APPEASE Emily Leopard. On a 10+, she grants a FAVOR

"All right, all right," you tell Emily Leopard. "I'm hungry. Let's sit together and make sense of this."

Roll 2d6+AMBITION (+1 total) = 12 + 1 = 13. On a 10+, Emily is happy with your help and grants you a FAVOR.

Once fortified with a light lunch from House Leontes' refectory, you extract from Emily the reason she was hanging off your arm, figuratively, since leaving the Tutor's office.

She's worried that Sharper is going to put her in a remedial course.

Emily Leopard doesn't tell you this in so many words, but it turns out that the reason Preston Sharper wants you and Emily to work together is that while Emily has a natural talent for magical duels, is quick and energetic and aggressive, mostly good, but she's more easily rattled if things go a little sideways.

You want to mollify the Warden. Restoring her pet's self-confidence will help. Or so you tell yourself.

You spend a week of practice sessions with Emily, working on how she recovers from being rattled. Near misses, ghastly screams, lightning flashes and thunderclaps, all of these put her off her step.

At the end of the week, Emily Leopard comes to you in the courtyard at midday, while you're looking vaguely up at the clouds, wondering if any of them hide cloud-caves like the Warden's hideaway. She grabs you by the forearms, leans up and kisses you.

"Emily, what?" you say.

"Sharper passed me," Emily says. "He couldn't put me off my stride, as many screamers and thunderclaps as he could send. By the Chilly Tarn, I owe you one, Woodbine. This could have cost me the term."

The Warden looks out from a doorway. She's not usually sneaky, more often larger than life, and she's already big and tall. But she can be inconspicuous if she wants to be. "Leopard, don't be kissing other girls in the courtyard."

"Oh, Warden," Emily says, looking contrite. "I..."

Barbara Torch cuts her off with a look and a pass of her hand. "It distracts the boys. Do it elsewhere. Come, Leopard, show me your form. I understand Woodbine has been helpful in steadying you. You may surpass me if you learn the lessons Boarbristle teaches. Master Sharper was one of my instructors, once upon a time. Learn his lessons." She leans forward. "I am here, back at Boarbristle, because I did not."

The Warden leads Emily Leopard toward the dueling hall, below ground next to the practice chambers.

At least that's where you think they're going first. Until their blood is hot for each other.

You have business with Master Elbegast, and no sense in tarrying any longer. While the dwarfish Master of the Forge, instructor in Enchanted Items, had referred your punishment to the Warden for the disruption of his practical workshop session, you'd prefer to be on his good side to progress smoothly, especially after switching to House Leontes with Fay in tow to chase Golondrina, and losing some time and effort to the change-over.

You have 3 XP.
You have +2 Ambition, +1 Bravery, +2 Cunning, +0 Diligence.
You know the Forbidden Spell TRANSFORM and the spell MORPHO PHALLUS.
Your FRIENDs are Golondrina, Fay and Barbara Torch, the Warden of House Leontes.
Your HANGER-ON is Emily Leopard, another third-year, the Warden's pet and mini-me, who is suspicious of you. Emily owes you a FAVOR.

Roll 2d6+BRAVERY(+1) to MAKE AMENDS with Master Elbegast: 7+1 = 8.
On a 7-9, choose one:

• Sacrifice a FAVOR to remove a CONSEQUENCE or an ENEMY, or owe the intended party a favor via taking a GOAL from them.
• Let it be for now. Your intention is recognized, but you still carry your burden.