After doing the bit inside Northreach Fort of Avowed, you'll enter the main game by entering the Claviger's Landing area of Dawnshore. From this point, you can freely explore the map of Dawnshore ...

Those of you brave enough to clamber up Claviger Lighthouse on your adventure will be sent all the way back down to hunt some buried pirate booty using Captain Henqua’s Spoils treasure map.