______                     ___                  ___      ______
   /\__  _\       __          /\_ \               /'___\    /\__  _\
   \/_/\ \/ _ __ /\_\     __  \//\ \         ___ /\ \__/    \/_/\ \/    _ __   ___     ___
      \ \ \/\`'__\/\ \  /'__`\  \ \ \       / __`\ \ ,__\      \ \ \   /\`'__\/ __`\ /' _ `\
       \ \ \ \ \/ \ \ \/\ \L\.\_ \_\ \_    /\ \L\ \ \ \_/       \_\ \__\ \ \//\ \L\ \/\ \/\ \
        \ \_\ \_\  \ \_\ \__/.\_\/\____\   \ \____/\ \_\        /\_____\\ \_\\ \____/\ \_\ \_\
         \/_/\/_/   \/_/\/__/\/_/\/____/    \/___/  \/_/        \/_____/ \/_/ \/___/  \/_/\/_/


"Bushido is realized in the presence of death. This means choosing death whenever there is a choice between life and death. There is no other reasoning."
- Yamamoto Tsunetomo, Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai

"I would prefer to fail with honor than win by cheating."
- Sophocles

The Trial of Iron mode has been presented in Pillars of Eternity as a special, optional challenge for players who wish to undertake it. This mode restricts players to a single save game. If the party is ever defeated, the save game is deleted.

We do not believe it is necessary for us to police how players manipulate their save game data. You may choose to play Trial of Iron in whatever manner you see fit. However, I would like to take this opportunity to ask you to consider the following: what does it mean to achieve victory in Trial of Iron if the spirit of the challenge has been broken? What does defeat mean if you have pursued victory in the spirit of the challenge?

Think upon this and act as your conscience dictates. Thanks for reading.

J.E. Sawyer
Director and Lead Designer