In Elyria, NPCs don’t stand still, waiting for you to give them purpose — they live, grow, and change over time. They wake up each day with responsibilities, ambitions, and dreams that unfold over weeks, months, and even years. For some, simply surviving will be a daily battle. Like you, they must secure food, water, rest, and shelter before they can think beyond tomorrow. When times are tough, they’ll work hard to secure these necessities, and desperation can drive them to beg, steal, or even kill to survive. When times are easier, some will seek stability and companionship, finding security in settlements, homes, and communities, while others may chase something greater — adventures, recognition, or even a legacy.

Once their survival and safety are assured, NPCs turn their attention to their livelihoods, shaping the world around them in pursuit of a better future. A guard might bring his battered armor to a smith for repairs, or, if war looms on the horizon, join the military to defend his homeland. A merchant may seek out wealth and influence, forging alliances to expand their trade network, while a scholar devotes themselves to unraveling the mysteries of the past.

Like people, NPCs are never static. The blacksmith struggling to keep his shop afloat today may one day become a master craftsman known across the land—or lose everything if fate (or your choices) turn against him. A humble farmer may work their fields, start a family, and pass down their knowledge to the next generation. They don’t wait for the player to define their existence; they move forward with or without you, making the world feel alive, connected, and ever-changing.

NPCs aren’t just passive observers—they take note of what happens around them and respond accordingly. They take note of the people, places, and events they see, shaping their opinions and choices based on what they’ve seen. And just like real people, their memories aren’t perfect—some recall details with precision, while others interpret events through bias or hearsay. A trusted friend may eagerly share what they know, offering insight or warning of danger, while a wary rival might spread doubt and deception in the shadows. Word travels, and your reputation isn’t just a number —it’s a living, breathing force that influences how the world sees you. Whether through words or actions, NPCs will make sure your choices, for better or worse, aren’t easily forgotten.

Just as NPCs shape the world through their choices, the creatures of Elyria leave their own mark on the land. This is not a static landscape where wildlife exists only to populate the background—every creature has needs, instincts, and a role to play in the larger ecosystem. Like NPCs, animals must find food, water, and shelter to survive, and in doing so, they develop complex behaviors. Predators roam their territories in search of prey, stalking, chasing, and striking when opportunity or hunger demands it. Herd animals band together for protection, their young kept safe within the group as they migrate across the land. Every creature has its own priorities, and those priorities dictate how they interact with the world—and with you.

But nature doesn’t operate in isolation. The ripple effects of abundance and scarcity shape the balance of life in Elyria. A bountiful harvest may lure swarms of rodents to storehouses, drawing in foxes and owls eager for an easy meal. As their numbers rise, larger predators won’t be far behind— until suddenly, a quiet farming village finds itself dealing with prowling wolves or a wandering bear on its doorstep. This is a world where a single event—an unguarded food supply, a disrupted migration pattern, or the loss of a keystone species—can send shockwaves through the environment. And when nature falls out of balance, it’s up to players to decide whether to restore it or exploit the consequences.

Every action taken in Chronicles of Elyria leaves its mark on the world, even in ways you might not anticipate. Through careful breeding, animals can be domesticated, shifting the course of their evolution to better serve human needs. But wildlife is not infinite, nor is it bound by artificial spawn points or timers. Creatures reproduce naturally, and populations can dwindle—or even disappear entirely—if overhunted. An animal forced to fight will often flee rather than battle to the death, and if entire species become too wary of mankind, hunters may find themselves tracking ghosts rather than game. And while some might see wiping out the Otter Bear population as an opportunity, others may see it as a crime against nature. The world will react, one way or another—you just have to be ready for what comes next.