Gryffindor V Hufflepuff Unofficial Game BETA

Mentioning @Reid Kovacs

When asked later, Kayden Mae would answer questions of ‘How’d it feel?’ with the truth: ‘I have no clue.’ Once she was in the air (and, God, what a fantastic feeling it was, to finally be allowed to go higher than a few feet off the ground; other than tryouts, she’d had no time to do so) every moment was flashing by, escaping from her memory before she could commit them. Some part of this she was used to - she always went into some sort of fugue when playing - but now there was a background noise she wasn’t accustomed to hearing, too, and the buzz of the over-lookers faded like white noise, making the whole memory a little more fuzzy.

As the crowd, admittedly smaller than what it would be at a normal game, made known its approval and its disdain in equal parts, the Gryffindor was quick to dart for the Quaffle, pressing herself close to her broom as she sped up. To her surprise, she found herself with the ball in her hands, and instinct kicked in as she wheeled around to beeline for the goal. Then she was facing the Hufflepuff Keeper, and the ball was through the ring before she could register she had thrown it. She allowed herself a few seconds to grin to herself, glancing around with a look on her face that said Did you see what I did? And then the Quaffle was in the air again, and she found herself - again - one of the few Chasers in the midst of the chase. This time, as she rushed forward, she was more alert, her eyes wide when she snatched the Quaffle once more, and she found herself facing off against Reid again. As she watched, the red ball was soaring through the ring, and this time she couldn't help the victorious pumped fist. With a slightly manic smile, she whirled around again on her broom to place herself back into position for the next round.

action: doing as strategized.

M O D E R A T I O N — R O U N D 3

H U F F L E P U F F

FIRST STRING Keeper: @Altas Reid Chasers: - - @Serena Bowen @Annie Morgan @Aaron Jones Beaters: - @Saskia Nicholson @Reid Kovacs Seeker: @Teiki Laurent

SECOND STRING Keeper: @Willow Anderson Chaser: @Donnovan Perrywinkle Beater: @Quinn Healy Seeker: @May Moonstar "Only the gentle are ever truly strong"

G R Y F F I N D O R

FIRST STRING Keeper: @Piérre Marchonné Chasers: - - - @Rafael D'Spacito @Allister-Jameson MacAllister @Charlie Woodward Beaters: - @Wren Caster @Ariana Walker Seeker: @Evelynn Decipio

SECOND STRING Keeper: @Hugh Lowe Chaser: @Kayden Mae Killian Beater: @Griseldis Edelhardt Seeker: @Lamik Fillestar "The only defense against fear is courage"

D E B U F F S
-1 ACC (Hufflepuff) due to Charlie's Charm

The heat of the game only continued to pick up in intensity. Both teams had gotten in their fare share of goal attempts on either hoop, and by now it was clear by the streak of their chase that each team's seeker had caught sight of the little golden snitch. Despite Gryffindor's marginal lead in goals, Hufflepuff could very well yet dig the lions into the ground. It was anybody's game.

C H A S E R S

───── Hufflepuff ───── Aaron Jones: Quaffle Grab #1: [d20: 17]+ 7 = 24 [success] #2: [d20: 7]+ 7 = 14 [success] #3: [d20: 8]+ 7 = 15 Annie Morgan: Carrying Teiki Serena Bowen: Save Duty

───── Gryffindor ───── Kayden Mae Killian: Quaffle Grab #1: [d20: 7]+ 6 = 13 #2: [d20: 6]+ 6 = 12 #3: [d20: 18]+ 6 = 24 [success] Charlie Woodward: Carrying Evelynn AJ MacAllister: Alley-ooping Charlie/Evelynn

K E E P E R S

Goal Attempt #1

───── Hufflepuff ───── Aaron Jones: Goal [d20: 10]+ 7 = 17 [fail]

───── Gryffindor ───── Piérre Marchonné: Block [d20: 17]+ 7 = 24 [success]

Gryffindor Saves!

Goal Attempt #2

───── Hufflepuff ───── Aaron Jones: Goal [d20: 1]+ 7 = 8 [fail]

───── Gryffindor ───── Piérre Marchonné: Block [d20: 17]+ 7 = 24 [success]

Gryffindor Saves!

Goal Attempt #3

───── Gryffindor ───── Kayden Mae Killian: Goal [d20: 20]+ 6 = 26 [success]

───── Hufflepuff ───── Atlas Reid: Block [d20: 17]+ 4 = 21 [fail]

10 Points for Gryffindor!

───────────── Results ─────────────

Once again, the Quaffle had found itself back at centre after being reset following Gryffindor's last goal. Only two would squabble over it, however. After a well-aimed bludger by Walker that had sent Laurent tumbling from her broom, Morgan had joined Woodward in serving as support and steed for their respective Seekers. Although perhaps a detriment where scoring was concerned, it was a necessary sacrifice.

Likewise, neither MacAllister nor Bowen would be seen amidst the various skirmishes for the Quaffle. The former, who had already found his way over to the chaser-seeker pairing that was Decipio and Woodward seemed to have changed tactics. While still dogging the haphazard pattern of their flight, he was no longer looking to take a bludger in their stead. Instead, it was the opportunity to help the pair along to snatch that snitch that he sought to seize. On the other hand, Bowen had taken up Morgan's previous flight path. The seekers would still be high-priority targets, even more so now that they had given into their respective pursuits. It wouldn't be surprising to see one or the other fall, but at least here, Bowen was ready to catch hers.

Thus, only Jones and Killian remained to duke it out over the red leather. And quite the show it would be. Evidently, Jones was a bit of a late bloomer. Although he hadn't flown with any particular finesse at the start of the game, he was hitting his stride now. He easily snatched up the Quaffle from Killian's slower attempt and sped down the length of the pitch. Unfortunately, it wouldn't necessarily be an easy goal. It wasn't uncommon for the Keepers to be forced to abandon their goal posts mid-way through the games, them often being the ones required to carry the burden of a fallen comrade. Marchonné had been spared this task, however, and had resolved himself to overcome his last blunder. Granted, Jones wouldn't be easily beat. The Hufflepuff's throw was well aimed, and had the hoops been unguarded, it would have been a sure thing. But Marchonné was there, making a spectacular save for all to see.

Gryffindor saves!

Jones wasn't done, however. Not by a long shot. Despite the Gryffindor being in possession of the quaffle, Jones managed to get his hands on the red ball once again, out-flying Killian in an impressive display to pry the ball from her grasp. And once again it was he against the Gryffindor Keeper. Only this time, he got a little ahead of himself. In his attempt to score, he fumbled the ball (crit fail). Really, it was all Marchonné would be able to do just to catch it to keep it in the game.

Gryffindor saves!

This time, Killian managed to gain proper and sure possession of the Quaffle, out-flying Jones with clear advantage. Hufflepuff had had two attempts to score, and evidently it was now the lioness's turn. She sped down the pitch towards the Hufflepuff goal posts, the only obstacle between her and another notch on her belt being Reid, who had made several impressive saves despite her relative inexperience on the pitch. The question was, would she be able to do it again? At first glance, it looked like she would. Her form was perfect, focus on point. But Killian's shot proved to be just a little too much. Really, it had been a — perhaps a flukishly — perfect shot. The Quaffle sailed past the Hufflepuff keeper and through the hoop to sound the gong.

Gryffindor scores! 10 points for Gryffindor!

B E A T E R S || B L A T C H E R S

───── Hufflepuff ───── Saskia Nicholson: Defending Teiki/Annie [d20: 8]+ 10 = 18 [fail] vs. Ariana: Bludger @ Teiki/Annie [d20: 13]+ 9 = 22 [DC] Saskia fails to intervene ───── Quinn Healy: Bludger @ Eve/Charlie [d20: 4]+ 6 = 10 [fail] Eve/Charlie: Evade [d20: 19]+ 8 = 27 [success] - EVA = (7+8)/2=7.5 rounds up

───── Gryffindor ───── Wren Caster: Defending Eve/Charlie [d20: 7]+ 6 = 13 [success] vs. Quinn: Bludger @ Eve/Charlie [d20: 4]+ 6 = 10 [DC] Chance to redirect Redirect [75+]: [d100: 66] [fail] ───── Ariana Walker: Bludger @ Teiki/Annie [d20: 13]+ 9 = 22 [fail] Teiki/Annie: Evade [d20: 19]+ 8 = 27 [success] Saskia failed to intervene

S E E K E R S

Snitch Catch DC: 15 + 5 = 20

───── Hufflepuff ───── Teiki Laurent: Snitch Catch Riding with Annie [d20: 10]+7 = 17 [fail]

───── Gryffindor ───── Evelynn Decipio: Snitch Catch Riding with Charlie [d20: 20]+10 = 30 [success]

───────────── Results ─────────────

While two chasers and each of the team's keepers were occupied with their focus surrounding the Quaffle, the other ten players were involved in an intricate dance of their own. Laurent and Decipio had both spied the snitch, each chasing after the little golden orb on the backs of their partners' — Morgan and Woodward — brooms. A difficult enough feat to accomplish alone, the teamwork and communication would have to be spot-on between both pairs if either wished to seize the little ball.

Neither coupling would have an easy time of it. Both teams would see to that. While Healy attempted to strike a bludger at Decipio and Woodward, Walker attempted to do the same with a well-targeted strike at Laurent and Morgan. While Caster attempted to intervene to redirect the bludger from Healy, Nicholson attempted to do the same with the bludger sent by Walker. Neither would succeed. Walker's bludger proved to be too fast for Nicholson to strike; and while Caster managed to catch the tip of her bat on Healy's, it did little more than angle its path slightly from its original trajectory.

Not that it particularly mattered. In either case, both Morgan and Woodward seemed to have unprecedented handles on their flying and were looking out for their seekers with a level of focus and manoeuvrability rarely seen. Neither bludger struck its mark, both seeker pairs dodging deftly out of the way of the murderous bludgers, free to continue to close in on their prey. Conveniently placed, however, MacAllister came flying in to grasp hands with Woodward, singing the Gryffindor seeker pair around in an Alley-Oop to give them just that little bit extra of speed and advantage.

And then it was there. Neck and neck. Side by each. Laurent and Decipio. Both almost near enough to snatch that fake little bird from the skies. But only one would come streaking from the confusing and chaotic mass of players with the glint of gold clutched within their fingers.

Gryffindor catches the snitch! 150 points to Gryffindor! Gryffindor wins!

S C O R E B O A R D

GRYFFINDOR	HUFFLEPUFF
190	10

Notes: New System Implementations

[1] Quaffle Grabs — now result in 3 attempts to get the quaffle and score
[2] Snitch Chasing — once the snitch has been found, there will be 1 round of chasing in order for the seekers to catch up to their target before a catch attempt can be made on the following round. Similar rules apply to penalty laps for blatching in that a post is still required lest that chase be continued for additional rounds

Additional clarification required regarding:

• Alley-ooping as Double-Headed Dragon
• Alley-oop indicates use of [Str] (is there supposed to be a DC roll for success?)
• Defending players as non-beater possible move addition (no redirect chance, just take the damage if intervene successful?)
• Defending as beater (description on success states successful beat bludger away; negates damage?
• Generally, quaffles are only returned to centre after a goal. In a round, if a save is made, should the defending team have a bonus on quaffle grabs to indicate the pass of the Keeper to their team?

Interacting with @Charlie Woodward
Mentioning @Rafael D'Spacito, @Allister-Jameson MacAllister, @Marla Quinlan, @Teiki Laurent, and @Annie Morgan

The pitch had disappeared. The players had vanished. The sky and ground and stands had all merged into one, colours fading into and out of each other in a grand canvas of smudged hues and images out of focus. Nothing mattered anymore. Not the chasers with the quaffle, not the keepers at the hoops, not the bludgers coming in from God-only-knew-where at the behest of the beaters' bats. Not even the other seeker and her partner. There was only the here and the now. Only the little golden globe with the silver wings beating a thousand times a second, hell-bent on avoiding capture. It was her, Evelynn, and the snitch.

Well…and Woodward and his broom.

"Come ooon!" Evelynn urged, pushing forwards against his shoulders once again. Whether it was the boy's blonde locks, or the fabric of his Quidditch uniform about which her fingers were curled, the little lioness didn't even know anymore. Her focus was about fifty feet ahead of them in any given direction as the trajectory of their path turned and shifted in rapid and angular movements. Not the there. "Faster!" she insisted. "Fasterrr."

The last one was practically a plea, a hiss whispered nearly into the ear of the poor chaser who'd become nothing more than a temporary steed to serve her needs in obtaining that one hundred and fifty point bird. She wanted this win. She needed this win. Not just a win for the team, but one involving the catching of the snitch by her own hands. To prove not only to D'Spacito, but also to herself, that she was cut out for this. That they hadn't made a mistake in taking her on as reserve seeker. That she deserved to be there, flying among the rest at break-neck speeds in this chaotic sport she'd come to love.

"Almost…" she breathed, her heart hitching in her chest. They were so close. She could see it more clearly now. Losing it less and less frequently. They had a chance. The two were closing in. And then from the corner of her eye she saw the bead of black drawing near. "Bludger, four o'clock!"

She wasn't even sure if she had needed to say anything at all. The dexterity displayed in Woodward's handling of the Silver Arrow to avoid the bludger was unparalleled from anything she'd seen of any of the other players on the team. If she'd had any doubt in her mind previously about whether or not this boy was a deft enough flyer to count himself amongst the ranks of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team, she certainly wouldn't by the end of this game. Not that she'd held any such notion. He had been nothing but consistent in both awareness and prowess in the sky. Honestly, he could have been a Ravenclaw for how naturally he took to flight.

Unfortunately, with such manoeuvrability and speed came the devil of inertia, and Evelynn's was in the wholly wrong direction to sit comfortably with their dodge. The sudden evasion meant that the precarious balance she maintained in her lofty two-point position was thrown entirely off, and to prevent herself being thrown from the broom, she fell heavily back onto her rear, arms dropping once again to wrap about the boy's middle in the death vice of survivor mentality. By the time the world had righted itself and her vision had re-calibrated, MacAllister was there — where in the heck had he come from? — evidently working with Woodward to give the two a bit of a boost.

"Warning would have been niiiiiiIIiEEEEEE—"

Evelynn's complaint was thoroughly ripped from her lips as she found herself spinning on the spot, barely able to hold on despite her improved grip. Really, there was nothing that could be done. Arm slipping from Woodward's middle with the exponential increase in backwards drag from the centrifugal force of the Alley-Oop, Evelynn did what she had to do to stay mounted. She dove one hand through the opening beneath the arm of her saviour as it was locked in with MacAllister's and took a grip of the broom handle between his knees.

And just in time, really. The two shot forward with a speed she wouldn't even have thought possible, making up what distance they'd lost in the performance of that little move in an instant. They rocketed forward, gaining ground on Morgan and Laurent, and closing in on the snitch. Tears streamed from the corners of Evelynn's eyes as she squinted, leaning slightly around Woodward's frame as she gave up on trying to direct the chaser in this critical moment, and took control — maybe? — of his broom herself. They were neck and neck. They were pulling slightly ahead. The snitch fluttered meters in front. Then feet. Then..

Evelynn carefully let go, lifting one hand to grasp hold of Woodward's shoulder again, taking a firm hold of his uniform. She pressed forward, doubling him over while simultaneously pulling herself up and forward. Chaser who? Not this boy. He was nothing more than a mounting block for her at this point. She was almost there. Fingers stretched forward, arm shot out to its full extension. More weight leaned onto the shoulders of her 'partner'. Almost. Almost. Pads of her gloves brushed metalwork. Her heart raced. Breath hitched. Pulse pounded in her head. Like blinders on a racehorse she saw nothing but the goal. The finish.

And then fingers curled around the fine metalwork, clutching tight. As though frozen, she remained in that awkward position, practically doubling Woodward over in her need to use him as leverage for that little bit of extra height. She'd done it. She'd done it. They'd done it. She had the snitch.

"I have the snitch!" The focus of her expression slowly broke into one of exhilaration. "We did it!" Just like it had when she'd watched Quinlan sink that incredible shot into Slytherin nets to secure them their last victory, the build-up of tension cracked to breaking, leaving Evelynn with the start of a fit of emotional laughter. "We did it!" she cried again, this time shoving the snitch down in front of Woodward's face to prove it to him. "Aaah!!" She shrieked, her mind blank with happiness, all pretence of propriety and boundaries and reservation gone in a second as she flung her arms around the shoulders of her Silver Knight and kissed him.

Action: Loses her head with happiness

╔════════════ ≪ °❈° ≫ ════════════╗

Mentioning: @Rafael D'Spacito @Evelynn Decipio @Charlie Woodward @Kayden Mae Killian

╚════════════ ≪ °❈° ≫ ════════════╝

As soon as she got back into the game, she spotted Evelynn, and Charlie Woodward, on Charlie’s broom, and a bludger headed straight for them. She urged her broom forward as fast as she could and attempted to knock it out of their way. If that bludger hit them, she reasoned, then they were done. Faia, Fatto, Готово (ga-to-va); In whatever language you chose to say it, the word was still the same, done. She lunged her bat in front of them and narrowly managed to block the hit. She cheered! Shortly after that, Kyden Mae Killian threw the Quaffle into one of the three goals and scored then another ten points. They were now ahead by thirty points. She cheered with the rest of the crowd. Though the next thing she knew she saw Evelynn lunge for the snitch and catch it and a roaring erupted in her ears. She realized that they had won and, along with the rest of the crowd of onlookers, she cheered as loud as her lungs would go.

She landed her broom and gathered her team in a hug. Shortly before that though, she had snuck a look at Evelynn, and surprise, surprise, she had kissed Charlie! Man, she wished she had that kind of confidence, though she liked none of the boys, or girls for that matter, on the Quidditch team. She continued to cheer and laugh until her voice was hoarse and she could barely breathe.

Action: Cheering and embracing everyone

For papertrail purposes, rewards have been granted to the following participants -

@Evelynn Decipio
@Allister-Jameson MacAllister
@Charlie Woodward
@Wren Caster
@Ariana Walker
@Piérre Marchonné
@Hugh Lowe
@Kayden Mae Killian
@Griseldis Edelhardt
@Rafael D'Spacito [myself]

This thread is officially closed. To all who participated, thank you for your time!

UPDATE: Re-Opening this thread for those who wish to respond. Will lock it again after a week of inactivity, so get those posts innn~

Piérre was exhilarated. Not only was he vowing to himself a promise that he probably wouldn't be able to keep because of the nature of competing athletes, but he was actually trusting in himself to actually follow through with the promise that he wasn't even sure he could keep. It was like a win-win!

Fingers curled about the crooked broomshaft of Piérre's absolute favorite school broom, and there was a deep, shuddering breath as the Britalian rolled his neck, fingers twitching as he anticipated the next Quaffle grab. A flash of scarlet and the ball was in the hands of the same Hufflepuff who had scored on him last time.

Fortunately, or unfortunately in the Hufflepuff's case, Piérre was not distracted this time. His mind was hardened and his wit as sharp as a jackknife. Piérre watched the incoming Chaser, and barely swayed back and forth in time with the advancing Quaffle. The lad wasn't even looking at the boy's face this time; the only thing in his vision was the red ball which was slowly travelling to fingertips, prepared for a lob.

As if sensing Piérre's dedication, the ball came in low and to the right, attempting to score in the ring to Piérre's right. With a sudden jerk, Piérre turned his broom towards the right and with a sudden movement, slipped upside down, now controlling the broom with his knees, in time to snag the ball in both free hands, swinging backwards before chucking the Quaffle back to the center. At this point, it was mostly showmanship and perhaps a bit of showing off; but something about the acrobatic experience seemed natural... almost... meant to be. An entertainer, like a sort of ringleader.

Upside down, Piérre watched the game, crossing his arms as he swung back and forth, eyes focused on the red Quaffle. Once again, the Quaffle found itself in the hands of the Hufflepuff, who was soaring his was once again. With a huff, Piérre brought himself upright again, utilizing his core as he smiled at his previous success. If he could block one, he could block more!

The Quaffle left the Chaser's hand and Piérre watched as the ball went to his far left. With a kick like riding a horse, Piérre flew to the opposite side, not minding that the Quaffle was never going to score, and hooked the red ball like one would hook a basketball to keep it in play, spinning in a full 360 and chucking the Quaffle back into play with a whoop. One of Gryffindor's own Chasers snagged it and swiftly scored.

Glancing towards Evelynn, Piérre watched as she reached for the glittering gold sphere, directing Charley in a comedic rendition of an Igor attempting to control a Frankenstein. Holding back a laugh, Piérre saw his fellow first year reach for it... closer... closer.

Her hand closed, and Piérre found himself reaching towards it as well, clenching his fist tight and smiling like an idiot. Small tears filled his eyes as he recalled the complete success of the Gryffindor team.

He would make Hugh proud!

Crying with joy...