EVENT ✨ Fall Equinot

[avalonmods]

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SUMMARY: In the days leading up to the fall equinox, geese intended for eating escape and cause havoc around town, people share techniques to preserve plants for the winter, and Camelot's citizens compete to make the best light shows with traditional wax candles to draw spirits peacefully into Camelot. With all the harder preparations gathered for the Fall Equinox, throughout the month people will notice that decorations start going up around town. The colors of fall seem to seep throughout Camelot, but more than that, so do more traditional sights and smells. In the days leading up to the equinox, traditional acts such as the sacrifice and consuming of flesh are performed. Well.. normally they would be. The fattened geese that are normally eaten in preparation for the equinox have escaped and are causing havoc around town. Geese are running around causing trouble for everyone-- stealing glasses, opening gates, putting up toilet seats when people try to sit down so they fall in the bowl... all kinds of madness! Even if you weren't intent on eating geese and were going to settle for the vegetarian option (pumpkin and nut soups are frequently served using the gourd itself as a bowl), you have to agree the general public needs to be rescued from these menaces. If you have the stomach for it, you are welcome to keep one of the geese you capture for your own table... but otherwise, please return the birds to the farm where they can be handled accordingly. Birds are not the only sacrifice made to the autumnal equinox. As the flowers begin to reach the end of their life, there is a strong tradition of gathering flowers and herbs and preserving them for the upcoming winter, either to protect their beauty, scent, edibility, and sometimes magical properties. The simplest form of preservation is, of course, drying and pressing-- a technique you don't need magic for, but some of the locals will happily teach you. A more advanced technique can be learned to enchant glass bell jars to suspend the lifeforce of any living thing within its grasp for up to a year, if no one opens it. It's a technique used to preserve important or rare plants that may otherwise die out during the winter, such as herbs used in your favorite spell.. or dish. The glass bell jar will protect the plant, but each time it is picked up, a single petal or leaf will fall off of the plant. If all the leaves fall off, the plant becomes unrecoverable, and come spring the caster will find themselves cursed with a touch that wilts any plant they come in contact with. So if you choose to use this, be warned that there are consequences for misuse and a wide number of horror stories from people who have tried to use this spell for anything other than plants. Any type of mage can pour their magic into a bell jar to enchant it, and the type of magic will be reflected in a glass design that forms around the rim and handle. (An elemental mage may have glass flames form, or frosted etchings of your favorite animal may appear if you're an animal mage, and so on. Feel free to get creative.) Green mages may find this magic a little useless, since they can just replenish plants with their own magic, but it's still a good technique to know.. just in case! Perhaps the most beautiful tradition that takes form leading up to the autumnal equinox is the candle pathway. Every street in Camelot will be lit up with thousands of candles for two nights leading up to the autumnal equinox, as a guiding light to help the spirits find their way to Avalon. The way the streets in Camelot are mapped out, the lights will form a path to the square where the fairy coins are being held until their release on September 22nd, the same area where the guardian egg ceremony had been performed. Some people get very creative with their lighting displays, which can sometimes result in beautifully lit streets and magnificent structures of flames. Accidents are quickly quelled by volunteer elemental mages throughout the city to prevent any structural damage. Some people might be compelled to make their own light display the most outstanding on the block, and it becomes a bit of a game to compete with your neighbors to see whose section of the candle pathway is the most extravagant. SUMMARY: The autumn equinox ritual is interrupted by a huge earthquake caused by a Stone Giant bursting out of the Ash Mountains, bringing the closest Ash Mountain and Lestari to the ground. The purple dragon erupts from the ruins to attack Celliwig. The survivors of the collapse need help desperately. Characters must choose where they go to determine the fate of Avalon. Calm and mundane preparations are a nice break from the sometimes stressful lives of Camelot's citizens and otherworlders, who often are asked to embark on life-threatening adventures and tasks. It's probably a good thing most of the month has been relatively peaceful, as things need to go a little bit differently this year on the fall equinox itself... but not as differently as they actually do. In the town square, elaborate celtic-similar symbols are carved out into the ground and filled with mysterious glowing liquids. All of those who gained guardian tattoos and their attendants were asked to attend a ritual to release them on the night of the 22nd, along with anyone else who would like to witness. Everything is ready and as the witching hour approaches, several individuals dressed in flowing robes with their faces painted like skeletons approach. As the leader raises his voice to explain why they've come and what to do to make this night a success, a sudden shock-- Avalon itself shakes with the might of an earthquake... or at least, that's what it seems like for the first few minutes as everyone gathers themselves until they hear mass screaming in the distance. Though it's hard to see what's going on... there are still some very, very obvious problems. A stone giant rises from the first of the Ash Mountains, crumbling the mountain around it as if the ancient being were holding the very mountain itself up... and it was. Those who visited Lestari will have seen its giant feet within the underground city. The former city. Lestari is now buried beneath the mountain, along with many of the other creatures living on and around the mountain. A huge storm of mixed weather forms above the giant's head, blizzard and lightning raging around it to no avail. As the people of Camelot watch what's only visible at a macro distance, they may not be as quick to notice that all of the fairy coins have begun glowing vibrantly, then suddenly burst out of the jars they've been held in, shattering right through them to fly off en-masse toward the stone giant. They embed themselves in it, fueling the giant with enough power to both begin to walk away from the rubble and for the spirits that have begun gathering in Avalon to head toward it, rather than where they had been intended. As if that were not enough, after the Stone Giant takes two large steps through the Land of Rot, the gargantuan cloud of dust covering the ruins of the first of the Ash Mountain range rather suddenly lights up with a vibrant, ultra-violet burst of flames that illuminates the smoke. The gargantuan purple dragon that once took up residence in the mountain clambors out of the dust and shoots straight into the sky, enraged and furious, and able to sense where the magic came from that raised the stone giant. The reason it immediately begins flying toward Celliwig with the intent to raze it to the ground is likely not immediately apparent, but it is quite odd that it bypasses the much closer target of Camelot with its rage. As does the Stone Giant, though it does not head toward Celliwig and instead seems to absorb the souls of the dead that were intended to be guided by the fall equinox's rituals as it lumbers through the land. If someone does not stop it, it is headed for the Forest of the Felled. King Arthur is immediately on the emergency broadcast system to implore people to join one of three groups: Investigate and stop the Stone Giant Slay the dragon and save Celliwig Rescue survivors of Lestari and the Ash Mountain The success of each of these missions is dependent on character participation. See the poll for details about how certain character types may affect the outcome of the missions. Please refer to Event Poll Notes for information about aftermath of this event and additional event info > Event Outcomes.

Comments

Edelgard von Hresvelg | Fire Emblem Three Houses | Dark & Blood

[flame_emperor]

Triage A-Purple Dragon Attack

When everything started going wrong, Edelgard was quick to act. A dragon was bearing down towards Celliwig, and Edelgard had some recent experience with slaying dragons. It was time for the Emperor of Fódlan to get to work.

She'd taken control of the situation quickly at the gates to Camelot by doing what she did best; acting like she was in command and yelling a lot. It's enough to whip a small force, one of many strike forces heading out, into battle, of which Edelgard takes command. The group probably includes a few other outworlders who for one reason or another, have chosen to come with her.

Placing themselves in the path of the coming dragon, between it and Celliwig, Edelgard continues to give orders, setting up a defense. "I need all Blood Mages to form up on me! By manipulating the beast's blood we should be able to turn it sluggish and tired, but it will require all our magical skill to make certain. Focus your power and don't let up, it's going to fight us to regain control. If you do not have Blood Magic, stand by and prepare for a fight. Weapons, or magic, whichever gives you the bigger advantage. When I give the signal, and the dragon has been exhausted, hit it with everything you have. Make no mistake, tonight it's either the dragon or every Fae in Celliwig. If it doesn't withdraw, it dies."

She turns to face where the beast is coming from. Already the sounds of its rampage are growing closer. It'll be on top of them in minutes. "Get ready! We don't have much time. Blood Mages, with me!"

She faces the sounds of the oncoming rampage with grim determination. Not another Fhirdiad. Not tonight. Not ever again.

Triage B-Celliwig Aftermath

They failed.

She failed.

The plan had fallen apart. Infighting, bickering, an attempt made at brokering a peace. Edelgard had let it go on too long. Stupid of her to think peace was ever possible. The dragon had lost what little patience it had and resumed the attack before Edelgard was ready to counter; there was no time to set up the Blood Mages, not enough warriors to mount an effective assault against an enraged and able-bodied dragon.

And Celliwig had paid the price for her naivete.

She stands in the ruins, making herself see and feel the consequences of her failure. There are survivors...too few. The city is ashes, and worst of all, the dragon escaped. It wreaked this destruction and then, just...left. Unimpeded.

"This could have been avoided." She half-whispers it mostly to herself, but anyone standing nearby will likely hear it, as her hand clenches into a fist. "This could have been avoided." She repeats in rising anger. "There was a plan. This didn't have to happen!"

Aftermath-Houseguests [Locked to Byleth, Robin, and Musse]

Camelot was coming apart at the seams thanks to the refugee crisis the destruction of both Lestari and Celliwig had caused. Too many mouths, not enough to go around, and certainly not enough space. Everyone was having to do their part, and that included Edelgard and Byleth. The hotel needed all the rooms it could get, so Edelgard had extended two separate invitations to two of the newer arrivals who she had become acquainted with and felt friendly towards in Lestari; the tactician Robin, and fellow military school attendee Musse. One of them could take the guest room and the other would have to make do with Edelgard's studio, temporarily cleaned out of her art supplies to serve as a makeshift bedroom.

A knock on the door signifies the arrival of their first guest. Edelgard is there to open it. "Welcome, welcome. Do come in. Can I help you with any bags?"

Dragon Attack

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Darin had heard the call for blood mages and come running. Honestly, the idea of sapping the dragon's strength was in the same vein (no pun intended) as some of Darin's ideas; ways to bring the creature down without having to slay it. After all, it had just lots its home. Would anyone else be in a good mood if they were in the same boat?

But when Edelgard began issues orders that seemed more in line to kill rather than subdue, Darin couldn't hold his tongue.

"Whoa whoa whoa! Look, I know things aren't looking good right now, but there's got to be another way! It's not just some rampaging beast! It's sentient! It can communicate!"

[flame_emperor]

Edelgard doesn't even glance at Darin as he protests, keeping her focus on the approaching dragon, but her brow does knit in frustration. Really?

"It does not appear to be feeling particularly communicative at the moment." She replies curtly. "Get into position. Wait for my mark."

[forgeabettertomorrow]

"So?! Then we get its attention! We get it in the mood to talk! You can't just meet aggression with aggression otherwise everyone loses!"

Dammit, they were running out of time!

"Look! We obviously have a means to slow it down! To bring it down! That means there's other ways to stop it! Siphon mages can siphon away its resistance! Cognition mages can try and calm it down! There's so many other ways that don't have to result in death!"

[flame_emperor]

The dragon is getting closer; the trees are shaking with its approach, and its roar grows ever as it approaches in fury. Edelgard is well aware time is swiftly running out.

"It moves to attack Celliwig. Do you understand the damage it will do if it gets there? I will not risk the lives of the Fae." Edelgard finally turns to acknowledge Darin and her expression is far from friendly. "If the creature is as intelligent as you say, it did not immediately have to spring to violence. It could have tried to reach out, get more information on what was happening. It chose to do none of those things. It chose to do this, instead. Now get into position, or get out of the way."

She turns away, not waiting for Darin's response. Her body language makes it clear she is in no way interested in what he has to say. Others are forming up, but Darin's protest appears to be causing uncertainty among them as to who is in charge here.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

If that was how Edelgard was going to play it, then Darin moves to stand in front of her. At six foot four inches, he's definitely big enough to block her vision.

"So that means we meet violence with violence?! You're already risking lives by meeting it in battle so what the hell have you got to lose?! You criticize it for acting out of a baser instinct, but you're not acting any better!"

Darin straightens up, stands his ground, and stretches his arms out to either side to continue blocking, no matter how futile it might look when Edelgard has a battalion at her command.

"Aren't you an Empress? Is this all you know? All you care about? War? There are always other options! Stick with your contingent here while people of likemind as me head out and try and deter it! If we just jump to violence every time something like this crops up, Avalon won't survive! This is the last bastion of life in the multiverse, don't we have an obligation to at least try and protect what we can?! Can we really consider ourselves in the right if we don't exhaust every available option?!"

[flame_emperor]

To her credit, despite the obvious size difference Edelgard does not look the least bit intimidated, holding her ground and staring up at him with an equally intense look of determination.

"What I am is someone who owes you no explanation." She nods quickly to two of the other soldiers she mobilized. Well, she tried to offer him the soft method of leaving. "You two. Get him out of here." Wonderful. She had to take what she could get leaving Camelot, and now with the dragon so close they're already down three before they've even begun. This fool, and two others to babysit him.

The soldiers begin to approach, though cautiously. Darin looks fairly mad. Edelgard begins to step around him. "Ridiculous." She mutters angrily, and definitely loud enough for Darin to hear. "Absolutely ridiculous."

[forgeabettertomorrow]

The soldiers can do their worst. If they attempt to subdue them, Darin will boost his strength enough to put them down with alarming precision and confidence, then heal them back up to prove a point.

But that doesn't mean he's going to let Edelgard off the hook, whether they try and stop him or not. He will get in front of her again.

"If it's so ridiculous, then what have you got to lose? Huh? If I fail, I die in the jaws of a dragon and you and your little contingent here can wage your little crusade. If I'm wrong, I die and you can stand over my dead body and proclaim you were right. But if I'm right we save a lot more than we stand to lose."

This time, Darin plants his feet in front of her, indicating that he doesn't plan to move unless she makes him move herself.

"All I'm asking for is a little time. And unless you've got some kind of transport under that cape of yours, you're planning on making your defense here. You don't even have to leave."

[flame_emperor]

Edelgard's hand clenches into a fist as she hears the soldiers go down. When he once again sets himself in front of her, her expression is far more icy.

She lets him rage at her, venting his spleen at her (it's not the first time a self-righteous man has spit fire at her, and she long ago stopped caring when they did), letting more precious time slip away as he pontificates.

"Are you finished?" She asks, ice falling from every word. "Good." And that's when she attempts to hit him with a Blindness Curse, a bit of Dark Magic she worked up to incapacitate any troublesome opponents, followed by a kick to his knee, to force him down. Even without her two Crests, Edelgard still learned how to use an axe and fight in heavy armour, then spent five years honing those skills in war. She is stronger than people might think, and her blows still have weight to them.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

While he might not have a counter to the curse of blindness, he's gotten far more proficient with his healing magic in conjunction with his blood magic. When she strikes him, he buckles, but he heals his own knee at the moment he feels the impact, then uses his own blood magic to get his own blood pumping.

Sure, he could use his blood magic to make Edelgard sluggish, but unlike her, he's not willing to sacrifice someone who could wind up making a difference in the end.

So he grits his teeth and his knees buckle, but he doesn't fall. He stands his ground.

"Kehehe...so that's the kinda ruler you are, huh? Fall in line or fall in place? You're the one wasting time now. All you have to do is spare me a fraction of the time you'll be using to mobilize anyway."

He stands back up and while he can't see her, it's obvious from the way every muscle is twitching and the faint crackle of magical energy emanating from his body that he'll only back down if she kills him on the spot.

"Do the right thing. It costs you nothing." A final plea to at least hear him out.

Aftermath

[sapphirecontess]

Musse's face is a bit wan, although she is clearly exerting considerable effort to hide it, putting on her usual, cheerful and mischievous facade.

"Edie! Thank you SO much for inviting us into your home! I don't have much so please, don't trouble yourself."

Even exhausted as she is, Musse still knows how to put on a good face. Also, apparently, has decided if they're living together nicknames are in order.

[flame_emperor]

The familiar nickname catches "Edie" by surprise; since Dorothea went back to her Fódlan, Edelgard hadn't expected to hear it again during her stay in Avalon. Still, coming from Musse, more like Dorothea than Edelgard first realized, it brings a smile to her face, a welcome thing in these dark days since the equinox.

She can tell Musse is affecting her good cheer (who wouldn't be, given the circumstances) but decides it's better to pretend to be fooled. She's familiar with having to hide her emotions. So she nods lightly. "Well, bring your things into the den, then. We're still waiting on our other guest. Once she arrives we can sort out of the room arrangements." The spare bedroom is smaller and gets less light, but it is a bedroom, fully furnished. The studio is larger and gets more natural light, but until recently was Edelgard's paint studio and had to be put together somewhat quickly.

She leads Musse into the rather cozy den where a small kitten lounges on the couch, drawing up into a sitting position as they enter. "Come now, Aloysius, off you get. We have company." Edelgard gently scoops the kitten from the couch and onto the floor so Musse can have room. Aloysius hops down onto the floor with a small mew, and rolls lazily onto his side.

"Feel free to make yourself at home." Since, for the foreseeable future, she is. "I forgot to mention since we had two rooms to spare, I reached out to someone else in case she also wanted to make room for the refugees, and she agreed." It seemed neater all around if all the house's residents were female, and Robin seemed like she'd make a good, conscientious housemate. "Can I get you anything to drink while we wait? Something to eat?"

[sapphirecontess]

Musse brings a small suitcase in cute pastel pink into the den, standing it up to the side. Saphir, her blue falcon, glides easily into the room before perching on bag, eying Aloysius but otherwise remaining still and at attention. She seats herself where Edelgard indicated.

"Robin is a dear friend, it's wonderful that she'll be joining us! And I would love some tea if you have it, while I don't have many possessions moving is still quite a lot of work."

As she sits, Musse takes in the space, her eyes flitting with interest across the place these two powerful women have made their home.

[hegemonwings]

The sound of the back door and footsteps can be heard from the kitchen, and a black eagle flutters its way further into the living room. It perches on top of a small sculpture, eyeing Musse and Saphir somewhat warily with a chittering sound.

"El?" Byleth speaks up, before stepping through into the den with a simple recurve bow in hand, absently unstringing it and placing it against the wall. Her dark blue hair is loosely tied back, and she's simply dressed in black training clothes. She blinks at Musse, glancing to Edelgard before realization dawns. Yes. Right! Okay. "Ah. I must have lost track of time," she says, a flicker of sheepishness crossing her face. "Welcome. El's told me about you. Musse, isn't it?"

She fits the description, anyway.

[flame_emperor]

As far as the den goes, it's comfortably-appointed and cozy. In addition to the sculpture soon to serve as the rest for Byleth's familiar eagle, the wall above the couch where Musse is currently seated is mostly occupied by a painting, of two eagles at dawn. A brass plate embedded in the frame identifies the work as "The Future".

Meanwhile, Edelgard's eyebrows rise in surprise. "Oh. I didn't know you and Robin were already acquainted." She confesses. "Well! Then things really did work out nicely." But then they're joined by Byleth, and Edelgard turns to greet her warmly, stepping up to the other woman as she places the bow.

"Not to worry. Yes, this is Musse. Actually, it's Mildine Juzalith de Cayenne, but she would prefer to be known by Musse." Edelgard replies lightly shooting a smile in Musse's direction, before leaning in and pressing her lips to Byleth's cheek in greeting. "Hello, darling." She steps back. "I'm just going to get our guest some refreshments, and Robin should be here shortly. I'll just be a moment,"

She slides past Byleth with another fond smile, and out of the room.

[grimaoire]

It took Robin little time to pack up her affects and make her way to her new (albeit temporary) home. Finding a suitable gift for Byleth and Edelgard, well, that's another thing. Hopefully her new housemates won't mind her being a bit late, as she pulls the suitcase with her things with one hand, a house plant tucked in her other arm. She wanted to make sure she found something just right, she only hopes that she hasn't missed her mark.

Reaching the front door, her diminutive owl familiar glides down from a nearby tree before landing on her shoulder. The tactician shifts a bit, first to move the pot out of her way, then deciding to let go of her suitcase instead so she can knock. Hello? Is anyone home?

[sapphirecontess]

Hearing the knock and knowing who it must be, Musse jumps to her feet, perhaps a bit more enthusiastically than she may have intended.

"I can get it!"

She opens the door with a bit of a sly smile as she spots Robin.

"My my, how unexpected to see you here~"

[hegemonwings]

Byleth accepts the greeting kiss with a quiet laugh, nodding when Edelgard speaks up again. "I'll handle things here," she replies, and then—well. There's the door. She waves once at the familiar young woman when Musse opens the door, stepping over.

"Welcome. Please, come in. Do you want help with any of that?" she gestures to the obviously somewhat unwieldy load the tactician is carrying, eyebrows slightly raised. The plant is a surprise, but a pleasant one.

[flame_emperor]

From the kitchen, Edelgard smiles as she hears Musse welcome their other guest. Good thing she'd already prepared for the tactician's arrival. "Hello, Robin! Do come in, there's tea and biscuits on the way." She calls.

Triage B

[beewulf]

"Plans are meant to fail."

Came the gruff and labored reply. "This could have been avoided, multiple times. Choices were made, and life moves on."

He gives a pained cough, one of his ribs were cracked and Beowulf himself appeared worse for wear, he was burnt, bruised and torn up. But the giant, bear of a person was still standing and moving about with a purpose like he'd shaken off a bee sting. A broken sword was grasped in one hand, and another blade hung limply from a chain at an enormous wrist. "But will you stand there, wallowing in self-pity and anger, young lady? Or, will you help make sure what life is attempting to move on is able to do so?"

[flame_emperor]

"Poor plans, maybe." But the big man is right. The Immaculate One's body was still warm when Edelgard had gotten to work, reorganizing what had been her invasion force into a search and rescue operation. Seiros was dead, but Fhirdiad was still burning, the night was still young, and there was still much work to do. So she nods, more to herself than Beowulf.

"You're right. People need our help. We do what we can." She looks down a burning street; one building is only partially collapsed. There could be people inside who escaped the rampage. Edelgard turns, cape flaring out behind her as she moves with purpose, towards the building.

"With me then, sir. I have a feeling I'll need your strength."

[beewulf]

Planning is indispensable, but plans themselves were useless. He doesn't say that though and was more pleased by how quickly she switched tasks. Still he watches the swish of her cape for a second with a frown, but she's also the dramatic sort, isn't she?

"More than likely you will." He was injured, terribly. But he was not one for laying down and stopping. He gives her a head tilt, breathing heavily and deeply with each word, and step, and breath. His eyes flickered from her to the charred bodies and piles of ash, to the burning street and collapsed building. With a sigh he places a hand on her shoulder to stop her.

"I go first... and take your cape off your shoulders. Don't know what it might get snagged on, or when you need it as a tool."

[flame_emperor]

Edelgard shudders involuntarily as Beowulf places his hand on her, but after a moment, she merely nods and begins to unhook her cape. "Understood." She replies. Should have known to do that; Fhirdiad wasn't so long ago, after all. This was not an experience she was eager to repeat so soon...or ever.

The door is partially blocked by debris. "If you can get us inside, I can use my Blood Magic to hunt scan for pulses." She tells him. Times like this almost made her miss having her two Crests, if only for the severe physical boost they gave her. But with them both sealed, she'll have to pace herself a great deal more. Beowulf is already injured, and it promises to be a long night ahead.

[beewulf]

The massive hand slides off her shoulder after she complies. No need to potentially add another injury to the table. For a moment Beowulf looks Edelgard over a moment longer before doing what he said. Taking a step ahead of her, nodding his head and rolling a broad shoulder.

It was perhaps a good thing that he'd always been physically imposing and powerful. The kind of natural strength used to wrestle demons and dragons into submission were now being put to use quickly clearing away debris and ramming the door down without a second thought. "Right... just take care."

At the very least his gruff voice sounded to be genuinely concerned for her? Or at least as much as he could given the environment and his usual, natural tone.

[flame_emperor]

"I will. Thank you." She slides into the room once Beowulf clears the way, taking her time to do so carefully; the building is likely unstable and there's little light to be had.

She bows her head and closes her eyes, once she's found a spot she thinks is stable enough to work. "One moment. I need to concentrate."

Edelgard lets her senses extend outward, upwards above the ceiling, like red tendrils emanating from her body, looking for a specific source; blood, pulsing with life, flowing through veins, spilling out from cuts or wounds...anything that might indicate life. She pushes through the sensations of Beowulf's blood, trying to filter the obvious out. This building had been some sort of tenement...five, maybe six floors. At each new floor, the tendrils split running down long hallways, splitting again to search through doors and rooms, and further, further up.

Her brow knits in concentration, and sweat beads her forehead, not just from the heat. Edelgard makes a mental note to try to refine this process to be less taxing, she's never done this before but she can already tell this method is far to waste—

The tendrils make contact, blood pulsing with life, but weak...old blood, dead blood staining the ground. An injury. Edelgard's eyes open, and she looks up.

"Fourth floor. Someone's up there. Alive, but wounded. We need to get up there fast."