DM Brainiac’s Strength of Thousands (INACTIVE) (Inactive)

Game Master Brainiac

"Alas, I've only the one size of bead," says Ot with a shrug.

You step back out into the rainstorm as Teacher Ot directs you south along a walking path. After a few minutes, you reach your destination. Four tall spires surround Spire Dormitory, two to the north and two to the south. At 50 feet high, these spires stand much taller than the single-story dormitory.

Ot bids you farewell as a young woman trots out from the one-story dormitory building, shielding her head with a silk umbrella reinforced with dry reeds.“You’re the new students, o? You’ll be rooming with us in Spire Dorm. I am Esi Djana. Come in, I’ll show you the place.” The woman offers you several extra umbrellas and then gestures with her own toward the door, taking a few steps back toward the building’s welcoming, dry overhang.

A catfolk sprawls beneath the eaves of the dormitory building, a sliced and sticky mango laying on a cloth on her chest. She looks up from licking the juice off her fingers, her mouth spreading into a toothy smile. “Care for some mango?” she says cheerfully while gesturing idly to the fruit. “Or if you’d prefer something to cheer you up from the rain, I have some wine brewing back in my room.”

“Don’t offer them your moonshine!” Esi scolds, before addressing you again. “This is Chizire. Don’t become a slacker like her.”

“I don’t need to study. Amurruns have the best magic, everyone says so,” Chizire says. Her blue eyes meet Unya's with a knowing twinkle. “Esi here is trying to run the entire school. Even playing teacher for the new students, it looks like.”

Esi blows out a sharp breath. “Koride told me to get them settled. Said that handling the new students was our job.”

“Fft. Do we look like attendants to her? Not yet, we aren’t,” Chizire replies, turning her attention back to peeling the skin off another slice of mango. Esi waits for a moment before scuffing her foot at the catfolk’s tail and then stepping over her to go inside.

Bahili gives a polite greeting with a bow. "Greetings to you both. Esi Djana, and Chizire." saying their names to make sure he has the proper pronunciation. "Is Koride another student?"

Esi looks back at Bahili and scowls. "No. Koride Ulawa teaches magical ecology. But she has a reckless disregard for the rules. Sometimes she doesn't even show up for her own classes, or she forgets to follow up on the homework she assigns!"

"Yeah, she's pretty great," Chizire says with a sly grin.

"No, she is not!" Esi huffs. "I do not know why everyone doesn't agree that she is an awful teacher and a terrible person!"

Okapi shrugs, "She is a teacher and therefore wise and must know what she is doing. You don't have to always work hard to do well you know, just work smart!" She says with a wink to the mango-eating catfolk.

"Now, I want to see our rooms! Show us, do we get to pick?"

Bahili takes the scowl in stride, feeling it is intended for Koride instead of him, hopefully. Magical ecology sounds like a truly amazing class, making him rather eager to meet this Koride, terrible or not.

Chikire grins at Okapi. "I like the way you think," the catfolk purrs.

"There are six available rooms," Esi says, "one for each of you, conveniently. In addition to sharing living space, you six have been chosen to become a 'cohort.' Cohorts at the Magaambya are initiate groups that shares the same class schedule and Perquisite work schedule. These groups rotate duties with other cohorts to ensure each cohort gets a specific day of the week off from their work."

Spire Dormitory is an open, airy building. Decorated with a colorful and intricate mosaic on the walls and floors, the large common room has a number of plush couches.

A handsome young Chelish man rises from one of the couches with a smile that seems polished and rehearsed. "You must be the newbies. I am Ignaci Canterells. I trust you will find your time here in Spire Dormitory pleasant. I sell alchemical items for a reasonable fee to recoup my time and expenses. The dorm also holds a weekly game night. You are more than welcome to attend."

From down an adjoining hall, a miniature gnoll emerges! Standing only 3 feet tall, she resembles an aardwolf more than a deadly carnivore. Okapi recognizes her as an ant gnoll! The gnoll leads a fluffy chicken around by a stick, and the chicken eagerly gobbles several ants that are crawling around the room.

When the gnoll sees you looking in her direction, though, she squeaks in horror and tries to hide behind one of the couches! She is not very good at hiding, though, as her hindquarters stick out prominently from behind the furniture.

Unya has been unusually sedate after the results of the testing, walking with the others through the rain in silent contemplation.

Her excitement returns partially at the sight of another amurrun. "Ek aur amaroon se milana kitanee raahat kee baat hai!" she declares in a rush, but then glances around at the others, realizing how rude she's being.

"We have no magic, ourselves," she continues in common, the small amount of excitement she's showing fading again. "We are wondering if it was perhaps a mistake for us to come here."

She looks to Esi.

"When do we receive our class schedule?"

"Yahaan ham mein se bahut se log nahin hain, isalie hamen saath rahana hoga, billee," Chizire replies to Unya, her tail waving languidly.

"If you are here, then it is no mistake," Esi says. "The educators here are top-notch, and Teacher Ot can impart the knowledge of a few cantrips to you within only a matter of days! From there, you will be on your way to mastering magic in no time!

"Your first tasks will begin tomorrow morning. After you settle into your rooms, I'll show you to the other two areas you're most likely to frequent on campus: the dining hall and the student supply store."

"We have no magic, ourselves,"

Drazhan furrows his brow and scratches his forehead, confused about Unya's statement. "Did you just say that you came to a school of magic without actually knowing anything about magic?"

He opens his mouth as if he intends to say more, but abruptly closes it and nods "Good to know."

All the tail swishing as the two amurrun talk has the poor country lad a bit enthralled. Until he realizes he is staring at their backsides and pulls his eyes away. Bahili greets the other two residents politely and asks "Are you four part of a cohort as well?"

”Yes, we are a cohort. There are five other students who are in classes now that make up the final cohort in this dorm,” Esi says. She looks at the cowering gnoll and shakes her head. ”You will have to excuse Anchor Root. She startles easily.”

"In walks a wave of new experiences, it is easy to see how anyone could be startled." he tries to give a kind smile towards the root. "Your chicken was doing a wonderful job!"

Anchor Root gets to her feet, trembling slightly. ”Oh! Th-thanks,” she stammers in a high-pitched voice. ”There have been an awful lot of ants in the dorm lately, I thought I’d try to get rid of some of them. But, uh, I don’t mean to be a bother! Should I go? I can go!”

Firinn gives Drazhan a rather nasty look, but the much larger man doesn't notice. Nodding his way through the pleasantries Firinn seems to be looking for someone and seems somewhat relieved when another sprite appears from the nearest door and waves.

"Firinn, we're in here!"

Firinn offers a salute to the group at large and Helena leaps forward into the nearest room.

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"For a great school of magic they are not very well organised." Firinn says later, as he perches with Titania on the wide expanse of the desk that they have available. "They have not considered the issues of size for anyone."

"Not everyone can deal with our size." Titania replies, "And although I cannot take books from the library it is not the worst thing that might happen. At least Helena and Romeo have enough space." Indeed the two corgis are delightedly curled up on the bed, which is far too large for a sprite.

Okapi bounds off to see the rooms wanting to get the best pick - the room with the most minimal walking to anywhere - no extra effort needed. She drops her backpack heavily on the bed of the room that she claims, whether it is meant to be hers or not, and bounds back outside to meet her new community.

She bounds up to the other Kholo that she saw earlier, getting very close, much too close for most people's comfort levels but Okapi doesn't seem to notice. "I like your chicken, that is a sure-fire way to get rid of the ants. I'm Okapi of the White Acacia Clan, I should be Witchling Okapi by now, but those initial tests do not make me feel as if I have earned the name yet. So call me Okapi. When we get to learn actual talents then I might just earn it."

When she is done oversharing, she remembers that it is polite to ask about other people in a conversation. "So, you've been learning here for a while? We get to be dorm-mates! How great!"

Anchor Root seems no more comfortable speaking to a fellow kholo, especially one with such high energy as Okapi. She whimpers softly and shifts back and forth from foot to foot. ”I’m from the Redridge Clan. I’m t-training to be the bonekeeper for my tribe. Our bonekeeper is very old, and I’m the only one who knows how to talk to bones, and... and...”

The ant gnoll abruptly shouts, ”I’m sorry! I’m boring you! I HAVE TO GO!” She grabs her chicken and runs away, crying!

Bahili was going to answer Root but Okapi enthusiastically started conversing with her. Instead, Bahili went to pick a room.

He doesn't care about size but prefers one with a window if he can get it. Opening one of the doors, he sees both a window and a stunningly bright yellow rug. Like a puddle of honey. Just like home. Since no one else is clamoring for this one, he moves in.

Instead of going back out immediately, he spends some time removing his best robes, all six layers of it. Drenched best robes are bad best robes. After drying off, he dons some of his work clothes, plain white but sturdy tunic, and brown breeches.

the one across from A12 please

A different Bahili comes out of his room. Plain but stout, arms and head bare where only his hands and face were before. He slips on his strand of bead as he comes into the room. "I am ready to see the other areas, Ms. Djana, whenever you have the time." a small bow of respect for her graciously giving them that time.

"Yahaan ham mein se bahut se log nahin hain, isalie hamen saath rahana hoga, billee," Chizire replies to Unya, her tail waving languidly.

Unya giggles in response to Chizire's words and looks away shyly.

Drazhan furrows his brow and scratches his forehead, confused about Unya's statement. "Did you just say that you came to a school of magic without actually knowing anything about magic?"

He opens his mouth as if he intends to say more, but abruptly closes it and nods "Good to know."

The catfolk's head whips around at Drazhan's comment. "It is a school, is it not?" she snaps back, her playful mood gone in an instant and her eyes narrowing to slits. Her tail whips back and forth with barely contained agitation. "Why would one come here if they already knew everything?" The amurrun's intensity relaxes slightly. "We did not realize they expected us to already know magic. Our sister knew much of magic, but she was not a good fit." The fight fades from her almost entirely. "Perhaps we are not a good fit either."

Without another word, Unya picks up her small bag and heads off in search of a room to claim, even if for just a short time.

Taking the southern room across the hall from A11.

Anabel makes pleasantries with each student as they are introduced, but she doesn't linger in the common room too long. She finds her room and gently places her pack by the bed. The slight elf kneels and clasps the iron symbol around her neck, closing her eyes in prayer. "Thank you for this gift, Sun Goddess of Dawn. I will embrace this opportunity to better myself, that I may better others." The air around Anabel thrums softly with potential energy as the life-giving powers within her resonate with the magic of the Magaambya grounds.

She emerges from her room with a wide smile on her face, ready to continue the tour.

Once everybody has found their room, Esi makes sure you have your umbrellas before you head back out into the rainstorm ("You had better get used to it, o! It rains like this over half the year!" Esi says with a laugh.) You cross the academy grounds to get to the dining hall.

The Magaambya’s dining hall is a large, kitchen-warmed facility with handsome mosaics and plenty of seating. Though most students take their meals outside on sunny days, the hall is a very popular meeting place for students and teachers during the rainy season. Scholars soak up the warmth, chat with each other, and casually eat slices of mango or plantains from wide, shallow baskets.

The head cook, Lumusi Yao, makes a point of coming out to greet new students and welcoming them to the dining hall. "We do our best to provide healthy and tasty meals! Each student receives two meals a day, and the dining hall is open from sunrise until two hours after sunset each day. You will need these beads to mark you as students so we know to feed you!" She hands you each a glass bead resembling a piece of fruit.

From there, Esi leads you to the student supply store. Affectionately named “the Powderpile” due to its large collection of magical powders, the student supply store is run by a diligent kobold named Xhokan. Xhokan gives each of you a small lump of clay and demands you roll it into a bead and then return it to him for his collection. In exchange, the kobold gives each of you a tan glass bead in the shape of a bulging sack for you to wear with your other beads.

More importantly, Xhokan gives each of you your initial stipend of 40 gp and some basic supplies, such as parchment, quills, and ink. "There you are. Now, so long as you are students in good standing, the Magaambya will provide you with basic school supplies and 4 gp at the start of every month. Here is your first payment." The kobold gives you and additional 4 gp each.

Xhokan’s store sells many common items you might need: all adventuring gear; alchemical items, held items, and worn items up to 3rd level; oils, potions, scrolls, and wands up to 5th level; and staves up to 6th level. He can recommend merchants in Nantambu for other common items the heroes might want."The store pays a finder’s fee for items of interest to the Magaambya, as well. We open two hours before lunch and close at sunset."

Now that the tour is over, the rest of the afternoon and evening are yours to shop, eat, explore the grounds, or talk to your fellow students.

Not fussy about his room selection, he lets all of the others in his cohort make their choice and accepts whatever is left over. He states "I am not here to sleep, I am here to learn. I do not intend to spend many hours in here anyway."

When he meets Xhokan, he diligently rolls the clay as instructed and nods in response to the stipend. "Thank you."

He immediately sets to inspect their selection of scrolls, impressed in the collection!

Later that evening, Bahili gets a knock on his door. A grinning Unya greets him upon opening it.

"We plan to seek out Chizire and sample some of her 'moonshine'," she says as her tails swishes back and forth. The beads that she's received so far dangle on a single string from her right ear. "Would you like to join us?"

Okapi goes silent as Anchor Root runs off. She has never had that reaction on anyone before.

"What did I say....?"
--------

Okapi does her best to make a communal event of dinner, trying to round up everybody in order to head to the dining hall together starting with who she believes will be the most enthusiastic co-conspirator first; Firinn.

"Pleeease can you come join me and gather the others. We just have to eat together on the first night - its important if we are to be a cohort together. Pleeeeease" She looks awfully enthusiastic and has dropped the pretence of her earlier attempted wisdom already. As if realising this herself, she looks shiftilly sideways for a split second before adding; "It is important to put effort into your community and grow all of your relationships such that it strengthens the community as a whole and you can achieve much more as a group with less individual effort."

Helena is starting to look quite fancy, with three beads braided into her fur while Firinn continues to mutter over the lack of consideration for smaller people.

--------------------------
Okapi guesses correctly in her assessment as Firinn seems rather keen on a communal dinner. "Excellent idea!" He grins, from his position standing on the table. "Titania will come, won't you T?" There's an indeterminate reply from somewhere on the bed and Firinn shrugs.

"I'm sure she will. Or she'll read right through dinner. Either way. I'll go and get the pretty Anabel, you find the grumpy man and we can collect Bahili and Unya after that!"

He swings down from the chair and leaps onto Helena's back. "Onwards mighty steed! To dinner!"

Okapi grins wildly as Firinn agrees and leaps after the Grumpy Man's previously known direction but finds his room empty. As such, Okapi goes around asking anyone she can find for directions to the Grumpy Man, who she actually explains is called Drazhan and gives a general description of the human.

Eventually, someone takes pity on the new initiate and points her in the direction of Xhokan's store. Entering without trying to be quiet, Okapi sniffs around, the smell of musty scrolls coming to her nose and she takes a few steps standing very close behind the man inspecting scrolls.

"On your first day, you come and inspect all of these things? You must be very focussed." She says to Drazhan. "Come on, everybody is going to dinner together to get to know one another and have fun. I spent a lot of time coming to track you down, so now you have to come and join us....for community building of course."

She waits expectantly, not realising she did not say hello or any other well wishes.

Anabel meanwhile hears a scratching noise at her door, which turns out to be Helena.

"Fairest lady." Firinn proclaims. "I am come to invite you to partake of a repast with the rest of us lowly peons. Our days will be greatly enriched by your light and company." He bows elaborately and smiles up at the elf. "Okapi thinks we need to eat together, it is an excellent idea so Firinn came here first, drawn by your beauty. I will not accept no for an answer!"

Anabel blushes at the sprite’s praise. ”Well, you certainly are a charmer! I would be honored to attend. Are you to be my escort?” She smiles and offers a hand to the diminutive fey.

"If the lady wishes, I would be delighted." Firinn replies, stepping onto Anabel's hand. Helena yips excitedly and starts running circles around Anabel's feet as she walks.

Drazhan does not immediately turn when Okapi starts to talk, but she keeps talking and talking so he eventually lowers the scroll to look up at her. "Community building." he repeats, letting the words sink in, thinking about it.

Having already gleaned the fact that the group is mostly useless when it comes to their magical knowledge and abilities, it would be good to find out what, if any, skills they actually possess since they would be grouped together.

He folds the scroll he was reading back up and places it carefully back on the stack. "I will attend." he says, moving to join Okapi.

Assuming Bahili and Unya agree to the invitation as well, as evening approaches, you all meet up in the dining hall to share your meal together. The food is fresh and tasty, and the mulled cider is crisp and refreshing.

Sipping the refreshing cider, the magus starts by asking "So it would appear from the initial pre-testing that Master Ot delivered to us on our initial gathering that several of your strengths are not with magic. Are any of you skilled with bow or blade?"

"Not me," Anabel says with a chuckle. "My physical frailty has always been my bane. But I found new purpose, and new powers. I can contribute in other ways."

She picks up a banana, which swells slightly and become much more vibrant in her hands. "I am a vessel of vitality. Life energy flows from me into all living things, but sometimes I have trouble preventing too much from seeping outwards..."

Whether because of illicit substances from Chizire's stash, the simple company of another amurrun, or something else entirely, Unya's effervescence has returned in full by the time she joins others for their evening meal.

"Wearequiteskilledwithbladesbutneedmorepracticewithbows," she gushes in reply to Drazhan as she fills her plate with the few non-vegetarian options available. In fact, she selects almost entirely meat for her meal. She doesn't skimp on the mulled cider, though.

"Canyoudothatwithotherfruit?Wewouldlovetoseethattrickwithgrapesororangesorm elonsorapinappleHaveyoueverseenapinapple?They'reaveryweirdlookingfruitButwe prefermeatanyway. Doeseveryoneelseliketheirroom?Oursneedsmorepillowsbutotherthanthatit'sveryc ozy."

Drazhan unknowingly leans forward as he tries to process Unya's speech. "Interesting. Do the Amurrun not possess the ability to properly enunciate with pauses between their words?"

Unya goes quiet and turns to Drazhan. "Is there anything else you would like to criticize about us?" she says, deliberately enunciating each word. "Perhaps the length of our tail or the color of our ears? If so, please say it and be done with it. We are tired of you snipping and scratching like a petulant kitten. We are not aware that we've done anything to offend you, but if we have, then point it out and be done with it."

The magus blinks twice while looking at the perturbed catfolk "My observation was not intended to be a criticism of your behavior, it was merely an initial assessment of your vocal mannerisms. I have never called you petulant nor a child. It appears you have sensitivities in this areas that I'm unaware of. Duly noted. If I have offended you by asking the question aloud, I will keep such thoughts to myself from now on."

To the group at large he says "My apologies. I assumed we were here to get to know each other better, I will excuse myself from this festivity if my presence is such a burden." Turning to Okapi he adds "Thank you for the invitation. Have a pleasant time."

Drazhan scoots back, rises and departs.

Unya frowns even further and her tail whips back and forth, slapping into Bahili who's sitting next to her.

"Why are you leaving?" she calls out before turning to the others gathered at the table. "Why is he leaving?" She seems genuinely confused. "If two beings have a disagreement, then they resolve it, not ignore it or run away from it. We do not understand humans. Does the school offer classes to understand them?"

Shaking her head, she stabs her knife into a slice of something dripping with gravy and stuffs it into her mouth.

Firinn lets out a quiet sigh. "Amongst humans it is seen as a sign of maturity and good sense to walk away from an argument." He explains. "It usually means that they think they are right, but are not going to insist because it would make more of an argument. We have met many humans on our way here, and they are not very complicated."

He offers a nod to Bahili. "I mean no offense sir."

Okapi can see the whole gathering going wrong around her - and it was supposed to be such a fantastic idea!

"Wait, Drazhan, we hadn't got to the good part yet!" Okapi adds, but is too late before the man departs in a huff.

Okapi starts filling her mouth with the delicious food in front of her and without pausing to swallow first, she adds; "Hewmens cnbe odd Ummnnnya." She swallows and licks her messy lips with satisfaction. " They seem to like more personal space than is usual, but that shouldn't stop you! Although...perhaps he is a little touchy on a few topics and we best beware of that."

Noticing that Firinn has just as large a plate of food as everyone else, Okapi leans across the table and borrows a slice of the meat. "You don't mind right Firinn, someone your size doesn't need as much as me and I can't stomach half of the food on my plate - all those yucky vegetables dont do well for Kholo." She says disdainfully at the plate in front of her.

Addressing Unya again, replying to her previous question, she adds, "Unfortunately my room is not the one that I originally wanted, but its comfortable enough. Needs more life in it though, if you know what I mean? What about all of you, are you all happy with your rooms?"

Noticing that Firinn has just as large a plate of food as everyone else, Okapi leans across the table and borrows a slice of the meat. "You don't mind right Firinn, someone your size doesn't need as much as me and I can't stomach half of the food on my plate - all those vegetables dont do well for Kholo." She says disdainfully at the plate in front of her.

"That's for..." Firinn begins, but finds himself too slow. ...Helena."

Anabel shakes her head and Drazhan storms off. She says something softly in Elven.

"My room is sufficient, but I have yet to make it cozy," she says to Okapi. "I would be happy to liven your room up some. When time permits, I will look for some colorful flowers and other plants to make it feel more like home for you."

"Well, my home didn't have many flowers or plants, it was mostly overrun with lil' pups causing some good old chaos and mischief but I like the sound of the colours still. As long as I don't need to do anything special to keep them alive...." She adds, looking uneasy at the thought of tending flowers.

At that moment, Okapi flinches for a split-second, as a small two-legged humanoid figurine made from a bunch of twigs, twine and rocks jumps up onto the table from her lap and looks around cautiously, as if taking in the sights around it.

"Twig, get down from there! You know that you're only supposed to say hello to family." Okapi says, going to pick up the oddly animate bundle of things swiftly. "I only brought you as you promised to stay hidden in the backpack."

Anabel gasps in happy surprise as Twig makes an appearance. "Don't worry, Okapi! Your friend is welcome here. Hello, little one! Nice to meet you!"

Growing up in a family of five very lively older sisters, Bahili found the best way to make it through every meal was to... keep quiet.

Something he is finding to also be a good tactic in his first academic dinner with his cohort.

He doesn't get around to expressing his abilities or interest in magic with Drazhan.
He doesn't get to express that all people, human or otherwise, are different so Unya's stereotyping can be considered rude.
He doesn't reinforce it in the wake of Firinn's comments.
He does slip a bit of meat to the poor deprived Helena.
And he does look in wonder at the Twig in the lap.

All that... but he is still choosing silence as a way of dealing with it all.

Seems prudent.

Bahili's attempt to remain silent and insulated from the discussion is at risk of defeat as Unya leans in close to him.

"You're human and seem wise," she says, meeting his eyes with her pale blue ones. "Maybe we could talk after dinner and you can help relieve our ignorance about your species. Chizire had some things to say, but we're not sure if we entirely believe her. It's always best to get first-hand information. Are you free later? You could join us in our room and we could have private social intercourse."

A delicious-looking pepper, all vivid in its redness, is halted on its way up to Bahili's mouth. A mouth that stays open for more time than is prudent, as the owner stares in wonder into the pale orbs. The pepper feels ignored, so does as any ignored pepper would do and jumps off his fork to land with a satisfying Plop into his plate.

His mind is jarred back into motion at that sound "Talk, you want to talk, yes. Um... wouldn't it be better to trade information that will help us all interact with each other in a group setting, maybe in the common area of our dormitory?" he is uncertain of his ability to concentrate otherwise.

Firinn catches the conversation between Unya and Bahili and can't help but laugh. Luckily, since he's small, its a fairly quiet laugh.

Unya leans in even closer to the nervous druid - one could even say uncomfortably close - and sniffs. "You smell ... nervous," she says, and grins. "Nervous and ..." She tips her head slightly and smiles. "Fear not, Bahili. We will not eat you and we do not bite ... too hard."

She hops up from her seat and extends a hand towards the man. "Come, perhaps Chizire will join us."

Bahili is polite, he has been raised as such and falls back to it in nearly all times of stress and nervousness. In some ways it can become a trap. Such as now. He cannot think of a good way to retreat without offending the lovely Unya, so he wipes he mouth (good manners when one is done with dinner) and gives her a quick hesitant smile "Thank you for placing your trust in me to help... define a better working environment between... our species."