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Topics - Con

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16
Cinder Spires Spoilers / Population Density?
« on: May 01, 2022, 01:02:26 PM »
So 3000 guardsmen 1500 marines crew of predator tops it over to 5000
The spire is 10000 feet high 250 hobbles 236 are occupied
2 miles across each
Habble Landing has 2 times the population of most Habbles and 70% of the Habbles trade goes through it at some point, cause hiring a windlass is cheaper than using the central spiral which has taxes by each Habble.

Can anyone do the maths of the total population of the spire?

17
DF Spoilers / Easter Bunny?
« on: April 18, 2022, 08:24:26 AM »
So Eldest Gruff doubles as Easter Bunny right?

Am I right or am I right?

18
DF Spoilers / Star Born (direct quotes compilation)
« on: February 15, 2022, 07:49:13 PM »
edit: I thought about putting this at the bottom but I'm trying to keep the quotes more or less chronologically by book.

Rashids analyses of the Senior Councils decisions and concerns in Summer Knight my have some bearing on Star Born and what they fear.
Quote
"We have set our feet upon a darkling path" he murmured. "A road that will grow only more dangerous. Our first steps are crititcal. We must make them with caution."
The cowl turned to Ebenezar and the Gatekeeper said.
"You love the boy Wizard MCCoy. You would fight to defend him. Your own dedication to our cause is not inconsiderable. I respect your choice.
He turned toward LaFortier.
"You question Dresden's loyalty and his ability. You imply that only a bad seed can grow from bad soil. Your concerns are understandable-and if correct, then Dresden poses a major threat to the Council."
He turned to Ancient Mai and inclined the cowl forward a few degrees. The Ancient replied with a slight bow of her own.
"Ancient Mai" The Gatekeeper said "You question his ability to use his power wisely. To judge between right and wrong. "You fear that DuMornes teaching may have twisted him in ways even he cannot yet see. Your fears too are justified."
He turned to the Merlin. "Honored Merlin. You know that Dresden has drawn death and danger upon the Council. You believe that if he is removed so will be that danger. Your fears are understandable but not reasonable. Regardless of what happens to Dresden, the Red Court has struck a blow against the Council too deep to be ignored. A cessation of current hostilities would only be the calm before the storm."
...
"Let him secure the assistance of Winter. If he does that should lay to rest your concerns regarding his ability LaFortier"
LaFortier frowned then nodded at the Gatekeeper. He turned to Ancient Mai.
"Should he accomplish this it should show that he is willing to accept responsibility for his mistake and to work against his own best interests for the greater good of the Council. It should satisfy your concerns ass to his judgement-to make the mistakes of youth is no crime but not to learn from them is. Agreed?"
Ancient Mai narrowed he rheumy eyes but gave the Gatekeeper a precise nod.
"And you honored Merlin. Such a success may do much to alleviate the pressure of the coming war. If securing routes through the Nevernever places the Red Court at a severe enough disadvantage, it may even enable us to avoid it entirely. Surely it would prove Dresden's dedication to the Council beyond a doubt."
...
"Then perhaps their fears are more justified than your affection, Wizard McCoy. We may indeed conclude that his appointment to full Wizard initiate may have been premature."

Some interesting theories and politics that could have bearing on Harry being Star Born and why LtW is so cautious about the political ramifications.

Curtesy of @morriswalters:
If you wish you may want to add this quote from Blood Rites
Quote
Quote
She touched my face again and said, "I was so arrogant. I laid too great a burden upon you to bear alone. I hope that one day you will forgive me my mistake. But know that I am proud of what you have become. I love you, child."

Lash gives the first direct hints.
Quote
"I mean no insult by it, but you should know that your ability to comprehend your environment is very strongly defined by your belief in a number of illusions. Time, Truth. Love That kind of thing. It isn't you fault of course-- but it does impose limits upon your ability to percieve and unerstand some matters.
...
She sighed. "Again you have only a partial understanding. But in the interest of expediency yes. You would have to cease living".
...
"because of the circumstances of your birth-because of *why* you were born Harry. Your mother found strength to escape Lord Raith for a *reason*."
...
"He Who Walks Behind *is* an Outsider, Harry. A terrible creature, the most potent of the Walkers, a powerful knight among their ruling entities, But when he came for you, you overthrew hi,."
...
"You have potential to hold great power over them. You may be able to escape the power now held over you. If you are sure it is what you want."

Cold Days various people mention Harry's growing knowledge, power and interest by various beings.

Mother Winter
Quote
"So" she whispered a moment later. "You have finally come to see what has been before you all this time."
...
"He knew certain names. He was not wholly stupid in choosing them or wholly wrong in using them."
mother Summer's bright green eyes narrowed. "Did he..?
"No" croaked Mother Winter "Not that one. But he has seen the adversary and learned one of its names"
...
"So many new futures unwinding"
"Too many Bright ones" Mother Winter said sullenly
"Even you must think better that than empty night."
...
"He is a weapon. Let him be made stronger"
"Or broken"
...
"If you choose to walk with me what is seen cannot be unseen and what is known cannot be unknown. It may harm you.
...
"You may never know a night's peace again. Knowledge is power, young man. Power to do good and power to do harm. Some knowledge can hurt. Some can kill."
...
"Even if it may haunt you? Harm You? Isolate you?"
[/quote]
Now at the time I just assumed Mother Summer was just talking about the Outer Gates but now with everyone being nervous about StarBorn maybe Mother Summer only showed Harry some of it a half truth only what he was ready. Very Fae like. Maybe Mother Summer thought she told him as much as she could and thought Harry would piece it together. Harry in this seen himself comments on the cripticness in his inner monolog.

Quote
"JUST TELL ME WHOSE SKULL TO CREAK WITH MY CLUB DAMMIT!"

Now Rashid's turn at criptic albeit more White Council stuff
Quote
"Still I can't recall the last time a wizard of your age managed the trip however it was done. You take after your mother."
I blinked "You knew her?"
"Those of us who spend any amount of time wlaking the Ways tend to develop a certain amount of camaraderie. We would have dinner every so often compare notes of our walks. And there were several of us who were friends of Ebenezar who.. took it upon ourselces to watch over her."
...
"You've become aware of the adversary" he said his one one of firm approval. "Excellent. I was certain your particular pursuits would get you killed long before you got a chance to lean."
...
"to say nothing of the problems you've created for yourself that you haven't found out about yet."
...
"Wait" I said "What problems? I haven't been trying to create problems:
"Oh" he said waving a hand. "You've danced about in the shadows at the edge of life now young man. That's no small thing, to go into those shadows and come back again-- you've no idea the kind of attention you've attracted."
...(Outsider lo down)
...
"I know precisely how it feels to be where you are... Precisely"
....
"I will settle matters between you and the Council which knows only as much about our roles as it needs to-- and that isn't much"

Vadderung conversation
Quote
"I'm sure it isn't an uncommon play among wizards" I said
Something in his eye flashed, an amused thought that went by almost before I could see it.
"Fewer try it than you might think"
...
"Nothing that significant just happens, Dresden"
...
"I'm aware of how important it is that the island be well managed. Most of the people who came to your party in Mexico are."
By which he meant the Grey Council.
...
"Wizard... you have been dead and returned. It has marked you. It had opened doors and paths that you do not yet know exist, and attracted the attention of beings who formerly would never have taken note of your insignifance
"Meaning what?" I asked
There was no humour at ll in his face. "Meaning that now more than ever you are a fulcrum. Meaning that your life is about to become very, very interesting."





Ebenezar gives us the footnote version
Quote
"Every couple or three wizard generations" Ebenezar said "the stars line up just right and what amounts to a spotlight plays over the earth for a few hours. Any child born within that light--"
...
"Power against the Outsiders" the old man growled "Among other things that their minds can't be magically tainted by contact with anything from Outside. Which means..."
(fight with Outsiders in which Harry has the penny dropped)
"Not until I get something on this whole starborn thing."
...
"I told you You were born at the right time and place. As a result you.. He sighed as if struggling to find an explanation. "Your life force resonates at a frequency that is the mirror opposite and cancellation of the Outsiders. They can't take away your free will. They're vulnerable to your power. Hell you can punch them and they'll actually feel pain from it.
...
"This starborn thing. It happens all the time?"
"Once every six hundred and sixty-six years."
"Why?" I asked him "What's it for? What's coming?"
"Lessons over for tonight. I already said more'n I should've"

Harry's penny drop moment
Quote
Was that why Nemesis for example had revealed itself to me but had never actually attacked me in an effort to take control of my thoughts and actions? Because it actually *couldn't*? It made sense grouped with my previous experiences with Outsides, where others had been disalbed by their attacks while I had still been capable of taking action. It meant that not only could I resist their influence but I could go up against these things, mind to mind, without fear of short-circulating my brain along the way.

So I'm collecting all the star born quotes I can find. Quite afew from Battle Ground.

Mab barely contains herself several times.
Quote
"He is *exactly* my weapon she hissed "By his own choice. Which is more than *your* people ever gave him. And they call the Sidhe wicked and deceitful."
I blinked and shot a glance at Ebenezar
The old man wouldn't meet my eyes.
...
"Immortality offers a significant advantage but it is no substitute for intelligence. Remember that young wizard"
Ebenezar scowled and opened his mouth.
"Should it for some bizarre reason ever be necessary" Mab said smoothly before he could speak.
 I stared back and forth between the pair of them for a second.
Yeah. Time for things to change.

Well Drakul reveals the most:

Quote
"Their immaculate beardlinesses have you in the dark even now? As one starborn to another I must say it seems unseemly in the extreme."
...
"I would tell you to ask of your own White Council what they aren't telling you, what they bred you for, and what they expect you to do."
...
"Ill be open with you star-born."

LtW is scared enough of the truth and apparently has to do some political favours to reveal it:
Quote
"He's got a different set of priorities."
"Because he's starborn" I guessed
Listens to Wind looked at me sharply.
...
"There's some secrets that do worse than get you killed. A whole hell of a lot worse."
...
"I'll be your advocate. I'll speak on your behalf to the others"
...
"Thats how big this is boy. I a senior wizard of the White Council don't think I'm smart enough to make this call alone"
...
"The people I need to talk to? Make it a year."

River Shoulders knows but tries to stay out of it:
Quote
He looked uncomfortable. "Lot of the wizards who matter are near the end. Hanging on hard."
I tilted my head at him "Why?"
"Not the right erson time or place to tell starborn.
I pursed my lis. "Six hundred and sixty sic years" I said experimentally
River's craggy brows rose itself a feat of superhuman strenth "Huh" he said "You learned some things"
"I learnt that" I said
"We pretty close to that time" he said "Kinda promised not to tell you anything. Sucks. Necessary."
...
"There's plenty that you don't know yet. And maybe this story isn't mine to tell."

Mavra says
Quote
"Starborn are for the Master"

and Listens one apparently valuable enough for Corb and Ethniu to keep him around
Quote
"How many starborn are there wandering about this close to the endga-"

So Eb and LtW seem to be a bit guilty about keeping whatever it is from Harry. Given Ebs other major secrets were Blackstaff and Grandad it's gotta be bigger then those right?

Mab and Drakul think the White Councils manipulating even 'breeding' Harry with him having little choice about it.

Morgan the Bastard. Sorry I refuse to give him SnapeSyndrome forgiveness.
(edit add. I figured Morgans acknowledgement should be acknowledged.)
Quote
"But I don't like you. I think you are dangerous" His mouth twisted. "But I am no longer convinced you these things out of malice. I think you lack discipline and judgement. You have repeatedly demonstrated your willingness to put yourself in harm's way to protect others. As much as it galls me to admit it, I don't think you have any evil intentions. I think your questionable actions are the result of arrogance and poor judgement. In ther end it matters little why you do it. But I cannot in good conscience condemn you for it without giving you some sort of chance to prove me wrong."
It's basically the entire journal entry so reread and enjoy. It's a great addition to the lore:
https://www.jim-butcher.com/posts/2020/morgan-microfiction-rpg-art-and-more

So Maggie and Morgan were friends enough for Morgan to promise to look out for her son despite her shaky relationship with the council. A promise he broke regardless.

Dresden was vanished from all record.

The Adversary (who we know is Nemesis from Mother Winter) has pretty much cursed Dresden.

There were 'controls' that Morgan could trigger.

Harry could be a 'Destroyer' lets assume Kemmler and Drakul are Destoryers.

oh and that throw away line of 'web of conflicts' among the Senior Council could have been what LtW was talking about needing favours.

Alright relevant WOJ
(click to show/hide)

Quote
And also what is Drakul a scion of?
Drakul wasn't a scion of anything! He was something entirely unhuman that got trapped in human form. Dracula was his half-human child, who naturally had enormous paternal issues, and wound up creating himself as the first Black Court Vampire in an effort to win his father's approval.
It didn't work out so well.

Quote
Well yeah there's only one guy who can soulgaze with a kraken and the kraken's scared of him, right.

Well essentially yeah. That was more a starborn thing but anyway. There you go free one for the audience.

Quote
Alright, so, then as much as we can get about Nemesis now that we can see it's taken someone particularly close to Dresden and his brother. Is there really just one way that it spreads from person to person/being to being or are there particular requirements that have to be met?

Not terribly. The only limit it has is how many places it can be at once, it can only be in so many places at once.

But it's more than a couple because we've seen at least a few at the same time.

More than a couple but there's a limit.

Less than forty thousand starborn.

Less than forty thousand starborn, correct. The whole point of the starborn is that they don't have to put up with the nonsense from the outsiders, stuff like Nemesis taking them over.

Quote
Priscellie: How long have starborns been a thing? Is it recent millennia or much further back?

Jim: Oh for many many many many many moons, as long as anyone remembers, including among the supernatural memories. That's been going since creation got started, it's sort of a well you'll see what it is later when we talk about it more.

Quote
How often do the Ladies’, Queens’ and Mothers’ mantles change?
Uh, the Ladies, Queens and Mothers, their mantles change very, very, very rarely in general. I mean, Mab’s been there for better than 1,000 years. And Maeve’s been there….there was a Winter Lady before Maeve, uh, in Mab’s time. And she didn’t fare so well the last time a Starborn was running around.

WOJ on Kemmler being Warden
Quote
Priscellie: Who was the warden of Demonreach before Harry?

Jim: Lemme think, I know who it is, and who the guy before that was, but the guy before /that/ was Kemmler so...

Priscellie: Oh god. *laughs*

Jim: Yeah, I mean, half of that entire thing was just the white council trying to keep Kemmler from getting back to the island and opening it up. Which is why they had him being hounded by the wardens all through the wild west and so on. It was to stop him from being able to set things up even more. Kemmler is sort of in the Dresden Files universe he's sort of the Dresden Files version of WWI where it was actually the biggest most epic most incredible conflict the world has ever known but we're all used to seeing WWII because they got some of it on film but we didn't get nearly as much of the great war on film but when you actually go and study it and study all the troop numbers and resources involved WWI was really the great war and WWII was kind of a follow-up. A softer echo in many ways.

Priscellie: In terms of how long someone is a warden, I'm sure it varies from case to case but how long does wardenship typically last?

Jim: It depends on how quickly it gets you killed.

Priscellie: Is that the only way out?

Jim: I'd say it's not the only way out. You can definitely walk away from it or be dragged away from it or driven away from it. And then if somebody else comes along and challenges Demonreach then it's their island if your influence isn't there anymore. By the time Harry got there nobody had been there in a good long while because amon the people who are in the know on the council it would be suicide to go try and do that. If one of the senior council guys got it all the other senior council guys would be like "yep he's the bad guy he's definitely corrupt and serving evil". And then Dresden walked into it and it was just such a stupid move they all kind of looked at him and went "I thing he was he was being dumb? Do you think he was being dumb? Yeah it looks dumb. It looks like he was just being stupid, oh my god, we do need the firepower", you know, like that. The poor council, they find themselves so strapped for resources in so many ways that they keep having to tolerate Harry Dresden.

Priscellie: Did his (Kemmler) wardenship end when he was killed after WWII?

Jim: It ended during one of the times they killed him. Kemmler got killed a bunch of times. He was one of those fun villains who just kept getting back up again just kept Napoleoning his way back into being a problem for the white council.

So thats every quote from the series or WOJ that I can find directly dealing with starborn mania. Discuss, critisize, correct, add or subtract. But if you need a question topic as most of the good topics do.

Why is everyone so nervous about telling Harry?

If it was just about Power, Why would Ebenezar, Listens and River feel guilty? Listens is a good guy a doctor and a healer, who doesn't want to hrut Harry and who isn't sure it's his call alone. Rivers thinks he owes Harry not just for protecting his son but bringing them closer, but still not for him to say.

Ebenezar. He's Blackstaff who kills thousands of humans the only time he's felt guilty about it was telling Harry. The other biggest secret was he was his Grandfather. Hell Ebenezar outright duelled Harry over White Court when he thought he was in the right.

Rashid and Vadderung both say beings are now watching Harry closely because he came back from the dead and implied because he's Star Born. The next book Harry actually meets a God of Death, Hades. Maybe Hades had to sign off on someone being brought back that they're worthy?

Mab and Drakul both seem to think Immortality is possible and maybe on the horizon for Harry.

(Ok so siigh personal note this post is close to 3000 words sorry for the info dump and I really hope I got all the damn coding and brackets right)

(edited:Added Morris's Blood Rites quote, Kemmler being Warden and Drakul being a Scion.)

(edited: added Rashids council discussion and Morgans admission of wrong)

19
DF Spoilers / Ages of Characters
« on: January 05, 2022, 01:22:50 PM »
So it occurred to me around the time I got to Margaret le fey that you could just check the Dresden FIles timeline for most of these people.... but I'd already got that far down the list...

So in order of eldest to youngest:
Pre-Reality: Walkers: Behind, Before, Beside. (They had to be exiled from reality when reality was formed right?)
Pre-Planet: Uriel (Has been fighting wars since before this planet was gaseous)
Shagnasty (Naagloshii helped create the world before going evil)
Lash/Lasciel (Debatable but assuming she has all the memories and knowledge of Lasciel)
Anduriel(I have a WAG Theory he was the Original Uriel but assuming based on what we know)
Denarian Fallen Angels (Ursiel, Magog, Namshiel etc)
Demonreach (Made outside of time...)
Mother Winter (WOJ is she's been around since the Ice Ages)
Ferrovax (WOJ Dragons were used to create things like the Amazon River, massive geoshifts type which only really occurred after the Ice Age)
Ethniu? (She's a Titan could mean she was born when Titans rule the Earth could be later on)
Mother Summer (WOJ is their was one other Mother Summer before this one but she's still old as dirt... maybe even literally)
Vadderung (assuming he's the original Woden/Odin)
Hades (Tricky but Hades is rarely in Primordial myths and was a son of the Titans so)
River in his Shoulders? (Actually what started this idea for me. Theories range from 6000 years to 1000 years ago. Depending on when he 'crossed the ice')
Red King (4000 years old)
Arinna Ortega (Before written Language)
Nicodemus (2000 years ago)
Polonius Latessa (Was a temple prostitute according to the Archive)
Diedre (Tessa 'invested' 2000 years)
Lord Raith (WOJ he's a couple thousand years old '2 thousand years of paranoia' built up)
Quintus Cassius 'snakeboy' (Corrected by KsG. Latin name probably Latin Rome)
Genowska
Eldest Gruff (I like to think he tutored Titania as the wise old tutor to current monarch trope)
Mab/Titania (William the Conqeuror/Arthurian myths were 5th century to 9th)
Sigrun Gard (Old Norse 'Geats' 6th century to 14th)
Erlking (Herne was shakespeare. Erlkoenig was 1800s poem. Give him the benefit of the doubt make him 1000 given the amount of respect he gets.)
Vlad Drakul (someone wanna do the 666 maths for me?)
Rashid  (Fought the evil Arab Wizard. 700s ad.)
Dracula
Bob (Medieval France Etienne the Enchanter picked him up)
Mavra (600 years old)
Duke Ortega (conquistador)
Ancient Mai (400 years old)
Langtry/Ebenezar/LtW (WOJ they were young men on various sides of the 7 years war. Same age. Give or take a decade)
Corpsetaker (Apparently Harry says she was White Council around this time as well. Credit to newbie fillmoreb)
la Fortier (Senior Council)
Maeve/Aurora (One lady each before they assumed the thrones.17th century composer)
Lara Raith (Been around for a few centuries, knew Luccio when she was young spent the 19th century in Japan)
Simon Petrovitch (He had considerable influence during WW1/Russian Revolution)
Luccio (1800 or so. WOJ is she was a child during War of 1812)
Rasmussen (Ursiels host Since 1849 *dead now*)
Kemmler (Had a century to plan WW1)
Grevane (Appeared in Luccio short story)
Bjorn (*Shrug* one of the few Veteran Wardens around. I like to think he's been around for awhile.)
Donald Morgan (Fought in WW1 against Kemmler)
Margaret le Fey
Justin DuMorne (Picked up Bob at Kemmlers defeat. Pietrovich's apprentice. Some implications he was his apprentice during WW1)
Michael Carpenter (Vietnam Vet)
Marcone
Thomas
Murphy
Harry
Butters
Susan
Mister
Molly
Mouse
Maggie

Feel free to correct, add or discuss.

20
DF Spoilers / Death Foreshadowing
« on: November 21, 2021, 03:08:04 AM »
So am rereading Proven Guity and there's a Lash quote thats always bothered me.

Quote
"I mean no insult by it but you should know that your ability to comprehend your environment is very strongly defined by your belief in a number of illusions. Time. Truth. Love. That kind of thing. It isn't your fault of course- but it does impose limits upon your ability to percieve and understand some matters."
... "To do so you would have to release your hold on mortality"
... She sighed. "Again you only have a partial  understanding. But in the interest of expediency, yes. You would have to cease living"

So what do you think Dresdens new understanding would be now that he's died or atleast 'ceased living' for awhile?

21
The Bar / Happy Birthday Harry Dresden!
« on: October 31, 2021, 08:03:42 AM »
Thought I'd beat Dina to the punch.

Happy Birthday Harry Dresden!

22
DF Spoilers / Marcone the Informant
« on: October 24, 2021, 06:16:02 AM »
So one of my favourite theories is the reason Marcone has no trouble from local law enforcement is because he's made a deal on a government level.

It's happened before with senior Mob bosses.

What Marcone offers however is much more valuable as an informant then just organised crime activity. Marcone can inform on The Unseelie Accords and other supernatural powers.

Thats invaluable information for the US Government or even other World Governments.

Not to mention it just makes Marcone more powerful which he's always trying to increase.

Discuss.

23
DF Spoilers / Mother Winter Blackstaff Back
« on: October 06, 2021, 08:05:12 AM »
So Harry is technically Mother Winters, Winter Knight. Harry owes her allegiance. Could she task harry with getting the Blackstaff back?

24
DF Spoilers / Lara "Romany" ex husband
« on: October 05, 2021, 06:14:04 AM »
So with Lara and Harry's betrothel thought it worth pointing out she has been married before. Briefly.

I'm rereading Blood Rites when she admits it.

Possible it's a literal Romani person.

25
Cinder Spires Spoilers / New Cinder Spires details.
« on: September 13, 2021, 11:53:05 AM »
So new Cinder Spire details from Jims Dragoncon 2021 QnA

1. Next book is 40% done will hopefully be done by Jims birthday 26th of October.
2. Circumventing the globe happened in the past there are records of.
3. Most shipping uses etheric currents from tower to tower. My analogy is Kinda like Hyperspace Routes in Star Wars.
4. Smaller ships go the long way round not using the etheric currents. Kinda like Smugglers in Firefly or Star Wars.

27
DF Spoilers / Anduriel's One Line
« on: August 23, 2021, 06:48:51 AM »
So SKin Game Michael is trying to redeem Nicodemus. I have a headcannon Anduriels one line to pevent Nicodemuss redemption.

"He Thinks He Knows Faith"

28
DF Spoilers / Nicodemus Venatori
« on: August 13, 2021, 09:48:57 AM »
So we know Nicodemus destroys records of himself every couple of century's which is basically the Venatores entire purpose. Nicodemus also knew a lot about the Archive to successfully lure her into a trap.

Has Nicodemus worked with the Venatore's before?

29
DF Spoilers / Beowulf-Venatores
« on: August 06, 2021, 07:57:21 AM »
So I'm doing Beowulf in my Uni course at the moment, more about the historicity of the legend then the legend itself, but an interesting point is that it was probably an oral tradition before it was written down round 1000 AD, but it was only rediscovered from one manuscript in late 1500s early 1600s.

Given what we know of the Archive and Venatores, maybe in Dresdenverse they were trying to destroy the myth.

30
DF Spoilers / Murphy Family Reunion
« on: July 18, 2021, 08:08:10 AM »
Do you think Murphy met her Dad in the Between before signing up with Vadderung?

Seems like the place to make that "choice"

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