Skallangbiorn spots the witch, clad in black like the feathers of a carrion bird. "The witch emerges, scatter and focus on her whole the Mountain fells the knight of..."
He doubles over in a coughing fit, pain lacing through his guts. The wretched stink overwhelms him, banishing all thought of combat and glory. He stumbles out of the cloud and refocus on the fight, studying the workings of the witch's spell.
"Scatter! She uses a Stinking Cloud to hinder our actions!"
》
》
...
Seeing the armoured man within his now much wider reach, Jediah charges through the camp scattering small but of debris from his way to sink his glaive into the armoured man whose enchantments fail to protect him as the stone blade strikes deep. The armoured man steps in, taking another serious wound from Jediah whirling stone weapon, but fails to pierce Jediah's armoured hide. Skallagbiorn finishes off the Worg near him and then moves out of the clouds effects, closer to the encampment. The remaining Worg attacking Rutilux tries to jump up and pull him from his saddle but he manages to bring his shield up in time to deflect the strike. The last Worg finally arrives from the far side of the camp and leaps at Julian who ducks and rolls under the attack. Gnasher and his group split and move to encircle the camp . Two soldiers that manage to recover from the flash fire at The giant half Orc . Rutilux finishes off the Worg harassing him and begins moving to attack the witch. Julian sidesteps and seems to vanish from sight before he reappears a few feet to the left and buries a pair of arrows in the Worg that attacked him, killing it. Thorvald moves up to attack the armoured man next round.
Thorvald catches the cloud dead on and struggles not to spill his breakfast on his boots.
"This sucks!"
Creatures with the nauseated condition experience stomach distress. Nauseated creatures are unable to attack, cast spells, concentrate on spells, or do anything else requiring attention. The only action such a character can take is a single move action per turn.
Stats while enlarged:
AC 22
BaB with Glaive +10/+4
Damage 2d8+8
Jediah strikes at the man with his bear gauntlet
☩ Special Attacks
➣ Channel Positive energy 3/6 (DC 17, 3d6)
➣ Alignment Channel (Evil Outsiders)
➣ Destructive Smite (+3, 3/6)
➣ Ferocious Strike (+3, 6/6)
➣ Touch of Glory (+8 Social, 5/6)
☩ Domain Spell-Like Abilities - (CL 6th; concentration +9)
☩ Spells
➣ Level 3 (3+1+1/day)
■Prayer■
Inflict Serious Wounds
Agonizing Rebuke
■Searing Light■ (Domain)
■Rage■ (Domain) CSW
➣ Level 2 (3+1+1/day)
Protection from Evil, Communal
■Spear of Purity■
■Spiritual Weapon■
Bull's Strength (Domain)
Shatter (Domain)
➣ Level 1 (4+1+1/day)
■Shield of Faith■ CLW
■Murderous Command■
■Deadeye's Lore■
Sanctuary
■True Strike■ (Domain)
■Enlarge Person■ (Domain)
➣ Level 0 (4 at will)
Detect Magic
Purify Food & Drink
Light
Stabilize
■Used■
♟ ♟ ♟ ♟ ♟ ♟
"The enemy presents herself! Press the attack! Rutilux, forward forward! Leave the knight to the Mountain!" He signals to Ana. "Bring the scorching winds of flame down on her!" Then to the shadows and chaos of the encampment, going Julian is still in ear shot. "Converge for the kill, let the black root pierce her veins!"
Skallangbiorn summons the energies of his god calling down the mighty spear of Gorum. "A thousand curses are called to arms, flowing rivers if your blood rush to quiet the tormented souls of your filthy reign, witch!"
➣ ...Spear of Purity
➣
➣ Maneuver towards
------------If witch goes out of sight on her turn---------
➣ Cast Sanctuary if witch is not in range
➣ Move towards the witch's location
"I hear you," Rutilux says, somewhat intrigued by the cleric's grasp of tactics, I shouldn't be surprised that a priest of war would know them, but I do dare say the man appears to have a gift.
Zethyris looks rapidly between the armoured man and the witch. The others are moving to take care of the knight - I'll start on the witch.
Turning toward the main tent, Zethyris dashes forward, intent on striking at the witch before she can work more of her magic.
Zethyris rushes out of hiding and headlong towards the witch, lashing out with Clarisse as he reaches her but she easily avoids the blow. Ana turns her gaze to the woman who must be one of her cousins. Drawing deeply upon her magics she hurls a score of force bolts at her but the bolts crash helplessness against an invisible barrier inches away from their target. Verisse deftly avoids Zethyris' blade and draws upon whatever dread energies that fuel her powers causing her to lift up high into the air before pointing a sharpened black finger at Zethyris, "Fool boy, you dare try to touch me with your unworthy self. From this day forward hunger and despair. No food or drink may you consume, all shall turn to ash in your mouth, may your insides claw and tear at you for your appetite shall never falter.". Jediah's massive fist comes crashing down upon the armoured man hammering his shoulder but his return swing misses as the armoured man ducks beneath the swing. The armoured man retaliates, quickly chanting arcane words and running his free hand across his blade which crackles and hisses with electricity before the man slashes across Jediah's large abdomen . Skallangbiorn calls upon Gorum's intervention again creates a spear of pure light that he hurls at the witch but her defensive powers and arcane energies cause the spear to bound off of an invisible barrier. The formost of the kobolds with Gnasher hurl themselves at the camp, attacking anyone within reach while the remaining soldiers and survivors turn to fend off the savage little creatures. Gnasher rushes headlong towards the armoured man and with a jumping slash that tears viciously into the armoured man causing a deep, deep wound in the man's left shoulder and turning his armour bright red. Rutilux skirts around the fog and carefully leads Sunfire through the camp stopping near the charred remains of the tent while drawing his bow. Standing below the witch he challenges her on his honour as a Thane and a champion of the north and fires an arrow that pierces. Julian ducks inside one of the larger tents and disappears from sight. Thorvald rides closer, out of the cloud and fires his bow at the floating witch but again the attack bonuses off of her .
She's using a spell like ability to duplicate the powers of 'fly'
The words of the curse ring in Zethyris's mind, and he feels the magic behind them. In response, a warm sensation of light seems to flood his body, fighting off the witch's darkness. The sound of distant hearty laughter accompanies the feeling, and a sense of joy and clarity accompany it.
Zethyris looks up to Verisse with a fierce grin. "I am protected by the Lucky Drunk himself. You try to steal his blessings of good food and drink? The only thing I will always hunger for is freedom from the likes of you!"
Zethyris drops Clarisse at his side and grabs his bow. Fuelled by the vestiges of Cayden's power, his shot is precise and true.
Stats while enlarged:
AC 22
BaB with Glaive +10/+4
Damage 2d8+8
Jediah grunts in pain but lashes out again
☩ Special Attacks
➣ Channel Positive energy 3/6 (DC 17, 3d6)
➣ Alignment Channel (Evil Outsiders)
➣ Destructive Smite (+3, 3/6)
➣ Ferocious Strike (+3, 6/6)
➣ Touch of Glory (+8 Social, 5/6)
☩ Domain Spell-Like Abilities - (CL 6th; concentration +9)
☩ Spells
➣ Level 3 (3+1+1/day)
■Prayer■
Inflict Serious Wounds
Agonizing Rebuke
■Searing Light■ (Domain)
■Rage■ (Domain) CSW
➣ Level 2 (3+1+1/day)
Protection from Evil, Communal
■Spear of Purity■
■Spiritual Weapon■
Bull's Strength (Domain)
Shatter (Domain)
➣ Level 1 (4+1+1/day)
■Shield of Faith■ CLW
■Murderous Command■
■Deadeye's Lore■
Sanctuary
■True Strike■ (Domain)
■Enlarge Person■ (Domain)
➣ Level 0 (4 at will)
Detect Magic
Purify Food & Drink
Light
Stabilize
■Used■
♟ ♟ ♟ ♟ ♟ ♟
"Worthless servant of a misbegotten hag..." Skallangbiorn pulls his crossbow and looses a bolt. "...your curses are as useless as your vile soul! Here feast upon this!"
...possible crit
...nope
Ana reaches into the sky, aiming at Verisse with her outstretched arm. She draws upon what magic she has left to produce one last bead of fire, which she sends flying towards the witch in the sky.
"Burn, witch!"
Twin arrows launch from Rutilux's short bow towards the witch hoping to at least distract her. Of course, killing her would be better. But after seeing Zeth's shot, I'm feeling very much the amateur.
Thorvald drops out of rage to reserve strength and keeps firing with his bow.
Zethyris' resolve and faith in Cayden Cailien's ways steel his body and soul, preventing Verisse's foul curse from striking him low. Zethyris then responds with a skilled shot that pierces her arcane defences and buries itself in her flesh causing her to scream out in pain. Ana then takes the opportunity that Verisse's flight gives her to unleash a fireball that won't harm her allies or any of the surroundings, consuming the witch in a fiery explosion in the air. Below, a short distance away, Jediah swings his huge fists at the armoured man but with practiced skill he parries each and every swing. "Foolish woman. What did you expect to achieve by exposing yourself like that." the man sheaths his blade a wraps himself in magic as he vanishes.
All around you there are still battles being fought between the kobolds and the remaining soldiers and other people in the encampment.
He cast Dimension Door
☩ Special Attacks
➣ Channel Positive energy 3/6 (DC 17, 3d6)
➣ Alignment Channel (Evil Outsiders)
➣ Destructive Smite (+3, 3/6)
➣ Ferocious Strike (+3, 6/6)
➣ Touch of Glory (+8 Social, 5/6)
☩ Domain Spell-Like Abilities - (CL 6th; concentration +9)
☩ Spells
➣ Level 3 (3+1+1/day)
■Prayer■
Inflict Serious Wounds
Agonizing Rebuke
■Searing Light■ (Domain)
■Rage■ (Domain) CSW
➣ Level 2 (3+1+1/day)
Protection from Evil, Communal
■Spear of Purity■
■Spiritual Weapon■
Bull's Strength (Domain)
■Shatter■ (Domain)
➣ Level 1 (4+1+1/day)
■Shield of Faith■ CLW
■Murderous Command■
■Deadeye's Lore■
Sanctuary
■True Strike■ (Domain)
■Enlarge Person■ (Domain)
➣ Level 0 (4 at will)
Detect Magic
Purify Food & Drink
Light
Stabilize
■Used■
♟ ♟ ♟ ♟ ♟ ♟
"The cowardly knight shows his true colors once more, choosing to magic himself away through a dimensional door.." Skall slings his crossbow over his shoulder and approaches Jediah. "You honored the cringing warrior too much by using your fists, Mountain." Skallangbiorn casts on the half-orc.
The cleric surveys the battlefield and spots Ana. "Well done, the hag's ashes rain down upon the fools who followed her." Around them the kobolds continue to tear into the encampment. "Do we cease their blood lust? Or do we let justice run its course upon the very nobles who benefited from the witch's rule?"
He turns his eye to the surrounding country and wonders. "The armored coward may have fled the battlefield, but we should be vigilant, the spell he cast only travels so far."
➣
➣ Cast CMW for Jediah
➣ ...for Jediah
➣ ...searching for the armored man
Jediah nods his thanks
"I'm inclined to let the kobolds get their revenge. If they indeed have what we are looking for, and if that is the price to ensure their help. That's what we came here for." She ponders over the idea for a moment. "But then again, maybe we can achieve a bit more than what we came here for. Maybe a few of these nobles can be convinced to work for our cause, in exchange for sparing their lives. Allegiance forged by fear might not be the type of allegiance Savol prefers, but this side of the border it is an established concept."
While speaking, Ana lets her eyes wander across the battle scene, searching for nobles that look like they might want to cling to their lives more than anything else.
<hack> <gag>
"Find where the armored one went, it can't be far from here and he has no mount. Unless that is where he went for. Does anyone see where he could have gone out of our sight?"
jediah will keep watch for any sign of the armored man
Hidden, and sullen he didn't get to shoot the witch, Julian also watches.
"Limited range... and extra eyes," Rutilux considers. He's never been as keen of senses as some of his allies, but he keeps his eyes peeled as he rides out a bit and looks around for the foe.
"But then again, maybe we can achieve a bit more than what we came here for. Maybe a few of these nobles can be convinced to work for our cause, in exchange for sparing their lives. Allegiance forged by fear might not be the type of allegiance Savol prefers, but this side of the border it is an established concept."
"How many of these nobles are only here because they feared refusing the witch?" Zethyris wonders aloud. "This area was once under the rule of the Kodiak. Some may be glad to see it return, now they have been liberated from their Jadwiga master. We should try to stop the kobolds before this becomes a massacre."
"You want to mention that we are here to reinstituate the rule of the Kodiak, Zethyris? That kind of defeats the purpose of going incognito. I was thinking about having them swear allegiance to the jadwiga that calls herself Anja Aelena, regardless of whom she represents. But in any event, we have to stop the kobolds or this will become a moot point. "
Zethyris slaps a palm to his forehead. "Of course, still undercover. In all this excitement..."
He sighs disappointedly. "We can't let them know, because we've already become more visible than we should have been. The last thing we want is the Irriseni army on us because one of these lot decided to play both sides."
At Anja's raised and commanding voice most of the kobolds stop and Gnasher, who was mid swing, snaps his head in Anja's direction but afterward doesn't continue. "All right human. Deal was for the dead witch. She's dead so I'll take you where you want to go. But these people aren't part of deal." he raises his sword and points at a group of nobles herded together. " You want us to spare them then you need to make sure no one comes to broken lands. Broken lands our territory humans stay out, humans stay safe. Human don't stay out then we start hunting humans." after cleaning his sword on one of the human tabards hanging nearby he sheaths the blade.
"We will return to broken lands. Rest now. Tomorrow I'll lead you to cave."
At Gnasher's signal the kobolds stop and leave the camp moving cautiously back towards the broken lands watching for any sign of pursuit.
Anja nods her agreement to Gnasher's conditions before approaching the group of surviving nobles.
"Greetings. I hope I am not disturbing you at an inconvenient time. My name is Anja Aelena. Verisse had to die, but you don't have to share her fate. In fact, this chance encounter might be the beginning of a bright future for you, if you choose trust me and to cooperate."
In a confidential voice, she adds "You could start by telling me where the man in dark armor has gone."
☩ Special Attacks
➣ Channel Positive energy 3/6 (DC 17, 3d6)
➣ Alignment Channel (Evil Outsiders)
➣ Destructive Smite (+3, 3/6)
➣ Ferocious Strike (+3, 6/6)
➣ Touch of Glory (+8 Social, 4/6)
☩ Domain Spell-Like Abilities - (CL 6th; concentration +9)
☩ Spells
➣ Level 3 (3+1+1/day)
■Prayer■
Inflict Serious Wounds
Agonizing Rebuke
■Searing Light■ (Domain)
■Rage■ (Domain) CSW
➣ Level 2 (3+1+1/day)
■Protection from Evil, Communal■ CMW
■Spear of Purity■
■Spiritual Weapon■
Bull's Strength (Domain)
■Shatter■ (Domain) CMW
➣ Level 1 (4+1+1/day)
■Shield of Faith■ CLW
■Murderous Command■
■Deadeye's Lore■
Sanctuary
■True Strike■ (Domain)
■Enlarge Person■ (Domain)
➣ Level 0 (4 at will)
Detect Magic
Purify Food & Drink
Light
Stabilize
■Used■
♟ ♟ ♟ ♟ ♟ ♟
"Another dose I should think, eh Mountain?" Skall taps the big fighter on the shoulder, whispering the words of weapon honing to his god.
That done, he steps forward to join Ana with the supposed nobility. As he goes he summons the divine empowerment of Gorum to fill his presence and exert his will. Skallangbiorn's hands glow with red and orange and gold energies as he plants the tip of his greatsword before him and rests them upon the pommel. His voice reverberates and his eyes glow red from within his helm. "See the wisdom in her words and recognize there is only one path left before that does not end in destruction." He stares from one noble to the next, ascertaining who would be the leader of their lot and gauging their reactions to Ana's demands.
➣ ...(on noble acting as leader)
➣ Activate Touch of Glory
➣ ...aid or lead
➣ Cast CMW for Jediah
➣ ...for Jediah
As you gather the survivors together and the kobolds leave you cannot mistake the fear and apprehension on everyone's faces. Noble, wealthy and servant alike stare but try to avoid eye contact with any of you. When "Anja" makes her speech and Skallangbiorn steps up to aid her those who weren't already on the ground prostrate themselves before you crying, "We live to serve! We exist to serve!" some in a monotone while others earnestly cry out. When mention of the dark armoured man comes up they all to quiet. Two or three nobles look at each other. Exchanging glances an older woman in her mid forties, but dressed and trying to look in her twenties, finally raises her head to respond, "Mistress. We know not who that man was. He arrived earlier today bearing the markings of the Royal Army and strode right into the lady Verisse's tent without her leave."
Rutilux is quiet as the others talk. While often an eloquent speaker himself sometimes, he finds his heart isn't into the elaborate omissions they're practicing, besides, clearly the others are doing fine.
This is pie shell loyalty, easily made, easily broken. They'll crumble at the next figure to scare them into servitude. I'd rather they were inspired by the Kodiakborne, but for now we can't even mention his name. We'll need to find a way to help these people find their courage even as we truly win their hearts but that may not be for a long time.
"That is a very healthy attitude. I am happy to hear that. Please, rise, be at ease, make yourself comfortable in my camp. It's a shame that the royal messenger left before we had a chance to talk to him."
She turns to Rutilux, Jediah, Skallangbiorn, and Thorvald and asks, with some concern: "Any trace of him?"
Turning back to the group of nobles, she continues: "But that shouldn't concern us now. You are still here. And now that we are friends, would you mind telling me your names and titles? Just so I know how I should address you."
No sign
☩ Special Attacks
➣ Channel Positive energy 3/6 (DC 17, 3d6)
➣ Alignment Channel (Evil Outsiders)
➣ Destructive Smite (+3, 3/6)
➣ Ferocious Strike (+3, 6/6)
➣ Touch of Glory (+8 Social, 4/6)
☩ Domain Spell-Like Abilities - (CL 6th; concentration +9)
☩ Spells
➣ Level 3 (3+1+1/day)
■Prayer■
Inflict Serious Wounds
Agonizing Rebuke
■Searing Light■ (Domain)
■Rage■ (Domain) CSW
➣ Level 2 (3+1+1/day)
■Protection from Evil, Communal■ CMW
■Spear of Purity■
■Spiritual Weapon■
Bull's Strength (Domain)
■Shatter■ (Domain) CMW
➣ Level 1 (4+1+1/day)
■Shield of Faith■ CLW
■Murderous Command■
■Deadeye's Lore■
Sanctuary
■True Strike■ (Domain)
■Enlarge Person■ (Domain)
➣ Level 0 (4 at will)
Detect Magic
Purify Food & Drink
Light
Stabilize
■Used■
♟ ♟ ♟ ♟ ♟ ♟
♟ ♟ ♟ ♟ ♟ ♟
Skallangbiorn merely shakes his head in response to Ana's question adding a belated "No, milady," to keep up appearances.
The cleric watches the groveling with contempt. With the helm covering his features his facial cues mean nothing, but to doesn't stop his stomach from surging with the desire to strike them all down for their weakness. The very whiff of freedom from Verisse's clutches had motivated them not one bit to seek it fully. Instead they sought the first boot in range to lick.
How can my blood have been drawn from the same ocean as these craven weaklings? Disgusted he sheaths his greatsword and folds his arms across his chest. If it comes to rebellion or betrayal, I'll not sully the blade gifted me by Great Gorum by cutting them down. I'll kill them with my bare hands first.
Skallangbiorn hears Ana's question and moves to the side to address the rest of the rabble. "Survival is a way of life for you, and sometimes information is the key to that survival. The first to give us more information on this armored representative if the Royal Army will be justly rewarded."
➣
➣ ...searching for reactions in the group
Thorvald rides in a spiral pattern looking to cut the armored man's track.
"Too bad that The healer didn't join us for this hunt. That owl of hers would be useful. Lady, can your minion sniff the traitor out?"
I'm a familiar, not a minion! And no, I can't.
A witch for a witch
Humans die and kobolds die
The snow covers both.
After a very thorough search the only signs of the armoured man are found several hundred feet from the camp. A small section of snow trampled down by hobnailed boots with no trail leaving or entering. The closest signs of travel to the clearing are almost eighty feet away and probably too light for a human in armour.
Meanwhile back at the camp...
Those who remained behind to question the survivors learn several facts.
-Lady Verisse was in charge of this area but resides several days away in a mansion on the outskirts of the city of Blue River.
-There is another Jagwidja noble, lesser ranked than Verisse, who oversees this area from the town you passed earlier, Lady Annah and her two male siblings
-the servants and commoners, and even to a lesser extent the wealthy, seem more concerned with your presence and despite pretending not to listen as the nobles and the ostentatiously wealthy quickly move to get in your favour seem keen to know who you are
-the nobles take little time to recover, almost as if this kind of thing has happened before, and are quick to smother praise and declarations of usefulness to Lady Anja
Anja explains that she intents to replace the current decadent and weak local powers by a stronger one. Now that the royal army is busy waging war against the Ulfen - and with Baba Yaga's impending return - is the right time to start. Anja has collected many allies already. Like the kobolds. But also others, much stronger ones, whose identity she can't reveal yet. Those who join her, she offers protection, as long as they stay loyal to her and her allies (whoever those allies turn out to be).
All of this is technically true and Anja volunteers to testify so under a zone of truth. She is also willing to testify that she is indeed a Jadwiga noble, of no lower rank than she claims to be. She refuses to answer any questions while inside the zone of truth, though.
From the nobles Anja would like to hear what exactly each of them has to offer that could be useful to her. (an army, influence, intelligence, etc.)
Lady Anja is kept busy by the nobles and the wealthy as they discuss the area, their lands or business and trade but time and again attempts to draw out information about their household guard or anything else related to direct conflict is expertly deflected. Eventually Anja is forced to dismiss them and bid them good night to give herself time to rest for what surely will be another day of struggles.
The servants spend the time cleaning the camp of bodies and debris as well as organizing the late lady Verisse's possessions and storing them for the Lady Anja's servants or attendants.
Six chests (mildly burnt) containing dozens of dresses varying from noble to extravagant quality. Undergarments, shawls, cloaks, gloves, and riding leathers matching the quality of the dresses.
A small locked chest (easily opened) containing odd, extremely tight fitting dark leather garments fitted for various men and women, several whips and torture devices as well as vials of oils and waxes.
A large chest containing over one hundred shoes and boots.
A small steel case closed with a very strong and complex lock
Six burnt tapestries
A large map of Irrissen burnt and water logged
A chest containing four thousand gold Irrissen minted coins, six large platinum ingots with an odd, possibly dwarven, sigil minted into them. Two thousand silver coins in bags of one hundred and one lone diamond approximately one quarter inch round and flawless.
Seventy bows (both long and short) in designs from all over the world, most damaged horribly in the fire.
On a table are set several items covered in blood and ash:
A circlet shaped like spider legs coming from the back ending in points that press into the forehead
A gold and silver spun ring
A steel finger ring with a razor's sharp point with nine matching rings in silver
Four crystal wafers with dimly glowing runes
A composite short bow wrapped in black hide
A partially burnt body suit woven from some form of leaf or foliage
When you awake the Irrissian are all shut in their tents aside from the servants who beg for forgiveness as their masters "are not used to mornings" but have taken the liberty of preparing an earlier meal as soon as you were heard stirring.
Waiting for you at the edge of the broken ground stands Gnasher, still adorned in his piecemeal armour and man sized bastard sword as well as a walking stick and a crude sack. "The cave lies half a days march through these lands. Some parts are full of loose rocks and sinking sands so you may want to leave your horses."
Jediah yawns as he stomps out. He does look suspicous at the kobold's advice to leave the horses.
Late in the night you hear a a trio of voices talking in hushed tones inside one of the tents. You seem to have missed most of the discussion but some of their words catch your ears...
"What are we gonna do? We can't continue now that Verisse is gone."
"Aye, this new Jagwidga is an unknown commodity and I don't want to find myself under the scrutiny of her priest, he scares the willies out of me."
"Calm down. We've waited years for this, we can wait a little bit longer until we've got this one figured out. What bothers me though is why she has so many foreigners."
"Either way, there's nothing to be done until we figure out this Anja Aelana and whether her presence helps our plans or hinders them."
"Yes. Did we trade one Royalist for anoth.."
The rest of the conversation is cut off when a group of house guard move past the tent on patrol chatting quietly amongst themselves and when they're gone the conversation and the speakers are gone. The tent lies empty aside from supplies.
Why can't these mistrustful people whisper a bit louder and conspire out in the open where I will find them? Paranoid and ungrateful folks, acting as if I was trying to spy on them. Which I totally am not. I am just taking a walk. In the bushes. While invisible.
Next morning, Anja arrives to breakfast in a foul mood.
"These nobles are slippery as eels. We've exchanged pleasantries for what feels like a week last night - and I couldn't get one bit of useful information out of them."