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𝚂𝚢𝚗𝚏𝚕𝚞𝚡 𝙼𝚘𝚍𝚜 ([personal profile] synfluxmods) wrote in [community profile] synflux2026-02-14 07:18 pm
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STRANGER FROM THE RIFT: FINALE

▷ STRANGER FROM THE RIFT: FINALE
CONTENT WARNINGS: monster transformation, violence, thalassophobia

▶ 001. Romantic Walks By The Beach

The city continues to glitch out and the various factions are still abuzz as they try to track down LILITH's mark. Daily life is thrown off and tensions begin to run high. LILITH urges the Outsiders to follow the various reports popping up around the city and try to track down Bjorn.

Eventually, they catch a break. A recent pattern in witness reports suggests Bjorn is moving towards the bay. The Outsiders will have to make their way towards the sea. The scale of their movement will tip off the different factions in the city so they'll have to subdue them to ensure the upcoming battle goes without interruption. Furthermore, since it seems that their confrontation will take place near the sea, they'll have to evacuate the locals in the area ahead of it.

However, on Valentine's Day, something shifts in the air. Suddenly, the air becomes unbearably heavy and dangerous to be in as the air becomes saturated with Rift energy. It happens without warning and their plans will be forced to shift gears. They need to urgently evacuate the civilians, many who now have difficulty moving due to severe Rift poisoning.

The civilians are confrontational, prone to mood swings, and may fight back against them. Due to the electronic glitches in the city, they might experience a surge in electrical activity that scrambles the Outsiders's oculars, resulting in piercing headaches and more hallucinations. However, they are ordinary civilians so they can't control this random power and it appears that each use causes them pain. Removing them from the Rift-affected area seems to calm down the effects and LILITH provides tranquilizers that can be used to disarm them if necessary. They are also provided with antidotes to administer to the most severely affected. Fortunately, the clinics and hospitals located around the perimeter are prepared to take in the civilians and treat them if they are brought to their doors.

The Outsiders will also encounter some of the gangs who are still trying to catch Bjorn for personal gain. While many of them are ordinary thugs that are affected like the rest of the civilians, there are also some who boast being former military or ex-mercenaries. These folks appear to have more resistance to the Rift poisoning but the longer they stay in the environment, the more effects they take on. Eventually, some of them may begin to corrupt into reptile-like kaiju hybrids. They will attack Outsiders with ice, water, or poison attacks.

Outsiders can choose to use their limited antidotes on these thugs but bear in mind there are also civilians and each other to look out for. They still have not found Bjorn either but it won't take long until they find him. How Outsiders use the antidotes is up to them.

▶ 002. Valentine's Day Shipping!

Everything can eventually be triangulated to a warehouse district near the sea. The Outsiders will have to navigate a labyrinth of cargo containers to find Bjorn. LILITH authorizes the right to open up containers in case he is hiding inside of them. By doing so, Outsiders can find all sorts of goods– legal and illegal. What they choose to do with their finds is up to them as long as LILITH doesn't find out. With the oculars glitching out, it's not like they're being tracked or watched effectively, right? Drugs, highly advanced weaponry, various technology... feel free to have your character find anything you'd like.

While searching the containers, Outsiders may run into shipyard robots that continue to move boxes and operate different machinery. They may also find some civilian harbor workers who haven't evacuated yet. They may be experiencing Rift poisoning or bear injuries from a physical attack. When asked what caused these injuries, they'll yell that they were attacked by a small kaiju.

It won't take long to find some of the possible attackers. There are corrupted kaiju-hybrids prowling about. Some of them appear to be Rift-corrupted thugs but others might have escaped from cargo holds. They jump out from behind corners or from atop stacks of containers. They can attack at any moment so the Outsiders will have to be on their guard.

Eventually, the Outsiders will finally find Bjorn. He is in a poor state, clearly confused, and appears to be suffering from severe Rift poisoning himself. He rambles incoherent nonsense and if the Outsiders try to approach him, he attacks with a blast of Rift energy that can knock them back and even poison them if they take a direct hit. He speaks, and the oculars finally translate from Old Norse:

HELP. . . . ME. . . . AM LOST.

His eyes glow ominously blue and he lets out an inhuman roar. Everything around them begins to shake like a powerful earthquake is hitting. It's difficult to keep their balance and suddenly...

The ground beneath them gives beneath their feet.

▶ 003. Through the Earth

Everything around them becomes dark and it feels like they are being plunged into an ice bath. However, instead of floating or having any sort of buoyancy, they are dragged down by a powerful current that pulls them deeper, deeper, and deeper.

If they look around them, they'll see a seemingly endless darkness as they fall but scattered throughout, there are random things– boulders, doors, cement blocks, twisted signs, and what appears to be broken debris. Be careful as you fall– you wouldn't want to hit any of these objects falling at your speed. The number of objects increases and grows in size the closer they get to the bottom. They will see the hulls of ships, broken masts, scattered cargo, and the skeletal remains of some large animal.

They might also catch a glimpse of Bjorn falling with them. As they fall, his body twists and begins to change. He lets out feral, mad sounds and his features become less humanlike and more monstrous. Finally, as if his body is torn apart by some great force, he transforms into something and disappears into the abyss.

Gradually, their speed slows until they touch solid ground and that's when everything hits them. Their bodies will feel very heavy at first, as if they're beginning to catch a bad case of the flu. It's like they can feel their bodies trying to fight something off and it will give them fatigue, body aches, and brain fog. These effects are short-lived, however. It washes away like a wave and while they may feel a little disoriented, they will be largely fine.

Looking around them, it will look like they're at the bottom of the sea. All around them are the remains of sunken ships in various stages of destruction. There are also massive whalefall-like skeletal structures. These are no ordinary animal remains. They are the remains of kaiju that have sunk to the bottom of an abysmal Rift sea.

Are they swimming? Or are they standing? It's something in between. Their bodies move lightly, as if gravity works differently down here but they are still being kept down by some heavy pressure from above. They can breathe fine, but the air they inhale feels weighted. There isn't much time to explore in the abyss because from above, a great serpent appears with glowing blue eyes.

Arm yourselves, Angels of LILITH. BJÖRN THE FEARLESS has arrived.

▶ 004. Kaiju Fall

It is an intense fight beneath the water's surface; a surreal world where physics don't make sense. Weapons and attacks that use elements are unaffected, so are projectile weapons. It's too hectic to question the if's and what's.
The Outsiders work well together despite the trials they face. Denji & Raidou become frozen in the fight; Vash, Choso, Muramasa, Yugamu have been poisoned by an otherworldly serpent bite and need assistance. Those who have hallucinations, temporary paralysis, temporary memory loss.. it could be hours or days before they recover. Those with Berserker rage will be subdued once the fight is over, but could be irritable for hours or days. Hatsutori releases a Berserker heat beam blast that hits heavy; maybe it will thaw out those who are frozen! Toji uses his split soul katana, slicing deep within the kaiju's neck for another heavy hit. The fight goes on, but eventually...

Bjorn sinks down to the bottom of the sea-like Rift. As he falls, his scales begin to melt away to dust. His form shrinks, and unlike kaiju in the past that have completely turned to ash, he turns back into human, weakened and expecting a final blow. Tsurumaru approaches him, and with a lift of his sword... he stabs the sand next to Bjorn, offering him a hand up.

BJÖRN THE FEARLESS HAS BEEN SPARED.

The atmosphere in the rift begins to change and while it is still heavy and dangerous, it feels lighter than it was before. The pressure begins to lessen and the Outsiders will begin to feel themselves floating up to what can only be described as the "surface" for lack of a better word. It is a slow process though, so there is still some time to explore the Rift sea.

Besides the sunken ships and kaiju remains, they can also find what appears to be manmade structures. There are marble columns lying on their sides and broken statues from various countries of origin. They can also find the remains of old houses from a bygone era mixed with modern ones, all in states of total disrepair. Someone may even find a twisted oil rig or airplane in the ruins. It seems like there is something down here from not just around the world but also across time.

Suddenly, the ground begins to shake like it did back at the warehouse district. They must get back to the surface quickly before they fall even deeper into the Rift. Fortunately, it should be easier to "float" back to the "surface." It gets easier the higher up they go and eventually, they'll see a "ceiling" above them with shimmering, colorful lights like stars above them.

Once they break through the surface, they'll find themselves in the middle of Tokyo Bay. It looks like those lights were the neon colors of Neo Tokyo. The coastguard has ships already deployed to try and recover them. They'll toss lifevests and sea rings while deploying inflatable rafts to help them until they can be pulled out of the water.

When they are finally safe and sound aboard the coast guard ships, they can catch their breath. Those who look into the dark water below them will see only still darkness. LILITH reports that a Rift had emerged in this exact area but is now mostly sealed up. They'll want a full report later but for now, it's best to get back to shore and rest.

▶ 005. To Our Heroes XOXO

With the Rift mostly sealed up and the citizens once again celebrating their relief at LILITH and the Outsiders doing their part to protect the average citizen, the outpouring of love and devotion begins.

It's all thanks to the Outsiders that they are saved once again and can return to their normal lives. The glitches and hallucinations that had plagued the city the entire month are no longer a problem for most. Some still experience some lingering effects but it's nothing that a quick security upgrade and some troubleshooting can't fix. By the end of the month, everyone will really be back to normal.

In the meantime, Outsiders might begin to find letters, parcels and gifts left outside the base. They range in size, type and expense, with each Outsider having a solid base of fanatics who want to thank them for their hard work. The unluckier of Outsiders might find that some of their fan mail leans towards the obsessive, while others will have pictures drawn in children’s hand thanking them for their hard work and saving them.

The caretakers in the base do their best to deliver each gift to their proper destination, but you might end up being one of the few who accidentally gets a gift that’s meant for someone else. Hopefully, you know all your fellow Outsider’s codenames, otherwise it might be a guessing game trying to figure out who it belongs to and return it… Or you could just keep it for yourself. Who’s going to know?

Every single Outsider also received a card from LILITH themselves, with someone clearly putting a lot of effort into making them. They’re all personalised, at least, and come with a handful of chocolates in various cute animal shapes. Eating these chocolates may leave some Outsiders desperate for a little more human connection, seeking out their nearest and dearest to share their sweeter emotions.

▶ 006. AFTERWORD.

Welcome to the conclusion to our February event! Just as with January, this event is relevant to the overarching plot. We hope you enjoy it! Thank you all for casting your vote and choosing to spare Bjorn. We were not expecting to have players vote and assumed one person would be deciding what to do, but we loved this idea. More about his outcome and how he will effect the plot will be seen in future posts.

All tags on this log are worth 2 points and will count towards February AC.

EVENT BREAKDOWN/RECAP (CLICK TO EXPAND)
1. ROMANTIC WALKS BY THE BEACH: Bjorn is missing still, and he has been spotted heading towards the water. However, heavy rift energy follows his every path, affecting bystanders and citizens and halfway transforming their bodies. Rescue them or pursue the target. There are also gangs trying to capture Bjorn for their own personal gain. Protect him so he can be captured or defeated!
2. VALENTINE'S DAY SHIPPING!: Bjorn is found in a shipping warehouse near the bay. Drugs, weapons and other illegal and legal items can be found, free for the taking. Bjorn announces that he needs help, but beneath everyone's feet, the ground shakes, and everyone falls below... they fall through a rift.
3. THROUGH THE EARTH: Falling down, down, down... into a surreal sea where common physics don't make sense. Possibly a mythical world that has items from all around the world and all different eras. The battle begins beneath the sea!
4. KAIJU FALL: The fight against Bjorn is successful, and he is spared for further evaluating. The Outsiders surface in the Tokyo Bay and are rescued.
5. TO OUR HEROES XOXO: Back at base, Outsiders are adorned with gifts and letters, some obsessive, from happy citizens. Rest and recover once again.
photosympathies: (xxxviii.)

[personal profile] photosympathies 2026-02-15 11:15 am (UTC)(link)
does the poisoning have any specific kind of effect or is it just sickness?
photosympathies: (clxvii.)

vash the stampede ( everlight )

[personal profile] photosympathies 2026-02-15 12:17 pm (UTC)(link)
spoilers for trigun: stargaze episode two unforgiven. vash has been canon updated. also cw: suicidal thoughts, mild emetophobia, hallucinations, and all round bad mental health.

oo1. romantic walks by the beach.
( It happens almost over night. Vash takes a brief respite in his Valentines preparations ( chocolates for all his friends takes a significant amount of time ) and the next thing he knows two years have passed and he's jolting awake on a pained cough. He'll be glad for the fact that he wakes up alone later, the way his memories cram back alongside everything else is ugly. He spends a not-insignificant amount of time gagging against his grief, panic bright in his chest, and his hands fisted in too long hair.

But he is himself again. He would be with this even if Hoppered hadn't forced his hand ( and he checks, there is no blood on them ) this would have shocked him awake. And so he knows there are things to be done. There are people to save. If he can just help one person, just one, then maybe he can keep himself upright. So he heads out. Friends might be forgiven for thinking his new appearance is a glitch - long blonde hair with a suspicious black streak through it, ill-fitting trousers, a shirt stitched together, sleepless bruises underneath his eyes, no glasses - but unfortunately he's lost his energy somewhere. It doesn't stop him from wading in, it just makes him a slightly less bright spark in the crowds.
)

i. Let me help you.

( This is as calmly delivered as he can get his voice, rough from years of disuse. He's on the streets pleading with a woman holding a child, her panicked breathing harsh to his ears. He holds both hands out beseechingly, his eyes wide. A passing car revs past, throws the headlights on them, Vash's eyes briefly alight with the Plant markings he usually hides. She staggers back, cries You're one of them. Vash's shoulders twitch helplessly. ) Please, you need to get out of here.

ii. ( He's bleeding from his lip now, eyeing the gang members up warily. Three of them have him cornered but he's making no moves to fight them off. Instead he looks a little like a puppet with its strings cut. He isn't looking at them. Instead it's the ghost behind them, Rem with her sad smile. He hasn't forgotten the rift's habit of haunting him, and he hadn't escaped it back home either. She sighs softly, Oh Vash, she says, and his heart aches, Maybe it would have been better if you had died with me. ) I know, I know, I should have.

( It's out of nowhere, and the thug currently trying to shake him down snarls at him, his hands seizing Vash by his shirt. For a second nothing happens, but then the fingers start to twist into a new shape and the man staggers back with a yell, clawing at his own throat. ) Wait, stop. You're going to hurt yourself.

( The second in the group tries to intercede him, he hears footsteps to his right, calls out. ) Help me get to him. He's going to tear out his own throat!

oo2. kaiju fall.
i. ( The fight has left him off kilter. Something feels like it's bubbling up inside him and he's not sure if it's the rift or the poison or the fact that Millions Knives with his burnt up face is following him. Vash ducks into the remains of a plane, his hand on the metal hull. Nai follows sedately. It is only a ghost, and so he does not care that he starts to shake as he sinks into an empty, time-worn seat, arms over his head and his panicked breathing coming ragged. They spared Björn, and he should be happy about that, there is not another soul to add to his tally, and yet he feels raw, nausea clinging to his insides. )

You should have taken me with you. ( It's whispered, desperate. ) We should have died together, isn't that what you wanted? Nai, why am I here? What am I supposed to do now?

ii. ( On the boat he'll stick to himself. The ill-feeling has only increased and he has to sink into the furthest corner he can find and lets his gaze settle on the dark water. He has friends here, he knows that, and yet seeking anyone out feels insurmountable. He has spent two years barely aware of his surroundings beyond the kindness of a man he wronged, he doesn't remember how.

Wouldn't he only hurt them anyway? It's what he does.
)

oo3. to our heroes xoxo.
( Back on base his first instinct is to disappear. Only there are several parcels now at his door ( and he knows the tell-tale scribble of the Orphanage children anywhere ), and he doesn't think he deserves them but moving them feels impossible and stepping over them is worse. So he's just sort of staring, hair in disarray and his mismatched hands curling and uncoiling at his side. )

Do you - ? ( Ah, his voice is rusty still. He doesn't look up to see who the new presence is. ) Do you want these? I don't want them to go to waste.

( Let's not forget his room is currently FULL of chocolates that he made and then never got to deliver. He's going to have to deal with that. )

oo4. wildcard.
( Sorry he is sad spaghetti. He'll be back to pretending all is fine in no time. If you want something else or something lighter then feel free to hit me up. If you're his friend it's very likely he'll start bawling like a baby on you, fair warning, haha. I'm at [plurk.com profile] qingya or sadgaydna on discord so come bother if need be!! )
mrblueeyes: (eyes / blood spattered shock)

Gojo Satoru | Jujutsu Kaisen | Everlight

[personal profile] mrblueeyes 2026-02-15 02:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Battle: A Weapon Without a Name
[ The world is blue and his mind is empty.

All around him, others fight or fall. Attacks sweep through the surrounding atmosphere, the un-water of it which seems strange to him in ways that he cannot define.

His body recognizes the strength and power inherent in violence. Without thoughts in his head or any kind of organized strategy, he surges forward to attack the massive creature with his fists alone. Gravity doesn't bother him, and he moves with a speed that he almost cannot control, body reacting before his empty mind can catch up.

Those who have fought with him before will find him unusually silent and completely uncooperative. He has focused in on his target and considers all the others around him to be obstacles.

When the knockout blow is delivered and the enemy falls, he pushes forward, wanting to finish the battle. If someone stays his hand, he turns on them, eyes glowing with otherworldly threat, bristling with hostility--and yet his attention is moved away from Björn and the battle may be concluded without him. ]


Aftermath: The Empty Man
[ Though he surfaces with the rest of the group, he twitches away from touch among those who try to reach out to him. Some of the other combatants speak to him, calling him 'Gojo' and 'Sensei', but he does not know them or himself. It is with reluctance that he allows himself to be guided back to a base and shown to a private room that opens to his touch.

He remembers nothing. Knows no one. He's skittish as a feral cat as he moves around the base. Since it is the place he has been introduced to and the only relative safety that he has, he keeps to it, trying to avoid interactions. But he gets hungry quickly enough, so he can be encountered in the cafeteria. His tendency to find a quiet corner of the library or garden may make him easier or harder to find than when he's hiding in his room.

He's lost all his memories. He does not even know himself. But why deal with that when instead he could just hide and avoid? ]
gorb: (xviii.)

what if i half-wildcard it so it's a midway point between the two.

[personal profile] gorb 2026-02-15 03:38 pm (UTC)(link)
( It takes him some time.

There's the pesky little issue of his sudden and complete paralysis. He's glad no one really notices the undignified way he has to be swallowed up by the multi-winged curse of his choosing, nor the way he swears while he tries to right himself in its mouth. He's just worried, is all. Satoru would have undoubtedly found him the minute the fight was done and he doesn't know why he hasn't. Panic sits in the hollow of his throat, an old ache. This is how it had happened last time. A mission, and then a loss.

So the bird seeks out the jujutsu sorcerer. It settles itself on the shoreline and flaps its wings. Geto has to use the tongue to push himself upright. He's having a bad day. The maw opens, he scowls out.
)

You're in one piece then. ( But then -.

Geto knows this man. He knows the shape of his face and the warmth in his eyes and there is something missing there. No fond recognition, which would be fine if he had changed again, but there's no recognition.
) Satoru?

( The heat has left, there's only concern. )

What happened?
mrblueeyes: (shibuya / oh no)

[personal profile] mrblueeyes 2026-02-15 05:11 pm (UTC)(link)
[ It's been an odd hour: this fight and now emerging onto an unknown shore. The entirety of his life, so far, and he understands none of it.

A strange being lands in front of him, and he draws back, repelled by the thing and uncertain of whether it intends to fight. He can fight, no problem. The giant enemy did not harm him. He feels he could have fought it alone--the others only got in his way. This thing is no threat.

It opens to reveal a man inside, who addresses him. 'Satoru'? ]


The battle? [ He doesn't understand the question. ] It was easy.

Why do you live in a bird? Isn't it ... wet?
gorb: (lvi.)

[personal profile] gorb 2026-02-15 05:48 pm (UTC)(link)
I don't live in a bird, don't be --.

( His teeth clack. The vacant stare is setting his nerves off, his mind stirring up possibilities. If he could fucking move he'd reach out, draw his boyfriend closer. But he can't. )

All right, you're worrying me now. ( Satoru would not have abandoned him once the fighting was done, not if they hadn't found their way to each other yet. And he can see everything. He would have come. Geto is not so hard on himself any more that he would doubt that. ) You don't know who I am. Did it hurt you? Have you hit your head? I can find you a healer but I'm going to need you to stay there for me. I can't follow you like this.
the_fourteenth: (029)

Raidou Kuzunoha XIV | Devil Summoner | Everlight

[personal profile] the_fourteenth 2026-02-15 04:04 pm (UTC)(link)
🞂001. BY THE BEACH.
[There are enough Outsiders out there to fight, so Raidou sticks with the medical teams. He aids in distributing supplies, and corralling and caring for the civilians bring brought to a makeshift clinic set up on the perimeters. With technology on the fritz, he can't rely so much on his healing nanotech as he normally does, which never helped much with rift poisoning to start with. Doesn't mean he won't try.

He'll stop to check on any Outsiders that come in who need a break or healing as well, offering a healing hand, anti-rift medication, or even just something to eat or drink.]

Here. Have a seat. Even if just for a few minutes, okay?


🞂002. UNDER THE SEA.
[This battle is a difficult one. It's hard to move, to see through the dark, to determine that direction you're in. With the rift effects affecting technology, maybe it's better not to trust your oculars anyway. He and Yuji spoke about tracking down the kaiju without their eyes, relying on their other senses and abilities, and he does just that.

Eyes closed, Raidou senses the kaiju out. There's an energy from this one he can detect, something magical maybe, something different. He can track its movements easily.

When he goes in for the attack, he acts almost as a beacon for other Outsiders to follow. Raidou carries the sword he found earlier in the mission, and old Norse broadsword that looks as new and sharp as the day it was made. It glows bright green, radiating a purifying magical power some Outsiders might even feel. It's the same energy that let him blaze through the Underworld. If you need someone to fight alongside with, Raidou will gladly join you - but it's obvious his attacks are not meant to kill this kaiju, only to slow it down.]


🞂003. IN THE ICE.
[Perhaps its his mercy that hurts him the most, as Raidou, attacking near the kaiju's head, gets caught in its ice beam. Taking the full brunt of the hit, Raidou is left frozen in its wake. That beacon of purifying magic is snuffed out suddenly.

Some Outsiders might get garbled SOS texts from him over the network. However he may get unfrozen, at the end of the battle, he's also left paralyzed once freed from the ice. He's breathing and awake, but he can't do anything else but float down in the water helplessly.

Once rescued, Raidou is brought back to the med bay at base to recover. The med team is administering anti-rift medication and are confident he will be fine in a couple of days. In the meanwhile, they encourage visitors. Maybe you can keep him company over text?

He'll shakily emerge from the med bay after a few days as predicted, his first stop being the kitchen for some coffee.]


🞂004. WILDCARD.
[You know the drill.]
the_fourteenth: (102)

closed: Yuji

[personal profile] the_fourteenth 2026-02-15 04:33 pm (UTC)(link)
[Raidou recognizes the signs immediately. The rift poisoning claims the Outsiders all in different ways - his own fate to come soon enough - but for now, he focuses only on one person.

His mind immediately flashes back to the Underworld. Having to do this all over again, knowing he's going to have to hurt Yuji in order to help him. It makes his heart ache, but he has to put it aside for the greater good of everyone around them. Someone could easily get hurt or killed by their own teammate.

Somewhere deep down, even in this state, maybe Yuji remembers it too. Raidou pushing himself in front of him, cold eyes focused on his mission, sword at the ready and radiating purification energy. But this time, Yuji wasn't just brainwashed. He's lost all control, and Raidou prepares for the worst.

He hopes the energy from his weapon is enough to draw Yuji's attention away from the other Outsiders. This is his target now, a magical force repellent to curses, an obstacle in Yuji's way. Raidou faces him as a summoner faces any major enemy, but this time, with a slight tremble in his hands.]
eyescar: 🐾 manga (pic#16955702)

[personal profile] eyescar 2026-02-15 05:41 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Yuji doesn't remember.

There's only one thing: blind, aching rage. It overtakes him and settles inside him, like something dangerous. It feels as if chains have broken off him, and he can't stop rushing forward and wanting to fight, to keep fighting. Nothing is going to distract him from this, and it takes all of his energy to not lash out at every single person he sees.

The energy is enough to draw his sight, at least, and he turns to look at Raidou. There's no recognition in his eyes; even when he had been Rift Poisoned by Ratio, he still seemed to know who people were. Not this time. Walking forward, he tilts his head and watches, expression deadpan and harsh.

He has no weapon in hand. He doesn't need one. ]