Gryph:

You may not remember me, but I was one of the millions of
folk that e-mailed you about possiblities for extra background
for the UF series some months ago. Ya' know, the one that asked
about backstory on 03F8 and how Skuld and your avatar met there,
and you told me it would read something like Gods Willing?

Anyway, I just want to compliment you and everyone else on your
work. I recently started on the Symphony of the Sword arc; by far
it is - to date - one of the more charmingly original arcs I've had
the pleasure of reading since stumbling upon you guys back in the
summer of '98 (or was it '97?). Awesome work, without a freaking
doubt in my bygone mind. Gryph, if I may be so bold, you are the
shit when it comes to creating unique characters and making them
believeable, or taking existing creations of someone else and fleshing
them out in newer, more interesting ways; Kei, Yuri, and Utena are
just a few names that come to mind.

(Oh, and another thing: I haven't seen "Revolutionary Girl Utena" yet,
but resolve to pick up a copy of the series in the future)

You guys at Eyrie have had a huge influence on my writing, let me tell
you; before, I'd thought the fictionalization of yourself as nothing
more than blatant self-insertion on the part of the author, to self-
grandize him/herself and make up for some personal short-coming.

I don't think like that anymore. Many of my projects, since reading UF,
have been "write yer' own"s in the spirit of what you've accomplished.
I just think its a shame you've closed the gate on new authors to contribute
to your universe. Sure, I understand that everyone and their corgi would
end up trying to insert themselves and utterly ruin the world you've all
tried hard to carefully sculpt. Sure, I know its to help keep the flaging
tatters of your sanity from blowing away in the stiff winds of the digital
seas, as ton after ton of meaningless shit got dropped on you by every
hack (self included) from here to the ass end of creation.

I respect that you're trying to protect the worlds you've hatched. I know
I would.

Anyway, hope I haven't ranted at you to much. Keep up the good work, and
all hail Discordia!!!!