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Dear Sergeant Colmes et. al.,

As promised, I am sending a copy of Obscurata: Offensive Cryptography and the Dissolution of Meaning with some helpful annotations.

Peppered in among the misinformation, this document contains some small truths. I believe it is most likely that this was done to lend credence to ideas that range from harmless crackpot theories to dangerous defense measures that will assuredly aid a djinn in the scholar's destruction.

Despite this, I hope that this paper aids you in your case.  Share it with as many as you deem necessary.

Regards,
Apothar Estellise Azimi

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Dear Scribes of the Sublime Garden,

As some of your more ill-suited predecessors have "decided" to choose new career paths, I see no reason why our organizations cannot resume a relationship of cordiality and respectful cooperation.

In the spirit of such cooperation, I have a favor to request.

Upon the message boards within the Palatial Pyramid and immediately outside, there is a note entitled "A Murder of Astronomers" or some similar rubbish.

I wish that note to be removed promptly. It was not written by me, but it reads as a transparent attempt to sow discord within and towards the Astronomers, and I feel like it was written to uplift me in an attempt to disguise who wrote it. I remain unaware of who did write it, but as it is an anonymous note filled with lies and nonsense, I have considered dealing with it to be low on my list of priorities.

Please, do not waste my time, and answer promptly whether it will be removed or not.

Regards,
Apothar Estellise Azimi

Dear Alejandro,

I believed you to be a kindred spirit as a fellow appreciator of art and poetry.

However had I been asked before yesterday if you would cheerfully join in on a 5 person attack against an unarmed woman raising no hand against you or yours, I would have honestly said no.

Granted, before yesterday I had never seen such a wrathful look upon your face.

It had been some time since I had reason to examine your future but with yesterday's revelations regarding your character, I decided to remedy that.

You traipse down a dark road now. Your cruel actions against my person pale so thoroughly compared to what you will do and what you are capable of.

I doubt I can appeal to what passes for a soul in someone who so willfully embraces their darker urges so I will appeal to your vanity instead.

The quality of your poetry has been declining for weeks. It may be unscientific to say so, but I think it entirely possible that the degradation is caused by the corruption of your spirit.

The soul of a poet cannot exist within a blackened husk.

Regards,
Estellise Azimi

I think there should be a way to play Royal Dragon for exiles, maybe in the Creep, or another city, maybe it's something that every city should have, like a job board

Dear Preparator Shahlil,

I have a sizable donation for your temple that I would see delivered in person. It is my hope that you will have some time to answer a few questions of mine.

As far as the bounty goes, Cosine could not be dissuaded as he has tasted power and fears nothing more than the loss of said power.

To confront the fact that Apothar Vergal's death was a boon to the entirety of Ephia's Well and that Apothar Vergal did not have some grand destiny beyond dying at your hand would be to confront the possibility that maybe Apothar is just a word and holds no greater meaning at all for the vast majority, including himself.

Male stubbornness and pride extend even to the short and sniveling, but personally, I would still prefer you not kill him.

Regards,
Apothar Estellise Azimi

The Past is Dead - Embrace the Imminent
by Estellise Azimi

The past is dead. It has already happened, and no amount of wishing or dreaming can change what has come before. However, we can learn from the past and use that knowledge to inform our present and shape our future.

The key to this understanding is the concept of the imminent. The imminent is the state of being about to happen, the future that is just on the horizon. It is the next moment, the next breath, the next step. And it is through the imminent that we can best understand the consequences of the past and how to shape the future.

Too often, we are trapped by the weight of the past, by our memories and our regrets. We are weighed down by the mistakes we have made and the opportunities we have missed. We are so focused on what has come before that we fail to see what is right in front of us, the opportunities that are waiting to be seized.

But if we focus instead on the imminent, on what is about to happen, we can see the future more clearly. We can see the patterns and the rhythms that are shaping the world around us. We can see the opportunities that are waiting to be seized, and the challenges that we must face.

The key to understanding the imminent is to let go of the past. We must learn from it, certainly, but we must not be weighed down by it. We must be open to the future, to the possibilities that are waiting to be explored.

For those who seek to influence the imminent, the future is bright. They are the ones who will shape the world, and create new opportunities and new possibilities. They are the ones who will make a difference, who will change the world.

So let us embrace the imminent, let us leave the past behind and look forward to the future. For it is in the imminent that the world is truly alive, and it is through the imminent that we can create a better tomorrow.

[hide=A sealed letter]Dear Balestriere,

I didn't write this for you. I just remembered you wanted to see an example of my work.

Find a poem accompanying this letter.

Regards,
Estellise

[hide=Flowers and Sweets]In fields of death, where horrors reign supreme,
Amid the clash of steel and cries of pain,
There blooms a rare and delicate theme,
A sweet respite from bloodshed's cruel domain.

The scent of flowers in the air does rise,
A fragile beauty in a world so grim,
As if to taunt the battle's bloody prize,
With loveliness so pure, so light, so trim.

And there are sweets, too, amidst the fray,
A momentary pleasure for the senses,
A fleeting taste of sweetness to allay,
The horrors of the war's grim consequences.

Oh, flowers and sweets, so innocent and bright,
In this dark place, a source of pure delight.[/hide][/hide]

Dear Amelie,

I know it's been some time since we discussed the matter, but I have taken a break from my frustrating calculations to clear my mind and ended up writing a poem.

I send this to you, as a mutual appreciator of such things, and hope that you find it interesting despite it being a frivolous piece compared to your own work.

Regards,
Estellise

In the chaos of life, I seek to see
A path ahead, a future bright and clear
But Gellema, the spoke of entropy
Mocks my efforts, and fills my heart with fear

The Stele of Law, a barrier of might
With symbols etched by ancient hands divine
But even they could not resist the blight
Of Gellema's power, so dark and malign

I pour over the text, seeking some sign
A way to pierce the veil and see beyond
But Gellema's laughter, so cold and unkind
Echoes in my ears, my efforts all for naught

Yet still I strive, against the tide of fate
To find a way, to break through the chaos gate.

Dear Guildmaster et. al.,

I am busy at the moment, but if you do not hear from the others, this is the list I'd planned to propose:

Nadiri Lojir
Nadiri Vultu
Nadiri Mae

Regards,
Apothar Estellise Azimi

Probably best to just delete the Prominent Figures sub-forum!

Honestly, this was a cool idea in theory but 2 months have passed and no one's clearly using it, so I think it just wastes space on the forums

Like, not even the Legate is on it, so what does prominent even mean? XD

Dear Magistrate Isevara,

Here are the relevant pages we spoke about.

It is my hope that they prove beneficial to you and the Janissaries in this matter.

Regards,
Apothar Estellise Azimi

[Two pages accompany this letter.]

[hide=Brooker of the Whispering Shadow]

The hooded elven maiden Marlene has recently entered into a pact of service  with She of Darkened Skies and whispering shadows. One of its servants disguised as a grig on the southern road began asking for names a foolish warrior gave it Isabela's name. It revealed its own name and revealed itself a twisted being of air a servant of the the whispering shadows. It then bid those seeking power to meet him at a certain location.  I sent Owain to watch for would be Brookers. I watched as this twisted entity was offering knowledge of history claiming it could be for anyone who enters into a bond of service with its master present was only Marlene the elf.  I dare not write the true name of the entity as Cosine has already done such in the library. I saw as the elven allowed this being to suck the very air from her lungs. 

This is a grand opportunity for us to eventually expose her and show the well our use.


In summary

1 Isabela's name has been received by the whispering shadows.

2 The Elven Marlene has entered into a pact with this entity and is a Brooker. 

3 We are this time steps above the other parties of the accord to this threat to Ephia's Well.

-Nadiri Alexander Bestworth V

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[hide=Follow Up]

The fourth legion in the middle of the Krak identified me as the main witness of the Brooker and accused her a place with no authority. The Rose then took control and let Cosine inspect her. Nothing was found and now the Rose have taken to claiming her innocence. She was found with a list of names she no doubt plans to deliver to her master.


I may be randomly teleported and tormented by Djinn now like  Cosine. Seeing as there are now illusory doppelgangers of me making sendings I am correct. Exactly as I warned would happen if we foolishly cooperated with the fourth legion.


-Nadiri Alexander Bestworth V

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[Attached is this response https://www.efupw.com/forums/index.php?topic=707236.msg750220#msg750220]

Dear Sergeant Colmes and Janissary Graen,

I do not enjoy having my intelligence insulted by claims of ignorance from those who obviously know better.

This was an obvious assassination attempt on Nadiri Bestworth.

The first assassin's trial was bungled spectacularly but another awaits. I expected a different prosecutor to handle matters and a more substantial result. It is my preference that the prosecutor be one who does not show more sympathy for assassins than Nadiri, no matter how much they feel said Nadiri is an "idiot and a fool".

The safety of Ephia's Well is paramount and the Tower will not abide assassins roaming free after flagrant attempts on the lives of her defenders.

Regards,
Apothar Estelliise Azimi

Dear Janissary Amenya Graen,

Our conversation was cut short earlier, and I mean to continue it.

There is no case to be had against Nadiri Bestworth and Apothar Vergal and if you were actually interested in justice, you would speak to me, someone with all the details, rather than protecting assassins through faulty prosecution.

Even if these men HAD been guilty, the proper thing to do would have been to prosecute the assassins properly and then ALSO seek justice from Bestworth and Vergal separately.

Your weak prosecution reflects poorly on you as both a Janissary and a B'aarat. Is it not the most important and sacred duty to protect life? How can you do so when you are seeking to keep assassins within our walls?

I have no doubts your higher-ups would agree with me, but I call upon you first to prove yourself, by closing this idiotic investigation and recusing yourself from further prosecution related to this flagrant assassination attempt.

As it stands, things appear as if you are engaged in the greatest conflict of interest of all time, that of a prosecutor-janissary seeking to keep criminals close at hand so that she may further use their services when cases "are taking too long".

Regards,
Apothar Estelliise Azimi

Dear Velan,

Thank you again for signing my petition. Even though I didn't win the primary, I suspect it was extremely close.

Accompanying this letter you will find the story, as promised. If you do not enjoy it, too bad. I don't plan on rewriting it.

Regards,
Estellise Azimi

[hide=Velan Voldis Faces the Lunar Horrors]

Velan Volandis Faces the Lunar Horrors
by Estellise Azimi

On the moon, where madness reigns and the stars gaze down with countless alien eyes, a lone figure came forth, his white hair flowing in the lunar wind. Velan Volandis, warrior of the Citadel, had come to this forsaken place on a mission of his own making.

The chariot on which he rode was no ordinary craft. It was powered not by the magic of runes or the spells of wizards, but by the sheer force of Velan's own ego. As he soared above the craters and valleys of the lunar landscape, he felt a thrill of exhilaration course through him. He was invincible, untouchable, a god among mortals.

But the moon cared nothing for such petty delusions of grandeur. It was a place of cosmic dread, where the very fabric of reality was stretched thin and the horrors of the stars lurked just beyond the veil. And so it was that Velan found himself confronted with a village under siege by forces beyond mortal ken.

The creatures that assailed the village were abominations from beyond the stars, beings of writhing tentacles and eldritch energies. But Velan was undaunted. With a flick of his wrist, he drew forth his sword, a gleaming blade that had tasted the blood of countless foes.

The battle that followed was one of epic proportions. Velan moved with the grace and speed of a lioness, his blade flashing as it reflected the eerie glow of the village's many lanterns. The creatures howled and gibbered in their alien tongues, but they could not withstand the fury of his onslaught.

As the villagers emerged from their hiding places and saw the devastation wrought by the otherworldly terrors, they fell to their knees before Velan. They praised his bravery and skill with the blade, thanking him for delivering them from the brink of destruction.

In gratitude, the villagers offered Velan a chest filled with treasures from the moon's surface - gems that glinted like starlight, rare metals forged in the heat of stellar cataclysms, and ancient relics of civilizations long lost to the void. But Velan, in his typical self-absorbed manner, scoffed at their offerings.

"What use do I have for your trinkets?" he said, laughing with disdain. "I have come to the moon to prove my own worth, not to indulge myself in your petty baubles."

And so, the villagers, grateful yet disappointed, sent Velan on his way. As he mounted his magic chariot and soared back to Ephia's Well, the people of the village could only shake their heads and wonder at the vanity of the Citadel's most famed warrior.[/hide]

Velan Volandis Faces the Lunar Horrors
by Estellise Azimi

On the moon, where madness reigns and the stars gaze down with countless alien eyes, a lone figure came forth, his white hair flowing in the lunar wind. Velan Volandis, warrior of the Citadel, had come to this forsaken place on a mission of his own making.

The chariot on which he rode was no ordinary craft. It was powered not by the magic of runes or the spells of wizards, but by the sheer force of Velan's own ego. As he soared above the craters and valleys of the lunar landscape, he felt a thrill of exhilaration course through him. He was invincible, untouchable, a god among mortals.

But the moon cared nothing for such petty delusions of grandeur. It was a place of cosmic dread, where the very fabric of reality was stretched thin and the horrors of the stars lurked just beyond the veil. And so it was that Velan found himself confronted with a village under siege by forces beyond mortal ken.

The creatures that assailed the village were abominations from beyond the stars, beings of writhing tentacles and eldritch energies. But Velan was undaunted. With a flick of his wrist, he drew forth his sword, a gleaming blade that had tasted the blood of countless foes.

The battle that followed was one of epic proportions. Velan moved with the grace and speed of a lioness, his blade flashing as it reflected the eerie glow of the village's many lanterns. The creatures howled and gibbered in their alien tongues, but they could not withstand the fury of his onslaught.

As the villagers emerged from their hiding places and saw the devastation wrought by the otherworldly terrors, they fell to their knees before Velan. They praised his bravery and skill with the blade, thanking him for delivering them from the brink of destruction.

In gratitude, the villagers offered Velan a chest filled with treasures from the moon's surface - gems that glinted like starlight, rare metals forged in the heat of stellar cataclysms, and ancient relics of civilizations long lost to the void. But Velan, in his typical self-absorbed manner, scoffed at their offerings.

"What use do I have for your trinkets?" he said, laughing with disdain. "I have come to the moon to prove my own worth, not to indulge myself in your petty baubles."

And so, the villagers, grateful yet disappointed, sent Velan on his way. As he mounted his magic chariot and soared back to Ephia's Well, the people of the village could only shake their heads and wonder at the vanity of the Citadel's most famed warrior.

Dear Jamileh,

I sit here grappling with very important questions, so I thought to pen a letter.

Why would you go to the Janissaries to report Cosine and me during an interregnum where the Janissaries are killing people instead of taking them to trial? An enormous "fine" was required to spare us being dragged off.

Did you not understand the severity of the charges you leveled? Do you really hate the Tower's desire for archaeological finds (to protect Ephia's Well!) so much that you wish to see as many of us dead as possible?

You and yours, the Torchbearer-Competition Bloc, are spreading rumors that we have kidnapped or murdered Legate Zarat. Do you see any way this ends other than people lynching Nadiri and Apothars in the streets as you stoke their panic further?

The fact that you would ask to speak to me and then immediately run to the Janissaries to report our conversation is thoroughly disheartening. Why should anyone ever speak to you again?

I just don't know what else to say. I thought we had a cordial relationship. I feel as if I've sorely misjudged you, as either you did this out of ignorance or malice, and I wouldn't have thought either possible.

Regards,
Estellise

Dear Kythaela the Dog,

I don't know how you keep getting away with threatening the Accord numerous times.

You may fool the others. You may even fool the Grandmaster herself. You will not fool me, however.

I will be watching you extremely closely, now and in the future.

Regards,
Apothar Estellise Azimi

Dear Acolyte Nebtu,

I wished to see if you still held an interest in aiding me in learning about the Wheel faiths. I am admittedly more curious than ever after seeing the megaliths.

It is my hope that we could meet in the near future so that I may learn more.

Regards,
Apothar Estellise Azimi

Dear Sana,

I find it really hard to talk to you in person about this stuff, so I want to at least put my thoughts into a letter.

I only did what I did because I had it on good authority that the Torchbearers would renege on their duty to Banafsi. I left your name out of the report entirely, because I didn't wish to get you in trouble.

Admittedly, it all backfired on me a bit, and I can't think of anytime more humiliating than that Assembly.

I understand if you're upset, but I do want to talk it over sometime.

Regards,
Estellise

Maybe also Maiden of Woe, but that might need a rename...