diff --git a/lib/helpers.js b/lib/helpers.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..549e35a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/helpers.js
@@ -0,0 +1,385 @@
+var networking = require("./networking");
+var logging = require("./logging");
+var renders = require("./renders");
+var config = require("../config");
+var cache = require("./cache");
+var skins = require("./skins");
+var path = require("path");
+var fs = require("fs");
+
+// 0098cb60-fa8e-427c-b299-793cbd302c9a
+var valid_user_id = /^([0-9a-f-A-F-]{32,36}|[a-zA-Z0-9_]{1,16})$/; // uuid|username
+var hash_pattern = /[0-9a-f]+$/;
+
+// gets the hash from the textures.minecraft.net +url+
+function get_hash(url) {
+  return hash_pattern.exec(url)[0].toLowerCase();
+}
+
+// gets the skin for +userId+ with +profile+
+// uses +cache_details+ to determine if the skin needs to be downloaded or can be taken from cache
+// face and face+helm images are extracted and stored to files
+// callback: error, skin hash
+function store_skin(rid, userId, profile, cache_details, callback) {
+  networking.get_skin_url(rid, userId, profile, function(err, url) {
+    if (!err && url) {
+      var skin_hash = get_hash(url);
+      if (cache_details && cache_details.skin === skin_hash) {
+        cache.update_timestamp(rid, userId, skin_hash, false, function(cache_err) {
+          callback(cache_err, skin_hash);
+        });
+      } else {
+        logging.debug(rid, "new skin hash:", skin_hash);
+        var facepath = path.join(__dirname, "..", config.directories.faces, skin_hash + ".png");
+        var helmpath = path.join(__dirname, "..", config.directories.helms, skin_hash + ".png");
+        var skinpath = path.join(__dirname, "..", config.directories.skins, skin_hash + ".png");
+        fs.exists(facepath, function(exists) {
+          if (exists) {
+            logging.debug(rid, "skin already exists, not downloading");
+            callback(null, skin_hash);
+          } else {
+            networking.get_from(rid, url, function(img, response, err1) {
+              if (err1 || !img) {
+                callback(err1, null);
+              } else {
+                skins.save_image(img, skinpath, function(skin_err) {
+                  if (skin_err) {
+                    logging.error(rid, skin_err);
+                    callback(skin_err, null);
+                  } else {
+                    skins.extract_face(img, facepath, function(err2) {
+                      if (err2) {
+                        logging.error(rid, err2.stack);
+                        callback(err2, null);
+                      } else {
+                        logging.debug(rid, "face extracted");
+                        skins.extract_helm(rid, facepath, img, helmpath, function(err3) {
+                          logging.debug(rid, "helm extracted");
+                          logging.debug(rid, helmpath);
+                          callback(err3, skin_hash);
+                        });
+                      }
+                    });
+                  }
+                });
+              }
+            });
+          }
+        });
+      }
+    } else {
+      callback(err, null);
+    }
+  });
+}
+
+// gets the cape for +userId+ with +profile+
+// uses +cache_details+ to determine if the cape needs to be downloaded or can be taken from cache
+// the cape - if downloaded - is stored to file
+// callback: error, cape hash
+function store_cape(rid, userId, profile, cache_details, callback) {
+  networking.get_cape_url(rid, userId, profile, function(err, url) {
+    if (!err && url) {
+      var cape_hash = get_hash(url);
+      if (cache_details && cache_details.cape === cape_hash) {
+        cache.update_timestamp(rid, userId, cape_hash, false, function(cache_err) {
+          callback(cache_err, cape_hash);
+        });
+      } else {
+        logging.debug(rid, "new cape hash:", cape_hash);
+        var capepath = path.join(__dirname, "..", config.directories.capes, cape_hash + ".png");
+        fs.exists(capepath, function(exists) {
+          if (exists) {
+            logging.debug(rid, "cape already exists, not downloading");
+            callback(null, cape_hash);
+          } else {
+            networking.get_from(rid, url, function(img, response, net_err) {
+              if (net_err || !img) {
+                logging.error(rid, net_err.stack);
+                callback(net_err, null);
+              } else {
+                skins.save_image(img, capepath, function(skin_err) {
+                  logging.debug(rid, "cape saved");
+                  callback(skin_err, cape_hash);
+                });
+              }
+            });
+          }
+        });
+      }
+    } else {
+      callback(err, null);
+    }
+  });
+}
+
+// used by store_images to queue simultaneous requests for identical userId
+// the first request has to be completed until all others are continued
+// otherwise we risk running into Mojang's rate limit and deleting the cached skin
+var requests = {
+  skin: {},
+  cape: {}
+};
+
+function push_request(userId, type, fun) {
+  if (!requests[type][userId]) {
+    requests[type][userId] = [];
+  }
+  requests[type][userId].push(fun);
+}
+
+// calls back all queued requests that match userId and type
+function resume(userId, type, err, hash) {
+  var callbacks = requests[type][userId];
+  if (callbacks) {
+    if (callbacks.length > 1) {
+      logging.debug(callbacks.length, "simultaneous requests for", userId);
+    }
+
+    for (var i = 0; i < callbacks.length; i++) {
+      // continue the request
+      callbacks[i](err, hash);
+      // remove from array
+      callbacks.splice(i, 1);
+      i--;
+    }
+
+    // it's still an empty array
+    delete requests[type][userId];
+  }
+}
+
+// downloads the images for +userId+ while checking the cache
+// status based on +cache_details+. +type+ specifies which
+// image type should be called back on
+// callback: error, image hash
+function store_images(rid, userId, cache_details, type, callback) {
+  var is_uuid = userId.length > 16;
+  if (requests[type][userId]) {
+    logging.debug(rid, "adding to request queue");
+    push_request(userId, type, callback);
+  } else {
+    // add request to the queue
+    push_request(userId, type, callback);
+
+    networking.get_profile(rid, (is_uuid ? userId : null), function(err, profile) {
+      if (err || (is_uuid && !profile)) {
+        // error or uuid without profile
+        if (!err && !profile) {
+          // no error, but uuid without profile
+          cache.save_hash(rid, userId, null, null, function(cache_err) {
+            // we have no profile, so we have neither skin nor cape
+            resume(userId, "skin", cache_err, null);
+            resume(userId, "cape", cache_err, null);
+          });
+        } else {
+          // an error occured, not caching. we can try in 60 seconds
+          resume(userId, type, err, null);
+        }
+      } else {
+        // no error and we have a profile (if it's a uuid)
+        store_skin(rid, userId, profile, cache_details, function(store_err, skin_hash) {
+          if (store_err && !skin_hash) {
+            // an error occured, not caching. we can try in 60 seconds
+            resume(userId, "skin", store_err, null);
+          } else {
+            cache.save_hash(rid, userId, skin_hash, undefined, function(cache_err) {
+              resume(userId, "skin", (store_err || cache_err), skin_hash);
+            });
+          }
+        });
+        store_cape(rid, userId, profile, cache_details, function(store_err, cape_hash) {
+          if (store_err && !cape_hash) {
+            // an error occured, not caching. we can try in 60 seconds
+            resume(userId, "cape", (store_err), cape_hash);
+          } else {
+            cache.save_hash(rid, userId, undefined, cape_hash, function(cache_err) {
+              resume(userId, "cape", (store_err || cache_err), cape_hash);
+            });
+          }
+        });
+      }
+    });
+  }
+}
+
+var exp = {};
+
+// returns true if the +userId+ is a valid userId or username
+// the userId may be not exist, however
+exp.id_valid = function(userId) {
+  return valid_user_id.test(userId);
+};
+
+// decides whether to get a +type+ image for +userId+ from disk or to download it
+// callback: error, status, hash
+// for status, see response.js
+exp.get_image_hash = function(rid, userId, type, callback) {
+  cache.get_details(userId, function(err, cache_details) {
+    var cached_hash = null;
+    if (cache_details !== null) {
+      cached_hash = type === "skin" ? cache_details.skin : cache_details.cape;
+    }
+    if (err) {
+      callback(err, -1, null);
+    } else {
+      if (cache_details && cache_details[type] !== undefined && cache_details.time + config.caching.local * 1000 >= Date.now()) {
+        // use cached image
+        logging.debug(rid, "userId cached & recently updated");
+        callback(null, (cached_hash ? 1 : 0), cached_hash);
+      } else {
+        // download image
+        if (cache_details) {
+          logging.debug(rid, "userId cached, but too old");
+        } else {
+          logging.debug(rid, "userId not cached");
+        }
+        store_images(rid, userId, cache_details, type, function(store_err, new_hash) {
+          if (store_err) {
+            // we might have a cached hash although an error occured
+            // (e.g. Mojang servers not reachable, using outdated hash)
+            cache.update_timestamp(rid, userId, cached_hash, true, function(err2) {
+              callback(err2 || store_err, -1, cache_details && cached_hash);
+            });
+          } else {
+            var status = cache_details && (cached_hash === new_hash) ? 3 : 2;
+            logging.debug(rid, "cached hash:", (cache_details && cached_hash));
+            logging.debug(rid, "new hash:", new_hash);
+            callback(null, status, new_hash);
+          }
+        });
+      }
+    }
+  });
+};
+
+
+// handles requests for +userId+ avatars with +size+
+// callback: error, status, image buffer, skin hash
+// image is the user's face+helm when helm is true, or the face otherwise
+// for status, see get_image_hash
+exp.get_avatar = function(rid, userId, helm, size, callback) {
+  exp.get_image_hash(rid, userId, "skin", function(err, status, skin_hash) {
+    if (skin_hash) {
+      var facepath = path.join(__dirname, "..", config.directories.faces, skin_hash + ".png");
+      var helmpath = path.join(__dirname, "..", config.directories.helms, skin_hash + ".png");
+      var filepath = facepath;
+      fs.exists(helmpath, function(exists) {
+        if (helm && exists) {
+          filepath = helmpath;
+        }
+        skins.resize_img(filepath, size, function(img_err, image) {
+          if (img_err) {
+            callback(img_err, -1, null, skin_hash);
+          } else {
+            callback(err, (err ? -1 : status), image, skin_hash);
+          }
+        });
+      });
+    } else {
+      // hash is null when userId has no skin
+      callback(err, status, null, null);
+    }
+  });
+};
+
+// handles requests for +userId+ skins
+// callback: error, skin hash, status, image buffer
+exp.get_skin = function(rid, userId, callback) {
+  exp.get_image_hash(rid, userId, "skin", function(err, status, skin_hash) {
+    if (skin_hash) {
+      var skinpath = path.join(__dirname, "..", config.directories.skins, skin_hash + ".png");
+      fs.exists(skinpath, function(exists) {
+        if (exists) {
+          logging.debug(rid, "skin already exists, not downloading");
+          skins.open_skin(rid, skinpath, function(skin_err, img) {
+            callback(skin_err || err, skin_hash, status, img);
+          });
+        } else {
+          networking.save_texture(rid, skin_hash, skinpath, function(net_err, response, img) {
+            callback(net_err || err, skin_hash, status, img);
+          });
+        }
+      });
+    } else {
+      callback(err, null, status, null);
+    }
+  });
+};
+
+// helper method used for file names
+// possible returned names based on +helm+ and +body+ are:
+// body, bodyhelm, head, headhelm
+function get_type(helm, body) {
+  var text = body ? "body" : "head";
+  return helm ? text + "helm" : text;
+}
+
+// handles creations of 3D renders
+// callback: error, skin hash, image buffer
+exp.get_render = function(rid, userId, scale, helm, body, callback) {
+  exp.get_skin(rid, userId, function(err, skin_hash, status, img) {
+    if (!skin_hash) {
+      callback(err, status, skin_hash, null);
+      return;
+    }
+    var renderpath = path.join(__dirname, "..", config.directories.renders, [skin_hash, scale, get_type(helm, body)].join("-") + ".png");
+    fs.exists(renderpath, function(exists) {
+      if (exists) {
+        renders.open_render(rid, renderpath, function(render_err, rendered_img) {
+          callback(render_err, 1, skin_hash, rendered_img);
+        });
+        return;
+      } else {
+        if (!img) {
+          callback(err, 0, skin_hash, null);
+          return;
+        }
+        renders.draw_model(rid, img, scale, helm, body, function(draw_err, drawn_img) {
+          if (draw_err) {
+            callback(draw_err, -1, skin_hash, null);
+          } else if (!drawn_img) {
+            callback(null, 0, skin_hash, null);
+          } else {
+            fs.writeFile(renderpath, drawn_img, "binary", function(fs_err) {
+              if (fs_err) {
+                logging.error(rid, fs_err.stack);
+              }
+              callback(null, 2, skin_hash, drawn_img);
+            });
+          }
+        });
+      }
+    });
+  });
+};
+
+// handles requests for +userId+ capes
+// callback: error, cape hash, status, image buffer
+exp.get_cape = function(rid, userId, callback) {
+  exp.get_image_hash(rid, userId, "cape", function(err, status, cape_hash) {
+    if (!cape_hash) {
+      callback(err, null, status, null);
+      return;
+    }
+    var capepath = path.join(__dirname, "..", config.directories.capes, cape_hash + ".png");
+    fs.exists(capepath, function(exists) {
+      if (exists) {
+        logging.debug(rid, "cape already exists, not downloading");
+        skins.open_skin(rid, capepath, function(skin_err, img) {
+          callback(skin_err || err, cape_hash, status, img);
+        });
+      } else {
+        networking.save_texture(rid, cape_hash, capepath, function(net_err, response, img) {
+          if (response && response.statusCode === 404) {
+            callback(net_err, cape_hash, status, null);
+          } else {
+            callback(net_err, cape_hash, status, img);
+          }
+        });
+      }
+    });
+  });
+};
+
+module.exports = exp;
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