You kick the staff from Praxilla's hand. Take +1 Forward.

You hare across the grove of trees, taking leaping strides to cut off Praxilla before she gets away with Master Maurippos' staff. Flushed with her daylight robbery, the centauress runs up the hill toward cover.

Just before she reaches the trees, you cross her path.

⚅⚂ + 1 = 10, you did it!

You succeed in impressing Master Maurippos and he gives you a chance to DEFEND YOUR HOUSE'S HONOR related to learning about Enchanted Creatures. (He rarely works with first-years outside of House Leontes, so either Nadia's family and older siblings gave her an in, or she's more conniving than she seems).

Thinking better of interposing yourself directly in front of a galloping horse-girl, you grab a tree limb and kick out as she passes. The staff goes flying from her hand. She cries out, skidding to a stop. The tree limb slips from your hands and you fall.

The ground comes up to meet you with a stunning thump.

Someone with a loud, confident voice casts a spell.

By the time the world stops spinning, Nadia is at your side, helping you sit up. Nearby is Praxilla, who is cursing and complaining as her legs seem to keep crossing over each other and tripping her.

You catch a whiff of Praxilla's scent. It does something to you, too. Your cheeks warm up as your member comes to full stand. And when she flips her tail in annoyance, you get a clear flash of her bright pink, moist and swollen lady parts.

Love grass, Maurippos had said. Out of season, but Praxilla had found it.

"Well done with the Tanglefoot, young lady," Maurippos tells Nadia as Praxilla squints angrily at the centaur wizard, muttering under her breath. "Quite a bold move from your Beavertail friend, Nadia. Would you introduce us?"

"Master Maurippos," Nadia begins. "Let me present Eric Mothwing-Marshall."

Maurippos coughs. "Ah yes, wasn't there something about you and Miz Sterling?" he says, tilting his head. "No matter. What brings him here?"

"Eric wants to learn about Care of Magical Creatures," Nadia says. "First-years don't get much about it. And we were just flying back from practicing the Shimmering Cloak -- a great big one. I was flying in for my lesson, so I thought I would introduce him."

"No broom, young man?" Master Maurippos says, fingering his long curly beard.

"I never had a chance to learn to fly, sir," you say.

Maurippos laughs. "Well, I shan't be the one to teach you," he says. "You're interested in Magical Creatures? Well, it's time for Nadia's lesson. Come watch, and we'll talk after. He looks at Praxilla. "A little nap would do you good." He holds up his staff and makes a few passes with his hands. Praxilla's sullen expression softens. Her eyes unfocus and roll up, and her legs fold gently to leave her lying on her side on the ground under the trees.

Praxilla is lying with her tail aside, and her pink bits bright and clear. Her scent is sharp in your nostrils. Your cock throbs. You're not quite sure how you feel about that.

The Boarbristle students from Maurippos' earlier lesson take to their brooms and fly away.

Nadia's lesson is about summoning and conversing with birds of the forest. You try your best to follow along. It's fascinating but new to you, and you know you're missing bits here and there. Something about the rowan tree makes it a good place for summoning, but there's no great ceremony or magical circle in Nadia's workings.

"Nadia, would you wait for a moment while I talk with your friend?" Master Maurippos says.

Maurippos walks up the low rise and back toward the trees where Praxilla is lying in magical sleep. "I don't generally work with first-years, outside House Leontes," he says. "But you've shown quite the initiative and bravery. So I will pose you a challenge, if you will. Tend Praxilla overnight, as she gets over herself. She'll still have Tanglefoot, so she won't be running off, and you'll need to lead her by the hand in order to get anywhere. This is the Weirding Woods. She will need water and food and grooming. Perhaps you will need to keep her warm. If all is well in the morning, I will accept you for learning Care of Magical Creatures. Do you accept, young man?"

You nod, swallow, and say, "Yes, Master Maurippos, I do."

He laughs and claps you heavily on the shoulder. "You are the keeper, Praxilla is your enchanted creature, keep her safe until she gets over that blasted love grass. She'll wake up in an hour or two. Watch for her tricks. See you tomorrow. I'll tell Nadia to let your House know."

Maurippos' doughty member is at full erection as he trots off, leaving you with a sleeping blonde-and-pink-and-gold centauress emanating a strong, sexual fragrance from her swollen, dripping vulva.

You have 4 XP.

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

You have a FAVOR from Miss Wormwood, and a FRIEND, Aurelia Sterling, your Enchantments teacher.
Taking +1 Forward, roll your House Trait +DILIGENCE(+3) (+2 Diligence, +1 Forward) to DEFEND YOUR HOUSE'S HONOR against the challenge posed by Master Maurippos, who is partial to Leontes. Maurippos or Praxilla counts as your antagonist, if anything goes awry.

Roll +DILIGENCE(+3) to DEFEND YOUR HOUSE'S HONOR and earn lessons in Magical Creatures

⚂⚀ + 3 = 7.

See the Rules Page for DEFEND YOUR HOUSE'S HONOR.

On a 7-9, choose one:

• You lose narrowly and demand a rematch (now or later). Roll again at -1.
• You lose gracefully.
• You have a bitter triumph. Gain +1 XP and Praxilla as an ENEMY who is bitter at you.
• You win ungracefully. Gain +1 XP and lose a FRIEND or a FAVOR.
• You win unfairly. Gain +1 XP and describe how you misuse your House's trait, DILIGENCE, to win. Next: GET OUT OF TROUBLE.