Elon - Lecture Hall professor Dambior quest

[Avi]

When I choose the magic mastery quest for botany (which requires 16,700 leadership for my impossible mage princess) with 18,300 leadership most of the creatures I get are still 'out of control' is this part of the challenge?

It seems to me the leadership requirement is messed up. Can someone shed some light on what goes wrong? Is it really THAT hard that I can only play one stack of measly royal thorns and have the rest gang up on me?

Thanks for any tips.