An interview with the Tutor, Preston Sharper

"Mphm, yes," Preston Sharper says. The older man fidgets absentmindedly as he listens to you. He leans forward, sitting on the edge of the chair, his feet shifting as if he's ready to jump into action. "You come highly recommended, and I can see your natural talent, but you have had a rather unusual, hem, first day at Boarbristle."

The Tutor's eyes flick down to your neck, where your new friend Sapienta is curled round, soaking up the heat of your body into her coils. Sapienta's coils also hide some of the bite marks from Miss Wormwood's attentions. The rest are covered by your red and gold House Leontes robe. The Tutor looks back to the papers in his hand. "I had had in mind a course of dueling instruction," he says. "Your powers are strong, but your training so far has been somewhat irregular. Let's see you raise some power. The basic course, shall we say a cube of dimensions equal to your wand?"

You keep your face impassive, not bridling at his remark about your training. You were a star student at your preparatory school, and sometimes your sponsors had to tell you to hide your light a little -- too much attention might raise questions about your background. Perhaps your record as sent to Boarbristle makes you out to be more mediocre than a true account would tell. But your Housemaster knows the truth, at least. Fergus Firetail picked you out personally and sponsored you for entry to Boarbristle.

You follow the Tutor's directions, raising power, dismissing it, countering a few slow soap-bubble spells he directs at you.

"Mphm, very well," he says. "What course is of most interest to you as you begin?" he asks. "We could set you up with a mentor."

Your intention to seek a steady, unexceptionable position wars with your impulse to let your strengths and desires show.

You clear your throat and state your interest.

• Keep a low profile. Study the history of magic. ENCOUNTER Miss Caldwell, the librarian, for an interview. (+3 BRAVERY) If it goes well, she agrees to be your mentor and will set you a GOAL based on CUNNING or DILIGENCE. Sapienta might be useful worming her way through tight corners to find lost books, but you don't know if she can read.
• Build connections outside the House. Learn magical healing and potions. Write a scene describing how you start out at House Leontes (roommate? classmates? other first-years? what do they think of Sapienta?) ENCOUNTER Miss Wormwood to ask for a GOAL (+3 BRAVERY, +2 FRIEND; maxes out at +4), and if you MISS, use your FAVOR to beg her indulgence.
• Being well-known for something shallow might be a good choice to keep other people looking at the surface. Ask the Tutor about broom polo. ENCOUNTER Preston Sharper (+3 BRAVERY), and if he agrees, he will recommend you to the House Leontes team. On a 7-9, you may need to use your FAVOR with the headmaster to get what you want. On a MISS, forget it.
• You want to prove yourself. Ask for a course in Dueling. The Tutor will agree, since that's his special interest. Take a GOAL (-2 on Cunning, for a basic 2d6-1) to improve your skill in magical dueling.

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

You have 0 XP.

Fergus Firetail, Dorothy the Porter, and Nurse Wormwood are your FRIENDS and each will freely grant one FAVOR. (Sapienta also counts as a FRIEND with a FAVOR, though your serpentine familiar is not strong on helping you with people, except by frightening them or spying on them).