Secret Blossom Ball Event Finished

Interactions: @Bridget Collins
Meantions:
Open to Interaction

Reducio

Action: trying to keep beneath and calling up to Bridget, wand in hand in case anything goes wrong

Interacting with @Lydia Cooper

Action: Shouting for calm, grabbing one of the bubbles with candles and investigating

Open to Interaction

The relief that accompanied Woodward's unquestioning permission to be redirected away from the table near the dance floor and away to the refreshment tables was one that Evelynn silently acknowledged. It wasn't merely Woodward, either. Asterion had likewise grabbed her clutch and accompanied them, without even so much as a backwards glance. Not a moment too soon, either, as a scene rather unbecoming of a lady, but nothing less than Evelynn would have expected from one of Slytherin's best beaters, escalated into an all-out brawl.

"I wonder what that was about..." Evelynn wondered passively after several moments of the silence that dogged their retreating footsteps, and casting one last curious and somewhat disapproving glance back to the action. "Anyway..." She turned her attention back to the two, her arm still in Woodward's, as though he weren't wearing his Quidditch garb and awkwardly clutching his Silver Arrow, but was rather a Knight in uniform, escorting his charge across a courtyard. "Sorry about that," she felt the need to say to Asterion, as though somehow it was Evelynn's fault that their conversation had been interrupted.

"This is Woodward, by the way — Charlie Woodward. He's one of the chasers on the Gryffindor Team. Although I'm sure that's evident," she smirked, casting his attire another side-eye. "And this is Alexis Asterion," she added, filling Woodward in with the counter-introduction before glancing back to Alexis. "Although I never did ask you from which House you're from."

But what that House would be, it either wasn't spoken by the the girl, or Evelynn didn't hear it. The trio had hardly reached the table with the spread of various foods and beverages before the flickering had started. It was subtle at first, hardly any more noticeable than the luminescent vibration of a fluorescent bulb. But then it became something more typical of a B-rated horror movie, when the lights would splutter just before something dreadful occurred. It had drawn the Gryffindor's attention, gray eyes panning up to witness the phenomenon as then, one by one, the lights started to go out.

Ability: Keen Eye — not actively seeking any pattern or source of delumination, but wondering if she passively notices anything in particular?

It was a foreshadowing, if ever she had seen one, of the darkness to come. Literally and figuratively. Just as the weight of the omen nestled heavily in her core, the bird call sounded. She very nearly missed it, so good was the imitation to her untrained ear that for a second, she thought perhaps a winged creature had taken flight in fright. The realization surfaced shortly after. She had been warned of its possible arrival, she recalled, but she had hoped not to hear it. Although she couldn't be certain who had sounded the alarm, she couldn't ignore the call to action, and it served its purpose to jar her from her state of mesmerized observation.

Already the pitch had dimmed, at least half of the candles having snuffed themselves out. Pulling her arm free from Woodward's, she dropped her hands purposefully her thighs. Fingers clutched at the skirt to hoist the hem of her dress to above her knees, revealing the knee-high buckled leather riding boots she wore beneath. Light was quickly failing her. In a clearly practiced motion, she gathered the fabric to her front before pulling the bundle down and through her legs to the back. Now only dimly able to make out the faces of those two nearest her, she hastened to divide the fabric — half in one hand, half in the other — before bringing either handful back around to knot them together at her waist.

Reducio

Just as the last of the light blinked from existence, Evelynn bent one last time, prying from a hidden sheath on the inside lining of her left boot her tool of magic, a cypress wand. Although she would no longer be easily visible to her two companions, it was clear that the redhead had been anticipating this moment and had dressed accordingly. Something brushed against her shoulder as she straightened, fingers curling gently about her humerus along with an exclamation of uncertainty. Woodward, then. It was neither a harsh grasp, nor did she get the sense that he was frightened. More, it was as though he were merely reaching out to ensure she had not disappeared, and perhaps — considering the maintenance of the hold — to gently ensure she remain in place.

"Yes," she replied calmly, squinting through the darkness in an attempt to maintain her own orientation. "I'm fine," she assured him, then, glancing in the direction where she had last seen Asterion asked, "and you, Asterion? You're alright, yes?"

She was sure that the girl was, in fact, all right. It wasn't like anything remarkable had really happened — as far as she could tell, anyway. The light had merely been turned out. Still, she couldn't deny that it unsettled her. Nor did she find any comfort in the shouts that rung out through darkness, some voices cutting out over others as lights from wands flashed and spells continued to be chanted, quickly casting the pitch into a rather disorienting environment of strobing effect and stop-motion imagery. Through it all, a few words in particular stuck with her, sealing the potential gravity of the situation.

"EYES ON ME, YEAH! I'M THE PROBLEM HERE!"
"Fuck, we have to go, now!"
"Don't do it! It's gone, RUN!"
And someone calling out for Flash amidst sobbing.

Without hesitation, she flung her left arm high, pointing her wand to the star-spackled black banner high above their heads and firmly commanded:

"Periculum!"

It was in the silence of her spell's fallout, in the gradual strangulation of the orchestra, that she heard the buzzing. Faint at first. Then louder as she tried to hone in on its source. Or to at least discern the location from where it was coming. She tried to place the sound. Tried to determine if it sounded more like the furious beating of insect wings, or perhaps the hum of energies, or something else entirely. As though he could directly hear the confusion in her thoughts, Woodward spoke up with his intention to search out the very answers she wished to reveal, his words teasing at the request she had made in her letter.

"I..." Evelynn's head swiveled in the direction of the void where her fellow Gryffindor stood beside her. "I mean, I did, yes, but..."

Her voice trailed off, with no immediate answer to his suggestion put forward. There was a definite reservation in her tone. An uncertainty that spoke, without specifically stating it, that she wasn't sure it was such a good idea to go searching for the unknown. Not when there were spells being slung every which direction around them, not where there were three individuals with unknown involvement on the loose, not with fights breaking out in every corner of the pitch. Evidently, she wasn't the only one to harbor such beliefs, either. Not a mere few meters away, a boy spoke up to put those exact notions of caution to word. Had it been anybody else, Evelynn would have verbally affirmed her position right then and there in direct support. After all, he wasn't wrong. But it wasn't anyone's voice. It was the voice of Percival Gray. And the fact that she agreed with him inspired within her an irrational annoyance.

Naturally, then, her mind did an immediate pirouette in an attempt to conjure rationalizations to support the counter action. Perhaps...being up in the sky upon a broom would actually be the safer route... It would create distance between them and the chaos. And allow a quick getaway to escape to safety should things turn sour. Not unreasonable...Besides, Woodward did seem rather resolute with his intention. As though no amount of argument could sway his decision. And despite his status as her upperclassman, Evelynn did — as Co-Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team — feel a certain level of responsibility for the boy. He was her chaser, her Housemate, and moreover, the two had shared some sort of moment — whatever that might have been — on the pitch during their last game. In a way, she felt she owed it to him to take his offer. Someone needed to protect the foolish from themselves, after all...no?

The mutter of Asterion's call for light accompanied Evelynn's train of thought, and the question posed by the same individual called her to make a decision. Only, she wouldn't quite get one out. The next thing that registered was the call of her own name. Yet again.

"Flash?" she echoed in response, head swiveling in the direction from where the voice had sounded. "What's goin—" but she cut herself off as he continued, lips pursing in the darkness.

"Of course I don't have a broom. You walked down here with me — you should know that." What, did he believe that she had somehow stashed a broom hidden up beneath the fabric of her gown? There was a slight bit of irritation in her voice and no doubt those near to her could imagine the furrow of her brow. "I don't even own a broom," she added, as though that detail somehow mattered.

Before she could begin to re-utter her initial query, however, a second voice next to Flash cut in. A familiar voice. A tainted voice. One that still sent the hairs on the back of the redhead's neck to stand on end and gooseflesh to erupt over her skin. She stiffened. Not visibly to anyone else there except perhaps Charlie who very well could have felt it in the light contact of his hand still on her arm. It was bait. She knew that. In the pitch of black, there was most unlikely that the speaker could possibly make out any of Evelynn's features, especially not enough to make a judgement call such as that. It was a jab. A reminder of the pain that had been inflicted before. A subtle insinuation of the torment that could once again be instilled in future. She probably should have ignored it, and had she been alone, she might have. But she wasn't. For once, the Gryffindor was in the company of others, and for the first time, she felt a wash of relief and a spread of warmth in the knowledge that she had allies, even it they weren't aware of it themselves. She wasn't alone. She wouldn't be victimized.

"Thank you for noticing," she replied, a calm confidence intoned in her words. "I wish I could say the same for you. You look pale, Barret. In fact, I can hardly see you at all."

Whether the girl would catch her meaning or not, Evelynn doubted she'd find out. In the moment of the match's strike, in the brief illumination of a haunted visage before that light was passed on to another, her mind had been made up. She was not about to allow herself to be put in a position of vulnerability. She would not permit the possibility of potential injury or sabotage in the dark at the hands of a girl who currently commanded the heat of fire, a girl who had burned her once before. There was no way.

"Woodward, I'm going with you," she affirm. "Asterion," she continued, glancing in the direction where the Ravenclaw's voice had come previously, "I would recommend taking to a broom as well if you can fly. I saw several of them stashed at the entrances, right behind the suits of armor. You should find them by their reflections in the dark easily enough. It might not be a bad idea to fetch a professor. I'm quite sure this party is over.

"Flash," she turned her blind expression in Holmwood's direction next, already pulling away from Woodward to allow him enough space to mount his broom that she might join behind him. "I heard someone calling out for you near where Davenport and the rest were before. A girl. It might have been Anderson? I'm not sure. But it sounded like she needed your help. The bag might still be there as well. I'm not sure. I lost track of it when everything started."

"Let's go," she uttered quietly to Woodward when she was positioned behind him.

Abilities: Keen Eye (Target: Candles) | Calming Presence (Flash's Ally)
Sta 5 | Str 2 | Eva 8 | Wis 10 | Arc 2 | Acc 9

Action: Observes candles (passive), Casts Periculum (action), Mounts Charlie's broom (movement)

The event had been going relatively peacefully, which was suspicious given the history of Hogwarts events. Thora was not one to let much pass by her. Very observant, which was critical come time for a Quidditch game. It was not long before chaos erupted, wands were drawn, fists were thrown, and spells were cast. The pair had moved towards Opeila and Vladimir should any trouble be brought to Opeila, however all harm passed by her. Amongst the dueling and attacks that were being thrown, the room began to dim. With a quick glance upwards, Tyranni noticed that the candles were fading, many flames already distinguished. Thora was also gazing upwards, noting the flames. Unfortunately, she had not heard the buzzing noise amidst the rumbling voices of frightened children.

Without thinking, Tyranni grasped Thoras left wrist, the hand not holding her wand, to prevent them from losing each other during the impending darkness. Immediately before the room went dark, Tyranni spotted Marion and Arlo. Victors bag! It was likely nothing, but both Victor and Vlad had brought bags along with them into the ball instead of storing them in the changing room like normal people. But why? That is what she wanted to know. Willow had been attempting to steal Vlad's bag before the darkness fell. She could help, but Victor's bag was left relatively unattended, and with the darkness, this might be the cover they needed to get the bag away from Marion and Arlo, both individuals who were too weak to move it themselves.

"Yes, we need to go and get that bag from Marion and Arlo. I don't know why, but I think we need to try and get it far away from here." Should the girl successfully cast Lumos, their path would be illuminated. Should she fail, they would still move towards the area that the girls had been carefully watching all night, cautiously progressing forward to avoid any unnecessary collisions with others who may be running in panic. Dragging the girl along, they treaded carefully forward towards where the Slytherin pair had been mingling all evening.

As they approached, she could hear the boy ask Marion about what was going on, inquiring if she had her wand to cast light. This was her chance. While they were distracted and panicked about the loss of light, she attempted to grab Victors bag. Should she succeed, she would tell the other girl, "Let's go! I have the bag. Do you have your broom we could use to get away quick?" If she failed, she would have to think of another plan or face the repercussions.

Actions: Moving with Thora towards Marion and Arlo (passive movement) | Attempting to grab Victor's bag (action)
Interacting with: @ Thora Larkston | @ Arlo Reynold | @ Marion Davenport
Abilities: Seer | 10% auto-dodge & auto-hit
Closed to interactions unless owled and approved

Starter | Mod One | Mod Two | Mod Three | Mod Four | Mod Five | Mod Six | Mod Seven | Conclusion

This is a Moderation Post

Rafael D'Spacito
Puking Slugs: 80 Damage

Over on the dance floor, it seemed that the fighting would continue despite the encroaching darkness. @Vladimir Athanatos had just been covered in slugs by a barfing @Rafael D'Spacito, and he intended to continue his assault on the young Gryffindor Captain. He drew back his left hand and landed it squarely in Rafael's face, definitely leaving a mark.

Vladimir Accuracy Roll: 29 vs Rafael Evasion Roll: 12
250 Damage

From the sidelines, @Anastasia Beckett would cast a spell in the hopes of hitting Vladimir and aiding her friend Rafael. The spell missed, and she was very lucky that it didn't hit someone else on the crowded dance floor. Backing her up was @Astrea Soleil Neptune, who cast the same spell and missed in the same fashion. Their attempts to aid Rafael had fallen short.

Anastasia Accuracy Roll: 8 vs Vladimir Evasion Roll: 15
Astrea Accuracy Roll: 11 vs Vladimir Evasion Roll: 25

Almost immediately after punching Rafael, Vladimir realized something. The darkness had finally taken over the pitch, and it had almost disguised the fact that his bag was missing.

"Where is my bag? Vic. VIC! Don't do it! It's gone. RUN!"

Rafael D'Spacito, realizing his plan to have Willow take the bag had been successful, would attempt to return the punch with a headbutt. His naseau had ended at this point, and he was successfully able to headbutt the older student.

Rafael Accuracy Roll: 21 vs Vladimir Evasion Roll: 19
225 Damage

Vladimir's outrage and Rafael's attempt at distraction prompted @Willow Anderson to attempt to drag the bag away while she had the cover of darkness on her side. She grabbed the bag and would try to heft it along the ground and away from the altercation. Unfortunately, her hold on the bag wasn't enough (rolled 6), and she failed in her attempt to drag it away. In her despair, she called out in the dark for her friend @Flash Holmwood.

@Opeila Seilun successfully cast lumos (rolled 13) as the darkness finally took over. It would illuminate the area around her and assist the visibility of Rafael and Vladimir, and it would expose Willow holding the bag to anyone in the area.

Meanwhile, closer to the entrance of the pitch was @Victor Moore, who decided to seek revenge on the girl who had petrified his date @Wren Caster. He aimed his wand at @Aurelia Notrésvace and cast the same curse. It narrowly missed her, but as she dodged out of its way, she tripped over the ballgown clearly meant for an adult, and she tumbled to the ground. Somehow, her head met its fate against a blunt object and she was knocked out cold.

Victor Accuracy Roll: 22 vs Aurelia Evasion Roll: 24

And over by a table, @Jack Burnett interjected himself between @Erin Ryan and @Thomas Lestrange just as the lights went out. This meant Erin's subsequent attack at Thomas would be both blind and possibly hitting an ally. Through the grace of her own movements, though, the purple-haired witch was able to successfully avoid hitting her friend Jack and she launched her foot at the face of Thomas. What would have succeeded was only interjected by the fact that @Selim Faust suddenly yanked Thomas away (natural 20 + 5), clear out of the range of Erin's kick.

Selim Accuracy Roll: 25 vs Thomas Evasion Roll: 14
Selim Accuracy Roll: 25 vs Erin Accuracy Roll: 21

Closer to the stands, @Marion Davenport had let out a blood-curdling scream when darkness had descended. She was desperate to make an escape with her date @Arlo Reynolds. The blonde couldn't leave Victor's bag behind, though, and tried with all her might to drag it across the ground and away from the pitch. She pulled with all her might and suddenly lost her grip (rolled natural 1), tumbling onto the ground backwards. This left the bag unsupervised as @Tyranni Whitehorn came up and grabbed it. She would not be able to lift it (strength < 5), but she would be able to start dragging it across the ground if she chose to. However, the contents shook against each other and the clinking of glass would keep her from stealthing away.

All across the pitch, students' first instinct was light.

@Santario Martin would successfully cast lumos (rolled 15), and the end of her wand would light brightly. She made her way to the exit of the pitch, and would now be able to leave if she chose to.

@Lydia Cooper would successfully cast lumos (rolled 17), and would be able to help her friend @Aaron Jones in investigating the bubbles that contained the candles. From his investigation (rolled 9), he would only see that the bubble had been filled with gray smoke and gave no indication as to why it had gone out.

@Allister-Jameson MacAllister would successfully cast Verdimillious into the sky (rolled 27), missing the bubbles and flowers above. The flare would successfully launch high into the sky, and burst apart in a shower of green sparks.

@Alexis Asterion would successfully cast lumos (rolled 22), bathing herself and her friends in the glow of her wand.

@River Dewlight would just barely be able to cast lumos (rolled 13), but it was enough for herself and @Katrina Walker to see by.

@Kara Capricorn successfully cast lumos (rolled 25), aiding her friends nearby in seeing her and their surroundings without the candles.

@Dale Kurt would critically fail his lumos cast (natural 1), and his wand glowed an unnatural red color. The boy would be forced to drop his wand (for the next round) or risk permanent damage to the chestnut wood.

@Griseldis Edelhardt would successfully cast lumos (rolled 24), aiding herself and her friends in seeing their surroundings.

@Alan Noble would successfully cast lumos (rolled 26) as well, doubling the radius of vision for himself, Griseldis and their allies.

@Adam Harrington would successfully cast lumos (rolled 16), aiding his friends in seeing the incoming threat and surrounding area.

@Ruka Tân would successfully ignite one of the makeshift torches with an incendio (rolled 26). It was clearly something he had practiced often, and would've been heartbreaking if it failed.

@Evelynn Decipio would successfully cast Periculum into the sky (rolled 25). It joined the previously cast Verdimillious, but instead of green sparks, it was red. Together, they almost seemed like Christmas celebrations rather than a call for help.

@Thora Larkston would successfully cast lumos (rolled 14), aiding herself and her friend Tyranni in their actions.

A couple of students decided to find their way to the brooms and launch into the air, whether for escape or for investigation remained unclear. But none of these students would make it more than a foot off the ground before it happened.

The stands surrounding the pitch had kept most of the noise at bay, which is why the buzzing had been so faint. Now that the cause of the buzzing had bypassed the ersatz walls, the sound was rattling. It was almost like the buzzing had been at half volume and now it blasted at full as a swarm of beasts entered the pitch from above.

A little less than two-dozen Vampyr Mosps now descended upon the Secret Blossom Ball.

• The first four mosps lingered in the stands area, out of range of the people in the pitch.
• The fifth mosp would quickly find its way to the dance floor, where it probed its proboscis in the air before descending directly for the center of the action, where Rafael, Vladimir, Opeila and Willow were.
• The sixth mosp descended from a great height, its fat body hovering awfully close to @Santario Martin by the entrance, where it decided to bury its proboscis into the box of boutonierres.
• The seventh mosp would find its way over to the tables, its wings moving a mile a minute to keep itself in the air. It would find a spot that it wanted to relax on, a table occupied by two girls (@Mildred Wilson @Crystal Jagger). It would turn its proboscis towards Mildred, unfurling the body part in her direction.
• The eighth mosp also descended quickly, moving towards the dance floor with a few others. On one side was a girl that the mosp took great interest in, beelining towards her (@Macie Winkle).
• The ninth mosp would find its way to the opposite edge of the dance floor, headed towards two Hufflepuffs crouched near the bubbles on the ground (@Lydia Cooper @Aaron Jones).
• The tenth mosp would quickly descend upon an empty table, its proboscis flaring in the direction of the floral centrepiece.
• The eleventh mosp seemed rather angry as its beady yellow eyes zoomed in on a person who had made a bird call not long ago. It zoomed towards a boy with a floral perfume and his friends (@Flash Holmwood @Persephone Barret).
• The twelfth mosp took interest in a table that housed an enormously huge bouquet of roses. It beelined towards the trio seated there, seeming a bit more aggressive than some of the other mosps around.
• The thirteenth mosp flew quickly towards a boy alone in the middle of the ball. @Hanako Tone was still shrouded in darkness, apart from his friends as he had been gathering a bunch of flowers. He was now being targeted by this mosp.
• The fourteenth mosp was circling up in the air before it finally decided to descend towards a group of people closer to the front of the pitch. Two girls were on the ground (@Wren Caster and Aurelia), and a boy (Victor) seemed to be fretting over one of them.
• The fifteenth mosp flew rather lazily towards a guy on his broom (@Piérre Marchonné).
• The sixteenth mosp hovered high up above in the air, its proboscis flailing happily at the scents drifting up from the stadium.

@Piérre Marchonné, who was the only one capable of taking the time to try and identify the shapes would be given a small advantage: a few moments more than the others to process what he was seeing. Because of this, he would be briefly more prepared in the first crucial seconds of engagement (+1 Accuracy and Evasion in the next round, if applicable).

Rafael D'Spacito Health: 420/1000 Status: N/A	Wren Caster Health: 600/600 Status: Petrified
Vladimir Athanatos Health: 775/1000 Status: N/A	Aurelia Notresvace Health: 0 Status: Knocked Out

VampyrxMospxbodiesxaveragex1'5"xinxlength. Their stingers alone are half a foot long.

Classification: XXX Beast Temperament: Aggressive Status: Not Endangered Threat: Painful sting xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx The Vampyr Mosp is a magical hybrid of wasp and moth. They are vicious creatures known to sting anyone unfortunate enough to come too close, striking with an attack which causes bleeding, sharp pain, and swelling. They are a local species and known residents of the Forbidden Forest. Mosps have two terrifying stingers, four wings, a long proboscis, and are red or purple.

The next moderation post will take place in one week (5/18).
If interacting with a mosp, please clarify which one.

Interacting with: @Victor Moore Briefly, @Aurelia Notrésvace
Mentioning: @Gem Stuart

As soon as Wren had attempted to punch (and miss) Gem in the face, Aurelia being a protective bitch, as Wren would call her to her face but yet was not angry enough to have the courage, came up and hit her with a charm. “Petrificus Totalus!” Wren heard turning around. The curse hit her, and she went tumbling to the ground. Lying on the ground in a frankly very uncomfortable position, she heard Victor come up right next to her. She felt his cold breath on her neck, and she was comforted. She would be ok.

Then the lights went out. She panicked. She had been an acute dark fearer from a very young age. Not being able to move made everything worse. Then, Victor left. Silent tears slid down her cheek. Right there in that moment, Wren feared that this was the end. She wouldn't get to say goodbye to her mom, she would never meet her baby brother and he would be an only child just like her. Her mother would have to go through the pain of losing yet another child. There were so many regrets she had. That she had never kissed Victor, that she had never told Rafael the real reason she was so afraid of snakes, that she had never made amends with Evelynn, that she there were so many people she had yet to meet, so many places yet to see. In that one terrible moment, she vowed to herself that she would talk to Rafa, kiss Victor, and try to be friends with everyone, make up with Evelynn and so many other things. As she was thinking these things tears were flying down her cheeks. Her face red from all of the crying, her eyes red-rimmed from the salt, but her eyes stayed open witnessing all that was going on.

She was heard Victor curse Aurelia with the same one she had been cursed with. She did not think he succeeded because she did not hear a ‘thud’ that usually accompanied these kinds of curses. He said something about them needing to go but of course she was immobile. The next thing she was aware of was a sharp pain in her abdomen where she thought someone stepped on, and then she heard an acute ‘thud’ she had not heard any curse uttered so she assumed the person that had stepped on her had tripped.

She laid there on the ground in silence, fearing for her life.

There then was light. She saw something that looked like a firefly come over to her and, finally seeing him, Victor. She was calming down by the second.

Action: Laying on the ground crying

Ana's colorful language didn't seem to do much to quiet the other students, and she was seriously considering individually beating the living shit out of all of the screamers. The blue light from her spell shot forward, but she couldn't tell if it actually hit anyone due to the darkness. She was so tense that when Dale bumped her shoulder, she jumped a bit. She couldn't help wanting to smack him for telling her to relax, but she doubted that would help the current situation. Still, he should try being possibly cursed on top of all the weird buzzing and darkness, and then he could tell her to relax. "I'm perfectly relaxed, love," she said, giving him some slight side-eye that he wouldn't be able to fully appreciate due to the darkness. She also noticed that Astrea was by her side and seemed to have also decided to cast Flipendo. Once they were out of this mess, Ana was clearly going to need to befriend the other aristocrat. She intrigued Ana in a way that many of the other spoiled purebloods she knew failed to. Not to mention, she had a phenomenal sense of fashion, which was always a good sign. "Thank you, Astrea and I absolutely have a plan."

Despite her confidence in telling the Slytherin, Anastasia did not in fact have any plan whatsoever.

Dale and several others attempted to cast Lumos. Poor Dale's wand to have decided that it simply didn't feel like obliging him Some of the people around her did so successfully though, giving the Gryffindor minimal visibility. Biting her lip she squinted at the blobs. They were clearly the source of the buzzing noise, but Ana couldn't tell what they were. Still squinting and trying to ascertain what they were, she noted that one was definitely approaching their table. It was far bigger than she would have expected, and it had two stingers. She'd read about such creatures. She couldn't remember exactly what they were called, just that the name was spectacularly stupid and Ana had hated it. She also recalled that getting stung by one was deeply unpleasant. What were they called again?

As the insect neared the table, she suddenly remembered, which gave her an idea for what to do. They were some bizarre magical love child of moths and wasps. They were clearly attracted to flowers, hence the mosp approaching them. Had Rafa not told her to keep an eye on the flowers and had she not already pricked her finger on one, she would have simply flung the vase at the insect and then set the distracted thing on fire. However, there was at least a dozen from what Ana could see, and she was sure that there were more the couldn't see.

Biting her lip, she formed a plan.

Before she began her genius plan, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed Dale's cheek. He was a friend, which she did (despite common belief) value her friends. "Both of you, try not to die until I get back," she said, glancing at Astrea and smiling slightly. She wasn't sure if Astrea could tell in the bad lighting, but it certainly wouldn't hurt.

Step one, get the roses. Ducking quickly behind Dale, she picked up the vase. Flowers attracted them, but she had a brilliant idea to get it even more attractive to the insect. Still, it was probably dangerous and the goal was to get the mosps away from the rest of the party-goers.

Step two, get the stupid bug to follow her. "Hey, you bloody stupid mosp!" she shouted as she began to walk towards the broom stand and the flowers provided by some club or another. Once she was sure that she had the insect's attention, she began to run, hoping to get it to follow her.

Step three, distract all of the creatures. Her brilliant idea was truly amazing. As she ran, she switched the heavy vase to one hand and with the other, flicked her wrist and cast "Incendio!" There were several reasons why she thought it would help. Moths generally were attracted to light, so it stood to reason that their magical relations might as well, but even if they weren't, they were attracted to flowers. Flaming roses should work the same as a candle, right?

Not that Anastasia would know, seeing as she'd never actually set flowers on fire, but it made sense to the Gryffindor. She was the expert on all things flammable. She sincerely hoped that the flowers would catch fire, since it would be mildly embarrassing if they didn't, considering how often she used the spell. Sure, she was running in heels and trying not to trip over a torn dress, but still, she had set enough things on fire that she really ought to be able to do this.

IF ANA'S PLAN WORKS AND ONE OR MORE MOSPS IS FOLLOWING HER

So, it occurred to Ana that she had only actually thought of three steps. That had seemed perfectly fine a few moments ago, but now that she had reached the last step of her plan, it occurred to her that she was very much in danger. Still, she was never one to back down from a challenge, and maybe Rafa or Ruby or someone that knew how she thought would think of something to actually finish her plan. "What kind of name is mosp, anyway? I mean, honestly, it's pathetic, you can't be both a wasp and a moth, they're two wildly different insects. Not to mention, you're far bigger than either of them. Why on earth don't you have your own name that's less idiotic?" Ana shouted, trying to attract more. She wasn't sure where on Earth her plan was going, but she felt that it would definitely work better if she was being followed by as many mosps as possible.

As she ran, it occurred to her that it was an absolutely terrible plan, and she was going to get herself killed if it was remotely possible to be killed by mosps. No, that was silly. She was pretty sure that it was impossible for her to actually die. Based on the nonsense she had pulled, she was half convinced she was immortal.

IF ANA'S PLAN DOESN'T WORK AND SHE IS NOT BEING FOLLOWED

The mosps didn't seem to want to cooperate, so Ana rethought her plan. The bottom half of her skirt was in the process tearing off, so she reached down and finished the job before flinging the mass of pink fabric at the nearest mosp. If that wasn't enough, she then flung the vase of (flaming?) flowers at the enormous insect to get its attention.

This was a terrible idea, but she had committed to it now. She just hoped that Dale or Astrea or someone had some brilliant second half of a plan.

Character Statistics: Stamina 5| Evasion 9| Strength 5| Wisdom 9| ArcPower 7| Accuracy 5|
Abilities: Lovely Creature, Fearless

Actions: Set flowers on fire while running away with them, possibly yeeting objects at the mosps

The bugs were vile, terrifying things. They were the size of her arm with loud buzzing wings and dangerously bright colors. It only took Katrina a moment to identify them, thank goodness she read so many books.

“THEY’RE VAMPYR MOSPS! CAREFUL, THIER STINGS REALLY HURT!” Katrina yelled out as loud as she could over the roar of the frantic students. For the life of her, she couldn’t remember what attracted them or even how to defeat them. The only thing she knew was how bad they hurt.

“Hey River, I’m gonna look closer at the one over there,” In a quieter tone she pointed over to an insect hovering over a vacant table (10).

The thing was peculiar. It’s shell was purple-ish and it appeared to be slightly smaller than the others. She hesitated a few tables away and surveyed everything around her. She looked up toward the stands where she could hear loud noises. With an idea, Katrina spun around and counted about 16 of the mosps around. It was darker without River around and so she doubted the number she had come up with as only a bit of the light from her wand stretched over.

Katrina drew her wand from her pocket sewn in her dress and bit her lip. What was their weakness? She had noted that they only showed up after the candles blew out, so maybe they were fans of the darkness contrary to the normal moths the lion had encountered in her youth who flocked towards any light. Her mind settled on the spell she was to use.

“ Flipendo” Her wand defiantly traced the outline into the air, she was going to try every spell until she defeated this pest. If there was one thing Katrina cared about, it was the safety of the students around her.

Open to Interactions
Mentioning: No one
Interacting with: @River Dewlight

Action: Yelling about the mosps and casting Flipendo at moth 10

Outfit:

Reducio

Action:
Free action: Walking to and embracing Willow
Action: Defending Willow and Vladimir’s bag from interaction
Stats:
Sta: 7 ★ Eva: 5 ★ Str: 6 ★ Wis: 8 ★ AP: 3 ★ Acc: 6
Ability:
Calming Presence
Currently affecting allies on the dance floor: Willow Anderson, Opeila Seilun, Rafael D'Spacito, Lydia Cooper, Bridget Collins, and Persephone Barret (if she decides to follow)
And in the air: Evelynn Decipio

Interacting with: @Evelynn Decipio @Charlie Woodward @Persephone Barret @Willow Anderson
Mentioning:

Reducio

@Alexis Asterion @Rafael D'Spacito @Griseldis Edelhardt @Ruka Tân @Vladimir Athanatos

Previous posts: Pre-ball, Entrance, Recon, Asked to dance, Spots Vlad on dance floor, Dancing with Ruka, Talking to Ruka, Lamenting, Executing plan

Closed to Interaction
Owl me if you have an idea

Open to Interactions // Interacting: @Logan Baird

Mentioning: @Katrina Walker @Santario Martin

In their spot at the tables they had a pretty good spot at being able to witness a good amount of the party before the lights had gone out. Taking in the fights starting to brew and the groups trying to avoid the drama entirely, so when the other students began to cast lumos it became easier to see even with the obvious lack of the candles. The moonlight and separated dots of light coming from others wands illuminated the surroundings in different spots and painted a better, if not still inky picture of the party.

Their spot being something that he was now feeling extremely grateful for because Logan's choice of seating let him clearly see the light of a girl, around their age maybe. He couldn't be sure, but what he could see, aside from the dark colors of what seemed like some sort of cross between a shirt wanting to be a dress and dark hair, was her location. Right next to the exit.

"Look," he said, shoulder bumping Logan to get her attention, "lets go before-"

He fumbled with his words as the buzzing grew louder, almost overwhelming with the annoying sound the ugly creatures made. They were big, hideous and horribly annoying to listen to and Elsian knew for a fact that the stingers he could make out on them were definitely not just for show.

There was yelling and crying but there were definitely a few students who still had a hold on their senses if the yelling he heard from them were anything to go on. Vampire Mosps he heard, amidst the angry sounding calls of what sounded like urging to 'just run', 'escape'. He was inclined to agree with them, whoever they were. Quite ready to get himself and Logan out of there but he was stopped mid step, just as he was about to guide the other forward because it was then that one of the Mosps, ugly, evil thing, seemed quite content to settle right near the entrance. Uncomfortably close to their escape window and the girl casting lumos.


It was brief thought though since his attention was forced back behind them as buzzing from one of the pests got dangerously loud, the thing purple in color and way to close for comfort as it simply seated itself happily atop one of the empty tables close to theirs. He eyed the thing quietly, unthinkingly pulling Logan further away from the table and slightly behind him. It was even more ugly up close but he couldn't help but feel thankful since the thing looked far more interested in the flowers atop the table than them.

"Don't attack it," he blurted out quietly, leaning close to Logan to mumble the words to her. Hesitantly he looked away from it, back to the one by the entrance eyes catching the faint hue of purple so similar to the one in front of them and he frowned. Trying to think. He knew he'd have a better chance sneaking past alone. He knew it for a fact but he refused the very thought. He refused to leave Logan alone. If anything they were lucky the things hadn't attacked right away but why hadn't it?

Quickly looking around the ball he could see it. Most of the pests were looking ready to pick a fight, targeting other groups so why was theirs just...sitting there when-

He looked again, taking in the purple of both mosps not actually doing anything. Then to the ones he could faintly see making their way to other students. Their hue red. At first hard to really pick out but upon closer look he could see it, on the ones closest to them, the red ones seemed...bolder? While the purple ones were acting...tamer? Calm?

Maybe the purple ones just cared about the flowers...

"the purple ones...I think they're...calmer?" he said quietly to Logan, still a bit unsure if he was right or not, "we might be able to just walk past the one by the entrance and get help if we stay cal-"

The words died on his tongue when he noticed a girl, older and in his house that he'd seen around before, stalking closer to where they and the mosp was. Turning around she did something, maybe thinking over an idea as she looked around before raising her wand. He could instantly feel his heart leap to his throat in fear, practically choking him as he dropped Logan's hand to make a 'no wait' gesture with his hands. Unable to simply yell out without getting the things attention.

It wasn't doing anything! She was just gonna antagonize one of the tamer ones!

Maybe she hadn't seen them, maybe she hadn't noticed him until after casting or even thought it would be helpful...Either way, it was far too late to stop her as he could already see her trace a unfamiliar symbol in the air and the faint chant of ' Flipendo'.

Part of him deeply hoped the spell failed and the Mosp just stayed put. Why couldn't the girl have done that to one of the pests already moving towards other students?

Mentions- Mosps #10, #6 // Free Action- interacting with Logan / taking in other students and Mosps