Renew the Pact: The Hand of Asumit, p5
Log Info
- Title: Renew the Pact: The Hand of Asummit, Part 5
- Emitter: Whirlpool
- Characters: Seldan, Kravar, Merek, Cryosanthia, Cesran, Serene, Karelin, Aya
- Place: The Wilderness of Alexandros
- Time: Tuesday, June 01, 2021, 8:47 PM
- Summary: The battle continues with the faux-foes seemingly getting the upper hand. Overwhelmingly, they are taking more damage from spells and breath weapons, but Hollow-Karelin shakes off the stuns of regular Karelin and nearly does him in. Hollow-Cesran becomes a Titan to his Brass Dragon, and the other Cryo summons a darkness that blots out the stars and grows worse. Merek is nearly swallowed by himself, spared only by Serene, who struggles under the blob. Griva re-appears, having seen something without elaborating, as Seldan struggles with himself.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Appearing, in Order =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Seldan 5'11" 187 Lb Human Male Ginger-blonde human in armor wearing Eluna's symbol.
Merek 5'10" 215 Lb Human Male A black-haired, dusky male with golden eyes.
Cryosanthia 6'9" 291 Lb Sith-Makar Female A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman.
Cesran 6'1" 185 Lb Human Male A tall dark-skinned man
Serene 6'2" 175 Lb Eldanar/Charn Female Glacier meets granite meets strawberries.
Karelin 6'2" 256 Lb Human Male Tattooed Korite warrior. Tall, dark and scarred.
Kravar 6'2" 220 Lb Human Male Big Aesir Hero...with wings
Aya 4'7" 105 Lb Shadow Elf Female Mul'niessa. Braided hair. Simple clothing.
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-=--=--=--=--=--=--= NPCS of Note =--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
Griva Brassbringer Khazdi Female Head of the Alexandrian Chapter of the Resurrection Society
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-=--=--=--=--=--=--= As the GM =--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
Whirlpool 5'0" Otyugh I am stinky!
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Previously
A group of adventurers along with Griva Brassbringer went to investigate strange cysts and oddities on a magical ley-line. Arriving, they found the ley-line had vanished, and a field of very fragile crystals, and an overwhelming sensation of wrongness to the magic. Breaking a crystal, a wave of black ooze came forth. It was decided the best approach was to charge up a rod of absorbtion and release a strong spike of magic to 'lance the boil'. This was done and appeared successful, however odd reflections of the party appeared. Merek touched one directly, and it caused a version of him to emerge from the much larger pool of blackness bubbling out of the ground. This Merek split into a few present, then split some more. Battle ensued, with the Hollow Copies saying disturbing things, that Asumit was a conduit, that Unity is better, that they aren't worthy of defense, that everyone abandons each other. After Aya demonstrates some connection between the real Merek and the new one, the man tries an experiment.
Merek looks from the hood which he wears often enough and along that scarf while he draws a hand to his cheek where he is punched, nodding a little to himself. The man seems to consider while the sleeve of his attire shifts among the wind. "You can feel all our emotions, you know what it's like to be us, to see us." The man takes a look along to all of them, while he begins to walk towards the one that seems to be him. "You know," he holds up the only hand which he has. "You are me, and I am you. Why would you do all of this. All for what some Asumit did? We are here, your past and future might be no longer, but ours is. I know the way you think about everyone here, or at least the way I would."
The man looks to all of them, to Prime and Faux Cryosanthia, Seldan, Cesran, and to Karelin and Serene. "I love all of you, and I wouldn't want to do anything to... You know, this is. None of you wanted for this. We can change it, we still can!"
The man looks to everyone, "Cryosanthia, don't listen to what she says, she's as hurt as you, and she's been through the same, she lost everything." Then to Seldan, "He did as well, don't, what others did in the past, won't determine all the future. You must look within." Then to Serene, "She wanted to defend all that was Light. These are not tests, these are not parts of us. They are us."
The man will look at Merek, then nods a bit, "We can change it, you need to guide us. Tell us about what we need to do to change all the world!" He points to everyone, "YOU KNOW ME! YOU KNOW THE WAY THIS WILL END FOR ME! SO BURN ME IF YOU WILL! IF NOT!" he then swings a fist into the monster, if he can. "THEN STAND UP AND REALIZE WHAT WE ARE!"
Karelin launches another flurry at his counterpart, himself, striking hard cuts and another bell-ringing blow across the helmet. He, for the moment, ignores the T-Rexes.
Now
While having the anti-/pseudo-/alt-Merek collapse into a boneless pile of flesh is preferable, that there -is- a reaction at all is still noteworthy. One snowy brow arches. "Fascinating..." Aya's brow, then the rest of her, vanish once more to appear adjacent to the whitescale (who is likely quite accustomed to such appearances). The mul then speaks to the sith in (relatively) hushed, brief words.
Aya notes in hurried Draconic, "They -are- connected, but I believe it less physical and more ...emotional. He was not harmed, but startled by the shock of it."
Faux-Serene rights herself and then ... appears near real-Cesran with grim determination on her face. That seems bad. He's a huge brass dragon, it's pretty hard to avoid getting next to him.
Kravar frowns thoughtfully. In the midst of the fighting someone seems to be calling for words - and worse, feeling and understanding. Of course. But he supposed it can't hurt. These doubles do not seem to be the threat their originals might be, other than poor Merek but he seems to be less than concerned. Kravar raises his shield until the rim is just below the line of his sight, covering the lower half of his face and the upper half of his body. His Sunblade appears in his other hand. He holds it in a side guard position, poised to block rather than swing.
...the just as grim Serene reappears near Cesran after picking herself up off the ground. She sat straight up right, took a moment, and then was just ... near Cesran. Her wings, Silver's Wings it would appear to be, are stretched out from her back... like they were integrated into her personage.
Cesran contemplates Mage's Disjunction as a counter to his counterpart's spell. It might interrupt the spell. It would affect every magic item in the area, potentially destroying some of them permanently. It's unclear how it would interact with the Null Ley-Line as well. Griva's Rod of Absorbtion would also be disrupted. The battlefield is too messy to target Fake-Cesran effectively.
The only guarantee is he'd likely end up on the wrong end of a beating when the party's magic items break.
Alternatively, he could turn back, quick cast forceful hand to move him into a favourable spot where he could place the disjunction safely. Except, he'd have to stop being a huge Brass Dragon.
GAME: Cesran casts Greater Dispel Magic. Caster Level: 20 DC: 28 GAME: Cesran rolls 1d20+20+12+4+2: (10)+20+12+4+2: 48 <OOC> Cesran says, "Okay Dispel Check. +4 because it's greater dispel magic." <OOC> Cesran says, "Anything lower than a 10 I'm most likely going to use 3 Rpp to re-roll." GAME: Cesran rolls 1d20+20+4: (3)+20+4: 27 <OOC> Cesran says, "Okay using 3 RPP to re-roll" GAME: Cesran rolls 1d20+20+4: (15)+20+4: 39 GAME: Cesran rolls 1d20+20+1+2: (15)+20+1+2: 38 (CT-Rex 1 Chomp) GAME: Cesran rolls 1d20+20+1+2: (2)+20+1+2: 25 (CT-Rex 1 Chomp) GAME: Cesran rolls 1d20+20+1+2: (4)+20+1+2: 27 (CT-Rex 2 Chomp) GAME: Cesran rolls 1d20+20+1+2: (4)+20+1+2: 27 (CT-Rex 2 Chomp) GAME: Cesran rolls 4d6+22: (12)+22: 34 GAME: Cesran rolls 1d20+32: (17)+32: 49 (CT-Rex 1 Grab)
Cesran stretches his wings out wide before he starts to slowly flap them to stay in place. Faux-Serene coming closer is noted but that unidentifiable spell that Faux-Cesran is casting is more of a concern. He keeping an eye on Faux-Serene he starts to cast a spell in a defensive manner, ready to move his beautiful brass body out of harm's way. With a word in draconic he lets loose a spell of greater dispel magic. It hits the spell that Faux-Cersan is casting and unravels it.
"I'm so sorry, that spell you were casting looked amazingly powerful, perhaps if you stop this pointless fighting we could compare spell books. How long has it been since you've had some stew and biscuits at the Fernwood Inn? They still make the best green hornet around, if you stop all this we can go right now. We could teleport together or if you like we can ride upon my carpet of flying, you could see how beautiful the city of Alexandria still is. A little prestidigitation will clean you right up. We could enjoy ourselves like never before. There is no need to be so upset about everything. Think about it if you are from a less peaceful timeline you could help us avoid the mistakes that others made in your's. It would be nice to have someone to talk to who really understands us."
As the now very gregarious brass dragon Cesran rumbles in his very deep bass brass dragon voice, his two celestial T-rexes continue to try to eat Faux-Merek. One gets a good first chomp on him and rather ruins the second T-rex's attempts to bite, but the first has Merek in his jaws.
Griva Brassbringer is nowhere to be seen or heard.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls sense motive: (13)+-1: 12
Cryo's motive is not obvious to her at this time.
Words are whispered. A seed of doubt is sewn. A whole despair tree blossoms. Cryosanthia stares at herself, a copy in every way. Her horns, her scent, her voice, her movements. She smells the desperation, the ache of emptiness, senses not only another Sith'Makar in anguish but feels her truth at her core. Something terrible has happened. The whitescale's heart races from more than battle, her eyes dilate. A hole opens to the bottom of the world.
The amazingly accomplished, exceptionally brilliant, unexpectedly attractive Cesran just turned into a huge brass dragon. Silver scales instincts! Not now! An empty Cesran is rising up to meet him. What did he say? "Cesran! What's this Unity? Asumit as a conduit?"
Other words are being said and the whitescale struggles to focus on them. To pull herself back from the edge. There's a puzzle, if only the pieces would go together. She doesn't deserve protection. She did turn her back. It's not helping to hear this exchange. They land like chains and drag her closer to the edge.
And then Merek speaks. Words she wants to hear, perhaps words she needs to hear, except they lash more hooks into her and drag her into her emotional pit. Into the hole that goes all the way down. Cryo's voice rises in a panic. "You confirmed her Merek!"
It's all true. Everything. She's falling. The depths take her. Then a sudden cold descends and surrounds her. Cryo has one last refuge. She stands tall, calm, her scales flickering with light and a growing layer of frost. She faces herself, stain-scaled and craven, and lectures in a voice that cuts to the bone. One oddly accented and unsettlingly familiar. "We were always unworthy. They have left us, so many. No nest. No clutch. No family. We've been there and it seems we get there again. I've wanted the meaningless death so many times. I know how much it hurts when no one understands."
Cryo throws her icicle dagger down at her other self's feet. It sticks and frosts the ground. "I haven't lost Braelnoir, yet. Or Faran, or Mikilos or Rocky or Sabina. I haven't lost Lily. There are people that count and depond on you in little ways everywhere you'll never realize. So I need you to tell me what I do wrong, that costs everything, before it does. I won't give you the pointless death but I'll help you never exist."
Her dagger reforms in her hand. Right, the spell does that. Not quite the gesture she hoped to make. She remains ready to defend herself, and reiterates:
"Tell me what I need to know.""
<OOC> Whirlpool says, "Merek dimension doors free from the grasp of the T-Rex, appears near Your Merek." <OOC> Whirlpool says, "Merek V. Merek." GAME: Merek rolls fort: (18)+13: 31 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+26: (16)+26: 42 (Seldan-Hollow's attack) GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+26: (9)+26: 35 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+21: (11)+21: 32 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+16: (20)+16: 36 (THREAT) GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+16: (14)+16: 30 (Not Confirmed) GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d8+12: (1)+12: 13 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d8+12: (2)+12: 14 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d8+12: (2)+12: 14
The battle is met now, truly, as Seldan's opposite seems to dismiss his words.
"You haven't seen it yet. The way things will come apart. Fragments, lies, and nightmares. You're going to see it, though, and soon, your future will be no more. Whatever you thought you knew, you don't. You're just echoes -- echoes of what's already been lost!"
The other Seldan brings his blade to bear, crashing into his equally skilled counterpart's weapon. There's a moment, a dangerous one, where the blde seems guided ot an opening at Seldan's neck, nearly severing his head from his shoulders but not for the paladin managing a last moment, desperate deflection that leaves him bleeding there.
Meanwhile, Merek vanishes from the grasp of the dinosaur and reappears near the other Merek. There, he simply... rolls over him.
And starts to ... eat. Absorb the other Merek.
...uh oh.
<OOC> Seldan says, "5' step back, swift to LOH, and cast. Lightning Bolt." GAME: Seldan spends ONE use of LAY ON HANDS. GAME: Seldan rolls 6d6: (22): 22 GAME: Seldan casts Lightning Bolt. Caster Level: 16 DC: 21 GAME: Seldan rolls 10d6: (39): 39 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+23: (7)+23: 30 (Hollow Seldan Save) GAME: Serene casts Liberating Command. Caster Level: 20 DC: 23 GAME: Merek rolls escape artist: (7)+4+20: 31 GAME: Merek rolls escape artist: (1)+4: 5 (EPIC FAIL)
Seldan's eyes don't snap over at Cryosanthia as the inflections she used, once a harbinger of dire danger, reach his ears. A much more dire danger is before him, and it nearly takes his head off with a blade sharper than anything Reunion has ever been or will ever be. That's a clue, if a painful one that leaves blood across his collarbone. He backpedals a step, guard up, and uses his free hand to lay over that bleeding wound. A silver light briefly glows, and it at least partly seals.
With that done, he raises a bloodied hand, guard still up. _Let us see what not-me has, for perhaps it is that this version of me never turned to Her power._ He traces several intricate sigils in a pattern that is likely to make Cesran, if he looks, wonder where he found that crusty old method that is several centuries old and not taught in any reputable school. Somehow, though, he pulls the warring energies together with a shouted arcane phrase, then as the sigils burst into crackling white-blue life, reaches _through_ them, sending a lightning bolt streaking at not-him.
"It is true enough that I think little and less of Alexandria's leadership," he tells not-him evenly and coolly, "and not so highly of certain of the Guild, but that does not mean that those that dwell within Her walls are not worthy of my protection. I know not who this Asumit is, but I want no part of it, if I came from him so twisted as you."
"Move, Merek!" Occupied as she is with fighting the alternate Cesran, Serene still manages to shout a command that carries the weight of divine power the Seer's way as his own duplicate starts to envelop him.
"...let the stars fade!"
Cryosanthia's alternate's long, black blade coalesces in her hand and she reaches out and cuts horizontally through the sky above her, through the open air with it, severing ... something. A seam ripped in the open in the sky above you, far above now, revealing twisting blackness, blacking out the stars.
"... echoes of an ancient past razes a future that never was!"
She isn't making a whole lot of sense. Maybe she's not so different from your Cryosanthia after all! She's certainly verbose, as she's continuing to ramble like that. "The stars. The stars are down."
Cesran, in the meantime, seems stymied that his alternate interrupted his spell. Insdtead, he too changes. Now, your Cesran has grown to become a giant. A blackened-skinned, silver-etched giant with flaming, azure eyes. His staff has become a maul.
"From the bloodstained clouds I call thee: WYTTARASKAR." Uh oh.
It's hard to see what's going on underneath the other Merek. Who at this point is a horrible blob of flesh.
<OOC> Serene says, "Gonna fly out of range, first, giving the giant an AoO.. and then casting a spell." <OOC> Serene says, "So that Merek isn't threatened when he gets there." GAME: Serene casts King's Castle. Caster Level: 20 DC: 26 GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+32: (7)+32: 39 (Casting Defensively) GAME: Serene rolls fortitude: (16)+34: 50 <OOC> Serene says, "So Merek is sitting on Silver now."
Despite Serene's attempt at assistance only a moment earlier, Merek still appears on the verge of being overwhelmed and consumed by his gooey duplicate. She spares one frustrated glance at the winged version of herself, then pulls back on Silver's reins. "Keep him safe," she whispers to the gryphon, then points her sword towards what little she can still see of the Seer. "I am a shield for my allies," she declares.. and a moment later, it is Merek sitting in the saddle, and Serene under the amorphous, otherworldly Merek.
GAME: Merek rolls 1d2: (1): 1 GAME: Merek rolls ranged: (8)+13: 21 GAME: Merek rolls 1d4: (2): 2
Then it looks like Merek is transported to be upon Silver. The man looks about, and nods a bit to Serene, "Thank you!" He then takes a look to people, "If anyone can, please take a look to Griva!" The man then will lift up a hand while he swings a bolt of necromantic energy into Cryosanthia's alter self, and it begins to take away the energy within. This makes the fight easier a little bit. Then he takes the time to see if there's anyone else he can assist.
<OOC> Karelin says, "Okay. Haste/Stunning Assault FA on Fake-K" GAME: Karelin rolls 1d20+39: (1)+39: 40 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Karelin rolls 1d20+39: (5)+39: 44 GAME: Karelin rolls 1d20+34: (1)+34: 35 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Karelin rolls 1d20+29: (18)+29: 47 GAME: Karelin rolls 1d20+24: (11)+24: 35 GAME: Karelin rolls 1d10+31: (6)+31: 37 GAME: Karelin rolls 2d10+62: (6)+62: 68 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+24: (18)+24: 42 (Hollow-Karelin Fort) GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+24: (6)+24: 30 (Hollow-Karelin Fort)
The problem with hammering on people clad in armour, is that in the end, they get used to the ringing. At least, the Other Karelin sure does. He's struck more, but these strikes just aren't as debilitating.
Kravar's frown deepens. It appears that words and understanding have failed and perhaps it's time to try horrific violence once more. He spins his sword in another flourish and launches into the air, flying after the mass of twisted flesh that was the Merek double. His glowing sword leaves a blurring trail behind, hiding the way it reshapes itself into a lighter, curved saber as he approaches.
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+25: (7)+25: 32 (Hollow-Seree attacks) GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+31: (6)+31: 37 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1D20+20: (16)+1D20+20: 36 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+15: (17)+15: 32 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d8+10: (3)+10: 13 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d8+10: (5)+10: 15 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d8+10: (8)+10: 18 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+36: (4)+36: 40 (Hollow-Karelin attacks) GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+36: (20)+36: 56 (THREAT) GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+36: (16)+36: 52 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+30: (13)+30: 43 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+25: (17)+25: 42 (THREAT) GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+20: (4)+20: 24 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d10+24: (7)+24: 31 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 2d10+48: (17)+48: 65 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d10+24: (2)+24: 26 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d10+24: (5)+24: 29 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+25: (20)+25: 45 (Confimred) GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+25: (18)+25: 43 (Confirmed) GAME: Whirlpool rolls 2d10+24: (10)+24: 34 <OOC> Whirlpool says, "WITNESS." <OOC> Serene says, "Can I paladin's sacrifice the crit?" GAME: Serene casts Paladin's Sacrifice. Caster Level: 20 DC: 24 GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+32: (9)+32: 41 <OOC> Karelin has DR5/- from being a level 19 fighter, at least? <OOC> Cesran says, "Reflex saves for half damage, looking up the dc. I think it's 31, 10 + 9 spell's level + 12 for my intelligence" GAME: Cesran rolls 12d8: (67): 67 GAME: Serene rolls reflex: (13)+28: 41 GAME: Cesran rolls 1d20+20+1+2: (10)+20+1+2: 33 (CT-Rex1 Attack) GAME: Cesran rolls 1d20+20+1+2: (18)+20+1+2: 41 (CT-Rex2 Attack) GAME: Cesran rolls 4d6+22: (11)+22: 33 GAME: Cesran rolls 4d6+22: (13)+22: 35 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+16: (16)+16: 32 (CT-Rex2 Grab) <OOC> Whirlpool says, "Merek teleported, so they can't full attack." <OOC> Whirlpool says, "They also get AOO'd coming into Merek's range." <OOC> Cesran says, "They have DR 10/Evil" GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d8+12: (3)+12: 15 GAME: Cesran rolls 1d20+10: (20)+10: 30 (CT-Rex Will) GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+14: (16)+14: 30 (Reflex)
Cesran gives a roar as his doppelganger chooses to fight instead of stand down. "Why do you have to make this so hard on yourself? We could be friends, but you choose to not to be. I feel so sorry for you. I am a great friend and you should know I'm a great friend because you are me. I don't know what you've seen or what happened to you, but it makes me sad to see you like this. All your friends and family would be ashamed to see you like this. Hurting others just because you yourself has been hurt. Where is your compassion and your empathy towards others. For shame Cesran...for shame. You brought this upon yourself."
The brass dragon's propensity to give emotional arguments rather than logical ones is shining through as Cesran continues to be swayed by this form. Cesran ignores the hit from Faux Serene, it hurt, but not as much as being ignored by himself. He move so he can get at least 2 in his line of acid as he inhales and then fires the 100 ft line of acid into his time-displaced copy and into the blob of living flesh that is Faux-Merek. He shakes his head and turns to Cyrosanthia, "Unity? I'm afraid I need more to go on than just that and Asumitt is a conduit. A conduit for what? I'm sorry this doesn't make much sense and without proper time to study I really can't make sense of it on the fly."
His T-rexes having to move around the Wall of Stone Cesran put up only get one bite at Faux-Merek this time around, both missing as they roar their frustration.
Merek's tentacles, the other-Merek's tentacles that is, lash out. He's also still covering Serene. Seems he doesn't care either way as he continues to twist into a horrible, Mereky blob of flesh and matter and endless maws that are ttrying to devour the paladin. the tentacles grab onto the tyrannosaur and the binds of magic holding it here seems to spark, but are held together by Cesran's pwoer for the time being.
Griva, visible now, is bleeding from her eyes.
"I think ... I think ... I can see something. Sort of. I'm going to try something. Cover me! Cesran, get over to me! Now! You too, Merek!"
Combatty
===================== Current Initiative Order - Round 5 =====================
---Init--Name------------AOO-Notes--------------------------------------------
27 Karelin-Hollow 1
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25 Cesran 1
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>> 23 Griva Brassbrin 1 <<
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22 Aya 6
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21 Cryosanthia 5
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18 Hollowed Merek 1
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18 Seldan-Hollow 1
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14 Seldan 1
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12 Cryo-Hollow 1
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12 Cesran-Hollow 1
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8 Serene 1
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8 Merek 1
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6 Karelin 1
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6 Kravar 1
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3 Serene-Hollow 1
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