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Roger's sap connects with Cyan, bruising the thug's head.
"What is an eagle doing attacking a city guard? It must be at the command of someone here." Dottari blue remarks, then moves ahead to take her own swing at the feathered fiend.
"Blast it. Hold still!" She shouts as the summoned beast dodges what could have been a fatal strike.
--- Bold is up ---
Roger/Viktor
Dottari Blue
Padraig (-5)
Issil
Geoffrey (-3)
Chelish Thug Orange (-5)
Morvena
Dottari Black
Chelish Thugs Green (Grel) and Cyan (3 NL)
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Good job Morv...just don't do anything else to draw their attention. I cannot help you now...
Geoffrey continues his attacks upon the already bruised militia guard, thankful the guard was still groggy from the blow from the newcomer.
If you are innocent my friend, then I am Thrune's consort!
Issil takes a step back. "Pardon me."
She weaves some magic and blows a kiss at Pádraig, which forms into a shield. "That should help your defenses a bit, hehe."
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A shimmering, magical field surrounds Pádraig Henry. "Thank you, fair Lady Issil." the halfling sings as he continues to inspire his new friends.
Cursing the odds, he too steps back, guarding the caster's flank, ready to strike the first foe that approaches. No time to be a diva, now, better a member of the chorus be.
"Brave friends, I will not abandon you, but we should withdraw to safety!"
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"Aughhhh......!" Cyan is overcome with pain when Geoffrey delivers a particularly brutal slash to the gut, and he topples over unconscious, a bloody pool quickly forming around him.
"Damn it, that's two! Which means you're due for twice as much pain!" Taunt orange and green.
Green moves down towards Geoffrey, seeing him as the real threat.
When the mace slams into Geoffrey's side, the thug smiles with renewed confidence. "See? You ain't so tough after all!"
--- Bold is up ---
Roger/Viktor
Dottari Blue
Padraig (-5)
Issil
Geoffrey (-8)
Chelish Thug Orange (-5)
Morvena
Dottari Black
Chelish Thugs Green (Grel) and Cyan (KOed, unstable)
"Screee!"
The eagle's mighty talon swipes at Green as he passes, but has trouble finding purchase!
And then, its work done, it simply fades away as the magic binding it to this part of the Material ends.
______
"Hey! Cease manhandling my escort!" Morvena calls out as Orange steps forward and wallops Geoffrey. She raises her finger and points at the offender, sending a dart of acid sizzling towards him!
But this time, her magic isn't quite so impressive.
"Ah...perhaps a strategic withdrawal is in order?" she asks as she edges away from the fight slightly.
______
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Morvena's dart flies into an opera house window like an egg tossed by a prankster, leaving a stream of acid dripping below.
The remaining city guard uses her shield to push through the crowd, and notices the unconscious Chelish Citizen. "Clear some room! If I have to fill out the paperwork for a dead rioter, I'm going to be stuck behind a desk for weeks!" She kneels down and begins tending to cyan's wounds.
Green rushes towards Padraig, but thanks to Issil, his mace bounces off the halfling's magical shield.
The city guard has little luck helping the wounded thug, and he continues to bleed.
--- Bold is up ---
Roger/Viktor
Dottari Blue
Padraig (-5)
Issil
Geoffrey (-8)
Chelish Thug Orange (-5)
Morvena
Dottari Black
Chelish Thugs Green (Grel) and Cyan (KOed, unstable)
"Ugh, paperwork. Almost as bad as taxes. Let's mozy on out of here."
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Victor, seeing the additional town guards closing it, moves back around next to the fella with sword and shield and bends down to 'assist' the guard in tending the man's wounds. "Man, this guy ran straight into that backswing. Dying during a overzealous meeting, I wouldn't want to break that news to their family!"
He soon throws his hands in the air "I'm no good with bandages, I give up! Maybe its time to go, things sure are getting ugly out here!"
Geoffrey nods in reply to the Chelish lady, "After you...I will cover our retreat!"
"Always a gentleman, eh?" Issil takes a look at the brave but maybe foolish man coming to her aid.
"All right, all right. I'll draw Mister Green's attention here."
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Viktor swipes the Chelish Citizens Group members' armband for himself, the dottari guard much too focused on stemming the owners bleeding to notice.
"Yes, get back, get back, fools! This man is going to die!" The other city guard yells, but no one seems to listen, and another elf takes an uppercut from an anarchistic dwarf, toppling over the unconscious defender of Thrune. "Yer as dumb as yer ears are pointy!" Spits the dwarf.
The blue-armored guard joins his companion in assisting the injured thug.
--- Bold is up ---
Roger/Viktor
Dottari Blue
Padraig (-5)
Issil
Geoffrey (-8)
Chelish Thug Orange (-5)
Morvena
Dottari Black
Chelish Thugs Green and Cyan (KOed, unstable)
"Well, that's that, then." Keeping her shield ready, Issil begins to withdraw through the crowd, flowing through it like the summer breeze.
She can't help but take a look at the Sarini Noblewoman sticking out like a sore thumb in the crowd. Cute bird, though.
Once the others have started withdrawing Geoffrey follows suit, moving back to his charge. "It is time to leave now Morv."
______
Having had her bit of fun - though she might not consciously call it that - Morvena is more than ready to make a quick exit before things get even uglier. "Right, follow the slip...er, where did he go?" she whispers, looking around with some confusion. "No matter then, let's just go!"
______
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You push and shove your way through the masses, stepping among fallen Chelish guards, remnants of broken weapons and armor, and innocent Kintargans battling ruthlessly for their cause. In between the tangles of arms and legs, you see it - the edge of Aria Park that exits back onto the streets. You make a run for it northeast as quickly as you can away from the park, turning only when heightened screams erupt from the riot as a hellhound leashed by Nox breathes a swath of flames over the rioters. Behind you, dozens of others come running, screaming - terrified. This was their own "Mayor," now turned completely on them, willingly killing them without a second thought.
You speed through the streets, past Veritas Plaza and past the Temple of Asmodeus, continuing to run as fast and as far as you can. Just a few hundred feet later, the streets of Kintargo seem deserted, with everyone having run home seeking safety... Or killed. The guards that you do see seem to be on high alert.
____
"Well, this is a fine mess." Issil frowns. "No one's going to want business tonight. It's kind of a mess out there. Good thing I brought my stuff."
"So then, what brings you all out here, anyway? I know Shorty is here to sing protest songs and get in trouble. This gentleman here seems to be with this lady, and her..." She stares at the woman for a good long while. "House Sarini, right? What are you doing out there? Shouldn't you be pampered somewhere nice and comfortable?" She gives Movena a mocking grin.
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Pádraig Henry pulls up, bent over, hands on thighs, sweating and panting from the hasty retreat through the streets.
"Thank you, friends, for your aid back there. We escaped, but many did not. My name is Pádraig Henry. Until recently, I was a performer at the Opera House. Those were the best of times. Now is the worst of times."
A worried look casts a shadow over his flushed face.
"Thrune will show us and our fellow citizens no mercy. And we cannot end their tyranny on our own. We need allies."
"I know a place where we might speak. The Tooth and Nail, a tavern in Old Kintargo, is owned and operated by Setrona Sabinus. I've been performing there for some time now. She's the sister of Lictor Octavio Sabinus, who leads the Hellknight Order of the Torrent, but I trust her."
I wonder, is it safe to reveal to these people that I was initiated into the Silver Ravens? See what they have to say first.
He looks around, "Lady Issil of House Tanessen, I'm surprised to see someone from such an esteemed family out on the streets cavorting with the common folk. Therein lies a tale, no doubt."
"What brought all of you to Aria Park today?"
"Lady Issil...man I haven't been called that in years...don't you start now." Issil laughs. "Anyway, large crowds is where I work. Dance for the crowd, find some rich idiot, dance for the dummy in private, sneak back to my room at the inn before the night watch clobbers me."
"Speaking of clobbering, both of you could look a lot better after what those guards did to you. I can help with that..." Issil gives them a wink, and then focuses before placing her warm hand on their bruises. Most of the injury wears away.
Geoffrey gives the Chelish lady a glare as he steps protectively closer to his charge. "Watch your tone of voice, MI-Lady! Show some gratitude for those who risked their neck to pull you out of the fire!"
The halfling's words suffice to draw his attention from the other woman. "Yes, Padraig it is an honor to meet you....though the circumstances could be better. I think heading to this inn," he glances at Morvena seeking her approval here, "would be a wise idea for now. As for what brought Morv and I out here, that is a question I will let her answer," he finished up with a note of disapproval.
As Issil heals his wounds, he does nod gratefully in thanks. "Thank you MiLa--Issil. That one militia thug struck me harder than I thought! Please forgive me for my harsh words earlier. I...I did not want to be a part of that."
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Victor hustles out of the crowd with the rest of the group, dodging and weaving through the traffic with ease. Once they stop however he echos Padraig's body language: a bit tired and out of breath. After a minute he recovers enough to join in the conversation.
"Quite the little tussle that was, whew." He says, still breathing a bit heavy. "It was pretty brave of you guys to take it straight to the Chelish Citizens' Group like that, really got my juices flowing so I... just jumped in to help!"
His eyes linger a bit at the jewelry across Issil's neck and then again when she heals the others. A small smile crosses his face. "Its great to meet you Miss Issil, Mr Padraig and..." His look goes now towards the man with the mustachio and his charge. Hrm, a healer AND a street walker. Now that's not something you see everyday.
"Name's Victor. I took the half day off from making deliveries to come and see what was going on, I've seen a number of fliers around, and everyone talking about it, I just had to see myself."
At the mention of the Tooth and Nail Victor nods along "I've heard of that place before. I could grab a quick bite maybe before I need to head home. Folks might get worried if I'm out too late with all that's going on." Victor seems to look in his late teens, an old leather jerkin poking out from under his worn jacket and cloak. A small backpack over his shoulders.
"Oh, hello there. I didn't even see you." Issil smiles at the kid. "Something tells me your delivery days are either over or just beginning."
Turning to Geoffrey, she shrugs. "Eh, don't worry about it. I've been called worse. Just don't get hurt like that again until tomorrow- I don't think I can help you until then."
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Pádraig Henry's eyes narrow as he observes Victor. I'm not the only one with secrets.
"Thank you for tending our wounds, Issil."
Pádraig Henry leads the way through the eclectic mix of buildings that make up Old Kintargo to the Tooth and Nail, a quiet tavern advertising itself only with a few nails and wolves’ teeth driven into the post out front. The Nail shares a building with a small confectionery called the Sweet Tooth.
As the party enters, Pádraig Henry nods to a short but outgoing woman, the owner of the establishment. "Setrona Sabinus, these fine folk are friends of mine, Issil, Victor, Morvena and Geoffrey. Can you seat us at a booth with some privacy?"
Once the party finds a quiet table, Pádraig Henry decides to reveal himself. "Friends, what I'm about to tell you puts me and you in danger. But after our baptism by fire today, I owe you the truth."
He pauses, looking each of them in the eye. "The Lord-Mayor believes he has defeated the rebel Silver Ravens, and for all practical purposes, he already has done. Never the most tightly organized or cooperative group even at its height, the Silver Ravens were too undisciplined to put up much resistance against Thrune when he took control of the city. The leaders of the Silver Ravens were put to excruciating death."
Again, the halfling pauses. "As far as I know, I may be the last surviving member, though too junior to have any real awareness of their former operations or other secrets. You have earned my trust today, and so I must trust you to maintain my secret."
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Geoffrey nods politely to the non descript man who called himself Victor.
Seems as if you are not revealing all you are...but now is not the time...
"The Silver Ravens? I had heard tales...but never really bought into them myself. Still glad to see the rumors were nestled with a grain of truth." As the import of the halfling's words sink in he pales slightly before turning to face his charge.
Morvena will have to decide here. I cannot force her to do this...
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Once the party finds a quiet table, Pádraig Henry decides to reveal himself. "Friends, what I'm about to tell you puts me and you in danger. But after our baptism by fire today, I owe you the truth."
"I'm always in danger, so don't worry about that." Issil lounges against the booth, taking more room than she really should until prompted to make some space.
As Pádraig talks about the persecution of the the Silver Ravens, Issil's mind slips to her days in the court. Pampered, well dressed, passed between different noblemen, judging her like she was a prize horse they couldn't wait to win. She hated it then. She gives a glance at Morvena, and wonders if she's here to see if she's breaking free as well.
Finally, Pádraig finishes his tale. "Thrune's grip on the city has gotten tighter and tighter, hasn't it? It seemed like the Silver Ravens were the only thing keeping him distracted. With them out of the picture he's now openly killing citizens."
"So what's your plan, little man? Raise the coalition from the brink of death, overthrow a tyrant, shoot rainbows across Kintago? Sounds kind of fun."
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_______
As she catches her breath with the others, Morvena crosses her arms across her chest and scowls in response to Issil's mockery. "If you can discern my lineage by sight alone then you should also know that I have fallen out of favor with my family, Lady Tanessen," she replies coldly. "As for Aria Park, Geoffrey and I were simply in attendance today in order to keep abreast of the happenings in the city. Whether you call the Greens or the gutter your home, there is no excuse for being a poorly-informed citizen!"
She's telling the truth but there's still more to it than what she's saying.
House Sarini is one of the three noble families of Kintargo who openly support Thrune.
She uncrosses her arms and looks around, as if watching or waiting for someone. "At any rate, I suppose there will simply be no returning to our own rooms after all that horrible ruckus in the park. Geoffrey and I shall accompany you to this 'Tooth and Nail', at least for a short while."
As Morvena turns to follow Pádraig, a series of excited twitters and chirps sounds as a small thrush comes flapping out of the sky to land on her shoulder. Instantly, her expression shifts to one of relief. "There you are! I had feared we managed to lose you during our flight from the park," she smiles as she gently strokes the little songbird's head with her index finger. "Geoffrey and I will be accompanying these people for a short time longer. Ride on my shoulder for now, so we do not get separated again."
To her new 'companions' she offers a slight shrug of her shoulders. "She is a...servant, of mine. But also a dear companion."
_______
After hearing Pádraig's tale at the Tooth and Nail Morvena sits quietly, gazing off into the distance for a few moments. "Thrune and his lackeys...they hold nothing but contempt for those they consider to be beneath them, to be weaker than they," she responds dreamily. "Such people are simply stepping stones on the way to power and greatness," she continues, her eyes now darkening. "But the ground that such societies are built on...it is the equivalent of building atop a fault line. Stability of a sort may exist for decades or even centuries...and then, all it takes is the tiniest tremor to set off a chain reaction that brings the entire thing crashing down."
She gives the little halfling a hard look. "Are you suggesting that we have the capability of being such a tremor?"
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Pádraig Henry reads the unspoken subtext behind the noblewoman's words. Seems all of us have secrets, even the Sarini lass.
He flashes a bright smile. "Maybe not a tremor. Not yet. But every tremor starts with a tremble. We shook things up a little today, didn't we?"
He tries to keep his passion and enthusiasm in check, but it's not easy.
"What we saw today scared the crap out me. We're just not ready to tackle them head on."
He holds up three fingers. "First things first. Seems to me, we need a safe house. We need intelligence. We need allies. Thoughts?"
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Oh... if only she was a man... well I COULD still make it work with some effort if things don't work out...
"Oh pretty bird you have there! What's her name?"
Victor snaps back to it after daydreaming for a moment, listening intently to the Lady Sarini and Padraig. That halfling does seem a bit familiar, I should do some digging on him... "Do you know for sure these Silver Ravens were killed? I hear the dottari guard towers are so full of prisoners now they’re keeping those they arrest in warehouses. Someone even said they’re putting prisoners to work in places like Sallix Salt Works. Maybe they're just there? Hopefully." He says with a concerned look.
"You guys really are serious about starting up something here. That's dangerous..." He stops and looks at the table for a second. "I need something to eat, lets get some food and some tea... its not dark yet is it?" He starts to wave over a server to place an order.
"Some hot spiced tea and a small pigeon pie please." He turns to the others "Anyone else?"
Geoffrey glances back to Morvena giving her an almost imperceptible nod.
Good...I am glad you listened to what I have said.
Turning his attention back to Padraig he considers what the halfling was suggesting carefully.
This is the first step of a path we cannot easily step off once trod on...still I believe we have been on this path for a while...
"I think your ideas are good. A safe house should be the first thing to find. As for what happened to the former leaders of the ravens, they may very well have been taken prisoner...yet we can't allow wishful thinking drive our actions here. If we want to succeed then we need to deal with the reality of our situation."
"Out here for innovation, Missus Sarini? I can believe that, sure." Issil grins as Morvena calls her out. "Nice bird, by the way."
In the Tooth and Nail, Issil ponders for a bit. "A safe house will be pretty useful. If you know of any, I'd love to hear about it."
She looks at Morvena with a serious look. "I'm not gonna sugar coat this. We'll probably be killed or worse if our little trip fails. Watching Thrune squirm for that one moment before everything went to the Abyss was worth it, though. I'll stick around. So if anyone wants to back out, call this whole thing off like a bad dream, now's your chance."
She pauses for a moment before smiling and flagging down the staff. "Bread. Grapes. Wine. Chicken." She pulls out a piece of gold, hesitating before dropping it on the plate. "Keep us fed, and keep the change."
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Just outside the establishment, from a nearby alleyway, you hear the sound of steel clashing against steel alongside a cry of pain. Looking into the alleyway, you spot a group of Chelish Citizens' Group thugs just as they knock a man to the ground. Four unconscious thugs lie sprawled nearby, and one of the aggressors prepares to slam his mace down on the fallen man's head in a guaranteed coup de grace. The fallen person looks to be wearing a single glove on his left hand.
Seeing what's going on Victor stops quickly "Hold on, we've got trouble, let me take the lead, but stay back behind me!"
Victor turns away from this group of allies and approaches the alley, slipping the armband on as he does, making sure its easily seen by the thugs. "HEY! There'll be no more killing citizens tonight, even if they deserve it. If you kill 'em all today there won't be any left tomorrow for fun now will there be?"
Geoffrey gives the man Victor a brief look of surprise, but does comply with his request moving behind him with his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
______
Peering into the alley from just behind Victor and the other men Morvena gasps. "Oh my! How very brave of all of you to bring this man, who must be a pinnacle of masculinity to have felled four of you, down," she exclaims, though she has a devil of a time biting back on the sarcasm that threatens to coat every word. "But my good companion here is right, you should not spoil your dinners, as it were."
"Like, what's going on? By Azzy Asmodeus, are you- are you gonna kill them? I think I'm gonna be sick?"
Issil parades around her friends like a ditz, pretending to be the pretty fool.
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Padraig notices that Viktor's appearance changes markedly as he turns away from the group, and his features become quite similar to one of the Chelish Citizens Group thugs back at the riot.
The thug preparing to murder the one-gloved man turns at Viktor's approach. "No more killing tonight? Hah!" He chuckles luxuriously. "Not only did this man openly protest against Thrune, but look at his clothes. He dares to look that fancy in Kintargo? He must follow the rules just like everyone else!" He walks a circle around the fallen man, tapping the handle of his weapon in his hand. "You're one of us," he says, eyeing Viktor's armband. "Why don't you finish the job?" He holds out his mace for Viktor to take, a smirk on his face.
"And you four," he shouts down the alleyway at Morvena, Issil, Geoffrey, and Padraig, "Stay back, forget what you saw, and leave now!"
"You want me to forget that? B-but how could you forget this?"
Issil breaks out into dance immediately. The Covetous Wife, a forbidden tale of love across a nation and a power-hungry woman who would do anything to work her way into powerful relationships.
Viktor may have stepped into something bad. I need to stall for time, here...
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'Grel' holds out his hand behind him, asking the others to stay back "You know as well as I the procedures on the proclamations. Stuff 'em, cuff 'em, and book 'em for a fine." He looks down at the unconscious man in question.
"Its pretty clear he's been so well stuffed he doesn't need to be cuffed. Lets avoid the paperwork and just retrieve the fine from him ourselves." Grel heads up and takes the mace from his hands then bends down to search the gloved man for valuables to pay his 'debt' to the others.
"Here we go, debt paid AND no paperwork." He tosses a pouch to the speaker, while still holding his mace. "Plenty there for a round of good drinks and grub and some extra time with some ladies.. am I right?"
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"What a pitiful little display, lady," the thug mocks Issil. "I've seen better dancing at a retiree housing!" The other three laugh along with him. "Now go on, keep walking."
The disguised Roger finds a pouch containing forty gold pieces, but as he leans down, the one-gloved, well-dressed man coughs up some blood and words. "No... Don't do this... For Kintargo..."
The brute catches the pouch tossed by Viktor and looks inside. "Hmm... Fine. You deal with this guy. Come on, you idiots, let's get a drink," the thug commands the other three, and after kicking the fallen man's side once more, the four exit the alleyway, purposely brushing shoulders with Geoffrey on their way out.
Meanwhile, the fallen victim struggles to open his eyes and points to the side of the alleyway where his rucksack had been tossed.
Once the thugs walk off and his own group approaches, Victor will return to being 'Victor' while he's doing his best to make sure the gloved man remains in the world of the living. "Stay calm man, and stay down, you've paid your debt."
He grabs up the sack and takes a look inside, grabbing out a potion, he brings it to the man on the cobblestone alley "Drink this?" Victor pulls out the cork, taking a sniff to hopefully get an idea of what it is before he feeds it to the man. Nope..
Issil frowns as her dance isn't appreciated. "I gotta work harder on my steps..."
Issil shrugs. "Let's drag this guy into the Tooth and Nail, eh? Geoffrey, you got this?"
Issil will cast Guidance to help anyone's check.
She tastes some of the potion. "Ooh, restorative. These should Cure Light Wounds in an instant. Feed one of them to him."
"Yes please don't drag him, try to be a bit discreet here. I wonder why he's only wearing one glove? Take a look around, maybe he lost it in the scuffle."
While he looks around, Victor will see if he can't find some sort of old cloth of some sort to toss over the man's fine clothes, no need getting beaten up twice in the same night for the same crime. Victor also takes off the armband and puts it into his own belt pouch.
"Of course, MiLady." Geoffrey resonds as he bends down to pick up and carry the unconscious man across his shoulders.
When Issil points out the curative nature of the potion, he frowns for a moment. "Should we risk waking him here? It may draw too much attention from other Militia guards."
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Roger doesn't find a matching glove in the alleyway, but does find an old, moldy blanket that should help. Despite his injuries, the man does manage a few more words. "Thank you.... I'm Rexus. Rexus Victocora. We should go to Crisalli's... The bookstore near Aria Park... It's safe there, discreet back-room policy... away from Thrune's watchful eye... I followed you today... Our goals seem... Aligned." He sputters up some more blood from within, making quite a mess of Geoffrey's shirt.
_____
"Drink a potion already, we need you to hurry up." Issil feeds one of the options to Rexus.
"There. Feeling better? Lead the way, buddy." The observant members notice Issil is much faster than the rest- she sometimes skips along, trying out varying dance steps to slow herself down and keep up pace.