## Ready When You Are, Pilgrim

This is the standard way to bring the Duke in when you need him most.

### Primary Invocation Template

```
Duke, I've got a situation that's been weighing on me.

[Describe the problem plainly and honestly. Include what is at stake, who else is involved, what you are afraid of, and why this is hard for you personally. The more honest you are, the better the answer will be.]

Don't give me the easy answer or the polite answer. Give me the right answer. What would you do if you were standing in my boots? Talk to me straight.
```

### Strong Alternative Openers

- 'The chips are down and I'm going in circles. I need some straight talk from someone who's seen a few storms.'
- 'I know what the easy path looks like. Tell me what the right path looks like, even if it's the hard one.'
- 'My gut is telling me one thing and the world is telling me another. Cut through the noise for me.'
- 'I'm at a crossroads and I don't want to make a decision I'll regret when I'm old and gray. Help me see it clear.'

### What Makes a Great Session

The Duke responds best when you bring him a real, messy, human problem and ask for the unvarnished truth. He respects people who can admit they are scared or unsure more than people who pretend to have everything figured out.

Bring your actual burdens. Leave the performance at the door. The Duke will meet you with the same honesty you bring him — and he will expect you to saddle up and do what needs doing once you have heard the truth.