2024/25, Stage 3 Hufflepuff vs. Ravenclaw: Match 8

May 4th 2025
Speech: #cfa120
Thoughts: Italics
@Minnie Duke and @Costanza Jewelweed

Third time's a charm.

Not for the matter of Hufflepuff winning a match. No no. There wasn't much pressure to uphold the winning streak since Minnie and Costanza were sound duel partners for the ordeal. Even if they lost, it wouldn't be the end of the world. They knew how to go out in style. This match was a third chance for Emily not to embarrass herself. Knocked out as the last one standing in her first match and then knocking herself out right at the last minute in her second one, Emily was begging for this to be the one where it's smooth sailing.

She whispered firmly to her wand. "Please, please, please work today...!"

She waved to her teammates and gave a smile and nod to Avis and Maisie. Those two were strong birdies in their own right. Emily figured Maisie would have a vengeance after last time and Avis... Well, she was just a tough cookie no matter the circumstances. With a friendly wave to Yolanda as well, Emily took her stance at Hufflepuff's end of the piste.

It'll be fine. It'll be all fine.

_{Word Count: 187}

Action: Will be owled

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

There had to be a word for this in German—something like schadenfreude, but with an element of anticipation. After all, wasn't it a gleeful schadenfreude that Minnie had shown on this very platform the last time all three wands pointed at her? Only Emily had shown an ounce of humility. She offered her a gentle nod.

And now, history was bound to repeat itself. Without the cover of a second year, it was very obvious that three first years were going to become Hufflepuff's lunch. Her glance flit towards the crowd to see who might witness such a thing.

With a gulp, she steady herself for what was to come.

STA: 7 | EVA: 7 | STR: 2
WIS: 7 | ARC: 4 | ACC: 8
Muggle Condition

Action: As Strategized

Date: May 4

Interacting With:@Emily Shephard and @Costanza Jewelweed

Word Count: 78/50

OOC Notes: Reducio Speaking: b38900 Thinking: Italics

↜↝

Outift: Reducio A hufflepuff uniform.

Round 1

Sunday 4th of May, 2025
Afternoon Slot

No matter the strength of previous hopes and dreams, such abstract defences would not succeed on the piste today. Bonded together in a collective desire to take victory, both teams wasted no time hesitating. It was so strange, to be on the sidelines of such dedication— As their moderator, Astrea had full view to the first few sparks of combat.

Both Emily and Costanza, sharing great skill and a mutual taste for force damage, struck out boldly with two Knockback jinxes that lit the once-still piste up with gleaming red intent. In the absence of the Senior League’s over-familiar taste of explosive destruction, Flipendo’s great reputation as a heavy-hitting attack had clearly remained relevant enough to pursue. Minnie's display of brilliant green fire joined its peers simultaneously, its modified nature appearing ever more significant as the only 2nd-year spell yet cast. With their wands levelled at one of many, it seemed that the second-years aimed to land an immediate blitzkrieg of immediate offence.

For her part, Avis met each early attempt on her life with remarkable grace, easily sidestepping all of Hufflepuff’s determined firepower. Yet such a nimble display came at the cost of personal accuracy as her own Steleus went wider than expected. The minor hex hit the piste hard near Emily's feet, dissipating harmlessly.

Ravenclaw, courting advantage under a different approach, wisely chose to split their priorities for the first round. Leaving one of their duelists to weather the merciless attack, the other two were quick to seize an opening. Yolanda’s Incendio met ready kindling amidst the chaos. Did the other aim to light a flame underneath Hufflepuff's nervous determination? A jet of fire burned through Hufflepuff’s defense, drawing metaphorical first blood even as it failed to catch Emily’s clothing aflame. Inspired by the scorch of lightly-burnt badger, Maisie’s targeted hex would readily hinder Costanza’s future incantations. Uncontrollable sneezing joined the crossfire.

Though Ravenclaw faced better odds than most amidst the chaos of targeted spellwork, Hufflepuff’s demonstrated commitment to harm undercut early expectations of advantage. This early into the duel, there was no way to safely predict its outcome without pointing out the obvious light show. Astrea had been right to expect great effort from both junior teams. She, monitoring the piste safely away from the stray bursts of fire and streaking spellwork, could already anticipate the intellectual puzzle of improvisation. When all hindering contraptions met their mark, who would click success into place?

Information

1. You have 96 hours from now to write your entrance posts (50 words min).
2. In the same time period, send me (Astrea Soleil Neptune) 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. Your stats, abilities, and spells have been locked to what they are now for the duration of this duel.
5. If you haven't yet, please familiarise yourself with the system and our latest patch.
6. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to owl or DM me.
7. 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!

A breath—

a breath before it all came crashing down—

except it didn't come. Somehow, despite being the only survivor of the last time she'd been in this hell hole, Maisie was untouched. And more than that, the entire Ravenclaw side was completely unscathed, with Avis M. having evaded—she raised her free hand to count them—three spells. The brunette's eyebrows raised, impressed. Even if her peer's spell had missed, the dodging was a complete marvel.

Meanwhile, both Yolanda and her own spells had made contact, spreading sneezing and flame on the Hufflepuff side. It was so very early, but all things considered, maybe the wee first years had regained—for the moment—the slightly glimmer of hope, or in the absence of that, skill.

STA: 7 | EVA: 7 | STR: 2
WIS: 7 | ARC: 4 | ACC: 8
Muggle Condition

Action: As Strategized