Ptolus 4e

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==Background==
+
==Technology==
-
Tharzidun imprisoned in the spire under Ptolus. He manipulated those in the vicinity to achieve his release, so he can destroy creation. He influenced Danar to build the Banewarrens here and then corrupted him.
+
Technology just uses alchemy, artificers, and warforged from the base setting. Chaositech is dropped, though undead and demon grafts can serve some of the same creepy purposes.
-
Raguel is an angel who was in service to Asmodeus' slain god who accepted banishment rather than side with him. He's been joined by exiled devils to form the Fallen. He has settled into the Dark Reliquery to study death and undeath in order to find some way to resurrect his god. The Winter-touched hold secrets to life and death and how undeath works.
+
===Guns===
 +
Guns are military ranged weapons.
-
Malkuth are deva who are aware that Tharzidun is here and remain in the city to mitigate his influence and work against his freedom.
+
*Dragon Pistol (one-handed) Prof : +3, Dmg: 2d6, Range 10/20, cost: 50 gp, Wt: 3lbs, Load Standard, High Crit, Firearms Group
 +
*Dragon Rifle (two-handed) Prof: +3, Dmg 2d8, Range 20/40, cost 60 gp, Wt 6lbs, Load Standard, High Crit, Firearms Group
-
The chaos cults are demon-worshippers being manipulated by Tharzidun.
+
Firearms jam on a roll of a 1, requiring a standard action and a skill check DC 20 (Arcana or Thievery) or a short rest to unjam.
-
Ghul opened a portal to allow the Far Realm in, creating the Utterdark, leading to the rise of the Psionic power source.  
+
====Feats====
 +
*Grailwarden Rifleman feat (Grailwarden dwarf): You gain proficiency with all firearms and they never jam when you are using them.
 +
*Rapid Reload feat: As a minor action, you can reload a firearm you're wielding that has the load standard property.
 +
*Sharpshooter feat (Con 15): You gain a +3 bonus to damage rolls with firearm attacks if you haven't moved since the end of your last turn.
 +
*Firearm Mastery feat: When you make a ranged attack with a firearm, you can score a critical hit on a roll of 19-20.
-
==Notes==
+
==Planes==
-
Galchutt becomes a single entity, Tharzidun, imprisoned under the city. Lords of the Seven Chains are keeping Galchutt imprisoned, as usual. The Book of Inverted Evil has a relation to the spark of evil that created the Abyss. The Demon Princes are “servants” of Tharzidun, called “Vested of the Galchutt”. Lolth stays as a goddess corrupted and who corrupted the drow in turn. The Dark Reliquary becomes a place for devils and undead, the Pale Tower is home to the deva. The Dread One was corrupted and powerful with much demonic magic at his disposal. Ghul was more about the Far Realms and cutting deals with aberrations, the “squirming horde” was all Far Realm corrupted creatures and the Utterdark was an extrusion of the Far Realm into the natural world. His rule crossed into parallel planes. Psionic forces appeared during the Ghul War. The Shadowfell and Feywild split off from the Natural World during the first big war (Vladaam and the other Vested), throwing off the balance of death and creating undead.
+
The Astral Sea and Elemental Chaos are inaccessible. The Shadowfell and Feywild came about during the conflict after the plane was closed off between the primal spirits and the Vested of the Galchutt (including Vladaam) which ended up sundering the natural world, creating the mirror planes and allowing undead to exist (with the Winter-touched being the first). The moon of magic, Vallis, disappeared from the natural world and now only exists in the Feywild.
-
Chaos cults are demon-worshippers. The Dread One is associated strongly with demonic forces. Danar sought out the source of evil in the world and was corrupted by the reflection of the shard of evil in the Book of Inverted Darkness, which Tharzidun directed him to find.  
+
The Shadowfell is merged with the "Shadow of Ptolus" and the Dark Reliquary exists there in addition to or instead of the natural world. The great elven cities of the eastern coast of the bay are in the Feywild instead.
-
The Jewels of Parnaith are demi-planes that allow exit to the Astral Domains, the only exit from the plane. Lothians have access to Channel Divinity feats for each of the saints as well as Lothian.
+
The Jewels of Parnaith are still demi-planes that allow exit to the Astral Sea, the only exit from the plane.
-
Move great elven cities of the eastern coast into the feywild (with occasional appearances in the real world). Merge the Shadow of Ptolus into the shadowfell and develop its connections to the Necropolis and the Dark Reliquary (exists in both worlds?). The Vallis moon only exists in the feywild and embodies magic. The Spire only exists in the natural world.
+
==Individuals==
 +
===The Galchutt===
 +
This term refers to aspects of Tharzidun. Few are aware that it is a single, mad god. Each cult has its own view of him that they see as a separate entity. Tharzidun's mind may very well be shattered into separate, distinct personalities.  
-
Technology converted over. Chaositech dropped, undead and demon grafts can still add fun creepiness to Dark Reliquary and Chaos cultists, respectively. A lot can be alchemical items. Technology falls under Arcana or Thievery.
+
===Tharzidun===
 +
Tharzidun entered the Far Realm and came back tainted and corrupting everything he touched. His presence in the natural world during the Dawn War corrupted elementals (demons) and immortals (devils) as well as the deities Gruumsh and Lolth and their races, the orcs and drow elves. It also caused the spirits of the world to rise up to protect itself (creating the Primal power source). The gods and primordials ceased their war, bound Tharzidun with the Lords of the Seven Chains, and closed off the world, trapping the demons and devils, and protecting themselves from the still present corrupting influence of the mad god. He still has the ability to influence and corrupt, leading to the rise of chaos cults.
-
==Backstory==
+
===The Dread One===
-
The Abyss is tossed and replaced with Ptolus being above where the shard of evil Tharzidun drew from the Far Realm was planted during the Dawn War. It corrupted elementals (demons) and immortals (devils) as well as a god (Lolth) and a race of elves (drow). The resulting conflict sundered the world, creating the Feywild and Shadowfell. It also caused the spirits of the world to rise up in protest. The gods and primordials ceased their war and closed off the world, trapping Tharzidun and his "Vested" (Lolth and other demon princes and devil dukes), as well as demons and devils. The spirits of the world were able to keep it from being devoured and Tharzidun himself was bound by the Lords of the Seven Chains while the gate was closed.
+
Danar was subtly influenced by Tharzidun through the items of evil he gathered, leading to him building the Banewarrens right on top of where Tharzidun was imprisoned. Eventually, he became the Dread One and conquered the world from the Spire, using the power of the gate to the Far Realm (though he never opened it the way Ghul did) and hordes of demons and devils.  
 +
 
 +
===Ghul===
 +
Ghul opened Tharzidun's gate to the Far Realm and brought forth the Utterdark and the Squirming Horde to conquer the world. The taint of the Far Realm from the Utterdark brought about the Psionic power source (those with such talent are called the Harrowed and are spurned). After Ghul was defeated, the Urthon Aeder were formed by Harrowed who masked themselves and used their abilities to fight aberrant and chaotic influences. He also used his influence to change two tribes of orcs: the Toruk-Rul ("closing fist", large and bestial) and the Sorn-Ulth ("bleeding breath", stealthy and sorcerous).
 +
 
 +
===Gods===
 +
*Lothian replaces Bahamut.
 +
*Gaen is replaced by Pelor.
 +
*Gruumsh and Lolth were both corrupted by Tharzidun and are now Chaotic Evil. Their races, orcs and drow, now serve his purposes.
 +
*Celestan is replaced by Corellon.
 +
*Teun is replaced by Erathis. Tevra is one of her exarchs.
 +
*Mocharum is replaced by Moradin.
 +
*Navashtrom is replaced by Kord.
 +
 
 +
===Raguel===
 +
He's an archangel whose god was slain during the fight with Tharzidun. He's come to Ptolus to the Dark Reliquary to find a way to resurrect him, thinking the Winter-touched know the secret.
 +
 
 +
===Vladaam===
 +
The founder of House Vladaam was a Vested of the Galchutt who brought about an event which sundered the world and allowed the creation of undead for the first time. Vladaam himself was cursed by the event and his bloodline still carries this curse (alternate genesis of the Vryloka race).
 +
 
 +
===Iron Mage===
 +
Instead of a wizard in full plate, make him/her an epic-tier war-forged wizard with a mysterious origin.
==Classes==
==Classes==
Line 41: Line 71:
===Arcane===
===Arcane===
 +
The main conflict in the Arcane power source is between the relatively new Sorn, who get their power through pacts, and the Inverted Pyramid, whose members learn their art through rigorous study. The newest group on the scene are the Shuul, whose Artificers represent a rebirth of technology.
*Artificer (EPG, Arcane Leader) – Shuul
*Artificer (EPG, Arcane Leader) – Shuul
*Bard (PHB2, Arcane Leader) – Inverted Pyramid/Knights of the Chord
*Bard (PHB2, Arcane Leader) – Inverted Pyramid/Knights of the Chord
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===Primal===
===Primal===
-
Viridian Lords, Circle of Green
+
The Primal power source has always been tied to the members of the Circle of Green and the Viridian Lords.
-
*Barbarian (PHB2, Primal Striker)
+
*Barbarian (PHB2, Primal Striker) - Viridian Lords
-
*Druid (PHB2, Primal Controller)
+
*Druid (PHB2, Primal Controller) - Circle of Green
-
*Seeker (PHB3, Primal Controller)
+
*Seeker (PHB3, Primal Controller) - Viridian Lords
-
*Shaman (PHB2, Primal Leader)
+
*Shaman (PHB2, Primal Leader) - Circle of Green
-
*Warden (PHB2, Primal Defender)
+
*Warden (PHB2, Primal Defender) - Viridian Lords
===Psionic===
===Psionic===
-
*Ardent (PHB3, Psionic Leader) – Urthon Aeder
+
The Psionic power source emerged when Ghul brought the Far Realm into this world in the form of the Utterdark. Except for monks (whose mastery of the power source is not so obvious), users of Psionic power hide their abilities behind masks and elaborate armor as members of the Urthon Aeder.
-
*Battlemind (PHB3, Psionic Defender) – Urthon Aeder
+
*Ardent (PHB3, Psionic Leader)
 +
*Battlemind (PHB3, Psionic Defender)
*Monk (PHB3, Psionic Striker) – Order of the Fist
*Monk (PHB3, Psionic Striker) – Order of the Fist
-
*Psion (PHB3, Psionic Controller) – Urthon Aeder
+
*Psion (PHB3, Psionic Controller)
===Shadow===
===Shadow===
-
Assassin (DR, Shadow Striker) – Vai
+
The Vai are a group of assassins who have sold part of their soul to the Shadowfell for power. House Sadar is infamous for dabbling in nethermancy.
 +
*Assassin (DR, Shadow Striker) – Vai
==Races==
==Races==
===D&D Races===
===D&D Races===
-
*Changeling – replacing shades (I think)
+
*Changeling – added, as a race rarely seen
*Deva – replacing aasimars (as well as half-celestials and angels in the Malkuth)
*Deva – replacing aasimars (as well as half-celestials and angels in the Malkuth)
*Dragonborn – replacing Litorians
*Dragonborn – replacing Litorians
*Drow – as normal
*Drow – as normal
-
*Dwarf – Stonelost or Grailwarden (no mechanical difference, except in feats? artificers!)
+
*Dwarf – Stonelost or Grailwarden (Stonelost choose STR, Grailwarder choose WIS)
*Eladrin – as normal (Elder Elves)
*Eladrin – as normal (Elder Elves)
*Elf – as normal (Shoal Elves)
*Elf – as normal (Shoal Elves)
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*Minotaur – as normal
*Minotaur – as normal
*Revenant – replace Forsaken Shigmaa
*Revenant – replace Forsaken Shigmaa
 +
*Shade - as normal
*Shardmind – formed from the breaking of the Gates of Delirium (instead of Pools of Insanity?)
*Shardmind – formed from the breaking of the Gates of Delirium (instead of Pools of Insanity?)
*Shifter – added, just as a race rarely seen, snagging some Litorian space
*Shifter – added, just as a race rarely seen, snagging some Litorian space
*Tiefling – as normal, trace lineage back to Kem
*Tiefling – as normal, trace lineage back to Kem
 +
*Vryloka - added
*Warforged – added, as a race created by the Grailwarden dwarves
*Warforged – added, as a race created by the Grailwarden dwarves
*Wilden – added, rarely seen outside of Feywild
*Wilden – added, rarely seen outside of Feywild
===Ptolus Races===
===Ptolus Races===
-
*Aram (centaurs) exist as normal, mostly NPCs
+
*Aram (centaurs) exist as normal, mostly NPCs, or maybe replaced by Minotaurs.
-
*Assari (lizardfolk) exist as normal, mostly NPCs
+
*Assari (lizardfolk) exist as normal, mostly NPCs.
-
*Litorians dropped in favor of Dragonborn and Shifters
+
*Litorians dropped in favor of Dragonborn and Shifters.
-
*Cherubim Elves dropped in favor of Genasi
+
*Cherubim Elves dropped in favor of Genasi.
-
*Harrow Elves dropped in favor of Githzerai
+
*Harrow Elves dropped in favor of Githzerai.
-
*Toruk-Rul Orcs are Far-Realm tainted, themed orcs
+
*Toruk-Rul Orcs are Far-Realm tainted, themed orcs.
==Noble Houses==
==Noble Houses==
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*Nagel: The same.
*Nagel: The same.
*Rau: The same.
*Rau: The same.
-
*Sadar: The same.
+
*Sadar: The same, many have chosen to become Shades.
*Shever: The same.
*Shever: The same.
-
*Vladaam: Tieflings.
+
*Vladaam: Vryloka (instead of Tiefling).
==Organizations==
==Organizations==
-
*Circle of Green: Primal power source folks, preceded/associated with the Viridian Lords.
+
*Circle of Green: Primal power source folks.
*Fallen: Devils looking to resurrect their dead god.
*Fallen: Devils looking to resurrect their dead god.
*Forsaken: Undead worshippers, ties to the shadowfell. Shadar-kai.
*Forsaken: Undead worshippers, ties to the shadowfell. Shadar-kai.
Line 123: Line 158:
*Order of Iron Might: Martial class guild for warriors.
*Order of Iron Might: Martial class guild for warriors.
*Shuul: Artificers and alchemists guild.
*Shuul: Artificers and alchemists guild.
-
*Sorn: Warlocks. Perhaps Shadow classes?
+
*Sorn: Warlocks.
-
*Urthon Aeder: Masked psychic power folks, Urthon Aeder armor applies to any
+
*Urthon Aeder: Masked psychic power folks.
-
*Vai: Assassin guild (chaos cult?)
+
*Vai: Assassin guild.
*Viridian Lords: Primal power source folks.
*Viridian Lords: Primal power source folks.

Latest revision as of 16:01, 4 November 2011

Contents

Technology

Technology just uses alchemy, artificers, and warforged from the base setting. Chaositech is dropped, though undead and demon grafts can serve some of the same creepy purposes.

Guns

Guns are military ranged weapons.

  • Dragon Pistol (one-handed) Prof : +3, Dmg: 2d6, Range 10/20, cost: 50 gp, Wt: 3lbs, Load Standard, High Crit, Firearms Group
  • Dragon Rifle (two-handed) Prof: +3, Dmg 2d8, Range 20/40, cost 60 gp, Wt 6lbs, Load Standard, High Crit, Firearms Group

Firearms jam on a roll of a 1, requiring a standard action and a skill check DC 20 (Arcana or Thievery) or a short rest to unjam.

Feats

  • Grailwarden Rifleman feat (Grailwarden dwarf): You gain proficiency with all firearms and they never jam when you are using them.
  • Rapid Reload feat: As a minor action, you can reload a firearm you're wielding that has the load standard property.
  • Sharpshooter feat (Con 15): You gain a +3 bonus to damage rolls with firearm attacks if you haven't moved since the end of your last turn.
  • Firearm Mastery feat: When you make a ranged attack with a firearm, you can score a critical hit on a roll of 19-20.

Planes

The Astral Sea and Elemental Chaos are inaccessible. The Shadowfell and Feywild came about during the conflict after the plane was closed off between the primal spirits and the Vested of the Galchutt (including Vladaam) which ended up sundering the natural world, creating the mirror planes and allowing undead to exist (with the Winter-touched being the first). The moon of magic, Vallis, disappeared from the natural world and now only exists in the Feywild.

The Shadowfell is merged with the "Shadow of Ptolus" and the Dark Reliquary exists there in addition to or instead of the natural world. The great elven cities of the eastern coast of the bay are in the Feywild instead.

The Jewels of Parnaith are still demi-planes that allow exit to the Astral Sea, the only exit from the plane.

Individuals

The Galchutt

This term refers to aspects of Tharzidun. Few are aware that it is a single, mad god. Each cult has its own view of him that they see as a separate entity. Tharzidun's mind may very well be shattered into separate, distinct personalities.

Tharzidun

Tharzidun entered the Far Realm and came back tainted and corrupting everything he touched. His presence in the natural world during the Dawn War corrupted elementals (demons) and immortals (devils) as well as the deities Gruumsh and Lolth and their races, the orcs and drow elves. It also caused the spirits of the world to rise up to protect itself (creating the Primal power source). The gods and primordials ceased their war, bound Tharzidun with the Lords of the Seven Chains, and closed off the world, trapping the demons and devils, and protecting themselves from the still present corrupting influence of the mad god. He still has the ability to influence and corrupt, leading to the rise of chaos cults.

The Dread One

Danar was subtly influenced by Tharzidun through the items of evil he gathered, leading to him building the Banewarrens right on top of where Tharzidun was imprisoned. Eventually, he became the Dread One and conquered the world from the Spire, using the power of the gate to the Far Realm (though he never opened it the way Ghul did) and hordes of demons and devils.

Ghul

Ghul opened Tharzidun's gate to the Far Realm and brought forth the Utterdark and the Squirming Horde to conquer the world. The taint of the Far Realm from the Utterdark brought about the Psionic power source (those with such talent are called the Harrowed and are spurned). After Ghul was defeated, the Urthon Aeder were formed by Harrowed who masked themselves and used their abilities to fight aberrant and chaotic influences. He also used his influence to change two tribes of orcs: the Toruk-Rul ("closing fist", large and bestial) and the Sorn-Ulth ("bleeding breath", stealthy and sorcerous).

Gods

  • Lothian replaces Bahamut.
  • Gaen is replaced by Pelor.
  • Gruumsh and Lolth were both corrupted by Tharzidun and are now Chaotic Evil. Their races, orcs and drow, now serve his purposes.
  • Celestan is replaced by Corellon.
  • Teun is replaced by Erathis. Tevra is one of her exarchs.
  • Mocharum is replaced by Moradin.
  • Navashtrom is replaced by Kord.

Raguel

He's an archangel whose god was slain during the fight with Tharzidun. He's come to Ptolus to the Dark Reliquary to find a way to resurrect him, thinking the Winter-touched know the secret.

Vladaam

The founder of House Vladaam was a Vested of the Galchutt who brought about an event which sundered the world and allowed the creation of undead for the first time. Vladaam himself was cursed by the event and his bloodline still carries this curse (alternate genesis of the Vryloka race).

Iron Mage

Instead of a wizard in full plate, make him/her an epic-tier war-forged wizard with a mysterious origin.

Classes

Martial

Order of Iron Might

  • Fighter (PHB, Martial Defender)
  • Ranger (PHB, Martial Striker)
  • Rogue (PHB, Martial Striker)
  • Warlord (PHB, Martial Leader)

Divine

Lothian Church, Knights of the Veil (undead), Knights of the Pale (demons)

  • Avenger (PHB2, Divine Striker)
  • Cleric (PHB, Divine Leader)
  • Invoker (PHB2, Divine Controller) – Knights of the Golden Cross
  • Paladin (PHB, Divine Defender)
  • Runepriest (PHB3, Divine Leader) - primarily dwarves, worshipping the dwarven gods?

Arcane

The main conflict in the Arcane power source is between the relatively new Sorn, who get their power through pacts, and the Inverted Pyramid, whose members learn their art through rigorous study. The newest group on the scene are the Shuul, whose Artificers represent a rebirth of technology.

  • Artificer (EPG, Arcane Leader) – Shuul
  • Bard (PHB2, Arcane Leader) – Inverted Pyramid/Knights of the Chord
  • Sorcerer (PHB2, Arcane Striker) – Inverted Pyramid
  • Swordmage (FRPG, Arcane Defender) – Inverted Pyramid
  • Warlock (PHB, Arcane Striker) – Sorn
  • Wizard (PHB, Arcane Controller) – Inverted Pyramid

Primal

The Primal power source has always been tied to the members of the Circle of Green and the Viridian Lords.

  • Barbarian (PHB2, Primal Striker) - Viridian Lords
  • Druid (PHB2, Primal Controller) - Circle of Green
  • Seeker (PHB3, Primal Controller) - Viridian Lords
  • Shaman (PHB2, Primal Leader) - Circle of Green
  • Warden (PHB2, Primal Defender) - Viridian Lords

Psionic

The Psionic power source emerged when Ghul brought the Far Realm into this world in the form of the Utterdark. Except for monks (whose mastery of the power source is not so obvious), users of Psionic power hide their abilities behind masks and elaborate armor as members of the Urthon Aeder.

  • Ardent (PHB3, Psionic Leader)
  • Battlemind (PHB3, Psionic Defender)
  • Monk (PHB3, Psionic Striker) – Order of the Fist
  • Psion (PHB3, Psionic Controller)

Shadow

The Vai are a group of assassins who have sold part of their soul to the Shadowfell for power. House Sadar is infamous for dabbling in nethermancy.

  • Assassin (DR, Shadow Striker) – Vai

Races

D&D Races

  • Changeling – added, as a race rarely seen
  • Deva – replacing aasimars (as well as half-celestials and angels in the Malkuth)
  • Dragonborn – replacing Litorians
  • Drow – as normal
  • Dwarf – Stonelost or Grailwarden (Stonelost choose STR, Grailwarder choose WIS)
  • Eladrin – as normal (Elder Elves)
  • Elf – as normal (Shoal Elves)
  • Genasi – replacing Cherubim Elves and other exotic sorts (like elemental deva), half-elementals from Charad Titan rule
  • Githzerai – taking some Harrow Elves space, maybe all of it?
  • Gnome – as normal
  • Goliath – added, just as a race rarely seen
  • Half-Elf – as normal
  • Half-Orc – as normal
  • Halfling – as normal
  • Human – as normal
  • Minotaur – as normal
  • Revenant – replace Forsaken Shigmaa
  • Shade - as normal
  • Shardmind – formed from the breaking of the Gates of Delirium (instead of Pools of Insanity?)
  • Shifter – added, just as a race rarely seen, snagging some Litorian space
  • Tiefling – as normal, trace lineage back to Kem
  • Vryloka - added
  • Warforged – added, as a race created by the Grailwarden dwarves
  • Wilden – added, rarely seen outside of Feywild

Ptolus Races

  • Aram (centaurs) exist as normal, mostly NPCs, or maybe replaced by Minotaurs.
  • Assari (lizardfolk) exist as normal, mostly NPCs.
  • Litorians dropped in favor of Dragonborn and Shifters.
  • Cherubim Elves dropped in favor of Genasi.
  • Harrow Elves dropped in favor of Githzerai.
  • Toruk-Rul Orcs are Far-Realm tainted, themed orcs.

Noble Houses

  • Abanar: The same.
  • Dallimothan: Dragonborn.
  • Erthuo: Eladrin and half-elves.
  • Kath: The same.
  • Khatru: The same.
  • Nagel: The same.
  • Rau: The same.
  • Sadar: The same, many have chosen to become Shades.
  • Shever: The same.
  • Vladaam: Vryloka (instead of Tiefling).

Organizations

  • Circle of Green: Primal power source folks.
  • Fallen: Devils looking to resurrect their dead god.
  • Forsaken: Undead worshippers, ties to the shadowfell. Shadar-kai.
  • Inverted Pyramid: Arcane power guild.
  • Keepers of the Veil: Paladins who fight undead.
  • Knights of the Chord: Bards.
  • Knights of the Golden Cross: Invokers with lore of the ancient wars.
  • Knights of the Pale: Demon-slayers.
  • Malkuth: Deva.
  • Order of the Fist: Monks.
  • Order of Iron Might: Martial class guild for warriors.
  • Shuul: Artificers and alchemists guild.
  • Sorn: Warlocks.
  • Urthon Aeder: Masked psychic power folks.
  • Vai: Assassin guild.
  • Viridian Lords: Primal power source folks.
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