Princess wracks her brain to see if those names or symbols mean anything to her.

Princess, Eris and Zoide would all probably have heard of, if not actually encountered any of, the mercane. An alien race (alien to Toril, that is), they are blue-skinned, stand twice the height of most humanoids, and have a reputation throughout the astral sea as traders of information, goods and services, and particularly powerful magic items. They are said to be meticulously fair in their dealings—as long as you haven't offended one of them.

As for Vocath specifically: Tarto replies to Eris, "Never you mind about that, cadet." The emphasis on the last word is not unkind, but it does speak volumes: that this is Bridge Officer business, and none of yours.

"Ah, but first," Saerthe announces with an only slightly forced grin, "the results of our little competition!" Turning to Tarto, they continue, "Unfortunately, one squad was unable to complete the assignment. Through no fault of their own, of course," they add hastily as the boatswain's expression darkens. "That squad will be allowed to retake the exercise once they have fully recovered. As to my team," they beam at you with obvious pride, "if that had been the real Foundling, you'd be assigned to a tenday of repair duties for that little scratch in the paintwork, but apart from that you passed with flying colors!"

They hand Zoide a piece of parchment. On it in a neat, studied hand, are your scores:

Points Required for Success: 7 or more

☑ Taking off on the first attempt: 1 point
☑ Plotting a course on the first attempt: 1 point
☑ Mitigating the damage of the electrical storm: 1 point
☑ Entering the asteroid cluster without damaging the ship: 1 point
☒ Exiting the asteroid cluster without damaging the ship: 1 point
☑ Defeating or outrunning the enemy ship: 4 points

Underneath has been added, in a different, more flowery handwriting:

☑ Bonus: Stopping to assist a ship in distress: 2 points

"And," they say somewhat pointedly to Tarto, "they did technically win the race…" The hadozee groans and grudgingly hands Sarethe a small pouch, from which they draw a number of platinum coins: ten for each of you.

Eris gleefully jums up and down as she accepts her 10 platinum coins and bows down to Tarto in respect. "I'm worried for them too, Autoguy or whatever your name is. I'm sorry." she replies to Zoide. "We can all go together if we want before we head back to our cabins and recharge out batteries. I feel sooooo worn out that a nice catnap would do me good after this."

[I believe Icarus and Princess checked on the other team; they were hit much like you were, but (in part thanks to some quick action by Miken) not grievously injured. They've joined you outside the simulation chambers when you get the results; they're a little singed and unhappy to have been unable to complete the training, but also relieved that the fate that befell their ship wasn't an intended part of the simulation that they failed.]

"All right, game over. Clear off, the lot of you," Tarto shoos you away. "And get some rest, you've still got classes in the morning."

[And with that we reach the end of Episode Two! Feel free to roleplay any post-adventure conversations, and also there's a bit of in-game time before the next episode, so if you want to RP anything you get up to in the next few weeks of classes and training that could be fun too (80's-soundtracked training montage anyone?). You all level up to level 3, and we'll pick up with Episode Three in a few days!]

"Yes maam." Eris' cat ears droop as she slowly paces out of the simulation room to recharge her batteries. "Is there uhh... anything you'd all like to do... before we uhh, rest up and meet again later?" She asks whoever is following her with a really deflated tone.

*I think we need to celebrate our victory! Even if it was against imagined foes, we were triumphant!*

Da'Kal slaps her companions enthusiastically on the shoulders and backs.

"What even is there that we can do to further get to know each other... apart from eating something light or spar in the training rooms..." Eris wonders out loud. As she does, her armour briefly glows crimson red and the bell strapped to her neck becomes rainbow in colour before they fade to normal again, causing Eris to gleefully purr in delight. The power within her armour that she lost as she first settled here has been restored.

[The Weeping Goddess tavern on the cadet quarters level is the primary venue for celebration and entertainment around here.]

"To the Weeping Goddess tavern to celebrate!" Icarus says

Princess signs on to the tavern enthusiastically. “Fus’n ta pu der cors’ts or der sipers buys!”

(first one to put their corsets over their sippers buys)(translation first person to pass out drunk buys.)

Quote from Cheesynachos >>

Zoide gets exited and says "I'll take on that challenge, to the tavern." (Now that I think about it how would a autognome even eat or drink, not to mention getting drunk since they don't need to eat or drink.)

 *Just because one doesn't need to doesn't mean one can't partake. Come we go!!*

"Yes let's all go!" Eris pipes up and her cat ears perk up at the sound of this. "Though I won't be drinking anything except water... Ah whatever! Last one there has to place orders for all of us!" And with that, she bolts off to the tavern before the others can even say anything.

[...and we freeze frame on a closeup of your tankards of various beverages being clinked together in a toast to your success, then fade to black.]

It's been several weeks of intensive classes, physical training and simulated exercises. The attacks on the academy seem to have simmered down a bit after the attack on Mirt and the sabotage of the simulation chambers; there have been a few more random thefts and some unfortunate accidents, but nothing provably connected. The whole island seems to be waiting with bated breath for the other shoe to drop.

Expecting another day of studying for your upcoming exams, you were surprised to be awakened early at four bells by Boatswain Tarto in a most discourteous fashion. Dodging thrown garbage cans, you geared up, ate a hasty breakfast (unusually, not served by the giff cook Ryeback), and were immediately commanded to the deck of the Flighty Foundling. The real one, not a simulation. As well as your squad, a handful of other cadets report to the ship: Miken Haverstance, a thri-kreen named Krik'lit that you've seen around but not interacted with much, a plasmoid named Pffred who is fairly popular among the cadets, and, unfortunately, Veena. As soon as you have all boarded the ship, it rises into the air toward Wildspace.

"Forgive the sudden change of plans," Boatswain Tarto addresses you, with absolutely zero hint of genuine contrition in her voice, "but we've been presented with an opportunity we can't afford to pass up. An adamantine meteor has struck the Spire on H'Catha, and you lot are going to recover it. The bad news is that H'Catha is populated solely by beholders and their kin. The good news is that an empty tyrant ship drifts above Toril, just waiting for you to crew it, though you'll need to install a spelljamming helm on the Command Deck to make the ship fly. Traveling aboard this beholder vessel, you should be able to reach the Spire without attracting the unwanted attention of other tyrant ships patrolling H'cathan space.

"We'll drop you off with Petty Officer Winston Ryeback, who will ensure you don't go hungry. He'll command the deck hands Miken Haverstance, Krik’Lit, and Pffred. The rest of you'll need to identify who among you is in command of the mission, as well as who commands the ship. A word of warning: the tyrant ship is made of stone, so don't try and land it in water. You'll sink like a rock.

"Ah, we're almost there. Well folks, how do you like the look of your new vessel?" Tarto gestures off the starboard bow of the Foundling, where coming into view is what looks like a gigantic, stone-carved beholder floating in orbit above Toril.

Episode Three: Realmspace Sortie

*Mmmm Exciting* Da'Kal's antennae quiver with eagerness.

Having woken up fresh from last night's dinner as well as sharing mission updates with her Catian crew out in space with the data she collected inside her own room, Eris stretches her thin arms and tail into the air for three seconds before scribbling more notes yet again and giving Sarto a nod of approval to show that she followed along. "Understood. Judging from what happened previously, I am absolutely confident that we can all pull this off together with no worries at all! Plus, everyone should be able to handle this a little more comfortably unless we encounter... a lot of trouble along the way... am I right?"