Frustrated, Utar opens the cupboard's doors while still giving Pipyap a disapproving look. A cursory look inside only reveals more plates, cups, and cutlery, which is enough for the half-orc to turn back to face Pipyap and prepare to deliver his next two-sentence lecture.
It is at this moment that a confused Doozey re-enters the kitchen, robbing Utar of the imp's attention. "He asked me to put it away a few times."This is all the information the ranger needs. Moving past and then up his cleric companion, the halfling reaches past the cups and plates in the cupboard to locate a false panel in the back, which undoubtedly smells like sulfur, just like Pipyap.
Behind the panel is a small, ornate silver box with the likeness of a mystic beast's head etched onto the lid. Doozey can tell right away that the box may fetch a good price at a large enough market (15gp), but suspects that the real value hides within. Inside of the silver box is a pouch with 15pp tucked away, a garnet (5gp), and a diary. This last item has that same titanic beast's head embossed onto its cover. Doozey does not know what this beast is exactly, but he is filled with a sense of dread upon looking at the handmade depiction of it, be it on the lid of the silver box or the cover of the diary.
In the other room, a silent Denae reaches for one of the woodcarvings; she grabs one depicting a heavyset male halfling wearing armor that is too small for his frame. She lifts it, looks at the bottom of the figurine's foot, releases a soft confirming grunt, and shows the inscription to Neya. It reads:"Bubba Redfoot."
"Well at least that is resolved, best we check in with Neya and Danae, see what they've found and we plan our next moves."
Utar then looks at Pipyap, and adds the following, "Might be best if our next move is to send Ferguson back to the village. I don't know if we could explain you to him, Pipyap."
Doozey hops down from Utar's shoulders almost just as soon as he has the box. But for all of his hurry to find the thing, the stoutling's hand trembled a bit in actually opening it. "...Y-yea. Yes." Is his eventual reply before balling the trembling hand into a tight fist and force it to still. Then without a word, he'd drift back to the duo had they not already made their way over by then, popping the box lid open along the way.
Doozey doesn't get very far into his journey after that however, as what started off as wary curiosity turned into shock and borderline terror at the second sighting of the bestial figure. But then after a solid moment of staring, it is with gritted teeth that he stuffed the reclosed box on its remaining contents under an arm so he could crack open the book and start reading in transit.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
"What is a fern-gull-sun?" Pipyap asks Utar, coking his head.
Despite his initial struggle to get past the double depiction of the mystic beast, Doozey soon begins to read Halvin's diary. There is much to be learned from its contents:
After much wandering throughout the lands of Faerun, the lone hermit, Halvin Redfoot, has finally located the original glen his clan left behind long ago in order to settle a new village. This new home for the Redfoot clan had prospered for centuries, but unfortunately found itself on the path of a rampaging titanic beast and was destroyed. Lacking a home, and believing to be the only survivor, Halvin set out in search of the original glen where he hoped to find the other clans that formed the halfling community alongside the Redfoots all those centuries ago. Perhaps with some luck, he would even find some ancestral Redfoots who had never accompanied their clansmen during the exodus from the glen to new village.
Such a long and arduous search would not have been possible without gaining the power to overcome hardship, defend himself, and travel far. When given the opportunity, Halvin did not hesitate to strike a deal with a devil so that he could gain such power. The diary does not name the devil or the details of the agreement. Although Halvin's new power was enough to help him survive his journey, it failed to help him learn the location of the glen on his own. He searched far and wide and, when despair became unbearable, he found yet another dubious ally: the Cult of the Dragon.
The Cult's network had the information Halvin sought: the Redfoot's (and other clans') glen was located within the Quivering Forest in the Moonsea Region of Faerun. The glen was under the protection of one Archfey Witchthorn. If Halvin wanted to gain acess to the glen, he would have to treat with the archfey.
In exchange for the information, the Cult demanded that Halvin was to add another clause to whatever agreement he formed with Witchthorn: he was to convince the archfey to break their defense pact with Phlan.
Upon settling as close to the the Quivering Forest as he could (near Kabel's Hill), Halvin started sending letters and gifts to the elves and fey of the forest, but it was all to no avail. Either his messages were not being received or they were being ignored. After months of no progress in obtaining permission to enter the forest, he simply ran out of patience, and decided to enter on his own and visit them personally. This put the pact between Phlan and the fey at risk, but that's what the Cult wanted anyway. If the pact was broken by the time he met with Witchthorn, then that would be one fewer thing for him to convince the archfey of. The Cult didn't need to know how easy it would have been to break the pact.
He had learned from locals that Greenhall was the closest thing to an elvish settlement in this part of the forest, and had a general idea of where he might find the hag, Jeny Greenteeth. He devised a back-up plan: should Greenhall and Witchthorn continue to refuse parleying with him, Halvin would instead approach Jeny Greenteeth and try to form an alliance with her. If Witchthorn would not meet him in peaceful negotiations, then Halvin would bring him down with the power of his Redfoot blood, his diabolical contract, and an alliance with the local hag. With some luck, the Cult would also have secured their alliance with the green dragon Claugiyliamatar, who also resided in the forest by that point, and they could all then come together to bring Witchthorn down and force open the path to the glen. The Cult gets what they want, and so does Halvin. Surely, Jeny Greenteeth wouldn't mind becoming the new big-shot fey in the Quivering Forest either. The plan was perfect!
The last entry in the journal is just over a month old. It details Halvin's disappointment in his devilish familiar, who apparently was too scared to go into the forest.
"He's not for eating. He's a human half-orc boy from the village. They are already pretty suspicious of Halvin, so I thought it might be best if it wasn't known that he was sharing living quarters with you. You know how rumours spread like wildfire in a small village..."
Utar pauses for effect and follows up, "If I send him back to the village that issue is largely taken care of."
A mixture of emotions danced across Doozey's face as he read the diary. But what initially started off as looks of melancholy and relief is nowhere to be seen by the end. Instead, the absent-minded reading aloud slowed as confusion and disbelief left him speechless. The others would have to read the rest for themselves. But before that moment came, the halfing practically had his face buried in the book in trying to absorb every detail, and make certain the utter lunacy of the words weren't some fiendish trick!
And yet.... he couldn't find it; the rhyme or reason that might explain it all away. "This no good, lousy luz, yellow footed, lettuce headed, thrice turned, son of a-...!!"Doozey cannot even finish the words before he's shoving the book into Neya (or whoever happened to be close enough barring the fiend)'s hand before storming away out of the cabin, growling and cursing in every tongue he knew, and in some many thought he hadn't! But with every step of the way joints popped and hair began to frazzle and grow as the halfling looked to be in the midst of a less controlled transformation...
"Fine!" Pipyap says to Utar. "I have hid well so far. Stupid villagers don't know of Pipyap. But if child is not ally to Pipyap, then send him away. I wait here."
Denae exhales loudly as she listens to Doozey's reading of the diary, and then takes over his duties once the halfling storms out of the broken house. "I don't fully appreciate whatever obvious link this has with Mr. Badger, since I haven't known him for as long as the two of you have. Nonetheless, I can tell this is some heavy, macabre revelation of sorts."She then responds to Neya's comment more directly: "It is good to know we are unlikely to run into a dragon and its cult in the forest. I am glad Halvin seems to be wrong about that. I think we already have our hands full with a hag, an unwelcoming elf village, and potentially this archfey too."
She lets silence take over for some time and, after a moment to reflect, makes a suggestion: "I think we can use all the help we can get. That visit to Serelis might be an even better idea now... unless Mr. Badger doesn't want anyone else involved in his business, of course."
Outside, a cheerful Biscuit notices his master and rushes toward him without knowing how sour Doozey's mood has turned. In the distance, still laughing, the boy Ferguson watches the mastiff reunite with the ranger.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Stepping out of the house after Doozey, the half-orc calls out to Ferguson "Best get yourself back home, lad. We might stick around here a touch longer. Way back to the village is straightforward enough, so we'll be fine."
Hoping to avoid too many other questions, Utar digs into his own coin pouch and tosses the boy a gold coin. "For your help today, Ferguson."
Initially, Doozey paid no mind to the beast. He couldn't even had he wanted to in the moment, for what tenuous self-control remained to him was fighting a losing battle on two-fronts. But with Biscuit no doubt getting within arms reach to at least nudge the stoutling to get his attention, as barking and baying fell on deaf ears as well, a by then clawed hand of the halfling snapped out as he barked out something in his native tongue.
Thankfully, whether due to halfling luck working in reverse for a change, or Biscuit's sharpened instincts saving the day, the mastiff is able to back away in time to avoid harm. Infuriated, Doozey turned on the mastiff fully at that point, looking about ready to leap into a follow-up attack! But after a tense moment of glaring and posturing and growling, recognition and regret began to take root in Doozey's eyes. "I....I'm...." Doozey trailed off there collapsing first to his knees, and then covered his face with his hands as he lets out a frustrated groan!
"For the love of Big Mama Yondalla! Halvin! You Ogre Brained tit! You're a Redfoot for Arvoreen's sake! Did'ja sleep through all yer lessons and stories ya fuddly--Uugh!!" Doozey yelled into his hands before rubbing furiously at his face. Yet for all of his apparent anger and lingering frustration, Biscuit at the very least would get the sense that any real danger from the halfling had passed, as all but the subtle and more permanent aspects of his were- affliction reverted and fade away.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
(@MB: The gold coin gives you advantage. Please roll another persuasion check.)
Utar walks out of the broken house and towards Ferguson. He fears Hupe Brightbell's insistence on Ferguson sticking around CRAP may make it harder to convince the boy to go back home now. He reaches into his coin pouch and prepares to tip the boy an amount of money he can only dream of at this age.
Denae looks out of a window, observing Doozey's display in silence, before then turning to Neya: "It looks like Mr. Badger needs a moment. Maybe you should go talk to him."
Ferguson grabs the flipping coin out of the air. His eyes enlarge threefold, his breathing becomes heavier. He looks at his fellow half-orc filled with incredulity. A smile is forming, but it is an uncertain one. He is unsure if he should open his palms again and risk looking at the golden coin, lest it reveals itself to be of a more common copper hue. Utar realizes he might just have instilled the boy with a formative memory, one that could veer his personality to an ever greedier one, or perhaps, on a more positive turn of events, one that helps sprout the recognition and just reward for a job well done. "I... I... Yes, sir. Right away, sir. I'll go home now and not leave until tomorrow!"
The boy runs as fast as he can. He never looks back, although he screams: "Come play again, Biscuit. I am rich now!"
As much as Biscuit worried over Doozey, hearing his name called still prompted the mastiff to look to the source, and with tail a wagging happily, barked in the affirmative! He evern looked to have half a mind to give chase, especially once Neya appeared to take over on halfling watch. Yet he refrained, if only from hearing the defeated sounding chuckles from Doozey.
"Ms. Neya, I... I don't even know where to begin. After all this time -- after finally not only surviving kinfolk, but the glen my people haled from, it turns out one of me own is a-..."The rest catches in his throat before he drags his hands down his face and lets out another frustrated groan. "... I should still be thrilled.. shouldn't I?" On that note, he looked to Neya with a mixture of uncertainty and hope in his eyes.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Hoping he hasn't pushed the boy from his intended path through the creation of a new core memory, Utar simply waves after the boy. "Your help was greatly appreciated today, Ferguson. Take care now!"
Turning back to the house once Ferguson is out of sight, he calls into three building, "It's probably safe to come out now, Pipyap."
Approaching Doozey and Neya, Utar simply puts a hand on the stoutling's shoulder. A simple act of solidarity.
"I honestly cannot tell you how to feel. It is a complicated situation to find oneself in. From what what was in that journal, he's frustrated and desperate."
"Yes, that desperation may have led to some questionable decisions. But, I don't see reconciliation as being impossible, as of this moment."
As Ferguson runs back home, CRAP + Denae gathers around Doozey. Tempers are calmer now, but doubt, confusion, and some degree of irritation all linger in the air. Neya engages the halfling ranger with some openness and a willingness to listen. Utar joins in with a kind gesture. Even Denae tries to show some understanding. "We can always head straight into the forest and try to untangle this situation sooner rather than later, if you so prefer. I won't stop you from focusing on the problems of your kin. But, should you have a mind to stick to the promise we made to the people of Kabel's Hill, perhaps we can try to learn whatever it is this Serelis knows before heading into hostile territory. I'll follow along, whatever you three decide."
As if confirming that a stop by Serelis is still an option, Denae turns to Pipyap, who is in the process of coming out of the house, and asks: "Imp, do you know the way to this half-elf ranger's abode? Can you point us in the right direction?" Pipyap nods. "A small trail leading into the forest, yes, I can point it out."Denae turns back to CRAP: "See, if it already counts as going into the forest, we might as well pick our point of entry to be this trail to the ranger's cabin, no?"
Some of the tension in Doozey immediately falls away at the simple gesture from Utar. But when it came to Neya, though not nearly the hopeful message he'd expected or hoped, the fact that she hadn't tried to sugercoat things left the stoutling looking on appreciatively at the woman, if nothing else, before sighing and looking thoughtfully to the ground.
"...I.... Heh... Well, more the fool would I be to do just as that fool-hearty kin of mine in taking leave of all my senses. Even more still in trying to convince me... me friends here to do much the same."Doozey conveys after Pipyap had his time to answer Denae. He then climbed back to his feet with some minor assistance from Biscuit, and looked to the others with a renewed sense of determination about him. "Let's find this ranger's abode, and as Big Mama Yondalla as my witness, we'll get his aid one way or another."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Frustrated, Utar opens the cupboard's doors while still giving Pipyap a disapproving look. A cursory look inside only reveals more plates, cups, and cutlery, which is enough for the half-orc to turn back to face Pipyap and prepare to deliver his next two-sentence lecture.
It is at this moment that a confused Doozey re-enters the kitchen, robbing Utar of the imp's attention. "He asked me to put it away a few times." This is all the information the ranger needs. Moving past and then up his cleric companion, the halfling reaches past the cups and plates in the cupboard to locate a false panel in the back, which undoubtedly smells like sulfur, just like Pipyap.
Behind the panel is a small, ornate silver box with the likeness of a mystic beast's head etched onto the lid. Doozey can tell right away that the box may fetch a good price at a large enough market (15gp), but suspects that the real value hides within. Inside of the silver box is a pouch with 15pp tucked away, a garnet (5gp), and a diary. This last item has that same titanic beast's head embossed onto its cover. Doozey does not know what this beast is exactly, but he is filled with a sense of dread upon looking at the handmade depiction of it, be it on the lid of the silver box or the cover of the diary.
In the other room, a silent Denae reaches for one of the woodcarvings; she grabs one depicting a heavyset male halfling wearing armor that is too small for his frame. She lifts it, looks at the bottom of the figurine's foot, releases a soft confirming grunt, and shows the inscription to Neya. It reads:"Bubba Redfoot."
"Well at least that is resolved, best we check in with Neya and Danae, see what they've found and we plan our next moves."
Utar then looks at Pipyap, and adds the following, "Might be best if our next move is to send Ferguson back to the village. I don't know if we could explain you to him, Pipyap."
He hesitates and then adds, "No offense."
Doozey hops down from Utar's shoulders almost just as soon as he has the box. But for all of his hurry to find the thing, the stoutling's hand trembled a bit in actually opening it. "...Y-yea. Yes." Is his eventual reply before balling the trembling hand into a tight fist and force it to still. Then without a word, he'd drift back to the duo had they not already made their way over by then, popping the box lid open along the way.
Doozey doesn't get very far into his journey after that however, as what started off as wary curiosity turned into shock and borderline terror at the second sighting of the bestial figure. But then after a solid moment of staring, it is with gritted teeth that he stuffed the reclosed box on its remaining contents under an arm so he could crack open the book and start reading in transit.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
"What is a fern-gull-sun?" Pipyap asks Utar, coking his head.
Despite his initial struggle to get past the double depiction of the mystic beast, Doozey soon begins to read Halvin's diary. There is much to be learned from its contents:
"He's not for eating. He's a
humanhalf-orc boy from the village. They are already pretty suspicious of Halvin, so I thought it might be best if it wasn't known that he was sharing living quarters with you. You know how rumours spread like wildfire in a small village..."Utar pauses for effect and follows up, "If I send him back to the village that issue is largely taken care of."
"Halvin is operating on grossly inaccurate information. Neither the Cult nor the dragon have a foothold in the forest. We made sure of that."
Extended Signature
A mixture of emotions danced across Doozey's face as he read the diary. But what initially started off as looks of melancholy and relief is nowhere to be seen by the end. Instead, the absent-minded reading aloud slowed as confusion and disbelief left him speechless. The others would have to read the rest for themselves. But before that moment came, the halfing practically had his face buried in the book in trying to absorb every detail, and make certain the utter lunacy of the words weren't some fiendish trick!
And yet.... he couldn't find it; the rhyme or reason that might explain it all away. "This no good, lousy luz, yellow footed, lettuce headed, thrice turned, son of a-...!!" Doozey cannot even finish the words before he's shoving the book into Neya (or whoever happened to be close enough barring the fiend)'s hand before storming away out of the cabin, growling and cursing in every tongue he knew, and in some many thought he hadn't! But with every step of the way joints popped and hair began to frazzle and grow as the halfling looked to be in the midst of a less controlled transformation...
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
"Fine!" Pipyap says to Utar. "I have hid well so far. Stupid villagers don't know of Pipyap. But if child is not ally to Pipyap, then send him away. I wait here."
Denae exhales loudly as she listens to Doozey's reading of the diary, and then takes over his duties once the halfling storms out of the broken house. "I don't fully appreciate whatever obvious link this has with Mr. Badger, since I haven't known him for as long as the two of you have. Nonetheless, I can tell this is some heavy, macabre revelation of sorts." She then responds to Neya's comment more directly: "It is good to know we are unlikely to run into a dragon and its cult in the forest. I am glad Halvin seems to be wrong about that. I think we already have our hands full with a hag, an unwelcoming elf village, and potentially this archfey too."
She lets silence take over for some time and, after a moment to reflect, makes a suggestion: "I think we can use all the help we can get. That visit to Serelis might be an even better idea now... unless Mr. Badger doesn't want anyone else involved in his business, of course."
Outside, a cheerful Biscuit notices his master and rushes toward him without knowing how sour Doozey's mood has turned. In the distance, still laughing, the boy Ferguson watches the mastiff reunite with the ranger.
Stepping out of the house after Doozey, the half-orc calls out to Ferguson "Best get yourself back home, lad. We might stick around here a touch longer. Way back to the village is straightforward enough, so we'll be fine."
Hoping to avoid too many other questions, Utar digs into his own coin pouch and tosses the boy a gold coin. "For your help today, Ferguson."
Persuasion - 18
Initially, Doozey paid no mind to the beast. He couldn't even had he wanted to in the moment, for what tenuous self-control remained to him was fighting a losing battle on two-fronts. But with Biscuit no doubt getting within arms reach to at least nudge the stoutling to get his attention, as barking and baying fell on deaf ears as well, a by then clawed hand of the halfling snapped out as he barked out something in his native tongue.
Thankfully, whether due to halfling luck working in reverse for a change, or Biscuit's sharpened instincts saving the day, the mastiff is able to back away in time to avoid harm. Infuriated, Doozey turned on the mastiff fully at that point, looking about ready to leap into a follow-up attack! But after a tense moment of glaring and posturing and growling, recognition and regret began to take root in Doozey's eyes. "I....I'm...." Doozey trailed off there collapsing first to his knees, and then covered his face with his hands as he lets out a frustrated groan!
"For the love of Big Mama Yondalla! Halvin! You Ogre Brained tit! You're a Redfoot for Arvoreen's sake! Did'ja sleep through all yer lessons and stories ya fuddly--Uugh!!" Doozey yelled into his hands before rubbing furiously at his face. Yet for all of his apparent anger and lingering frustration, Biscuit at the very least would get the sense that any real danger from the halfling had passed, as all but the subtle and more permanent aspects of his were- affliction reverted and fade away.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
(@MB: The gold coin gives you advantage. Please roll another persuasion check.)
Utar walks out of the broken house and towards Ferguson. He fears Hupe Brightbell's insistence on Ferguson sticking around CRAP may make it harder to convince the boy to go back home now. He reaches into his coin pouch and prepares to tip the boy an amount of money he can only dream of at this age.
Denae looks out of a window, observing Doozey's display in silence, before then turning to Neya: "It looks like Mr. Badger needs a moment. Maybe you should go talk to him."
Utar's second attempt at persuasion - 15 (18)
Ferguson grabs the flipping coin out of the air. His eyes enlarge threefold, his breathing becomes heavier. He looks at his fellow half-orc filled with incredulity. A smile is forming, but it is an uncertain one. He is unsure if he should open his palms again and risk looking at the golden coin, lest it reveals itself to be of a more common copper hue. Utar realizes he might just have instilled the boy with a formative memory, one that could veer his personality to an ever greedier one, or perhaps, on a more positive turn of events, one that helps sprout the recognition and just reward for a job well done. "I... I... Yes, sir. Right away, sir. I'll go home now and not leave until tomorrow!"
The boy runs as fast as he can. He never looks back, although he screams: "Come play again, Biscuit. I am rich now!"
"Yeah, he looks like he needs someone right now." She agrees with Denae.
Neya goes over to Doozey, "Do you want someone to voice your thoughts to?"
Extended Signature
As much as Biscuit worried over Doozey, hearing his name called still prompted the mastiff to look to the source, and with tail a wagging happily, barked in the affirmative! He evern looked to have half a mind to give chase, especially once Neya appeared to take over on halfling watch. Yet he refrained, if only from hearing the defeated sounding chuckles from Doozey.
"Ms. Neya, I... I don't even know where to begin. After all this time -- after finally not only surviving kinfolk, but the glen my people haled from, it turns out one of me own is a-..." The rest catches in his throat before he drags his hands down his face and lets out another frustrated groan. "... I should still be thrilled.. shouldn't I?" On that note, he looked to Neya with a mixture of uncertainty and hope in his eyes.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Hoping he hasn't pushed the boy from his intended path through the creation of a new core memory, Utar simply waves after the boy. "Your help was greatly appreciated today, Ferguson. Take care now!"
Turning back to the house once Ferguson is out of sight, he calls into three building, "It's probably safe to come out now, Pipyap."
Approaching Doozey and Neya, Utar simply puts a hand on the stoutling's shoulder. A simple act of solidarity.
"I honestly cannot tell you how to feel. It is a complicated situation to find oneself in. From what what was in that journal, he's frustrated and desperate."
"Yes, that desperation may have led to some questionable decisions. But, I don't see reconciliation as being impossible, as of this moment."
Extended Signature
As Ferguson runs back home, CRAP + Denae gathers around Doozey. Tempers are calmer now, but doubt, confusion, and some degree of irritation all linger in the air. Neya engages the halfling ranger with some openness and a willingness to listen. Utar joins in with a kind gesture. Even Denae tries to show some understanding. "We can always head straight into the forest and try to untangle this situation sooner rather than later, if you so prefer. I won't stop you from focusing on the problems of your kin. But, should you have a mind to stick to the promise we made to the people of Kabel's Hill, perhaps we can try to learn whatever it is this Serelis knows before heading into hostile territory. I'll follow along, whatever you three decide."
As if confirming that a stop by Serelis is still an option, Denae turns to Pipyap, who is in the process of coming out of the house, and asks: "Imp, do you know the way to this half-elf ranger's abode? Can you point us in the right direction?" Pipyap nods. "A small trail leading into the forest, yes, I can point it out." Denae turns back to CRAP: "See, if it already counts as going into the forest, we might as well pick our point of entry to be this trail to the ranger's cabin, no?"
Some of the tension in Doozey immediately falls away at the simple gesture from Utar. But when it came to Neya, though not nearly the hopeful message he'd expected or hoped, the fact that she hadn't tried to sugercoat things left the stoutling looking on appreciatively at the woman, if nothing else, before sighing and looking thoughtfully to the ground.
"...I.... Heh... Well, more the fool would I be to do just as that fool-hearty kin of mine in taking leave of all my senses. Even more still in trying to convince me... me friends here to do much the same." Doozey conveys after Pipyap had his time to answer Denae. He then climbed back to his feet with some minor assistance from Biscuit, and looked to the others with a renewed sense of determination about him. "Let's find this ranger's abode, and as Big Mama Yondalla as my witness, we'll get his aid one way or another."
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
"Alright! C'mon CRAPpers! You heard the halfling! Let's get the lead out. Danae, you want to take point?"