FEEDING:
●
All monsters need to feed off humans. This is unavoidable. With another player's permission, you are allowed to eat other monsters and this will provide equivalent nourishment, but keep in mind that eating them will go towards the devoured character's death count.
● A monster's
cravings can be anywhere from
once each week to a month or two .
Usage of skills and powers will speed up this desire. Animals will satiate monsters temporarily, but more than two months will require extreme willpower and no usage of powers whatsoever. If they go too long without feeding on humans, they will be overcome with a mad desire to eat, and will target both friend and foe until they are satiated. This is most commonly known as a
frenzy within the monster community.
●
Sharing a kill is permitted (obviously there's only one soul per kill so that can't be split).
POWERS AND CHANGES:
● As of July 2023, all monsters will have
either a Travel form or a Stealth form. Please check the FAQ compilation in the comments and the Bestiary page corresponding to your monster type for more details on how these forms apply to your character.
● The presence of
the fog has several optional effects on monsters.
♦ Fog days count as a sort of
temporal gray zone. Nocturnal monsters such as vampires and gargoyles can come out at any time, along with the diurnal Nephilim. Additionally, night-changing monsters like Werewolves and Werebears will be unable to take their human forms.
♦ Monsters
heal faster during the fog, and may even regenerate limbs and other body parts that were lost in game. Exactly how long it will take your character to recover from a serious injury is up to you! However, bear in mind that accelerated healing costs energy like any other special monster ability. Therefore, healing with this method will leave behind increased hunger.
♦ All characters who have
died in-game will come back during the fog. Please
visit the FAQ for more information on revivals and the death penalty rules.
♦ Characters with a
Fog form may transform into it for the duration of the fog. A Fog form is an exaggerated version of their monster form that appears only during the fog and is a chance to make your monster more "horrifying" during the fog.
●
Monsters are always stronger than humans, both in terms of physical strength and thanks to the monster's abilities.
♦ Monsters can take on five or less humans with ease and more than that with a little hard work. In a one on one fight between a monster and a human, there would be no contest.
♦ In monster vs. monster terms, every monster is about the same strength as every other (with various factors coming into play depending on the monster's own unique strength and weaknesses). If there is a fight between two player characters, work the result out between yourselves. If the mods have to intervene to decide the victor of a particular fight, it'll most likely come down to coin flip.
♦ Monsters who have four limbs can be faster than average. Other monsters only get faster when it's specified in their Bestiary. Travel forms are about 1.5x faster than their normal form, whereas Stealth forms are often slower or immobile.
♦ By default, all monsters will have better senses than the average human, but specific monsters will have better (specific) senses over the average monster.
● Monsters are able to
speak at all times, and this includes their animal and alternate forms.
MONSTER DESIGNS:
● We encourage players to be creative with their monster designs, so long as liberties taken are
purely aesthetic and don't serve a function. In general, anything that adds flavor and a personal flair but doesn't change the actual end result as listed in the bestiary is doable. Additionally, it is permissible to give your monsters changes that
add or exacerbate a weakness.
● Monster designs
can be based on animals or other beings which are extinct, or exclusive to a character's home world, provided they fit the monster's aesthetic. If you're uncertain whether a certain animal/being fits a certain monster, please ask the mods beforehand.
● If a character has been
dropped in the past and is then brought back by the same player, their monster form may look slightly different when they return. If so, they will need to arrive human and go through their changes all over again. When choosing the same design, characters may either return fully-transformed, or return human and go through the same changes again.
● As of
November 4th, 2022, all monsters have the
option to include one of three
cybernetic modifications on their first change log. These three body mods are: a glowing body part, a stylized tattoo in the shape of a 4 (in any language), or a subtle cybernetic ‘look’ or ‘skin’ to one body part that does not add function or durability.
This is never mandatory and it is purely for looks, and it is up to you whether you would like your character to receive a mark from the Fourth God! Players are welcome to play around with their character coming up with IC theories for its presence. Tier 3 or Priest-level Fog Followers have the option to
exchange the cybernetic mod for a fog-appropriate aesthetic mod of their choice.
✖ Do not give extra powers apart from the ones listed in a monster's page. This includes special unique traits (extra poison, special fur, etc) the creature your monster is based on would have. If you are unsure, ask in the FAQ for each monster. Who knows, we might accept your suggestion!
✖ Do
not return from death, go into a Fog form or heal faster than usual
outside of fog days unless you have some sort of bonus boon which allows for this. Please check
the calendar to verify when fog days are happening, and plan accordingly.
✖ If you apply for a character that was
dropped by another player, you may not end up with the same monster they were assigned. Monster types are always based exclusively on the current application, not the character's history under a previous player.
✖ If you apply for a character you have previously
dropped yourself, you may
not ask for a different monster type. In this instance, the character will always be assigned the same monster type as they had before. The only exception to this rule are characters who were dropped before the five new monster types were added in 2017, in which case the player may request a re-sort.
✖ If you see abuse of any powers by a monster, don't hesitate to contact us on the
mod page and let us know.
Please make sure to provide us with links to the thread(s) where the issue takes place.
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monsterdata2015-10-07 04:21 am
FAQ
(frozen comment) FEEDING, SPECIAL FORMS AND ABILITIES
Whatever you want! The July 2023 revamp is only mandatory for anyone who designs a monster from that point on, be it for a newly-apped character or for a monster form change secured through Mana. For monsters who were designed before July 2023: If it improves your playing experience, feel free to start using the revamp information and use the Fog as an excuse for why there's been a change in your monster's physiology or psychology. Change logs are perfect for that sort of thing. But if you'd prefer your pre-revamp monster to stay exactly the same, that's fine too.
Have a very specific question in mind? Here's some questions that have been asked in the past!
FEEDING:
Does my monster always have to kill to feed?
Although some feeding types technically don't require a kill, it is rather difficult for a monster to pull off. And, of course, leaves the victim without limbs/blood/energy/etc, which makes it difficult, if not impossible, for them to fend for themselves. Even apart from the immediate damage, there may be long-lasting physical and/or emotional trauma inflicted. It would also mean the monster would have to seek out multiple victims in order to be full.
Is it possible for a monster to keep eating, even if they're full? If so, what would happen? And what about minimal portions, such as just a limb?
Eating more than necessary is possible, but would only potentially lead to a stomach ache. Eating less means the monster will get hungry again sooner, because a monster must feed on the equivalent of a full human in order to sustain themselves.
What's the difference between typical hunger and an additional 'hunting instinct'? Can a monster with a hunting instinct still accept their meals from a place like the soup kitchen?
Think of it as a cat's instincts to hunt birds: there are cats that are happily fed by their owners and can exist in the same household as a bird without chasing it or killing it, but the urge will always be there. Certain movements or half-hidden patterns might inspire a predatory drive. So while eating from the soup kitchen would sate the monster's hunger and keep them from going feral, it would not erase their instinctive urge to hunt. Feel free to play around with this notion as you like!
Do monsters that eat non-tangible things (energy, souls) need to eat solid food alongside it to survive? Or can they just live off what they siphon from people?
That's up to the player!
My monster has injected 'prey' with venom. Can they safely kill-share victims they've envenomed?
Yes, with other monsters it's fine to consume something infected by venom. Venom typically isn't poisonous. Regular humans might get sick from it, though.
Can energy feeders take from multiple victims at the same time?
This counts as an ability upgrade, and would need to be gained through Mana rewards or a god boon.
If a soul feeder were to remove a soul, can it be put back in later? What about keeping it inside a container?
Once a soul has been taken out of a body, it can't be put back in and should be devoured as soon as possible. Souls spoil very quickly. Even inside a container, such as a glass jar, it won't last long.
Does a soul look like anything upon exiting the body? Does the consumer feel anything particular or personal when digesting someone's soul?
How soul eating works and what it looks like is completely up to you! If you'd like, the character can briefly experience feelings or personality traits of their victim, but they wouldn't receive any access to their memories.
Can a monster's soul regenerate with the Fog, similar to healing an injury?
No. Once a monster has lost their soul, they must be fully killed and revive to get it back.
Can soul feeders sense nearby souls?
Yes, but they can't identify them as belonging to anyone specific.
SPECIAL FORMS:
I'd like some more information about Travel & Stealth forms. What's the difference?
Travel forms allow a monster to travel at the same speed, if not faster than their usual monster form. Stealth forms allow a monster to blend into their surroundings, allowing them to get the jump on humans more easily. It's also possible to use a Travel form to sneak up on unsuspecting targets, but Stealth forms have a very specific type of magic to them where humans are far more easily fooled, and even some monsters may have to look twice before they realize that that wriggling flower over there is awfully suspicious.
What are the limitations of these forms? What happens to our powers and weaknesses?
When a monster goes into either a Travel or a Stealth form, they will lose access their baseline monster powers/abilities, unless specified otherwise. This also applies to their physical strength. For example, when a Pooka takes the form of a rat, they would have the strength of a typical rat. Each monster's specific weaknesses will also still apply, unless specified otherwise. They will, however, retain a monster's enhanced senses. If your monster gained certain spells or abilities as a god boon, or through a Mana purchase, those will still be accessible as well.
My monster's Travel/Stealth form mentions that it must be 'no longer than the average cat' (Demon, Shade, Simulacrum). How does this sizing apply?
It's about volume, not exact dimensions. So take for example a roomba: it's wider than the average cat, but also much flatter, therefore it's allowed. (For reference, we've determined the dimensions of the average cat to be about 0.5 ft3.)
If the point of a Stealth form is to blend in, does that mean I can't add any aesthetic flair that would make the form stand out more? What about adding aesthetic flair to Travel forms?
As mentioned before, Stealth forms have a sort of magic to them to pull the wool over a human's eyes, so some distinct aesthetic flair would be fine. Designing a Travel form with some aspects to reference your character is fine as well.
When a character has a Travel/Stealth form that's based on a certain animal, like a cat or a dog, can they still consume things like chocolate or alcohol? Or would that make them sick?
That is up to you.
I'd like some more information about Fog forms. Am I allowed to do This?
As of July 2023, we'd like for Fog Forms to have as few restrictions as possible. This is your chance to go wild with your monster design! Extra functional heads are allowed, extra height is allowed, bigger teeth are allowed… You can go up to two times your character's usual size, coupled with whatever other height boosts they already have to push the size even further. Your character may also be shorter in this form! In general, anything that's more of the same category and follows the spirit of the Bestiary is allowed. (So for example, you cannot give your Pooka feathery wings, or give your Vampire a dog-like tail.)
Does my monster have to go into Fog form every single time there's a fog day?
No, they do not. The first instance of a character's Fog form can manifest whenever you want, be it during their very first fog day or five years into the game. Or perhaps a character's Fog form will never manifest, since it's an optional change. Either way, once you've decided on a Fog form, you can choose when the fog triggers this form and when it doesn't. It's possible for a character to transform during occasional, but not all, fogs. The only thing to keep in mind is that if you choose to trigger the Fog form, it must start on the first day of that fog week, and last until the fog has cleared again. Furthermore, whether or not a character goes into this form is not by character choice, but rather by player discretion.
Can the changes related to the Fog form come in gradually, spread out over several months, like with the typical changes?
Unfortunately, this would not be allowed! Since there are no mandatory changes for Fog forms, it can be difficult to judge when a transformation is 'complete'. We're worried that a slow burn Fog form might encourage players to add on new features indefinitely.
My character's monster type has two different forms (for example, a Merperson's land and aquatic form). How does this translate to Fog forms?
Your monster may only have one Fog form. However, this Fog form can shift between slightly different variations if you would like, as long as the spirit and design elements of these variations are similar. So in the case of a Merperson, if you would like a land and water variation, that would be fine!
MONSTER ABILITIES:
Can we use our powers on other monsters, or do they only work on humans?
This is decided upon between two players. Depending on what works best for you, a monster's power may either work fully on another, have a weakened effect or not work at all.
How does magic work? Is there a certain system in place? Does it require gestures or chanting? Can it be channeled through an item?
That's up to player discretion! If a character is used to a certain method of casting, they may incorporate it here just to make things easier for themselves.
My monster has a form of fire magic. Can they change the color of the flames?
Sure! It won't burn any hotter, though.
For the monsters with magic voice or music abilities, does a recording of their voice or playing have the same effect as being there in person?
No, it does not. At best, it might make the people listening a little more calm (or dizzy), but you need to have the primary source of the music/voice for it to work correctly. The same rule applies to live radio broadcasts.
My monster is based on a certain animal. Can they communicate with normal animals of that same species?
Animal-based monsters are unable to communicate with real animals, regardless of their type! For instance, Werewolves cannot communicate with dogs, Mers cannot communicate with fish, etc. However, if you'd like, you can choose to give your character a fondness for this specific animal as an optional psychological change.
My monster has gained an immunity to fire. Does this mean immunity to all heat, or just open flame?
This means all aspects of fire, both the heat and the super-heated fuel. What this boils down to is when exposed to the high temperatures a fire would have, they will not catch fire themselves. This also means that coming into direct contact with something like frying pan grease won't lead to any burns; it'll just feel pleasantly warm to both Gargoyles and Demons. Fire immunity won't save you from being smothered or suffocated by molten rock though, so please don't walk headfirst into a volcano.
And the immunity to cold?
Same basic story! A monster with an immunity to cold can easily spend their time in a walk-in freezer, or touch dry ice with their bare hands. When frozen into a solid block of ice, though, they will still suffocate.
My monster has a possession skill. Can they use it to possess inanimate objects, like dolls?
Yes! Just keep the usual limitations in mind, where applicable. Remember, for a Shade, smaller objects count as their Stealth form.
Can monster venom be harvested? For example, can someone milk a Naga to collect their venom?
Yes. Venom can be harvested from all monsters which have it. There is only one caveat with this: venoms removed from a monster's body degrade and lose potency very fast (within a day or so), no matter what sort of environment it's kept in. Someone would not be able to effectively build up giant reserves of venoms from a group of monsters.
(frozen comment) MONSTER BODIES/CHANGES AND MONSTER DYNAMICS
Can a new monster's transformation process feature partial changes? That is to say, can a singular aspect of the transformation be spaced out over several months?
Yes. Monster changes for new characters are flexible so long as the mandatory changes finish within the four month time limit.
Can I push that four month time limit by having my character purchase temp time as a human from Mana?
That is possible, yes.
Can some changes take place outside fog days?
Yes! The first change log, a month after your character's arrival, will kickstart the first opportunity for changes. After that, you're free to take another step in the transformation process whenever you like.
Can we mix and match species for our monster design? For example, rabbit ears and a mouse tail for a Pooka? And can this mix transfer over to their Travel form or Stealth form?
For their usual design and their Fog forms, you can mix and match species! The point of a Travel/Stealth form, however, is to look as 'normal' as possible. Therefore, a Travel/Stealth form based on an animal can't be a hybrid and must choose one of the species.
Can we change the species used for the design later? E.g. changing a rat Pooka to a rabbit Pooka?
Yes! While this can't be done through the Mana reward system, one could either attempt to invoke a power like this through the god boon system (specifically the Fog side), or use the typical monthly change logs for this. We would ask that if the latter option is used, it must be aesthetic only and the monster cannot change back to their original species/design for at least three months. The change itself, however, can be as fast as you'd like. If you'd like to try another design after that minimum of three months, it'd be alright to rotate straight on to something new without having to revert back to the original first.
My character is unnaturally tall in their canon. How tall are they in Ryslig?
The height limit for monsters depends on the type of monster and external factors such as Mana purchases. Every monster in Ryslig will always start as a human with a height limit of seven feet. Minor height changes from the following monster transformation can be expected. For instance, hooves are essentially toes; if a monster grows hooves, their ankle could be raised higher up in the air, thereby giving them a minor height increase. With some monsters, the bestiary specifies certain additional height increases. For Nephilim, for instance, the bestiary specifies that they may grow up to an additional two feet in height, so their height limit would be around nine feet, Mana rewards and god boons notwithstanding.
Can my character physically age?
That is up to you! The monster type can play a part in the decision, but doesn't have to.
Can my character get pregnant?
No.
What is the deal with healing injuries? How fast does a monster heal, and how does the fog factor into it?
Healing can work however you'd like! In general, monsters heal a little faster than humans, and this speed increases significantly during the fog. Because of this, most injuries are completely healed by the time a fog is over. Unless you don't want them to be, of course. Whether scars are left behind or not is up to you as well.
My character lost a limb. Will it grow back during the next fog week?
That is up to you!
My character has a physical impairment in canon (for example a visual one), can they keep that impairment here?
Yes, they can.
My monster design is based on a certain animal. Can my character inherit traits from that animal? (for example, a Demon with goat legs wanting to climb things)
Yes, that's allowed!
My monster design is based on a certain animal which has a really cool possible substitute for an otherwise mandatory trait. Is this allowed, or is the mandatory trait there to stay?
This is something we often judge on a case by case basis. For example, a Naga based on a worm can have a leech mouth instead of snake fangs. A Minotaur based on a boar or elephant may have tusks instead of bull horns. You can check your monster's FAQ compilation to see if it's been asked before, and if not, check with the mods by leaving a question on the page.
Can my character have a seasonal coat, molting/shedding included?
Yes. This includes things like Nagas shedding their skin, and Harpies shedding their feathers.
Do monsters have souls which can be eaten by soul feeders?
Of course! When they revive after having their soul devoured, they will still have one. How does that work? Don't worry about it.
My monster is weak to sunlight. Would going out on an overcast/rainy/snowy day affect them, or does it have to be direct sunlight that touches them? What about if it comes in through a window? Or a reflection off a mirror? Artificial light?
They would feel more sluggish during an overcast day, and any sunlight that does peek through would cause the typical problems for your monster. Sunlight which comes in through a window counts as direct light. Whether reflected light affects your monster is up to you. Artificial light is always safe.
My character's monster form is based on a cold-blooded animal, but if Ryslig is based on a Northern European country, won't the cold weather affect them very badly? And what about monsters with a mandatory weakness to cold?
Out of consideration for monsters with heat/cold weaknesses, the weather in Ryslig is similar to the weather patterns of northern European countries but a bit more mild (think a coastal city rather than the parts of Scandinavia that are in the arctic circle). Monsters are also more durable than humans/reptiles/etc, so even monsters that are weak to cold wouldn't be affected much by the normal weather, although it might be a bit unpleasant. Cold blood/cold weaknesses would generally only matter if they were attacked by ice magic or locked in someone's walk-in freezer or something like that.
My character was assigned an undead monster, such as Lich or Waldgeist, which includes a death as mandatory change. Does this count towards the death penalty tally?
It does not. This death is a 'freebie', and you can play it out however you like.
If my undead character doesn't need to breathe anymore, does that mean they can stay underwater indefinitely?
Undead monsters aren't meant to be underwater creatures, so they can't stay submerged indefinitely without complication: their bodies can't regulate water as well as a Mer or a Kelpie, and after a while they'd feel sick and sluggish on an increasingly noticeable scale. After twenty minutes the sickness would be debilitating; after a half hour, they'd be completely unconscious and incapable of movement. It's also important to note the restrictions when diving deep down. Undead bodies aren't specifically fortified enough to handle the increase in pressure that comes with diving to, say, the ocean floor. There would be immense complications, leading to an actual death if allowed to escalate.
How many organs can an undead monster remove without it killing them?
While Ryslig's undead are quite steady on their feet, they have some issues of their own to deal with. First of all, Waldgeists and Vampires are just as susceptible as any other monster type to dying from damage to their body, so an abrupt removal of an organ is survivable, but a complete disemboweling would probably cause even undead creatures to die of shock. However, if some degree of care is taken in the process, undead creatures can survive a remarkable level of alterations to their body. Waldgeists and Vampires can survive as long as major damage is not done to their heart or brain. As for Liches, they can only be killed by destroying their phylactery (which contains their heart), so most abrupt organ removal is doable. However, if their brain were removed, this counts as the sort of severe damage which would cause a Lich to regenerate by their phylactery.
Is my undead monster immune to venom, since it can't be pushed through the bloodstream without a beating heart?
We leave the first question up to the players involved, but the undead characters aren't "immune" no matter what. Whether or not the venom moves, it will affect the injected area.
Can I have some details about monster blood?
1) The blood of undead monsters, if accessible, differs from live monster blood; this is primarily because the blood isn't recirculating and providing oxygen to the other parts of the body.
2) Simulacra can choose to have tar, oil, or other synthetic substances as blood; this might not be immediately identifiable to others as "blood".
3) Slime "blood" would effectively be a sample of the Slime's body, as they are simpler organisms (biologically speaking).
4) Blood which came from Nephilim or Demons has some very distinct holy and demonic properties, respectively. It's very useful for magic rituals, and in high demand with monster poachers.
5) Whether a blood transfusion between monsters will work is entirely up to player discretion.
Remember, there is a lot of freedom for personal expression! These guidelines about blood may be true in general, but will always allow for exceptions in certain monsters!
MONSTER TYPE DYNAMICS:
What is the difference between a Werebear and a Werewolf?
Apart from the species you may incorporate into your design, there are a few differences in abilities and instincts.
Werewolves have a transformation mechanic that's tied to day and night. They have a far more powerful bite than a Werebear; the strongest bite out of any monster type around. As an optional add-on, this bite can cause a deadly infection within humans (and monsters with player permission). Werewolves can jump very high- all the way up to your average rooftop- and thanks to their Lunar Influence, they can grow more powerful when the moon is full or near-full. Werewolves have wolfsbane as an additional weakness, and they may develop a pack instinct. Most notably, Werewolves have a Full Moon form, which not only allows them to take on their wolf form in broad daylight (on the day leading up to the full moon), it allows them to grow larger and more visually distinct on nights when the full moon is out.
Werebears have a transformation mechanic that's tied to a specific ability which allows them to become (mostly) human for up to 12 hours. They have a much larger size in their bear form; up to twice the size of their typical day form, and have more overall physical strength than a Werewolf would. Werebears have a superhuman climbing ability, allowing them to scale trees and buildings with ease. Werebears have increased awareness of their surroundings (layouts, weather patterns, knowledge of which plants are edible) and they may develop a strong territorial instinct.
Can the light of Nephilim harm Shades or other sunlight-weak monsters? And can a Shade's darkness harm Nephilim?
This would be up to both players' discretion! We feel that a mutual give-and-take between their light and darkness is interesting, and would prefer players to decide where they fall on that spectrum on a case by case basis.
Shades are incorporeal in their usual shadow form, but could a Shade potentially be touched by a Goblin in shadow form?
That is up to you! It's definitely possible.
Gargoyles turn to stone in sunlight, and Trolls have the power to control rocks. Would a Troll be able to control a Gargoyle at least in part?
To an extent and only with player consent. While a Troll would be unable to make them fly or walk, with a lot of concentration they might be able to move a Gargoyle into a silly pose. Cracking would be an issue due to the rigid state and lack of open joints for movement. Also, keep in mind that Trolls in sunlight are severely weakened themselves, and limited to a certain area around them for moving rock (which can be increased with time and practice), so summoning up the magic during the day might be a little too much for them.
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I'm gonna be real, I'm asking because I have d-definitely broken this rule before whoops and was in fact about to backdate a thing where Doppio's fog form only triggers at least a few hours into the fog, whoops. No worries if there's no leeway allowed, I'll just change my approach!
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No worries! Everything in this update falls under what we like to call the 'July 2023 clause', which states that: If it improves your playing experience, feel free to start using the revamp information and use the Fog as an excuse for why there's been a change in your monster's physiology or psychology. But if you'd prefer your pre-revamp monster to stay exactly the same as they were before, that's fine too.
This means that if the Fog form schedule is in heavy conflict with your playstyle, you can choose not to use it. We just wanted to codify it for (new) monsters from this point on.
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In any case, thank you! It's good to know I won't be committing a crime, though I might very well tweak things going forward ;v;7
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The 'empty husks' left behind by Nephilim, Demons and Shades are all basically the same. That is to say, they're still alive in the physical sense, their hearts still beating and lungs still taking in breath. Granted, if a player wanted to say that the feeding led to instant death, they could always say that the shock or force of the feeding was so intense, it caused the victim's body to cave under the pressure. This does complicate kill-sharing though, as it would mean energy feeders can no longer take their share.
SOUL-FEEDING QUESTION
(icon relevant, because I thought typewriter sounds would be a neat additional aesthetic effect with what I have in mind for Alan when it comes to soul-feeding since it involves manifesting the soul into a manuscript page)
no subject
Auditory effects count as freebie aesthetic, so long as it doesn't have any actual offensive or defensive effects. Typewriter sounds are a really cool touch!
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