>"Welcome to the Milestone. Come, we'll talk inside"
>'Achillea' ushers you into the huge building, leading you through several hallways until you reach... an office?
>"Have a seat. You must have questions, as do I. But I'll let you start."

Considering her offer, you think about what to ask first for a moment. Figuring it best to start with the most obvious.
"So... what exactly is the Void Knight?"
She considers you for a moment before starting. "We Wayknights have but one duty: To protect the creatures of the universe from outsiders who would do them harm. And we have been doing this duty since time immemorable. There are always Wayknights here in the Milestone, but it is not so for the Void Knight."
She stops for a moment and looks at your shield. "That is usually kept within the centre of the Milestone, behind a door that only opens when a Void Knight is necessary. For a Void Knight has a much more... Grandiose duty than the rest of us."
She stops there, leaving you hanging for a moment. "That grand dudty being...?"
"The protection of the universe itself." She stops there, letting that sink in.

>Let her continue
>"What does the universe need protection from?"

>>29688337
> what does the universe need protection from?
I'm curious.

>>29688337
>>"What does the universe need protection from?"

>writing

"What does the universe need protection from? Is there some kind of big... universe eating... thing out there? Because I know this sword is big, but-"

She cuts you off with a hand. "Nothing so preposterous, nor so easily dealt with. Why would that be your first guess?"

You consider that, why WAS that your first guess?
"I watch a lot of sci-fi I suppose..."

"Sci-fi?" She asks you with a quizzical look on her face.

"Nevermind that! I'm doing the questioning, remember? Universe in peril, what's causing it?"

"Oh, yes." She says, her face returning to the stern mask that she's been wearing this whole time."
"War. War between two forces so massive that it's causing a disruption in the balance itself."

"Who's fighting?" You ask

She holds out her right hand.
"On one side there's The Proclamation of the One. From what we know, they follow a being known as Monthei. They believe him to be the supreme god, and they're trying to make him the only god."
Holding out her left hand, she continues.
"On the other side there's the Kalkarri. Led by a Tattvanae named Kalki. The Kalkarri consists mostly of gods and their worshippers who have banded together against Monthei."

[1/?]

"Any other questions?" She asks, seeming eager to get this over with.

"You have no idea." You respond. "There was about 3 things in there that could use some elaboration."

"What part of that was so hard to understand?"

You hold up your left hand, counting these off on your fingers."What is the balance. What is a Tattvanae. And how does this all threaten the universe?"

"How does it threaten the universe? They're killing GODS. The physical manifestation of a planets Aether. How can you not get that?"

Now you feel stupid, and you fear how she's going to take this next question but... "What is Aether?"

She stares at you dumbstruck, with a look like you just grew another head. "WHAT?!?"

You scratch your head, feeling like a kid in preschool who didn't know what 1+1 was.

"How can you not know what Aether is?!? The building blocks of the universe! Without which life COULD NOT exist!" She's mad. Very mad.

>Oh THAT Aether!

>You lost me.

>>29689428
>>You lost me.

>You lost me. Better to know for sure rather than wing it

>>29689428
never heard of it on my planet

>Writing

"I got nothing." You say, flinching ahead of the approaching lecture.

"You've never heard of the Aether."

"Never."

"And you're the Void Knight."

"Apparently."

Her head makes a thump as it hits the table. Her stern mask all but abandoned.

"In my defense, it doesn't seem like you guys have heard of the world that I'm from ei-"

You're cut off as she hops to her feet, and starts yelling. "Do NOT try to smooth this over. The only reason you are alive right now is because killing you was Zeshua's idea, and the thought of agreeing with that slimy ba-

"Achillea, That's enough." A voice comes from behind you, and you turn to face your savior.

"But Grandfather, he-"

"Enough. Losing your head will get us nowhere. And killing this person this person will but us several steps back. Becalm yourself child."

She looks for a second like she means to retort, but seems to think better of it. Choosing instead to slump back into her chair, defeated. "Yes grandfather..."

"Good. Now with your leave, I would like to speak to this man."

"Do whatever you want." She replies, sounding almost like a moody teenager.

Without further ado, the older Hecatun gestures for you to follow him.

[1/2]

>>29690015
should've said "not by choice"

You follow him back out into the hallway.

"Come this way, there is somewhere you must be."

You follow in silence for a while, examining your surroundings.

The old man is a little shorter than you, with lavender skin and horns similiar to Achillea's. Though her horns look more like the Hecatun you found on your world.

As you're about to ask the old man about that, he turns to you. "Please do not hold that outburst against her, Achillea is a fne example of a Wayknight. It's just... The previous Void Knight was her mother."
That answers that question...

"You must have more questions yet, I am sure. But I fear a knowledge gap the size of yours would take years of teaching to fill. Before I continue though, I must confirm something."

Your walk has taken you to a large circular room with a small pedestal at it's center. On the pedestal is a glass orb about the size of your head.

"Put your hand on that orb."

You hesitate for a moment.

He sighs "I promise it won't bite."

>Scan it

>Ask him what it does

>Do it

>>29690245
>>Scan it

>>29690245
>Scan

>Writing

>>29690245
scan it i wander what kind of personality our ai has

Still suspicious of everything that seems magical, but not wanting to be openly suspicious. You decide to take the middle path.

>Scanning...

And now you're standing here. Staring at the orb. And the old man is staring at you. Boy, it didn't occur to you how awkward this would get.
You turn the gears in your brain, trying to come up with something... anything to break the silence.

"Well, are you going to put your hand on it or just stare at it all day."
"I... Uhh... Never did catch your name."
He looks at you for a moment trying to discern the relevence of his name at this moment, but eventually acquiesces.
"I suppose I did not introduce myself-"

>Scan complete!
>Object is an automatic Aether transference orb.
>Designed to test the connection a creature has to the Aether
<Is it harmful?
>No

"-I am Nosim. A sage among the Wayknights." He finishes with a slight bow.
"The Wayknights have sages?" You ask, trying to buy time for one more query

<Do you know what Aether is?
>Yes. It is the energy that permeates all life supporting planets as well as all living things, for life cannot exist without it
<Why didn't you tell me that sooner?
>You did not ask.

Refocusing on the situation at hand, you realise that you totally missed what he was saying.
"So are you going to touch the orb or not?"

>Well?

>>29690966
Touch it

>>29690966
>Go for it.

>>29690966
Don't touch it.

>>29690966
touch eeeet

>>29690966
touch the shiny thing

>Writing

Well, as long as it isn't going to hurt me...
You reach out with your left hand and touch the orb. Covering your face with your shield.
The center of the orb starts to glow with a deep purple light.
"Fascinating... You're able to get a reaction from it even through your armor..." Nosim says stroking his chin and examining the orb.
Wait... Armor?
"What armor?" You ask, not quite sure what he means.
"Your gauntlet, of course. Take it off and touch it with your bare hand, I'm curious to see what sort of reaction you'll get!"
"Uhhhh..."

>[ ] This is my bare hand

>[ ] I can't take it off

>>29691370
>>[ ] This is my bare hand

>>29691370
>This is my hand.

"You, uh... you want me to press it to my face or something? That's real flesh.

>>29691370
>[ ] This is my bare hand

File: 1390363395788.jpg-(13 KB, 256x200, Back The Fuck Up.jpg)

13 KB JPG

>Nosim

>writing

>>29691547
can i get a reason behind this

>>29691617
i hate being impatient it sucks

"This is... Well... This is my arm..."

He looks at you like you just grew a second head.
"But... What? But you're a living thing! How can you have parts like that?"
He paces around for a moment. before taking your hand and examining it.
"Yes... I see it now, it is mechanical like the Kema. But your other hand..."
He grabs your other arm, which is still holding the KV-09.
"But this one is flesh... Is this common practice where you come from?" He asks, seeming genuinely curious.
"I suppose so-"
"Right then, I shall have to chart that down at some point." He says, before gesturing back to the orb. "Now, touch it again. But this time, with your other hand."
You look at the giant weapon in your hand, then back to him. "Uhh..."
"What's wrong?" He asks.
"Where do I put this?"
"Does it not fit on that holster on your back?" He says, tilting his head slightly.

Holster on my back? You reach back to confirm what he said and sure enough there's a holster there.
"That wasn't there before."

>It was placed there as part of the assimilation process
<And let me guess, I didn't ask?
>Correct

You sigh, perhaps this AI is a bit too much... Without further ado, you holster your weapon and put your hand on the orb.

And... Nothing happens.

[1/2]

>>29692062
welp

>>29692062
We should have a conversation, a FRIENDLY conversation, with the AI in our head and come to an agreement.

>>29692130
maybe the voidknight assimination thing failed to assiminate our organic body because it could not distinguish the two halves as being 1 single body.

>>29690245
>Her mother
which makes her his daughter
so no making snippy remarks about her, "my condolences" will not go amiss either

>>29692167
then we would have different reading for all of our parts unless the "assimilation" made all of our mechanical parts aether friendly (which is my theory)

>>29692359
why would we have a different reading for all our parts?
the assimilation must have thought "us" was the robot body part and assimilated all of them. the fleshy parts are just tag alongs..

OR, maybe humans from our world can't do aether naturally at all, and mechanical parts can be modified to do it but biological parts cannot be modified in such a way while organic parts cannot be modified in such a way.

"Well, touch it!" He says, getting somewhat impatient.

"I am touching it." You say, taking your hand off and putting it back on a few times for emphasis.

He looks flabbergasted. Stuttering as he tries to think up some explanation of what's happening.

"Move!" He shouts, pushing you out of the way so he can touch the orb himself. As he does, the orb fills with the same purple light from when you touched it before.
Then, he takes your right hand and puts it up to the orb. Again, nothing happens. "But that's preposterous..." He mutters.

You touch the orb with your left hand again, and the purple glow returns. Though nowhere near as strong as when he did it. "But I can do it with this hand." You say, trying to help him out.

"But it still doesn't make any sense! You can't be unable to form a connection to the aether!" He stops and looks at you again. "On your homeworld, was there magic?"

"Well... not really. I mean, there were little magic tricks that you could-"

"Yes or no boy!" He cuts you off with a serious look on his face.

"No." you reply, taken aback by his demeanor.

He pauses for a long moment, thinking carefully before replying. "If that is true then you are either exactly what is needed, or..." He stops, unwilling to continue.

"Or?"

"Or... I fear we are all doomed." He leaves it at that. Letting it sink in before jumping back into stride. Grabbing your left arm again. "Now! It seems as though this arm of yours is capable of storing Apatropeia and Void, the same could probably be said for Aether. Although perhaps not, you won't know until you go to another world."

[2/3]

"And when will that be?"

"Right now. I fear you will find no help from the Wayknights as they will not respect you until you take the initiation test, and I feel that the quickest way to fill the gap in your knowledge will be to learn from experience."

"Woah woah, test? What test?"

"Yes, the Wayknight initiation is quite simple at its core. You must leave the crossroads, and then come back."

>sounds simple enough

>other

>>29692667
>>sounds simple enough
Leave and then don't come back. Fuck these guys. Fuck their war. Fuck them for dragging us into it.

>>29692667
Whoa, back up, what's the deal with 'we might be doomed?' I'm not exactly liking what I'm hearing here.

>>29692667
>other
"why would that be hard? i managed to get here by accident."

>>29692667
sounds simple enough

>>29692667
>sounds simple enough
Also might want to ask the AIEA about how we are supposed to leave this world and come back exactly and about that whole "doomed" thing too since it seems to know this stuff as well as the old guy.

>>29692667
>Okay, let me get this straight. You're telling me that, even though I apparently have no connection to this hokey magicky shit that you worship, I still need to prove myself to YOU, when the only reason I'm here is because I took stairs instead of an elevatus? You've talked a lot and told me nothing, and quite frankly, I still don't trust you.
>So let me put it this way:
>What's in it for me?

>>29692844
This. Maybe a little lighter on the snark, but basically this.

>>29692844
>We pissed off every single one of them except their librarian
>He is the only one who stands between them killing us and recycling the magic shield
>Lets give him a bunch of lip
Also note that he didn't say we need to prove ourselves to him, he said we need to prove ourselves to the others. Aka he is helping us gain political and social status in our new environment

>>29692844
he just told you whats in it for you
you get aid from the wayknights, political and social status, and protection against those of them who think you should be put to death and your parts harvested to make the next voidknight
did you fail to listen?

>>29692935
I don't want any of those things. I want to go back home.

>>29692904
>>29692935
I... fuck, you guys are right, I'm sorry. Disregard me, I suck cocks.
>>29692957
I do agree with this guy, though.

>>29692904
This. I'd rather not piss these guys off.

>>29692957
>>29692972
You want to go back and die? Cause that is what was going to happen, either that or having our free will taken by the big bad AI. All the humans were making a last stand, you don't escape that alive.

>>29693008
>you don't escape that alive.
We will with this super intelligent A.I. Instead of wasting time and our life on a war that has nothing to do with us. We can save OUR PLANET.

>>29692957
I'd want some off world backup before going back there.

>>29693008
I just don't like the idea of having to go off on some magical quest sans magic. At this point, it's one war or another, so...

Aargh, fuck it, okay, okay, let's do it.

>>29693048
fuck aliens earth first

>Consensus= do it?

>>29693108
Yes. Go back home and fight the good fight. the fight that matters.

>>29693131
so while we save our world universe gets destroyed along with our planet...perfect plan

>>29693108
Eh, fuck it. Anons have convinced me. Better to be liked by the aliens than assimilated by AI.

>>29692957
>I don't want any of those things. I want to go back home.
Home? the place with the homocidal AI that makes people into mind puppets? Where he just finished wiping out the last dregs of free humanity just before we got out of there?

>>29693166
That is to say, let's do it.

>>29693161
It's not a universe eating monster, dipshit, she already said.

>>29693131
> implying we have any idea how to get home.
and I don't think anyone here knows either, judging by nosim's reaction to our arm.

>writing

>>29693196
>The protection of the universe itself

>>29693196
>It's not a universe eating monster, dipshit, she already said.
that is a good point, it is a war where gods are killed and apparently if gods all die the universe collapses into nothingness...
well, this universe at least because our universe had no gods and no magic and got along just fine.

>>29693211
our AI might know, speaking of which its clearly now free of its previous obedience programming and we might want to have a little chat with it and come up with some friendly agreement. because i want the thing in our brain to be an ally not an enemy

>>29693235
Maybe it's not the fact that they're dying, so much as the frequency? I don't know, maybe these blokes are laying down so much pressure that nothing can heal.

>>29693543
maybe, I am no expert on deicide.
for all we know our home world has gods too but they just restrict magic and don't interact with people

"Sounds simple enough." You say, feeling somewhat confident.

"Good, now hand me the shield for a moment." He says, holding out his hand.
You take the KV-09 off your back and hand it to him. The weight of it seems to surprise him and he stumbles a bit. Righting himself, he says "A bit heavy isn't it? Do all your people wield weapons such as this?"

"No, most of our stuff is rather light. That's more of an exception than a rule."

"Ah, I see." He says as he holds the weapon in one hand and holds his hand over the shield. "If I recall correctly, these coordinates should take you to Palia." He says, pressing the sigils on the shield with his finger. "The local sentient life is a race called the Kinno. Most of them are friendly to the Wayknight order. As for the wildife, most of the edible looking plants are edible... at least to us, you may want to be careful. As well, you should be able to take on even the most fearsome apex predators there." He eyes you up and down. "Hopfully..."
Finished with that description, he hands you the weapon.

>Coordinates recieved. Calculating jump.

"What?"

"Ah! And before you go, take these." He thrusts a pair of pouches into your left hand. "One has a somewhat universal currency in it, the other has 20 calling crystals."

"Calling crystals?"

"Whenever you make an ally, break one in half and give one half to them. When charged with Aether, they can be used to communicate and transmit universal coordinates across space."

>Calculations complete

Your right arm thrusts to the side, pulled once more by the sword it's holding. As it does, it cuts through the space to your right, revealing the void of space beyond.

"If you get the chance, seek the Kema. They will tell you more than I ever could about your arm."

>Commencing jump

"Good luck boy."

Your reply is stolen by a sudden jerk as you're pulled into the rift, and the space beyond.

[1/?]

The new ordeal ends as your feet touch solid ground. And then your face touches it too.

"I've gotta get better at these landings..." You say as you get back on your feet. "Okay legs, arm, head. Good! Everything is still attached."

You give the area around you a quick scan for lifesigns, finding nothing you observe your surroundings.

You're in a field of green grass, dotting the field every now and then are green trees. It almost feels like home, until you look up.

"Green sky... Huh. That is a lot of green. Welp, I guess it's time to-"

>Set a course for the crossroads

>Explore

>Deal with your AI

>>29694027
>>Deal with your AI

>>29694027
Deal with AI while exploring.

>>29694027
>Set a course for the crossroads
>Deal with your AI
Might as well kill two birds with one stone.

>>29694027
Crossroads. May as well gat this missiondone asap.

>>29694071
this

>writing

"-Set a course for the crossroads!"

>Coordinates unknown

"What?"

<What do you mean coordinates unknown?
>The coordinates were not saved. They are therefore unknown.

You could scream right now. Literally just yell.

<WHY WERE THEY NOT SAVED?!?
>A request was not made to save them
<How did I get there the first time then?
>It is the default coordinate of the shield, which is designed to take whoever wields it there when they first put it on.
<Can we get there that way again?
>Have you just put the shield on for the first time?
<Well, no...
>Then no.

God... Fucking... Damnit!

<Open settings menu
>No such menu exists
<How do I change settings then?
>Ask.

What the hell system is this?

<That isn't how the AIEA system runs.
>This is not the AIEA system

What?

<What system is it then?
>This is the VKAA system
<And that stands for what exactly?
>Void Knight Artificial Aid

Now we're getting somewhere.

<And you said just to ask when I want to change something?
>Correct.
<Like if I said... for example "Save the coordinates of every world I go to" You would do what?
>I would save the coordinates of every world we go to.
<Good! Do that. As well, if you think there's information that you have stored that is relevant to what's happening feel free to share.
>I will try my best.

Alright... That was easier than you thought. Now I guess I'll just go... Thattaway?
As you start to move, a prompt comes up.

>I would not go that way.
<Why not?
>Because there is a settlement in this direction

An arrow comes up in your left eye, indicating the direction it means for you to go in.

>[ ] Go Thattaway

>[ ] Go to the settlement

>>29694782
>Go to the settlement.
>Thank your VKAA

>>29694782
to civilization

>>29694813
this works

>Writing

Taking your AI's advice, you go in the indicated direction.

<Thank you
>You're welcome
<How did you know that there was a settlement that way?

In your vision a small indicator appears over a small bit of smoke peering over the trees.

>I saw it when you were scanning the area for nearby lifeforms
<A settlement doesn't count as nearby lifeforms?
>It was out of my prescribed scanning distance.
<Could you tell me when you notice these things in your scans as well?
>Yes

H-uh, this thing is surprisingly helpful.
It isn't far before you see the settlement, as it was hidden from your view by a large bump in the field.
It looks... Rather familiar. If not a bit green. All the houses are built in a simple style out of the green wood that's probably native to this place.
The setup of the town looks almost like something out of a spaghetti western. Beyond you can see the forest they got the wood from, hidden from your view by the hill earlier.

As you get a little closer, you see the source of the smoke. A fire, you see the inhabitants rushing about trying to put it out.
Getting closer, you see that they're not putting the fire out. They're... Fighting? Definitely fighting...
It looks to be some sort of raid. Seeing that You-

>[ ]help the locals

>[ ]keep your distance

>>29695335
>Help the locals
If we're gonna be a knight, then by god we're gonna go FULL KNIGHT.

>>29695335
> help the locals

It's party time

>Aid locals. Time to kick ass.

>>29695335
>[ ]help the locals
Aren't both sides locals? I doubt the attackers are from another dimension like we are.

>Writing

>>29695551
point

"Well, I am kind of a knight now..."

With that in mind, you make a dash towards the town. As you get closer to the town you see that all of the townsfolk have retreated into one of the larger, more fortified houses.
You can see the attackers starting to loot the other buildings as you get closer. You can see what they actually look like.

They look reptilian in nature with smooth, scaly green skin. Though they are humanoid in shape, walking upright on 2 legs. Their arms didn't seem to agree to the model, as they have 4.

As the first of the raiders notice you, they rush you with their weapons drawn.
You may as well oblige them

>roll 1d20

Rolled 17

>>29695761
well, i was going to suggest we ask the raiders what justification they have for this act...
but seeing as they are trying to kill us on sight they are probably just bandits. so lets kill them

Rolled 2

>>29695761
>>29695761
lizards are lizards

Rolled 6

>>29695761
Huh, guess there's no diplomacy here.

>writing

I guess they're not up for negotiations...
If that's the case

>Targets acquired

Just like the alley, you place the bead over each head and squeeze the trigger. Though your aim is a tad shakier than it was there, the reptilians go down all the same.
And again, just like the alley they get a little too close for comfort. Although there is more of them here than there was there.

Snapping the sword into its outward position in front of the gun barrel, you squeeze the trigger. The blade glows bright blue as you empty the rest of your electrical energy into it.
As the first enemies get within swinging distance, you do just that. Slicing the first two in half, and dispatching another with a quick thrust.

You hear a *tink* as an arrow that one of them fired at your left knee glances away.

>Weapon charge: Empty.

You go to refill your weapon, and see that there's 3 different energies in the vials on your arm. One you haven't seen before. It looks like a dark purple, almost black liquid.

>Energy tanks 4/6 full: 1 Apatropeia, 1 Aether, 2 Void.

>[ ] fill with apatropeia
>[ ] fill with aether
>[ ] fill with void

File: 1390374670268.jpg-(9 KB, 259x194, YOU DONE FUCKED UP NOW.jpg)

9 KB JPG

Rolled 2

>>29696177
>[x]Yes

ALL OF THE ABOVE

SUPERCHARGE IT

DON'T BE A PUSSY

WHAT COULD GO WRONG

>>29696215
we waste all our ammo?

>>29696177
lets try void

>>29696215
>weapon only takes one at a time

Rolled 2

>>29696274
Oh. Bugger. Then let's go with void, since we've got one to spare.

Rolled 4

>>29696177
I see that what yoyu did there ...do not do it again>>29696265this

>>29696310
>I see that what yoyu did there ...do not do it again
I don't get it

>>29696338
>You hear a *tink* as an arrow that one of them fired at your left knee glances away.
Arrow to the knee.

>>29696371
Oh fuck. I actually didn't notice that.
Now I feel like kind of an ass

>writing

>>29696405
Oh. Well. Never mind then.

>>29696371
>>29696405
oh lol, I totally didn't notice it either

Well, You'll have to try them eventually. Void seems to be the one you have in abundance for the moment so you start with that.
Placing your hand against the charge point, you empty the void tank into your weapon.

Once it's full, you squeeze the trigger again. Instead of the usual blue glow, the blade up and catches fire.
The reptilians look fairly intimidated by this. At least you think they're intimidated by this.
To make sure, you swing your sword in their direction. This has the unexpected effect of casting a gout of white flame at them. Causing 3 of them to flee, screaming and on fire.
Well if they weren't intimidated by you before, they are now. As the rest of them follow suite.
Now that you've got them on the ropes, you

>[ ] Greet the townsfolk

>[ ] Give chase

>>29696601
How about we
>secure the area to make sure there aren't any more hiding about
before we
>greet the townsfolk

>>29696601
Greet the townsfolk while switching back to your gun.
>Hello. Should I let them go?

>>29696601
Let them go. The attackers have been driven off, victory is ours.
"Greetings townsfolk, I am the void knight, I mean you no harm. Bring forth your leader, we have much to discuss."

>Writing
>This will probably be my last post of the night.
>I'll continue tomorrow if the thread is still here.

Figuring that your little display of... whatever that was will keep them away, you walk towards the building you saw the townsfolk run into.
As you walk, you hear an explosion from off in the direction the reptilians ran in. Looking over, it looks like one of them... exploded?

<What the hell was that?
>I did tell you that Void energy is considered volatile
<So it explodes?
>It can explode. It can do many things, but sometimes it does them and sometimes it doesn't
<Ah, yes. Volatile. Got it.

As you reach the large building you saw the townsfolk go into, you holler up.
"Hello! Is anyone in there? The coast is clear!"

"Are you a wayknight?"

Not wanting to yell your explanation, you respond simply, "Yes!"

After a few seconds of silence, the door opens. And out comes more lizard people.

>[ ] Friendly greetings

>[ ] ohfuckmorereptilians

>>29696945
>>[ ] ohfuckmorereptilians

>calling it a night. Will tally up votes and continue to run tomorrow evening.

>>29696945
>Gun up, but hold fire

>>29696945
>[ ] Friendly greetings
lets get a bucket chain going and put out the buildings that are on fire

>>29696945
of course they are reptiles, you are in a different world, one populated by reptiles. you just watched reptile bandits sack a reptile village and helped the villagers.

That other world you were in had purple horned people. I am guessing every world has different native population

>Definitely friendly greetings. Don't wanna piss off friends of the other guys