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After 20 years on and off on EfU, I've decided it's time to pack it in and move on. I'd like to thank everyone who made those years memorable and adventurous; intriguing and exciting; and above all, fun.

I'll keep around on Discord if anyone ever wants to chat or catch up.

Otherwise, my best wishes.

Yes please. I need holes to hide the bodies totally-legally-acquired goods I need to hide from thieving jannies.

Please yes. I'd love more sea monsters. Especially unconventional nightmares outside the usual library of krakens/sea serpents (Recommend checking out some Scylla/Charybdis artwork as just some general inspiration!).

Bumping this up. My pc's rage-duration seems suspiciously short, despite having this feat.

*The letter is eventually received and looked over. It promptly bitten in half in a teeth-clenched smile.*

["My Best Frenemy"]

You proved that this chapter is something previous ones were not; non-combatant friendly. Previous chapters were typically designed/tailored around the 'adventurer's' stories/builds, but you demonstrated how much impact a pc can have in peoples' lives without so much as raising a fist. I hope more consideration is given in the future to perks/class options that allow for this kind of synergy with adventurer pcs in the future (this time it was politicians and traders, but what about the smiths/builders?!).

I'll always fondly remember his back and forths with Isabella (especially when their political bantor was in its infancy back in the White League) and appreciate how he outmanuvered her every step of the way; right up unto her mental meltdown. It felt like the server was living up to the 'intrigue' element in sands of intrigue.

He was a beautifully written, deplorably corrupt politician who had a significant impact on this chapter's early growth/stumblings (or perhaps, DECLINE?!) who accomplished so much with but a few well chosen words/outright devilish dealmaking.

I loved him. And I hope we see an npc out of him.

I can't wait to see what you come with next. A++! Well done :)

P.S

"My Best Frenemy"
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"The Death of Political Rivalry... and the Beginning of Mortal Nemesis."
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["To my most beautiful and firehearted Ambassador Rezifa,Hello! It is I! Fritz!I'm your biggest fan. I had the pleasure of watching you pushover all the prudes in those Assembly Chambers during that whole Refugee Army debacle. I love strong, powerful women who don't take shit from anyone.Ephia's Well has disappointed me as a migrant. It was suppose to be the Citadel of Whores; the Land of Opportunity. But everyone here, despite being so rich, is just so cheap! People are constantly trying to get me to bribe them without bribing back. Janissaries destroyed my nook out of spite and at least half of my clients haven't paid their dues. This place is a scam! But I did develop a particular appetite during my stay here. And what do you know, I happen to be great at it?VIOLENCE!So, I've decided I'm going to grab up what I can here and go pirate in Qadira. I prefer the Sea of Pearls anyway.That said, I still have a few days here. If you'd like someone to get something done for you, remember this!I have no boundaries, no shame and absolutely no problem with anything and everything you ask me to do.Just remember I like gifts and praise!~ Fritz"]

*Handed in person.*

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"To my most beautiful and firehearted Ambassador Rezifa,

Hello! It is I! Fritz!

I'm your biggest fan.

I had the pleasure of watching you pushover all the prudes in those Assembly Chambers during that whole Refugee Army debacle.

I love  strong, powerful  women who don't take shit from anyone.

Ephia's Well has disappointed me as a migrant. It was suppose to be the Citadel of Whores; the Land of Opportunity. But everyone here, despite being so rich, is just so cheap! People are constantly trying to get me to bribe them without bribing back. Janissaries destroyed my nook out of spite and at least half of my clients haven't paid their dues. This place is a scam! But I did develop a particular appetite during my stay here. And what do you know, I happen to be great at it?

VIOLENCE!

So, I've decided I'm going to grab up what I can here and go pirate in Qadira. I prefer the Sea of Pearls anyway.

That said, I still have a few days here. If you'd like someone to get something done for you, remember this!

I have no boundaries, no shame and absolutely no problem with anything and everything you ask me to do.

Just remember I like gifts and praise!

~ Fritz"

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["To my most burly, murderous and handsome Galen,Wasn't that fun?Wasn't that liberating?Now a serious question for you and the Crows.Why are you squatting away in the dry gutters where you are trapped under -their- watch?Why not embrace the wild and uncertainty that comes with the life you're pretending at?Why not come with me to where the Crows belonged all along?I've had enough of this Well and its false promises.Its riches are another story.Qadira and the Sea of Pearls awaits!~ FritzP.S There's an actual 'Crow's Nest' there. I don't know what other signals the world needs to throw at you to direct you to your true home."]

"To my most burly, murderous and handsome Galen,

Wasn't that fun?

Wasn't that liberating?

Now a serious question for you and the Crows.

Why are you squatting away in the dry gutters where you are trapped under -their- watch?

Why not embrace the wild and uncertainty that comes with the life you're pretending at?

Why not come with me to where the Crows belonged all along?

I've had enough of this Well and its false promises.

Its riches are another story.

Qadira and the Sea of Pearls awaits!

~ Fritz

P.S There's an actual 'Crow's Nest' there. I don't know what other signals the world needs to throw at you to direct you to your true home."

[[Fritz von Volkrin]]

[Fritz von Volkrin]

["To my most burly, murderous and handsome Galen,I need you to do something for me. It's going to involve killing something horribly and violently.It'll be fun!Let's meet soon.~ Fritz"]

"To my most burly, murderous and handsome Galen,

I need you to do something for me. It's going to involve killing something horribly and violently.

It'll be fun!

Let's meet soon.

~ Fritz"

[[V5 Research/Historical Insight here]]

A long time ago, a champion of the Peerage Ward made a whisper following the defeat of a great evil.

[hide]Synia Winespill:

"Overly bold, brave, and ever lacking wisdom. You'll be missed Meryl, even if ever a pain in my side. Your mother will know of your bravery and how you destroyed a lich this day."[/hide]

And she would.

I saw a unique opportunity with this chapter's transition that I haven't in previous efu chapters. Mostly because I've missed those major transitions. That was to explore the story of something we don't often get a chance to look at every time a pc (especially a younger one) gets killed.

The family they left behind.

For those of you who don't know, Isabella was the mother of Meryl Fitzgerald. The PC I was most proud of/attached to in V5. She was originally part of a dual concept (mourning parents in life after the Ringfall) with Ellanher de Veend who, unfortunately, had to duck out from the story early due to irl circumstances (you're missed!). I originally planned to have her at it as a regular politician in Ephia's Well (and to some extent she was), but tl;dr had her finding more success as a trader/merchant than anything else. So that's what she developed into, mixing her serviceable fortunes with politics, faith and life.

I originally designed her as a non-combatant, which made most of her roles revolve around supporting others. Be it financially, through goods or simply honoring  B'aara's tenants as a healer. Her main hobbies were mainly from her peerage upbringing; poetry and painting the most obvious.

What made Isabella's story different/special to me was her attachment to her daughter, and how I used my own attachment to that particular PC (as her creator) to get a sensation of what it'd be like trying to go on in life after losing your child. I don't recommend it. I was sobbing and crying very often irl getting into that mindset and wouldn't wish it on anyone. Still glad I got to explore it though. It helped breath in some humanity into my roleplay that was felt like it was just straight up missing in chapter 5.

Her motives/background were simple and built off the tragedies of V5, the spirituality of The Wheel (especially with her likeness to Mother B'aara), finding a sense of purpose in living and her love for her family. If you want the full story, know it's long but informative and an excellent reference for people (particularly new players who want to play as refugees of the Old City) who want to get an idea of what day-to-day life was like in The City of Rings.

[V5 Research/Historical Insight here]
https://www.efupw.com/forums/index.php?topic=706993.0

I'm not sorry to see her story end. Even as I weep, there's peace and closure in seeing her suffering finally come  with an end to her road. Even if she didn't get to make any significant impact on the story/setting or achieve anything of note, it was still worthwhile getting to interact with all the different PCs who made her last months in life as eventful as they were.

Now that she's dead, I can safely say that the starting area with that tear-inducingly beautiful music was the perfect theme for the mourning mother of Ephia's Well. Seriously, every time I wanted to quit from the depressive mindset or sense of meaninglessness, that single track got me through (I kept visiting B'aara's temple for a reason, people!). I would love if it someone gave me the name of that music.

And now, some screenshots. This is my first legit orbituary, so mind any misteps/anything missing from this list.

[Ten years later, momma learns how to thonk!]
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[Exploring!]
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[Ephira's Well and the FIRST WAVE]
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[Politics in Ephia's Well]
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[Friends and Family]
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[Comedic Relief]
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[The Mourning Mother]
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[The Mourning Parents]
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[Isabella's Greatest Loot]
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[Isabella's Greatest Achievement]
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[Isabella's Lost Art Gallery]
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~Home and Hearth; The Steadings~

~The Peerage Ward~

~(Isabella's) Mother in Mourning~

~The Golden Years of Ticker Square~

~The Monster; Man~

~A Daughter Mourning~

~The Sacking of Ticker Square~

~Return to the Peerage; A Daughter's Wroth~

~The Ziggurat of Ishmenka Blacksmile~

~A Mother's Loss; A World Without Hers~

~The Wanderer's Road; Life After Death~

~The Promise of The Wheel~

~Streets of Ephia's Well~

~The Garden to Be; A Mother's Love~

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[Isabella's Most Prized Paintings]
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~Edha's Gift; What can Never Be Again~

~The Daughter, Forever Loved~

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And now a final farewell to Isabella Fitzgerald as we send her off to rest with her daughter, courtesy of Otto Swanson from Chapter 5.


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Live bright, die beautiful.

No lies to blind, no masks to hide the beauty inside.

Live bright, die beautiful.

Never yield, to other's deigns, to yourself, be leal.

Live bright, die beautiful.

Life and soul true, never being anyone but you.

Live bright, die beautiful.

By your heart, even in the pitch of dark.

Live bright, die beautiful.

The life of brief, in death, you go, real and free.

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[I am blessed to have such friends. Even if I wish they'd let go.I know better than to challenge radiant hearts. Best I could ask is for them to keep low for now and continue to do the good work.Mirit didn't end up enslaved; at least not more than a few moments. It still disgusts me that people are complacent to let it go unchallenged. Why the royals haven't come down on it by now? I can only guess. But this is getting to the boiling point. Even for the locals.Alejandro wasn't interested in any business ventures. Can't say I blame him. I know he has his hands full. And I know there's a lot going on beyond that.Some of the folks back in the Purple League appear to have found their spines at least. To some extent, anyway. Afraid it's a bit too late now though.Being here with all the quiet and honest folks has been balming, in a way. I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss Frostport. From its crayfish to its bitter. Hearths to banter.It's just more wholesome. Even if I do find myself anxious at times about what's happening in the Well.I dreamed for just a moment what it'd be like. Standing by the hearth. With her.What would you have thought of this place, baby girl? The people? The land? What would you have left them, my sweet little stonebuilder?I think you would've liked them. They're a lot like Grandma Fitzgerald. And I know how much you loved her lullaby of distant shores.I find it a little more than coincidence that both of your fathers trailed their people back to the brine and seas.Or that I feel like I belong here more than any other place in the world. Even where I know I need to be.I need to make some fucking money and put this to bed once and for all.]

I am blessed to have such friends. Even if I wish they'd let go.

I know better than to challenge radiant hearts. Best I could ask is for them to keep low for now and continue to do the good work.

Mirit didn't end up enslaved; at least not more than a few moments. It still disgusts me that people are complacent to let it go unchallenged.

Why the royals haven't come down on it by now? I can only guess. But this is getting to the boiling point. Even for the locals.


Alejandro wasn't interested in any business ventures. Can't say I blame him. I know he has his hands full. And I know there's a lot going on beyond that.

Some of the folks back in the Purple League appear to have found their spines at least. To some extent, anyway. Afraid it's a bit too late now though.


Being here with all the quiet and honest folks has been balming, in a way. I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss Frostport. From its crayfish to its bitter. Hearths to banter.

It's just more wholesome. Even if I do find myself anxious at times about what's happening in the Well.


I dreamed for just a moment what it'd be like. Standing by the hearth. With her.

What would  you have thought of this place, baby girl? The people? The land? What would you have left them, my sweet little stonebuilder?

I think you would've liked them. They're a lot like Grandma Fitzgerald. And I know how much you loved her lullaby of distant shores.

I find it a little more than coincidence that both of your fathers trailed their people back to the brine and seas.

Or that I feel like I belong here more than any other place in the world. Even where I know I need to be.


I need to make some fucking money and put this to bed once and for all.

[*No response comes.*]

*No response comes.*

["Dear Khalid,I have a message I'd like to see made over the bellows. Please ensure people know it's from me, and not you, humble messenger of Warad.I'll be sure to compensate you for the trouble when next we meet.Some things need to be said.~ Isabella de VeendP.S If it's too vulgar, feel free to abscond from a word or two."]

"Dear Khalid,

I have a message I'd like to see made over the bellows. Please ensure people know it's from me, and not you, humble messenger of Warad.

I'll be sure to compensate you for the trouble when next we meet.

Some things need to be said.

~ Isabella de Veend

P.S If it's too vulgar, feel free to abscond from a word or two."

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[*Received.*]

*Received.*