The Totem of Defiance is an Emerald Stair collection made up of seven parts: the Totem Base and six named fragments. Find the base at the Shrine to Skaen, collect the fragments from Delemgan Glade, Ranger Headquarters, Naku Tedek, Ancient Grotto, Grim Wetlands and Abandoned Farms, then assemble everything at a Party Camp.
Totem of Defiance locations at a glance
| Part | Area | Route summary |
|---|---|---|
| Totem Base | Shrine to Skaen, Delemgan Glade | Climb the shrine platforms to the altar. |
| Obsidian Prayer Beads | Delemgan Glade | Use the tree and high ledges to reach the ruin overlooking the courtyard. |
| Idol of Violent Rebellion | Ranger Headquarters | Climb the tower east of Fior mes Iverno. |
| Effigy Necklace | Naku Tedek tunnels | Open the electrical lock, freeze the water and climb to the desk. |
| Idol of Secret Hatred | Ancient Grotto | Follow the left-hand route through the Godless ruins and poison-water platforms. |
| Idol of Covert Plots | Grim Wetlands | Enter the locked northern church/building; guides differ on the entrance. |
| Sacrificial Dagger | Abandoned Farms | Check the back door of the building behind the farms. |
The fragments can reportedly be collected in any order. The Effigy Necklace is the exception in practice: its tunnel route becomes accessible during the Ancient Soil main quest, although the area can be revisited if you miss it. A map called “Fragments of the Offering” is sold by Lluisa Melcer at the Farmer’s Market for 500 in-game coins, according to PC Gamer.
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Totem Base: Shrine to Skaen
Travel to Rock Arch Beacon in western Emerald Stair and head toward the ledge north of Delemgan Glade. Continue west to the Shrine to Skaen ruins, then climb the platforms to the highest level. The Totem Base is on the altar at the top. This route is described by GameSpot and PC Gamer.
Obsidian Prayer Beads: Delemgan Glade
Enter the Delemgan ruins and reach the circular courtyard west of the river. Face the large tree, climb the rocks on the courtyard’s west side, pass through the tree-root arch and climb the tree onto the upper rocks. Follow the elevated route to the ruin ledge overlooking the courtyard. The beads are at the end of the Delemgan Cache route.
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Idol of Violent Rebellion: Ranger Headquarters
Find the tower east of Fior mes Iverno and southeast of Rolling Crags. Start at its southern side and use crates or boxes to reach the first ladder. Continue across the ledges and ladders until you reach the tower top, where the idol is waiting.
Effigy Necklace: secret tunnels beneath Naku Tedek
This route opens during the Ancient Soil main quest. Descend the spiral staircase behind the large Adra and use an electric spell or item—or Giatta’s Spectral Jolt—on the electrical switch beside the locked door. In the next room, freeze the water with an ice spell or grenade. Climb the exposed branch to the ledge and take the necklace from the desk. The location is documented by Prima Games, GameSpot and PC Gamer.
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Idol of Secret Hatred: Ancient Grotto
From the large Ancient Grotto chamber with Godless ruins and pillars, take the route on the left. Cross the broken platforms above the poison water, continue past the glowing cave and crouch through the small opening into a side cave. The idol is beside a skeleton at the back. The Naku Tedek campsite is a practical starting point for the approach.
Idol of Covert Plots: Grim Wetlands
The idol is inside a locked church or similar building in the northern Grim Wetlands. Published directions disagree about how to enter:
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- GameSpot’s route: approach from the west, jump the broken bridge from the cliff and enter through a hole in the roof.
- PC Gamer’s route: the front is barred; use a switch hidden in a statue’s lamp to open a side door.
Both guides place the fragment inside the building. Because the entrance descriptions conflict, inspect the structure in your game and use whichever access point is present.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Sacrificial Dagger: Abandoned Farms
Go to the Abandoned Farms north of Fior mes Iverno. Walk around to the back of a building and check its rear door. The Sacrificial Dagger is lodged in the door beside a note.
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How to assemble the totem
- Collect the Totem Base and all six fragments.
- Travel to any Party Camp.
- Use the camp’s totem interaction to place the base and fragments and restore the Totem of Defiance.
- After restoration, choose which of the two regional totems is active.
PC Gamer reports that restoring the totem also triggers a short, Skaen-focused memory sequence. The available sources do not establish that every fragment perk remains active simultaneously when this regional totem is inactive.
Totem of Defiance fragment effects
The following effects are guide-reported game descriptions rather than independent testing:
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| Fragment | Reported effect |
|---|---|
| Idol of Violent Rebellion | Increases damage against “skull” enemies. |
| Sacrificial Dagger | Makes Second Wind cast Flurry of Blows. |
| Idol of Covert Plots | Adds +2 Constitution and +2 Dexterity. |
| Effigy Necklace | Your next attack within 10 seconds of taking damage deals an additional 20% of the damage received; it stacks with Retribution. |
| Obsidian Prayer Beads | Critical hits add high poison accumulation. |
| Idol of Secret Hatred | Increases damage against unaware enemies by 25%. |
Sources and scope
Individual routes are documented in the 2025 guides from GameSpot, PC Gamer and Prima Games. Official Avowed pages at Obsidian Entertainment and Xbox do not provide piece-by-piece route instructions.
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