- Feb 24, 2006
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A little more than two years ago, I was motivated to invent a slightly different SPF-style challenge for myself, so I started a project to exercise every Horadric Cube recipe at least once. Almost six weeks ago, I successfully completed my Cube Grail. (The D2R 2.4 patch introduced some additional cube recipes, so I suppose that achievement became obsolete while I was working on it. But, oh well. I'm still playing the legacy game patch 1.14 anyway.)
Having reached that achievement, and wanting to keep playing, I decided on another challenge, even more ambitious. I'll continue grinding more Matriarchs/Patriarchs, and as I play, I will invest the maximum 20 skill points in at least one new skill on each character, until I have collected a stable of mats/pats with all 210 skills represented and maxed. Many thanks to all of you that read, reacted, or commented when I first brainstormed this idea.
However, I'm not going to start the project from scratch. I'm just continuing what I started with my Cube Grail mats & pats. Here were the 69 skills maxed so far with those 21 characters:
To continue in earnest on this skills grail, I'm finishing up two of the characters that I started to compete in this year's TC3 Hunting tournament. Today my first ever "Meteorb" sorceress, Chiru, reached level 84 and matriarch.
Matriarch Chiru - Meteorb with Inferno
Started: 9 Feb 2022
Finished: 15 May 2022
Equipment:
Spirit Shell (rare) tiara (2 sorceress skills, life, resists, damaged reduced, socketed w/PTopaz)
Que-Hegan's Wisdom (unique) mage plate
Chance Guards (unique) chain gloves
Stone Strap (rare) sharkskin belt (FHR, life, replenish life, fire/poison resists)
Brimstone Trample (rare) chain boots (30 FRW, cold resist, MF)
Skull Coil (rare) ring (strength, life, cold/lightning resist, MF)
Eagle Finger (rare) ring (energy, resists)
Bone Collar (rare) amulet (+2 lightning skills, dexterity, lightning resist, MF)
The Oculus (unique) swirling crystal
Lidless Wall (unique) grim shield
Glacial (magic) gnarled staff of Firebolts (+3 cold skills, +3 frozen orb, +2 chain lightning)
Mercenary gear:
Blackhorn's Face (unique) death mask
Imp Shell (rare) wire fleece (enhanced defense, reduced poison duration, socketed w/ 2 PTopaz)
Kelpie Snare (unique) fuscina
Thoughts:
In almost all of the meteorb and fire sorceress write-ups that I have read, Meteor was synergized with Fire Ball (or Fire Blast, or both) to greatly boost its instantaneous impact damage. I decided to experiment with Meteor's other synergy, Inferno, which boosts its post-impact slow-roasting barbecue fire damage. Chiru's equipment increases her Meteor skill level to 27, at which each meteor strike's hot embers continue to smolder for just under seventeen seconds. According to Chiru's LCS, her maxed Inferno and level 27 Fire Mastery improve her Meteor's roasting tiles enough to cause 1740-1850 damage per second. This means that Chiru can enjoy watching a Meteor burn away more than 30000 of a monter's hit points, if it lingers in the pyre that long - and many monsters do exactly that while they engage her trusty prayer-aura mercenary, Zanarhi. Furthermore, Meteor's flaming tiles stack, so when Chiru drops six meteors in a row, their combined embers cook more than 10000 fire damage per second! I concede that instant impact damage is probably more efficient to kill monsters quickly. Nevertheless, there's just something I find sadistically satisfying about damage-over-time attacks from fire or poison skills, watching enemies' life bars slowly shrink as they are tortured, rather than vanish in quick merciful deaths.
This makes Chiru my 22nd completed character, even though she is the first to be posted for this new project. The newly maxed skills she contributes are Inferno and Meteor, bringing my sorceress maxed-skill count up to 13 out of 30.
Next, I'll work on Bennu, the last character I started in this year's TC3 Hunt. My plan is to have him use Vengeance on LMB, and then switch between synergized Holy Fire or Holy Freeze auras, depending on what he happens to be fighting. I enjoyed playing the defensive Vengeance paladin I patted back in 2020. I suspect this one will be a little more difficult, because the offensive elemental auras have a large radius at higher skill levels, and the periodic elemental damage pulses will probably lure more monsters at a time to come attack Bennu. Furthermore, I anticipate that this will make them more likely to try to swarm the paladin, rather than get distracted by his mercenary.
Having reached that achievement, and wanting to keep playing, I decided on another challenge, even more ambitious. I'll continue grinding more Matriarchs/Patriarchs, and as I play, I will invest the maximum 20 skill points in at least one new skill on each character, until I have collected a stable of mats/pats with all 210 skills represented and maxed. Many thanks to all of you that read, reacted, or commented when I first brainstormed this idea.
However, I'm not going to start the project from scratch. I'm just continuing what I started with my Cube Grail mats & pats. Here were the 69 skills maxed so far with those 21 characters:
Code:
Amazon, 8/30:
Jab Cold Arrow Inner Sight
Impale Ice Arrow Slow Missiles
Fend Freezing Arrow x Decoy
Power Strike Magic Arrow x Valkyrie
x Charged Strike Multiple Shot Dodge
x Lightning Strike Guided Arrow Avoid
Poison Javelin Strafe x Evade
x Lightning Bolt Fire Arrow x Critical Strike
Plague Javelin Exploding Arrow Penetrate
x Lightning Fury Immolation Arrow Pierce
Assassin, 9/30:
Fists of Fire Burst of Speed Shock Web
Claws of Thunder Fade Charged Bolt Sentry
x Blades of Ice Venom x Lightning Sentry
Tiger Strike x Claw Mastery x Death Sentry
Cobra Strike Weapon Block Fire Blast
x Phoneix Strike Shadow Warrior x Wake of Fire
Dragon Talon x Shadow Master x Wake of Inferno
x Dragon Claw Psychic Hammer Blade Sentinel
Dragon Tail Cloak of Shadows Blade Fury
Dragon Flight Mind Blast Blade Shield
Barbarian, 11/30:
x Howl Sword Mastery Leap
Taunt x Axe Mastery Leap Attack
Battle Cry Mace Mastery Whirlwind
x War Cry x Pole Arm Mastery x Bash
x Shout Throwing Mastery x Stun
Battle Orders Spear Mastery x Concentrate
Battle Command Increased Stamina x Berserk
Find Potion x Increased Speed Double Swing
Find Item x Iron Skin Double Throw
Grim Ward Natural Resists Frenzy
Druid, 10/30:
x Fire Storm Werewolf Oak Sage
x Molten Boulder Feral Rage x Heart of Wolverine
x Fissure Rabies x Spirit of Barbs
x Volcano Fury Raven
Armageddon x Lycanthropy Spirit Wolf
Arctic Blast Fire Claws x Dire Wolf
Cyclone Armor Hunger x Grizzly
Twister Werebear Poison Creeper
Tornado Maul Carrion Vine
Hurricane Shock Wave x Solar Creeper
Necromancer, 9/30:
x Skeleton Mastery x Poison Dagger Dim Vision
x Golem Mastery x Poison Explosion Confuse
Summon Resist x Poison Nova Attract
Clay Golem Teeth Amplify Damage
Blood Golem x Corpse Explosion Iron Maiden
Iron Golem Bone Spear Life Tap
Fire Golem Bone Spirit x Lower Resist
x Raise Skeleton Bone Armor Weaken
x Skeletal Mage Bone Wall Terror
Revive Bone Prison Decrepify
Paladin, 11/30:
Prayer Might x Sacrifice
Cleansing Blessed Aim x Zeal
Meditation Concentration x Vengeance
Defiance x Fanaticism x Conversion
Vigor Holy Fire x Holy Bolt
Redemption Holy Freeze Blessed Hammer
x Resist Fire x Holy Shock x Fist of the Heavens
Resist Cold Thorns Smite
x Resist Lightning Sanctuary Charge
x Salvation Conviction Holy Shield
Sorceress, 11/30:
Frost Nova Static Field Inferno
x Blizzard Nova Blaze
x Frozen Orb Thunder Storm Fire Wall
Ice Bolt Charged Bolt Fire Bolt
x Ice Blast x Lightning x Fire Ball
x Glacial Spike x Chain Lightning Meteor
Freezing Armor Telekinesis Warmth
Shiver Armor Teleport Enchant
Chilling Armor Energy Shield x Hydra
x Cold Mastery x Lightning Mastery x Fire Mastery
To continue in earnest on this skills grail, I'm finishing up two of the characters that I started to compete in this year's TC3 Hunting tournament. Today my first ever "Meteorb" sorceress, Chiru, reached level 84 and matriarch.
Matriarch Chiru - Meteorb with Inferno
Started: 9 Feb 2022
Finished: 15 May 2022
Code:
Name: Chiru
Class: Sorceress
Experience: 990826384
Level: 84
Naked/Gear
Strength: 60/70
Dexterity: 30/47
Vitality: 385/405
Energy: 35/94
HP: 933/1022
Mana: 201/201
Stamina: 532/545
Defense: 7/1117
AR: 100/210
Fire: 107/67/7
Cold: 147/107/47
Lightning: 185/145/85
Poison: 131/91/31
MF: 174 Block: 7
GF: 200 FR/W: 30
FHR: 61 IAS: 0
FCR: 70
Fire Bolt: 1/8
Warmth: 1/8
Inferno: 20/27
Blaze: 1/8
Fire Ball: 7/14
Fire Wall: 1/8
Enchant: 0/0
Meteor: 20/27
Fire Mastery: 20/27
Hydra: 0/0
Charged Bolt: 0/0
Static Field: 1/10
Telekinesis: 1/10
Nova: 0/0
Lightning: 0/0
Chain Lightning: 0/0
Teleport: 1/10
Thunder Storm: 0/0
Energy Shield: 0/0
Lightning Mastery: 0/0
Ice Bolt: 1/9
Frozen Armor: 0/0
Frost Nova: 1/9
Ice Blast: 1/9
Shiver Armor: 0/0
Glacial Spike: 1/9
Blizzard: 1/9
Chilling Armor: 0/0
Frozen Orb: 15/23
Cold Mastery: 1/9
Tome of Identify
Fingerprint: 0x5ee53ce2
Item Level: 8
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Small Charm of Life
Small Charm
Required Level: 14
Fingerprint: 0x521f2b4e
Item Level: 9
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+10 to Life
Viridian Small Charm of Sustenance
Small Charm
Required Level: 17
Fingerprint: 0x55f9dbe2
Item Level: 47
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+11 to Life
Poison Resist +7%
Cobalt Small Charm
Small Charm
Required Level: 20
Fingerprint: 0xa016f9f8
Item Level: 48
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Cold Resist +9%
Small Charm of Fortune
Small Charm
Required Level: 18
Fingerprint: 0xb0b23621
Item Level: 47
Version: Expansion 1.10+
5% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Small Charm of Life
Small Charm
Required Level: 14
Fingerprint: 0x7383984
Item Level: 17
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+10 to Life
Small Charm of Life
Small Charm
Required Level: 14
Fingerprint: 0xe171af0c
Item Level: 37
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+10 to Life
Small Charm of Fortune
Small Charm
Required Level: 18
Fingerprint: 0x3c016d4
Item Level: 49
Version: Expansion 1.10+
5% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Small Charm of Balance
Small Charm
Required Level: 29
Fingerprint: 0x18fe85f1
Item Level: 67
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+5% Faster Hit Recovery
Chilling Grand Charm of Balance
Grand Charm
Required Level: 42
Fingerprint: 0xcac96e91
Item Level: 50
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+1 to Cold Skills (Sorceress Only)
+12% Faster Hit Recovery
Ocher Small Charm
Small Charm
Required Level: 10
Fingerprint: 0x771cf0d4
Item Level: 71
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Lightning Resist +7%
Horadric Cube
Fingerprint: 0x27a51583
Item Level: 13
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Small Charm of Life
Small Charm
Required Level: 14
Fingerprint: 0xebf61bf8
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+7 to Life
Tome of Town Portal
Fingerprint: 0xdc672630
Item Level: 8
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Key
Fingerprint: 0xd067c334
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Beryl Large Charm
Large Charm
Required Level: 1
Fingerprint: 0x3156510a
Item Level: 11
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Poison Resist +5%
Amber Large Charm
Large Charm
Required Level: 27
Fingerprint: 0x4ecedea8
Item Level: 88
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Lightning Resist +15%
Spirit Shell
Tiara
Defense: 91
Durability: 25 of 25
Required Level: 67
Fingerprint: 0x1035cd2b
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+2 to Sorceress Skill Levels
+80% Enhanced Defense
+21 to Life
All Resistances +18
Damage Reduced by 6
24% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
1 Sockets (1 used)
Socketed: Perfect Topaz
Perfect Topaz
Required Level: 18
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Weapons: Adds 1 - 40 Lightning Damage
Armor: 24% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Shields: Lightning Resist +40%
Bone Collar
Amulet
Required Level: 51
Fingerprint: 0x8178a6f1
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+2 to Lightning Skills (Sorceress Only)
+17 to Dexterity
Lightning Resist +31%
Damage Reduced by 1
12% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Que-Hegan's Wisdom
Mage Plate
Defense: 628
Durability: 60 of 60
Required Level: 51
Required Strength: 55
Fingerprint: 0xc2850567
Item Level: 75
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+1 to All Skills
+20% Faster Cast Rate
+20% Faster Hit Recovery
+140% Enhanced Defense
+15 to Energy
Magic Damage Reduced by 10
+3 to Mana after each Kill
Skull Coil
Ring
Required Level: 47
Fingerprint: 0x5c38f13
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+10 to Strength
+6 to Life
+13 Maximum Stamina
Cold Resist +23%
Lightning Resist +29%
15% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Eagle Finger
Ring
Required Level: 48
Fingerprint: 0xc73c9008
Item Level: 90
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+14 to Energy
+1 to Life
All Resistances +9
Lightning Resist +26%
Poison Resist +9%
Level 2 Confuse (25/25 Charges)
Brimstone Trample
Chain Boots
Defense: 14
Durability: 16 of 16
Required Level: 29
Required Strength: 30
Fingerprint: 0x85f4730d
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+30% Faster Run/Walk
+40% Enhanced Defense
Cold Resist +38%
25% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Repairs 1 Durability in 20 Seconds
Chance Guards
Chain Gloves
Defense: 27
Durability: 16 of 16
Required Level: 15
Required Strength: 25
Fingerprint: 0xc9cfca8c
Item Level: 62
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+25 to Attack Rating
+22% Enhanced Defense
+15 Defense
200% Extra Gold from Monsters
38% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
+2 to Light Radius
Beryl Large Charm
Large Charm
Required Level: 1
Fingerprint: 0xe689fdb
Item Level: 11
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Poison Resist +4%
Chiru's Stone Strap
Sharkskin Belt
Defense: 69
Durability: 14 of 14
Required Level: 27
Required Strength: 20
Fingerprint: 0xdf08031f
Item Level: 68
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+24% Faster Hit Recovery
+89% Enhanced Defense
+13 to Life
Replenish Life +4
Fire Resist +30%
Poison Resist +29%
Full Rejuvenation Potion
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Replenishes Mana 100%
Replenishes Health 100%
Full Rejuvenation Potion
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Replenishes Mana 100%
Replenishes Health 100%
Full Rejuvenation Potion
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Replenishes Mana 100%
Replenishes Health 100%
Full Rejuvenation Potion
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Replenishes Mana 100%
Replenishes Health 100%
Super Mana Potion
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Replenishes Mana 250%
Full Rejuvenation Potion
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Replenishes Mana 100%
Replenishes Health 100%
Super Healing Potion
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Replenish Life +320
Greater Healing Potion
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Replenish Life +180
Full Rejuvenation Potion
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Replenishes Mana 100%
Replenishes Health 100%
Super Healing Potion
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Replenish Life +320
Super Healing Potion
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Replenish Life +320
Greater Healing Potion
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Replenish Life +180
Super Mana Potion
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Replenishes Mana 250%
Glacial Gnarled Staff of Firebolts
Gnarled Staff
Two Hand Damage: 4 - 12
Durability: 35 of 35
Required Level: 45
Fingerprint: 0x866ea7dd
Item Level: 88
Version: Expansion 1.10+
10% Chance to cast level 8 Fire Bolt on striking
+3 to Cold Skills (Sorceress Only)
+3 to Frozen Orb (Sorceress Only)
+2 to Blizzard (Sorceress Only)
+2 to Chain Lightning (Sorceress Only)
The Oculus
Swirling Crystal
One Hand Damage: 18 - 42
Durability: 50 of 50
Required Level: 42
Fingerprint: 0x4a690399
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
25% Chance to cast level 1 Teleport when struck
+3 to Sorceress Skill Levels
+30% Faster Cast Rate
+20% Enhanced Defense
+20 to Vitality
+20 to Energy
All Resistances +20
+5 to Mana after each Kill
50% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Lidless Wall
Grim Shield
Defense: 277
Chance to Block: 0
Durability: 70 of 70
Required Level: 41
Required Strength: 58
Fingerprint: 0x926a552
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+1 to All Skills
+20% Faster Cast Rate
+84% Enhanced Defense
+10 to Energy
Increase Maximum Mana 10%
+3 to Mana after each Kill
+1 to Light Radius
Chiru's Bone Fringe
Belt
Defense: 5
Durability: 16 of 16
Required Level: 3
Required Strength: 25
Fingerprint: 0x82de46e6
Item Level: 12
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+10% Faster Hit Recovery
+2 to Strength
+5 to Life
+8 Maximum Stamina
Fire Resist +8%
Chiru's Eagle Mantle
Light Plate
Defense: 177
Durability: 60 of 60
Required Level: 18
Required Strength: 41
Fingerprint: 0x23c89346
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+64% Enhanced Defense
+3 to Life
Lightning Resist +29%
Poison Resist +30%
Magic Damage Reduced by 1
Attacker Takes Damage of 2
Mercenary:
Name: Zanarhi
Race: Desert Mercenary
Type: Comb-Normal
Experience: 65974702
Level: 84
Dead?: false
Naked/Gear
Strength: 188/198
Dexterity: 152/152
HP: 1790/1895
Defense: 1317/2343
AR: 1961/1961
Fire: 201/161/101
Cold: 151/111/51
Lightning: 166/126/66
Poison: 151/111/51
Blackhorn's Face
Death Mask
Defense: 246
Durability: 12 of 20
Required Level: 41
Required Strength: 55
Fingerprint: 0x970b8cc4
Item Level: 82
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Prevent Monster Heal
Slows Target by 20%
+183% Enhanced Defense
Lightning Resist +15%
+20 Lightning Absorb
Attacker Takes Lightning Damage of 25
Imp Shell
Wire Fleece
Defense: 780
Durability: 28 of 32
Required Level: 53
Required Strength: 111
Fingerprint: 0xe7a4917a
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+62% Enhanced Defense
Damage Reduced by 1
Poison Length Reduced by 50%
Attacker Takes Damage of 5
48% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
2 Sockets (2 used)
Socketed: Perfect Topaz
Socketed: Perfect Topaz
Perfect Topaz
Required Level: 18
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Weapons: Adds 1 - 40 Lightning Damage
Armor: 24% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Shields: Lightning Resist +40%
Perfect Topaz
Required Level: 18
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Weapons: Adds 1 - 40 Lightning Damage
Armor: 24% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Shields: Lightning Resist +40%
Kelpie Snare
Fuscina
Two Hand Damage: 81 - 151
Durability: 28 of 35
Required Level: 33
Required Strength: 77
Required Dexterity: 25
Fingerprint: 0x19c1a3b0
Item Level: 49
Version: Expansion 1.10+
173% Enhanced Damage
Adds 30 - 50 Damage
Slows Target by 75%
+10 to Strength
+105 to Life (Based on Character Level)
Fire Resist +50%
Equipment:
Spirit Shell (rare) tiara (2 sorceress skills, life, resists, damaged reduced, socketed w/PTopaz)
Que-Hegan's Wisdom (unique) mage plate
Chance Guards (unique) chain gloves
Stone Strap (rare) sharkskin belt (FHR, life, replenish life, fire/poison resists)
Brimstone Trample (rare) chain boots (30 FRW, cold resist, MF)
Skull Coil (rare) ring (strength, life, cold/lightning resist, MF)
Eagle Finger (rare) ring (energy, resists)
Bone Collar (rare) amulet (+2 lightning skills, dexterity, lightning resist, MF)
The Oculus (unique) swirling crystal
Lidless Wall (unique) grim shield
Glacial (magic) gnarled staff of Firebolts (+3 cold skills, +3 frozen orb, +2 chain lightning)
Mercenary gear:
Blackhorn's Face (unique) death mask
Imp Shell (rare) wire fleece (enhanced defense, reduced poison duration, socketed w/ 2 PTopaz)
Kelpie Snare (unique) fuscina
Thoughts:
In almost all of the meteorb and fire sorceress write-ups that I have read, Meteor was synergized with Fire Ball (or Fire Blast, or both) to greatly boost its instantaneous impact damage. I decided to experiment with Meteor's other synergy, Inferno, which boosts its post-impact slow-roasting barbecue fire damage. Chiru's equipment increases her Meteor skill level to 27, at which each meteor strike's hot embers continue to smolder for just under seventeen seconds. According to Chiru's LCS, her maxed Inferno and level 27 Fire Mastery improve her Meteor's roasting tiles enough to cause 1740-1850 damage per second. This means that Chiru can enjoy watching a Meteor burn away more than 30000 of a monter's hit points, if it lingers in the pyre that long - and many monsters do exactly that while they engage her trusty prayer-aura mercenary, Zanarhi. Furthermore, Meteor's flaming tiles stack, so when Chiru drops six meteors in a row, their combined embers cook more than 10000 fire damage per second! I concede that instant impact damage is probably more efficient to kill monsters quickly. Nevertheless, there's just something I find sadistically satisfying about damage-over-time attacks from fire or poison skills, watching enemies' life bars slowly shrink as they are tortured, rather than vanish in quick merciful deaths.
This makes Chiru my 22nd completed character, even though she is the first to be posted for this new project. The newly maxed skills she contributes are Inferno and Meteor, bringing my sorceress maxed-skill count up to 13 out of 30.
Next, I'll work on Bennu, the last character I started in this year's TC3 Hunt. My plan is to have him use Vengeance on LMB, and then switch between synergized Holy Fire or Holy Freeze auras, depending on what he happens to be fighting. I enjoyed playing the defensive Vengeance paladin I patted back in 2020. I suspect this one will be a little more difficult, because the offensive elemental auras have a large radius at higher skill levels, and the periodic elemental damage pulses will probably lure more monsters at a time to come attack Bennu. Furthermore, I anticipate that this will make them more likely to try to swarm the paladin, rather than get distracted by his mercenary.
[edit: added GoMule dump, matriarch info]
[edit July 2023: added convenient link to Cube Grail mat/pat thread]
[edit July 2023: added convenient link to Cube Grail mat/pat thread]
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