Knell
Founder
"Silence! Think before making baseless claims!"
Posts: 141
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Post by Knell on Sept 15, 2013 15:03:04 GMT -5
Blade simply sat against a rock, his time would surely come soon. "Avarvice, I take it you've prepared everything?" He said in his trademark booming voice without looking behind him.
"Without fault, we'll be ready to attack as soon as our forces are gathered."
"Good, I can use that chaos as a diversion to do what I desire. Soon, my day will come. However, I must not be cocky, the people of Gensokyo are strong, and we cannot win with simply this alone."
"Then what do you suggest?"
"We wait...Until I'm certain it is the right moment...When our force is gathered, do small raiding parties, make it seem like they're getting attacked from all directions. Send different species as well, make it seem like all races are displeased with them, and withdraw after your first strike. I do not want any casualties this early on, use a hit and run tactic. And we can't let the Hakurei Maiden catch onto us, not now, not ever." He stood up. "The human village will not know what hit them. Remember, when you are far, make them believe you are near, and when you are near, make them believe you are far. If possible, I'd like to win this without bloodshed. He who conquers without violence is he who has the most allies."
"As you command." Avarvice said before vanishing.
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"So." Patchouli said as she walked over and sat next to Shoki. "I take it that oaf hasn't asked you what your name is? I'd like to know it, as for myself, I'm Patchouli Knowledge, if you've heard of me, I'm not surprised. People tend to blow up rumours like that. Stupid Tengu.." She sighed. "Now, you're wanting to become a magician right? Then I hope you're prepared to spend a long time away from home."
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Post by Metroid Life on Sept 15, 2013 17:40:25 GMT -5
Shoki laughed at this. "My home? I don't have anything to to go back to, not really. I'm sure I'll miss the people I know, but I'd much rather be here learning than sitting at home waiting for a youkai to kill me." She sighed. "Oh, you asked my name, didn't you? I am Shoki. It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Knowledge."
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Wriggle, Rumia, and several other weak youkai had flown in, surrounding Hakkyou. She was glad they came when she called, though how they came worried her. As predators, youkai send to circle their targets, cutting off escape. She knew they weren't planning on eating her, but they were expecting some kind of trickery.
"Everyone, I've brought you here because I've gotten a very... interesting proposition. Blade Soulheart is planning some kind of attack on the humans, but he needs all of us to pull it off. He wants to restore things to how they should be, with youkai running things instead of humans, and can any of you say you don't want that?"
The youkai murmured among themselves, but it was clear they agreed, though Rumia decided to speak up.
"And what if things don't go well? I know you, Hakky, you'll run the second things don't work out."
Hakkyou laughed.
"It's not like you wouldn't do the same, Rumi. I can tell you're all worried. So am I, somewhat. But as I'm sure you've noticed, I'm a lot stronger than I was just yesterday, and I have Blade to thank for that. I owe it to him to see this plan through, and if it's obvious things aren't going well, I'm sure he'd understand if I ran. But no one's asking us to be martyrs. All that's being asked is for our cooperation. If any of you want to back out, fine. But if you want to change the course of Gensokyo, to take back our rightful place on the food chain, then you'll follow me! Now, who's with me?"
The youkai cheered, and Hakkyou knew that she had her troops.
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Knell
Founder
"Silence! Think before making baseless claims!"
Posts: 141
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Post by Knell on Sept 15, 2013 18:20:42 GMT -5
Blade materialized behind Hakkyou, sensing that she was ready. He was garbed in traditional samurai armor from head to toe, the color of the plates being crimson. His Black hair was wild and his silver eyes darted back and forth, observing his new recruits. On his back, one could see a great sword in a sheathe. "I'm glad you all decided to join me." He said in a booming voice with a commanding tone as he leaped onto a nearby stone pillar. "You should know why you were asked to fight today. It is not to die for a worthless cause! If I thought this was pointless, I would leave you to your daily lives, but now, we take up our arms to return the land to what it once was. Youkai shall rule once more!" He stomped his foot as the trees behind him were blasted apart to reveal an enormous army of youkai, fairies, tengu, Oni and various other species. At the helm of the entire army was Avarvice. Every single member was garbed in the same armor as Blade, although some were in differing styles and colors and each had their own unique weapons. They had to number in the ten thousands, he had been gathering this army over many years.
"We all fight for the same cause! The right to live how we choose! The right to not be ridiculed for obeying our instincts! Hear me, my army! Your day of reckoning has come! There is a day we will die, but today is not that day! Today is the day we live for the first time!" He drew his great sword and extended it into the sky. "Do not falter, do not waver! Look forward! Hesitate and you will die! Stand firm and do not surrender!" The entire army cheered behind him, igniting into a roar.
He leaped down from the rock. "The main army has already been given their equipment and instructions, you will be given yours soon. The plan is to attack in small raiding parties, hit the human village from every direction. Withdraw, use hit and run tactics. Keep them guessing, don't let them know how many of us are really out there. Move with the darkness, and retreat with the sun. You will not needlessly throw your lives away in a blaze of glory. Believe in me, believe in yourselves and your comrades, and victory will be ours." He sheathed his blade and smirked. "Today will mark the day history in Gensokyo was changed forever."
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Post by Metroid Life on Sept 15, 2013 18:47:01 GMT -5
The other youkai were ecstatic, and quickly ran to Blade's side to receive their orders and equipment. Hakkyou was a bit in awe of the speech herself, but more than that she was shocked at how Blade just... appeared behind her! How did he know where she was? How the hell did the army come all this way without her noticing? There was more to this than she had been told, and that Satori at the head of the army... there was something unnerving about him, something she couldn't quite place. It wasn't the usual fear of having your mind read, Hakkyou knew that much. She was just glad she wasn't the focus of his attention at the moment.
Soon the army had dispersed somewhat into several groups, all preparing for their assault on the village. Hakkyou had been given charge over the ones she had picked out, naturally, which she was grateful for- she knew them as well as she knew herself, and knew she could trust them. Still, they didn't think there was anything to worry about, though Rumia was at least willing to consider the idea.
"If you don't trust Blade, then why are you working for him, Hakkyou?"
"It's not that I don't trust him, exactly... there's just something strange about all this. Keep your eyes and ears open, Rumi. If he's planning something against us, then I don't want us to be caught off guard. Just because he says he's working for the good of all youkai don't mean he is."
"I think you're being paranoid, but we'll see, I guess. Anyway, I've got to get back to my post, we might get the signal to attack soon."
Rumia floated off as Hakkyou watched in distaste. Protective or not, this armor simply didn't work for her. She'd rather be skulking around the village than charging in headfirst, no matter what she had backing her up. To put it simply, she was a predator, not a soldier. "Maybe that's what's wrong with this..." she muttered to herself.
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Knell
Founder
"Silence! Think before making baseless claims!"
Posts: 141
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Post by Knell on Sept 15, 2013 19:01:37 GMT -5
"Not the fighting type, are you?" The soft voice of Avarvice said as he landed near Hakkyou. "I can feel your inner emotions, and thus I have talked to Blade about it. You will be assigned to the stealth division, along with your personal troops like that Rumia girl. You aim to incapacitate the leaders of the village, not kill, but make sure they're out of commission. Blade wants us to do this with as little casualties as possible, something about the less you kill, the more loyal your prisoners will be."
He began walking away. "Oh and, if you're worried about me. I guess that's a start." He said off off handedly as he went back to his position.
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Post by Metroid Life on Sept 15, 2013 19:08:57 GMT -5
Hakkyou's eye twitched. How was everyone sneaking up on her? Once she got over the feelings of outrage and terror, what he said sank in. Sneaking in, taking them out from the shadows... that was good. She impartial to the no killing part, so long as she got to do things her way.
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Shoki tried the first spell in the book, the art of levitation. She felt a sudden breeze lift her into the air, and a instant sense of vertigo. She quickly fell back down. "Guess I'm going to need to practice that a bit... Miss Knowledge, how can you stand flying all the time?"
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Knell
Founder
"Silence! Think before making baseless claims!"
Posts: 141
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Post by Knell on Sept 15, 2013 20:31:14 GMT -5
Blade stood on top of a cliff, overlooking his entire military operation. His arms crossed and his armor removed, he had a sinister smirk on his face. "You're right, they bought right into it."
"Of course they would." Sei said as he appeared leaning against a tree. "The humans and youkai will wipe eachother out, and you'll be there to pick up the pieces. Youkai dominating? What could possibly be in it for a God like yourself? You just continue to lead them and soon the plan will fall into action. You'll regain your position of power, don't worry about that. "
"Yes, but first I must make sure they trust me fully. I wouldn't mind having a few thousand loyal servants after I take over after all, but if they think they're gonna get treated any better than the humans, they'd be wrong. Yes, Humans and Youkai will be treated equally alright, equally like the trash they are." He chuckled. "Although I guess that'd be selfish of me, wouldn't it? I have no right to see them as trash, after all they are helping me with my goal."
"So you're thinking of treating the supernatural folk a bit better?"
"Of course, it just wouldn't be right if I abandoned them, right?"
"Fair enough. We shall need to proceed with caution."
They both laughed and were blissfully unaware that several feet behind them, hidden in the brush was River D. Scarlett. He smiled to himself, to think that he was lucky enough to ignite discord in the enemy army. He had been spying on them for quite some time, and soon his chance would arise. "Thanks, for keeping an eye on the army for me." He said to Avarvice, who was standing behind him. "I want to stop this before anyone wants to die."
"Of course, if I went along with something like this, a certain other Satori would have my head."
Blade looked up. "Wouldn't that be silly?"
{OOC: I was bored and just wrote that out, then I decided not to use it.}
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Patchouli chuckled lightly before flicking Shoki on the forehead. "It just takes practice, it took me a very long time to get to the level I am now. Don't despair, you can get it." It was an odd experience for Patchouli, she had never really tutored someone before and it felt kind of nice, to be looking out for the next generation.
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Post by Metroid Life on Sept 15, 2013 22:05:32 GMT -5
Shoki smiled. "I understand, Miss Knowledge. I'll keep at it." She glanced back at the book again, trying to get rid of the smirk on her face. Sh had expected Patchouli be cold and taciturn, but she was surprised Patchouli would be so... friendly. She tried the spell again... and fell again. But it didn't matter, she would get it eventually.
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Hakkyou watched as the sun set at last. "Well, I guess it's time..." She walked over to where Rumia was sleeping. She was supposed to sneak into village, tramatize a few people, and kidnap one of the village elders. Not all of them, just one, because that would somehow be more tragic, according to Blade. She didn't understand why, he just said something about millions of statistics, or something like that. In any case, as this was a supposed to be a covert operation, she was to bring only one person with her, and Rumia was the best at hiding. True, she couldn't use her darkness properly, but so long as Hakkyou told what to do things would be fine.
"Rumi, wake up, it's time."
Rumia sprang awake in an instant, her eyes glowing red.
"Finally! What do we do, Hakks? Are we-"
"No, we are not eating all the humans. Nor are we sending them into perpetual darkness like you wanted, because, and I have to keep telling you, you STILL can't see in the DARK!"
Rumia whimpered.
"Um, ok, I might have been a bit harsh, but- no, no, don't cry, ok!? Look, we're gonna go to the village, and we're gonna eat a couple of humans, and everything's gonna be ok, right?"
Rumia sniffed.
"Ok..."
"Great, now here's the plan..."
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Knell
Founder
"Silence! Think before making baseless claims!"
Posts: 141
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Post by Knell on Sept 15, 2013 22:51:04 GMT -5
Avarvice sat on a rock that overlooked the human village, he was deep in thought. What was Blade up to? That man, no matter how hard he tried, he could never read his thoughts. It was because of that reason that he joined this army, he was curious about who Blade Soulheart really was. To be immune to mind reading...just what was he? Could it be?
"So you've found out, have you Avarvice?" Blade's voice boomed. Standing directly to the left was the black haired warrior. "You're clever, that is exactly why I chose you as my general. You are indeed correct on your assumption, the real me is not here." He held out his hand. "I stand here as simply a puppet, a body to be controlled from far away." He looked down at the Satori youkai with his silver eyes. "I did not mean to deceive you, but it had to be done. I can trust no one." He chuckled. "As for where the real me is...that is something only one man knows."
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Tasuki sneezed. What was he coming down with a cold? He looked out the window from his office high in his castle, He stood up, he had to finish Shoki's training, he would need all the help he could get.
"It's been a long time." The sly voice of Sei said from the other side of the room.
"You bastard! You dare show your face here!?"
"My,my. Is that any way to talk to your dear brother? I am quite offended." He summoned a staff to his hand. "I see you're training someone to become your successor, what a busybody you've become." Dark energy began to form around him. "Sadly, I'm afraid I can't allow you to do that." A purple magic circle appeared above Tasuki and slammed him into the ground, where he crashed through the floor and landed in the middle of the room that Shoki, Patchouli and Koakuma were in.
"Patchouli, take Shoki and get out of here, we've got company."
"I don't think they're going anywhere." Sei said as he snapped his fingers and the entire castle was sealed within a barrier. "I guess you guys wouldn't know."
"Know what?" Patchouli inquired.
"About the war that is. Blade Soulheart has declared war on the human village and all of Gensokyo. Quite a big army he has too. I heard someone named Hakkyou is helping him. Something about Youkai becoming dominant once more."
"That's all the more reason for you to let us go!" Tasuki yelled.
"I'm afraid I can't let that happen, if you go out there and get yourselves killed now, it would all be for naught, isn't that right, Yukari?" He said as a gap opened up and Yukari peaked her head out.
"That is correct. Blade is certainly a craft one, escaping my detection for so long, but with such a big army, he could not go unnoticed. We don't want him to know we're on to him, so, Tasuki and Patchouli, you're to train this girl, I sense great potential within her. And Sei." She turned to him and bopped him on the head with a fist. "There's no reason to be so hostile."
"Ah...My bad."
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Post by Metroid Life on Sept 15, 2013 23:18:01 GMT -5
Shoki watched in horror as Tasuki was sent flying into the room. She listened as Sei talked about what the youkai were doing, and that Hakkyou was involved. No. This couldn't be happening again! She didn't notice when Yukari appeared, nor would she have cared. She had to get out. She had to find Hakkyou, and tear her limb from limb. She had glanced at another spell while she was flipping through the book, a fire spell. She tried to use it, and, fueled by her anger and wrath, the spell worked on her first try, causing a fireball to appear on the palm of her hand. Ordinarily she would have been elated, but now that too was just a useless detail.
"Let me out! I have to find her!" The amused look on Sei's face only enraged her more, and she focused that anger on him, shooting him in the face.
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Hakkyou crept through the village in the dark of night occasionally helped by Rumia's powers; whenever someone came near they would have in a corner and shroud themselves. After taking a quick lunch break, they made their way to one of the elder's homes, easily forcing the door open. It made a loud noise, but the only one to hear it would be the elder, and the old crone would hardly be in any condition to fight them. As per the plan, Rumia when first, blocking out anything the elder might have seen of them, and Hakkyou knocked her out.
"Well, that was simple enough. Let's go before someone sees us."
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Knell
Founder
"Silence! Think before making baseless claims!"
Posts: 141
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Post by Knell on Sept 15, 2013 23:55:31 GMT -5
To what might be Shoki's surprise, Patchouli was the one who deflected the fireball. She glared at Shoki. "A magician who lets their emotions get the best of them is not worthy to be a student of mine. Shoki, I know you have potential within you, but don't worry. The human village is in good hands." She pointed toward the exit, where a familiar form was standing, it was Ling Shao-Li and standing beside him was River D. Scarlett.
"I'd rather not get involved, but if it is this serious." Ling drew his naginata. "I shalt not hold back."
River smirked. "I've been waiting for the chance to go wild." Both his hook blades were in his hands as the two of them turned toward the direction of the human village. "Well, what are we waiting for? We've got a town to safe."
Sei's playful smile never left his lips as he opened a dimensional portal under the two. "You will be dropped at Keine's place, hopefully the three of you will be able to mount a reasonable defense." He rolled his eyes. "Maybe I'll throw that Mokou into the mix as well."
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Post by Metroid Life on Sept 16, 2013 0:15:57 GMT -5
Seeing Patchouli literally slap her attack away like it was nothing brought Shoki back to her senses. Just how was she going to stop a horde of youkai, even if she could reach them? She would just be another meal. "I... I'm sorry, Miss Knowledge. It won't happen again." She quickly walked off and started reading the book again, hoping the others would go away soon and spare her further embarrassment, especially since Yukari's stare was giving her the creeps.
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Keine jumped as River and Ling appeared in front of her. "H-how did you get here? What's going on?" It was shocking enough that they just appeared right in front of her, even more so that they would do it her most private moment, during her metamorphosis. Already the moon was starting to effect her, and her horns were starting to grow out. When the change was done she felt phenomenally stronger but right now she felt defenseless, especially in the presence of these two.
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Hakkyou whispered, "Come on, we're got to hurry up! I just sensed River and Ling nearby, and I get the feeling they won't be happy about this!"
Rumia thought of what those two would do, and sped up their flight considerably. They were already out of the village, and quickly reached their base. Hakkyou saw Blade nearby, and ran over to him.
"Well, we've accomplished our mission. What now?"
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Knell
Founder
"Silence! Think before making baseless claims!"
Posts: 141
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Post by Knell on Sept 16, 2013 0:42:10 GMT -5
"Well..." River said, totally ignoring Keine's transformation, he'd seen weirder on his travels. "You see, the human village is gonna be under attack soon and we were sent here to stop that."
"That is correct." Ling agreed as he twirled his naginata in an arc. "Blade and Hakkyou have teamed up, and from what I've heard, they've got a frighteningly big army on their side. Something about ensuring that youkai would rule once again." He then took a look outside. "It's gotten dark...Really dark."
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Blade's attention turned to Hakkyou as she reported the success. "Now, we start the small raid." A crash was heard in front of them as a man in a completely black cloak with snow white hair appeared, a sinister magic force seemed to radiate from him.
"This is Lance Strider, he's a darkness Youkai, or something. He was never really clear about his origins. He's leading the first small attack force, you can always join him if you're bored."
The man known as Lance held out his right hand and a sword of darkness formed in it. A group of fairies and tengu appeared behind him as his eerie magic force became even stronger, dimming the light from the full moon above. "Let's go." He said in a cold, emotionless tone as he charged forward with amazing speed, his neon orange eyes scanning the area ahead, uninhibited by the darkness. He darted in and out of the shadows with amazing precision as his squadron followed him. He entered the main street of the town and looked forward. "Light's out." He said softly as he stabbed his darkness sword into a ground and created an orb of shadows so big that it engulfed the entire village. He could see perfectly in this advanced darkness, as he singlehandedly incapacitated several defenders with his blade. His eyes darted back and forth, reading the shadows for the moving forms of humans. His group didn't need to follow him, he was like a one man war machine. Little did he know, his darkness ability would have a negative effect on a certain Were-Hakutaku.
Blade whistled. "That guy never ceases to amaze me. Although he is a show off."
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Post by Metroid Life on Sept 16, 2013 10:08:13 GMT -5
Rumia watched in awe as Lance covered the village in darkness. She'd never imagined that any youkai would be capable of such a thing, but if he really was a darkness youkai... could she do that someday? She asked Hakkyou as much.
The emotion youkai smiled and patted her head, her usual response when she wanted to be affectionate without really saying anything. Sure you could do it, Hakkyou thought, if you suddenly became a lot smarter and gave it a few years...
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Most everyone had left by now, but Shoki couldn't help feeling she was being watched. It couldn't be Patchouli or Tasuki, they wouldn't be hiding. Sei and the others seemed to have left as well, so the only one who remained was... "Yukari, come out! I can tell you're watching me." She hoped she sounded braver than she was, she was afraid the boundary youkai would kill her just for sounding impertinent.
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Keine gasped in pain as darkness covered the village, blocking out the moon and reversing her transformation. It was much worse than the process usually was, but she tried to ignore it. If the village was under attack again, then she had to be ready to fight, transformation or no.
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Knell
Founder
"Silence! Think before making baseless claims!"
Posts: 141
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Post by Knell on Sept 16, 2013 14:40:04 GMT -5
"Whoever turned off the lights, they must be a powerful darkness Youkai." River said as he squinted, it would be hard to see anything like this. Suddenly a portal opened next to him and out came Mokou, in a most undignified manner, as she was almost tripping.
Sei poked his head out of the portal. "Brought you a lamp." He said before vanishing along with the portal.
"I'm no lamp!" Mokou shouted back, but it was too late, the guy was already gone. "I've heard about everything, so we just have to kick butt, right?" She said in a tone that made it sound like she wanted to be sleeping.
"That's the plan!" River said as he slammed his fists together. "First we've gotta track down that Darkness Youkai."
"Exactly." Ling said. "Whoever it is, they must be dealt with."
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"Oh my, how did you figure?" Yukari said as floated down out of a gap with her fan covering the lower half of her face. "Well I guess it is a bad habit of mine, still. You amuse me child, so I decided to hang around for a bit." She took her place on a chair with her legs crossed. "I do hope you live up to my expectations, I feel like you could be a great asset to the defense of Gensokyo."
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"I'm pretty sure you could pull it off, Rumia." Avarvice said as he came to stand next to the two. "You're still young, but with practice, you could achieve it. Oh and that ribbon on your head, I can remove it." He reached his hand out and yanked it off without effort.
Nothing happened.
"As I thought, not a seal at all, in fact, it's just a holy ward that someone must have stuck on there in defense, didn't really do anything at all." He yawned. "I'll see if I can ask that Lance guy to give you some private lessons, he doesn't talk much, but he knows his stuff."
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