Avowed tests the players with various choices, and one of them is killing or sparing Ygwulf, the assassin who killed you with a poisoned arrow in Paradis. Once you finally meet him, you’ll have three options to consider: let him go, convince him to surrender, or kill him.
As any person coming back from the dead would want to do, you will also try to meet your killer and execute him. But before that, you have to find him.
How to Locate Ygwulf in Avowed?
Once you reach the Dawnshore area in Avowed, you will get to meet Ygwulf. However, meeting him isn’t as simple as it appears.
You have to complete various objectives before you can hunt your assassin. To start your hunt, you will have to meet the Watcher and report to the Ambassador.
The ambassador will tell you about a new ally, Marius. After meeting Marius, the Envoy will start investigating the scene of his murder, climb a nearby tower, meet an apothecarist, and fight Thalla the Taskmaster. Once you have defeated Thalla, the apothecarist gives two leads that can come in useful. These two leads require you to search the Claviger’s Estate and investigate the Temple of Ondra.
Just a quick tip: try searching the Claviger’s Estate first. You’ll find way more information here than at the Temple of Ondra. Now when you reach the Temple of Ondra, you can quickly reach the secret hideout of rebels in the cistern below it. You’ll have to fight your way through a lot of rebels and crawlers before you can finally look your killer in the eye.
Should You Spare or Kill Ygwulf in Avowed?
When you see Ygwulf, he reveals why he assassinated you in the first place. He explains his act by saying that he was trying to take revenge on the Inquisitor after his soldiers (Steel Garrote) tortured the people of Paradis. After hearing him out, you get to decide what happens to him. The decision has minor consequences on the ending of the game, but the choice you make comes with unique rewards.
You have three options at this point: kill him, let him go, or convince him to turn himself in.
| Choice | Result |
|---|---|
| Confess to the Steel Garrote. Maybe they’ll show mercy. | Ygwulf is turned over to the authorities and eventually executed. In retaliation, the rebels kill Garryck. This decision influences the specific “epilogue” screen you’ll see. |
| Take your people and leave, before I change my mind. | Ygwulf and his followers are allowed to depart peacefully, avoiding any bloodshed. This choice determines which “epilogue” screen appears at the end. |
| [Attack] You killed me. Now allow me to return the favor. | You engage in a boss fight with Ygwulf. After defeating him, you can claim the Blackwing Armor from his body. However, the rebels avenge him by killing Garryck. This path alters the ending “epilogue” screen you receive. |
Let’s evaluate each option in detail.
Spare Ygwulf and Let Him Walk
If you think there is some truth in Ygwulf’s story, hear him out completely and select the option to forgive him. Select the “take your people and leave” choice. Doing so will give you 625 in coin, an adra, and Ygwulf’s Key. Use this key to escape from the cistern quickly.
If you tell Ambassador Hylgard and Inquisitor Lodwyn about your decision, they’ll be furious. But if you lie about it, you’ll be much better off.
After meeting the ambassador, you will meet Stecg, a Paradisan Rebel, at the entrance to Emerald Stair. You’ll receive a Writ of Passage from them, guaranteeing that you will not be attacked by any of the Paradisan Rebels.
Apart from the immediate results of the decision to spare Ygwulf, there are some consequences that occur later on in the game. When you finish the Food Theft quest, you find that some of Ygwulf’s men stole crops from farmers to feed themselves, as they had no food to survive. If the Envoy has decided to forgive Ygwulf, they will return the crops without showing any resistance.
In addition to this, sparing Ygwulf will teach Sapadal mercy. It will help you make an important decision at the end of the game, and Sapadal’s learning will come into play.
Make Ygwulf Surrender
After talking to Ygwulf, you can make him surrender. Your ally, Marius, points out that if you turn him in, he will be tortured and eventually killed by the Steel Garrote. The end result is almost the same for this decision as well.
Ygwulf hands over his key without putting up a fight. When you arrive at the embassy, you get 1500 coins, and Inquisitor Lodwyn will be a little more pleased after seeing that Ygwulf has turned him in.
The behavior of Paradisan Rebels will be totally different. They’ll attack you on your way back, and Stecg will give you the Dissident’s Warning. This warning is an open threat letter saying that rebels will try to kill you.
Kill Ygwulf
The third option you have is to kill Ygwulf. If you opt for it, you will have to kill him and the group of rebels with him. It is not going to be an easy fight unless you use a shield and have AoE magic, so make sure you decide wisely. If you succeed in killing him and his people, you will get his Blackwing Armor, Ygwulf’s Key, 48 gold, and a health potion.
The armor is quite a unique gear to have, as it gives a +30% Stealth Attack Damage and a +25% increased move speed. This is the only reward that makes fighting him a better choice.
When you reach the embassy, you will get 1500 coins, and Inquisitor Lodwyn will be extremely pleased. On your way out, Stecg will hand you the Dissident’s Warning.
The Best Option?
The best option is to probably free him and lie to the ambassador and Inquisitor. You will still get some amazing rewards and proceed without the fear of getting attacked throughout the game.
Or, if you want to get some gold without starting a fight, turn him in. The other option, attacking Ygwulf, is only viable if you desperately need his Blackwing Armor.
