Rib's Notes #6

No time for moping, we have a major infestation problem to solve. It turns out that these vermin have been burrowing under the Magaambya and through its walls, with a whole warren of tunnels underneath our very feet! I guess that explains how these creatures were able to appear all around the campus, and attack us in the central hall as we finished the ceremony. Each group of students has been assigned to explore part of the complex, with the more experienced faculty on standby to assist and explore further if necessary. Makes sense: you’d want to devote your more valuable combatants only when you know that it’s necessary.
The tunnels definitely communicate with each other, as we ran into another team of students who had entered from a different point. Ignaci was among them, and had a bad allergic reaction to a giant bee sting. I don’t know much about medicine, but I could tell that the rest of the group were panicking, and unless they got their act together things were going to get worse. I know I’m big (for a male) and sharp teeth tend to get people’s attention, but I don’t like having to bark orders at people. Gods above and below, I’m in danger of turning into my mother. Fortunately with assistance from our team and me getting theirs to snap our of their panic, we were able to rescue Ignaci. I guess if the situation calls for it…at least I didn’t just…stand around at a loss for what to do…
What the situation didn’t call for was Matuas carelessly triggering a bunch of booby-trapped carcasses with one of his elemental blasts. I let him know that if he’d pulled a stunt like that with my tribe, a beating would be the very least he’d receive. Either way, there’s more than giant bugs down here: something intelligent and experienced with tools had to have set those traps.
Also, turns out that Matuas only looks like a human because that’s how he wanted to present himself. During one of the fights, he lost consciousness and reverted to his “true” form: that of a very large spider. He’s one of the Anadi folk it turns out, and I have to admit I was a bit ashamed that he didn’t feel comfortable sharing that with us, particularly as the Kholo known to his people are said to eat those like him. I’m sure we’ll have the chance to talk more about it later, but I made it clear that my tribe had no ill will towards the Anadi. Our quarrels are mostly with those who create undead – complete waste of perfectly good meat. There’s something about that magic that just makes it taste foul.
We came across a strange, quite possibly fey creature with a giant tsetse fly. I can’t remember much of the fight, as it took me down with one swing of that hideous pick it wielded. I’m starting to think my khopesh might be cursed. I have to remember it wasn’t originally mine, after all…
We’ll continue exploring after I’ve had my wounds seen to.