Rib's Notes #1

So after weeks of travel down the rivers, watching the scrubland and savannah give way to lush forests, I finally made it: the city of Nantambu, home of the Magaambya. I’ve fought, coerced, begged, sweet-talked, and done more than a few things I’m not too proud of to cross the Expanse. But I’m here now, I can finally start to learn the Craft for real.
While she was alive, Nanna had told be about the towns and cities she’d travelled to in her youth, how many people there were, how they used these weird metal tokens called money to get what they want. I didn’t have any when I fled: I was only able to grab my weapons and armour, the charms Nanna had left me, and her skull. At least with part of her near me we could still talk. I’d have never made it without her guidance.
The Magaambya was easy enough to find, sitting there right in the middle of the city. Just had to follow my nose to get there, but bumping into way too many people along the way. How do they all manage to get around, everyone busy trying to get somewhere else? It was starting to rain heavily by the time I got there, and I didn’t know what I’d need to do to join: best one of their current students in combat? Cast a spell? I could probably handle the former, but no idea about the latter. I was worried, but Nanna told me not to fear: she knew this place.
New students were led to a large tent where Teacher Ot welcomed us. We’re a group of four including myself. There’s Meera, a female Amuran who has a way with animals and command over primal magic. Seems kind of reserved, apparently she’s a local girl who’s been studying under Teacher Ot for a while already. Faran, a male Elf who carries himself in a way that would have gotten any male in my tribe in trouble. Apparently a lot of his family also came to study here; also knows how to wield a blade and cast arcane spells, so can definitely handle himself. Makes it all the stranger how easily shocked he is, or maybe that’s just city folk in general? Then there’s Matuas, a Human male: his powers over wood and plants are some sort of blessing. The way he can make food grow, you’d think his tribe would want to make use of him; but they sent him away to study here, to learn to “control” his gift. He’s pretty timid, and I don’t know if he’s ever actually had to fight before; but I suppose this is a different world: people don’t reach for a weapon or bare their fangs as a first response to conflict. (I wonder if I should add how each of them smells to me?)
Teacher Ot and Nanna seemed to get along well, he’s the only other person she’s spoken to since she died, and managed to convince him to let me try out for the academy. After we passed our tests, each of us was granted a cantrip from the Craft, the first one I’ve ever learned! I’m now able to harness the light of Nanna’s skull and grant some semblance of it to others! One of the more experienced students, Esi Djana, then showed us around where we’ll be living and introduced us to the other students. There was one who really struck me: Anchor Root a fellow Kholo, female, mature but tiny, about the size of a halfling, and so timid. I’ve never encountered a female like that before, I think I might have even startled her. I’ve never met any female like her. Weird.
After we got settled in our rooms, I decided to take a bath. It had been a long journey, and, honestly, I think even my classmates’ noses were going to start complaining soon. While I was soaking, I did smell something else though: something fushty. Someone had gone and hidden some plates covered in a weird kind of mould under one of the floor tiles. It didn’t look advisable to eat, and that’s coming from a Kholo of the Shattered Peaks. Before I could do anything else, I heard shouts from the other bath: people were in danger. I sprinted as fast as I could back to my room to grab my khopesh and Nanna, then to the other bath. In hindsight that wasn’t the best idea: those tiles could have been slippery, and who knows what could have happened there. (Cue alternate universe where Rib fails his reflex save, slips and careens into the bath) In any case, we were able to defeat the animated towels. That’s when Faran started acting all weird: like he’d never been ambushed at a time like this before, and started pushing a towel at me even though I was already mostly dried-off. Dunno if this is an Elf thing, or a city thing? It's not like I had time to get my armour on. Turns out that the one he gave me had also become enchanted, seems to give my blows a bit more oomph, I think I’ll keep it!
Our first task was to acquire some special rare chicks. Apparently the traders who sell them aren’t on best terms with the academy, so as newcomers we could try and acquire them without ruffling any feathers. An effective way to get around the problem: I like it. We were given some of those golden coins, and told to get as many as we could, but were warned that they would be expensive. Faran and I were able to ask around and find out where a trader selling these special chickens could be found, and we were able to barter with her to trade our coins for all of the chicks she had. That felt like a good deal, I think? Meera knew how fragile the chicks could be, so kept them warm as we made our way back to the academy. I know it’s nothing like what life was like back in the east; but a pack of three males and only one female, as equals, were all given magic and sent out on a hunt (of sorts), and returned with spoils acquired from a rival. Albeit no weapons were drawn or blood spilled, but I feel that’s this isn’t that kind of place. Later that evening we asked around about those plates with mould on them under the tile in the bathroom, but no one admitted to having put them there. The next day, they were gone.