"They didn't include brains when they were building you, did they pal?" Zelacious asks in his best sarcastic seriousness.  Grabbing up the bandolier and fastening it around himself he continues... "Are you serious with this hair and goo?  I mean, no offense to goo mind ya, but c'mon!!  Are you kidding me?"

     "The Space Hamster whose arse you pulled these out of surely knew THIS is not what I was talking about, tinskull!  Is it just empty up there or are their ball bearings rattling around?"  Zelaciopus continues a quick barrage of insulting patter even while he bends over and sniffs the concoction.  "Well... I've smelled worse," he admits as an aside to nobody in particular and considers whether he is actually brave enough to...

     "Are you kidding me?!?" he screams again, deciding even HE is not that foolish.  "It looks like the juice from a gargoyles pimple!  I am NOT drinking that and I sure as spitting am NOT paying for it!"  Zelacious will make an effort to walk away without giving up his chit...  But he won't make an issue if the robots reminds him of it.

Mister Blip completely ignores Zelacious' tirade, however when he reaches for the bandolier without first handing over a chit, the autognome's eyes flash blue and he takes a firm hold on the bandolier "no chit, no goods" the creature intones.

In the Spelljammer Nexus, Saerthe keeps questioning the potential spelljammers.

To Nadiana he simply says “good to hear, exactly what I was hoping you would say!”

To Dimbo he says “a gnome, why do you think a gnome?”

To Shean he says “a good approach! How will you go about it?”

Meanwhile does the group with Mister Blip have any questions/requests?

     Zelacious is quite colorful in his language but, for a change, it is muttered and hushed and barely audible to others.  He exchanges his chit for the Scaver Skin Bandolier, five throwing daggers and the drink of dubious drinkability...  But after the purchase he blows the hairs off the top and then imbibes.

"Ohh... Yes, of course sir." Replies Naidania. "What is our next lesson?"

"To be honest I can't quite be sure. I remember being... smaller at least, but not quite a child. Young for certain, but not quite all that young for my species." Dimbo replied nonchalantly. "Truthfully, the only thing I'm fairly certain of is that I was no kobold at the very least. Or a smallbaxi at that. But mayhaps goblin might be more appropriate?" He said with a smile to his voice. "I thought to ask an old friend of mines -- the one who discovered me in my current state and... helped me recover. But she said it would be better for me discover that myself."

Ozzy will study the autognome with some interest, as he had heard of these feats of invention. Once Zelacious is done prattering, he will turn to Mr. Blip. "As I am a Giff, surely you know know what weapon I am after (Firearms)? Some cigars also please!" 

Shean scrateches his head. 

"By being good at my job I guess, by encouraging them to make theirs and to be an example in any way I could be such... " he replies

Mister Blip goes back into his stores and comes back with a powder horn and a wooden case containing 10 cigars.

Vargach:

Having already received his equipment, Vargach waits patiently with the stillness only a lifetime of hunting can grant.

"So, any navigator's tools?  Something really nice not just a plain set?" Nicolae asks again after the others get their gear.

Seeing Nicolae waiting patiently, Mister Bleep says “that’s right I almost forgot, navigation instruments I have just the thing” as he hustles off into the back storerooms before coming back beaming proudly “these are from my own personal collection but I don’t need them anymore” as he places a wooden chest and a set of map tubes on the bench. He opens up the wooden case and Nicolae can see inside it a beautiful set of navigation instruments including a miniature telescope. Then Mister Bleep unrolls the maps, once of which is the Astral Plane and the known Wildspace systems in it. 

Vargach:

Enjoying a few moments downtime, Vargach waits for the others to be done as he watches their exercises.  When they return, he asks, “What nexxxxxxxxxxxxt?”

Nicolae handles the equipment carefully.  "Excellent, well maintained.  I thank thee from the depths of my heart."  He hands of the chit in exchange for the lot of it. 

As they watch the exercises he answers Vargach.  "I presume we wait for our turn?  This was the next thing on the list."

(OOC: Only just now fully registering the last line in DMs post. And assuming I'm not mistaken about the intent/meaning with it, the following occurs with Dee)

Short of their being more questions to further challenge both the plasmoid's identity and focus on the task at hand, a far more subdued Dimbo eventually registers the arrival of the rest of the team and casually approaches the group once given leave along with the other cadets. "You guys, uhm... sorry, Hi. I hope things went well on your end. Didn't miss much here unfortunately, as you sort of need to be... magically inclined in some way... Hard to explain." Dimbo shrugs. "We need to go to the gymnasium next for the, uh... right, the assault course or something. Couple levels down."

Map Reminder of the Academy here. 

Naidania finishes her training, and she joins Dimbo on their next destination. While on their way, she wonders what the human Abizjn meant by his questions. She does not want anything to impair her abilities to navigate and/or pilot a spelljammer.

Vargach:

Following the others to the gymnasium, Vargach considers what challenges may lie ahead.

Shean follows the rest kind of excited. 

"It is not that I am good at this but... this will be fun right? And we have you in our side!" he pats Vargach's shoulder "That makes me feel safer "

The party make their way to the Gymnasium for their final test. When they arrive they can see that it is comprised of an arena which has four separate courses and a series of stands where off-duty cadets gather to watch – and bet – on the success, or not, of those cadets seeking to complete the course. To successfully complete the course, the cadets must complete in any order the following four courses

Course A, which involves dashing across a narrow plank whilst dodging what appear to exploding balls of fire and noise.

Course B, which involves leaping from one levitating platforms to another, five in total, over pools of water on which a series of blue sparks are dancing and rippling across the surface

Course C, which involves swinging from ropes through a spinning wheel of maces

Course D, which involves climbing a pole that appears to be covered in some sort of translucent substance and then ringing a gong at the top.

 After a quick discussion, Vargach decides to go first. He is followed by Shean, Nicolae, and Zalacious, while Ozzy, Dimbo and Naidiana move to one side ready to cheer their fellow cadets on. Other cadets are piling into the stands to watch this cohort’s progress through the various courses. Zalacious spots the moon elf that gave the party such a hard time a bit earlier. From her lips it looks like she’s saying that there is no way any member of the party can beat her time of six rounds to complete the four courses.

 Round 1

Vargach plays to his obvious strengths and to chooses to attempt to climb the slippery pole (Course D) first. He powers up the pole like he would a tree on his island home and rings the gong. Simultaneously Shean attempts the swinging rope course (Course C) and whilst not as fast as Vargach easily completes the course. Both party members high five each other upon completion and Shean comments “one down – three to go!” Unfortunately Nicolae is not so lucky and distracted by something gets caught by one of the electrical discharges taking 2HP of electrical damage and falls from one of the levitating disks (Course B). Zalacious on the other hand is completely unperturbed by the thunder claps and easily dashes across the narrow plank (Course A).

 Round 2

Vargach then moves onto the plank dash (Course A) and like Zalacious is unfazed by the thunderclaps. Shean seeks to emulate Vargach’s success on the greasy pole (Course D) and for a while looks like he’s going to do it but as he reaches for the gong he slips and comes back to the base of the pole with a thump taking 2HP of bludgeoning damage. Nicolae makes a second attempt on the levitating disks and this time successfully completes the course just! Zalacious then leaps up and grabs the first rope (Course C) and easily completes the course which given his race’s orgins is not at all surprising.

 Round 3

Vargach then moves onto the levitating disks (Course B) and jumps from disk to disk as if it was no more difficult than crossing a jungle stream. Unfortunately Shean repeats his mistake from the previous round on the greasy pole (Course D) and once gain as he reaches for the gong he slips and comes back to the base of the pole with a thump taking 2HP of bludgeoning damage. Nicolae almost makes his way through the spinning wheel of maces but at the last moment a mace knocks him off the rope. Due to Shean having to repeat his effort on the greasy pole and having complete the plank dash, Zalacious has to sit out this turn. Ozzy then leaps onto the narrow plank dash (Course A) and is completely unfazed by thunderous claps of sound.

 Round 4

In the next round the only course that Vargach has not successfully completed is the swinging ropes (Course C) however as Nicolae is currently on this course the lizardman has to sit out this round. Unfortunatley Shean fails yet again to climb the greasy pole which means that Zalacious also joins Vargach on the sidelines. This time Nicolae has no problems with the rope swing and spinning maces and easily completes the course. Dimbo as the next in line attempts the plank dash but something spooks him and he falls to the ground. Ozzy also joins Vargach and Zalacious on the sideines.

 Round 5

As Nicolae has completed the spinning mace course, Vargach is able to attempt it this round and does so successfully having completed all four courses in four attempts – a perfect record. Poor old Shean fails yet again to climb the slippery pole forcing Zalacious to sit out again. Nicolae easily navigates the plank dash and equally Ozzy has no problems with the levitating disks.

 Round 6

In the next round Shean finally manages to ring the gong on the top of the pole, while both Dimbo and Naidiana fail on the plank dash and the levitating disks respectively.

 Round 7

In the next round Shean builds on his success from the previous round and easily completes the swinging rope course, while Nicolae shinnies up the greasy pole and like Vargach has also completed all four courses in four attempts – a perfect record. As Nicolae had got to the greasy pole before Zalazcious, the Hadozee has to sit out yet again. This time Dimbo has no problem with the plank dash but Naidiana fails yet again on the levitating discs.

 Round 8

Despite his best efforts on the plank dash Shean fails to complete the course successfully. Zalacious scampers up the greasy pole like a rat up a drainpipe and joins both Vargach and Nicolae in completing the four courses in four attempts – another perfect record. Ozzy sits out this round as Dimbo fails to dodge the swinging maces and crashes to the ground taking 2 HP of bludgeoning damage. Naidiana on the other hand successfully completes the levitating disk course on her second attempt.

 Round 9

Yet again Shean fails on the plank dash, while Ozzy uses his strength and easily climbs the greasy pole; he too now has a perfect record of completing the four courses in four attempts. Dimbo is also successful at dodging the spinning maces, while Naidiana spends the round on the sidelines.

 Round 10

Not surprisingly the would be Spelljammers are finding this physical demands of these courses the most difficult. In this round both Shean and Naidiana fail the plank dash and spinning maces course respectively while Dimbo manages just to complete the levitating disk course.

 Round 11

Shean is obviously really struggling with the plank dash as he fails the course again. Dimbo and Naidiana are more successful in completing both the spinning mace course and the pole climb. Dimbo now joins Vargach, Nicolae, Zalacious and Ozzy at the end of the course where they all cheer their team mates on.

 Round 12

The ineptitude of the two spelljammers at the physical demands of the courses is displayed in this round as both fail. What’s more is that Naidiana falls from the top of the slippery pole taking 2 HP of bludgeoning damage.

 Round 13

Despite her bruises from the previous fall, Naidiana summons her courage and this time successfully climbs the slippery pole and rings the gong. An explosion goes off right next to Shean’s ear and he takes 2HP of Thunder damage and falls from the planks.

 Round 14

Shean musters his inner strength and attempts the plank dash yet again. This time he is successful and competes the course while the rest of his cohort – including Naidiana who is sitting out this round – cheer him on.

 Round 15

Shean continues his momentum from the previous round and easily completes the levitating disks course. He is now finished. Unfortunately Naidiana fails at her first attempt to complete the plank dash.

 Round 16

In this round Naidiana completes the plank dash and joins the rest of the party at the end of the course.

Naidania is breathing heavily. "We have all completed the challenge. Logically." She hides the fact that her pride is a little dented, for she did not expect to fail in any of the courses, and that she was the last one to finish it.

(Holy Moly DM. Nice write up!!)