…
Statement from Zefarah’s corporate counsel:

Thera’s premier multi-millionare masseuse has returned to the Underdark to tend to much needed personal business. Her illustrious career spanning 645 years included, but was by no means limited to the following:

A permanent mark left in her shrine – Personal title – over 10 million coppers in the bank – associate masseuses - countless massage bookings and private encounters with top notch clientele - personal servants and bodyguards - luxurious upscale settings, lavish parties, and fine dining - 5 trips to the Inferno (7th circle twice) - a job that actually generated income, with a steady cast of benefactors - foot massages next to a warm fireplace each night – IMMteraction almost daily...

She is deeply apologetic to those who were unable to obtain massages from her. After all, she only has so many hands. Those who were promised a massage are unfortunately out of luck. However, a new masseuse will be sent shortly, assuming she is not killed by the cavefisher. In the meantime, you are encouraged to patronize the existing masseuses, as they do render comparably exquisite services.

For those that hated her, you can now log on safely. For those who loved her, she loved your money even more …

Veldryn Qu’ellar Shellavo, Esq.
In-HOUSE Counsel for Zefarah
…

This is an excellent time to leave with a bang. Zefarah did everything a mortal would want to do, and she takes one of her boy-toys home with her - Inthulstrea. I’m going on vacation for a few weeks, anyhow, so this is perfect.

I thought this venture would be a quick delete. The heels, the mirror, the English accent... Massage. Well, she was empowered in about five hours, went from zero to hero in 50, and for the remaining 475 was wonderfully received by those who interacted with her. And to be quite honest, largely left alone by enemies. Often times she would log on and be flooded with greetings, which began to make it difficult to get her out of the house. Her role was to acquire money and clerical knowledge to bring back to the Underdark, set up the Parlour, and have a permanent mark in her shrine. She was a sensational 3 for 3 in the process. Contrary to my expectation, the character was supported by a wealth of talent from other players, which compels me to say that she was as much a product of CF’s roleplayers as the creator’s. And, a lot of unique pieces fell into place such that I don’t think I’ll ever be able to create a character this successful any time soon. This is a tough act to follow.

I’ve played CF since its early days, on and off. The PK/Looting was fun back then, but I have no real interest in it anymore. I enjoy vivid character representations, sharp dialogue, rich storylines, and organizational management. The drow are an excellent class for exploring these motifs. I tend to dish out the PK chores to those who don’t mind getting their arses kicked, while my character sits pretty.

Enquiring minds have eloquently sought to learn about the Parlour. Zefarah and the Parlour are satirical constructs that are deeply layered. They lightly parody the New York corporate empire and the life of a high class escort. As you might guess, they are also a satire of the drow, although deeply rooted in popular drow lore. There are a host of other spoofs people will recognize. Still, inasmuch as they poke fun at these themes, they explore them seriously as well.

The Parlor (“Parlour”). The Parlour is an ongoing concept that I hope to continue developing. It can be just a parlour, or an underground mafia empire held together by loyalty akin to a drow House – it can be anything. It is a structure that revolves around the Girls and allows them to live freely and luxuriously. For most people, the Parlour is just a parlour or cultural center. For the drow aficionado, the omni-present mistress/slave/servant system is alive and well. For the law or business minded player, it is an organization with assets and liabilities, a management hierarchy, and can be structured any which-way if there are enough players to effectuate the structure. In another regard, the Parlour is a cult - a bastion of lust, greed, vanity, elegance. For Zefarah, it was her empire, in which she stood untouched by world around her.

The Parlour’s success was phenomenal – thanks to a multitude of supporting roleplayers, and a generous immortal hand. There were characters filling every spot on the employment roster, and the parlour bustled with activity from newbies, power-players, and IMMs.

That brings us to the diva of domination herself. Zefarah is the figurehead in a series of conceptually linked Parlour Girls. She was designed to to interact with certain player types: (1) Those with characters seeking a female archetype generally (2) drow players in general, (3) players with a law, business, or accounting background for the purpose of setting up the Parlour (4) imaginative Roleplayers in general.

It is pleasing to see how other players sustained or followed Zefarah as a drow icon. Even for a satirical character – and regardless of whether people liked her - she made her impact and raised the stakes. During her tenure she had an elaborate drow House setting, complete with servants, bodyguards, masseuses, and outside benefactors. Her military affairs were enacted through retaliatory acts by her bodyguards. The massage, the drowspeak, the servants, the assassinations - it was all there. Thanks to the other drow players who kept her individual concept flowing seamlessly.

I could peel this onion forever. I’ll stop here to respond to questions, comments, criticisms. She had a truly smashing time, really, darlings.

Flame away. She loves the attention.

Cheers.