Alrinkiri shakes off both the flash and the venom as they summon a magical ward to protect themselves, then try to tumble through the large beetle's legs to reach the far side.
Before the beetle can react, Alrinkiri slashes at it with their claws.
Alrinkiri slides under the beetle, and slashes the creature's guts with their claws!
The bleeding beetle rushes away from the rogue, and tramples across the party's back line! Along the way, it squishes the flash beetle with a single stomp. Without the mitflits there to wrangle them, the territorial insects don't get along.
☀☀☀
On the other side of the room, Lucky Bones pecks at a centipede's eyes while her master hurls bolts of fire at another stag beetle!
☀☀☀
──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
Alrinkiri
Stag
➤ Wisps
➤ Soomdevi
➤ Akoril
➤ Chimwemwe
Centi 1
Centi 2
Kurshkin
DC 29 (crit success), second success by another PC, or DC 21 as second check after first success:
DC 23(crit success), second success by another PC, or DC 15 as second check after first success:
DC 23(crit success), second success by another PC, or DC 15 as second check after first success:
Akoril gets trampled, but holds his ground and retaliates with a snarl as his bow takes a bite at the biggun.
Akoril then fires another debris lined shot, this time at the bug climbing the wall.
Soomdevi gets squished too, and sends his shot wide as he catches his breath.
Akoril blasts the stag beetle, and spellstrikes the centipede. Pieces of centipede shower the area!
Lucky Bones waddles over, oblivious to the danger, and starts gobbling up the pieces. It's her natural food… just bigger.
Kurshkin claps. Yes! Exactly as I instructed. Kill them. Good work.
──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
Alrinkiri
Stag
➤ Wisps
Soomdevi
Akoril
➤ Chimwemwe
Centi 1
Kurshkin
DC 29 (crit success), second success by another PC, or DC 21 as second check after first success:
DC 23(crit success), second success by another PC, or DC 15 as second check after first success:
DC 23(crit success), second success by another PC, or DC 15 as second check after first success:
Chimwemwe traces a geometric symbol on the inside of his shield arm. The invisible tattoos and the glyphs on his armor flicker red for a moment but nothing else happens. He grimaces as he tries to squash the centipede's head between his shield and the column and then raises the bronze shield defensively.
Chimwemwe fails to squish his bug.
Wisps is up!
Wisps narrowly avoid the creature's legs!
"My friends, look how well we are doing!"
She backs away and shoots an arrow at the stag beetle.
The arrow clunks off the beetle's shell!
On the other side of the room, Okoro shoves a mini into his pocket and flexes his muscles. You notice how athletic he is for the first time as he punches a flash beetle out of the air!
☀☀☀
The centipede harries the nearest creature… the inventor.
and a DC 14 Fort save vs Poison
The bug's mandibles dig into Chimwemwe's femoral artery; he feels warm poison glow into his veins.
The creature stupidly attacks twice more, even though it has little chance of hitting such a well-armored opponent.
☀☀☀
Gah! Wizards! Listen! Kill the bugs!
"General" Kurshkin, bravely leading from the back, shoots an arrow at the beetle again!
See?
──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
➤ Alrinkiri
Stag
Wisps
Soomdevi
Akoril
Chimwemwe
Centi 1
Kurshkin
DC 29 (crit success), second success by another PC, or DC 21 as second check after first success:
DC 23(crit success), second success by another PC, or DC 15 as second check after first success:
DC 23(crit success), second success by another PC, or DC 15 as second check after first success:
Chimwemwe snaps his shield into the way of the ravenous centipede, protecting his groin but the venomous mandibles still scratch his hip.
Torn between two fronts, Alrinkiri decides Chimwemwe can handle the flash beetle on his own. Instead, they dash along the southern wall, sliding to a stop in position to pin the large beetle between themselves and Akoril. Before the beetle can react, they slash at it's less-armored backside.
Alrinkiri leaps across the room and disembowels the stag beetle. It flips over on its back, legs writhing, and then falls still.
HA-YA! Esi knocks out the last flash beetle, while Okoro drops a chess piece and decides to whollop a centipede with his fist — you notice the game master is rather beefy as he handedly deals with the insect.
Chimwemwe batters the centipede with his shield boss, ending its existence. The only chaos left on the battlefield is Root chasing Lucky Bones, as the chicken darts around looking for choice pieces of bug to eat. Ummm… please come back… Lucky Bones… ummmm…
☀☀☀
Kurshkin breathes on her tiny shortbow, polishes it, and puts it away as if she did all the work. You did better than Reek and Havvix. Wait till I see ‘em, I’ll wring— She stops what she’s saying, and points at the sacks. Nevermind. See? I told you Stone Ghost was pulling pranks! I told you! I did!
Each stag beetle was carrying a sack. Inside each sack you find an unconscious, masked attendant. These are students above your level, who have had their first or even second masking ceremony. One mask depicts a stern antelope, another a kindly hare, and the last a smiling warthog. They look badly bruised, unconscious but alive.
Esi, for once, seems to be at a loss for words. If we didn't arrive in time…
Kurshkin trots over and wags her tail. Yeah see? I'm all "reformed" now! Really. I told you the bad things other people did right under your stuck-up noses. And Stone Ghost has another trick… tomorrow… hehehe… but first you need to promise me you won't imprison me or hurt me, and that you’ll "take care" of Stone Ghost.
Chimwemwe turns his attention away from wiping the ichor and bits of arachnid carapace from his shield to give Kurshkin a narrow eyed stare. "You need to speak to Tzeniwe."
Kurshkin stares back at Chimwemwe. One of the knocked-out attendants whimpers a bit, as if having a bad dream.
"We can't speak for the whole Magaambya. But if you help us stop Stone Ghost and you don't hurt anyone else, we won't imprison you again."
Wisps then gets to work providing first aid to the injured students.
You wake up Listening Hare, Grinning Tusks, and Implacable Kudu. You do not remove their masks. Hare screams as if waking from a nightmare and needs to be calmed.
They tell you similar stories… they dreamed (or thought it was a dream), of a man with pale skin walking through the walls of their dorm room. They felt the sensation of rising and then falling, down through the foundations of the earth and into the underworld, where a three-eyed old woman with blue skin and goat ears grinned at them and knocked them out.
This is the last thing they remember. Their memories are foggy, and they are in shock. They need more medical attention than you are capable of giving here in the tunnels but can stumble along with assistance.
Akoril puts away his bow and takes Listening Hare under one shoulder and helps lead him back up to the surface.
Chimwemwe hefts the other two to their feet after swiftly tapping them at vital points to accelerate their healing. "We need to find someone who can help them," he says. "Where is the quickest way up?"
You stumble out into the night, and to Ot's house. Kurshkin growls but comes along. He takes in the students and before ensures they are resting comfortably and will have no lasting damage. He sends feather tokens away, calling teachers of the Magaambya.
You debrief him. You are heroes. He looks at Kurshkin. Not only for your might but for your wisdom. You heard the truth in a trickster's words and acted upon them. It may be that you have learned something about justice and that sometimes our enemies are themselves victims of a terrible tragedy that has shaped them. And sometimes, these tragedies are connected to the institutions we serve.
Kurshkin rolls her eyes at the lecture. Ugggghhhhhhhhhhmmmmmfff. Her groan is muffled by the handfuls of shortbread cookies she's stuffing into her mouth.
Ot frowns. But there is also the bargain you made. Tell me, Kurshkin, what is the "trick" Stone Ghost has planned for tomorrow? If you tell me, I will let you stay in a special room Stone Ghost cannot enter. It has force-infused walls, and a lock no one can pick. He smiles slyly. He must be talking about a magical prison cell.
The pugwampi downs a glass of water. Ya. Good! You said you'd protect me and you better not be lying, wizard! Make sure no one can get into my special room. Anyways, kidnapping and killing students was Stone Ghost's idea, not mine. Tomorrow's plan is different. Stone Ghost has a bunch of bugs coming to smash up your dumb — I mean your amazing — masking ceremony! Hehehe! Erp. So sad!
A whole bunch of beetles and whatever tunneled right up to the walls and floor of the ceremony hall. When you're all at maximum distraction with your big boring — I mean amazing — ceremony, BAM! They bust down the walls and start terrorizing stuck-up — I mean poor innocent — wizards… Hehehe. She pauses. Um, I mean, terrible right!?
Your hearts sink. Tomorrow's masking will have to be canceled.
Koride, Zuma, Ahassunu, and Mafika are soon at Ot's house drinking tea. Esi's mother, a stern-looking Tempest Sun mage wearing the mask of a Scimitar-Horned Oryx, also arrives. She nods cooly at her daughter, who adoringly watches her. The teachers confer in the back garden while you wait.
Tzeniwe and the kids also show up. Zachva and Zanvi are fascinated by Kurshkin, and the idea of being inside the fireworks seems fun to them! Tzeniwe is not pleased but agrees you have done the right thing here. She even feels a little sorry for Kurshkin, once she learns about how she lost all her pugwwampi friends. I can’t imagine if that happened to me… Esi rolls her eyes. Always, Tzeniwe is too forgiving!
You watch the hundreds of beautiful glass chimes and baubles, crafted by Ot's wife, tinkle in the air. The spiderlings make lots of noise playing among them. Several times, you have to stop Kurshkin from fraying the strings so they fall down att random times later.
Finally, Ot comes out. We've come to a decision. First, the Tempest Sun Mages will protect the campus and are on alert. Second, you were to be raised to Attendants tomorrow, but we cannot hold the masking ceremony as planned. Instead, we will turn the trap upon Stone Ghost's forces.
Koride grins And it should be simple. As I am sure some of you noticed, she looks at her favored students (Anchor Root, Chizire, Haibram, and Soomdevi), these insects don’t work together. Not naturally, anyway. Therefore they must have been compelled to attack. This makes sense; several of you might have seen evidence of this, such as the stag beetles squishing other arthropods. She taps her chin. Why there are so many insects under campus is another story. It's very strange… never mind that for now.
Ot continues. We offer a masking ceremony tonight, in a glade under the stars, like the Magaambyans of old. You have earned it. Please tell me. Are you ready to become to Attendants?
"Hmm. I hope so," Chimwemwe says not nearly as confidently as Soomdevi. "I'm not, hmm, significantly different today from who I, hmm, was yesterday or will be tomorrow."
Alrinkiri just nods in response without speaking.
Wisps's eyes shine brightly.
"I am ready."
Together you go out into the jungle with your teachers. Luckily, it's a beautiful night with the moon ad start shining bright. Ot carries a magical light on his walking stick. Along the way a dozen tempest-sun mages wearing fearsome masks join your group and silently fan out on the flanks. The word is out that the school is under attack, and you will be guarded. They're guarding you.
Teacher Ot tells you about the ceremony. As you walk. Tonight you will make your first true mask. Each student’s mask is an embodiment of their learning. It is a reminder of the idea that, over time, people gain other names and faces. A mask is many things. It is something the wearer wishes to present to the world, but it is also a reflection of who is underneath, and even a visualization of who the wearer hopes to become. Everyone at the Magaambya’ has flaws… but they also have hopes, dreams, and memories that shape them. Just” as you will shape your mask.
”We shall work together to make your first true mask, the expression of your spirit-face within. What you do with this mask is up to you. Some wear it proudly and at every opportunity, a sign of who they have become, with their souls writ plain upon their faces. Others choose to keep their mask secret and safe, cherished and shown only to those they trust most in life. He glances at Zuma and Koride. Many find somewhere to fall in between. He pats his own anteater mask, hanging at his side.
During the ritual, you can paint your mask or adorn it with beads or feathers and the like. Your hands will be guided by your spirit—its final shape is what you will it to be.
To complete the ritual. you will meditate upon the meaning of your mask. It mask may change shape in your hands; this is not unexpected.
“Finally, you will don your masks as one. You should all feel the time is right.
Ummmm… Anchor trembles with anxiety, wondering if she'll mess it up. Don't worry, I'm with you. whispers Esi. She puts her arm around her friend’s shoulders. Okoro mutters about forgetting all his favorite paints and brushes, Ignaci winks at him and grabs his hand. Don’t worry, it’ll be amazing no matter what paints they give you. The spiderlings hug their mom. Mariama looks at the sky, just in case there are any stray bolts of lightning. Hope the stars aligned, Chimwemwe. Noxolo shrugs and dances in the shadows while Haibram shadow-boxes and Chizire yawns.
☀☀☀
Here we are. The mysterious tempest-sun mages stand around the edge of the glade on guard, like statues.
Ahassunu holds up a small wicker basket that she has been carrying. A… receptacle for your initiate beads, should you wish. You need not wear them any longer, for when you don your mask you cease to be an initiate and become an attendant of the Magaambya.
Ot places a toy chest ground and opens it; it transforms into large chest trunk of neatly-organized supplies.
Each of you are handed a blank, mask-sized slab of unshaped wood. Ot pauses and looks up at the stars. I think this a good place and a good time for a Masking. Here, under the thousands of stars as if the thousands who've come before us are here with us too. Perhaps somewhere, they are. He casts a spell and soft lights twinkle about the glade.
Please, be seated. The spiderlings sit down too, they have every intention of helping too!
The teachers place before each of you a slab of unshaped wood. There are pigments, feathers, and supplies of all kinds available too. It will take you about half an hour to make their mask, with hands guided by the magic of the ritual. The teachers will actively help you if you wish (though Koride will only help her favored students). You are then to meditate on the mask and its meaning. Perhaps its shape and attributes surprise you… or perhaps it's exactly what you thought it would be.
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Alrinkiri carries the piece of wood that will become their mask to the edge of the glade and crouches down in the shelter of an old tree. They slowly trace two small circles with their claws, lightly at first, so they barely leave a mark. Slowly, slowly, they increase the pressure and expand the radius, thin ribbons of wood curling and falling away. Slowly, methodically, the wood is scratched away until it has reached its final shape. After a while, Alrinkiri rises, padding over to the chest and selecting a few supplies before returning to apply pigment and other decorations.
Finally, they set down their tools ind pick up the mask. After a long moment spent staring at it, they pad over to a small reflecting pool, filled with the starlight illuminating the glad. Donning the mask, they carefully examine their reflection. Staring back at them are two large, circular eyes of red pigment broken by concentric rings of tiny black beads set into shallow grooves. Below the eyes, a narrow, rectangular face extends, made of shingled, bright yellow fish scales. "As the wandering glider I have been. From now on, when I wander further a piece of this place shall wander with me."
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Chimwemwe takes the slab of wood and walks to the chest of tools. He takes a sanding stone, a mallet, and several chisels, gouges, and rasps. With the borrowed tools, he walks back to the edge clearing and sits in a space between Esi and Soomdevi. There he begins to sand the surface of the wood.
It will be more aspirational, more decorative than practical, he thinks to himself. Once the superficial rough spots have been smoothed down, he pulls out a charcoal pencil from his bandolier and begins to sketch on the surface. It should look more like a mask for a tengu or the plague masks in Avistan I've read about. This is too flat. It's what I have to work with.
He puts away the pencil and begins tapping out the early cuts on the mask. Wood shavings flutter down around his crossed legs. Maybe if I had bronze to work with. How is Esi making hers? He glances over at the older Tempest-Sun Mage student. Focus. You know how to work wood. Father taught me when I was a boy. The mallet taps a fine chisel along the topographical lines drawn earlier. The tapping sounds like drumming.
|
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Soomdevi takes the block of wood and looks at it like, what am I supposed to do with all this?
He slices off a side, about an inch thick, and carves two eye holes in it. He then blackens the wood over a fire.
He reads the latest pictographic book from Tian he checked out of the library while he waits for the wood to get nice and black.
Soot watches the smoke rise from atop Soomdevi's shoulder.
Once he's satisfied that the wood is dark enough, Soomdevi sets the mask aside to cool, and begins to dig through the trunk of supplies for some black tulle.
Soomdevi takes the majority of the tulle but promises to share the remainder with Noxolo, and okay fine, with Ignaci too, if that's what he decides. Why does everyone have to have the same idea at the same time?
Taking his time, Soomdevi creates a dramatic veil over the mask with layers of the black tulle, and then finally stepping back, says,
"Done."
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Chimwemwe continues to tap at the chisels and gouges, the sound mixing with the sounds of the other students' working. He glances at Soomdevi by the fire, reading a book. Am I taking too long? No. Focus. This is personal.
He pauses his work to wipe his brow and looks to the night sky. For a noticeably long moment, he stares at the stars. His lips move faintly as though he's whispering something and the tools in his hands twitch and gesture like they do when he's performing calculations in his head. The inventor breaks from his reverie and resumes carving with inspired speed. He changes tools more frequently, paying more attention as the parts he is working on become more detailed. Sparks begin to pop and arc off of the tips of the blades as he taps away with his mallet. The wood shavings fall to the ground slightly scorched now.
The partially carved block of wood now inexplicably extends in areas beyond the dimensions of the original block.
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Wisps picks up her slab and looks at it thoughtfully.
"There is only one answer. I know who I am."
She carefully carves two eyeholes, then carves another pair of eyes outside them, resembling a spider's eyes.
She grabs red beads and white feathers, decorating the top and sides to look like smoking embers. She covers the surface of the mask with small gray feathers, then adds two large pointy beads to look like a spider's fangs.
"I am Curling-Wisps-of-Smoke Reliava. I am the Blazing Spider."
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Akoril takes his wood and carves it down to almost nothing, just a nearly ephemeral lattice that he weaves feathers, both real and just the magical idea of feathers.
Finally adding a carved chunk of wood for the nose Akoril lifts it up as it solidifies, not entirely clear where the wood ends and the magic begins.
Looking to Wisps Akoril announces "I am Akoril, I am the Glimmering Hyena."
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The sound of rasping fades as Chimwemwe finishes smoothing out the contours of the mask. He now holds a mask with a long, narrow beak and a tear drop shaped head. The sanding stones make rapid scuffing music as he polishes the wood. Once he is satisfied, he collects several pots of paint and colors the peacock's distinctive face.
Once he finishes painting, he holds the mask while it dries and considers himself and his time at the Magaambya. Bold. Confident. In this way it is aspirational, he thinks while he looks at the mask's face. His memories fly back to the day Ot accept him into the school: the eye within the palm and the magic it sparked within him. I am not a legacy like Curlinig-Wisps-of-Smoke or Akoril. I'm not even a wizard like Soomdevi. He glances from the mask to the various members of his cohort. I need to be steadfast in my dedication to learning. I need to find my potential. I need eyes to see the potential.
A small wave of blue energy washes from his fingers over the painted mask, which causes him to jump in surprise. This is not unexpected. The beak transforms into bronze and the carved feathers, pained blue, gain an iridescent sheen. He smiles slightly as he inspects the marriage of the Magaambya's magic and the work of his own hands.
Anchor Root makes her mask into an crested porcupine; the frills on the back are made from the lucky bones sshe found. These shy porcupines are known to collect bones.
Esi's mask forms into the shape of a fearsome cape buffalo, complete with sweeping horns. She will work to protect everything she loves.
Chizirre's mask is that of the speckled emperer moth; the moth's camoflague eyes cover his own to make it seem like he's always wide awake. Now, the lazy cat can get away with even more naps!
Haibram tries shaping his mask into a mythical phoenix, but the it changes and flows into that of a harrier hawk. The daredevil seems pleased to have a nible raptor for his spirit animal. Death and destruction from above indeed!
Ignaci's mask is that of a gray parrot, one of the best tricksters and mimicks in the bird world. And of course, beautiful.
Mariama accidentally splashes several jars of paint on her snake-like mask, and curses in a language from beyond the stars. The pattern created is that of a bush viper.
Noxolo's mask is that of lappet-faced vulture. A dark and brooding emissary of passage to the beyond.
Okoro's mask is that of a white rhinocerous; the mask looks monochromatic from afar, but when you see it up close it it full of intricate and mathematically-precise fractals of white and grey.
Tzeniwe's peacock spider mask comes out with crooked eyes because that's where Zachva and Zanvi put them. She hugs her kids. Oh, it's perfect!
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On the way out of the glade, you talk little. It's been an exhausting day. Most of you proudly wear your masks back to the dorm, escorted by your Tempest-Sun mage entourage.
☀☀☀
Somewhere in the Archorn library, a student reads an old scroll…
The Queen of Bees was stern and judicious, always striving to make the best decisions, yet her subjects were dour and sullen. The Young Trickster, a favorite of Grandmother Spider, went to the Queen of Bees with a smile and a plan. But two guards at the gates stopped him.
“What do you want, little troublemaker?” they buzzed, stingers at the ready. “Our Queen has no use for your antics on this or any other day. Begone.”
“I am here to give your Queen a great gift,” the Trickster insisted. “You would never want to deny your Queen a gift out-of-hand, would you? I could go to the Lord of the Hornets… Please, one of you should ask her first, at least.” One guard, head high, went to inform the Queen.
For a long time, the remaining guard and the Young Trickster stood in silence, so the Young Trickster hummed to himself, tapped his many feet, and started to dance. “Stop that,” the guard thrummed in annoyance and rushed forward. But the Young Trickster swept him into his dance, dancing and twirling. What fun it was! Soon, the other guard returned.
“What is happening here?” the returning guard demanded but received no answer. The returning guard tried to intervene but was swept into the dance as well! The Queen’s steward, and architect, and handmaidens all came, each joining the dance in turn. Then the Queen herself came, for what had befallen her subjects? By now, the Young Trickster stood aside, watching the bees. The Queen saw their dancing and their delight.
“Young Trickster, you have given my people a new way to communicate. What is your price for this?”
“It is enough to see you join the dance,” the Trickster said. So she did.
And that is how bees learned to speak through dance. Then some people learned from watching them, and they made their own dances. And this is why so many dances tell stories.
The next morning is mostly quiet, except Zachva and Zanvi have made their own maks out of construction paper and paint, and are running around doing battle with the ants and crickets that are fairly overrunning the dorm. It seems they have been told of your heroics in the tunnels. I point the biggest firework at the biggest bug! — No, I have the biggest biggest firework! — NUH UHH! — ! YA! BOOM!
Otherwise, things are quiet until the late afternoon when you hear distant booms from the auditorium. It seems that the trap has been sprung on Stone Ghost's planned attack. You wonder if this is the last you'll hear of Stone Ghost, but you suspect not. The students gather in the lounge.
Who's Stone ghost, anyways? What's his deal? wonders Haibram.
Have you been paying attention? asks Esi..
Mariama gives Soomdevi a look Personally, I wonder if Kurshkin is safe and sound, locked up in Warden House where she belongs.. Or will she "escape" again, with "help"? Mariama gives Soomdevi a significant look.
Okoro is gazing at the intricate swirls on his mask. I would like to go shopping. Would anyone like to go to the Powderpile, or the city?
Ignaci frowns. It's not really safe… Okoro wheedles him and eventually, Ignaci agrees — he can't seem to resist. I should buy a new scarf anyway, to accentuate the Gray Parrot. He toys with his mask.
"I would go with you to the Powderpile. I'd like to purchase some magical healing resources, now that I have learned how to use them. As much as I appreciated the surreptitious help while sparring with the leshies, I would like to be better prepared for any real trouble."
"We really only know of him through Kurshkin, so it's hard to really be certain. He certainly seems to be up to something terrible, though."
She agrees to join the group going to the city, as she could also use new clothes to go with her new mask.
On her way out, she reminds Zachva and Zanvi to feed some of the bugs to the spiders outside. "Never forget your cousins!"
Chimwemwe emerges from his room holding a set of scrolls. He sets them down on the common table. "I was able to learn this one. This one is intriguing, but I don't understand it yet," he says. "This one was outside my studies, and I'm not sure how this one is useful." He looks up and blinks. "Oh. Hmm. You're going to the Powderpile? Let me come."
"Chizire? Could you help me with something? I brought mangos," he says and offers a pair of mangos in one hand. "I'm planning to redesign my armor with smaller plates to, hmm, to give it more flexibility and make it, hmm, slightly more formal-function-ready. But I need a better way to anneal the scales so they retain their strength, and then I need to electroplate on this copper alloy that I think will better redirect charged energy without interfering with the annealing."
Chizire licks his lips. Mmm… looks a little like my copper still. I'll help you if you clean the lab afterward.
… and give me some of those mangoes.
The next day everyone in Spire Dorm are called to a meeting with the teachers. Takulu and Koride stand on the steps ascending to the imposing entrance of Archhorn Library.
While Teacher Ot carefully reviews a sheaf of papers, Teacher Koride looks annoyed at having to wait. Ot welcomes you. “We were able to easily dispatch Stone Ghost's planned attack yesterday, thanks to you. Unfortunately, Stone Ghost eluded us. He seems to be a cunning enemy and may have anticipated Kurshkin's betrayal. Thanks to your heroic services to the Magaambya, we feel you are ready for an important task."
"Clearly, something big is going on underneath Tireless Hall, and indeed beneath more of the Magaambya than we first realized. We are sending groups of attendants into the tunnels we have discovered, in an effort to map them as thoroughly as possible. We cannot protect the campus until we understand what lies below our own feet.
Teacher Ot waves to the buildings around you. “In the lowest levels of all these buildings we’ve found more tunnels. Many lead to old cave networks, now connected together by recent digging. Intentional, directed digging.”
Teacher Ulawa picks up the explanation with a wry smile. “Surely… none of you have gone exploring below on your own, or had underground parties. This must be so new to you.
I digress. earlier today I sent students into the basement here in Archhorn Library. It rapidly became obvious that this would be a more involved task than we originally anticipated. I withdrew that group, and you will be going in; or, so I hope.”
Teacher Ot steps aside and gestures to the library building. “The first group’s notes should still be in the basement.”
Takulu adds, “The Tempest-Sun mages and I shall be making our own explorations beneath Tireless Hall, where we believe the danger is greater, should you need to draw us away for anything. But should you accept, your task is before you, as ours is before us.”
Do you have any questions?
Chimwemwe slides a segmented bronze helmet over his head and affixes his iridescent blue mask like a visor. "Ready," he asserts.
Akoril nods, checking over his bow to make sure that everything is perfect.
Be careful, says Ot.
Your are split up by cohort: Ignaci, Okoro, and Tzeniwe in one group; Root, Chizire, and Esi in another; and finally Haibram, Mariama, and Noxolo. They will be exploring other areas.
Tzeniwe found a sitter for the kids, they are safe in the dorm.
☀☀☀
Your group moves down through the library stacks, then the basement, and finally down a secret staircase. You arrive in the staging room, where the other students kept their notes on their initial tunnel explorations.
Here the wooden panels in this long, low room have been broken apart in several places, revealing narrow passages burrowed into the stone. The railing which spans the walls hint that this room once served as a dance studio. Several desks have been relocated here with a few books and papers; more papers nailed to the wood near each entrance feature hastily sketched maps.
There is a disturbing, constant droning in here. It seems to be echoing all around.
There is a scroll of dispel magic on one of the tables. Likely the magic Soomdevi detected.
Please delete the overlay on Slide 2, so you can see what is on the students' maps.
"What is that noise? It is awfully unpleasant."
Wisps goes to look at the maps.
"Dead bug, big shroom, water. Hmmm. This boxy room called "Base" has the same number of exits as this room. Where shall we go next? I'm not that great at swimming."