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[::OOC::]

::OOC::
 
This is an attempt to help foster some subtle organized crime within the Well itself, operating out of a legitimate front.  The vibe is amateur criminals who slowly get in over their heads.

Open to all concepts, though Good and Lawful alignments may be hard to rationalize eventually.  Approach in-game if interested, or contact Nazey on discord if you want to discuss a concept.

I have a lot of problems placing furniture down and getting it stuck near walls.  I also have trouble getting proper orientation sometimes.

I thought it might be very helpful if there was a player tool that, when activated on a piece of furniture you own, makes it rotate to face you.

[Esteemed Legate Qari Alriyh]

Esteemed Legate Qari Alriyh,

It is unfortunate we have missed each other, but you are undoubtedly a busy man.  As am I.  I have been unable to secure an appointment with you in person, so here it is in writing.

I would like to meet to discuss matters of politics, my candidacy for the magistrate position, and a minor item or two.  Please have your scribes write or send for me with your availability.

-Maracielo de Rancini

[By Arterian Lunesco]

By Arterian Lunesco

The city of Qa'im, ruled by its supposedly mechanized and ageless sovereign Zojhir al-Maribid, is undoubtedly one of the biggest growing threats facing the sanctity of Ephia's Well.

The heretical cult of Pra'Raj has great presence there, practicing their esoteric ideology of self-improvement.  Little information can be gleaned from the city, other than from the influences that can be felt across the Great Ash, and the mechanized patrols that occasionally pour forth to scour the desert.

Details on the cult are few and difficult to corroborate; the only publicly available sources being anonymous texts and pamphlets of dubious authenticity.

Their influence can be seen throughout the Great Ash, and even quite close to Ephia's Well; in an abandoned makeshift lab, titled "Sawbones Sanctum" by the locals, an amateur attempts to recreate some of the mechanized experiments through bioengineering of grotesque, decaying creations.  According to this researcher's notes, the creatures are unsustainable, even with necromantic animation - he muses that Ephia's waters could be used to sustain the creations, and is the reason that 'Qa'im seeks the Waters', lending a strong motivation for Pra'Raji interests in increasing their influence over Ephia's Well.

Finally, this author has personally witnessed an instance of what has been colloquially referred to as the 'Iron Rot'.  During an expedition to find a missing Groknak offspring, the beast was found inside of a cave - eyes glowing red, whirring with mechanized internal organs, belligerent and inconsolable.  It breathed steam and fire, and its flesh had been turned into a metal alloy, the organs interconnected with wiring instead of veins. 

Despite common superstitious belief, 'Iron Rot' is not a malady by this author's estimation, but a deliberate work of grotesque and admittedly impressive engineering.  Within the corpse of the creature, a small device was found - a chip of metal with small internal components. 

This chip seems to have the function of controlling the host in a preprogrammed manner.  It could even be removed from the former host and repurposed, either to control a new host, or to have its function altered.  Though it is difficult to discern, the mechanization of the host's flesh is likely a transmutative property, combined with the engineered chip - and possibly sourced from it.

Did the heretics in Qa'im devise such advanced technology themselves, or repurpose it from elsewhere?  An imperative question to answer.

[Arterian Lunesco]

Research Assistants Required - Long Term Contract

This privately funded research project will require regular travel out of Ephia's Well to a nearby location.  Assistants on contract are expected to be available for 2-3 expeditions a week. ((Evenings EST))

• Dedicated research assistants of varying skill sets required for a long term research expedition
• Weekly compensation upwards of 1000 dinari (plus hazard pay)
• Experience with machinery a plus but not required
• A non-disclosure clause will have to be signed

Send qualifications to Arterian Lunesco at room 13 at the Krak de Roses to be contacted for an interview.

Not sure if it's possible or not, but I often find a lot of duplicate scrolls that cannot be stacked.  Would be a nice QoL if there was a tool for them like for potions.

[good coin]

Esteemed Lieutenant,

I must bring your attention to fraudulent job postings currently proffered at the Krak de Roses establishment.  A posting by the title of 'The Quicksand Caverns', of which in no uncertain terms states that the work will be compensated with good coin, has in fact no such dinari valuation associated with it.

We ventured into the canyons and overcame many difficulties, scraping flesh on coarse quicksand and making use of clever stratagem to toil for the security of Ephia's Well (though, I fail to see the true danger that these Pot constructed machinations could have possibly posed towards the settlement).  But we prevailed, myself, Hammad and Egruit of the Order of the Manticore, Kara Fields, and one Mia Dae.

And upon our long march and return, eager to celebrate the hard won strife with our owed share of dinari - shock and horror to find not a pittance in award.

I consider myself a moral citizen of Ephia's Well, Lieutenant, in spite of the fact that as a voiceless I am afforded none of the privileges - I am glad to contribute to the security and upkeep as a matter of communal responsibility.

But this is fraud, good sir!  Erroneous literature that would surely chaff at the conscience of the scribes of the Palatial Pyramid, to know such misleading use of the term 'good coin' exists within the intellectual sanctity of Ephia's Well.

I hope the perpetrator who is fooling innocent and well-to-do folk towards that 'job' is quickly apprehended and fined, for it is a very, very cruel task they set them upon for absolutely no compensation.

Regards,

-Arterian Lunesco,
Abjurer, Scholar, proudly badged with the White.

[Iyar 13th, IY 7787]

A leather bound journal kept on the person of Arterian Lunesco.  Many of the earlier entries - chronicling some harrowing journey through the Ring Wastes - have been damaged beyond recognition.

Burning.  Pain sticks to everything.
I run through a prismatic fog.  A hand tries to take my ankle.
I scream.  The air that enters my mouth is more pain.  Something breaks.  I run.
I wake up.

Iyar 13th, IY 7787

I managed to sleep most comfortably on the last leg of the trip to the Citadel of Ephia's Well - the destination, so far as I can discern, for most refugees coming in from the Ring Wastes.

There is an ordered society here of the likes I would never have imagined in the Old World.  A city of competing ideals - but built to co-exist under some semblance of stability and order.  My father would have never approved, espousing that unity under forced doctrine is more stable than a society allowed to change for the worse.  Perhaps he would have been in league with the Purple.

I think there is something precious here.  Something I must help to grow - or try. 

In equal measure, my scientific curiosity is piqued - I am distraught that an entire field (Astrology) had been lost to us for so long - but it blossoms here with inquisitive minds.  There are resources aplenty to pursue my own abjurative research, and so many questions I've not the time to write of them all yet.

Instead, I find myself thrust into politics.  I could not help it.  The League of White's altruism is more practical than some might see.  But I will show them.  Charity begets prosperity - the Citadel is burgeoning with refugees of little means and choice.  Give them the tools to work, and watch them prosper.

Notes:

• Palamon - A good man, if a bit of an idealist.  The first I've come to call a friend.  I wonder if he's a fit for the Balladeers.
• Shane Gallows - Enthusiastic, and a fellow White - I think we'll pull in the same direction at different angles.  I'll endeavor to write something for his paper.
• Jabir of Warad - A holy warrior of the Wanderer God - another I've come to call friend, though I hope he practices discretion with his divine sight.  He leans on it, and it may dull his other senses.

[Bio:]

I haven't posted an obituary in a while - a couple of these PCs I couldn't actually dig up screenshots for as I seemed to have lost them.   As the City of Rings seems to be approaching some sort of a climax, I thought this was a nice opportunity to reflect on past stories and experiences, the good and the bad of them.


[hide=Valmaxian Ilrae (2019)]


Bio: Valmaxian was an awoken defender of Myth Drannor.  He fell into the hustle and life of Ticker Square soon after awakening in the city, but was distraught by his lack of connection to the People and the silence of the Seldarine.  He was a hopeless romantic and idealist - generally aloof, impulsive and unwise.  He was one of the founding members of the Ordo Arcanum, along with Aethelwine and several others.  He was taken on by Beodda of the Blooded Shields, and become one of his closest companions in those early days.  Eventually, after the death of many friends and his failure to remain optimistic, he began to lose the will to live - he felt his grip on immortal life waning quickly, as Faerunian elves tend to pass when they've lost their will.  He died in the quiet mountains of ring 94.

Reflection: This was my very first PC on EFU!  I really had no idea what I was doing - but a spellsword archer was quite fun to play in the backline.  I'm very thankful for Garem (Beodda) for really guiding me through those first couple of months of EFU, I think I partly owe it to him that I decided to stick it out on the server.  His "death" was really more of a retirement, as I didn't really get the culture of playing a character out on EFU and I was eager to try other concepts.  He did last quite a while.  I'll always cherish the first time I was robbed on EFU; wearing the royal puzzler outfit and getting beat down and stripped of it by Errilam.  Classic.

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Genovalio de Rossa (2019)

[hide=Voryn Zadeshi (2020)]


Bio: Voryn grew up in the streets of Ticker as an impoverished gutter rat and orphan.  He learned to get by with his wits and guile, and soon began aspirations of not only becoming a masterthief - but becoming a patron of them.  His ambitions were as high as becoming the Grandfather.  He was inducted into the Knaves, and began working politics in Ticker along with Ferl Dickson's fraudulent mayoral campaign - with the aim of squeezing himself into a position of power for the Knaves.  He became an associate of high profile figures such as Vlasi and Danebluff.

Reflection: Voryn was my first PC after Genovalio - I really wanted to play something different after a Lawful Good man for so long, but the whiplash hit me hard.  I was having some trouble IRL at the time, and was quite in an anxious state - on top of not generally being a belligerent player or someone who is very good at instigating fights.  Suddenly I found myself with the expectation of trying to gank players - even tasked with assassinating  Ordyn Ravenshylde.  I remember stalking him, fully buffed, on the cusp of just "going for it" - with several DMs watching, but I just lost my nerve and didn't go for it.   I retired the PC soon after, I do regret it - but I just couldn't push through the nerves OOCly at the time.  Oh well!

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Bayezad Hatun (2020)

[hide=Ethok Blackpaw (Late 2020)]


Bio: Ethok was an awoken druid of Silvanus from the woods of Silverymoon.  He refused the "bronze ear of man" and never acquired one.  He saw the Great Willow as sacrosanct, and much like the Grandfather tree of the High Forest - he revered it as "Arakhora", and quickly adopted a militant outlook against the anti-nature traditions of the Peerage.  He became a loyal follower of Holt "Gorrick" Gitt - the wereboar.  After Gorrick's death, and Ethok being spared - he joined with the Children of Wrath, losing himself to aggression and predation.  He died in the battle of Ticker Square and Tchrammor's flight.

Reflection: Ethok was my first and only druid that I've played in CoR.  It was a joy to discover all of the unique systems on offer, as well as the interesting bits of lore surrounding areas I'd already explored on other characters.  I decided to be quite belligerent with him from the get-go, in response to my previous failure with Voryn.  I had a lot of fun, and I particularly thank the player of Gorrick for having me along as a henchman.  I primarily played him as a bear form shifter.

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Arkavin Vaul (Late 2020-2021)

[hide=Eumir Adolcri (2021)]


Bio: A warlock from the far outer rings, the last remnant of an infernal cult long ago destroyed by a knightly order.  After many years in hiding, he arrives in 99, yearning to try again at his youthful ambitions - but also attempting desperately to be free of his failing and aged body.  He joins House Zheng, thinking he can leverage their alchemical expertise for his needs.  His early days were spent politicking, trying to keep the minor house afloat among antagonization from Glitt and Kwhajar - all the while balancing his debt to the Scrag Lads and in particular, Yictanaghz Reynnri.   He plans to steal Lady Zheng Li's body for his own, but is discovered by the Lady herself conducting his dealings in the Bonecollector's lair.  Instead, he is forced to fuse his body with a Sibilant artifact, turning him into a yuan-ti pureblood and successfully escaping his frail body.  He later dies in the Frozen Tear, in the assault on T'Chun.

Reflection:  Another one of my regrets!  I was ecstatic about this PC's flavor and aesthetic, and the relationships he had formed - I felt he was a cool villain in the brewing, but unfortunately, I just couldn't find a way to make a conjurer fun for me mechanically.  I found it extremely clunky, and not really my bag - after my yuan-ti pureblood conversion, I applied to also be changed into a snake charmer (I was a cultist).  I thought it would be quite thematic, and it was, but my goodness do the snake summons really really suck.  After a few frustrating deaths, and a final death during a non-perma section of the T'Chun event, I decided to just retire him and move on as I was not enjoying the character anymore.  I wish I had stuck it out, in retrospect, and I apologize to Lannister for squandering the great roleplay and build-up we had.  That's how it goes sometimes!

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[hide=Pykerallerin Lyasee (Late 2021)]


Bio: Pyke was an awoken elf - formerly a bladesinger, championing the elven people and their ideals.  He has long been in the City of Rings, and much of his former mirth and memory had faded.  He had lost himself for a long time, becoming a scrappy self-sufficient survivor, but began becoming revitalized after meeting Gilthalas Wealdath and beginning to remember the ideals for which he stood for.  The hope that a home could be created for his people - and in fact could even already exist - sprang new life into him.  He championed the house of Wealdath as best as he could - and became involved in both political aspects of 99, pushing for the legitimacy of Gilthalas's nobility - while simultaneously pushing deeper into the rings and attempting to rally other elves to do the same and reach the Mistlevale.  He didn't shy from a fight - and in the end that cost him his life during the attack on the Sunpurse manor in the Ponds, dying alongside his sworn liege.

Reflection: Pyke was my favorite PC that I've played on EFU thus far.  He was not my most accomplished, but he just struck an excellent combination of all my sweet spots when it comes to roleplay and characterization.  He was capricious and flamboyant enough to offer moments of fun and levity, but also severe when the time called for it - with concrete goals and ideals for which he would not compromise.  It was a great relief - I was actually in the hospital for an entire month while playing this PC, recovering from a pretty severe and life-changing surgery.  I had a lot of time to play EFU, and the stories I was able to experience on Pyke helped me a lot through that time.  I'm forever thankful to be in a community that can give me that.
 
It was my first time building a classic Rogue/Fighter, and man did I enjoy it.  I can see why it's a popular multi-class.  It gave me all the tools I needed to feel like a martially capable warrior, equally capable of being a trickster.  I was losing steam on him in the end, as my ringrunning efforts were chugging, and the faction I had found myself in - while very fun - was also very passive at times.  I think I would have picked it up again if I had survived the big perma event - alas, it was not to be!

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[hide=Jawick Aschenfreude (Late 2022-2023)]


Bio: Jawick was an awoken Zhentarim soldier - a straight-laced and disciplined man, beaten with the pragmatic ideals of Bane from an early age.  He awoke to the City of Rings and concluded it was the result of a failure of leadership.  The King was unworthy of his position and had to be removed.  After surviving Yucky Lucky's harrowing gambles, he began his attempt deeper into the rings as a part of the Wayfarers.  The group was shattered after a Bonecollector ambush in 99 killed a couple of core members.  He remained listless for a time, before signing on with the Count's forces - seeing the tyrant as a worthy conqueror and the iron fist that the city needed to survive.  He was a man most comforted by having a purpose and fulfilling it - he was a soldier, a tool of war, and was not at ease until he found his natural lot in life again.  He died in the Siege of Stormharbor as part of the Count's vanguard.

Reflection: Jawick was quite fun - if a rather archetypical and straight-forward character.  I was really hoping to get past 64 on this character, but alas, EFU is merciless to your whims and plans.  I decided to stick him out to see if I couldn't find a narrative conclusion for him, and I don't regret that I did - even if I didn't last very long in the battle.  His stats were jumbled by the Yucky Lucky arena, but luckily, I had started with 14 dex and took all of the feats I needed very early on so I was able to continue functioning quite well!  I also looked fly as hell.  Aesthetic is so key.

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Other PCs:

These characters didn't last very long, for one reason or another, but I still enjoyed enough to feel they are worth a mention.

• Zauko (2019) - A Chultan barbarian, companion to rebels in the Ponds and Saint Outis.  He died in an arena.
• Thalian Soldane (2021) - A melee Zealous Faith sorcerer and ringrunner, a member of the Heartseekers.  A devout follower of El, who believed himself a direct scion of the God and aimed to prove it by climbing to the highest peak in the rings - the King's Keep.  He died in ring 64.
• Razidel Winterwise (Late 2021) - An initiate of Moonspear from the far outer rings.  He travelled to ring 99 to find an answer to the calamity of the Nothing that ravages his home rings, and to try and learn the fate of his father - a knight of Prince Trystan.  He died during the assault on the Pallid Prince.  (Stabbed by the Prince himself)
• Rorim Kaneen (2022) - A small game trapper and hunter from the Steadings.  He signed on with Moonspear, feeling a sense of duty during tumultuous times.  He died trying to defend Gwyddian d'Elmar, whom he looked up to, from being executed by Recondites.

Thanks for being great, EFU - my memory is way too bad to mention people to thank on each PC, but I hope to create many more stories with you in the future.

I haven't recreated or 100% confirmed this, but I used a dissipating scroll of fireball, failed the UMD check, and noticed that I had a permanent scroll of it a reset or two later.  I've been told by others in the chat that they've experienced the same, didn't find a topic so just wanted to make a note.

The 10 minute wage seems to be applying starting at level 5 rather than level 8.

Following a server crash, ZF flame weapon has applied an OUB Sorc mod that cannot be removed even by resting or relogging, causing the weapons of some of my party members to become unusable by them.



It also applies this mod normally, which is a minor bug and can be a nuisance if someone unequips their weapon.  In this instance it cannot be removed though

As the title says, I'm not sure if there is a particular mechanical balancing reason for this, but as it stands I think familiars could be more interesting than just buff/utility bots that you immediately unsummon away.  Maybe making it so that you cannot summon them again for an entire reset after their death, but I believe removing the XP penalty would encourage more varied use out of them.

Arkavin Vaul was a farmer's son from the Steadings - born to a devout family of the Triune, Arkavin found his faith wavering around the time of Nephezar's rise to power.  With the arrival of the Count and the perceived blasphemy of his title 'The Lord Returned', Arkavin found within himself a religious crisis and fell into self-imposed exile until he could discern a truer meaning and faith.

I set myself up with the following ideals, and I'm proud to say I made a great effort to stick to them, never returning to the Peerage Ward and operating entirely from the Ponds, and later from deeper rings.

Never to return to the Ward, until his faith is renewed. (No longer Fallen).
Never to associate or assist the traitors of Orza, Sunpurse, and loyalists of the Count.
Never to turn back on a word or ally.

He found allies and friends in many well-meaning outcasts and misfits, his world view was constantly challenged and adjusted, and while he tragically never found a deep ring oath to believe in (though I came REALLY tantalizingly close to one I wanted to take), he did figure out his beliefs before the end; putting stock in convictions and ideals rather than superstitious faith.



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I'd be lying if I said I didn't have a great start to help - these gloves almost singlehandedly made the concept of an exile sustainable, and are also some of my favorite thematic loot that I've received

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And his wolf armor was the coolest aesthetic I've had on a character yet

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In the end he died in good company - fearlessly pursuing his desires, and perhaps doomed by his impulse.  His story had more to tell, but so do most, and that's just the nature of things.

See you on the next!

The inner door to the lodge does not work with the key provided.  It is breakable though, so not a huge deal and the lodge is usable but you have to break open the inner door to get out.

Bayezad was born to the minor house of Hatun in the Burgage.  While studying in the Burgage colleges and grooming himself to take over his family's estate, the Hatun family fled 99 to escape their accruing and crushing debts, leaving Bayezad behind.  And so ill equipped, he began to blithely navigate the political climate of the Peerage.  He was a cunning and hale warrior, but also hopelessly driven by his hedonistic impulses and his desire to bring glory to his family name.

The character was created rather spontaneously after dying in the Halemont prelude, his personality mostly improvised off of the portrait.  It was fun for long enough that it stuck.  I had a good run, and as always, had the pleasure of interacting with and meeting many cool characters.

Halemont blue in the early days:
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With Mercer's death, he jumped to the next ladder to climb:
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And near the end, he became a veteran warrior more confident in his capabilities, and began throwing himself at danger in pursuit of prestige:
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And so he met his end vaingloriously, as many men of Hatun do.

Thanks to SFP and YMD for some really thematic loot that fit him perfectly:

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Thanks to the many players that made the character a blast to play.  See you on the next!

A simple suggestion though I am ignorant as to the difficulty of its implementation; often times when using the Spellthief ability it's very difficult to tell what was actually stolen.  In the thick of combat, especially in a close fight, it's optimal to know what buffs I currently have/need and so it would be a great quality of life buff for it to have a message in the combat log or something stating what buffs have been stolen.

I think I've only done the Twisted Tunnels quest perhaps once in all my time in COR, it is just very rare that I happen to be level 5 and in a seam rather than doing the lowbie circuits.  I also vaguely recall that the quest was actually quite difficult for its level range.

The DM team will have numbers on whether this quest is getting any mileage but if it's not, perhaps bump it up to max 6?

I've spent an embarrassing amount of time and groats experimenting with the dye colors until I discovered this existed: https://wiki.efupw.com/index.php?title=Guide_to_Dye_Colour

As I tried to sort through and find the colors I wanted, I found it very difficult to navigate the shop and examine these dyes one by one.  A thought came to me; can these not be renamed to include the reference number in the name?



e.g "[12] Very Light Slate Grey Clothing Dye"

Those would sort in the shops too, I think.  Is this the kind of thing that is just a chore to do?  If it's not I think it would be a big quality of life update to dyes!

Genovalio de Rossa was a Purple Dragon Knight from Cormyr who had trouble balancing his family life and his military career, distancing himself from his wife, driving away his son and throwing him into periods of alcoholism.

His first thought upon awakening in the rings is that this must be a purgatory for his failures (including a battle, his last memory, where he believed he "died"), and so after a period of reflection he decided to seek redemption by doing some good in the city.  He gravitated towards the Ward because it was familiar.

Though his memory was heavily fragmented, he knew he had a wife, and he remembered in some sense that he was a paladin of Helm.  This combined with his disorientation led him to the Lady-in-Waiting, which (perhaps in his delusion, and as a coping mechanism) he felt must have a divine connection with this woman he pined for but did not remember.

Originally I had thought I'd probably join Sunpurse, but then I got the Glitt Casino King belt and I felt that with the character's belief in providence and mysticism, and after seeing the state of Glitt Hall, that Genovalio would decide this is a sign he must help redeem Glitt.    The funny story for this one is that I actually failed 2 spins in a row of the wheel of fire, and then the guy gave me this belt as a consolation prize anyway lol.

From there, plots, intrigue, DM love, and the opportunity to meet many interesting characters throughout different eras of the server.

I'm missing some gaps but I'll let the screenshots that I have, arranged chronologically, tell the rest:

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I was very humbled to receive a lot of DM love.  Each of the loot pieces I got had some great flavor to it and I tried to incorporate it into the character:

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Lastly, a letter to his wife, which acts as an epilogue and the resolution of a personal character arc.


See you on the next!