2024/25, Stage 1 Ravenclaw vs Hufflepuff: Match 2

Without @Phaedra Stavrou around, the duelling hall had come to seem strange to Aida. Looking to either duelling partner, it occurred to the wix that although the team had been duelling with each other for years and this was not their first duel partnered with Damion, Aida hardly knew the first thing about anyone in the club anymore. Years of increasing immersion in the wilds of Hogwarts had created a new social network for Aida with non-humans such as the merfolk of the Great Lake. Simultaneously, the minutia of human lives grew increasingly estranged from Aida’s worldview. While most kids were chatting about dates, homework, and what to wear to the ball, Aida could only look back on such interests with warped nostalgia, like trying to understand what was so great about block toys when one was 3 years old. It wasn’t that Aida felt more mature or superior, however. Simply put, human interests had come to seem as foreign as obscure rituals compared to the necessities of survival in the wild.

“We will fight and we will win,” muttered the white wix to their companions. The words barely meant anything anymore. When was the last time anyone had interacted with Aida on an emotional level? Despite holding onto memories of such times, they took on a dusky tint like aged photographs. Did anyone even care if Aida gave them encouragement? Without Phaedra around, a human polestar had vanished from the night sky. Now others were simply others again, but the wix didn’t know what to do about it, if anything.

Stats: Stamina✵ 10 / Evasion✵ 16 / Strength✵ 1 / Wisdom✵ 15 [17] / Arcane Power✵ 10 / Accuracy✵ 18
Abilities: Blindvision - Sixth Sense - Beast Master - Wandmaker - Comprehend Languages (Mermish) - Non-human Enthusiast

Wand: Chestnut, Phoenix Feather, 26,6 cm, Whippy; "Ancient, ideal for magizoology, has a will of its own, showy, prone to giving away tells"– details

Reducio

"When they call your name, get up on the piste, okay? And when they say duel or start, hit the other team with spells and dodge any spells your way. Easy enough, right? It's just like those- meetings." There was some hesitation, not yet calling it practice to Haven directly despite having very much called it such with other duellists. Lea had kind of assumed that the older Hufflepuff had caught on, but decided not to verify such information. "You'll do great, it looks like we've got some crowd support too." Lea offered a wave towards Alyssea and any others she noticed before moving on to her own preparations, a deep breath before she made it onto the stage. Her opponents were familiar, but more from the sidelines than across the piste, hopeful that her observations would be of some aid. And finally, Lindsey. A duellist for a long time yet not one Lea had ever had the opportunity to compete with, she was rather excited to see the Hufflepuff in action. With a nod towards the Ravenclaw team, Lea was ready.

She was pulling her hair into a ponytail when her name was called, something Lindsey usually did before duels, much like a ritual. Stepping onto the stage, Lindsey drew out her wand and looked up at her opponents. Cassius Eden was a friend and a skilled duellist. Funny enough, she had once joked that she wouldn’t want to face him, as Ravenclaws were evidently scary. “Hey.” She smiled at Cassius, nodding. Adding Ellwood and White, this would be a tough battle.

Both of her partners were someone she had never been paired with before, captain Lea and fellow sixth year Haven, yet Lindsey was confident that they would cooperate just as well, thanks to all the Huffle team practices and a mutual trust. Surely they’d together bring something new to the game. “We’ve got this.” She whispered to her teammates. Not a single win against Ravenclaws in Lindsey’s records yet. Maybe with her new partners she’d get to change that?

"You mean to tell me, this whole time, I've been showing up for the Dueling team?" She couldn't believe it. All this time, she thought it was a study club. Of course, she should have seen it coming, and should have figured it out, but Haven was definitely not the brightest. Her track record for figuring things out was... one. One time. It didn't end well, either. Let's hope this one turned out better.
"Would now be a bad time to tell you I forgot my wand?" she whispered to Lea, following her gaze to the crowd and waving to Alyssea before frantically patting down her pockets, breathing a relieved sigh when she discovered it in one of her pockets. "Never mind, we're all good." Hopefully that would be the only error she made today. With her wand safely in her hand, she stood at the ready.

Calming Presence Allies: Blazing Badgers (Lea and Lindsey)

Beginning of 2024-2025 Year

Interactions: @Aida Mòrsgor-Ama @Damion White @Lindsey Springhall Mentions: n/a

Cassius felt like a Roman gladiator stepping into a grand arena. Although there were far fewer spectators in attendance than might be found at the Colosseum in Rome, the Ravenclaw duelling captain still felt an energy that was often present at the beginning of heated contests. If adrenaline had a scent, the air would be ripe with it.

Taking his place next to his teammates, he gave both a confident nod. This would be his first duel with Aida, a student Cassius admittedly did not know very well but he wish he did. He knew his co-captain, the one and only Damion White, slightly better having duelled with the boy before. The three of them together made a force to be reckoned with.

Across from him a familiar face caught Cassius' attention. It had always been a possibility that he would one day be standing opposite from Lindsey on the duelling piste. Actually, it was a surprise they had yet to duel until now being of the same year. He offered his friend a warm smile in greeting before readying his wand for the start of the duel.

Action:
As strategized.

Round 1

Aida vs Lea

Reducio

Aida Mòrsgor-Ama cast Confringo at Lea Hirsch
Wisdom DC: 17 + 2 [LC] = 19
Wisdom Check: [d20: 18] + = 15 + 2 [CL] > 19 → Success
Accuracy Check: [d20: 17] + 18 + 2 [WM] = 37
Evasion Check: [d20: 5] + 17 = 22
37 > 22 → Hit
Damage: (150 + 10 ARC × 15)*.9 = 270
Extra Spell (wand): [d20: 2] < 19 → No extra spell

Cassius vs Lea and Lindsey (and Haven)

Reducio

Cassius Eden spell spreads Conjunctivitis Curse at Lea Hirsch and Lindsey Springhall (and Haven Bohannon)
Wisdom DC: 14 + 2 [SS] + 2 [LC] = 18
Wisdom Check: [d20: 20] + 15 = > 18 → Crit. Success, extra target: Haven Bohannon
Accuracy Check 1: [d20: 6] + 14 - 2 [SS] = 18
Lea Evasion Check: [d20: 10] + 17 = 27
18 < 27 → Miss
Lindsey’s Auto-dodge Check : [d20: 17] < 19 → No auto-dodge
Accuracy Check 2: [d20: 9] + 14 - 2 [SS] = 21
Lindsey Evasion Check: [d20: 8] + 8 = 16
21 > 16 → Hit
Damage: (30 + 10 ARC × 8 + 30 [CS])*.9 = 126
Duration: [d3: ] Crit. Success → 2 rounds (1d3, 1-2: 1 round, 3: 2 rounds)
Effects:
- opponent's eyes swell, making it difficult to see.
- Evasion and Accuracy stats are halved for the duration.
- The target suffers -30 HP per round for the duration.
- 12.6 bleeding effect from damage done with dark spells (wand)
Accuracy Check 3: [d20: 5] + 14 - 2 [SS] = 17
Haven Evasion Check: [d20: 5] + 11 = 16
17 > 16 → Hit
Damage: (30 + 10 ARC × 8 + 30 [CS])*.95 = 133
Duration: [d3: ] Crit. Success → 2 rounds (1d3, 1-2: 1 round, 3: 2 rounds)
Effects:
- opponent's eyes swell, making it difficult to see.
- Evasion and Accuracy stats are halved for the duration.
- The target suffers -30 HP per round for the duration.
- 13.3 bleeding effect from damage done with dark spells (wand)

Damion vs Lea and Lindsey

Reducio

Damion White cast Nebulus at Lea Hirsch and Lindsey Springhall
Wisdom DC: 12 + 2 [LC] = 14
Wisdom Check: [d20: 10] + 10 = 20 > 14 → Success
Duration: [d5: 4] → 3 rounds (1-3: 2 rounds, 4-5: 3 rounds)
Effects:
- The affected players receive –5 Accuracy and –5 Evasion
- If a player aims at the player under the Nebulus effect, the attacker's Accuracy is lowered by 4.

Haven vs Damion

Reducio

Haven Bohannon cast Cracker Jinx at Damion White
Wisdom DC: 12 + 2 [LC] = 14
Wisdom Check: [d20: 11] + 11 = > 14 → Success
Blowback Check:[d20: 4] < 19 → No blowback
Accuracy Check: [d20: 20] + 11 = 31
Damion Evasion Check: [d20: 11] + 10 = 21
31 > 21 → Hit
Damage: (50 + 10 ARC × 15)*.85 = 170
Aida Radius Evasion Check: [d20: 11] + 16 = 27
31 > 27 → Hit
Damage: 20 + 10 ARC × 8 = 100
Cassius Radius Evasion Check: [d20: 15] + 14 = 29
31 > 29 → Hit
Damage: + 10 ARC × 10 = 100
Duration: [d3: 2] → rounds (1-2: 1 round, 3: 2 rounds)
Effects:
-3 Wisdom for the duration of the spell.

Lea vs Cassius

Reducio

Lea Hirsch cast Conjunctivitis Curse at Cassius Eden
Wisdom DC: 14 + 2 [LC] = 16
Wisdom Check: [d20: 19] + 12 = > 16 → Crit. Success [AC]
Auto-hit: [d20: 16] < 19 → No auto-hit
Accuracy Check: [d20: 16] + 15 = 31
Evasion Check: [d20: 2] + 14 = 16
31 > 16 → Hit
Damage: 30 + 10 ARC × 8 + 30 (CS) = 140
Duration: [d3: ] Crit. Success → 2 rounds (1d3, 1-2: 1 round, 3: 2 rounds)
Effects:
- The opponent's eyes swell, making it difficult to see.
- Evasion and Accuracy stats are halved for the duration.
- The target suffers -30 HP per round for the duration.

Lindsey vs Damion

Reducio

Lindsey Springhall cast Confringo at Damion White
Wisdom DC: 17
Wisdom Check: [d20: 7] + 14 = > 17 → Success
Auto-hit: [d20: 18] < 19 → No auto-hit
Accuracy Check: [d20: 14] + 14 = 28
Evasion Check: [d20:9 ] + 10 = 19
28 > 19 → Hit
Damage: (150 + 12 ARC × 15)*.85 = 280.5

The duel would be opened with a bang. Multiple bangs. Maybe not the most bangs Galton had seen, but enough to get make him immediately shove fingers into both ears as he heard their incantations.

Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff had never been more similar than as their duelist incanted their first spells. So much so that Galton was wondering if any of them were legilimens. Aida and Lindsey were each team's heavy hitters, both opting for Confringos. And while Aida's cast seemed more fluid, both wands would produce balls of fiery orange magic. But the similarities didn't stop there! Cassius and Lea would cook up Conjunctivitis Curses together in what seemed to be perfect opposing symmetry. Their pronunciation, wrist movements, timing - all perfect, and all powerful. The results would be two textbook perfect curses ready to shoot forth. And while not the same, Damion's nebulus and Haven's cracker jinx were fine casts.

The explosive balls of magical fury from Aida and Lindsey would be the first to make contact on the other side of the piste. Lea and Damion would come to find out that both confringos would be finding their marks. The explosive blasts would rock each of the duelists. But Lea would not be without a retort. Her curse would find an exposed Cassius - it's perfect purple magic making the poor lad's eyes swell. Like Lea, Cassius would have revenge. He sent three whole bundles of purple across the piste. Galton had seen spells split in two, but seeing one split in three besides a ventus? Merlin have mercy. Two of the curses would find their targets - Haven and Lindsey's eyes would swell and begin to... bleed? Lea was lucky to have escaped such a fate.

If the two large explosions had not been enough, Haven would deliver a final barrage of pops. Her cracker jinx would exploded into Damion before shooting out towards Aida and Cassius, giving them a small taste of the magic. When the smoke settled fog would roll in. Damion cloaked Lea and Lindsey in a thick blanket of fog, leaving only silhouettes visible to the audience.

In the aftermath of their first brutal barrage of spells both teams seemed to have kept pace with each other. All six of them had put wands together to start painting a beautifully violent picture. What would these artists add next?!

I N F O R M A T I O N

• You have 96 hours from now to write your posts. A minimum word count of 50 is needed per post.
• In the same time period, send me (Galton Lansdale) your team's actions per owl. Do not hint at your actions in your post.
• Unless asked not to, if all actions have been submitted and posts made, I will (hopefully) be moderating before the deadline
• If you don't post in the allotted time frame, your action is void.
• Your Stats, Abilities, and Spells have been locked to what they are now for the duration of this duel.
• Please owl or message me if you have any questions or concerns!
• Best of luck, let's have some fun!

Duelling Spells

Duelling System

Newest Patch

Once Aida's Confrigo landed true, a smell of burning from the explosion wafted outwards. The hyperosmic wix could have explained exactly what and how much was incinerated in the blast just by the smell, but the sight of Lea's condition also sufficed. It would be quite a different scent from the ashy sulfuric smell Aida caught once struck with a cracker jinx as if in retort.

Stats: Stamina✵ 10 / Evasion✵ 16 / Strength✵ 1 / Wisdom✵ 15 [17] / Arcane Power✵ 10 / Accuracy✵ 18
Abilities: Blindvision - Sixth Sense - Beast Master - Wandmaker - Comprehend Languages (Mermish) - Non-human Enthusiast

Wand: Chestnut, Phoenix Feather, 26,6 cm, Whippy; "Ancient, ideal for magizoology, has a will of its own, showy, prone to giving away tells"– details

Reducio

"I would hope you wouldn't forget it-" Lea didn't need a heart attack before this duel even started. Going up against those older than her always set her a little on edge, warily watching the Ravenclaw's wands lest they point in her direction.

And in her direction they did. At the very least Damion's spell was nothing she could do anything about, watching the smoke spill from the wand before it had a chance to completely cover her vision. At least Cassius's spell she could deduce from how his wand movements seemed to mimic her own, knowing very well to steer clear as she kept her wand trained on the caster. The incantation was perfect, letting the spell shoot across the piste just in time to keep clear of the other. Her main mistake though was waiting until the last moment to watch Aida, a realization of what was about to happen just moments before the ground beneath her exploded into rubble, choking out the teen. Soon dust turned to smoke and Lea was left squinting in the void.

Hopefully her teammates had fared alright.