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 Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 4:41 am
THE HELLENES
Greetings, stranger. Mirede Clytaemnestra. ...KLY-tem-NESS-tra; yes, that's it. You may call me Nestra if that's a bother for you to pronounce. These lands belong to Handrakai Hellene - heh-LEN-ay, yes, good - and we welcome outsiders to our territory, within reason. Come and see the strength of our warriors, the bonds between them forged in the heat of battle, and the beauty of each and every breed working alongside the rest.
We? Our?
Yes. This is my home.
Mihandrakai Hellene, my friend...until the day I die.
01: Introduction
02: Origins
03: Lands
04: Politics
05: Positions
06: Leaders
07: Army
08: Members
09: Admissions
10: Lists
11: FAQ (to follow)
12: Miscellaneous
Please don't post in this thread: if you have questions about the herd, PM this account! Don't be shy about asking questions. Once the herd's been established for a while I'll make a FAQ section based on the questions I've received.
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Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 4:45 am
ORIGINS
The Hellenes began as a small group of Reya, who banded together to take control of the lands at the centre of what are now the Hellene Territories. Having won land in D'ob, they defended their territory fiercely against anyone who tried to take it from them. For a time they had a fearsome reputation, but eventually they became complacent. The Bae, Jala, night-dwelling Aeri and semi-nomadic Ichsa who owned the lands around them were all friendly, and after mutual trust grew between the groups the borders between their lands were rarely observed. In some ways they were a single herd. Unfortunately, the bonds between them were never made official or strong. When a large herd of Ichsa threatened them with the intent of taking their territory, they could not work together effectively enough to defend themselves. Casualties were heavy, and they were almost wiped out.
Eventually, the granddaughter of one of the original Reya, a huge and powerful white mare by the name of Helen, took charge. She called the survivors together and instilled a terrible wrath in them. Their lands were being taken, their families were being slaughtered...what kind of handrakai was this, that let every handra within it fall to ruin? She called upon them to band together under her leadership, and together they fought back against the threat.
During these difficult times, unusually strong allegiances were made between Nequus of different breeds. They faced danger and death by each other's sides, and many of them had lost what family they had before the war. Powerful friendships were built, and some unlikely couples even fell in love. Helen even encouraged such relationships, though never directly: the bonds between her people drove them to great acts of strength, courage and sacrifice, and due to that the course of the war began to change. The Ichsa, who had been cutting their foes down like so much wheat, suddenly began to take serious losses. Rather than a badly organised rabble, they were now facing down the toughest of Nequus, the survivors, who were fighting to their last breath to defend all that was left of their lives.
One final climactic battle forced the Ichsa to submit. Their leader had been killed in a duel with Helen, and they were in danger of losing everything they already had. They fled. Helen, though she had been terribly wounded, survived for long enough to see her lands safe again. The herd - for they were a single herd now, perhaps more than many herds ever are - knew that she was dying, but called upon her for one last service: to name her successor. Helen chose a warrior who had often fought by her side, a young Reya stallion called Meleager. He had her fighting spirit, and she knew that he would never let the herd fail.
She died in her sleep just a few days later, and Meleager named the herd in her honour: Handrakai Hellene, The Herd of Destruction. They had been forged through the destruction of everything they had once owned, and now they would destroy anyone who tried to take their new lives from them.
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Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 4:47 am
LANDS
The Hellene Territories are located in the north-east of Urin, and they encompass part of D'ob and part of Yisi Rishunesafarina. The north-easternmost border touches the dread forests at the foot of Casa Tiner, through which few can pass and live to tell the tale. Summers here are warm and pleasant, following a fresh, early spring and giving way late in the year to a crisp autumn, and though the winter occasionally brings snow the Hellenes never want for food or water. The fruit trees and vines in Yisi make it particularly desirable territory for herdmembers to own: very often important soldiers will have their homes here, alongside the most skilful tacticians and the most successful ambassadors. Although Shrilal is far outside the borders of their territory, they are friendly with the herds along the route to the Fruitlands - new parents are almost never waylaid on either their outward or return journey.
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Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 4:49 am
POLITICS
No Nequus shall think himself above another because of his breed.
The Hellenes are a widely varied bunch. Members of every breed are represented among their number. Though a fair number of the more powerful herd members are Reya, this is coincidence rather than policy. Each breed has their strengths and weaknesses, says Hellenic thinking, and they cover for each other. The Hellene Territories are also something of a haven for crossbreeds, as they are accepted for their strengths rather than shunned for their blood. Meleager himself is very fond of crossbreeds with useful qualities - for instance, matching a Jala's wings with an Ichsa or Reya horn would be a very favourable cross. A cross with Ichsa wings and no horn, though, he would consider a less fortunate mingling of the bloods. Clytaemnestra herself has a pair of halfbreed daughters, who combine the Reya horn with the Aeri's stature and bulk.
No Nequus shall discount a mare for being a mare, nor a stallion for being a stallion.
Hellenic thinking gives very loose gender roles to mares and stallions. Personality, intelligence and physical condition are what decides one's role in life, be that one of a fighter, a tutor, a tactician or an ambassador. The Hellenes also, on the whole, view close friendships and even romantic relationships between members of the same gender as vital to the success of the herd: when fighting alongside a lover, Nequus can be driven to acts of great heroism that they would never otherwise be capable of.
Anger not the Gods, for their might is greater even than ours.
The Hellenes are, on the whole, superstitious. The current fashion is that those with overly black coats are considered to be wicked: this is due to rumours of a pair of black Bae destroying fruits and killing foals in Shrilal. On the flip side, those with white coats are considered pure. Pale beauty is prized, particularly in mares - not least because Helen herself was pale. The more intelligent Hellenes will be able to see through the prejudices and odd beliefs that come and go, but if they choose to work against them they will probably do so quietly.
Every true Hellene has a warrior's heart, bear they one of the six Marks or no.
Though these are fairly peaceful times for the Hellenes, they are very militaristic. They will defend what they have against any threat viciously and without hesitation. Meleager is a seasoned fighter who would love to do some conquesting, but his more grounded advisors have kept him from it thus far. Anyone with their eyes on the fertile Hellene Territories, though, should beware: if they do decide to try and fight for the lands, they are liable to suffer heavy casualties. Even a Hellene civilian knows the rudiments of combat, and will lay down his or her life for the herd.
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Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 4:53 am
POSITIONS
Handrakai Hellene is highly organised. They have paid the price for being unprepared in the past, and refuse to pay it again. A large proportion of the herd is made up of soldiers, who are said to "bear one of the six Marks": these marks represent the six forces of the army, each of which has a specific purpose. It is an honour for a Hellene to be a soldier, but the overwhelming majority of Hellenes, marked or unmarked, consider themselves warriors at heart and will fight to the death for their herd.
Civilian - not a regular army member, but may be pressed into service in times of war. Commonly comprised of the weaker or more peace-loving members of the herd, but given these Nequus are still Hellenes the term "more peace-loving" is deceptive.
Soldier - a member of one of the six forces of the army. Soldiers are given the title of their force rather than simply "soldier", and many of them will find a way to have the mark of their force displayed on their bodies. Scarification by horn is common.
Medic - a healer, trained in the art of using plants to heal injuries. Not as good as a shaman, but in the absence of such a magic user they are the next best thing. They have been known to save lives with their quick thinking and practiced healing techniques.
Tutor - a teacher, usually of the younger members of the herd. Mostly older, wiser Nequus. Almost all tutors teach at least the rudiments of fighting skills along with whatever other knowledge they have to impart: they are Hellenes, after all.
Tactician - the brains behind the army, and the advisors to the army leaders. The Commandante works closely with the Master Tactician, who assists her directly in making battle plans. In more peaceful times, tacticians play elaborate strategy games of their own invention to keep their wits sharp.
Ambassador (rare) - possibly the only peaceful position a Hellene can hold. Ambassadors visit neighbouring herds to oversee trading, political partnerships and the paying of agreed tributes. They may also recruit strong outsiders for the herd.
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Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 4:57 am
LEADERS
The leaders of Handrakai Hellene are suited to a warlike herd. Their Herdleader is a mighty warrior in his own right, and two of the other three leaders are the Commandante, who leads the army, and the Master Tactician, who advises her on tactics and plans campaigns. The First Ambassador is the most skilled of all the Hellenic ambassadors, and though her position is a peaceful one she too can fight if the situation demands it. Soldiers answer first to their respective captains, who answer to the Commandante. All tacticians answer to the Master Tactician, and all ambassadors to the First Ambassador. Other Hellenes answer directly to the Herdleader, or to any of the other leaders if necessary.
Herdleader - Meleager
Helen's chosen heir, Meleager, is a dapple grey Reya stallion of reasonable stature and considerable bulk. He was chosen to lead the herd because he shared Helen's fighting spirit, and would defend his people to his last breath, but when his temper does not get the better of him he is also an intelligent and quick-thinking stallion. His family life is somewhat tragic: he has had a string of unsuccessful matings, and has had only two children. The elder, Melantho, is a black-coated outcast; the younger, a white filly named Helen after the herd founder, was groomed as his heir, but was killed in a flying accident shortly after Melantho's departure. This lack of children is a sore point for Meleager, as the thought that he might be infertile is too terrible to consider. He fears to lose his position as herdleader, or have to resort - as Helen did - to a successor who shares none of his blood.
Commandante - Clytaemnestra
Clytaemnestra arrived in the Hellene Territories shortly after the Forging, leading a group of sensible mares and their children away from the remains of their old herds. A battle for dominance between at least a dozen stallions tore several herds apart, even causing a fire in Yisi by Ryuten. Clytaemnestra and her group joined the Hellenes for protection, and the large number of mares helped to increase the herd's population after the battles that had decimated them. Clytaemnestra herself joined the army, rose through the ranks by continually proving her strength, wit and courage, and eventually Meleager named her Commandante. She then set about restructuring the army to make it more efficient: the current system of six Marks is her greatest invention to date. In person she is a surprisingly pleasant mare, though her impressive stature and muscular form can make her highly intimidating, and as long as nobody minds her having a reasonable amount of control over the situation - and people seldom complain - she can get on in just about every kind of company.
Master Tactician - Castor
A third generation cross with an unfortunate mix of physical traits, Castor has always relied upon his brilliant mind to see him through where his body cannot. From a young age he demonstrated both great intellect and the ability to think on his hooves: it was hardly surprising that he joined the ranks of the tacticians as soon as he was able to do so. His tendency towards perfectionism and his position as an admitted workoholic helped him to rise quickly in the esteem of the more experienced tacticians, and even today, as their leader, he is one of the younger of their number. Though he is undeniably brilliant at his job, Castor has never found it easy to relate to others and counts his 'passable people-skills' as one of his proudest achievements. Arguably, however, his poor grasp of emotion, mild obsession with routine and tendency to ignore people when he's had enough of them have only helped him on the path to becoming Master Tactician. When his fellows were taking time off to relax and socialize, Castor retreated within his own mind to hone the skills he would need to step up after Phaedra and fulfil what he has always seen as his destiny.
First Ambassador - Iris
A refugee of the Ichsa herd that caused the Forging, First Ambassador Iris was only allowed to live because Meleager, who found her, had fallen in love with her. She was only on the cusp of adulthood then, and while not classically beautiful she has very sharp, striking features that tend to draw eyes. What attracts most people to her, though, Meleager included, is her mind. Iris is remarkably clever, effortlessly witty and highly persuasive: ideal traits for an ambassador. Her cool façade sets her apart from the majority of the Hellenes, who tend to be hot-tempered and easily driven to violence. A First Ambassador who behaves like a soldier, she believes, lacks elegance. Fiercely loyal to the herd, she negotiates relentlessly until the Hellenes are getting the best deal possible. However, she also has an agenda of her own: to see Meleager dethroned. She hates him with a silent, burning passion, and has done so ever since he first began courting her. He wants her for a trophy, but she is far too intelligent to let it happen and far too vengeful to let the insult slide. Even as she works tirelessly for the good of the herd, secretly she has begun plotting his downfall...and eventual death.
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Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 5:01 am
ARMY
The current Hellene army was built by Helen, enlarged by Meleager, and organised by Clytaemnestra. Many of the younger soldiers are the sons and daughters (and even grandchildren) of those who fought in the Forging, and many of the original herd members still remain. Crossbreeds are by no means barred from the army, but, as their breed characteristics are not so clear as purebred Nequus, they may find it harder to discover where their strengths lie, and therefore decide which unit to join. Support for such crossbreeds is haphazard, but usually effective: Clytaemnestra and her captains are good talent-spotters, and it benefits everyone to have the right soldier doing the right job.
Below are the descriptions of the six forces of the Hellene army. The breeds listed are a rough guide only, particularly where crossbreeds are concerned - soldiers go where they fit best, regardless of breed. (The one exception is the Death Force, which only accepts soldiers with horns.) If a soldier is required for a special purpose, for example to serve as an Ambassador's bodyguard, they will be chosen from one of the six forces and will not receive or require a special title. No greater honour exists for a Hellene than to say they bear one of the six Marks!
Earth Force (Gamma) - Bae, Aeri, Ichsa, Bae crosses
These are the main ground troops. Flying ability is not required, but good stamina is a must. Bae are usually scouts, Aeri the main troops, Ichsa the shock troops.
Gamma Captain - unknown
Air Force (Alpha) - Bae, Jala, Reya, Jala crosses
These are the main aerial troops. Flying speed and agility plus aerial combat skills are needed. Bae are usually scouts, Jala the main troops, Reya the shock troops.
Alpha Captain - unknown
Lightning Force (Lambda) - Bae, Jala, Ichsa, Ichsa crosses
These are the fast troops, Jala in the air, Ichsa on the ground. Bae are again used as scouts, but only the fastest Bae will make the cut. They are used to launch surprise attacks and make swift, deadly reprisals in the event of war.
Lambda Captain - unknown
Night Force (Delta) - Bae, Aeri, Reya, Reya crosses
These troops work under cover of darkness, gathering information and spying on the enemy, launching attacks that many foes will find hard to resist. Few Bae join this force: they have to be able to cope with not seeing the sun for very long periods of time, which is understandably not very popular.
Delta Captain - unknown
Stone Force (Sigma) - Bae, Jala, Aeri, Aeri crosses
These are the stalwart defenders of the herd. They are the last line of defence if the herd is attacked, and have to be able to stand up to just about anything. The toughest Bae make the cut here, usually as runners to organise the forces in the event of attack.
Sigma Captain - unknown
Death Force (Omega) - Ichsa, Reya, horned crosses
These are the elite warriors. They are the ones that even the herd is a little afraid of, and only those with horns can even think about being accepted. When the Death Force are sent in, prisoners are no longer taken and mercy is no longer an option. There are very few Hellenes who bear the Omega, and they are the best of the best.
Omega Captain - Hades
A small but remarkably quick-witted Reya, Hades was previously Clytaemnestra's most trusted lieutenant. When she was promoted to Commandante and created the Death Force, she made him its captain. Cool and calculating, he favours planning over improvisation and would prefer death to a scene. He has been carrying a torch for his commanding officer for some time, but fears to admit his feelings: to change the dynamic of their relationship, he believes, would be unthinkable. As Captain of the Death Force, he inspires such fear and awe among the Hellenes that only the bravest dare speak his name: those who do not call him "the unseen one", "the silent one", "Aïdoneus" or even "He who has Many Names".
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Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 5:10 am
MEMBERS
Below is a list of all the Hellenes who have registered themselves. There are many more, of course, but these are the only ones whose names are recorded. Those with Hellenic names may well have been born into the herd; those without them are likely former outlanders who have joined the ranks.
~*~*~*~ The late Herdfounder Helen, a Reya mare, may the winds of eternity be good to her mighty soul Herdleader Meleager, a Reya stallion Commandante Clytaemnestra, a Reya mare The late Master Tactician Phaedra, an Aeri mare, may the winds of eternity be good to her mighty soul Master Tactician Castor, an Aeri cross stallion First Ambassador Iris, an Ichsa mare Omega Captain Hades, a Reya stallion Iphigeneia, an Aeri/Reya barren cross mare, daughter of Clytaemnestra and the Aeri outlander Itzal The late Leto, a Reya mare who bore the Alpha and called Meleager mimaira, may the winds of eternity be good to her mighty soul The outcast Melantho, a Reya mare, daughter of Meleager and the late Leto, who runs with the Rit tom AkuThe late Helen, a Reya filly, daughter of Meleager and an unknown Reya mare, may the winds of eternity be good to her mighty soul Karasu, a Bae stallion who bears the Gamma Keres, a Reya mare who bears the Lambda Ignatius, a mutant Reya stallion who bears the Sigma Salome, a mutant Reya/Jala cross mare who bears the Omega Kallisto, an Ichsa mare Runt, an Ichsa/Reya barren cross mare who bears the Alpha, daughter of Keres and the Ichsa outlander Dark Moon Cillian, a Bae/Ichsa cross stallion who bears the Gamma, son of the Bae outlander Velg'larn and the Ichsa outlander Colleen ~*~*~*~
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Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 5:17 am
ADMISSIONS
If you want to have your Nequus join the Hellenes, here's the form you need to fill in. PM it to this account, with the title "(name of Nequus)'s Application" - for instance, "Melantho's Application". If you're applying for more than one Nequus to join at once, put all the forms in one PM and list their names as follows: "Melantho and Hades and Aku's Applications". You may also apply to have lone familiars join the herd, though I'm not sure that they can have special certs - just tweak the form as necessary.
Owner's Name:
Nequus' Name:
Nequus' Personality:
Nequus' Familiar (if any):
Nequus' Mate (if any):
Position Wanted:
RP Example Links:
Don't worry about giving me links to images: I run the owners list; I can find them for myself without a problem. If your Nequus has not been certed yet, please wait to apply until they have. This makes things a lot easier for me.
You may only apply for one of the standard positions! No "can my nequus plz be captain of air force plz" - no, no they can't! The Captains will be chosen from among "existing Hellene soldiers": a new Nequus with a fresh concept is most likely required if you want to own a Captain, and applications are currently closed.
Please provide at least three examples of your RPing, so that I can see you are a polite RPer who sticks to RP etiquette and the Code Of Honour below. If none of them are with the Nequus you wish to join the herd, please provide a short description of their personality; if any of the RPs are with your prospective Hellene, you may simply put the one word personality from their cert down on the form. Note: if you're applying for more than one Nequus to join at once, you need only provide three RPs total - if that leaves any Nequus unrepresented in RP you must write the personality description for them, so you may provide as many RPs as you have applicants if you wish, provided all RPs are with your applying Nequus.
Remember that admissions are at my discretion! If your Nequus is unsuitable for the herd I will tell you why, and if you do not meet the standards for a Hellenic owner then you might want to review the Code Of Honour in the next post...
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Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 5:29 am
LISTS
Greylisting and blacklisting will occur if you break the shop rules, or if you flagrantly disobey the Hellenic Owner's Code Of Honour:
No Godmodding (you must play your character, not anyone else's, and must not say what someone else's character does without permission)
No Mary-Sues (perfect characters are not welcome here, nor is trying to be the lone hero who saves the herd, and nor is being invulnerable to all harm despite getting yourself into fights)
No Illiteracy (literate roleplay is the order of the day here, and if you cannot structure a decent RP in English without chatspeak or leetspeak then this is not the herd for you)
No Drama (this applies to all Hellene affairs and not just RP, so if someone else gets the Nequus or the position you wanted then do not whine, and if you are having an argument with someone then take it to PMs)
No Bad Manners (ask, don't demand; remember that shop owners and thread coordinators have real lives too; do not shout or swear or snark if things are not as you think they should be)
No Powerplaying (you must not assume that your attacks automatically hit, and if someone's attacks should be able to hit your Nequus then be a good sport and let them hit you)
No Metagaming (if your character is not a Seer then they do not know what the other character is thinking - just because you know something does not mean your character knows it, so play them accordingly)
No Wangst (tragic pasts are all very well, as is a little angst now and then, but too much angst makes us all sick and nobody wants to see a million RPs in which you hold a pity party for your poor abused Hellene - wangst is not for warriors!)
You can be greylisted or blacklisted without even owning a Hellene in the first place. I will react to how people behave in the shop and RP in the rest of the guild, and may even react to how people behave in other shops I frequent - if you're a prospective owner and you see yourself on the greylist, then you'd better shape up or you're not going to get your warrior!
Whitelist - those who are loved
Kaelyndra, for creating so many of the Hellenes and supporting the herd during its conception
lostlinx, for doing such a beautiful job with Iphigeneia
All the Hellenic owners - HANDRAKAI HELLENE!
Greylist - those who have done wrong
(may not gain a new Hellene or roleplay in the Hellene Territories until their time here is up)
Elros Namasi - for egregious whining over the results of two RP contests, despite being given a Katilenuck fruit (time ends 31/03/200 cool
SWANIEswan - for bitching about a supposedly uncerted foal that was quickly found certed on the owners list (time ends 31/03/200 cool
Blacklist - those who are enemies of the herd
(may not own a Hellene or roleplay in the Hellene Territories)
None thus far!
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Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 5:38 am
FAQ
Q: How high is the standard of the Hellene army?
Clytaemnestra Says: The average Nequus is considered good enough to begin army training. Weaklings may be barred, but more often than not they're given a chance to prove themselves. Training is of the highest quality, but also very difficult - those Nequus who cannot complete their army training sometimes try to become healers or ambassadors instead, but many become civilians. Once a Nequus is considered good enough to bear one of the six Marks, they are invited to do so by the appropriate captain. Some Nequus get more than one invitation, and must therefore choose which one to accept. The Lambda, Delta and Sigma forces usually require more specialised Nequus at a higher standard than the Gamma and Alpha forces, and the Omega force accepts only the very best.
So, in short - you don't have to be fantastic to start trying to get in, but by the time you're accepted you're pretty fantastic. We have a powerful army, but all powerful things grow from simple roots.
Q: How formal are the Hellenes? What kind of honorifics do they use, and under what circumstances?
Iphigeneia Says: That's a good question. The most Hellenic of us - the most extreme versions of the stereotype - are very formal and hierarchical. The -hallah suffix is used for all those more powerful than oneself, and at all times. Most Hellenes, though, will drop suffixes as a conversation gets under way just to make things easier for everyone concerned. When speaking to the Herdleader, though, you might want to be careful about how quickly you let those honorifics go - likewise with the Master Tactician, for example, and the First Ambassador. It's all a matter of relative importance, reading people's responses, and common sense.
Something else I should mention about honorifics is the -hellene suffix. That's considered a good term to use for someone you consider your equal, or perhaps a little bit higher than you. To call someone a Hellene is an honourable thing, so very few Nequus of high rank will be offended by having it used instead of a more appropriate suffix. My mother Clytaemnestra, I should mention, prefers to be suffixed with -hellene if anything. She's a very down-to-earth leader, and likes her soldiers to be obedient and honest rather than grovelling and over-formal.
Q: Do the Hellenes practice the death penalty?
Hades Says: Rarely. Very rarely. We avoid it wherever possible - even Hellenic soldiers avoid killing for the most part. The goal is to win, not to kill. Only the Omega Force are expected to kill; it is never a bad thing for a soldier to prefer other options. As for executions, that penalty is usually reserved for the worst kinds of murder - killing a Hellene youngling, for instance, or killing a family member. Most of the time even these offences will not see an execution. The most common punishment for serious offences is banishment from the herd, and only our very worst criminals have ever been condemned to death.
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Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 5:40 am
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