In Avowed, one of the most pivotal choices you’ll face comes during An Untimely End main quest, whether to kill or spare Ygwulf. A skilled assassin with a tragic past, Ygwulf is not simply a villain but a man driven by a sense of justice. His actions stem from the horrors inflicted upon the people of Paradis by the Steel Garrote, a ruthless faction led by an Inquisitor from Aedyr. He also claims to have seen a vision of the Envoy, interpreting it as a dark omen that justified his attempt on their life. Now, the decision falls to you: will you show him mercy or put an end to his mission for good? Each path carries its own rewards and consequences, shaping how the world, and its key players, respond to your choices.
Kill Ygwulf Or Not
As you near the end of An Untimely End main quest, you will have to decide Ygwulf’s fate. But before you make your choice, he reveals the reason behind the assassination. Ygwulf wasn’t acting out of malice, he was seeking justice for the people of Paradis, who suffered at the hands of the Steel Garrote, a brutal group of soldiers led by an Inquisitor from Aedyr.
He also shares a strange vision he had of the Envoy, standing beneath Aedyr’s symbol with their feet turning into tree roots entwined around adra. To Ygwulf, this was a bad omen, leading him to believe the Envoy had to die. Now, the choice is yours, will you spare him or end his life?
Kill Ygwulf
If you choose to reject Ygwulf’s reasoning and kill him, you’ll be rewarded with valuable loot. His body contains materials, Currency, adra, and his unique Blackwing Armor. This armor provides a +30% boost to Stealth Attack Damage and increases Movement Speed by 25% while crouching, making it a valuable asset for stealth-focused players.
Upon returning to Ambassador Falscen Hylgardback, he will be extremely pleased with your actions and reward you with 1,500 Currency. Inquisitor Lodwyn will also express his approval, impressed by your strength and decisiveness. Your decision to slay Ygwulf is a reaffirmation of your placement with the strong leaders who will assure their future support.
However if Ygwulf is too formidable for you to kill in combat, there is another manner with which he can be dealt with. You may spare his life but then betray him by reporting his location to the Ambassador. Once the Ambassador is informed, his forces will take care of Ygwulf and his people for you, removing the threat without the need for battle.
However, this choice comes with consequences. During the Food Theft quest in Emerald Stair, the rebels will not be as forgiving. Without Ygwulf’s influence to temper their actions, they may cause trouble for both the farmers and you, making the situation more challenging to resolve.
Spare Ygwulf
If you choose to spare Ygwulf by apologizing for the actions of the Steel Garrote and telling him to take his people and leave, he will be grateful. As a token of appreciation, he will give you some adra and 625 Currency before departing. When you return to Ambassador Falscen Hylgardback in Paradis, you’ll have the option to either lie and say Ygwulf escaped or admit that you let him go.
Regardless of your response, the Ambassador will be furious and launch into a lengthy rant, scolding you for what he sees as a grave mistake. To make matters worse, Inquisitor Lodwyn will also express his deep discomfort with your decision. However, despite their outrage, everyone eventually comes to terms with what happened and moves on to the next mission.
Later, as you leave Paradis, one of Ygwulf’s people will discreetly hand you a note that was distributed among the rebels. The message makes it clear that the Envoy is not an enemy and orders the rebels never to attack you under any circumstances. This small act of trust ensures that Ygwulf’s people will not pose a threat to you in the future, solidifying an unspoken alliance.
This decision has further consequences when you undertake the Food Theft quest in Avowed while in Emerald Stair. You will discover that some of Ygwulf’s people stole crops from farmers in a desperate attempt to survive.
If you had spared Ygwulf and convinced his people of your goodwill, they will return the stolen crops without a fight. While some rebels may still attack you on your way out, their leader will intervene and come to your aid, showing that your past actions have had a meaningful impact.
Finally, your decision to show mercy to Ygwulf will serve as an essential part in creating The Voice, Sapadal. Seeing you spare his life and show mercy to him will teach her valuable lessons, which will help her become a better leader. This will later have implications in the game when you are faced with making a difficult decision, for everything Sapadal learned from you will determine what she decides.
