Culuril's Strixhaven Adventure

(Is everyone other than Chierhy wearing school uniforms?)

(OOC - I would say Daxle and Naevyn are not. Kadyr is in his uniform.  As is Shuvadri.)

In the morning, Naevyn was also in the lounge when Shin had returned to deliver his tale.  "You say this creature sub-divided? Like right before your eyes? That's so interesting." He seems very intrigued. 

Shuvadri is also there to hear of this adventure. "This sounds very dangerous. Are you sure you are alright? We should probably get you checked out. Are you sure it didn't touch you at all?  The others also?"  She had stepped closer, even as Chierhy was reacting to the information. 

"Yes. almost as if it was a magical effect, the creature appeared to self-replicate in response to my cantrip, form a swarm of smaller selves.  Neither I, nor Guardok, Rain in Summer and Pinky-toe were harmed by it, though it was a close thing.  Nor did we touch it.  My bruises are from non-lethal blows delivered by Guardok during our sparring - in truth, he could have knocked me out cold had he employed his full force."

The goblin glances at Shuvadri, Chierhy and Kadyr in their proper uniforms and groans audibly.  He knows he should change out of his slightly sweaty clothes, but during his recent adventuring days, he has grown accustomed to spending a week or more in the same clothes, only occasionally taking time to wash them.  While his hygiene has been much better since arriving in Strixhaven, he does not look eager to follow suit with the uniform.

"Shuvadri... may I ask, are uniforms... mandatory?"  As Shin asks almost plaintively, Pinky-toe pauses her preening on his shoulder, appearing amused.

Shuvadri's head swivels just a bit as she seems to take in all of those not wearing uniforms. "School uniforms are a sign of your prestigious appointment as a student of Strixhaven University. It is seen as an appropriate identifying mark of those attending the school. Of course, there is no formal requirement to wear uniforms. Though I will note that there are cases where some professors will expect more formal apparel in the form of an appropriate uniform." 

She seemed to have picked her words carefully, but the plain meaning of her words is clear that uniforms are not required.  

Chierhy is holding her tongue at the moment as she recalls the prior night when, after accompanying Aspen back to Cloudblower Hall to find Arinchu, she returned, alone, to the tavern. On the way, there had been rustling and clicking in the treetops. Chierhy had stopped, curious to see if whatever it was would reveal itself. It remained hidden, and Chierhy now surmises that if it was the same creature Shin described, she had done the right thing by letting a sleeping jackal lie. 

“I had almost forgotten,” Chierhy decides to offer. “Last night I heard something in the treetops. Did the creatures you encountered sound like this?” Chierhy attempts to replicate the clicking sound from the prior night. Being somewhat tone-deaf, as we have already learned, the Wagaduan is oblivious to the fact (Performance: 7+2=9) that the sound she produces is only vaguely close to what she heard.

(I’m away from computers for a few days so I’m skipping color formatting. Back home Friday!)

“I had almost forgotten,” Chierhy decides to offer. “Last night I heard something in the treetops. Did the creatures you encountered sound like this?” Chierhy attempts to replicate the clicking sound from the prior night. Being somewhat tone-deaf, as we have already learned, the Wagaduan is oblivious to the fact (Performance: 7+2=9) that the sound she produces is only vaguely close to what she heard.

Shin gamely pays close attention to Chierhy's odd vocalizations and nods or shakes his head truthfully based on whether the sounds Chierhy produces resemble the sounds the creature (and subsequent swarm) had made.  (OOC:  @DM can decide whether Shin thinks so or not).

He then waggles his own hand and produces three Minor Illusions in succession, the first two representing still images that look like mediocre impressionist paintings of, first a strange hairless feline creature with rabbit-like ears watching from a bush, then second a swarm of much smaller versions of the same creature in combat with figures that look like a goblin, an earth genasi and a tabaxi with an owl flying overhead.  The third Minor Illusion attempts to replicate the sounds he had heard from the creature.

"This is a significant data point, Chierhy.  We discovered from following the tracks that there were likely others of this creature nearby, and it is possible that your experience last night may further validate the plausibility of such a hypothesis.  In any case, if any of you hear or encounter such a creature, remember that, at least in our case, it only became aggressive when magic was used in close proximity to it.  And the swarm also appeared to be trying to eat my familiar.  I have heard second-hand that such creatures may also be drawn to arcane components and spell focii."

He taps a crooked finger on his crooked mouth.  "I was musing to Guardok on the question of whether such creatures simply wandered into Strixhaven, magic-sensitive creatures drawn to a place dedicated to magic, yet particularly dangerous here for obvious reasons!  Or whether some bad actor may have placed them here intentionally.  Or perhaps someone released them here unintentionally, the result of an experiment or research gone wrong."

Shuvadri's head swivels just a bit as she seems to take in all of those not wearing uniforms. "School uniforms are a sign of your prestigious appointment as a student of Strixhaven University. It is seen as an appropriate identifying mark of those attending the school. Of course, there is no formal requirement to wear uniforms. Though I will note that there are cases where some professors will expect more formal apparel in the form of an appropriate uniform." 

She seemed to have picked her words carefully, but the plain meaning of her words is clear that uniforms are not required.  

Shin stares at the owlin resident advisor for a moment, his small stature making him look like a particularly ugly recalcitrant child.  With an overly theatrical sigh, he trundles towards the lift so he can visit his and Naevyn's room up on the ninth floor to change into his uniform, even though not required.

Chierhy took in Shuvadri’s statement in good humor. She had brought only 5 or 6 outfits with her - or rather, Oluwole had brought the case containing them from Wagadu here to Strixhaven, to her room. 5 or 6 outfits were not nearly enough for full time residence for the entire year. Her uniform would have to be worn, and regularly, even though the colors washed out her complexion made her look like an acolyte — a cultist, even. She would postpone wearing it as long as possible.

So, when Shin heads back to the lift, she says, “Shin… I am not wearing my uniform either today. If we… sit together for orientation, neither of us will stand out.”

While this was plausible, Chierhy wasn’t sure how much she believed it. But, she thought, she was better hiding her revulsion at the goblin’s appearance when she wasn’t surprised by him. If he is nearby during orientation, perhaps she can make it through the day without showing her emotions, she reasons. ‘Besides, he is remarkably intelligent and might be able to offer good hypotheses should questions arise.’

Quote from DandDSince1973 >>

So, when Shin heads back to the lift, she says, “Shin… I am not wearing my uniform either today. If we… sit together for orientation, neither of us will stand out.”

While this was plausible, Chierhy wasn’t sure how much she believed it. But, she thought, she was better hiding her revulsion at the goblin’s appearance when she wasn’t surprised by him. If he is nearby during orientation, perhaps she can make it through the day without showing her emotions, she reasons. ‘Besides, he is remarkably intelligent and might be able to offer good hypotheses should questions arise.’

Shin hesitates.  Sit together?  So many I have met, once they are repulsed by me, never lose their aversion.  And given the general nature and habits of goblins, statistically speaking, I find myself unable to ascribe blame to them.  Could Chierhy be an exception?  Fascinating.

"Perhaps we shall not stand out, though in truth, I think I would stand out even in uniform, because, you know..."  (He points at himself).  "In other locales, off-worlders such as yourself might stand-out as well, but not here as present company demonstrates in microcosm."

The goblin almost turns back, but, remembering that he is still a bit sweaty from the morning's exertion, which would not have been a problem during his adventuring stint, but now...  "No uniform then... I will simply change into my other set of ordinary apparel for propriety's sake."

(Evidently, Shin only owns two sets of clothes).  He heads for the lift.  Pinky-toe rolls her round eyes extravagantly.