Quidditch Stands || Secret Blossom Ball Event

Moderation Post

(Ross Dearsley concept art)

@Xailah Alptraum, leaping from her broom to battle the bug, remained undaunted by her burning scratch. She tried to grapple with the thing as her ride drifted away, seizing a stinger in each hand (18>6). This was a first for the vampyr mosp. It flexed and convulsed uselessly, trying to drive those wicked barbs for her face, but to no avail. The bulbous creature instead tried to fly. With each panicked buzz, the light Gryffindor girl would find herself lifted off of her feet little by little, which would prove precarious given their placement at the top of the stands. In an attempt at weakening their tormentor, @Margo White chipped in against the mosp, slapping a tactical Spongify onto its bone-like back (rolled 17). The spell rippled weirdly against the surface. Had it worked...? No time left to tell. Bursting into the light, quickly whipping her wand to the aid of her dear friend, @Meenauh Silmataurea cast a firm Flipendo. Her wisdom of spellwork prevailed (rolled 13), as did her aim upon the grappled mosp, and the shot smacked into its target with a dull thud. This sent both bug and girl flying, toppling together over the railing and out of sight. @Pericles Dralt, who had intended to ride the rickety school broom into the mosp like a battering ram, had an abrupt change of priority. Veering over the railing, he made a perilous plunge towards the ground before swooping up under Xailah, successfully scooping her onto the back of his broom (rolled 25). He unfortunately took the light with him, leaving @Ruby Cazares, Margo, @Breana Oliveire, and Meenauh in darkness. Attention broken, Pericles' Lumos flickered out. The mosp, battered and bleeding, had tumbled through the air before falling free of its captor. It regained itself, summoning the last of its strength and rage to whiz after those on the broom. It narrowly missed Xailah's shoulder as they flew up towards their group in the stands (20<28). The thing droned in her ear as it sped by, then doubled back from up above. Its flying was unstable, stingers plunging with frantic frenzy at the air, proboscis convulsing in pain and anger.

Mosp 1
• Has taken a total of 231 damage and appears to be in a bad way

Despite his attention-grabbing height, @Quinn Healy managed to join the group in the stands without becoming a target of the mosps. He quite literally swept @Nico Shymane off of her feet, and as a few frightened tears escaped her ice-blue eyes, she shouted out urgently for the group to get out of there. @Serena Towers clearly shared her sentiment. She tried to soothe the prefect, simultaneously formulating who could fly with who. Their numbers were short a broom, or they were, until @Elspeth Gollens responded to the call. The Ravenclaw, choosing to brave the ball's obvious dangers and help her peers, approached with three brooms cradled in her arms. For a moment, it seemed that the lot had a clear shot out of the event. Yet evidently, @Saskia Nicholson's Periculum had drawn attention after all. One of those eerie purple mosps had enjoyed its fill of decorative flowers. Proboscis darting in a questioning manner, it hopped out of its flowerpot and trailed behind her borrowed broom, bobbing lazy in spite of the chaos through the stadium. It was approaching the group without a hint of hesitation.

Mosp 2
• Undamaged, and presently passive, but persistently following Saskia

Driven to sustain their frightfully large boot birds, Team Transfiguration was a flurry of action and spells. @Celynne Gray cast a merciful Reparifors at the injured Reeeeeeeah (rolled 27), fully mending its ghastly wound (which had been oozing what looked and smelled suspiciously of shoe polish). @Dmitri Jones, mind divided between the consciousnesses of two birds, wielded his will like puppet strings. With a scream, Screeeeeeelena snapped an intimidatingly sharp beak at the bug, a harsh clack sounding in the air as it missed (7<17). Returned to the full strength of a boot turned into an owl, Reeeeeeeah joined back into the fray, nearly clashing with its companion while claws clutched at unsatisfying nothingness (9<22). The persisting light of Celynne's earlier Lumos Maxima cast wild shadows out across the stands. Narrowly bobbing between their attacks, the vampyr mosp had made a frantic series of dodges before diving at the nearest target: the immobile Dmitri. Its foul body composed of at least ten-percent spite, it finally landed a retaliatory strike, one stinger slicing through the student's sleeve. The damage was not considerable. It left a shallow scratch across his bicep, one which stung and itched, but did not deposit a debilitating degree of venom (42 hitpoints). Heeding Celynne's suggestion, @Cecily Quinn honed her focus. She discarded her fear of striking an ally, quick to help her immobile peer, careful not to act so swiftly in a way which would impair her aim. She made a clean cast (rolled 19) and struck true (11<3). That horrendous buzzing fell suddenly silent. Then, there came a heavy thud as it plummeted, stinger and wings alike immobile. It lay defenseless upon the bleachers.

Mosp 3
• Reeeeeeeah has been returned to full health.
• Dmitri took 42 damage (558/600)
• Mosp is immobilized for 3 rounds

The vampyr mosps may have been mean, nasty, hateful little creatures. But they were still living things, having come here out of instinct as opposed to truly evil intent. Letting compassion compel her, @Aida Mòrsgor-Ama Ellwood sprinted across the stands to extinguish the burning and immobilized beast. Her jacket was a suitable tool for smothering the flames. The thing itself was barely clinging to life, carapace encrusted with black burns and oozing cracks. Surely some would see this act of mercy as madness, though it yielded the additional bonus of preventing the mosp from serving as a massive lump of kindling in the dry wooden stands. @Alexander Varellion warned the girl against getting stung, and the mosp would certainly try to lash out at anything nearby... after Elena's Immobulus wore off. For now, he had just enough time to tie a rope around it and the coat. This closed its damaged wings against its sides, rendering it blind, but those stingers would still start to twitch and flex when it regained motion. They would need to handle it with utmost care or risk retaliation.

Mosp 4
• Lost 260 HP total, appears to be in a bad way, was successfully extinguished and bound

The impromptu flower rain had been a bizarre misfortune, one which lured a mosp straight on towards @Lamik Fillestar. Having none of that whatsoever, @Elena Jangleton made another decisive cast, her Orchideous causing a fragrant bouquet to burst from the end of her wand (rolled 21). She had correctly calculated the purpose for the mosp's arrival: they were indeed attracted by the aroma of pollen and nectar. What she had perhaps misjudged was the aggression some of the things showed when trying to obtain a snack. The red mosp, dimly perceiving Elena as the smell's source, decided to take out potential threats before chasing its treat. It hummed ominously in the darkness around them, buzzing for her with stingers outstretched. She would feel the wind of its wings breeze against her hair as it whizzed past, missing by inches (8<12). Lamik, despite having surely come up with something clever for his tombstone, was not ready to lie down and accept an insect-induced demise. As the vampyr mosp tried to heckle his friend-date, the Gryffindor made an attempt at smoking the thing out. Smoke poured from his wand and began creeping cross the stands in a thick cloud (rolled 20). They were already standing in darkness. With the cloud quickly consuming all visibility, the mosp- and both students- would be in a roiling blackout.

Mosp 20
• Fumos effects will last 2 rounds, starting next round

First Mosp Attacking Xailah (Behind stands)

Second Mosp Following Saskia (Investigating)

Third Mosp Attacking Dmitri (Immobilized, 3 rounds)

Fourth Mosp Lying on seats (Extinguished, bound)

Twentieth Mosp Attacking Elena (In Fumos range)

(Post 1: lights out) - (Post 2: mosp faq) - (Post 3: first strike) (Post 4: here)

If your character is interacting with a mosp, leaving the Stands is written as an attempt.
Some stats may seem off if your character was previously noted as standing in the dark.
Mosps are numbered by their arrival at the ball as a whole (counting all scenes)
The next mod post will take place in one week on 5/31

Hiding in the stands and screaming for help

Interacting with @Xailah Alptraum, @Pericles Dralt, @Ruby Cazares, @Margo White and @Meenauh Silmataurea

The little girl couldn't help but close her eyes as Pericles continued to have a spat with Xailah. Defending her was one thing, but having an all-out argument is practically giving Breana unconscious guilt just for being there. For one thing, this started just because of her participation in the group. Then there's also the fact that the Gryffindor was right: There were more pressing matters to deal with. Though that would bring up the question of why would she argue with Pericles when she already pointed out the dangerous giant mosps to deal with, but that's beside the point.

Thankfully, the dispute ended as quickly as it started. The emotional pain still had a bit of a sting but Breana tried to shove it down for now. She has people to help, after all. Breana smiled at Pericles's invitation, ready to join him on his broom when he shouted in horror at what he was witnessing. As she whipped her head around to where Pericles was looking at, her eyes widened as she saw the mosp's stinger inject itself unto Xailah already. "Oh my bloody Merlin..." She said in dread. Despite the onslaught of put-downs that she slung towards the girl, Xailah is still a student here in Hogwarts, and seeing a fellow student getting attacking can still be shocking for a kid like Breana.

Before the Ravenclaw could tell Pericles to start flying already, he already was-- without Breana in tow. "Peri--!" But it was too late. He was already flying, albeit in a staggering manner, towards his friend. As much as she was thankful that he kicked his broom to full throttle, it presented a new problem for the group: they have succumbed in the darkness, their source of light gone to save Xailah. Sugarsugarsugar. Breana thought. Her brain was quickly sent on a whirlwind. Thankfully the rest of the brooms are still beside the group, so Breana commanded a loud "UP!" and let a broom zoom towards her hand. Her voice was less sweet than normal. There was a malicious sting to it. Maybe a chance to prove herself? Maybe it was from the conflict earlier? Whatever it was, Breana wasn't having any of it now.

She awkwardly sat on the broom, then looked over at the group. "I--" Breana started. Then Xailah's remarks echoed through the girl's head. Should she even tell them what to do, considering what's happening now? She stared at them for a moment, her eyes locking unto Margo, Ruby, then finally the last addition to the circle, and kicked her broom up to fly. It may be rude, but Xailah was right. Who was she, to tell them what to do? She shook her head, now trying to figure out what to do. Breana saw the Gryffindor protecting Pericles, practically covering him with her body to shield him with the possible doom of the mosp's stinger. Judging from the stings that the girl already got, who know what'll happen if she gets another one? The very thought of that made her stomach drop.

With her mind only thinking of stopping the bug, Breana wasted no time and took out her wand, quickly calling out a "Lumos!" In hopes of getting enough light to see where she's going. Unfortunately, her brain didn't think of waiting for the spell to work. Without thinking ahead, she tilted the broom forward, making it zoom in and target the bug, hoping to have her crash her tiny body against it. It may not be much, but it would hopefully distract the bug from attacking the two. She'd rather have her get into peril rather than have Xailah sacrifice herself to save Pericles. Maybe the poofiness of her ballgown can cushion the stinger, who knows? At least Breana can say that she'd be useful for once.

Action: Casting Lumos and crashing headfirst towards Mosp 1

Action: Casting Diffindo at Mosp #20

Abilities: Advanced Casting

@Xailah Alptraum, @Breana Oliveire

Reflex was a funny sort of thing. On an average day, Pericles' reflexes helped him with the simpler sort of tasks, such as snagging a tipping inkwell before it spilled, or catching an envelope at breakfast when the owls delivered mail. Tonight, reflex sent him darting over the edge of the stadium stands to catch a falling girl. He had not stopped to consider how he would manage it, nor how unideal he may be for the task. It was as simple as: she fell, he followed. Pericles was better known for his proficiency with paperwork. He was as studious as Ravenclaws came, eager to soak up information, happy to share obscure factoids. They few who were in on his less-than-Prefect activities may know his secret love of dueling, in any capacity. He was an amateur adventurer, a budding investigator, all wrapped in the image of a nonthreatening bookworm. He was many things, except for an outstanding flyer. Dreams of flight were the dreams he cherished most, yet whenever Pericles was actually in the sky, he felt as though he was wrestling with a nightmare. An attempt at using his broom to bat the bug away from Xailah saw him swerving down over the railing, giving chase instead. The moment he was headed for the ground, that inky chasm of open nothingness beneath him, churning cogs of wit and tactics came grinding to a halt. Instinct overcame functionality. There was only the will to catch Xailah, the rush of air blotting out all sound, and the bite of cold wind nettling his freckled features. Perhaps somewhere in the mix, there was a tiny voice howling with deeply subdued panic.

Clutching the broom with a white-knuckled grip, Pericles' body instinctively clung as close to the rickety ride as possible. His posturing was too tense, flight a perfect downward drop, though he still willed the broom faster than gravity could carry him. He had to, if he was to prevent the mouthy metamorph from meeting the cruel clutch of fate. Irked as he may have been moments ago, the very thought of not catching her filled his head with a whiteout of terror, eyes wide and fixed upon her falling form just up ahead. One hand clutched his wand against the broomshaft. The other shakily outstretched, then snapped in again, an attempt at grabbing abandoned for a more certain maneuver. He had just lowered to her level before- without a word- jerking the broom over and up to sweep from below in a gut-wrenching upwards arch. It was not a moment too soon: as he veered, it occurred to Pericles just how close they had come to the earth itself. Oh, but he felt the weight of her on the broom behind him. He reached back, and there grabbed a fistful of ribbon on her spine, realizing she was well and truly on the broom. He had done it. The mental static of life-or-death anxiety erupted with a bloom of elation. The boy blurted breathlessly, "I've caught you!" It sounded less like a reassurance, more as though he was thrilled and shocked in equal measure.

It was quite the stunt, although Xailah hadn't said so in a complimentary manner. Pericles' heart was still pounding, albeit bursting with relief, and he couldn't bring himself to summon a stern tone as he babbled back, "You can't call me mad after trying to wrestle a mosp." All thoughts of keeping his Lumos alive was drowned out in the amalgamation of elation and adrenaline, focus shifted entirely between keeping them in the air and on the move. Witticisms failed him as that buzzing came all too close. He leaned with Xailah, releasing her once he was certain she was steady on board, resuming a death grip on their unreliable ride. It was a close call, and that thing wasn't done with them yet. The attempt to drive up and on back to their party ended when he saw the outline of the mosp plunging down from straight ahead. That sad school broom stalled, then stopped altogether, and for a moment they began to drift downwards, backwards. The thought of plummeting when they had come so far made his stomach lurch uneasily. "Hold tightly, Xailah!" It seemed she was doing so, albeit less for her benefit and more for his own. Unwilling to try and cast while flying, Pericles decided to evade the mosp entirely. The front of the broom turned about. They were nosediving again, then with a hard wrench, they swerved upwards with a second stomach-dropping arch. It was a graceless flight, jerking and darting one way then the next, not quite unlike the darting trajectory of the mosps themselves. But they were airborne. They were soaring.

In that particular moment, chronic collywobbles aside, Pericles felt as though he could accomplish anything. He hadn't made that mad maneuver for nothing. Swerving in a C-shaped flight, taking them out from under the mosp and back towards the stands, he was fully convinced they could outrace their tormentor. He didn't dare cast, all of his concentration needed to keep them upright and onwards. Yet he was sure they would soon rejoin those whom had been selfless enough to make a stand in the stands. It was to his dismay that he saw Breana making a particularly selfless, if especially dire move: flying for the mosp, illuminated by the light of her own Lumos. It did not appear as though she intended to cast at it whatsoever. Her name was cried out on a note of alarm, trying to dissuade her with tone alone.

Action: Trying to dodge the mosp on broom, flying back towards the top of stands.

Mentions: @Alexander Varellion
Action: Attempting to tie ripped-off sleeves around Mosp #4’s stingers to create a protective barrier should the mosp become mobile again.
Color code: #351C75
The clothing mentioned:

Reducio

The knife mentioned:

Reducio

Interacting with @Cecily Quinn @Celynne Gray

The sensations--the sights, the sounds, the feelings--that Dmitri experienced during his literal mind-meld with two giant, feathered creatures were overwhelming, to say the least.

It was trippy.

Feeling yourself fly through the air, the wind whipping through your feathers, though you know for a fact you can feel the floor beneath your vulnerable sitting form and that you had no feathers for gods' sakes, was nothing if not conflicting. There was a humming wildness that was barely restrained clamoring inside the owls' minds, and it was a feeling the boy would never forget from that night on. It was pure, chaotic, natural energy--of potential and power only limited by how fast and how long you can fly through the cold night air. Of a wild strength and awareness that was shocking for a human to experience after a lifetime of being taught other living creatures were inferior. Of being taught birdbrain was an insult for a lack of intellect. It changed the way he saw other creatures--it awakened a respect and a reverence inside him that would most definitely make an impact for the years to come.

It was in this state of semi-consciousness that Dmitri took on an attack from their insect quarry.

The two giant birds pursued the Mosp for a direct hit, Screeeeeeelena going in to take a huge chunk off the bug, and Reeeeeeeah, though injured, going against his instincts to rip and tear at it with his sharp, gleaming talons. Maybe it was this uncoordinated double-attack or the ravenous hunger that was clawing upon the two birds, but both attacks failed to land on their target. A loud, reverberating screech of rage can be heard throughout the stands when both birds simply collided with empty air. This exposed Dmitri, a sitting-duck within his trance, to the mosp without his two giant, feathered fortresses taking the hits for him.

And the insect did indeed charge.

There was an intense mix of excruciating pain and the warm, fuzzy press of pleasure when the Mosp's stinger scraped the side of the boy's arms, tearing a small hole on his sleeve and drawing blood. Dmitri Jones gasped loudly, blank eyes wide open and unseeing as the overwhelming sensations zapped through his human brain.

It was Celynne's healing and the attack running the same course at the same time through three different, yet connected consciousnesses. It disoriented both owls and Dmitri severely enough that it sent them into a jumbled mess of stimuli and responses.

The two birds, stunned yet still running by the command of Attack, went for the nearest target instead of their previous one (Mosp #20)

With twin dissonant calls, the owls dove in midair.

STATS AND ABILITIES

Reducio

DMITRI'S ACTIONS (can't act when owls act during the round)
Stunned. Wide-eyed and open-mouthed on the Stands' wooden floor in response to his pain.

OWLS' ACTIONS
Screeeeeeelena: Diving towards the nearest Mosp and attempt to tear through it with its beak.
Reeeeeeeah (injured): Healed to full health, attempting to intercept the Most from a different angle and rip through it quite with the same intent as Scree.
Target: MOSP #20

Moderation Announcement --- Professors
Starting today, Professors may now enter the Blossom Ball through any of the three threads of your choice. Same rules apply as students - you can only be in one location at a time. You can enter the event through any.

However, please note that those entering this round can only be looking around, observing the chaos, and I guess freaking out. Talking is a free action, of course, so scream your soul out if you wish to. You cannot make any actions this round other than to observe.

Any professors entering starting next round or after, you will be able to take your actions as normal. It is only this round that is limited to looking around.

To Everyone Else: As warned, professors will now be able to enter. This may or may not affect your IC decisions.