The Exile

Lore & Background

High Templar Dominus exiles the player character, referred to as 'Exile,' from Oriath for some crime depending on which class the player chose. Exiles are sent to Wraeclast, a penal colony, where they kill various monsters and people who have been tormenting other exiles in Wraeclast. It is discovered that Dominus has been secretly working with his assistant Piety studying thaumaturgy and is the cause of many of the troubles in Wraeclast. The Exile finds and kills both of them.

In the process, the Exile encounters a remnant of the Eternal Empire, a woman called Dialla who explains how a thaumaturgical 'Rapture Device' created by a man called Malachai is being used to awaken and release 'The Beast', the source of a Cataclysm that ravaged Wraeclast centuries prior. The Exile enters the Beast through the Dread Thicket and kills Malachai. Afterward, the Exile remains in Wraeclast and later travels to Oriath via the Karui fleet in Act 5.

The successor to Dominus, High Templar Avarius, has been abusing his ordained power of divinity. The corrupt templars are exercising their power to wrest control of Oriath, oppressing and persecuting a race of people known as Karui. The Exile fights alongside the Karui rebels during their ongoing slave rebellion, killing Avarius and defeating the Templar god 'Innocence'. However, the templar order as a whole is not fully overthrown.

After defeating Innocence, Sin returns and informs the Exile that by killing the Beast, the Exile has inadvertently caused the old gods of the world to reawaken. The formerly oppressed Karui, now empowered by their god Kitava, are running rampant in Oriath, destroying whatever they...

Reader's Guide

The Exile is defined by their lack of a fixed identity, serving as a vessel for player agency within the dark fantasy world of Wraeclast. Their role evolves from a desperate survivor seeking basic sustenance to a powerful force capable of challenging the very gods who cursed this land. Players can choose from seven available classes to play as: Duelist, Marauder, Ranger, Scion, Shadow, Templar and Witch. Each of these classes are aligned with one or two of the three core attributes: Strength, Dexterity, or Intelligence.

The exception is the Scion, formerly a locked prestige class released in 2013, which is aligned with all three attributes. The different classes are not restricted from investing into skills not aligned with their core attributes, but will have easier access to skills that are aligned with their core attributes. All classes share the same selection of 2,268 passive skills from which the player can choose one each time their character levels up, and as an occasional quest reward.

As of the 3.0 Fall of Oriath Release, the maximum possible number of passive skill points on a non-Scion character was 123 (99 from levelling and 24 from quest rewards). Each class also has access to an Ascendancy class, which grants much stronger, specialized bonuses. Each class has three Ascendancy classes to choose from, except for the Scion, who only has two ascendancy classes; the Ascendant, that combines the elements of all other Ascendancy classes, and the Reliquarian, which integrates the effects of various unique items, with available options changing in each new challenge league.

Up to 8 Ascendancy skill points can be assigned out of 12 or 14. As of patch 3.27.0 Keepers of the Flame, Bloodline Ascendancy classes were added which can be paired as a secondary class. The Exile's powers are not innate but forged through the collection of artifacts and the mastery of skill gems, which can be placed in gem sockets of armor, weapons and some types of jewellery, giving them an active skill. Active skills can be modified by items known as Support Gems.

Given limits on the number of sockets, players must prioritize gem usage. Defining moments include the initial arrival on the shores of Wraeclast, the confrontation with Dominus and Piety, the killing of Malachai within the Beast, the return to Oriath to kill Avarius and defeat Innocence, and the revelation from Sin that the old gods have reawakened.