Every character has a background. Even the most mysterious. And every character has contacts. That is, there are people they know, groups they are familiar with, circles they run in. These are their spheres of influence. This does not mean that the character actually has a significant amount of influence within this sphere, but simply that they are familiar and comfortable with the jargon, significant people, way of living, etc. Please pick no more than two for your starting character. One is quite common and is not a disadvantage (pick whatever seems appropriate for the character himself). The sphere represents who your character is most in contact with outside of an adventure or quest, what their upbringing was, what career they may have chosen or been trained in, or where they ply their influence when back in the city. When dealing with a sphere that one is familar with, the character receives a bonus to their mind score (mental and perception) or may simply be assumed to know basic information without having to roll for it. See below for an in-game example and right for a list of common spheres.
For instance, the adventuring duo Desha and Lond are approaching a Jaadin parish to press for information about a bounty they are trying to track down. Desha is an assassin who was raised on the streets and possesses the criminal and common folk spheres. Lond is an illusionist and his parents were members of the Council of Daphsohmet. He possesses the political and high society spheres. Regardless of mental scores, Desha is more likely to set the Jaadin at ease and know what to say to get information without making trouble. She is also more likely to notice that all the guards seem on edge and that their hands hang around their weapons much more than normal. Lond will likely be somewhat more intimidated by entering or overly confident, and thus misjudge the words or mannerisms of the Jaadin. Such a situation would be reversed if the duo was invited to a formal dinner of the equally cutthroat but far more subtle well to do of Ir Alatha or forced to make a report in front of the Council.
Spheres
Criminal - You are familiar with the customs, mindset, and significant people and groups of those whose activities are seen as perhaps less than legal.
Common Folk - You are familiar with the customs, mindset, and significant people and groups with the average villager, farmer, or guy on the streets.
High Society - You are familiar with the customs, mindset, and significant people and groups of the elite upper crust.
Military - You are familiar with the customs, mindset, and significant people and groups of the military forces, perhaps as a mercenary, soldier, or historian.
Mercantile - You are familiar with the customs, mindset, and significant people and groups of the marketplace, the traveling merchants, and their goods.
Nautical - You are familiar with the customs, mindset, and significant people and groups of the countless docks, ports, navies, fishermen, and people of the sea.
Political - You are familiar with the customs, mindset, and significant people and groups who make the laws and govern the area, whether Council of Daphsohmet, Terathi Collective, or otherwise.
Religious - You are familiar with the customs, mindset, and significant people and groups of the religious world, theology, the temples, and Temple Conglomerate.
Remnant Exiles - You are familiar with the customs, mindset, and significant people and groups of the Ouk'Moen and those fending for themselves outside traditional remnant society.
Remnant Leadership - You are familiar with the customs, mindset, and significant people and groups of the elders, high commanders, and the royal court.
Remnant Theori - You are familiar with the customs, mindset, and significant people and groups of the Remnant religion and temples.
Remnant Gathered - You are familiar with the customs, mindset, and significant people and groups of the average Remnant citizen.
Remnant Channelers - You are familiar with the customs, mindset, and significant people and groups of the arm of Remnant society that encompasses those who use magic.
Remnant Academia - You are familiar with the customs, mindset, and significant people and groups of the historians and academics of the Remnant.
Other - there are many other smaller subcultures in Alatha, feel free to be as specific as you like, but clear it with the GM.