"Is this what is best for Sandpoint? For our people? That woman wants to take Loxley back to a life of slavery, Chelaxian slavery! Is that worth what she has on you? The stain of slavery or worse?! You're a Lord of Sandpoint! She has defended Sandpoint, it stands because of her actions! Tell me Titus, curse or no curse, could you sleep at night knowing what you do here?"
you stand in the ruins of the old lighthouse, in nearly the same spot not a few hours before where you hid from three men who had a conversation concerning your friends. the fear finally ebbs from your mind, allowing you to calm for a moment, to be able to think clearly. your hands still shake, as you still feel scared, yet the emotion isnt quite as intense....
The man grunts. i dont know her condition, sir. But, if you can lead me to a good drink, i am your man. He steps up and grasps one of father zantus' arms, and helps the clergyman to his feet. I can help him, if you can protect us. everything about the man becomes serious, as he focuses upon the task at hand.
The woman falls to the ground, with a very undignified squeak!
Ack!
landing upon her back, she looks up at Neari. she lifts her hands up and holds them before her, a look of pleading and submission fills her face.
please please. stop! Stop!
Yeda swings her sword overhead and attacks the man who threw punches at her.
her blade swings through the air, missing once, but connecting upon the second hit.
The man in black roars in rage, followed by two more equally loud roars, one from the front of the Inn, and one from the Stables.
you feel a trill of panic through your bond with Dewdrop, and a moment later the flash of pain from your animal companion and the bond you share.
Titus looks increduluously at Zeldana. Slave? Fool woman, she's to be Queen of Cheliax!
the man turns upon his feet, takes a step to his left, and swings his blade... not at yeda, not at Loxley, nor the cat form of Corrin,
but at the man in black.
You fool! the Duchess screams loudly in anger.
She easily resists Loxley's spell, yet her shout isnt directed at Loxley. She snaps her hand out, points it at the man in black, and utters a single word. Forencio!
Five darts waver into existence and leap from finger tip and strike the man in black with absolute accuracy.
The missles strike into the man like hammer blows upon wet leather. He howls in pain and anger, staggering from the hits.
Damn. Now it's in the open. Curse hot headed fools! the Duchess bemoans to no one in particular.
the man in black roars loudly, blood flowing from numerous blows. He snarls and launches a devastating strike upon yeda.
Quick! kill him before he can transform! the Duchess commands.
Everything had erupted into chaos and Loxley cursed as The Duchess shook off her spell.
People were yelling and someone mentioned something about a Queen? Was this some kind of political attack? She wasn’t sure what to think, but she was surprised when then bounty hunter’s spell passed her. There was no way, if she was the target, they would miss. Loxley turned her head to follow their paths and watched the missiles slam into the man in black.
He was attacking Yeda barehanded, but not in the way she had once seen a foreign monk do once, with flashing kicks and blurring fists.
Nonetheless, his blows were solid and Loxley reacted. She didn’t want it to seem like she was cowing to the Duchess‘a command, but it couldn’t be helped with the timing.
Loxley snapped her outstretched hand around to aim her open palm at the man in black.
”Fuego!”
She yelled, a small fire sprang into existence before her palm. Loxley exhaled, tapped a finger to the flame and a ray of condensed flames cut through the air between her and the attacker.
"Can you move?" Golzar asks the girl. He's waiting for a yes. In fact, Golzar can protect their small party as soon as he gets them out of the jail. Golzar looked around to see if the coast is clear, and then leads them out of the cell and towards the stairs that Neari took. He hoped that he could get them past the guards.
[b]"I'll do my best to protect you," Golzar said. He was beginning to wish that he was a paladin.
the flames envelope the man in black, and you watch as his entire body turns into a candle wick. his clothes burn away and watch as the skin of his frame burns to blacked char and flake from the magical fire. the man roars a beastial scream once more before collapsing to the ground... perhaps dead? perhaps merely unconscious. yet, as of this moment, the threat from him is mitigated.
Death! Kill! blood bright red blood! the whispers returned and for once the druid didnt try to instantly shut them down. If someone, the man left in black had hurt his friend...well he would regret that for the rest of his short short life
Right, Neari rolls her eyes, you're a trickster if I've ever seen one.
Looking around Neari takes note that they are alone. Where'd that damn guard run off too? Hell, I'd take the guy with the raccoon. Neari calls out as loud as she can, Could I get some assistance over here!?
And you, Neari stares daggers at the woman, don't even try to get up.
Well done!
Then Corrin bolts for the stables.
Oh, we heard another roar that way didn't we? Wait up Corrin! None of us should get caught off guard, alone!
She turns and takes off after him.
Still he checked in on his connection with Bandit to make sure Bandit, whatever he was now, was okay.
Zeldana can only stand there, slack jawed, surprise and confusion clearly writ upon her features, keeping her from action.
SHhh. dont speak of it. The Duchess commands. We can speak more once we safe from prying ears.
Titus kneels down and removes a slim blade from his boot. He looks at the remains for a moment, and then shoves the blade deep into the large mass where you think would be the man's chest. Go. I got him.
you feel more pain coming through your bond with Dewdrop. and fear
The both of you run down the street, the sleek cat easily out pacing the lumbering woman. the speed of the cat though forces it to kick its legs out and kick rapidly to avoid missing the turn into the stable. Claws dig deep into hard packed sand and soil, and propel him through the stable door. A couple heart beats and yeda trundles in.
The stable is in pandemonium! Several horses, trapped in stalls, whinny loudly and kick the sides of stalls, while three cows moo loudly. The smell of blood hangs in the air, heavy with its coppery tang. You look down the center aisle, and see Daviern hosk laid open upon the floor, his guts split open and entrails pulled out. Beyond him, you see Dewdrop fighting a man sized rat creature.
a double slash at dewdrop cuts across the elk's face, one of the claws raking ragged claws upon the companions face, blood spatters onto the floor of the stable.
come back bandit's voice sounds gently within your mind. quickly!
As you approach the stairs, both you and the unnamed man propping Father zantus over your shoulders, you hear something.
there is a hidden strength within you, Golzar a soft, feminine voice whispers in your mind. and sacrificing a fraction of your soul to save another is a sign of selflessness. Take up my blade, whisper my name in prayer, and give yourself towards the protection of others. Do these, and you shall become a guardian for these people.[/i]
[b]I was hoping to use this for another she growls out, and savagely swings her hand at Neari's lower limbs, trying to touch her...
the palm of the woman's hand slaps hard upon Neari's foot, and a wave of energy flows into Neari.
after she casts her spell, she pushes herself to her feet.
Loxley watched as the man in black crumbled under her flames. She honestly had not expected such a result. The body smoldered as the magical fires died.
“Huh? Wha-?”
She quickly glanced after Corrin and Yeda before looking between Lord Tidus, the Duchess and Zeldana. She was thoroughly confused. Were they not after her like she had feared? The so seemed to be letting them go to follow their friends.
Loxley took a step away from them, then another. When they didn’t look to be giving chase the arcanist grabbed for Zel’s hand and pulled her along as she ran after the Druid and warrior.
A wererat?! What is going on in this town?!
Despite not having silver on her weapon, she advances forward to slash down powerfully at its back.
Rage? No... keep a cool head for now.
The blade still feels a little awkward in her hand.
Damned abyssal creature. Her stuff doesn't work! I need Mar'du back fast...
Hero-pointing that attack roll
He roared out in rage and anger his leap of death only slightly prempted by Yeda's blow.
His eyes shown anger... hate and more anger He kept hsi teeth sank into his ratty fore.
"Loxley... you okay?" Zeldana asked as she was pulled along.
He was not expecting a response as he was not even sure how this new ability worked and as such his question was mostly rhetorical in his mind... unless of course Bandit could and chose to reply.
As such, he simply sighed to himself and after a brief pause, assuming he got no reply from Bandit, began heading back at a walk. He was frankly in no hurry to get back to that situation even though Bandit had requested that he do so quickly. For as it was, he simple saw no good in doing so. Basically from what he understood, it might just be best to let that whatever she was have plenty of time to vacate the area prior to his returning.
I was hoping to use this for another she growls out, and savagely swings her hand at Neari's lower limbs, trying to touch her...
The palm of the woman's hand slaps hard upon Neari's foot. A wave of energy flows into Neari.
after she slaps, she pushes herself to her feet.
Neari can feel the lady's magic twist and deform her body, her eyelids swelling up, making it almost impossible to see. She still attempts to punch the woman as she stands but swings wide and misses.
Ugh! Why do you have to make this more difficult than it has to be. She pauses for a split second trying to think of what she can do. She dashes over to the gates as gracefully as blind person can. Reaching out she grabs hold of the gates pulling them shut.
im sorry if you thought that the girl is conscious. she's not.
As you approach the stairs, both you and the unnamed man propping Father zantus over your shoulders, you hear something.
there is a hidden strength within you, Golzar a soft, feminine voice whispers in your mind. and sacrificing a fraction of your soul to save another is a sign of selflessness. Take up my blade, whisper my name in prayer, and give yourself towards the protection of others. Do these, and you shall become a guardian for these people.[/i]
"We're going to get out of this alive," said Golzar. And he took out his blade, and he whispered: "Sarenrae."
a warmth floods through your body, and you blink from the sudden heat. one moment, it is just you, father zantus, and the man you helped. when your eyesight returns from the blink, you see a tall woman, skin the color of polished bronze. Slim, just short of too thin, she wears armor as if it was a silken chase, complete with armored kilt that reveals long equally bronzed legs. Yet, where youd expect to find blonde, brunette, or other colored hair, instead golden flames flow back to form her locks. In her right hand she holds a emblazed scimitar, and in her left she holds a liquid of pure white. Little droplets of the liquid fall from her hand, landing upon the floor in a small spatter.
My sister Desna regrets she cannot be here to service her own, yet she is grateful for your aide, Golzar. And i am extremely glad to count you as one of my own. Your heroism and selflessness is the greatest example you can provide to the world at large. yet i felt within you, two great wars. one was to be able to provide healing those that would need it. the other is to be a protector to those that need it. I grant you this boon, should you accept it. One, the life of one my chosen warriors, protecting the land from destruction and harm. the other, one of my healers, who goes out and provides aide to those that require healing. THe robes of an inquisitor do not serve you, friend. Please, chose, and you shall be reforged.
The wererat yowls in anger and annoyance at all the slashes and cuts upon him. yet, even as he makes the noise, the wounds begin to close, their impact lessened by his lycanthrope curse.
He looks from Yeda to corrin, and back to yeda. He lunges forward, jaws gnashing as he seeks to bite Yeda.
his teeth clamp hard upon Yeda, biting deep into her flesh.
he retreats back against the stable doors and steps toward the smaller door to the right.
the Duchess falls in behind the two of you.
Wait you two! Wait she commands, running ahead of you and planting herself between you and the doors to the stables.
I know that's your friend in there, but you she points at Loxley must not go in there. please she begs softly, please, go back into the Rusty Dragon Inn. It'll be safer for you, my Q- she cuts off with a snap of her jaws. Please. it is safer.
The silence grows long for a moment.... before finally you are correct. you cannot face the demon. not yet. Would destroy you, and this town. but! you can face the woman. you could drive the demon from her body. youve interacted with her. give her what she wants.
you manage to stumble your way, with minimal bumping into solid rock walls, to the gate.
you hear footsteps crunching on the dirt within the small courtyard. the steady tread filling your ears, getting closer and closer.
This isnt your fight she says from in front of you. Move out of my way, or it will be the death of you.
Hopeful as Neari is, she still stands defiantly in the woman's path, her hands fumbling for gates to close them shut.
Concentrating on the pain, on a second effort, she believes she may have warded off the worst of the bite. What's left may be small consolation.
Okay... getting closer to choosing rage.
She rushes after the wererat, her resolve to destroy it increased.
a warmth floods through your body, and you blink from the sudden heat. one moment, it is just you, father zantus, and the man you helped. when your eyesight returns from the blink, you see a tall woman, skin the color of polished bronze. Slim, just short of too thin, she wears armor as if it was a silken chase, complete with armored kilt that reveals long equally bronzed legs. Yet, where youd expect to find blonde, brunette, or other colored hair, instead golden flames flow back to form her locks. In her right hand she holds a emblazed scimitar, and in her left she holds a liquid of pure white. Little droplets of the liquid fall from her hand, landing upon the floor in a small spatter.
My sister Desna regrets she cannot be here to service her own, yet she is grateful for your aide, Golzar. And i am extremely glad to count you as one of my own. Your heroism and selflessness is the greatest example you can provide to the world at large. yet i felt within you, two great wars. one was to be able to provide healing those that would need it. the other is to be a protector to those that need it. I grant you this boon, should you accept it. One, the life of one my chosen warriors, protecting the land from destruction and harm. the other, one of my healers, who goes out and provides aide to those that require healing. THe robes of an inquisitor do not serve you, friend. Please, chose, and you shall be reforged.
Golzar visibly blinked. A heavenly visitation, to be sure. Maybe it was an angel that visited him. He had to choose. To be a paladin or a cleric. One choice to protect those in need, and another to spread Sarenae's message. He looked at the man he just saved, and Father Zantus. He looked back at the girl. He, for all his wickedness, was changing and his goddess liked the change. Justice and Protection, or spreading the message. He wondered what would his church do if they knew.
There was but one choice that was clear. He had a choice to make, protection or preaching. "The people of this jail need me," he said. "They need to be freed and protected. I'm not a good preacher," he finally said. "I don't know what the church will do to me, but I will choose to be a paladin."
He crouched for a moment his rear only wiggling once before he leapt torwards the creature catching it with all his weight and trying to latch his teeth into its throat. He planned of holding that grip until one of the two of them no longer drew breath.
Holding tightly to the rat with his jaws he kicked rapidly with his back clows eviscerting the monster while growling angrily.
Give her what she wants, he thinks to himself. Then he envisions the beauty with all that blood all over her and he is not so sure interacting with her in an intimate way would be all that great an idea.
Still... she was perhaps the prettiest thing he had every seen even though she was not a blonde, so there might be worse fates than this. Then on the flip-side he was very found of being alive, and could, does not mean would. So basically he would be tempting Fate and that lady he had not heard good things about when it came to doing that. Now while not being an overly devout individual, it might be time that he looked to the gods. I mean with all these demons seemingly interested in him there had to be a reason for that, and perhaps that was because some deity had taken a unique interest in him that he was not aware of. Thus with all that going through is mind rather rapidly, without thinking to deeply on the potential consequence, he pause and looks up at the sky saying, "Be thee who it may, I give myself unto you to do your bidding, all that I ask is insight to what it is I am to do, and some protection from the demons that seem to be interested in me as well." He was pretty sure if one of the gods had taken an interest in him, they would here his call out to them. Of course, if he was mistaken, no harm no foul, he would just not hear anything back. He waited for a moment or two and then gave a sigh of resignation, and once more put one foot in front of the other, heading for what he felt would surely be his demise.
Nothing but silence greets you...
Love. For destroying that which i loved, she must die.
you hear her grasp firmly the gate and pull it open.
You feel the warmth flow through you, and seem to crystalize within your mind. A steady presence of Sarenrae that wasnt there before. A calmness, a peace, flows over you. A confidence fills your breast that wasnt there before.
you feel different, inside, and out.
Not a moment before, you wore robs that hid your body, your scars. now, you wear armor of the brightest polish. Chainmail with breastplate upon your torso, with more chain covering your thighs. Upon your waist, a scimitar. and around your neck, a simple golden Ankh.
be steadfast, my Chosen. Go, save my cleric. the voice whispers within you, and although you know she is now gone, the warm of Sarenrae still fills you.
The Duchess looks at the both of you, and notices your hesitation.
Please. I promise you, no harm shall come to you, Lady. But it is vitally important to you to talk with me. the dwarf bows once, deep.
She waves towards the back entrance please?
The assault upon the wererat is more than he can take. Bits of his body fly off from Yeda's ferocious sword slashes, while Corrin's form latches onto the hybrids neck and claws savagely at his unprotected abdomen. Thick ropes of grey sausage spew out from a large cut, and the lycanthrope falls to the ground, unmoving.
You cast your prayer to the heavens above (and the hells below), desperation filling your plea for guidance.
a bird, flying past, catches your attention.
it.. it seems to be suspended in mid air.
you exhale... but dont hear your breath
you dont hear anything...
a dull, liquid thud fills your ears once more, and then slowly fades away...
you feel still... not even feeling your heart beat, where moments before it was hammering a rhythm in your chest.
the urge to scream, to breath, to beat your heart, to do anything fills your mind.
Take care, mortal. Lord Norgorber doesnt suffer foolish antics
before you can even comprehend who spoke, or where the voice came from, you can only stare in utter shock at the thing standing before you.
It was a spider, yet the biggest spider youve ever seen. Blacker than blackness, it seemed to not reflect light, but absorb it. eight long legs supported an unsettlingly large spider body. The body itself, although you could see its outline and the area it occupied, there were no defining characteristics that you can draw upon to provide context, or clues to a type of spider it was to resemble. Aside from it absorbing light, six small red beads and two saucer plate sized red beads seemed to hover in the air, in the spot were a head should be.
The Lord has heard your plea, and has deigned to answer one question, of anything. If this thing had lips, you didnt not see anything move. it's eyes didnt blink, its form didnt shift. everything around it, around you, was perfectly, unnaturally still.
I'll make the changes next week.
She wonders out loud, to Corrin, Where did this one come from? There could be more.
To say he was also a bit troubled that he had gotten this kind of response from this particular deity would be no stretch either. Yet, then again, it did seem a bit apropos to some degree as well. I mean he had thought, the situation was leading in a quite a different direction, as he was obviously facing evil and one would thus expect the intercession of a deity opposed to such with the subsequent cost being living a life more focussed on good. He had resigned himself to this fact when he had called out to the gods. However, things just seemed to have doubled back upon themselves which was rather confusing. Of course, it is never clear what the Keeper of Secrets true motives are in any particular situation, however, he had never heard him doing something altruistic in nature.
Still while all that tumbled quickly through his jumbled thoughts, the spider-shaped void-messenger of the Keep of Secrets continued to presumably stare at him with all its unblinking red eyes, which was itself quite unnerving. Why was it here, what did it want? It took him a moment to remember, right it was waiting for his question. What was his question again, he desperately sorted through his thoughts for the question. Yes, he needed to know how to free the woman from the demon, hopefully without dying in the process, and to do it as quickly as possible. He had to focus his thoughts if he wanted to get this right. He hesitated as he looked at this menacing creature, but then resigned himself and closed his eyes. He mentally phrased the question then picked it apart and put it carefully back together adding various elements to the question to get him the best possible answer. Once he was satisfied with the formation of the question and had mentally repeated it to himself several times, he opened his eyes once more and steadily and carefully posed the meticulously constructed question to the spider-thing. Then anxiously awaited its reply.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------
Loxley stared at the Duchess.
Emotions and questions raged inside her. She wanted to know what it was this woman wanted with her, but her friends were possibly in danger.
The dwarf’s words did little to put her at ease. Loxley hesitated for a moment, then just as she was about to disregard the Duchess she made a plea. Loxley wanted to ignore it but something about it stopped her.
She scrutinized the dwarf again. Nothing had changed her unease, but the arcanist just couldn’t totally disregard her.
It was Zel’s squeezing her hand that finally set her decision. Loxley glanced back at her, then back at the Duchess. She licked her lips nervously but looked bounty hunter in the eyes.
”Very well, I will concede this. But I swear, if any of my companions come to harm, I will not remain so gracious.”
Knowing at Zel was with her gave her some courage.
Loxley’s gaze flickered to the burnt remains and back to the Duchess as a multitude of questions threatened to bubble over inside her as they moved towards the Rusty Dragon.
The spider-form hisses, at least you think it hisses. a wet hiss as it voices displeasure.
Two questions it asks. Two questions it puts forth, yet only one allowed. two questions in shape, yet one was proffered.
the void shifted. a strange, sickening light warping motion as what should have been light reflecting areas instead consumed the light. The creature shifts, or rather, the world shifted around the still creature.
Two for one, yet payment for none. None for one-
it looms over you, overly large (or you shrank in size), a small nothingness compared to the largess of otherness writ large. It leered, and you had the image of a tiny fly caught in a large spiders web, with fangs dripping with venom. You feel two things upon you, yet you cannot move, cannot resist. your left hand is stretched out before you, before your face. You see your hand, held out, two black nothings holding it taunt, and brought before the larger darkness.
You feel a wetness close around your middle finger, pressing tight where finger meets hand. the liquid burns! it burning so! the agony, its molten fire condensed into the brilliance of a thousand suns, it burns! A million million tiny needles jab into your skin, under your nail, through into the joint, the twist and grind, prod deep. the bone smashed under hundreds of anvils, one atop the other, grinding bone to dust, to ash.
to nothingness.
you blink
the world has shifted from the void spider.
- one for one. it finishes.
where there were five digits, there are now only four. where there was a middle finger upon your left hand, the is nothing.
To save the girl, you must show love. To harm the demon, kill the witch
your heart explodes, your mind reels in agony! you suck in a lungful of air! your heart thunders in your chest, trying to break the ribs that protect it. you suck in air, deep, deep into your chest. you would inhale more and more if your ribs would split wide! You feel as if you had been holding your breath, for long, far longer than you thought you should.
you feel the wave of magical energies course through your body, sapping your strength. Yet, you tap into that hidden reserve of strength and break the effects. Your muscles tense up, and you stand upright.
H- h- how? the woman stammers out.
with a howl of rage she slams the gate wide open, smashing Neari between iron and stone wall.
the only sound Neari hears is the patter of bare feet slapping the dirt road as the opponent runs away.
Handing Father Zantus off to the guy who you brought back from the dead, you purposefully stride up the stairs, sword held before you at the low guard position. You summit the stairs, and see through the jails front door way, across the short courtyard and into the fortress' main gateway, you spy Neari get slammed by the entry gate into the fortification's wall. A woman in red flashes in the torchlight and disappears, heading off to the right.
The Duchess smiles once more, a smile of happiness and relief. Her eyes soften slightly. Please, to the main room. she turns and leads the two of you towards the backdoor of the Inn.
Kill him Titus. He's of no further use to me she instructs the Sandpoint nobleman. As you step through the doorway you hear the telltale sound of a knife crunching through bone.
You make your way to the hall that leads to the main room, only to be stopped by the Duchess. She lifts a finger to her lips, indicating silence. Instead, she steps to the kitchen door, and opens them up. She glances inside quickly, and then motions you both in to join her.
As soon as the two of you are in, her finger once more raised to indicate silence, she lifts her other hand and weaves it in the air. a slight deadening of sound.
We must be quick. Please, Loxley, my Lady, please put this ring on first. Before we go any further, i must ask you to put this ring on. she holds out a ring with a strange twist in the band.
You watch as Corrin drags away the wererat, and are left with the sounds of animals mooing, neighing, and baaing, and groaning in pain...
wait-
groaning in pain?
you hear it again, from behind you, and notice the man on the ground, his eyes are clamped shut, his mouth in a grimace as his hands move shakingly upon his abdomen.
oww
Your savage display works! you drop the wererat from the rooftop to land upon the road below with a dull, wet, slap. You look down at the large form of Gokinsae, and see him laying unmoving on the road, with the man in black running away, down the street towards the docks.
Then when the Duchess handed Loxley a ring, Zeldana placed her open palm out between them "I shall inspect that first." She stated.
Corrin... got any healing magic left for this one? I think my sword is done here...
"Looks like you defeated her," Golzar said. "Shall we go after her?"
Golzar looked on as woman in red ran. Neari is there, waiting. He couldn't tell if she was breathing hard or not, but he felt faint. He suddenly collapses on the road.
Shit shit shit shit." he began a tiny rhythmic beat as he knelt beside the man on his knees.
"One of my berries? do you have one still.. i used my mine at thistleoon.
Hesitates before turning back and making her way to Golzar trying as best as she can to determine what's wrong.
You examine the ring, and discover it to be a ring of false vision
Sazzat is about to explain to this rather ominous create that it has it all wrong when it gave two overly simplistic answers to two questions, one that he asked and one that he did not really ask. Then suddenly his world spun and his mind imploded and it all went black.
At some point, assuming he remembered anything of what just occurred, he would note that the answers that the creature gave were far from stellar. Show here love, with the obvious question being how? Then kill the witch, with the equally obvious question of what witch and how? Neither of which even approached the basic aspect of the question posed which required details which of course were not given. So yeah it claims it answered two questions but in fact it had not answered anything with any detail as was requested and as such did not answer the question, or even questions, that was posed. Yeah typical evil entities, cannot be trusted for nothing.
Loxley watched the Duchess carefully. When the dwarf began casting she tensed.
But she was still a little shaken and having trouble focusing. Or maybe she was just still feeling Lady Aibhnichean's drink. Either way Loxley was on edge.
When confronted with the ring, she flinches back from it.
“Be careful!”
Loxley exclaims as Zel takes the ring herself to examine.