Owlboy Walkthrough: Vellie Village 100% Guide (Part 1)

A complete Owlboy walkthrough for Part 1 — the Vellie village introduction. Covers the flight tutorial, controls, hidden chests, coins, the hot spring health boost, Geddy the gunner, and every NPC conversation you need.

Owlboy Walkthrough Part 1: What This Section Covers

Owlboy is a gorgeously animated platformer from D-Pad Studio, and its opening chapter takes place in the quiet clifftop village of Vellie. This part of our Owlboy walkthrough covers everything from the opening cutscene to the chase after the Troublemaker at the cave entrance, including all the collectibles, coins, and secret chests hidden along the way. If you have been searching for an "owlboy walkthrough" that explains the intro step by step, this guide has you covered.

The chapter breaks down into four beats: the flight lesson with Otus's mentor, the water jug task, free exploration of Vellie, and picking up your first companion, Geddy. Most players searching for an Owlboy walkthrough get stuck on the same few things — the blocked walls, the hidden chests, and figuring out how the gunner system works — so each of those is addressed below.

Flight Tutorial and Basic Controls

The game opens with Asio, Otus's stern mentor, reminding his students that they will one day "carry the weight of owlhood." Otus, born mute, is then put through a flying lesson. The mechanic is simple: jump off the ground, then press jump again in midair to spread your wings and flap. Your aero cloak handles the rest. In the story, Otus flubs the landing, but from this point on you can fly freely.

Here are the core controls demonstrated during the Vellie intro:

ActionHow to Do It
FlyPress jump, then press jump again midair to flap
DashDash through the air for a quick burst of speed
Roll / spin attackRoll along the ground; the spin damages enemies
Throw held object (jug, weight)Use the right trigger
Throw / chomp fruitLeft trigger to throw, right trigger to chomp
Carry a gunner (Geddy)Walk into him and pick him up; press the attack input to fire

A few practical notes from this section of the Owlboy walkthrough:

  • You start with three points of health, shown in the top-left corner of the screen.
  • Rolling is slower than flying, so air dash is usually the better way to travel.
  • Carrying objects like the water jug or the weight near the cave lets you throw them at cracked surfaces and targets.

Vellie Collectibles and Secrets Checklist

Vellie is small, but it hides a surprising amount of loot for the intro area. Work through this checklist before heading into the cave:

CollectibleWhere to Find ItBenefit
KettleOtus's house, near the bookshelfDrink for one extra health point
RingsScattered through Vellie Plaza and the skies aboveBonus points when flying through
CoinsPulled out of the ground all over the villageSpend later on purchasable items
FruitPull up from garden plotsSome fruit restores health; chomp or throw it
Treasure chestsHidden underground — look for pull spotsLoot; one chest sits in the secret area during the Troublemaker chase
Hot springOld Toby's spot in the upper villageSoak in the scalding water for what appears to be a permanent health increase

Two important tips:

  1. Revisit blocked areas later. Several walls and passages in Vellie cannot be opened on your first pass — you need a later ability or companion. The video author notes returning to grab things that were missed on the first loop.
  2. Talk to everyone. The story requires Otus to hear what the villagers think of him, and conversations hand you quest hooks like the stolen bongos and the pirate sighting west at Lookout Point.

Meeting Geddy: Your First Gunner Companion

After Otus is mocked by a pair of snarky owl classmates at the Vellie outpost, his best friend Geddy insists on joining the patrol. Pick Geddy up and he becomes your first gunner — the core combat mechanic of Owlboy.

How the gunner system works:

  • While carried, Geddy fires his blaster at enemies, boxes, and breakables.
  • His blaster is effective in most combat situations, but not against solid rock or steel.
  • You can throw Geddy down to lower ledges; do not worry, he climbs back up on his own.
  • Different gunner characters join your team as you progress through the game, each with their own strengths.

Practice on the small boxes and targets around the plaza before the action starts. Note that a sealed passage near the plaza only becomes accessible once you have Geddy with you, so this pickup also gates a small secret.

Story Beats: Villagers, Solus, and the Troublemaker

This chapter doubles as Otus's lowest point — and the setup for his growth. The key events, in order:

  • The water jug task. Otus smashes the village's water supply, and Asio declares his disappointment, telling him to leave.
  • The nightmare. Sent to hear what the villagers think of him, Otus descends into a dream sequence where the truth about his failures is thrown back at him.
  • A new day in Vellie. Otus oversleeps, knocks the books off his shelf, and grabs the kettle before heading out to keep watch — pirates have been spotted in the region, and the guards are on alert.
  • NPC conversations. Geddy mentions a future trip to the city of Advent while fixing a cannon; a villager reports pirates seen west at Lookout Point; another complains about stolen bongos; and Toby teaches the hot spring "relaxation trick."
  • Solus appears. One of Asio's students, Solus is kind to Otus, offering help if the bullies give him trouble again.
  • The Troublemaker chase. A masked intruder crashes into Solus and flees. Follow him down through the ring trail and secret nook (grab the chest and coins on the way) until he blocks the cave entrance — setting up the next section of the game.

Watch out for the repeated warning about "ginormous pirates" — it is a not-so-subtle hint at the scale of trouble heading toward Vellie.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you fly in Owlboy? Press jump to leave the ground, then press jump again in midair to flap your wings. The aero cloak keeps you airborne, and you can air dash to cross gaps quickly.

How do you increase Otus's health? Drink the kettle in Otus's house for a temporary point, eat health-giving fruit found in the ground, and soak in Toby's hot spring, which grants what looks like a permanent max health boost.

Where are the treasure chests in Vellie? Chests are hidden underground — look for spots you can pull loot out of the dirt. One sits in the upper village, and another is in the side nook during the Troublemaker chase near the cave.

Who is Geddy in Owlboy? Geddy is Otus's best friend and Vellie's defense mechanic. Once you pick him up, he acts as your first gunner, firing a blaster that works on most enemies and breakables but not on solid rock or steel.

Why can't I open certain walls in Vellie? Some passages require abilities or companions you unlock later in the game. Note their locations and backtrack after recruiting new gunners.

How long does the Vellie intro take? The opening chapter is short — the full game is a compact platformer — so budget roughly 30–45 minutes to explore thoroughly, talk to every villager, and grab all the coins and chests before entering the cave.

Sources

This guide is based on the following reference material: