Choosing a Faction

Guide to choosing a faction in Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire. Learn about questlines, companion consequences, and trophy implications for each faction.

You can only complete one chain of faction quests, as progressing in one will lock out others. There is a trophy for each faction questline, so it's recommended to make a hard save before choosing if you aim for the Platinum trophy. Be aware that completing certain faction quests may cause companions to leave your party.

• Taking Out the Traders: Results in Maia and Pallegina leaving.
• A Dance With Death: Pallegina or Maia may leave, depending on the relative strength of the VTC and RDC.
• The Final Maneuver: Results in Tekēhu and Pallegina leaving.
• Sabotage at the Brass Citadel: Results in Maia leaving.

After unlocking the trophies, you can reload your save to complete the game without favoring any faction, or choose to ally with a faction in a way that avoids alienating your companions.

Making Waves (Huana)

Go to Serpent's Crown, Kahanga Palace Rooftop, and speak with Onekaza. After discussing Ukaizo, agree to aid the Huana cause to begin the quest Taking Out the Traders.

Onekaza reveals that her guards captured a Vailian Trading Company (VTC) agent attempting to sabotage the Brass Citadel's powder stores. She tasks you with performing a similar act of sabotage, framing the VTC. She provides you with a Timed Explosive.

Travel to the Brass Citadel and ascend to the ramparts. Locate the door leading to the Powderhouse. If your Mechanics skill is not high enough (16) to pick the lock, you will need to defeat a Powderhouse Guard and loot the Powderhouse Key from their remains.

Enter the Powderhouse and proceed downstairs. You will be confronted by a Powderhouse Guard. Choosing to leave will return you outside, so direct confrontation is advised. Eliminate all guards on this level and continue to Powderhouse Storage.

Powderhouse Storage

Defeat all guards and Powder Mixers. Your objective is the Powder Stockpile. Place the explosive and attempt to leave; more guards will arrive. Defeat them, then return to the upper level and exit discreetly. Lingering will result in the Powderhouse exploding with you inside.

Return to Kahanga Palace. You will find the captured Vailian agent implicating Director Castol. Remain silent and allow the situation to unfold. When prompted, provide false testimony: claim you saw Andaccio in Castol's office, followed him to the Brass Citadel, but were too late to prevent the sabotage.

Onekaza decrees Castol's exile to the Gullet and the forfeiture of his holdings to the Rauataians. Afterward, return to the rooftop. Onekaza will pledge the crown's full support for your endeavors, granting you 8100 XP and unlocking the Making Waves trophy.

Gold, Greet and Guts (Príncipi)

Furrante requests a meeting in Dunnage at the Balefire Beacon. You arrive during Furrante's plot to have Aeldys executed. His goal is to reach Ukaizo before other factions. He believes the Floating Hangman can sail through the storms, and Aeldys may know how to summon it. Aeldys is fortified in her fortress, and you are tasked with obtaining this information before dealing with her.

If you have not supported slavers, it may be incongruous to assist Furrante. However, if you choose to work with Furrante, agree to retrieve the information from Aeldys. Sail to Fort Deadlight and confront her. Use aggressive tactics to provoke a fight. Defeat Aeldys and her retinue, looting the Hel Beckoning sword from her remains. Read her soul to learn how to summon the Floating Hangman.

Fight your way back to your ship and return to Balefire Beacon to inform Furrante. He rewards you with the Fleetbreaker crossbow.

Alternatively, you can outmaneuver Furrante. Go to Furrante's Study and pick the lock (Mechanics 13) on his chest. Search it to find A Letter from Director Castol. Confront Furrante with this letter, revealing his collusion with the VTC and involvement in the slave trade. The Consuaglo will turn against him, and he will be taken for execution.

Return to your ship and sail to Fort Deadlight. Proceed to Aeldys's quarters and speak with her. She rewards you with the Scordeo's Edge sabre for engineering Furrante's downfall (4050 XP). Aeldys then asks you to accompany her to Dunnage, initiating A Dance With Death. You can agree to go with her or meet her there later.

Back at Balefire Beacon, Aeldys proposes commandeering the Floating Hangman to lead the Príncipi fleet to Ukaizo. To secure the Hangman, you need Lucia's sword, acquired in the Hanging Sepulchers. Leave the court, return to your ship, and go to the ship's deck. Examine the Engolio do Espirs in your inventory and speak the oath Aeldys provided.

The Floating Hangman emerges from the mist and attempts to reclaim the sword. Do not surrender it. Instead, declare your intention to commandeer her ship. You will face Rivan and other powerful enemies, including an Ancient Fampyr. Defeat them, and the Hangman will be yours.