Take on the Magic Duels

You look over at Fay before giving your answer.

"I know what you're thinking, Morgan, don't tell me I don't," Fay says. "We should do it."

You turn to the Tutor, Preston Sharper. "We'll take on the magic duels," you tell him.

"Very well, Morgan, Fay," the Tutor says. "The Housemaster will be impressed by your boldness."

Later that day, you receive a list of the contests. It's notionally three rounds, single-elimination, but if two contenders eliminate each other, someone from a previous round might advance. There are six contenders. Fay has a bye the first round, as does one of the others.

Your opponent is Grace Winterthorn. You've heard of her and have a vague sense of her face. If you defeat her, you'll face the victor in the contest between Sextus Chain and Albert Conker. If Grace advances instead, and if she and her opponent eliminate each other, you'll have another chance. If only.

"Fay, help me practice," you beg. "I'm pretty rusty with dueling. It'll help you too."

"All right, I suppose we better take this seriously," she says.

You and Fay spend the rest of the day attacking and deflecting low-powered spells until you're feeling more fluid. You get Fay to promise that before the duel she'll help you limber up for Grace.

The next day, dressed in fresh red and gold Leontes robes, and feeling light and quick from a warm-up with Fay, you face off with Grace Winterthorn.

You remember her now. You'd been seated together in Basic Conjurations and had been partners for many of the basic exercises. Mostly you remember her as, well, not insufferable, but tedious and self-satisfied, and a chatterbox. Worse yet, people kept mistaking you for each other because you were both tall, thin, and black-haired Minervals. Grace had transferred into Leontes after first term and you hadn't thought of her often since then.

Two years had added to her stature, as it had with you, and to her beauty -- long silky hair to your flyaway black straw, a harmonious cast of features on her face, and an intent, focused expression you don't remember her wearing before.

The other contenders and a number of Leontes students have gathered around, curious or excited to watch the duel.

The Tutor reminds you of the rules and sets up to give the word.

You have +2 Ambition, -1 Bravery, +2 Cunning, +0 Diligence.
You have 4 XP.
Your FRIEND is Fay; you have used her FAVOR to be better prepared for your first duel: add +2 to your roll.

Roll +CUNNING (+4) (+2 Cunning, +2 FAVOR) when you HAVE A MAGIC DUEL with Grace Winterthorn with Fay's FAVOR to help in preparing.