Stories

Stories
The Greenhouse provides themed MYOs to the community that tie into the esk world through NPC and other stories.

The following prompts are intended as jumping off points for building your character's story, and grounding them within the TWWM universe. You will not receive a bonus for fulfilling them, but we hope they serve as inspiration for connecting your esk to the others around them, whether they're from the same story or not! Alternatively, we hope they might serve as talking points for esk who have different lifestyles, to see how they might relate to esk in this situation.

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Ikkit • Raaga • Aevre • Majanthi • Seventh • Vetru • Makoa • X

Ikkit's Little Friends

Ikkit is capricious but not malicious, seeing the world as a puzzle to be toyed with. When he performs transformations, it's not out of either good will or malice, and he doesn't impress any sense of duty upon the newly-transformed esk. Instead, he just wants a companion, who can keep his attention for at least a little while - and then, perhaps, will be cast aside. Sometimes, he transforms those who've engaged with him in their previous form, in the hopes that they'll continue to do so as esk. Sometimes, he creates his own companions out of things that couldn't respond before, just to see what will happen. Either way, he doesn't expect a serious commitment from either himself or the new esk, just a little bit of good fun.

Will you play a game with Ikkit?

All of the Little Friends Story MYOs are esk that were created by the Forest Biome Wanderer, Ikkit. They were created out of Ikkit's desire for friends to share in his fun and games. Will they help Ikkit with his riddles? Will they engage with those riddles themselves? Has their perhaps prolonged exposure to Ikkit's whims affected the way they treat others? Have they participated in any particularly memorable games, or helped pull off daring pranks? How do their activities change the mood of the forest?

Odds and Ends

Fortunately for your esk, Ikkit does stick around a little after transformation - although he doesn't really take anything seriously, treating your esk less like a sentient being and more like a plaything. Still, he at least tries to be a friend for them for a little while, even if not a particularly good one.

How does your esk deal with Ikkit's particular brand of friendship? Do they have any interest in his games? Do they try to please him, or do they try to rebel, so to speak? What sort of games has your esk played with Ikkit? Do they help him prank others, or do they puzzle over his riddles? How have their interactions with Ikkit shaped the way that they treat others? Do they have any form of empathy for others? How have they developed it? Do they try to influence Ikkit's whims in any way? How has Ikkit reacted to that? Ikkit usually does eventually get bored of his little friends, ready to move on and make a new one. How did your esk react to this, when it happened to them? Have they ever managed to get his attention again? Did they even want to? Why might Ikkit remember them?

None of Ikkit's Odds and Ends are necessarily similar to each other. Ikkit is quite unpredictable, and just as likely to play with them in groups (like a set of dolls who'd interact with each other) as he is to have a solo encounter. And yet they must be aware of each other: fellow strange, small beings, who shouldn't really be moving about like this.

What sorts of bonds have they formed with their fellow odds and ends? Do they have particular friends, perhaps from their days playing around with Ikkit? Or have they sought out their own relationships? Do they ever reminisce, or hatch schemes, with their fellows? What sorts of adventures have they undergone together? Have they set their own pranks and games? Do they prefer the companionship of other odds and ends, or normal esk, or perhaps even animals? Who do they feel the most kinship with? Are there any esk or creatures they pay more mind to?

Unlike "normal" esk, Ikkit's Odds and Ends were transformed from small objects found in the forest, whether abandoned by another living creature or natural artifacts of forest life. As such, none of them quite relate to their boundaries in the same way that other esk might, and in fact, they retain their power even when they wander far from their transformation site.

Does your esk remember their old "life" at all, being that they probably weren't sentient at the time? How are they adjusting to their new life, and the emotions and abilities that come with it? Are they curious about the difference between themselves and ordinary esk, or is it a simple truth of the world? How have they taken advantage of their ability to stray from their boundary? Have they ever accidentally found themselves a little too far from home for comfort? Do they feel any emotional attachment to their boundary at all? When they inevitably encounter other esk, are they surprised by their limitations? Do they try to play games with others, as Ikkit has done with them? How have their social abilities and capacity for compassion developed, given Ikkit's rather subpar ability as a mentor?

Favored Foes

Fortunately for your esk, Ikkit does stick around a little after transformation - although he doesn't really take anything seriously, treating your esk less like a sentient being and more like a plaything. Still, he at least tries to be a friend for them for a little while, even if not a particularly good one.

Ikkit appreciates those clever enough to best him at his own game even one time - sometimes enough to transform them, which he regards as a reward, whether or not the new esk agrees. These clever souls have developed enchantments that allude to their craftiness in some way, and they help cast a veil of mystery and magic over Ikkit's dense forests.

What sort of challenge did your esk overcome, pre-transformation, to gain Ikkit's attention? How did they do it? After transformation, how did they develop their enchantment? What does it do, and what do they use it for? How does it affect the environment, and what sort of passers-by has it confounded or helped? How have they reacted and adapted to being an esk? Is this a state they're happy with?

The forests are never still. There's always some kind of change: weather, leaves, what's blooming and what's waiting for the right combination of circumstances. Your esk sees many plants, animals, and even other esk come and go within their biome, but outside, the changes can be more subtle.

How does your esk, accustomed to adapting to many different circumstances, deal with other environments, and the esk who live there? Are they surprised when changes are more subtle? How do they find information about what's happening without the wealth of resources available in the forest? On the other hand, how might they treat esk who visit the forest and find its changes overwhelming? Do they help them out, or make it more confusing? What are some of the unique changes that happen in your esk's environment? What does your esk think of them?

Raaga's Scrupulous Sentinels

Raaga's name holds a mysterious weight for other esk. He is hard-working, elusive, and selective, with a deep well of experience and no one he's willing to share it with. Still, sometimes, if you're very observant, you might see him performing good deeds throughout the mountain biome. This mystery draws many esk toward him, whether they're from the biome or not, to try to learn more. But they are not his concern. From the long list of esk he's transformed in times of need, over time he grows to trust some of them enough to actually entrust some of his thoughts to them. Some are dedicated: hardworking, good-hearted esk who Raaga singles out because they might make better mentors than he, regardless of their personal relationships with him. Some just fit with Raaga: esk he calls friends, who understand his desire to be left alone and are thus entrusted with tidbits of knowledge about his schedule, so that they may keep other esk away.

Will you stand tall with Raaga?

Precepts of Egress

Raaga is a distant supervisor: he likes to know what's going on in the mountain biome, but he prefers to minimize his own intervention. When he first transformed your esk, it happened quietly, and he left them to seek guidance on their own, knowing that esk cannot be harmed by nature or by other esk. They may not even know who transformed them, and their experience with Raaga was probably limited to hearsay until their current relationship developed.

What made Raaga want to transform your esk in the first place? How have they adjusted on their own - did they find some other mentor in the mountain biome, or do they prefer to learn on their own? How did they first hear about Raaga? How did their relationship with Raaga develop? Did they seek him out, or find him by coincidence of interests? How does Raaga's reality match with the stories they must have heard about him? What about your esk's actions caused Raaga to give them a second chance, so to speak, and allowed their relationship to develop? What do they think of Raaga and his philosophy - is he a friend, a mentor, or just a presence within the biome? How might Raaga's attitude toward your esk have changed over time?

Your esk have each toiled to attune themselves to alpine elements, and as a result they are among the most experienced residents of the biome. Raaga, having noticed their hard work and their dependable qualities, has asked them to take on a new role. He has no personal interest in providing mentorship to new esk, but he understands that sometimes it's nice to have someone to depend on. Whether your esk actually agrees with Raaga's philosophies or not, he at least trusts your esk to provide an example for newer esk in their area.

Why did your esk decide to seek elemental power? How did they approach it? Who has helped them? What kind of trials arose as they progressed, and how did your esk overcome them? How does their elemental power aid them as an esk? What sort of lessons could they provide for new esk? What's their teaching style - do they develop lectures, talk other esk through their problems, or perhaps just lead by example? How have they helped new esk in the past? Do they want to mentor new esk at all? What do they think of Raaga's request? Do they feel honored, perhaps, that Raaga trusts them, or offended that Raaga hasn't noticed their existing work? What kind of esk do they prefer to help?

Mentoring new esk is quite time-consuming, and the new change in schedule puts a big burden on the rest of your esk's life. Their own work, their social life, their free time - all of these things are important to keep in balance. Furthermore, the unusually high demand for this role in the alpine biome means that your esk might not be free to wander as they might have been in the past. On the other hand, though, interacting with new esk on this level introduces them to many different ways of thinking, for better or for worse.

How will your esk's life change as they gain experience as a mentor? What might they learn to do better, and what parts of their schedule might they have to shift around? How do they find room for their personal interests? How do their extensive commitments within their biome affect the relationships they may have developed elsewhere? What are some things your esk may have learned from their students? What do they agree with? How have these developments made their way into your esk's life? How do their experiences color the way they work with esk they have themselves transformed?

Order of Ingress

Raaga is a distant supervisor: he likes to know what's going on in the mountain biome, but he prefers to minimize his own intervention. When he first transformed your esk, it happened quietly, and he left them to seek guidance on their own, knowing that esk cannot be harmed by nature or by other esk. They may not even know who transformed them, and their experience with Raaga was probably limited to hearsay until their current relationship developed.

These esk have ideals that are similar to those of Raaga: their primary relationship is with the earth, not with their fellow esk, and they seek a sense of inner peace in communion with the natural world. In cultivating their relationship to the earth, they have cultivated a friendship with Raaga, and are often granted a degree of insight into the Wanderer’s movements and activity. When these esk are not in quiet meditation, they often work together as gentle gardeners, purifying the mountains and helping endangered species or injured creatures. There are, however, many who would dissuade them from their purpose—some out of ill intent, but most out of a desire to gain wisdom from Raaga’s wealth of experience. As a result, these mountain esk can be very reclusive and misleading. They try to draw esk away from Raaga to protect his privacy, often so expertly that other esk do not realize that they are being manipulated.

What does your esk do to lead others away from Raaga? Do they, for example, spread rumours that he is elsewhere, confront those searching for him, or advise Raaga on which paths to take? Has your esk ever allowed another esk to meet Raaga? How often does your esk encounter Raaga? What do they do when they are together? Where does your esk go to seek peace? What led them towards this way of being in the first place—do they have a particular memory that stands out? What do they most enjoy about being a steward of the mountains—caring for rocks, animals, plants, a specific species of flower? How does your esk conceptualize the mountains—as a friend, project, or holy entity?

These esk spend the majority of their time alone or in each other’s quiet companionship, caring for the earth or feeling life move beneath and around them. They are often seen with a degree of reverence due to their proximity to Raaga, and esk may try to get information or advice out of them—but not without difficulties. Because of the length of time spent alone or communing with the land, they are known to be a bit… eccentric, with strange mannerisms or ways of speaking.

Does your esk speak oddly—maybe only in haikus, or do they make up a new name every day, or have they taken a vow of silence? Do they have strange habits or superstitions? How does your esk interact with others who are not in their order? Do they avoid other esk, or enjoy their differing perspectives? Is their advice concrete or abstract? How does your esk feel when they leave the mountain biome that they have such a profound connection to? Do they feel a bond with any other biomes?

Aevre's Inner Circles

Aevre has a small group of recruits at each pole of the Earth that help her protect her realm from harm. The North Circle is made up of sled dogs from various dogsled teams that went missing; the South Circle is comprised of different types of pelagic birds that lost their way during migration and penguins that were lost at sea. These teams of helpers roam the Polar Biome as instructed by Aevre to be of service to the inhabitants and visitors to her realm.

Will you join Aevre's Inner Circle?

All of the Inner Circle MYOs are esk that were created by the Polar Biome Wanderer, Aevre. They protect the Polar Biome and work together with Aevre to solve problems. Will they guide missing animals through their territory? Can they rescue someone from freezing weather? What sort of role does your esk have in the group? Do they receive any special tasks to carry out? What is their relationship with Aevre like?

South Circle

The kind of work that Aevre's inner circles carry out isn't for everyone - the polar biome is a harsh environment, so the Circles are in high demand. Aevre knows this, and appreciates her recruits' dedication very much, but of course the nature of that dedication is different for every esk.

What drew them to working with Aevre (whether perceived profit, altruism, or perhaps gratitude), and how does their relationship with her work? Did they seek her out, or have they been doing this since their transformation? Was it a specific event that caught Aevre's attention, or is there a history of service that ingratiated them into the group? What keeps them working for Aevre - and have they ever considered quitting?

Everyone in the inner circles works as a team, but the South Circle, given the relatively lower population in the Antarctic, gets more opportunities to take initiative with their work.

How does your esk work with the relative lack of direction? Are there times where they do need to call in more help from other esk, or seek more direction from someone else? What sort of niche do they carve for themself out in the Antarctic? Do they come to the aid of others in their circle when necessary, or do they find work for the group to collaborate on? When have their skills as a leader been particularly necessary? How does this relate to whatever they remember of their past life as a bird?

Even though your esk has the rest of the South Circle for company, as a resident of the Antarctic, their life is still pretty solitary.

How does that affect their relationship with other esk, on the perhaps rare occasion they might encounter them? How do they deal with social interaction with someone outside of their circle - do they stick to observation, or do they jump right in? Do they seek these interactions out, or do they prefer the independence of the Antarctic? Do other esk's environments feel alienating in their difference, or perhaps just like a new adventure?

North Circle

The kind of work that Aevre's inner circles carry out isn't for everyone - the polar biome is a harsh environment, so the Circles are in high demand. Aevre knows this, and appreciates her recruits' dedication very much, but of course the nature of that dedication is different for every esk.

Everyone in the circle is a team, but the North Circle, considering their past lives as sled dogs, especially upholds teamwork as one of its central tenets.

What are the dynamics like for your esk in particular? Which esk do they work with more closely, and what sort of specialized roles do they serve? Do they have special tasks? How have they relied on the other esk in the circle to carry out rescue missions? When have they been expected to take point on a mission - or is this something they're still looking forward to? How does it compare to whatever they might remember of their past life?

Working as a part of Aevre's inner circles, your esk has a pretty unique perspective. Not all esk have this kind of lifestyle, after all!

How has your esk reacted to meeting an esk from a different background, perhaps as a visitor to their boundary, or in the conservatory? What did they think of this other esk's daily routine, which might include a lot more free time, and how might it compare to their own routine as a member of the North Circle? How were they able to find a connection to someone with such a different background - or, perhaps, how did their different lifestyles clash or create conflict?

Majanthi's Cleansing Smoke

Majanthi is a fleeting but reliable presence in the arid biome. She is always wandering—sometimes in search of individuals and spirits in need of healing, and at other times in isolation, trying to lose herself in the connections binding herself to the earth and beyond. Majanthi performs exorcisms and medicinal healing with a grace and musicality that draws not only spectators, both esk and animal, but also students wishing to learn her ways. While Majanthi does accept and train any esk who approaches her with a desire to do good, she also selects her apprentices by transforming those of her favorite animal companions with the most potential. Not all transformations are performed on potential students, however: while Majanthi’s exorcisms are the most powerful among any esk, Wanderer or not, she sometimes encounters an object with negative energies too persistent to be banished in a normal ceremony, and must resort to incredibly powerful but infinitely dangerous method of abnormal transformation.

Will you follow Majanthi?

Dune Speakers

The Desert Rose is often accompanied by a trail of followers, comprised of both esk and animal companions, who she reconnects with as she roams the world’s deserts. Though Majanthi has a tendency to disappear in the night as her duties demand, she does care deeply for her students and those esk transformed by her and checks in on them according to a schedule known only to her.

What happened when your esk first encountered Majanthi? What does your esk think of Majanthi’s methods, personality, or followers? Has their opinion of her changed over time? After transforming an esk, Majanthi encourages them to travel with her for a time, so that she can teach them about their new existence and monitor them if they are trespassers—did they travel as part of a large group, or were there very few others? What led to them leaving Majanthi, or do they reconnect whenever Majanthi returns to their boundary? What did Majanthi teach them in their time together? While Majanthi is wary of trespassers, she also understands some reasons for being one—missing those left behind in life, or wishing to have died a natural death instead of living forever. Still, Majanthi tries to use her words and healing smoke to bring comfort to those malcontent esk that she encounters. What has Majanthi said to your esk? Was she able to get through to them, or could they not be helped? What is their relationship with Majanthi now?

These esk were once companions of Majanthi. They mostly followed her as she traveled the arid biome, with some of the most exceptional learning rudimentary herbal remedies according to the capabilities of their species. These animals were not necessarily constantly at Majanthi’s side—Majanthi wanders the world’s arid landscapes and can often not be followed by those limited to corporeal bodies. These animals, however, whether they only accompanied Majanthi for a short but impactful time or for multiple journeys over the course of years, made enough of an impression that the Nhm returned to transform them at the end of their lives, in the hopes that they would become apprentices of healing.

Does your esk remember their time with Majanthi in life, or were their memories lost in the transformation? How long was their time together? Did they ever interact with other animal companions of Majanthi? What do they think of her current companions? How do they remember those that they traveled alongside, but who were not transformed by Majanthi at the end of their lives? Do they feel deserving of being selected for transformation, or do they resent the expectations put upon them? What drew them towards accompanying Majanthi in the first place? What about your esk made Majanthi select them for transformation? What did your esk think of Majanthi’s esk students when they were still an animal?

After their transformation, Majanthi asks these esk to further accompany her in order to learn the application of healing and purifying magics. She encourages her students to find a specialty and come into their own individual practice, aided by the enchantment that they gained when they were transformed: some esk might prefer herbal remedies, others prefer to use enchantments to close wounds, while others might focus on spiritual rather than physical damage. Majanthi’s greatest relationship is also with the earth, and she encourages her students to form a similar bond and create their own language to use in communication with their adopted mother.

How does your esk react when others recognize or revere them? How do they feel about being so closely associated with Majanthi? Do they try to break away from her influence, or do they embrace it? Is it disconcerting to be treated as an equal by esk who pay little mind to Majanthi’s acts or who live in other biomes? Has your esk ever encountered another esk transformed from a cursed object? What does your esk think of abnormals not transformed from cursed objects—do they wish they had come into the world without the weight of other’s actions, or does your esk think themselves superior? What does your esk do try and find new meaning or purpose in their existence? Do they even want a purpose?

Awoken Spirits

The Desert Rose is often accompanied by a trail of followers, comprised of both esk and animal companions, who she reconnects with as she roams the world’s deserts. Though Majanthi has a tendency to disappear in the night as her duties demand, she does care deeply for her students and those esk transformed by her and checks in on them according to a schedule known only to her.

Some items carry negative energy as a result of events that occurred around them; a blanket wrapped around a dying child might carry the echo of its fears, or a dagger used in the murder of a friend might transmit thoughts of betrayal and anger to those around it. Your esk was once such a cursed item, and Majanthi had to resort to completely deconstructing their physical form, threading her healing magic through the object in such a way that results in an abnormal transformation. Such drastic measures are almost always successful in removing the negative energy—the key word being almost.

These transformations involve the complete penetration of Majanthi’s incense, and are thus much more intense than normal transformations—what does your esk remember of it? Was it painful or soothing? Does your esk remember anything of their previous curse? Do they still embody part of the curse and its memories and emotions, or do they embody contrasting emotions as a result of Majanthi’s magic? What caused the curse when they were an object? Do they remember any of it? Are they grateful to Majanthi, or do they feel no responsibility for whatever happened before they gained sentience? If your esk is a trespasser or still has remnants of the malevolent energy, what has Majanthi done to try and further exorcise them? Does your esk want to change?

It can be disconcerting being an esk transformed from a cursed object, because if they were cleansed during their initial transformation they have already fulfilled their reason for existing. During their time together, Majanthi might teach your esk some of her methods, but your esk is ultimately responsible for deciding their own purpose. Those esk transformed from cursed objects are often recognized by others in the arid biome; they are seen as proof of Majanthi’s healing magic and of an individual’s ability to change for the better. Some might enjoy this status, while others resent it and would even go so far as to leave and live in another biome so that they can find themselves in anonymity. Those esk who were not cleansed of their curse, however, are feared by esk in the arid biome, who hide from their presence in the hope that Majanthi will eventually succeed in helping them.

Seventh's Tortured Souls

Seventh is not a social Wanderer. Its whims are inexplicable and terrifying, and it leaves in its wake esk who often have no idea where they came from, or how. Often, they will never encounter it again. But certain souls who have been transformed bear an indelible mark of their encounter - once-disparate beings who now, whether by nature or desire, bring to others the horrors of the Seventh's will. Some souls, transformed in a moment of desperation during a violent storm, have become fractured beings whose turbulent magic often prevents them from forming positive connections. Others, transformed after they'd long been lost to the Seventh's cold, are frozen: trapped as shadows of their past selves, unwilling or perhaps unable to move forward.

Will you be caught by Seventh's caprice?

All of the Tortured Souls MYOs are esk that were created by the Fresh Waters Biome Wanderer, Seventh. Though they may never have contact with their creator again, they live on as symbols of its will throughout the biome. How does your esk's presence shape their boundary into something that echoes Seventh's presence? Do they terrorize the organisms who might live there? Do they do their best to keep others away? How do they deal with the lack of guidance in their lives as esk so far? Do they seek out Seventh?

Lost in a Violent Storm

Seventh doesn't try to check up on the esk it has transformed. In many cases, the new esk wasn't even aware that an esk was present to transform them, and thus the Seventh's victims, so to speak, are left unusually clueless about their new form. This is especially compounded by the powerful, often uncontrollable magic that the Seventh's transformation has bestowed upon them.

How has your esk managed to become acclimated despite these hardships - or are they still struggling? Have they attempted to seek out the Seventh again, and did they have any success? Do they even know about the Seventh's role in their life, or even its existence? How did they learn these things? How do they feel about the circumstances that created them, and what do they do about those emotions?

When your esk was transformed, some part of the interaction fractured their spirit such that it's now unrecognizable. Their identity starts from the moment they became an esk, and they resemble the storm they were transformed during far more than they resemble their original form.

What kind of storm was your esk lost in? How does the lingering influence of the storm affect your esk? Like the Seventh, do they move, behave, or interact with other organisms in some unusual way? How does their enchantment synergize with the storm's energy? Do they control it? And, too: how does your esk feel about this state? Do they seek out ways to change it, or do they embrace their identity as a spirit of the storm? Is it some great destiny, a curse, or just a fact of life for them? Are they even conscious that they were ever different?

Over time, it might become clear to your esk that they aren't alone. There are other esk, a little like them - stormy ghosts of the fresh waters biome with violent magic, dark faces, and glowing eyes, and no memory of life before esk-hood. In this case, though, kindred spirits don't always portend harmonious relationships.

How does your esk see others transformed by the Seventh in violent storms? Are they rivals, or perhaps allies? Do they try find some fleeting solace in their shared origins - or do they seek to outdo one another? Or, perhaps, do they prefer to work in isolation, far away from any reminder that they might not be alone? How do their enchantments affect each other's function - are they greater together, or do they perhaps somehow cancel each other out? How is your esk affected by them?

Although no one can predict when the Seventh will choose to transform a creature, over time the esk it has transformed in violent storms have gained some notoriety: the pattern in the transformed esk, at least, is recognizable, and many esk know to steer clear of esk like yours.

Does your esk have a reputation as an individual, in addition to the notoriety gained from being recognizably transformed by the Seventh? What do they think of any reputation they might hold - is it something they embrace and actively live up to, or something they shirk? Moreover, is their reputation deserved? What have they done to earn it, or how did this misunderstanding ever come to light? Has it ever barred them from some opportunity? How does it affect the way they interact with other esk? Do other esk seek them out as some gateway to the Seventh? How do they treat that sort of interaction?

Fell through the Ice

The Seventh doesn't try to check up on the esk it has transformed. In many cases, the new esk wasn't even aware that an esk was present to transform them, and thus the Seventh's victims, so to speak, are left unusually clueless about their new form. This is especially compounded by the powerful, often uncontrollable magic that the Seventh's transformation has bestowed upon them.

Your esk, affected by the traumatic circumstances under which they were transformed, has developed an affinity with a wintry element. Though your esk may not be accepting of their new role, they certainly have new abilities, which change the world around them whether they like it or not. The place that might have once been their home has been marked, and the communities that inhabit it have shifted, too, as a result.

How familiar was your esk with their boundary before their transformation? Was it a home for them, or just a place they were passing by? What do they think of it now that their elemental abilities are a large part of its manifestation? How does it affect their ability to make that boundary a home in their new life? Does the impact of their elemental ability cause them to leave their boundary, so that they won't be able to wield their power, even involuntarily? Or does it prompt them to stay, searching for what they remember (and probably will never have again)? How else does their elemental affinity impact the way they relate to the world?

Many of the esk who have Fallen Through the Ice have unpleasant memories...and a powerful desire to once again become to what they once were. Something about the ice has preserved their memory of their lives before esk-hood unusually well, to the point where many of them have trouble adjusting to the fact that they are, indeed, esk, and not whoever they were before.

How has your esk dealt with their powerful memories, and how have those memories affected your esk's identity and day to day life? Has your esk tried to recover parts of their past life? What do they think of other esk, knowing that they were all something else once? Do they think about other esk's past forms? Or, perhaps, do they find other esk terrifying, because they can only associate the species with terror? Can they communicate with other esk at all? Do they even try, given the way that their identity is perhaps centered on their past self? Does your esk want to move forward?

Vetru's Scorched Plain

Vetru is deeply compassionate and knowledgeable, but they're far from infallible. Their quick temper and dangerous elemental power make for unavoidable consequences. Still, Vetru is prepared - perhaps too prepared - to make reparations. The vast wildfires caused by their dry storms have trapped and endangered humans and animals alike. Vetru's guilt and compassion mean that they'll do what they can to mitigate the damage caused, though. Many of their unintended victims have been transformed into esk, and provided with guidance and companionship so that they can thrive in their new roles. Furthermore, Vetru has sought out bright minds who'll work with them to reduce the consequences of these wildfires in future. But all this hangs in careful balance, when all inhabitants of the Plains know that, at any moment, Vetru's temper could strike again.

Will you help Vetru heal the plains?

All of the following Story MYOs are esk that were created by the Plains Biome Wanderer, Vetru. How have their lives been affected by Vetru's temper? What sort of actions do they take in response to wildfires and dry storms? Do they fight the fires, or help rescue victims? Do they pass on Vetru's knowledge?

Trapped by Wildfires

Vetru shares a complicated history with many of the inhabitants of their Biome. Their inability to consciously control their elemental power often leads to destruction. Despite this, they're one of the friendliest Wanderers, and they're happy to provide company, advice, and a personal connection for esk within the Plains.

What sort of storms has your esk weathered from Vetru? What do they think of the volatile Wanderer? How do these past interactions guide the way they approach Vetru? What does your esk think about Vetru's relationship with their elemental ability? Have they tried to intervene in the past? What is their relationship with Vetru like? What are their fondest memories with Vetru - and what are their darkest? What has Vetru tried to learn from them? How has Vetru's presence affected their boundary in the past? Has your esk taught Vetru anything - and have they learned from Vetru, in turn? Have they been on journeys or quests together? Do they trust Vetru?

Vetru has tried their hardest to give those esk trapped by wildfires a good home in the plains. They were careful to stick around and answer questions about the species, and they ensured that each esk could at least manifest a familiar before they eventually left - perhaps regretting that they could not provide more personal companionship themself.

What is your esk's relationship with their familiar? Do they think of it as a separate being, or a mirror of some part of themself? What kind of role does it perform in your esk's day to day life? How do their familiars interact with others', or with other esk? How did your esk react the first time they left their biome and realized they could no longer manifest their familiar? What sort of memories did your esk and Vetru create over the period of time they spent together post-transformation? Are they grateful for Vetru's intervention, or perhaps resentful because they caused the fires in the first place? What sort of bonds might they have formed with other esk nearby, considering Vetru has at least a passing acquaintance with many of them? Do they exchange stories or warnings about Vetru, or just about weather patterns? Do they attempt to spread their knowledge to other esk?

Your esk's first moments were spent with Vetru as an overbearing guardian. Eventually, though, they had that burning desire to move on - and your esk was left to adjust on their own. Still, the inhabitants of the Plains Biome are fairly well-connected, if only because they have a mutual contact in the form of Vetru. Vetru makes an effort to know nearly everyone who passes through, and is happy to gossip about their newest exploits.

How does Vetru's personality and philosophy of getting to know the esk in their Biome affect your esk's social sphere? Do they have more friends within their biome thanks to Vetru - or are they avoidant of Vetru's knowledge networks? How does this impact the way they view esk from other biomes, or perhaps Plains esk who, by chance, haven't encountered Vetru yet? How do they react to the other Wanderers, many of whom seem more standoffish than Vetru? Do they follow in Vetru's footsteps, attempting to also learn more about others? Do they, perhaps, desire the independence that other esk might have?

Fieldwork

Vetru shares a complicated history with many of the inhabitants of their Biome. Their inability to consciously control their elemental power often leads to destruction. Despite this, they're one of the friendliest Wanderers, and they're happy to provide company, advice, and a personal connection for esk within the Plains.

The Fieldwork esk each posses an elemental affinity, but they're really drawn together by their research interests. Though their boundaries are in disparate locations, they actually communicate quite often, thanks to Vetru's inability to stay in one spot, and their shared goals.

What is your esk interested in learning, and why are they collaborating with Vetru? How does their connection with Vetru aid them? What about their research caught Vetru's interest? How does their elemental ability affect their research - is it perhaps the subject, like Vetru's, or an aid? What motivates them to learn? Are they working more closely with a specific Fieldwork esk or group of esk? What are the social dynamics like? Are others involved in their research, whether they're Fieldwork esk or not? What's their research style - do they conduct experiments? What might they be? Has your esk completed research projects in the past? Have they stayed involved? Is their current work related to Vetru's at all?

Often, these sorts of research endeavors are necessary because they affect the living beings within an esk's boundary - plant and animal alike. Other times, they exist only to satisfy an esk's curiosity. Regardless, those who have knowledge are often called upon to dispense it, and your esk might conceivably be counted among that number.

Has your esk ever helped someone out or given advice based on the research they've done, whether with Vetru or on their own? Have they provided mentorship to someone seeking to start their own research? Or, perhaps, have they received it from someone else? How does your esk feel about this exchange of information? Are they accustomed to and eager for it? Are they possessive of their discoveries? How do they communicate with someone who might not be an expert, and might not know the relevant jargon? Are they more awkward in that capacity? How do they deal when they encounter someone with a very different area of expertise from theirs?

Makoa's Surf Party

As a wanderer, Makoa is pretty low-key. From his point of view, there's no obligation to do anything but enjoy life to the fullest, for both himself and those around him! His open, friendly personality means he has a lot of friends, both animal and esk. He may not be the wanderer to approach if you need a problem solved, but Makoa really throws a legendary party. A big thrill-seeker, Makoa's activities usually include swimming, diving, and surfing - it's rare to see him above water. Like the ocean he calls a home, Makoa is drawn to the call of the moon. When a supermoon is on the rise, he plans an exciting viewing party to bask in its luminous delights from the shore. At the end of the night, though, he sinks back into the sea - where he's happy to welcome an entourage of fish back to frolicking and exploring with him and his friends.

Will you chill with Makoa?

Supermoon

For Makoa, transformations are not a large part of his routine. He usually reserves them for creatures he was already on friendly terms with, or those who he happened upon by accident.

What history exists between your esk and Makoa? Do they remember the friendship from their past form at all? How has the transformation affected their relationship with Makoa? Or conversely, if the transformation occurred by coincidence - what does your esk remember about the accident? How did their friendship with Makoa develop to the point where they're receiving party invitations? Do they prioritize having fun like Makoa, or do they have other interests in their off time? How might Makoa view those other interests, given his laissez-faire attitude? Has Makoa ever reached out to them?

Makoa's parties are an unforgettable experience! Often those who leave his parties find themselves marked by the moon, wading away with a glowing white marking that calls back to that precious memory. While each esk in this Greenhouse might have its own transformation story, the esk featured here have all attended a Supermoon party at a specific location.

What exactly happened at that party? Was your esk, like Makoa, moved by the moon? Who did they meet, and what did they see? Did your esk do something specific - daring, creative, or clever, perhaps? - that caused their moon mark to manifest? Or is it something that manifested without warning or explanation for them? Did it happen suddenly, or over time? What do they think of the change - maybe something that was always meant to manifest in them, or something new and mystical? The marking can also be a way to identify others who've attended a Supermoon party. How might your esk view those esk? Have they ever "identified" a fellow party-goer, only to find that it was a mistake? Have they attended other Supermoon parties? Do they remember being invited for the first time? What might their favorite thing to do at a party be?

Obviously, Supermoon events are pretty rare - and your esk has a whole life outside of this party, which may or may not involve Makoa and their fellow partygoers. Moreover, the marine biome is very interconnected, allowing for easy exploration and travel while still maintaining the benefits of staying within-biome. On the other hand, it's also vast - it's possible to travel a long time without seeing another esk.

What is your esk's life like, the rest of the time? What's their social circle like outside of this party? How do they spend their time, and where? Where's the furthest they've traveled from their boundary? How often do they see visitors? What is their relationship with the ocean and its inhabitants? How do they feel when they're in the water, as opposed to out of it? How does their boundary feel to them, given that lines don't necessarily exist in the water?

Cool Enough for School

For Makoa, transformations are not a large part of his routine. He usually reserves them for creatures he was already on friendly terms with, or those who he happened upon by accident.

What history exists between your esk and Makoa? Do they remember the friendship from their past form at all? How has the transformation affected their relationship with Makoa? Or conversely, if the transformation occured by coincidence - what does your esk remember about the accident? How did their friendship with Makoa develop to the point where they're now considered a part of his network of "party friends"? Are they a constant partier like Makoa, or do they have other interests in their off time? How might Makoa view those other interests, given his laissez-faire attitude? Has Makoa ever reached out to them?

The most reliable way to contact Makoa is to leave the biome, in a way - swim upward and seek the sea-birds that are closest to him. This doesn't make a lot of sense with Makoa's lifestyle, full of socialization - but it's a lot easier for him to reach out than for the reverse, and your esk is why. Their elemental abilities and swarms of familiars, all spread across boundaries that are hard to pin down, make them perfect for disseminating information and gossip, and Makoa entrusts them with keeping the Marine Biome up to date with the latest happenings.

How did your esk get involved with Makoa on this level? Who are their primary contacts in the ocean - whether animal or esk? Do they pass on other kinds of information, too? How might their familiars help them? What are the best sources of gossip? How might their power be used to help them? Did they gain this power through working (and partying) with Makoa, or was it something they had before, and developed to be used in a way more suited to Makoa's purposes? What are their favorite events, and what have been some of the most memorable moments for them?

Many of these esk have a hazy sense of where their boundary ends - it's harder to draw lines in the ocean, which expands to fill the space available to it. More still just prefer to travel far and wide, thanks especially to their jobs as, essentially, esk gossip magazines. No matter what, many of the Cool Enough for School esk see this fundamental part of their esk in a very unique light.

What sort of images come to your esk's mind when they think of their boundary? Does the shape of their boundary change over time - perhaps feeling larger at some times, and smaller at others? Who (and what) do they consider inhabitants of their boundaries? Do they feel responsibility to influence it - and how? Or, perhaps like Makoa, do they prefer to let it change and evolve on its own? How do they treat others' boundaries, and the environment around them in general? Is the whole ocean just like home to them, or perhaps the entire world? How do other esk react when they see your esk getting comfortable? Or alternatively - how do other esk who might share your esk's boundary react when your esk travels far? What are some of their favorite places? What do they think of some strange esk's relationship with their boundary?

X's Unfinished Tales

X deeply resents life as an esk, perhaps because they had to spend so many millenia not-quite-finished. The existence of humanity has been but a blink in their long life, but the developed biome, with its sense of constant change, is where they have realized they feel comfortable. They deeply enjoy seeing humanity's ingenuity and capacity for innovation, and want every human to realize their potential - just as they have done. Humans, though, have trouble processing what it means to be an esk, and so their influence is limited to the shadows: they provide a soft, encouraging whisper in the ear, sometimes, or nudge an invention just so in order to grease its wheels. The other thing about humans, especially for an esk, is that they're fickled. Things they've poured hours into can be lost in the wake of a new civilization, but X will pull them back themself if they need to. People who were once industrious creators, orators, and leaders might find themselves at a loss, or just out of place - but X will come, and convince them that they have more to give. In the developed biome, no story truly comes to an end...

Will you help X's progress toward the future?

Ars Longa

Even though X transformed your esk, interactions with them can be awkward. They've always resented their status as an esk, and as a result have trouble relating to other esk, or providing guidance for them, even their own creations, so to speak. The resonance they might have felt with your esk's past form is lost now that they, too, are a spirit of the Earth. X feels both relieved at their accomplishment - it doesn't want humanity's industrious nature to stay lost, after all - and sad, that your esk has been transformed into something that will take permanent form, and forget, maybe, what it once meant to live. Of course, X themself has never been human. Perhaps that's why they can't seem to truly treat your esk as anything more than a masterpiece, beautiful, creative, and moving, but not a creature with their own emotions and desires.

What made X want to transform your esk? How was this reflected in the way X treated your esk after transformation? Did they try to make any deals with your esk? Did they bother explaining what was going on? How did your esk interpret this, and how did it shape the way their original outlook about the world? What kind of path has your esk found for themself - and was it shaped by X at all? What sort of lessons might they have learned from X? Have they fulfilled X's dreams for them, and are they trying? Do they want to do this? When did they first encounter an esk other than X, and how did that esk's outlook compare to X's? What do they think of X at all? Are they a friend or mentor? How does X fulfill that role, and where might they come up short?

Your esk used to be an inanimate object. Some human poured labor into their creation, only for them to have been forgotten in the end. Now, they've been "created" anew, through X's transformation. X intends for them to continue existing as an inspiration for humans, but cannot actually force your esk to do anything. They are, after all, their own being, with a possibly storied past, although they're new to sentience. This leaves them free to make their own path, especially given that X isn't the best at providing mentorship or company.

How do the emotion and inspiration that might have gone into their original creation affect the way your esk's personality has formed? How might they express this? What caused that original form to become forgotten - was it accident, or tragedy? What do they think of their original creator, or their original purpose? How have they tried to seek them out, or to ensure they stay in the past? Do they want to return to their glory days, or would they rather carve out their own life, with their own goals? What do they think of life - is it hard to handle having emotions, communication, and independent motion? How might your esk uniquely move or communicate with others?

Given that your esk was transformed from an object, the place where that object became lost is nominally their boundary. Recognizing your esk's unique capacity as an abnormal, though, X has especially encouraged them to seek out other areas of the developed biome, where they hope that your esk can provide an influence and inspiration for the humans who might frequent it. Your esk, as a result, was first socialized in a different place from their site of transformation, and X has never led them back to that original site. Of course, your esk is independent, and may have sought that home out on their own: or they might have taken that as encouragement to keep moving on.

Where did X take your esk after they were first transformed? What did they think of the place - did it seem familiar to them, or completely new? What has your esk done there - and have they stayed? How might they have influenced humans or other creatures living in that area? Can your esk recognize and distinguish their boundary despite this development in their early esk life? Do they want to? How did they find out what boundaries mean to other esk? Who might they have learned about it from? What sorts of memories do they have in their old boundary? What sorts of places are they driven to spend time in now?

Vita Brevis

Even though X transformed your esk, interactions with them can be awkward. They've always resented their status as an esk, and as a result have trouble relating to other esk, or providing guidance for them, even their own creations, so to speak. The resonance they might have felt with your esk's past form is lost now that they, too, are a spirit of the Earth. X feels both relieved at their accomplishment - it doesn't want humanity's industrious nature to stay lost, after all - and sad, that your esk has been transformed into something that will take permanent form, and forget, maybe, what it once meant to live. Of course, X themself has never been human. Perhaps that's why they can't seem to truly treat your esk as anything more than a masterpiece, beautiful, creative, and moving, but not a creature with their own emotions and desires.

Your esk was once human. They were brilliant in their own way, but unable to reach their full potential in life. Perhaps they were a skilled painter but denied fame due to the circumstances of their birth; a revered chef who faced an untimely death; or a biologist whose discoveries were discredited as ludicrous. Regardless of the reason that your esk was unable to fulfill their dreams, X has recognized their potential and appeared to them at their lowest point with a deal: eternal life, in return for the preservation and spread of those skills that were not cherished in life. These esk have, for their own myriad of reasons, agreed to these deals and work in their afterlife towards goals unrealized as humans with the help of enchantments that reflect their mortal skills.

What did X say when they appeared to your esk? What are your esk’s goals? How do they accomplish these goals? Have they, for example, urged the living to posthumously publish their work? Have they found a young protege that they indirectly urge towards similar discoveries? Have they turned to teaching other esk, more inspired by teaching those who can actually perceive and respond to their mentors? Have they given up and chosen another goal to work towards? How do they use their enchantment? Do they regret or value their decision to be transformed? These esk keep all of the memories that they had as humans—how do they cope with never being able to return to their old life or the people they knew? The Developed Biome changes rapidly and entire civilizations (including the esk’s own) might have fallen since they were transformed. How do they react to these changes?

These esk struggle, just as X does, with their identities as nature spirits—they are transformed in an effort to preserve who they were as humans, and are by nature always looking to the past and towards the living. Upon their transformation into esk, they are often shocked to see that they’ve entered an entirely foreign world that they had been given cherry-picked information about. They live forever, yes, and have the chance to indirectly further their mortal goals, but in the midst of a massive world of spirits that X pays little mind to and does not bother mentioning. Some find comfort in an insular community of esk transformed by X, while others embrace the wilder parts of themselves. These esk must beware when wandering in other biomes: created as they are with the intent of extending the developed biome, they are just as likely to encounter friends who pay little mind to the circumstances of their transformation as they are to encounter foes who blame them for the destruction of their boundaries.

Does your esk ever accept the part of them that is nature spirit or do they identify as human? Do they cling to something that they think makes them human? How do they react to their new form—were they under the impression that they would remain roughly human, or were they prepared? How do they interact with esk that are more wild than them, or that were once animals, plants, or objects? Does it challenge an anthropocentric point of view? How do they react to learning that they are part of a grand scheme devised by X? How do their goals change with time, if at all? When your esk was transformed, it was with the promise that they could continue their work—how do they react to the knowledge that the vast majority of esk are not selected for a grander purpose? Do they feel inspired to lead other esk or do they feel cheated?

YOUR CART