2021, Stage 3 Group B: Gryffindor vs Slytherin Finished

Credit to Dmitri Jones, who made these here

This was it. It was the day of her first ever duel.

She was shaking.

As she waited to be called up to the piste, her mind was fogged up with thoughts of how she wasn't good enough. How her spellcasting never seemed to work. How her owl now hated her for what seemed like eternity. How careless she was. She did her best to keep pushing these thoughts down, but at such a time, it was difficult to do so.

When she originally signed up for the club, she thought it a good opportunity to get some practice in spellcasting, now it just seemed like another way to find out that she was a failure. A lot had changed in those few short months since the term started back up, and while her nerves were definitely showing, she was determined to at least try. If not for herself, then at least for her partner.

She made her way up to the piste, standing across from the two older Gryffindor's that she was to duel. Still shaking, she took a deep breath, and prepared herself.

Action: Doing as strategized.

As much as she hated to admit it, Katrina was eagerly awaiting her duel. Katrina liked to see herself as protecting and helping rather than threatening and harming, but the adrenaline rush of dueling was so satisfying. Not to mention the fact that Katrina really enjoyed the recognition of being a duelist and her name had become a little bit more known for the sport. It seemed that the rush and the glory of dueling may have gotten a little bit too her head, that is, until she recognized that this duel would likely be harder to win. It had really only been a good stroke of luck that she hadn't lost her last duel, luck to keep herself from passing out due to the Curse of the Bogies, and luck that her opponent backfired her last few casts. Katrina knew better than to rely on the same luck this time.

She now sat below the dueling stage, spinning her wand with her fingers, lifting up to the balls of her feet and then back down repeatedly. Anticipation lay thick in the air and Katrina only added to that. As soon as she was called onto the stage, Katrina instantly became cool, collected, and confidant. Her common dueling persona. She spun her wand once in her fingers sizing up her opponents for a moment, retuning Illowy's nod.

Katrina then took a glance at Calanthe and gave her a quick nod. Let's do this. She took a readying breath and prepared herself for the worst.

@Calanthe Choi @Illowy Magnard @Starlee Kennedy

@Katrina Walker @Starlee Kennedy @Illowy Magnard

Stepping onto the piste, the feeling of complete dread overwhelmed any sort of anticipation for Calanthe’s final duel of the year. It was the same type of fear that she felt during the Hufflepuff duel. But instead of it being onset by the shame of loss to the ravens, this panic was due more to the expectation of what would come at her from her opponents’ wands. Calanthe was not sure how much times the badgers’ spells hit, but the memories of being knocked about and lit on fire were still fresh in her mind. The Gryffindor’s win afforded her some confidence but, just like the day of the second duel, attacks of anxiety were beating down on her from every corner.

Calanthe supposed that this state of mind could not be further from what she believed Gryffindor stood for. Yet, she was back on the piste for the third time. So, that counts for something, right?

She observed her opponents - a familiar first year and and older girl. The third year shared some words with her partner, and the action made Calanthe think. Had Katrina ever wished that her partner talked more? Communicated in the heat of the battle? Shared some kind of praise or support depending on the outcome of her spells? She did not know how to feel about that deliberation in her mind, but the time to work through those thoughts was not now.

Returning her partner’s nod, Calanthe raised her wand, stance less unconvincing than before. Let’s go.

Round 1

Katrina Walker VS Starlee Kennedy

Reducio

Katrina cast Ventus at Starlee
Wisdom DC: 11 + 2 (Illowy's Lovely Creature) = 13
Wisdom Check: [d20: 18] + 11 = 29 > 13 → Success
Split Chance (Ventus): [d10:1] → does not split
Accuracy Check: [d20: 2] + 6 = 8
Evasion Check: [d20: 8] + 6 = 14
8 < 14 → Miss

Calanthe Choi VS Starlee Kennedy

Reducio

Calanthe cast Incendio Duo at Starlee
Wisdom DC: 12 +2 (Illowy's Lovely Creature) = 14
Wisdom Check: [d20: 11] + 7 = 18 > 14 → Success
Accuracy Check: [d20: 16] + 9 = 25
Evasion Check: [d20: 16] + 6 = 22
25 > 22 → Hit
Duration: [d3:2] = 1 round (The target suffers –60 HP per round)
Damage: 60 + 9 × 10 = 150

Illowy Magnard VS Katrina Walker

Reducio

Illowy cast Bullarum Immortalem at Katrina
Wisdom DC: 9
Wisdom Check: [d20: 19] + 9 = 28 > 9 → Success
Accuracy Check: [d20: 14] + 9 - 1 (Kat's Charmer) = 22
Evasion Check: [d20: 7] + 8 = 15
22 > 15 → Hit
Effect: –2 Evasion, until nullified

Starlee Kennedy VS Calanthe Choi

Reducio

Starlee cast Flipendo at Calanthe
Wisdom DC: 9
Wisdom Check: [d20: 20] + 8 = 28 > 9 → Critical Success
Accuracy Check: [d20: 10] + 5 - 1 (Kat's Charmer) = 14
Evasion Check: [d20: 16] + 6 = 22
14 < 22→ Miss

The match kicked off with a wide array of spells blasting back and forth across the stage: fire, force, wind and... bubbles?

Starlee may have been shaking, but her nerves didn't detract from her first cast. She fired off an exemplary Flipendo, a powerful punch of energy, though perhaps her trembling- or the fact that both opponents pointed their wands her way- put off her aim. Had Calanthe not dodged so efficiently, she would have been in for a world of hurt. It was reasonable for the Gryffindor to anxiously anticipate the pain which came with a duel, yet she would begin by inflicting a great deal of agony herself. She retaliated against Starlee with a strong iteration of Incendio. The flame found its target, catching the Slytherin's robes alight. Determined not to allow this duel to be dragged out like the last, Katrina cast a billowing burst of air at Starlee. In spite of the harsh heat scorching her skin, the witch dodged out of the way, avoiding the wind tunnel entirely. Conducting herself with stoic grace, Illowy did not allow her nerves to show through like her partner's. After a word of encouragement, she cast Bullarum Immortalem, and Katrina would soon find her path obstructed by an obnoxious cluster of non-bursting bubbles. She would have to wade through these things to avoid any incoming spells.

OOC Notes

Reducio

• Temporarily OOC substituting for Willow until she's back after the weekend!
• You'll have 96 hours (4 days) from my timestamp to post and owl me your moves. Owls should be sent in by April 28th. You may request a 24 hour extension via owls if needed.
• If you do not owl me an action or post by the deadline then your action is discarded.
• The word count requirement is 50 words for each post, but feel free to write more. It is highly discouraged to describe the spell you will be casting as the other team can base their strategy on it.
• For all communication regarding the duel, please only contact me via owls.
• Your stats, abilities, and spells have been locked. You may still update your trunk, but any new spells or abilities will not be used in this duel.
• Happy duelling, and have fun!

(Spectator Thread - Afternoon Slot - 12:30 - 13:30)

Hello my beautiful duellers!

Thank you to Pericles for handling this mod for me this weekend, I am truly grateful. Your humble moderator is now back home and ready to rumble! He has informed me that moves have not been sent, so if you could all kindly send them back my way that would be lovely! There are just about 46 hours until the next mod.

For any further questions, comments, or concerns, they can be directed into my owls once more. Thank you guys for your patience and understanding this week!
@Katrina Walker @Calanthe Choi @Illow Magnard @Starlee Kennedy

Credit to Dmitri Jones, who made these here

@Illowy Magnard | @Katrina Walker | @Calanthe Choi
Mentioning: @Cassandra Ironwoods

It seemed her teammate was possibly concerned about her nervousness, which she was sure everyone watching would have taken note of by now. Illowy lent her some words of advice, although it was perhaps more terrifying that Illowy had hoped. 'Leave this platform on your feet?' She recalled the duels she had watched last round, remembering how to end the duel... was that one team was totally knocked out. She nodded back at her partner, though it perhaps wasn't quite clear due to the shaking. She did hear the cheers of Cash in the crowd, and perhaps that's what lead her to stop shaking and focus on the task at hand. She had support, she just had to remember that.

She raised her wand and said the first spell that came to mind; "Flipendo!" And, for once, her spell cast quite well, although her opponent managed to dodge it cleanly. She was too focused on the one she hadn't cast at, and so she easily dodged her oncoming Ventus, but she was caught (literally) by the other, one she somewhat recognized. She didn't have much time to dwell on that, as... now she was on fire. 'Ah... AHHHH!' she stuttered as she felt the heat of the flames on her robes. She remembered the other duels she had watched, two of her friends had ended up on fire then as well. She tried to push the burning sensation away as she began to prepare for her next action, her jaw clenched tightly.

Action: Doing as strategized.

Before the duel began, Katrina took one more look at her opponents. Sizing them both up and trying to get a good idea tactic wise. The first was a younger girl, Willow announced her name as Starlee. She seemed, quite honestly, petrified. In any other situation, Katrina would probably be over there trying to help settle her nerves or at least not be more intimidating, but this was a duel, and as sadistic as it was, her nervousness might come to their advantage. The next was Illowy, a fellow third year, they had been in the Summer Camp cabin together last summer for the Quidditch game. They hadn’t really talked much at all one on one, but Katrina still respected her a good deal. Honestly it was a shame they were against each other.

Calanthe seemed a bit more worried this match than last match. It was easily justified, their previous opponents had been vicious and targeted her for the majority of the last duel while Katrina got to just do her thing without much drawbacks. And she really hadn’t had the satisfaction of outlasting her opponents like Katrina did to spur her forward. Katrina knew there wasn’t much she could do in the way of preventing that this time but to win faster, which was her plan. Win.

Willow started the match and Katrina took a steadying breath. “Ventus!” It was a powerful spell, the wind spell. Although, Katrina hadn’t gotten so much practice with it than the other spells, like the Fire Spell and Knockback that she’d practiced so much. Sadly, her aim wasn’t so true and Starlee had plenty of time to dodge away from the spell. That was, not before she stepped right into Calanthe’s Fire Spell. Katrina bit her tongue as Starlee cried out due to the flames that were licking their way up her robes. This wasn’t a time for sympathy.

Though, while Katrina was distracted, Illowy had ample time to retaliate. With—Bubbles?? A shocked Katrina waved away the bubbles from her face, having another moment of distraction. That certainly wasn’t what she’d expected for a first move. But there had to be a reason for it. Anyway, Katrina refocused, this was also not a time to let the duel slip away.

@Calanthe Choi @Illowy Magnard @Starlee Kennedy