Dark Pool
You stand at the edge of the forest with a map in hand, a map to a pool that is supposed to lay somewhere inside the forest. The map isn't terribly detailed, with the pool marked on the paper with a dark splotch. There is little more to tell you where it is... perhaps because it's a map of the woods not a city with obvious landmarks. There's a suggestion of trails, and that's all.
"Six hundred and forty six paces in that direction." points Azteg as he slides off the saddle on his war dog. He pulls gear off the harnesses over the dog, slinging a wooden shield on his left arm and pulling a healing kit and other gear out. "The pool we saw last time we were here, when we found that strange once cat, now dire panther, yes?"
GAME: Rondel rolls Survival: (20)+6: 26 GAME: Darius rolls survival: (7)+0: 7
After leaving his home, Rondel had spent quite a long while out in the wilds, both out on the plains and deep in the woods. He put much of his book learning to the test in those early days and nearly perished testing what was sound advice and what was nonsense, but he became stronger for it. Azteg pointed in a direction, but Rondel was walking a slightly different path, going through brush and breaking aside branches and other obstacles.
"I know where it is. I have been in these black woods before. They are treacherous, but not alien."
Stepping off of a tree, Vasya walks her way over to Azteg. "No, they're not alien. but most woods are treacherous for the unprepared." She says as she looks at her arm. but then she taps Rondel on the shoulder. "Would you please not do that? Would you like it if someone broke your arm just to get by you?"
An'thriya is following along, trying to keep an eye out as best she's able. She knows that she has no idea what precisely to do in a wilderness setting, so she's letting those with a more experienced hand take the lead. "I don't think any arm-breaking is going to happen." she says, "Nobody's starting any fights as best I can tell."
Azteg follows along, letting Rondel lead and the smaller Gobber checking the artifice firearm at his waist in the crossdraw holster. That done he puts his empty pipe in between his sharp teeth and moves along with the others.
Darius is at the back, and he's not very happy, the dire panther in question is padding along beside him with a small half-Syvanori waif-thin girl riding on top of it. Darius turns and says to the girl and panther, "Fluffy... if anything happens, you take Aika and get her as far away from here as possible." Apparently Aika (Darius's newly adopted daughter) doesn't want to be away from the warrior for any length of time. Fluffy chirrups and nuzzles Darius as the two are heading back to where they found each other.
You find your way to the pool, and it's exactly as it was before. A black pond of water sitting in the forest. The water itself is shimmering as though glitter has been thrown into it. It seems peaceful enough in fact, nothing untoward at the moment, however there is something... unusual. A pair of white stags drinking at the edge of the pond. They look up as you approach, cherry blossoms growing along the edges of their antlers. Or are they growing /from/ their antlers? The twin stags bound away together and are gone in an instant.
Rondel does not hesitate. When the pair of great albino beasts run off, the blackclad man steps up and kneels beside the body of water. Looking around at the party he came with, he spoke even as he grabbed a nearby stick.
"Have any of you seen anything like this before?"
As he speaks, he's dipping the stick into the pond, seeing if the material sticks to the wood when he pulls it out.
Azteg has been here before, so he floats a bit to the right to keep the stags in sight, gritting his sharp teeth against the pipestem. Around it in his Hobgoblin accented Common he replies, "We found the cat here, yes? And I assume those stags will likewise be changed. We must not let them escape. The housecat was turned into a dire panther that you see behind us."
GAME: Vasya rolls knowledge/nature: (14)+10: 24
Fluffy raises her head and makes an interrogative noise and tilts her head at Azteg, Aika says, "Fluffy isn't bad!" She grumps at Azteg.
"Those deer aren't natural, definitely. They're growing cherry blossoms from their antlers." Vasya says before looking towards the panther. "So it's the pool that must be doing this....."
Assuming nothing major happens to the stick, Rondel would then proceed to carefully fill his various containers with the stuff. Partially wanting to see if the pool replenished, or if it would get lower over time.
"Perhaps scholars or holy men can determine what, if anything, is special about this pool. Have there been any stories in the past about such bodies of water?"
GAME: Azteg rolls knowledge/religion: (1)+6: 7 (EPIC FAIL)
Azteg launches into a story, "Well, lad, it's good that you asked, yes? There was story about Water Winkgles, who's fireball fingers would cause the most horrendous spiraling transformations when around powder and rain. You see, it's pretty complicated..."
GAME: Vasya rolls knowledge/local: (10)+2: 12
Azteg says after his story is finished, "And those stags do not trigger my sense of chaos, or evil. So for this we are blessed."
Darius has Fluffy stay close to the group and looks around, "Anyone else feel like it's a bit too quiet around here?" He moves next to his adopted daughter and Fluffy, hand on his hilt and says, "This would be a perfect time for an ambush."
GAME: Darius rolls perception: (2)+5: 7
"It usually is, Darius. It is only a matter of time before we are." Vasya says as she turns her head to listen.
The water from the pond acts just as normal water would, filling the flasks and creating ripples when poked. Other than its odd color and disposition it seems perfectly ordinary.
Aika has huge eyes as she looks around and whispers to Darius, "Umm... maybe I shouldn't have come?" Darius says quietly back, "Next time when I tell you to stay with the auntie while I go out, you listen, yes?" Aika nods vigorously, clinging to the spines of Fluffy's back. Darius is getting pretty jumpy as he feels there's eyes everywhere in the forest.
Vasya tilts her head. "be ready to run is Darius tells you, Aika. We don't want you to get hurt." Vasya says as she looks at the pool. "Just hope I'm not making a big mistake." She says as she holds a hand out. "I'm going to see if this pool has any magic about it. Sometimes these kind of things react badly when you try, so keep your eyes peeled everyone." She says as she holds out a hand, and a circle appears just off of her hand.
"Be careful." An'thirya says, "There's no telling what that pool can do, and I'm certainly not going to advise touching it." She observes.
As Vasya casts her spell the pool shudders and suddenly shifts, spilling outside of its natural boundaries and pooling upwards into a bulbous shape. Like a giant bubble it wobbles and then with intent wiggles toward Vasya.
Azteg grabs a warhammer from his shoulder, taking several short legged steps to put himself between the water-creature and the dire cat and the little kid. "Go, friend Darius," he calls to the other man. "I shall protect your kin, or die on my feet as Reos desires." He sets his feet, ready to defend the girl.
GAME: Darius rolls weapon7+2: (9)+12+2: 23 GAME: Darius rolls damage7+2: aliased to 2D6+10+2: (7)+10+2: 19
Darius yells, "FLUFFY! GO!" He nods to Azteg, "Make sure they get away safely and I will owe you a debt" He then draws his greatsword and yells, "DIE!!!!" and charges the thing in the lake and slashes it, splitting it in half.
Fluffy roars and then turns around on a dime and starts to run back through the forest to Alexandria with Aika on her back calling back, "GO DADDY!!! You're a hero! Defeat the monsters..." trailing off as she's taken out of the battlezone by Fluffy.
An'thirya stares at the pool, and grabs her greataxe while yanking it free of the straps and brandishes it at one of the blobs, moving to position herself between the blob half and fluffy fleeing. "I have some alchemist's fire." she calls out, "Think this thing is volatile? I don't want to set a forest fire." as she attempts to cleave through one of the blobs.
GAME: An'thirya rolls weapon1-2: (3)+0+-2: 1
Rondel has been paying attention, down on one knee. He saw the water come to life, he saw Darius split one blob into two. Instantly the hunter is looking over at the sword on his hip, doubting that slicing whatever this is will be very effective.
"Hmm. Curious."
Instead, Rondel raises and takes his cane, pulling the 'sword' section loose. This is water, but perhaps it has something 'vital' that can be punctured. Rondel highly doubted that would be the case, but it was important to rule out the possibility entirely before moving onto another hypothesis.
The resulting 'stab' was almost lazy and without effort. But the hunter definitely put a lot of power behind the downward thrust.
GAME: Rondel rolls weapon1: (17)+5: 22 GAME: Rondel rolls 1d6+3: (5)+3: 8 GAME: Vasya rolls ranged: (6)+5: 11 GAME: Vasya rolls 4d6: (18): 18 GAME: Vasya casts Scorching Ray. Caster Level: 5 DC: 16
"Well, isn't this ironic." Vasya says as she begins to back away from the water. "As much of a connection I have to trees, and water is my enemy at the moment." She laughs at the irony, but she still blasts it with a heat ray. "be careful when you use slashing weapons on it. it'll only multiply the threats...."
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+8: (3)+8: 11 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+8: (2)+8: 10
The two oozes split up, but both of them make their way toward Vasya. Her spell slams into one, and the pool swells in size somewhat, the glimmer of light showing inside the water for a moment. First one half and then the other rises up to try and slam into her but they both miss the agile woman. Meanwhile the third newly formed pool wobbles away from the first two.
GAME: Darius rolls weapon7: (6)+12: 18 GAME: Darius rolls weapon7: (4)+12: 16 GAME: Darius rolls weapon7: (12)+12: 24 GAME: Darius rolls damage7: aliased to 2D6+10: (10)+10: 20 GAME: Darius rolls damage7: aliased to 2D6+10: (5)+10: 15
Azteg's eyes flash with an orange glow as he speaks in his native tongue, warhammer pointed at one of the creatures that is harrying Vasya. He has moved back some, guarding the 'exit' that the once-cat and small child used to escape.
Darius sensing that his adopted daughter and beloved pet might be in danger, turns into a whirlwind of steel, he slashes all three pools with his greatsword, hoping to destroy them all at once.
GAME: Azteg casts Doom. Caster Level: 2 DC: 14
Fluffy and Aika are still making their way through the forest, trying to get to safety.
GAME: An'thirya rolls 1d20+4: (20)+4: 24 GAME: An'thirya rolls 1d6: (1): 1
Rondel sees the futility of using steel against magical water. Instead, he sheathed his sword cane, moved away from the group a little, and started to light one of his old torches. Sometimes, the old ways were the best ways.
GAME: Vasya rolls ranged: (1)+5: 6 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Vasya casts Scorching Ray. Caster Level: 5 DC: 16 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+8: (5)+8: 13 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+8: (8)+8: 16 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+8: (2)+8: 10 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d4+4: (2)+4: 6
Three of the oozes created by the swinging of axes converge on Vasya, trying to land themselves on her. One succeeds, enveloping her in its body. The sound of burning acid can be heard in the air as it settles itself on her. Meanwhile one of the pools is wandering away while the last is chasing after Azteg slowly but surely.
GAME: Darius rolls weapon7: (5)+12: 17 GAME: Darius rolls weapon7: (5)+12: 17 GAME: Darius rolls weapon7: (11)+12: 23 GAME: Darius rolls damage7: aliased to 2D6+10: (9)+10: 19 GAME: Darius rolls damage7: aliased to 2D6+10: (6)+10: 16 GAME: Darius rolls damage7: aliased to 2D6+10: (8)+10: 18
Darius, seeing that his sword is literally doing absolutely nothing, grabs his Everburning Torch, and holding it up to the flat of his blade, attempts to use it to disperse the three pools he made... only for it to not work... He frowns, "Gods damnit...!"
"Seems like fire's our only option. I wonder..." An'thirya says, withdrawing another vial of alchemist's fire." Hope this works!" she says.
GAME: An'thirya rolls 1d20+4: (5)+4: 9 GAME: An'thirya rolls 2d6: (5): 5 GAME: Rondel rolls Melee-4: (4)+5+-4: 5 GAME: Rondel rolls 1d4+1d4: (1)+(3): 4
In anger and high stress, Rondel snapped in anger toward the warrior Darius. "A bigger fool I have never seen! Put the steel away, help the girl over there!"
With rage coursing through his veins, his skin got a bit more pale, his eyes taking on an unsettling quality. He ran up and jabbed his torch down into the fleeing puddle, almost snarling through his grit teeth.
GAME: Vasya rolls cmb: (5)+2: 7
As the sizzling can be heard in the immediate area, Vasya flails trying to get out of the ooze that has her trapped....and gets nowhere.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d4+4: (2)+4: 6 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+8: (12)+8: 20 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+8: (2)+8: 10 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+8: (16)+8: 24 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+8: (20)+8: 28 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+8: (7)+8: 15 <OOC> Aftershock says, "Confirming crit on Darius" GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+8: (1)+8: 9 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+8: (10)+8: 18 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d4+4: (4)+4: 8 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d4+4: (2)+4: 6 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d4+4: (2)+4: 6
There are a lot of pools of water now, and they've begun to entrap people in their deadly acidic clutches. First Vasya, then Darius with two of them falling on him at the same time, and finally Rondel. It's begun to look a bit hairy on the battlefield.
GAME: Darius rolls CMB: (5)+10: 15
Darius is attacked and swarmed by the pools he created and growls in pain as they burn him with their acid. He attempts to break free but is unable to do so.
GAME: An'thirya used a Alchemist's Fire. GAME: An'thirya RAGES!, gaining +2 to melee attack/damage/Will saves and 4 temporary HP GAME: An'thirya rolls 1d20+4: (1)+4: 5 (EPIC FAIL)
An'thirya frowns, and looks at the ooze-thing on Vasya as she charges over and... Slips past the slime entirely, failing to get a good grip despite now sporting vicious black claws on her fingertips. "Oh come ON!" she says.
GAME: Rondel rolls CMB: (9)+5: 14 GAME: Vasya rolls ranged: (6)+5: 11 GAME: Vasya rolls 4d6: (9): 9 GAME: Vasya casts Scorching Ray. Caster Level: 5 DC: 16
Suddenly, very suddenly, a vine snaps out of the slime, and Vasya yanks herself out into a nearby tree. "ugh. Blasted things." She yells as she turns and blasts it with a scorching ray. The Slime explodes as soon as the ray touches it. "Now to get the others out."
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d4+4: (3)+4: 7 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d4+4: (1)+4: 5
The oozes seem to have little interest in those not actively casting magic, though they do linger behind to 'eat' those they've captured. Two of the pieces of the once docile pool lumber closer to Vasya safe in her tree and begin to eat away at her perch with their acid.
GAME: Darius rolls cmb: (10)+10: 20 GAME: Darius rolls melee-4: (3)+10+-4: 9 GAME: Darius rolls 1d4: (3): 3
Darius growls as he's hurt by acid once more but this time uses his strength to bust out of the slime and presses the Everburning Torch against it, trying to burn it with fire.
GAME: Rondel rolls CMB: (19)+5: 24 GAME: Rondel rolls weapon1+2: (2)+5+2: 9 GAME: Azteg rolls heal: (13)+10: 23 GAME: Rondel rolls 1d6+3: (4)+3: 7
With a muffled scream of anger, the blackclad form of Rondel claws and forces his way from the blob of water, bursting violently from the center mass of liquid on his knees. His clothing sizzling, but it was highly well made, and could endure a bit of acid. Not that Rondel truly cared at the moment. Cane-sword unsheathed and in hand, he stabbed downward violently into the mass.
"HRAAAGH!"
"They're not attacking things that don't immediately threaten them..." An'thirya says, then calls out to the others. "I don't think they're intelligent, just... Reacting somehow!" she says, seeming to be a little bit out of breath after that attempt at tearing the goo free from Vasya.
GAME: Vasya rolls athletics: (6)+0: 6 GAME: Vasya rolls Ranged: (13)+5: 18 GAME: Vasya rolls 4d6: (12): 12
Rather than stay in the tree and wait for it to be brought down, Vasya uses her vine to try and swing to another tree. However, she's not very athletic, so she lands on the ground rather nastily, and she rolls to a sitting position. She points her fingers at one of the slimes and blasts it, causing it to explode.....
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+8: (18)+8: 26 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+8: (19)+8: 27 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d4+4: (2)+4: 6 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d4+4: (2)+4: 6
The water continues to advance; mindlessly. Though two get further and further away slowly.
GAME: Azteg casts Cure Light Wounds. Caster Level: 2 DC: 14 GAME: Azteg rolls 1d8+2: (6)+2: 8
Azteg eyes the fleeing water, trying to keep it in sight. Nevertheless, folks are hurt - he turns his gaze at Rondel. The fingers around his shield twist and flex and he murmurs some words under his breath, his eyes flashing a brilliant amber for a moment as he draws on his divine allegiance to Reos. Rondel feels the warm embrace of the Creator via some light healing magics.
Azteg turns his gaze on Rondel. "REOS turns his eyes upon you and passes judgement. A judgement of health, hale and hearty against our foes!" A soft light embraces Rondel, providing light, ongoing healing.
Darius moves back to try and get away from the ooze attacking him.
GAME: Darius rolls melee-4: (4)+10+-4: 10 GAME: Darius rolls 1d4: (3): 3 GAME: Rondel rolls weapon1: (1)+5: 6 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Vasya casts Scorching Ray. Caster Level: 5 DC: 16 GAME: Vasya rolls ranged: (11)+5: 16
Darius does however at least hit the one that's been attacking him with the torch and turns it into a puddle of water. Darius says, "Damnit... I hate magic..."
Rondel swings wildly, his eyes stinging from acid spray. It is only by the grace of the gods that Azteg imbued him with healing energies right as the attack landed, it is only by Azteg's hands that Rondel had sight at all. Perhaps when all was said and done, Rondel would be able to reflect on this miraculous turn of events. In the moment, however, his good fortune was lost on him.
GAME: Vasya rolls 4d6: (16): 16
Another light blast lances out and another slime explodes. "Let's take care of the ones here, then go after the pair trying to leave. They might be going after your cat and kid, Darius....
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+8: (9)+8: 17 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d4+4: (3)+4: 7
Only one ooze remains close at hand, and that one is intently attacking Rondel who is attacking it in turn. The ooze drops itself on the hapless man with a burble of acid.
GAME: Azteg casts Cure Light Wounds. Caster Level: 2 DC: 14 GAME: Azteg rolls 1d8+2: (1)+2: 3
The Gobber concentrates on Rondel, frowning as his work is undone - and chanting again, throwing his gloved hand out once more to throw healing energy over the man that's covered once again with acid, the glow from the healing aura peering out weakly. "Bolster yourself, good sir, you have almost conquered this beast, yes? You are doing well!" he calls.
GAME: Darius rolls melee-2: (16)+10+-2: 24 GAME: Darius rolls 1d4+7: (2)+7: 9
Darius, seeing Rondel being overwhelmed by the ooze and hearing Vasya he says, "I'll take care of this one, go after the other two!"
GAME: Rondel rolls weapon1+2: (4)+5+2: 11 GAME: Rondel rolls 1d6+5: (6)+5: 11
In a haze, Rondel stabs downward, stabbing again and again and again, long after the ooze stops moving. Soon he is on his knees, exhaustedly stabbing that once-intricate looking weapon into the sort wet earth.
GAME: Darius used a Potion of Cure Moderate Wounds. GAME: Darius rolls 2d8+1: (7)+1: 8
Exhausted, Rondel removed his hat and was now sat against a tree. Looking up at Darius, he holds up his well-used cane-sword.
"If you are intent on going after them right this second, do not swing that god damned sword of yours again. I will lend you this. Do not lose it. Do not break it. Return it when you have finished. That's if you choose to pursue."
"Caution, my friend. You are well and goodly hurt, yes?" says Azteg as he approaches Rondel. It's probably pretty hilarious, he's three foot six on a good day and helping to help brace the much larger man. "I have one more healing word from Reos I might use on you. However, I have focused His goodly attentions on your aura, if we simply wait a short while you should heal your wounds - very slowly, admittedly." A glance around. "The rest of you, are you wounded? I have a healing kit."
Darius grabs a potion of cure moderate wounds and drinks it quickly and says, "I'm not going to wait around while it tries to chase Aika and Fluffy, I'm going after it, anyone that wants to come with me is welcome to." He looks at Rondel and takes it and puts a hand on the man's shoulder, "So be it, I will leave it at the Guild for you when you return to Alexandria." With that, he starts to run, following after the oozes, looking for their tracks.
GAME: Darius rolls survival: (17)+0: 17
Darius has little trouble following the tracks of the ooze, the length of crushed grass making it easy. What makes it difficult is that the oozes split up quickly. Which leaves you with the choice of... split up again, or stay together. More importantly to Darius however is that the tracks of his great feline are going in the same direction as one of the oozes.
Darius snarls, "They split up... One's after my daughter and panther, the other is heading in the opposite direction..." He glances around, he knows Fluffy is fast enough to outpace the ooze but he still doesn't want to risk it and says to Vasya, "We need to destroy them both, I'm taking the one that's following my family, either you can come with me and we finish off that one and then go after the last, or we split up."
Vasya says, "Your family's first, Darius. I'm going with you, and don't tell me no cuz I'm going anyways."
Meanwhile, Rondel has opened his vest and loosened his shirt a little, just a little, to allow the skin to breathe. Taking big deep breaths, he looked up at the Goblin with a tired look in his eyes.
"I thank you for helping me. But staying here while there is cleansing yet to be done, that is not something I can abide by. What is that weapon you wield? Bring it here, let me see it."
As the warrior suspects, it's not difficult to catch up to the ooze. You move faster than it does, and thus you catch up to it in good time.
Darius takes a breath then and nods and then says quietly, "Thank you..." And that's hard for this hard-bitten merc to say, it seems getting a pet and a daughter has softened some of the rough edges the man used to have. He takes off again, brandishing the sword cane given to his care by Rondel, as he does he says "Let's finish this..."
GAME: Vasya casts Scorching Ray. Caster Level: 5 DC: 16 GAME: Vasya rolls ranged: (4)+5: 9 GAME: Vasya rolls 4d6: (17): 17
Darius seeing the ooze sees red and as Vasya's death ray flies out he's already charging full out with the sword cane extended to stabbity stab the ooze to death and beyond. The only problem is Vasya's ray is faster and instead of getting a shot in... he gets a face full of acid, leaving his skin burning and making his facial scar look angrier and him much scarier. He barely blinks and wipes the acid from his face with his fingers and says, "We have one more to go..." gritting his teeth from the pain.
GAME: Darius rolls survival: (8)+0: 8
Vasya blinks at Darius as he charges it, and she tries to soften it up for Darius. And Soften it up she does as the ooze explodes. "Well...your family's safe. yes. One more to go. Lets go."
Azteg grabs the warhammer, offering it hilt first to Rondel, "Here. I did not have cause to use it in our fight," he tells the bigger man. "It 'tis my warhammer. You are welcome to use it to assist, but please let me heal you a slight bit more as you begin to move. You were close to death, my friend." He says as he gestures, concentrating, and trying to focus more healing into the much, much bigger man.
There's no sign of where the other ooze went. It seems to have vanished entirely, and it takes quite some time for you to make it back to your companions back where the pool originated.
Despite the injuries he took earlier, and despite how haggard the taller man looked, he stood to his feet easily and placed that stiff leather hat back atop his head. He took the weapon almost gingerly in hand, giving it a few mock swings. After a moment he seemed to nod, satisfied.
"We do not rest. We Hunt."
And with that, Rondel was hot on the trail of the party!
GAME: Azteg rolls survival+3: (10)+8+3: 21
Darius walks over to Rondel and hands him his sword cane back and says, "Here, it served it's purpose, and I am very grateful..." The right side of Darius's face is blistered and red from acid burns and it makes his huge scar stand out more on his face. He says, "We managed to destroy the one chasing my Aika and Fluffy, the other got away, we need to find it and finish it off before it threatens someone or something else."
You track the slime northward for a time, until you find a well in the forest and you lose the trail. It seems that the slime went up into the well... and down into the water.
Azteg grunts as he follows the trail. "We'll want to mark this - and likely we will need assistance in tracking it through the water or removing the water, yes? Someone will need to know in the city, I assume, yes?"
Vasya says, "You might get help in the city. I'll stay here and mark this place to look at for the druids here. Go and rest."
Rondel, for his part, was too tired to articulate much, so he merely nodded when Azteg and Vasya made their suggestions. Wordlessly, he started trudging back home toward the city.
EPILOGUE: Rondel slept for nearly two and a half days. And ate nearly enough upon waking to put the ramshackle inn he stayed at out of business. He would continue to bathe and find acid marks for days on end afterward. It was horrible.
-End-