Delving into the Morally Grey Choices of Avowed
As you progress through the main story of Avowed and explore the Living Lands, you’ll encounter numerous choices that challenge your moral compass. One such pivotal decision arises in the quest "An Untimely End," where you confront your killer, Ygwulf. But now, you’re alive and well, and the question looms: should you kill him or let him walk away? This decision not only affects the immediate outcome of the quest but also has far-reaching consequences for your journey through Paradis and beyond.
Meeting Your Ally: Marius
The quest "An Untimely End" begins with a straightforward mission. After you awaken from the initial shock of your death and meet Ambassador Hylgard, who you recently saved from a Dreamthrall bear in the Strangleroot, he suggests finding your assassin. Your companion, Kai, recommends seeking help from an old friend named Marius. Marius, a Dwarven Ranger, becomes the second available companion in your party. When you find him at the Grinning Balarok in town, you have the option to intervene in a barroom altercation on his behalf. However, Marius is more than capable of handling himself, and the scene that unfolds is both humorous and heartwarming. Whether you choose to step in or not, Marius will join you in your quest to track down the assassin.
Tracking Down the Assassin
With Marius by your side, the next steps involve combing through the crime scene and gathering clues. You’ll search the rooftops, talk to an apothecary, and fight off some toughs in the Pearl District. Eventually, you’ll head to Hightown, the northern part of Paradis, and follow the quest marker to the recently deceased Claviger’s house. Clear out the bandits that have taken over the estate and search the premises. You’ll discover a locked door upstairs, but a bit of parkour through an open window will grant you access to the Claviger’s journal. The journal reveals that the Claviger had been helping the Paradisan rebels set up a hideout beneath the Temple of Ondra. With this information in hand, you, Kai, and Marius decide to investigate the temple.
Confronting the Rebels
Upon entering the Temple of Ondra, you’ll confront a priestess who, after a brief exchange, will reveal that the rebels are hiding in the cistern below. Among them is your killer, Ygwulf. The priestess will lead you to a side door that accesses the cistern. Here, you’ll face a series of battles against the rebels, who will attack you on sight. While it might be possible to sneak through this section without engaging in combat, I found it challenging and unnecessary. Eliminating the rebels in these early rooms won’t lock any choices for the final confrontation with Ygwulf, but it will prepare you for the tougher fights ahead.
The Fork in the Road: Ygwulf’s Remorse
In the final room of the rebel hideout, you’ll encounter Ygwulf in a small cutscene. He expresses deep remorse for killing you, explaining that he acted based on a vision he saw. However, your miraculous recovery from death has made him reconsider his actions. At this point, you are given a crucial choice: you can let Ygwulf and the rebels go without further violence, or you can take justice into your own hands and fight Ygwulf. Letting Ygwulf live means he will provide you with a key to exit the hideout and a Writ of Passage from the rebels, which grants you some favor with them in the next area, Emerald Stair. If you choose peace, you’ll avoid a potentially grueling battle and the subsequent fallout with the rebels.
The Consequences of Your Choice
Killing Ygwulf, while providing you with significant rewards, also comes with severe consequences. If you decide to fight and defeat Ygwulf, you’ll gain access to his Blackwing Armor, a unique light armor that enhances stealth attack damage and crouched movement speed. This can be a valuable upgrade for stealth-oriented characters. However, the rebels will not take kindly to your actions. They will attack you as you leave the hideout and head back to the Aedyran embassy. After putting down these attacks, the rebels will mostly leave you alone, but they will exact one final act of revenge. You’ll discover that Garryck, the friend who rescued you from the shipwreck at the beginning of the game, has been brutally murdered by the rebels, with a note addressed to you. This can be a significant emotional hit if you grew attached to Garryck during the tutorial sections. Despite this, the rebels will still engage in dialogue with you in Emerald Stair, though they will be much more cautious and distrustful.
Strategies for Beating Ygwulf
If you decide to take on Ygwulf, be prepared for a tough fight. The battle has two distinct phases: the initial confrontation with Ygwulf and a few rebel assassins, followed by a second phase where Ygwulf regenerates his health and more assassins join the fray. Effective crowd control is essential. Kai’s abilities like Leap of Daring and Fire and Ire can draw the enemies’ attention, while Marius’ Binding Roots can keep them at bay temporarily. Focus on clearing out Ygwulf’s allies first, as they can overwhelm you quickly. If your companions go down, take the time to revive them, whether through the Dream Touch ability or by running up to them manually. Ignoring their demise will likely lead to your own, as you’ll be left to fight a swarm of enemies on your own. With the right strategy and a bit of patience, you can eventually overcome Ygwulf and his allies.
The Final Decision: Kill or Spare?
In the end, the decision to kill Ygwulf or let him live is a deeply personal one. If you are playing a stealth-oriented character and the Blackwing Armor is a tempting upgrade, then killing Ygwulf might be the right choice for you. However, this comes with the emotional weight of Garryck’s murder and a strained relationship with the rebels. On the other hand, letting Ygwulf live offers a more peaceful path, though the Writ of Passage hasn’t shown much practical benefit in my playthrough. Even if you choose to kill Ygwulf, the rebels will still be willing to talk to you in Emerald Stair, albeit with a lot of distrust. Ultimately, the choice you make should reflect the kind of character you want to be and the story you want to tell in Avowed.
