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Topics - 1dboy

#1
Notices and Bulletins / A Critique of Law
March 19, 2024, 12:42:24 AM
In my time in Ephia's Well, there has been a notable trend of societal grievance forcing laws upon the legates, in order to stem the attempt of ambiguous crime or ineffective legality of some questions. However, there are some laws that should be brought to question and be critiqued for redundancy.

Notably, I surmise that there are multiple laws that were installed, and are now overlooked or not even utilized in any sense of the matter.

For example;

'Interference with Jurispendence' is almost impossible to prove, as there is no means to prove bribery behind closed doors, fake testimonies behind closed doors, and coerced speech during trial. In fact, this seems like a slight jab against societal norms of charity, which can be construed either as a bribe, or a gift, depending on which magistrate is overseeing the matter.

'Unauthorized Descent' is almost completely pointless, as there is a 'trespass law' that can fit the bill easily, yet for some reason there is specific denotations given to the Astronomers for little to no reason- no doubt filled as part of their votes for some sitting legate. In what capacity would the Astronomers, who cannot even bring a person to trial legally, would ever be able to enforce this law?

'Kidnapping' is a pointless redundancy upon the law, when there is assault, reckless endangerment, and otherwise to place upon the suspect. If anything, kidnapping will almost always be tied with assault, and if a Janissary of the Fourth cannot properly articulate a kidnapping without this law in place, then they shouldn't be a Janissary.

'Election tampering' is the most egregious law upon the stele, imposing not a Absterabidian government, but allowing not legates to sit upon the seats, but dictators. This was done to protect the legates themselves in fear of when elections come. If people have the dinars to throw around to buy votes, then let them. It only emboldens our city and provides ample amounts of dinars, instead of stalling it until after an election. And capital? That's quite insane. Let people partake in the system as they please. Voting only comes once a month, and this law denies anyone the opportunity in the two weeks of campaigning a chance to partake, especially new refugees.

'Illegal Worship and Practice' doesn't even define who these supposed cultists are supposed to be worshipping. Anything that is heretical? Are we considering the faith of the Dome heretical? It's not a part of the Wheel. We have no obligation to protect these worshippers. The boundaries of this law can be abused to extreme levels by a competent janissary, and it should be either specifically determined within the law, or the law should be reworded to name the 'heretical' beliefs.

'Sacrilege' is redundant because Vandalism is the same thing and can be used to argue in court of law. The problem with sacrilege in particular is that anything can be called a 'shrine or temple.' Warad, for example, could claim all the roads as his divine providence, and by stepping on the roads we're desecrating his holy land, or by drinking the well water, we're destroying B'aara's bountiful boons. I don't need to go further on this.

I present this critique for Legate Nasreen, and whoever shall be the standing legate by tomorrow. I am a voiceless student, but I am a man enamored with the law, and how it forms and shapes our society. I believe that the laws are beginning to grow out of hand, and the utility of these laws, most of which were implemented in the past year, should be heavily considered and mulled over in their usefulness.

Penned by Johan Marsoss
Student of the Sandstone College
#2
Suggestions / Candidate Positions
January 20, 2024, 10:02:53 PM
hi im wundy

having some thoughts on the election process. notably there's little difference between candidates policies and desires, as for the most part people say the safest things to ensure no loss of votes. for example look at moteism - mentioning at all had the entire well up in arms against you as a candidate.

to avoid continuing the practice of 'well i said the same thing as he did, but nicer', or little to no variation in ephian policy, the DMs (abala) has noted the fact that, yes, some NPCs would like to see a Gold candidate in power for x y z thing, and it's bizarre that they don't openly invest, speak with, or interact their candidates.

to alleviate that, for future elections, may each league have a list of policies, up to 10-15 different things, for candidates to run a platform on, but they only have to pick like, 2-3 of the things on the list to run a platform on?

for example the league of White candidate has to pledge to make a hospital for refugees, the league of Gold candidate has to run on a pledge for lower taxes, and a league of Purple has to pledge to do a recruiting drive for the janissaries.

if a candidate seems to be failing to uphold their pledges, the league (NPCs/PCs) should be able to remove their candidate and install a new one, but doing so obviously looks really bad so it's best to have someone who is actually good at pushing the leagues' agenda.

while i like that it is open ended, there are too many elections that are simply 'well im gonna make it better', instead of no real platform for them to implement. having a direction, one that combats and contests other leagues' ideologies, would make for a vastly entertaining election.

thats my thoughts thanks
#3
Correspondence / [To Aaisha, left at her office]
January 13, 2024, 03:12:37 AM
There was a time we conferred with one another. Perhaps I was a bit immature, when we first spoke. But now, I have grown insightful with the grace of Agaslakku.

Let's talk in person. I think the city is due for a change.

-Ariel Hysair
#4
Notices and Bulletins / -THE CLUB OF HERONS-
December 21, 2023, 05:24:57 AM
[Posted within the Plaza and Krak des Roses public boards...]

-THE CLUB OF HERONS-

...COMING SOON....
#5
Correspondence / Vice Chancellor Pakas Oruko
November 12, 2023, 10:01:59 PM
Vice Chancellor,

My fellow merchants and I would like to extend our gratitude in providing me a tour of your humble home, Tlonsiyya. There is a certain ruggedness to it that appeals to me, men and women working hard toward a common goal. The air reminds me of when I was a child, learning how to be a smith at my father's smithy. And the many wonders and machinations it holds is truly unique. While we await your gifts, the crate of wares to examine for further appraisal, and Raonn's wares, the Consortium gathers and meets, conversing over the many possible opportunities you and your home brings. There is excitement in the air, as we consider our future.

As you have offered, we are graciously waiting for a more private conversation between you and ours. Send us back a letter on when you would discuss your terms further, and we will happily have a meeting with you.

With high regards,
Ariel Hysair
Comptroller of the Consortium
#6
Suggestions / Fishing spots in Qadira
November 06, 2023, 08:39:27 PM
Can we get fishing and fishing spots at Qadira-by-the-Sea? Would be nice to see it in game again.
#7
Suggestions / earth gloom adjustment
October 22, 2023, 06:07:54 PM
Earth gloom shouldn't be applying to every single mob. It's a 20% pdi increase, and there are some quests where some mobs have extremely high ac, turning a kind of difficult quest into a massive slog. Other glooms like illusion / frost / acid etc don't apply to every single mob. Why does this one get the exception?
#8
Notices and Bulletins / Tournament of War
October 17, 2023, 03:52:30 AM
[Posted in the Krak, the Palatial Pyramid, and the Souk, these flyers hold an announcement for a tournament...]

The Tournament of War

Sponsored by Ariel Hysair of the League of Gold

On the 19th, a pre-eliminary tournament shall be held. Specifically, a free-for-all where the last eight people standing shall partake in one versus one's on the 20th. Straws will be drawn to determine who shall face against who in the real tournament, and the grand tournament shall have a single winner who will be allocated 7,500 dinar. Before the main event, another free-for-all shall take place, where the sole standing person shall win 2,500dr.

Rules

There are no rules on the battlefield, but as we are in Ephia's Well, do not do anything capital. No murdering, thieving, ransacking another's pack, et cetra.. Should you do this you will be disqualified and prosecuted immediately for any crimes. I shall pray you all have some common sense in the matter.

May the best warrior win, and aspire to greatness! For Agaslakku!
#9
Law & Order: Ephia's Legal System

To begin, I must emphasize that this book is based around the law currently dispensed by Ephia's Well. Legal practices may change with different Legates, new laws, opinions of public, et cetra.

What Is Law?

The societal systems put in place by the governing body of a village, city, country, or other organized entity to assure order and stability wtihin the confines of its borders. In context of this book, when I talk of law, I speak solely of the Ephia's Well Penal Code, and not of the surrounding cities.

The Government of Ephia's Well

Naturally, there are a few governing bodies of Ephia's Well. To date, there is the Sublime Garden of Scribes, which consists the Legates and their magistrates. This entity is the body that defines the laws in which society operates in. The Fourth Legion are the guards of the city. They enforce the penal code and ensure the laws that are made by the Sublime Garden are complied with from day to day. The Astronomers handle the abnormal, and may some times operate with the Janissaries in determining abstract or obtuse cases, such as brooking, or necromancy. The Astronomers hold no authority in pursuing brookers on their own; they must currently work in conjunction with the Fourth in pursuing legal consequences against brookers.

Crime in Ephia's Well

Crime begins when a law is broken. These can be misdemeanors, such as brandishing a weapon, refusing a request from a Janissary, a serious offense, such as drawing blood intentionally from an unwilling party, or a capital offense, to which the most common of which is murder, the taking of another life from an innocent victim. See Codex: Ehpia's Well Penal System for further definitions of an illegal activity.

Advocates and Persecution

Once a criminal has been detained, in the event of a capital offense, they may be brought forward for a trial and plea their case before a legate, or in some cases, a magistrate. There is a debate currently around the idea of serious crimes needing a trial; I, for one, do not see this as a reasonable justification for a trial. Once a criminal is before the magistrate or legate in the Halls of Jurispendence, they may choose an advocate or represent themselves. The Fourth will almost always have the prosecuting soldier argue the case, providing testimonies from witnesses, evidence, and more. In some cases there has been a prosecutor assigned the role, typically a scribe, to argue the case in lieu of the Fourth. What is unsure, or unknown, is if only the Fourth can prosecute trials. Could a Legate prosecute a trial? Why would he need to? He could simply determine guilt and avoid a trial. A magistrate, perhaps? What in the case of say, a more civil law suit? Would a Voiced citizen be able to press charges and act as prosecutor? There is certainly a lot of technicalities and open ended definitions of the implementation of law.

Specifically, I wish to indicate that the best defining factors of legal procedures simply boil down to two major components. A willing legal authority, such as a magistrate or legate, allowing for other parties to act in the Fourth's stead, and the acceptance of the Fourth on duty, in absence of a sergeant, allowing another person, be it scribe or Voiced citizen, to act in their stead as prosecution.

The Determination of Law

A law can be made at any given time by a standing legate. They can impose it upon the Stele of Law, and it is dictated throughout the Well for all of its people to hear. Notably, there is no indication whatsoever that an assembly must be held for a law to come to pass. The Voiced may simply 'voice' their concerns, or proposals, and the Legate may take it in to consideration and decide whether or not to pass a law. Whether or not the practice is a good idea or not is simply left to the public to voice their concerns. Also of note, a Legate can excercise the right to immediately exile anyone they have displeasure with, regardless of legal contexture. See Ex-Legate Sol Auk exiling Apothar Azimi and Apothar Mevura, along with a few other voiced individuals.

While scorned at the time, Sol Auk accurately judged that he may incur exile on those that he disagrees with, a powerful tool in the right hands to impose control over Ephia's Well and its citizens. There are also these notably exiled people, such as Itaja the Wyrm worshipper, and Leander Nifkil, an assassin for hire. These exiles were imposed without trial and at a legate's discretion, though they had a lengthy criminal background, or noted criminal activities but yet had been caught. To date, there have been no other exiles that have been exiled without cause, similar to the aforementioned Apothars being exiled.

Also of note, the Legates do not necessarily have to agree with one another to pass a law. One legate may simply invoke upon the Stele and write the new law. Taxes may also be adjusted as a legate pleases, such as higher sales tax and property tax. However, it is extremely apparent that to operate on one's own terms as Legate is to enter a quick detrimental relationship to both the Well and its subjects. The two legates would surely devolve into a 'do as I wish' contest, and the government would shut down, simply due to the fact that the legates would contest one another endlessly.

It is also safe to surmise in this hypothetical situation, the Chief Secretary would intervene, or even more drastically, the Princesses may even get involved. It is unsure what power the Chief Secretary has inscribed into her chair, but one may safely assume that either the Chief, or the Princesses, would intervene and either revoke a Legate's status, or potentially see them executed for treason due to incompetence.

Conclusion

It is paramount for citizens to understand the legal powers a Legate has. While it is often best to vote for who is popular, it may also lead to a rapid state of decay as the power granted to a Legate can lead to absolute destruction. The ability to determine immediate guilt, changes laws, exile citizens wantonly, alter taxes at a whim, and more is all within the power of a Legate. When voting, a citizen should be responsible on who will take the reigns and lead them. Challenge your candidates with complex situations, provide them a difficult task to tackle, and ensure that any promises made during their run are taken to paper and provided to a scribe. Accountability is the largest factor that a legate must face, and it is a citizen's duty to their city and people to hold them to that accountability.    

Penned by Johan Marsoss,
Student of the Sandstone College
#10
Correspondence / [To the Sergeants of the 4th Legion]
October 11, 2023, 05:01:14 PM
Sergeants,

My name is Johan Marssos, and I've been on a long duty patrol for the past several months, notably patrolling the wastes around Qadira, Kha'esh, and Alkab. I've recently returned from my duties, and, having seen that the Sandstone College is now open, I would request a leave of absence to pursue a formal degree of law.

I expect it should take around three months for me to acquire my law degree, and once I've acquired it, return to the fold with a new expertise on the field. If there are any questions, feel free to reply to this letter.

Soldier Johan Marssos
#11
Suggestions / Bardic Expertise
August 25, 2023, 05:15:52 PM
With the removal of Bardic Knowledge, I would like to suggest 'Bardic Expertise' to replace it. This is a small perk that allows a bard to pick a single skill focus feat into any skill they want to. While I understand that bardic knowledge was strong, the point of bards is to be the jack of all trades. This perk would become available at level 5, high enough level to want to remain pure, but low enough that you can see the benefits almost immediately for remaining pure.

Pros

-Allows bards to continue being jack of all trades, and be put on par with their contemporaries like fighters if they go the martial route, or bonuses to crafting, or bonuses to spellcraft.

Cons

-People might think getting +3 to spellcraft is broken. (I don't see how it is, bards still risk the x3 crit etc)
-Bards already have a large amount of skill points to do whatever they want. (Allowing them to hyper focus in a single skill doesn't break the game in any capacity and helps them beat certain thresholds. For example, crafting thresholds, necromancy thresholds, lore thresholds, that even the most hyper focused characters into said specializations still can't beat)
-Level 5 still allows the dreaded 8 bard / 2 fighter to exist / Grabbing +3 tumble for AC bonus. (One AC isn't game breaking and said AC is lost due to no uncanny dodge, so whenever flat footed, flanked, etc, that ac isn't there)
#12
Left within the Palatial Pyramid, this calling card has a taunting rodent left after a dastardly escape from the mob..



#13


On one quiet night, the desert heat still exhuming off the streets of Ephia's Well, a man gazes over the streets. Who is he? Where did he come from? And what will he do? Years from now people will recall him. They'll say about him, 'Oh yeah, *that* guy.' Yes, *that* guy. The man so painfully mediocre that the mere memory of him sparks a conversation; his successes, his failures. Mostly his failures.

But tonight, he embraces his new home. One man, one dream. One vision. To be the greatest thief there ever was. We can only pray for our hopeful vagrant as he embarks upon his journey.
#14
Journals and Musings / Miranda Mayhews Drawings
May 16, 2023, 04:58:59 AM
[This is the start of a bunch of crude drawings by a Miranda Mayhew. It is her journal.]
#15
Suggestions / Ambient Suggestions
May 11, 2023, 05:20:14 AM
Hello wundy here

Just some ideas to help with EFU. I think the world is very cool so far, and these suggestions are meant to help to add on to them. I would implement them myself but 1) im stupid when it comes to building and 2) i dont know if DMs want any of them implemented.

Caravan Protection

There should be an ambient random spawn that lets players (up to 5) take a caravan protection job that randomly spawns, like bounty spawns, at the caravan master area. They should lead to anywhere- Qadira, Qa'im, Fomoria, etc, with different types of encounters.  Run of the mill invasion / defend the caravan, convincing a bunch of bandits to let you pass or killing them. Players get a small reward of coin for completing the protection.

Random quests spawns

While I disliked the questing system in v5, where you had to constantly explore to find what quest spawned where, I think having small quests spawn around the module do help with players exploring the module. I'm not talking explorables, think more along the lines of finding the Crosscurrents out in the rifts.  These quests should not be as rewarding as the board quests; these just provide alternatives to quests whenever the board quests are done. A lot of the time, players do their board quests then log out, since there's no incentive to explore after completing them.

Maybe going out to the rust dunes and stumbling upon a quest that's similar to Exigent Thought, for example. Or going into Fomoria and facing off some sort of ghost quest.

Voiced NPC Jobs

Similar to above, maybe have random NPCs spawn in the various taverns and offer small tasks to be done in the Well. Maybe someone owes them money and you go out and bluff/persuade/ intimidate the target into giving you the money. Maybe someone got robbed and there's a bounty type NPC in the gutters that spawns and you can fight them for the return of the purse.

This last one I'm loathe to mention, because of how silly dispensaries became, but since there's no "King's Law" any more, having things appear in the gutters like the old svirfneblin dispensary might work? Just something for people to compete over. I remember in v4 these could be FD fests, with hostage situations and other interactions between players. V5 kind of did away with that due to the king's law decree. Maybe bringing that back in some capacity would be good for EFU?

I want to end this off by saying that I do like how EFU is, and these are just my suggestions on adding onto it. I think the biggest thing is providing more 'things to do' when the board quests are done. Incentivizing players to partake in riskier but rewarding content is probably the best way to do it. 
#16
These messages are left in the Creep, on the entry way to the door and toward the ramp...

Contracts available

Thirty thousand dinars for broad daylight assassination

Ten thousand dinars for 'off the record' assassination

Five thousand dinars for robbery and mugging

Any person, any target. Pack delivered at no additional cost; no guarantee of success.

Leave a message for 'Axe'.  No meeting in person. Only letters. Sign with initials. 
#17
[Flyers are spread around the Well,  showing the smiling face of Cyrille Monteglas]

THE LEAGUE OF WHITE PROUDLY PRESENTS

CYRILLE MONTEGLAS, PUBLIC ADVOCATE

RUNNING FOR LEGATE

CHICKEN IN EVERY POT

GOAT ON EVERY FARM

CLARITY ON EVERY BELT

THE MONTEGLAS MANDATE
#18
Greetings,

I have a small inquiry about properties. Specifically, I am wondering about who maintains them. Is there a function of government that handles repairs, or are most outsourced to third parties? I'm aware that there is a tax on the property, but does that tax actively pay people to handle repairs, or is it a kickback to the Palatial Pyramid for simply being in the city walls?

Thank you,
Cyrille Monteglas
A Concerned Citizen
#19
[Several different letters are sent to the embassies at the Palatial Pyramid, each a copy of the following..]

Greetings,

I have seen your embassy, and I find it wonderful that many of our nearby neighbors have decided to establish themselves here in Ephia's Well. But I don't think we've had the pleasure to make an acquaintance in person. I am sure your city has many wants and needs of Ephia's Well, and I, as a voiced citizen, can provide my Voice to your causes. While no doubt you can do so on your own, perhaps, it is wise to have an additional insight and backing from a citizen who lives in the Well, instead of it being presented by yourself and your city.

You can write me back at the Hope. I'd love to hear your thoughts, and the desires of our wonderful neighbors.

Cyrille Monteglas
Voiced Citizen, and Advocate
#20
Bug Reports / GSF Necromancy Phantoms of Deception
November 06, 2022, 01:36:03 PM
Hi its wundy

I'm playing around with the spell 'Phantoms of Deception', and I have GSF necromancy / GSF illusion. From what I understand the spell is meant to give death armor to caster + illusions, but it seems to be a bit janky.

The spell will bring out more illusions, but it seems that the additional illusions do not receive the benefit of death armor. The only ones that retain the illusions are the original three that are summoned.

Also, I am unsure if this 'stacks' with ashen mirage's perk, with +4 rounds of illusion uptime. Most of the time the original three illusions last for a long time, but the GSF necromancy aspect of it seems to not last as long as the illusions do, but it seems I retain the death armor as long as the spell lasts?

I'll do a bit more testing. I like the idea of it, but I'm unsure if its working as intended or not.