loot from the small lockbox on the table near the circular planter. Next, unbar the door on the right, which will open a shortcut to the front entrance. Then, head through the door on the left, where you'll encounter Novice Dolna.
Technically, you can completely ignore Dolna, and still complete the quest. However, speaking with Dolna will reveal an interesting twist to the mission. She will tell you that she needs the Book of the Before, and that you should definitely not give it to Elder Grigore. She claims the book was important to her when she first became a novice.
If Marius is with you, even he will comment on how ridiculous this sounds. However, if you take the time to fully search the archives, you'll find an item that provides a major clue to what's really going on. You don't have to commit to anything with Dolna now, just proceed into the archives through the barred door behind her.
Search the Archives:
If you stick to the upper level of the archive when you first enter, you'll find the 
Burned Bounty List near the fireplace. This list reveals that someone has tasked Dolna with stealing books from the archives, and it appears that the Book of the Before is the last book she needs to collect before she'll be able to set herself up with a comfortable life in Solace Keep.
Once you have the list, head down to the bottom level of the archives, and make your way to the center of the tipped bookshelves. There, you'll find the The Book of the Before on a small stone desk.
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Should You Give the Book of the Before to Grigore or Dolna? – Avowed
Giving the Book to Elder Grigore:
If you give the Book of the Before to Elder Grigore, you'll receive 2,100 Skeyt. That is it. However, if you have the Burned Bounty List, you'll have the option to turn it over to him. This will result in Dolna getting arrested, but absolutely no further reward to the Envoy. It's hard to imagine that this middling reward is it, but as the quest currently stands, that is all you get for following this option.
Giving the Book to Novice Dolna:
If you give the book to Novice Dolna, she will give you 1,800 Skeyt. Then, Grigore will still give you 2,100 Skeyt when you return the Book of Oaths, and then lie and tell him the Book of the Before was destroyed. Finally, if you do not give Grigore the Bounty List, you can return to Solace Keep and find Dolna with Quartermaster Yorgu. There, she will give you another 1,800 Skeyt. It's a little disappointing that money is all you can get, but that's what it comes down to.
Who Was Behind It All?
In the end, it should be clear that Councilor Kostya was behind the entire book-swindling gambit. He is acquiring them for Inquisitor Lodwyn in the hopes that she will help him get into the good graces of Aedyr. If you are doing a pro-Aedyr playthrough, then it will make sense to give Dolna the book. Otherwise, the best option from a narrative perspective is to give both the books, and the list, to Elder Grigore. Unless there are certain aspects of this quest that have not yet been revealed, this seems like the best option.
Avowed
- Released
- February 18, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- 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
- Number of Players
- 1
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Unknown
- Platform(s)
- Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- How Long To Beat
- 17 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
