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Post by DM-Delfon on Mar 20, 2019 8:46:30 GMT -5
The Keeper of the Tombs stands, making a gesture as if to banish a fly, "Do not waste your mind space with Comprehend Languages." He leans in again as if to tell you a secret, "When the time comes take the extra ten minutes to cast it as a ritual." He stands again, once more smoothing out his clothing, "As for the travel time, based on the adventurer's notes it seems the Temple is only a couple hours away. Three hours at the most." He makes a note in a ledger, and then checks another note before continuing, "I will have the ladies meet you at the Northern Gate an hour past dawn. How does that sound?" He holds up a finger to stop you for a moment, before reaching past you to take a thick leather bound tomb from a slip of a girl with very short deep brown hair and a blue high neck dress, "Thank you my dear. I count the hours until your return tomorrow." He says with a smile. Turning his attention back to you, "Where were we? Ah yes, an hour past dawn at the Northern Gate." He glances past you to make eye contact with a portly well dressed fellow carrying a stack of books, "Sorry, was there anything else?" He asks, still having not spoken on the adventurers.
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Post by Greyling on Mar 25, 2019 9:20:44 GMT -5
Ezra nods, "an hour past dawn tomorrow. Northern gate. That will do." He takes his leave at that point. Barring any wrinkle, he heads back to the tavern/inn where he has secured lodging for quiet contemplation of the day's developments.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Mar 25, 2019 16:21:18 GMT -5
Your evening goes by mostly uneventfully. Old Borris keeps a tidy inn. Good food, good music, and an attentive professional staff. The patrons come in for a pint to unwind, or perhaps a meal. In the early evening hours a very colourful priest of Lliira comes in to a tavern wide cheer of “Bogomil!” He dance-walks around the room gladhanding everyone.
Eventually the room falls silent as he brings out a fancy chalice. Old Borris carries over a half-keg of ale and sets it on a pair of X shaped stands. He says a few words with the sound of a sermon about them. Mostly offering the patrons a chance to fill ‘The Grail’ and pour out their sins, allowing Lliira to fill their lives with joy. A small line forms, and men and women alike give the serving maid a silver. She fills The Grail, and Bogomil speaks with them briefly before they drink. Each person that leaves the table has a beaming smile.
Once the line is clear, Bogomil makes his way around the room again. He finds his way to your table, and says, “Good evening to you. I don’t believe I’ve seen you around here before. My name is Joydancer Bogomil, how can I channel Lliira’s joy into your life?”
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Post by Greyling on Mar 27, 2019 22:33:30 GMT -5
"Pleasure to meet you. However, I have an early morning. As such, I will be excusing myself from the revelry. Good evening," Ezra smiles politely before collecting his things and leaving the common area for the quiet of his room.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Mar 27, 2019 22:59:22 GMT -5
The man gives you a half bow, his smile never faltering. He turns on his heel and moves on to the next person without a pause. The rest of your evening goes by uneventfully, and you rest without incident. The beds are comfortable, and the food here is excellent. The noise of the patrons downstairs is muffled by good insulation, and the crowd dies down before it gets too late in the evening. All in all, a pretty successful first day in Clifton. (+25xp) You wake in the morning, and handle all of the mundane tasks required to make ones self presentable, eat your fill and prepare whatever spells you want to have for the day.
You head across the city toward the river that splits the Northern side of the city from the rest. As you walk down the hill away from the wall that separates the High District, Harbour District, and Palace from the rest of the city you can see the level of wealth of the inhabitants drop steadily as well. You walk past the shops, inns and homes of the middle class along the way. By the time you reach the river itself, the housing shows signs of being near the bottom of the middle class. Crossing the river only costs a Copper Penny. Once across the road continues North, but now the grade is almost level, with only a hint of slope back toward the river. The Northern side of the river is all industry and lower class residential houses. You reach the Northern gate a little earlier than the appointed time, and take a moment to observe your surroundings.
Waiting at the gate is a collection of well muscled men, with the hunched shoulders of men who grub about in tunnels underground. Several stand ready beside carts, but many more simply hold mining implements. Standing in a bunch off to one side are a dozen or so armed men, in a dozen or so styles, more favoriting long swords than other weapons. One fellow in extravagant clothing taps his foot impatiently, counting the miners and guards and checking a document he keeps in hand. That group of men leave after another armed fellow jogs up to impatient man, before moving to join the rest.
Around the time you're supposed to be leaving, maybe a few minutes before a group of women arrive. One is a blonde, slender, with eyes the sky blue of a warm summer day. One has hair of fire, and freckles speckle her cheeks. You notice dimples when she smiles, and she smiles often. The last lady has brown hair that hangs in a thick braid past her belt. She has ample curves, but you note a raw physical strength in some of her movements, where the other two share a certain fluid grace. All three women wear simple, but fashionable dresses, with the fire haired lady's dress split for riding. All three also wear a signet ring bearing the flaming sun of Pelor on their middle finger of their left hand. All three have daggers at their sides, and the brunette has two pointy metal things in her hair that seem to keep things in place, but could double as a weapon easily enough. As the group arrive, the blonde adjusts her boot and you catch the outside edge of a tattoo above her right breast, but it is almost completely hidden by her clothes. The symbol on their rings is Pelorian, but looks different then all the other Pelorian symbols you have seen around town. You're not sure why the three of them where the same ring on the same finger.
The fire haired one points at you, "You the mage the guild sent?"
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Post by Greyling on Apr 6, 2019 16:58:48 GMT -5
Ezra bows his head briefly before reestablishing eye contact. "Ezra Eridruin, diviner mage. I was sent by the guild to help decipher runes. Would be the client then?
"The only real details given regarding the job was translation of runes located in a swamp. Any chance you would be open to enlightening me as to the context surrounding the runes. The history of the area, what lives or lived there, objects that you might be seeking there, etcetera? Talking while we walk would be acceptable if you would prefer not discussing these details within city walls." The mage shift uncomfortably. He considers getting a pack animal when he has the funds.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Apr 7, 2019 8:13:59 GMT -5
The blonde woman offers you a hand like a noble woman, fingers curled like she's going to hand you something. You've seen noblemen take the hand and gently kiss across the knuckles, "Gyllen Blom" she offers simply. Before you can do anything with the offered hand the fire haired woman takes Gyllen's hand in her own, fingers intertwining she pulls it down by their hips. She then offers you a more standard handshake, "Hassel Rackfalk. Yes, we are the client." The brunette slams a fist off her chest, "Ingrid Torgrimson." With introductions completed, the group of you begin to head out of the city. Hassel begins the story, "We were out collecting and item for a client of our own when we came across a structure hidden in the swamp. We tried to go inside to have a look around, but the door was sealed up tight." Ingrid lets out a huff, which earns her mirrored side eyed glances from Gyllen and Hassel, "Ingrid is normally our key to such situations, but this was beyond even her great strength." Gyllen takes up the story from here, "While Ingrid was trying to force the door, glowing runes appeared around the door's frame. We decided that if the barrier was protected by magic, we should enlist a mage. We no longer have an arcanist of our own. Enough about the mission, tell me about yourself Ezra." Hassel glares daggers at Gyllen, but Gyllen doesn't seem to notice.
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Post by Greyling on Apr 11, 2019 16:18:53 GMT -5
After social pleasantries, he allows the group to lead him. After all, they know the way and he does not yet. He attempts to curiousity and discomfort when he hears they used to have an arcanist, while noticing that they skip over what lead to their absence.
Ezra smiles when asked about himself, "not much to say. Only child raised by widowed mother. Read every book I could find, which lead to me finding my first spellbook. Now I'm a mage earning coins for the guild."
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Post by DM-Delfon on Apr 11, 2019 17:05:26 GMT -5
The three ladies nod, understanding your simple backstory. Once outside the walls of Clifton, the ladies separate while they walk. Ingrid taking the lead position with Gyllen & Hassel flanking to the left and right. Ingrid seems to have a single minded focus, her pace is quite fast as she stomps and splashes through the boggy ground. Where the other two girls paths diverge and return to find more favourable ground to walk upon, Ingrid just moves forward, ever forward.
After a while Gyllen lets out a low whistle, and Ingrid stops where she is allowing the others to gather together. "We have company. I've seen two so far, so likely there are four or more." She crouches down as if fixing her boot, "There is one ahead, and to the right. You can just make out his shield poking out from behind that bush. Another behind us, submerged in the kidney shaped pool." Ingrid flexes her muscles, and says, "How should we proceed Ezra?"
Perception 14 to see the bushman, 18 for the pool guy. Higher if you want more information.
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Post by Greyling on Apr 13, 2019 7:49:17 GMT -5
As Gyllen describes what she see Ezra tries to follow with small movements of his eye. He only makes out the man behind the bush and has to trust her on the rest. Then he hears something truly confusing.
"This is literally my first day with your group. Why are you asking me?"
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Post by DM-Delfon on Apr 13, 2019 15:56:59 GMT -5
Ingrid shrugs when you don’t take command, “You’re the brains, I’m the brawn.” Both of the other women reach out toward Ingrid as if to stop her, but it’s too late. Ingrid darts forward, holding up her hands as if she was holding a great sword. She closes the distance surprisingly quickly and as she goes to swing at the bushman, an actual greatsword appears in her hand. The bushman was preparing to receive an unarmed strike, and stumbles back as the sword appears. Ingrid’s blade falls, hacking deeply across the lizard folk’s stomach. The Lizard Folk crawls backward, one hand trying to hold it’s guts in.
Roll initiative.
8, 10, and 12 for the ladies. 6 for the Lizardfolk.
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Post by Greyling on Apr 14, 2019 14:45:40 GMT -5
Initiative 5
Ezra's mind swirls as he takes in how quickly the situation has changed. He notes Ingrid's use of a strong offense as her defense. The lizard men whom were hiding, - unclear if from fear or malice - and if they weren't hostile before are likely to be now.
He steps back to let the adventurers handle the situation. He was led to believe from Keeper of the Tombs that he would not need to join the fighting. With luck he won't need to use the few offensive spells that he knows.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Apr 15, 2019 6:32:39 GMT -5
Ingrid continues to press her attack, drawing the blade back by her hip before driving it forward through the creature. It coughs once, red foam appearing around it's mouth as the blade punctures a lung. It slumps back onto the boggy ground still clutching Ingrid's sword. She whirls around drawing free her blade and charges back toward the party. Pure fury paints her features, made all the more terrible by the crimson splatter across her face. The ladies both pull crossbows and take shots at the one hidden within the water, but one bolt lodges into the bog in front of the creature, and the other skips off the water passing it harmlessly. The waterbound Lizardfolk stands up out of the water and chucks a javelin before sinking back into the water. The Javelin wings just over your shoulder and slams into Ingrid's hip. She screams in anger and rips the thing out without even breaking stride. Two more javelins streak through the air from the sides, both sinking into the wet ground around the party to no effect.
Your turn Ezra.
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Post by Greyling on Apr 15, 2019 16:33:20 GMT -5
Ezra splits from the group a short distance. He takes advantage of the fact that he is likely considered a non-threat by the lizards, as he is unarmed and has yet to take a hostile action. He tries to spot the location of the javelin throwers, beside the one in the water.
Looking around the terrain for a escape route for the group, preferably one that if pursued would encourage any following lizardfolk to move closer to each other. ((Trying to encourage any pursuing lizardfolk to cluster together within a 20 ft radius grouping)) "This way!" He calls to the others before heading in the chosen direction away from the lizardfolk.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Apr 17, 2019 20:37:16 GMT -5
With a Lizard Folk throwing javelins from three directions, you turn toward the forth direction. There is only a Lizard Folk corpse in that direction. You move away, shouting for the ladies to follow you as you do so. Ingrid shouts angrily, "Sure, now you want to lead!" Wheeling to her right, she charges one of the side on javelin throwers. She hacks at him with her blade, but the attack is clumsy and easily parried by the Lizard Folk. The other two ladies move thirty feet closer to you, both of which taking shots at the creature that Ingrid is attacking. One of the bolts clacks off it's scaly hide, while the other manages to penetrate. The creature hisses in anger and pain.
The Lizard Folk that is being attacked by Ingrid lashes out with his claws, slashing across Ingrid's forearm. The wound looks like it hurts, but Ingrid doesn't seem to have noticed. The remaining two Lizard Folk move ten feet closer, and unleash another volley of javelins. Ingrid knocks one aside with her blade, and the other sticks out of the ground between her legs. Now standing twenty feet from their companion, they both begin to draw out new Javelins.
(Did you move 30ft or dash as well for 60ft? If you moved 30 then the two girls are flanking you on a diagonal. If you dashed they're 30ft away. Ingrid is a further 30ft away, with the two creatures being 20ft beyond that.)
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Post by Greyling on Apr 19, 2019 16:05:33 GMT -5
Ezra sighs at Ingrid's choice. Keeping his eyes on the lizardmen he addresses Gyllen and Hassel, "we may need to wake her up in a hurry". He starts speaking arcane words. After taking a pinch of fine sand from a pouch, he gestures symbols as if drawing them in the air and blows the sand in the direction of the lizardfolk (and Ingrid).
((Spell: Sleep, 23 hp are affected))
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Post by DM-Delfon on Apr 20, 2019 6:37:52 GMT -5
The Lizardfolk that is engaged in combat with Ingrid collapses in a heap as your spell takes hold. Ingrid flips her blade over and drives it through the slumbering creature. As she pulls the blade out, she turns and runs toward the party. The other two women fire shots into one of the javelin throwers. One striking the creature in the thigh, the other glancing off it’s ribs leaving a small gash. The Lizardfolk throw a final volley of javelins before fleeing away from the party. (+100 exp)
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Post by Greyling on Apr 21, 2019 6:21:43 GMT -5
"So. Have you encountered them before? Last time you were here?" He gaze shift to Ingrid, "and I wasn't trying to lead. My request to regroup over here was to get the Lizards to group more together. I may have been able to more to sleep if you weren't positioned among their numbers. As it stands, I had to risk putting you to sleep."
The mage patiently waits for the others to lead the way to their door.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Apr 21, 2019 18:14:35 GMT -5
Hassel shrugs, “We encounter the Lizard Folk every time we come into the swamps. Though these ones had a more green colouration then the last time.” Gyllen adds in, “Yeah the last ones were more black scaled.” Ingrid shrugs, casually walking back over to the corpses and rummaging through their pouches. She calls over, “it was good plan. You do okay. I wasn’t sleepy anyway.”
If you’re interested in javelins, a shell based shield, or wooden clubs with a stone lashed to the end you’re welcome to them. One of the fallen had a pouch containing twenty seven sharp teeth and six molars. The other also had a dead snake, about a foot and a half long.
Your party travels once again just as before. The ladies are ever watchful of their surroundings, but none of them seem like they belong out here among the bogs. Ingrid comes closest, but you feel that is less to do with the environment and more to do with the woman herself. She seems unstoppable, not even checking out her wounds after the battle. It was like she forgot she received them.
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Post by Greyling on Apr 22, 2019 21:15:21 GMT -5
"So.... what was the name of your last arcanist?" Ezra pauses for the reply.
"What happened to (insert name here)?"
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Post by DM-Delfon on Apr 23, 2019 6:39:46 GMT -5
All three women look like you just hit them with a pole axe. You watch their expressions melt until you're looking at three straight lipped faces with sad eyes. After a few seconds Ingrid says simply, "Jameson." You soften your tone to be more in line with the feeling they're giving off, and ask your follow up question. Ingrid replies again, just as simply, "Dead." Matching single tears run down Hassel and Gyllen's faces. The blonde woman scrubs hers away angrily, while the fire haired woman ignores hers. Both start to walk faster, putting a bit of distance between you and them. Ingrid keeps on at the same stomping pace, "It happened fast. We defeated some enemies, and were tending to our wounds before moving on. Jameson leaned on a wall to rest. There was a click, and a row of spears exploded through him." She stops talking then, seeming more angry then sad now.
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Post by Greyling on May 1, 2019 3:42:39 GMT -5
Awkward seems like an understatement of emotion to Ezra at that moment. He was glad to have the information. However, he seemed to have irritated a very sensitive nerve for all three members of the group with which he was travelling. He drops the subject and just walks on, with the group, in silence.
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Post by DM-Delfon on May 1, 2019 7:58:02 GMT -5
The party continues in complete silence. Ingrid stomping along without a trace of stealth about her, and the other two moving like twin shadows. You travel along like this for a couple hours until you see a lump of ground sticking up out of the boggy surface of the swamps. As you grow closer, you see that it is a cave of sorts. The structure of the cave is shaped vaguely like a serpent's head, with an open mouth. Sharpened fangs jut from above and below making the entire cave seem ominous and dangerous. When you finally reach the toothy edge, you can see a stone archway set ten feet back inside the cave. The archway is filled with a solid stone doorway covered with runes. How do you want to go about this Ezra? Swamp Cave
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Post by Greyling on May 5, 2019 9:12:22 GMT -5
"Fascinating," his face lights up like a child who's just received a present.
Ezra walks forward with the same caution that keeps someone upright in a boggy swamp. Occasionally he finds difficulty where his boot sticks a bit in the mud. He calls back to the group as he enters the mouth of the cave, "I'm going to need about 10 minutes for the spell that will allow me to read the runes."
((Perception 7 =4+3 Spell: Comprehend Languages as a ritual))
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Post by DM-Delfon on May 6, 2019 13:48:04 GMT -5
The three all make eye contact with you, nod and then fan out. Ingrid stands about thirty feet away in clear view, while the other two slink into whatever cover they can find nearby. Taking your time, and looking carefully into the cave itself, you can see that once you cross the teeth-like formations the floor of the cave is smooth stone with a thin layer of clear liquid across the entire surface of the stone. Part of one of the upper fangs has fallen away over time, exposing jagged stone beneath the softer earthen outer covering. You carefully trace the runes, and can see that in order to activate the doorway you must stand before the door, with your hands within those two circles. From what you know of similar devices from your studies, a correct passphrase is spoken and the door is opened. Doors such as these are often rigged with traps. You stand outside the cave to complete your ritual, since you couldn't draw with chalk on the wet stone floor. At the end of the ritual, you blink and the glyphs that did not make sense before abruptly do. The runes read, "What comes from an egg, but peels like a fruit. It can sizzle like bacon, and is slender to boot." The activation circles are about where a door knob would be on a normal door, and a clearly marked circle stands in the center of the room. What's your plan Sir?
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Post by Greyling on May 11, 2019 9:45:42 GMT -5
Ezra ponders the riddle before calling the group inside the cave. "The runes are a riddle. I believe someone needs to stand inside the marked circle on the floor with their hands on the stone blocking the archway, then speak the answer to the riddle.
"The riddle is 'What comes from an egg, but peels like a fruit. It can sizzle like bacon, and is slender to boot?' I believe the cave is a clue." When everyone is in position Ezra speaks his guess, "snake!"
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Post by DM-Delfon on May 15, 2019 6:54:05 GMT -5
Ingrid offers to stand with her hands pressed into the circles, the other two enter the cave, but hunker down and keep a vigil on what is going on outside the cave. You announce snake, and nothing happens. Ingrid turns to face you, with a questioning eyebrow raised, "Snake?" she asks, and as soon as she does the teeth of the cave slam shut casting the party into utter darkness. Hassel and Gyllen let out twin "Eeps!" The sound of stone grinding can be heard, and Ingrid announces, "The wall is gone!" You feel the water you're standing in moving, and can hear it trickling toward where the wall used to be. If you don't light the way, one of the girls ignites a torch illuminating a cave that descends down at an angle. The cave walls are natural, but you can see that any jagged edges or outcroppings have been chiseled off to create an eight foot tall roughly vertically ovular cave. It's only wide enough for a single file line, but is plenty tall enough to stand comfortably. A lock of blonde hair passes by your shoulder, and the blonde woman that belongs to it says, "Excellent work Mage, now the real fun begins."
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Post by Greyling on May 26, 2019 15:09:35 GMT -5
That was unexpected, Ezra thinks to himself. "One moment," the mage states while taking off his right glove. Considering a light spell might be needed in the dark, he is thankful he had the foresight to have practice this spell in the dark previously. He quickly cast the spell upon his glove. Light illuminates the room as he dons the glove again.
A slight smile of pride tugs the covers of his mouth at the compliment. "Yes, fun. I'll take third position."
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Post by DM-Delfon on May 29, 2019 6:16:57 GMT -5
As soon as your light fills the tunnel ahead, Ingrid begins to walk forward. Gyllen follows after her, with Hassel falling in behind you. The tunnel continues down at an angle for a good hundred feet by your estimation. The tunnel expands slightly as it descends, ending up at around seven feet in diameter. The walls continue to be natural, with sections that once jutted out into the tunnel chipped off. As you walk you realize that the floor is slightly angled into the center of the path, where the water is forced to gather as it flows down. Even with the tunnel above closed tight enough to not let in light, a steady stream of water flows down the center of the floor between your feet as you walk.
The tunnel levels out in a small rounded chamber with a hole in the center of the room. The walls are covered in images of scaled humanoids with draconic faces. The creatures are wearing robes and holding tools or weapons. In addition there are images of massive snakes, or people with snakelike features. There are even some images of people that look more like snakes. The images seem to tell a story, but it's hard to wrap your head around the narrative since the images don't seem to be in any sort of order. You think that with some time and a bit of study you might be able to sort out the order of things. The water flows into the room, and straight down into the hole. You can hear the trickle of water down below, but you're not sure how far. Even holding your light over the mouth of the hole, only reveals a smooth sided tunnel headed straight down.
(spend an hour, and make a Knowledge History check to sort it out. Hole is deeper than 60ft)
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Post by Greyling on May 30, 2019 1:01:12 GMT -5
As the two ahead of him step aside into the round chamber, Ezra steps forward to assess the room. Fascinating. " I'm sensing a theme," he spare a quick glance to each of the comrades. " I'd like some time to study these images. Might give us a idea of where whatever you are looking for could be located within this place." ((Knowledge History (20+5) 25 : www.wizards.com/dnd/dice/dice.htm))
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