Wilfred Pathwarden

"Erg...five more minutes..." I pull the covers over my head, but it was no use; once I was awake, there was no hope for going back to sleep. "Ahg...damn little bot." I get out of bed.

Walid Al-Malik

Walid was already awake when the PA announced what it had to announce. He paid it no heed; The robots buzzing around reminded him of flies. Nice, shiny flies. "Guess I'd better go get some bread. You'd think what with all this... extrawordly business, I'd not need this tedium anymore. Perhaps today I'd simply turn some of the bread into a nice pita, if I can."

Walid Al-Malik

"Then again, I've never really had the opportunity to eat french food.. It was always street vended food in my village. I wonder where my moth is... exploring the castle again, no doubt." Walid walks down to the market to begin his day, pondering the purpose of his existence here.

Jeanne Ducercle

"Ah, salut et merci, comme toujours," I pick up the cup of tea and a croissant from the little robot's plate and step outside. The weather's good, as usual, and the cobblestone road uneven. "Merde..." I trip a little, almost spilling my tea. I take a swig in annoyance and head back in.

Drufle (Hollyhock God)

The sparking drones beep in response, twinkling a bit as they float away back to the nearby workshop. A timer on the Nobles' walls resets, counting down the time until the robots come back for lunch.

Wilfred Pathwarden

I groan as I get out of bed, the joints in my back cracking as I do so. I grab my breakfast and examine the croissants. "Buttered, again. It's as if Sauvage is trying to kill me." I chuckle to myself. "Well, can't say I blame him." I promptly drink my tea and scarf down the croissants.

Jeanne Ducercle

Moments later, I stride back out, this time with empty hands. Francis' Bakery is right down the street, how convenient! I purchase a pizza bagel and chew on it pensively. whatcha thinkin about, jeanne? oh nothing, just the french national anthem

Wilfred Pathwarden

I throw open the curtains and look up and out my bedroom window. Amazing weather, to say the least. Shame it might rain later. I turn back around and open my bedroom door to leave. One of my doorguards was standing there, alert as always. "Dismissed, Jerald." I command, re-absorbing the strength I used to create him last night.

Wilfred Pathwarden

I put on my cloak and clothes and make my way to Francis's Bakery. Such a good deal couldn't be passed up.

Drufle (Hollyhock God)

Francis' Bakery is well known throughout the World Ash for having some of the most high-quality baked goods in all of the European Chancels. It is a fairly small stone brick house with a canopy jutting out from the front to give some shade to customers. Despite its size, it almost always has a crowd around it. Francis himself is a large man (he always samples his goods before selling them, which leads to a bit of a gut) and is 64 years old. He has a thick, bushy mustache and is wholly bald, something he likes to joke about often. He has piles of foodstuffs sitting on the counter but is not there at the moment- his daughter, Angelica, is taking orders instead as he tends the ovens in the back. She is especially busy today given the daily sale, and is taking money and handing out goods unusually quickly- she is one of the few inhabitants of the Chancel to have her own cybernetic implants, something usually reserved for the magitech engineers.

Wilfred Pathwarden

"Hello everyone. Excellent weather today, yes?"I bellow as I enter the Bakery.

Drufle (Hollyhock God)

The crowd suddenly turns as Wilfred walks under the canopy, and they quickly step aside and bow. Angelica sees the Noble, smiles, and curtsies- "Good morning, sir. You are here for the daily sale, yes?" She waves her hand to the selection of breads, sandwiches, and pastries sitting on the counter.

Vyolt

Meanwhile, an announcement speaker begins to spark, squeak and hiss. And out shoots a beam of light, targeting one of the helper bots. It begins to dance. "Morning!! Morning!!" says the robot.

The robot jigs its way outside.

Wilfred Pathwarden

"You know me too well, dear." I laugh as I begin to browse the wares.

Walid Al-Malik

"Salutations. I don't suppose anyone has seen a.. rather big moth flying around? He doesn't usually fail to come look for some honey or nectar products in the morning." Walid looks at the various pastries, then tries to get Angelica's attention "I don't suppose you have something with a bit more, uh, well MEAT in it, do you?"

Wilfred Pathwarden

"I'm sorry, I haven't seen a moth around. Then again, I haven't been up long." I think for a while "I've seen some little moths, though."

Vyolt

A rhythmic clanking fills the air around the Bakery. The robot greets the two Nobles, "Hello!"

Walid Al-Malik

Walid eyes the machine "Vyolt, I presume? I can never tell. The rest of the robots usually speak more than one word at a time."

"Wilfred, you'll know this moth when you see him, I've discovered he's quite special. I should really name him at some point, since he doesn't leave me for too long at any one time."

Vyolt

Vyolt, his disguise blown, jumps out of the robot. "Correct! You're smart!" The robot looks at a clock and runs off in a panic.

Walid Al-Malik

"Oh, I'm sure you could fool me if you really wanted to. How are things? Did you hear any interesting news buzzing around the wires?"

Vyolt

"All I know about are these nearby incredible deals! But I don't like bread."

Wilfred Pathwarden

"I will keep my eyes open." I turn and buy several loafs of bread. "Strange that we all ended up in the same place, sale or no."

Drufle (Hollyhock God)

Angelica smiles and moves her strawberry-blonde hair out of her eyes and hands out a few pieces of bread and such.

Walid Al-Malik

Walid chuckles "It must be the smell, eh?"

Drufle (Hollyhock God)

From the back of the bakery you hear Francis' familiar voice shouting, "Is that the Nobles, Angelica?"

Walid Al-Malik

Walid eventually gives up looking for meaty products and buys a couple of simple savoury pastries

Drufle (Hollyhock God)

She yells back over her shoulder, telling her father to come out of hiding, and soon you see the man himself standing at the counter, beaming brightly. "Ah, good day to you all! I trust you've found something you like?"

Walid Al-Malik

"Asalam aleikum, Francis!" Walid says loudly

Vyolt

Vyolt zips around, enjoying all the activity.

Walid Al-Malik

"Well I wish you'd bake a little meat into your food, but otherwise yes, quite delicious." he says with a smile.

Wilfred Pathwarden

"Francis, long time no see!"I wave to him "And I have indeed found something I liked. How could I not in such a wonderful bakery!"

Drufle (Hollyhock God)

His smile drops a bit and he scratches his head. "Ah, right, sorry about that. Jack's been out on vacation, ya know, so we haven't got any supplies of meats recently."

Vyolt

"Francis!! Can I look at the oven!! You have a cool oven!!"

Walid Al-Malik

"Ha, you needn't worry about grumpy ol' me, Francis, I like your pastries."

Drufle (Hollyhock God)

Francis' grin returns and he waves Vyolt to the back, where the ovens are lit both by flame and the energy coursing through the Chancel.

Walid Al-Malik

Walid smiles at the curious energy form, the curiosities of it reminding him of a child.

Vyolt

Vyolt jumps into the oven, and enjoys the heat. It's like a hottub but for weird energy things.

Drufle (Hollyhock God)

"Ah, I know ya do, Walid. Tell you what, I'll go see if Jack's wife is around, see if they have any salted beef left over from the last shipment."

Walid Al-Malik

"Come now, there's no need to bother." Walid adds quietly: "I think I may have insulted the lady... I think she misunderstood some comments I had about western culture."

Wilfred Pathwarden

I take a seat at Walid's table. My smile wavered as I remembered something. "Forgot my staff again. Always the staff."

Drufle (Hollyhock God)

Francis leans in and whispers, "Don't you bother with it, she's just a bit cranky recently with Jack being gone so much. She's really a sweet gal when she's not so alone."

Walid Al-Malik

"Indeed, I'm sure you're right, habibi"

Drufle (Hollyhock God)

The smile returns to Francis' face and he stands up straight again, turning to Vyolt in the back room, booming, "Careful now, I appreciate the extra energy but I don't want you overloading my oven again!"

Vyolt

"I'll ding when they're done!"

Drufle (Hollyhock God)

"Alright, alright, just keep an eye on the bagels, those are real sensitive, you know."

Walid Al-Malik

Walid winces, remembering the last time Vyolt 'ding'ed when the food was baked, if you could call charcoal food.

Drufle (Hollyhock God)

The baker turns to Wilfred and beckons him over, saying "Ah, Sir Wilfred, could I have a word?"

Wilfred Pathwarden

"Of course!" I stand up and walk over

Walid Al-Malik

Walid lifts an eyebrow, but remains seated

Drufle (Hollyhock God)

He rests his arms on the counter and sighs. "We just got a new supply contract yesterday, but their crates are too damn big to fit through the old maintenance entrance. Could you go put in a bay entrance for me? I'd ask Geoff to do it but his good hammer broke last week and hasn't bothered to fix it yet."

"I'll get some good spiced dough for ya as payment, top quality from the next chancel over."

Wilfred Pathwarden

"A new entrance? And spiced dough. Of course I can make a new door." I walk over to the bay and begin to focus on an empty wall

I raise my right hand into the air "By my will, the inside and out shall be bridged!" and sure enough, a new door had formed

Vyolt

Ding!

Drufle (Hollyhock God)

"Ah! Good, the bagels are done and an excellent docking bay! You lot are really the handiest Nobles to have around, I must say." Francis goes back to admire the new door, while simultaneously pulling the bagels out of the oven. They're actually cooked rather well, crisped on the inside and soft on the outsides.

Wilfred Pathwarden

"All in a day's work, friend." I return to my seat

Drufle (Hollyhock God)

As the Nobles finish receiving their orders, the crowd that had parted for them returns to the counter, and Angelica returns to taking orders and pulling coins and food from around the front room.

Walid Al-Malik

"If you will excuse me, friends," Walid says as he takes out a pouch of fresh home-grown tobacco "I AM

going to look for my pet... He's not usually absent this long, maybe he's found a nice flower garden or maybe he's stuck somewhere" He focuses for a second and places tobacco in his pipe, which then dries seemingly on its own "I shall see you when I find him." With finality, Walid finishes his pastries and wandders off.

Vyolt

Vyolt joins Wilfred at the table, carrying a reward pastry (it's one that got burnt)

Wilfred Pathwarden

"Hello, Vyolt!" I chime

Sunday, September 7th, 2014

Jeanne Ducercle

I look down. This isn't a pizza bagel; this is a plain bagel. What's wrong with me today? Anyway, I'm at Francis' Bakery, and I spy the other Nobles at the table. "Salut," I pass by Walid as I join them.

Wilfred Pathwarden

"Aha, the dynamic four are all here!" I exclaim "We ought to make this a usual meeting place. It smells divine in here." I sink down into my chair

golurkyourself

joined #teamaqua

Vyolt

Vyolt sparks happily. A happy sparking. You know the one.

He continues flipping and spinning the burnt pastry.

Jeanne Ducercle

"Vyolt, tu es very cute."

Vyolt

Vyolt is shocked!! Moreso than usual at least.

Walid Al-Malik

Walid's huge moth flutters in and sits on a potted plant, followed shortly by Walid himself, slightly out of breath

He sits back at the table he was seated at before, and says: "I had to walk all the way to the far end of the castle court, that moth was frolicking there with some children." He chuckles a bit "He seems to like them... I can't say I share his enthusiasm for the young folk."

Vyolt

"What are we doing today?"

Walid Al-Malik

"I don't know, my energetic friend, the day is still young. If my brother were here, we'd probably play some chess... "

Wilfred Pathwarden

"I don't know about you, but I intend to bug the King about getting that public library built. The people need books!"

Walid Al-Malik

Walid notices Jeanne and nods in her direction "And salutations to you, my dear."

Vyolt

"You mean Uncle?! Can I come with!?"

Jeanne Ducercle

"Aujourd'hui, je... ne sais pas. I have nothing to do. Et bien, I'll follow. You know I used to publish a newspaper."

Wilfred Pathwarden

Wait, our Erus is Vyolt's uncle? Wonder if that will help me sway him. "Sure thing. The more the merrier!" I stand up.

Walid Al-Malik

"This sounds like a good a plan as any to me." Walid walks over to the plant to try and persuade the moth to step up to his arm

"Are you going to come with us, friend?"

Drufle (Hollyhock God)

Angelica pipes up through the crowd- "I don't think King Roibot is available today, friends. I think he's working on a new treatise with the chancel over in Alsace."

Wilfred Pathwarden

"Bah! Of course he'd find a way to avoid me." I sit back down, disapointed. The King's either gotten really lucky, or really clever.

Walid Al-Malik

"Well then. Any other suggestions?" Walid walks over near Wilfred and leans on the table

Drufle (Hollyhock God)

"He should be back tomorrow, if it's really urgent." She falls back into her stride, almost knocking over a pile of flat breads.

Walid Al-Malik

To the other nobles, Walid mentions: "Very spritely, isn't she? She also has a talent of overhearing us."

Drufle (Hollyhock God)

"You get used to it, Sir Walid. Gotta hear everything when theres so much noise around."

Walid Al-Malik

With a smile: "Of course, Angelica."

Wilfred Pathwarden

"I envy your hearing, madam. Simply remarkable."

Walid Al-Malik

"I imagine it's electronically augmented."

Jeanne Ducercle

"Well, I do have a friend in Alsace. I use that word very liberally here, he insists on Elsaß, but he's hospitable."

Vyolt

"Aw phooie. Well, maybe I won't get in trouble for playing with that robot earlier, if he's not here."

Walid Al-Malik

Walid laughs "I assure you, he's used to your exploits by now!"

Jeanne Ducercle

"Je... I'm leaving. Who's coming with me?" I stand up.

Walid Al-Malik

"Might as well, I'm sure Angelica and Francis are getting tired of us lollygagging." Walid winks in Francis' direction

Vyolt

"How are we gonna get there?"

Drufle (Hollyhock God)

Francis smirks back at Walid. "The Nobilis are always welcome in these towns, you know that."

Wilfred Pathwarden

"I'll come along as well. A walk will do me good" I stand up again, my back cracking again. "Gosh dang it!"

Walid Al-Malik

"Roibot wouldn't mind if you borrowed another machine - ask it's permission first, though!" Walid adds with a smile

Jeanne Ducercle

"Allons enfants de, Sauvage. We get there by train, the TGV."

Vyolt

"Aw but Uncle would get mad if I took one out of town. I'll go get my armor! One sec!" Vyolt zips off towards his room.

Walid Al-Malik

"Is the train actually running today, Jeanne? It's Sunday."

Wilfred Pathwarden

I wave my hand up above me, making a tiny portal. "Vast riches, to me!"I use King's Bounty to summon my staff "I nearly forgot I had this gift. I ought to use it more often."

Jeanne Ducercle

"I'm fairly certain that trains run on Sunday, but I don't like your attitude."

Walid Al-Malik

"My apologies. I genuinely wasn't sure."

Wilfred Pathwarden

I turn to Jeanne. "Lead the way. I didn't want to walk all the way anyways."

Walid Al-Malik

"Indeed, please do."

Vyolt

In his room, Vyolt jumps into his armor. A mostly metallic device, with a large battery and a pouch attached, as well as two metal hands. He rises up, and begins floating back out to his comrades, pushing doors open manually with great joy.

Jeanne Ducercle

I go.

Wilfred Pathwarden

I follow

Vyolt

I catch up.

Walid Al-Malik

I follow as well

Drufle (Hollyhock God)

The exit/entrance to the Chancel is a long, winding dirt road leading from the front of the great Castle. Little farms and wells litter the path, as well as a few charging stations for the androids and engineers.

Wilfred Pathwarden

I inhale deeply "I never get tired of the air here. Magitech is so much cleaner than oils and coals."

Walid Al-Malik

"One has to wonder what energy is consumed instead, though, don't you think? Nothing is ever free."

Wilfred Pathwarden

"I have a theory: It is us and, ultimately, our imperator that fuels this place."

Jeanne Ducercle

"I'm not a big fan of the scenery around here. I'm from Rheims, there are wine fields as far as you can see. Rolling hills, too. Marseilles deserves nothing."

Vyolt

"Hey, energy never disappears, it just runs away for a while!"

"All you gotta do is bring it back."

Jeanne Ducercle

"Un cercle! Imagine this: energy from wine."

Vyolt

"Uncle says I'm not allowed to do that...I don't get why though."

Walid Al-Malik

"It would certainly make it more attractive." Walid jests

Wilfred Pathwarden

"Any matter can be turned into energy, and vice versa. Maybe someday we will uncover the secrets to wine power." I spoke in a half joking and half serious tone.

Walid Al-Malik

"While we are on the subject of wine, my moth seems to have taken an interest in the beverage. I don't think I've ever seen a moth drunk before, and I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it. Certainly, it confirms my believe that this one isn't a mere moth.. That and the fact he arrived in our chancel with me and lived all this time."

"I don't see him now, though. Must've stayed in the bakery."

"Anyway, wine is an excellent drink, the amount of stages that have to trasnpire before seed turns into drink and their complexity is fascinating." He muses.

Drufle (Hollyhock God)

As the group strolls down the country path, the world around them slowly blurs and fades, as they suddenly find themselves standing in the middle of a large field, with plains of wheat and a few hills surrounding them.

Walid Al-Malik

Walid puts a hand on the ivory handle of his sickle. "What..."

Jeanne Ducercle

"Ouai, oh, je l'adore, et la grande variété de vins qui existant..."

Walid Al-Malik

google translate was very unhelpful with that, I got that you like wines and their variety?

Jeanne Ducercle

"Walid, are you well? Gather your composure, we're out."

Drufle (Hollyhock God)

The area is fairly familiar to the Nobilis; the entrance has put them a bit further away from the nearby road than usual, but they see the old farmhouse in the distance.

Wilfred Pathwarden

"You all act like you haven't left the Chancel before! Aha!" I continue to stroll, ignoring my former aches

Walid Al-Malik

"Sorry, that always takes me by surprise."

"It felt like that when I was brought before Sauvage, and it was alien then and it's alien now."

Vyolt

Vyolt looks up at the sun and sparks happily. Oh, them happy sparks. You know what they sound like.

Drufle (Hollyhock God)

The sun is bright out, much brighter than it was in the Chancel. You hear some mooing over the hill- the farmer must have let them out to graze early.

Wilfred Pathwarden

"When you get my age the alien will seem rather normal. Or, maybe even more strange." I think for a while

"Bah, no, it's because I'm a World Librarian. You read a lot of strange things there."

Jeanne Ducercle

"Have you read any of my books? They're mostly about French politics-- nothing exotic, unfortunately."

Wilfred Pathwarden

"I believe I tried to read one of you're books while learning French. As a fellow Noble, I couldn't simply ignore it."

Jeanne Ducercle

"They're not terribly interesting. Ah, désolé, that steak tartare from last night isn't... sitting well. Vous have my cell phone number? I will meet vous later." I duck into a nearby outhouse.

Vyolt

"Cows! Better hide." Vyolt takes on the human form of a small child, with white hair, although his companions can see right through the facade.

Wilfred Pathwarden

I grimace "Please tell me I look human enough as is."

Jeanne Ducercle

"You're fine!" A voice come from the outhouse.

Wilfred Pathwarden

I sigh "Thank you." I've always hated making guises.

Walid Al-Malik

Walid dries some fresh tobacco from his pouch, then fills and lights his pipe "Walking has always been very calming to me. I remember having to run a lot when my family was fueding."

Drufle (Hollyhock God)

The trodden fields lead the party, surely but slowly, to the nearby town. It's a rather old town, but has been recently retrofitted with a train station, a few tech stores, and other modernities.

Wilfred Pathwarden

"How times have changed" I look about the town. I remember when it used to be simpler. "Brings a tear of joy to my eye."

Walid Al-Malik

"Here we are then; The station doesn't look too busy, thankfully."

Drufle (Hollyhock God)

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm271/tlcohio/AlsaceTimberedTown.jpg (159KB)

Wilfred Pathwarden

Suddenly looking much more crowded

Drufle (Hollyhock God)

Tourists, you know.

Common thing to see around this part of France.

I groan "Vyolt? Vyolt!" I run up to the tree stump "Dang it, Vyolt."

Walid Al-Malik

"Hmm, he leaves me no choice..." I force the trunk to decay

Vyolt

I light myself up, and look around.

Wilfred Pathwarden

"Don't leave him stuck in it."

"Roots go far, no telling how he'd be able to get back"

Drufle (Hollyhock God)

The old stump quickly rots down, and as it withers away, it collapses through the earth.

Wilfred Pathwarden

I leap back "Holey goundbreaking!" I drop my staff as I do so

Vyolt

I spot my armor falling down with everything else, and jump into it, then fly back up.

"Hey! Are you okay?!"

Wilfred Pathwarden

"Hurt my back a little, but I'm ok" I groan as I try to get back up, my back making a cracking sound as I do so

"Where's my staff, damn it."

Drufle (Hollyhock God)

Looking down the hole, it's pretty much entirely dark past a meter or so. You can't adequately tell how deep it is.

Vyolt

Vyolt leaves his armor near the others, flies down, illuminating the area.

Walid Al-Malik

"Vyolt could fly and possess it, to bring it back, maybe?

"Seems I AM

too slow."

Wilfred Pathwarden

"Ok, new knowledge has required me to rectifying my previous statement. I'm not ok and I need help getting back up, please" I continue to struggle

Vyolt

Vyolt feels around in the rubble for a wooden staff, flinging away any rocks in the way.

Walid Al-Malik

I help Wilfred back up

Drufle (Hollyhock God)

Vyolt finds the staff under a pile of shiny rocks- it seems perfectly intact.

Walid Al-Malik

"There we are, my friend."

Wilfred Pathwarden

Once on my feet, my normal confidence and bold speech returned. "My humblest thanks! I feared I'd be stuck there."

Vyolt

Happy spark! I carry the staff back up to Wilfred.

Wilfred Pathwarden

"And thank you as well, Vyolt. Thought please be careful next time; you had us worried."

Walid Al-Malik

"Indeed. Your armor isn't invincible, either."

Vyolt

"Hey, I didn't make it collapse...Anyway, I saw some shiny rocks down there. It's super deep though!"

Walid Al-Malik

"Shiny rocks? Like gems?"

Vyolt

"I'm not sure...they just looked like regular rocks."

Wilfred Pathwarden

"Well, what's done is done, and I would be honored to help you in discovery."

Vyolt

"How are you three going to get down?"

Walid Al-Malik

"That's a good question."

Wilfred Pathwarden

"My dear Vyolt and Walid, you seem to have forgotten..." I spread my cape out, letting it waver in the breeze "You have a Noble of Doors with you!"

Walid Al-Malik

"I think we have established that I have terrible memory."

Vyolt

Vyolt is excited now!

Walid Al-Malik

"But by all means, make us a Door." Walid says with a smile

Wilfred Pathwarden

"All I need is to see the destination" I walk up to the hole "Vyolt, some light, please."

Vyolt

Vyolt flies back down, shining up the cave like a spotlight.

Wilfred Pathwarden

"Alright, stand back" I throw my cape off, signalling that things just got serious.

Vyolt

Vyolt's face is visible as a large shadow in the light, smiling.

Walid Al-Malik

I pick up the cape

Wilfred Pathwarden

I focus on the ground that Vyolt lights up and the spot in front of me "Behold the power of my will!" And with great strain I create a door starting here, and exiting in the cave below.

Walid Al-Malik

"Remarkable."

"Shall we?" I approach the door and go through it

Wilfred Pathwarden

"right behind you" I enter the door after him

Vyolt

Vyolt flies down to the door in the cave, maintaining a decent level of light around, but not too much. (Don't look directly at him!)

Walid Al-Malik

"Oh, wait a moment."

I pick up vyolt's armor

"We'll need this, I'm fairly certain."

I look around to determine what vyolt meant by shiny rocks

Drufle (Hollyhock God)

Walking through the door, Wilfred and Walid find themselves in a rather small, circular cavern- no more than a few meters high, and probably just 10 meters or so in diameter.

With Vyolt's light, they can see that, littered across the ground around the cavern, are what appear to be a variety of gems. Rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and others are strewn across the floor haphazardly.

And in the walls of the cavern, spaced about half a meter apart around the whole, are human skulls.

Wilfred Pathwarden

"Gems, freely scattered across the ground. Skulls in the walls... I think this is a mass tomb"

Vyolt

"These gems are pretty!" Vyolt says, not really understanding the significance of the skulls.

Walid Al-Malik

"A mass tomb, unmarked, in the middle of a forest?"

Drufle (Hollyhock God)

As the two men walk into the center of the cavern, the old and unattended place creaks, and a few skulls fall out of the wall.

Walid Al-Malik

"I'm getting pretty jumpy... maybe we should leave?"

Wilfred Pathwarden

"Tombs and Graves are simply a place of the dead"

"Honor need not apply"

"But yes. I would like to leave. I do not value gems more than I value the dead"

Walid Al-Malik

"And I don't like the idea of this place collapsing in on us, either."

I walk back towards the door

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