New Isra
Committed
Roleplay posts: 71
Biography: This account represents the NPCs and locations associated with New Isra!
Allegiances: Isra
Registered: Mar 16, 2021 22:30:20 GMT -5
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Post by New Isra on Dec 18, 2021 15:42:35 GMT -5
Naoki’s office in her Estate in Port Argentium is a far cry from the opulent palace of a workplace she had back in Old Isra, but it will do. A beautiful desk, borrowed from The Depravity, larger than the doorframe, had to be brought in during construction and built around. The matching chair was brought with it, as were a few small cabinets for writing supplies, spare ledgers, maps and the like. Two chairs sit opposite the desk, but are rarely occupied. There are hardly any decorations, but a small fireplace burns merrily away on the far wall, well-positioned to keep Naoki warm as she toils away with paperwork, plans, or whatever else. |
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Alden
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 266 
Age: 53(?)
Appearance: The reference image is a commissioned piece and is accurate.
Alden is 6 even, with shoulder-length messy black hair, and several days worth of beard stubble. He is handsome, with a powerful jaw, mid-set cheekbones, and a perpetual grin that makes him seem younger than he really is. His bright green eyes, constantly sparkle with barely contained mirth. He has the lithe well-muscled body of a swordsman, and he moves with considerable grace and dexterity.
If one were to do a more thorough examination of Alden's eyes they may notice a further detail. Around the outside edge of his iris, there's an intricate series of minuscule grey runes.
Underneath his shirt, Alden's skin is a mass of scar tissue. Starting from just below his neckline, there is very little space that does not sport some relic of a past injury. A particularly observant person may also note that among these scars, some are a bright scarlet. These scarlet scars form an intricate series of runes hiding amidst the rest of the scars.
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Equipment: Alden's general loadout when he goes fighting consists of the following:
A twin set of enchanted shortswords. The simple straight blades are unnatural dark, absorbing rather than reflecting light. Giving the enchanted steel an appearance closer to cold iron. The guard has the Isran sun emblem emblazoned in a medallion shape just above the guard, which is wrapped in simple leather. The enchantments increase their sharpness and durability, as well as being able to ignite the blood of anything that he has pierced with either blade.
Numerous braces and hidden throwing knives all over his body. At one point, these were also enchanted but when the calamity struck he didn't have time to grab his original set. So these are all well-made but ultimately mundane weapons. Still, with his strength and skill, they can be quite deadly.
Unfortunately, at present, he is also missing his armour. His preferred armour is leather dyed in mottled black and greys, with strike plates sewn between layers for added protection. His old set was also enchanted for increased protection from physical and magical attacks.
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Skills and Abilities: Alden is, for lack of a better term, a weapon master. He has been trained to use almost any weapon you can think to name. Relentless daily training with each, with extraordinarily demanding expectations on performance and harsh incentives for failure giving a level of skill with most of them that make him formidable.
However, his preferred style involves twin short swords. While he is skilled with all of his weapons thanks to training, he discovered a natural talent with the blade. His level of skill when wielding his short swords is on another level entirely, nearly transcendent in his skill.
On top of that, he is a living magical enchantment. Carved into his body are a variety of runes that grant him numerous innate abilities. He is inhumanly strong, around three to four times stronger than a man in a similar state of physical fitness would be. This also applies to his endurance, speed, reflexes, and other physical traits. He also has regenerative abilities exceeding human normal, able to heal from even broken bones in a matter of days rather than weeks.
In addition, he is immune to most poisons and resistant to the rest. The runes etched into his eyes ensure he can see the same no matter the level of light and reveal magical auras to him. Runes along his back make him impossible to scry on directly and provide him a measure of resistance to magical attack. This, combined with training, also makes him immune to magical mental influence. Finally, runes on his feet dampen any sound he might make taking his already considerable stealth abilities to another level entirely.
Speaking of his training also included all of the skills one would think an Assassin should have. He knows how to mix poisons, move without being seen or making noise, scale walls, lie or disguise himself, pick locks, pick pockets, just for starters. He is also quite skilled at clerical work and he has some diplomacy ability after thirty years leading the Sun Marshals.
Beyond all of this, Alden also possesses an incredible amount of willpower. If Alden decides that he will do something, there is very little that can stop him from doing it. In fact, at present, the only thing that could deter him from a course of action is Captain Naoki. The former Empress is the only person he has any loyalty to and he often values her judgement on matters above his own.
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Biography: Alden was born to a small farming family in an out-of-the-way village. His parents named him Toan and until he was five his destiny was most likely to live and die on the same farm he was born. However, that all changed when Pride arrived.
The leader of a criminal group known as The Set, Pride offered his parents a sum of money that would make any poor farmer's heart stop. Enough money to change their lives forever and all he wanted was Alden, one of nearly a dozen children. A child that wasn't even old enough to help with chores around the farm yet. And the man as so nice, he wanted a ward that he could train to be a retainer how bad of a life could that be?
The answer to that question was basically Hell. Pride was a potent alchemist, enchanter, and scholar and he had but one goal in mind. To create a superior warrior. Alden was subjected to hellish daily training along with six other children. Forced to learn to fight with every weapon, against any foe, in any condition. His limbs were broken deliberately and he was forced to continue to fight and train in constant agony. And this was among the mildest of the ways he was trained.
The culmination of the training came when he was twelve. When he and the six other children were locked in a room and told that the only one who got to leave... was the only one to survive. Of course, surviving was hardly a reward.
Once Pride had only the strongest of the children left he proceeded to the next step of his plan. Alden's memories and identity were seared away as Pride carved runes into his flesh and his very soul. Transforming the young man into a living magical artifact and keeping him on a drug that suppressed all of his emotions.
From there Alden became the new Wrath of the set, a weapon meant only to slay those he was told to. That may have been all he would be but Pride made a miscalculation, Alden's runes helped him to build an immunity to the dosage meant to keep his emotions in check, a weakness made worse by Pride having let him keep his anger thinking it would make him a better weapon. Eventually, events conspired and Alden snapped when the only member of The Set to be kind to him, Sloth, was killed for threatening to expose Pride.
Alden, driven into a deeper rage than ever before killed Envy, Lust, Gluttony, and even disembowelled Pride. Greed manage to escape and Alden slaughtered everything in his path trying to catch the man. Eventually succeeding in his goal. Bereft of a target for his rage and the chase having left him in the middle of nowhere Alden finally collapsed the trauma and coming off of the dosage causing him to bury most of his memories.
He wound up in Isra where his talents and skill soon earned him the eye of the then, criminal Madam Naoki. She recruited him as one of her enforcers a role he continued as her power expanded and grew until she finally became Empress. His reward for his loyalty? Appointment to the head of The Sun Marshals her special police force, effectively making him her right-hand man.
During this time he also uncovered his own past and learned that Pride had survived, the man had made preparations for such an eventuality and his death only saw his soul moving to a phylactery as he became a lich.
Pride created a new Set, this time making each member just as he made Alden. Eventually, this culminated in Pride attacking Isra and his eventual, final defeat.
Decades have passed since that time and Alden, whose power kept him at his prime for years continued to serve Isra until the new calamity took him to The Island of Mists, his empress reduced to a captain and he now serving as her first mate.
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Allegiances: Naoki and Port Argentum
Place of Residence: Port Argentum
Registered: Mar 21, 2021 13:21:25 GMT -5
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Post by Alden on Jan 14, 2022 15:23:42 GMT -5
Naturally, there were guards at the door of Naoki's estate but just as naturally they did not stop Alden from entering it, even with a guest in tow. The guards weren't exactly going to try and stop him since it wasn't really a question if Alden was permitted into the building considering who he was and what, and who, he did. Hell, Alden wasn't actually sure but he might even have a room in the estate. He had been sharing a tent with Naoki prior to the building going up though he hadn't talked to her about his living situation since construction was completed.
After stopping briefly to ask a guard where Naoki was they headed up to her office where Alden knocked once and waited for permission to enter. While he could be fairly brazen he'd walked in on a few meetings in the past and while some of the things he'd seen doing so didn't bother him, he figured that Ito should be spared such a risk.
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Ito
Established
Roleplay posts: 41
Age: 23
Appearance: Ito has a thin but wiry physique and unkempt dark hair that matches the color of his rather fluffy tail and large ears.
His skin is an even darkish tan save for the scarring on his neck, wrists, and ankles that one could guess was caused by shackles. There are also several white markings on his face and nose. Eye color is a vibrant yellow.
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Equipment: Ito’s clothing consists of rather baggy long sleeve shirts and pants of varying shades of dark brown and gray. He usually wears a rather large but thin scarf of sorts over this, secured by a silver brooch fashioned as a leaf. Depending on the trip, he carries either just a single or numerous bags with him. Each is primarily filled with various survival gear, water, rations, etc. However, some contain items less vital to survival such as paper, ink.
He also carries a long metallic chain, one end having a collar large enough to go around someone's neck and the other end large enough to go around a wrist or ankle. Numerous tiny runes are inscribed on both ends of the chain.
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Biography: The 4th child of Naoki, Ito was one of the many heirs to the Isran Empire. As one of Naoki's more rebellious offspring, Ito was often seen outside The Citadel grounds — much to the chagrin of his tutors.
As part of his training, Ito went to face Isra's enemies in war. To help him hone his gift to its full potential, a handpicked irregular unit was formed around him. Acting as one of Isra's premier strike teams, Ito's team imposed the Empress's will across the realm.
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Allegiances: To his unit
Place of Residence: Port Argentium
Registered: Jan 5, 2022 9:33:54 GMT -5
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Post by Ito on Jan 15, 2022 13:21:24 GMT -5
Ito followed after Alden in silence. They’d had plenty of time to talk on their trek back to Port Argentium and now Ito was trying his best to get his jumbled thoughts in order. It was a strange feeling to pass through the threshold of Naoki’s estate, knowing within mere moments he’d be meeting her… Not the mother he knew, not the one who had given birth to him, but another version of her. It was a strange thing to think about and Ito was having quite the time wrapping his head around it.
How would Naoki react to such news? A child she didn’t have herself yet was hers all the same. This pondering wouldn’t do him any good, but Ito found he just couldn’t stop himself. And so, Ito tried to redirect his thoughts. The estate itself was unsurprisingly far nicer than any of the other buildings he had seen in town, but that was to be expected. Naoki always demanded the best, and the list of people who would tell her no was a short one.
As the pair approached the door to her office, Ito took in a great breath of air before slowly releasing it. Rolling his shoulders to try and shake the stiffness from them, he made a halfhearted attempt to comb his windswept hair before giving up entirely and directing his attention back to the door.
Well, here goes nothing.
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Lady Naoki
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 345 
Appearance: Naoki is a curvaceous woman of average height, indeterminate age, and catlike features. Her hair is a dark auburn, often pulled back into a long braid. Her ears are both soft and fluffy, and her tail is never less than perfectly groomed.
Allegiances: New Isra
Place of Residence: Port Argentium
Registered: Mar 16, 2021 22:31:18 GMT -5
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Post by Lady Naoki on Jan 19, 2022 21:38:23 GMT -5
A reply comes not long after the knock on the door, “One moment…” There’s some shuffling and the sound of a drawer closing, footsteps, and click as Naoki unlocks the door.
As the door opens, Naoki is revealed, standing there in the doorframe with her signature sweaterdress and a set of ornate spectacle resting on the top of her nose. She looks between her visitors. “Alden, you’ve brought…”
Taking a closer look at the handsome lad Alden’s brought with him, Naoki blinks. She quirks an eyebrow and raises the spectacles up on her nose to properly look through them, taking in his features. She doesn’t have to look for very long at all before she’s sure. “... My son.”
Stepping forward, Naoki would, unless he pulls away, wrap her son in a hug, holding him close, squeezing him tight, and radiating warmth all the while.
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Alden
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 266
Age: 53(?)
Appearance: The reference image is a commissioned piece and is accurate.
Alden is 6 even, with shoulder-length messy black hair, and several days worth of beard stubble. He is handsome, with a powerful jaw, mid-set cheekbones, and a perpetual grin that makes him seem younger than he really is. His bright green eyes, constantly sparkle with barely contained mirth. He has the lithe well-muscled body of a swordsman, and he moves with considerable grace and dexterity.
If one were to do a more thorough examination of Alden's eyes they may notice a further detail. Around the outside edge of his iris, there's an intricate series of minuscule grey runes.
Underneath his shirt, Alden's skin is a mass of scar tissue. Starting from just below his neckline, there is very little space that does not sport some relic of a past injury. A particularly observant person may also note that among these scars, some are a bright scarlet. These scarlet scars form an intricate series of runes hiding amidst the rest of the scars.
-------------------------------------------
Equipment: Alden's general loadout when he goes fighting consists of the following:
A twin set of enchanted shortswords. The simple straight blades are unnatural dark, absorbing rather than reflecting light. Giving the enchanted steel an appearance closer to cold iron. The guard has the Isran sun emblem emblazoned in a medallion shape just above the guard, which is wrapped in simple leather. The enchantments increase their sharpness and durability, as well as being able to ignite the blood of anything that he has pierced with either blade.
Numerous braces and hidden throwing knives all over his body. At one point, these were also enchanted but when the calamity struck he didn't have time to grab his original set. So these are all well-made but ultimately mundane weapons. Still, with his strength and skill, they can be quite deadly.
Unfortunately, at present, he is also missing his armour. His preferred armour is leather dyed in mottled black and greys, with strike plates sewn between layers for added protection. His old set was also enchanted for increased protection from physical and magical attacks.
-------------------------------------------
Skills and Abilities: Alden is, for lack of a better term, a weapon master. He has been trained to use almost any weapon you can think to name. Relentless daily training with each, with extraordinarily demanding expectations on performance and harsh incentives for failure giving a level of skill with most of them that make him formidable.
However, his preferred style involves twin short swords. While he is skilled with all of his weapons thanks to training, he discovered a natural talent with the blade. His level of skill when wielding his short swords is on another level entirely, nearly transcendent in his skill.
On top of that, he is a living magical enchantment. Carved into his body are a variety of runes that grant him numerous innate abilities. He is inhumanly strong, around three to four times stronger than a man in a similar state of physical fitness would be. This also applies to his endurance, speed, reflexes, and other physical traits. He also has regenerative abilities exceeding human normal, able to heal from even broken bones in a matter of days rather than weeks.
In addition, he is immune to most poisons and resistant to the rest. The runes etched into his eyes ensure he can see the same no matter the level of light and reveal magical auras to him. Runes along his back make him impossible to scry on directly and provide him a measure of resistance to magical attack. This, combined with training, also makes him immune to magical mental influence. Finally, runes on his feet dampen any sound he might make taking his already considerable stealth abilities to another level entirely.
Speaking of his training also included all of the skills one would think an Assassin should have. He knows how to mix poisons, move without being seen or making noise, scale walls, lie or disguise himself, pick locks, pick pockets, just for starters. He is also quite skilled at clerical work and he has some diplomacy ability after thirty years leading the Sun Marshals.
Beyond all of this, Alden also possesses an incredible amount of willpower. If Alden decides that he will do something, there is very little that can stop him from doing it. In fact, at present, the only thing that could deter him from a course of action is Captain Naoki. The former Empress is the only person he has any loyalty to and he often values her judgement on matters above his own.
-------------------------------------------
Biography: Alden was born to a small farming family in an out-of-the-way village. His parents named him Toan and until he was five his destiny was most likely to live and die on the same farm he was born. However, that all changed when Pride arrived.
The leader of a criminal group known as The Set, Pride offered his parents a sum of money that would make any poor farmer's heart stop. Enough money to change their lives forever and all he wanted was Alden, one of nearly a dozen children. A child that wasn't even old enough to help with chores around the farm yet. And the man as so nice, he wanted a ward that he could train to be a retainer how bad of a life could that be?
The answer to that question was basically Hell. Pride was a potent alchemist, enchanter, and scholar and he had but one goal in mind. To create a superior warrior. Alden was subjected to hellish daily training along with six other children. Forced to learn to fight with every weapon, against any foe, in any condition. His limbs were broken deliberately and he was forced to continue to fight and train in constant agony. And this was among the mildest of the ways he was trained.
The culmination of the training came when he was twelve. When he and the six other children were locked in a room and told that the only one who got to leave... was the only one to survive. Of course, surviving was hardly a reward.
Once Pride had only the strongest of the children left he proceeded to the next step of his plan. Alden's memories and identity were seared away as Pride carved runes into his flesh and his very soul. Transforming the young man into a living magical artifact and keeping him on a drug that suppressed all of his emotions.
From there Alden became the new Wrath of the set, a weapon meant only to slay those he was told to. That may have been all he would be but Pride made a miscalculation, Alden's runes helped him to build an immunity to the dosage meant to keep his emotions in check, a weakness made worse by Pride having let him keep his anger thinking it would make him a better weapon. Eventually, events conspired and Alden snapped when the only member of The Set to be kind to him, Sloth, was killed for threatening to expose Pride.
Alden, driven into a deeper rage than ever before killed Envy, Lust, Gluttony, and even disembowelled Pride. Greed manage to escape and Alden slaughtered everything in his path trying to catch the man. Eventually succeeding in his goal. Bereft of a target for his rage and the chase having left him in the middle of nowhere Alden finally collapsed the trauma and coming off of the dosage causing him to bury most of his memories.
He wound up in Isra where his talents and skill soon earned him the eye of the then, criminal Madam Naoki. She recruited him as one of her enforcers a role he continued as her power expanded and grew until she finally became Empress. His reward for his loyalty? Appointment to the head of The Sun Marshals her special police force, effectively making him her right-hand man.
During this time he also uncovered his own past and learned that Pride had survived, the man had made preparations for such an eventuality and his death only saw his soul moving to a phylactery as he became a lich.
Pride created a new Set, this time making each member just as he made Alden. Eventually, this culminated in Pride attacking Isra and his eventual, final defeat.
Decades have passed since that time and Alden, whose power kept him at his prime for years continued to serve Isra until the new calamity took him to The Island of Mists, his empress reduced to a captain and he now serving as her first mate.
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Allegiances: Naoki and Port Argentum
Place of Residence: Port Argentum
Registered: Mar 21, 2021 13:21:25 GMT -5
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Post by Alden on Jan 19, 2022 21:59:06 GMT -5
It probably shouldn't have surprised Alden that Naoki deduced Ito's identity so quickly. After all, he'd noticed the family resemblance relatively quickly once he had known to look for it. Still, he'd thought she might need to at least be made aware of the possibility before she noticed. But she wasn't the sort to miss small details and it was fairly plain to anyone who knew the two.
"Yes."
Alden said mildly to her as she hugged Ito.
"I'll leave you two to get acquainted."
With that, he inclined his head and turned to go. While he did need to ask Naoki a question he felt it was the sort better asked privately.
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Ito
Established
Roleplay posts: 41
Age: 23
Appearance: Ito has a thin but wiry physique and unkempt dark hair that matches the color of his rather fluffy tail and large ears.
His skin is an even darkish tan save for the scarring on his neck, wrists, and ankles that one could guess was caused by shackles. There are also several white markings on his face and nose. Eye color is a vibrant yellow.
------------------------------------------------------------
Equipment: Ito’s clothing consists of rather baggy long sleeve shirts and pants of varying shades of dark brown and gray. He usually wears a rather large but thin scarf of sorts over this, secured by a silver brooch fashioned as a leaf. Depending on the trip, he carries either just a single or numerous bags with him. Each is primarily filled with various survival gear, water, rations, etc. However, some contain items less vital to survival such as paper, ink.
He also carries a long metallic chain, one end having a collar large enough to go around someone's neck and the other end large enough to go around a wrist or ankle. Numerous tiny runes are inscribed on both ends of the chain.
------------------------------------------------------------
Biography: The 4th child of Naoki, Ito was one of the many heirs to the Isran Empire. As one of Naoki's more rebellious offspring, Ito was often seen outside The Citadel grounds — much to the chagrin of his tutors.
As part of his training, Ito went to face Isra's enemies in war. To help him hone his gift to its full potential, a handpicked irregular unit was formed around him. Acting as one of Isra's premier strike teams, Ito's team imposed the Empress's will across the realm.
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Allegiances: To his unit
Place of Residence: Port Argentium
Registered: Jan 5, 2022 9:33:54 GMT -5
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Post by Ito on Jan 21, 2022 3:59:42 GMT -5
Ito stared distantly at the door, his mind drifting as he heard Naoki nearing it. Now that he was actually meeting her, his mind was being uncooperative. Unpleasant thoughts and doubts entered his head unprompted. But then the door opened.
And there was his mother! He could tell that this wasn’t the same Naoki he knew, yet at the same time… It was still his mother. Her expression, her sweater dress, even her scent. They all made him think of home. Ito felt a wave of relief sweep through him, his arms hanging limply at his side as Naoki brought him into a fierce hug.
Even having never seen him before, she’d known who he was almost immediately. One of his greatest fears of this meeting, was for now at least, assuaged. Snapping himself out of his daze, Ito returned the hug, placing his forehead against Naoki’s as he wrapped his arms around her. His ears drooped forward as all the tension he'd been holding in left him.
“Mother I…” Ito could feel a lump beginning to form in his throat. There went his emotions, getting the best of him. He supposed this is what he got for holding them in for so long. “I’m glad you're safe.” Ito choked out the words, his eyes already damp with tears. He had so much to say, but right now he was finding it rather difficult to speak.
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Lady Naoki
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 345
Appearance: Naoki is a curvaceous woman of average height, indeterminate age, and catlike features. Her hair is a dark auburn, often pulled back into a long braid. Her ears are both soft and fluffy, and her tail is never less than perfectly groomed.
Allegiances: New Isra
Place of Residence: Port Argentium
Registered: Mar 16, 2021 22:31:18 GMT -5
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Post by Lady Naoki on Jan 28, 2022 15:26:02 GMT -5
After holding her son in her arms for a time, Naoki pulls back, holding him by the shoulders at arm’s length to get a proper look at him. It’s more than a little bit surreal, more so than having alternate versions of people she knew, meeting those she didn’t know — and didn’t even yet exist.
“You’re so handsome,” Naoki says, reaching up to brush the hair off his face. “I can tell, though: you dress yourself, and you’ve not been eating near enough as you should.” Tsking gently, Naoki attempts to straighten his hair, to little effect. He’s got that ‘permanently windswept’ look about him, and this probably isn’t the first time she’s tried to straighten it, she supposes.
“Say, Alden?” Naoki calls after him. “Could you ask Laute to start on a meal?”
“Let’s sit,” she invites her son into the office, “We can talk for a bit, then go get some food into you.”
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Alden
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 266
Age: 53(?)
Appearance: The reference image is a commissioned piece and is accurate.
Alden is 6 even, with shoulder-length messy black hair, and several days worth of beard stubble. He is handsome, with a powerful jaw, mid-set cheekbones, and a perpetual grin that makes him seem younger than he really is. His bright green eyes, constantly sparkle with barely contained mirth. He has the lithe well-muscled body of a swordsman, and he moves with considerable grace and dexterity.
If one were to do a more thorough examination of Alden's eyes they may notice a further detail. Around the outside edge of his iris, there's an intricate series of minuscule grey runes.
Underneath his shirt, Alden's skin is a mass of scar tissue. Starting from just below his neckline, there is very little space that does not sport some relic of a past injury. A particularly observant person may also note that among these scars, some are a bright scarlet. These scarlet scars form an intricate series of runes hiding amidst the rest of the scars.
-------------------------------------------
Equipment: Alden's general loadout when he goes fighting consists of the following:
A twin set of enchanted shortswords. The simple straight blades are unnatural dark, absorbing rather than reflecting light. Giving the enchanted steel an appearance closer to cold iron. The guard has the Isran sun emblem emblazoned in a medallion shape just above the guard, which is wrapped in simple leather. The enchantments increase their sharpness and durability, as well as being able to ignite the blood of anything that he has pierced with either blade.
Numerous braces and hidden throwing knives all over his body. At one point, these were also enchanted but when the calamity struck he didn't have time to grab his original set. So these are all well-made but ultimately mundane weapons. Still, with his strength and skill, they can be quite deadly.
Unfortunately, at present, he is also missing his armour. His preferred armour is leather dyed in mottled black and greys, with strike plates sewn between layers for added protection. His old set was also enchanted for increased protection from physical and magical attacks.
-------------------------------------------
Skills and Abilities: Alden is, for lack of a better term, a weapon master. He has been trained to use almost any weapon you can think to name. Relentless daily training with each, with extraordinarily demanding expectations on performance and harsh incentives for failure giving a level of skill with most of them that make him formidable.
However, his preferred style involves twin short swords. While he is skilled with all of his weapons thanks to training, he discovered a natural talent with the blade. His level of skill when wielding his short swords is on another level entirely, nearly transcendent in his skill.
On top of that, he is a living magical enchantment. Carved into his body are a variety of runes that grant him numerous innate abilities. He is inhumanly strong, around three to four times stronger than a man in a similar state of physical fitness would be. This also applies to his endurance, speed, reflexes, and other physical traits. He also has regenerative abilities exceeding human normal, able to heal from even broken bones in a matter of days rather than weeks.
In addition, he is immune to most poisons and resistant to the rest. The runes etched into his eyes ensure he can see the same no matter the level of light and reveal magical auras to him. Runes along his back make him impossible to scry on directly and provide him a measure of resistance to magical attack. This, combined with training, also makes him immune to magical mental influence. Finally, runes on his feet dampen any sound he might make taking his already considerable stealth abilities to another level entirely.
Speaking of his training also included all of the skills one would think an Assassin should have. He knows how to mix poisons, move without being seen or making noise, scale walls, lie or disguise himself, pick locks, pick pockets, just for starters. He is also quite skilled at clerical work and he has some diplomacy ability after thirty years leading the Sun Marshals.
Beyond all of this, Alden also possesses an incredible amount of willpower. If Alden decides that he will do something, there is very little that can stop him from doing it. In fact, at present, the only thing that could deter him from a course of action is Captain Naoki. The former Empress is the only person he has any loyalty to and he often values her judgement on matters above his own.
-------------------------------------------
Biography: Alden was born to a small farming family in an out-of-the-way village. His parents named him Toan and until he was five his destiny was most likely to live and die on the same farm he was born. However, that all changed when Pride arrived.
The leader of a criminal group known as The Set, Pride offered his parents a sum of money that would make any poor farmer's heart stop. Enough money to change their lives forever and all he wanted was Alden, one of nearly a dozen children. A child that wasn't even old enough to help with chores around the farm yet. And the man as so nice, he wanted a ward that he could train to be a retainer how bad of a life could that be?
The answer to that question was basically Hell. Pride was a potent alchemist, enchanter, and scholar and he had but one goal in mind. To create a superior warrior. Alden was subjected to hellish daily training along with six other children. Forced to learn to fight with every weapon, against any foe, in any condition. His limbs were broken deliberately and he was forced to continue to fight and train in constant agony. And this was among the mildest of the ways he was trained.
The culmination of the training came when he was twelve. When he and the six other children were locked in a room and told that the only one who got to leave... was the only one to survive. Of course, surviving was hardly a reward.
Once Pride had only the strongest of the children left he proceeded to the next step of his plan. Alden's memories and identity were seared away as Pride carved runes into his flesh and his very soul. Transforming the young man into a living magical artifact and keeping him on a drug that suppressed all of his emotions.
From there Alden became the new Wrath of the set, a weapon meant only to slay those he was told to. That may have been all he would be but Pride made a miscalculation, Alden's runes helped him to build an immunity to the dosage meant to keep his emotions in check, a weakness made worse by Pride having let him keep his anger thinking it would make him a better weapon. Eventually, events conspired and Alden snapped when the only member of The Set to be kind to him, Sloth, was killed for threatening to expose Pride.
Alden, driven into a deeper rage than ever before killed Envy, Lust, Gluttony, and even disembowelled Pride. Greed manage to escape and Alden slaughtered everything in his path trying to catch the man. Eventually succeeding in his goal. Bereft of a target for his rage and the chase having left him in the middle of nowhere Alden finally collapsed the trauma and coming off of the dosage causing him to bury most of his memories.
He wound up in Isra where his talents and skill soon earned him the eye of the then, criminal Madam Naoki. She recruited him as one of her enforcers a role he continued as her power expanded and grew until she finally became Empress. His reward for his loyalty? Appointment to the head of The Sun Marshals her special police force, effectively making him her right-hand man.
During this time he also uncovered his own past and learned that Pride had survived, the man had made preparations for such an eventuality and his death only saw his soul moving to a phylactery as he became a lich.
Pride created a new Set, this time making each member just as he made Alden. Eventually, this culminated in Pride attacking Isra and his eventual, final defeat.
Decades have passed since that time and Alden, whose power kept him at his prime for years continued to serve Isra until the new calamity took him to The Island of Mists, his empress reduced to a captain and he now serving as her first mate.
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Allegiances: Naoki and Port Argentum
Place of Residence: Port Argentum
Registered: Mar 21, 2021 13:21:25 GMT -5
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Post by Alden on Jan 28, 2022 17:04:57 GMT -5
Naoki called out before he turned down the hallway toward the front door and he paused, turned, and nodded his head.
"Yes, of course."
There was a brief pause as he considered asking where the kitchen was since he wasn't sure. Then he figured it was likely where the chimney was since that was where the cookfire would be. So he changed direction without a word and went that way. The worst thing that could happen is he needed to ask a member of staff for direction.
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Ito
Established
Roleplay posts: 41
Age: 23
Appearance: Ito has a thin but wiry physique and unkempt dark hair that matches the color of his rather fluffy tail and large ears.
His skin is an even darkish tan save for the scarring on his neck, wrists, and ankles that one could guess was caused by shackles. There are also several white markings on his face and nose. Eye color is a vibrant yellow.
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Equipment: Ito’s clothing consists of rather baggy long sleeve shirts and pants of varying shades of dark brown and gray. He usually wears a rather large but thin scarf of sorts over this, secured by a silver brooch fashioned as a leaf. Depending on the trip, he carries either just a single or numerous bags with him. Each is primarily filled with various survival gear, water, rations, etc. However, some contain items less vital to survival such as paper, ink.
He also carries a long metallic chain, one end having a collar large enough to go around someone's neck and the other end large enough to go around a wrist or ankle. Numerous tiny runes are inscribed on both ends of the chain.
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Biography: The 4th child of Naoki, Ito was one of the many heirs to the Isran Empire. As one of Naoki's more rebellious offspring, Ito was often seen outside The Citadel grounds — much to the chagrin of his tutors.
As part of his training, Ito went to face Isra's enemies in war. To help him hone his gift to its full potential, a handpicked irregular unit was formed around him. Acting as one of Isra's premier strike teams, Ito's team imposed the Empress's will across the realm.
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Allegiances: To his unit
Place of Residence: Port Argentium
Registered: Jan 5, 2022 9:33:54 GMT -5
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Post by Ito on Jan 30, 2022 21:05:05 GMT -5
Taking this moment to get a better look at his mother, it didn’t take long to see that visually there were very few differences. It seemed the sweater dress was a common thread in Naoki’s wardrobe that persisted through timelines. He also knew even well before he’d been born Naoki had stopped visibly aging.
“And you’re as sharply dressed as ever. It shouldn’t come as a surprise I suppose that not even a scenario as dire as this one could keep you away from your sweater dresses.” Letting out a slightly uncomfortable laugh as he brushed his tears away, Ito pointed at his clothing. “A necessary evil of working in the military, can’t wear anything too flashy.”
Pausing, Ito realized just how much there would be to discuss. This Naoki didn’t even know he’d been in the military. Had the Isran Empire she’d been running even had that particular branch? It was a lot to unpack. Fortunately, the mention of food brought Ito back to the present.
“I am rather famished. It’s a good thing I ran into Alden when I did or I don’t know what might have become of me.” It wasn’t hard to imagine a scenario where he’d wandered in the opposite direction from Port Argentium and ended up starving to death or getting killed by the island’s wildlife.
Following Naoki into her office, Ito readily accepted the invitation to sit, dropping heavily into a seat across from Naoki’s own. A level of exhaustion he hadn’t yet been aware of swept over him. Even during his walk back with Alden, he had subconsciously been keeping his guard up. But now, now he could finally let it down. “Well, I suppose I should start off with my name. I’m Ito, your fourth child.”
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Lady Naoki
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 345
Appearance: Naoki is a curvaceous woman of average height, indeterminate age, and catlike features. Her hair is a dark auburn, often pulled back into a long braid. Her ears are both soft and fluffy, and her tail is never less than perfectly groomed.
Allegiances: New Isra
Place of Residence: Port Argentium
Registered: Mar 16, 2021 22:31:18 GMT -5
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Post by Lady Naoki on Feb 2, 2022 22:41:06 GMT -5
“Ah, all my wardrobes are full of these.” Naoki waves away the comment on her dress and Ito’s awkward laughter as unimportant.
At the mention of his being in the military, Naoki’s eyebrows briefly rise. That makes sense, she supposes, but she’s certain that she didn’t sign off on this arrangement of rags as any sort of official uniform, least of all for her very own son. Beckoning him into her office, she shuts the door behind them and takes her own seat behind the desk.
“... Ito.” Naoki tests the name on her tongue and looks into the eyes of its owner. Then she nods.
“That’s funny,” she says. “Not the name — it seems like it suits you, but it’s just that I’ve thought about that name as what I might name a child, and never once mentioned it to anyone. To see you here and now with that name, and to know that some future or alternate version of myself named you that…”
“It’s a bit surreal,” Naoki admits aloud. “And more than a little heartwarming. … I’m sorry that I’m not quite the same mother you remember, but…” Trailing off, Naoki shrugs. She didn’t have a say in that. “As far as I’m concerned, you’re my son just the same."
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Ito
Established
Roleplay posts: 41
Age: 23
Appearance: Ito has a thin but wiry physique and unkempt dark hair that matches the color of his rather fluffy tail and large ears.
His skin is an even darkish tan save for the scarring on his neck, wrists, and ankles that one could guess was caused by shackles. There are also several white markings on his face and nose. Eye color is a vibrant yellow.
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Equipment: Ito’s clothing consists of rather baggy long sleeve shirts and pants of varying shades of dark brown and gray. He usually wears a rather large but thin scarf of sorts over this, secured by a silver brooch fashioned as a leaf. Depending on the trip, he carries either just a single or numerous bags with him. Each is primarily filled with various survival gear, water, rations, etc. However, some contain items less vital to survival such as paper, ink.
He also carries a long metallic chain, one end having a collar large enough to go around someone's neck and the other end large enough to go around a wrist or ankle. Numerous tiny runes are inscribed on both ends of the chain.
------------------------------------------------------------
Biography: The 4th child of Naoki, Ito was one of the many heirs to the Isran Empire. As one of Naoki's more rebellious offspring, Ito was often seen outside The Citadel grounds — much to the chagrin of his tutors.
As part of his training, Ito went to face Isra's enemies in war. To help him hone his gift to its full potential, a handpicked irregular unit was formed around him. Acting as one of Isra's premier strike teams, Ito's team imposed the Empress's will across the realm.
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Allegiances: To his unit
Place of Residence: Port Argentium
Registered: Jan 5, 2022 9:33:54 GMT -5
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Post by Ito on Feb 10, 2022 1:08:35 GMT -5
Ito nodded at Naoki’s observation on his name. It was all a very strange thing to think about. If the flood had never happened to her, would she have eventually met his father and had him? Going even further, would things have progressed the same way? Could his father have survived that attack? The mere contemplation of such things, well, it made Ito’s head hurt a bit.
“You are rather fond of short names, yours isn’t particularly long either,” Pausing, Ito quirked an eyebrow in question as he continued. “Does the name Ren ring any bells?” He had already come to understand from Alden his big brother wasn’t here, but even still he couldn’t help but ask about him. And while they were on the topic of names, well, Ito figured he’d take advantage.
“I know what you mean, this situation isn’t one I ever thought I’d find myself in. To call it unusual would be an understatement…” Clearing his throat loudly, Ito locked eyes with his mother. “I feel the same way about you. Same or not, you’re still my mother. When I first washed up here and heard what had happened from Alden… Well, I’m not sure what I would’ve done if none of my family had survived.”
Looking down at the table, Ito let out a sigh. With so much to talk about, it was hard to decide where to begin.
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Lady Naoki
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 345
Appearance: Naoki is a curvaceous woman of average height, indeterminate age, and catlike features. Her hair is a dark auburn, often pulled back into a long braid. Her ears are both soft and fluffy, and her tail is never less than perfectly groomed.
Allegiances: New Isra
Place of Residence: Port Argentium
Registered: Mar 16, 2021 22:31:18 GMT -5
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Post by Lady Naoki on Feb 10, 2022 18:52:01 GMT -5
“... I suppose so,” Naoki replies, shrugging. “Ren? Certainly — the very same bell. He’s one of your siblings, I shouldn’t doubt, but I assume Alden’s told you: I haven’t had any children,” she says, placing a hand to her chest.
Why Ito would ask about one sibling over others is as of yet unclear to Naoki, but he’ll elaborate in time, she trusts.
As Ito goes on to tell her how he feels, Naoki feels something she’s not felt in a hot minute: relief. She lets out the breath she was holding and relaxes a bit. It’s not very long since she met Ito, but it might be reasonable for him to feel some other way. To know that he’ll accept her, despite her not being the same person who birthed and raised him — this bodes well, and she smiles.
Naoki can see in his face: he’s not sure how to begin, so she starts.
“I ruled Old Isra for about thirty years before the floods came,” Naoki begins. “I was overseeing some cargo being loaded aboard The Depravity when The Mist started to close in and the sea level began to rise. As I watched, Port Silverion was flooded, and Isra soon after. We fished everyone we could out of the water, but soon The Black Tower and even The Citadel were submerged beneath the oddly still water, and The Mists moved closer and closer in. … We were at sea for about ninety days before sighting land, and we landed here a few months ago, and construction of this new settlement has been proceeding apace, by all accounts. The only hangups have been the dampening effect The Mist seems to have on magic, the lack of food production infrastructure, and this incredibly hostile environs we’ve found ourselves in. The forests around here are full to bursting with all manner of dangerous beasts, and it’s been all we can do to hunt and fish enough to keep the people fed.” Naoki is quiet for a long moment as she considers if she’s left major anything out, but shrugs, and supposes she hasn’t. There are other important details, but that’s more or less the situation as it stands.
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Ito
Established
Roleplay posts: 41
Age: 23
Appearance: Ito has a thin but wiry physique and unkempt dark hair that matches the color of his rather fluffy tail and large ears.
His skin is an even darkish tan save for the scarring on his neck, wrists, and ankles that one could guess was caused by shackles. There are also several white markings on his face and nose. Eye color is a vibrant yellow.
------------------------------------------------------------
Equipment: Ito’s clothing consists of rather baggy long sleeve shirts and pants of varying shades of dark brown and gray. He usually wears a rather large but thin scarf of sorts over this, secured by a silver brooch fashioned as a leaf. Depending on the trip, he carries either just a single or numerous bags with him. Each is primarily filled with various survival gear, water, rations, etc. However, some contain items less vital to survival such as paper, ink.
He also carries a long metallic chain, one end having a collar large enough to go around someone's neck and the other end large enough to go around a wrist or ankle. Numerous tiny runes are inscribed on both ends of the chain.
------------------------------------------------------------
Biography: The 4th child of Naoki, Ito was one of the many heirs to the Isran Empire. As one of Naoki's more rebellious offspring, Ito was often seen outside The Citadel grounds — much to the chagrin of his tutors.
As part of his training, Ito went to face Isra's enemies in war. To help him hone his gift to its full potential, a handpicked irregular unit was formed around him. Acting as one of Isra's premier strike teams, Ito's team imposed the Empress's will across the realm.
------------------------------------------------------------
Allegiances: To his unit
Place of Residence: Port Argentium
Registered: Jan 5, 2022 9:33:54 GMT -5
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Post by Ito on Feb 16, 2022 15:37:04 GMT -5
“Yes, I heard about that.” Ito paused for a moment. “And yes, he was — is my older brother. We were close, not that I wasn’t with the other siblings but… My bond with Ren was special.” Frowning slightly, Ito glanced down towards the floor. The loss of Ren still weighed heavily on Ito’s mind. While he still was holding out hope for him to perhaps wash up, realistically the odds of that were slim.
Rubbing at one eye Ito looked back up to lock gazes with Naoki once more. Her overview of the events of the flood was succinct yet still answered most of his questions. Honestly, given the circumstances, things could be going far worse.
“The Black Tower was submerged?” Pausing, Ito shook his head with a wry laugh. “I mean, I already knew everything had been flooded. But it really takes on a new light when you talk about a building that tall being underwater.”
Placing one leg over the other, Ito leaned back as far as he could in the chair, trying to best make himself comfortable.
“As strange as it is, I think the floods perhaps saved my life,” Taking in a deep breath, Ito continued. “I was on a mission to deal with some foreign influences that were causing Isra issues. Me and my team were in the process of infiltrating their compound to eliminate our target. Turns out, our cover had been blown before the mission ever began, a trap from the start. It was a slaughter, they killed everyone but me. I was only left alive because they knew I’d be a valuable hostage. During the process of transporting me back to their homeland, well, that’s when the flood happened. I managed to escape onto one of their landing crafts during the chaos and here I am.”
While Ito’s voice remained steady throughout his narration of the events, by the end of it the pained expression he wore was plain to see.
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Lady Naoki
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 345
Appearance: Naoki is a curvaceous woman of average height, indeterminate age, and catlike features. Her hair is a dark auburn, often pulled back into a long braid. Her ears are both soft and fluffy, and her tail is never less than perfectly groomed.
Allegiances: New Isra
Place of Residence: Port Argentium
Registered: Mar 16, 2021 22:31:18 GMT -5
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Post by Lady Naoki on Feb 20, 2022 3:22:20 GMT -5
Listening as Ito goes on about Ren, Naoki hums and is quiet for a long moment afterward. “Well, I’ll... keep an eye open for him, then,” she supposes, unsure of what else to say. It bothers her she can’t do more about it.
As Ito goes on about his mission and how it turned out, Naoki’s mouth becomes a thin line, parallel to her eyebrows.
“One thought I’ve had about all this is…” She trails off, considering how to phrase it. “Only those who survived the flood survived the flood. As I said, I was aboard The Depravity when it came, for the first time in a while. Many of those I’ve spoken to seemed to have survived largely by chance, mostly by being aboard ships. If the course of your duties didn’t often have you around ships, it seems possible to me that other versions of you did perish in the floods, and you’re here now because you happened to be near a seafaring vessel at exactly the right time.” With this, Naoki offers a shrug. “It is well that you were,” she adds.
To dwell on his lost comrades now wouldn’t do the lad much good, Naoki thinks, so she changes the subject. “Let me ask after your training,” she says. “Your skills aren’t obvious just by looking, but… You don’t carry yourself quite like one of Alden’s ilk,” she says, eyeing him.
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Lady Naoki
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 345
Appearance: Naoki is a curvaceous woman of average height, indeterminate age, and catlike features. Her hair is a dark auburn, often pulled back into a long braid. Her ears are both soft and fluffy, and her tail is never less than perfectly groomed.
Allegiances: New Isra
Place of Residence: Port Argentium
Registered: Mar 16, 2021 22:31:18 GMT -5
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Post by Lady Naoki on Mar 2, 2023 15:19:51 GMT -5
Standing out on the balcony, one hand in the other behind her back, Lady Naoki looks out across Port Argentium.
She’s grown accustomed to most facets of this new, island life. But one thing still stands out to her: the silence. Even in the dead of night, her great city, Isra, was never quiet. Anywhere within its shining, oiled walls, she could turn her ears this way and that and make out a hundred different conversations. Mice skittering, children snoring, the hushed conversations that occur in alleys. The clanking boots of The Guard, the running waters of fountains. A million and more sounds, there for those that can hear them. A symphony of life being lived, present only in healthy cities.
All of those sounds are technically here, now, in this fledgling town of hers, but it’s just not the same. Isra always felt alive, even at night, with a heartbeat that never grew dim. Here, despite all her effort and all the refugees that have washed ashore since their landing here, this is just a sleepy little town. And, as impressive as it is, to have built such a solid society in so short a time, it just doesn’t inspire the same sense of pride in Naoki that she feels, perhaps it should. She knows better than any how much they’ve done with so little, but to her, it’s just not the same. And however comfortable she may get here, Naoki knows: part of her heart will always yearn to hear her city’s heartbeat once more.
Sighing, Naoki turns her back on Port Argentium and returns to her office. These confines, certainly, have become familiar. To her left, her desk, and next to that, her drafting table, upon both of which a myriad of maps, plans, and construction documents lie ready for tonight’s meeting. But Naoki’s gaze lingers not there, but rather on the small fireplace on the far wall.
Approaching it, she stands close and warms her hands. On this breezy spring evening, her chimney is the only one smoking, but there’s plenty of scrap wood for fuel. The sound of crackling flames has comforted her since the very beginning, and it’s just the same here as it was back in her home on the mountain, just the same as it was on the night her journey began. Standing here by the fire, it’s easy to look into it and remember. To think back to what was, to who she once had, and the journey that has led to this very moment.
Naoki’s ears swivel as her reminiscence is interrupted by the sound of footsteps in the hallway. Her guest for this evening, she can tell. Sighing again, Naoki pulls at her face and blinks a few times as she turns to face the door.
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