Appendix: Relative Pacifism

Select "Story Time" difficulty, as you will likely be soloing the game.

Choose a class with initial points in Stealth and Mechanics (Cipher or Rogue) and the Drifter background. Bias attributes towards Perception, Intellect, and Resolve to avoid fights. Choose Old Vailia culture to start with mail armour.

Disable character AI (autopause on "Enemy Spotted") to control engagements and avoid accidental combat.

During your playthrough, utilize lockpicks for loot, potentially using the Artificer's Hall resting bonus and Gjefa's brothel bonus to conserve them.

Build a Barracks in your stronghold early and hire guards, as you cannot manually resolve stronghold attacks.

Increase move speed using talents like Fast Runner, Sugar (+1 move speed for 20s), Goldrot Chew, or Boots of Speed (+3 move speed) to sneak past enemies more quickly.

Use figurines to summon allies; enemies killed by summons do not count towards your total. Combine with Shadowing Beyond (Rogue talent or Looking-Inward Chime accessory) to break aggro.

Prioritize essential equipment for boosting attributes and skills: Footpad's Hood (+2 Stealth), Hermit's Hat (+2 Intellect; Madhmr Bridge), Munacra Arret (Whisper of Treason if not a Cipher; merchant in Admeth's Den), Cape of the Cheat (Escape; stronghold visitor), Cloak of Many Feathers (+2 Athletics; Thristwn in Brackenbury), Finreahs' Grace (+3 Dexterity; Bricanta Doemenel), Lilith's Shawl (+3 Perception, +1 Stealth; Ruined Lighthouse in Ondra's Gift), Gloves of Manipulation (+2 Mechanics; random loot), Girdle of Magefolc Might (+3 Might; Leaden Key Assassins), Boots of Speed (+3 move speed; random loot), Cat's Whisper (+2 Stealth, Rogue-only; Bricanta Doemenel).

Equip armour with +2 Resolve, upgrading to +3 Resolve armour in Hearthsong.

In Encampment, loot crates and sell to Heodan. Cross the southwest bridge, select your PC, and engage stealth to avoid the Young Wolf when grabbing Springberry.

Answer Calisca's questions, then engage stealth and move her behind bushes. If the wolf aggros, run to camp and let NPCs kill it. Pick up waterskins across the bridge.

During the ambush, have Calisca engage the melee attacker. Move your PC across the bridge. Kill the melee attacker (1/175) and sneak past sentries to the camp.

In the camp, kill the Glanfathan Leader and Glanfathan Hunter (3/175). Select "Allow Heodan to break free on his own" in the scripted sequence.

In Cilant Lîs, go left to the supplies cave for Camping Supplies, Torch, and Hammer and Chisel. Backtrack and head north to the tile puzzle. Have Calisca trigger traps and die to avoid fighting two enemies. Clear a safe path.

Sneak past the Spear Spiderling and the Spiderling near the exit.

Outside, witness the Engwithan Machine ritual. Upon leveling up, spend Skill points on Mechanics and Stealth. Gather crafting ingredients and exit the area.

In Valewood, head southwest along the path, sticking close to the stream to avoid the bandit. Exit to Gilded Vale.

In Gilded Vale, go to the Hanging Tree and speak to Urgeat. Then, go to the Black Hound Inn to witness an argument between Aloth and townsfolk.