Day 1
Saturday 18th of October, 2025
Scotland at this time of year was cloudy, moody, and cold, though it wasn't without its festivities. Halloween was in about two weeks, then Thanksgiving, and Christmas not long after. It had already been a month since school started back up again. Temperatures were starting to hit single digits, though, so despite how heated matches were going to get (whether literally or figuratively, or both), it was still a smart idea to wear a winter robe on the way up to the Fourth floor even if it was at risk of catching fire.
The Duelling Club in the week of the games was buzzing with all sorts of emotions. Excitement to be playing again, nervousness for those who were trying the sport out for the first time, stress for the ones who weren't quite prepared and spent a few late nights in this hall. But now, the day had come—or, at least, the first day did—for students to face off one another.
As always, there would be two matches per session, and two sessions per day, coming to a total of four matches a day. The hall had been cleared of all training dummies and any rubbish lying about as they prepared for students wanting to watch the games and support their classmates.
Morning Slot - 10:30 - 11:30Match 1: [LINK]
Gryffindor: Evelynn Decipio, Rose Moon, Kim Sato
vs
Ravenclaw: Damion White, Cassius Eden, Anastasia Blackwood-Varney
Moderator: Prat PassMatch 7: [LINK]
Hufflepuff: Costanza Jewelweed, Minnie Duke, Alina Carnell
vs
Ravenclaw: Maisie Gemmell, Aislin Darragh, Nicholas Lazarus
Moderator: Pyxis Hellebore
Afternoon Slot - 12:30 - 13:30Match 3: [LINK]
Hufflepuff: Emma Wynn, EmmaLee LeDames, Axyen Dragonclaw
vs
Slytherin: Ara Villa, Draven Mirador, Matthew Campbell
Moderator: Gyle LamontMatch 6: [LINK]
Slytherin: Archer Duncan, Evpraksiya Vinogradova, Livia Machavariani
vs
Ravenclaw: Adeline Spinks, Avis Marlong, Robin Marie
Moderator: Verity Engels
OOC: This is the spectator thread for all of the above duels. There are two duels taking place in the morning (both at the same time) and two in the afternoon (both at the same time). This is not a moderated thread, so standard site rules apply!
For ease: Please look at the timetable and make a specific note at the top of your post stating if you are in the morning or afternoon slot and which duel you are watching/commenting on to minimize confusion for other players.
Day 1
Banner by: Maisie Gemmell
Timeslot: Morning
Watching: Match 7
Watching: Match 7
How was this fair?
Percival leaned forward in his seat as he looked between the two teams. The Hufflepuffs looked older. Quite a bit older, actually, so there was no way that this sport had fair rules if this was allowed. Maisie’s group had mostly first years, and understandably so, one of them was already looking very nervous.
He frowned and swallowed, feeling a tightness in his chest on her behalf. Maisie had told him that she was part of the dueling team, but this was his first time seeing her actually compete. And as excited as he was to watch, it was hard not to feel nervous for her.
He tried to focus on Pyxis’s voice as the Slytherin introduced both teams, but his eyes shifted back to the Hufflepuffs, just in time to catch one of them saying something to Maisie. He couldn’t hear all of it, but whatever she said made her smirk afterward. Percival frowned again. Maybe that was just how some people acted before a duel, but it rubbed him the wrong way immediately.
What honor was there in defeating someone one or two years below you?
Still, despite her disadvantage, Maisie stood strong with her wand ready and even encouraged her fellow duellists to help them along. Seeing that made his earlier worry fade a little. She worked hard for this and he believed in her.
“Come on, Maisie...” he whispered, then realized that whispering probably didn’t help much. He cupped his hands around his mouth instead and called out, “Go Maisie! You’ve got this!”
It came out louder than he expected, and his voice cracked halfway through. He expected a few heads to turn in his direction, so his face turned red almost instantly. He slumped back in his seat, mumbling something that was mostly lost to the sound of Pyxis starting the match. His heart beat a little faster now, and he found himself sitting straighter again as the duel began.
If cheering for her helped even a little, then embarrassment was worth it.
Mentioning: @Maisie Gemmell
Day 1
Afternoon
Match 6
New friends were what brought her out here, when she probably should have been resting. She could hear Mylo's voice clearly in her head, but after last year where the only person she knew was Mylo, she wanted to change that. Call it simple and naive, but she wanted to have friends on the duelling team the way she'd had in her unofficial Quidditch match.
And luckily since that day here in the duelling club, she'd at least found a connection with Robin and later, Adeline. She didn't know the girls well—yet—but they were both in her year and more importantly, seemed like capable duellists. Robin, in her cool direct way, clearly had a discerning eye for strategy. Adeline meanwhile with her cherry wand seemed to have a flair for the creative, and they'd been friendly enough in the common room.
"Woo, let's go Robin! Let's go Adeline!" she called from her place in the stands as the match against Slytherin began. And it was not a great start for Ravenclaw. Two critical failures already (one for each team) was significant, but perhaps the biggest surprise was a spell from Evpraksiya that Maisie couldn't even identify. It was a strange fog like a Fumos, but lighter—golden. It didn't seem to hurt her—not like the Flipendo—but Maisie knew perhaps better than anyone that fog could be annoying as hell.
Leaning forward, she watched.
@Robin Marie & @Adeline Spinks
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Day 1
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Interacting w/: @Maisie Gemmell @Percival Rocier @Costanza Jewelweed
Date: 18.10.25
Time: 10:30 - 11:30, Match 7
Outfit: portkey
WC: 253
#38466B, #1A1A1A,#806251
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Taking a seat as the match began, Robin scanned the Ravenclaws' team for the familiar face she knew to be on the piste. Catching sight of Maisie, Robin grinned and sat straighter in her seat. She herself had a match later in the day – her first one ever, if truth be told. The nerves were making their way through her body, presenting themselves as raw energy. Her foot tapped furiously, and her fingers clenched and unclenched in her lap, eyes tracking the movements of the duellists as they began. Robin had talked to Maisie about her previous matches, and seeing her previous competitors once again battling against the girl, Robin only felt irritation as the older students taunted her for her previous losses. This was a new year, and she had new partners. Despite the discrepancy in years and experience, Robin felt nothing but confidence in her classmates.
The match started out in Ravenclaw's favor to Robin's delight. The first year, Lazarus and Maisie both successfully cast their spells despite the Hufflepuffs successfully dodging. Robin let out a vindictive laugh as the Hufflepuff taunting Maisie's spell backfired in her face. The girl began furiously dancing as Robin continued her evil cackle. This was fun to watch, and she was cataloguing away any information she needed for her own duel later that day.
"Nice moves, Jewelweed!"
Robin leaned over to say casually to the boy who had also seemed to be cheering for Gemmell, still chuckling. "Seems she didn't see that coming, huh?"
Day 1
Banner by: Maisie Gemmell
Timeslot: Morning
Watching: Match 7
Watching: Match 7
Percival nearly forgot to breathe when the duel started to heat up. Spells flashed across the stage, and for a moment he had no idea what was even happening. It was all moving so fast that he found himself leaning forward, trying not to miss a second of it.
This was so exciting!
Then Costanza started dancing... if it could even be called that. He wasn’t sure whether she was dodging or dancing, but the sight made him bite back a laugh that slipped out anyway. He then quickly covered his mouth and tried to look serious again, though his shoulders still shook slightly from the effort.
Maisie, though, was still focused and going strong. She wasn't going to let anything throw her off. Not this time. So he understood what he needed to do. “Come on, Maisie,” he whispered again as the next exchange began.
Then Maisie managed to hit Costanza with her next spell, and Percival just about jumped from his seat from sheer joy, “Go, Maisie! You got her!” His voice cracked again, but this time he didn’t care. He was far too happy and he wanted her to know just how much support she had.
The sight of Costanza’s wand flying out of her hand was perfect. It felt like the entire duel changed in that very instant, and Maisie had done it. He couldn’t help but grin with his eyes bright with pride.
“That was amazing,” he said softly again as he lowered himself back into his seat with a laugh that came from pure relief. He didn’t even notice the people giving him looks for cheering too loudly again. Maisie was doing well and that's all that mattered to him.
It was only when another voice spoke directly to him, that Percival snapped from his little trance of joy. He turned to face Robin, then smiled, "U-uh, yeah!" He chuckled as his brain finally caught up, then nodded again, "She's really good at this." Percival smiled, but blinked when he remembered that he had forgotten something.
"Oh uh, I'm Percival. Are you one of Maisie's friends, too?"
Mentioning: @Maisie Gemmell
Day 1
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The afternoon was fair and lively. The first duelling match was about to occur and Tatiana was under the blazing sun for so long she had forgotten what being inside felt like. Her wand was tucked neatly in her robes, she looked clean and proper, nothing like someone who had just survived flying class.
Her hair was in a neat bun, her robes were ironed, and her face was shining brightly. That was the last flying lesson of the week, Tatiana's eyes glowed a certain way. She skipped her way to the duelling rooms instead of walking, even if she was alone, she looked perfectly content with it, heck, she looked mighty happier by herself than she was when others were close.
She looked nothing like she had the morning she woke up. Flying class certainly had some sort of effect on her. Just like she had with Quidditch, Tatiana had also signed up for Duelling and was also place din the wait-list. She had certainly secured many opportunities, now she was just hoping that they'd all be of good effect on her.
The duelling room wasn't packed that afternoon, fortunately, and Tatiana looked like nothing could ever ruin her bright, sunshine day, and let's just hope it stays that way or it will be hell not only for her, but also for the people around her. She sat alone, just as she had for the Quidditch match, perfectly happy and smiling as though her nemesis had died, let's just hope they did not.
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