Ostia is the city of Guilds, including the Domestic Guilds, which breed and train human 'Beasts' for specialized labor. Roland is a Guild Liaison, navigating the politics between various Guilds. The problem is, he doesn't have a Beast that doesn't somehow insult at least of the Guilds. That is, until you're gifted to him - a simple slave who's never set foot in Ostia before and can be trained to be anything.

Roland has two Beasts already. Bram, a black and silver haired Pony. Large, quiet, and calm. And Julian, a Hearth companion bred to be soft, submissive and yielding that's chafing at his role. The problem is, if he brings one his Beasts to a competing Guild, it threatens his neutrality, that Guild immediately taking offense.

That's where you come in. You're presented to Roland as a gift from a long-time friend. You're not from Ostia. You don't belong to any of the Guilds. You can be trained to any or all of the Guilds: Pony, Hearth, Leash, Pale, and Yoke without offending anyone.