Culture and background

Culture and background are two essential parts of a characters biography in Pillars of Eternity and Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire. The player character, all companions, and many characters in the world have their own culture and background, which defines who they are and where they come from. During character creation, there are a number of options available to customize the Watcher's origin and backstory, each of which has a unique effect on the interactions you have with characters encountered throughout the game, serving as a starting point for your story.

In Pillars of Eternity, during your first quest you will be accompanied by Calisca. She will ask you about your past, about what you did before you fell in with the group. Your answers are taken and inscribed into your character's biography for the rest of the game. You can also choose to not to tell more about your background..

Culture

Culture is where the character is from. A character's culture greatly influences their social profile, general behaviour, and their way of living. As a trait, it is introduced by living in (or being born to) a particular region or ethnic group, and adapting to their societal norms and standards.

Culture affects almost every part of a character's being, including the clothing they wear, the food they eat, holidays and traditions they uphold, the language they use, how they speak to others, and much more.

As a game mechanic, a character's culture gives them an attribute bonus. The player character's culture is chosen during character creation, and determines what backgrounds are available to them. During gameplay, a character's culture can result in many unique social interactions and dialogue options. For example, bringing favour from another NPC with the same culture, or knowing of a particular custom or cultural idiosyncrasy.

In Pillars of Eternity, together with your class, the culture directly affects the equipment you receive at the start of the game (however Deadfire has no such effect.)

Only about half of the classes are available during character creation, with the remaining being reserved for NPCs and companions.

Culture	Attribute bonus	Companions	Description
Aedyr	+1 Resolve	Aloth	Click to expand Pillars of Eternity The Aedyr Empire is currently the largest and most powerful force in this part of the world. It is centered around the Equator and has a tropical climate. Though the empire has colonies in numerous areas of the world, Greater Aedyr is at its heart and houses the majority of its human and elven nations. Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire The Aedyr Empire is one of the most prominent Old Empires of the west. It is centered around the Equator and has a tropical climate. The nation of Aedyr is at its heart and houses the majority of its human and elven populace. Aedyr was once a powerful colonial force, but the loss of Readceras and the Dyrwood reduced its stature. Aedyrans are common in the Eastern Reach, but rare in the Deadfire Archipelago.
Deadfire Archipelago	+1 Dexterity	Tekēhu	Click to expand Pillars of Eternity Consisting of the nation of Naasitaq, dozens of aumaua settlements, and hundreds of lawless, pirate-infested islands that stretch along the southern sea, Deadfire is home to boreal dwarves, aumaua, and a mixed variety of other races. Deadfire Archipelago is the "last stop" for anyone headed east - a multitude of monstrous sea creatures infest the ocean beyond, making travel virtually impossible. Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire The Deadfire Archipelago marks the eastern edge of the "Known World." Dominantly populated by island aumaua who make up the tribes of the Huana, the chain of hundreds of islands spans thousands of miles. The Deadfire contains myriad climates and biomes that are home to a bewildering array of creatures. The last century has brought ambitious colonial traders, explorers, and pirates to the Deadfire, but travel east of the archipelago is blocked by the destructive storms of Ondra's Mortar. Legends among the Huana speak of an ancient cataclysm that devastated their people thousands of years ago. Details of this event have been lost to time, but Huana storytellers claim that it destroyed everything they had built, sinking even the greatest of their cities beneath the waves.
Ixamitl Plains	+1 Resolve	Zahua	Click to expand Pillars of Eternity Located to the northeast of Eir Glanfath, the Ixamitl Plains are a large expanse of fertile savannas that are extensively farmed by human and orlan residents. The Ixamitl culture is one of the oldest in the world, though one of the least imperialistic, having spread out little over the past several thousand years. Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire Located north of Readceras in the Eastern Reach, the Ixamitl Plains are a large expanse of fertile savannas that are extensively farmed by its savanna folk and orlan residents. The Ixamitl culture is one of the oldest in the world, though one of the least imperialistic, having spread out little over the past several thousand years. Ixamitl society places a strong emphasis on learning and scholarship and honors their philosophers and literati.
Old Vailia	+1 Intellect	-	Click to expand Pillars of Eternity Once the crown jewel of the southern seas, Old Vailia is now the crumbled remnants of an empire of warring merchant nations. Counting many humans and dwarves among their ranks, the Old Vailian countries are still forces to be reckoned with and are proud of their rich cultural heritage. Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire Once the crown jewel of the southern seas, Old Vailia is now the crumbled remnants of an empire of warring merchant nations. Counting many humans and dwarves among their ranks, the Old Vailian countries are still forces to be reckoned with and are proud of their rich cultural heritage. The southernmost of the Old Empires, Old Vailia suffered a similar fate to their northern neighbors, the Aedyrans, in losing their most prosperous colonial territories, the Vailian Republics. Many Old Vailians in the Deadfire Archipelago are associated with the Príncipi sen Patrena, a vast coalition of pirates.
Rauatai	+1 Constitution	Kana Rua Maneha Maia Rua	Click to expand Pillars of Eternity Dominated by the aumaua nation of Rauatai, the gulf itself is host to a number of nations, most of them aumaua, orlan, and dwarven. Though these countries are relatively young, they are some of the most advanced colonial settlements in the east. The gulf is a land of riches and resources for those who can take them, though the entire coast is often pummeled by violent storms. Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire The powerful naval kingdom of Rauatai is dominated by coastal aumaua and ruled by a ranga nui. Currently the most prosperous of the Old Empires, Rauatai has expanded aggressively into the Deadfire Archipelago to secure natural resources that are scarce in their native, storm-torn land. Though folk, dwarves, and orlans can be found in Rauatai, most are merchants or remnants of the old kingdoms Rauatai conquered when they seized power centuries ago. Legends say that the Rauataians came to their lands from the Deadfire Archipelago in the wake of a terrible cataclysm, but the details of that event have been lost to time and the imagination of storytellers.
The Living Lands	+1 Might	-	Click to expand The Living Lands is the mountainous region of a large northern island renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life. Its weather is unpredictable and its ecosystems vary dramatically from valley to valley. The Living Lands are home to an assortment of races in a variety of colonial and independent settlements.
The White that Wends	+1 Perception	Vatnir Ydwin	Click to expand A large, cracked southern expanse of polar ice, the White that Wends is home to pale elves and small colonies of daring explorers, outcasts, and adventurers. While virtually no plant life grows in the White, it is home to many hardy species of dangerous animals that forage from the sea or prey upon each other to survive.
NPC or companion-only cultures
The Dyrwood	+1 Resolve	Edér Durance Grieving Mother Devil of Caroc Konstanten	Click to expand A colonial nation founded by settlers from the Aedyr Empire. Following a series of conflicts with Aedyr, the territory became independent in 2672 AI, and is now ruled by a duc, who is elected by seven erls that oversee its erldoms.
Eir Glanfath	+1 Constitution	Hiravias	Click to expand A territory comprised of the forest southeast of the Bael River, populated indigenously by a group of loosely affiliated tribes collectively known as Glanfathans, and governed by a council of its six most powerful tribes. Eir Glanfath is home to a large number of ruined Engwithan sites, which Glanfathans hold sacred. The ruins have been at the center of a number of large-scale conflicts with Dyrwoodan colonists, whose settlements often encroach on Glanfathan territory and who frequently seek to plunder the ruins for their relics.
Naasitaq	+1 Perception	Sagani
Príncipi sen Patrena (Deadfire only)	+1 Resolve	Serafen Mirke	Click to expand Responding to the collapse of Grand Vailia (2720 - 2760 AI ), noble families packed up their households and sailed abroad seeking opportunities away from the shadow of their homeland. Over time their old world traditions evolved into a new identity as the Príncipi sen Patrena - the Princes without a Homeland, a loosely-connected and regulated organization of pirates. Alternate The Príncipi sen Patrena, or simply Príncipi, are a large band of loosely-affiliated pirates operating in the Deadfire Archipelago. Though they have their foundations in the fall of Old Vailia, the Príncipi have developed their own unique cultural mélange over the past few decades as their ranks have grown with outlaws from across the known world.
Readceras	+1 Resolve	Xoti	Click to expand Dyrwood's neighbor to the north. Readceras is a nation firmly rooted in its Eothasian faith - a fervor that took hold during the events of the Saint's War and remains even after the apparent death of Eothas.
The Vailian Republics	+1 Intellect	Pallegina Fassina	Click to expand A mercantile power and former colony of a larger, more ancient nation, Old Vailia. The Republics lie to the south of Dyrwood and Eir Glanfath, and are ruled by a duc elected by the "consuagli asegia," a council of 14 ducs, including its five most prominent, the "ducs bels."
Yezuha (Deadfire only)	+1 Constitution	Rekke	Click to expand Almost nothing is known about Rekke's homeland, Yezuha. It is either too small or too remote for any information about it to have become well-known in the Deadfire Archipelago.

Background

A background is what the character did (or is currently doing) as a job or profession. A character's background relates strongly to the skills that would required and associated with the background. Generally someone who has a profession in a particular field would develop a natural skill or "knack" for it, so naturally a merchant would be a better negotiator, or an explorer may be more well versed with surviving the wilderness, to give some examples.

After selecting a culture, players may select a background for their character. Backgrounds give an initial skill bonus, and as with culture, they have a similar role-playing impact. Some backgrounds are only available to specific cultures, and some are exclusive to companions.

In Pillars of Eternity, you can further "specialize" your background in a dialog with Calisca after you have found the springberry. First she will ask you about your specific background and then if you didn't say that it isn't her business she will ask why you left. Calisca will also ask you why you travel with the caravan and what you want to do.

Background	Availability	Skill		Description	Specific background (poe1)
		Pillars of Eternity	Deadfire
Arcane Apprentice	Fassina only	-	+2 Arcana	Click to expand Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire While many wizards learn their magic from private teachers or even universities, it is far superior to earn an apprenticeship with an established wizard or archmage. Relationships between apprentices and their mistresses or masters are commonly tough and occasionally abusive. This is due both to the eccentricities of powerful wizards as well as their desire to discourage timid students from seeking them out.
Aristocrat	All except The Living Lands	+2 Lore	+1 Bluff +1 Diplomacy +1 Intimidate	Click to expand Pillars of Eternity Your family belongs to the upper crust of society, and your upbringing provided you with many advantages over the lower born. You have had access to a first-rate education, and are no stranger to extravagant parties, dances, hunting for sport, and the political concerns of the landed nobility. Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire You've lived your life amongst the nobility. Your days have been marked by lavish meals and extravagant parties, your conversations peppered with talk of pedigree and bloodlines.	That's right. Royal blood runs through my veins. Only to some. Our titles were purchased, not inherited. My family has some clout among the elite, it's true.
Artist	Old Vailia	+2 Lore	+1 Mechanics +1 History +1 Insight	Click to expand Pillars of Eternity You were born with a natural grasp of aesthetics, and you have since cultivated it by endeavoring with your work to capture life in all its facets. Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire You've always felt driven to express yourself creatively. The structure and rigid control of other pursuits has never satisfied in the same way.	More of a performer, really. I made my living as an artisan. Yes, in the traditional sense. I try to capture life as I see it, create something new.
Clergy or Clergyman	Aedyr (in poe1) OR Aedyr or Deadfire Archipelago (in poe2)	+2 Lore	+2 Religion	Click to expand Pillars of Eternity You answered a higher calling, giving up the freedom of secular life for the spiritual rewards of devotion to the divine - a life of vestments and the study of holy texts and the spreading of the truths they hold. Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire Piety and prayer are the cornerstones of your public life, and you encourage the same in others.	I was. I left all that behind. I led a congregation at one time. I was a missionary. Not really. That's just a lie I tell people so I can manipulate them.
Colonist	Aedyr Old Vailia The Living Lands	+2 Survival	+1 Alchemy +1 Athletics +1 Survival	Click to expand Pillars of Eternity You left your homeland some time ago, surrendering the familiarity of home for the great unknowns of the unconquered frontier. Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire You were part of a group that founded a fledgling colony in a distant land.	There was a fortune to be made where I was. It wasn't by choice. I was fleeing persecution. I was there to pacify the land. And the people who were native to it.
Dissident	Aedyr Ixamitl Plains Old Vailia Rauatai	+1 Lore +1 Stealth	+1 Stealth +1 History +1 Intimidate	Click to expand Pillars of Eternity You've never taken well to people telling you what to do. What began as a rebellious streak has developed into full-blown indignation for authority figures and power structures, and you've taken every opportunity along the way to express your dissenting opinions. Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire You've made a name for yourself as a troublemaker. Disrespect for authority and a lack of care regarding the rules are recurring themes in your life.	For some I was. I fought for a rebellion. You might say that. I was a spy for a time. That's why they put me in jail.
Drifter	Any culture	+1 Mechanics +1 Stealth	+1 Sleight of Hand +1 Bluff +1 Streetwise	Click to expand Pillars of Eternity It's a rare thing for you to stay anywhere for any length of time. You've passed from town to town, moving on when it suits you, the open road the closest thing you've had to a home. Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire You never quite fit in no matter where you go. Each new town is just a place to rest briefly before moving on to the next. You are more comfortable on the road, traveling the world.	That sort of thing tends to happen with orphans. Sure. I wander in the lives of fools, talk them out of their money and wander back out. You have to be when people are looking for you.
Explorer	Deadfire Archipelago The Living Lands The White that Wends	+1 Lore +1 Survival	+1 Diplomacy +1 History +1 Survival	Click to expand Pillars of Eternity Your whole life you've lived for the thrill of discovery and exploration, finding irresistible the siren call of the far reaches and unknown places of the world. Many live their lives perfectly content within the confines of one small town, but to you such a fate would've been a death sentence. Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire You find the siren call of the horizon irresistible. You cannot help but wonder what lies beyond the next hill or wave, and you've built your life around finding out.	In the watery parts of the world. I was a mariner. I lived out on a frontier for a time. Interesting might not be the word. I sailed with cold-blooded conquerors.
Farmer	Edér and Xoti only	+1 Athletics +1 Survival	+2 Survival	Click to expand Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire Farmers can be found across the Old Empires, Eastern Reach, and even in the Deadfire Archipelago. They are responsible for the bulk of food their societies rely on for day-to-day sustenance.	-
Gentry	Aloth only	+2 Lore	+2 Diplomacy	Click to expand Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire A distinct social class in Aedyr, Old Vailia, and parts of the Dyrwood, gentry are minor nobles, often landowners, who sit below the aristocracy and above wealthy commoners.	-
Hunter	All	+1 Survival +1 Stealth	+1 Alchemy +1 Mechanics +1 Survival	Click to expand Pillars of Eternity You've made your living in the wilds, dedicating your hours to perfecting the cadence of the hunt - the long intervals of stillness and waiting, the frantic exertions of the chase, the sudden punctuation of the kill. Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire You live for the thrill of the chase. Whether for glory or for sustenance, you have made your living taking the lives of wild creatures.	I spent a lot of time living on my own in the wilderness. I used to hunt monsters for a living. I was responsible for hunting and gathering for my village. I was a fisherman, actually.
Laborer	All	+1 Mechanics +1 Athletics	+2 Athletics	Click to expand Pillars of Eternity Like many commoners of able body and apt mind before you, you learned a complex skill and then struck out on your own to ply your trade. Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire Your life has been spent in the study of your craft. You trained and prepared, hoping to hone your skills and ply your trade.	Blacksmith. Builder. Cook.
Marksman	Maia only	-	+1 Explosives +1 Stealth	Click to expand Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire Marksmen are soldiers who specialize in attacking from a distance with firearms. Less common than infantry soldiers, marksmen are often specialized elite units found in private armies or in the employ of powerful merchant companies.	-
Mercenary	All except The White that Wends	+1 Lore +1 Athletics	+1 Athletics +1 Intimidate +1 Streetwise	Click to expand Pillars of Eternity Combat ability of any kind is a skill in high demand in a world where much of the wilderness is untamed and many borders are contested. Battle is your trade, and you have thus far been fortunate enough to survive its perils. Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire Blade and battle is your way of life. You solve your problems by pulling out your weapon and applying force.	I'm a war veteran. I was a blade for hire. I used to go on adventures and expeditions, whatever paid. I was a constable.
Merchant	All	+1 Lore +1 Mechanics	+1 Bluff +1 Diplomacy +1 Streetwise	Click to expand Pillars of Eternity Whether it was a silver tongue, a head for numbers, an ability to appraise others, or simply happenstance, until recently you made your living as a merchant, parting person from coin in trade for your wares. Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire You've traded goods from all over the world, pairing items with buyers of all kinds.	I used to transport things people wanted kept secret. Goods, people. I piloted cargo ships. I ran a shop.
Midwife	Grieving Mother only	+1 Lore +1 Survival	+1 Alchemy +1 Explosives +1 Survival	-	-
Missionary	Rekke only	-	+1 Diplomacy +1 Metaphysics +1 Religion	Click to expand Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire Missionaries are responsible for spreading the message of their faith to new lands and their people. As the people of the Old Empires, Eastern Reach, and Deadfire Archipelago largely worship the same gods, missionaries are seldom encountered.	-
Mystic	The White that Wends	+2 Lore	+1 Arcana +1 Metaphysics +1 Religion	Click to expand Pillars of Eternity There are those who find inspiration in books and houses of worship, and there are those for whom it is more personal - perhaps not even a choice at all. The spark of divine inspiration revealed a path to you, and since then you've traveled it in search of fulfillment. Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire You've never been able to explain how the universe guides your path. Behind every task you undertake is a feeling of cosmic direction.	I spend my days studying theology. I get visions from time to time that guide my way. Spirituality was my life. I was an ascetic.
Philosopher	Ixamitl Plains	+2 Lore	+2 Insight	Click to expand Pillars of Eternity Abstract thinking, the clash of ideals, notions of good and evil, right and wrong, and the pursuit of ultimate truth - these are the things that have always made your blood flow and your mind race, so much so that you've arranged your life such that you can while away your hours contemplating elusive answers and challenging accepted beliefs. Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire You are most at home inside your own head, analyzing the nature of the world and its inhabitants.	I used to spend a lot of time reasoning about good and evil, right and wrong. It's part of my nature. I was a teacher before I came here. I don't believe in anything, and I've spent a lot of time challenging other people's beliefs.
Raider	Deadfire Archipelago	+1 Athletics +1 Stealth	+1 Athletics +1 Stealth +1 Streetwise	Click to expand Pillars of Eternity You've always taken what you wanted - didn't matter what it was or who it belonged to. By most laws this is theft, but you've never had much use for any laws besides your own. Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire You've spent your life on the wrong side of the law. What you want, you take, and what was theirs has a tendency to become yours.	I've been known to liberate certain underappreciated valuables from their owners' homes. You wouldn't have wanted to run into me at sea. We boarded and plundered ships. I was a highwayman in my old life.
Scholar	Ixamitl Plains Rauatai	+2 Lore	+1 Arcana +1 History +1 Metaphysics	Click to expand Pillars of Eternity You have always been dazzled by letters and numbers, facts and figures, problems and stratagems. In academics you found a way to surround yourself with what interested you, and since then you've largely spent your time trying to better yourself through the acquisition of knowledge. Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire For you, knowledge is a relentless pursuit. You hoard each kernel of information as though it were precious metal, and time you don't spend learning is time wasted.	I was a historian. I took an interest in all matters arcane. I studied war and combat.
Scientist	The Living Lands	+1 Lore +1 Mechanics	+1 Arcana +1 Explosives +1 Metaphysics	Click to expand Pillars of Eternity The laws of the natural world are pieces of a puzzle to you, and you dedicated yourself to putting it together - unraveling its mysteries, revealing small truths to bring larger ones into focus. Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire The rules that govern the world are a set of alchemical formulae to you, waiting to be discovered and manipulated.	I learned to harness it to solve crimes. There's a lot of demand for substances that alter the mind. A little science goes a long way in meeting that demand. I spent a long time pursuing the knowledge promised by alchemy.
Slave	Aedyr Deadfire Archipelago Old Vailia Rauatai	+1 Athletics +1 Survival	+1 Athletics +1 Streetwise +1 Survival	Click to expand Pillars of Eternity Few people truly understand what it feels like to be forced into the service of another, stripped of freedom and dignity alike, but until recently, this had been your lot in life - hard labor, chains, and the ceaseless gaze of a master. Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire You have never known freedom. Shackles and chains have bound your existence, and someone has told you what to do your entire life.	Slave on a galley at sea. Slave on a large farming estate. Indentured servant.
Soldier	Pallegina only	+1 Athletics +1 Lore	+1 Athletics +1 Intimidate +1 Survival	Click to expand Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire Professional soldiers work throughout the Old Empires, Eastern Reach, and even in the Deadfire. The difference between a mercenary and a soldier is the nature of their employment. Soldiers are always full-time professionals associated with standing armies, often as a part of an elite military order.	-
Trapper	Devil of Caroc only	+1 Stealth +1 Mechanics	+2 Mechanics	Click to expand Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire You were a trapper, making your life through snares and legholds, catching small animals for their meat, pelts, and even bones.	-