The scene that greets you on the hallway this time appears to be still. The esk sits alone in a strange, warped landscape. You’re almost sure it’s a mural, until they look from the stars to the eight bundles of light at their feet. The lilting chimes from the Temple seem to fade. One thought pierces through the vision.
Is this right?
The vision returns to its eerie stillness, broken occasionally by the figure guiding a light that has wandered too far from their form’s shelter.
You wander along too.
Is this right?
The vision returns to its eerie stillness, broken occasionally by the figure guiding a light that has wandered too far from their form’s shelter.
You wander along too.
A Moment of Disillusionment
As the winding garden path opens up into another room of the temple, the world turns suddenly silver and bright. Ice glistens in the light, a sharp glint that sends fractures of light dancing across the floor before you. Perhaps you squint against the brightness, ducking into the shadow of a spiraling statue - or perhaps you let the ray of light beckon you forward, deeper into the room.
Perhaps you let it show you how very familiar the room now appears, like an ice-sculpture impression of a place that you know.
The imitation of a favorite haunt or memory, perhaps a place within your biome or a mock reflection of your creator, rises in layers of ice. Perhaps you find yourself surrounded now by a familiar forest carved of ice, or a hidden alleyway, or the icy visage of someone who has acted as a mentor to you steps forth from between the pillars. All of it seems carved with perfect precision, even the smallest of details having been carefully sculpted into the ice. A chill suffuses through the air, ice cracking as it blooms in arcane patterns underfoot, creeping up the walls, the frozen statues, the trickling rivulets of water that spider web across the ground as if threads holding the likeness together.
You drift closer, maybe to stare into your reflection looking back at you from the frosted ice, or to admire the detailing; or maybe you wish only to begin searching for the next doorway that will lead you out of this room. Whatever the reason, as you begin to make your way further into this familiar-yet-unfamiliar space, the sound of water droplets plinking heavily to the floor captures your attention. A line of water trickles down the ice.
All around, the carefully wrought sculptures are melting and refreezing in tandem, the light beginning to shine through in parts.
Like a veil lifting, there is nowhere left for secrets to hide here. It is as if the temple is trying to show you something - but what will you find, when you look upon the now see-through ice?
Perhaps you let it show you how very familiar the room now appears, like an ice-sculpture impression of a place that you know.
The imitation of a favorite haunt or memory, perhaps a place within your biome or a mock reflection of your creator, rises in layers of ice. Perhaps you find yourself surrounded now by a familiar forest carved of ice, or a hidden alleyway, or the icy visage of someone who has acted as a mentor to you steps forth from between the pillars. All of it seems carved with perfect precision, even the smallest of details having been carefully sculpted into the ice. A chill suffuses through the air, ice cracking as it blooms in arcane patterns underfoot, creeping up the walls, the frozen statues, the trickling rivulets of water that spider web across the ground as if threads holding the likeness together.
You drift closer, maybe to stare into your reflection looking back at you from the frosted ice, or to admire the detailing; or maybe you wish only to begin searching for the next doorway that will lead you out of this room. Whatever the reason, as you begin to make your way further into this familiar-yet-unfamiliar space, the sound of water droplets plinking heavily to the floor captures your attention. A line of water trickles down the ice.
All around, the carefully wrought sculptures are melting and refreezing in tandem, the light beginning to shine through in parts.
Like a veil lifting, there is nowhere left for secrets to hide here. It is as if the temple is trying to show you something - but what will you find, when you look upon the now see-through ice?
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, but the room should reflect a place your esk is familiar with in their biome or boundary and is made of ice.
How does this room manifest for your esk? What significance does the place hold for them? Are they fond of their boundary or dissatisfied with it? Was there a moment they realized something they thought to be true about their boundary was not, or something they are dissatisfied with? What would they change about their boundary, if given the chance? How have they changed or influenced their biome, if at all?
How would your Esk react to this room and the emotions they have towards their boundary or biome? Would they feel comfortable or ill at ease, lingering or rushing through to get to the next room? Somewhere in between? Perhaps not everything is as it seems; what does the temple wish to show them regarding this place? If a season of change coming, how has their boundary or biome changed over time? How do they feel about these changes? Is there anything they have been deliberately ignoring that they now can’t?
If the Conservatory glass panes aren’t visible due to the Temple room’s walls, you must add some elements of the 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.) These obstacles can be personalized to your Esk, so feel free to explore their depictions 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 is avoiding another Esk, 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? What significance does the place hold for them? Are they fond of their boundary or dissatisfied with it? Was there a moment they realized something they thought to be true about their boundary was not, or something they are dissatisfied with? What would they change about their boundary, if given the chance? How have they changed or influenced their biome, if at all?
How would your Esk react to this room and the emotions they have towards their boundary or biome? Would they feel comfortable or ill at ease, lingering or rushing through to get to the next room? Somewhere in between? Perhaps not everything is as it seems; what does the temple wish to show them regarding this place? If a season of change coming, how has their boundary or biome changed over time? How do they feel about these changes? Is there anything they have been deliberately ignoring that they now can’t?
If the Conservatory glass panes aren’t visible due to the Temple room’s walls, you must add some elements of the 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.) These obstacles can be personalized to your Esk, so feel free to explore their depictions 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 is avoiding another Esk, 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.