Kira looks up at Caelyn. "Oh. Hello." At the question, she just shrugs. "All sorts of things. Really, I mostly just experiment--my goal is mainly to figure out how to do as many things as possible. Though I suppose now that we're graduating, I ought to start making things to use. Could be very helpful. And no, despite whatever rumors you've heard, I'm not making listening devices, or a bomb."

Graduation. You've seen many, held at the end of each year. Only now you are the ones in dress uniforms standing at parade rest in the front of the gathering room. It is you the master trainers are using as examples to the under-years, extolling your virtues and highlighting your challenges and accomplishments. It is you the others stamp their feet for. The droning of the brass is thankfully short - and none of you nod off like last year when Karyth fell asleep standing there and snorted so loud everyone heard it!

Suddenly you are being presented the items of your new rank and station: a masterworked dagger (+1 attack and damage, but not magical), and special Sending Stones attuned to each other and back to the main mission control room at the Academy. The headmaster explains quietly that these stones will link the six of you and the Academy anywhere on the continent of Khorvaire. You also receive a small gold bar that pins to your collar as a sign of your new rank - Agent!

That night you are moved to the agent barracks - still within the Academy walls, but away from the other trainees. You will operate from here until you are sent on a longer mission. You have a suite of six small bedrooms with a central living area. There is a shared kitchen area in the building, or you can take meals in the wardroom - the officer's mess. You find out that as an agent of the Queen, you are provided room and board, and issued outfits and equipment as needed for a mission. When you are on missions, any loot or treasure you come across technically belongs to the Academy, but the practice is to let you retain any non-consumable magic items that you recover and can use (like weapons or wondrous items.)

The ceremony itself is something of a blur for Cyril. After having worked for this goal for years, the actual event commemorating success seems to pass by in the blink of an eye. The pomp, the congratulations, the string of high minded speeches. It almost comes as a surprise when it is all said and done and the gathering is dispersing. Later, as he settlesh is few things into his new room, the elf takes the time to go over it all in his head, trying to cement the moment in his memory so that he will not lose it, like so much else has been lost in the fog of trauma. 

Cyril can be found not long after the move in the kitchen, moving quietly about and putting together a light meal of bread, meat, and cheese. It is a simple task, but one that holds some amount of familiar comfort even as he - and all of them, really - stand on the edge of an unknown future, a tipping point into what could be the rest of their lives. 

Pepper returned to the barracks in the morning with a little time to spare, but she’d laid out her uniform the night before, knowing herself.

During the ceremonies she is proper and respectful, surely proud to be there, though the look on her face is a little distant.

After, she shows up at the new barracks with one bag and all her weapons, which she stows in the first empty bedroom she finds. Then she joins Cyril in the kitchen, though all she does is sit and watch, nursing a big cup of cold water.

Caelyn smiles to Kira  Pity.. Listening devices could be very usefull she says with a mix of humor and seriousness in her tone. 

We can work on that she says Im sure there will be plenty of components to be found around here that could make something usefull. Let me know if you are looking for something in particular. 

She continues with a bit of small talk with Kira before the party comes to an end and they need to get some sleep. 

In the morning Caelyn will be fresh and ready to attend the ceremony. During the ceremony she wiggles a bit from time to time as the formal gear never really fits as well as her regular outfits. 
As the speech continued Caelyn stands proud, having reached another step in her goals. She had been in the academy for so many years this had become one of her focus points. A higher station and all the perks that came with it would be of good use to her. She finally felt her work had offered her progress. She gladly accepted the dagger that she had become somewhat used to. And the stone. Well that would be of good use in certain situations. 

She thanked her instructors, some more sincere than others. Then followed the others to their new homes. Placing her things in her room in a structured way so everything was easy to find. Caelyn than sat on her bed a moment as the others went to the ktichen. 

Contemplating her next actions. Over the years she had worked hard to put many things in motion, connections, debts, information. All things she might need in the next step in reacher her ultimate goal. 

Pepper breaks the comfortable silence by getting up, moving to the washbasin, gargling her water, and spitting it out. "Enough maudlin' about what the future holds. I'm going for a run." She says this last loud enough for everyone else to hear. She'll go to her room, change into something light, she'll strap on tight wrapped sandals instead of boots, and of course, two daggers, only now, one of them is the Masterwork dagger. Then, with a glance to see if anyone is joining her, she heads out to run a lap or five of the complex.

"While normally I'd be all for a run," Cyril says quietly as he sits down at the table with his food, "I'm a bit preoccupied by my snarling stomach at the moment." He punctuates the statement by taking a mouthful of layered meat, cheese, and bread, leaning back and closing his eyes in enjoyment.

Ashe is silent but courteous during the graduation. His face seems a bit tenser than it usually is.

Back at the home base, Ashe is silently reading a book in the living room. As Pepper heads out, Ashe doesn't even look up as he calls after her. "Have fun, don't punch anyone!"

A week passes - quieter days without classroom instruction, although many of you still participate in daily physical training to maintain your physical and mental edge. Finally, though, your spy stones (what I'm going to name the sending stone pendants you received =) exhibit a red light in the center, indicating that you have a message. "Mission briefing in Main Hall at 0930."

(This notification is designed to be silent and covert to prevent others from knowing that you have it, or accidentally give away your position if you are hiding with a spoken message! Since they are attuned to you, and only you, you know to press your finger on the back to activate it and hear the message. Likewise, by pressing the back you can send a response to the control room here at the Academy, or to your group , or to an individual.) 

Waiting for you is Kir, a changeling bard who you've had some lessons from. Although she looks like an teenage girl, most of you know she is much, much more...

“Thank you for joining me, agents,” the milky-eyed changeling starts. “Khorvaire has a long and illustrious history, and today we add a little more to that ongoing record. The esteemed councilor Hadrel Grayrain of Fairhaven, in Aundair, recently passed away, leaving a vacancy on the Aundarian Grand Council. They’re still many months away from the annual inauguration of councilors, and with numerous acts pertaining to Aundair on the schedule, Fairhaven is eager to get a new representative. In fact, House Orien has co-bankrolled a festival spread across much of Fairhaven. Ostensibly, this is an occasion to honor the deceased and welcome his replacement. Virtually everyone also sees this as a chance to advertise and earn some new business.”

Kir smiles and shrugs. “This provides you the perfect cover. We’ve forged numerous invitations to the more exclusive events. This is a good opportunity to gather information and influence some events to our advantage. During this mission, you will get to see and be seen by the upper crust—as well as hobnobbing with the common people.”

She chuckles and gives you a smile. “All at the Academy’s expense! You have tickets on the Lightning Rail leaving tomorrow. Keep an ear out for interesting leads, be ready to act when directed, and represent the Academy well!”

Pepper sits back. “So, what's the objective? Just make pretty and gather intel? Go unnoticed? How would we fail? Besides the obvious, sleeping with the councilor’s daughter, or killing a noble in a bar fight?”

Interesting.. Caelyn says. It should give us the chance to gain some influence. 

She walks around a bit and turns to Pepper Im sure we can find someone for you to beat up too though she says with a smile. 

Turning back to Kir Are we to support anyone in particular? While Caelyn is walking she looks around to see if there are any notes or maps in the open to get some clues from. 

Perception for snooping around 23

"Aundair, eh? Well, there'll definitely be good wine and plenty of braggadocious mages to deal with, if what I've read is accurate. What's our cover, more specifically?"

"You'll be citizens of Breland visiting the area for the festival. Your mission is to observe and report. The Queen's sister is a noble in Aundair - so her preferences for the new councilor should be considered. You may not be able to carry large weapons at all times, so think about how you can sneak in a weapon if needed. We have an agent in the area and they will be your main point of contact for reporting." She hands you a small card with a name and an address in Fairhaven, and a bag with 150 gold in it.  "Here - 25 gold each for spending money. Your contact will help you secure the appropriate outfits from local shops. Here are your tickets for the Lightning Rail tomorrow. This should be an easy first mission!"

Pepper snags the bag and counts out 25 for herself, handing the bag to Caelyn next. "Does the clothing come out of this, too?" she asks. "Oh, and I've been wondering, are the daggers," she indicates the Masterwork dagger at her belt, "too conspicuous for something like this?"

Kira looks like she's already brainstorming. "I might be able to figure out a way to conceal weapons on our persons," she says.

(OOC idk if I could actually do this lol)

Pernach worked with the quartermaster to replace a number of the furnishings in his room. In place of a bed, they've gotten a large comfy chair and replaced some of the clothing storage with more shelving. There's also a storage cabinet with small bags of what look like herbs & potpourri, as well as some garlands of what look like dried onions and garlic bulbs. There are also various small "fancy" rocks and small stone carvings arranged on various surfaces.

They're listening quietly during the briefing on the mission and looks quizzically at the final instructions. "This seems like exactly the sort of mission I'm least suited for; if nothing else I'm sure I can be a distraction."

At the mention of problems carrying weapons, they shake their head and ask, "I don't suppose there's a spare armblade available?"

"Don't worry big guy, maybe we can teach you to throw a punch in the meantime."

Cyril's tone and words were glib, but found himself worrying ever so slightly at the details of their assignment. It all seemed rather... nebulous. He was somewhat excited however, for the chance to take the lightning rail and to take part in such a high society sort of event. He only hoped that the lessons they had all received in decorum and such were well learned. 

"I would imagine, however, that any guards and such would be alert for something like a warforged with an armblade. I know I would certainly be looking for that kind of thing. The daggers though... should be fine, I'd think? Most everyone carries a dagger or some kind of knife. Very useful for cutting apples, you know."

Pepper gives Cyril a look. “I meant, are these daggers known to some, would they identify us. Would it be better to keep them hidden, or even to leave them here, should one of us be compromised.” She shakes her head, “No matter. I think I can pull off carrying my weapons if I’m someone’s bodyguard, or if we’re classing up the joint, then a military official, Warden of the Brelish Taverns!” she jokes.

Caelyn takes the bag given by Pepper and takes out 25 coins for herself and passed it on. 

Filling up her beltpouch with coins. Hearing Peppers question about the clothing she wonders about that herself. Then looks to Kir You wouldnt want us to go to such an event in rags would you? 

Surely the Queen would have us look like esteemed guests. she says with a smile. 

She starts to twirl around a bit emulating wearing fancy clothes and making bows. 

(Yes, your outfits and accommodations and transportation are paid for. The 25g is for any extra items you might want to procure, or just to have to buy drinks or perhaps loosen a tongue here and there if needed. Carrying weapons is not all that uncommon walking around or in street-side shops. Even high society socialites wear weapons, although these tend to look good and are rarely very functional. A rapier, or ornamental scimitar, would not look out of place adorning the hip of a young noble in nice attire. The daggers are known to other agents, and perhaps some well-informed spies or agents of other kingdoms or Houses, but most people won't know it from any other nice dagger. Your contact in Fairhaven will have further instructions. Typical spy stuff... =)