In Avowed, the decision to attack or spare Captain Aelfyr during the mainline quest "A Path to the Garden" presents a significant choice that impacts your gameplay experience. If Captain Aelfyr was involved in the destruction of Fior Mes Inverno earlier in the game, her gloating over the town's massacre and Giata's subsequent anger might make the option of revenge particularly appealing. Moreover, your choice here will determine whether you can acquire a unique piece of loot.
Should You Attack or Spare Captain Aelfyr in Avowed?
When faced with the decision, attacking Captain Aelfyr is the recommended course of action in Avowed. This choice allows you to obtain a substantial amount of exclusive loot, including the coveted Death Knight Gloves.
Related: All Avowed Achievements & How To Get Them
Death Knight Gloves & Other Rewards for Attacking Aelfyr
Image Source: Obsidian Entertainment via The Escapist
In Avowed, the Death Knight Gloves are particularly beneficial for defenders and elemental fighters, offering a -10% Stamina cost reduction while Blocking and a 15% increase to Frost Damage. Upon defeating Captain Aelfyr, you can loot her corpse to acquire the following items in addition to the Death Knight Gloves:
- Garnet (Gem)
- Silver Fenning coins x26
- Exceptional Scale Armor (+0/3)
- Exceptional Great Sword (+0/3)
If you haven't been focusing on gear upgrades throughout your Avowed playthrough, obtaining these Exceptional Quality items provides a great opportunity to enhance your equipment. Additionally, you can loot the bodies of the fallen Steel Garrote soldiers for more rewards.
Related: How To Get Hylea’s Talon in Avowed
What If You Spare Aelfyr?
Choosing to spare Captain Aelfyr yields no tangible rewards. On normal difficulty, engaging in combat with Aelfyr and her Steel Garrote soldiers is a challenging encounter, involving aggressive melee fighters and healing mages. Thus, sparing her can be seen as a reward in itself, as it allows you to avoid this difficult battle. If your character is under-leveled, you can temporarily reduce the game's difficulty to make the fight more manageable.
The decision to kill or spare Aelfyr will slightly affect Giata's mood, making her happier if Aelfyr is killed and more anxious if spared. However, the impact on the storyline remains minimal, limited to a few minor conversations.
Now that you understand the benefits of attacking and killing Captain Aelfyr in Avowed, consider whether you should give Keipo the Leviathan Heart during the "Heart of Valor" side quest, which offers significant additional loot. Also, explore the full list of Avowed's main and side missions to see what else awaits in your adventure.