Messages

Stop going into Castle Orza, I swear to god

I tried to keep to the narrative of Alcide's life for the main post, but after a bit more rustling through my screenshots I found some more fun ones that didn't quite fit into the rest. Here are some odds and ends!

[Hide=Odds and Ends]













[/hide]

An absolute ham, to his very end.

Alcide of House Gallet

It has been an exceptional ride! Coming off the heels of a character I didn't quite click with mechanically, I decided I wanted to try two new things: A serious stab at a melee rogue, and my first ever PRC. I've always known rogues had a lot of potential as a class, with many stunning PCs over the years showing just how deadly they could be, but I never managed to get over the early hump of low HP and  the slow second attack usually meant I gave up and played another fighter instead. This time, though, I managed to tough it out long enough for it to pay off. And did it ever pay off!

Alcide was born the middle child in a dying minor house. Whatever glory the Gallets had known once had long since been worn away, leaving only dust and debt behind through the passage of time. Alcide's childhood was spent listening to his family moan over their lot, and trying to find a path to wealth through a political marriage that would never come. The only things that provided him much joy were his fencing lessons, something he took very seriously.

The terrible secret of Alcide was that while he professed a great fondness for the Auld ways of the ward, it was an affable mask to cover a terrible bitterness in his spirit. He hated the great houses for their indolence, resenting how they used their power only to further reinforce the ivory towers they dwelled within. His love of the duel was a much more honest one... because it was a way in which he could humiliate his foes, and pick at men who were meant to be his betters. Though he never did get to duel a knight as he'd once hoped, he won many notable bouts on the bridge for House Belmore and earned a great deal of respect for his bladework. And, in the end he did slay one... though the details behind that are best left discovered in game!

[Hide=Early days]

Alcide really hit the ground running, starting with a level 5 entrance into one of Sarah's little tournaments. He had two potions to his name, but I came second in the grand melee! ...And lost every other fight. Still, Sarah's enthusiasm for entertaining and supporting her people won him over, and so when she offered him a role in her House he accepted.



Alcide fit in well amongst his fellow retainers, who found his incorrigible tongue to outweigh the occasional headache that came with it. The friendships he found within Emmet, Talbert, and Pavlina formed a huge part of his motivations, and led him down many odd roads in the pursuit of a Ward worthy of their futures.



At the same time, Alcide's more whimsical nature allowed him to serve his Lady in ways the others could not. Many were the times that Sarah asked him to do something that the more stuffy members of the House might object to on the basis of being 'a bad idea' or 'potentially suicidal'.



Though small in number the Belmores had enormous spirit, and were constantly poking their fingers into anything that they thought could make the Steadings a safer or more prosperous place. These would form the happiest days of Alcide's life, and the start of his upwards trend in the Ward.
[/hide]

[Hide=The Rise]

Not content to be merely another retainer, Alcide hatched a plan to demonstrate the glory of House Belmore via his bladework. He wished to best a member of each great house on the bridge in a proper duel, both to stab at the name he so disliked but also to bask in the attention that his victories would bring. His first duel, however, was a closer failure to Bartimus of Moonspear. All present were impressed by the young fencer, and yet it seemed ash in his mouth. It was all he could do to force a smile and congratulate the Knight of Pies. Thus began the start of his career as a champion.



Over the next month in the ward Alcide would boast many victories, both major and minor. Alth'azar of Velstra, Moira of Glitt both saw public defeats, while a number of more minor matches took places all across the 99th. He was fond of fighting even over small things, such as baubles found on adventures, and won a number of trinkets through friendly contests. As the days went by people came to know the young man of Gallet for his prowess.




It was around this time that Alcide stepped beyond a simple fencer and became something much more fearsome. His lunges and jabs, honed after so much fights, were becoming the stuff of legends. An old blade was produced from the vaults of House Belmore, one of the last relics the family had... entrusted to Alcide. He would use it for the rest of his life.



It was around this time that his feud with House Velstra began in earnest. Emmett, one of his dearest friends, was pressed by his conscience into ransoming the safety of Dame Kinsley from Ser Adrian. So incensed by such behavior unbefitting of a Knight, Alcide started a smear campaign on every level to try and goad Adrian into fighting him. Despite how brazen of a man he could be, he did respect the bans from the Velvet and the Vale. Mostly.

[/hide]

[Hide=The Fall]

As time went on within the Ward, the problems would only seem to compound. Adrian, afraid of the Nothing, made plans to escape via boat. Japes, though he professed a willingness to fight it, had all the leanings of a bully rather than a Knight. Despite his growing fame, Alcide was still a retainer. He had no power to deal with the men he viewed as sucking the marrow from the bones of the Ward.



Though tied to Glitt and Moonspear via friendship and official declaration, respectively, it was hard to feel as if they were doing much to stifle such influences. Kinsley, recently knighted, was still too timid to take to the fight in a manner that pleased him, while Moonspear reeled from many recent deaths at the hands of the Nothing. A period of darkness was starting to fall over their home.



It was only after Kinsley was beaten down by Manfred in the streets that the wheels began to turn on a plot. Unbeknown to most, however, House Belmore did more than just support their friends in the affair...



Demands were made. Either Japes would submit to Lord Bernard's demands of a lash, or the fragile alliance of the Peers would break as Glitt withdrew its support. The Knight claimed he would kneel and submit to his punishment...



...Only to instead deliver another insult to Bernard's halls. The Glittsman within did not accept such a slight, and battered the Orzans down to a man. The fierce Ser Japes was stripped naked and paddled like a surly babe, before Bernard announced he would be sent back to his Lord in such a state.

This is where the screenshots end, as I got too caught up in the moment to keep taking them. It was claimed that Japes had sold the souls of several Orzans to a demon to attain some fell bargain, and that he allegedly planned to use his stake in the soon to be rebuilt Vestry to steal even more away. Though disturbed, the Lord  of Glitt would not kill a knight that was assaulted within his home outside of a proper duel. He would still be returned...

At which point Alcide decided enough was enough. As Japes made his way through the streets, he gripped his epee in hand and charged for a final lunge. The results?



A knight lay dead on the cobbles. Alcide, for his crime, was to die. But Anders is not a man of mercy. Emmett was taken with him, to be tortured before the young man's eyes and break him. Only his death was to be swift. It is said that no good deed goes unpunished...
[/hide]

So ends my time as Alcide! I had a tremendous amount of fun playing him. His quick wit and catty tongue meant most interactions gave me a chance to give some sly barb. I very frequently delivered back-handed remarks to the face of retainers from all Houses, as he sought to quietly release the building pressure of his hated for what they represented. Even so, I did still manage to make friends in the ward, as well as interesting enemies that made my time so much more special to me.

A special thanks to the players of Kinsley, Sorcha, Earc, Reinald, Aldstan, and Mebril for all the political scheming done during his time alive. Another to the Peter Pickwick crew, Anum, Casper, Oliver, Albert, and Vimmyl for the many magical adventures we had. To that end, thank you to Bearic, Secutor, Skaghunter and Sternhund for running many of the plots and events that did so much of Alcide's view on life in the 99th.

And, last but certainly not least. To the Belmores, Talbert, Pavlina, Emmett, Joachim, and Sarah herself... you truly were an exceptional group of players to engage with. I saw others from the outside say that the Belmores were the most human group that they had seen, and I really did feel that way myself.  The love poured into one another, both in and out of character, made logging in a joy even when nothing in particular was going on.

I would have loved to keep playing Alcide for longer, but I am happy with the way he ended. He died doing what he thought was right, and in doing so has sewn a number of plot seeds I hope will unfold in cool ways. I'll take a little time to gather my thoughts on what exactly I want to do next, but I look forward to meeting you all again on a new face soon.

_{Oh, and thanks again to Karpie for the art used at the top of the page! I told you I was going to use it in the obit, didn't I?}

Many in the community are already aware that I take care of a relative of mine. For the last five or six years I've been providing end of life care to my grandfather, who has COPD and has been on the long journey of decline. Around thirty-two hours ago he started into the final stretch of his life, and the hospice staff helping us has said he has at most 20-30 hours left before he's gone. As a result I am going to have a lot of changes to make in both my life and my home to deal with his absence.

My playtime is liable to become very sporadic. Honestly, I would probably welcome the distraction of efu, so maybe I will steal more time than I think. But I didn't want to leave anyone hanging in regards to my current pc. Moreover, I wanted to have a chance to thank you all. Even though I am the first to criticize aspects of this community I think could be improved, it's out of a genuine love for the people and work that goes in here.  Efu has been a very helpful thing to distract myself from some of the pain and difficult that comes from losing a very close loved one. Thank you again for all the fun and energy you have poured into the game world. Sometimes even those very small interactions were a very big boost to me during difficult times.

The growth of Francine from a dull steadings girl to a terrifying sellsword that had turned down multiple offers to squire under knights to run the Rings was incredible. And yet, she never really lost her humility in the process. Rather than change really dramatically, the person she was just got reinforced by her experience and bonds. It was the kind of character arc that keeps drawing me back to PWs, and means I'm always excited to see the next TFH PC.

Donchadh was one of the most iconic early Ringrunners to me, and watching him transition from a mild-mannered Mudlark mage to the Groundskeeper of the Ponds was a delightful experience. Well done.

A silver knight, but the gold standard in my heart.

[Rykas Vaelkarn]

 ::[ Mirtul 28th : Year 166 : 1388 DR ]::

Onlookers were shocked to see the famed Red Reaper, Agent Rykas Vaelkarn, return to the city looking rather haggard from a recent battle. Though rumors began to blossom, it did not take long for the truth of what had happened to reach the city. Carried in from a trader's lips it rans through the populace, spreading between tent-dwellers and in hushed whispers in the Rest:

Dhimani Ranch had fallen.

Where only a day before stood the monument to the Tower's industry, churning the energy of the natural cavern to fuel their machines, now sat a smoldering heap of wreckage watched over only by the myconid.  The ecstatic shroom-men were quick to speak of their freedom at the hands of the gentle and wise Spuffisthin, and his several human companions. Though initially it is unclear who could accomplish such a task, the answer soon follows as the bounties of the "Seeker" Alan Harcourt and the Pactholder Ikran are updated, joined by several new accomplices...

[Blathnaid]

::[ Ches 14th : Year 166 : 1388 DR ]::

The evening began with an unusual sending, calling would-be entrepreneurs to the shores of Sorrowfeast for a chance at the buy of a lifetime. The prize on offer, it is said, was none other than the devious drow  Blathnaid. The few curious souls that came to see the price such an exotic creature would command found themselves joined by a large number of the Covenant of the Pure, rallying behind the furious blademaster Rhyldryn. Denied his half of some deal, the drow was forced to bid a fine sum to win back his female, much to the delight of several present. Many prepared to depart, thinking the spectacle was over.

As the gawping visitors made back for the docks it was the aged monk Ikran who spoke out. "The hour draws, and so it is time." Without a further word he raised a hand to strike one of the Ogre guards, beginning a battle that would rage across the whole of the market. The members of the Covenant put to the sword Marott and his Auction, slaying all within who had grown fat on the suffering of free folk. Though several of their number perished, including the very woman they came to free, spirits within the flooded alleyways of Lower soared all the same. Many a tankard was raised, always to the same cry:

"To Free the Slaves!"

Now, bereft of its commerce, the isle lays abandoned... save for a few wriggling oozes, left in acidic vigil.

Hammer of the Gods deals Divine damage, not positive.

A wonderful pc. Alice was exceptionally consistent as a character and continued to bring creativity and enthusiasm with her every day she logged in. I will look forward to whatever you make next!

The most NG Knight I've ever seen.

[Mayor William Bresley]

::[ Nightal 19th : Year 165 : 1387 DR ]::

Darkness overtook the city of Sanctuary. The Spellguard pylons fell prey to what was described as a mechanical defect for nearly a full bell as the citizenry huddled quietly in shadow. And yet, as the lights flickered back into place it was a scene of tragedy that would await them.

Mayor William Bresley, the sole surviving heir to the legacy of Melinda and Charles Bresley, lay dead in the House of Governance. It is said that a veiled drow pierced his frail body as he prepared to give a speech, ultimately fleeing the pursuit of those present and vanishing into the caverns beyond the city. In the absence of any answers rumors circulate the city about the convenient timing of the sudden outage and what part the Spellguard might've played in the deed.

Before the boys's body even grew cold Commander Kyros Miller IV arrived to the scene via a silent projection and strode calmly to the edge of the amphitheater. Secretary Calandra Thervion rose from William's side to face him, offering a tired greeting as the blood pooled by her feet. It was then that the cause for his visit was laid bare: The Spellguard would seek the immediate arrest of the former regent, for the crime of aiding Sanctuary's destruction. The accusation was met in turn with a challenge; a duel between the two wizards who once served as Operatives together. The commander accepted, stating that the duel would be made for all to see. In a flourish of arcane might the pair vanished, whisked away to some far-off battlefield.

The quiet from within the House of Governance did not last as sounds of further chaos washed in from the streets. All across the city images of the pair battling emerged, slinging spells with incredible skill and ferocity. Several fights waged in the same instant, with one image of the Secretary strangling the life from the Commander in the Square even as he burned her flesh from her bones on the Street of the Gods in another. Eventually it culminated in a spell that seemed to shake the foundations of the city itself, leaving no clear victor.

Eventually it was Calandra Thervion who emerged once more from the House of Governance to look out over the crowed that had gathered. Though she struggled to stand fully upright, her robes singed by spellfire and blood running from her temple, she called once more for unity from Sanctuary. Unity not beneath the Mayor and its council... but the Order of the Spellguard. With a flick of her wrist the robes of her office melted away to cinders, revealing the apparel of the new Commander of the Spellguard. Those present could only stand in shocked silence as she made her decree that the Great Work, a silence broken only by the sullen sobbing of Senior Animator Basian Dhimani.

As the remains of the broken council struggled to answer the questions of the citizenry other sprung to action. Within the vaults Malark Amblecrown began once more to prepare his men for war, speaking to any that would listen that the Dread were poised to take advantage of the city's weakness. Down in the sinking districts of Lower the Pactholders shared whispers of rituals nearing completion, and work yet to be done to uphold the three tenets. The bell of the Mausoleum tolled many times, with the most unexpected of the fallen being Savras, the Lord of Divination. With the stroke of a single blade, the future seemed less certain than ever...

Welcome back then, lamb. Efu can be pretty overwhelming at first, but with the release of Enhanced Edition it is easier than ever to find more people in game to help answer your questions and roleplay with you. Don't be afraid to approach folks, I promise they bite less than the rats do.

I'm happy to say that after spending far too much time on efu pretending to be an elf I can now continue to spend far too much time on efu pretending to be a variety of other creatures as a Dungeon Master! I've already enjoyed sharing stories with many of you, and I'll continue to do so now behind the screen. Please preemptively prepare to complain when I accidentally kill you while getting the hang of this.