DEFEND YOUR HOUSE'S HONOR (pretending to be Pip)

"A footrace?" you say.

Pip nods ruefully. "If you stand in for me, it, well... it will let me do some preparation for a smoother retrieval. Make sure things will work out."

"But will they let me just stand in for you?" you say.

Pip laughs. "Other than your nose and your hair, we could be sisters," she says. "Tie your hair back, a little glamour, and you will be me. I mean, you don't even need to win, you just need to be my alibi."

Pip finally talks you around. When you hesitate, she points out that you do owe her one, and this extra digression is at your own request.

It develops that this is indeed a footrace, dedicated to some tradition you've never heard of. There are ribbons involved, and running back and forth along the beach of the Chilly Tarn next to the dock where the ferries bring in the students. When Pip is through with you, between your tied-back hair and a modest but well-crafted glamour, you look at yourself and Pip side by side in the mirror and see twin sisters. One with a wolfish grin, standing and holding her wand, and one sitting before the vanity, looking slightly lost. It's a little off-putting seeing just how little Pip had to do to make you into her doppelgänger.

"Part of the reason I didn't like you, Morgan," Pip says, "was that you were so like me, but not quite. Just, well, off. Now, well, you're both more like me and less, and that's made all the difference."

"Plus changing Houses?" you say.

"Well, I am rather partial to Leonteans," Pip says.

You meet her eyes in the mirror and decide not to leap at the baited hook she's thrown.

"I guess I should be going," you say.

"Do me good, and do a good me," Pip says. "And then we shall retrieve the Lost Journal of Augustus Sparling where he's tucked all my mash notes."

You depart in the seeming of Pipistrelle Clawson to run a footrace for her, down by the Chilly Tarn.

Roll +BRAVERY(0) to DEFEND THE HONOR OF YOUR HOUSE (as Pip!) and gain a FAVOR regardless of result.

⚃⚃ + 0 = 8.

On a 7-9, choose a complicated win, a chance for a rematch, or a graceful loss.

• You lose gracefully.

You give it your all, the black and white ribbons of House Minerval flapping in the breeze as your run over the sand. Your long legs aid you, but it's all you can do to keep pace with the gold-and-brown-beribboned Beavertail racer as the red-haired representative of House Leontes goes flying ahead, red and gold ribbons fluttering behind her, the soft sand no impediment to her soaring strides. Your heart skips a beat. It's Golondrina. You didn't know she was running. But desire speeds your pace, and as the race turns about, you catch up the distance, yearning toward her, to stumble over the finish line and fall winded to the sand.

One of the judges helps you up. The racer from Draconis is panting and red-faced, even more winded then you, her green and gold ribbons drooping from her shoulders and wrists.

You nod to the few spectators, drink a toast to the winner -- cinnamon tea with cider, restorative on this cool morning by the Chilly Tarn -- and take your leave, having done your part as Pip.

You wonder what Pip's been up to in the meantime.

Gain a FAVOR from Pip.

You have the GOAL of sneaking Pip into House Leontes to retrieve her boyfriend's old journal. (-2 vs. CUNNING).

You have 3 XP.
You have +2 Ambition, +0 Bravery, +2 Cunning, +0 Diligence.
Your FRIENDs are Fay and the Warden of Leontes. The Warden owes you a FAVOR. Pip now also owes you a FAVOR.

Roll +CUNNING(0) (+2 Cunning, -2 Moderate Goal) to repay Pip's aid with Asteria Hornbeam by sneaking Pip into House Leontes to retrieve her boyfriend's magically concealed journal.