"Of course. I just wanted to hear you say it," Sadiki says teasingly!
Fire-Pot’s Forge is at the bottom of a riverside cliff on the outskirts of Nantambu. The gravelly path winds down the cliff until it fans out into a large open shore, which is spotted with a campfire and a few shoddily built huts. A variety of weapons and alchemical goods sit on display in front of the huts, and beyond is a wide-mouthed cave.
The campfire in the middle of the huts has been quenched recently, smoke rising lazily from the burnt logs. Shelves of full vials and racks of weapons stand near the huts.
Two hulking minotaurs stand outside the huts, their skin scorched and toughened with fire over time. They grunt as you approach. "You come to buy weapons?" one asks.
"Actually, we would like to speak to Fire-Pot Ubanu," Sadiki says. "You see, we are from the Magaambya--"
The minotaurs draw their axes! "The Magaambya! Fire-Pot says you owe him a debt. You will pay in blood!"
"Eep! Was it something I said?" Sadiki squeaks. She summons a crashing wave that batters the minotaurs.
One of them is grievously wounded! He snorts and throws his axe down as he runs off. "Tell the alchemist I quit!" he shouts.
"Coward!" the other one retorts. He snorts and clomps to try to demoralize you before lowering his horns and charging Issi!
Issi's icy blade cuts into the minotaur! The giant snorts and shakes his head. "Bah! Why you gotta hit so hard? The other guy's right, this job ain't worth this!" He, too, throws his axe down and stomps off.
Sadiki moves to lay hands on Issi's wounds.
You can find a lot of useful equipment here, though it’s clear that this equipment is considered the shop’s wares and belong to Ubanu. There are a variety of standard weapons of skilled make but no greater value than normal weapons of their type. The valuable items in the huts include three stone fist elixirs, two moderate juggernaut mutagens, a low‑grade cold iron dogslicer, and three +1 scimitars.
You enter the cave itself. The room’s intense heat emanates from a large pit with a metal pipe rising out of it and into the cave wall. Near the wall, the pipe is outfitted with a large valve. A man stands near the valve, glaring at you angrily.
“You’ve finally come for some vengeance, eh? Well, I’ll have you know that it’s my time for some well-deserved payback! Fire-Pot Ubanu will have what he is owed, even if the price is paid in blood!” he shouts.
"Yes, sir. I believe there has been a large misunderstanding. Perhaps instead of trying to burn us to death, we instead stop and talk like civilized people?" Sadiki adds earnestly.
"You want to talk?" Fire-Pot shouts. "Fine! Then here are my demands: I want the 300 gp that the students of the Magaambya promised to pay for my stonerot solvent! If I don't get my money, I will keep terrorizing the school until it pays up!"
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"I'm sure we can come to an understanding and get you your money." Issi says soothingly. "Two questions if you don't mind, so that we can give a full report to our superiors. What does your stonerot solvent actually do? I assume it can melt stone? That must be an impressive thing you've made! Secondly, could you describe the students? It would help us a lot to ensure that nothing like this happens again if we knew who did it the first time."
“You better believe I remember the names of those dishonest cheats! Oyo and Mtembe, two students in your so-called ‘advanced studies’ classes.” Fire-Pot describes the illusory disguises of the two serpentfolk you encountered in the storeroom weeks ago!
“They wanted a substance that could neutralize and break down powerful acids. They said they were studying some kind of magical acid. They couldn’t even describe it all that well—it was plain they were just ordering it on someone else’s behalf, and I guessed it was for a teacher.
"Why didn’t the school pay me? I tried talking to them, and that got me nothing. I sent my message in flame, and now you’re here!"
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"That explains the situation." Issi says gently. "About two months ago some serpentfolk tried to infiltrate the school using illusionary disguises. It sounds like they are the people who ordered your salve - they weren't actually students and had no ability to promise payment on the Magaambya's behalf but you've been wronged and the school wants to make amends, so please, let us see what we can do for you."
If allowed to leave Issi heads straight back to the school and lays out the whole situation for Janatimo.
"Bah! So how are you going to repay me, then?" Ubanu says angrily.
"Well, is there anything you want besides money?" Sadiki asks.
"Hmph. It’s hard to think of something better than money, but... I’ve got magic in my blood. I always have. I’ve always wondered what it would be like if I could learn to use it—formal education, I mean...”
Janatimo is initially hopeful that Ubanu could take classes at the Magaambya, but a quick search of school records reveals his troublesome application history and explosive temper. For the school to admit him, someone must accept close responsibility for his coursework and behavior, to help ensure that Ubanu keeps his temper under control.
"Hmm. The school won't pay for something ordered through fraud. I'm willing to pay half that amount out of my personal funds, on one condition: Ubanu must come to campus and publicly apologize for his attack on the school and promise to never do anything like that again."
"Esi Djana would be a good fit, if she doesn't have enough on her plate already!" Janatimo says with a grin.
You return to Fire-Pot Ubanu to give him the choice. The man's pride makes it difficult for him to consider apologizing!
"Oh yeah, I'm sure you both will be able to teach each other so much!" Sadiki beams.
"Well, hot dog! I'm an honest-to-goodness Magaambyan!" Fire-Pot says, kicking up his heels in glee! In thanks, the alchemist gives you the best weapon he's ever made--his fulminating spear.
Esi certainly warms to the challenge of keeping Fire-Pot in check. It will be an interesting semester ahead...
***
Once all that hubbub dies down, you seek out Teacher Ahassanu to see what she wants. Her office is on the top floor of the Elephant Museum.
“Welcome, conversants!” Ahassunu says happily, her scaled face breaking into a wide grin. “I’ve been watching your progress. Quite impressive, I say, quite impressive. It reminds me of a group of ancient Mwangi Expanse warriors who defied all expectations when they—oh, you didn’t come here for me to ramble. You want to know what I need from you, yes?
“Well,” she says without pausing for answer, “I have a dear old friend who is a goat herder on the Nantambu outskirts. For an iruxi, she has quite the affinity for those hairy mammals. Do you know who else has an affinity for goats?
“Jungle drakes,” she says without pause. “My friend needs help to stop some of these creatures from grazing on her livestock. I’m happy to give you directions when you’re ready to go.”
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"Sure..." Issi replies. "We can... do that? Can you tell us anything about them first?"
As the sisters head out to meet the goat herder Issi is rolling her eyes so hard that Sadiki can practically hear them. "Go to magic school, learn wonderful spells." She grouses. "Fix buildings. Herd goats. Get oozes out of carnivorous plants! I mean, really?!"
Ahassunu doesn't have much to add, but insists her friend can tell you more. When asked for the friend's name, Ahassunu first looks puzzled, insisting she’s already given it, but then explains (again, in her recollection) that her friend is Ibisu. In any case, she provides directions to Ibisu’s fields, which are southwest of Nantambu.
"We're getting all the odd jobs because they like us the most!" Sadiki says. "I'm sure things will be more fun later on."
When you head to Ibisu’s fields, you spot an elderly iruxi with lime-green skin moving deliberately through a flock of several dozen goats. It’s clear she’s moving slowly not due to the aches or pains of old age, as she’s quite agile, but out of concern for her goats—she nudges them gently out of her way with her staff as she walks. She’s plainly pleased to see you.
After making introductions, Ibisu tells you her story:
“Nantambu is a living, changing city. Nothing ever remains the same for too long! But sometimes that change brings pain. Nearby there are a male and female jungle drake. I could watch them fly in the skies all day long, courting each other.
“And I would... except that they’ve developed a taste for my goats, as I’m sure Ahassunu told you. I need these goats for my livelihood. I tried to speak to a friend of a friend, Magistrate-Mayor Asanda, but he was not nearly as approachable as I was led to believe. Everyone else I try to talk to reminds me that jungle drakes are cruel and scheming monsters and wants to turn them into pelts or trophies. I don’t want that—I just want them moved! They have eggs, and moving the eggs means the drakes will follow. No matter how mean they are, they want what’s best for their children, just as we all do. I’ve already found distant place where they could live comfortably, if I could get them there.
“That’s where you come in.”
Ibisu asks you to help her catch the drakes. She has a wagon and some very sturdy collapsible cages from Oba Eze. Ibisu has already located the drakes’ nest, which is near a pretty waterfall in the jungle. She also provides a map on goatskin parchment showing a new, distant location for the drakes’ release, about a day’s travel further from the city. Before sending you out, Ibisu reminds you that the drakes aren’t just animals and that killing them is unacceptable.
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"I'll try talking with them..." Issi suggests. "I learned draconic for a reason after all."
With that plan in mind, once they reach the vicinity of the nest, Issi marches straight towards it, making no attempt to hide her presence.
"Hello, drakes. We have a new place for you to live. If you stay here someone is going to try to kill you, and your eggs."
The drakes’ nest perches near the top of a waterfall rising thirty feet high. The waterfall and river are surrounded on all sides by lush vegetation.
You spot the drakes flying above the canopy of the trees, but they quickly dive down to protect their eggs as you draw near. They cock their heads as Issi speaks their language.
"We are not scared. We kill any who try to kill us!" one of the drakes hisses.
"What would you have us do?" the other asks, sizing the magus up as if considering making her a snack.
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"Take your nest and your eggs further from the city. I know mighty drakes like you could kill hunters, but then more would come, with magic and you might be overwhelmed or trapped while they destroy your eggs." Issi says, trying to pander to the drakes ego's.
"I know a fine spot in the jungle. With a great and beautiful waterfall, fine hunting. A place where you can rule a great territory without humans interfering."
The drakes converse with one another for a while. Eventually, they turn back. "Very well. Show us this new place and we will comply."
Once the drakes are settled in their new home, you return to Ibisu. She is incredibly pleased and gives you a keepsake that she has had for some time: a bag of cats!
You now have some free time again to attend to your studies...
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"Guess I'm destined to be the crazy cat lady." Issi says with a slightly forced smile, although she does stroke the bag gently and her smile softens when it purrs back.
Since Issi is well ahead in her studies, she turns her attentions to something that has been troubling her. Magistrate-Mayor Asanda. Everything she has heard about him suggests a good man who is concerned for Nantambu. But equally all she ever hears now is that he has changed, is too concerned with other things.
The first thing she does is to visit his house, interested to see if it has suffered from flooding the way Amaechi seemed to think.
Sadiki applies herself more this time around, advancing in rank among the Emerald Boughs.
***
When Issi brings her concerns about the Magistrate-Mayor to Janatimo, the half-elf nods sagely. "It is a delicate situation, politically. The Magaambya cannot be seen taking direct action against the government of Nantambu. Allow me to muse on the matter a bit longer before you head to Asanda's manor.
"In the meantime, I believe the time is right to confront this new crime boss we've been hearing a lot about: Froglegs. She’s mostly kept to the shadows, making people afraid to even say her name for fear of being silenced.
“The more violent her crimes become, however, the more people are willing to set aside their anxiety and speak out about her. For the first time, we have a good lead on where Froglegs can be found. We know why she’s been so hard to find in Nantambu: she’s not in Nantambu. Instead, she’s just outside the city, in a swampy, unpleasant area where the city sewers deposit waste. It’s not a place people want to go, which seems to have suited Froglegs well. If we wait much longer, she may relocate—even if she doesn’t, other people will suffer from her reign of crime. We must act.”
Janatimo gives a wide smile. “I say we, but I really mean you, conversants. I think you are ready for this task. I need you to arrest Forglegs."
Janatimo gives you some supplies that might come in useful: a set of average manacles, two moderate healing potions, and a moderate antiplague for each of you. He also gives each of you a simple necklace containing a lump of scented wax, which should help offset the smell of the unpleasant environment.
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"So we're acting instead of the Chime-Ringers here?" Issi asks, curious and a little confused. "How is this vigilante justice permitted but asking about the Magistrate-Mayor isn't? Froglegs hasn't harmed any students that I'm aware of but has harmed the people of the city a lot, but we investigate one and not the other. Forgive me Teacher but this seems... wrong."
"The Chime‑Ringers are too busy chasing petty criminals, like some of the ones you’ve encountered. They refuse to see the grander story unfolding behind their backs. Magistrate-Mayor Asanda remains too obsessed with repairing his flooded mansion to provide the necessary direction... although I’d have thought that work would have been finished by now. With luck, we will learn the truth of that story soon enough.
"Besides, you’ve run into Froglegs’s schemes at least once, and you’ve proved you are flexible and tough. Performing this task will teach you more about yourselves, too!"
"You know what happens to a frog that gets hit by lightning? The same thing that happens to anything else!" Sadiki quips. "Seriously, though, gripplis don't have any innate resistances or anything. They like to hop around a lot, so be prepared to be mobile." She tugs on old hiking boots and secures her drab shirt and trousers. "Let's go!"
***
This swampy area outside the city is near one of Nantambu’s sewer outlets. On the rainiest days, water sluices through the area, but today the stench is barely tolerable, and the brown-green water looks dangerous to stand in. Fortunately, the paths are well used and maintained, which makes navigating the fetid swamp easier.
Two ramshackle huts stand on small islands in the muck, connected by footbridges. To the east, a low hill rises up, on which is perched a stone-and-wood building.
"How should we do this?" Sadiki asks. "Stealth and subterfuge or swords out?"
Sadiki casts invisibility on herself and her sister as they approach the first hut. This ramshackle hovel built from scraps of metal and wood seems appropriate given the environment. A pair of gripplis are inside the hut, counting coins and making conversation.
Though unseen, Issi's heavy footfalls attract the criminals' attention. "Hear that? Somone's here!" croaks one of the gripplis!
"Well, so much for stealth!" Sadiki says, blasting all three foes with a crashing wave!
The staff-wielding grippli takes the wave full force! Croaking angrily, she casts a shield spell, then tries to paralyze Sadiki. The other grippli rushes forward to stab the sorceress with her sword!
Sadiki locks up, paralyzed for a few moments! Issi fails to land a good hit on the grippli thug.
The spellcaster tries to blind Issi, while the thug stabs Sadiki before she can recover!
Already weakened from Sadiki's wave spell, Issi's attack drops the grippli thug! Sadiki recovers from the paralysis and blasts the other grippli with water! The blast skips off its magical shield!
The grippli maintains its shield and then casts another spell, vomiting a swarm of biting flies at the sisters!
Sadiki avoids the worst of the bugs, but she is still irritated as well. "Me, too!" she chimes in as she tries again to blast the grippli. She succeeds, but the caster blocks some of the impact with her magical shield. The shield shatters.
The grippli swings her staff at Issi, somehow landing two hits, one of which is critical!
The grippli croaks, spasms, and falls!
The strongbox here is currently unlocked and contains 23 gp, 13 sp, 10 cp, and a singing muse.
”Ouch! Let’s fall back and heal before we continue,” Sadiki suggests.
You fall back to a safe location. Sadiki spends twenty minutes tending to the pair of you, patching up the worst of your injuries.
After that, you return to the swampy hideout and cross the footbridge past the first hut. As you navigate the small central island, though, a large crocodile bursts out of the water!
Its jaws snap closed near Issi, then it attacks again, biting her!
Issi slashes and burns the crocodile, while Sadiki blasts it back with pressurized water. The animal grunts and steps back up to bite again, but Issi manages to dodge twice!
Issi slashes and Sadiki blasts with water, and the crocodile falls! Sadiki takes a moment to lay hands on her sister as they press on.
You continue on, defeating a small group of weaker grippli in the second hut, then cross the bridge to the final building. This octagonal house stands about twenty feet high and is built from stone and fine wood. All windows are boarded up and its only door has been reinforced with metal plates.
The interior contains a cozy hammock, several crates of food and stolen goods, and a full-length mirror on one wall.
A female grippli suddenly leaps out of hiding from behind the crates! She wields a club sudded with vicious-looking knobs of obsidian and wrapped in cloth for a better grip. The grippli swings the club, which unleashes a ghastly wail!
Frightened by the club's magic, Sadiki misses with her water blast, even with a wish for luck. Issi lands a good hit, though.
Froglegs tumbles through Issi's legs. As she does, her tongue lashes out, snaring Issi's leg and yanking her off her feet. The grippli comes up from the roll, dropping her club and drawing twin daggers before driving them into Issi's chest! Sadiki's veil fails to protect her sister.