Ethereal
- For the Pet Battle ability, see
[Ethereal].
Ethereal | |
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Faction/Affiliation | Consortium, Protectorate, Ethereum (Shadowguard), Various groups |
Character classes | Arcanist, Assassin, Conjurer, Engineer, Gladiator, Inquisitor, Merchant, Nether-stalker, Priest, Raider, Rogue, Sorcerer, Spellbinder, Smuggler, Thaumaturge, Thief, Warden, Warpweaver, Wind Trader |
Racial leader(s) |
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Formerly | |
Homeworld | K'aresh |
Language(s) | Common |
“Never underestimate the other ethereal's greed!”
The ethereals are astral travelers who dwell within the Twisting Nether. Hailing from the planet K'aresh, they were once flesh beings until the arrival of Dimensius the All-Devouring, around a thousand years ago. Despite all their efforts, the conflict ultimately turned in favor of the void lord and his armies, and the Ethereals were forced to evacuate their homeworld. Due to the chaotic energies that rained down upon K'aresh, the ethereals also lost their mortal shells, forcing them to bind themselves with enchanted strips of cloth to provide their souls with enough structure to survive.
Nowadays, the ethereals are driven by trade and economics, while their political structures are centered around Nexus-Princes at the head of various factions known as "companies", such as the Consortium, the Protectorate, and the Ethereum.[1] Similar to the goblin's cartels, they will support anyone who would further their profits, and oppose anyone who dares interfere with their plans. They are known to be collectors and traders of arcane items and artifacts, but also to be liars and scoundrels who will stop at nothing to pursue their mysterious aims.[2] Following the reopening of the Dark Portal, a few ethereals now reside on Azeroth, offering a dazzling array of technological marvels to its inhabitants.[1] They are known to use a unique school of magic known as technomancy.
History
Fall of K'aresh
K'aresh was an arid planet, home to a thriving ecosystem and several sentient species. The race that would become the ethereals was led by Nexus-King Salhadaar.
How Dimensius the All-Devouring found K'aresh is still hotly debated among the surviving ethereals, but the effects of his coming were unmistakable. At least over a thousand years ago,[3] Dimensius assaulted the planet and opened countless gateways into the Void and the Twisting Nether around K'aresh, bathing it in arcane and dark energies. Using every scrap of its advanced technology, one of the mortal races hastily attempted to construct magical barriers around its cities, but it was only partially successful; although the dark energies were blocked, the unimpeded flood of arcane energy tore away the mortals' corporeal shells and infused their souls with enough energy so that they could subsist without a body… barely. Members of this race, now called ethereals, took to binding themselves with enchanted strips of cloth to provide their souls with enough structure to survive. This altered state proved to be a blessing in disguise, as their enhanced minds and magical abilities allowed the ethereals to fight Dimensius and his limited forces to a standstill. Over the years, however, Dimensius eventually grew powerful enough to summon armies of fellow void creatures, forcing the ethereals to flee into the Twisting Nether.[4]
The Ethereum, which held the ruling council of Nexus-Princes, started becoming dark and twisted in their obsession for vengeance. This caused many of the Nexus-Princes to leave the council and form their own organizations with their own goals. Undeterred, the Ethereum continued in the search for vengeance against Dimensius, destroying anyone in their way. The Protectorate was formed by a Nexus-Prince, who left the council, to stop the Ethereum in their destructive path.[5] The Consortium is another offshoot group, one of the smugglers, traders, and thieves, that aids the Protectorate in their endeavors. They are also known to do business in the Hara'samid Sector, on Heraazi, Sodaraami, and the Xarodi Sector somewhere in the Great Dark Beyond and/or the Twisting Nether.[6]
Shadow Wing
At the beginning of the invasion of Outland, the death knight Ragnok Bloodreaver hired an ethereal named Kadavan to develop a device with collars to enslave nether dragons in order to bolster his forces.[7] During Ragnok's attempt to seize the Dark Portal, the blue dragon Tyrygosa captured Kadavan who eagerly agreed to cooperate in exchange for his own life. However, the device was eventually destroyed during the conflict and caused the collars to rapidly siphon away the nether dragons' energy, which would have killed them unless they found a suitable source of power to sustain them until the collars burned out. When Tyrygosa opened a portal to the Nexus in Coldarra; Kadavan, still held fast in her claws, went helplessly along. Now stranded on Azeroth, he journeyed out to find new customers.[8]
The Burning Crusade
“Prepare to enter oblivion, meddlers. You have unleashed a god!”
Drawn to Outland, many ethereals were seeking to track down its treasures and steal them back into the Twisting Nether. They had no care at all for the Burning Crusade, and would even play both sides of the conflict against each other if doing so would have served to further their own goals.[2] A group of hostile ethereals also made their way into Karazhan to discover its secrets.[9]
In Shattrath City, Jenai Starwhisper and a network of spies kept an eye on the ethereals in the city. They eventually learned that the ethereals were importing proscribed goods from other dimensions to the Sunfury at Firewing Point, where the blood elves worked on the creation of a mana bomb.[10]
During the course of the invasion of Outland, it was discovered that the Ethereum sought not only to hunt Dimensius the All-Devouring, but to "become Void" as well. They were manipulating shadow energy at Manaforge Ultris in the Netherstorm to bond their own energy into "nexus-stalkers".[11] The Protectorate believed that the Ethereum had become as great a threat as Dimensius.[5] Among their ranks, the Razaani led by Nexus-Prince Razaan carried out an operation involving the collection of Mok'nathal and gnome souls in the Blade's Edge Mountains.[12][13] Meanwhile, the Bash'ir used Ethereum prisons and stasis chambers to capture different creatures in the region. They also smuggled mana cells out of Tempest Keep and transported them to the Sunwell for Kael'thas Sunstrider.[14]
As the leader of the Consortium, Nexus-Prince Haramad tasked adventurers to recover the Spirit's Song, one of the seven shards of the Ata'mal crystal, from the Burning Legion. After they killed the nathrezim Culuthas, the adventurers were confronted by an emissary of Prince Kael'thas, Ambassador Solannas, and his bodyguards.[15] The selflessness of the adventurer's act - bringing the crystal to him at the Stormspire despite the immense power it contained - led Haramad to kill the blood elves and break his neutrality in favor of the Sha'tar, sending the crystal to the naaru A'dal instead.[16]
In time, the Zaxxis cut their relationship with the Consortium, going into business for themselves by siphoning off business and trade from their parent organization. After he was tasked by Nexus-Prince Haramad to deal with the rogue group,[17] Nether-Stalker Khay'ji infiltrated the Zaxxis and took out their leader, or at least he thought, then escaped to Area 52. He later tasked adventurers to kill Zaxxis agents and recover their insignias,[18] and to eliminate Warp-Raider Nesaad who had survived his first assassination attempt.[19]
At some point, Nexus-Prince Shaffar was convinced that vast riches resided within the depths of the Mana-Tombs, and spent untold amounts of his own considerable fortune to move his army within the shadows halls of Auchindoun, in order to keep competing ethereals out and uncover the mysteries of the tombs.[20] They were later encountered by adventurers, who were tasked by Artificer Morphalius of the Consortium to reduce their numbers[21] and kill Shaffar on the orders of Nexus-Prince Haramad.[22]
In Nagrand, the Vir'aani was a band led by the dangerous criminal Gava'xi,[23] who ordered the rogue ethereals to dislodge large fragments from Oshu'gun until they were defeated by the heroes.[24]
Ultimately, the Ethereum was attacked by both the Alliance and the Horde heroes at the behest of the Protectorate. Not only were all their operations stopped, but their leader, Nexus-King Salhadaar, was killed as well.[25] On the other hand, Dimensius itself arrived in the exploded ruins of Manaforge Ultris in the Netherstorm, where he was defeated by the Protectorate aided by adventurers.[26][3]
A group of Ethereum later aided Kael'thas and the Burning Legion in the Magister's Terrace, likely led by Yazzai who served Priestess Delrissa as a loyal acolyte.[27]
Wrath of the Lich King
By the time of the Nexus War, the Ethereum appeared to have started negotiations with the Dragon Aspect Malygos and the blue dragonflight. In the Moonrest Gardens of Dragonblight, their ambassador Wind Trader Mu'fah was seen waiting for an audience with the blue dragonspawn Goramosh and seemed to have been there for a while, since he was threatening to call off the negotiations. Despite Archmage Modera's orders to assassinate both representatives, in order to prevent an agreement between both sides,[28] the ethereals still used this connection a few years later in a second attempt to "become void".
When the blue dragonflight attacked Dalaran, the arcane weapons dealer Xevozz was freed from his cell in the Violet Hold. He attempted to escape and get back to servicing the Burning Legion,[29] only for him to be defeated by heroes.
Cataclysm
- Main article: Transmogrification
Following the Cataclysm, groups of entrepreneurial ethereals emerged from the Twisting Nether to offer new technologies and services, which would allow the Alliance and Horde adventurers of Azeroth to customize and store their equipment. Ethereal warpweavers, vaultkeepers, and thaumaturges first set up shop in Stormwind City and Orgrimmar to give adventurers access to Transmogrification, Void Storage, and Reforging, for nominal fees. In the following years, they established themselves in all capitals of Azeroth, even following the adventurers to Alternate Draenor and in the Shadowlands.
For unknown reasons, K'areshi Traders were also found coming out of portals at Mazthoril in Winterspring.
Mists of Pandaria
By the time of the Alliance-Horde war in Pandaria, Nexus-Prince Haramad had expanded the Consortium's business to the Black Market Auction House on Azeroth.
Legion
By the time of the third invasion of the Burning Legion, it was revealed that in exchange for their aid in the Nexus War, Malygos had promised the Ethereum access to the blue dragonflight's treasures within the Nexus. As the Ethereum sought to become an unstoppable force—to become void,[30] they were using the surge needles in Coldarra to bore into the Twisting Nether and call up void energies.[31] After their leader, Nexus-Prince Bilaal, transformed into a void revenant and was defeated by arcane mages and discipline priests in search of Aluneth and Light's Wrath, the blue dragon Azuregos decided to remain in the Nexus so it would not fall into the wrong hands again.[32]
During the Argus Campaign, ethereals called the Shadowguard, led by Viceroy Nezhar, could be found in Eredath on Argus. They are of a certain subset of the race that have tragically succumbed to the call of the Void.[33] Drawn by the shadow energies of the naaru L'ura,[34] they called the Void to Eredath[35] but were eventually stopped before they could cause all of Argus to fall to darkness.[36] In the meantime, Locus-Walker had hoped to find more ethereals among the Shadowguard who possessed the necessary strength of mind to resist the Void, and was disappointed to find such an utter lack of resistance.[37]
Battle for Azeroth
Prior to the Fourth War, the Netherguard, led by Nether-Prince Durzaan, attacked Magister Umbric and his followers on Telogrus Rift, in an attempt to transform them into ethereals. The process was interrupted by Alleria Windrunner, which left them in a state in-between and prompted them to call themselves void elves.[38] Locus-Walker and Shadreen later joined the void elves in Telogrus. Both races seemed to have developed a mutually beneficial connection.
During the course of the conflict, Consortium arcanists were hired by the Horde and the Alliance to maintain portals to Shattrath City within the Pathfinder's Den of Orgrimmar and the Wizard's Sanctum of Stormwind City.[39]
In the Brawler's Guild, Shadreen tasked an agent called Xan-Sallish to record everything related to the local adventurers, especially the way they fight and equip themselves.[40]
The efforts of the heroes in the Vision of Orgrimmar and Vision of Stormwind eventually captured the attention of Zarhaal. The ethereal sought to extract power from the mind of the Old God N'Zoth, exchanging odd crystals for rewards.
Dragonflight
Following the war against the Primalists, the Shadowguard from Argus returned under the leadership of Xal'atath. They attacked both the gates of Ulduar[41] and Telogrus Rift,[42] but were fought off by Alleria Windrunner with the help of the void elves and the adventurers. Locus-Walker aided the void elves in fighting off Xal'atath at Telogrus and informed Alleria that he saw similarities with what was happening on Azeroth now to what had happened on the ethereal homeworld K'aresh before it was destroyed.[43]
The War Within
After Dalaran was destroyed by Xal'atath, the ethereal Zovex was among the prisoners of the Violet Hold who escaped on the Isle of Dorn.
Nexus-Princess Ky'veza established herself as a confidant of Xal'atath's ally, Queen Ansurek of the nerubians. She assigned Abductor Arzda to lead Ansurek's efforts to kidnap and ascend the nerubians from the Burrows.[44] In truth, she was working for an unknown master and planned to eventually betray the Queen. However, she was defeated by the Severed Threads and their allies before she could enact her plan and retreated.
A group of ethereals seemingly led by Phase-Thief Azir, stalked the streets of Undermine searching for the Dark Heart.[45] In time, they launched an assault on the Steamwheedle Laboratories, where they were defeated by Alleria Windrunner and her allies.[46] Nevertheless, the Phase-Thief overheard the location of the Dark Heart within the city[47] and ultimately claimed it from Jastor Gallywix.[48] After Azir departed from the city, Alleria sought to track down the Dark Heart.[49] Alleria and Gallywix both thought that Azir worked for Xal'atath, but in truth the ethereals had their own agenda.[50]
Physiology

Originally, ethereals had physical form. When Dimensius the All-Devouring assaulted their homeworld of K'aresh, however, the arcane energies he unleashed on them ripped apart their bodies. Only their advanced technology allowed them to survive - barely - as beings of pure energy. Ultimately, it was this very change that allowed them to battle Dimensius on an even-footing and travel through the Twisting Nether to find refuge.[4] Their bodies can take many forms, able to be compacted into small sizes, or expanded to their true form: a mass of glowing energy with vaguely distinguishable head, eyes, and arms. When not covered in their magical wrappings, they are described as beings of pure energy; a mass of irregular power.[51]
The ethereals use enchanted wrappings to keep their energy forms bound within their humanoid shapes. They appear to need to eat and drink, with their vendors selling specialty bread and drinks not found on vendors of other races. The Ethereal Soul-Trader sells an Ethereal Liqueur that can have an odd effect on 'fleshy imbibers' suggesting that ethereals drink it themselves with no ill effects. Alternatively, ethereals may not eat at all and sell food only for the sake of the more corporeal beings with whom they trade and interact. Wind Trader Lathrai notably says that World's End Tavern has nothing to offer for his kind.
Ethereals apparently do not require sleep.[52] Their wrappings can ripple into a crude approximation of a smile.[53] They see the world differently from other races, thus drinking their essence can open one's mind like theirs, although it may also cause irreversible brain damage.[11] If their essence is diluted, it allow the drinker to detect lesser invisibility for a moment without "probably" causing brain damage.
Ethereum ethereals glow with red or shadowy energies rather than blue.[54][55]
Void ethereal

Void ethereals are ethereals infused with the power of the Void. Their energies are dark purple or red. They also hear maddening whispers that sway them to do the will of the Void.[56]
Nexus-stalkers
Nexus-stalkers are a partially void-based form of ethereal created by the Ethereum faction and are considered by the Protectorate to be aberrations.[57] Though the Ethereum was initially dedicated to hunting down and taking revenge on Dimensius, their goal later changed to "becoming void." To that end, they constructed a proto-accelerator which was used to manipulate the abundance of Void energy at Manaforge Ultris, bonding it with their own energy to transform into nexus-stalkers.[11] The Protectorate eventually put an end to the operation and killed Nexus-King Salhadaar.[25]
The physiology of a nexus-stalker is similar to that of a typical ethereal, albeit with hybrid bodies composed in part of Void energy. As such, they appear translucent and perpetually emanate a shadowy, purple miasma. Those that have been encountered have had the ability to drain their enemies' power.[58]
A number of nexus-stalkers still existed at the time of the Burning Legion's third invasion of Azeroth as part of the Ethereum's efforts in Coldarra.[59]
- Void ethereal in Legion.
Culture
“All we require is loyalty, dedication and a reasonable amount of moral flexibility.”
On their homeworld of K'aresh, the ethereals were ruled by royalty, with the Ethereum serving as the ruling class of their society. Among them was a council of Nexus-Princes, most of whom eventually left to form "companies"[1] with different goals, as Nexus-King Salhadaar and his followers grew dark and twisted with vengeance against Dimensius.[5] There are also Nexus-princesses.[61]
The ethereals are known to be collectors and traders of arcane items and artifacts. They were also described as liars and scoundrels who would stop at nothing to pursue their mysterious aims.[2] They are known to drive a hard bargain.[62] Wind Trader is a title given to certain ethereal merchants who deal in exotic goods from other worlds.[63][64] According to Wind Trader Marid, there are only 3 kinds of people: competitors who are to be crushed ruthlessly, customers indulged, and employees strictly supervised.[65] On the other hand, the Consortium merchants are well known for taking good care of their friends, who receive gems as payment for their services each month, and whose quality depend on how loyal they've been to the cartel.[66]
They refer to mortal beings as "fleshlings".[67][68][5] Certain ethereals deal specifically with flesh and beings of flesh, and are known as flesh handlers.[69]
Ethereal Soul-Traders will travel with those who can free the essences they need from unruly hosts.[70]
"Thank K'aresh!" is sometimes used by ethereals as an interjection to express gratitude or relief.[71]
Technology
Technomancy (or techno-sorcery)[72] appears to be a school of magic performed by the ethereals. They use it to provide the services of transmogrification, item upgrading, benthic upgrading and reforging. According to Thaumaturge Rafir, it has the ability to modify an item's arcane essence in ways previously unimaginable. They can also house items in a pocket dimension.
Transmorphers are ethereals able to reshape flesh; though one will not be able to be changed in this manner for a time afterwards, and their mind may never be the same.[73]
The eco-domes are domes of arcane energy that, much like a greenhouse, provide an environment in which lush plants and animals can survive. Wherever the Consortium establishes a presence, they bring their eco-domes, the fields allowing them to work in a controlled and life-sustaining atmosphere, since they often find themselves in hostile environments.[74] In Outland, the eco-domes contain the last of Netherstorm's greenery.[75]
Organizations
- Void ethereals
Notable
- Main article: Notable Void ethereals
In Hearthstone
Several ethereals have appeared in Hearthstone, most notably Nexus-Champion Saraad and Arch-Thief Rafaam. Saraad, a champion jouster participating in the Grand Tournament, rides atop an energy-camel, a creature that has yet to be seen in World of Warcraft proper. Rafaam, the so-called "supreme archaeologist," leads a band of villainous ethereals in opposition of the League of Explorers in the adventure of the same name.
In the One Night in Karazhan adventure, there is a rare rogue card known as the Ethereal Peddler, which speaks with a distinctly feminine voice, indicating that it is the first known female ethereal to appear in the Warcraft universe. Hearthstone has since seen the introduction of other female ethereals in the form of Transmogrifier from Descent of Dragons and Grand Lackey Erkh from Galakrond's Awakening.
Notes and trivia
- According to Professor Dabiri there seem to be about a hundred million ethereals that would care about the death of Dimensius.[3]
- Polymorphing into creatures like ethereals is severely punishable by the Kirin Tor.[76]
- Uniquely aggressive and pugnacious elekk bulls are culled from the herd and sold to ethereal traders. The traders then train the bulls for combat and sell them to owners unconcerned about safety.[77]
- The ethereals share a lot of similarities with the brokers of the Shadowlands through their appearance, culture, and society divided into various groups.
- The creation of the Netherwing dragonflight is similar to what happened to the ethereals, with both races being mutated by the arcane energies of the Twisting Nether during a planet's destruction.
- It was originally said that the ethereals were drawn to Outland because of Murmur's summoning in Auchindoun, the blast causing a rift in the Nether itself.[78]
- Ion Hazzikostas has speculated that the ethereals have a connection to the draenei, as per their space-faring nature.[79]
- While there is still no female ethereal model, some Shadowguard ethereals in Eredath have female voices.
- Dave Mallow and Joe J. Thomas provide two of the ethereal voices.
- Ethereal names (such as "Bashir" and "Shaffar") are borrowings from, or alterations of, Arabic names. This is a reference to pre-Islamic Arabia, which was organized into oasis city-states ruled by trade princes or powerful merchant families.
- The ethereals superficially resemble the Protoss from the Starcraft universe, most obviously when an ethereal "runs", leaving several ghost copies behind himself much like a High Templar does.
Gallery
- World of Warcraft
- Phase-Thief Azir in the "A New Tomorrow" ending cinematic.
- Ethereal objects in Legion.
- An ethereal with the Nexus Torch.
- On the Trickster's Reflex artwork.
- On the Portal Stone artwork.
- Arch-Thief Rafaam with the Staff of Origination.
- Nexus-Champion Saraad riding an energy-camel.
- Ethereal Oracle (Signature version)
- A female Ethereal Peddler
References
- ^ a b c World of Warcraft: Ultimate Visual Guide, Updated and Expanded, pg. 206
- ^ a b c The Burning Crusade Bestiary
- ^ a b c
[25-30G5] Dimensius the All-Devouring
- ^ a b Ask CDev - Round 1
- ^ a b c d Commander Ameer's gossip
- ^ Gezhe's conversation with the runner
- ^ The Dragons of Outland
- ^ Nexus Point
- ^ Ethereal Thief and Ethereal Spellfilcher's quotes
- ^
[15-30] What Are These Things?
- ^ a b c
[25-30] Potential for Brain Damage = High
- ^
[20-30] Show Them Gnome Mercy!
- ^
[20-30] There Can Be Only One Response
- ^
[70 Daily] Intercepting the Mana Cells
- ^
[25-30G] Full Triangle
- ^
[25-30] Special Delivery to Shattrath City
- ^
[25-30] Consortium Crystal Collection
- ^
[25-30] A Heap of Ethereals
- ^
[25-30] Warp-Raider Nesaad
- ^ Nexus-Prince Shaffar's Dungeon Journal description
- ^
[66D] Safety Is Job One
- ^
[66D] Undercutting the Competition
- ^
[15-30] Gava'xi
- ^
[15-30] Stealing from Thieves
- ^ a b
[25-30G5] Nexus-King Salhadaar
- ^
[25-30] Recipe for Destruction
- ^ Priestess Delrissa's Adventure Guide description
- ^
[15-30] Prevent the Accord
- ^ Xevozz's Adventure Guide description
- ^ A Forgotten Enemy
- ^ Eyes of the Dragon
- ^ The Nexus Vault
- ^
[45] The Shadowguard Incursion
- ^ Viceroy Nezhar's Adventure Guide description
- ^
[45] Sources of Darkness
- ^
[45] Throwing Shade
- ^
[45] The Shadowguard Incursion
- ^
[40-80] Telogrus Rift
- ^ Thrallmar Mage: "If you're looking to return to Outland, our allies amongst the ethereals have opened a portal to Shattrath City."
- ^
[Shadowscrawled Tome]
- ^
[70] Dark Descension
- ^
[70] Defend Telogrus Rift
- ^
[70] Radiant Warnings
- ^
[80] A Shot at the Top
- ^
[80] Phase Shift
- ^
[80] Ethereal Invasion
- ^
[80] Evacuation Plan
- ^
[80] Nowhere Left to Hide
- ^
[80] Sour Victory
- ^
[80] My Top Gal
- ^ A Thousand Years of War, Part Three - Shadow & Light
- ^
[35] A Hidden Message - Talking to the thaumaturge: "It is good that I no longer sleep."
- ^ Thaumaturge Vashreen's gossip in Boralus
- ^ Agent Ya-six's gossip
- ^
[25-30] Escape from the Staging Grounds
- ^ General Zah'd
- ^
[25-30] S-A-B-O-T-A-G-E
- ^ Ethereum Nexus-Stalker abilities
- ^ Voidtouched Nexus-Stalker
- ^
[15-30] The Consortium Needs You!
- ^ Nexus-Princess Ky'veza
- ^
[70] Master of Transmutation
- ^
[25-30] A Not-So-Modest Proposal
- ^
[15-30] Investigate Tuurem
- ^ Wind Trader Marid's gossip
- ^
[15-30] Membership Benefits
- ^
[45WQ] No Love Lost
- ^
[25-30] Ethereum Data
- ^ Flesh Handler Viridius's gossip
- ^ Ethereal Soul-Trader's Pet Journal description
- ^
[25-30] Escape from the Staging Grounds
- ^
[Ethereal Portal]
- ^ [[Ethereal Transmorpher#quotes|Ethereal Transmorpher's gossip
- ^
[25-30] Run a Diagnostic!
- ^ Annual 2015
- ^ Polymorphic Rules & Regulations
- ^ Mount Journal entry for
[Reins of the Black War Elekk]
- ^ The Burning Crusade Flash site#Auchindoun
- ^ 2017-08-22, GamesCom 2017 World of Warcraft: Legion Patch 7.3 Interview. Blizzplanet, retrieved on 2017-08-26
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