Just hours into Avowed, you are brutally murdered-only to be resurrected with a rare chance to hunt down your killer, the enigmatic assassin Ygwulf. But when you finally confront him deep in the rebel hideout, the choice is yours: do you deliver cold justice and kill Ygwulf, or do you forgive him and alter the course of your story? This pivotal decision not only shapes your fate but also influences alliances, rewards, and the simmering conflict within Paradis. Should you wield your sword or extend mercy? The answer could redefine your journey in the Living Lands.
Our Avowed guide will explain the choice you make at the end of “An Untimely End,” including how to deal with Ygwulf and if you should forgive him or kill him.
How to find Ygwulf in Avowed
Ygwulf can be found in the Cistern beneath the Temple of Ondra in Paradis during the main quest “An Untimely End” in Avowed. To locate him, you need to follow the investigation into your own attempted murder, which involves reporting to the Watcher, speaking with the Ambassador, gathering clues at the Claviger’s Estate and the Temple of Ondra, and ultimately descending into the Cistern where Ygwulf and the Paradisian rebels are hiding. Upon reaching the Cistern and confronting Ygwulf, a key dialogue and decision point occurs.
You’ll have several objectives to finish before you track down your would-be assassin. You’ll visit the Watcher and report to the Ambassador. The ambassador will point you to Marius (a new companion) at a bar nearby. You’ll investigate the scene of your murder, and then climb a nearby tower. That’ll point you to an apothecarist and a quick boss fight against Thalla the Taskmaster. After that, the apothecarist will give you two more leads – searching the Claviger’s Estate and investigating the Temple of Ondra.
Check the Claviger’s Estate first – there’s more information there and it’ll save you some running back and forth. That way, when you reach the Temple of Ondra, you can talk your way past Elowe and into the secret hideout in the cistern below it.
You’ll have to fight your way through a lot of Paradisan Rebels and more than a few crawlers. Eventually, you’ll find your way to your killer, have a conversation, and then have to make a choice.
Should you kill or spare Ygwulf in Avowed?
Choosing whether to kill or spare Ygwulf in Avowed significantly affects gameplay, story, and rewards. Killing Ygwulf triggers a boss fight, rewarding you with his unique Blackwing Armor-a powerful set ideal for stealth builds-plus currency and adra, but it also makes the rebels hostile and leads to future ambushes. Sparing Ygwulf avoids combat and earns you adra, currency, and a Writ of Passage that grants safe entry to rebel areas, fostering a more merciful path and aiding the rebel cause, though it results in some narrative consequences like criticism from allies. Convincing Ygwulf to turn himself in is generally considered the worst option, as it grants no rewards and still provokes rebel attacks. Ultimately, sparing Ygwulf aligns with a compassionate playstyle and benefits the resistance, while killing him suits players seeking combat rewards and a more aggressive approach.
How your conversations with Ygwulf, your assassin, plays out determines the rewards you get, what happens to him, and how stabby the remaining Paradisan Rebels feel about you.
You basically have three choices.
The short answer is you’re better off forgiving him (less fighting) or killing him (better gear).
Forgive Ygwulf and let him go
If you let Ygwulf talk, hear him out, and don’t get too aggressive, you’ll eventually get the option to let him go. Choose take your people and leave to forgive Ygwulf. You’ll get an adra, 625 in coin, and Ygwulf’s Key that lets you take a shortcut out of the cistern.
Ambassador Hylgard won’t be crazy about your decision (unless you lie) and Inquisitor Lodwyn will be less so.
After you check in with the ambassador, you’ll meet a Paradisan Rebel named Stecg on your way out of town. They’ll give you a Writ of Passage that ensures none of the Paradisan Rebels attack you.
Convince Ygwulf to turn himself in
After your talk, you can get Ygwulf to turn himself in. Marius warns that the Steel Garote will probably torture him before they kill him. You can say he’ll get a fair trail, for what it’s worth, but the end result is largely the same. You’ll get Ygwulf’s Key from him without a fight. After you leave, though, the Paradisan Rebels you run into on the street will be hostile and attack you.
At the Embassy, you’ll get 1,500 coins and Inquisitor Lodwyn will be (marginally) friendlier.
On your way out of town, you’ll meet the Paradisan Rebel Stecg who will give you the Dissident’s Warning that just means the rebels will keep attacking you on sight.
Attack Ygwulf
If you decide to skip the talking and go straight to stabbing, you’ll have to defeat Ygwulf and the gathered rebels. Once he’s dead, you can loot his corpse for Ygwulf’s Key, his unique (and quite good) Blackwing Armor, 48 gold, and a health potion. You’ll run into the hostile rebels on your way to the Embassy.
The rest is the same as if he turned himself in. You’ll get 1,500 coins from the ambassador and Inquisitor Lodwyn will be friendlier.
On your way out of town, you’ll also meet the Paradisan Rebel Stecg who will give you the Dissident’s Warning.
Should I kill or forgive Ygwulf to shape my destiny in Avowed
In Avowed, deciding whether to kill or forgive Ygwulf, the assassin who tried to murder you, profoundly shapes your journey and alliances. Killing Ygwulf satisfies a sense of revenge and strengthens Aedyr’s grip on Paradis, but it leads to hostility from Paradisan rebels and a bloodier path ahead. On the other hand, sparing Ygwulf rewards you with valuable Adra, a Writ of Passage granting safe travel through rebel territories, and fosters a more peaceful resolution where rebels avoid attacking you. Forgiving him also influences key story elements, including the development of the rebel leader Sapadal’s understanding of mercy, which impacts decisions later in the game. Thus, sparing Ygwulf offers richer rewards and narrative depth, while killing him enforces a harsher, more confrontational route.
How will forgiving Ygwulf influence my relationships with Paradisan rebels
Forgiving Ygwulf in Avowed significantly improves your relationship with the Paradisan rebels. By sparing him, you earn the rebels’ trust, which results in them no longer attacking you on sight as you travel through their territories. This act of mercy also influences the rebel leader Sapadal’s perspective, fostering a more peaceful dynamic between you and the rebels. Additionally, forgiving Ygwulf grants you a Writ of Passage, allowing safe passage through rebel-controlled areas, which makes exploration and questing smoother and less hostile. Overall, choosing forgiveness opens the door to cooperation and less conflict with the Paradisan rebels.
