"Ah! I did not realize that we had a stipend in addition to food and lodging," Chimwemwe says. "Thank you." He takes the lump of clay and carefully wraps it in waxed paper and threads his bead onto his loop of twine. "My tool set could stand to be expanded," he says mostly to himself and then looks to Esi. "If we have time to shop?"
Xhokan answers. Shop closes at sunset. Opens mid-morning.
Chimwemwe looks over the thoroughly stocked shelves with wide, overwhelmed eyes. Eventually, he is able to break from his reverie and focuses his search on various artisan tools for a variety of crafting projects, including sculpting tools for fine detail. "Is there a kiln on campus or do you want the bead returned unfired?" he asks Xhokan.
"How generous!"
Wisps adds each bead to her hair, carefully threading it over a different braid.
"Carving blades, tongs, hammer, centrifugal crucible, polishing stones, these clay sculpting tools..." Chimwemwe rattles off a list of craftsmen tools to the kayal. "I'm glad the ink and paper is being given to us. I go through so many sketches and love to take notes. But beyond that, I'm not certain yet. Well, I could probably expend my vivariums, but I should wait to see what kind of assignments we're given and what they might require." He suddenly becomes aware that he is chattering Soomdevi's ear off.
Alrinkiri sits with the other members of their cohort as they eat. They say little and eat nothing, but seem content enough to be there in company.
At the Powderpile, they solemnly accept the lump of clay, staring at it in contemplation that they have be nudged by Chimwemwe when Xhokan hands them the gold. "Oh, sorry. Thank you." They look around the shop, a little bewildered, then tuck the gold away in a pocket of the pack strapped to their side before beginning to scratch at their clay with one claw.
Akoril eats a slightly larger than polite amount of yogurt and fruit mix, staying away from the meat.
---
As before he adds the newest beat to the right of the old beads.
Akoril gently takes the lump of clay and listens for the answwer to Chumwemwe's questions on the kiln.
You can return it soft. I doubt you have access to the kilns yet.
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After a few more moments of scratching at the ball of clay in their hands, Alrinkiri pulls a thin pick from a kit built into the strap of their pack and uses it to bore out a cylinder from top to bottom through the clay sphere to make room for a string. Satisfied, they return the pick to their pack and hand the unfired bead back to Xhokan. The face of it now bears a strange pattern resembling a compass rose or a sunburst. "For your collection."
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You return to the dorms, which buzz with a festive atmosphere. Students have their doors open and are socializing in the common areas.
Ignaci and Okoro are Ignaci's room. The place is full of glass alchemy equipment and codebooks that lie scattered across extra chests, desks, and bookshelves. Much of the alchemy equipment is pretty serious and looks it should be in the school labs… mostly because it's labeled with PROPERTY OF MAGAAMBYA ACADEMY. His closet is stuffed full of high-fashion clothing.
Okoro is trying to convince him to make cannon-blast special effects for his wargame's ships, but Ignaci declares it foolish because the chemical reaction might melt all the paint off his beautiful models and light the game board on fire (not to mention all the paper involved in such games). However, Okoro wheedles and wheedles, and Ignaci just seems to enjoy listening to Okoro talk, so he may be giving in…
The spiderling children are bored and are running amok in arachnid form; they are largely ignored by Tzeniwe and Anchor, who are stress-baking shortbread cookies (yes, this is the only dorm room with an oven!). They're both very anxious about an exam tomorrow morning. The room is messy with webs and weaving; several of Tzeniwe's school books and essays are stuck to the ceiling. The children climb around and constantly ask when their cookies will be done.
Mariama’s room is filled with wooden practice weapons, old scrolls, impressive occult knickknacks. A fat monitor lizard named Kedu naps near the window. The walls are hung with psychedelic paintings of intricate patterns, warped neon mushrooms, and local bands with names written in unintelligible scripts. The art glows when she turns on a special alchemical light. The room has a skunky, earthy smell. She's just chilling in here, scribbling in her spellbooks.
Esi's room is crammed to the brim with hiking and sports sticks, cut pieces of leather, carving supplies, book glue, parchment, stray books, and half‑done sewing projects. She has a calendar on the wall, which is full of activities such as extracurricular activities with several of Nantambu’s sports teams, foreign policy study clubs, and social activities like dinner dates. Tonight, she is planning on sparring with swords but doesn't have a partner due to the festivities.
This roomfeatures a fully functional moonshine still. Chizire happily shares his recent brewing projects… regardless of whether you’re l interested. Haibram is in here, trying some new brew called "skullcracker." Haibram is in here, boasting about how delicious it is and how he's totally not drunk.
Noxolo is practicing her new dance moves, a harsh, but provocative beat emanates from several bleached thigh bones in the corner. The lights on the floor strobe rainbow colors. This is probably the place to be when it gets late.
☀☀☀
Wisps knocks at Tzendiwe's door. "It smells amazing in here. My family sent me along with some of my favorite cookies from home. Perhaps we could all share? Oh, do the children like crickets?"
Upon returning to the Spire Dorm, Chimwemwe thanks Esi for her tour and then breaks to return to his room. Once there, he sets the bundles purchased at the Powderpile down along the foot of his mattress. He then goes about unbuckling the hidden clasps that keep his armor in place and removes the bronze-colored brigandine. Further freed of weight, the Lirgeni stands even taller.
He turns his attention next to the case next to the dresser and opens it. He lifts each of the two remaining sacks from the case, one at a time, and releases a pair of banded marsh vipers--sevenshroud serpents, in truth, but it would take one familiar with these particular specimens or well versed in herpetology to tell the difference by casual inspection--into the third vivarium. "Ziwiri, Zitatu," he says in a quiet tone, "sorry to keep you waiting."
He glances toward his open door, listening to the ambient noise. He pulls his quilted and sweat-stained gambeson over his head and lays it on the footboard. He pulls open a draw and places a pile of clothes upon it. Rifling through the colored fabrics, he chooses a predominantly orange tunic with purple, diamond-patterned hem and draws it over his head. He wraps his leather belt with his pouches and, importantly, the collection of beads around his waist before stepping out into the hall.
The hall to his room, he notes, only has his one door at the end. It will make it easy to tell that someone approaching is coming to see him. While he should make the effort to get to know his cohort, it feels easier to approach the the senior students for the moment. If he makes a fool of himself, they are less likely to care.
Chimwemwe pauses as he passes Ignaci's room and smiles shyly at the two, but they seem engrossed in something of their own. Wargames? Miniatures? It sounds interesting, but he's never played such games. He moves away for fear of gawking.
The next room has a wonderful smell coming from it. He smiles at the woman and Anchor. Glancing at the spiders running about he grins nervously and moves along. They're smaller than Curling-Wisps-of-Smoke, I wonder if they're the same. The room is full anyways.
He then finds himself between a pair of doors. Mariama's room is fascinating, but the woman does not look or smell to Chimwemwe as though she is interested in guests. On the other side of the hall, he catches sight of Esi. Having bonded, at least on his end, with the organized--not that that room would verify it--student, he turns and moves towards the doorway. He observes the room for a few moments before rapping shyly on the wall. "Hi Esi. Chimwemwe," he says, awkwardly reintroducing himself as though anyone in a magical college couldn't recall a person's name after one meeting let alone spending half the day listening to them introduce themselves to other people. "Do you need someone to practice with?" He points toward her calendar. "Oh. Sorry! That was probably private."
|
Not knowing where he fits in, Soomdevi doesn’t immediately join the festivities because he isn’t sure what’s cool or not. Finally, be visits Noxolo in her room. He uses his newly acquired spell to create some ghostly sounds to go along with her rhythms, then he pulls up his hood and starts dancing.
”Is every night like this?”
Alrinkiri hangs their cloak in their room, unstraps their pack and sets it on the small table by the bed, and then steps out of the room, shutting the door behind them. They quietly pad the halls, hesitant to intrude upon anyone's space and unsure what to do in a social situation anyway. After a few minutes, they spot Wisps heading toward Tzendiwe's door and follow her. Waiting for a Tzendiwe to answer Wisps question, they speak up. "I'm sorry to interrupt. I'm Alrinkiri, we met only in passing earlier." They nod to Anchor Root as well. "And I'm sorry for startling you earlier, Anchor. Anyway," they say glancing at the children on the ceiling, "I am going outside to walk and climb among the trees during the break from the rain. I thought the young ones might wish to join me and get some fresh air."
Wisps knocks at Tzendiwe's door. "Perhaps we could all share? Oh, do the children like crickets?"
Ooh, of course! says Tzeniwe. Anchor Root nods sheepishly. They would be delighted to share recipes.
EEW CRICKETS! Zachva and Zanvi start hopping around, pretending to be gross crickets. I bet I could jump higher than you! Naw, no you can't! They fling webs around and leap all over the place!
Wisps can make a performance check to sing cricket songs with the children, teaching them a more harmonious form of play and giving their mother some much-needed quiet.
☀☀☀
Chimwemwe has some much-needed time with his menagerie of pets, and considers carefully who to visit. He figures the Anadi children might learn to be more comfortable in humanoid form, but for now, being spiderlings is more comfortable (and fun).
"Do you need someone to practice with?" He points toward her calendar…
Esi grins. I am proud of my schedule! I keep it front and center so it's in sight and in mind; I never miss an appointment.
She gestures at the practice weapons. I'm no slouch. I'm on the rowing team, the racing teams, and the advanced tactics club. Take your pick… but be careful, I won't go easy on you! Chimemwe can make an attack roll or use some other combat skill to show of his moves to Esi… but not here, out in the yard.
He uses his newly acquired spell to create some ghostly sounds to go along with her rhythms, then he pulls up his hood and starts dancing.
”Is every night like this?”
Noxolo nods, seeming to appreciate the addition. Pulling up the hood seems like the right move, and it fits the music somehow. This is the new Skinny Pugsley song. The music throbs. You know, the shoony band. She dances faster. Anchor and I recorded it live. We snuck in. The bone produces noises Soomdevi can't sing or hum to, but it's still good… it's sort of shadowy. Who pays for music, right!?
Soomndevi can make a deception check to pretend he knows the band, or Society if he actually knows the band to talk about where he saw them play live.
☀☀☀
"I am going outside to walk and climb among the trees during the break from the rain. I thought the young ones might wish to join me and get some fresh air."
Alrinkiri finds the spiderling family singing cricket-songs… Oh my… WOULD YOU!? Tzeniwe looks almost desperate for quiet. But while her back is turned, the twins snatch cookies out of Anchor Root's hand, loading up on mouthfuls sugar. The gnoll looks worried… as she should be.
Alrinkiri can make an Acrobatics or Athletics check to 1) keep up with Zachva and Zanvi and 2) stay out long enough to actually tire them out so they go to bed on time.
Alrinkiri nods. "I may not be able to cling to the ceiling, but I am more nimble than I may look. What do you say, young ones, do you think you can keep up?" Their face is unreadable, as usual, but they look to the children, waiting for a response. The children react with predictable defiant pride at the idea of being outrun, and the moment they start moving toward the door Alrinkiri takes off like a shot, slowing on their way out the door only long enough to make sure the kids can see which way they are going.
Once outside, they nimbly dart into a nearby stand of trees, quickly climbing up and hiding among the branches. When the children emerge, laughing, out the front door, Alrinkiri calls out to them from the depth of a tree: "If you want to catch up, you have to find me first." They melt back into the trees leaping quietly from limb to limb with a silent, practiced grace that betrays many lifetimes of practice. Whenever the children seem lost in their chase, Alrinkiri calls to them once more before silently disappearing once again.
The automaton underestimates the speed with which the children, perhaps aided by a sudden sugar rush, are able to skitter up trees, however, and Zachva and Zanvi are able to catch up to them much more quickly than they had hoped.
Akoril rolls his into a nice ball and inscribes a basic arrow on one side and a flame on the other.
---
The first time Akoril decides to stay in and get used to his room.
Pacing a bit Akoril adjusts the furniture and any decorations little bits here and there to maximize the flow of magic throughout his room.
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"I, hmm, I haven't ever had to actually fight," Chimwemwe confesses. "They, hmm, they taught us to defend ourselves when we joined the Coalition, but, hmm, but nobody has, hmm. What am I trying to say?" He selects a short staff that could serve as a practice spear as he rambles nervously. "Hmm. Nobody has tried to kill me. Not that you're going to try to kill me!" He smiles and chuckles awkwardly at Esi. Why did I suggest this? I'm going to look so stupid.
"But exercise is good," he throws in there as he follows Esi out to the yard. Before exiting the door, he removes his belt of pouches and his nice tunic, which he hangs on a peg by the umbrellas. He begins to reach back for his belt but opts to not yet reveal that particular experiment, lest something go wrong. He then strides out into the yard in just his utilitarian linen pants, sandals, and with the practice stick.
He tries to keep up with the aspiring Tempest-Sun Mage. His technique is technical but lacks the personality of practical experience, though his raw strength makes up for some of his mistakes. Being pressed, he hoarsely says, "Let me. Show you--" During a block, he makes a series of quick finger signs with his free hand and then touches Esi's practice stick.
"--something!" Glowing orange strands spiral along the shaft of Esi's staff and form themselves into an artistically stylized snake, which begins to writhe and flail, causing the balance in the senior student's weapon to fluctuate unpredictably.
Critical Success Your tampering is incredibly effective. If you tampered with a weapon, the enemy takes a –2 circumstance penalty to attack rolls and damage rolls with that weapon. If you tampered with armor, the armor hampers the enemy's movement, making the enemy flat-footed and inflicting a –10-foot penalty to its Speeds. The effect lasts until the enemy Interacts to remove it, regardless of which one you used.
Success Your tampering is temporarily effective. As critical success, but the effect ends at the start of your next turn, even if the enemy doesn't Interact to end it.
Critical Failure Your tampering backfires dramatically, creating a small explosion from your own tools or gear. You take fire damage equal to your level.
Once the children are back in the room, Wisps transforms back into spider form to have all possible limbs available for the cricket dance. She starts by hopping like the children, then makes the dance calmer and calmer as good little crickets sing a nighttime song.
Alrinkiri finds the children difficult to keep up with… still, when they return Tzeniwe is grateful.
Wisps helps them calm down with a spider-friendly performance. The cricket dance will be remembered for all time by Zachva and Zanvi… or, at least a couple days. Which is basically forever to them anyway.
Will you come to babysit? Tzeniwe asks her two new friends. The spiderlings start nod off.
☀☀☀
Cool. Says Noxolo. She hangs out with Soomdevi for quite a while, and they listen to the whole rhythm bone album.
☀☀☀
Akoril maximizes energy flow in his room. The students respect his privacy. There's little of that enough in any dorm.
☀☀☀
When the orange strand-snake appears, Esi almost drops her weapon. Chimwemwe is able to land a hit! She quickly regains her composure, but it was a good demonstration. That's a neat trick! grins Esi. I'm not sure I've seen magic like that before… if it even is magic…
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"As Mariama said, 'The supernatural is in everything,'" Chimwemwe pants and smiles at Esi. The thrill of adrenaline from the physical exertion seems to have dampened his nervousness. "That's one part of my research and the magic I'm trying to create." He wipes the sweat off of his brow. "You are a fierce fighter."
Chimwemwe's words about magic in everything give Esi pause, and she considers them carefully.
You socialize with students for the rest of the night, but in larger groups and making superficial talk. As you have a big day tomorrow, you all turn in and get a good rest.
☀☀☀
Esi and Haibram meet you the next morning. It's still raining.
Heh. The green shoots blossom in a little rain! He burps, hungover. Perhaps he needs to blossom some, too. Me an' Root were supposed to meet ya, but I guess not. He looks at Esi.
I swapped with Anchor Root, o, Esi replies, brushing the point aside. Over the next five days, you’ll be helping with each of the school’s five branches. Haibram and Anchor Root seek to join the Rain-Scribes. It’s the branch that explores the world and helps other travelers make their way through uncertain territories. That means Rain-Scribes have to work well with both nature and people.
Haibram continues, Yeah. An' we can really use your help. The Kafesi Market won’t deal with anyone who they know is part of the Magaambya. Since you’re new, you can get in without a problem. You’ll be looking fer… chickens. Special chickens. Endangered chickens! Of course, any chicken that comes too close to me is endangered, ya know what I mean? He grins and pats his belly.
Some farmer outside of Nantambu, Bisola, said her family used to keep Ojofiri chickens. Said they could hatch anything, even a dragon egg! I don’t know about that, but she wants to raise Ojofiris again, so we’re going to get her some. Ojofiri eggs aren’t very hardy and the birds aren’t good layers, so they mostly got put in soup and now there’s hardly any left. Well, we caught wind that someone at Kafesi has a few chicks. Go an' bring some back.
Esi provides you with a good description. Ojofiri chickens are small fowl with white faces, dark blue feathers, and lavender combs; chicks should have dark blue feathers with a white underbelly.
You want at least four chicks, to help ensure there's at least one male and one female. But the more the better.
Right. Esi snaps her fingers. You're new, o. Do you know what Kafesi Market is?
"I do not."
Esi nods. Kafesi Market is a wandering bazaar. It's clashed with the Magaambya in the past; its merchants are shrewd bargainers, but some are downright unscrupulous, o! Make sure to investigate sellers and their goods carefully before making a purchase. She hands you a pouch. Here is 20 gold pieces. Try to hurry — the Ojofiri chicks might sell out, o!
"Hmm. You said they're not hardy?" Chimwemwe asks. "So, hmm, so we keep them warm and dry? Or do they require a different sort of handling?" He listens to the answer and then asks more hesitantly, "Oh! You said they don't get along with the Magaambya. Do we hide our beads? I know we're supposed to wear them at all times."
Esi will let you keep your umbrellas. Haibram nods. All those seem like strong ideas! An' rules are meant to be broken, if ya ask me.
Chimwemwe's, Wisps, and Alrinkiri know that baby chicks should be kept warm on the long, wet walk back to the Magaambya. Ojofiri chicks are especially fragile, and without special care during the damp and cold trek back to the academy, they’ll get sick enough to die.
You will need to attempt nature or medicine checks to transport them safely.
Chimwemwe unties the twine loop at his belt and slips the beads into one of his pouches. "I'll do my best not to start a cult. Accidentally." Looking to the others, he says, "We'd better start asking around for the Kafesi Market. Who's good with--" He stumbles over his words as his gaze passes over Alrinkiri. "--Hmm, with people?"
Akoril tucks his beads under his tunic and nods to his companions "Chickens it is."
You hide your beads and move into the city, traversing streets and bridges that run alongside and cross canals full of colorful boats. Vendors hawk their wares, and many shops sell fine items — Nantambu is a place that enjoys the magic provided by the academy, leaving its citizens free to pursue their artisanship. Kafesi Market is a traveling market comprised of simple wooden tables that serve as stalls, sheltered under a cluster of large, colorful umbrellas.
Wisps asks around, and hears about a chicken breeder named Makena who has Ojofiri chicks for sale. Soomdevi and Alrinkiri spot some dark blue feathers under her stall.
Chimwemwe and Akoril, however, spot some chicks with dark blue feathers and white underbellies at the stall of a merchant named Seydou.
"Let's see how many chicks this merchant has," Chimwemwe says to Akoril. "We can, hmm, can meet up with the others after."
He approaches Seydou and clears his throat. "Hmm. Pardon me. How much for chicks like those?" He points at the chicks with dark blue feathers and white underbellies. "How many do you have?"
Wisps speaks with Makena.
"Hello! I've heard that you are the person to see for Ojofiri chicks. Everyone tells me I need to go see Makena."
Alrinkiri, cloaked and walking bipedally once again so as not to cause a stir, follows behind Wisps.
Wisps, Soomdevi, and Alrinkiri head to Makena's stall. She is a stern-faced woman with her head shaved bald and huge hoop earrings through her ears. She gives the suspicious-looking cloaked figure a look, watching them sharply. She only sells chickens in this booth.
She nods at Wisps. Of course they did. I have the genuine product. And I have already sold two chicks in the last hour, and they are going fast. Prices are going up… hmm. Four gold pieces for each chick. Supply and demand, you see. She gives Wisps a shark-like grin and gestures at the six blue-black chicks in the stall.
☀☀☀
Chimwemwe and Akoril find that Seydou is a human man with a short, gray tunic and white‑blue paint all over his body. He grins and gestures at the menagerie of farm animals in his booth. Hello friends! Come in! He sees you looking at the chicks. Yes, Seydou can help you! Do you see these birds? They are genuine Ojofiri chicks! Almost extinct! Very rare treasures indeed! I have but two left. A male and a female. He pauses. They were to be sold today but my contact never came. I will sell them for 2 gold each to you! It is a steal, but I wish to spite my previous buyer. You have come at the right time, clever shoppers! Yes, you have, you have indeed!
"That does sound like a steal. A male and a female at that," Chimwemwe says, moving to look closely at the little chicks. "Where did you find them, if we may ask?"
Akoril nods to Chimwemwe "Weren't we looking for bright blue? These are a little dark." Akoril tries to downplay their excitement as he looks over the chicks.
Alrinkiri quietly inspects the chicks at Makena's stall, assessing whether they are the correct breed, given the description, and what condition they are in.
If I gave up my source, the whole town would have an Ojofiri chick, and I would be poor. He winks at Chimwemwe. No no no! You see, the Ojofiri is famous for being born with a slightly darker hue. but later, they mature to their beautiful true hue!
These chicks look like the correct breed to both of you.
These chicks look like the correct breed to Alrinkiri. They also think that they are well cared for as this vendor seems to specialize in chickens. Another shopper comes in and inspects them too, How much? She asks.
"We'll take them then," Chimwemwe says, fishing out four gold Nantambiyan coins from his own purse.
Akoril gets out a sack for the chickens to be deposited in.
Alrinkiri looks to Wisps and nods, waiting for her to handle the haggling.
"That's a lot of money for a chick. What about eight gold for four of them?"
You will not regret this, friends! Chimwemwe pays the merchant; as Akoril stows the chicks Seydou begins quickly packing up his booth. Yes, and now it is time for an important appointment outside of town. It is time for Seydou to go!
Wisps thinks these are the real deal.
Makena sells a chick to the other customer while she haggles. Now only five remain.
Hmmm. Counter: Ten for the last five. A bulk discount so I do not have a single one chick over. You are a hard bargainer.
"My snakes travel well in a sack, but, hmm, that might not be best for these, hmm, chicks," Chimwemwe says to Akoril as Seydou begins packing his stall. "Oh! Thank you! Safe travels and Sie Goluo watch over you." Turning back to the gnoll, he continues, "We should, hmm, we should keep them close to our bodies." However, he misread the omens this morning and ultimately, unrealized does a terrible job stowing the chicks.
Soomdevi hands over the gold. Makena takes it with cold professionalism and you now have five chicks.
You meet your friends outside, who acquired their OWN two chicks without even having to haggle. What a deal! As you think about how to transport the chicks, you note that Seydou is already gone. The trustworthy merchant surely has important places to be.
--
One of you can attempt a DC 15 Nature or Medicine check to keep the chicks healthy on the wet cold walk back home. Chimwemwe's plan is… not the best.