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Chapter 85 by Zingiber Zingiber

Roll +Cunning(+3) when you try to ACHIEVE YOUR GOAL and describe the results.

On a 10+, you ACHIEVE YOUR GOAL and become a Prefect in House Leontes

⚄⚅ + 3 = 14.

Preston Sharper awaits you in the dueling pit, greeting you with a nod and directing you to take your place at one end.

Barbara Torch, the Warden, stands in the judge's box.

You're dueling the Tutor?

"Duelists, ready your wands," the Warden says. She conjures a ward at the center of the alley.

You are. You fumble out your wand, take a deep breath and summon your concentration.

"Are you ready, Mr. Sharper?" the Warden asks.

"Yes, Madam," he says.

"Are you ready, Woodbine?" she asks.

With a tingle of fright, you reply, "Yes, Warden."

"Very good. You may proceed when I lower my wand," the Warden says.

Barbara Torch slowly sweeps her arm down, her dark brown fingers wrapped round her wand. The ward falls.

You stand ready, wand high, lips prepared for a deflecting spell.

"Come on, Woodbine," the Tutor says. "Try me."

You lay out a sequence of STUN, DISARM, CONFUSE, and CHARM. Preston Sharper deflects each, but you're making him really work for it. After you make him blink with a DAZZLE, he takes up the attack.

You deflect a quick sequence of the same, but he finally gets you off balance with THUNDER and finishes with DISARM, sending your wand clattering away.

"Lower your wands, the duel is finished," the Warden says.

Not that you have your wand, but you assume rest position.

"The duel to Mr. Sharper. Well fought, Woodbine," the Warden says. "Would you like to do the honors, Tutor?"

"Morgan Woodbine, advance," Preston Sharper says. He accepts a golden brooch from Barbara Torch's hand. "Do you agree to uphold the honor, discipline, and peace within House Leontes?"

You swallow. "I do, sir," you say.

"By my authority, I appoint you Prefect in House Leontes for this year," the Tutor says. "Congratulations, Prefect Woodbine."

"Sir," you say. Prefect.

The Warden laughs. "You look like you've seen a ghost, Woodbine. I had my hopes on Leopard, but you've earned it." She leans close to your ear. "And you have the better temperament." She kisses your ear and circles the tip of her tongue upon it.

You blush hot. "Th-thank you, Warden," you say. You're trembling. That was NOT what you expected.

"Take the Prefect to breakfast, Sharper," the Warden says. "Congratulations, Woodbine. I'm sure you'll do well."

All you can do is nod.


You're successful in the last step to ACHIEVE YOUR GOAL. Take +1 XP.

You have the office of Prefect in House Leontes. This means that the Tutor may assign you extra duties to do with other students, and you have the authority and responsibility to report misbehavior. There are other Prefects, and you're most junior, and most deficient in the House's favored Trait of Bravery.

You have +2 Ambition, -1 Bravery, +2 Cunning, +0 Diligence.

Your FRIENDS are Fay and Grace Winterthorn in House Leontes. You're still missing Golondrina, the secret Dragonfolk who convince you and Fay to leave House Minerval for House Leontes.

You have 3 XP.

Possible Moves:

  • Go to breakfast with the Tutor. Accept another GOAL related to House Leontes.
  • Go find Golondrina (ENCOUNTER, roll +BRAVERY(-1)).
  • Narrate a scene in your life as a new Prefect, either meeting the other Prefects or performing your duties.
  • Find Fay, whether to celebrate or to plot your new lives as Leonteans. Grace Winterthorn is ex-Minerval, so she might have some wisdom, or more to Fay's taste, some gossip. You may roll a single ENCOUNTER and have both of them present for the scene. (ENCOUNTER, roll +BRAVERY(+1) (-1 BRAVERY, +2 FRIEND)).
  • Something else? Go to class? Narrate a scene with a new threat, plot, or intrigue?

What's your next Move?

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