Hogwarts Summer Camp 2021 Chess Combat (Match 2) Closed

Banner made by Winnie Harper

August 14th, 2021

A duelling chess game. How did Irina find even find herself here? She wasn’t a duellist and had switched out of group five at Koldovstoretz because she didn’t feel like she was reaching her full potential with learning how to be a duellist. Instead she switched to potions and stayed on the broom racing team. Irina wanted to help people and really enjoyed the team aspect of broom racing. So, what made her go back to duelling? The answer was that they needed her.

There was a type of duelling match going on between Hogwarts and all the international teams. Since there most likely wasn’t going to be a broom race this summer, she was invited to play in the duelling match. Irina wasn’t going to do it until they said that not enough students signed up and asked her to. The idea that she got to go against Hogwarts was one of the factors that made her do it.

She did not like the school one bit and was getting her competition face on. Irina could be brutal when she was competitive so you wouldn’t want to cross her. Arriving at the scene of the game, she found that it was like wizards chess but with people and was placed in the Queen spot. If she got knocked unconscious, the game was over and trust me when I say, that was not going to happen at all. This was one last duel for the books for Irina and she was going to make it count.

Action: Doing as strategized
Health: 900/900
Allies: Henrietta, Maksim, Amaury, and Felix (The iNPC team)
Paragon of Health Allies: Maksim and Amaury

Spending half his summer at Hogwarts had been a goal in itself, but when the opportunity to duel came forth, Felix couldn't help but take the bait. It had been difficult meeting new people, especially since he was used to his Durmstrang dueling mates, but so far none of his fellow duelists had irritated him that much, so he counted it as a win. Duelling chess was a method of the game that he was unfamiliar with. Wizard's chess was something he played with his younger sister's often, so it couldn't be that much different, right? Whatever. Wearing his usual black leather jacket, combat boots, and chains, it was with an air of confidence he entered the duelling area. Upon seeing Henrietta, he would offer her a playful wink. Perhaps a step away from his usual stoic/sarcastic nature, but what could he say? He was in a good mood.

Vipers? He had never been afraid of snakes. His gaze flickered over the various members of the team, sizing them up silently. A few looked more threatening than the others Hey, at least the Viper's queen had pretty nice hair. He could respect that. Either way, it didn't matter, he was just a rook. He would take out as many members of the opposing team as he could, and then he'd go out with a bang. With a smirk playing on his lips, he directed his gaze to the girls standing across from him and readied his wand.

RPing as iNPC Maksim Aleksandrovich Preobrazhensky.

Dialogue in italics is Russian.

Another year, another Chess Combat match. Last year when he'd duelled side by side with Kheanu had been a dream come true for the smitten Durmstrang student. Plus, he had found a new friend in Alisa, which he considered to be one of the best choices of his life. So obviously, even though he wouldn't be on a team with Alisa and Kheanu again, Max elected to participate in this year's Chess Combat with absolutely no hesitation. He was dressed rather casually in athletic clothing that would allow him to move unrestricted, and his flattop had been shaped to perfection. After all, if he looked good, he would feel good, and if he felt good, he would duel good. Duel... well? Whatever, he's Russian. His English doesn't have to be perfect.

Maksim paused by their match's moderator, @Anastasia Beckett, before taking his spot on the board. "A beautiful witch like you watching over a match like ours?" he said with his charming-est smile, his English weighed down by his heavy Russian accent. "I can feel God smiling on me today! You, miss... you are my lucky charm!" Excusing himself with a sweeping bow, Maksim practically skipped over to his spot, taking his spot as bishop with his head held high.

Farther down their team's lineup, Maksim spotted a familiar face, which helped settle the slight nerves in his stomach. The other team looked intimidating for sure, especially the blond bloke that was their queen. "Amaury!" he exclaimed with a delighted smile, waving vigorously to the French student [@Cecily Quinn]. "You look nice," he added, still beaming from ear to ear. "And now we will win! Favreau is a good... eh, what is the word? Oh! He is a good dueller, friends," Max explained to his teammates, the most of whom were wildly unfamiliar to him.

Ah, right. Etiquette! He should introduce himself.

Smiling at the rather intense-looking blonde [@Lavinia Cloven] on his right, he said, "I am Maksim Preobrazhensky, to you I am Max. It is easier for you, yes? Yes." Nodding abruptly, he shifted his focus away from his team's queen and waved to the fella [@Winnie Harper] on the other end of his team, not bothering to shout over two other people. Finally, he extended his hand to the rather pretty student [@Levi Drakos] on his left. To his delight, he recognized the head of blonde curls- she had been one of the attendees of his birthday party last month, one of the Americans he and Slava had invited out of the blue. "Ah, Madame Montagne, we meet again! Today, we will become brothers in blood. To victory, friends!"

And with that, Maksim readied his wand and turned his attention to their opponents. They were a sturdy-looking bunch, although he had full faith in his team's capabilities to knock them down. His happy-go-lucky expression and demeanor faded and morphed into a mask of grim determination, bordering on a snarl.

There was no doubt about it- Maksim was out for blood.

Doing as strategized.
Charmer Opponents: Viridian Vipers [Adonis, Sarah, Dmitri, Violet, Astrea]

Banners by Winnie Harper. Edited because I forgot that Ret and Max have actually met prior to this event.

After the first Chess Combat match finished, Violet saw that her team came next. Taking a deep breath, she walked into the field and as she was a Bishop, she allocated herself into the position she was supposed to be in, taking out her wand. As her first official ''duel'', Violet was excited and worried about all the possibilities of winning or losing against the other schools, but she knew that losing was unacceptable, so winning would be the correct road for them.

As strategised

stamina 6 evasion 10 strength 1 wisdom 10 arcane 3 accuracy 10
Perfectionist & Terrible Presence

Banner by Winnie Harper

RPing as Henrietta Montagne of Ilvermorny

Joining the group was Henrietta Montagne, coiled blonde hair pulled back in a tight bun with only a few loose strands dangling on either side of her face. This duel took its place in her thoughts the moment she woke up, as though her dream had bled into reality, and would likely be the final thing before the night consumed her whole. Pride would inch its way into the train of thought, convinced those thoughts would be reflections on her victory, undisputed and glorified. In preparation, she’d arrived in casual athletic clothing, ready to do anything to smash her opponents to the ground. A rather normal attitude for someone who looked so harmless.

This summer was Ret’s first time out of America, and much more importantly, her first time dueling with wizards and witches outside of the walls of Ilvermorny. They seemed to be going against a set of the hosts, three international schools banding together to altogether be invidious guests. Zest had brewed within her, only strengthening as the summer afternoon dragged on, like the dawn knew too that it was a day for the scrapbooks. The girl had watched the others with a villainous glint in her eye and been positively giddy by the time she was to take the floor. Standing alongside the blonde, teammates she was eager to meet, and some who had already made their good impression.

Bright hair caught her attention, Felix [@Winnie Harper] apparently also in her group in some sort of divine luck. He cast a wink toward her, an uncharacteristic display of acknowledgement, but not one that would warrant any argument from Ret, who beamed back in his direction. The very tall boy [@Ami Procoppio] standing next to her tore her attention away from Felix, extending his hand which was probably twice the size of hers. Ret accepted anyway, with great confidence radiating from her as she gave him a sweet smile. It was then, staring into his gaze, she recognized the fellow: his birthday had been a while ago, and Ret had attended. She hadn't realized how huge he was. “Pleasure to see you again!” Brothers in blood, eh? Were blood pacts more common on this side of the water? They hadn't mentioned this before. “Madame Montagne?” It was oddly nice, her tone didn't object.

“To victory,” She’d repeat after Maksim, and draw her wand. Many would claim there were two outcomes to this match: a win and the dreaded loss. In the eyes of Ret, and happily shared in the threatening and determined glares of her teammates, there was only one: Triumph.

Edited to reflect that Ret and Max knew each other prior.

Action | Doing as strategized.

Interacting with the Viridian Vipers

Cocky - Shea Coulee (Explicit)

Roleplaying as Dmitri Kazimir Jones
Perfectionist | Perfectionist II | Spell Spread | Terrible Presence | Evasive Maneuvers
Sta 10, Str 2, Eva 6, Wis 14, Arc 11, Acc 15

Surely, from another person's point-of-view, the opportunity given to the Viridian Vipers to represent Hogwarts in the Inter-School Chess Combat was something to die for. And maybe for most, it really was.

However, for one lone Slytherin fifth-year, things weren't quite as exciting as they might seem.

This was Dmitri Kazimir Jones' first-ever (and quickly turning into the last) Summer Camp that he attended, and for something he had to sacrifice a whole school break for, it didn't really live up to his expectations. The whole thing was just like being at home—except for worse food, louder people, and crappier living spaces you had to share with a plethora of other... characters.

Not one moment in this entire gig has Dmitri ever been at peace. And with the impending OWLs looming over the O-average Slytherin, to say he came into the arena a little more menacing than ever was an understatement. Certainly, for anyone who was from Hogwarts and knew of the boy (who wouldn't, though), any step further than his normal mood of disgusted-with-everything-else-that-moves didn't bode well for anyone.

But that would entirely be to his benefit this time, anyway.

Dmitri would turn to his teammates (read: underlings) and remark in a feigned amused tone for everyone to hear. "I don't think our visitors sent us their best people.

"I mean, aside from weirder accents and slightly pastier complexions, they don't seem to be a huge improvement from our Hogwarts contemporaries."

The opposing team and its entirety would then be subject to the boy's signature glare. "Whom we defeated. Easily. So I don't see how this leaves a chance of any of you embarrassing me in front of Wizarding Europe."

Widening his stance and pointing his chestnut wand at the other schools' representatives, Dmitri would then add, "But just in case you do, just know we'll have a small talk afterward."

Similar words were said to the other two teams of the Hogwarts contingent, and every one of them knew the Viper Captain didn't settle for idle threats.

---
Doing as strategized

24 hours until the deadline! Make sure to post and get your actions submitted prior to then. If you have questions or notice something odd about the mod post, don't hesitate to owl or DM one of the moderators (Alan Vanes or Anastasia Beckett). Good luck and enjoy!

[font=century gothic]

Interacting with the Viridian Vipers
English • #2E8B57 | Welsh • #0080BF | French • #804080

This year had been a year of firsts for the young Slytherin. It had been Sarah’s first summer camp, her first holiday away from the manor (or more specifically her father), and her first chance at representing her house for something she was actually eager to partake in. Despite herself, the girl had found the past two weeks to be some of the most exciting of her life and having let her guard down more than she’d thought she was able had turned out to be an entirely positive decision – yet another first.

So, despite the nerves, and the anxiety she could feel fizzing away within her, she was ready for this match like she’d never been ready for anything before in her life. And though she was rarely the optimistic type, she had complete faith in her team and their ability – having watched them triumph over the past year – and knew that they had every asset at their disposal which would allow them to win. Her captain seemed to think so too as he gave his little pep talk, one which held less pep than even her father had managed when he’d tried to convince her that going to another of his client’s balls was a good idea. Though she was still new and a lesser Slytherin might have cowered at the not-so-subtle threat to Dmitri’s words, Sarah thrived off of it, idly twirling her wand around deft fingers as her eyes moved over their competition. She could practically feel her magic bubbling away just below the surface of her skin, eager to get out.

They would win this match, as they’d won the duels over the past year against their fellow Hogwarts students. Sarah took her position as the bishop, and spared the briefest of glances at her teammates, ones she knew she had to trust if they were going to win. Her eyes caught on her captain once more, in his unsurprising position as queen, and she momentarily cast her mind back to Santario’s grandparents’ mystery meat pies and was glad that they’d chosen lamb over the duelling captain. She smirked as she focussed back on the match – ready to come out victorious.

Doing as strategized

interacting: iNPC team, @Ami Procoppio as Maksim Preobrazhensky | mentioning: Slytherin team

Amaury strode onto the field, wand already dangling loosely from his fingers. While much of the rest of his time at Hogwarts' summer camp had been... well... underwhelming, the real attraction of the week was right here in front of him. Although he was rather a traditionalist when it came to duelling, he could appreciate the strategic challenges and fresh new look this "chess combat" brought to the sport. Besides, convoluted duelling with plenty of extra rules was far preferable to no duelling at all. Anyway, Amaury had travelled all the way to Scotland to spend his summer break amidst a rowdy group of adolescents-- they might as well make it worth his while with a bit of controlled violence.

He took his place as the bishop of the foreign students' second fielded team. "Amaury Favreau," he said by way of introduction, turning to face his teammates. Etiquette suggested he offered a hand to shake, but he opted for a simple head nod at his fellow competitors so as to avoid reaching down the row. "And... ah, Maksim," he replied with hesitation as he heard his name from farther down the row. "Lovely to see you again." The greeting was far from genuine. Amaury continued to be put off by the Durmstrang boy's unfaltering grin. Not only was there no possible way the boy could be so happy all the time, making Amaury naturally suspicious of the smile, but the playful attitude hinted not even the slightest at the chilling side of Maksim hiding just below the surface-- the one Amaury had once experienced firsthand.

"Charmant," he muttered in distaste as Maksim finished touting Amaury's praises. It pained Amaury to admit, but Maksim was something of a dueller himself, and while he couldn't say he was thrilled to have Max on this end of the field, but he would rather be on the Russian's side than facing off against him.

Amaury turned to face his opponents. A sorry looking bunch, if he was being honest. They were children, most even younger than he was, and their looks of intimidation fell just short of intimidating. Amateurs. How could they stand a chance?

ACTION: as strategised
charmer & lovely creature opponents: slytherin team

charmant | charming