She pulls her children closer. "It is supposed to be possible to get through the maze. None have done so yet but if you are so interested you can try. And I have no idea who will help you. Steno is the best informed. Aliss is a fool. Archivist, Eghlette and Cro-chuff are all too busy to do more than answer questions as briefly as they can. Coralot - well if you have the time she does tend to remember a great deal."

Somehow her mind becomes more opaque than ever.

"Is that all?"

'Strange... perhaps it is indeed so that someone is using her wish to protect her children to manipulate her. Perhaps she should be tested with those diadems they made us wear!'

"Thank you, I think we shall go and speak to Coralot now," Lurel replies. "I hope we haven't distressed you and your children too much."

The colony to which you are directed can be heard before it can be seen. The inhabitants seem to shriek at each other to be heard. Coralot herself wearing brilliantly colourful clothes seems as brash as her attire. She also has a youngster.

Her remark "Who's a pretty boy then?" might have been directed at her child, Lurel or Ford.

Using empathy Lurel detects that while she may not have many ideas this is through choice. She is more intelligent than the others have given her credit for.

"Children," she begins before you have introduced yourselves, "they are why we are here. But they are like us, destined to procreate and die. Little pieces of fate."

She repeats the words 'pieces of fate' several times as if it were a mantra.

"Mind you if I had six of the little beasts like Kumor I'd be going out of my tree!"

She stares at you for a moment.

"Well? What is it?"

Ford blinks at the "pretty boy" comment and gives Coralot a strange look, but decides to say nothing. He just sits down nearby and leaves Lurel to do the talking, as usual.

This is becoming tiresome... I hope we don't have to visit too many more of these eccentric weirdos... I dunno how Lurel puts up with them.

Lurel is a little taken aback by the 'pretty boy' comment, but does his best not to show it.

"Yes, Kumor does seem rather pre-occupied," he replies. "We were wondering if you could tell us about the Council's stance on access to Xetcherin.. especially in light of what happened to Mara's tomb..."

'I think the others underestimate her... is she deliberately keeping a low profile, to fool them or not to attract attention?'

"Hahahaha! That hoary old chestnut. Dear me, is it coming up again? I suppose it must be. Will we ever vote in favour? Certainly I heard Steno saying that we ought not dismiss it so easily. Mind you she has been saying that for a long time and never acting on it. She was talking to Kumor, Aliss and Archivist at the time and they all told her she was mad! Archivist has her own reasons no doubt. Aliss is only saying it because he has before. The only one whose real reasonI know is Kumor. Her eldest is a flighty child always getting into scrapes. She's afraid he'd go to Xetcherin if he could to see if he coul disturb the spirits. She is the only one I can say will definitely not want the status quo changed...."

She goes on at great length but tells you little of real interest.

Then something registers with you, almost the last thing she said when you first came in does not match with what you have seen.

"Kumor has 6 children?" Lurel asks, puzzled, trying to work out whether there were 5 or 6 when they went to talk to her. "Yes, she is very maternal, isn't she - I can understand why she would want to protect her children. It must be very hard to keep 6 children safe and out of mischief."

He pauses briefly. "Why do the others want access restrictions to be eased?"

'Little pieces of fate.. and a missing child. What is Coralot trying to tell us? One of Kumor's children died, and Anromaynius has promised her something? Someone else is using the missing child as a lever to apply pressure on Kumor to change her mind about access? Is this what she is blanking out?'

"The general concensus is that there is no sensible reason for keeping them out. I am inclined to agree. You must remember that the necropolis of Xetcherin and its guardians predate the arrival of the Avelyssians. If I recall my history lessons correctly - it has been a while - the maze was constructed later because the guardians were dangerous. However the guardians would not be dangerous if Strigid controlled them properly and we believe he can. It was not the case when we first came and so the controls had a purpose. Time has moved on. They serve no purpose now. But if that happened Strigid would have no purpose either. He would not block a judgement were it to change but with Kumor and Archivist so against this is unlikely to happen."

OOC> Have a good weekend. I may be on Sunday morning briefly as I have to pass through the centre of London en route to a costume fitting for Little Foxes!

Lurel seems to do everything just fine, It is best to stay silent I think

Lurel nods. "What makes you think Strigid can control those guardians?" he asks. "Those guardians - they're not Avelyssian, are they? Do you know what they are? And how would anything get past them to be able to desecrate a tomb? I'm sure you must have discussed those questions in council, after the desecration of Mara's tomb was discovered."

"Because he has to do so when we need new tombs built. We can't use our telepathy skills so far away. Nobody knows what the guardians are. It is even possible that Strigid invented them, or rather the first 'controller' of Xetcherin. I rather think not because the Avelyssians who first came here were very bruised. But I am not the best one to ask about history. I must ask why do you keep asking about what will never happen. Steno may change her mind, Aliss will follow the majority but Kumor and Archivist are fiercely against."

She begins to fuss over her child.

"Can you think of anything that might make Kumor or the archivist change their minds?" Lurel asks. "Perhaps if one of Kumor's children might be in danger? You did say her eldest was always getting into scrapes - what did you mean by that? Did anything serious ever happen to her eldest"

'I think we're getting closer... everything is pointing towards Kumor. I wish I could be certain, though.'

Coralot is rather taken aback. "I told you neither of them is likely to change her mind. And as for Kumor's eldest he is a real hot head. Mind you I haven't seen him around for a while so perhaps she has locked him up for his own good."

Lurel hears Anima's voice. "The potions are ready. Have you resolved the problem? Return here as soon as you can."

"Thank you for your help," Lurel says politely. "But I'm afraid we need to go now. Princess, could you arrange transport?"

As soon as they are out of earshot, Lurel murmurs to the others. "Well, what do you think? Kumor's story is the one that doesn't add up - plus there is a part of her mind that's just blanked off. I think she's our prime suspect, but of course I could be wrong. Princess, is there any way you could find out - discretely of course - what happened to Kumor's child? I'm not sure whether it would be a good idea to go and ask her.. and if she is being controlled by Anromaynius or the alien magic, do we really want to alert them that we're on to them?"

He sighs. "I'm really not sure what to do next. And Anima just told me to return as soon as we can. But should we speak to the Archivist or Steno again first?"

He waits for the others to give their opinions.

"It might be worth trying to arrange a diadem session for her, after all, they're 'perfectly safe'."

"But we can't do that without proof".

"Maybe we shall return to Anima first, she may be able to help us with this"

"I agree with Siffli. At least if we go back to Anima now she may be able to piece together the puzzle for us, at least a little, and so further investigation may not be necessary..."

Ford sighs and mutters under his breath.

"Anything to get away from these people!"

"I don't know if we should go back to Anima just yet," Lurel says thoughtfully. "We don't really have proof of anything just yet - only a suspicion. I would suggest we go back to the Archivist, and tell her what we've discovered. I think if there's any doubt as to Kumor being a traitor, the Archivist would want to investigate it. Maybe she'll authorise the use of the diadems."

Lurel shrugs. "We're strangers here - we can't just go around accusing members of the council. But the Archivist seemed somewhat sympathetic to the idea that there might be a traitor on the council.... "

"If a majority of the council think that someone among them is a traitor, then maybe it would be possible to have a diadem-questioning-thingy".

Having to start somewhere you return to Archivist.

"So you've seen everyone except Cro-Chuff. Has anything of interest been discovered?"

"I'm not sure if it is of interest, but there's certainly a discrepancy between what 2 different people told us," Lurel says cautiously - not sure how the archivist will react to a direct accusation against one of the council. "We were told that Kumor has 6 children - yet we saw only 5. And we were also told that Kumor was absolutely set against easing access restrictions to Xetcherin - yet Kumor herself told us differently. What do you think about this?"

"Change her mind on access? Surely not. I will accompany you and check this out myself."

Before you know what is happening you are back with Kumor and her guilty expression cannot be hidden from Archivist.

The woman becomes puffed up with self importance. "My son has met Anromainyus. The man is enlightened - a mystic. He will show us how to destroy the evil of Shaura once and for all. Join us before it is too late."

A look passes between Archivist and Princess Siffli. The princess nods and before anyone can blink Archivist has garrotted the unfortunate Kumor.

Archivist grunts. "I suppose I'd better make sure someone looks after her brood. I'll check to see none is infected. We'll put the council on their guard."

She glares penetratingly at Lurel. "I don't suppose you'd be prepared to tell me what made you suspicious in the first place?"

"We were asking about the desecration of Mara's tomb, to find out how the key could have got there, and people kept mentioning access to Xetcherin. That seemed to be the only lead we had to go on," Lurel says evasively, not sure whether it would be a good idea to mention Anima, and her involvement in Avelyssian affairs.

"What do you know of this Anromainyus Kumor mentioned? Is it because of him she had to be executed?"

"We know very little, other than in Shaura's rantings he talked of his brothers and that Anromainyus was one of them. They were all of a kind to judge form his words. How he came to influence anyone here is beyond me. Perhaps it was only possible with the influence of this 'alien magic' Strigid goes on about. He thinks it has stopped. We need to find out what else it might have done but that is not a task for foreigners. Nevertheless you have accomplished what we could not and I thank you for that. I will give you each a small metal pipe. When you are in Avelyssia it can be used to call for aid. Do you wish to return to Levdia now?"

"We need to go back to the haunted cathedral first," Lurel says with a grin. "We've got a bet on as to who's going to get scared first."
He winks at Ford and Midge, hoping one of them will support his statement.

'I don't like lying to her... but I don't think we should tell her about Anima.. it's up to Anima if she wants the Avelyssians to know about her.'

"Thank you very much for your gift.... I hope we won't need it tonight." Lurel gives the archivist a disarming grin.

Princess Siffli accompanies you back to Anima. You explain what happened. She seems pleased.

"I will lift the King's 'madness'. Now before you move on this is the last chance for questions of me."

OOC> I'll be away until Tuesday when I'll give nima's reply to any questions you have. Gabbe is away for a week.

"Do you know if Anro-whoever might be behind the rest of the misplacements?"

Ford looks shocked as Kumor is executed and looks to Archivist.

"Was that really necessary?"

When Lurel winks at him he quickly attempts to put on a grin, though how successful is he isn't sure.

Anima sits you all at a table and provides you with a full meal.

You have completed one of the three tasks you set out to do, although you did not know this was a task when you first arrived in Levdia. No one knew of Avelyssia then. Now the alien magic no longer affects us and we will slowly root out any damage it has done. I would reward you but all I have is some information on the next part of your quest and these potions."

She passes three potions to Lurel. "They will give you the equivalent of a full day's magic. I know you use your powers on - other things."

She glances at you all. "Of one of your remaining quests - finding a gate to the Aneira in Levdia - I can offer you no help. I am sure such a gate exists but I have never seen one to know what it might even look like. Your other task is, as here, to halt the depredations of the alien magic in the dimension of Levdia. If you have identified the object correctly, you need to replace an arrow. Bows and arrows are not widely used among the Levdians, except for sport, with the exception of a group of people known as 'the Held'. I will tell you what I can of their story and then I will teleport you close to their settlement."

She looks at Lisette. "Anromainyus is behind many things, one of which has some relevance to this story but I doubt if you will find anything about him on Levdia. If you do, be very wary of him."

She waits for you attention. "When the women of El Rhun were forced to leave one married couple took a voyage into the unknown. They came to Levdia and settled in what was then the most prosperous city - Witten. The city was destroyed long ago but that has nothing to do with my tale. The names of the wzards were Auran and Damiel. He was a Life wizard and she studied with the school of Death. Of course the odd thing about these opposing ideologies is that they are both seeking 'life' in rather different ways. Auran in particular sought to find a way of creating eternal life. In one of his experiments he produced a group of infants that ceased to age at sixteen years old. They did not however live any longer than most men and women of Levdia - some eighty years. It was an unsuccessful experiment you could say. These offspring lived with Auran and Damiel. But the wizards were naive and did not see how the other people of Witten began to wonder about the eternal teenagers. They speculated not that Auran had discovered the secret of eternal life but at least he had found the secret of eternal youth. Auran and Damiel went away for a long trip. Their 'children' were suddenly hunted. Rumour had it that by eating their hearts the gift of eternal youth could be passed on. The children fled from Witten and settled in a wild part of Branden Forest Levdians were afraid to visit. They became the Held."

She pours you warm milky looking drinks.

"I will come back to them in a moment. But I mentioned Anromainyus. When Auran and Damiel returned to Witten they too came under attack. Once again they voyaged into the unknown. They arrived at Bashkher and settled on a small island near the coastal city of Selma. Anromainyus visited as a 'friendly' wizard but meddled in Auran's work. The details are too long to explain but two of the dreadful effects he had on that household will show you the kind of man he is. He turned Damiel into a monster. Or rather she became a monster at night - a lychdame - one of the undead. During the day she was as she always had been. And he caused their only child, a little boy called Auriel, to become an all but immortal seven year old. They have lived for millennia, the three of them, locked in a cold gloomy castle. At night Damiel roams the endless dank passages that run beneath the castle. By day she and Auran search in vain for a cure. Auriel spends his time alone. If he goes outside the populace will kill him." She sighs. "I have not heard or seen of them for years. Perhaps they have found their cure, perhaps they are dead. Who can say?"

She pauses. "But that not of importance to you. You must hear what I know of the Held. Well, there are several hundred of them now living in a large village near where they first settled. They do not want people to number them and so do their best to seem exactly alike. Fully aged they appear to be sixteen. They wear identical costumes and adjust their boot sizes to seem the same height. The women bind their chests and cut their hair short. To look at, the Held is a race of sixteen-year-old boys. You will only know which are the women when they speak and you will have no idea how old they are unless they tell you."

She smiles. "Be careful what you say. They are excellent with bows and arrows and at all the tricks you would expect of forest dwellers, melting into nowhere, appearing out of nowhere and moving totally silently. They wear costumes of green and brown that blend with the trees. Some call them elves although they are not. Elves are creatures of fable and the Held are very definitely human beings. They don't have a heirarchical society. Everyone contributes what they can to a central store of goods and take what they need from it. There is a purely nominal leader. I'm afraid I do not know the name. Their village is partly on the ground, partly under it and partly in the trees."

She offers more food.

"The effect of the alien magic in Levdia is a strange cloud that blots out all sunlight from the ground. It formed over the ruins of Witten and is slowly spreading. I'm afraid that is all I know. Are you ready to go there?"

"I have heard of Auriel!" Lurel exclaims in surprise. "He is travelling with my friend, Top - so he must also be part of this quest to save Zorlon." He sighs. "I don't know much, but Auran and Damiel found peace in death. But it worries me, to hear that Anromainyus is involved in their tale, too."

He frowns. "It sounds as though Anromainyus has a plan, doesn't it? And it's probably not a plan we want to see come to fruition. We will go and seek out the Held."

Lurel carefully packs the potions into his bag. "Thank you very much. I have a feeling they will be very useful. You have helped us a lot, in our task here. I wish you could come with us to Levdia, but I know that you're needed here, to guard Shaura."

He sighs, and looks at the others. "Ready?"

(OOC: Could someone clarify for me just what we need this arrow for? I'm a bit lost. )

Ford bows to Anima.

"Thanks for all your help."

He gathers all his things after partaking of some food and then turns to Lurel.

"I'm ready."

Anima is a mind wizard and hears Ford's muttered aside. "Yes, it started a long time ago. When the rift between Kellimond and Zorlon first opened the alien magic attacked every dimension. For reasons I do not know, an object was displaced from each dimension to the Castle of Storms in Levdia. By correctly replacing the object it stops the alien magic continuing to affect the relevant dimension. The damage it has done is not reversed but at least it can be controlled or eradicated. There were sixteen items and all but one were allocated to a specific dimension by your party. The odd one was the piece of armour from Mara's tomb you only recognised when you came here. The object believed to come from Levdia is an arrow."

She turns to Lurel. "It has to be for the best for Damiel to die and reach the world of the dead. I hope Auriel is happier now he has friends. It is possible I may be able to reach you on Levdia although I can offer no more than advice. I have no magical power that far away. Beyond Levdia I cannot reach you."

Siffli begins to excuse herself from travelling to Levdia.

"I am sorry Princess for my own protection I need you away from here for some time. You will go with them." When the Princess starts to get angry Anima causes her to fall asleep.

"I hope she does not remain angry for long."

She turns to Midge and Lisette. "If no one has an objection?"

Before you can answer you are back in Branden forest. It is early morning. The last words you hear from Anima are. "The settlement is to the east, follow the rising sun for about half a day and you will be there."

Princess Siffli is still sleeping on the ground beside you.

Lurel takes a deep breath and stretches.

"Looks like we have a nice day for our search. Do we try to wake the Princess, or do we wait until she wakes up? I only hope she won't blame us for Anima sending her here..."

'I wonder how Siffli will cope with being in another dimension. It will be a huge shock for here when she wakes up..'

He looks at the others. "I'd quite like to make a start, if we have half a day's walk ahead of us."

After hesitating briefly, he calls out to try to wake Siffli. "Princess! Princess Siffli! Wake up!"

Lurel and the others may get the feeling of being watched.
Though whoever is watching is taking great care to remain unseen.

OOC> Welcome Arturius, no doubt you will show yourself when ready.

Siffli comes to and throws a tantrum of the kind only the idle rich can throw. She has no alternative other than to follow you but she does not do so with any sense of cooperation. You have no time to worry about her. You all feel uneasy as if there is something in the forest that should not be there. You also have an odd sense that you are not alone but the two feelings are unconnected.

Lisette's magical dagger is warm to the touch and Midge has a bad headache. Even Ford has an idea that there is something alien close by but it is not a person or creature. Something inanimate but threatening.

[OOC]Welcome to the thread, and the forums. You a friend of Mall-Chick's?[/OOC]
"Something is wrong...could we already be feeling the effects of the cloud? Well, I hope the natives aren't restless!"

[OOC]Thanks , Yup[/OOC]

'The stanger Decides these probably aren't a bunch of heart munching loonies and is more than a litte disconcerted by the feel of an area he is quite familiar with, ok here goes nothing'

*steps out into view from behind a tree* (it appears to be an androgynous 16 year old with short cropped hair, though very slight in stature he carries himself with confidence, though there is an air of uncertaintly about him. he has a heavy pack across his back. dressed in woodland greens and browns)

"The natives most certainly are restless i'm afraid... speaking as one of course. *tries a disarming smile* you're quite a way from the main path and not by accident i'll wager!"

(he has an arrow to the string of his bow but the bow is lowered and his body language is not agressive)

"May i have the honor of your names Sirs, Madam, and also you buisness in these woods?".

(OOC: Welcome Arturius. )

Ford thanks Anima for her explanation and a moment later looks at the forest of Branden. A frightened expression starts to spread across his face.

"I have a bad feeling about this place."

He looks down to Midge.

"Hey, are you alright?"

Before he can get a reply, he notices the 16 year old figure and frowns. He starts to draw his sword. He only takes it about a quarter out of it's sheath however, standing ready to defend himself if necessary.

"I'm Ford... could we have your name?"

(OOC: Cheers:) )

"Certainly, I'm Ari.
Please keep your sword sheathed!"

*more friendly tone* "What buisness do you have in these woods? if you need i can direct you out of here?"

"We're here to get rid of some sort of evil cloud, and have been told that your people can help us. By the way, do you know of someone by the name of Anima?"

*Sighs* *looks skeptical*

"I havent heard anything of an evil cloud, still i should best take you to the village"

*he unknocks the arrow and looks pointedly at Fords Sword*

"I was ony my way back there anyway, and it looks like you could use a guide"

"I'm afraid I havent heard of anima who is she or he?"

The individual, who has not yet introduced himself, is obviously a member of the Held and is male.

Despite your feelings there is nothing you can put your finger on.

Your guide takes you quickly through the forest but stops uneasily as he approaches the village.

As you stand there wondering why you realise that there is no sound. It is not simply the absence of noise of habitation, they could be keeping quiet as strangers approach. There is no sound of any kind, no birds, no insects, no breeze.

Ari signs for quiet and indicates for the party to stop an get down.

He slips off melting into the trees as if he were never there, using his woodlore he scouts the outskirts of the village establishing it is safe for now and that the village is deserted!

returning to the party:
"Its deserted" *he looks somewhat shaken and a little scared* "theres no one in the area even no animals as far as i can tell!"

"it looks like the village has been evacuated not attacked at least"

"You best come this way, he steps out into the village indicating for the others to follow, my house is over here."

*assuming they let him* he leads the way past severaly closed doors in trees and curved stairs into the treetops to a large green tree where he pushes open the door (it wasn't locked) and descends.

walking in he indicates to the chairs round a small table, "Grab a seat we need to talk".

the house is full of pots on shelves some with an odd glow, there is a potters wheel beside the window and kiln built into the earthworks under the house.

(Malchik over to you for descriptions)

"I see none of your kind in my lifetime and now my village is abandoned!..."

he starts prepareing some basic food and drink for people.

"earlier you mentioned an evil cloud, can you elabourate at all?".

The house into which you have been taken has a central room in which you are seated with four rooms off beneath arches. Cooking would be done outside but there is a store of foodstuffs inside. Other rooms are bedroom, a pottery store, a room for ablutions and second room with sleeping space, also crammed with pots. Walls and floor are lined with wood but there are several fine rugs and the furnishings are good quality. The wall hangings and lamps are more elaborate than seems to be possible given the circumstances of the Held's dwelling, indicating that they must do a certain amount of trading.

The pottery that overflows the house is of a strange design with everything stretched out, elongated plates, tall narrow vases, candle holders with long, thin curved handles. Much of it also glows faintly.

Your host seems friendly enough but surprisingly laid back about the desertion of the village in which he has lived for - however long it has been.

Lurel is taken aback by his friends' carelessness.

'We have no idea who this stranger is, or what his intentions are - yet they have already told him about our mission and about Anima.... and after all that we've heard about Anromainyus' involvement! For all we know this stranger could be under his influence, too... why is he so calm about this village? It's as if he knew about it before we set foot in here!'

He uses his empathy skill on their host, while glancing around the room.

"Have you ever been to Witten?" Lurel asks. "We've been told that there is a cloud above it... but unlike any ordinary cloud. We're not from this area, as you have probably guessed - maybe you could tell us if anything unusual has happened here recently." He pauses briefly, and adds: "Anything unusual apart from the desertion of this village, I mean. What could have caused all the others to leave - and even the birds to fall silent?"

ooc>pm'd lurel with empathy thingy

"no never, nothing like this has ever happened before! i left here a few days ago, to restock on clay", "I don't know anything about a cloud, Look Whats Going ON! What aren't you telling me!"

"I can prossibly follow my village but i darent i don't know what drove them off it could be between me and them or it could still be to come". *looks miserable*

'have i said too much, i can always loose them in the woods, cant follow till i'm sure theyre safe!'

"If you came to sort this out you must have an idea of what this is, if you came as part of whatever the trouble is i'm already screwed!"

OOC> hint, as far as I can see no one has actually looked in the village to see if there are clues as to why or where the villagers have gone.

Lurel's empathy shows no harm in Ari who is putting a brave face on things. He is not lying about his ignorance of Anima, the cloud over Witten or Anromainyus.

Within the house the sense of oppression is not noticeable, giving further support to the view that must be in the air outside.

Lurel nods.

"I don't know how much you know of Zorlon," he begins, "but an alien magic has been at work in all of its dimensions. It could well be that this alien magic has driven off your people. We don't know yet. We know that the alien magic is responsible for the cloud over Witten. Apart from the alien magic, others powers are involved in this. Some are hostile to the alien magic, and are trying to help us counteract it. Others have their own agenda, and we don't know what it is. We're here to find the Held - I'm assuming that you are part of it?"

He pauses to take a deep breath.

"Whatever happened here, I'm sure it is connected to what's going on in the rest of Zorlon. We need to find the Held. Will you help us?"

He looks around the room. "Did you make this pottery? How do you make it glow like that?"

"i have heard a few rumour that some of your kind had gone to live in whitten, the blight over it was rumoured to have cleared a year ago.

i don't know anything of magic save whats in our history and thats just legend now.

I am part of the held yes, and youre explaination may be possible but at the moment i have no way on confirming one way or the other and i'm loathe to take you to my friends and familly when you may just want to enslave or kill them.

is there any proof you can show me to convince me?

there may be some proof in the village itself i havent looked yet i think if you cant provide any we should search, we might find tracks of what scared them or a message left for any of us who were out of the village.

as it stands i will help you as much as i can but i won't help you find my people Yet till i am certain your motives arent a threat to us, sorry.

The rest of zorlon? lets just say i don't get out the forest much, whats been going on?

*Looks Proud* Yup, i'm the potter for the village. how they glow is a trade secret.*winks*

As soon as the boy knotches his arrow, Ford fully sheathes his sword again and relaxes slightly.

Upon arrival in the boy's house, he looks around.

"Wow, some pretty... weird stuff you have in here. Nice craftsmanship though."

He grins slightly. His grin soon turns to a frown though.

"I wonder what could make an entire village evacuate so quickly... I think we should go outside and take a look around."