Nothing to be done for Barbara Torch

Barbara Torch sits, looking out the window where there's a long view to the Broom Polo grounds outside the walls of Boarbristle. She recognizes you and notes your presence, then turns away. Team players riding brooms with silks in House colors are darting through the air, swooping and diving.

"Warden, is there anything I can do?" you ask. "Warden?"

When you put your hand on her arm, she turns her face to you. Her expression is not vacant, but distant. She turns back to the window.

You sigh. There's a heaviness between your shoulders. Nothing you can do that someone else couldn't do better, and probably not much to be done here.

Eventually Miss Wormwood calls for you. She holds your hand as you walk out together. Her hand is cool, dry, and firm, her grip like taut wires. The green serpents on her head are quiet, waving only faintly.

"Mistress Torch will be leaving us at the end of the week. There will be better care for her elsewhere," Miss Wormwood says, her voice dust-dry. "She was not good for you."

Your shoulders tense, then you let it all out in a sigh. "You're right. You're right."

"Go to your moon-faced girl," the Nurse says.

You turn to look at Miss Wormwood. Your cheeks are wet. She bends forward to kiss you. Her snakes lick the tears from your face.

Miss Wormwood leans back. She smiles through her thin lips. "You are of course welcome to return to visit me," she says. "But no matter. No matter."

When you return to House Minerval, the Tutor's summons awaits you. She puts you to the same questions as Euryale, but with snide insinuations where the Wardress simply made requests.

"I'll be watching you, Woodbine," Miss Hawk says. "Count on it." She turns to go, her red hair swishing. "You are dismissed," she adds over her shoulder.

Your roommate Fay in House Minerval is your FRIEND.
Golondrina Redmoor of House Leontes, is your FRIEND and owes you a FAVOR.
Miss Hemstitch, Tutor of House Beavertail, owes you a FAVOR to help get Golondrina into House Beavertail.

Fiammetta Hawk, Tutor of Minerval, is your suspicious HANGER-ON.

You know the spell TRANSFORM and the Forbidden Spell SHAMEGASM.

You have the GOAL (-2 Ambition) of getting Golondrina into House Beavertail. You'll also have to save 5 XP to change Houses yourself, though Fay will follow you when the time comes.

You have Ambition +2, Bravery -1, Cunning +2, Diligence +0, and 3 XP.