The Pathfinder Society has long respected the Magaambya, considering its long history and its unique blending of primal and arcane magic. The Magaambya, though, has been a good deal cooler towards the Pathfinders. Their reputation as ruthless treasure hunters is usually an exaggeration put forward by the Society’s many enemies, but there’s enough truth there to give the storied institution of learning and public service pause. Still, the Society has done enough good throughout Avistan and Garund that some within the Magaambya have taken note. Takulu Ot is one such individual. An instructor concerned with the study of teaching itself, he’s curious what kind of individuals the Pathfinders’ methods bring about.
While on the boat...
"Takulu Ot, an instructor at Magaambaya, has invited us to learn from you about our methods just as his students will learn from me. I selected you because you are the finest new agents among other Pathfinders. Nothing grand is at stake, but a strong connection to the Magaambya would be a huge boon to the Society, assuming you can prove the Society’s methods would benefit the Magaambya, too." there is weight in the Master of Scrolls Kreighton Shaine's words.
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Flory is a young human woman with long, dark-blonde hair. Her blue eyes have an unfocused look, as if she’s looking past (through?) everything. She wears a simple brown dress with a black hooded cloak. A red and black spider is perched on her head. Another spider, human-sized, brown with a silver chevron on its thorax, walks beside her.
She curtsies to the others. ”Flory Buntzer”, she says. ”These are my cohort, Lady Gwendolyn and Sir Miles” The two spiders bow.
While onboard, she expresses interest in the clothing worn by the locals at their destination, observing and interviewing the crew. Rather than a fashionista, she asks technical questions about fabrics, colors, patterns, and their significance. Her companions are content to catch insects and other vermin on the ship.
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A quiet, generally reserved man with a thin, gaunt face asks. He wears a black cloak with the hood pulled up over his head, but still his wiry long black hair falls out of the front in an unkempt mess. A hefty bastard sword is slung over his back along with a longbow.
He leans against the side of the boat and nods at Kreighton Shaine's words.
Oh, I'm not really very new, but Magaambaya is a fascinating place. We will not let you down!
He awkwardly pets the human sized spider on the head, not knowing how else to greet Flory's cohorts.
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Nature and spirits are the best of Universities all in all. replies the Shisk to Kreighton Shane.
Wearing a light armor with decorative feathers the deep tanned skinned one passes the journey in meditative posture. He's much more a mystic than a fighter. He doesn't carry any weapon anyway.
If the spirits agree we will succeed to help you.
Nikma seems determined. The Shisk gives him a pouch.
The spirits will help you in your task.
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"Ah! Yous the other Paffinders I's thinking! I's called Lokoloko. Pickle?"
A green goblin festooned with bandoliers with vials of different colors make it painfully clear what his trade in life is. About the only thing you're sure of is the large pickle jar filled with green pickles of various shapes and sizes attached to a strap on his belt...
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Nikma looks closely at the pouch in his hand for several moments, quite taken aback by it.
Thank... you. I do not know why you give this to me. But... it gives me a strangely comforting feeling.
Carefully sliding it into an inner pocket of his cloak he glances around at the gathered Pathfinders.
Spirits and pickles. Spider friends. A devout of Cayden. Quite the crew! I am Nikma, a monster hunter.
He looks over at Rinshu.
Maybe your spirits can reveal what brings together such a patchwork group of motivated individuals!
He flashes a wicked grin, seemingly reveling in the strange team composition he observes.
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And orc joins you on the boat, he is tall and broad in shoulders, he wears leather armor and carries plenty of short blades with him.
He pats Lokoloko on his head and takes a pickle "Thank you, I didn't eat pickles for a while" he greets others and tries to pat two giant spiders that Flory travels with.
"I am Tharpe, a bouncer from Absalom, but for past few years I have been working with Pathfinders" He scans the surrounding like he would be looking who could cause troubles
As they disembark at the Speaker’s Stage on the western edge of the Magaambya, the Scrollmaster herds the group toward a similarly sized group waiting on the dock. Shaine asks them to give him a moment while he speaks with his counterpart, Takulu Ot. The two instructors exchange off to the side with pleasantries and expectations being discussed.
When they return to the two groups, Takulu Ot introduces himself.
"Greetings, Pathfinders! My name is Takulu Ot, Cascade-Bearer teacher of Magaambaya." he begins.
'I would like to introduce to you my students." he says and calls his students one-by-one.
"Anchor Root," a shy female ant kholo sheepishly waves to the Pathfinders and quickly hides behind the teacher.
"Esi Djana," a female human student smiles to them with confidence, as opposed to Anchor Root.
"Mariama Keitana," another female human student who almost trips herself and almost curses, but manages to hold her tongue before she can completely say it. "Sorry!" she says.
"Okoro Obiyo," a male human student whose excitement to meet the Pathfinders can't be contained. "Can't wait what I can learn from your group!" he tells them.
"Strands-of-Glowing-Dawn Tzeniwe" a middle-aged woman among her peers who gives the Pathfinders a respectful bow.
"And, Noxolo," a female human that gives the group a silent nod.
"Unfortunately, they will not be joining your group but Kreighton will take care of them to teach them the ways of Pathfinder Society. Your group will be joining me." he tells the Pathfinders.
Kreighton, on the other hand, signals the Pathfinders to introduce themselves to the teacher and his students.
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An instructor swap. Interesting...
He watches Kreighton approach the other group of students.
Well, I'm Nikma Odria, and traditionally I have hunted monsters. Since joining the Pathfinder Society I've been exposed to many new specimens outside of my homeland of Nidal. I'm finding it ideal for keeping my skills sharpened.
The students awkwardly receive the pickles from the goblin that are still dripping with brine and taste them. After their brief introduction to one another, Shaine wastes no time getting to work with the Magaambya students, being led toward the direction of the school’s center while Teacher Ot stands before the Pathfinders.
“Thank you all for being ambassadors for the Pathfinder Society. You can call me Teacher Ot. I have been long at work with your Master of Scrolls to have this exchange. While I believe the Pathfinder Society can and has helped many, I know there is always more that we all could do. There are many wonderful values in exploration, reporting, and cooperation, but to take these all further, the Magaambya and myself look toward acts of service.” Takulu briefly looks over at his group of students departing with Shaine — more out of habit than anything — before focusing back on the agents.
“Please, walk with me through Nantambu and let us chat before we begin. I would love to get to know you all better and give you time to better know me. My students will be left in the care of your Master Shaine, so let us waste no time in beginning.” He then follows Kreighton Shaine across a bridge back toward the center of campus, only to turn off onto another path that will lead into the city proper.
Takulu Ot waves to Kreighton Shaine and his students as they part for a day of lessons. He then leads the Pathfinders through the edge of the Magaambya campus and onto the streets of Nantambu, pointing out the various businesses, buildings, and people that make the city and school so vibrant.
“As we walk closer to the center of town and the Magaambya itself, I would love to discuss what all is expected of you today. First, I hope to learn about what makes you who you are and why you are here, if you are willing to share. I also hope to talk about some community service ahead of you. These acts of service are expected of all prospective students, and they perform such duties during their Perquisites before starting lessons. I thank you again for taking the time to be here for this sharing of ideas and methods. I am sure to learn much from observing your methods and interactions today. But please, I have dominated this conversation thus far! Tell me new friends, what are you most excited to accomplish while here in beautiful Nantambu? What is it that drove you to become the Pathfinder Agents you are now? What skills have provided you the most success in your endeavors thus far? I’d love for you to illuminate me with whatever talents you find best define who you are.”
"Or you may have some questions for me that I will try my best to answer." he adds.
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”Mother is a seamstress, and I followed her as thread does a needle”, says Flory, with a dreamy expression. ”That would be my tale all told, if not for the Bargain”
She faces Teacher Ot as she gestures over her open palm, and a simple figurine of a spider appears.
”It’s where I got my gifts, and my friends”, she continues. ”She said I was destined for bigger things, beyond the village, which led me here”
Some more gestures, and the spider glows.
”Weaving spells when danger looms, sewing up my companions when they tear. My knight keeps me safe, and my lady-in-waiting watches my back”
The figurine rises into the air.
”But creation has always been my first love, though rarely demanded on such outings. More often it’s…”
The spider falls to the ground and shatters, the light extinguished.
Takulu listens with intent to those who have shared their thoughts. The teacher does not attempt to pry open the others for answers.
"Each of you have varied but interesting stories. It is only fair that I will share something about myself, I believe. As for my experience, while not from Nantambu, I grew up nearby and the Magaambya gave me many wonderful opportunities, so I now pay that forward. I have a wonderful partner, my wife Niana, an exceptional glass artisan.” Ot’s face softens and he smiles as he speaks about her. “When time allows, we’ve taken to bird watching. There are many lovely places around the city to see them flutter about. My true passion, however, is teaching. It is my mission to make myself available to tutor and aid all students who could be overlooked for any reason. There is knowledge in differences, not weakness, and I hope to educate others of this.”
"As for Nantambu, or Song-Wind City, I hope you don't mind me sharing, there is much to know, but we are a canal city set upon the Vanji. It is the blood of Nantambu flowing to the heart that is our school.” Teacher Ot will trace the path with his staff drawing along the waterway nearby up toward the large towers in the center of town. “There is much trade here as well. If peace is in your heart, all can find comfort and prosperity here, as I have.”
"As for your tasks today, we seek to aid the community in whatever way is needed. Our goal is to make ourselves available with an open mind and heart. Even just listening to someone’s problems is an act of service. That said, you may find yourself pulling a pet-friend from a tree, solving a disagreement between youths, or simply telling stories of your own to those in need of entertainment. All are valid forms of service if we are there aiding others. Even the more particular of situations, such as impending conflict, can often be solved through a path of kindness and understanding if one looks hard enough.”
"But before you help the community, I have a simple request: kindly demonstrate to me your greatest talent." he says.
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Takulu listens with intent to those who have shared their thoughts. The teacher does not attempt to pry open the others for answers.
To show off his greatest talent, Nikma speaks of the rules of war where it pertains to tracking and hunting.
Perhaps our good deed today will be defending citizens of Nantambu!
"Very talented! As I expect from agents of Pathfinder Society. Well, hopefully you can put those talents and skills to good use when you help the community. I will not hold you for long, continue to follow me."
Takulu Ot is visibly impressed with their talents and presents them with a small gemstone worth 10 gp. He then leads the group around a corner in a small section of street market stalls, a small group of townsfolk can be seen gathering near a tree, pulling down fresh fruit. “Early as expected, this group ahead are those who seek your aid. Please deal with their requests one at a time, though you can choose which order you want to tackle them after hearing them. They will also be preparing a feast for you all…if you help enough of them in time today! Your group have 4 hours to get enough work done before dinner. If you are not quick enough, you will still be fed, but the feast will be theirs. A fair price for your services.”
“I leave them in your hands while I attend to some business of my own. Please listen to their needs and aid them in whatever ways you can. I am sure you all will do quite well, your scrollmaster spoke highly of you all! Take care, my friends!”
Takulu Ot takes his leave so that they can work unobserved.