The Secret Identity of Avowed's Narrator

The Xbox showcase on June 11th was a true delight for RPG enthusiasts, as Fable, Avowed, and Starfield all made their grand appearance. Avowed, in particular, left Obsidian fans thrilled with its teaser trailer that provided a glimpse into the game's combat, storyline, and world. Although the trailer primarily focused on exhibiting the game's combat mechanics and creature designs, it also introduced fans to a key character that they can expect to encounter in the game.

The trailer's narrator, a scaly humanoid who goes by the name of Kai, is set to play a crucial role in Avowed's story. Players will come across this intriguing character soon after arriving on The Living Lands, Avowed's frontier island, and he is one of the first companion characters that they can unlock. With Kai's significant presence in the trailer, it's safe to assume that he has a major part to play in the game's narrative. However, some viewers may still be left pondering over who exactly Kai is.

The Race of Avowed's Narrator

Kai's race in Avowed may prove difficult for some Pillars of Eternity players to place, as Obsidian has given the Aumaua race a noticeable update from its appearance in the original games. Alternatively, Kai could belong to a subgroup that diverges significantly from the standard Aumaua appearance. As a member of the Aumaua race, Kai is the largest of the humanoid races in Eora and possesses webbed hands and feet, which allow him to navigate semi-aquatic environments. While the Aumaua typically prefer tropical coastal climates and are skilled seafarers, they do not live underwater. In Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire, players could utilize the Island Aumaua sub-race's unique ability to traverse mud and water without incurring movement penalties.

Kai's appearance in Avowed deviates from the typical Aumaua players have encountered in the Pillars of Eternity games. While the Island and Coastal varieties are known for their sharp teeth and pointed ears, Kai is the first Aumaua to have actual scales, despite always having fish-like elements to their appearance. One possibility is that Kai belongs to a new sub-race of Aumaua that players have not yet encountered in previous games. This is plausible given that Avowed takes place on The Living Lands, an island located far north of Dyrwood and Deadfire where the previous games were set. It is likely that Kai is part of a group of Aumaua native to this new location.

Alternately, Kai could be portrayed as a typical Coastal Aumaua, and it seems that Obsidian has made a deliberate decision to showcase this new look. In fact, some might argue that this isn't necessarily a retcon, but rather a shift in art style. Similarly, the 3D character models in Pillars of Eternity were not as intricate as those in Avowed, and given the isometric perspective of the game, any scales on the characters would not have been visible from the more distant camera angle.

About Kai Himself

During the Xbox Showcase Extended on June 13, Avowed's game director Carrie Patel shed some light on Kai's background. As a former soldier and mercenary, Kai boasts extensive battlefield experience that is reflected in his personality. However, he also possesses a good sense of humor, showing that he's not all about work. Judging by his concept art, he seems to prefer wielding a sword and pistol during combat.

According to Feargus Urquhart, the head of Obsidian's studio, Kai is a blend of idealism and pragmatism. He will be one of the few amicable characters that Avowed players will encounter in the untamed wilderness of Avowed's Living Lands. Fans can look forward to befriending Kai when the game finally debuts in 2024 for PC and Xbox Series X/S.