Regarding character transformations: If you're at day 28, you mustn't have finished the Gleaming Caverns. If you do all of Mesquelles' content there, you will get the option to invite her to the Passion Temple later, where you can get some transformations that last for a few days, and other transformations that are permanent. The transformations options refer to how NPCs choose to apply those transformations on the player character when it is possible for them, which again, requires Mesquelles to be on the Passion Temple.
Similarly, while you're on the Gleaming Caverns, you will be able to get all the actions the NPCs received because of you selecting that option. If you hadn't selected it, the NPCs would have gotten access to them here as well. Whether you're capable of getting them *after* the Gleaming Caverns, depends on your and the other Candidates' actions during the adventure.
I'll be checking again the setting descriptions you mentioned later today.