diff --git a/include/aoapplication.h b/include/aoapplication.h
index b0a87b5..0c61d7b 100644
--- a/include/aoapplication.h
+++ b/include/aoapplication.h
@@ -37,6 +37,25 @@ class NetworkManager;
 class Lobby;
 class Courtroom;
 
+class VPath : QString {
+  using QString::QString;
+
+public:
+  explicit VPath(const QString &str) : QString(str) {}
+  inline QString const &toQString() const { return *this; }
+  inline bool operator==(const VPath &str) const {
+    return this->toQString() == str.toQString();
+  }
+  inline VPath operator+(const VPath &str) const {
+    return VPath(this->toQString() + str.toQString());
+  }
+};
+
+inline uint qHash(const VPath &key, uint seed)
+{
+  return qHash(key.toQString(), seed);
+}
+
 class AOApplication : public QApplication {
   Q_OBJECT
 
@@ -130,23 +149,25 @@ public:
 
   // implementation in path_functions.cpp
   QString get_base_path();
-  QString get_theme_path(QString p_file, QString p_theme="");
-  QString get_character_path(QString p_char, QString p_file);
-  QString get_misc_path(QString p_misc, QString p_file);
-  QString get_sounds_path(QString p_file);
-  QString get_music_path(QString p_song);
-  QString get_background_path(QString p_file);
-  QString get_default_background_path(QString p_file);
-  QString get_evidence_path(QString p_file);
-  QStringList get_asset_paths(QString p_element, QString p_theme="", QString p_subtheme="", QString p_default_theme="", QString p_misc="", QString p_character="", QString p_placeholder="");
-  QString get_asset_path(QStringList pathlist);
-  QString get_image_path(QStringList pathlist, bool static_image=false);
-  QString get_sfx_path(QStringList pathlist);
+  VPath get_theme_path(QString p_file, QString p_theme="");
+  VPath get_character_path(QString p_char, QString p_file);
+  VPath get_misc_path(QString p_misc, QString p_file);
+  VPath get_sounds_path(QString p_file);
+  VPath get_music_path(QString p_song);
+  VPath get_background_path(QString p_file);
+  VPath get_default_background_path(QString p_file);
+  VPath get_evidence_path(QString p_file);
+  QVector<VPath> get_asset_paths(QString p_element, QString p_theme="", QString p_subtheme="", QString p_default_theme="", QString p_misc="", QString p_character="", QString p_placeholder="");
+  QString get_asset_path(QVector<VPath> pathlist);
+  QString get_image_path(QVector<VPath> pathlist, bool static_image=false);
+  QString get_sfx_path(QVector<VPath> pathlist);
   QString get_config_value(QString p_identifier, QString p_config, QString p_theme="", QString p_subtheme="", QString p_default_theme="", QString p_misc="");
   QString get_asset(QString p_element, QString p_theme="", QString p_subtheme="", QString p_default_theme="", QString p_misc="", QString p_character="", QString p_placeholder="");
-  QString get_image(QString p_element, QString p_theme="", QString p_subtheme="", QString p_default_theme="", QString p_misc="", QString p_character="", QString p_placeholder="");
+  QString get_image(QString p_element, QString p_theme="", QString p_subtheme="", QString p_default_theme="", QString p_misc="", QString p_character="", QString p_placeholder="", bool static_image=false);
   QString get_sfx(QString p_sfx, QString p_misc="", QString p_character="");
   QString get_case_sensitive_path(QString p_file);
+  QString get_real_path(const VPath &vpath);
+  void invalidate_lookup_cache();
 
   ////// Functions for reading and writing files //////
   // Implementations file_functions.cpp
@@ -281,6 +302,7 @@ public:
   QStringList get_call_words();
 
   // returns all of the file's lines in a QStringList
+  QStringList get_list_file(VPath path);
   QStringList get_list_file(QString p_file);
 
   // Process a file and return its text as a QString
@@ -304,6 +326,7 @@ public:
   QVector<server_type> read_serverlist_txt();
 
   // Returns the value of p_identifier in the design.ini file in p_design_path
+  QString read_design_ini(QString p_identifier, VPath p_design_path);
   QString read_design_ini(QString p_identifier, QString p_design_path);
 
   // Returns the coordinates of widget with p_identifier from p_file
@@ -332,19 +355,22 @@ public:
   // Returns the sfx with p_identifier from courtroom_sounds.ini in the current theme path
   QString get_court_sfx(QString p_identifier, QString p_misc="");
 
+  // Find the correct suffix for a given file
+  QString get_suffix(VPath file_to_check, QStringList suffixes);
+
   // Figure out if we can opus this or if we should fall back to wav
-  QString get_sfx_suffix(QString sound_to_check);
+  QString get_sfx_suffix(VPath sound_to_check);
 
   // Can we use APNG for this? If not, WEBP? If not, GIF? If not, fall back to
   // PNG.
-  QString get_image_suffix(QString path_to_check, bool static_image=false);
+  QString get_image_suffix(VPath path_to_check, bool static_image=false);
 
   // Returns the value of p_search_line within target_tag and terminator_tag
   QString read_char_ini(QString p_char, QString p_search_line,
                         QString target_tag);
 
   // Returns a QStringList of all key=value definitions on a given tag.
-  QStringList read_ini_tags(QString p_file, QString target_tag = "");
+  QStringList read_ini_tags(VPath p_file, QString target_tag = "");
 
   // Sets the char.ini p_search_line key under tag target_tag to value.
   void set_char_ini(QString p_char, QString value, QString p_search_line,
@@ -489,6 +515,9 @@ public:
   // Get if the theme is animated
   bool get_animated_theme();
 
+  // Get a list of custom mount paths
+  QStringList get_mount_paths();
+
   // Currently defined subtheme
   QString subtheme;
 
@@ -514,6 +543,7 @@ private:
 
   QVector<server_type> server_list;
   QVector<server_type> favorite_list;
+  QHash<VPath, QString> asset_lookup_cache;
 
 private slots:
   void ms_connect_finished(bool connected, bool will_retry);
diff --git a/include/aolayer.h b/include/aolayer.h
index 1984b77..90108af 100644
--- a/include/aolayer.h
+++ b/include/aolayer.h
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 #include <QBitmap>
 
 class AOApplication;
+class VPath;
 
 // "Brief" explanation of what the hell this is:
 //
diff --git a/include/aooptionsdialog.h b/include/aooptionsdialog.h
index 62ce2f7..3ea8ccc 100644
--- a/include/aooptionsdialog.h
+++ b/include/aooptionsdialog.h
@@ -180,6 +180,9 @@ private:
   QPushButton *ui_mount_remove;
   QPushButton *ui_mount_up;
   QPushButton *ui_mount_down;
+  QPushButton *ui_mount_clear_cache;
+
+  bool asset_cache_dirty = false;
 
   bool needs_default_audiodev();
   void update_values();
diff --git a/src/aoapplication.cpp b/src/aoapplication.cpp
index dd75b0a..355db03 100644
--- a/src/aoapplication.cpp
+++ b/src/aoapplication.cpp
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ AOApplication::AOApplication(int &argc, char **argv) : QApplication(argc, argv)
   QObject::connect(net_manager, SIGNAL(ms_connect_finished(bool, bool)),
                    SLOT(ms_connect_finished(bool, bool)));
   // qApp->setStyleSheet("QFrame {background-color:transparent;} QAbstractItemView {background-color: transparent; color: black;}; QLineEdit {background-color:transparent;}");
+  asset_lookup_cache.reserve(2048);
 }
 
 AOApplication::~AOApplication()
diff --git a/src/aobutton.cpp b/src/aobutton.cpp
index 7f8c13f..fb9da7d 100644
--- a/src/aobutton.cpp
+++ b/src/aobutton.cpp
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ void AOButton::set_image(QString p_path, QString p_misc)
   else
     // Grab a static variant of the image
     p_image = ao_app->get_image_path(ao_app->get_asset_paths(p_path, ao_app->current_theme, ao_app->get_subtheme(), ao_app->default_theme, p_misc), true);
-  if (!file_exists(p_image)) {
+  if (p_image.isEmpty()) {
       this->setIcon(QIcon());
       this->setIconSize(this->size());
       this->setStyleSheet("");
diff --git a/src/aoevidencebutton.cpp b/src/aoevidencebutton.cpp
index aea903a..11fed59 100644
--- a/src/aoevidencebutton.cpp
+++ b/src/aoevidencebutton.cpp
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ AOEvidenceButton::AOEvidenceButton(QWidget *p_parent, AOApplication *p_ao_app,
 
 void AOEvidenceButton::set_image(QString p_image)
 {
-  QString image_path = ao_app->get_evidence_path(p_image);
+  QString image_path = ao_app->get_real_path(ao_app->get_evidence_path(p_image));
   if (file_exists(p_image)) {
     this->setText("");
     this->setStyleSheet(
@@ -57,8 +57,10 @@ void AOEvidenceButton::set_image(QString p_image)
 
 void AOEvidenceButton::set_theme_image(QString p_image)
 {
-  QString theme_image_path = ao_app->get_theme_path(p_image);
-  QString default_image_path = ao_app->get_theme_path(p_image, ao_app->default_theme);
+  QString theme_image_path = ao_app->get_real_path(
+        ao_app->get_theme_path(p_image));
+  QString default_image_path = ao_app->get_real_path(
+        ao_app->get_theme_path(p_image, ao_app->default_theme));
 
   QString final_image_path;
 
diff --git a/src/aoevidencedisplay.cpp b/src/aoevidencedisplay.cpp
index ba1c170..c635a02 100644
--- a/src/aoevidencedisplay.cpp
+++ b/src/aoevidencedisplay.cpp
@@ -35,7 +35,8 @@ void AOEvidenceDisplay::show_evidence(QString p_evidence_image,
     gif_name = "evidence_appear_right";
   }
 
-  QString f_evidence_path = ao_app->get_evidence_path(p_evidence_image);
+  QString f_evidence_path = ao_app->get_real_path(
+        ao_app->get_evidence_path(p_evidence_image));
   QPixmap f_pixmap(f_evidence_path);
 
   pos_size_type icon_dimensions =
diff --git a/src/aoimage.cpp b/src/aoimage.cpp
index e1bd8b8..fbf8c99 100644
--- a/src/aoimage.cpp
+++ b/src/aoimage.cpp
@@ -20,21 +20,16 @@ AOImage::AOImage(QWidget *parent, AOApplication *p_ao_app) : QLabel(parent)
 
 AOImage::~AOImage() {}
 
-bool AOImage::set_image(QString p_path, QString p_misc)
+bool AOImage::set_image(QString p_image, QString p_misc)
 {
-  // Check if the user wants animated themes
-  if (ao_app->get_animated_theme())
-    // We want an animated image
-    p_path = ao_app->get_image(p_path, ao_app->current_theme, ao_app->get_subtheme(), ao_app->default_theme, p_misc);
-  else
-    // Grab a static variant of the image
-    p_path = ao_app->get_image_path(ao_app->get_asset_paths(p_path, ao_app->current_theme, ao_app->get_subtheme(), ao_app->default_theme, p_misc), true);
+  p_image = ao_app->get_image(p_image, ao_app->current_theme, ao_app->get_subtheme(),
+                             ao_app->default_theme, p_misc, "", "", !ao_app->get_animated_theme());
 
-  if (!file_exists(p_path)) {
-    qDebug() << "Warning: Image" << p_path << "not found! Can't set!";
+  if (!file_exists(p_image)) {
+    qDebug() << "Warning: Image" << p_image << "not found! Can't set!";
     return false;
   }
-  path = p_path;
+  path = p_image;
   movie->stop();
   movie->setFileName(path);
   if (ao_app->get_animated_theme() && movie->frameCount() > 1) {
diff --git a/src/aolayer.cpp b/src/aolayer.cpp
index f0d5779..27e7a65 100644
--- a/src/aolayer.cpp
+++ b/src/aolayer.cpp
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ void BackgroundLayer::load_image(QString p_filename)
 {
   play_once = false;
   cull_image = false;
-  QString design_path = ao_app->get_background_path("design.ini");
+  VPath design_path = ao_app->get_background_path("design.ini");
   transform_mode =
       ao_app->get_scaling(ao_app->read_design_ini("scaling", design_path));
   stretch = ao_app->read_design_ini("stretch", design_path).startsWith("true");
diff --git a/src/aomusicplayer.cpp b/src/aomusicplayer.cpp
index 8a3142e..c4d8496 100644
--- a/src/aomusicplayer.cpp
+++ b/src/aomusicplayer.cpp
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ void AOMusicPlayer::play(QString p_song, int channel, bool loop,
   channel = channel % m_channelmax;
   if (channel < 0) // wtf?
     return;
-  QString f_path = ao_app->get_music_path(p_song);
+  QString f_path = ao_app->get_real_path(ao_app->get_music_path(p_song));
 
   unsigned int flags = BASS_STREAM_PRESCAN | BASS_STREAM_AUTOFREE |
                        BASS_UNICODE | BASS_ASYNCFILE;
diff --git a/src/aooptionsdialog.cpp b/src/aooptionsdialog.cpp
index 6f1b348..a035a74 100644
--- a/src/aooptionsdialog.cpp
+++ b/src/aooptionsdialog.cpp
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ AOOptionsDialog::AOOptionsDialog(QWidget *parent, AOApplication *p_ao_app)
   // Setting up the basics.
   setWindowFlag(Qt::WindowCloseButtonHint);
   setWindowTitle(tr("Settings"));
-  resize(400, 408);
+  resize(450, 408);
 
   ui_settings_buttons = new QDialogButtonBox(this);
 
@@ -907,7 +907,12 @@ AOOptionsDialog::AOOptionsDialog(QWidget *parent, AOApplication *p_ao_app)
                                                     QFileDialog::ShowDirsOnly);
     if (dir.isEmpty())
       return;
-    ui_mount_list->addItem(dir);
+    QListWidgetItem *dir_item = new QListWidgetItem(dir);
+    ui_mount_list->addItem(dir_item);
+    ui_mount_list->setCurrentItem(dir_item);
+
+    // quick hack to update buttons
+    emit ui_mount_list->itemSelectionChanged();
   });
 
   ui_mount_remove = new QPushButton(tr("Remove"), ui_assets_tab);
@@ -918,7 +923,9 @@ AOOptionsDialog::AOOptionsDialog(QWidget *parent, AOApplication *p_ao_app)
     auto selected = ui_mount_list->selectedItems();
     if (selected.isEmpty())
       return;
-    ui_mount_list->removeItemWidget(selected[0]);
+    delete selected[0];
+    emit ui_mount_list->itemSelectionChanged();
+    asset_cache_dirty = true;
   });
 
   auto *mount_buttons_spacer = new QSpacerItem(40, 20, QSizePolicy::Expanding,
@@ -934,7 +941,13 @@ AOOptionsDialog::AOOptionsDialog(QWidget *parent, AOApplication *p_ao_app)
     auto selected = ui_mount_list->selectedItems();
     if (selected.isEmpty())
       return;
-    ui_mount_list->setEditTriggers()
+    auto *item = selected[0];
+    int row = ui_mount_list->row(item);
+    ui_mount_list->takeItem(row);
+    int new_row = qMax(1, row - 1);
+    ui_mount_list->insertItem(new_row, item);
+    ui_mount_list->setCurrentRow(new_row);
+    asset_cache_dirty = true;
   });
 
   ui_mount_down = new QPushButton(tr("↓"), ui_assets_tab);
@@ -942,6 +955,49 @@ AOOptionsDialog::AOOptionsDialog(QWidget *parent, AOApplication *p_ao_app)
   ui_mount_down->setMaximumWidth(40);
   ui_mount_down->setEnabled(false);
   ui_mount_buttons_layout->addWidget(ui_mount_down, 0, 4, 1, 1);
+  connect(ui_mount_down, &QPushButton::clicked, this, [=] {
+    auto selected = ui_mount_list->selectedItems();
+    if (selected.isEmpty())
+      return;
+    auto *item = selected[0];
+    int row = ui_mount_list->row(item);
+    ui_mount_list->takeItem(row);
+    int new_row = qMin(ui_mount_list->count() + 1, row + 1);
+    ui_mount_list->insertItem(new_row, item);
+    ui_mount_list->setCurrentRow(new_row);
+    asset_cache_dirty = true;
+  });
+
+  auto *mount_buttons_spacer_2 = new QSpacerItem(40, 20, QSizePolicy::Expanding,
+                                                 QSizePolicy::Minimum);
+  ui_mount_buttons_layout->addItem(mount_buttons_spacer_2, 0, 5, 1, 1);
+
+  ui_mount_clear_cache = new QPushButton(tr("Clear Cache"), ui_assets_tab);
+  ui_mount_clear_cache->setToolTip(tr("Clears the lookup cache for assets. "
+  "Use this when you have added an asset that takes precedence over another "
+  "existing asset."));
+  ui_mount_buttons_layout->addWidget(ui_mount_clear_cache, 0, 6, 1, 1);
+  connect(ui_mount_clear_cache, &QPushButton::clicked, this, [=] {
+    asset_cache_dirty = true;
+    ui_mount_clear_cache->setEnabled(false);
+  });
+
+  connect(ui_mount_list, &QListWidget::itemSelectionChanged, this, [=] {
+    auto selected_items = ui_mount_list->selectedItems();
+    bool row_selected = !ui_mount_list->selectedItems().isEmpty();
+    ui_mount_remove->setEnabled(row_selected);
+    ui_mount_up->setEnabled(row_selected);
+    ui_mount_down->setEnabled(row_selected);
+
+    if (!row_selected)
+      return;
+
+    int row = ui_mount_list->row(selected_items[0]);
+    if (row <= 1)
+      ui_mount_up->setEnabled(false);
+    if (row >= ui_mount_list->count() - 1)
+      ui_mount_down->setEnabled(false);
+  });
 
   update_values();
 
@@ -1019,6 +1075,7 @@ void AOOptionsDialog::update_values() {
                                            .arg(ao_app->get_base_path()));
   defaultMount->setFlags(Qt::ItemFlag::NoItemFlags);
   ui_mount_list->addItem(defaultMount);
+  ui_mount_list->addItems(ao_app->get_mount_paths());
 }
 
 void AOOptionsDialog::save_pressed()
@@ -1091,9 +1148,17 @@ void AOOptionsDialog::save_pressed()
   configini->setValue("casing_can_host_cases",
                       ui_casing_cm_cases_textbox->text());
 
+  QStringList mountPaths;
+  for (int i = 1; i < ui_mount_list->count(); i++)
+    mountPaths.append(ui_mount_list->item(i)->text());
+  configini->setValue("mount_paths", mountPaths);
+
   if (audioChanged)
     ao_app->initBASS();
 
+  if (asset_cache_dirty)
+    ao_app->invalidate_lookup_cache();
+
   callwordsini->close();
 
   // We most probably pressed "Restore defaults" at some point. Since we're saving our settings, remove the temporary file.
diff --git a/src/charselect.cpp b/src/charselect.cpp
index 510d8c0..08df96f 100644
--- a/src/charselect.cpp
+++ b/src/charselect.cpp
@@ -157,8 +157,8 @@ void Courtroom::char_clicked(int n_char)
 {
   if (n_char != -1)
   {
-    QString char_ini_path =
-        ao_app->get_character_path(char_list.at(n_char).name, "char.ini");
+    QString char_ini_path = ao_app->get_real_path(
+          ao_app->get_character_path(char_list.at(n_char).name, "char.ini"));
 
     qDebug() << "char_ini_path" << char_ini_path;
 
diff --git a/src/courtroom.cpp b/src/courtroom.cpp
index fe5f74d..4b9c72c 100644
--- a/src/courtroom.cpp
+++ b/src/courtroom.cpp
@@ -501,7 +501,7 @@ void Courtroom::set_widgets()
 {
   QString filename = "courtroom_design.ini";
   // Update the default theme from the courtroom_design.ini, if it's not defined it will be 'default'.
-  QSettings settings(ao_app->get_theme_path(filename, ao_app->current_theme), QSettings::IniFormat);
+  QSettings settings(ao_app->get_real_path(ao_app->get_theme_path(filename, ao_app->current_theme)), QSettings::IniFormat);
   ao_app->default_theme = settings.value("default_theme", "default").toString();
 
   set_fonts();
@@ -1384,11 +1384,11 @@ void Courtroom::update_character(int p_cid)
       custom_obj_menu->setDefaultAction(action);
       objection_custom = "";
     }
-    if (dir_exists(
-            ao_app->get_character_path(current_char, "custom_objections"))) {
-      ui_custom_objection->show();
-      QDir directory(
+    QString custom_objection_dir = ao_app->get_real_path(
           ao_app->get_character_path(current_char, "custom_objections"));
+    if (dir_exists(custom_objection_dir)) {
+      ui_custom_objection->show();
+      QDir directory(custom_objection_dir);
       QStringList custom_obj = directory.entryList(QStringList() << "*.png"
                                                                  << "*.gif"
                                                                  << "*.apng"
@@ -1523,7 +1523,7 @@ void Courtroom::list_music()
     treeItem->setText(0, i_song_listname);
     treeItem->setText(1, i_song);
 
-    QString song_path = ao_app->get_music_path(i_song);
+    QString song_path = ao_app->get_real_path(ao_app->get_music_path(i_song));
 
     if (file_exists(song_path))
       treeItem->setBackground(0, found_brush);
@@ -4333,8 +4333,9 @@ void Courtroom::set_iniswap_dropdown()
     ui_iniswap_remove->hide();
     return;
   }
-  QStringList iniswaps = ao_app->get_list_file(
-      ao_app->get_character_path(char_list.at(m_cid).name, "iniswaps.ini")) + ao_app->get_list_file(ao_app->get_base_path() + "iniswaps.ini");
+  QStringList iniswaps =
+      ao_app->get_list_file(ao_app->get_character_path(char_list.at(m_cid).name, "iniswaps.ini")) +
+      ao_app->get_list_file(ao_app->get_base_path() + "iniswaps.ini");
   iniswaps.removeDuplicates();
   iniswaps.prepend(char_list.at(m_cid).name);
   if (iniswaps.size() <= 0) {
@@ -4390,7 +4391,8 @@ void Courtroom::on_iniswap_context_menu_requested(const QPoint &pos)
 
   menu->setAttribute(Qt::WA_DeleteOnClose);
   menu->addSeparator();
-  if (file_exists(ao_app->get_character_path(current_char, "char.ini")))
+  if (file_exists(ao_app->get_real_path(
+                    ao_app->get_character_path(current_char, "char.ini"))))
     menu->addAction(QString("Edit " + current_char + "/char.ini"), this,
                     SLOT(on_iniswap_edit_requested()));
   if (ui_iniswap_dropdown->itemText(ui_iniswap_dropdown->currentIndex()) !=
@@ -4401,7 +4403,7 @@ void Courtroom::on_iniswap_context_menu_requested(const QPoint &pos)
 }
 void Courtroom::on_iniswap_edit_requested()
 {
-  QString p_path = ao_app->get_character_path(current_char, "char.ini");
+  QString p_path = ao_app->get_real_path(ao_app->get_character_path(current_char, "char.ini"));
   if (!file_exists(p_path))
     return;
   QDesktopServices::openUrl(QUrl::fromLocalFile(p_path));
@@ -4478,7 +4480,8 @@ void Courtroom::on_sfx_context_menu_requested(const QPoint &pos)
 
   menu->setAttribute(Qt::WA_DeleteOnClose);
   menu->addSeparator();
-  if (file_exists(ao_app->get_character_path(current_char, "soundlist.ini")))
+  if (file_exists(ao_app->get_real_path(
+                    ao_app->get_character_path(current_char, "soundlist.ini"))))
     menu->addAction(QString("Edit " + current_char + "/soundlist.ini"), this,
                     SLOT(on_sfx_edit_requested()));
   else
@@ -4491,10 +4494,10 @@ void Courtroom::on_sfx_context_menu_requested(const QPoint &pos)
 
 void Courtroom::on_sfx_edit_requested()
 {
-  QString p_path = ao_app->get_character_path(current_char, "soundlist.ini");
+  QString p_path = ao_app->get_real_path(ao_app->get_character_path(current_char, "soundlist.ini"));
   if (!file_exists(p_path)) {
     p_path = ao_app->get_base_path() + "soundlist.ini";
-    }
+  }
   QDesktopServices::openUrl(QUrl::fromLocalFile(p_path));
 }
 
@@ -4527,12 +4530,11 @@ void Courtroom::set_effects_dropdown()
 
   // ICON-MAKING HELL
   QString p_effect = ao_app->read_char_ini(current_char, "effects", "Options");
-  QString custom_path =
-      ao_app->get_base_path() + "misc/" + p_effect + "/icons/";
-  QString theme_path = ao_app->get_theme_path("effects/icons/");
-  QString default_path = ao_app->get_theme_path("effects/icons/", "default");
+  VPath custom_path("misc/" + p_effect + "/icons/");
+  VPath theme_path = ao_app->get_theme_path("effects/icons/");
+  VPath default_path = ao_app->get_theme_path("effects/icons/", "default");
   for (int i = 0; i < ui_effects_dropdown->count(); ++i) {
-    QString entry = ui_effects_dropdown->itemText(i);
+    VPath entry = VPath(ui_effects_dropdown->itemText(i));
     QString iconpath = ao_app->get_image_suffix(custom_path + entry);
     if (!file_exists(iconpath)) {
       iconpath = ao_app->get_image_suffix(theme_path + entry);
@@ -4566,9 +4568,9 @@ void Courtroom::on_effects_context_menu_requested(const QPoint &pos)
 }
 void Courtroom::on_effects_edit_requested()
 {
-  QString p_path = ao_app->get_theme_path("effects/");
+  QString p_path = ao_app->get_real_path(ao_app->get_theme_path("effects/"));
   if (!dir_exists(p_path)) {
-    p_path = ao_app->get_theme_path("effects/", "default");
+    p_path = ao_app->get_real_path(ao_app->get_theme_path("effects/", "default"));
     if (!dir_exists(p_path)) {
       return;
     }
@@ -4578,7 +4580,7 @@ void Courtroom::on_effects_edit_requested()
 void Courtroom::on_character_effects_edit_requested()
 {
   QString p_effect = ao_app->read_char_ini(current_char, "effects", "Options");
-  QString p_path = ao_app->get_base_path() + "misc/" + p_effect + "/";
+  QString p_path = ao_app->get_real_path(VPath("misc/" + p_effect + "/"));
   if (!dir_exists(p_path))
     return;
 
diff --git a/src/file_functions.cpp b/src/file_functions.cpp
index e64a46b..37cdc32 100644
--- a/src/file_functions.cpp
+++ b/src/file_functions.cpp
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
 
 bool file_exists(QString file_path)
 {
+  if (file_path.isEmpty())
+    return false;
+
   QFileInfo check_file(file_path);
 
   return check_file.exists() && check_file.isFile();
diff --git a/src/path_functions.cpp b/src/path_functions.cpp
index 9700529..b1a5e48 100644
--- a/src/path_functions.cpp
+++ b/src/path_functions.cpp
@@ -39,71 +39,58 @@ QString AOApplication::get_base_path()
   return base_path;
 }
 
-QString AOApplication::get_theme_path(QString p_file, QString p_theme)
+VPath AOApplication::get_theme_path(QString p_file, QString p_theme)
 {
   if (p_theme == "")
       p_theme = current_theme;
-  QString path = get_base_path() + "themes/" + p_theme + "/" + p_file;
-  return get_case_sensitive_path(path);
+  return VPath("themes/" + p_theme + "/" + p_file);
 }
 
-QString AOApplication::get_character_path(QString p_char, QString p_file)
+VPath AOApplication::get_character_path(QString p_char, QString p_file)
 {
-  QString path = get_base_path() + "characters/" + p_char + "/" + p_file;
-  return get_case_sensitive_path(path);
+  return VPath("characters/" + p_char + "/" + p_file);
 }
 
-QString AOApplication::get_misc_path(QString p_misc, QString p_file)
+VPath AOApplication::get_misc_path(QString p_misc, QString p_file)
 {
-  QString path = get_base_path() + "misc/" + p_misc + "/" + p_file;
-#ifndef CASE_SENSITIVE_FILESYSTEM
-  return path;
-#else
-  return get_case_sensitive_path(path);
-#endif
+  return VPath("misc/" + p_misc + "/" + p_file);
 }
 
-QString AOApplication::get_sounds_path(QString p_file)
+VPath AOApplication::get_sounds_path(QString p_file)
 {
-  QString path = get_base_path() + "sounds/general/" + p_file;
-  return get_case_sensitive_path(path);
+  return VPath("sounds/general/" + p_file);
 }
 
-QString AOApplication::get_music_path(QString p_song)
+VPath AOApplication::get_music_path(QString p_song)
 {
   if (p_song.startsWith("http")) {
-    return p_song; // url
+    return VPath(p_song); // url
   }
-  QString path = get_base_path() + "sounds/music/" + p_song;
-  return get_case_sensitive_path(path);
+  return VPath("sounds/music/" + p_song);
 }
 
-QString AOApplication::get_background_path(QString p_file)
+VPath AOApplication::get_background_path(QString p_file)
 {
-  QString path = get_base_path() + "background/" +
-                 w_courtroom->get_current_background() + "/" + p_file;
   if (courtroom_constructed) {
-    return get_case_sensitive_path(path);
+    return VPath("background/" + w_courtroom->get_current_background() + "/" + p_file);
   }
   return get_default_background_path(p_file);
 }
 
-QString AOApplication::get_default_background_path(QString p_file)
+VPath AOApplication::get_default_background_path(QString p_file)
 {
-  QString path = get_base_path() + "background/default/" + p_file;
-  return get_case_sensitive_path(path);
+  return VPath("background/default/" + p_file);
 }
 
-QString AOApplication::get_evidence_path(QString p_file)
+VPath AOApplication::get_evidence_path(QString p_file)
 {
-  QString path = get_base_path() + "evidence/" + p_file;
-  return get_case_sensitive_path(path);
+  return VPath("evidence/" + p_file);
 }
 
-QStringList AOApplication::get_asset_paths(QString p_element, QString p_theme, QString p_subtheme, QString p_default_theme, QString p_misc, QString p_character, QString p_placeholder)
+QVector<VPath> AOApplication::get_asset_paths(QString p_element, QString p_theme, QString p_subtheme, QString p_default_theme, QString p_misc, QString p_character, QString p_placeholder)
 {
-    QStringList pathlist;
-    pathlist += p_element; // The path by itself
+    QVector<VPath> pathlist;
+    pathlist += VPath(p_element); // The path by itself
     if (p_character != "")
       pathlist += get_character_path(p_character, p_element); // Character folder
     if (p_misc != "" && p_theme != "" && p_subtheme != "")
@@ -125,52 +112,47 @@ QStringList AOApplication::get_asset_paths(QString p_element, QString p_theme, Q
     return pathlist;
 }
 
-QString AOApplication::get_asset_path(QStringList pathlist)
+QString AOApplication::get_asset_path(QVector<VPath> pathlist)
 {
-  QString path;
-  for (QString p : pathlist) {
-      p = get_case_sensitive_path(p);
-      if (file_exists(p)) {
-          path = p;
-          break;
+  for (const VPath &p : pathlist) {
+      QString path = get_real_path(p);
+      if (!path.isEmpty()) {
+          return path;
       }
   }
-  return path;
+  return QString();
 }
 
-QString AOApplication::get_image_path(QStringList pathlist, bool static_image)
+QString AOApplication::get_image_path(QVector<VPath> pathlist, bool static_image)
 {
-  QString path;
-  for (QString p : pathlist) {
-    p = get_case_sensitive_path(get_image_suffix(p, static_image));
-    if (file_exists(p)) {
-      path = p;
-      break;
-    }
-  }
-  return path;
-}
-
-QString AOApplication::get_sfx_path(QStringList pathlist)
-{
-  QString path;
-  for (QString p : pathlist) {
-      p = get_case_sensitive_path(get_sfx_suffix(p));
-      if (file_exists(p)) {
-          path = p;
-          break;
+  for (const VPath &p : pathlist) {
+      QString path = get_image_suffix(p, static_image);
+      if (!path.isEmpty()) {
+          return path;
       }
   }
-  return path;
+  return QString();
 }
+
+QString AOApplication::get_sfx_path(QVector<VPath> pathlist)
+{
+  for (const VPath &p : pathlist) {
+      QString path = get_sfx_suffix(p);
+      if (!path.isEmpty()) {
+          return path;
+      }
+  }
+  return QString();
+}
+
 QString AOApplication::get_config_value(QString p_identifier, QString p_config, QString p_theme, QString p_subtheme, QString p_default_theme, QString p_misc)
 {
     QString path;
 //    qDebug() << "got request for" << p_identifier << "in" << p_config;
-    for (QString p : get_asset_paths(p_config, p_theme, p_subtheme, p_default_theme, p_misc)) {
-        p = get_case_sensitive_path(p);
-        if (file_exists(p)) {
-            QSettings settings(p, QSettings::IniFormat);
+    for (const VPath &p : get_asset_paths(p_config, p_theme, p_subtheme, p_default_theme, p_misc)) {
+        path = get_real_path(p);
+        if (!path.isEmpty()) {
+            QSettings settings(path, QSettings::IniFormat);
             QVariant value = settings.value(p_identifier);
             if (value.type() == QVariant::StringList) {
 //              qDebug() << "got" << p << "is a string list, returning" << value.toStringList().join(",");
@@ -190,25 +172,22 @@ QString AOApplication::get_asset(QString p_element, QString p_theme, QString p_s
   return get_asset_path(get_asset_paths(p_element, p_theme, p_subtheme, p_default_theme, p_misc, p_character, p_placeholder));
 }
 
-QString AOApplication::get_image(QString p_element, QString p_theme, QString p_subtheme, QString p_default_theme, QString p_misc, QString p_character, QString p_placeholder)
+QString AOApplication::get_image(QString p_element, QString p_theme, QString p_subtheme, QString p_default_theme, QString p_misc, QString p_character, QString p_placeholder,
+                                 bool static_image)
 {
-  return get_image_path(get_asset_paths(p_element, p_theme, p_subtheme, p_default_theme, p_misc, p_character, p_placeholder));
+  return get_image_path(get_asset_paths(p_element, p_theme, p_subtheme, p_default_theme, p_misc, p_character, p_placeholder), static_image);
 }
 
 QString AOApplication::get_sfx(QString p_sfx, QString p_misc, QString p_character)
 {
-  QStringList pathlist = get_asset_paths(p_sfx, current_theme, get_subtheme(), default_theme, p_misc, p_character);
+  QVector<VPath> pathlist = get_asset_paths(p_sfx, current_theme, get_subtheme(), default_theme, p_misc, p_character);
   pathlist += get_sounds_path(p_sfx); // Sounds folder path
   return get_sfx_path(pathlist);
 }
 
 QString AOApplication::get_case_sensitive_path(QString p_file)
 {
-  // no path traversal above base folder
-  if (!(p_file.startsWith(get_base_path())))
-      return get_base_path() + p_file;
-
-  #ifdef CASE_SENSITIVE_FILESYSTEM
+#ifdef CASE_SENSITIVE_FILESYSTEM
   // first, check to see if it's actually there (also serves as base case for
   // recursion)
   QFileInfo file(p_file);
@@ -238,3 +217,35 @@ QString AOApplication::get_case_sensitive_path(QString p_file)
   return p_file;
 #endif
 }
+
+QString AOApplication::get_real_path(const VPath &vpath) {
+  // Try cache first
+  QString phys_path = asset_lookup_cache.value(vpath);
+  if (!phys_path.isEmpty() && exists(phys_path)) {
+    return phys_path;
+  }
+
+  // Cache miss; try all known mount paths
+  QStringList bases = get_mount_paths();
+  bases.push_front(get_base_path());
+
+  for (const QString &base : bases) {
+    QDir baseDir(base);
+    const QString path = baseDir.absoluteFilePath(vpath.toQString());
+    if (!path.startsWith(baseDir.absolutePath())) {
+      qWarning() << "invalid path" << path << "(path is outside vfs)";
+      break;
+    }
+    if (exists(get_case_sensitive_path(path))) {
+      asset_lookup_cache.insert(vpath, path);
+      return path;
+    }
+  }
+
+  // File or directory not found
+  return QString();
+}
+
+void AOApplication::invalidate_lookup_cache() {
+  asset_lookup_cache.clear();
+}
diff --git a/src/text_file_functions.cpp b/src/text_file_functions.cpp
index f6a5d6c..c92287f 100644
--- a/src/text_file_functions.cpp
+++ b/src/text_file_functions.cpp
@@ -124,6 +124,11 @@ QStringList AOApplication::get_call_words()
   return get_list_file(get_base_path() + "callwords.ini");
 }
 
+QStringList AOApplication::get_list_file(VPath path)
+{
+  return get_list_file(get_real_path(path));
+}
+
 QStringList AOApplication::get_list_file(QString p_file)
 {
   QStringList return_value;
@@ -275,6 +280,12 @@ QVector<server_type> AOApplication::read_serverlist_txt()
   return f_server_list;
 }
 
+QString AOApplication::read_design_ini(QString p_identifier,
+                                       VPath p_design_path)
+{
+  return read_design_ini(p_identifier, get_real_path(p_design_path));
+}
+
 QString AOApplication::read_design_ini(QString p_identifier,
                                        QString p_design_path)
 {
@@ -440,12 +451,14 @@ QString AOApplication::get_chat_markup(QString p_identifier, QString p_chat)
     return value.toLatin1();
 
   // Backwards ass compatibility
-  QStringList backwards_paths{get_theme_path("misc/" + p_chat + "/config.ini"),
-                    get_base_path() + "misc/" + p_chat +
-                        "/config.ini",
-                    get_base_path() + "misc/default/config.ini",
-                    get_theme_path("misc/default/config.ini")};
-  for (const QString &p : backwards_paths) {
+  QVector<VPath> backwards_paths {
+    get_theme_path("misc/" + p_chat + "/config.ini"),
+    VPath("misc/" + p_chat + "/config.ini"),
+    VPath("misc/default/config.ini"),
+    get_theme_path("misc/default/config.ini")
+  };
+
+  for (const VPath &p : backwards_paths) {
     QString value = read_design_ini(p_identifier, p);
     if (!value.isEmpty()) {
       return value.toLatin1();
@@ -482,36 +495,32 @@ QString AOApplication::get_court_sfx(QString p_identifier, QString p_misc)
   return "";
 }
 
-QString AOApplication::get_sfx_suffix(QString sound_to_check)
-{
-  if (file_exists(sound_to_check))
-    return sound_to_check;
-  if (file_exists(sound_to_check + ".opus"))
-    return sound_to_check + ".opus";
-  if (file_exists(sound_to_check + ".ogg"))
-    return sound_to_check + ".ogg";
-  if (file_exists(sound_to_check + ".mp3"))
-    return sound_to_check + ".mp3";
-  if (file_exists(sound_to_check + ".mp4"))
-    return sound_to_check + ".mp4";
-  return sound_to_check + ".wav";
+QString AOApplication::get_suffix(VPath path_to_check, QStringList suffixes) {
+  for (const QString &suffix : suffixes) {
+    QString path = get_real_path(VPath(path_to_check.toQString() + suffix));
+    if (!path.isEmpty())
+      return path;
+  }
+
+  return QString();
 }
 
-QString AOApplication::get_image_suffix(QString path_to_check, bool static_image)
+QString AOApplication::get_sfx_suffix(VPath sound_to_check)
 {
-  if (file_exists(path_to_check))
-    return path_to_check;
+  return get_suffix(sound_to_check, { "", ".opus", ".ogg", ".mp3", ".wav" });
+}
+
+QString AOApplication::get_image_suffix(VPath path_to_check, bool static_image)
+{
+  QStringList suffixes { "" };
   // A better method would to actually use AOImageReader and see if these images have more than 1 frame.
   // However, that might not be performant.
   if (!static_image) {
-    if (file_exists(path_to_check + ".webp"))
-      return path_to_check + ".webp";
-    if (file_exists(path_to_check + ".apng"))
-      return path_to_check + ".apng";
-    if (file_exists(path_to_check + ".gif"))
-      return path_to_check + ".gif";
+    suffixes.append({ ".webp", ".apng", ".gif" });
   }
-  return path_to_check + ".png";
+  suffixes.append(".png");
+
+  return get_suffix(path_to_check, suffixes);
 }
 
 // returns whatever is to the right of "search_line =" within target_tag and
@@ -520,7 +529,7 @@ QString AOApplication::get_image_suffix(QString path_to_check, bool static_image
 QString AOApplication::read_char_ini(QString p_char, QString p_search_line,
                                      QString target_tag)
 {
-  QSettings settings(get_character_path(p_char, "char.ini"),
+  QSettings settings(get_real_path(get_character_path(p_char, "char.ini")),
                      QSettings::IniFormat);
   settings.beginGroup(target_tag);
   QString value = settings.value(p_search_line).value<QString>();
@@ -531,7 +540,7 @@ QString AOApplication::read_char_ini(QString p_char, QString p_search_line,
 void AOApplication::set_char_ini(QString p_char, QString value,
                                  QString p_search_line, QString target_tag)
 {
-  QSettings settings(get_character_path(p_char, "char.ini"),
+  QSettings settings(get_real_path(get_character_path(p_char, "char.ini")),
                      QSettings::IniFormat);
   settings.beginGroup(target_tag);
   settings.setValue(p_search_line, value);
@@ -539,10 +548,10 @@ void AOApplication::set_char_ini(QString p_char, QString value,
 }
 
 // returns all the values of target_tag
-QStringList AOApplication::read_ini_tags(QString p_path, QString target_tag)
+QStringList AOApplication::read_ini_tags(VPath p_path, QString target_tag)
 {
   QStringList r_values;
-  QSettings settings(p_path, QSettings::IniFormat);
+  QSettings settings(get_real_path(p_path), QSettings::IniFormat);
   if (!target_tag.isEmpty())
     settings.beginGroup(target_tag);
   QStringList keys = settings.allKeys();
@@ -1084,3 +1093,8 @@ bool AOApplication::get_animated_theme()
       configini->value("animated_theme", "true").value<QString>();
   return result.startsWith("true");
 }
+
+QStringList AOApplication::get_mount_paths()
+{
+  return configini->value("mount_paths").value<QStringList>();
+}