Topics

[Professor Jamileh Attar]

From:
Professor Jamileh Attar
Ibram's Fine Leathers and Cobbler, Attic.
corner of Qadira street / market square
(temporary correspondence address)


---


To:
Students,
Sandstone College,
Ephia's Well Plaza


---


Friends,

Below is a draft of a letter I intend to send to the FACULTY to commend Caster Cro as per Zol Nur's suggestion.

If you agree with it, please sign your name, and I shall send it to the faculty.

Additionally, I would like to organize a join trip to Frostport for Caster Cro in the coming days, for he has spoken how much he misses winter.



---



Dear Sir/Madam of the FACULTY,

We are writing to you to request an official commendation and recognition for Student Caster Cro, for the endless qualities: his unceasing labour, helpful demeanour, walking his path of walking towards the shining light of understanding - and all that done, with the merriment and humility befitting a true scholar, as well as his refusal to give up.

A true gem, amongst us, and he does deserve recongition.

I think it would bring a tremendous smile on his face, and it is well earned.

Best regards,
Jamileh Attar

---

[Professor Jamileh Attar]

From:
Professor Jamileh Attar
Ibram's Fine Leathers and Cobbler, Attic.
corner of Qadira street / market square
(temporary correspondence address)


---


To:
Teaching Staff, and whom it may concern,
Sandstone College,
Ephia's Well Plaza


---


Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to formally request abolishment of the requirement for graduate students on the grounds of extenuating circumstances. While it amuses me greatly to see fresh Students put into burlap potato sacks to be pointed at and mocked on the streets...

I do believe it should not be applicable to graduates.

Or, well, myself at least.

The fact that I remained with the College after graduation to pursue a second degree in psychology and nudging the fresh students to spread their wings is actually doing the College a tremendous favour based on my reputation as the first and foremost archaeologist and historian of Ephia's Well, not to mention the fact that I possess two degrees, from before my time in the Well - in Mathematics and Archaeology, as well as a Bachelor's in Mechanicus studies, followed by a degree in History from Sandstone, not to mention my contributions to the License Wars over the months (which is proven by the fact that the moment I disappeared, archaeological licensure went to the Mount - though, not for long, now).

Best regards,
Jamileh Attar

---

[The Carnal Life of Savage Hill Goblins:An Account of Animalistic, Orgiastic Life Among the Natives of the Echoing Canyons]

The Carnal Life of Savage Hill Goblins:

An Account of Animalistic, Orgiastic Life Among the Natives of the Echoing Canyons

---

by Jamileh Attar

The sexual life of savages has long awaited its natural historian. Owing to sex taboos, that weigh at least as much on the civilized as on the savage mind, this subject has always been veiled in mystery. Our own "modern" societies hold a disdain for all-things-savage, we are full of phobias, traumas, taboos et cetera, imprinted upon us by generations of subtle and very often purposeful (and insidious) social conditioning of denizens of civilized societies into conformity by the powers that are.

This particular subject can be further explored by interested readers within "Cyclical nature of civilizations" by an author unknown, but I shall not dwell on it here, though it is regardless very important to note the weight such social conditioning carries into our personal bias as researches. A fatal flaw, all of us, pursuers of truth suffer from.

As a historian dabbling into ethnography, I can not help but think that we (the collective society of scholars) do not penetrate this subject deep enough - as the question(s) that we shall attempt to answer here is:

What lurks at the very core of the animalistic drive of a primitive society?

Are the habits and rituals something that has developed on its own? Have they been subject to its own social conditioning?

Or perhaps, is it a sign of something much more dark and insidious, an invisible hand that has driven this tribe (and others) into its relentless drive of lascivious procreation as one of the moves in an age-long tawla game.

[Tammuz 1st, IY 7787]

Tammuz 1st, IY 7787

---

From:
Jamileh Attar
Ibram's Fine Leathers and Cobbler,
corner of Qadira street / market square
(temporary correspondence address)

---

To:
Mari / Sana Khealn / Snorri
Ibram's Fine Leathers and Cobbler,
corner of Qadira street / market square
(temporary correspondence address)

---

Friends,

Please accept my formal apologies for my yesterday behaviour. It was completely unacceptable, and you have done nothing but always been kind, supportive and sacrificed much to aid me.

I do not know what has gotten to me - the lack of sleep, the situation in the Well, the politics, the odd behaviour of that ringrunner, or a combination of all of the contributing factors. I acted as bad, or worse, than a spoiled, self-centered and self-important five year old, neglectful of everything you ever did for me.  I treated you unfairly, I acted selfishly, and was demeaning to the amount of effort, time, blood, sweat and brilliant ideas you have put forward in our collective quest, most of them wiser and smarter than I possibly could have. 

Suffice to say, I would be dead - or worse - if not for you. I fully understand should you wish to go your separate ways and abandon the archaeological pursuits. Know, however, that if you do, you can always count on me to help with whatever it is that you are seeking for yourselves.

I am deeply ashamed. Both formally and informally. 

P.S. Thank you for helping me get rid of that croaking shadow frog curse and get me back on my feet.

Regards,
Jamileh

[Marcellus,]

Marcellus,

There's a one-time funding opportunity that I managed to secure for us and I think you're going to enjoy it.

There's going to be a Trivia game during Game Days or something that Sol Auk is running with the aid of Zaniah.

Part of it will be sort of a trivia game, which I was asked to run, hopefully in less skimpy clothing than her last game (the things you do for funding..) - though i did recommend you to run it too, knowing your passion for the subject..

And the subject of the trivia questions I recommended to Zaniah would be  Caliphate and Sultanate history for obvious reasons, glory to our Eagle, who's name outshines the very sun.

It is a good teaching opportunity too, to pull away people from their usual routines and glean some knowledge and understanding of where they are.

I do not know if we can get more funding if I am the one running the trivia questions, or you (it's possible we can negotiate a higher rate if it's me, Zaniah took liking to me for some reason I can not fathom..)

Nonetheless, we need to devise twenty one trivia questions that are fun and I have a feeling you're already getting giddy at the opportunity of doing so to educate people.

We could even call it "Fun with history!",  "Fun with Caliphs, Caliphas, Sultans and Sultanas!" (though maybe the latter isn't appropriate and could be interpreted in a wrong way and I do like my head on my shoulders).. anyway, i digress..

I do recommend it's a mixture of simple ones with easily accessible knowledge, spicing it up with knowledge that's obtainable from Rashid's books, and putting a cherry on top from a bit less accessible Sultanate approved knowledge (glory to his name), perhaps something from our digs.

Will you help me with this?

We can discuss in person later whether it's me or you that's going to be asking them in person to the participants.

The games are happening within a week or so, so time is also of the essence.

P.S. I was offered 1,000 for devising it and also running the trivia. Do you think I should ask for more?



Live and drink,
Jamileh

[Hziran 7th, IY 7787]

Hziran 7th, IY 7787

---

From:
Jamileh Attar
Ibram's Fine Leathers and Cobbler,
corner of Qadira street / market square
(temporary correspondence address)

---

To:
Arterian Lunesco
Krak De Roses,
Room 13

---

Arterian Lunesco,

Friend, it has been a while since we spoke, and we should find some time to finish our fascinating debate on the assumption of value and the fallacy of coin in civilized societies.

I'd urge you to take competent professionals with an open mind but also those, who do not blabber every secret to everyone they encounter. Non-disclosure agreements are excellent, but people do not take such things seriously, nor with the respect such things deserve.

If you still have not left by the time I return from my ongoing fieldwork, I can at the very least recommend at least a few members of the Competition with varying skillsets, dependant on what you are looking for specifically, or I can arrange an interview with you on my return (or I can at the least take a look at the candidates you have selected and offer my professional opinion on their competencies).

Live and drink,
Jamileh Attar
"The Competition"

[Hziran 7th, IY 7787]

Hziran 7th, IY 7787

---

From:
Jamileh Attar / Marcellus Saenus
Ibram's Fine Leathers and Cobbler,
corner of Qadira street / market square
(temporary correspondence address)

---

To:
Legate Azadeh Zarat
Legate offices,
3rd floor, Palatial Pyramid

CC:
Ezmur the Archivist
Sandstone College,
Ephia's Well Plaza

---

To whom it may concern,

I am enclosing thorough documentation of the third archaeological discovery of "The Competition", further referenced as #TCDC2 (The Competition Discovery, Caliphate):

1) A detailed painting of the site by the Sana Khealn:
[hide][/hide]

2) An ancient dinar from the Golden Age of Caliphs, depicting the most glorious Calipha in her splendor, her stature noble, her eyes rimmed with dark kohl. The other side of the dinar depicted supplicants bestowing Alikah with a thousand and one gifts - diadems and crowns - at the feet of her throne. An inscription in erugitic indicated "Akilah I".
NOTE:  Lives of Maribid, Volume I by Rayrul the Wise refers to the most splendorous Calipha as "Alikah I", yet the etching on the dinar indicated "Akilah I", so it either requires a new edition with corrected name, or that we came across a dinar with a typographical minting error from the Golden Age of Caliphs.

3) An action figure, bearing a small cup and a pipe. An inscription in erugitic indicated it is a depiction of Feydsiyyar I. I found it quite fascinating, as action figures are often indicative of being utilized in various games.

Both delivered to the Sandstone College's archives, in pristine condition, regardless.

Aside of the historical curia indicated above, I believe the most significant find in #TCDC2 was a levitating sphere, very similar to the ones used both in Fomoria (or, as far as I am told, the Sphere within the Palatial Pyramid - NOTE: I would kindly request access to the sphere within the Assembly Chambers to examine it and cross-reference it, not during a meeting of the assembly.

This sphere, however, seemed to serve a different purpose, most likely geomechanical in nature. it was levitating in the air, in pristine condition, with nary a spot of ash or sand clinging to it. The exact nature of it eludes me, and I do despise theorycrafting without valid background or enough information, yet if I were to take a guess, it was a very advanced heating mechanism, harnessing the powers deep in the earth.  Nadiri Abelle has accompanied us (as this was a joint operation..) so perhaps she and those of Q'tolip can discern more.

Other interesting curio was two jackal statues overlooking the chamber. Whether they were depictions of Adrahasis or other hounds, I am uncertain.

Nonetheless, I am disclosing the location of the site, as it warrants investigation first and foremost by the Geomancers of the College.


Live and drink,
Jamileh Attar
"The Competition"

[Hziran 1st, IY 7787]

Hziran 1st, IY 7787

---

From:
Jamileh Attar
Ibram's Fine Leathers and Cobbler,
corner of Qadira street / market square
(temporary correspondence address)

---

To:
Kali Qingwyn
Krak De Roses

---

Kali Qingwyn,

As i need a break from attempting to work through a backlog of 10 days of field notes, I'd like to invite you for some Cactus Slurp to learn more about your areas of expertise, fields of study and theories you are working on to confirm through archaeology and depending on an outcome, perhaps offer you a job opportunity, depending on the interview.

The Competition (the name still amuses me, considering it's a bit of an inside joke) is the premier archaeological club/coterie/hanza (pick one) in Ephia's Well.

I've seen you prancing about several times but we never had a chance to talk proper (which is understandable as I share the desire to be in the field most of the time, yet even with a secretary I hired (and I think I need to promote him to work on marketing and public relations), my backlog is just overwhelming).

P.S. Have you published something I would have read?
P.P.S. Are you affiliated with any of the political leagues of the Well?


Live and drink,
Jamileh Attar
"The Competition"

[Iyar 26th, IY 7787]

Iyar 26th, IY 7787

---

From:
Jamileh Attar / Marcellus Saenus
Ibram's Fine Leathers and Cobbler,
corner of Qadira street / market square
(temporary correspondence address)

---

To:
Legate Azadeh Zarat
Legate offices,
3rd floor, Palatial Pyramid

CC:
Ezmur the Archivist
Sandstone College,
Ephia's Well Plaza

---

To whom it may concern,

I am enclosing thorough documentation of the second archaeological discovery of "The Competition", further referenced as #TCDO1 (The Competition Discovery, Orentid):

A detailed painting of the site by the Sana Khealn:
[hide][/hide]

Ancient scroll (in Erugitic language) that has been found buried beneath the feet of the statue for Sandstone College's archives, in pristine condition:
[hide]
// Trimmed to avoid spoilers[/hide]

Completed translations of the aforementioned scroll (two copies, one for the Legate's personal collection and one to be included with the original find in the archives of the College).
[hide]// PM'd to DM Muskroot. [/hide]

While I do not like to jump to conclusions without valid proof, I believe it is safe to entertain a thought that this is one of dozens if not hundreds of potential Orentid sites in direct vicinity of "Ephia's Well". With meticulous and unceasing research in time more will be discovered, as the scroll recovered appears to have been a part of a logbook of another Scholar (or at the very least an outsider) to Orentid culture (referring to themselves as "traveler") who has been documenting his/hers observations on vellum.

Providing Scholars Attar and Saenus with adequate archaeological tools for further projects would only serve to expedite our discoveries, details of which would (obviously) be shared with the esteemed Palatial Pyramid and Sandstone College.
Access to the archives of the College would also be appreciated and a tremendous asset to our future work.

Additionally, we would appreciate any documentation or references pertaining to a rather ominous onlooker who has accosted us during our first discovery (#TCDC1), a tall, masked human (?), wielding two blades, who's words indicated he might be a part of some sort of cult keen on deterring research and progress.


Live and drink,
Jamileh Attar
"The Competition"

[Essie, Auri, RWG, NND]

Obligatory music theme #1 - Bear McCreary - Captain Kidd (more below).

The inspiration for the PC should have been pretty obvious from his last name (Ashford, hello, Expanse people)..

Thanks to Essie, Auri, RWG, NND and Don Nadie for an absolutely amazing ride together. And thanks to Pigadig for letting me play a Grim Groat.
Especially Essie.
I can't believe Elinny was your first PC on EFU, truly magical. You (and Elinny) are an absolute treasure.

And well, everyone else on EFU, too many to list here.
You guys are breathtaking.

I have a lot of screenshots, but a lot of them are spoilerish, so there's a 'handful' at the bottom and a lot of dialogue cut out.

Portrait came from a snipped artwork from Corporal Nobbs here.








Bit of a backstory:
Jeremiah Ashford was a bullfrog born to a noble family ruling the 373rd Ring,  and he hated the responsibility, so he took off to the lakes, canals and seas in his home (or so he claimed..).. His home ring became devoured by the Nothing (which he referred to as the Tide), and as he abandoned his people and ran like a coward, stumbling onto the Grim Groats as they were sacking a non-descript temple and committing atrocities on the monks dwelling within and he took up their mantle, and continued running and escaping the Tide with the gang.

He spent all the fortune he had from his home and the various robberies on the way ... on a Goose, which he named Ernesto, that he was told is going to lay golden eggs. Well, Ernesto never did lay a golden egg (nor any egg, as he was a male goose, but Jeremiah was not known for making good decisions in life), but became his most trusted companion and his first mate. The goose wore an eye-patch, too.
[hide='Ernesto'][/hide]

As they raced across the Torc plains on horseback, escaping the escaping Torc, his Grim Groat which he always carried in a pocket on his heart saved him from a Torc arrow in a fit of luck (or was it misfortune..?),  making him fall of the horse instead, break his knee and get buried under a mountain of bodies. By the time he undug himself and was capable of travelling again, the bones not mending properly, the Grim Groats were long gone, he was left on his own, as the Tide moved closer and closer.

So he continued the way on his own, for many many rings - killing, stealing, blackmailing to survive. I needed a redemption arc, obviously, so part of his backstory was stumbling upon a gentle, angelic soul, a girl he travelled a bunch of rings with, kind to a fault, which he did all his best to protect from the harsh reality. Failing, in the end, as she was torn apart by a hungry mob  as she offered to feed them with their meager rations - and instead of trying to save her, he hid like a coward (only to murder them all and raze the village to the ground in revenge). Obviously, he shared a different story, as the one thing he was most afraid to admit is that he was a massive and selfish coward.
[hide][/hide]

And so he continued on, for dozens of rings on his own, guilt eating him from the inside, only to arrive at the gates to 99 and find out Oliver the Grim Groat is there, and is the last surviving Groat (and obviously Oliver was in deep shit with various spoilers..)

A bit of of an irony, since I used almost exactly the same build as I did on Marco Cassan and some bits of the personality, back in the day, and this was the sight on day#1 of the PC:



Also day 1, Grim Groat luck/misfortune is real, just diving for some pittance:



He reveled in chaos, misinformation and he passionately hated the social structure of '99.

Here is Lalena trying to recruit the Grim Groats against Orza a few days before the fateful Council meeting,  shortly before which Phelan got Tree'd (which also spoiled his plans) not that long after Jeremiah was created,
I'm sorry, Hippie, he hated Lalena passionately and called her 'Bug Eyes', comparing her to an Ettercap.


[hide] TheShore] Jeremiah Ashford: [Talk] 'Cause she...
[TheShore] Jeremiah Ashford: [Talk] ... Annoys me.
[Essie] Elinny Irnimane: [Talk] "What about her annoys you?"
[TheShore] Jeremiah Ashford: [Talk] ... Everything.
[Essie] Elinny Irnimane: [Talk] "She isn't a mean person, you know..."
[TheShore] Jeremiah Ashford: [Talk] I know..
[Essie] Elinny Irnimane: [Talk] "Is it her constant running?"
[TheShore] Jeremiah Ashford: [Talk] Part of it, yes..
[TheShore] Jeremiah Ashford: [Talk] ... The eyes too. 
[Essie] Elinny Irnimane: [Talk] "What's the other part?" 
[Essie] Elinny Irnimane: [Talk] "...Eyes?"
[TheShore] Jeremiah Ashford: [Talk] Yes..
[TheShore] Jeremiah Ashford: [Talk] Those bug eyes...
[TheShore] Jeremiah Ashford: [Talk] Just starin' at me..
[Essie] Elinny Irnimane: [Talk] "What ab-..."
[Essie] Elinny Irnimane: [Talk] "Huh..." she expelled a sigh. "I've never... noticed her eyes, much."
[TheShore] Jeremiah Ashford: [Talk] The hat too..
[Essie] Elinny Irnimane: [Talk] "I think the hat is there for sentimental reasons."
[TheShore] Jeremiah Ashford: [Talk] .. T'all knowing attitude..
[Essie] Elinny Irnimane: [Talk] Her head tilts to the side, "I've never noticed that..."
[TheShore] Jeremiah Ashford: [Talk] ..T'fact that she gets unner m'feet when we are killin' shite..
[TheShore] Jeremiah Ashford: [Talk] ... And I think she thinks she's better than others.
[TheShore] Jeremiah Ashford: [Talk] But those bug eyes, Eli...
[Essie] Elinny Irnimane: [Talk] "Better than others? How do you figure that?"
[TheShore] Jeremiah Ashford: [Talk] *He shivers.*
[Essie] Elinny Irnimane: [Talk] "Is that what you talked to Diethard about, back then, in the Velvet? About Lalena's bug eyes?"
[TheShore] Jeremiah Ashford: [Talk] Uh, no..
[TheShore] Jeremiah Ashford: [Talk] ... He'd get annoyed. And I like 'im.
[Essie] Elinny Irnimane: [Talk] "You like him, and he likes her and... you don't like her. I see..."
[Essie] Elinny Irnimane: [Talk] "Do you think he's daft?"
[Essie] Elinny Irnimane: [Talk] "Or... blind?"
[TheShore] Jeremiah Ashford: [Talk] ... I think she might be.
[TheShore] Jeremiah Ashford: [Talk] Maybe she's part bug..
[TheShore] Jeremiah Ashford: [Talk] *Shifty eyes..*
[Essie] Elinny Irnimane: [Talk] She snorts at that, "You're funny." [/hide]


He sent some letters to people to screw other people over or just mess with them for the sake of trying to get them to kill each other while he sipped pinacolada.

https://www.efupw.com/forums/index.php?topic=705299.msg744458#msg744458
https://www.efupw.com/forums/index.php?topic=705296.msg744454#msg744454
https://www.efupw.com/forums/index.php?topic=705295.msg744453#msg744453


The day Elias died, during the chaos, he tried to steal the body of Lucas Castell to find his Bone Collector pin (or so he believed he had one), but alas, that didn't work out.

He would have murdered them both had he an opportunity (and he did have when they jumped Sykes in the Weald, but then I'd have to murder a bunch of other PC's to get rid of witnesses, and in the end, I'm a big softie, so decided against it).

Originally intended to be the most scummy and selfish TN cunt possible, after stumbling onto Elinny and Isaiah, he seen them both as his redemption ticket,  he became obsessed with saving Elinny from the Tide, no matter the cost. And well, saving Oliver from his dumb decisions.


His obsessive-compulsive personality in play made him, well, become obsessed with everything he did. Such as exploring and figuring out Agartha..








He loved spying on people...




Very often his own 'friends'..








Or other people..











He learned from Elinny that she hasn't even seen 99-95 proper, because people were always too busy questing or something,  so he took her to see some of the sights..



He was a bit of a creep at times:



Well..





Other random shots of cool places..





He really, really respected Robert Lyle and considered him the only Peer worth anything..





Had a real soft spot for people trying to be better than they were, or correcting their mistakes..




Things happened sometimes..




Paid off the Steadings Tax from his own pocket to Jaime..




Brought 'gifts' from 'Deeper Rings' to his friends.





Some cool moments from the road..





Obligatory music link#2 -  Bear McCreary - Nation of Thieves 

Had truly amazing conversations and random coincidences (or were they..) of ominous portents - one of the most magical moments (and prophetic, perhaps, especially the last line)








Another very meaningful conversation:




The group is formed.. with an ABSOLUTELY FOOLPROOF plan.. Right?




Lady Belmore approved the FOOLPROOF PLAN, so what could possibly go wrong?





And some more..














Elinny's biggest wish was to have a dog, so being a ranger, I made a dog my companion, then often snuck into the Metalworker's Guild and brought the dog out and RP'd as him for hours, stealthed.
In the end, Lord Scragston as he was named, became Elinny's faithful companion (thanks Equinox for creating the loot piece for her that summoned the goodest of boys!). I never thought I'd be like Stranger and enjoy being a doge, but it was great and Elinny was a treasure to RP with.
Unfortunately, I don't have screenshots of everything related to this arc..
[Hide]





[/hide]






Oh, Elinny..












Fun with Elheyn


Talking to yourself is a sign of mental illness, yes?




Saying goodbye to a dear friend...







Doing ranged PvP without DM oversight, over almost a 100 rings, rolling a nat 20:
[hide][/hide]

Obligatory Music Outro:  Clinton Shorter - When I Sail


A few days before the end..
[hide]
Elinny Irnimane: "It is rather different here."
Jeremiah Ashford: *He peers into the room.*
Jeremiah Ashford: .. Comely.
Elinny Irnimane: "Different," she echoed, glancing about the room. 
Jeremiah Ashford: Different good or different bad?
Elinny Irnimane: "I do not know yet. We shall find out, I imagine."
Elinny Irnimane: "You'll be around, yes?"
Jeremiah Ashford: Yeah, we will.
Jeremiah Ashford: And I will. Ain't goin' anywhere..
Jeremiah Ashford: Well, furthest might go t'the gates t'do some fishin'..
Elinny Irnimane: "It's comforting," she nods, turning around.
Jeremiah Ashford: Sleep well, hm?
Elinny Irnimane: "I shall try. You too."
[/hide]



-- THE END --
[Hide]
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx: An anchor, a sailor, a guide.
Jeremiah Ashford: .. Fittin', ain't it?
Jeremiah Ashford: 'Ey, Dreyfus-
Jeremiah Ashford: I really /am/ a Prince.
Morven Dreyfus: Ye're a King, Ashford.
Jeremiah Ashford: Fuck the King.
Oliver Merryweather: [A defeated, pathetic laugh..] L-Long live 'e Prince..
Morven Dreyfus: Maybe after some gin.
Jeremiah Ashford: *He stuffs some things into a magic bag and passes it to Morven..*
Jeremiah Ashford: *Before finally pulling off his mask..
Oliver Merryweather: [Flips their Grim Groat into the air. The coin spirals around and around before landing on its side. As per usual.]
Jeremiah Ashford: *And wrapping his arms around the woman.*
Jeremiah Ashford: ... I told ya, long ago, when I hear 'em cluckin' or whatever t'Rooster does, I'll be 'er f'ya.
Morven Dreyfus: [She takes it -numbly- and awkwardly, but surely sinks into his arms, sobbing again.]  Didnt' know.. it would be like this.
Jeremiah Ashford: [Flips their Grim Groat into the air. The coin spirals around and around before landing on its side. As per usual.]
Jeremiah Ashford: Give 'is here t'Elinny too.
Jeremiah Ashford: And make sure 'at letter gets t'her..
Jeremiah Ashford: *He turns to Oliver..*
Morven Dreyfus: Alright.. I'll protect this with m'life. This work. Because it'll be you, I think.
Jeremiah Ashford: .. Don't be a shite.
Oliver Merryweather: [Defeated eyes lingered on Jeremiah, his face pale, covered in tears..] I-. I-. I can't make any promises, but I'll try..
Jeremiah Ashford: ... I should 'ave put y'down for goin' back on the deal f'Isaiah. Intended to. Watched ya, in t'sands.. Considered it..
Jeremiah Ashford: ... But in the end, y'a brother.
Jeremiah Ashford: Right, so..
Oliver Merryweather: Brother o' mine.. Jeremiah.. I ain't goin' t' forget it.. I'll sing your tale till my last breath an' beyond..
Jeremiah Ashford: Yeah, yeah..
Jeremiah Ashford: [Blood and negative energy spill from Jeremiah's being, before he is bathed in a golden light]
Jeremiah Ashford: Y'both are idiots-- *A gasp..*
-------





[/hide]





Prince of the 373rd ring, signing out.

And my absolutely favourite shot:

[succeed]

Hey,

Sometimes when you succeed a UMD check on a L4 arcane wand (Ward Area) on a 6 Ranger / 3 Rogue split will result in no effect happening and no charge being used at all.

I do vaguely(?) recall this working fine back at the end of 2020/early 2021.

I wonder if this might be partially due to the wand spell level restrictions that was implemented for some of the classes and minimum levels but I'm a big dumbo, so what do I know.

I'm not entirely sure what causes it to break (and fix itself), because there are times when it works just fine.

Happy to help with some testing if you guys get to working this one out some day.

Harvesting an onion did not give an actual item produce (and resulted after several attempts in destroying the bush). Harvesting seeds worked as it should.

This was in one of the randomized Ponds islands if this helps?  If I run into more onion bushes in other areas, will report!

Lesser Mind Blank does not seem to 'fix' someone that has been feared, apparently. Not sure if bug or intended, but I assume it's a bug, considering that it's a L5 spell.

As in title, Tyche is not selectable as a deity on the placable.

Human, Cleric, CG, Luck/Destiny domains.
keats_73/zzz test



https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/423418761828237323/453132557324910592/unknown.png




EDIT: Putting Tyche in the deity field manually during character creation works fine.

You can enter the QA without taking the quest, looks like transition is broken. (Explorable)

Reinforced chest of gold is always empty.

Hey Guys.

Need help of someone tech-savy - I'm going on a business trip for the next 5 weeks tomorrow so I will finally be in the US timezone for a time - so I figured - hey, might finally get to play EFU in this timezone.

And then something went wrong, of course.

Apparently, nwmain.exe requires admin rights.. and my mothe-- company does not (of course) provide the drones with admin rights on their work laptops.

Any idea how to go around this without having to go through IT to request admin rights for whatever business reason?

Not going to be hauling two laptops with me.. :)

Peace and Happy New Year!
/SN

[[SIZE="3"]Familiars[/SIZE]]

[SIZE="3"]Familiars[/SIZE]


This is a list of current familiars. Some of these are completely custom for EfU, while a few others have been extensively modified for balance purposes. For familiars, please note that spellcasters need not have a familiar that shares their alignment, but deliberately picking a familiar with a diametrical opposite alignment is discouraged.

• Bat
  
  
  
  Alignment: True Neutral
  
  The nightshrieker possesses an ability few can emulate: sonar. This allows the bat to strike with surgical precision, but it sadly lacks momentum to be of much use against big opponents. On the other hand, the sonar also grants a near perfect nightvision which is excellent for reconnaissance.
  
  
  
• Rat
  
  
  
  Substitutes: Panther
  
  Alignment: True Neutral
  
  A traditional choice for arcane spellcasters, centuries have proven the rat a faithful companion. Often Underestimated due to it's size, the rat is capable of going places and seeing things that others cannot. With proper care, it won't even smell. Very much.
  
  
  
• Floating Skull
  
  
  
  Substitutes: Hell Hound
  
  Alignment: Chaotic Evil
  
  A floating, seemingly sentient skull with it's origins shrouded in mystery. While few know much of them, most who behold them find the sight frightening and most who hear their endless ramblings find it maddening. Such a familiar is boasting material only in few and small circles.
  
  This familiar is capable of intelligent conversation.
  
  
  
• Imp
  
  
  
  Alignment: Lawful Evil
  
  Small but insidious devils often bound to the service of sorcerers and wizards. Imps have a gleeful attraction to pranks, riddles, and bawdy jokes and a natural apptitude for magic.
  
  This familiar is capable of intelligent conversation.
  
  
  
• Gull
  
  
  
  Substitutes: Fire Mephit
  
  Alignment: True Neutral
  
  Highly intelligent coastal birds that have learned to co-exist with civilization in a scavenger role. Though most people find them incredibly annoying in their endless quest for food, wizards and sorcerers who bind them find them to be extremely loyal. As long as they keep a scrap of food tucked away.
  
  
  
• Parrot
  
  
  
  Substitutes: Ice Mephit
  
  Alignment: True Neutral
  
  Although among the smarter species of birds, parrots are nevertheless more exotic as familiars, in part because of their relative rarity but as well because they tend to be overly possessive of their masters. While working with a parrot can be easy enough, working with somebody working with a parrot can be a challenge to put it mildly.
  
  This familiar can memorize a few simple phrases, but not lead an intelligent conversation.
  
  
  
• Chicken
  
  
  
  Substitutes: Pixie
  
  Alignment: True Neutral
  
  A niche more than a practicality, the chicken can provide hours upon hours of fun for its owner and act as an excellent vessel for magical energies. Easily frightened and seemingly lacking in mental capacity, those who have gazed into the eyes of a bound chicken swear they've seen something mezmerizing in those beady little eyes.
  
  
  
• Raven
  
  
  
  Alignment: True Neutral
  
  Prized for its intelligence and cunning, the classy raven remains an ever popular choice of familiar. The blue-black bird possesses an almost unmatched aptitude for learning and adapting to unique situations, and its beak makes an excellent tool both for opening clasps and plucking out eyes.
  
  This familiar can memorize a few simple phrases, but not lead an intelligent conversation.
  
  
  
• Snake
  
  
  
  Substitutes: Faerie Dragon
  
  Alignment: True Neutral
  
  Cunning hunters, snakes are often seen as lazy due to their preference to let their prey come to them. When pressed, however, snakes are quick, agile, and many possess extremely potent venoms. In many cases, a familiar shares traits with its master, so for rotund or crafty spellcasters to have snake familiars is not uncommon.
  
  
  
• Ooze
  
  
  
  Substitutes: Pseudodragon
  
  Alignment: True Neutral
  
  These amorphous creatures resemble tiny cubes of gelatinous goo. As actual lab tools, the unique ability of oozes to absorb and assimilate nearly anything have proven especially useful over time. Unfortunately, they do not care for being handled, and many who have tried have found they have little desire to do so again.
  
  
  
• Eyeball
  
  
  
  Alignment: Chaotic Evil
  
  No larger than the size of a fist in diameter, the eyeball is a particularly frightening creature to command, not surprisingly because of its resemblance to the significantly larger beholder. The many taboos surrounding these alien natured creatures means only the most eccentric people would ever consider binding one as a familiar.
  
  This familiar is capable of intelligent conversation.

work in progress..

..or someone please do this as i have no clue how this works at all :)

Meanwhile, can use Diz-e's Necronomicon thread for general outline of Necromancy - some information might be outdated there, though.

[Major EFU Changes:]

[SIZE="3"]Major EFU Changes:[/SIZE]

Default Bioware parties has been disabled. This may seem strange at first, but almost all players eventually find it improves their enjoyment of the game considerably. Experience is still shared by PCs in the area in which monsters are killed.

Characters start at level 2. Level 5 is very easy to reach, level 7 is very achievable to reach for almost any player, level 10 can be reached for very long term characters, levels 11+ are reached only very rarely and by very influential PCs.

Rolling a 1 is not an auto-failure on saving throws.

Hours are twenty seven real-life minutes long, instead of two. Turns remain unmodified at one minute. Everything that used to be hour-duration is now 5 minutes, unless otherwise modified.

Your character may rest only in an inn room (after having paid the innkeeper), out in the wild with a campfire and bedroll or in special free-rest spots. You may rest once every 20 minutes. Rangers do not require campfires to rest in the wild, barbarians do not require bedrolls to rest in the wild. Resting in places other than an inn requires food. Druids can rest without both.

Divine casters (Clerics & Paladins) require a valid deity selected. Due to the plot happenings, many of the deities have been killed, please refer to here before creating a divine spellcaster.)

Various spell visual effects have been removed/shortened.

Ability stat bonuses from multiple items do not stack. Bonuses from items and spells will stack

Stealth is more effective in some areas (such as dark caves) than it is in brightly lit rooms. A PC that is translucent has been heard only, not spotted (this is default, but bears repeating: although difficult to enforce, we ask that people do not definitively identify characters that have only been "heard").

There are various damage modes (subdual, sparring, blackout and full damage) all accessible through the crafting menu, player tools, or voice command (/c subdual, /c full damage, /c sparring, /c subdual blackout). Blackout mode sends a PC into a special "unconscious" area, you can then grab their unconscious body and take it with you somewhere. Familiars/Companions/Summons should be on the damage mode of their master. Note that summons switch to FD as they are being unsummoned, this is a bug and an unavoidable one so be careful.

Pure rogues, sorcerers, barbarians, bards and fighters may select "Perks" starting at level 5 and then another one at level 8. Note - choose carefully, once selected perks cannot be changed and there will be no confirmation dialogue to ensure you selected the perk you want.

Caltrops will not stack when dropped on top of each other.

AC from Bracers will not work if your character is wearing any form of armor beyond clothing.


-----


[SIZE="3"]More Information on Various Systems[/SIZE]

EFU has an enormous amount of scripted content that I've become increasingly aware our players sometimes simply don't know about it. This post is an attempt to mention some of the content and be a useful resource for new players.


DM XP

This is pretty self-explanatory. Do interesting things, make Awesome (even without a DM watching), pursue interesting stories, express your creativity, roleplay excellently  and entertain yourself and others... and, eventually, you will be rewarded. To really get into this subject requires perhaps a full post of its own, but it's worth noting DM XP can be rewarded for lots of different things: for example, if you beat a "spiced" quest there will probably be an extra XP award. Merely being present for an important event may also earn you some XP, and very often if I bounce on some players doing some plotting or interesting RP I'll throw everyone some XP.

It's also worth adding, though, that from the perspective of the DM client it is hard to pay attention to every PC and properly reward... sometimes we forget to hand out XP, so don't let it bother you too much. Over the course of a player's lifetime hopefully everything will balance out.

Note that DMs also have the ability to hand out XP that will never be lost from raises or respawns.


Exploration XP

Again, pretty obvious. The first time you go to many areas you will receive XP.


Deliveries

We have some pretty basic delivery quests around. Note that the delivery-receiver NPC will be marked by our system as part of the quest system, which may lead to some confusion.


Combat Quests

We have a lot of these.


Exploration Random Areas

We have more than a hundred of these, easily, and I just added a whole bunch more. I think these are pretty fun - basically, throughout the course of the day different transitions spawn in different areas that either a solitary PC or a group can explore. Some are insanely challenging, some are nothing more than an empty room with a huge pile of loot. They're fun, but sometimes very deadly.


Random Ambients

These are more for flavor I guess, but lots of different little small "things" spawn all around the module also. Strange shrines, or deadly plants... etc.


Cooking/Herbalism/Alchemy

Cooking is a system by which your character can cook - cooking isn't dangerous, so this can be good practice for learning how these systems work.

Herbalism lets you make a lot of useful components and items, but the items generally aren't quite so powerful or dangerous to make as Alchemy.

Alchemy (note: I am referring to a special system, not mundane potion brewing!) is a very dangerous thing, perhaps one of the most dangerous things to do in EFU. Yet the rewards can be truly amazing. For the right kind of player, this can be a complex but satisfying undertaking.

More information on our unique Alchemy/Herbalism system can be found here.


Rare Spawns

There are a variety of rare random monster spawns that can be quite rewarding to kill. Some are "Hero Spawns" (specially named NPCs), others are just very rare...


Banditry/NPC Mugging

In addition to the (dangerous) past-time of mugging PCs, there are also several kinds of NPCs (some rarer than others) that can be "mugged" (attacked). Some even drop special items that can in turn be sold to other NPCs. Of course, this is an IC'ly dangerous if lucrative profession.


Scavenging

There's a lot of areas that can be "scavenged" - particularly with high search, you might find randomly find nice treasure just laying around or in rubble.


Rumors

We have a pretty nice "rumors" system by which we can very easily and dynamically update the rumors that NPCs or placeables mention via our web console. Thus, very often we'll hide lore or plot hints or other things in rumors or placeables. It can be worth speaking with NPCs and reading placeables scattered across the module...


Interaction NPCs

Recently, some NPCs have been added to the module that spawn occasionally and can be interacted with - with the random possibility of getting something very nice.


Merchants

Various merchants with randomly generated stores can spawn occasionally, particularly in some certain areas of the module, but also in outlying areas... including the Underdark and Underwater areas of EFU. Many of these stores sell mundane, flavourful wares... but you might also find amongst them something worthwhile, something to aid your roleplay, collectibles, keys, a bit of lore, or just something sort of interesting or unique.


Joining Associations

Joining an association doesn't require a DM and can be a good way to find some direction for your character, as well as receiving some decent perks.

Hopefully this post has been useful to some of you. I'm sure there are some things I'm forgetting but this at least covers the major scripted things.

We're trying to build a great module but, as always, it is up to the playerbase to make the really great stories. We're giving you the tools, now go out and make the kinds of character and stories that really rock people's socks off!