Maia Rua

Maia Rua
Biography and appearance
Game	Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire
Race	Island aumaua
Gender	Female
Culture	Rauatai
Background	Marksman
Faction	Royal Deadfire Company
Statistics
Classes	Ranger Scout (Ranger + Rogue) Geomancer (Ranger + Wizard)
Subclass	Gunhawk
Level	1
Attributes	Mig 14 Con 12 Dex 15 Per 17 Int 10 Res 10
Gameplay
Location	Kahanga Palace in the Serpent's Crown area of Neketaka
Quests	The Courier's Calling
Companion	Permanent
Equipment
Body	Sharpshooter's Garb
Weapon Set 1	Arquebus
Weapon Set 2	Sword Sword
Technical
Internal Name	Companion_Maia
GUID	be9353b2-41df-45ab-a05b-2b9f44ad2309

Maia Rua is a female aumaua ranger, and a recruitable companion in Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, found at the Kahanga Palace in Serpent's Crown.

Background

A composed aumaua stands at attention, her furrowed brow cleaving down otherwise warm features. By her feet, a colorful bird preens itself without concern. Maia is an officer of the Rauataian navy, currently under the command of Hazanui Karū and working for the Royal Deadfire Company. Unfortunately, that means that she spends more time protecting diplomats and mingling with the snakes from the Republics, something she and Ishiza absolutely detest.

For Maia, the campaign in the Deadfire is a sort of homecoming, as the senior Ruas emigrated from the Deadfire to Rauatai, catching the ranga nui's eye with their unique talents. As honored guests, her family was one of the few Huana to rise to prominence, although there were moments when the cultural differences came to the fore - such as when the ranga nui's guests checked under the table to see if Maia had a tail. Still, growing up in the ranga nui's shadow wasn't a bad thing overall. Maia and her siblings had excellent tutors and advisors at their disposal while mingling with many strange and exotic folk. She is the sister of Kana Rua and loves her big brother dearly. However, she hates it whenever he waxes poetic, as his deep bass voice is distracting to her sensitive ears.

Maia herself chose a military career and learning to shoot, while her siblings pursued more academic goals. In fact, that's how she met Ishiza. After winning a royal shooting competition, she received freedom of the royal aerie to choose any of the war birds there. Ishiza wound up as her feathered partner after he kicked a hawk off her arm, just to have her all to herself. Since then, she has served in the Rauataian Navy with distinction, under a variety of officers and banners. Her first kill was a pirate captain, made in the middle of the most impossible conditions which cemented her reputation in marksmanship.

Her latest posting with the RDC benefits from her accumulated military experience and loyalty to her adopted homeland. Grand Secretary Atsura plans to use that loyalty to further the Rauataian goal of occupying the Deadfire, using her skills as a sharpshooter to eliminate priority targets - or aid other operatives in preparing their own operations.

Interactions

	This character is a party member.
	This character starts quests.	The Courier's Calling

Quests

• The Courier's Calling: Maia was entrusted by Grand Secretary Atsura with missives to deliver to RDC agents across Deadfire and asks you to help her in that endeavor. After she delivers the missives, she continues with her own mission from Atsura. Your reaction to her feelings on the matter affects her ending.

Companion

• Maia can be recruited at the Kahanga Palace during The Veins of Eora, when Queen Onekaza II sends the Watcher to investigate Hasongo and determine the truth of the events there. If you didn't recruit her then, she can be found at Imperial Command, part of the Brass Citadel.
• If you sacrificed Kana Rua - Maia's brother, to the Skaen Blood Pool during the events of Pillars of Eternity, she will ask what happened to him. If you're honest to Maia the party is shocked, and she will swear revenge against you.
• Maia will leave the party if you ally with the Huana or the Valian Trading Company in The Coming Storm if she is present when you accept the alliance, or the next time you enter the world map if you follow through on sabotaging the RDC's powder stores in Taking Out the Traders or Sabotage at the Brass Citadel. She will also turn against the party if you side with the druids in Hunting Season.

Class

The class options available to Maia are Ranger, Scout (Ranger/Rogue), and Geomancer (Ranger/Wizard). She has a unique Ranger subclass, Gunhawk:

• Gunhawks are a type of ranger unique to Rauatai who use hawk companions to complement their sharpshooting skills.
  • +20% Range with Arquebus / Blunderbuss / Hand Mortar / Pistol attacks, 80% chance to Interrupt target with Arquebus, Hand Mortar, and Pistol attacks, 20% chance to interrupt target with Blunderbuss attacks
  • The Bird Companion ability allows Maia to summon Ishiza. Ishiza's special ability gives him immunity to Engagement.

Reputation

• Maia is a staunch Rauataian patriot.
• Maia likes:
  • Dutiful: Admires people who take responsibility and don't shirk the tasks presented to them.
  • Lighthearted: Appreciates jokes and levity in life, even in the darkest of circumstances.
  • Provincial: Finds rural and provincial expressions and ways of life charming and endearing.
  • Pro-Rauatai: Maia supports Rauatai and the Royal Deadfire company.
  • Resourcefulness: Respects those who are independent and resourceful.
• Maia dislikes:
  • Animal Cruelty: Has a negative reaction to people who are cruel or callous toward animals.
  • Pro-Huana: Dislikes and opposes the native Huana of the Deadfire Archipelago.

Relationships

• As can be expected, Maia and Pallegina lock horns over their differing political affiliations, but they can develop mutual respect for each other due to their unwavering allegiance and loyalty to their respective countries.
• She will not get along well with Tekēhu due to his Huana affiliation and irresponsibility, but this is offset by her Dutiful character trait, which usually endears her to Pallegina and Aloth and others.
• She and Xoti can form a relationship if not in one with the Watcher (who must be unavailable or have turned down both companions).
• The Watcher can romance Maia after completing her personal quest and having progressed through the story by completing A Distant Light . The first stage of the relationship requires 3 Aged Shark Meat for Ishiza.

Deadfire Endings

Maia's endings change depending on:

• Increasing her resolve to question Rauatai's methods (or not). See the conversation table below that affects this decision.
• Convincing her to stay with you if you don't side with the Royal Deadfire Company. She will leave the navy. This can happen during Sabotage at the Brass Citadel, Taking Out the Traders or A Dance with Death.
  • Note: There is one alternative in Taking Out The Traders where she won't leave the navy or your company, however using it will cause Maia to stop talking to you (she will instead just glare at you).
• Completing her quest The Courier's Calling (or not). How you complete this quest affects other ending slides.
• Additionally, Kana's status (alive or dead) from Pillars of Eternity is referenced.

After adding her to the party.
"Let's say your galley cook was fixing to organize the rest of the crew into a mutiny. How would you handle it?"	Resolve
→ "I'd get ahead of the problem and compromise with the crew."	1
→ "I'd kill her. Set an example for the rest."	-1
→ "If she had a better grasp on morale, I'd cede command until we made port."	1
→ "Light a fuse leading to the black powder and leap over the railing."	-1

After The Courier's Calling.
"The rub of it is... my target wasn't some ship's captain or an ogre swinging a fence post. He was the ranga of a Huana tribe."	Resolve
→ "Rauatai can learn from this and be more selective next time."	-1
→ "Doesn't sound like your mission was a success."	1
"Ishiza's a good listener, but he's too dumb to offer much perspective. I... could use some of yours right now." (after a few more days pass)
→ "I'm concerned that assassination sets the wrong precedent."	1
→ "Bullets are cheaper than armies. You're sparing lives and resources."	-1
→ "This is a hard path to defend. History won't be kind."	1
→ "Rauatai can't compete with Vailian funds, Príncipi numbers, or Huana power."	-1
"We won't succeed if we don't understand the tribes. And something tells me that we aren't there yet."
→ "The tribes have the entire archipelago as their battleground."	-1
→ "Rauatai should embrace this test of its worth."	1

After Act 3.
Until I see Ukaizo for myself, it's a bedtime story. Let the poets hang their hopes on a dream. Rauatai's navy should be better than this."	Resolve
→ "Ukaizo means something different to everyone. All the more reason to get there first."	1
→ "The trading companies can bicker for territory. We have work to do."	-1

In Ukaizo at the Grand Promenade.
"Time to confront Eothas, hopefully for the last time. You... know what you're doing?"	Resolve
→ "No matter what happens, I want my soul back. Anything else is secondary."	-1
→ "If we can restore order to the Deadfire, this is the place to do it."	1
→ "Let's just get this over with."	-1
→ "It's humbling just to stand here. Look at what we accomplished."	1

Behind the scenes

• Maia Rua was written by Paul Kirsch.
• She is voiced by actress Marisha Ray.