Rognak recalls that Vrocks are not as strong of will, are resistant to attacks that aren't holy aligned, and can release bursts of spores that drill into their host.
The vrock screams in fury, it's confusion driving it to fly at Dunia.
The beast unleashes a flurry of claws and talons and death at Dunia!
As it swings it's claws at Dunia, a burst of spores flies all over Dunia, digging into her skin!
PATHFINDERS FIGHT? THE BOLD MAY ACT!
Rognak -19
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Vrock Blue [confused] -18
Dino -Dead
------------------------------
Shonne -38
Fendel -38
Braxus -19
Bronze
Dunia -41 (Weeds 10 rounds 1d4 each round)
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Vrock Red -17/ 8 NL
The BLUE vrock swings at Dunia, making a nasty blow, then powders her with spores, but distinctly DOESN'T Have time to full attack her.
PATHFINDERS FIGHT? THE BOLD MAY ACT!
Rognak -19
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Vrock Blue [confused] -18
Dino -Dead
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Shonne -38
Fendel -38
Braxus -19
Bronze
Dunia -40 (Weeds 10 rounds 1d4 each round)
-----------------------------------------
Vrock Red -17/ 8 NL
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Practically glowing now with his bloodrage pounding in his heart, Braxus swiftly calls upon the Mantle of the Black Rider, causing his muscles to strain under his skin. He roars again at the demon above and with the magic speed he has just been granted, he practically runs up the nearby tree before springing off it and sailing toward the red demon in order to strike with his earth breaker.
+9 BAB, +10 from STR(25 STR +2 from enlarge +3 from Mantle=30 STR) +2 to hit from Dedicated Adversary(from his Martial Flexibility on round 1), +3 from Furious weapon, +1 weapon focus, +1 haste, +2 from accurate stance(rage power)(no penalty for PA from Furious Focus),-1 from large size=+27
Damage breakdown
Weapon:3d6(enlarged earthbreaker)+1d6 vs evil outsider(Bloodrager/Angelic attacks, Melee attacks count as good)
Bonus damage:STRx2=+20(Overhand Chop brings the bonus from x1.5 to x2 for 1 attack with a Two Handed weapon), Weapon Specialization +2, Power Attack +9, Furious weapon +3, Dedicated Adversary +2=+36
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The edge of the blast barely touches the pair before dissipating right behind them.
Bronze reads the contests of the scroll aloud with a thick accent of the druidic language that he doesn't really speak. After he touches Halflight, the big cat starts running back towards the demons, but each step taken is now getting him up and up away from the ground.
Using Furyborn amulet, each time the wielder damages an opponent with the weapon, its enhancement bonus increases by +1 when making attacks against that opponent (to a maximum total enhancement bonus of +5), so each consecutive attack after one hits will have +1 to both hit and damage.
The hunter's AC also knows a number of Skirmisher Ranger tricks, which it can use HD/2 + Wis mod times per day (6 for Halflight), so the first time he hits he'll use "Aiding Attack" as a free action - the next ally who makes an attack against Red before the start of the animal’s next turn gains a +2 circumstance bonus on that attack roll.
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Watching the enormous battle cat climb into the sky, Well, that is not something one sees everyday...or any day really.
The detective, believing the team has this well in hand, snaps his wrist and feels the comfortable weight of his wand. He turns his back to the kellids before activating the magic held within.
As Dunia is rocked by attacks, Shonne leaps and bounds her way up the corpse of the dead dino, drawing back her arrow until the bow sparks with magic. She unleashes the arrow and it flies through the air at Shonne's attacker, rending through the beasts flesh and out it's back to fly off into the sunlight. The beast howls in fury and pain and confusion, and it turns to launch itself at the enemy below it... only to be pounced on by the leaping halflight and his rider. The cat misses with it's bite, but pulls it into it's grasp and claws and rends with it's paws, a giant cat playing with a small bird as it pulls the demon apart from the wound created by Shonne's bow.
As the red demon tries to figure out the best plan of attack, it feels the spine shattering blow of the holy barbarian, his glowing weapon sparking with divine light as he strikes the beast in the back. It howls in rage and anger and flies like a dive bomb directly at braxus on the ground!
The holy warrior responds as fast as lightning however, throwing up his earthbreaker blocking the claw. The beast sprays him with deadly spores as revenge for blocking the blow.
Meanwhile, Dunia's own weeds continue to burrow into her flesh.
PATHFINDERS FIGHT? THE BOLD MAY ACT!
Rognak -19
---------------------
Vrock Blue Dead
Dino -Dead
------------------------------
Shonne -38
Fendel -38
Braxus -24
Bronze
Dunia -43 (Weeds 9 rounds 1d4 each round)
-----------------------------------------
Vrock Red -68/ 8 NL
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With a wild grin, Braxus laughs into the face of the demon that pounced on top of him, "HA! THANKS FOR COMING DOWN FOR ME TO CRUSH!"
And that is when he unleashes the full fury of his bloodrage, twisting his earth breaker from the grip of the vrock, and swinging it in a series of devastating strikes.
The demonic chicken should never have gotten in close. Braxus flips it over onto the ground, raises his hammer high, and brings it down in a series of devastating blows that crack the ground beneath it's body, the first strike breaking it's beak, the second strike oblitering it's head so completely that the third strike hits only ground. The weeds however, still crawl at his skin.
BATTLE OVER! PATHFINDER VICTORY!
Rognak -19
Shonne -38
Fendel -38
Braxus -27 (Weeds 9 rounds 1d4 each round)
Bronze -19 HL -38
Dunia -43 (Weeds 9 rounds 1d4 each round)
Fendel sprinkles the holy water on his comrades, causing the vines to shrivel up.
The four Kellid hunters emerge from hiding and make their presence known. One of them steps forward. Tall, lean, and muscular, she makes a menacing figure. The scars exposed beneath their piecemeal hide armor only accent it. Her common is fairly broken.
Who you? Why you come to mammoth lands?
She looks at the demons and the dinosaur and looks at Braxus, Shonne, and Bronze with a smile in turn, and seems to ignore Rognak, Fendel, and Dunia completely.
Impressive fighters. Never seen cat as big as mammoth. Or bow or hammer wielded with such skill. You earn kills. Very good. But must know reason for you coming... Do not think you foe, but do not know if friend.
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The detective observes the interaction between the kellids and those they choose to converse with.
"We are from The Pathfinder Society. We have traveled far seeking a path into Mendev. We have allies that are accosted by the demons. It makes more strategic sense to enter the Worldwound from the west—from the Tusk Mountains. We have come to the home of the Mammoth Lords with the hope of proving ourselves to being strong and worthy allies. We have also been tasked by our elders to find an appropriate location to set up a more permanent camp."
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"Damn buzzard demon and it's weeds was stinging a bit. I'm grateful for the water Fen." Braxus says, clapping a strong hand on Fendel's shoulder by way of thanks.
He breaks off a hooked claw from the demon's hand as a trophy and then cleans of the blood and gore from his earth breaker.
As the Kellids approach and greet the Pathfinders, Braxus merely nods stoicly as Fendel launches into his speech.
Once Fendel finishes, Braxus speaks to the Kellids with grim affirmation, "We come to speak with the elders of Tolguth. We are destroyers of demons and we have matters to discuss. Will you take us to them?"
Then as an afterthought he adds, "My name is Braxus Ironheart. I have battled and killed many demons. I expect you have done much the same. While you lead us to Tolguth, we can tell each other stories of those battles." He holds up his tankard and asks, "I have good wine. Care for a drink?"
The kellids give Fendel the side eye, but Braxus jumping in softens their mood significantly. The woman smiles again.
I Denur, I take you to elders. We trade drinks.
She points at the hooked claw that Braxus has taken.
Should take claw of other demon, and prime tooth of death lizard. Proof to Elders that kills belong to you. No shame in loosing reward to strong warriors.
She turns and says something in Hallit that causes the others to chuckle. You think it was a joke at your expense, but not 100% sure.
Giving Braxus and the team enough time to collect their trophies, the Kellids lead them into the woods, Denur sharing a very potent winter wine that is sweeter than Braxus could have imagined. It does not take long before High walls, constructed from timber, stone, and earth surrounding Tolguth come into view. The Kellids have cut away the foliage surrounding the settlement, providing an unobstructed view for several hundred feet from the walls. Three bipedal dinosaur carcasses, each with rounded dome-like heads, lie crumpled and pressed up against the fortifications —a clear indication of the need for such defensive measures.
At the gate, Denur calls out in Hallit back and forth with the gate guard who let's the team in. Denur looks at them with a grin.
I vouched you, so do not have to surrender your weapons and arms, but don't cause trouble or I gut you myself.
She leads the team some ways into the massive settlement, soon enough stopping in front of a large lodge.
I go get elders. Be couple hours. Be back
The team is given a few hours to restock, buy what they wish, patch themselves up, and speak with the locals.
the two, which has kept their relationship from souring into bitter rivalry.
colleagues that the outside world continues to move, even if Tolguth does not.
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Just after Denur's comments, Fendel responds with a nod of his head toward his huge ulfen friend.
The detective gets to work, moving around the town and listening to the local gossip. This is why they compensate me. He later returns and shares what he has discovered about the trio of leaders.
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After the brief battle is over, Bronze dismounts from a huge cat, and while the team is exchanging crude pleasantries with the kellids, goes into hacking huge chunks of meat out of the allosaurus' carcass. He feeds almost two hundred pounds of the beast's flesh to Halflight before the cat loses the interest for the treat, at which point the hunter packs almost the same amount into the sacks of tarred canvas for future and loads them on the mount's back.
It takes no longer than ten minutes, but Bronze looks up to find himself delaying the group that was ready to move long ago, content with taking only symbolic trophies for the kills.
At the settlement, Bronze finds a quite place near the water source to wash the blood off the cat's armor, constantly pushing away the head his own size trying to lick the fur under the black leather.
Here, the kellids come talk to him on their own. Trying to start a conversation with the hunter, simple members of the tribe share more gossip about how their community works than they would've if he asked them.
Over the course of two hours, he periodically taps both himself and the cat with the curative wand.
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Dunia nods a somewhat curt thanks to Fendel for his holy water, then sets to curing her wounds.
She's in a particularly grim mood on the journey to Tolguth, and the sight of fiendishly tainted dinosaurs doesn't cheer her any more.
A little bit of downtime restores her to her normally grumpy self, and she listens attentively to Fendel's reconnaissance. Seem t'me we should focus on Olovon an' Vanna. Showin' how de Pathfinders'd be good allies to have 'gainst de demons should give us a headstart wit' 'em.
Team Current Health.
Rognak -19
Shonne -38
Fendel -8 (3 uses of infernal healing, one more to top you off.
Braxus -27
Bronze -2 HL -1
Dunia
Rognak -19
Shonne -38
Fendel
Braxus -27
Bronze -2 HL -1
Dunia
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Staying out of the way of flying Vrock parts, Rognak was more than happy to let them slaughter the demons. Once the Kellids came out of the brush, the half orc knew that he had better keep his mouth shut and stay out of the way, even though he could lay waste to large areas of the land.
On the journey to the camp, he kept his eyes open and the sight of the pachycephalosauruse caused him to take a closer look.
Once the group is by themselves Rognak started to tend his wounds, using a slim silver wand. Most of the damage got patched up but he started to curse in orcish. "Figures, I broke it for the day, oh well. We have a problem." he said "I think there is more demon taint in the area. Those creatures outside the palisade are normally peaceful and not very likely to attack people."
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Taking the advice of the Kellid leader, Braxus takes the proper trophy from the red demon before the group moves on. He takes the same from the blue demon and hands it to Bronze or Shonne to carry to the elders.
Then he hands his cure light wounds wand to Dunia, asking her, "Mind using this on me? Shouldn't take too much time, but I got a bit banged up back there." Then after a moment of thought, he adds, "Feel free to use it on yourself and Shonne and anyone else that needs it."
Soon after, Denur returns and leads them to a larger stone and wood building. She pushes the door open and smiles.
Elders! I bring you the warriors who killed the mammoth hunter, and slew two demons as well!
The three elders sit in three seats, Taros on the Right, Vanna in the middle, and Olovon on the left. They nod, and the mood in the room is warm... if you had to guess, Denur probably talked you up a bit before you got here.
Taros speaks first.
Strangers, thank you for taking steps to fight back the blight in our land... I see you carry the trophies of your kill. We offer a bounty on such vile things, and as Denur has assured us of your kill, we would like to offer you the prize she would have claimed. She says it is your due.
A Kellid approaches from the wall, holding in their hands a well decorated spear. The more magically inclined quickly identify it as a +2 invigorating spear.
After someone takes the spear, the three leaders lean forward expectantly, waiting for the team to make the first move.
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After nudging Braxus to accept the spear, the detective begins speaking in Hallit, but frequently switches between the two languges so all can understand what is being said. "Your gift honor's us, Taros. We killed the 'mammoth hunter' with no expectation of payment. As to the demons, they are a growing sickness on the land. We would have killed them no matter what." Fendel offers up five cold iron swords. "My name is Fendel Meniska, and my friends and I represent a 'tribe' of our own. You will find these blades effective harming some of the Abyss-spawn. The Pathfinder Society offers this up to your people as a show of our good faith. We have allies in and around the Worldwound who fight against these foul creatures. Our Elders believe the best way to help them is to open a base of our own here in the Tusk Mountains. Our Elders had the forsight and wisdom to send us here to seek out your people to learn from you and negotiate a solution that helps both our peoples fight the unnatural evil."
Taros smiles as his herald accepts the cold Iron blades.
Your gift to me is a fine one, as is your mission.
Vanna leans forward instead and snorts with annoyance.
Perhaps. But we are not so young as to believe that is your only reason for coming here. You are not the bright soldiers who march off to your doom... we know of your society and it's elders. While we respect them, we also understand this... nothing the society does is ever without some benefit to the society.
She gives a small grin.
Why don't you tell us what your really doing here so we can decide based on those facts? Hm?
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Bronze notices Fendel nudging Braxus to accept the spear, and steps forward to accept it in his stead.
"I have spoken with your people, elders, and though I am but a simple hunter, I can probably claim right away that I have come to understand it. Because I am a part of one just like yours. Thousands of miles south, people struggle for survival in the same way your people does. And in the same way, Pathfinder Society comes to unite the peoples for greater good, for protection and eventually for prosperity. It is true that establishing a base on your lands will serve multiple purposes. It will allow for the expedition into the demon lands, to strike them down and to rob them blind of anything that could be of use against them later on... But it will serve your interests as much as it will serve ours. Because, as the Society always does, we come offering you to join the effort and take equal share of the benefits."
After speaking out with a heart-felt tirade, Bronze just stands there gasping for air and flailing his hands, hoping that the elders will see at least some kind of wisdom in his amateurish argumentation.
"I have also heard magnificent things about you, Vanna the Mammoth Rider, and about your skill. I know you care for your beasts, your precious companions, just like I do for mine. Outside, there is a crate of alchemical remedies among the supplies my friend transports on his back. I'd like to share them with you, mistress of the beasts. So you could realize that joining the battle on our side is the same as joining the hunt on the side of your fellow tribesman."
Vanna sorts with derision at Bronze's attempt at explanation, though the offering of the alchemical remdies cools her temper, she seems annoyed at not being given the gift. She listens to his pleading for a moment then slashes her hand in the air.
Enough of your drivel warrior. Your flattery does not buy you the gift you wish, for it is soiled with the lies you tell. Be honest with me! You claim that we would be joining the hunt, yet you deny telling us what we are hunting?!
Ovolon puts a hand out to calm Vanna.
Vanna... give the foreigner a chance... there is no reason to lose your temper. You know they like to speak, let them speak... perhaps their flowery language is just the precursor hm?
Vanna huffs again and growls a bit.
Fine. But I do not like being lied to! You likened this to a hunt, and you are right. But what do the pathfinders want? What are you hunting?
Vanna's eyes are sharp and her brow furrows in annoyance...
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Bronze is near enough bursting in annoyance and anger at spoiled 'elder' himself.
"Lies? Is it the kellid custom to accuse somebody of lies with no proof behind your words? Iomedae help me! You want truth? It is the demons that I hunt, and the way to stay their threat. The truth is I don't care what that expedition should be all about. Some gods-forsaken ruin in the middle of the Abyss-hole. What I care for is the hundreds dead on the walls of Nerosyan last year, and the blood we shed while manning those ballistas shooting at the huge mounds of dead mammoth flesh infested by the swarms of demonic carrion..."
Bronze turns around to see the annoyed expressions on the faces of his companions. He falls silent and gestures for somebody else to take over the conversation, because he realizes that it was not wise for an unaducated savage to speak up.
Vanna sits still for a moment and looks at the warrior.
You may care for these things warrior. And if you truly do, you can forget the Pathfinders, and stay here with us to fight off the encroaching evil upon our lands. Maybe spending some time with us would teach you how to act with respect. But your masters, they do not care for the dead I buried this morning. They do not care for the warriors I lost bringing back food for our city when the demons burned our farms. But you speak a bit of truth it seems. I believe you said "Some ruin in the Abyss-hole" hm?
She looks out over the group, keen eyes flashing.
What "Ruin"? A weapon against the demons? A vast fortune for the pathfinders to plunder and scamper away with while the demons tear out our throat? Some secret knowledge to tuck away in your secret archives back in the city at the center of the world? What are you hiding from us pathfinders?
All three leaders lean forward, again keenly interested.
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"It's called Jormurdun, and it's a Sky Citadel." Braxus rumbles, finally speaking up. "It might hold many things to destroy the demons, or it might not. We won't know 'till we get there."
Closing his eyes for a moment and tilting his head from side to side, his neck makes a loud cracking sound before he next speaks. Slowly and deliberately, he lets the words go, "We seek to explore a way to the east, through the Worldwound, so we can reach this Jormurdun, and we plan to kill many demons along our way. We know you have need of supplies and weapons that can help you fight the demons and other enemies pressing in on you. As we just showed you, we can offer those things, but we also offer more. We offer strong warriors and wise leaders that are already working to bring about the end of the the Worldwound. And one more thing, we NEVER abandon our allies!" his last words practically burst from his clenched teeth.
Regaining his composure he finishes with, "What we need now is a staging ground from where we can make our move east, and all we ask for is your help in finding such a place."
Vanna leans back and smiles.
Now, was that so hard?
She folds her hands and thinks for a moment. Slowly she speaks.
You... convince me. Barely. I've been advocating for a stronger approach to the world wound problem for a while now. But I needed to know what you where up to. If I know WHY your going into the worldwound, I can TRUST you.
She straightens her back and nods curtly.
That is something that the threat will demand of us. Trust. We have no use for random tomes in a old ruin, so you will not conflict with us on your desire for it. Maybe it will even aid us. But you HAVE to be honest with us.
Finished, she sits back in her chair and Ovolon leans forward.
I am not completely convinced however. Taros will be happy for your numbers, Vanna is happy to kill some demons... but I think of the future.
The other two look at him with surprise as he continues.
When war is done, and the threat banished... gods bless us that it be so... what will your role be in our lives? How will your people impact ours. When peace comes... what will your role amongst our people be? I very much doubt you will just pack up and leave.
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Fendel retrieves the offered alchemical remedies. It would seem you feel we are not being fully transparent with what we seek. I shall endeavor to remedy that."
The detective takes a moment to organize his thoughts before beginning. "The 'ruins' Bronze speaks of is a lost The Sky Citadel. At the end of the Age of Darkness, nearly eight thousand winters ago, the dwarves emerged on the surface world, ending their century-long exodus from the Darklands. In order to make a mark upon their new-found home and establish an enduring dwarven presence, they built ten Sky Citadels, fortified cities and massive engineering feats." Fendel waits a moment for this information to digest before continuing.
"Although ten citadels were built in total, only a few have survived intact to the present day, and fewer still are held by the dwarves. In the years following the end of the Quest for Sky, many of the cities were overcome by the very creatures of the Darklands the stout folk had displaced during their quest, especially the orcs. These battles continued for millennia, with the tides of war flowing back and forth, until a final push of orcish power in 1551 AR overwhelmed many of the remaining dwarven holdings. The others lie either in complete ruin, are overrun by other creatures or have been lost to time. One of these, the Sky Citadel of Jormurdun was recently discovered in the Wolfcrags, a largely uninhabited section in the northwest of the Worldwound's Frostmire region."
"We have no idea what is there. Typically metropolis-sized creations, they were decorated ornately in the dwarven fashion, and contained many murals and depictions of events from the Quest for Sky. They were almost exclusively of stone, and such is their craftsmanship that time has only slightly worn away their splendor. As Braxus stated, we seek nothing more than allies and a location for our sorties into the Citadel."
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Dunia hadn't planned on putting herself forward as a spokeswoman for the Society, and Vanna's response certainly hadn't encouraged her to change her course.
So instead she waited, and she studied the elders. Pretty words had never been how she best made cases.
Fendel, if Olovon lookin' to see what de outside world'd bring, might be de cloak'd show we understand de struggles here, while de chocolate show de good side o' de outside too.
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Rognak addressed the trio of elders, but speaking more to Ovolon. "I am Rognak, I am no diplomat so I have no need to twist words. I am not a warrior. While I can use this sword, I have not used this in anger since I slew a goblin ages ago. I try to rationalize things and think of the past and present in order to understand the future. I could slay a bird in order to read its entrails as omens for your tribe, but I have seen what the future holds right outside your gates. The timber, stone, and earth that make up your walls will not withstand the onslaught of creatures, like the death lizards, if they become fouled just as the normally peaceful creatures were that lay broken on your wall. Yes, you can fight them off but at what point will they overwhelm you? And remember, each creature that becomes tainted, is one less that will be filling your bellies. Think about it." he said.
"We are here to put an end to the foulness that is pouring out of the Worldwound before it can spread any farther. I could go with the old saying that the enemy of my enemy is my friend but in this case, we need access to your lands in order to help put a stop it, point blank. We ask for a place to set up a base in order to transport supplies to support clearing out the area of the demons that are spawning."
"What do you need help with?" he asked Ovolon.
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Listening to the others talk, Braxus cocks his head, narrows his eyes and sets his mouth at a slant. Something is obviously brewing behind those narrowed eyes.
Looking Ovolon square on, Braxus grins, "We are not just about blood and violence. We know how to revel and grow in the times of peace. In fact, while we celebrate in those times, we also prepare for battle. If the war ever ends, our place in your lives is really up to you, but we don't give up on friends."
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Offering the cloaks up to Ovolon, "Bloodspeaker, The Society believes in maintaining relationships. Often we are called upon by our allies to offer assistance. To my knowledge, we have never once refused to aide or succor as needed. We do not seek an alliance of short term convenience. Rather, we wish to form a long term bond to the advantage of both our peoples."