[Closed RP] The Rise of Darkness

[Knephertiti]

As a new enemy appears to threaten the future of Azeroth, a hasty truce was called by leaders from both the Horde and Alliance. They converged under the sight of Tirion Fordring and Darion Mograine. Though neither side was happy to work together, they had no choice. They were already shown that separated, the mortal races would fall. It was decided they would have to once again call upon the mortal heros of Azeroth to rise to face this new threat. Only in defeating it did Azeroth and the mortal races have any chance of survival. Yet one question remained. The pressing dilemma: where had the shadows sunk back to?

The only clue was a small onyx ring, upon which was the symbol of a half-moon and dagger. Symbologists and historians from both factions were quickly brought in, in an attempt to trace the ring. Yet despite all efforts, arcane and physical, no one could place it. It was not until a young thief-turned-intelligence officer of SI:7 overheard it's description that anyone had any knowledge of where it came from. He recognized the symbol when traveling with his master Mathias Shaw to Sentinel Hill, where the leaders of both the Alliance and Horde were meeting. He told Mathias that he had once seen a similar symbol, in an manor in the mountains, on the borders of Duskwood, Stranglethorn Vale, and Deadwind Pass. Changing their search, Stormwind historians soon found records of the once great Darrowmire family, mainly merchants, who resided in those halls. Most of them were recorded as buried at the nearby Tranquil Gardens Cemetery before the spread of worgen and undead to those lands, the rest were lost from history to time. Could it be that the abandoned manor was occupied once more?

Now knowing where to begin, a call was made across all the lands. A call for heroes of great strength and valor. Heroes that could stand up to the darkness, and were powerful enough to defeat it. Heroes from all corners of Azeroth were called. Called to Darkshire, where the temporary truce had turned the town into a staging camp, with all the supplies the Horde and Alliance could muster in such short notice. Supplies that would hopefully serve the heroes well. Looking to bring any heroes up to speed, agents of the Shattered Hand and SI:7 are in-town, as well as Darion Mograine in order to remind the two sides of the temporary truce in action.

Now to see who were brave enough to come, courageous enough to face the overwhelming darkness, and if they would be enough. Would they be able to rid the world of the new great evil, before the Rise of Darkness could come to pass? We will have to wait and find out.

((Buckle your seat belts everyone, you are in for a bumpy ride. Oh, and Kevin, please remember to summon our "good friend" Ember to the party. She might appreciate someone packing a few marshmallows for the trip as well. Also, please guys, any issues at all, either pm me or put it in a post. The interest/sign-up thread would probably be a nice place for such a post, to keep things cleaner in here. I'll be sure to keep an eye out. In any case, thanks for coming, I hope you enjoy.))

[The Madgod]

Though he appeared to be alone, Drakgul was not a fool. The Wind was his ally, and it told him much; there was a pair of humans, judging by the scent that the Wind carried to him. His companion and mount, the grey wolf Stormheart, was not a fool either. Scratching him behind his ears, the orc muttered "Do not worry yourself, old friend. They won't attack us. The Alliance made a truce with us, but they don't trust us... It is a shame that they do not have the honor to be forthright about their doubt, preferring to slink in the shadows like cowards." Looking ahead again, he noticed the buildings appearing between the trees. "But at least we are almost there." said the shaman, his companion letting out a light growl in relief, an emotion he shared with Drakgul.

The orc and his wolf made it to the town. People stared, warry of his presence, despite the truce. Once again, Drakgul looked down upon their dishonor, though not without understanding why. He was an orc, and his people had terrorized these humans many years ago. Still, the Horde had agreed to a truce with the Alliance. Looking upon him as if he would betray that honorable agreement was shameful. The orc looked around, wondering where the group of adventurers would be gathering.

[Deleted]

The call had rung far and wide, reaching even the most unlikely of places.. There they had decided that her punishment would be temporarily suspended, would she lend her powers to the cause. Even so, their trust was not complete, and the Giblin bracers were to remain on her wrists for the entirety of their journey. Having nodded in understanding and agreement, Xana had been escorted from the prison of Arcatraz. Granting her back her belongings, consisting mainly of a white robe with long sleeves and a hood and a snake-like staff imbued in the outlands, she was sent to Shattrath..

A shimmering blue portal opened at the edge to Redridge. Immediately as the young Draenei had stepped through, it closed in a golden flash. Stretching her body a heartwarming smile spread upon her lips. Finally.. even if this wasn't exactly freedom, it would still be a thousand times better than being locked up in a never-ending slumber. In the distance she could hear commotion of a massive gathering, the staging point. Knowing very little of what was to come, Xana pulled her hood over her head and started walking. It was hard to keep the excitement at bay, yet she knew that if they had allowed her to participate in the upcoming conflicts, something huge would be going on.. As Xana reached Darkshire, she looked around briefly, only to identify one she believed to belong to the SI:7.

"Excuse me..?" she said in a gentle tone. It was clear that she was asking for directions as of where to go. The staging area seemed like a mess.

[Nonfictionless]

Kevin read the call board. He had heard of the events that transpired and came to the conclusion that he was quite certain many others in his profession had come to as well, Old gods. He had seen a bit of their influence in the beginning of Deathwing's campaign, but not so much up close. Could be entertaining to say the least, but Horde and Alliance watching.....I do like that.

Kevin twisted and popped back into his room in the mage district. "What to bring, what to bring." Kevin grabbed a few scrolls and vials and packed them securely in a side satchel, that matched his robes quite nicely. Everything else (papers, sword, several wands) were already on his person as he was hoping for some duels today, but fate intervened. A rune scorched on a spare piece of parchment caught his eye as he turned to leave. Hmmmmm........

Kevin worked occasionally with elementals but found them often too bothersome. He wouldn't admitt to a fear of the task he was preparing for but it was there deep inside him. "Couldn't hurt, besides they make excellent shields should the problem arise." After a bit of work and moving about he prepared a small summoning circle in his room. It had been set on fire many times before, he didn't care for it's appearance.


He peered into the realm of fire. A small circle, similar to a portal kept his connection. lNothing in focus, nothing but fire as the land spun through his visable sight. He saw many and many saw him. He could feel many presences but thankfully this was just a viewing portal. Then he latched onto one he knew he could control but still would be of use to him." I invoke, conjure and command you fire spirit, SPEAK. " His voice echoed into the realm.

((ppsstt that is for you Ember, just a quick back and forth so we get our deal straight. Then off to the staging ground! ))

[Chonar]

A magnificent fire elemental seethed infront of the gateway, peering upwards at Kevin as it radiated primal power. Its' monstrous claws of molten flame sheathed and unsheathed in clenching motions as it answered the call, reaching outward with its primitive but infinitely cunning mind towards the mage's. While not a high ranking elemental due to the apparent lack of armor or adornments, this was still quite the powerful creature. "You call, and I answer, lord mage. What opportunities do you offer to Furnacious?"

Before Kevin could reply, another voice interrupted. Higher pitched, like the whistling of a steam kettle as it shouted. "What are you watching?!"

Furnacious looked startled, as much as a fire elemental could. It turned to look around, trying to find the source of the other voice. "You watching Azeroth again? Stop hogging the gateways!"

Furnacious looked visibly distressed as he turned back to Kevin. "Lord mage! I... shackle me, please. I'll agree with everything! I'll burn your foes, I'll set lands ablaze! Please, lord mage, summon me out of he-AAGHH!!"

The large fire elemental seemed to dissipate as a focused beam of blue flame cut him in half, his fiery fragments scattering across the Firelands. A feminine blue face filled Kevin's vision, taking up most of the portal. Whatever this creature was, it was flying right infront of the portal that Kevin had opened in the Firelands' skies, peering through it. The intensity of her burning gave her a permanent blue hue, her form rippling and shimmering. And then, she smiled, showing brightly-lit teeth.

"Hi, I'm Ember! You a summoner? Oh, we're going to have so much FUN together!"

[Synaxis]

Sironath was beginning to look exactly how he felt these days: worn, tired, and for lack of a better word, old. He did not have the same zest for war that some of his companions and even his own blood possessed; he was tired of the fighting and quite frankly just wanted to go home and not have to worry about whether the world was ending or whether his home would be next to be under attack. The new threat that had presented itself in recent days had done nothing but perhaps make the paladin long even harder for a good vacation. Ever since the fall of Quel'thalas, that's all it ever was for him: war. He had tried to avoid it after the Fall but to no avail; duty called and he had no choice but to answer for the good not only of his people but those other cultures and peoples that he and his race shared the world with.

He was presently sitting astride his charger at the head of a small hill overlooking Darkshire. The town and the forests around it were reminiscent of the somber forests of Lordaeron to a degree, though the inhabitants were immeasurably different in appearance and nature. He could see people fluttering about the town, looking warily over their shoulders and generally acting like they expected trouble at every turn. From what he had heard, this behavior was not for no reason. A soft sigh escaped him and, realizing that procrastinating would not make the task at hand any less unpleasant, he guided his mount to a small path down the side of the hill. His horse sure-footedly took him to the bottom of the hill, and from there he rode to Darkshire at a liesurely walk. Though a truce had been called, he did take one hand off the reins and let it hang at his side, just in case somebody didn't get the memo that the fighting between the Horde and the Alliance had been called to an immediate halt.

He was not entirely surprised to find that he wasn't the first to arrive at Darkshire under the banner of the Horde. Already there were some individuals collected there, including an unimportant, nameless blood elf paladin that offered him a somber nod in greeting, something he returned in kind. Looking for a place to hitch his mount, he found a number of other steel-plated warhorses hitched outside what looked like the town's inn. Figuring he'd best leave his pony there rather than putting it next to a potentially hungry wolf - he did not care what the orcs had to say about their training, Sironath knew how the food chain worked - even if the other horses belonged to the 'other team,' he hopped off the gelding and tethered him to a hitching post. At the same moment, a human paladin exited the inn with a feed bag full of oats to offer to his own horse. The man paused when he saw Sironath, who offered only a placid, acknowledging glance, then continued on his way.

"What now? he mused to himself, patting his gelding on an armor-plated hip before walking off to try to find whoever was in charge of this whole thing. A couple of hesitant, distrustful glances were thrown his way on his little walk through the town, but he ignored them; despite being decked out in the scarlet and gold of his people (has anyone ever stopped to think how impractical those colors are on a battlefield?), he was far more neutral than perhaps anyone could realize.. He really should have invested in one of those Argent Crusade tabards.

[Knephertiti]

Word quickly spread around town of the heroes who had arrived. "Too few..." most thought, with only an Orc, a Draenei, and a Blood Elf. "This being slaughtered armies, how will these few heroes defeat it?"

The Shattered Hand quickly dispatched two of their party to find the two Horde heroes, and bring them back. Moving quickly, the two found the Orc and Blood Elf within moments, and with only a few words directed the heroes to follow them back to Gordul in the Town Hall.

In similar fashion, the SI:7 agent that the young Draenei had found was happy to assist, as he had been stationed there to give any Alliance heroes directions to the Town Hall. There, the Draenei was told, Renzik "The Shiv" was waiting for her.

[Deleted]

Bowing her head ever so slightly forwards, it was a clean gesture of respect from the young Draenei. A few bits of dark hair fell in front of her eyes, yet she didn't seem bothered by this at all. The Draenei's hair was long and wild, clearly she hadn't cared much for it. Turning around gently it was to the others almost as if Xana had no pressence at all. There seemed to be little about her that would attract any form of attention. Even so, it was obvious what others thought. Sending a girl into combat where more than an army had fallen seemed to be ludicrus! The fact that a few had heard that she had just recently been released from the Arcatraz surely didn't help. For this reason, the few looks that actually came her way were filled with spite.. Even so, Xana hoped that their role in this war would change that fact.
Almost like a ghost Xana managed to work slip her way through the most crowded areas.. There in the town hall a few others had been gathered, but it appeared to be mainly guards. It would appear barely any had dared take up blade against the newly risen foe.. not that Xana could blame anyone. If anyone knew how terrifying darkness can be, it would be her.

[Nonfictionless]

Kevin squinted his eyes as the second elemental burst into his view. He let out a short laugh at the seemingly insane elemental. "You do seem fun Ember. However let us be clear. You follow my orders without question and I'll bring you more fun than you can handle. Deal?"

[Chonar]

Ember clapped her hands together, flames rolling up her limbs as they rippled outward. She hissed gleefully. "EEEeeeeeeeeee, finally, yes, yes! It's been so DULL here without Bossy 'Narossy! Oh, GOODness, what shall I bring?" She disappeared from view for a moment, Kevin's viewing portal lighting up with some far-off explosions. Reappearing, Ember laughed. "Ha! I forgot, all possessions burn here anyway." She shuddered, looking through Kevin's portal at the world beyond. "So very... flammable." The crazed elemental's eyes focussed back on Kevin, as if she had almost forgotten he was there. "Ah! Yes, yes, it's a deal!" She grinned, affirming the vocal contract. Expecting the Shackles of Binding, she held her arms forwards, limbs extended and wrists displayed as she leaned her head backwards in an overly dramatic fashion.

[Nonfictionless]

Kevin raised an eyebrow. Quite a wild one. Instead of worry or concern he only thought of how it would show others the control he had. He closed the viewing portal but locked on Ember's essence. Three runes around him in a triangle lit on fire, retaining their shape. He drew from the void and focused on pulling the strange little fiery spirit from the next plane over. A spark burst in front of him and quickened over and over until it started to take shape. Ember was a bit more than he expected as he shivered a bit while the power coursed through him. Slowly the, now flaming, orb in front of him turned from a dull orange to a dazing yellow, and finally into a brilliant blue. Tendrils slowly inched out of the orb and he reached out grabbing the largest two. An unearthly metal formed between the flames and Kevin's gloved hands. Then a flash of fire filled the room. Clearing as quickly as it happened, Ember found herself standing before Kevin in the mortal plane. Two thick bindings around her wrists, a brief linger of the spells binding magic could be seen as a thread from her to him.

"Well then Ember, ready to see what you were summoned for?"

[Chonar]

With an arched back and a shriek skyward, Ember burst into being on the mortal plane. "Fresh, delicious air!" The delighted firesprite's eyes darted around, already extending her hands to set something-- anything, ablaze. She looked at nearby books. Books were great for burning, she found. Especially the leatherbound tomes, since they released a potent scent along with potentially released arcane energy. But the flames from her hands fizzled whem the bindings clicked in place. She looked at her wrists, confused and disappointed for a moment, but spotting Kevin, she perked up. "Oh, right!"

Subduing her apparent wildness and unstable attention span for the moment, she hovered around Kevin, rubbing her chin and sizing him up. "I like your robes. Red robes are good robes." She hissed. When his words sank in, the sprite disappeared in a puff of quivering, superheated air... only to reappear as six inches tall, sitting on Kevin's shoulderpad. "Yes, sir, master sir!"

[Nonfictionless]

Kevin smiled. "Good." He took a step forward as the world twisted around him. Shapes blurred, lights and shadows danced as his foot hit the cobbled road. A somewhat dank air filled his nose as he took in the square of Darkshire. A few paladins and priests walked around, but the rest were just of the mudane. Kevin decided not to bother with them and find the SI:7 commander himself. "Stay close and don't burn anything yet Ember." He peered around the town and settled on what looked like the most official building in town, the town hall, which at the least was likely to have a clerk from Stormwind who would know where to go. He began to walk that way.

[Knephertiti]

Darion Mograin watched from the shadows of the Town Hall as the heroes made their way inside. What resembled a Blood Elf paladin, an Orc shaman, a Draenei priest, and a Human mage. He watched as they made their way to the assassins from their faction. He watched as the assassins brought the heroes up to speed on the situation. He watched as the heroes face grew dim at hearing of the news. Darion watched, but he could wait no more.
So few came... but we have no time. We have to move, now, before she can strike again. We have to hope... they will be enough...

Stepping forth from the shadows, Darion called out, interrupting the assassins. "Heroes. I see a few have made it. As you hear, the situation is dire, but we have no more time to wait. This enemy is new to us, powerful, manipulating, destructive. It has shown it self to be merciless, yet arogent. We must strike now, before it has a chance to strike us again." Darion lifted one arm, pointing to a door to the back of the Town Hall. "There you will find provisions, supplies, weapons, armor, and reagents. If you need something, grab it. I expect you all outside within five minutes." Turning his back to the heroes, Darion made his way to the door, and exited the town hall. Taking a few strides out to the courtyard, he stopped, and gave the heroes their few moments.

Luckily, none of the heroes tried Darion's patience. Each made their way out swiftly, and he lead them south, out of town. Knowing not all had steeds, Darion lead on foot. As the sounds of the pair of armored feet making their way south out of town, most of the residents did all they could to clear way for the group. Entering a nearby house, ducking into an alley, whatever they could to clear the way. Eyes watched the heroes as they strode through the town, some full of curiosity, some full of hope, some full of horror. Are they strong enough? Are they numerous enough? Will anyone be able to beat this enemy?

As they came to the end of the town, Darion turned to the heroes. "We have but one chance at this. Our enemy lies to the south, beyond the worgen infected woods and undead infested graveyard, up at the top of the mountain range. A few scouts reported a small pass that could lead us to the manor just past the graveyard. It is the only safe path up the otherwise steep slope. Now, enough talk, we must make haste. Our enemy likely already knows that we come for it."

Before the Death knight could even turn around, a shrill voice was heard, seeming to call out from the shadows around the group, and around the town it self.

"You are right Darion, I do know of your presence here. That of you, and your 'mighty' heroes. Shame they are so few and weak, I was hoping for more of a... challenge.

A cackling laughter in turn replaced the speech, one that set the townsmen on edge, sending a chill up their spines. Darion, on the other hand, merely smirked, as he made his own challenge. "So you think us weak, eh? Then you are in for a surprise, as you will soon fall, just as greater evils than you have fallen by the hands of the mortal heroes."

Setting off once more, the group made their way towards the Tranquil Gardens Cemetery. As they walked, the sounds of lupine howls could be heard throughout the woods. And as they continued, the howls slowly became louder, and more numerous...

((Okay, the path is set, you guys know where to go. I'll keep Darion in check, just take it one step at a time. I want you guys to lead, as long as you don't try to jump ahead too far, too fast. One scene at a time, so I can throw more plot and enemies your way as needed. For now, the worgen are almost upon you...)))

[Synaxis]

"Worgen," Sironath observed pretty unnecessarily. He had stayed silent through the entire explanation from the assassins and never once offered a sound to the death knight. Any reaction he had was muted enough so as to be utterly invisible; at this point he couldn't even find it in himself to be worried. War was the new normal for him and the only thing he felt for it was a vague dissatisfaction at the fact that the citizens of Azeroth seemed unable to just stop and catch their breath as of late.

The sound of the howls coming from the woods around them did make the paladin tense a little bit. After that one observation, he drew his shield and the typical paladin mace and drew said shield fairly close to his chest. He did seem keen on volunteering to step slightly ahead of the group - though he did not doubt their capabilities in a fight, it was in his nature to try to protect them. That is, after all, what tanks do.

A sudden rustle in the underbrush just to the west caused Sironath to pivot in place to face the sound. The hammer in his right hand barely had the chance to accumulate a bright, misty golden-white glow before a pair of bright, glowing eyes appeared in the shadows of the brush, immediately followed by the immense, densely-furred body of a feral worgen. Rather than backing off in fear or apprehension, the blood elf stepped several times toward the beast, shield raised in preparation. A seperate rustle from behind the group made him twist his head and call a sudden, "Behind!" as more furry foes tried to jump the group from the back.

[Deleted]

It was worrysome to the full extent of the word, that the group had this few numbers. It made them vulnerable to all sorts of ambushes and trickeries. Since they were so few, even losing just a single member for whatever reason could be catastrophic. During the whole gathering in the Town Hall it would appear as if Xana had gotten in there by mistake. However, when the others rose to leave to gather supplies, so did she. Giving out a gentle smile to whoever of the group looked her way.
Lifting one of her sleeves, she had a good look at the bracelets. If it came to it, would she be capable of making herself take them off..? To protect these people, would she be willing to go that far..? Letting go of the sleeve, the next smile that was given out was mostly to herself. A guardian cares not for their own fate, but the fate of those they seek to protect. At least, that is what Xana told herself...

As the group moved through Darkshire, Xana quickly found herself taking the back row of the group. It was obvious that she didn't like having eyes rest upon her, for whatever reason. Listening calmly and merely walking ahead, a sudden darkness awoke. The voice seemed so gentle to her, yet malevolent like no other. The gentle silence of darkness, yet chaotic and mystic. It sent a chill down the Draenei's spine. To her it felt as if the owner of the voice was an embodiment of pure darkness.. As Darion spoke, the only thing that came to Xana's mind was her visit to one of the darkest and hopeless places she had ever been. At the place where life or death is chosen.. Taking a deep breath, she shook the feeling off and continued to walk alongside the group, still only barely hearing what they had to say, untill.. "Worgen.
Stopping in her tracks, Xana eyed the Paladin standing slightly ahead of the group, calling upon himself the attention from the attackers, guarding the group with his own strenght.. for some reason, it made her feel more secure. Instinctively, Xana took a step further back, distancing herself from the enemy that was upon them, as she started to weave a protective spell.
"Behind!"
Turning around, Xana saw them advancing towards her - quickly. They had circled around the group, and seemed to stage an attempt at attacking the group from various angles, much like a group of predators. They'd attack whoever got the furthest from the centre, which in this case was Xana and Sironath. It didn't appear as if Xana had enough time to defend herself.

[Chonar]

Ember stuck close to Kevin, sometimes at her full size, sometimes shrunken to a couple inches to look at her own reflection in the ruby on the pommel of the mage's sword. She was terribly uninterested in the briefing. If it was up to her, the entire world would burn, quite literally. The elemental, like so many others like her, had a one-track mind in regards to most things, as was their nature. Now, surrounded by the very wooden dwellings of Duskwood's inhabitants, as well as the permanent darkness that cursed and saturated the area, she felt on edge. There was so much here that could burn, and so much darkness to vanquish with the light of open flame. Doing nothing until her summoner wanted her to was... taxing. It was little wonder then, that when the Worgen appeared, the elemental was tense with anticipation. She bucked at the shackles binding her, testing her will against Kevin's magic. Impatiently, yearning and seething, the sprite looked at Kevin as the Worgen encroached, surrounding the party. ".. Now?!" She pleaded.

[Nonfictionless]

Kevin kept up with rest. More interested in the child with them than anything, but it wasn't long till he grew bored of of her. Maybe something special but far too timid. Instead he spent the few minutes watching Ember as they walked towards the apparently powerful enemy. Yelling out of the shadows? Even a lowly familiar could be trained to do that. He yawned and kept walking.

A few of his hairs stood on end as the howling began. He never liked dogs. Especially hungry dogs......He didn't need the Light bearer shouting but it helped. Otherwise he wouldn't of noticed just how far back the draenei child had stopped. "NOW!" He twisted and conjured four small balls of fire in the palm of his hand as he shouted to Ember. He sent two soaring towards the forest in front of the child. They collided with one of the Worgen leaping from it's shadows. Not very powerful for something so hastily pulled together but the spell threw the worgen back and with in a few seconds it would be mostly whole again.

((How many Worgen should we be expecting by the way?))

[Knephertiti]

((Around 15. Just a medium sized pack.))

Darion scowled, grabbing his two large runeblades from his back. As the warning came from the Paladin, another Worgen jumped out of the brush towards the highlord. In a whirl of deadly fury, Darion sliced his right blade from the rapidly approaching beasts neck, through to the left side of it's waist, as if a hot knife through butter. As the beasts blood splattered, and it's body crumbled, another leapt to take it's place. Keeping with his momentum, Darion spun, and ran the second Worgen through with his left blade. Withdrawing his blade, he took a step back towards the group, noticing more of the glowing eyes become visible through the darkness.

"Heroes! Defend yourselves!"

((Make that 13))

[Chonar]

Unleashed. Ember's blaze ignited as she screamed in sadistic delight, both hands thrust forwards as she directed her streams of concentrated blue flame at the nearest Worgen. Caught offguard, the feral worgen was hit straight in the chest, a shuddering howl of agony escaping its' widespread maw. The fur on the beast's chest instantly ignited, scorching outward from the point of ignition. It staggered, crazed with pain as flames licked up its' body. With most of its' fur scorched away and an instantly cauterized wound showing blackening ribs, it looked less like a Worgen and more like a fleshbeast straight out of nightmare.

The beast leapt for Ember, desperate to quell the source of its' hurting, but the cackling firesprite let out a nova of flame. With its' flesh already superheated, the shockwave of flame tore the rest of the worgen's flesh clean off its' skeleton, sending flame-flickering gore hurtling back into the forest, while the skeletal remains completed the rest of the leap and collapsed ontop of Ember. The firesprite caught it ontop of her, the powerful jaws snapping shut with a loud *clack!* inches infront of her giggling face.

She took the dead beast's skeletal claw in one hand, and rested her other hand on its' collarbone, and began to ballroom dance.

"Mm, hmm hmmm, mm mm hmm..~"