* Lack of food is a problem for Tuft's skerry, the same as for trade ships and colony ships like Roanoake. * They get water from the lake, because water is a closed system. The issue is that the energy needs to come from somewhere; for Tuft, energy comes from motes, and he can use it to travel or 'fuel' the protective aura. * Plot idea: can't find enough motes after [[scouring + consummation]] thingie. They get backed into a corner where he can either keep the aura up and strong, or jump blind to a new location. When they jump blind the aura is a thin film and can't keep out some scary things? Enemies attack, trying to ... what? get into the house, to steal artifacts? the aura wasn't protecting the house anyway. OR WAS IT? Secondary aura kind of deal, maybe? --- the dryad in the oak tree is a nice idea, maybe it could emerge sometime to be a mentor and character after the virmin plot proves miria's worth? Maybe Miria could have a crisis of faith during on eof the festivals? Appears to Miria when she starts trying to figure out which artifacts to _emergency_ feed to Tuft (ones he already rejected b/c they aren't a good fit) -- the dryad emerges to object because the house has been siphoning off that power to maintain its own integrity in the void, the house does not want to become part of tuft's skerry and is scared that tuft will decide to encompass the entire thing. "That must not happen" because... why? Becuse Tuft doesn't know it is sentient / a person? Whyyyyyy? Maybe something to do with Tilly.