Pull some strings to find out what's up with Master Elbegast

It irks you, when you think upon it, that you had an appointment with Master Elbegast, or so you had understood, and he had not been present. His apprentice was either discreet or unknowing. Had he been called away for some duty more urgent, or by some person with a stronger call on his attention?

Your mind's eye prompts you with an image of the Headmistress, Pernilla Porcinilla, who could be peremptory and demanding. Particularly so when she was to host an important gathering. Or perhaps the Master had been called to attend a personal connection. Did the Master of Devices have any close friends? Allies? Lovers? Or was there a secret project needing his hands?

So the Master of Devices thinks you're a string-puller, does he? Perhaps you should pull some strings.

Fay shrugs when you mention your irritation with Master Elbegast. "You can probably find him starting out with a hair from his beard," she says. "Principle of Contagion. Perhaps you've heard of it?"

But Master Elbegast seems to keep a meticulously tidy workplace. You beg admittance from the apprentice, but not a hair of his chinny-chin-chin do you find, and no especially personal tool is to be found.

So channels, then. The Tutor, to start.

The Tutor of House Leontes is not in his office. You get a pointer to the dueling practice grounds, where you catch Preston Sharper finishing up with Emily Leopard.

"Woodbine, what? Not now, I have an appointment," he says. "Would you finish with Emily Leopard? She needs a good basic run-through in deflections."

"Yes, sir," you say. You're beginning to feel run-around. "Emily?"

Barbara Torch's younger, wilder protegée nods. She looks on, like she's been practicing hard against Master Sharper, who gives Emily exercises that punish every lapse of attention or overconfident misstep. A good complement to the Warden, who has a dueling style built on pride and libido, an addict to the contest more than the essential moves.

You? You hate dueling, but here you are in House Leontes, and you can do it if you have to.

"It's on, Morgan," Emily Leopard says. Her eyes glint. She knows you hate dueling.

"All right, Leopard," you say. "Do you need a break?"

"Count down from three, Woodbine," she says.

You conjure a sigil between you which pulses once, twice, thrice, and vanishes.

It's a long afternoon of move and countermove. Emily Leopard, following Master Sharper's direction, lets you attack so she can deflect. It's maddening. She takes a STUN or two and still manages to toss a spell back in your direction, putting you off-balance until she can recover her stance.

But finally you manage to land a GONG and a STUN in quick succession, and Emily Leopard taps out.

"Are you alright, Leopard?" you ask.

Emily's lying on the floor, her legs twitching. "Ha, ha-ha," she says raggedly. "I thought, ha, I could tire you out, Woodbine. But you just kept throwing."

"No real duel would last this long, Leopard." You shake your head.

Emily's dark brown face gleams with perspiration, and her brows are knotted.

You sigh. "Let's get you to the baths, hey? Or this is going to hurt worse tomorrow. Upsie-daisy, scholar." You boost Emily up to a standing position. "Lean on that wall, there, just for a minute." You prop Emily Leopard up against one of the warded walls of the dueling exercise alley and call up Sight. It's not your best go, but you loosen some of the knots in her aura and her muscles.

Emily sighs. "Whoa, Woodbine, where did you learn that?"

"Miss Wormwood," you say.

"S'right, you were her pet," Emily says.

You laugh. "You're one to talk," you say.

There's a deeper laugh from behind you. Barbara Torch has pulled another sudden appearance. You don't know how she does it, but in her own House, the Warden probably has a trick or two.

"Warden," you acknowledge her. The lusty, wild witch who was in charge of protecting House Leontes. You sometimes wonder who's protecting House Leontes from the Warden. And although the Warden has been more than improper in her conduct with yourself and Fay, at least she's on your side.

"I've been watching for quite a while now," Barbara Torch says. "We'll make a duellist of you yet, Woodbine," she teases. "Miss Leopard?"

"I couldn't get a counter-strike back at Morgan, ma'am," Emily Leopard says. All proper, now, with other eyes on you all. "She kept me dancing all afternoon. After Sharper gave me a good warm-up."

"Silly fool," the Warden says. "My silly fool." Not so proper. But Barbara Torch is shameless, in her life at Boarbristle, at least. "So you're heading for the baths, then?"

"Yes, Warden."

"Lead on, Miss Woodbine, lead on," Barbara Torch tells you.

Fay gives you a wink as you happen to cross her path. You see her fingers moving in a little pattern. Witch sign, you imagine, something impolite, but you can't follow the little arcs.

You need this soak almost as much as Emily Leopard does.

"You were solid, Morgan," Emily tells you. "I didn't think you'd fly, here in Leontes, but you proved me wrong. And you proved yourself worthy."

The Warden laughs, water running down her bare brown skin. "I believed in her," she says. "And she's proved me right. Come, Miss Leopard, let's tuck you in for a little rest before supper." The Warden stands, boosting Emily Leopard with one hand clasped to Emily's, and one firmly cupping the younger scholar's buttock. Barbara Torch gives you a long, steady look. "Poor Morgan, you look tired out. Go rest." The Warden gives Emily's buttock a squeeze. "Let's go, Leopard."

"Yes, ma'am," Emily Leopard says. "I'm not tired tired."

"Come," the Warden says.

"Warden," you say, rising to honor her going.

Barbara Torch grins at you. "Haha, Woodbine, sit, sit. I'm not so stuck-up on precedence as Headmistress. And, if I'm not mistaken, one of your special friends is on her way."

Emily snickers. The Warden squeezes her buttock more tightly. Emily squeaks.

"Come, Emily," the Warden says. "Good evening, Woodbine."

Well at least someone cares. Between the Tutor and Master Elbegast, you're not doing very well in making progress. Maybe Fay can help sketch out an idea for a warding charm, so that Whiplash and Hawk's petty hangers-on will give up on harassing her. And then that'll be your workpiece for your Enchantments and Devices work.

Rolls (Master Elbegast, Encounter): Miss. (Preston Sharper, Encounter): Miss. DEAL WITH YOUR HANGER-ON (Appease Emily Leopard, +2 Ambition, -1 HANGER-ON): 2d6+1 = 9+1. On a 10+, you may spend Emily Leopard's FAVOR to turn her from a HANGER-ON to a FRIEND.

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, Warden Barbara Torch, and the Warden's pet scholar Emily Leopard.

What's your next Move in getting established at House Leontes?