From when I last played, people just didn't really talk as much but were still around. Most were busy completing quests or exploring the new content.
As for myself, I was sucked into the real world by 27 vassals. It's just as exciting, there's never a moments peace, and you still have to be on the look out for flying missiles.
On the downside, it means I have 81 books to mark every night
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Mi'atte 230 Sword
Isabella' 130 Mage
"I could be brown, I could be blue, I could be violet sky"
A little nonsense now and then is cherished by the wisest men.