Explosions and flirting with a touch of age angst is a strong pitch for any video game character, but at least for February, that title is held by Avowed‘s Yatzli. She is one of four companions to join players as they investigate the Dreamscourge, and in Avowed‘s combat, she’s best described as a glass cannon. She can do practically any magic players might imagine, but she’s more than just a Wizard with a penchant for fireballs.
From the very onset of Avowed‘s story development, Yatzli’s role as the Godless expert has been set in concrete. Nothing is known about the Godless, other than they previously occupied The Living Lands and do not worship any gods, which is almost a contradiction in a fantasy world heavily dictated by gods. But throughout development, she evolved into the character she is now. Recently, Game Rant spoke with associate narrative designer Katie Tenney about Yatzli, how she evolved throughout development, and more.
Yatzli: From Moodboard to Flirting to Age Angst
Yatzli is one of those people who leave an impression, but good or bad is probably a matter of perspective. She can be loud, obnoxious, flirtatious, and over-the-top, and she’s probably heard wherever she goes. If she’s not found in one of the many Godless ruins scattered across The Living Lands, she’s probably at home with her loving partner in Fior mes Iverno. But a brief description of this Avowed companion is enough to suggest one thing: she is not a bland, boring academic, which was one of the goals associated with her, according to Tenney. She explained that,
“Yatzli’s role as the Godless expert was set from the beginning. The driving goal behind her was to not make her just a bland, boring academic. Her initial moodboard had images of Indiana Jones and Harley Quinn, among others, trying to find a different and good vibe for her. We even had pictures of Anjali Bhimani, Yatzli’s eventual voice actor, in there!”
Indiana Jones and Harley Quinn are certainly two interesting inspirations for Yatzi initially, but it was her involvement with another Avowed companion, Giatta, and Fior mes Iverno that really honed in on her character. But she also embodies the familiar experience of not knowing what you’re doing with your life, even in later years. This, among other things, helped Tenney connect with Yatzli:
“When I took over her writing, I got handed a fun character that I already loved, and I got to lean into the parts I liked most: her fun and flirty nature; her loving relationship with her partner; and the idea of the parts of ourselves we leave behind due to life passing us by. I personally went to college late and have always had a soft spot for characters who are still unsure even into their later years, and I hope folks enjoy helping Yatzli figure some stuff out!”
How Yatzli Feels About Other Avowed Companions
While Yatzli’s personality has been set from the beginning and she’s always been connected to the Godless, her adventures outside her personal story went through some changes, Tenney explained. Part of this, of course, is how Yatzli’s relationships in Fior and with Giatta have developed, not to mention when The Envoy (Avowed‘s protagonist) gets involved with the story. It seems relationships are important to Yatzli, so we asked how she feels about the other companions. As Tenney answered,
- Kai: “Yatzli and Kai both handle issues similarly, and it leads to a relationship where they get along but also push each other’s buttons very easily.”
- Giatta: “Yatzli and Giatta have known each other for years before the Envoy ever enters the picture. Yatzli’s kind of like Giatta’s fun aunt.”
- Marius: “Yatzli likes to poke at Marius. Like a platonic version of teasing a classmate you have a crush on. She can see that there’s more to him and is showing her support in a roundabout way.”
Narrative designer Paul Kirsch also added that Giatta and Yatzli are “dear friends and intellectual sparing partners” whose “campfire fire banters explore some of Eora’s oldest mysteries.” At the same time, Tenney explained that Yatzli would win a “most likely to do the Ken pose in her mugshot” award in her high school yearbook. An enigma, she is then.
- Released
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February 18, 2025
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Violence
- Publisher(s)
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Xbox Game Studios