[Deck Dwarf-lord Thorin] Return to Old Dwellings

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Fangorn
Ex Council Member
Posts: 362
Joined: Sat Jan 31, 2009 10:57 pm
Location: Nantes, France

This deck is the one I played this year at Lure.

Thorin wants to restore glory of old days, when Dwarves' might was at its height in the First Age.
He dreams of lost dwarven cities of Gabilgathol and Tumunzahar (Ruins of Belegost and Nogrod).

But these cities are binded with glory of First Age (The Dark Days, Broken Heirlooms), and though he's lured (Call of the Deeps), he doubt about the way in under-deeps maze (No Memory of this Place).
So he first seeks for a feat of considerable range (Challenge).
Assaulting Smaug in Erebor (Birthspot, Dragon's Sleep, Riches Gathered) ?
Very tempting, but too difficult because only foreign help comes from a hobbit (Master-thief).
He secretly thinks about a closest target, which was once an old dwarf city too (Return to Old Dwellings), and is now for centuries one of the most haunted place ...

Thorin relies on his father (Thrain II) who is wise (Trusted Councellor) and greedy (Promise of Treasure).
He is helped too by his brother (Frerin) who heard rumours about a great helmet (Khazadshatur), and his sister (Dis) who has a weird pet (Ruddy Varmint).
His tools are a shield for combat (Oakenshield) and a pipe for meditation (Pipe, Pipe Weed).
He is followed by loyal fellows (Sworn to the Lord, At Your Service !), the strong (Origin of Stone, Children of Aule) and numerous Blue Mountain Dwarves.
They are all fit with an Axe (Dwarven-axe) and ready for fight (Clad for War) : the impressive troop (Dwarven Warparty) is ready (The Great Battle of Our Time) !
Thorin enlisted a strong dwarf (Dworin) who seeks revenge against Orcs (Old Grudge, Old Enemies) in Angmar (Morkai), who should be helpful for his goal.

A wise dwarf (King's Judge) convince him to dig (Miner's Pick) for ore (Durang, Great Miners, Hoard Gathering).
Thus he'll possess enough treasure (A Good Bit Laid By and Not Badly Off) to finance the amazing quest.

To travel unnoticed, he calls for all his brethren to be active.
Lots of dwarves are thus roaming in companies (Naugrim, Naugol, Dragon Hunters) or alone (Kori, Tarin, Glorin, Ibun), and some dangerous (Betrayer's Heart, Grasping and Ungracious).
While others thought no dwarves stay behind (No More Would Come), Thorin finds a hidden place (Bar-en-Ibun) and arise thus Petty-dwarves.
Dwarves aren't the only beings roaming, so are too Giants in high mountains (Giant's Isle, Cirith Helkaloke) but fortunately always alone (A More or Less Decent Giant).

Within the dungeon, Thorin must be prepared (Flaming Torch, Dwarven Cunning) and very careful (Pit-trap).
Otherwise he could fall (Mighty was the Fallen) or become mad in case of failure (He is Lost to Us).
Company have to clean up the place (Get You Gone !).
Then Thorin will finally restore glory (Kingdom under the Mountain) by assaulting ... Carn Dûm !

Hopefull will he leave (Shimmer of Hope) to search for mighty ruins (Deep Mountain Fortress) of First Age cities.
He expects there some valuable treasure (No Match in Your Treasure, Battle-axe of the Fallen).
With his brethren they'll use their skill for finding the way down (Born Within Mountain's Heart).




[DC] stands for a Dreamcard.

Character Pool

Starting Company
[DC MEDF] Thrain II + [DC MEFB] Trusted Councellor + [DC MEDF] Promise of Treasure
[DC MEDF] Dworin + [DC MEDF] Pipe
[DC MEDF] King's Judge + [DC MEDF] Miner's Pick
Kili + Cram
+ [DC MEDF] Oakenshield

In deck
Gulla

Not in deck
Broin
Threlin
[DC MEDF] Gimli, son of Gloin
[DC MEDF] Tupor
[DC MEDF] Dain II


Avatar and Characters

[DC MEDF] Thorin II
[DC MEDF] Thorin II
[DC MEDF] Thorin II
Balin
Gloin
[DC MEDF] Frerin
[DC MEDF] Dis
[DC MEDF] Kori
[DC MEDF] Tarin
Dror
Fori the Beardless


Resources

Durin's Axe
[DC MEDF] Dwarven-axe
[DC MEDF] Khazadshatur
High Helm
The Mithril-coat
Gems of Arda

Blue Mountain Dwarves
Petty Dwarves

[DC MERS] Ruddy Varmint

Vein of Arda

[DC MEFB] Sworn to the Lord
[DC MEDF] Clad for War
[DC MEDF] Great Miners
[DC MEDF] Origin of Stone
[DC MEDF] Old Grudge
[DC MEDF] Old Grudge
[DC MEDF] At Your Service !
[DC MEWR] The Wind is Turning
[DC MEWR] Get You Gone !
An Unexpected Party
The Dwarves are upon You !
The Dwarves are upon You !
The Dwarves are upon You !
Block
A Chance Meeting
A Friend or Three
Longbottom Leaf
Smoke Rings
Smoke Rings
Smoke Rings



Hazards

Durin's Folk
Durin's Folk
Durin's Folk
Dwarven Travellers
Dwarven Travellers
Dwarven Travellers
[DC MEDF] Dwarven Warparty
[DC MEDF] Dwarven Warparty
[DC MEDF] Dwarven Warparty
[DC MEDF] Master-thief
[DC MEDF] Naugol


Gandalf the White Rider
Radagast the Tamer
Saruman the Wise

[DC MEDF] Naugrim
[DC MEDF] Naugrim
[DC MEDF] Naugrim
[DC METN] Betrayer's Heart (vs. Dark/Grey [DC MEGW] Dragon Hunters)
[DC METN] Betrayer's Heart (vs. Dark/Grey [DC MEDF] Alatar the Hunter)
[DC METN] Betrayer's Heart (vs. Dark/Grey [DC MEDF] Pallando the Soul-keeper)
Chill them with Fear
Chill them with Fear
Chill them with Fear
Returned Beyond all Hope
Returned Beyond all Hope
[DC METI] Grasping and Ungracious
[DC MERS] Broken Heirlooms
[DC MEDF] Pit-trap
An Unexpected Outpost
An Unexpected Outpost


Sideboard

vs. all
Fili
Bifur
Bofur
Nori
Oin
[DC MEWR] The Great Battle of Our Time
[DC METN] Flaming Torch
[DC MEDF] Durang
[DC MEDF] Return to Old Dwellings
[DC MEDF] Kingdom under the Mountain
[DC MEDF] Hoard Gathering
[DC MEDF] A Good Bit Laid By
[DC MEDF] Not Badly Off
[DC MEDF] Children of Aule
[DC MEDF] Dwarven Cunning
Forgotten Scrolls
[DC MEDF] Battle-axe of the Fallen
[DC MEDF] Deep Mountain Fortress
[DC MEDF] Pipe Weed
[DC MEDF] Mighty was the Fallen
[DC MEDF] A More or Less Decent Giant
[DC MEDF] Shimmer of Hope
[DC MEDF] Ibun
[DC MEDF] Glorin
Twilight

vs. White
[DC MEDF] No Match in Your Treasure
[DC MENM] Bound Up with It
[DC MENW] Mordo
[DC METI] Grima Wormtongue
Drowning Seas

vs. Dark/Grey
[DC MEDF] Born Within Mountain's Heart
[DC MEDF] Old Enemies
[DC MEWR] Challenge
[DC METN] Lure of Magic
[DC MEWR] Last Army of the West


vs. Fallen
Diminish and Depart
[DC MEFB] The Dark Days
[DC MEFB] He is Lost to Us
[DC MEDF] Call of the Deeps
[DC MERS] No More Would Come
[DC MERS] Heritage Forsaken
[DC MERS] Extravagant Tombs
[DC MERS] Kin-strife
[DC MERS] Many Burdens
[DC MEKN] Fire Unwatched


vs. Grey
[DC MEGW] Birthspot
[DC MEGW] Dragon's Sleep
[DC MEGW] Riches Gathered
[DC MEGW] Western Winds
[DC MEGW] Dragon Hunters
[DC MEGW] Dragon Hunters
[DC MERS] No Memory of this Place
Fled into Darkness
Durin's Bane
Pukel-men


Sites

[DC MEDF] Blue Mountain Hold => Blue Mountain Dwarves
[DC MEDF] Bar-en-Ibun, The Worthy Hills => Petty Dwarves, Ruddy Varmint
Barrow-downs => Durin's Axe, Dwarven-axe, High Helm, Ruddy Varmint
[DC MEKN] Morkai, Mount Gram => Durin's Axe, Dwarven-axe, High Helm
Carn Dum, Mount Gundabad => Durin's Axe, Dwarven-axe, High Helm, The Mithril-coat, Return to Old Dwellings
[DC MENW] Andoloki => Durin's Axe, Dwarven-axe, High Helm
[DC MEGW] Cirith Helkaloke => Durin's Axe, Dwarven-axe, High Helm, A More or Less Decent Giant
Goblin-gate => Khazadshatur, A More or Less Decent Giant
[DC MERS] Giant's Isle => Gems of Arda, A More or Less Decent Giant
The Under-vaults, The Under-grottos, Deep Mines => Vein of Arda, Durang
[DC MEDF] Ruins of Belegost, [DC MEDF] Ruins of Nogrod => [DC MEDF] Battle-axe of the Fallen, [DC MEDF] Deep Mountain Fortress
Zarak-dum => Pale Enchanted Gold, Return to Old Dwellings


Play tips

Characters

Almost all characters in deck are Blue Mountain dwarves.
Starting company is designed to have each skill :
- warrior for battle
- scout for Giant's Isle
- ranger for protection
- sage for Bar-en-Ibun
- diplomat for Get You Gone !

Thrain is the main character in starting company.
Being Thorin's father, he requires only 5 points of influence to control with Trusted Councellor, and has 7 DI !
Promise of Treasure is a small defense against corruption for him.

Oakenshield is the unavoidable gear for Thorin.
It's used to search for Block and recycle it.

Dworin is a strong Firebeard warrior who can prevent the discard of Old Grudge.
He carries the Pipe, very useful with recycling of Smoke Rings (and Pipe Weed which is in sideboard).
When Old Grudge is in play, try to keep him untapped to avoid discarding it.

Kili is a scout, requirement for moving to hidden site Giant's Isle.
He carries a Cram, not used for untapping, but as gift for giants for Gems of Arda.

King's Judge is strong for influencing dwarf factions (+5 !).
He carries a Miner's Pick because he needs help for fight.

From character pool, only Gulla goes to deck, because is useful with his home site in Carn Dum.

Some characters are straight in deck.
Balin, Gloin, Frerin and Dror have good chance to influence Blue Mountain Dwarves.
Dis in only played for her special ability : it's another tricky chance to draw early Thorin, or to take Frerin which is very good character.

Don't forget a character may always be played at Blue Mountain Dwarf-hold, even if no character is there !

Note although counting as characters, Kori, Tarin and Fori should normally be played as agent.

Normally lots of dwarves can be played, just remember Thorin is only 18 GI ; small defense is Sworn to the Lord

When Thorin enters play, sideboard first the 5 dwarves and then sideboard The Great Battle of our Time.


Resources

Deck uses a special rule for dwarves : they can use minion items.
It's the reason why High Helm and Flaming Torch are in deck.
The latter is sideboarded against specific hazard strategy.

Battle-gear items are 3 weapons, 2 helms (nice with DI bonus) and 1 armor.
With Thorin bearing his shield, it's normally no problem having full MP with Clad for War.

The dwarf factions in Eriador are fun to influence with At Your Service !
The only ally Ruddy Varmint is the classical ally in Eriador.

First mission is playing Return to Old Dwellings (and after Kingdom under the Mountain) at Carn Dum.
In case Carn Dum sees too dangerous, Zarak-dum is back-up site.
Be well prepared with some buddies and weapons (best Thorin having Durin's Axe).

Second mission is playing 3 Ore cards.
Gems of Arda is very fun to play at Giant's Isle.
Vein of Arda should be played at The Under-vaults.
When having enough SPs, sideboard Durang which must be played at Deep Mines.
With 3 Ore cards, Great Miners and Hoard Gathering are each 2 MPs.
With Hoard Gathering full MP, sideboard A good Bit Laid By and then Not Badly Off.

Third mission goes with second cycle of deck.
Forgotten Scrolls should be played before going underdeeps.
Children of Aule is required to help finding way to lost city of Belegost ; Origin of Stone and Miner's Pick help too.
Dwarven Cunning is used to cancel trap automatic-attack.
Battle-axe of the Fallen is the perfect weapon for Thorin (note Dworin is a Firebeard !).
Afterwards Deep Mountain Fortress should be no problem.

Note some non-dwarf specific cards were chosen because of dwarf drawing (A Chance Meeting, A Friend or Three, Longbottom Leaf, Miner's Pick, Mighty was the Fallen, Shimmer of Hope, Grasping und Ungracious).

There are some sideboard cards against specific situations :
- Mighty was the Fallen if for example Balin or Gloin is wounded
- A More or Less Decent Giant if Ruddy Varmint is killed or played by opponent
- Shimmer of Hope if opponent plays heavy corruption
- No Match in Your Treasure (on Mithril-coat) if opponent plays few items
- Born Within Mountain's Heart and Challenge for CvCC



Hazards

Hazard is naturally an heavy dwarf theme which best creature and most relevant for thematic is Dwarven Warparty.
Dwarves are easily keyable and combo Dwarven Travellers / Maia is always strong.
With enhancers (Chill them with Fear and Naugrim), Dwarven Travellers become 5@11/5, and Dwarven Warparty 5@14/6 !
Key card against white players is Betrayer's Heart, which change a painful detainment attack to a dreadful normal attack !
Trump card is Master-thief, which may be disastreous for opponent with Chill Them with Fear.

Broken Heirlooms is more efficient against white players because of combo with No Match in Your Treasure.
Pit-trap is very fun to play.

Against overt companies moving in Eriador, sideboard Old Enemies to play on Blue Mountain Dwarves (don't forget Naugol gives bonus to attack).
Against Mordor, Dragon-Gap or Eriador area, sideboard Ibun.
Against Sun-lands area, sideboard the agent Glorin.
Against Elf-lord, key sideboard card is The Dark Days, which should be a great surprise for opponent !
Against Dragon, sideboard additional Dragon Hunters.




MP overview (expected / max)
Characters : 10 / 18
Items : 13 / 22
Factions : 3 / 3
Allies : 1 / 2
Miscellanous : 4 / 14
Kill : 1 / 3
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Total : 32 / 62
Hrum, Hoom ! Do not be hasty, that is my motto.
User avatar
Thorsten the Traveller
Ex Council Chairman
Posts: 1764
Joined: Tue Feb 06, 2007 1:44 pm
Location: Tilburg, Netherlands

Nice deck and report man, you truely have good dc knowledge and skills.
I best liked the part about Dis' pet fox. :D
Stone-age did not end because man ran out of rocks.
Fangorn
Ex Council Member
Posts: 362
Joined: Sat Jan 31, 2009 10:57 pm
Location: Nantes, France

Here is the MeFF version of deck with 50% DC rate.


[DC] stands for a Dreamcard.

Character Pool

Starting Company
[DC MEDF] Balin + [DC MEFB] Trusted Councellor + [DC MEDF] Promise of Treasure
[DC MEDF] Dworin + [DC MEDF] Pipe
[DC MEDF] Nali
Oin + [DC MEDF] Miner's Pick
Nain + [DC MEDF] Miner's Pick
+ [DC MEDF] Oakenshield

In deck
[DC MEDF] Thorin II
[DC MEDF] Frerin
[DC MEDF] Attack-lord
Kili

Not in deck
[DC MEDF] Thrain II


Avatar and Characters

[DC MEDF] Thorin II
[DC MEDF] Thorin II
[DC MEDF] Thorin II
[DC MEDF] Dis
Gloin
Dror


Resources

[DC MEDF] War Mattock
[DC MEDF] War Mattock
[DC MEDF] Dwarf-chopper
Durin's Axe
High Helm
The Mithril-coat
Forgotten Scrolls
Dwarven Light-stone
Dwarven Light-stone

Blue Mountain Dwarves

[DC MEDF] Deep Mountain Fortress
[DC MEDF] Deep Mountain Fortress
[DC MEDF] Mighty was the Fallen

[DC MEFB] Sworn to the Lord
[DC MEDF] Clad for War
[DC MEDF] Born Within Mountain's Heart
[DC MEDF] Origin of Stone
[DC MEDF] Origin of Stone
[DC MEDF] Old Grudge
[DC MEDF] Old Grudge
[DC MEDF] Children of Aule
[DC MEDF] Children of Aule
[DC MEDF] Children of Aule
[DC MEDF] Dwarven Cunning
The Dwarves are upon You !
The Dwarves are upon You !
The Dwarves are upon You !
Block
A Chance Meeting
Marvels Told
Marvels Told
Smoke Rings
Smoke Rings
Smoke Rings
[DC MEDF] Pipe Weed


Hazards

Ent in Search of the Entwives
Ent in Search of the Entwives
Ent in Search of the Entwives
Huorn
Huorn
Huorn
Old Man Willow
Old Man Willow
Old Man Willow
[DC MEFB] Tree-herder
[DC MEFB] Tree-herder
[DC MEFB] Bregalad
[DC MEFB] Fangorn
[DC MEFB] Finglas
[DC MEFB] Fladrif

[DC MEFB] Protecting their Domain
[DC MEFB] Protecting their Domain
[DC MEFB] Wrath of the Olvar
[DC MEFB] Wrath of the Olvar
[DC MEFB] Wrath of the Olvar
[DC MEFB] Yavanna's Plea
[DC MEFB] Yavanna's Plea
[DC MEFB] Yavanna's Plea
[DC MEFB] Sentinel of the Grove
[DC MEFB] Sentinel of the Grove
[DC MEFB] Pride
[DC MEDF] Crossing the Border
[DC MEDF] Out of Practise
[DC MEDF] Pit-trap
[DC MEDF] Pit-trap
Power Built by Waiting
No Way Forward
An Unexpected Outpost
An Unexpected Outpost
An Unexpected Outpost


Sideboard

vs. all
[DC MEDF] The Seven Houses
[DC MEDF] King's Judge
[DC MEDF] Dwarf-miner
[DC MEDF] Kori
[DC MEDF] Tarin
Gulla
[DC MEDF] Return to Old Dwellings
[DC MEDF] Kingdom under the Mountain
[DC MEDF] Ironfists
[DC MEFB] Sulhelka
Bitter Cold
[DC MEDF] A Good Bit Laid By
Petty Dwarves
Cram
[DC MEDF] Not Badly Off
An Unexpected Party
Fili
Bifur
Bofur
Nori
Back to the Fray
[DC MEDF] Battle-axe of the Fallen
Here, There or Yonder
[DC MEDF] A More or Less Decent Giant
[DC MEDF] Dry Tunnels
[DC MEDF] Dwarven-fire
Orcrist
Withdrawn to Mordor
Twilight
Withered Lands
Alone and Unadvised
[DC MEFB] Shifting Paths
[DC MEFB] Daugther of the River
[DC MEFB] The Oldest
[DC MEDF] Old Enemies
Drowning Seas
Redoubled Force
Minion Stirs
Itangast Ahunt
Balrog of Moria

vs. Fallen
Diminish and Depart
[DC MEFB] The Dark Days
[DC MEFB] Choked with Vanity
[DC MEFB] He is Lost to Us
[DC MEDF] Call of the Deeps
[DC MEFB] Curse Him, Root and Branch !
[DC MEDF] Ninevet
Echoes of the Song
Blind to the West
Heart Grown Cold


Sites

[DC MEDF] Blue Mountain Dwarf-hold => Blue Mountain Dwarves
[DC MEDF] Bar-en-Ibun, The Worthy Hills => Petty Dwarves
[DC MEFB] Mount Rerir => Durin's Axe, War-mattock, High Helm, The Mithril-coat
Carn Dum, Mount Gundabad => Durin's Axe, War-mattock, High Helm, The Mithril-coat, [DC MEDF] Return to Old Dwellings
Zarak-dum => Durin's Axe, War-mattock, High Helm, Return to Old Dwellings
[DC MEDF] Drowning Deeps => Durin's Axe, War-mattock, High Helm, Dwarf-chopper, Dwarven Light-stone, [DC MEDF] Deep Mountain Fortress
[DC MEDF] Ruins of Belegost => Durin's Axe, War-mattock, High Helm, Dwarf-chopper, Dwarven Light-stone, [DC MEDF] Return to Old Dwellings, [DC MEDF] Battle-axe of the Fallen, [DC MEDF] Deep Mountain Fortress
[DC MEDF] Ruins of Nogrod => Durin's Axe, War-mattock, High Helm, The Mithril-coat, Dwarf-chopper, Dwarven Light-stone, [DC MEDF] Return to Old Dwellings, [DC MEDF] Battle-axe of the Fallen, [DC MEDF] Deep Mountain Fortress
Deep Mines => Dwarf-chopper, Dwarven Light-stone, [DC MEDF] Deep Mountain Fortress


Updated play tips

Thorin II is in character pool in case opponent's avatar is Thorin too !

Balin with Trusted Councellor is 4 mind and has +8 DI against dwarves !
Promise of Treasure is helpful for cc and required for having full MP with Return to Old Dwellings

Dworin (Ironfist) and Nali (Firebeard) are not Longbeard which is needed for effect of Children of Aule.
Additionally Dworin has nice ability regarding Old Grudge,
Additionally Nali takes full benefit of Battle-Axe of Fallen.

Oin (ranger) and Nain (sage) take full benefit from Miner's Pick.

First part of game is underdeeps (avoiding thus backfire from Ents' Wrath), travelling to all sites connected to Blue Mountain Dwarf-hold.
But way is hard to find because 11 is needed to move, thus some cards help roll :
- Miner's Pick => +1 each
- Origin of Stone => +1
- Children of Aule => +3 with Dworin and Nali
- Dwarven Light-stone => +2 each
- Forgotten scrolls => +7 once, if Battle-axe seems impossible to play
Additionally Dry Tunnels must be sided as soon as opponent access to his sideboard for hazard (The Way is Shut).

2 Deep Mountain Fortress are straight in deck.
Forgotten Scrolls is straight in deck for Battle-axe of the Fallen.
Born Within Mountain's Heart is useful to cancel automatic attack at Ruins of Belegost or for calling the Day of Reckoning.
Dwarven Cunning is useful to cancel automatic attack at Ruins of Nogrod

3 battle-gear items are required for effect of Clad for War.
Considering Oakenshield and several weapons in play, be sure to play either High Helm or Mithril-coat.
Dwarf-chopper is playable at any under-deeps and is in deck to avoid Black/Grey opponent playing it.

Mighty was the Fallen is best used with Gloin (7 body) taking 2 strikes with -3 against an attack.

Be sure to play the only ally of deck, A More or Less Decent Giant, with Here, There or Yonder.

Second part of game is the mission of Return to Old Dwellings at Carn Dum.
There is the biggest trick of the deck : it's best to have Sulhelka in hand.
With second attack to clean up place, opponent will almost always play a Nazgul !
Afterwards it's nice to play Bitter Cold.
Another option is to rebuild Mount Gundabad, in order to play Ironfists, but beware high influence check required.

Both Dwarven Light-stone are required to play A Good Bit Laid By, and discarding one allow to play safely Petty Dwarves (and Cram).
Not Badly Off is fun to play when Fili, Bifur, Bofur and Nori are in Thorin's company with an Unexpected Party (previously dwarves are sided to discard and recycled with Back to the Fray).


MP overview (expected / max)
Characters : 9 / 18
Items : 16 / 28
Factions : 1 / 6
Allies : 1 / 1
Miscellanous : 5 / 12
Kill : 2 / 5
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Total : 34 / 70
Hrum, Hoom ! Do not be hasty, that is my motto.
Vastor Peredhil
Council Member
Posts: 1321
Joined: Wed Jan 31, 2007 10:46 am
Location: Kempen (Niederrhein) Germany

Thorin II is in character pool in case opponent's avatar is Thorin too !
not sure what that means, you want to start your avatar for 12 mind?, otherwise if opponent is Thorin you cannot play the non avatar version anyhow ...
3 battle-gear items are required for effect of Clad for War.
Considering Oakenshield and several weapons in play, be sure to play either High Helm or Mithril-coat.
you need 3 out of 4 types, of battle-gear ;)

but nice deck bit risky if getting doubled on factions & or allies ;)

maybe use Kheleglin the DF promo as a back-up ally at Carn Dûm or Iron-deeps
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