REPOST
Chance managed a weak thanks then stood up. "Wait here for the others, Kronafein. Tell them what direction to take. Tell them to head to the Dwarven Mountain City, and be ready to fight." With that said, Chance took another deep breath then began to run in the direction of the Teil 'Ken.
Kronafein gives a final nod to Chance as he runs off to Teil'Ken. With his dagger in his hand he waited for any others to come to him.
Talus continued tracking after the Teil 'Ken, flying high above the tree tops on his large leathery wings, making sure to keep enough distance to be able to avoid any spells or projectile weapons they may decide to throw in his direction.
Kronafein curious, where some of his allies were at, waited there he did.
Zaalek walks up to the area Kronafein is at . "what did i miss?"
He greets Zaalek,
"The power of Chance," Kronafein stated, and he pointed to where Chance ran off to
"He went chasing after the Teil'Ken, I am to tell everyone if I see them, to head to the dwarven city."
Eloren came out of the woods after Zaalek, looking around. She caught the last few of Kronafein's words and turned her gaze bemusedly in the direction of the dwarven city. She had no intention of walking that far. She sighed, recalling the whereabout of her mount. "Just great," she murmured to herself.
Chance ran full speed, staying in sight of Talus above him, but far enough back to be undetected by the Teil' Ken. If they were attacking the Dwarven stronghold, ths would be a very interested week, not to mention very tiring.
Talus suddenly landed in front of Chance, folding his wings behind him, tension visible in his features. He turned to Chance as he drew closer. "We're nearing the city. From what I could see, they've begun to attack. As far as I can tell, they started not too long ago, so the dwarves are holding their own for now, but I'm not sure how long they can keep it up."
Freya, having followed quietly in the shadows, appears beside Talus, nodding at him, and draws her sword once again.
Zaalek is a couple of miles back behind chance and them. "Crap i hope i dont get lost..."
Kronafein assumed that was all the team, he quickly sprung to action, dashing towards where everyone was going, keeping his steps quick and light...
Chance gave everyone ample time to catch up then began, "Getting to the gate won't be easy, but if we get there, we will be able to get in, I have friends there. The problem is getting there. My propasition is a spearhead attack straight to the gate." He turned to Talus, "I don't mean to use you, but you are probably the strongest among us and best suited for a frontal attack. I of course will have to be directly behind you. I will have to gesture to the gate keeper so we can get in, but I will do my share of fighting. So, is everyone is understanding?
"
Kronafein nodding as he heard Chance's words from afar, he sneaks up from behind them, wondering if he is to have orders, or if he gets to do what he does best.
"Oh one thing I forgot. Everyone besides me and Talus. Guard our backs until we can get the gate open. Once the gate is open, we're going to go inside and hold the gate until they shut it, then find their general and see where you're needed while I find the King." Chance turned and looked the way of the mountain. "Noni!" The little creature flapped down to Chance's shoulder. "Yes master?" Chance smiled, "I need you to go tell my godfather that I am on my way. He needs to be looking for me and open the gates. I will be in front. Now go." Noni flew off and Chance turned his attention to the others. "Now, full speed, LET'S GO!" Chance was instantly speeding toward the fight, Talus in front, the rest behind. This would challenge them all to the fullest.
In a flash Kronafein swung his arm and send his dagger out flying and he caught it with the other hand, spinning on his toe scraping the dagger blade in the dirt while applying a poison on the, blade. All in one fluid motion his blade was a lethal dosage ready to be taken. Without word he sprinted lightly after Chance, staying behind him and Talus.
"Well ok then, im ready." Zaalek remarked. The two katars hidden in his sleeves quickly slid out into place. Then Zaalek proceeded with the plan and ran along side just a few paces to the left of Kronafein.
They were a seemingly ragtag group of wanderers, but each brought there own skills to the table, and each one's skills complimented the others. As they rushed into the fray, Chance glanced at the city behind the gates that was home to the non-Dwarven population. There was smoke rising from the west side of the city, signaling a breach in defenses. "Zaalek! Once we get in, I want you to help the defenders hold that breach!" Chance fought his way witht the others, hacking and slashing his way through the dark bodies of Teil' Ken. He caught a blow to his leg, but quickly rolled out of it and sent a dagger into the shadowthings eye then continued fighting his way behind Talus. "We must hurry!"
"Affirmative." Zaalek's response was quick and decisive. He is also slicing quickly through the Teil'Ken.
Kronafeins deft agility allowed him to dance through the Teil'Ken with smooth clean cuts of his skill with a small blade, leaving some paralyzed, if not dead.
Freya followed closely, attacked invisibly, killing from behind and always watching for trouble with one of her friends.
They were almost to the gate where the Teil 'Ken were grathered in the biggest force. The group halted momentarily. "Is everyone ready. This will be the hardest part." Chance glanced at the walls to make sure the defenders were still holding, "HERE WE GO!"
"Chance catch" Zaalek threw him one of his flash bombs. "Use this on the Teil'Ken as an emergency. When the bomb explodes, it emits a bright flash of light, so be sure to not look directly at it."
Chance nodded and slipped the bomb up his sleeve for later use. "Thanks!" Chance rushed the gate, quickly getting to the front of the horde of Teil 'Ken so they couldn't slip through the gate while it opened. "We must hold until we can slip through the gate!"
Kronafein was never the waltz right in type, he decided to keep his concealment undetectable as possible, following the rest of the group, behind, he was.
Chance, Freya called with her mind, I can sneak through the gates, remember? Let me go, tell me what to do and I'll try.
I need you to get in and make sure the gate keeper sees me so he'll open the gate. Point me out to him or something! Chance was attacking savagely, trying to keep the Teil 'Ken away from the gate.
Freya ran into the gate, careful to be undetected and completely invisible, climbed up the gatekeeper's tower and revealed herself. "Look!," She called, "Open the gates to them! It's Chance and our fellow mates."
The gatekeeper, an old gnarled veteran eyed the girl for a moment. "How does I know I's can trust ye?"
Nuktae-tal, sighs drunkenly she was sitting outside when a wiff of something touched her nose. "hhmm thats not dwarves...thats...elves hmmm hey boojas out there wonder what 'e'll do!" Nuktae-tal thinks for a moment before going back inside to talk with the dwarven king about it.
Freya looked at the gatekeeper in a warningly toxic way. "What proof can I give you? It's Chance! We need in! Don't you see the attack we're under?
The dwarf stroked his beard, "If this is be trick....." He mumbled to himself as he motioned for the gate to be opened slowly. "There ye be. Now leave me alone."
"Thank you." Freya said and jumped down, yelling at Chance and the other to hurry.
Chance heard the gates creak and rumble as they began opening. He was growing weary, and didn't know how much longer he could last agianst the Teil 'Ken, so the sound of the gates opening was a sound from the gods.
Freya shot her bow through from the gate's opening, her arrow landing in the neck of one other the beings that was charging. Chance, are you coming in now? Or are we killing some more? These things are starting to piss me off...they're everywhere...
With the gate open now Zaalek charged through and is moving towards the west side of the city to help the defenders.
Kronafein made an exception, this was no ordinary breach.
"Hmm.." He said to himself, spinning on his heal slicing through the ranks of his opponents. He eyed the rest of his allies, to see their next course of action.
Nuktae-tal sighs finally walking away from the palace, " go follow them watch them, don't worry! as long as he buys sure whatever" Nuktae-tal was complaining until she shrugs and looks around before breaking into a run to get to the gates.
Freya stopped Nuktae-tal and asked who she was. "I don't believe we've met, what business do you have here?" She said, eyeing her suspiciously.
Chance slipped in at the last moment, the gates almost catching his black cloak. Minutes later, he found himself coming up behind Freya and the other woman, "Freya, who cares, she can help." Chance nodded to the woman before running off to the breach in the west wall to see what assistance he could give.
Zaalek slices through two of the teil'ken saving one of the defenders from certain doom. The defender then jumps up and charges toward Zaalek but slightly missing, Zaalek was confused, the defender grinned "Now we are even". Zaalek smiles and then charges into toward the middle of all the defenders fighting to help out.
Kronafein wiping his blade of enemy blood was soon to be wiping it again clean after a split second of thrusting it in a Teil'Ken that thought it could sneak up on him.
"humph! he's gpoing to owe me big time for this that sneaky little ground digger!" Nuktae-tal says sighing before jumping right into the middle of the biggest batch and quickly killing all surrounding her with ease and agility, she dispatches almost one thrid in under ten minutes.
The western breach was almost overun by the time he got there. Zallek was an able fighter, but they were slipping by him with sheer numbers, trying to get to the city proper. Chance wasted no time dispatching the few that slipped through, finding himself back to back with Zaalek minutes later. He glanced at Zaalek and grinned, "Feel like having a little fun?"
"Definitely" zaalek responded showing eagerness.
"this is easy why did he need my help the only thing they have is numbers no brains at all...." Nuktae-tal says still slashing hacking and stabbing, her tail was wagging, despite her complaints she was having fun.
"Excuse me for not giving my trust away, but we could use help all the same..." Freya shot an arrow at one of the beings behind Nuktae-tal and watched it drop. She laughed and shot more, just making sure they fell before shooting again.
"humph now I'm getting bored and the last of my alcohol is wearing off..." Nuktae-tal saysunder her breath it was making her angry which in turn was making her kill fast leaving not so many of the enemy left at all. " at least they aren't like zeckers." she chuckles to herself.
Chance's grin got wider, "How about me and you busting into their lines?" He raised an eyebrow hoping Zaalek's eagerness wouldn't disappear.
" I think I've helped enough, besides I need to get drunk on the kings bill!" Nuktae-tal says before backflipping over them easily and climbing up the smooth wall easily. "Well.. I'm sure you'll all have fun with the killing spree...oh yea um..the king wants to see you after well this...I'm going to the gatekeeper to get drunk." Nuktae-tal says cheerily.
Talus could be seen slipping amongst the ranks of the Teil 'Ken, having managed to change to air and infiltrate their ranks. His black blades reflect light where there isn't Teil 'Ken blood on it as he takes on opponent after opponent, his own blood flowing from several wounds on his body.
"hey...aww man stupid king is going to owe me big time! I should have taken the stupid offer for him!" Nuktae-tal complains before jumping into the frey near Talus" hey you okay?" she asks getting closer to him.
He nodded, wiping a bit of Teil 'Ken blood off of his wolf muzzle. "I'll be fine...won't be able to heal these completely though...." Talus indicated to the wounds he'd gained.
"Well lets beat the crap outta these then you can heal and I can get drunk on the kings bill!" Nuktae-tal says cheerily destroying six or seven in rapid fluid motions.
He smiled slightly. "That still won't work. The dark magic of the Teil 'Ken prevents my healing abilities from working." He shrugged a little. "And my name's Talus, by the way..." He grunts as he gets swept of his feet by one of the Teil 'Ken, knocking over some of the ranks in his flight.
"I dunno I can make some mean healing salves, learnded from elves and fairy's" Nuktae-tal says taking one of the enemies blades to kill more in one swipe three at a time usually. " And MY name is Nuktae-tal one of the last Randorins alive!" Nuktae-tal says proudly though her ears hair and face are covered in blood and dirt as well as the rest of her and her tail.
"Oh yea, Teil'Ken gonna die now" Zaalek basically answered yes to chance's suggestion.
Talus coughed a little from the dust his landing had caused to stir from the ground. As he rose, he picked up his daggers once again, tucking his wings in tight against his body. "I am considered a demon..." With that, he began to attack once more, sheathing one dagger in order to throw spells, fireballs and thick ice shards flying through the air as his blade carved into each opponent, more wounds appearing on his body, his fur becoming a very <a style='text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 3px double;' href="http://www.serverlogic3.com/lm/rtl3.asp?si=22&k=deep%20red" onmouseover="window.status='deep red'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">deep red</a>.
"so I see! Some call me that as well" Nuktae-tal says still fighting, still getting only scratches and small cuts as she continued to destroy the army litle by little chunk by chunk.shouldn't the stupid king send his army out by now? nuktae-tal thinks to herself.
Talus frowned a little. "The king's army is most likely already engaged, if they're not dead already." His frown deepened, knowing he had know way of killing the Teil 'Ken now that they're weakness was gone.
"huh no wonder he wanted me to help you all...he already bribed me not to kill him and he offered to pay for my tab! I just have to kill the other man who hired me first a second cousin or something." Nuktae-tal says nonchalantly getting a heavy cut on her leg for not paying attention, " Damn!" she growls before whistling extremely loudly. from out of no where a giant wolf the size of a stallion a little larger maybe jumps into the battle, running over as many as he could to get to Nuktae-tal.Nuktae-tal grabs some fur and jumps onto his back she growls something to him in his ear before the Giant wolf starts biting and trampling the things under hum, he had armer or a kind of it leather.
Kronafein wandered a little far into the fortress, being the best at hide and you cannot find game. His eyes gave threat to a nearby enemy but before it could alert out, VA had doomed it.
Chance nodded then threw himself at the front lines, attacking in a flurry of motion, all speed and blades, Zaalek at his side. He cut through Teil 'Ken after Teil 'Ken without thinking. His instinct had taken over.
"I wonder, if they always fight like this or if they are like zeckers and are bred in a way for it hhmm Booja?" Nuktae-tal says mainly to heself she was still using the longer sword from the enemy and was also cutting them down, Booja just growls snapping heads off and knocking them down with his tail.
Freya looked at Talus,"I have some herbs to that will ease pain and keep infection away." She turned to Nuktae-tal and threw her a silver flask full of whiskey. "Here, have it, I've got more."
Nuktae-tal's hand snatches it while she was facing the other direction smashing in a skull, she leans down and growls to Booja the giant wolf and it seems that they are both laughing, or growling funny. but neither slow down any fighting between this. " thanks! I'll have to return the favor!" Nuktae-tal says taking a swing from it. "BOOYA! LETS GO!" she yells jumping off the wolfs back and into a bigger mob fighting quicker, her arms a blur.
"Heh, no problem," Freya said.
Soon around Nuktae-tal and the Giant Wolf Booja was just full of blood mud and bodies. Nuktae-tal was looking around and chasing more on the outside ring of the mass mutilation around her for more the kill and Booja was walking around crushing any that were still alive.
[If you could view the scene from overhead it would look like a domino effect], Zaalek's and Chance's blades were continuosly cutting and slashing Teil'Ken.
Talus shook his head a little at Freya's offer. "They might, they might not...." He unfurled his wings, knocking over some surrounding Teil 'Ken in the process, jumping into the air and flying higher for a better view of the battle.
Somewhere near the middle of the fight Chance and Zaalek fight savagely, a fierce grin frozen on Chance's face. His cloak had been ripped somewhere along the way, and mud covered his body. But other than that, he was enjoying himself. Unnoticed by everyone else, the bodies of the Teil 'Ken began to turn into puddles and slip away.
Talus tilted his head, slowly hovering in the air. From his vantage he could see strange movements on the ground. "Chance....something odd is happening down where you guys are at," he sent out telepathically.
"Come on booja were missing out!" Nuktae-tal says jumping onto the Giant wolf's back and jumping nearer to where the other two men are fighting begginging another blood bath.
Freya shot and arrow right next to Chance and watched the Teil'Ken fall, almost laughing, and persued another.
Chance, still dancing among the Teil 'Ken, glanced around, but saw nothing strange, wait. Where were the bodies going?
Nuktae-tal was fighting still but the body's started to change scents, from bloody and normal to something almostlike the scent of a liquid, Booja also noticed and would step on one curiously before having to fight once again." hey whats going on! this isn't normal! its black magic or something
Talus growled deeply in his throat, a bestial sound of anger as he saw what was happening. He sent one more message to Chance telepathically. "I think the enemy may be coming back to 'life'," placing an emphasis on life to show what he thought of the concept of these things actually being alive. As soon as he sent his message out, he raised an arm over his head, a large ball of black chaos energy forming over his spread hand, silver energy flickering across it as he prepared to hurl it into the dark mass of shadowthings.
Chance glanced up and saw the mass of energy. Then he glanced back down, and noticed that there was a huge pool of black liquid filling the center of the battle field. Talus! Hit that pool! Whatever they were doing.....wait, they were coming together to form one entity! Talus! Quick or we're all in big trouble!
Zaalek thinks to himself, "So the flash bomb may be needed afterall..." Zaalek grabs one bomb in one hand ready to use.
"hey booja lets go to the sides and watch I'll bet it'll be fun." Nuktae-tal says before swiftly gliding through the things killing them as she passed, while Booja merely tramples over them to the side of the fighting out of range.
Talus nodded his understanding at Chance's words, making a throwing motion as he hurled the sphere of energy at the black pool with as much force as possible. Silver energy trailed behind the ball as it sped towards it's target, small crackling sounds coming from it. As it hit the pool, the sphere crackled loudy where the silver energy touched the liquid, and a few seconds later it imploded, creating something like a controlled black hole over the mass, the liquid beginning to slowly stream into the maw of the hole.
Chance watched the sphere hit, having slipped to the outside of the melee. But as he watched, something sucked the energy up. A huge hand emerged from the ground, lifting the chaos energy up, then a head, and the rest of the body. As Chance looked on, the giant beast swallowed the attack and grew even more in size. Ummmm, Talus. We might be in a bit of a bind here....
Talus blinked as he saw the same thing Chance did. "I...would definitely run if I were you guys", he sent out to all the companions. "NOW!!" He prepared to make another attack.
Chance scrambled away from the area, not knowing exactly what Talus was going to do. But if it didn't work, or at least hinder the giant shadowthing, they were all in big trouble.
For some reason Nuktae-tal finds this amusing, because shes laughing...quiet a lot " well Booja we might find some fun new adventure yet! this one is almost as promising as the last!" She says laughing still. Booja rolls his tongue out of the side of his mouth seemingly in laughter as well, they both were quiet some distance away already though.
Talus frowned a little, hovering in the air as he searched his mind for an attack that might be effective on the shadowthing. He raised both arms over his hand, palms facing straight up as he formed another ball of energy, this one made with electric, light, and fire energy, white, yellow, and red all swirling together and around each other on the surface. Once the sphere reached the same size as the last one, Talus hurled it at the giant shadowthing; however, unlike the last one, this one continued to grow as it streaked towards it's target.
"well booja thats something we've never seen before...what do you think should we join them? I'm sure they wouldn't mind hanging out with!" Nuktae-tal asks leaning down further closer to his ears and the ruff of his neck. Bojja laughs wolfishly it would be...interesting yes. Booja says in the way wolves speak.
"HEY CHANCE" Zaalek yelled out, "If Talus' ball of energy does not work i will try the flash bomb, be sure that no one looks at it directly!" (i dont have mind powers or ill tell everyone my self :P)
"Good." Everyone! If this attack doesn't work, do not look anywhere near where Zaalek is. He's going to use some kind of flash bomb and I don't want you to be blinded!
Zaalek ran a little closer to the evil shadow and found a rock to stay behind to wait and see if Talus' attack will work.
"hmph! we are not pup to be told what to do, we know what a flash bomb is we have known he carries them from his scent." Nuktae-tal says to booja angrily she was getting tired of waiting and was thirsty, so she was getting irritable. she was an assassin not a melee fighter. Booja just laughs at her again.
As Talus' energy sphere struck the giant shadowthing, it began to engulf it, all three energy types swirling around it's body, hissing coming from the fire and light energies while the electric energy crackled loudly.
Zaalek stared at the brilliant swirling energies, from the position he stood the crackling noise also made the ground shake. At this sight Zaalek was hopeful that the attack would work.
Nuktae-tal watches fasinated. " well I have never seen anything like it...these people might not be push overs after all! lets give them a real shot now what do you think booja?" she asks her giant wolf companion. Booja nods and also watches but with a little more caution.
Chance watched as the ball of energy completely disintegrated the shadowthing and then dove back into the fray.
Freya, having moved away a while ago, watched in awe, then followed Chance.
Talus' body shivered a bit from the exertion of summoning so much energy, but he still retained enough stamina to continue the fight, drawing his two long black daggers as he returns to the ground, slashing at the enemies trying to drag him under their feet.
Everyone, fall back to the gates, we won't be surrounded there, but make sure you don't let a single Teil Ken through! Chance began falling back slowly, taking out any Teil Ken that came near him as well as some of those that were engaged elsewhere with a thrown dagger.
"looks like the fun's over booja...lets go bother the dwarf king until we get my money." Nuktae-tal says jumping nimbly onto the large wolfs back. the wolf starts a trot and then a run and a full out run before bunching its muscles and jumping over the enemy's heads as extra spring and onto an open area on the wall, landing just about perfectly before turning top watch for the others. Nuktae-tal on the other hand jumps off Booja's back and then jumps off the wall into the city going to the drawf king like she had said.
The flash from the blast temporarily blinded Zaalek, with his vision still blurred he ran back to the gate as swiftly as he could trying to keep the creatures from overwhelming him.
Chance returned to the gates of the castle, warriors battling all around him. He stood tall in the middle of the fray, the city's forces all around him. "This is our last stand! It is now or never! Do not fear them, they are only things of magic, things of shadows and hate! Fight now to save your city, nay, to save the world! CHARGE!!!!" Chance's voice echoed across the plains and in the city behind him, sending the soldiers into a frenzy as they surged forward as one mass of bodies. As they hit the front lines of the evil army, the Teil Ken's forward forces were shattered. Chance, battling for everything he knew was lost from sight in the middle of the attack.
Eloren shuddered as she heard Chance's voice from where she stood in a sheltered grove. Guilt of leaving them to fend for themselves tugged at her heart despite that she had known them for a very short time. Glancing in the direction the ringing voice had come from, she heaved a sigh. Alright, here I go. She thought and took off in the direction of the cry.
Chance had lost himself in the middle of the the battle, and suddenly noticed that he was alone with the Teil Ken. No dwarven warriors were in sight, but he couldn't do anything about it. He simply kept fighting, hacking and slashing with his daggers here and there, throwing the occasional dagger when he had the chance. He fought nonstop, dropping shadowthing after shadowthing, until he felt as if he would drop from exhaustion, but still he fought on.
As Eloren entered the sea of shadowcreatures, she searched for a dwarf or ally of any sort. The only such one remaining seemed to be a man fighting feircly though beginning to show signs of a creeping exhaustion. "Time for me to drop in." she murmured and began to fight her way towards him, tediously and with much effort killing of the shadowthings.
He caught a crushing blow to the shoulder from behind him, sending him spinning until he fell. He was immediately up, ready to fight again. But to his surprise, he found himself facing a single Teil Ken. But something was different about it. It stood alone, the other creatures keeping exactly twenty paces from it. What the hell.....
Eloren found herself near the rim of the odd fourty pace circle of Teil Ken. She was pressed back and forced away by them, but she doubled her efforts and soon surfaced at the edge of the odd open space in which stood a single Teil Ken and the man (which she recognised as Chance) which she had been fighting towards. She caught her breath, pausing in slaughter for a moment.
Still temporarily blinded Zaalek continued to run towards the voices he could hear. He could feel the cuts and bruises building up on his body then a little blood began to trickle down his face. Trying his best he continued to swing his katars at anything that felt close, but slowly beginning to tire from all the damage he had been recieving.
Booja who was wathing atop the battlements leaps off, leaving his silent vigil. he comes to Zaalek's side, passing him close enough hios fur rubs against Zaalek's side to let him know he was there to help. he merely had to run over the teil ken, now that he was not running however he used his over large mouth and jaws as well as his legs to kick out, he faught carefully however being at Zaalek's side.
The Teil Ken turned towards the elf that had invaded it's space, wondering what had ever possesed it to invade his space. Figuring it to be just another merc, it decided to attack.
With no warning, the Teil Ken dove at him, forcing Chance to defend himself. Claw met blades, sending sparks soaring into the air. Chance felt himself losing footing and ground, so he dropped backwards and rolled to his feet before launching himself at the beast. His attack was thwarted however when the Teil Ken caught him by his throat and threw him across the open space. As he landed, he once again rolled to his feet, but instead of attacking, he kept his distance, sizing up his enemy. This one's no grunt. It predicted my attack unlike those midless things surrounding us. Time to change tactics.... Instead of his usual straight on attack, Chance went with his alternate fighting style, Dagger Dancing. The steps he took were meant to conguse and mesmerize the enemy. He only hoped it would work. Here goes nothing.
Talus continued to fight the Teil Ken on the open ground, growling and snarling curses at them in his native tongue as his blades carved black paths into his just as black enemies. His words sounded like a mixture of all languages, as well as being at times reptilian or guttural in nuance. "E hogu ghulu sapxuvl....ghur iucuv luuz gy uiq."
Chance waltzed just outside of the reach of the shadowthing, three quick steps right, a half turn followed by a savage slash in the other direction that glances off of the Teil Ken's claws, followed by a fake sweep and three steps back and another change of direction again, straight at the Teil 'Ken. The stab barley missed the scar, leaving Chance wide open for a grapple.
Back to Assassin's Castle
Stumble!