Eshu

*“What we do today will live long after us, carried in the stories told by our children and our children’s children. As my grandmother used to tell me…”*

Eshu take their name from the Yoruba trickster spirit, which also served as a messenger. They first sprang into being from the dreams of the nomadic people of Chaldea, spreading across the African continent, through Mesopotamia, and into India. Eshu are the true wanderers, unable to resist the call of the open road. Their wanderlust carried them across the globe, where the naturally-adaptive eshu adopted elements from the many cultures they encountered. Intelligent and intuitive, eshu remember every story they hear, weaving it into a tapestry of complex oral history and a record of myths and legends from countless civilizations still living or long dead.

Though curious about other cultures and their practices, eshu guard their own secrets closely, veiling their personal lives and rituals from any outside their kith. People often believe themselves closer to an eshu than the eshu actually feels toward them, and are surprised to discover how little they truly know this enigmatic kith. Conversely, even the wariest troll and most taciturn sluagh may realize — only after the fact of course — that they have inadvertently confessed their dearest secrets, only to later find them spun into tales the eshu shares over the fire.

Eshu are born wanderers, nomadic at the core, and seldom stay in one place for long. Eshu keepers may limit themselves to a few favorite spots, but continue to travel long into their later years. For an eshu, dropping anchor is tantamount to losing herself entirely, so those looking to befriend or romance an eshu should prepare to either uproot themselves as well or to make the most of an eshu’s company for however briefly she stays put. Eshu parents often homeschool (or “unschool”) their children so they can continue to travel. Eshu children enrolled in schools typically seek out the new kid to learn all about him, though they often lose interest and move on to a newer friend once they’ve exhausted their old friend’s stories.

Gifted storytellers, singers, and performers, eshu are well suited for lives as traveling entertainers. Because they have seen mortal history unfolding for thousands of years, many eshu develop a fondness for tugging on a single thread of a story and following it from its beginning to the role it plays in current events. Eshu seekers often find themselves swept up in movements dedicated to social and political justice, though they don’t always stay long enough to see those movements to fruition. An eshu can make posters in the morning, march in a protest in the afternoon, then be two cities over by dinner, sharing the story with yet another audience. In this way, eshu actually help to spread awareness of important social issues and the techniques used to pursue justice.

## Appearance

Eshu’s millennia of travel means they can possess nearly any racial or ethnic heritage, but their strongest mortal ties lie within the black, Arab, Persian, and I n d i a n communities. They tend to have dark skin, with black or dark brunette hair, worn loose and natural or braided, twisted, or locked into intricate styles. They are typically tall, with long, graceful limbs, and have dark eyes that hint at the wisdom within. Eshu change their dress as they travel, either to blend in or make a statement, but are always carefully clothed in flattering, well-maintained styles.

## Lifestyles

This wandering kith seldom stays in one place for long, but their method of travel and their living quarters vary based on the individual and the path they are currently traversing. An eshu may live in an RV for several weeks as he travels with a band across the Pacific Northwest, only to continue on foot, staying in cheap motels along the California coastline, then boarding a Greyhound to Las Vegas to stay in the penthouse of one of the finest casinos. The one constant is that all eshu are subject to their wanderlust and that wherever they go, they collect and share stories.

## Seemings

### Childlings

Eshu childlings have just started building the volume of tales that they will carry for their lifetime, often beginning at home by collecting the stories of elders or important community members. For the young eshu childling, or for the eshu who awakened to his fae nature much later in life, the stability of family or community tempers the need to travel far and wide. They feel the call of the road, but haven’t disconnected themselves from all their mortal ties, as eshu wilders often do. They still value the feeling of having a “home base” to return to after each journey.

### Wilders

An eshu’s wanderlust reaches its peak in her wilder seeming. No longer satisfied with hearing stories, she begins to seek out new sources and adventures, beginning a lifetime of travel. Eshu wilders seldom stay in one place for long, though they make their most of the time spent in any location, building as many connections as possible and learning all they can about local people and culture. Eshu wilders join social justice movements and sometimes even start them, using their innate storytelling ability to write speeches and protest songs that inspire others to join the cause.

### Grumps

Eshu may move more slowly and deliberately, but they never really stop. An eshu grump places more value on the connections he forms, understanding that truly knowing someone’s story takes time. While grumps share the wilders’ social flexibility, they are less likely to incite a movement and more likely to support and encourage those already involved. No one’s stories match those of an eshu grump who has lived a long, rich life, and the wisdom in songs can move even the hardest heart to tears or jubilation.

## Revelry

Eshu gather their Glamour from the storytellers and performers they encounter, finding intense joy in each new tale or song. Public performances like flash mobs or staged protests —particularly when the eshu has been pivotal in the planning process — provide a veritable feast.

## Unleashing

Cantrips cast by eshu bring with them the chiming of bells and the echo of chanting or singing, as well as the faintest hint of spice in the air. Gleaming threads of golden light may briefly connect the eshu to the target of the cantrip, reflecting the eshu’s place in the great tapestry of history.

## Birthrights

### Serendipity

Eshu somehow always end up in the right place at the right time. The path she follows to arrive at this destination is equally fortuitous, winding her way through adventures and important meetings. When faced with a crossroad, she always knows which way to go. Her internal compass guides her where she needs to be, never bringing her to a terminus until the time is right. Eshu can never become lost under normal circumstances. If the eshu becomes lost through magical means, the player can spend a point of Glamour to reorient the eshu on her physical (and often figurative) path.

### Talecraft

Stories are the heart of the eshu, and as such, they gain something tangible when they learn a fantastical new tale or perform their own feats worthy of legend. Eshu recieve a -1 difficulty on all Performance rolls. Eshu never botch rolls involving Empathy or Performance.

## Frailty

### Recklessness

— Eshu can’t resist a gamble or a dare, not if the payout is a new story for their repertoire. Their curiosity and confidence in their ability sometimes leads them to take risks that a less adventurous kith might not take. Turning down a bet, dare, or call to adventure triggers Banality in eshu.