I'm a Hugger, Not a Fighter... PV closed

Outfit: Black dueling robes with small silver stitches along the hems in the shape of runes. Text: Italics: Thoughts Normal text: Actions and general description of what is happening #5doo8f: Talking in English #1a8ca2: Talking in Norwegian (Translations under revelio) Interacting with: @Emily Shephard _____________________________

Pet: Nótt ___________________________________

River had woken up that Sunday morning with a strange sort of energy humming in her veins, buzzing just under the surface of her skin. It felt like she had been filled with adrenaline, or about 14 cups of pure caffeine. The feeling kept growing within her all throughout breakfast and lunch until finally she couldn't take it anymore.

Her strides were quick and determined as she made her way up to the fourth floor, fully focused on entering the Dueling Clubroom and hexing the first raining dummy she saw, anything to get rid of the weird excess energy that had been irritating her the entire day.

She opened the door to the expansive room and smiled when she saw her friend, Emily standing in front of a dummy, wand in hand. The Hufflepuff girl greeted River in a friendly tone before asking if the Slytherin had also come to the Dueling Club for some target practice.

"Hi Emily," she gave a calm smile to her friend, "I guess you could say that. I've been feeling particularly energised today so I thought I'd come here and let off some steam."

River looked over at her friend contemplatively, pondering for a moment, "Would you perhaps care for a friendly spar?"

Word count: 209/200

Reducio

OOC: Since this is set back in First Year I assume this will be First Year Spells only?

26th May 2024

Commencing Friendly Spar with @River Luxley and @Ruckus Weems
Speech: #cfa120
Thoughts: Italics
OOC Notes: Yep! First Year spells only would make sense

Emily listened and nodded as River spoke. She could see the same familiar itch that she herself was trying to scratch, even if there was a little more in her conviction that she wouldn't want to trouble River over. The idea of a "friendly spar" however both intrigued and worried Emily. Practice was unquestionably needed now that the young Hufflepuff was almost at the end of the year without putting much practical skills into... well, practice. And it would be with a friendly face as well which lessens intimidation.

At the same time however, Emily never saw herself as an "aggressor" of some sorts. If someone took a duellist at random and pitted them alongside Emily, it would almost be guaranteed that Emily would more than likely tremble at the side-lines, whether it was a life-or-death situation or not. She just wasn't built like that. When someone says that they're "away with the fairies," Emily was definitely one of them, if not trying to find them in a nearby field like the little dreamer she was.

On the other hand, since River was offering and she did need all the help she could get if she were to proceed any further with this grand ambition she had going on...

"Sure! I think a little one-on-one could do us both some good...!"

_{Word Count: 278}

Duelling System is Now In Place From This Point

Stats: Stamina: 7|Evasion: 6|Strength: 6|Wisdom: 8|Arcane Power: 7|Accuracy: 6
Abilities: Non-Human Enthusiast |Cat's Grace

interacting: @Emily Shephard & @River Luxley

Making his rounds through the castle, Ruckus always took care to take a glance at the dueling club room. While it was allowed for students to practice their hexes and curses and jinxes there, it was an easy slide into dangerous territory when it came to underaged witches and wizards throwing brand new spells at each other.

And right on cue, two young witches, first-years by the looks of them, were contemplating a friendly sparring match. On one hand, Ruckus was concerned for their safety, but on the other, he was intrigued at just what they would think to do. He thought back to his childhood matches with his siblings—ranging from harmless fun to dangerous exploits that were stopped at the last minute by their father. These two, judging by the tone of their voices and their demeanors, were probably not going to be as bold and brash as Ruckus’s brothers. But then, again, you never could be too sure.

The caretaker carefully slid into the room, taking in a seat along the wall. It’s possible that he would have been quiet enough to go unnoticed by the Hufflepuff and Slytherin—especially if they were engrossed in their duel. He crossed his legs, setting his elbow on his knee so that his chin could rest in his hand. His other hand was resting near his wand in his pocket; he could access it quickly if anything went sideways.

~unofficial duel moderation~
Round 1

@Emily Shephard, Y1, Human 100% HP (700/700) STA: 7 | EVA: 6 | STR: 6 | WIS: 8 | ARC: 7 | ACC: 6 ──────

│ │ │ │ │

@River Luxley, Y1, Human 69% HP (345/500) STA: 5 | EVA: 5 | STR: 5 WIS: 10 | ARC: 10 | ACC: 5 Perfectionist: -1 critical failure ────── [Aflame for 2 more rounds]

Duelling Spells

Duelling System

Emily casts the fire-making spell at River

WDC 9
emily wis: 19+8=27
emily acc: 8+6=14
river eva: 4+5=9

Hit!
Initial damage: 50 + 7 (emily's arc) x 15 = 155 (345/500)
50% chance of being lit aflame: 1d6 = 6; River is aflame for 2 more rounds, -40 damage each round unless flames are nullified

River casts the dancing-feet spell at Emily

WDC 9
river wis: 3+10=13
river acc: 2+5=7
emily eva: 19+6=25

Emily evades!

Quickly, both girls sent spells flying from their wands. Ruckus heard a "Tarantallegra!" and an "Incendio!" He nodded, the dancing-feet spell was a young duelist's easiest tool, and—wait, incendio?! This girl was trying to light her friend on fire? Right from the get go? So Ruckus was wrong, these two might be more like his siblings than he originally thought. While being on fire was concerning, it was a legal duelling move at Hogwarts. The young Slytherin most likely had some time and endurance before Ruckus would have to save her from being burnt to a crisp. And, unfortunately, her spell missed the Hufflepuff. Not a great place to be after the first casts.

Outfit: Black dueling robes with small silver stitches along the hems in the shape of runes. A part of the robes is slightly smoking. Text: Italics: Thoughts Normal text: Actions and general description of what is happening #5doo8f: Talking in English #1a8ca2: Talking in Norwegian (Translations under revelio) Interacting with: @Emily Shephard _____________________________

Pet: Nótt ___________________________________

Action: Sent to moderator

River cursed internally when her spelled missed, regretfully thinking to herself that she most definitely needed to work on her accuracy when it came to spellcasting once the duel was over. Her eyes widened when Emily cast Incendio at her.

Is she trying to cook me like a burnt-out phoenix?! I didn't expect I'd need to worry about leaving with all my limbs intact when I suggested a duel. Oh Odin, I already feel like I am going to regret this, she thought as she grit her teeth against the warmth radiating from her flaming robes, she could feel her skin tingling in pain at the minor burns she had already sustained.

She knew that she had underestimated Emily far too much, she would never have suspected that the unassuming Hufflepuff would immediately start off their bout with a spell that quite literally set her on fire. Thoughts raced through the Slytherin girl's head, far too quickly to make out. She was sure that if someone were to try and read her mind in that moment, they would come out feeling as though they had just stepped off one of those insane Muggle constructs River had read about, rollercoasters if she remembered correctly (which she did).

Word count: 206/200

26th May 2024

A Fiery First Hit with @River Luxley and @Ruckus Weems
Speech: #cfa120
Thoughts: Italics

Any smart duellist would start out small, only saving their most powerful attacks for whenever things got hairy in a battle round. Maybe a simple knockback jinx or a few sparks to push their opponent back. So when Emily called out "Incendio!" during the first round, she stopped dead in shock only after the spell was cast - at first over how successfully it went. Then again when it she realised what spell she had just called out. And a third time over when she realised she had just aimed said spell at her friend of all people!

"Gah! River! I'm sorry!

Emily was trembling out of sheer anxiety. Of all the spells she could've picked... Then again, she had spent the last hour practicing the spell, so much so that it was ingrained to her brain to the point that she had just blurted it out without thinking. If Emily could take it back and start again she would. She stood there biting her nail in regret as River shook herself off with the flames that Emily just set her ablaze with.

Don't just stand there, Shephard. Do Something!

Emily wanted to pause the duel, to rush over and help River and apologise immensely for being so aggressive. Certainly not the person she wanted to come across as, let alone the person she wants to be. She should cast something to help her. An Extinguishing Charm or something! At the risk of putting this "friendly" match on hold, she was ready to do it for her.

_{Word Count: 286}

Action: As strategized (Sent to Moderator)

interacting: @Emily Shephard & @River Luxley

~unofficial duel moderation~
Round 2

@Emily Shephard, Y1, Human 100% HP (700/700) STA: 7 | EVA: 6 | STR: 6 | WIS: 8 | ARC: 7 | ACC: 6 ──────

│ │ │ │ │

@River Luxley, Y1, Human 69% HP (345/500) STA: 5 | EVA: 5 | STR: 5 WIS: 10 | ARC: 10 | ACC: 5 Perfectionist: -1 critical failure ──────

Duelling Spells

Duelling System

Emily casts the tickling charm at River

WDC 9
emily wis: 7+8=15
emily acc: 3+6=9
river eva: 16+5=21

River evades!

River casts the extinguishing charm at herself

WDC 8+2(rounds left of aflame)=10
river wis: 8+10=18

River has extinguished herself!

The Slytherin girl thought quickly and didn't allow herself to stay aflame for long. She easily extinguished herself with her wand. Ruckus hoped that she would be able to offer the Hufflepuff a taste of her own medicine in due time—but putting out the fire was good to prioritize over revenge.

The Hufflepuff (Ruckus was remembering her name was Emily from the girls' initial interaction) offered her apologies for the heated first spell (and Ruckus learned the Slytherin's name must be River—is there a joke here about water and fire?), but the brash badger still sent an offensive spell at River. Ruckus had to stop himself from laughing (or else he might spook the girls as they were so concentrated on their opponent)—sure, the tickling spell was a lighter load after the fire-making spell, but to apologize and then immediately go on the offensive? Surely they were both new to dueling, but could this be an instance of mind games being played?

River, fluid as her namesake, was able to evade the unpleasant tickling spell, even with the fresh burns covering her robes.

Now there was a reset: no one was on fire; and each girl had evaded one of the other's spells. River's nerves and stamina might be scarred by the fire, but she looked ready for the next move.