Avowed could potentially be the finest example of 'pandemic art' so far.

      When Covid-19 escalated into a widespread pandemic in 2020, artists promptly expressed their emotions through their creations. In its first year, we witnessed homemade music capturing feelings of isolation, murals filled with mask imagery, and even a thriller produced by Michael Bay. This body of work serves as a poignant time capsule of how individuals coped with the immediate effects of the pandemic, primarily focused on the challenge of forging human connections during social distancing. However, this merely skimmed the surface of the pandemic's repercussions. Fully understanding its complexities would require time to comprehend the lasting scars it left and to process them—a process that wouldn’t conclude in just a few months.

      Now, five years later, we are finally seeing the kind of nuanced “pandemic art” that can only emerge with time—and it has appeared in an unexpected format. Avowed, the latest game from Obsidian, is a fantasy RPG set within the Pillars of Eternity universe, revolving around gods and political intrigue. It presents a vibrant and whimsical adventure that resembles a simplified version of Elder Scrolls. Yet, as you delve into its rich lore, you will uncover a profound examination of how crises are leveraged and transformed into political leverage. It is a narrative born from the trauma of Covid and offers significant insights into how our actual world reacts to disaster.

      This article includes story spoilers for Avowed.

      A pandemic politicized

      Avowed is set in a region of Eora known as The Living Lands, currently afflicted by a lethal pandemic. Referred to as the Dreamscourge, this plague resembles a zombie apocalypse. Those infected by the fungal illness gradually degenerate until they become shambling Dreamthralls. This deadly disease poses a threat to all of Eora, and this reality is not overlooked by leaders of other territories. The Aedyr Empire, in particular, is concerned enough to send an envoy to The Living Lands to uncover the source of the disease and hopefully find a cure.

      This mission seems straightforward. Upon the envoy's arrival, it is expected they will collaborate with the locals eager to share insights and resolve the issue. After all, everyone should be inclined to unite in addressing a problem that endangers the entire world. However, that’s not how things unfold.

      As the envoy begins discussions with residents in Dawnshore, the charming port town where the journey starts, it quickly becomes evident that the Dreamscourge has ignited much larger issues. The locals perceive the Aedyr Empire's intentions to combat the plague as anything but altruistic. They see it as a convenient pretext for a power grab while the region is most vulnerable.

      These fears are validated when the Steel Garrote, led by the merciless Inquisitor Lödwyn, invades the territory. Acting as a proxy for the Aedyr Empire's far-right faction, this extremist group twists the narrative surrounding the Dreamscourge to fit its distorted political agenda. They assert that the Living Lands has always been lawless and filled with criminals; the plague is not a natural occurrence but a predictable result of the region's recklessness. Guided by this warped philosophy, the Steel Garrote wreaks havoc, destroying sacred sites and incinerating entire cities. It becomes apparent that Lödwyn doesn’t aim to eradicate the Dreamscourge but rather to exploit the ensuing chaos.

      It's not just external forces hindering progress. Later in the narrative, the envoy reaches Solace Keep, an isolationist nation that has shielded itself from the plague. By that point, the envoy believes they have identified the disease's source and needs aid in locating The Garden, a hidden area within the world. However, this turns into a contentious political debate between Komendant Mihala and Councilor Kostya, two leaders with vastly different perspectives on Solace Keep’s future. Kostya holds the location of The Garden hostage, offering to divulge it only if the envoy assists him in shaking the city from its complacency by initiating a catastrophic disaster.

      Ultimately, it becomes clear that no one in authority genuinely wants to see the Dreamscourge end, aside from the envoy; there is too much to lose from its continued existence.

      Given that Avowed began development in 2020, it’s not far-fetched to interpret its narrative as a potent allegory for Covid-19. When the disease transitioned into a pandemic, it should have triggered a moment of solidarity for a world that would benefit from halting its spread. Instead, it ignited a powder keg. In the United States, the pandemic became a political weapon. Right-wing leaders exploited it to further blame China. Conspiracy theorists propagated anti-science narratives while seeking a vaccine. Economic stimulus payments turned into political theatrics, morphing into a campaigning tool. Even a change in leadership failed to help, as a persistent pandemic was minimized to create an illusion of complete victory that might enhance approval ratings.

      This reality is what Avowed mirrors within its fantasy context