2024/25 Stage 2 Hufflepuff vs Slytherin: Match 4

This is a reminder that there are just about 9 hours until the deadline. I need posts from Draven Mirador, Julian Pritchard, and Jake Morris as well as actions from both teams.
@Julian Pritchard @Draven Mirador @Jake Morris @Archer Duncan @Hades Schweighöfer @Matthew Campbell

Jake nodded in respect at the other team, who had managed to hit Julian. That was pretty impressive, especially because the one who had hit him was only a second year. It looked like a good cast too. No matter the age, their opponents were clearly talented. Still the duel was going in their favor so far, with two of their opponents taking heavy hits, one from Julian who had managed to deal out as much damage as he had taken that round. Jake knew from seeing many duels and being in many duels that an age advantage such as this one was hard to overcome, but that didn't mean it was impossible. And it sure didn't look like the Slytherins were planning on giving up.

Round 3

Julian casts Flipendo at Draven.

Reducio

Wisdom DC: 9
Wisdom Check: d20[5] + 14 = 19 > 9 → Success
Accuracy: d20[16] + 14 = 30
Evasion: d20[14] + 8 - 4 Ventus = 18
30 > 18 → Hit
Damage: 100 + 10 × 15 = 250

Draven is hit by Julian’s Flipendo and takes 250 damage.

Draven casts Flipendo at Julian.

Reducio

Wisdom DC: 9
Wisdom Check: d20[16] + 15 = 31 > 9 → Success
Accuracy: d20[17] + 8 = 25
Evasion: d20[16] + 11 = 27
25 < 27 → Miss

Julian evades Draven’s Flipendo.

Jake casts Flipendo at Draven.

Reducio

Wisdom DC: 9
Wisdom Check: d20[10] + 11 = 21 > 9 → Success
Accuracy: d20[3] + 14 = 17
Evasion: d20[11] + 8 - 4 Ventus = 15
17 > 15 → Hit
Damage: 100 + 6 × 15 = 190

Draven is hit by Jake’s Flipendo and takes 190 damage.

Archer casts Flipendo at Julian.

Reducio

Wisdom DC: 9
Wisdom Check: d20[20] + 9 = 29 > 9 → Critical Success
Accuracy: d20[19] + 9 = 28
Evasion: d20[1] + 11 = 12
28 > 12 → Hit
Damage: 100 + 9 × 15 = 235 + 50 = 285

Julian is hit by Archer’s Flipendo and takes 285 damage. He falls prone and will need to use his next action to stand up and re-join the duel.

Hades casts Flipendo at Draven.

Reducio

Wisdom DC: 9
Wisdom Check: d20[3] + 10 = 13 > 9 → Success
Accuracy: d20[14] + 10 = 24
Evasion: d20[17] + 8 - 4 Ventus = 21
24 > 21 → Hit
Damage: 100 + 8 × 15 = 220

Draven is hit by Hades’ Flipendo and takes 220 damage.

Matthew casts Flipendo at Julian.

Reducio

Wisdom DC: 9
Wisdom Check: d20[6] + 9 = 15 > 9 → Success
10% Auto-Dodge Evasive Maneuvers: d20[5] → No Auto-Dodge
Accuracy: d20[6] + 9 = 15
Evasion: d20[6] + 11 = 17
15 < 17 → Miss

Julian evades Mathew’s Flipendo.

And so the Knockback Jinxes continued. Jessamine couldn’t believe the excitement that a single, first year spell brought. Somehow, the snakes and the badgers came up with the same idea – target the same person with the same spell. The snakes would find middling success with the strategy. Draven and Matthew produced picture perfect spells that barreled straight towards Julian. Unfortunately for the snakes, the badger was too locked in. Julian would move his various body parts out of the path of the jinxes just in time. Any second that he took to delay might have caused him to suffer three sharp punches instead of one. Archer had successfully found his rhythm in the match, sending an incredibly powerful shot that caught Julian right in his face. The badger tumbled backwards, rolling over and ending up on the floor of the piste. Jessamine doubted he would have time to cast a spell in the next round.

On the other side of the match, the badgers were done playing around. They wanted Draven out and it had to be done in this round. Draven would find that all three wands were pointed at him, launching Flipendo after Flipendo at his already-aching body. As hard as he tried to evade them, the strength of Julian's wind was too obstructing. One hit his shoulder, the other hit his thigh, and the last struck him right in the stomach. The snake would also collapse, but unlike Julian, Draven showed no signs of stirring. Jessamine calmly stopped the duel and waited for the snake to be toted off the piste before she gave the signal to resume just as the Ventus winds died down.

Information

1. You have 96 hours from now to write your posts (50 words min).
2. In the same time period, send me (Jessamine Hemlock) your team's actions per owl. Do not hint at your actions in your post.
3. If you don't post in the allotted time frame, your action is void.
4. If something seems odd about the moderation post or you have any questions, don't hesitate to owl or DM me.
5. Good luck, and have fun!

Duelling Spells

Duelling System

Newest Patch

The spectator thread for this duel can be found here.
Come cheer for your House and friends!

Action: As Strategized | Calming Presence Is In Affect For Allied Vipers | Banner Credit to Prat Pass

Date: February 9th 2024

So struck the death bells toll for the first time, but surely not for the last. As Jessamine stopped the match to retrieve the unconscious form of @Draven Mirador, Matthew didn't even have a second to over analyse or reprimand himself for his failed action for the boy looked a wreck. It seemed that in a mirroring of their own strategy each badger had taken aim on the poor older Snake and unlike with their minimal success the older students proved how deadly they could be. His lights were well and truly punched out.

Drawn to the sight of Julian who now lay sprawled out on the ground Matt smirked towards @Archer Duncan thankful that at least one of them was doing something. Luck had never favoured him but this was starting to get so ridiculous he was questioning his own skill. Still whatever mindset Archer had locked into had clearly been of benefit and although he doubted the boy could even hear him he shouted over "Well done Arch, must be easier when you haven't been hit!" Humour was Matt's deflection to pain and he hoped the tease might at least remind the boy he was actually still breathing. Quietly to himself we whispered a thought for Draven, "We will avenge you," and then with a devilish glint filling his eyes he raised his wand once more.

"Nice shot."

Disadvantaged by the distance between them and more so how Archer barely felt his own presence in the grand training room, the encouragement would fall on deaf ears as he readied himself a second time with rigid movements. Gripping his wand as if it may fall out of his slender fingers any second the second and same spell was flung out of Archer's quick hands with very little thought to what he even was doing.

Mechanically he watched as the flash of colour shot towards his spindly victim, how it hit, and how it sent Julian sprawled back onto the piste floor. If one was to ask how Archer managed the feat in his state and with such odds he would have no answer for them either, even if he was in the mood to engage in conversation. Perhaps carelessness truthfully enhanced him, drawn him away from the fears his teammates had experienced and towards the purely technical, unemotional side of spellcasting, the constant repetition of casting one spell time and time after again in practice, mastering the movement, the incantation, until he could settle for no less but perfect. All he knew was that this time Julian wouldn't be standing up with the same words as he did prior.

Indistinctly he heard the voice of Matthew, shouting a compliment or a joke his way. He would not get a reply as Archer forced his mind solely on the game. Even as Jessamine called out for the duel to stop he only froze and briefly looked over with indifference as his fellow Viper had fallen under their opponent's thunderstorm of knockbacks. Seeing Draven unstirring as he was sent off to the inevitable fate of the hospital wing should have been a reality check at the serious turn of what was once a game but soon enough Archer's eyes was off his teammate and back to staring down the row of upperclassmen positioned against them.

He was not the only one, all three had agreed to do so. Three of Flipendo’s spells were cast directly at Draven, who looked like Slytherin’s had established the same strategy as theirs. The advantage that Hades and his teammates possessed, could have been a consequence that affected Draven, who had to be retired from the duel.

He had waited for the boy to be retired, but Hades stood there with a cold look, arms crossed. There was still a long way to go, and judging by the face of the boy, you could see determination, not wanting to lose in any way. He shook his head and tried to position, ready for the next round. He was in his mindset, prepared to win as he expected.

Jake cringed as Draven hit the ground. It was rare he actually managed to knock somebody out in a duel. In this case, Draven had faced the full force of three older Hufflepuffs, all knocking him back at once. Jake hadn't intended for them all to have the same thought - for all three spells to bombard him at the same time. He hoped that he was ok, and while Hades was looking at the other team with determination, Jake was looking just a bit queasy over what they'd done. He'd have to check on him after the match, but he knew that he couldn't stop. This fight had to get to the end.

Julian hit the ground beside him, and Jake again found himself impressed by how they had managed to hit him so hard that he left his feet. They were powerful no matter how young they were, and if Julian wasn't careful he'd be joining Draven very soon...