2021, Stage 2 Group A: Gryffindor vs Hufflepuff

𝓣his was it. Duelling stage two had officially begun. The Blazing Badgers were back, and they were ready to bring the heat. After the success in the first round, Amadea was feeling quite happy with the performance from their team. However, that was no reason to become cocky. Each duel Amadea had to approach with an open mind and the determination she always carried with her to prove herself and her team worthy.

Today they were paired up against a Gryffindor team; Amadea recognized them as she had moderated their duel against the Slytherins during the first round. She cracked her knuckles nervously and smiled at Lydia as they prepared for the first round. They could totally do this - they had already won one duel so far and it was clear they worked well together as team. Plus, they had spent a lot of time strategizing for this duel. Amadea closed her eyes and took a deep breath, reminding herself that it was important to make sure she didn't let herself hyperventilate. Nerves could be a good thing if it gave her some extra adrenaline but it could easily turn sour if it led to a full on panic attack. She gripped her wand tightly, reminding herself of the feeling of the wood against her fingers. You can do this, Amadea reminded herself. We can do this. "Good luck!" she said to Lydia. She smiled at the Gryffindors as well. "Good luck to you guys," she said to AJ and Alec.

Action: As strategized

Weirdly enough, as Lydia walked inside the Duelling Club excitement wasn't the main feeling she was filled with in that moment; it was replaced by anxiety, and she was trying her best to keep it at bay. During the first stage everything was new and exciting, and after their victory and the really good performance of the Hufflepuff team, the young Captain could feel the pressure of performing equally good, if not better, during this second stage. Lydia had always been competitive, and she had always tried her best to do things flawlessly, so she knew that to do so she had to ignore the anxiety as much as possible.

She looked towards her partner, Amadea, and smiled back at her; the young Hufflepuff felt extremely happy to have her as duelling partner and Co-Captain, since they worked really well together. To prepare for the duel against Gryffindor they had strategized a lot, and tried to come up with the solution that could give them the best outcome.

Once she had walked on the platform and at her place, her foot nervously tapping on the floor, Lydia took a deep breath before turning towards Amadea. "Good luck! We can do this!" she answered, and once she had fixed her eyes on their opponents she gave them a small smile and nodded along Amadea's words. Then her eyes focused on her target, and she raised her wand, ready to cast her spell.

Action: Doing as strategised.

The atmosphere was familiar, practically the same as it had been all those months ago, yet it also had a degree of individual distinction. For one, as AJ approached the centre, he didn't feel the same amount of venom that he had when facing the Slytherin team (no pun intended.) It was clear that the spectator were obviously interested in seeing their team claim victory, but they weren't out for blood...He hoped.

As he walked closer, with Alec by his side, he took a brief moment to examine the scar on his hand. A constant reminder of his embarrassing failures in his first ever duel. Mistakes he hoped not to repeat.

He needed to push that away, he could ponder all this later. He looked up at his opposition and smiled brightly at the pair. "Am exceeted tah duel ya booth! Bust ef luck!" He gave both of them a polite bow as the rules were clarified and both teams took to their sides.

AJ drew his wand and twirled it on his fingers briefly before gripping it tightly in his hands. He looked over to Alec and smirked, giving a small nod. "Weh go' thus." He assured his teammate.

Action: Sticking to the plan

Today was the day, yes there may have been a lack of needed confidence in his abilities this time, but Alec had thought it through. Besides, AJ had enough for the both of them, or at least Alec hoped so. The duelling captain did act in a manner there was nothing you could do but think such. Maybe it was just Alec. Either way, win or lose the chance of possible failure didn't scare Alec this time. He'd failed once already, hadn't he? He'd be fine, and hopefully after having been back to the books a bit more prepared. Especially against the fourth year they were facing.

Speaking of fourth years, the one they were against had moderated their duell last time. She seemed a bit taken aback by some of the spells; he hoped she'd be fine this time, he'd noticed and felt bad but couldn't do anything about it. They'd see what would happen now. The fourth year did seem a bit intimidating now, even with the wishes of good luck to Alec and AJ's team. Maybe she's the only one who should've been allowed to do this. All the insults from the Slytherin team weren't any fun. The insults affecting him not even ones meant toward his own; the team had spent the whole time insulting each other and somehow won.

That factor didn't give Alec any hope for winning at all, but he wasn't going to let this get him down. He was here to learn; it didn't mean he needed to win all the time. Alec smiled nervously AJ's way, wand in hand, "I know, we definitely got this." Alec's voice didn't waver in confidence, it was odd and not what he'd expected from his own mouth. "Best of luck!" He said to other team, and with that readied himself to cast his first spell.

Action: Doing as planned.

Round 1

Amadea Campbell vs Alec Mason

Reducio

Amadea cast Tickling Charm at Alec.
Wisdom DC: 9
Wisdom Check: [d20: 11] + 9 = 20, success
Accuracy Check: [d20: 9] + 10 = 19
Auto-Dodge Evasive Maneuvers: [d10: 3], no auto-dodge
Evasion Check: [d20: 15] + 7 = 22
19 < 22 → Miss

Lydia Cooper vs Allister-Jameson MacAllister

Reducio

Lydia cast Curse of the Bogies at AJ.
Wisdom DC: 12
Wisdom Check: [d20: 9] + 10 = 19, success
Auto-Hit Amadea's Calming Presence: [d10: 5], no auto-hit
Accuracy Check: [d20: 19] + 5 = 24
Evasion Check: [d20: 18] + 7 = 25
24 < 25 → Miss

Allister-Jameson MacAllister vs Amadea Campbell

Reducio

AJ cast Disarming Charm at Amadea.
Wisdom DC: 10 + 3 Lydia's Lovely Creature + Part-Veela = 13
Wisdom Check: [d20: 20] + 8 = 28, crit success
Accuracy Check: [d20: 15] + 7 = 22
Auto-Dodge Evasive Maneuvers: [d10: 8], no auto-dodge
Evasion Check: [d20: 16] + 10 = 26
22 < 26 → Miss

Alec Mason vs Amadea Campbell

Reducio

Alec cast Fire-Making Spell at Amadea.
Wisdom DC: 9 + 3 Lydia's Lovely Creature + Part-Veela = 12
Wisdom Check: [d20: 13] + 6 = 19, success
Accuracy Check: [d20: 6] + 7 = 13
Auto-Dodge Evasive Maneuvers: [d10: 3], no auto-dodge
Evasion Check: [d20: 12] + 10 = 22
13 < 22 → Miss

As soon as she gave the word, the duel started, spells flying across the platform. They all had managed to get their spells off successfully, and AJ's Disarming Spell looked particularly impressive. Amadea managed to avoid both that powerful jet of red and the flames that burst from Alec's wand, though the team-up may have been enough of a distraction to throw off the aim of her Tickling Charm. If Alec was ticklish, he was probably feeling quite grateful right now.

Unlike the Gryffindors, each Hufflepuff went for a separate target. Despite not being the target of any spells, Lydia couldn't manage to land what was sure to be a nasty Curse of the Bogies on AJ, though the spell had likely come much too close for comfort.

So far no damage had been dealt, every duellist as fresh as when they'd started, though perhaps a little annoyed that the strategies they'd likely spent lots of time on hadn't come to fruition. There was still plenty of time to make up for one miss, though, and Bridget was sure they would.

OOC Info

1. You have 96 hours from now to write your posts (50 words min), in which you describe what happened in the first round.
2. In the same time period, owl me (Bridget Collins) your team's actions. Do not hint at your next actions in your post.
3. If you don't post in the allotted time frame, your action is void. Extensions up to 24 hours can be requested before the deadline.
4. Good luck, and have fun!

@Amadea Campbell | @Lydia Cooper | @Allister-Jameson MacAllister | @Alec Mason

The moment the duel started, Lydia could still feel some of the anxiety lingering in her mind. Maybe it was because of this that her Curse of the Bogies did not hit AJ, even though it still flew pretty close to the Gryffindor Captain.

Feeling a little frustrated with herself, she shook her head and concentrated more on the duel, just as she saw Amadea avoid not one, but two spells. She frowned slightly, thinking that she did not think about the fact that their opponents might have gone for Amadea from the start, since she was a fourth year student.

"Are you alright?" she asked to her duelling partner, before she set her eyes on their opponents, ready to cast again.

Action: Doing as strategised.

𝓐nd just like that, the duel began. She nodded one last time at her opponents before concentrating. Then, the spells began flying. Amadea commanded " Rictusempra!" She pointed her wand toward Alec and watched as the spell flew through the air. The Gryffindor was quick enough to evade her spell and Amadea watched in horror as both boys aimed for her.

Thankfully, she manuevered her body enough to avoid both of the incoming spells. Her wand was still tightly clenched between her fingers and there would be no fire...yet. She took a deep breath. "Never better," Amadea replied to Lydia, throwing her fellow captain a quick smile before readying for the next round. She wanted to make sure she was as prepared as possible for whatever might come their way.

Action: As strategized

The duel began and all involved wasted no time getting to business. In the same split second that Lydia's Curse came whizzing towards him the Gryffindor Captain spun and ducked down, motioning his wand and aiming towards Amadea "Expelliarmus!"

However it seemed the shot from Lydia had thrown of his aim slightly as Amadea masterfully dodged the shots from the pair of them. "Yoo've go' mooves!" He complimented the Fourth year before turning to her younger teammate. "Und tha' neerleh go' meh squeer 'en the jaw. No' bad!" He complimented with a grin.

Of course he did feel bad that both he and Alec took a shot at Amadea. Lydia was by no means a lesser threat, and could quite easily take both the boys down if they weren't careful. However, the knowledge of the Fourth year couldn't be understated.

He took a stance again and readied himself for the next incoming volley.

They'd all missed this round. It was both an ego boost and a drop. A boost because he'd been able to avoid a spell, a drop because the fourth year had done the same.

Either way he felt ready, he felt prepared this time, like a breath of fresh air had just hit the boy and he could finally stop holding his breath. At the very least, still, they were going to be able to say they had made an attempt.

Alec looked back AJ's way offering a smile as to say good work on your casting before readying himself in the stance to be prepared to cast a spell once again.With AJ complimenting the other team, and good vibes or whatever all around.

It put Alec at ease, more than ready and prepared to win this time. Even if it truly didn't matter who won, at least everybody was being nice about it. He'd make an attempt later to congratulate them after.

Action: Doing as planned.