The Masquerade Ball Event Closed

Everything was moving too fast. The girl he was trying to make a move on was nearly crushed by the rotund third year. There was some girl bleeding out on the floor. Another one with a knife in his back. Another one that had passed out until a girl tried to drag them off and they arose in not the best of moods. Then there was Galton, not that he knew the boy by anything but his comic name. They were in the same dorm, the guy was pretty cool and really got into his LARPing but this was too extreme even for him. 

Jürgen would call out to Galton. "DUDE!" When he climbed Hugh, what was his hero name again - Captain Cool? Something neat like that. Not that he needed much of a hero name, he was big enough to intimidate most people as it was. He slung that girl over his shoulder like she was a book bag. 

--and Galton climbed Hugh like he was... 

"Merlin!" Jürgen instinctively averted his eyes as Galton started gnawing (unless he failed) at Hugh's hair. "Dude Stop this, you're acting crazy!"

Galton was like a stubby spider money, he lacked the lengthy arms to really make monkey business his career. The fat-guy that sat on his girl tried to flipendo Galton off of Hugh but he was a maniac!  He would go after Nico and then Griseldis, not that he knew either of the girls but he likely recognized the pretty red-headed Prefect from time in their shared common room. 

"Get off of them!" Jürgen shouted. There was only one thing for Jürgen to do. He ran at Galton, he was going to try to tackle the frenzied lunatic and try to hold him down. Tire him out. He did not want to hurt him, but he had to try to do something.

Action: Attempts to tackle (and hold) Galton.

RPing as: Saskia Nicholson

Mentions: Dale Kurt | Interactions: Galton Lansdale

Health: Full
Status: Fine

Maybe slapping a stranger on the face wasn't the best idea she had. It was one way to get the boy's attention, and hopefully to snap him out of whatever dance routine he had in mind, but surely there were other ways that weren't so violent and forceful as smacking him across the face. But really, did she have any other choice? Time was running out, and she couldn’t have afforded the concentration and time to cast a spell. The boy needed to get his act together, and she needed to make sure he understood that. The fire was fully extinguished, the smoke and lights cleared out, and one giant was already down while the other one was tied up. The main threats were mostly gone, but it would have been highly impractical for the boy to keep dancing in the middle of the ballroom, whether he was under some kind of spell or if he somehow lost his head in this pandemonium.

Fortunately, it worked out. The boy stopped dancing soon after the slap connected with his face. Just as she might have guessed, he claimed that a spell backfired on him that made him unable to move on his own. Thankfully, he didn’t seem too mad about getting smacked in the face either. She probably would have been a bit annoyed if someone did the same to her, even if it might have been for a good reason. But now the boy had other business to take care of. He went off to stab one of the giants with a chair leg, and judging from how he charged at the giant, there was some kind of fury behind his attack. She couldn’t blame him. In fact, it was admirable that he even managed to stab the giant in the first place. It wasn’t everyday that someone had the courage to stand up against a menacing threat. Terrible first impressions aside, she had to give it to him for having that will to fight.

Of course, that didn’t mean she had an excuse to slack off. She needed to do something. It was easier to see where things were, and that gave her an advantage, whether she ended up fighting one of the giants or helping out everyone else who needed it. Frankly enough, she did want to fight off the giant, considering how much damage they caused in the ball. They were a threat and they needed to be disposed of as soon as possible. It didn’t matter if they were still tied up. They could have easily freed themself with enough time, and the only way for them to really go down was if they were taken care of once and for all. Unfortunately for her, it seemed that the giant was already occupied with some other students who were more than willing to take the giant down. And if that was already handled, that left her with having to help the other students, and judging from what was going on, there were plenty of students who needed it.

But before she could actually make herself useful, something weird happened. It was enough that giants crashed the party, but now some random kid was making some kind of speech in the middle of the ballroom. Something about a candy kingdom? What the hell was the kid even on? Before the Hufflepuff could question things further, the kid lunged at some of the students and... Wait, was he trying to eat them? Oh no, that was bad. This kid was crazy. Whose idea was it to let this kid run around like a lunatic? What was even his goal in this? He definitely wasn't helping in their current situation, and if anything, he was making things worse.

There was no time to waste. He might not have been as intimidating of a threat as the giants (although at this rate, he might have been), but he had to be taken down too. Without a second to spare, Saskia quickly waved her wand and pointed it at the boy. "Flipendo!"

Actions: Cast Flipendo at Galton

Outfit: Dress | Mask | Shoes

Giant 1: Kidnapping Jorah Status: Bound (Incarcerous); broken jaw; right eye stabbed with heel of shoe; no longer moving Health: 0	Giant 2: Blocking Door Status: No longer moving Health: 0
Jorah Moussa Status: Unconscious; Left topic Health: 0	Griseldis Edelhardt Status: Depth perception off (licked in eye), reduced accuracy. Health: Full
Jake Morris Status: In Lamik's manly arms Health: Full	River Dewlight Status: Fine Health: Full
Leah Isbell Status: Left Topic Health: Full	Max Avery Status: Fine Health: Full
Ruthie Greer Status: Left topic Health: Full	Hugh Lowe Status: New bald spots on head Health: 1000 [-240] 760
Heather Ruby Status: In hall Health: Full	Bridget Collins Status: Fine Health: 192
Xailah Alptraum Status: Fine Health: 484	Reid Kovacs Status: Fine Health: Full
Adlai Rod Status: Left Topic Health: Full	Saskia Nicholson Status: Fine Health: Full
Alexx Séverin Status: Fine Health: Full	Eri Windstone Status: Fine Health: Full
Lark Flaer Status: Unconscious; removed from topic Health: -10	Dale Kurt Status: Left topic to find his kidnapped girlfriend Health: Full
Dymphna Teague Status: Unconscious; was being carried out but Hugh dropped her Health: 0	Professor Maya Galim Status: Fine Health: Full
Nico Shymane Status: Fine; smells/sees blood Health: Full	Serena Davies Status: Fine; she passed out Health: Full

Dan Palmer Status: Fine; might have murdered someone Health: 500	Christopher Madson Status: Fine Health: Full
Astrid Kovac (dNPC) Status: Left Topic Health: Full	Jurgen Hess Status: Well, he tried Health: 100
Thiora Larkson Status: Fine Health: 87	Phaedra Stavrou Status: Fine Health: Full
Lamik Fillestar Status: Holding Jake in his manly arms Health: Full	Novus (dNPC) Status: Fine Health: Full
George Henry Status: Fine Health: Full	Adam Harrington Status: Carrying his war buddy Jorah out Health: 900
Serena Towers Status: Fine; slightly insulted when trying to save Jay from their nap. Health: Full	James McMurtrie Status: Fine Health: Full
Illowy Magnard Status: Fine Health: Full	Elzabeth Gillan Status: Fine Health: Full
Gem Stuart Status: Left topic with girl Health: Full	Katrina Walker Status: Fine Health: Full
Alan Noble Status: Fine Health: Full	Jane Victoria Status: Nap was disturbed Health: Full
Professor Elaine Pendrast Status: Fine Health: Full	Brielle Gray Status: Unconscious, taken to safety Health: 0

Galton Lansdale

Status: Crazed, seeing the students as candy. In an acute, euphoric delirium with delusions of grandeur and auditory as well as visual hallucinations.
Health: 200

The Departed

@Adalai Rod wanted to go to the common room, she was given the choice - the common room or the hospital wing. She thought she had a choice in any case as she announced her intentions. The Hufflepuff Common room was far away, down on the first floor past the kitchens. Leah was obviously not planning on staying with Adlai, @Leah Isbell would eventually find her way back up to the Hospital Wing on the third floor.

Adlai & Leah have left the thread.

@Lamik Fillestar would drag @Jake Morris towards the door. Towards safety. The smoke had already dissipated. The threat had already been eliminated, the part giants had already been overpowered by the students. He would tell Jake to run further to even greater safety. That he planned on going back in. He needed to find @Saskia Nicholson. Of all the students here that were in need of help, some in more precarious situations than others, she was the only one that came to mind.

Jake did not want to be abandoned. He would try to cling to Lamik and beg him to stay. 

@Dale Kurt had a few options - he could stay and help the injured. He could guard (or further harm) the part giants now that they could no longer defend themselves. He could leave the ball and return to his dorm room for some desperately needed rest, go to the hospital wing and get checked out or find Lark. The later-most option felt right. Yes, that was what he was going to do. He was going to find Lark.

Dale Kurt leaves the thread.

@Hugh Lowe, one of a few unsung heroes at this ball would pick himself up and brush himself off. That door packed quite a wallop. This was no time to stand around, while the fires were put out and the smoke had dispersed, there were injured students scattered about the ballroom in need of help [Refer to The Ball-goers]. 

Phylicia Stanwood (dNPC) would recommend leaving. There was a lot already going on but the present threats (the part giants) were already managed. The injured were already being tended to. She, they were going to just get in the way, they should just leave. Karilyna Kawahara (dNPC) was not going to debate the subject. Not after everything that she had been through at this dance. This was simply madness.

Phylicia Stanwood leaves the topic

Karilyna Kawahara would linger a few seconds longer than her friend, potentially conflicted still. There were people that could have used their help. That was until Galton arrived. [Refer to King Galton] The boy looked as if he had gone mad and his actions echoed that sentiment.

Stay?

Go?

... she chose the later.

Karilyna Kawahara leaves the topic.

Further Down the Hall

Further down the hall Andrew Vance and Heather Ruby had already escaped the chaos of the ball but they were looking for help. They wanted the House Elves, they felt that the House Elves could have saved them. The paintings claimed that was not possible. That there were no House Elves to be seen.

Come to think of it -- there was not a single House Elf serving at the ball. When the part giants came in, there was no response from the House Elves or the Professors. In fact, several Professors were led out of the ball shortly before everything went wrong. 

While Andrew took this as a dead end, it was actually a valuable piece of information. If he could not figure it out, perhaps he should consult another, perhaps a Ravenclaw - after all they are known for their cleverness.

Andrew Vance would make his way back to the ballroom and witness the events in [The Part Giants]. He would see the assumed fatal blow leveled by Dan Palmer and the now pair of unmoving giants.

The Ball-goers

@Illowy Magnard would hear @Chistopher Madson call out to her. He would advise her to do what he would not -- to run. To run and do what? Leave him behind?

Novus (dNPC) would try to help now that the smoke has cleared. He knew Wingardium Leviosa, it was not much but it was honest work. He would withdraw his wand and with a swish and a flick of his wrist he would state the incantation. He was trying to help clear the refuse.

@Bridget Collins was recovering from being crushed by the mass of another student. The exit was one of the most enticing options. The part giants were already being managed, there were a few students that looked like they were hurt real bad but they had a small gathering. They would be OK, right? 

Probably not. They were not equipped for this. They were too young. They were just kids! [Refer to Part Giants]

[From The Departed] @Hugh Lowe would re-enter the ballroom. He was headed towards @Dymphna Teague and @Oliver Hart, the help they were getting had departed for bloodier pastures. On his way there he would find @Nico Shymane. The white knight found his calling and he asked Nico for her help. [See The Fallen]

[In Reference to The Fallen]@Christopher Madson would see @Jorah Moussa unconscious on the floor with a knife sticking from his back. Everything was moving so fast, people had already rushed to Jorah's side before Madson could even react. He was being managed, it was time for Christopher to consider what was his now that the part-giants were downed. @Illowy Magnard had never left the dance. Perhaps she could have listened to Chris' hypocritical commands and ran for it when she could, but she didn't. They reunited on the dance floor, it was hardly the time for apologies and explanations but they would make the time. 

The Fallen

@Ruthie Greer was still dealing with @Dymphna Teague, the poor Veela was bleeding out. The only thing preventing the poor girl from being exsanguinated was the pressure being exerted by @Thora Larkston and the tight bandages wrapped around her mid-section. Thankfully she was unconscious considering the effect Wingardium Leviosa had on her dress. Bless @Oliver Hart's gigantic heart, he was trying. Dymphna was his future wife one day anyways, so now or later it was going to happen either way.



"Here. Did you want to try that again or should we just carry her?"

Ruthie would ask Oliver, offering him a strip of cloth in case he was hemorrhaging from his nose. Between Oliverm, Ruthie, Thora and @Griseldis Edelhardt, it would be an easy task to carry her from the fire-damaged ballroom to safety. Thora volunteered to take Dymphna'a ankles, Ruthie would take the girl's arms. 




Ruthie would see it from across the ballroom. @Jorah Moussa was perilously close to the part-giants that tried to kidnap him. He should have run away. He should not have stayed and tried to fight. It was as if metaphorical dice were loaded and they had it in for the young Ravenclaw. A student came out of nowhere, from the fringes of the restless crowd, with a knife in hand. The blade was plunged into his back, in the most literal sense. It would puncture his lung and Jorah would find it hard to believe the agonizing moments he remained conscious.

Ruthie would break into a run, somehow traversing the great space in heels. She had forgotten about Dymphna entirely as she abandoned the girl and left her in the care of Oliver, Ruthie and Thora. Jorah would not feel her presence, he was alone when he fell. She was too far away when the knife broke his flesh to do anything about it but he would hear her scream. It hurt, but it really that bad? It was really that bad, it was hard to breathe and it hurt. It hurt so much.

The ability to hear was sometimes the last sense to go. After the curtains were drawn and everything went back. After everything went numb. The sounds were garbled, as if he was hearing from under a pool of water. Someone had used Merlin's name in vain. Calling out the names of other students he might have known, but probably not. Was he dying? He was most probably dying.

Time would slow. It was a cruelty for those that were left behind. Jorah was gone, like a sleep where he closed his eyes too long. He was not hearing the frantic noises around him any longer. He would not feel Ruthie's trembling hands as she tried to bandage him.

Thora would also abandon Dymphna, trusting the girl in the care of @Oliver Hart. and @Griseldis Edelhardt. Thora would run to the source of the scream, Ruthie was next to Jorah and he was not moving. The knife sticking out of his back was an obvious clue but Thora asked what happened anyways.

It did not really matter did it?

Thora would draw her wand. She had learned something from the mishaps Dymphna had suffered from. This time nobody was going to remove the knife. She considered it all the same. Withdraw the knife from his back and then seal the wound. No, bad idea. Magic was the answer here.

"Ferula."

Thora would wave her wand and proclaim the word of power.

Thora Cast Ferula.
Roll: 19 Success

Clean, white bandages would burst from the tip of her wand and wrap around Jorah. He was not bleeding very much, but once his chest was wrapped the uneven rise and fall of his chest would signify that something happened.

Griseldis was there too. Who was looking after Dymphna? Just Oliver it would seem. A few moments earlier it was a small group of them preparing to carry her out, now it was just the third year Ravenclaw alone with the girl of his dreams. They had already pushed him out of the way to prepare to carry her before they dropped everything (hopefully somewhat gently). Griseldis would move on past the terrible scene, bypassing Jane Victoria (see below) and march over to the felled part-giants [See The Part Giants].

Not far from Jorah was @Jane Victoria. They head-butted a table, leaving a large, angry red mark on their face. Their greatest adversary, the inanimate furniture. Perhaps that head injury was more serious than one would have initially thought. Jane would find a comfortable spot to rest, their eyes would close and then they would fall asleep or pass out quite nicely.

Jane was not going to be of any help. @Adam Harrington would step over the slumbering student in the midst of this chaos, summoned by Ruthie's cries for help. Jorah was likely one of the most unlucky people alive, his injuries and near kidnapping this evening evidence that the universe was either out to get him or that he was incredibly special in some manner and for the sake of the world he would need to be destroyed. Adam was not the strongest person in this ballroom, but someone had to play the hero and do the heavy lifting.

Adam would squat down besides Jorah. The scene was not nearly as bloody as the girl (Dymphna), they had not pulled the knife out this boy's back.

Adam tries to lift Jorah.
Roll: 19

Adam was lifting with his legs and in an exercise of manliness and strength he lifted the Ravenclaw up and as if they were Nam Vets leaving the battlefield, Adam would drag/carry Jorah towards the doors (successfully)

"We can make it from here -- come on!"

Words of encouragement from the burdened youth. He was going to get the boy some help. Leading the girls, if they followed they would head towards the Hospital Wing before Galton's dramatic/cannibalistic appearance.

Adam Harrington & Jorah Moussa have left the topic and are headed towards the hospital wing.

The girls, Ruthie Greer & Thora Larkson can be considered 'just behind' however if they leave, they left Griseldis behind because she was attacked by Galton a few moments later. They would have missed this interaction if they immediately left so they would not be leaving her to die.

@Serena Towers might see Adam helping Jorah leave. She might see a party of students abandoning Dymphna while she bled out onto the floor while she was being tended to by Oliver Hart. She would also see another down student, Adam had just stepped around/over them as he rushed to the side of the boy with a knife in his back and a likely sobbing girl at his side. Serena might not know that @Jane Victoria was the one that stabbed the boy in the back but did that really matter? Jane was in trouble and it was the Hufflepuff way to help one another, to be loyal. That was where their strength was - in one another. They could move mountains together but when they were alone the darkness would close in. A literal truth Serena had learned early at Hogwarts.

Serena would try to wake 'Jay' [since the writer did not post again before my mod] Serena's attempts to rouse the strange student were to no avail. Jane was alive, still breathing with a good strong pulse and an even rise and fall of their chest.

Serena was going to try to drag Jane out. Serena had noodle arms, carrying her books was likely a challenge with her (1) strength. There were other people in worse condition than Jane that needed help too, she could not just call out and pull someone away from another ailing student. No, Serena would have to do this herself. Serena would grip onto one of Jane's ankles with both of her hands and give a mighty tug.

Serena attempts to drag Jane Victoria to safety.
Roll: 3

It was the least mighty of mighty tugs. Serena would successfully drag Jane several inches. Broken chairs, scattered dishes and refuse strewn about the floor, Jane's sleeping body would find it all.

Minor Damages taken by Jane from incidental environmental threats.

A scrape here, a scuff there. Something would snag Jane's pant leg as Serena attempted to tug again. A few more inches. It was slow going for the Hufflepuff as she exerted herself. She would not miss Galton's dramatic entrance after Adam left the ballroom. She had gotten about a meter closer to the door in that time.

It was enough to rouse Jane, Serena had saved someone!

Jane was less than pleased about the whole ordeal as they verbally rebuked the helpful Huffle. Not everyone was going to appreciate being saved. Case in point -- Jay.

It would seem as if a long time had passed. @Oliver Hart left to tend to his ailing future bride. Could he move her on his own with his (2) strength? Probably not, but eh would have to try. He could not just leave her to die here!

[From The Ballgoers] A part giant would make his way over to the pair. Was he one of the ones that caused this whole mess in the first place? Was he dangerous? His name was @Hugh Lowe, a Hufflepuff who with the help of a fellow Hufflepuff broke down the door. The ballroom was filled with smoke and fire then. All Oliver might see is a part-giant coming to steal away his girl.

A hand on Oliver's shoulder, Hugh was a very big boy. Next to him, even Oliver looked quite small. Would Oliver sense a gentleness from the great Gryffindor, would he recoil in fear or would he try to protect his lady love from this potential threat. It would be an uphill battle, Hugh was sturdy. He would kneel down, his knee soaked in the girl's blood. How could so much come from someone so small?

"I can carry her. But I could use some guiding out of here. You up for that?"

He offered. Would he leave like the rest?

There was a girl behind him, a Slytherin.

"Nico should be able to keep us safe, she's quick I can assure you."

He added, offering Nico's services also. He was not going to wait for Oliver's permission as he scooped up the poor girl. She would feel light in his arms, his hands would feel wet and sticky. The sickening scent of blood with fill his nares.

Hugh picks up Dynmphna.
Strength Check: 11 Success

It had to be hell for the dhampir he had encouraged to come with him. Did he know what she was? Did he understand or want to know her nature? Her unrelenting hunger? The urge to lap up Dynmphna's blood from the floor was likely almost overwhelming. Nico was not going to be of any help, not in this state. Not with so much blood near. How can she look out for them when she was fixated on... this feast fit for a queen. [Nico has an additional reference under King Galton]

Dymphna would be carried off by Hugh Lowe, Oliver walking along side. He had his hand on her shoulder, he was talking to her. Trying to keep her awake but she was not moving. It was not all right but maybe everything was going to be OK. [Hugh has an additional reference under King Galton]


The Part Giants


@Xailah Alptraum was indeed an odd one. She thought for whatever reason that flipping a table over the center of attention, one of the fallen part-giants would hide them from others. Not really. All that happened was they would see some crazed little girl scurrying over to the part giant and then flipping a table over top of them like a makeshift canopy as if to say -- if I can't see you, then you cannot see me.

The other part-giant was bound on the ground. He looked angry. He struggled to free himself. If he broke free, there was a good chance that someone else was going to get hurt. From the look of things, someone might even die.

[From The Ballgoers] @Bridget Collins would draw her wand and point her wand at an intact tablecloth. There were still a few left. With a swish and a flick of her wand she would use the word of power. 

"Wingardium Leviosa." 

Bridget casts Wingardium Leviosa.
Roll: 15

[From The Fallen] The bound giant, struggling to free himself from his bindings was bleeding from a stab wound in his thigh. The faint trickle of blood was straining his pant leg. @Griseldis Edelhardt would ball her tiny hand into a fist and slug the bound part giant in the jaw.

Gris attempts to punch the part giant in the jaw.
Roll: 3

The bound part-giant was not able to evade the blow. She would strike him squarely in the angle of his jaw. That would not be enough to knock the pained and restrained part-giant about but she would feel a sickening crack as her knuckles impacted the angle of his jaw, rattling the young man. [Gris has an additional reference under King Galton]

@Dan Palmer would clutch the very shoe he was struck by when a mad-Professor had single-handedly knocked several students silly. He should have thought twice about what he was going to do. About the implications. About the lack of honor in his act. But he, like Gris at this moment was not thinking about the right thing to do. He wanted to hurt someone. It did not matter if they were able to fight back. It only mattered that he had his moment to feel vindicated. To feel powerful and to feel right.

It was easy to say that Dan was simply being a stereotypical Slytherin, but he was not the first. Reddened jaw, it was fractured. Retribution for the disgrace. For the unpleasantness. For ruining a date. An eye in exchange for a night that did not go as planned. 

Not an act of passion, the rubber grip removed from the shoe. It was meant to hurt. To maim. To blind. Dan would raise the shoe, the heel like an ice pick and plunge the heel into the part giant's eye socket. Deep inside.





The masked Headmaster would point his wand in the direction of the struggling part giant. No words would leave his mouth as he snapped his wand in the direction of the part giant and a green light sparked at the end of his wand, signifying a cast.

"Well damn..." he complained in a low voice. The sort of casual complaint someone would make when they sliced their thumb when washing dishes. "Not fast enough I am afraid," he said loud enough for those nearby to hear. The part giant's flesh became sallow as he continued to struggle, appear to try to cough. There was no longer even a muffled shout as the Headmaster drew near.

The headmaster's gloved hand would clap Dan Palmer on the shoulder and he would state simply. "Boy, what have you done...?" The part giant was no longer moving, his flesh looked ashen but glistened with a fine mist of sweat.

"How..." he withdrew the heel that so many saw Dan plunge into the eye of the part giant with a slow, purposeful movement. "Deep did you have to push this?" It was not the sort of scene for children. "A smokescreen again my dear?" He was talking to the Head of House for House Gryffindor. "Actually, never mind... they will never unsee this I am afraid."

The part giant was stabbed in the eye and was no longer moving. No longer screaming.

King Galton

The poor boy was delirious. Before him a great banquet of candy, enough to fuel his crown for the next decade had amassed in this great. The boy looked as if he had gone mad, there was something wrong with his big grey eyes. While there there was power and authority in his words, his gaze was wrong. He was not looking at the crowd, he was looking through them. His eyes lacked focus. @Galton Lansdale was seeing a very different scene than the rest of them. His sanity had slipped way, perhaps it was never quite there. Galton was a 'unique' boy to say the least between his shaved cat and his super hero antics by the lakeside.

"HEAR ME, HEAR ME, Oh great people of this glorious court. Tonight we gather to celebrate the dawn of a new era! I cannot give proper thanks to my loyal subjects who have trusted this heavy crown upon my head!"

He would flamboyantly bow for his audience, once... twice... thrice... a fourth time. This was where he would show his mettle. His people were cheering him on. His people needed a king. There would be a KING!

"LET US BEGIN THIS NIGHT! Fueled by the sugar and sweets of these living treats we shall secure our spot as the sweetest of all kingdoms. Let not those who oppose us claim we have gone soft, consuming things like vegetables! Watch as I, YOUR KING, PROVE! Prove, we are the CANDY KINGDOM!"

He pumped his hands in the air. There were cheers, at least in his head. How the paintings did protest, but Galton would hear otherwise. The undisputed king of this land, he would have to prove his might and his worth. It was a macabre tradition, the consumption of living candy but it was a rite of passage and Galton like the great kings before him must abide.

The saccharine scene was intoxicating.

Like an uncaged animal that had not been fed in several days, Galton rushed the ballroom. He would first have to climb the great gingerbread man tree. It was like scaling a great, mobile sycamore.

Galton Attacks Hugh
Attack: 19
Evasion: 14

Sticky hands would scale the massive student. Greedy hands would then plunge into his thick head of hair. His mutton chops like great hand holds, the very cap of this mountain of a boy lush with many strands of floss. Galton would rip away at Hugh's hair, taking great clumps in his hands by the roots and stuffing them into his mouth. He had never tastes that flavor before. No matter!

Hugh was burdened by the girl he held in his arms. He could not defend himself. Would he drop her?

Maintain Hold on Dymphna.
Roll: 3

The bloodied form of the girl would slip from him arms. Oliver was still gripping the part-Vella's shoulder.

Attempt to catch Dymphna. (Reactionary)
Roll: 10

He would tighten his grip on Dymphna's shoulders, slow her descent. He was in no position to cradle her in his arms even if he desperately wanted to do so. He was also not particularly powerful (strength 2), but he could and he would break her fall. Dymphna would not hit her head, but her descent would be rough as her heels hit the floor hard. One of her heels would break off. The rest of her would land fast and hard, her rear next but her upper body and head last. They would land gentler but still with haste.

Oliver did what he had to. He tried to defend her. Helping Hugh was an unintended happy coincidence as he drew his wand and pointed it at Galton.

"Flipendo!"

Perfect enunciation. The flick of his wrist and a flash of magic.

Oliver cast Flipendo on Galton.
Attack 2 + 9
Evasion 14

However he would miss the boy as Galton scurried back down Hugh's back like a carnivorous quidriped spider. As suddenly as Galton had scaled Hugh and as quickly as the boy might have swatted or protested, Galton leaped from the part-giant wizard's shoulders and barreled towards @Nico Shymane who was standing several feet behind Hugh.

The look in Galton's eyes was that of a madness the dhampir would never have seen before. Yes, it was a hunger but it was a strange hunger. In a mad dash, a thin trail of drool escaped his lips and splashed on the floor behind him. He lurched at Nico, his teeth bared.

Galton attempts to bite Nico's fingers.
Attack 12 + 8
Evasion 14 + 8

Galton's chompers only narrowly missed the tips of the girl's fingers. It was likely he would have bitten the tip of her digits off had she not pulled her hand away in time.

Galton was not interested in remaining there, trying to fight for his meal when there were so many other delectable options. In fact it was dizzying to see so many delicious options.

He would run away from Hugh Lowe and Nico Shymane with a haste and a randomness that only paralleled his attack in the first place. his target, @Griseldis Edelhardt's eyes. She was not nearly as tall as Hugh. An easy climb, even for one as small as Galton. It only took a single grab and pull to lift himself up and try to unevenbly perch himself onto her. His great pink tongue bared, he would clamp to grab Griseldis by the shoulders and draw her in close.

Galton attempts to lick Gris' eyeball.
Attack:
Evasion:

His tongue would meet her juicy orbit. With a dramatic slurping noise he would run his smooth tongue over her open eye. If she was wearing mascara, it would appear a fright. She would be temporarily blinded in that eye, there are some place's a boy's tongue should not go. Her depth perception off, she was for the most part unharmed. Likely only disgusted.

@Jurgen Hess would try to tackle Galton. Stop the mad child's rampage. He would run at the candy king, aiming low he would try to take him down.

Jurgen attempts to tackle Galton.
Attack 4
Evasion 20

Jurgen would try, but he would miss. Running past Galton entirely and nearly out the door before he would catch himself. Stumbling to a halt, he would look back and see @Saskia Nicholson attempting to thwart the mad king's reign of sweet terror.

"Flipendo!"

Saskia uses flipendo on Galton
Attack: 11
Evasion: 3

Saskia fared better than the boys. An unseen force would knock Galton back. While Galton was not incredibly durable, a single flipendo was not enough to take him down. He would be launched back, his back hitting one of the tables that remained on the fringe of the room. He was away from the crowds but it was be simple for him to simply get back up and rush someone on the dance floor.

LAMIK'S PERSPECTIVE
---------------------------

Interacts with: @Jake Morris @Saskia Nicholson

Lamik took in a sharp inhale of breath between his teeth when Jake didn't let go, wracking his mind for what to do. "Alright Jake, dont worry." He said, his voice shaky. "I wont leave you alone." As much as he wanted to just curl up in a ball and cry, Lamik knew that now wasnt the time. Of course, once this was all over he would be a sobbing mess, but that wasn't even remotely important at the moment. No, now was the time to help- as much as a twelve year old boy could, at least.

After taking a few deep breaths, a thought came to Lamiks mind. "SASKIA!" He yelled as loudly as he could, praying to a god that he didnt believe in that she would hear him. "GET JAKE TO YOUR COMMON ROOM!" Conciously, the rationale for his request was simple- the common rooms were probably safe, and though Lamik could not get into Jakes common room, Saskia definitely could. Obviously there was another reason for wanting to be the one to face any danger instead of her, but that would be something for him to deliberate another day.

Interations: @Christopher Madson
Meantions: @Jorah Moussa

Illowy passed her gaze over the length of him, trying to make herself feel for certain that he was actually okay as he turned away from the scene to face her. Thankfully, to her immediate sight, he seemed perfectly unharmed, if only a bit stained and dusted by the smoke and soot. Simple fixes that she could be content with. Their surroundings were quite a different story though.

Her eyes fell away from him as he spoke, barely registering his words of relief that she was alright as she took notice of the boy bleeding on the floor. No amount of reading or pictures could do such a distressing sight justice as seeing someone so young in such a horrific position. Even more so, was the nearly slow-motion scene that unfolded before her eyes as one of the half-giants was attacked brutally with the worse end of a lady's shoe.

Illowy couldn't help but flinch away. There was no good place to look as every inch of the ballroom was littered with either the injured or the aftermath of the injured.

Her attention was only brought back hearing her friend coughing as she tuned back into his words, "I've learned one thing above all being in this school." she spoke carefully when he was done, "You leave no one behind under any circumstance. I didn't run away last time, and I won't start now." even if she desperately wanted to escape such a hellscape. It churned up too many terrible memories and feelings, like a nightmare come to life, for one so young to be able to deal with rationally. Hell, she would even argue most adults couldn't deal with this scene rationally. Illowy was fighting with herself to keep calm, trying to maintain her steady heart rate and breathing for fear if she didn't, she may actually drop then and there like lead.

Swallowing hard, the girl spoke, straining to keep her voice steady, "Let's start moving people out into the hall. There should be other's out there by now taking people to the Hospital Wing..."

"What the h-"
Hugh's scream as he met with a leaping Galton would be abruptly interrupted with a flash of pain stinging through his right cheek. Without any warning, the Ravenclaw girl slipped from his grasp and his hand instinctively reached out for the source of the burning tingle left on his face. Not noticing any of the further events, the part giant felt nothing but short stubs of hair where a few longer strands of sideburns had been. "He bit me!" Hugh exclaimed to himself as took halt. "What the-" Turning around to face his attacker, his murky green eyes searched the room. An irritating sensation would rill over his body. "That bastard BIT ME." He'd clench his teeth as the annoying sting on his cheek poked him back. As if it was mocking him and trying to make him feel frustrated. Who the hell did Galton think he was? Did he think he was being funny? Taking a jab at good ol' Hugh. He could see it in front of him. How the smiling fat kid he met in the common room would laugh at the embarrassed giant. You little git. I'll get you for this.

Hugh's eyes locked on Galton. His own head now red with both anger and embarrassment, it was almost as if the green in his eyes spit fire. Someone else might have pushed him back in the room with a little flick of their wand but Hugh would show 'em. He'd make clear what throwing someone back meant for a giant. Little Galton wanted to test his strength? He'd get it. With a raging hunger for a sugary lion's throat, the part-giant lunged forward to Galton's position. Heavy thumps as his feet landed one after the other. On the ground or back up his feet, it wouldn't matter. His long and large arms came swinging at the small boy. He'd try to lock his hand with the boy's neck and smash him against the nearest wall. "I'LL HAVE YOUR HEAD FOR THIS" Hugh roared with a voice of ire. This was the last time anyone would put him through this feeling.

Should he succeed, Hugh would smash the little boy to pulp like a whacking a chocolate frog on a window. Should he fail, he'd just destroy anything nearby in his rage.

That was it? She had flipped the table over, to conceal the two. She had heard nothing from the fallen giant. Not a grunt, nor whimper. Just silence. She knew what that meant. She had wished death upon him- but, for some strange reason she was refusing to accept the fact that he was dead. She pinched his arm. Nothing. Questions would have to go unanswered. She hated not getting her way. Hated it. In a rage, she made a fist, and brought it down upon his chest. Once-no twice. She hit him twice. And still nothing.

It was then, when she took off her mask. Her porcelain skin smudged with ash and smoke. A faint spray of blood crept up to her hairline. Was it her blood? Was it his blood? Perhaps it was another students blood. In the end it didn't really matter, blood was blood. Her snarl faded. The horns sunk back into her skull, leaving behind two small red marks, that would disappear in a few days. Her writhing locks of hair, fell to frame her face. She lowered her face to his, to see if she could hear any breathing.

There was none. She had wished death upon him. He was dead- but why wasn't she glad? Why did she feel bad about this? She had no emotional attachment towards the stranger- in fact she was quite sure that she hated him. Pity began to spread itself across her face. She won. Wasn't she supposed to feel good? She sat there for a good second, before muttering; "Poor bastard. But you had it coming." She put out a clawed hand, and began to pat him down, checking all his pockets. He had no secrets to tell, but maybe his pockets did.

If she found anything, she would place the object- or objects into her own pockets. "I don't think you'll be needing these anymore." She could inspect anything that she had found later. What was so important; that this boy was willing to risk his life for not once- but twice? Why had he closed the door- if he was risking dying. Did he want to die? Maybe the person he was working for, was in the room? That was an interesting thought. She peeped from under the table, to look around the room. There wasn't much to see. No one looked particularly shady- except for maybe the Headmaster. But to be fair he was new.

She then turned her attention back to the dead giant- where she did something very strange. She raked through his short blonde locks, in a attempt to make him look nice. "You know, what the sssad thing is? I would have been the perfect canidate for kidnapping. No one would have noticed. I don't think anyone would have missed me- not to mention, I would have probably gone without a ssstruggle." And that, was the sad truth. "I come from a wealthy family too so-...well, it doesn't matter now."

She smoothed his shirt down the best she could, and folded his hands across his chest. What was she doing? She, was preparing him for the coffin. She had seen her father do this before placing her bastard of a cousin in his coffin. She had no remorse for her cousin- no one did. He had taken the life of an innocent man. He did not get to be buried with his ancestors- no one mourned him. So, this was not Xailahs first experience with death- but what made this different, is that she felt remorse.

This young man was probably not much older than she was. "Well, I don't know where you're going, but you should put in a good word for me." The thought of someone dying so young was...well, rather scary to say the least. She reached over to straighten his tie. This was probably the worst place to die. She then pulled her mask back down over her face, and took her leave. Pushing past the small cannibal, ignoring the other giant who was evidently dead too. She no longer had a reason to be here.

Upon exiting, she would reunite with her companion. No help had come, but she liked to think that he had at least made an attempt to find help of some sort. "Oh there you are." She squeezed the mass of grey fur. "Were you a good boy? Did you try to get help?" "Waow." He let out a low rusty purr. "That so?" She smushed her face into his formless body. "I'm sorry those mean giants ruined your birthday, Schrödinger." The duo would eventually make their leave. She would send him to the common rooms, so he could go to bed; and she would head to the Prefect's Bathroom. She needed to get the smell of smoke off of her.

Nightmares. Katrina knew that for week she would have horrible and probably realistic nightmares from this horrendous night. The night had begun with awkward festivities. Now, she had seen two people be stabbed (which was horrible for her imagination), a giants eyes get grossly mutilated (not even going there), and now a delirious and, quite frankly, terrifying boy enter. He seemed to be under the influence of something. What, Katrina was not sure. Muggle drugs and symptoms were nothing like that horrendous boy.

He tore out hair, chomped at fingers, licked eyes. The whole scene was ugly. Katrina rushed over and drew out her wand. There might be something that she could do. Before she could do anything the boy was hit by a Flippindo and went flying across the room only to rush back at people. Katrina scanned her mind for any spells that could help while rushing towards the boy. Not too many people had noticed yet and Katrina was determined to succeed.

"Hey, weird candy boy!" Katrina regretted it instantly after saying anything. She just wanted to distract him now she was likely to be killed by the delirious kid.

A quick decision ran through her mind: tickle him or make him dance? She went with the latter one. Katrina rose her wand in sturdy defiance.

"Tarantallegra!" the pronunciation rolled off her tongue, she pointed her wand forcefully at his feet and moved her wand in the odd shape and imagined his legs dancing out of control. It was all that Katrina hoped that he wouldn't be able to move after that.

Action: Cast Dancing Feet Spell at @Galton Lansdale

Role-playing as [font=Tempus Sans ITC]Bridget Collins[/font] || Interacting with no one || Mentions @Adam Harringtom, @Jorah Moussa, @Ruthie Greer, @Thora Larkston, @Galton Lansdale, and @Dan Palmer

Bridget's levitation charm was successful, and although she couldn't tell if it helped, at the very least it didn't seem to make the situation any worse. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Thora along with the blonde-haired girl who had been with her following an older student as he carried the impaled boy out of the ballroom. With that, Bridget felt both her fear and her resolve fade. Thora was safe, but because of that, why should she stay any longer? The thought was selfish, of course, but she was no hero and she saw no use in pretending to be one.

The brunette considered staying at least until the last giant was fully subdued, but that idea, just formed, quickly faded into nothing. Dan Palmer, her Quidditch Captain, drove a long, sharp heel into the half-giant's eye, and although she instantly squeezed her eyes shut, the image was still burned into her memory. Bridget wasn't sure whether she wanted to shriek, vomit, or run away, but despite her nausea she didn't blame Dan. In fact, if anything her view of him gained a level of respect, if not a bit of fear of his personal limits as well. After all the injuries and pain the giant had caused, he deserved some suffering.

Making sure to open her eyes once she was faced in a very different direction than the stabbing, her hazel eyes locked on one thing. The door. She couldn't fix the crazed boy trying to eat people. She was too weak to drag anyone out. Part of her hated herself for leaving when people were still in danger, but the other part of her simply couldn't stay anymore. There was no more bravery, no more protectiveness. Bridget Collins, much worse for wear than when she had entered, walked back out through the now demolished ballroom doors and away from the horrors of the Masquerade Ball.

Bridget Collins exits the thread unless she needs to be stopped.

Interacting with @Illowy Magnard and @Serena Davies

Chris noticed that the ballroom was starting to calm down as he talked over to her, the smoke was all but gone as well as the wild giants that stormed the dance floor. What he didn't notice was how the last giant perished. A fellow student behind him had managed to grab hold of a sharp heel and plunge it into the giants eye, ending his life in seconds. If there was any sign it was Illowy suddenly flinching, but it was probably best that he didn't see it in the first place" I've learned one thing above all being in this school." she said to him carefully when he finished talking "You leave no one behind under any circumstance. I didn't run away last time, and I won't start now." Chris looked at her, a small smile appearing on his face. Illowy was a person that surprised Chris by the day, she is the kind of person that wouldn't give up and always seemed to have your back in the greatest of perils "Good..." he said back short and sweet, his eyes beginning to look around the room for any other dangers.

"Let's start moving people out into the hall. There should be other's out there by now taking people to the Hospital Wing..." said Illowy soon after, eager to begin helping people out of the ballroom safely "Yea, lets go. Keep an eye out for anyone needing help" Chris replied as he turned his head around him, looking around the ruined ballroom for anyone still on the floor. It didn't take him long to notice a body on the floor unmoving. A young girl, possibly around his age was to the right of them, she didn't seem to be conscious from where he was standing,but that was yet to be proven "Look over there!" he pointed, his finger in the direction of the hurt pupil as he slowly started to walk across.

The once clean dance floor was plastered with soot and various objects that had been flung across the room. His eyes gazed down at the floor as he carefully made his way over, looking to not slip and injure himself in the process. He slowly came up to the limp body of the giant, a sight which almost made him sick as his eyes journeyed up to his face "Fucking hell..." mumbled the boy to himself while bringing a hand up to his mouth, a slight gagging noise coming from him as he got past the giants corpse. Whoever had to this will probably be scared for the rest of their lives, this is something no child should of done...

Chris got in touching distance of the girl and kneeled down, looking behind him to see where Illowy was as he motioned her over "Lets get her out before any other shite happens..." he grunts while giving the girl below him a quick look over. From the back she didn't seem to have any injuries, as well as no sign of blood. The Slytherin lightly lifted her shoulder upwards to check the front half of her body, his head quickly lowering to the floor to check "I dont think she's hurt to much, hopefully..." he sighed before getting back into a kneeling position, looking to grab hold of the girls arm and place it over his shoulders "See if you can get that other arm..."