In the game Avowed, reaching the critical juncture of the mainline quest "A Path to the Garden" presents players with a pivotal decision regarding Captain Aelfyr. This choice comes after witnessing her involvement in the devastating fire at Fior Mes Inverno, an event that fuels Giata's rage and might stir your own desire for retribution. Importantly, your decision impacts not just the narrative but also your inventory, as it determines access to unique loot.

Should You Attack or Spare Captain Aelfyr in Avowed?

At this point in Avowed, the optimal choice is to attack Captain Aelfyr. By doing so, you gain access to exclusive loot, including the highly beneficial Death Knight Gloves. These gloves are particularly valuable for players focusing on defense and elemental combat, offering a -10% Stamina cost reduction while blocking and a 15% increase in Frost Damage.

Death Knight Gloves & Other Rewards for Attacking Aelfyr

Image Source: Obsidian Entertainment via The Escapist

Upon defeating Captain Aelfyr, you can loot her corpse to acquire the Death Knight Gloves along with other valuable items to enhance your Avowed inventory:

• Garnet (Gem)
• Silver Fenning coins x26
• Exceptional Scale Armor (+0/3)
• Exceptional Great Sword (+0/3)

If you've been neglecting gear upgrades throughout your Avowed journey, this is a golden opportunity to bolster your equipment with Exceptional Quality armor and weaponry. Additionally, the surrounding area will be littered with fallen Steel Garrote soldiers, each offering their own loot to scavenge.

What If You Spare Aelfyr?

Choosing to spare Captain Aelfyr yields no tangible rewards. The primary benefit of this choice is avoiding a challenging battle against her and her Steel Garrote allies, which includes formidable melee fighters and healing mages. This can be particularly appealing if your character is under-leveled, though you can always adjust the game's difficulty to ease the encounter.

The decision to kill or spare Aelfyr also subtly affects Giata's emotional state, making her slightly happier or more anxious, respectively. However, these changes have minimal impact on the broader narrative beyond a few minor dialogues.

Now that you're equipped with the knowledge to make an informed decision about Captain Aelfyr, consider exploring other significant choices in Avowed, such as whether to give Keipo the Leviathan Heart during the "Heart of Valor" side quest, which offers substantial additional loot. Additionally, familiarize yourself with the full roster of Avowed's main and side missions to plan your adventure ahead.