function forkin_hell()
  -- venoms to affs table
  local venoms = {
    addiction = "vardrax",
    anorexia = "slike",
    asthma = "kalmia",
    clumsiness = "xentio",
    crippledarm = "epteth",
    crippledleg = "epseth",
    darkshade = "darkshade",
    deafblind = "colocasia",
    disloyalty = "monkshood",
    dizziness = "larkspur",
    haemophilia = "notechis",
    nausea = "euphorbia",
    paralysis = "curare",
    recklessness = "eurypteria",
    scytherus = "scytherus",
    selarnia = "selarnia",
    sensitivity = "prefarar",
    shyness = "digitalis",
    sleep = "delphinium",
    slickness = "gecko",
    stupidity = "aconite",
    voyria = "voyria",
    weariness = "vernalius"
  }

  -- this table exists because shadowmadness is the aff
  -- and madness is the instill syntax. fuck that dude

  local instills = {
    depression = "depression",
    retribution = "retribution",
    shadowmadness = "madness",
    parasite = "leach"
  }

  -- what affstrack score to check, modify as needed
  local threshold = 66

  local function aff_select()
    local results = {}

    local aff_priority = {
      "timeloop",
      "weariness",
      "asthma",
      "slickness",
      "anorexia",
      "stupidity",
      "recklessness",
      "sensitivity"
      -- add venoms you want to do after the fork here
    }

    if
    (
      -- if degeneration will NOT cause para this time
      affstrack.score.clumsiness < threshold or
      affstrack.score.weariness < threshold
    )
    then
      -- do para since instill isn't gonna
      results.venom = "curare"
    else
      -- degeneration WILL do para
      for _,aff in pairs (aff_priority) do
        -- do the next aff in the prio list
        if affstrack.score[aff] < threshold then
          -- special case for timeloop since special syntax
          if aff == "timeloop" then
            results.timeloop = "chrono loop"
          else
            -- regular case can just tack venom onto reap command
            results.venom = venoms[aff]
          end
        end
      end
    end

    return results

  end

  local function instill_select()
  -- unused
    local aff_priority = {
      "depression",
      "shadowmadness",
      "retribution"
    }
    -- if timeloop or para is stuck, start doing other
    --  instills in the order you choose above
    if affstrack.score.timeloop > threshold then
      for _,aff in pairs (aff_priority) do
      echo("made it")
        -- do the next aff in the prio list
        if affstrack.score[aff] < threshold then
          if not (aff_select().venom and (aff == "depression" or aff == "shadowmadness")) then
            echo(instills[aff])
            return instills[aff]
          end
        end
      end
    end
    -- default case
    return "degeneration"
  end


  local affs = aff_select()
  local instill = instill_select()

  if affs.timeloop then
    -- aff_select wants timeloop, use this syntax
    send("setalias pvp stand/wield scythe shield/wipe scythe/"..affs.timeloop.."/shadow instill scythe with "..instill.."/shadow reap "..target)
  elseif affs.venom then
    -- aff_select wants venon, use the right syntax
    send("setalias pvp stand/wield scythe shield/wipe scythe/shadow instill scythe with "..instill.."/shadow reap "..target.." "..affs.venom)
  end

  send("queue addclear free pvp")

end