Issi's blade strikes home, then Sadiki uses her last spell slot to connect with a hydraulic push! Stone Ghost lets out an anguished cry as his battered body collapses into rubble! Okoro and Tzeniwe finish off the remaining gremlins.
It takes several minutes to sort through all the incriminating journals, maps, and notes on the desk. The notes and maps concern the Magaambya grounds, including access tunnels, subterranean rooms, and other underground places Stone Ghost was attempting to reach by digging.
The journals detail Stone Ghost’s plans. Some older notes are by an “Uduak Basni,” Stone Ghost’s old name before he took the title the gremlins gave him. More recent notes indicate surprise at the number of insects found on the campus, followed by delight 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.
Under the bed, you discover a rhinoceros mask. Its enchantment can be transferred to a non-magical mask. The bearskin rug is exceptionally well made and is worth 30 gp. Stone Ghost's weapon is a +1 morningstar.
|
"Ok, so the insects are a naturally occuring phenomenon?" Issi says slowly, reading through the notes. "Or something else is going on here... oh well, let's head back and report in. Then Sad can say thank you for your heroics properly." She adds to Okoro. "Has she sucked you yet?"
The blushes from both of them is well worth the blow she takes from Sad and Issi sprints up the hall laughing.
"You have to return the favour too!" She calls, giggling loudly.
"Issi!" Sadiki shrieks, blushing furiously! She chases after her sister all the way back to the surface!
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 meets you and takes any maps or notes you offer.
“We will be working on solutions for hours, maybe days,” Teacher Ot says with a kindly smile. “There will be time for you to give me a complete report of your findings tomorrow morning. For now, I’m giving you an important assignment—go home and rest.”
Ignaci is recovering well after receiving your aid. In gratitude, he offers to make you any two common alchemical elixirs of 5th level or less that you choose.
|
|
"I'd like to think we're some of the Magaambya's most successful attendents, given how much we've done in our one day in the ranks!" She wanders back to the dorm with all her friends and then bids everyone else goodbye.
"I'm going to see if Nox is in." She says. "If she's not can I come and see the boys Tzeniwe? I feel like I've got some energy to burn off." She turns to her sister. "I'll knock just before dinner sis, that ok?" She asks, before heading off down the corridor, having made it clear that their double room is available to Sadiki for another couple of hours.
Tzeniwe nods to Issi. "Of course. My sons are always happy to play!"
When Issi offers her the room, Sadiki grins and gives her sister a kiss on the cheek. "Perfect! Don't hurry back!" She beckons for Okoro to join her as Issi seeks Noxolo.
Fortunately, Noxolo is in her room. She smiles and embraces the magus. "I heard you were a hero today! I wish I could have been there to see it."
|
|
"What did they have you doing?" Issi asks, before launching into the tale of her adventures for the day. She tells it pretty factually, the whole thing was interesting enough that she doesn't need to make anything up. Besides, winning the dueling tournament and killing a gigantic beetle in a single blow has given Issi something of a reputation as a fighter - there's no need to further embellish.
"I want to find out who he was though." Issi concludes. "What happened to make him hate the school like that? And how are all the insects getting in? It doesn't make sense!"
|
|
Meanwhile, down the hall, Okoro follows Sadiki into her room and looks around at the, relatively neat, room the sisters keep. He seems mostly impressed and/or taken aback by the number of clothes scattered around.
"This is... homely." He says eventually. "How do you know which stuff is yours and which is Issi's?" Apparently he isn't too interested in the answer because he steps up behind Sadiki and loops his arms around her waist, before leaning in to kiss her neck in the way he knows she likes.
When the sorceress is relaxed in his arms Okoro moves to loosen her clothing, sliding his hands across smooth shoulders to take the fabric with it before his lips follow his hands across a shoulder and down Sadiki's spine.
They pause at the base of her spine, just above the cleft of her backside and Okoro speaks softly.
"I'd like to, you know. Do what Issi said earlier." When Sadiki turns around Okoro is on his knees looking up at her. "If you want to." He adds, one hand trailing gently down the inside of her thigh.
"The dead sometimes whisper to me," Noxolo says. "The teachers wanted me to try to listen to the corpses of some of the insects that were killed. Unfortunately, I did not hear anything."
Noxolo listens attentively to Issi's story. Once she is done, she takes Issi by the hands. "I am certain we will learn the answers in due time! But for now, we should celebrate your victory. Let us sing and dance! Oh, Issi with the hair of fire!/How your passion stokes my desire!"
She continues to improvise lyrics about Issi's beauty and might as she twirls and spins the magus about the room. The snabble rouses itself from its nap and joins in, squealing and leaping around the pair.
***
Sadiki had been about to answer Okoro's question, but his kisses quickly silence her. She moans softly as he slides her dress down to her waist.
She turns to regard him on his knees as he presents his offer. "Yes. I want to, Okoro. I want to very much," she purrs.
|
|
Issi laughs in delight at the dancing and, when the snabble gets in the wrong place and sends the pair crashing onto Noxolo's bed, doesn't try to get up again, taking her girlfriends face in her hands and kissing her thoroughly instead!
***
Okoro doesn't need any further invitation, sliding Sadiki's dress the rest of the way to the floor, gently guiding her legs apart and then setting to work. His tongue and fingers work manfully although the awkwardness of the angle, and the trembling in Sadiki's legs eventually dictate a repositioning to the bed.
By this point Okoro's own arousal is plain to see and he strips off, revealing in the process exactly how excited he is.
"Do you think we could both..." He says, "If I go on the bottom and you face the other way? Then I think we could both make each other feel good."
He proceeds to do just that, although Sadiki's mouth descending for the first time draws a gasp and a guttural groan until the sorceress grinds down to remind him of his end of the bargain.
Noxolo reciprocates the attention, pulling Issi close as the pair trade kisses in the bed. As things get more intense, the snabble cocks its head and trills a questioning sound, its tail wagging happily.
"A little privacy, please!" Noxolo says to it, and it complies, scampering off to a corner. She turns back to Issi. "Now, where were we?"
***
Sadiki gasps and grips the bedsheets as she experiences the pleasures of oral stimulation for the first time as a woman. When Okoro asks for her to do her part, she nods. "Yes, of course. I think I know exactly the right spots to hit." Soon, both she and Okoro's mouths are fully engaged as the bed creaks beneath them.
|
|
"You were right here." Issi says, pointing to her lips with a grin. The two young women kiss and thereafter snuggle for some time until they're finally lying front-to-back on the bed. Issi has just found a comfortable spot, nestled against Noxolo's longer body when she catches sight of the snabble and laughs. The odd creature has turned to face the wall and has burrowed its head under one of Noxolo's shirts so it can't see what's going on behind it.
"Just how intelligent is he?" She asks. "He seems to understand everything you say."
She's feeling pleasantly dozy and Noxolo's voice is soothing and nice to fall asleep to...
***
The bed, thankfully, survives the workout that Sadiki and Okoro give it, and then survives another one half an hour later when Okoro bends Sadiki over its end and sets to work in a more 'traditional' fashion.
***
Issi, once Noxolo wakes her from her impromptu nap, leaves knocking on their shared door as long as possible.
"Sad? You ready for dinner? I can bring a plate if you want, just open the window before I get back!"
"He listens to me, when he wants to, at least," Noxolo says. She holds Issi close and strokes her fiery hair. "I think he sometimes pretends no to understand me! I still don't know exactly what he is. Perhaps he's akin to a summoner's eidolon, though we aren't linked in that way. Or it could be..."
She continues offering various theories as Issi drifts off in her arms.
***
Sadiki opens the door when Issi knocks. Her hair is disheveled and her clothes are askew. "I'm up, I'm up. Let's eat." She speaks a few words of power, and her unkempt state instantly appears to fix itself as she conceals herself in an illusion.
"You put the idea in his head," Sadiki confides. "And it was a wonderful idea, sis." She blushes and giggles. "But I'm not one to kiss and tell..."
You have your fill at the dining hall, then return to the dorm to rest.
When you return to the field station the next day, Koride and Takulu are still there, having worked through the night. They’ve made several important discoveries, and while Koride remains standoffish, Takulu is eager to share with you.
”This ‘Stone Ghost’ you encountered was once 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. Uduak slaughtered a mischievous gang of gremlins and was temporarily detained 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 listens intently as you inform him about your cavern exploration in more detail, then provides you with his findings:
First, the insects were drawn by some pervasive yet persistent psychic call.
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. 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. You have defeated the villain weaponizing the infestations, but they aren’t over. The emanation isn’t localized, so pinpointing its source is impossible without more work or some new angle of discovery.
|
|
"What exactly does 'not localized' mean?" Issi asks curiously. "Presumably the gremlins aren't being drawn from all the way across the expanse, or even the city, so there must be some sort of limit and presumably a center? Has there been any success in detecting its effects? 'Virtually undetectable' means there is at least one way of doing so, even if we need to travel outside Nantambu to find gremlins that don't feel the call."
She's mostly just expounding theories in an attempt to extract more information, but there's always a chance her ideas will shed new light on the situation.
”That’s just it,” Takulu says. ”There must be a center, but we have been unable to find a means to locate it. This may take all of the Magaambya’s talents working together to determine the cause and effects. It is not something that will be resolved anytime soon, I fear.”
As the conversation with Takulu begins to wind down, Esi Djana rushes up to the teacher. "Teacher Ot! Three prospective students had just arrived seeking admission! They, um, they are likely to cause a disturbance unless someone speaks with them right away. They are anadis, like Tzeniwe! I know not everyone is comfortable with the spider-folk."
"Thank you, Esi," Takulu says, dismissing her. "You two should come with me."
The three anadis are in the open area near the Speaker’s Stage while a few students keep a cautious distance. Rather than traveling in human form, as is typical for anadis, they’re each 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.”
“Teacher Ot, we would learn from you and from the school. We humbly submit ourselves as pupils.” All three anadis bow respectfully. “I am Rainbows-Reflected-Upon-Gossamer-Strands, who is called Goss. This is Droplets-Hanging-Gently Savanakin and Barest-Threads-Billowing Maztachia. We have some small knowledge of magic already. Presenting ourselves without sponsorship is highly irregular, we know, but we all feel as though the Magaambya is…the place we must be. Something is calling us here, Teacher Ot.”
Teacher Ot looks meaningfully back to your group before responding, “We welcome the new angles of discovery that your presence will bring. I would like to introduce you to some of our most recent students. They have already distinguished themselves and might provide you with—”
Before Teacher Ot can finish, the nearby students shout and scatter. Two large forms soar across the canal from the city, screeching loudly. The two beasts are visually striking, with blackbird heads and feline leopard bodies. They both look underfed and are obviously quite hungry, and they are swooping down at the anadis!
Sadiki moves beside her sister, blasting one of the griffons with pressurized water. The beast shrieks and dives down to pounce on the sorceress! The other one makes a flying strafe, raking Issi with its talons before ascending again and whirling around for another pass!
”Initiates, take down the grounded griffon!” Takulu shouts. ”Anadis, assist me!” The teacher fires magic missiles at the flying griffon, and the three anadis follow suit with their own magic missile spells.
Sadiki, meanwhile, delays till her sister attacks, then invokes guidance and fires off another blast of water.
The griffon sidesteps Issi’s attack, but Sadiki’s blast knocks it back. It quickly pounces on her again, raking the sorceress and badly wounding her! The second griffon swoops down and claws at Teacher Ot!
Luckily, Sadiki’s third hydraulic blast makes contact, shoving the griffon away and knocking it out! Takulu raises a magical shield to fend off the other griffon as the anadis scramble for cover.
Both sisters score critical hits, and the second griffon falls!
The anadis don’t know where the griffons came from, but they’re grateful for the timely assistance. They provide the you a silk dancing scarf in gratitude. Takulu asks for Ahassunu, an iruxi lore‐speaker with a love of predatory animals, to take charge of the griffons.
Once things have settled down and the anadis have been shown to their quarters, Takulu asks for any more information you might have learned. He realizes that Uduak’s presence explains the gremlins, and he certainly maintined control over the insects, but nothing about Uduak’s story or his notes explains what has drawn so many insects to the Magaambya in the first place.
“I fear we have moved beyond my expertise, but do not worry. I know someone who may have more insight. Janatimo was my mentor, just as I am yours. He is one of the Magaambya’s cleverest lore-speakers, though he rarely stays in one place for long. I would like to gain his wisdom and, to be honest, introduce your impressive group to him. We will discuss with him in person the next time he returns. In the meantime, thank you for all you have done.” Takulu gives a warm smile as he stands to signal the end of the meeting. ”We will speak again soon.”
Invigorated by solving the gremlin attacks and uncovering more mysteries, Sadiki applies herself to her Emerald Bough studies with gusto. Over the next two weeks, she fills her mind with knowledge of both the arcane and primal kinds. Her sorcerous magic evolves in new ways, and soon she can be seen toting around a spellbook like her sister, scribbling formulae into it as she discovers how to expand her repertoire.
Soon enough, she has proven her commitment to a sufficient degree that the Emerald Bouhgs promote and support her as an affiliated attendant!
|
|
After her impressive results in the previous term Issi relaxes somewhat and slows her breakneck academic pace to something more sustainable. She studies with Mariama, which proves helpful, and is suitably proud when Sadiki is affiliated as an attendant of the Emerald Boughs.
"I said green looked good on you didn't I?" She says smugly at the end of the ceremony. "Well done sis. You deserve this!"
She herself has recently taken to carrying her initiate bead with her, as a conscious reminder of how far she's come, and the heights she has yet to achieve.
"Thanks! And the blue really stands in contrast to your hair!" Sadiki replies. She wraps her sister in a tight embrace, happy that the two of them are steadily progressing with their studies.
Chapter 2: Spoken on the Song Wind
Two weeks after the griffon attack on the anadis, Noxolo and Okoro alert everyone in the Spire Dormitory that that the head of the Uzunjati branch, Janatimo, has returned to the Magaambya! Janatimo is one of the five learned ones, scholars who lead each of the Magaambya’s branches separately. "He is kind, insightful, and entertaining," Okoro says. "Three important qualities that make any teacher popular!"
You each receive a note from Janatimo asking to meet him at his office in an unassuming building on the northeast edge of the canal‑ringed campus. The furnishings in Teacher Janatimo’s office are simple, but the desks and shelves contain many objects and curios, each of which seems as though it has an interesting story to tell. In the center of all these items, sits Janatimo himself, Learned One and head of the Uzunjati. The half-elf stands from his desk and extends his arms wide in greeting.
“Ah, thank you for taking the time to visit with me. Please, have a seat. I am sure there are some interesting tales we can share. I would like to speak, specifically, about the new anadis' arrival and the subsequent griffon attack. Can you explain to me what happened, in detail?”
|
|
"Of course Learned One." Issi replies, before launching into the tale. She doesn't have Sadiki's gift for oratory and so her accounting is factual rather than dramatic, but she covers every relevant point and detail in impeccable order before offering a few measured conclusions.
"I think we can safely assume that the anandi were drawn to the Magaambya by the same effect as the gremlins and insects." She says. "I would not care to speculate on the griffons since they are a notably different class of animal, but it seems that the emanation is becoming stronger."
She glances around the group to see if anyone wants to add something she's missed.
"Ah, but speculation is what I would request of you!" Janatimo says. "I want to hear your theories regarding what happened. I'm not looking for answers--as I know that none of us here currently have any--nor do I want a rehashing of facts. I seek plausible theories. None are too outlandish for this conversation, I assure you!
"I would like you to answer the following questions. For each one, I would ask one of you to provide a realistic answer, and the other to provide an intentionally outlandish answer. This will show me the rigor of your thinking and your ability to invent plausible connections.
"So, answer me these questions four. What drew the griffons to the Magaambya? Why were the griffons so hostile? What brought the anadis here, to the heart of a city with which they appear wholly unfamiliar? And what else might the the anadis want, besides to study? That is, what might make them feel more like they belong here?"
|
|
"Well the griffons were, at least in my opinion, a new breed capable of sensing the lingering magical residue left behind by spells." Issi says, trusting that her sister will follow up with logic. "Since Nantambu, and the Magaambya in particular, practically reeks of magic they naturally headed this way intent on enjoying the magic. Although I'm not sure whether they want to bathe in it, nest in it or simply like looking at it."
"Hostile? Well perhaps instead of being a new breed they are descendants of a powerful awakened animal who studied here under the Ten Magic Warriors. The griffons have preserved their forebears teachings and decided that, by accepting anandis, we have betrayed an ancient principle of Old Man Jatembe."
"The anadis are not the first to come here." She continues, turning sensible. "As our good friend Tzienwe can attest. Realistically I believe that they were travelling to Nantambu for other reasons, trade perhaps, and then were affected by the emanation from the school and thus gave up their original purpose in answer to the call."
"Finally, what might they want to study? Well common sense dictates magic, but have we considered that this emanation might be the work of a hither-to unknown anadi genius who is attempting to gather a mighty army of insects and other animals to themselves with the intent of conquering the Expanse and returning it to a natural paradise in which the anadi are not feared as they are now? It would free up considerable societal resources if they didn't have to maintain two forms and study so hard."
"I would guess that the griffons' arrival is mostly coincidence," Sadiki says. "It's possible they escaped from some menagerie or the like in Nantambu and were soaring overhead, looking for a meal."
"They also appeared quite underfed and malnourished. Their hostility likely stemmed from their intense hunger."
"It could be that the anadis are fleeing from some calamity in their jungle home! They could be the scouts for an even larger delegation of spiderfolk!"
"I believe we could make the anadis comfortable by offering them what most people want. Comfort, kindness, friendship, and compassion."
Janatimo nods with each answer, thanking you for sharing your analysis once the conversation is over. "I feel that you should spend time looking into recent matters at the Magaambya to discover the truth. My hunches tell me that these events are no mere coincidences, and I would like you to confirm these hunches. In the process, I believe you will further develop your knowledge and skills as students.
"Find out more about what brought the anadi students to the school, and where the griffons came from, and report to me on these matters over the school year; it doesn’t matter which you tackle first. Of course, your coursework is a priority above all else. There’s no rush, so you to investigate around your classwork."
For taking the time to meet with him, Janatimo gives you one of the curios in his office: a crown of the companion. He thinks it will assist you with the investigations he’s asked you to conduct. He’s in no hurry to get it back, as he knows its story will grow the longer you keep it.
|
|
"Thank you Learned One." Issi says, handing the crown to her sister. It takes little more than a glance to see that its brimming with healing magic. "We will report in whenever we find something!"
----------------------
"So," She says outside, turning to the rest of the dorm. "Thoughts? Anywhere we could begin and who's best placed to do it?"
Sadiki doesn't answer at first, settling the crown onto her brow. "Ah, at last the queen has a proper crown!" she says teasingly.
Once she's done giggling, she taps her chin. "Hmm. Tzeniwe probably has had contact with the other anadis. We could ask her how they're doing, and maybe reintroduce ourselves to them. Or we could head into the city and start asking around to find out where the griffons came from. Whichever one you want to do first, sis!"
|
|
"Your majesty!" Issi replies, sweeping her sister a low curtsey.
"I say we go and ask about the griffons." She decides when Sad lays out the options. "People will forget about that in time but the anandi's will be here for quite a while probably. Let's do the time sensitive one first, and some shopping along the way!"
Sadiki knows that griffons don’t approach urban areas unless they’ve been acclimated to humanoids. She also knows that many people in Nantambu capture and domesticate animals for use as guards, mounts, or pets. Griffons are exceedingly difficult to capture and harder to domesticate. This difficulty, combined with the distinct appearance of the griffons that attacked the anadis, means finding the right place is simply a matter of narrowing down the options.
It takes four days of asking around the city before you are able to find the animal trader who owned the griffons. She operates a store called Oba's Wondrous Creatures. Inside, an elegantly styled woman sits behind a desk, swiftly counting coins and writing notes in a ledger. A few cages contain rare birds and lizards. The woman looks up, and her look of concentration turns into a scowl.
“You! Why would you harm such beautiful, expensive, majestic, and expensive creatures?” she complains. "You two, and that accursed school of yours, have seriously impacted my business! I insist that you compensate me for the damage you have done!"
|
|
"Is that before or after the magistrates have you on charges on endangering others lives and failing to contain dangerous animals?" Issi counters sharply. "If you don't want your livestock being killed then you can't let them get free and attack people! It's pretty straightforward - I'd have thought a sharp businesswoman such as yourself would understand that."
"What my sister means to say is that we are working to alleviate the situation," Sadiki says, trying a more diplomatic approach. "Anything you can tell us about the griffons will go a long way toward repairing any damage done."
Oba crosses her arms over her chest. "Fine," she says coldly. "I will confirm, then, that the griffons got loose from their enclosures the morning that they attacked your fellow students. This is unusual because I housed the griffons in separate, albeit adjacent, cages. I have a good suspicion as to why the griffons attacked the anadi students; I fed them spiders by the sackful because they considered the arachnids a treat that kept them calm. Once the griffons escaped, they probably fixated on the anadis as the most spiderlike food available.
"You're free to investigate the cages for clues. I've been so distraught since they escaped that I haven't been to their cages since. In fact, I've hardly been able to rouse myself to tend to any of my animals."
A path leads about thirty feet past the shop, through a sturdy gate, and into an expansive, fenced area filled with trees, cages, and sheds. A few wide paths lead through the area, and the smell of animals is unmistakable. A large hemispherical cage to the north stands empty. Boards have been pulled away from a nearby shed. From the east come the sounds of several animals squawking.
"Something doesn't seem right here..." Sadiki says warily.
The large open cage bears a wooden sign reading, “Tigers: 2.” A wooden shed to the southwest has several boards torn from it, and bits of chewed leather harnesses and collars are strewn about. A canvas tent to the northwest is torn open, with several large chunks of meat spilling from it. The meat reeks of rot.
Investigating the meat reveals it was already starting to rot while in the tent thanks to its inferior quality. Being left in the sun has only hastened its spoilage. Further, the canvas wasn't torn by animal claws; someone cut it with several knife strokes!
A growl nearby gets Issi's attention. She sees a tiger crouched in the nearby brush, ready to pounce!