diff --git a/Include/auROXTL/auStringUtils.hpp b/Include/auROXTL/auStringUtils.hpp
index 090b7bd..d5caa1e 100644
--- a/Include/auROXTL/auStringUtils.hpp
+++ b/Include/auROXTL/auStringUtils.hpp
@@ -31,12 +31,30 @@
 // offset in codepoints
 /* using CodepointOffset_t = AuUInt; */
 
-#if defined(AURORA_I_SUCK_AND_WANT_MODERN_UTF8)
+#if defined(AURORA_UTF8_I_SUCK_AND_WANT_MODERN_UTF8)
     static const AuUInt8 kAuCodepointUTF8MaxBytes = 4;
+#elif defined(AURORA_UTF8_I_AM_REALLY_SPECIAL_AND_WANT_7_BYTE_UTF8)
+    static const AuUInt8 kAuCodepointUTF8MaxBytes = 7;
 #else
+// default:
     static const AuUInt8 kAuCodepointUTF8MaxBytes = 6;
 #endif
 
+// none of these are defined by default
+#if defined(AURORA_UTF8_I_SUCK_AND_WANT_MODERN_UTF8_WANT_THROW)
+#if !defined(AURORA_UTF8_THROW_WHEN_STUPIDILY_ILLEGAL)
+#define AURORA_UTF8_THROW_WHEN_STUPIDILY_ILLEGAL
+#endif
+#endif
+
+// AURORA_UTF8_I_SUCK_AND_WANT_MODERN_UTF8_WANT_THROW | throws on 5-8 byte sequences, otherwise allows 5-6 byte sequences
+//                                                                                    (We have use cases in ecosystem for non-utf16 strings, such as side-channel low-overhead text formatting)
+//                                                                                    (Enable this if you're boring)
+// AURORA_UTF8_THROW_WHEN_STUPIDILY_ILLEGAL           | throws on 7-8 byte sequences, otherwise tries to process 7 byte sequences, breaks early, returns 0, and/or returns empty (check impl)
+// AURORA_UTF8_I_SUCK_AND_WANT_MODERN_UTF8            | disallows 5-8 byte sequence decodes. ...IsEqualIgnoreCase gets dumbs down to a memcmp assuming the entire block of memory is to be compared;
+//                                                                                           ...ForEach will break early with false (usually implies a user break early condition);
+//                                                                                           ...Translate will return an empty container
+
 static auline constexpr bool AuStringContains(const AuROString &value, const AuROString &subpattern)
 {
     return value.find(subpattern) != AuROString::npos;
@@ -91,13 +109,35 @@ static auline AuString AuCodepointsTransformASCIIOp(T op, const AuROString &in)
         {
             if ((ch & 0x08) == 0x08)
             {
-                // Special/Historic UTF8
+                // Historic UTF8
                 nby = 5;
+            #if defined(AURORA_UTF8_I_SUCK_AND_WANT_MODERN_UTF8_WANT_THROW)
+                AU_THROW_CONST_STRING("Illegal UTF8");
+            #endif
             }
             else if ((ch & 0x0c) == 0x0c)
             {
-                // Special/Historic UTF8
+                // Special UTF8
                 nby = 6;
+            #if defined(AURORA_UTF8_I_SUCK_AND_WANT_MODERN_UTF8_WANT_THROW)
+                AU_THROW_CONST_STRING("Illegal UTF8");
+            #endif
+            }
+            else if ((ch & 0x0e) == 0x0e)
+            {
+                // Illegal UTF8
+                nby = 7;
+            #if defined(AURORA_UTF8_THROW_WHEN_STUPIDILY_ILLEGAL)
+                AU_THROW_CONST_STRING("Illegal UTF8");
+            #endif
+            }
+            else if ((ch & 0x0f) == 0x0f)
+            {
+                // Not even logical
+            #if defined(AURORA_UTF8_THROW_WHEN_STUPIDILY_ILLEGAL)
+                AU_THROW_CONST_STRING("Illegal UTF8");
+            #endif
+                break;
             }
             else
             {
@@ -160,13 +200,35 @@ static auline CodepointOffset_t AuCodepointsCount(const AuROString &in)
         {
             if ((ch & 0x08) == 0x08)
             {
-                // Special/Historic UTF8
+                // Historic UTF8
                 nby = 5;
+            #if defined(AURORA_UTF8_I_SUCK_AND_WANT_MODERN_UTF8_WANT_THROW)
+                AU_THROW_CONST_STRING("Illegal UTF8");
+            #endif
             }
             else if ((ch & 0x0c) == 0x0c)
             {
-                // Special/Historic UTF8
+                // Special UTF8
                 nby = 6;
+            #if defined(AURORA_UTF8_I_SUCK_AND_WANT_MODERN_UTF8_WANT_THROW)
+                AU_THROW_CONST_STRING("Illegal UTF8");
+            #endif
+            }
+            else if ((ch & 0x0e) == 0x0e)
+            {
+                // Illegal UTF8
+                nby = 7;
+            #if defined(AURORA_UTF8_THROW_WHEN_STUPIDILY_ILLEGAL)
+                AU_THROW_CONST_STRING("Illegal UTF8");
+            #endif
+            }
+            else if ((ch & 0x0f) == 0x0f)
+            {
+                // Not even logical
+            #if defined(AURORA_UTF8_THROW_WHEN_STUPIDILY_ILLEGAL)
+                AU_THROW_CONST_STRING("Illegal UTF8");
+            #endif
+                break;
             }
             else
             {
@@ -213,14 +275,36 @@ static auline CodepointByteOffset_t AuCodepointsNextLength(const AuROString &in)
         {
             if ((ch & 0x08) == 0x08)
             {
-                // Special/Historic UTF8
+                // Historic UTF8
+            #if defined(AURORA_UTF8_I_SUCK_AND_WANT_MODERN_UTF8_WANT_THROW)
+                AU_THROW_CONST_STRING("Illegal UTF8");
+            #endif
                 return 5;
             }
             else if ((ch & 0x0c) == 0x0c)
             {
-                // Special/Historic UTF8
+                // Special UTF8
+            #if defined(AURORA_UTF8_I_SUCK_AND_WANT_MODERN_UTF8_WANT_THROW)
+                AU_THROW_CONST_STRING("Illegal UTF8");
+            #endif
                 return 6;
             }
+            else if ((ch & 0x0e) == 0x0e)
+            {
+                // Illegal UTF8
+            #if defined(AURORA_UTF8_THROW_WHEN_STUPIDILY_ILLEGAL)
+                AU_THROW_CONST_STRING("Illegal UTF8");
+            #endif
+                return 7;
+            }
+            else if ((ch & 0x0f) == 0x0f)
+            {
+                // Not even logical
+            #if defined(AURORA_UTF8_THROW_WHEN_STUPIDILY_ILLEGAL)
+                AU_THROW_CONST_STRING("Illegal UTF8");
+            #endif
+                return 0;
+            }
             else
             {
                 return 4;
@@ -305,6 +389,9 @@ static AuList<AuUInt32> AuCodepointsDecode(const AuROString &in)
 
             if (nby > kAuCodepointUTF8MaxBytes)
             {
+            #if defined(AURORA_UTF8_I_SUCK_AND_WANT_MODERN_UTF8_WANT_THROW)
+                AU_THROW_CONST_STRING("Illegal UTF8");
+            #endif
                 return {};
             }
 
@@ -429,6 +516,9 @@ static AuString AuCodepointsTransform(T op, const AuROString &in)
 
             if (nby > kAuCodepointUTF8MaxBytes)
             {
+            #if defined(AURORA_UTF8_I_SUCK_AND_WANT_MODERN_UTF8_WANT_THROW)
+                AU_THROW_CONST_STRING("Illegal UTF8");
+            #endif
                 return {};
             }
 
@@ -496,6 +586,9 @@ static bool AuCodepointsForEach(T op, const AuROString &in)
 
             if (nby > kAuCodepointUTF8MaxBytes)
             {
+            #if defined(AURORA_UTF8_I_SUCK_AND_WANT_MODERN_UTF8_WANT_THROW)
+                AU_THROW_CONST_STRING("Illegal UTF8");
+            #endif
                 return false;
             }
 
@@ -639,13 +732,35 @@ static auline CodepointByteOffset_t AuCodepointsGetByteOffset(const AuROString &
         {
             if ((ch & 0x08) == 0x08)
             {
-                // Special/Historic UTF8
+                // Historic UTF8
                 nby = 5;
+            #if defined(AURORA_UTF8_I_SUCK_AND_WANT_MODERN_UTF8_WANT_THROW)
+                AU_THROW_CONST_STRING("Illegal UTF8");
+            #endif
             }
             else if ((ch & 0x0c) == 0x0c)
             {
-                // Special/Historic UTF8
+                // Special UTF8
                 nby = 6;
+            #if defined(AURORA_UTF8_I_SUCK_AND_WANT_MODERN_UTF8_WANT_THROW)
+                AU_THROW_CONST_STRING("Illegal UTF8");
+            #endif
+            }
+            else if ((ch & 0x0e) == 0x0e)
+            {
+                // Illegal UTF8
+            #if defined(AURORA_UTF8_THROW_WHEN_STUPIDILY_ILLEGAL)
+                AU_THROW_CONST_STRING("Illegal UTF8");
+            #endif
+                nby = 7;
+            }
+            else if ((ch & 0x0f) == 0x0f)
+            {
+                // Not even logical
+            #if defined(AURORA_UTF8_THROW_WHEN_STUPIDILY_ILLEGAL)
+                AU_THROW_CONST_STRING("Illegal UTF8");
+            #endif
+                break;
             }
             else
             {
@@ -701,13 +816,29 @@ static auline CodepointByteOffset_t AuCodepointsGetByteLength(const AuROString &
         {
             if ((ch & 0x08) == 0x08)
             {
-                // Special/Historic UTF8
+                // Historic UTF8
                 nby = 5;
+            #if defined(AURORA_UTF8_I_SUCK_AND_WANT_MODERN_UTF8_WANT_THROW)
+                AU_THROW_CONST_STRING("Illegal UTF8");
+            #endif
             }
             else if ((ch & 0x0c) == 0x0c)
             {
-                // Special/Historic UTF8
+                // Special UTF8
                 nby = 6;
+            #if defined(AURORA_UTF8_I_SUCK_AND_WANT_MODERN_UTF8_WANT_THROW)
+                AU_THROW_CONST_STRING("Illegal UTF8");
+            #endif
+            }
+            else if ((ch & 0x0e) == 0x0e)
+            {
+                // Illegal UTF8
+                nby = 7;
+            }
+            else if ((ch & 0x0f) == 0x0f)
+            {
+                // Not even logical
+                break;
             }
             else
             {
@@ -786,13 +917,35 @@ static CodepointByteOffset_t AuCodepointsFindByteOffset(const AuROString &in,
         {
             if ((ch & 0x08) == 0x08)
             {
-                // Special/Historic UTF8
+                // Historic UTF8
                 nby = 5;
+            #if defined(AURORA_UTF8_I_SUCK_AND_WANT_MODERN_UTF8_WANT_THROW)
+                AU_THROW_CONST_STRING("Illegal UTF8");
+            #endif
             }
             else if ((ch & 0x0c) == 0x0c)
             {
-                // Special/Historic UTF8
+                // Special UTF8
                 nby = 6;
+            #if defined(AURORA_UTF8_I_SUCK_AND_WANT_MODERN_UTF8_WANT_THROW)
+                AU_THROW_CONST_STRING("Illegal UTF8");
+            #endif
+            }
+            else if ((ch & 0x0e) == 0x0e)
+            {
+                // Illegal UTF8
+                nby = 7;
+            #if defined(AURORA_UTF8_THROW_WHEN_STUPIDILY_ILLEGAL)
+                AU_THROW_CONST_STRING("Illegal UTF8");
+            #endif
+            }
+            else if ((ch & 0x0f) == 0x0f)
+            {
+                // Not even logical
+            #if defined(AURORA_UTF8_THROW_WHEN_STUPIDILY_ILLEGAL)
+                AU_THROW_CONST_STRING("Illegal UTF8");
+            #endif
+                break;
             }
             else
             {
@@ -864,13 +1017,35 @@ static constexpr CodepointByteOffset_t AuCodepointsFindByteOffsetUnsafe(const Au
         {
             if ((ch & 0x08) == 0x08)
             {
-                // Special/Historic UTF8
+                // Historic UTF8
                 nby = 5;
+            #if defined(AURORA_UTF8_I_SUCK_AND_WANT_MODERN_UTF8_WANT_THROW)
+                AU_THROW_CONST_STRING("Illegal UTF8");
+            #endif
             }
             else if ((ch & 0x0c) == 0x0c)
             {
-                // Special/Historic UTF8
+                // Special UTF8
                 nby = 6;
+            #if defined(AURORA_UTF8_I_SUCK_AND_WANT_MODERN_UTF8_WANT_THROW)
+                AU_THROW_CONST_STRING("Illegal UTF8");
+            #endif
+            }
+            else if ((ch & 0x0e) == 0x0e)
+            {
+                // Illegal UTF8
+                nby = 7;
+            #if defined(AURORA_UTF8_THROW_WHEN_STUPIDILY_ILLEGAL)
+                AU_THROW_CONST_STRING("Illegal UTF8");
+            #endif
+            }
+            else if ((ch & 0x0f) == 0x0f)
+            {
+                // Not even logical
+            #if defined(AURORA_UTF8_THROW_WHEN_STUPIDILY_ILLEGAL)
+                AU_THROW_CONST_STRING("Illegal UTF8");
+            #endif
+                break;
             }
             else
             {
@@ -931,13 +1106,35 @@ static CodepointByteOffset_t AuCodepointsFindPreviousValidByteOffsetFromOffset(c
         {
             if ((ch & 0x08) == 0x08)
             {
-                // Special/Historic UTF8
+                // Historic UTF8
                 nby = 5;
+            #if defined(AURORA_UTF8_I_SUCK_AND_WANT_MODERN_UTF8_WANT_THROW)
+                AU_THROW_CONST_STRING("Illegal UTF8");
+            #endif
             }
             else if ((ch & 0x0c) == 0x0c)
             {
-                // Special/Historic UTF8
+                // Special UTF8
                 nby = 6;
+            #if defined(AURORA_UTF8_I_SUCK_AND_WANT_MODERN_UTF8_WANT_THROW)
+                AU_THROW_CONST_STRING("Illegal UTF8");
+            #endif
+            }
+            else if ((ch & 0x0e) == 0x0e)
+            {
+                // Illegal UTF8
+                nby = 7;
+            #if defined(AURORA_UTF8_THROW_WHEN_STUPIDILY_ILLEGAL)
+                AU_THROW_CONST_STRING("Illegal UTF8");
+            #endif
+            }
+            else if ((ch & 0x0f) == 0x0f)
+            {
+                // Not even logical
+            #if defined(AURORA_UTF8_THROW_WHEN_STUPIDILY_ILLEGAL)
+                AU_THROW_CONST_STRING("Illegal UTF8");
+            #endif
+                break;
             }
             else
             {
@@ -1058,13 +1255,35 @@ static CodepointOffset_t AuCodepointsFindCodepointOffset(const AuROString &in,
         {
             if ((ch & 0x08) == 0x08)
             {
-                // Special/Historic UTF8
+                // Historic UTF8
                 nby = 5;
+            #if defined(AURORA_UTF8_I_SUCK_AND_WANT_MODERN_UTF8_WANT_THROW)
+                AU_THROW_CONST_STRING("Illegal UTF8");
+            #endif
             }
             else if ((ch & 0x0c) == 0x0c)
             {
-                // Special/Historic UTF8
+                // Special UTF8
                 nby = 6;
+            #if defined(AURORA_UTF8_I_SUCK_AND_WANT_MODERN_UTF8_WANT_THROW)
+                AU_THROW_CONST_STRING("Illegal UTF8");
+            #endif
+            }
+            else if ((ch & 0x0e) == 0x0e)
+            {
+                // Illegal UTF8
+                nby = 7;
+            #if defined(AURORA_UTF8_THROW_WHEN_STUPIDILY_ILLEGAL)
+                AU_THROW_CONST_STRING("Illegal UTF8");
+            #endif
+            }
+            else if ((ch & 0x0f) == 0x0f)
+            {
+                // Not even logical
+            #if defined(AURORA_UTF8_THROW_WHEN_STUPIDILY_ILLEGAL)
+                AU_THROW_CONST_STRING("Illegal UTF8");
+            #endif
+                break;
             }
             else
             {