Chapter One: The Sunlit Forest
Sometimes it just happens. And sometimes it happens again.
Maybe you're used to it, and maybe you're not. As an Esk, your body is no longer tied to the physical plane. You move as spirits move, walk where spirits walk. Sometimes, that means someone is lost, aching, ailing. Sometimes, that someone is you - manifesting alone, somewhere unfamiliar, sapped of strength. But as an Esk, you are not in danger. You have some strength, even here. Nothing living can hurt you unless you let it.
And...to be honest, this place wouldn't be very dangerous even if that weren't the case. The whistle of windsong punctuated by the joyous conversations of birds and squirrels, the cool clattering of bare branches, and a gentle trickle of lapping water somewhere in the vicinity all lend it an (albeit chilly) air of comfort. It helps that it looks warm, too, but you know that it is a trick of the early spring light. It's morning, or perhaps just after, and the sun's rays, floating through the canopy, paint the world in soft blues. The soil is compact and damp beneath your toes but more importantly the first shoots and stalks have braved the chilly earth — tiny verdant sprouts are beginning to dot the wet ground. The bravest (or most foolish) have even begun to unfurl their flowers. Tiny seeds lay just beneath the surface, and as you walk, you hear them yawning. And the trees: they are ancient, wrapped in ice, boughs just beginning to melt in the morning sun, sending diamond droplets down in their own rain shower. They’ve lived long, wise lives, and weathered winter after winter. But now, the world is waking up, bearing its first buds, awaking from the slumber of winter they prepared so well for. Now, they’re truly glorious, providing shelter to the birds huddling on their branches, twinkling with snowmelt, as icy patches of frost and snow gather in their patches of shade. Verdant pine needles glisten, waving to their neighbors the ash, oak, and cherry laurel to open their buds again. Spring in the forest means renewal.
Parts of this may be familiar to you - perhaps parts of it look like your own boundary, whether it's in a forest or not. But you certainly cannot manifest your familiars or your more specialized powers, if you would have them ordinarily - this is not your own territory. But it is friendly enough, and at least for now, it welcomes you. Will you stay a little while?
Maybe you're used to it, and maybe you're not. As an Esk, your body is no longer tied to the physical plane. You move as spirits move, walk where spirits walk. Sometimes, that means someone is lost, aching, ailing. Sometimes, that someone is you - manifesting alone, somewhere unfamiliar, sapped of strength. But as an Esk, you are not in danger. You have some strength, even here. Nothing living can hurt you unless you let it.
And...to be honest, this place wouldn't be very dangerous even if that weren't the case. The whistle of windsong punctuated by the joyous conversations of birds and squirrels, the cool clattering of bare branches, and a gentle trickle of lapping water somewhere in the vicinity all lend it an (albeit chilly) air of comfort. It helps that it looks warm, too, but you know that it is a trick of the early spring light. It's morning, or perhaps just after, and the sun's rays, floating through the canopy, paint the world in soft blues. The soil is compact and damp beneath your toes but more importantly the first shoots and stalks have braved the chilly earth — tiny verdant sprouts are beginning to dot the wet ground. The bravest (or most foolish) have even begun to unfurl their flowers. Tiny seeds lay just beneath the surface, and as you walk, you hear them yawning. And the trees: they are ancient, wrapped in ice, boughs just beginning to melt in the morning sun, sending diamond droplets down in their own rain shower. They’ve lived long, wise lives, and weathered winter after winter. But now, the world is waking up, bearing its first buds, awaking from the slumber of winter they prepared so well for. Now, they’re truly glorious, providing shelter to the birds huddling on their branches, twinkling with snowmelt, as icy patches of frost and snow gather in their patches of shade. Verdant pine needles glisten, waving to their neighbors the ash, oak, and cherry laurel to open their buds again. Spring in the forest means renewal.
Parts of this may be familiar to you - perhaps parts of it look like your own boundary, whether it's in a forest or not. But you certainly cannot manifest your familiars or your more specialized powers, if you would have them ordinarily - this is not your own territory. But it is friendly enough, and at least for now, it welcomes you. Will you stay a little while?
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 chapter in any way you wish, as long as it is recognizable as this prompt.
For some reason, you cannot manifest your specialized powers - accessories, familiars, enchantments, and elementals will not be present here. If your Esk is not from the Forest Biome, they will not manifest their nature features. Abnormal Esk will manifest their nature features regardless of biome.
For some reason, you cannot manifest your specialized powers - accessories, familiars, enchantments, and elementals will not be present here. If your Esk is not from the Forest Biome, they will not manifest their nature features. Abnormal Esk will manifest their nature features regardless of biome.
