Gazetteer
Magaambya Campus¶
Locations¶
1. Speaker's Stage¶
The west end of the island upon which the Magaambya was built extends into the canal on an artificial island. Several large stone basins form a ring around a grand stage on top of this artificial island, magically illuminating it. The Speaker’s Stage was designed as a place where representatives of the school could make pronouncements to Nantambu, but just as often, Magaambya students use it to put on concerts, plays, or other performances. By tradition, these performances must always be free of charge, and they’re quite popular in Nantambu, even the more amateurish ones.
2. Welcome Walk¶
The place you first met Takalu Ot.
3. Tree Stump Library¶
The old abandoned library infested with gremlins and silverfish. It had lost books that Ot asked you to retrieve.
4. Powderpile¶
Affectionately named “the Powderpile” due to its large collection of magical powders, the student supply store is run by a diligent kobold named Xhokan. Xhokan’s store sells many common items the heroes might need: all adventuring gear; alchemical items, held items, and worn items up to 3rd level; oils, potions, scrolls, and wands up to 5th level; and staves up to 6th level. He can recommend merchants in Nantambu for other common items the heroes might want.
5. Sparring Field¶
6. Leshy Gardens¶
The wild and overgrown realm of the leshies. They work on their MECHA-LESHIES here. It's top secret!
7. Spire Dorm¶
Your dowm building (see below)
8. Sun Dorm¶
The preppy dorm full of older students.
9. Dining Hall¶
Students eat free! Open sunrise to 2 hours before sunset.
10. Verdant House¶
11. Archorn Library¶
Archhorn Library is carved from a massive, tilted slab of granite. Its curved shape is evocative of a horn laid upon its side. The windowless facade is carved with artistic scrollwork rendered from the languages of Garund. At the building's top shines a mirrored dome that must contain a planetarium.
Inside, the first level is comprised of a maze of smaller collections, decorated with colorful frescoes made by local artists and often featuring Old Mage Jatembe himself and his Ten Magic Warriors; they are pictured spreading knowledge and teaching rather than fighting battles. The study rooms are full of old mahogany desks, overstuffed chairs, and the smell of old and well-loved books. The cavernous main hall on the second floor is ten levels high, filled with books from floor to ceiling and lit with skylights. Gracefully winding stairways carved from green-veined marble wind like ivy along the shelves. Floating platforms built of glass and mithral are available to any who need assistance reaching the heights.
There are not only students and visiting scholars here, there are many locals about — farmers, merchants, businesspeople make use of the library's resources and free classes. Knowledge shared here, for one and all.
The building' was designed by the Magic Warrior White Bulll; while the horn shape is a play on her own spiritual face, it is also evocative of the circular nature of all knowledge.The mirrored dome, which reflects natural sun and moon light, represents the Magaambya's mission to shine a light over all the world. White Bull herself was an Iruxi known for several prominent achievements in architecture, including this library.
12. The Between¶
13. Elephant Museum¶
14. Warden House¶
Where Kurshkin was kept, and from where she broke out.
15. Tireless Hall¶
16. Heron Archives¶
17. Indigo Hall¶
18. Shifting Greenhouse¶
19. Whistle Tower¶
20. The Circle¶
A wide glass dome held aloft by pillars of stone, wood, flame, water, air, ice, light, and electricity. Legends say that after Old-Mage Jatembe had gathered the Ten Magic Warriors and defeated his most pressing foes, he turned his attention toward helping his peoples. In the small village of Nantambu, he and Black Heron placed wooden benches in a clearing, so that any who came to listen could sit and be comfortable. When the monsoon season came — he gestures up at the sky — they raised a glass dome and held it aloft with the natural elements, so the people would be sheltered while they learned. Students from far and wide came to seek their wisdom.
This was the place Ot gave you your tests.
Spire Dorm¶
Locations¶
1, Soaring Spire¶
An anti-gravity pillar that students use to get to the rooftop of hang-glide from. no one knows that its original purpose was.
2. All-Seeing Solutions¶
A mask of nethys in the wall. Put in a silver and maybe it will give you the answer you seek. Used by desperate students to get help on schoolwork, especially haibram. Ignaci made it.
3. Secret hatch¶
Down to the tunnels! You placed gremlin bells there to ward away malicious pugwampi.
4. Baths¶
Magic keeps the water in these large baths fresh and warm. The antechamber to the south serves as a washing and changing room but has informally turned into a laundry. There are just about always piles of laundry stacked in these locations. The East laundry is inhabited by friendly Spellskeins who like to share the territory with students they are familiar with.
5. Toilets¶
6. Frog Pond¶
Mariama is convinced the place is cursed, because the frogs torment her and follow her around. Chimwemwe, however, isn;t so sure and thinks it might be the scents she wears.
7. Anchor Root's Room¶
Anchor Root’s room is mostly neat, save for the occasional dried chicken dropping. Stacks of small, cleaned animal bones sit in the corners, and several large tubs serve as homes to her collection of pet fruit beetles, many of which are the size of a human fist.
8. Esi's Room¶
This room is crammed to the brim with hiking and sports sticks, cut pieces of leather, carving supplies, book glue, parchment, stray books, and half‑done sewing projects.
9. Gaming Room¶
Games of all kinds, from wooden board games to dart boards and hoops, have been piled high in this room. There's a large table in the center kept clear. Everything appears impeccably organized with not even a speck of dust or mud on anything.
10. Chizire's Room¶
This room most notably features a fully functional moonshine still. Chizire happily shares his recent brewing projects with anyone who happens to pass by, regardless of whether they’re interested. Despite this contraption taking up most of his room’s free space, Chizire also keeps a few shade‑loving plants from Kibwe in pots.
11. Haibram's Room¶
After losing his large room to Mariama in a card game, Haibram remained true to his word and moved into this smaller chamber—clearly, he’s more sore about losing than about the smaller accommodations. Haibram has an impressive collection of weapons, both real and fake, but his most impressive possession is a pair of cloth and reed dragon wings big enough for flight.
12. Wisp's Room¶
13. Noxolo's Room¶
This room contains a large collection of dance outfits, several small chests of medical supplies, and a tall jug of water Noxolo keeps on hand as an emergency fire extinguisher. Almost all of the room’s furniture and her possessions have been crammed against the walls of the room, leaving a large amount of clear floor space at the center for dancing. She has a magical dance floor installed.
14. Alrinkiri's Room¶
15. Mariama's Room¶
This room formerly belonged to Haibram, but the dwarf wagered it in a high‑stakes card game against Mariama and lost. Mariama’s room is filled with wooden practice weapons, old scrolls, impressive but magically inert knickknacks, and a stuffed lizard toy. The room also smells heavily of narcotics. Her familiar, a fat monitor lizard named Kedu, is usually asleep near the window.
16. Tzeniwe's Room¶
Due to her two children, Tzeniwe received the largest dorm room, which the other residents have grudgingly admitted is fair and thus off‑limits from various student gambits. As one might expect from the presence of two rambunctious spiderlings, the room looks messy with toys, webs, and weaving projects stuck to various walls and the ceiling.
17. Ignaci & Okoro's Room¶
Glass alchemy equipment primarily occupies the room, scattered across the extra chest, desk, and bookshelf that Ignaci misappropriated from elsewhere on campus. Ignaci sells common alchemical elixirs of 3rd level or less and alchemical tools of 4th level or less; he has a one in four chance of having something specific the heroes ask about right on hand. If he makes bombs or poisons, he certainly doesn’t admit to it.
18. Empty Room¶
19. Soomdevi's Room¶
20. Akoril's Room¶
Akoril aligns his room's furniture to the magical flow of the area.
21. Chimwemwe's Room¶
Chimwemwe is raising crickets too — keep them away from Lucky Bones!
22. Lounge¶
Students gather here in the common area to have parties and hang out.
City of Nantambu¶
The Song-Wind City¶
Nantambu is a shining jewel of the Mwangi Expanse nestled in a bend of the Vanji River. Crisscrossed by canals and adorned with tinkling glass charms on every window and door, it’s a fitting home for the Magaambya, the oldest and most prestigious school of arcane magic on Golarion. Its location on the Vanji makes it a hub both for ships sailing upriver from the sea and caravans making their way through the surrounding jungles.
The smells of rich spices and rare woods fill the city’s open-air markets, while glassmakers and cloth merchants display a riotous array of colors and designs. The city’s population is comprised mostly of humans, with most of them being Zenj, followed by about half as many Bonuwat and a few Mauxi. The city is also home to communities of Ekujae elves, gnolls, halflings, lizardfolk, and catfolk.
Founded by Old-Mage Jatembe to be a seat of learning, the city has evolved over the millennia into a democratic haven. The Magaambya’s presence enhances the city’s prestige and contributes to the safety and stability of its peoples. Nantambu maintains peace with its neighbors through diplomatically negotiated treaties and requires no standing army to protect itself. Despite this, no attack against the city has ever prevailedthe Magaambya‘s Tempest-Sun Mages have never let any foe within 20 miles of the city. As such, the city houses few soldiers, and most of its inhabitants devote their time to the arts, principally glassmaking and wood crafting. An elected council governs the city, and any citizen old enough can cast a ballot or run for office themselves.
Notable Locations¶
Boathouse¶
A haunted boathouse. Here they maintain the city's many boats and ships. It's where the rowing club meets.
Oba’s Wondrous Creatures¶
They had a petting zoo, and Wisps learned that the griffons were underfed.
Folklore¶
Ibex’s Harvest¶
In the time of regrowth after the skies turned dark, a warrior turned from fighting to tend the land. The warrior took one of their spears and used it to dig holes in the earth, placing a plantain seed into each. With their other spear, the warrior carved a channel from a nearby river, allowing water to nourish the seeds. Long the warrior toiled until their field was complete. This warrior’s name was Ibex.
Ibex worked hard in the field, and when a season had passed, the field flourished with ripe plantains, each as gold as Ibex’s mask. The warrior cut down each bunch with their twin spears and parceled them out for each village under their protection. When they completed the task, two plantains were left, and Ibex went to the gate in front of their field. “I have food left over! If there are any bellies that need filling, come, and I shall divide what’s left.” Two creatures stepped forth: great Hippo lumbered from the river, and tiny Ant skittered from the forest.
“Kind Ibex, the rivers have been empty. I would ask for a plantain to survive,” Hippo asked politely.
“Strong Ibex, little has been left on the ground for me to scavenge. It would be just of you to give me a plantain to survive,” Ant demanded confidently.
Ibex thought long and hard. There were two creatures before them, and two plantains. There was only one fair solution. “You may each have one, then. Go and be well.” And Hippo returned to the river, cradling her single plantain in her large hands, while Ant returned to the forest, dragging his plantain behind him on a leaf with all his might.
Ibex returned to tend their field once more. This time, they placed rocks around the outside of the field to shore it up, and they worked manure and charcoal through the soil to enrich it. Another season passed, and the harvest was more bountiful than beforethere was more than enough food to go around for all the villages, and a dozen plantains were left over. Ibex returned to the gate, and once more called out, “I have food left over! If there are any bellies that need filling, come, and I shall divide what’s left.” As before, Hippo and Ant came forth, but this time, Hippo was smaller, and Ant came not as one individual, but as a swarm of eleven.
“Kind Ibex, I thank you for your generosity. Though my stomach growled through the last season, I feel I need only a single plantain, as before.”
“Strong Ibex, I have grown more numerous. As I now have eleven bellies, it would be only fair for me to receive eleven plantains.”
Ibex had a slight doubt, but they thought hard. There were twelve creatures before them, and twelve plantains. There was only one fair solution. “Hippo, as there’s one of you, you will have one plantain. Ant, as there are eleven of you, you will have eleven. Go, and be well.” And Hippo returned to the river thanking Ibex, swooning a bit from hunger as she carried her plantain, while Ant formed a line, carrying each plantain back to the forest in a chain as drool dripped from his lips.
Ibex returned to their field. Surely, they thought, if they could simply grow more, there would be enough to give everyone an equal share. Ibex toiled harder than they ever had. They sang to the wind, and they sculpted a sphere of light above the field to shine on days the sun could not. Ibex toiled and toiled, and when the season had passed, their field shone gold as far as the eye could see. Ibex sighed in relief after they had passed out the harvest to their villages, as they saw that countless plantains remained. Surely, this time, it would be enough. They returned to the gate and called out, and they dismayed to see that Hippo came from the river, no bigger than a dog, and Ant came in a swarm of thousands, buzzing and biting with great hunger.
“Kind Ibex, I’ve grown leaner over these few seasons. I think a single plantain is all I might need.”
“Strong Ibex, there are many thousands of me now, and my hunger is vast. As before, you should give one plantain to Hippo, and one for each of me.”
Ibex looked at Hippo with her grumbling stomach and Ant with his many mouths, thinking something must be amiss. They turned to their field for advice. “What should I do? I’ve given all I can, and I’ve given it as fairly as I can.” The field spoke to Ibex. “Ibex, you’ve tended to me well, but in trying to be fair, you’ve given Hippo less than she needs, and Ant has grown entitled and ravenous. With each season, these differences have only become more pronounced. You must think not about what seems fair, but what actually is.” Ibex thanked the field for its wisdom and returned to the gate.
“Hippo, I apologize. I’ve given you less than you need for many seasons now. Ant, for many seasons now, you have had more than you need. Please allow Hippo to take what she requires of the harvest, and you’re welcome to the rest.”
Ant’s greed turned to indignant rage. He gathered himself into a column towering over Ibex, Hippo, and the field. “If you will not give me what I need from your harvest, I shall eat you instead!” he roared, but in that moment, Ibex showed why they were first and foremost a warrior. They struck at the river with their spears, carving a second channel in the earth that washed Ant away until he was a single insect once more. Ant scuttled back into the forest, and Ibex threw a plantain after him, before allowing Hippo take as much as she needed.
In time, Hippo returned to her normal size and then lived healthily, starting a family of her own. Ibex kept an eye out for Ant, who continued to skitter around seeking more than he needed, his numbers swelling from time to time. But above all else, Ibex remembered to consider not just what seemed fair, but what was.
The Three Anadi¶
As told by Learned One Janatimo.
After its founding, Nantambu became known as a place of shared learning and tolerance for all those willing to live, learn, and work together. This reputation, and rumors of an anadi hidden among the Magic Warriors, drew the attention of the anadi people."
"Now, in the centuries before this, anadis had approached cities — many of which are now lost to history — seeking only to learn and trade. Sadly, they were driven off by the instinctive arachnophobia of many of those sapient creatures. The anadi people refused to give up. They devoted centuries to changing their forms to evoke less fear, and with the Magaambya accepting iruxi and gnoll petitioners, their hopes rose."
"A trio of anadi spellcasters sought admission to the Magaambya, and they quickly earned the respect of all with their skill and dedication. On the eve of their formal acceptance as teachers, they asked to speak with Jade Feather in private. Here, they revealed their other forms."
"Jade Feather overcame her initial alarm to say that they would be welcome regardless of their shape. The anadi Dappled Dancer countered that, while some would be willing to overlook a fearsome appearance to see the well-meaning heart within, not all would, and the anadi had lost many loved ones who had misjudged their welcome."
"Dappled Dancer asked Jade Feather to be discreet regarding their other forms and to work with the anadi to make the world a safer place to reveal themselves. Despite her beliefs that all knowledge should be shared, Jade Feather realized that revealing the anadis’ nature could put them in danger, and she agreed to keep their secret."
Janatimo pauses. "Now, I will tell you a secret. It is not one that many know We, the Magaambya’s teachers, have quietly spread stories of Grandmother Spider and helpful spirits disguised as spiders for millennia. We have always accepted anadi students. We hope that one day they’ll feel safe enough to step out of the shadows, and live free in whichever form they choose."
The Four Hunters¶
Once, four great hunters roamed the highlands. Each was equally skilled in mind, body, and every hunting art — but differed in disposition. The four were so equalliy matched that they came to be known just by the region they roamed: West, North, East, and South. They differed in only small ways, which we shall get to in a moment.
Each year, the four hunters would come together in a contest, to see who could first track down and capture a creature, and each year, the contest would end the same way: as all four were equally skilled, they would always each track down the creature at the exact same time, and the contest would be a draw. So long did this go on that the hunters felt disheartened by the contest. After all, if it ended the same way each time, how would they ever grow?
This year, the hunters gathered and made camp as they often did, and while they were deciding what they’d hunt—Zebra, Antelope, or perhaps even Crocodile—a star fell in the distance. One hunter (it does not matter which) turned to the others and said, “My fellows, I have seen the perfect quarry: that star falling in the distance! The one to capture it first shall be the champion of our contest.” The other hunters agreed, and the four raced for the horizon.
The hunters soon came to a raging river, as wide across as four villages and treacherous in its churning. All four would be able to cross, though it would tax their strength to the very limit. Halfway through the crossing, West was swept back to the river’s bank, for she was overly competitive. She had pushed herself to beat the other hunters, charging ahead through the river, and she had run out of strength halfway. Only three hunters continued on.
They soon came to a cliff, one that stretched so high that its top melded into the clouds. North took one look at the cliff and gave up, for he was overly cautious. Tired from the long swim, he feared tackling such a challenging climb and the unknown dangers ahead with anything less than his full strength. He sat down by the foot of the cliff in defeat. Only two hunters continued.
East and South reached the top of the cliff to see a thick jungle in front of them, deafening in its screaming and howling, and beyond it, a shine of gold against the clouds. East charged ahead into the jungle, for East was overly optimistic. She knew her strength was waning from the swim and the climb, and yet she thought she could keep going just a little bit longer, pushing through this one last challenge. She was wrong. The beasts of the jungle tore at her flesh, and the trees screamed vicious words to wound her heart. Without the strength to defend herself, East fled the jungle, injured in both mind and body.
While East rushed ahead, South rested, for he was wise and knew his limits. Rather than press on or give up altogether, South gathered his strength, knowing that only when he restored himself could he take on another challenge. As East stumbled from the jungle, South charged in, his feet steady, his endurance restored. The beasts’ claws and fangs could not break his shield, and the trees’ insults and invectives could not break his spirit. South fought on, until he crossed to the other side.
Passing a ring of stone statues, South found himself in a beautiful city, the streets paved with gold and its people welcoming. He walked through its golden streets until he found a crowd gathering around the fallen star. “We have no need for this strange stone,” they said. “You are welcome to take it with you, but you must tell no one of what you have seen here.” The townspeople pressed the star into South’s hand and a sweet drink to his lips that would make him forget the way to their city, and South took his leave, the champion of the hunters’ contest.
South left the golden city, and as he crossed its borders, its location faded from his mind, but South had pressed his memories of the city into the star, just as the townspeople had pressed the drink of forgetfulness to his lips. He collected East, North, and West as he made his way back to their camp, breaking off a piece of the star for each to wear as a medal. Even if South’s memories of the city remained within the star’s fragments, the lesson that had helped him get ther remained in all the hunters’ hearts for all their days after.