Barnabas locks wills with The Stone Ghost again, but this time his adversary is more prepared...
... Barnabas looks for a weakness in his defense, but finds none. It is like feeling along the edges of a smooth castle wall. Instead, he feels a spike of pain enter his own mind, disrupting his thoughts and numbing his body.
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She narrows her eyes as her prey focuses on her newest companion, then falls to Much's stone rope.
"You end HERE!"
The anadi draws herself up into the classic crane stance once in a flanking position with Barnabus and lashes out with two quick wing strikes with the same oiled "wing" at the prone prat.
Laesah dashes away from the Stone Ghost after hitting a glancing blow.
"Your legacy is pathetic failure!" The anadi taunts from across the room.
Laesah’s strike hits home, and she feels the satisfying feeling of a solid blow under her oiled strike. The Stone Ghost growls at her, readying a retort, but she darts away.
Frustrated, he rises to his feet, provoking Much to launch A Wind to Break the Reeds while The Stone Ghost is still off balance…
The Stone Ghost locks his gaze on Laesah's retreating form and raises his morning star, exposing the small of his back to Much. Her stone rope rises and falls into the sharp arc of A Wind to Break the Reeds .
The Stone Ghost's torso shifts away from his hips in sudden, unnatural lurch and he falls, broken.
The Stone Ghost hits the ground with a crash, his morningstar dropping from his lifeless hands. The room becomes quiet, and no further attacks come.
This well-appointed bedroom and study almost makes one forget that it’s hidden deep underground. The space is neatly furnished with mismatched items, including a bearskin rug and extraordinarily comfortable-looking chair. A heavy professor’s desk sits off to one side, along with a massive, gently scuffed four-poster bed. Rugs and curtains hang in an inadequate attempt to make the space seem less like a cave, but craggy wall peeks through the gaps.
As the adrenaline leaves her system, and the consequences of her actions settle in to replace it, Much's ears drop in dejection and frustration.
"Gods, what's happening in this room? What was he trying to accomplish?"
Much pauses, sighs, and wipes the blood from her eyes.
"Whingeing won't help. I'll start searching the room."
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Panting and wounded, Laesah stays in her practiced crane stance, unsure of the victory. At Much's voice, she shudders and comes out of her stance, tears flowing oddly down her face. She quietly and solemnly moves to the fallen form of the Stone Ghost, turning whatever remains of the villain with her toe. She delivers the next words while staring into the lifeless eyes of the would-be saboteur.
"His name was Hatsi. He was loved by A'mino and well-regarded by many. You killed him and the natural cycle of things necessitates a debt that needed to be paid in your life. I do not know what drove your hatred for the Magaambya nor why you chose to recreate a professor's study deep within these catacombs, but your infamous legacy will not be forgotten. The scars you've left will linger but you will harm none here again."
Laesah then sits heavily on the ground, the sadness of everything weighing her down more than gravity ever could. Though she does not sob, tears continue to stream down her featureless face.
“Well said, Laesah.” Haunt glares at the corpse of their defeated enemy for a long moment, then shakes his head. “Irredeemable.” He picks up his raper and wipes the scorpion remnants off on the Stone Ghost’s clothes before returning it to his sheath.
The amurrun grins suddenly. “That was a tough fight! But we got through it, because we planned ahead. We should remember that for next time! I mean, I try to be prepared by carrying a little bit of lots of things around with me because you never really know what’s going to happen, but actually preparing in advance for a specific problem or enemy that we expect to run into, that’s a whole different thing! I was really skeptical, but it worked!”
He tries to help Much toss the room for loot and — hopefully — clues about what the Stone Ghost’s story was.
Much leads the group in searching the room, and comes up with some interesting finds. For loot, there is of course the+1 Morningstar and mundane leather armor on Stone Ghost, as well as a rhinoceros mask found under the bed. As with the mask of mercy, this enchantment can be transferred to a different mask, with a little bit of time. The bearskin rug also stands out as very well made, and probably worth a bit of gold.
Haunt, more concerned with finding a journal heads straight for the desk, and is not disappointed. The desk is covered with notes and maps concerning the Magaambya grounds, including access tunnels, subterranean rooms, and other underground places Stone Ghost was attempting to reach by digging. You see maps showing the access tunnels that lead to Spire Dormitory, with notes about you and the other residents.
And then there are the journals. Stone Ghost kept notes for a long time. Notes about his current plans, and notes about his life, like a diary or memoir. It’s a lot to parse through - it would take days to pour over all of this - but a couple things jump out as you skim. First, the older journals are noted as the possession of “Uduak Basni,” Stone Ghost’s original name before the gremlins gave him his new title. And second, the newer ones make it clear that Uduak was surprised at the number of insects found on the campus, but delighted when he realized that digging insects could help create a network of interconnected tunnels beneath the school. One note in particular reads, “Not clear why so many insects are drawn to campus, but the gremlins do fine at keeping them in line. I have the gremlins working the insects to death, to take their little minds off of the fact I’m doing the same to them.” The insect attack on Tireless Hall is just the first of several attack plans detailed in these notes, each aiming to inflict greater damage and death upon the Magaambya.
Much looks at each of her colleagues in turn
"We should report back to Master Ot...and A'mino."
Her ears dejectedly point at Laesah, knowing the hard task in front of her.
The room itself doesn't yield any new secrets, but when you look at Stone Ghost - Uduak - you have some realizations now that the battle has ended.
Stone Ghost wasn’t undead, but neither was he still living. He was an oread when he was alive, and his connection to elemental earth allowed him to still take physical form, but he was probably closer to his new moniker in nature than he could understand. Spite and anger have him purpose, and his affinity for the earth gave him form, but in truth he was a hateful will unmoored from a body, animating a rocky shell to haunt these halls.
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Laesah considers the room a final time, awash in her thoughts as her friends peruse the room. ”We do need to inform Master Ot and the Magaambya elders of the tunnels these insects were boring. Perhaps they also knew who this lost soul was.”
She smirks. ”Revenge is a dish that doesn’t taste nearly as good as it smells, doesn’t it?”
“It wasn’t just revenge though. We saved who knows how many lives today! Students and teachers and Hells! Even the gremlins!” He glances at the corpse of the gremlin lying on the floor. “Well, some of them, anyway.”
He starts packing up the journals. ”Let’s pack this stuff up - including his weapons and anything else we don’t want to leave for the gremlins - and get back to school.”
The party heads to the surface, carrying the maps and journals. When they emerge, they find the area in front of Tireless Hall has been turned into an enormous field station, with insects of all sizes being hauled outside and sorted. Koride oversees the investigation, labeling and cataloguing the creatures in the aftermath of this mysterious invasion, while students provide her with samples and reports.
Takulu greets you, his eyes tired. He takes the notes from you and stretches them across a table. "This is quite a bounty," he says, summoning one of his smiles for you as he begins to look through the stacks of books and papers. The smile fades as he thumbs through one of the old journals. "Uduak Basni... how? Tell me, what did you find down there? What happened?"
He looks at you intently, awaiting an answer.
“We found him. Not quite alive, but definitely not dead enough. He killed Hatsi, bullied the gremlins into following him, and they wrangled the bugs. He hates the Academy. But we never learned why. Is it in those journals?”
Teacher Ot frowns. His normally optimistic face looks strange wearing the unusual expression, lines furrowing his typically smooth face.
"I expect the answer is in these journals, Haunt. I will study them and the caves below to see what truth might be uncovered. I won't say much until more is known, but I can tell you this: Uduak Basni was a student here, some time ago... He gives his head a rueful shake and his smile returns. "But please... There will be time for a complete report of the findings tomorrow morning. For now, I’m giving you an important assignment—go home and rest.”
As you take that in, Ot makes good on his word and packs up the books, headed back to where you just came.
When he leaves, A'mino approaches, her eyes free of tears. She grabs Laesah's robe and looks up, asking in a raw voice. "is it done?"
A'mino grits her teeth. Tears begin to slide down her face, but she doesn't sob and her voice doesn't waver when she says, "thank you Hatsi deserved better he wasn't the best boyfriend but i loved him anyway and there's less joy in the world with him gone."
As you begin to leave, Koride approaches Barnabas. She reaches out and healing magic spreads over him, closing his remaining wounds. "It looks like you and these ones were successful. No doubt because of your efforts to keep Ot's favorites from falling over themselves." Koride says with her customary disdain. She flicks a contemptuous glance at Laesah and A'mino and continues. "Come. I've a different assignment for you now. One that doesn't keep you surrounded by such melodrama." Barnabas's expression is unreadable as walks off with his teacher.
You arrive at the dorm to a small commotion. Ignaci, recovered from his near death experience, gives you a wink as he wheels a table out to the common area with Haibram stumbling behind him, hauling a huge keg with some struggle. Chizire trails them both, worrying, showing genuine concern for the first time you can recall. "Haibram, have a care! That is a blend I've been perfecting all year, with ingredients you couldn't pronounce, let alone replace."
Haibram grunts, taking step after cautious step, and says with effort, "Just because I lack... a beard... doesn't mean I'm not... still... a dwarf... I'd sooner spill... my one guts... than a drop... of brew." He finishes with a huff and sets the keg atop the table. "And if you were so concerned, you could have helped."
Chizire looks affronted, placing a paw on his chest. "I did my work with my mind and my skill. Be appeased, and even better, be drunk and silent."
A SNORT is heard from the rafters. Mariama is "laying" on the ceiling, her arms spread out to each side, palms pressed flat. "Nobody will be silent tonight. Our team here took out whatever was making all the mess around here. I'm gong to flip a guard's wagon and light it on FIRE, tonight," she says through teeth bared in a too aggressive "grin."
Esi, coming around the corner pushing her own cart full of food, grabs a fried dumpling from a plate and tosses it to Mariama. Out of reflex, Mari snatches it out of the air, taking her hands off the ceiling. After a quick beat, the grin on her face vanishes, her eyes go wide, and she drops to the ground with a yelp and a thump, muttering curses and laughing.
Esi nods to you all and gestures grandly to the fantastic spread on her cart. "With compliments from Madame Yao," she says with a more mentally balanced grin of her own. "Word travels fast. You've done well. We decided to have a party about it."
Everyone you'd expect is here, and it looks like a party is about to begin.
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“Gods, yes!”
Haunt grabs a mug and steps up to the keg. “There are probably more constructive ways to celebrate the Stone Ghost’s end and to mourn absent friends, but I can’t think of any. Fill ‘er up, please!”
Later: “Me? I never touched him! I stabbed one of his minions and then hit him with a few magic missiles from a scroll I picked up at the Powderpile, but it was Much and Laesah who did the most. He shoved Laesah halfway into the ground and knocked her out at one point!”
Even later: “No, that was that guy from Koride’s cohort - Barnabas. A little quiet, but he kept us alive down there and did his part to slow down the SG. We were probably gonna talk to him about switching over, but I guess she convinced him we’re a little too rough around the edges for him. Whatever, he’s still welcome at the Old Stump whenever he … oh, definitely! Hey, Laesah, Much, we oughtta have the next party at the Old Stump!”
Later still: “I gotta tell you, Esi, it’s gonna be good to go back to sparring practice instead of getting stabbed and sliced and … and … bitten for real! You won’t hear me complaining about practice being boring anymore! Well, at least for a little while.”
End of the night: “Anchor Root. Anchor Root. Anne Chorroot. An. Chor. Root. You gotta watch out for that chicky. That chyk… for Pelaksana. Make sure nothing ever happens to her. ‘Cause those bugs, even if SG guy is gone — dead for real, I mean — and even if that means the gremlins aren’t … stirring up the swarms of bugs and giant bugs and super-bugs and stuff anymore, those bugs are all still down there! They’re under the Academy! So if Polly… I mean Pelly… old Pelly Pelaksana … if your chicken isn’t around to squawk, how’re we gonna know the bugs are coming? And who’s gonna eat the bugs? And who’s gonna drop chicken feathers for me to use against the bugs? And anyway she’s a good chicken.”
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“Gods, yes!”
Much follows her gregarious packmate into room and accepts a mug herself.
Later: “Me? I hit him with a rock, sure, but you should have seen it! The air was glowing with magic missiles! And Laesah fought her way out of the ground!” Much emphasizes her last statement and startles onlookers by leaping into a poor imitation of one of Laesah’s stances.
Even later: “Haunt? I’m pretty sure he can make magic out of anything. I can barely cast Shield, but he’s got an anteater charm. He’s the best."
Later still: “She’s the best, but I’m not sure where her webs come out of. She’s the best.”
End of the night: ”Do I wish they were Kholo? No! Pack is pack.
"Laesah! Haunt! Where are you?!? It's pack time, pack hug time!"
"We need a howl! What’s our howl?"
"OR A PACK NAME? Can we have a pack name???"
"Catfolk…Anadi…Kholo… C, A, K…. C,A, K…. CAK PACK! We’re the Cak Pack!”
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Laesah spends a good deal of her time at the shindig attending to A'mino, speaking with Tzeniwe and her progeny, and much later, dancing provocatively with Noxolo while sending hunted glares at Okoro, much to his blushing dismay.
She shares nothing of the details of the battle or the Stone Ghost, but does not hesitate to toast (and join the multiple toasts) to the memory of Hatsi. It's the latter that gets her tongue oiled by the end of the night.
"Catfolk…Anadi…Kholo… C, A, K…. C,A, K…. CAK PACK! We’re the Cak Pack!”
"You know who, you know----*burp*"
Laesah stands up, swaying slightly, emphasising her unsteady words with her clay mug.
"YOU know what?! We're the ACAK Pack. A, C, A, K. I miss Mmm----OOOOH! Hello, Okoro. Strange way the lights catch in your eyes. I think you might be ench-ench-enchanted. *giggle* Come with me. I've neglected my studies too long."
The anadi, distracted by the arrival of the Uzunjati student at the table, stands up, releases her empty mug, and leads the blushing young man away from her pack by the beads around his neck. She calls out a farewell from the door of the common room.
"Good night, ACAK Pack! Ah-wooooooooooo!!!"
You hear a door slam in the distance.
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Later: "Aunty Laesah, is it true you're a hero now? Does that mean you'll go on adventures? Can you bring us stuff?" Asks Tzeniwe's son Zachva. Zanvi, his twin sister looks scandalized. "Why would you leave? Can't you feel how that this is home? Don't leave, OK? But if you DO leave, I want a boomerang."
Even later: "Of course I know she's a lass. I just recognize her as a warrior first, and for a dwarf that makes you a lad, you know? That's not to say Laesah isn't a warrior, too... Ah, hells." Haibram flushes, takes a big drink and starts muttering into his cup. "I know she's a lass..."
Later still: Esi stands between Ignaci and Chizire, keeping them from fighting. "You were out of line, Chizire. You know this." She says. Chizire rankles and snarls, "I told the truth, as I always do. Maybe you forgot? And maybe Ignaci has forgotten how easily I can find bee venom."
"And maybe HE has forgotten how easily I can make explosives!"
Esi hits her limit. "Nobody is poisoning or exploding anyone. I think you have both forgotten that I while you run off and fiddle with your potions, I have a sword, and I'm quite good with it." The two men quiet down. Esi looks at Chizire and says, "You missed your friend when he was pining over some boy. You are too proud to say it. You became cruel."
Chizire sniffs, but says nothing. To Ignaci she says, "And you set aside everyone. You nearly lost your life for the sake of a man you could never be with. You were a fool."
She steps out from between them looks at them both deliberately and says, "Now, hug it out." Neither man moves. Her eyes narrow. "Hug. It. Out"
End of the night: Anchor Root has Much cornered looking up at the bone that hangs around the larger gnoll's neck and says, "I feel even more of an ancestor presence here than before. Perhaps it's from your encounter with such a powerful ghost, but the spirits move around you now. You are not alone," she says mysteriously. The words of a Bonespeaker, said without any of her customary fear.
And then Haunt has Anchor Root cornered, telling her about her chicken. Pelaksana stands proudly as Haunt compliments the bird.
From the other side of the room, a song bursts out led by a very drunk Ignaci and Chizire, embracing each other and swinging full mugs of wine.
"SWEET CALLISTO! BAH-BAH-BAAAAHHH! GOOD TIMES NEVER SEEMED SO GOOD!"
One at a time, or sometimes in pairs, people leave the party, stopping to embrace and thank members of the pack when they do. When all is quiet, Binji emerges from one of the maintenance tunnels, flanked by a couple of spellskeins and begins to clean. By the morning, everything will be as it was, even though everything has changed.
When you arrive back at the field station the next day, Koride and Takulu are still there, looking they worked through the night. Teacher Ot sees you and waves you over, eager to talk to you all.
He asks you some probing questions to fill out some gaps and test some theories. Things like, "What did the bees do when they weren't driven to violence by gremlins?"
Satisfied he knows as much as he is likely to, he begins to share his findings. He takes the scholarly tone you have seen hundreds of times in his classes. "First, the insects were drawn by some pervasive yet persistent psychic call," he begins. "Second, gremlins, pests, and other creatures that aren’t strictly insects - like spiders - have responded to the call as well. Of course, they’ve been closely questioned, but none can provide any details other than experiencing a strange longing, and a sense that they must go to the Magaambya. Third, the emanation is virtually undetectable but seems to be ongoing. While Uduak - the Stone Ghost - was weaponizing the infestations, they were not the origin of it, so this likely isn't over. Fourth, the emanation isn’t localized, so pinpointing its source is impossible without more work or some new angle of discovery."
He pauses, considering you all, but pausing for an extra beat when he looks at Laesah. He continues.
“As to this ‘Stone Ghost’ you encountered... he was indeed Uduak Basni. He was an initiate, but he felt he did not need to earn power or give back to the community. He came to resent that he was asked to prove himself. He grew cruel. During the previous gremlin incursion, Uduak slaughtered a mischievous gang of gremlins and was temporarily detained, by me, until we could decide whether to expel him. During his imprisonment, a spell he cast in an attempt to escape backfired and, we believed then, killed him. It is strange that he survived, but stranger still that gremlins flocked to his side. I assume fear played a large part in that.”
He rubs his tired eyes and takes a sip of tea.
"That was a lot. Do you have any questions?"
Haunt raises his hand and begins speaking without waiting to be called on (just like he does in class).
"So when you say 'gremlins, pests, and other creatures that aren't strictly insects' that strictly is carrying a lot of water for you, isn't it? I mean, gremlins are fae, not vermin or animals. Could other fae creatures be affected? What about other creatures that aren't strictly insects? I'm an amurrun, and we're not strictly insects - we aren't any closer to insects than the gremlins are. Well, as far as I know, we aren't. And what about gnolls? They aren't strictly insects either. What about humans, like you? And if Uduak didn't start this emanation, what did? What kind of magic is it? And what do creatures called to the Magaambya by the emanation do when Uduak isn't here to set them digging tunnels and killing people?"
He blinks for a moment, then adds, "And why do you keep looking at Laesah with that weird expression on your face?"
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Yesterday's party continues to rage in Much's guts. She sways in her seat, posture rigid and hands locked to her knees in an attempt to still the spinning room. She locks her eyes closed and pushes her focus down to just Haunt's logorrheic flow of words.
I will face this nausea. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn my tummy to see its path. Where the nausea has gone there will be nothing.
"...And what about gnolls? They aren't strictly insects either."
The mention of gnolls breaks Much from her revery.
"It's true Master Ot, we aren't insects, strictly or otherwise! You must believe Haunt!"
In the tradition of students not paying attention Golarion over, Much's inappropriate enthusiasm draws a put upon sigh from Master Ot.
"You are correct, Haunt, of course - Fey are not insects." Ot begins, nodding in acknowledgement to your point. "It is perhaps their strong connection to nature and Primal magic that made them susceptible to whatever is drawing things to the school. There is also evidence in the notes that some negotiation was done. Uduak reached out to Kurshkin, for example, with promises of revenge against me as incentive. I don't feel certain about what we know, but I am seeing a hypothesis that has a shape I largely believe in. However, until it can be thoroughly tested, it's impossible to know for sure."
He considers Laesah again. "With apologies for the weirdness of my expression, I am looking at Laesah because she is related to the types of creatures that find themselves drawn to the school, yet shows no evidence of compulsion that I'm aware of. Again, there are hypotheses as to why... higher order thinking, greater sentience, an affinity for magic... but without experimentation and testing it is also impossible to say for sure. And as a rule I don't experiment on the students." His grin is mischievous. "Laesah, perhaps give Koride a wide berth for a bit."
With no further follow up questions, Teacher Ot draws a breath, a sign you know to mean he's about to dig into the details of what he just said. Before he can, Esi rushes up to his side, giving you all a quick wave before turning to the teacher.
"Greetings, teacher. Three prospective students seeking admission have just arrived." She furrows her eyebrows, looking somewhat uncomfortable and continues. "They are not scheduled, and may cause a disturbance unless someone of your station attends to them."
Teacher Ot looks quizzical, but nods, dismissing the student. "Thank you, Esi. I will see to them." He gestures to the rest of you to follow him, then begins to walk. "Come, let us make some new friends."
As you approach, you see four hooded figures. One, a slim humanoid has their back to you, bow in hand. The other three have a silhouette beneath their robes that most would not recognize, but are immediately obvious to you all. They are anadi, in their hybrid forms.
Takulu strides forward to greet the three visitors, who look around with wonder in their many eyes. “Welcome and a kind hello, new friends. It is my pleasure to greet you today. You may call me Teacher Ot.”
Whatever the reply was to be, it's cut off by a screeching sound, piercing the air. The robed humanoid points up to the sky, and you see three huge griffons beginning a dive, gleaming claws outstretched.
Teacher Ot, seeing the danger, protectively steps in front of the student nearest the griffons and yells, "Run, find shelter!"
The first Anadi to react ignores him, moving through some arcane gestures and firing Magic Missiles at the lead creature, drawing a pained screech and some blood.
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The robed humanoid shouts a warning as he looks up into the air at the griffons, hood still masking his face. However, as he lifts a crossbow to point at the closest griffon, the robe slips away from his forearm where a familiar tattoo can be seen that says "M+0X" in brilliant neon green.
Before he fires, Maddox considers the situation carefully.
He carefully aims and fires at the blue griffon in front of him.
And again, for good measure, he lines up his shot and fires.
Maddox misses wildly but feels good about his first strike.
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Much's ears pop straight up in shock and surprise.
"Maddox!"
She wills her rage into her familiar, revealing the raised pattern of a laughing hyena split across the scars on her forearms.
Let's see if this works...
With an abrupt spin she sends her stone rope out in a new trajectory, Apple Blossoms in the Wind.
Much's ears pop straight up in shock and surprise.
"Maddox!"
Her gaze shoots up and she studies her attackers.
Let's see what they do know...
With a snap she sends her stone rope whipping off of her belt and into a lazy orbit, Apple Blossoms in the Wind, ready to strike if any of the griffons come near.
Maddox's arrow strikes the already wounded Griffon before the second arrow flies wide.
The other anadi are more willing to listen to Ot and scurry for shelter around some corners, leaning out to fire lesser versions of Magic Missiles at the unharmed griffons.
Haunt runs to get almost directly under the closest griffon. The amurrun’s fur puffs out and he shows his teeth in a really mean snarl, all the while examining the nearest griffon for signs of weakness.
Haunt glares at the griffon and its feathers rise in response. Ot sees what's going on and offers encouragement. "Haunt, tilt your head to the side! That will signal that you consider it food!"
Haunt does so, and the griffon lets out a timid squalk in reply.
When Haunt considers the creatures, he recalls that they have terrible will, and are great ambush hunters. If they attack from hiding, they can remain in hiding. He also sees that they look hungry, and are somewhat gaunt for their kind.
He's snapped out of these thoughts as two of the griffons dive, claws slashing those they fly by.
Haunt's amulet flares and lessons some of the damage from the raking claw, while Maddox fends off the attack with his bow. The griffon then takes to the air and soars further away turning to set up another run.
Both strikes land true. Ot grunts but stands strong, but the anadi is nearly disemboweled. Blood soaks through the robes, but it doesn't fall. The blue griffon, scared, but still setting up their own run, tilts their head at the wounded anadi.
The griffon wheels up before screaming down towards Professor Ot and the Anadi below.
Much tightens her focus, and readies herself to strike.
This is going to be close. Please, beneficent gods...
The gods appear to be listening and the griffon streaks within range of Much for a split second.
As the stone flies wide, Much sucks her teeth in frustration.
Listening and laughing, apparently. 'Respect the gods but don't count on them', indeed.
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Laesah steadfastly avoids Teacher Ot's gaze - ANYONE'S gaze, really - the morning after the big party. The more observant members of the Magaambya notice a new bauble - a multifaceted die - on a bracelet around her left wrist. If questioned about it - and why all the numbers on the die faces are '1' - she murmurs something about one-too-many tankards and trails off.
Just prior to attending to the field station the next day, Laesah stops by the canteen and purchases something overlooked in her gear - a set of healer's tools.
"Laesah, perhaps give Koride a wide berth for a bit."
The anadi replies with a gentle grunt after a fleeting glance at their championing professor.
It isn't until the appearance of the prospective anadi students (and the robed one) that an expression apart from fatigued ennui crosses her facade - and that expression is suspicion.
Who are these three? No anadi for years save for Tzeniwe and then myself and suddenly, with no advance notice, three of my kin show up? Who is this hooded figure---?
Laesah's thoughts are interrupted by the intrusion of violence - always violence. As one of the griffons mortally wounds one of her kind, the anadi snaps into motion, calling out in their ancestral tongue and completely missing the sight of her former colleague and dorm-mate, Maddox (despite Much's cry).
"Noho iho, e oku teina! Takoto ki te whenua ma matou koe e tiaki. Kei te haere mai ahau!"
The anadi ignores the feral griffon pawing and growling right next to her, rushing to the blood-soaked anadi's side as she produces her healer's tools.
Laesah's successful efforts astound her. As she stabilises the wounded student, she turns to face the griffon staring them down.
"E kore koe e kite i ahau he mea ngawari, he kaiparapara."
Laesah is so focused on helping her fellow anadi that she doesn't really get a good look at him until she finishes and hears his voice or sees his face. Both are familiar, and both are unkind.
"Hah! I mohio tonu ahau kei te pirangi koe ki te pa mai o ringaringa ki runga i ahau. Kaore i te tino mohio koinei te waa."
The final griffon, blocked by Laesah from her chosen prey, attacks her and Maddox.
Missing twice and screaming in frustration before climbing back to a safer height.
Teacher Ot and the blue anadi both delay, waiting to see what the heroes do.
Maddox (flavor) dives out of the way of the swooping griffon, its claws missing his robed shoulder by millimeters. He again thinks about his actions before lifting his shortbow for another few shots at the Blue Griffon.
He lines up and fires.
And again.
He grits his teeth and readies himself for another attack by the griffons.
Much wills her rage into her familiar, revealing the raised pattern of a laughing hyena split across the scars on her forearms and growls at the nearest griffon
Second time's a charm...
Much she sends her stone rope out in a slow loop, Apple Blossoms in the Wind.
“Ugh, fine, fight like a bunch of cowards! Here, let me see what I’ve got… oh, that’ll do it!” Haunt lets go of his amulet, allowing it to dangle from the strap around his neck. He pulls a couple of thin reeds out of one of his vest pockets and twists each of them around an arrow. “I pulled these out of the ugliest scarecrow I’ve ever seen, let’s see how you like ‘em!” The amurrun fires off both arrows in quick succession, aiming at the injured griffon .
"Maddox, please be sure sure to account for the wind." Says Teacher Ot, his voice calm but clear and commanding.
Maddox adjusts his shot, and sure enough, it strikes true. The second arrow flies wide as the griffon dips out of the way... straight into a a volley of arrows from Haunt, both of which connect. The blue griffon is starting to look pretty bloody.
Teacher Ot points to the sky, a greenish beam targeting the green griffon.
The beam misses, and Ot positions himself between the green griffon and as many students and seekers as he can.
The blue Anadi produces a sling, loads it, and takes aim at the blue Griffon...
Missing pathetically.
The other two anadi, taking his lead, but with more restraint produce slings, move to more defensive positions, and cast shield.
The green griffon, now focused on Ot, swoops down to attack the teacher and Maddox.
Missing with both attacks and popping back up 30 ft in the air.
The red griffon, getting desperate, swoops down to attack the anadi, provoking from Much...
Who connects savagely. Finally recognizing the threat posed by the gnoll warrior, the griffon focuses on Much, beak and talon flashing.
The beak digs in, drawing blood, and the griffon remains on the ground.
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The anadi growls at Ducreyi.
"Kaore koe i roto i Nurvatcha inaianei, web-ling. Whakatuwheratia ou kanohi katoa, kati tou waha. Aue, noho ki raro - Kare au e pai ki te whakahoki ano i to whea ki roto i to puku."
Without a second glance at her bully, she adopts a fully extended stance and leaps across the battlefield, landing in a position on the other side of the griffon in front of Teacher Ot.
Landing in perfect position, the already-blurry Laesah lashes out with foot and fist.
The blue griffon streaks down, hurt and angry. Attacking Teacher Ot and Maddox
Ot hisses as the beak rips a hole into him. Blood is spattered across his robe, but he still stands.
The beak digs in, drawing blood, and the griffon remains on the ground.
Much brows knit at the griffon. Poor tactics disappoint her, even in her enemies.
If you can fly, you should always fly. Especially near me...
With a jerk of her rope she pulls the stone to her open hand, only to immediately hurl it overhand at the legs of the griffon in Leopard's Caress.
With the rope cinched tight, Much pulls hard with both hands, shifting the attack to Leopard's Claws.
Much moves in position to support her mentor.
"I'm coming Master Ot!"
Fear grips Maddox's mechanical heart as he sees the blood drip out of Ot's robes. He takes his time to think about what he should do.
Maddox judges the situation to not be in his favor to shoot and decides to help his team instead. Quick as a flash, he reaches out to the bleeding Professor Ot and puts his hand on his arm. His skin glows as Maddox concentrates on where the professor is injured, magically stitching up the torn flesh.
He thinks the Ot's eyes look brighter as he takes his hand away. He moves across Ot and closer to Much, in case Much needs a boost as well.
Teacher Ot sees Much start to swing at the griffon and quickly says, "Much, tuck your elbow lest your swing go wide." Much makes the adjustment and the stone wraps around the legs of the creature. She then yanks it down to the ground.
Ot pats his chest after Maddox quickly heals him, then puts a hand briefly on the android's shoulder, giving a squeeze. "It is good to have you back, son."
Haunt casts a quick spell, then grabs two more arrows and fires them off in rapid succession.
Haunt drops another arrow into the blue griffon, but not critically so. It sways, but doesn't fall, though it is riddled with arrows and looks pretty near death.
Teacher Ot reaches into the mind of the blue giffon, hoping to daze it.
The griffon fails, lets out a croaking sound and falls over, unconscious.
Ot grins, wheels on his heel and brings his staff down on the red griffon in a two-handed strike.
Ot returns his staff to a defensive position and waits.
The red and green anadi scamper into the buildings, but the blue one, Ducreyi, tries to keep fighting. He steps into a flank with Maddox and bites at the red griffon.
The first misses, but the second sinks into the flank of the beast, injecting poison.
The griffon is unaffected.