Esme is Coen’s mother. She is bedridden with plague, and you meet her in the prologue.
Why she matters
Esme’s outcome is the main family timer. Coen’s story is constrained by the 30-day clock — the more days you spend, the fewer family-related endings stay open — and her condition is the thing that clock is counting down. For how the timer works in practice, see the 30-day timer guide and the key choice timeline.
She is part of Coen’s family alongside Pieter, and is guided through the early game by Anca. For the full cast, see the key characters compendium.