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Post by keno on Oct 18, 2007 15:41:37 GMT -5
"Yes," Marvin whispers to the voices, more than a little perturbed they interupted his enjoyment of the situation.
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Post by Sin on Oct 18, 2007 23:22:10 GMT -5
"Hehehe, we're not the ones going to get eaten, comrade." Blaine will try an outright Trip on this big dude, and nail him if he falls. If that doesn't quite work, he'll focus on trying to disarm the big bastard. If that also falls through, he'll get pissed and start all-out attacking the fucker with his whip-dagger.
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Post by cealia on Oct 18, 2007 23:32:43 GMT -5
"Oh sweet, multiple apendages! This makes it all the more fun," Wynd says.
Wynd will cut off an arm and then hit the cook with it. She'll make little designs in his flesh with her sword too.
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Post by TG Barighm on Oct 19, 2007 10:47:20 GMT -5
[glow=red,6,300]UPDATE[/glow] ************** The fight starts simply enough. The sword guy takes a step to his right to get a better view of the cook, then lobs a ball of acid. He hits, but it doesn't seem like much damage (-3 HP). Creep-crazy guy wraps his whip around the cook's legs, but when he pulls, nothing happens. It's like watching a guy try to pull a tree down with a rope. The centuar moves up to confront the cook head-on, and she has little trouble carving up his flabby flesh. Oddly, the shivering rolls of flab prove to be awfully difficult to cut (-8 HP). There are too many people in the way to do anything, so I'm not too sure what to do at this point. Hmm...maybe I can use my flute to...nah, these guys probably don't like music. The halfling stares while the cook uses one arm to grab the whip around its ankle and the other arms to hack at the centaur. The cook gets into a slight tug'o'war with the creepy guy, but due to a gauntlet, the whip doesn't pull free. Instead, the creepy guy has to fight just to keep his balance. As for the centaur, she suddenly finds a cleaver in her chest and one in her side (-22 HP Crit, -8 HP). NEXT ROUND: ========== Sword guy, who must be a spellblade of some sort, tries another ball of acid, but this time the centuar is just too distracting. Creepy manages to get his whip free of the cook, then tries for a cleaver, but this time he can't get his whip around the flailing cooking utensil. The centaur is bleeding pretty badly, and if she goes down we're all screwed, so I better heal her. My meagre healing skills are nothing to scream about, but they heal a fair bit of her wounds (+9 HP). That blasted halfling continues to watch while the centaur tries another slash at the brute. It's another solid strike, but again, the cook's fatty exterior cuts like a piece of wood (-3 HP). The centaur is as shocked as I am. The cook giggles as it suddenly throws two of its cleavers at crazy and spellblade. Spellblade dodges the cleaver rather easily, but crazy isn't paying much attention and gets nailed in the side (-7 HP). The cook also takes a couple swings at the centaur with his regular arms, but this time the horse-girl knows what to expect and blocks the attacks with her shield. "What did you guys do to him?" I ask the voices. "We did nothing. Our brother, on the other hand..."CHALLENGE BATTLE-Init: Marvin: 20 Blaine: 17 NPC: 8 Kade: 7 Wynd: 6 COOK: 3, -14 HP MAP: STATUS LINE: ============================================== Kade: AC +4- 18 min, SpU: Lv.1 x3 Blaine: -9 HP, SpU: Lv. x2 Marvin: -2 HP, SpU: Lv.0 x3 Wynd: -22 HP ThreatNPC: -1 HP, SpU: Lv.1 x1
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Post by cealia on Oct 19, 2007 11:05:33 GMT -5
Wynd will defensively try to cut off one of the cook's arms.
Then she'll back up in total defense into the hallway.
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Post by keno on Oct 19, 2007 11:26:24 GMT -5
Marvin will lob another blob of acid if he can, otherwise try to flank and slicy slicy.
"Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated," he says to the voices, his voice heavy with agitation.
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Post by TG Barighm on Oct 19, 2007 15:06:53 GMT -5
"Prove your worth, then our aid giveth."
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Post by Sin on Oct 21, 2007 11:44:52 GMT -5
Having been hurt, and his usual tactics falling somewhat short, Blaine starts to chuckle softly. "Ooh, this is fun." He'll conjure up a skeleton behind the cook for flanking, then start to go all-out attacking from a safe distance.
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Post by TG Barighm on Oct 21, 2007 12:28:36 GMT -5
[glow=red,6,300]UPDATE[/glow] **************
The spellblade throws another one of those sticky balls of acid at the cook again (-2 HP). Hmm...those things seem to be burning through the flesh rather easily.
"Hey, can you throw something stronger?" I ask him.
Creepy guy conjures up another one of those skeletons, this one bursting through the flesh of a hung piece of meat and arranging itself into a roughly humanoid skeleton, which immediately attacks the cook from behind. The cook isn't hard to hit, but those claw-like bony fingers...somehow they pierce right through his flesh (-2 HP). I wonder...
I don't have time to think about it at the moment. I have to keep the centaur healthy (+6 HP). That should do for now. Gee, I hope she doesn't suddenly think I'm a nice guy now.
That better do it. I can't heal anymore.
The halfling remains worthless while the centaur continues to hold her ground. She is being too cautious to land a solid blow though.
The cook's extra arms draw more cooking utensils from the cook's belt, this time a rolling pin and a meat hammer, while the other arms continue to hack at the centaur. Once again, the horsey has her shield up in time to block both attacks.
NEXT ROUND: ==========
The spellblade continues to be a blob machine (-1 HP) while creepy guy begins to crack his whip at the cook. The blade on the end of the whip cuts and scratches, but the wounds are barely enough to make the cook wince (-3 HP). The skeleton also attacks, but it somehow misses its obese target.
I decide to test my hunch and fire my prepared crossbow at the cook. Hopefully I won't strike neither horseflesh or woman flesh.
Success! The bolt hits the cook directly in the chest. The wooden-flab had absolutely no effect on it whatsoever (-8 HP).
The centuar begins to back out of the room just as the cook lets out a mighty roar.
"Gah! You making me angry! Squishies go SPLAT now!" the cook leaps at the centaur, slashing and bashing away as usual, but now he's biting too. The attack is so fierce the centaur simply can't hold the cook back (-20 HP total). Her blood is running freely now. She's not looking too good...
*Map not required. Aside from Wynd now completely filling the doorway to the cellar, and the skeleton behind the cook, not much has changed. Note Wynd is now giving the cook 1/2 cover.
CHALLENGE BATTLE-Init:
Marvin: 20 Blaine: 17 NPC: 8 Kade: 7 Wynd: 4 COOK: 3, -30 HP, Pissed
STATUS LINE: ============================================== Kade: AC +4- 18 min, SpU: Lv.1 x1 Blaine: -9 HP, SpU: Lv. x3, Skelly 1 rnd. Marvin: -2 HP, SpU: Lv.0 x4 Wynd: -36 HP Critical NPC: -1 HP, SpU: Lv.1 x2
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Post by Sin on Oct 21, 2007 22:54:42 GMT -5
Blaine sighs, and figures he'd better help keep the meat shield centaur on her feet. Cure Light Wounds wand for both rounds.
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Post by cealia on Oct 22, 2007 0:12:24 GMT -5
Wynd will go into total defense and back around the corner out of sight of the cook.
In the next round she'll continue to stay in the back and out of sight of the cook and throwing objects until she's well enough to continue the fight.
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Post by keno on Oct 22, 2007 7:29:34 GMT -5
Marvin will delay until Wynd moves out of the way, then charge and attack the cook with his sword.
"Get out of the way, horse-bitch", he growls.
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Post by TG Barighm on Oct 22, 2007 10:21:45 GMT -5
*Fyi, you're not actually using Total Defense if you're moving in the round.
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Post by cealia on Oct 22, 2007 11:13:47 GMT -5
*ah, right. thanks.
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Post by TG Barighm on Oct 22, 2007 12:29:01 GMT -5
[glow=red,6,300]UPDATE[/glow] **************
The spellsword seems to be waiting for something while creepy guy produces a wand, at least, I think it's a wand, before tapping the centaur's behind.
Wow! Her wounds begin healing (+9 HP). I should get my hands on one of those. As for me, I ready my crossbow and wait for the centaur to move out of the way. She eventually backs out of the storage room and joins us in the small corridor, and the spellsword charges in to take a swing at the cook. I join the fun with a bolt, and the skeleton is still kicking too.
We all land a blow at the exact same time, my bolt finding the cook's chest again, and the cook finally succumbs to his wounds. He slams to the ground with a plop sound, and his blood begins to pool.
"No! My belly...I'm not full yet..." the cook gasps before finally collapsing for good.
"What a weirdo," I exclaim as I prepare another bolt.
EXP: +1000, Kade +0
One of those weird embers from earlier suddenly reappear above the body of the cook. The ember flits around for a moment, then disappears above our heads.
"Wee, he, he, he, he, hee...."
"Brother, you are such a nuisance."
"Let's just get out of here," I say as I begin looking for this secret passageway. It doesn't take us very long to find the trapdoor covered in stone bricks, and once we discover the seemingly mundane bar placed nearby is key to opening the trapdoor, we are well on our way out of this horrid place. After a fair bit of time walking, we find ourselves outside of the dungeon.
Oh, the fresh air blowing on my face...I've never really felt wind this way before. Freedom has a habit of sweetening the things we take for granted.
I look around for a moment and discover we're a fair ways away from the dungeon. I can see the dirty walls of the keep in the distance, sitting on its intimidating hill like a dark sentinal. A number of smaller hills separate us from the dungeon. As long as we stick to the troughs, we should be okay.
We begin running east, mainly because that direction would take us away from the dungeon. The centaur quickly breaks away from us, but she knows she sticks out like a sore thumb so she doesn't get too far ahead. The rest of us stay fairly close together, weapons at the ready.
Murmurs in my head suddenly remind me of the unwelcome visitors.
"All right voices, we're out of the dungeon. Now tell us what's going on," I probably shouldn't have said that so loudly.
"We are warriors of Soh, of the land of Soh'Mar."
"Never heard of it."
"We are not surprised. Soh'Mar is very ancient."
"We have been waiting to escape our prison."
"Now your corrupted summon us, and we have chosen our wards."
"Wards? What are we, your defenseless children or something? We're the ones doing all the work, and without your help I might add. Maybe you guys should give us extra arms."
"We protect your dark nature, and aid your ultimate quest."
"Your goals are the same as ours."
"But our strengths may not be the same. We must be certain."
"Prove yourselves to us. If we are impressed, we shall ask for your aid. Aid us, and you will be rewarded; a reward greater than any mortal has ever attained."
"Okay...how are we supposed to prove ourselves?"
The voices don't reply. I suddenly shiver. I don't know why, but I think I know exactly what it is the Brothers have in mind...
*Any questions for the Brothers of Soh?
============================================== [glow=black,2,300]EARNING EVIL POINTS[/glow]: You may now begin earning Evil Points. Check out the Utility Thread for more details.
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Post by keno on Oct 22, 2007 13:22:39 GMT -5
"Are we likely to meet more like your brother back there?" Marvin asks.
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Post by TG Barighm on Oct 22, 2007 13:59:02 GMT -5
"No. He is with us now. There are no others."
"But he may pester us again. I'm afraid we have no control over him."
"He enjoys testing our wards."
"He, he, hee..."
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Post by TG Barighm on Oct 22, 2007 15:24:03 GMT -5
[glow=blue,6,300]UPDATE[/glow] ***************
*You may still ask questions to the Soh brothers
I'm not too sure how long we have been running, but we didn't stop until the sun fell below the horizon. It's starting to get dark now, and we're all exhausted. Panting heavily, I flop onto the first rock I find. It's not the most comfortable seat I've ever used, but it will have to do.
"Let's get...a small fire...going," gasping for air, I reach for my waterskin...and find I didn't recover it from the dungeon.
We eventually get a fire going. Nothing grand, but enough to keep us warm and our little makeshift camp pleasant. Once I catch my breath, I prepare my goods and ready to depart.
"Thanks for the help guys, but I should get going now," I wave, then spin around.
"As brothers, we do not leave the others behind."
I stop. The rest of the group is staring at me, I can tell.
"Oh, gods...are you saying...I have to stay with them?"
"We are together in this. Our will is stronger than steel."
I growl to myself. I don't know what they mean, but I get the strong impression I shouldn't test the voices. I grumble as I return to the camp.
"Well, since it seems like we're gonna be stuck with eachother for awhile, we should probably introduce ourselves, and figure out what to do next. My name is Dagg," I return to my rock. After another curse under my breath, I continue, "I suggest we head north to Lazos. The Holy Knights will be searching for us now, so we better get away from Jumelwyn. The Holy Knights are not welcome in Lazos, and nobody in the City of Shadows will care about what we have done. Too bad too. Captain Renallo is based in a town just southeast of here. I would have LOVED to get my revenge on him."
"He is lying. His name is Dog."
My eyes probably widened to the size of tea cups. "What!? You bastards! You can read my mind?"
I can see the grins forming on my "comrades'" faces. "No! It's not...that! It's Dagg! Call me Dagg."
"You do not remember your name. All you know is Dog."
I can't help but kick at the dirt. "Damn you...damn you all..."
============================================== SCENARIO CHOICES:
*As always, you do not have to choose one of the following scenarios. You may create your own. These are merely ideas to get you started:
-Get revenge on Captain Renallo for imprisoning you. -Flee to Lazos, City of Shadows. -Discover the ancient secrets of the Soh'Mar.
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Post by Sin on Oct 22, 2007 20:08:04 GMT -5
Currently ignoring his new-found compatriots, wiping the blood off his armor's studs, and subsequently cleaning his fingers with his tongue, Blaine quietly speaks to the Brothers between licks. "What exactly are you? Where do you come from? Why us?" Once those have been answered, he introduces himself. "My name is Blaine, chosen of Scharossar, Mistress of Exquisite Pain. I strongly advocate bringing some well-deserved retribution to our good Captain Renallo."
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Post by keno on Oct 23, 2007 5:04:47 GMT -5
Marvin speaks slowly, almost as if he's quite tired (which he is). "Does this Captain Renallo have any daughters? Or a wife?"
A wicked grin appears on his face, and he almost seems lost in thought.
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Post by TG Barighm on Oct 23, 2007 11:01:41 GMT -5
"We are brethren of Soh'Mar."
*New scenario added.
"Your path is bathed in shadow. We require shadow to dispel the light."
I see where this is going. Why can't I ever work with the smart ones?
"Er...huh. You know, I really don't know, but that sounds like useful information."
While my comrades talk, I pull out my flute and begin playing a nice little jaunty about a happy couple on a long journey.
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Post by cealia on Oct 23, 2007 15:00:17 GMT -5
At the mention of Captain Renallo's name, it takes everything that Wynd can muster to keep her anger in check.
"Revenge! Yes. Let's get the Captain! He doesn't deserve to live. But outright killing him is too good for him right now. I suggest we make him suffer in the most unimaginable ways possible. I'm sure one of you guys would love to help yourselves to his wife or daughter, if he even has any. You disgusting, pathetic excuse for men have probably been locked up so long you've forgotten what it's like to be with a woman. Well, now here's your chance!" Wynd laughs a bit while letting out some anger by stabbing the dirt with her sword. "Be gentle by no means. They don't deserve it."
Wynd lifts the sword out of the grond and starts examining the blade, beginning an evil grin.
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Post by keno on Oct 23, 2007 15:07:31 GMT -5
Marvin's head fills with rage at Wynd's goading and he immediately begins thinking of a few choice things he'd like to do to the Centaur. Which nearly makes him gag with revulsion. He manages to keep his meager meal down, but as his thoughts begin to drift once again to Wynd's sexuality, he excuses himself.
Moments later the sounds of retching can be heard from behind the bushes.
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Post by TG Barighm on Oct 23, 2007 17:17:10 GMT -5
**Note: All spells and HP have been restored
[glow=blue,6,300]UPDATE[/glow] ***************
I try to focus on my flute, but the more they talk about Renallo, the angrier I get. I know it is absolutely crazy to go after the captain. I know it is crazy to go anywhere NEAR Jumelwyn at this point, but those lustful thoughts of his bloody entrails adorning my dagger...I just can't resist. My song falters, and all thoughts of caution fly into the wind with its fading notes. Rage overtakes me.
I return my flute to my pouch and begin considering the approach. We don't know if the good captain has a wife and daughter, but we do know where the captain is. Where the captain is, somebody who does know these things is likely to be with him.
"Okay, let's go to the town where the captain is stationed and see what we can learn. If anybody knows anything about his family, they will be there," I explain. Everyone agrees, so off we go.
We continue southeast for hours more. Sometime after sunset, long after most decent folk would go to their beds, we come across the town of Gold Road, the only successful, and remarkably, standing trading post between Lazos and Jumelwyn. The town is very wealthy for its size, it's little more than a long sprawl of houses running the length of the forked road splitting the road to southern Jumelwyn from the city itself, and it is always bustling with activity. It has no wall or gate, but due to its typical clientele, it's distance from the city has little bearing on its protection. No barbarian or rogue would ever dare disrupt the business taking place within Gold Road lest you earn the ire of one of the Lazos warlords.
All the better for us, a band of mysterious warriors entering after nightfall. That is perfectly normal in this town.
We enter from the west, then swing around north to the Lazos side of the road. This section never receives Holy Knight patrols, so we can avoid being spotted for now. Once I determine there aren't any Knights in sight, I gather my comrades and explain the situation to them.
"Okay, I'll go see what I can learn. You guys just...try not to get in trouble. We have no food or water on hand, so...I don't know. Gear up for some long journey or something. Just keep yourself busy until I come back. Oh, and centaur," I learned her name his Wynd, but old habits die hard, "the only centaurs these folk are used to seeing are part of barbarian raiding parties. The strangest and lowest scum in all of Tanzkara may congregate in this town, but centaurs are still unwelcome. I don't know where you're from, what with that crystal armour of yours, but try not to raise a stink, okay?"
I then depart. They shouldn't have much trouble finding something to do in this town. The regular shops may be closed, but for these folk, nightfall is the best time to do business. There is always some shady merchant or heavily cloaked dwarf or something around with stuff to sell.
About halfway through the town, near the fork in the road, I spot a small group of Holy Knights, Hands of the Divine in particular, heading down the road to the city. I quickly try to blend in with the crowd to avoid notice. The Hands in Gold Road were bribed ages ago, and no longer care much for all of the black market goods routinely being traded here, but an escaped prisoner is an escaped prisoner. Not even a lowly, blackmailed Hand will avoid arresting a prisoner he or she recognizes.
The Hands guards continue until they reach an inn, marked by a sign that depicts what appears to be a ball of silver yarn with a sword stuck through it, so I guess they call it the Silver Yarn. I quickly take a peek inside and quickly spot Captain Renallo in the center of the inn, but my sight is immediately obstructed by the closing doors. I lift my hood to cover my face, take a deep breath, and step into the inn.
* * * * *
While Wynd wanders the town, a young man, maybe even a boy, suddenly approaches her. He appears to have some elven features, so he may be a half-elf, and he doesn't wear much beyond slightly showy, but still normal looking, clothes, and a rapier at his side. He stares at Wynd with a smile for a moment before talking.
"Good evening, good centaur! Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Tim, and I am a traveling swordsman from Turherron," he says this with a bow. "I see you have a sword. I am currently seeking challengers to test my skill. I have heard much of the legendary strength and hardiness of centaurs, but I have yet to meet one that didn't wish to cut off my head before we exchanged words. You are clearly a more sophisticated member of your race. So, without any more delay, would you honour me with a friendly duel? Do not worry about injuries. I have a spell that will blunt all strikes. We will both be safe."
Will Wynd accept the duel?
TOWN INFORMATION:
GP Limit: 10,000gp Markets: All items, even illegal items, are readily available
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Post by Sin on Oct 23, 2007 20:35:26 GMT -5
Blaine will see what he can do to get his hands on some cheap drugs, preferably a dose each of Devilweed and Sannish. A little something for himself, and a little something for his good friend, the Captain.
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Post by TG Barighm on Oct 24, 2007 10:55:03 GMT -5
Blaine discovers the dwarf in the heavy cloak is his ticket to scoring some drugs. He views the leather-wrapped PC as a strange, clearly drug addicted type, so he doesn't let Blaine off easy.
The Devilweed will only cost Blaine 20gp, but the Sannish is incredibly popular in Cayarna and will cost him 100g per pouch.
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Post by keno on Oct 24, 2007 11:03:20 GMT -5
Marvin stakes out a tavern and tries to identify anyone exiting who looks to be quite intoxicated, and alone.
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Post by TG Barighm on Oct 24, 2007 11:14:48 GMT -5
Marvin discovers a nearby tavern and begins to wait for an unfortunate drunkard to stumble out. Unfortunately, it is still somewhat early in the night, and the only patrons are those seeking a drink and entering the tavern.
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Post by cealia on Oct 24, 2007 11:18:24 GMT -5
"Sure! Why don't we go someplace private. In an ally or behind a building. I'd hate for people to get the wrong impression of me. You never know what they would think if they saw a centaur fighting anyone in this town. They would come with torches!"
Wynd bows to the swordsman, smiling.
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Post by TG Barighm on Oct 24, 2007 11:29:05 GMT -5
The swordsman bows back. "An excellent idea! Come, I know a good spot."
Instead of leading Wynd to a dark alley or some such, which are few in Gold Road, Tim takes Wynd outside the down to a flat section in the rolling countryside. It's grassy and there are no trees or bushes to get in the way. Wynd, a little cautious, searches for anyone who may be trying to ambush her, but it turns out this Tim character is truly honest: he is all alone, and looking for a duel outside the town's perimeter with no guards in sight. It is fairly dark, but the moonlight and faint light from the town is more than enough for the two and their low-light vision.
Tim casts his spell, then draws his rapier and steadies it on the centaur. "Splendid! I'm looking forward to this. Engaurde!"
DUELS: Duels are very different from typical combat. A duel is dependent on momentum instead of initiative, and it is always completed in a single post. Be sure to provide an action for every possible outcome in a fight, and make sure you have a good list of "IF" conditions on hand.
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