You find yourself in another hallway, a transitory space between rooms. You begin to wonder if you’ll ever find your way out of this Temple. Beneath and between the shadows of plants glints thin brassy accents and impossibly dark walls. Despite the circuitous and taxing journey, the Temple and the shelter it offers is oddly comforting.
You ponder this and the path before and behind you as something—several somethings weave through the foliage along the walls. You’re almost shocked when it’s not the familiar visage of the esk, but rather a group of humans. Some young, some old, all carrying carefully woven baskets full of gathered provisions ford through the brush over the wall. Though you did not see her at first, you feel her now as you borrow her gaze—the esk watches them pass with unblinking scrutiny. You’ve seen them before, and how could you not? They, Her children, are everywhere now. Even if you had managed to never see one, one of your own would never let you go without hearing about one. In their many voices and strange fascination, they countlessly recounted eagerly to you their marvels and their trials and everything between. You suppose they’ve become a part of you now too.
You follow in their footsteps, down the hall, and away from the lingering gaze of the esk.
You ponder this and the path before and behind you as something—several somethings weave through the foliage along the walls. You’re almost shocked when it’s not the familiar visage of the esk, but rather a group of humans. Some young, some old, all carrying carefully woven baskets full of gathered provisions ford through the brush over the wall. Though you did not see her at first, you feel her now as you borrow her gaze—the esk watches them pass with unblinking scrutiny. You’ve seen them before, and how could you not? They, Her children, are everywhere now. Even if you had managed to never see one, one of your own would never let you go without hearing about one. In their many voices and strange fascination, they countlessly recounted eagerly to you their marvels and their trials and everything between. You suppose they’ve become a part of you now too.
You follow in their footsteps, down the hall, and away from the lingering gaze of the esk.
Something Gained
As soon as you step through the entrance, you are immediately greeted by a steep climb that you must scale high, high, higher up towards an impossible ceiling. Brooks of water collect and tumble down from your path into the depths of undergrowth below. Plants hug the walls a little tighter here. Though you may feel bow-legged when you peer down or over an edge, the deep warm walls assure you that even if you were to stumble, you would not fall.
The climb is long, but sooner than expected, you reach the top. You are enveloped in the gentle silence of a tall and faraway place, where you can hear only the wind and your own thoughts. Waiting for you is a familiar sight—something, someone, or somewhere that you have gained in your life as an Esk.
Maybe it’s a place you hold dear, somewhere you’ve visited many times. Your boundary? Someone else’s boundary? It could be a place you’ve only visited once that left a lasting impression on you, and long to visit again. The scene you find yourself in is just as you remember it, save for an endless waterfall of water which bleeds from your vision’s edges into the Temple below.
Maybe it’s an object you covet, something you’ve found as an esk and treasure dearly. Something special? Something mundane? A token from a trip you’ll never forget? What about this object is significant to you, and why has it appeared to you now?
Or maybe, as you crest the climb, there is someone sitting there. Of course it would be them; it was always them. Who else would it be? Who else could share your heart in this new life? They look at you just so, and you know instantly what they mean.
No matter what joins you at the top, you sit with it on the edge of a long, long drop overlooking a vast body of water. Dappled sunlight twinkles on waves far below you. You stay here a while before moving on.
The climb is long, but sooner than expected, you reach the top. You are enveloped in the gentle silence of a tall and faraway place, where you can hear only the wind and your own thoughts. Waiting for you is a familiar sight—something, someone, or somewhere that you have gained in your life as an Esk.
Maybe it’s a place you hold dear, somewhere you’ve visited many times. Your boundary? Someone else’s boundary? It could be a place you’ve only visited once that left a lasting impression on you, and long to visit again. The scene you find yourself in is just as you remember it, save for an endless waterfall of water which bleeds from your vision’s edges into the Temple below.
Maybe it’s an object you covet, something you’ve found as an esk and treasure dearly. Something special? Something mundane? A token from a trip you’ll never forget? What about this object is significant to you, and why has it appeared to you now?
Or maybe, as you crest the climb, there is someone sitting there. Of course it would be them; it was always them. Who else would it be? Who else could share your heart in this new life? They look at you just so, and you know instantly what they mean.
No matter what joins you at the top, you sit with it on the edge of a long, long drop overlooking a vast body of water. Dappled sunlight twinkles on waves far below you. You stay here a while before moving on.
To continue on this Quest, you must draw or write about your Esk participating in something inspired by the scene above. You may interpret this prompt in any way you wish, as long as there is evidence of a climb, followed by a meeting on the summit. Depict clearly that your Esk is reuniting with something, someone, or somewhere that they have met or gained during their time as an Esk.
How does this room manifest for your Esk? Are there stairs, floating platforms, a winding pass, or maybe jumbled pieces of overgrown brassy wood? Are they scaling a large spire? An enclosed summit?
Who or what does your esk meet at the apex? Why has this figure, object, or place manifested themself to your Esk? Why or how did your esk meet the thing in question in their life?
Is this comforting to them? Strange? Are they perturbed? Is it someone, somewhere, or something they expected, or was what appeared to them a complete surprise? Did your Esk realize the significance of who, what, or where, or did their heart’s innerworkings shock them?
How do they spend their time in this space? Do they use it to confer with what has appeared to them? Do they rest, or perhaps speak avidly to or with the apparition? How do they feel being here or with what has appeared? Are they eager to get back, or embarrassed by what has happened?
If the Conservatory glass panes aren’t visible due to the Temple room’s walls, you must add some elements of the specific Temple’s architecture or other magical or fantasy related aspects in your piece in order to qualify for the Quest. This can be achieved by adding in elements that seem unnatural, odd, or set up in a way they would clearly not be on Earth. (ex. A building floating upside down, floating platforms, etc.) This room will be personalized to your Esk, so feel free to explore its depiction in creative ways.
When you depict any secondary figures, objects, or places in your work, they must appear distorted, dream-like, or obviously out of place. (ex. If your Esk sees another Esk at the peak, depict clearly that the other Esk is not truly in the same space as them; rather a manifestation of your Esk’s memory.) This goes for objects, places, humans, animals and Esk alike. If other Esk are depicted, they do not receive the other Esk bonus.
How does this room manifest for your Esk? Are there stairs, floating platforms, a winding pass, or maybe jumbled pieces of overgrown brassy wood? Are they scaling a large spire? An enclosed summit?
Who or what does your esk meet at the apex? Why has this figure, object, or place manifested themself to your Esk? Why or how did your esk meet the thing in question in their life?
Is this comforting to them? Strange? Are they perturbed? Is it someone, somewhere, or something they expected, or was what appeared to them a complete surprise? Did your Esk realize the significance of who, what, or where, or did their heart’s innerworkings shock them?
How do they spend their time in this space? Do they use it to confer with what has appeared to them? Do they rest, or perhaps speak avidly to or with the apparition? How do they feel being here or with what has appeared? Are they eager to get back, or embarrassed by what has happened?
If the Conservatory glass panes aren’t visible due to the Temple room’s walls, you must add some elements of the specific Temple’s architecture or other magical or fantasy related aspects in your piece in order to qualify for the Quest. This can be achieved by adding in elements that seem unnatural, odd, or set up in a way they would clearly not be on Earth. (ex. A building floating upside down, floating platforms, etc.) This room will be personalized to your Esk, so feel free to explore its depiction in creative ways.
When you depict any secondary figures, objects, or places in your work, they must appear distorted, dream-like, or obviously out of place. (ex. If your Esk sees another Esk at the peak, depict clearly that the other Esk is not truly in the same space as them; rather a manifestation of your Esk’s memory.) This goes for objects, places, humans, animals and Esk alike. If other Esk are depicted, they do not receive the other Esk bonus.