Match #5 The Lion vs. The Eagle Ivy v. Cecily

Interacting with @Amadea Campbell and @Cecily Quinn

Gobstones. Ah, the wonderful memories of winning... and being sprayed in the face when she lost. Ivy honestly wasn't sure what had compelled her to sign up for this club. Sure, she liked playing Gobstones well enough, but the consequence for losing was just so... disgusting. She had always preferred playing wizard chess - but she didn't think there was a club for that, and besides, she was bored. You couldn't spend all your time studying, and Ivy didn't really have any friends she wanted to hang out with, either, so...

"Gobstones it is," the first-year had sighed to herself while trudging down to the club area. It wasn't like she 100% wanted to be here, but she wasn't going to be unpleasant about this. Ivy smiled back at the redhead who was moderating, before sizing up her opponent, Cecily, trying to figure out what advantages and disadvantages she would have in this game. In the end, she discovered that she couldn't figure anything out, and turned around to start the game. I'll just have to work it out later on.

"Good luck," she said to her opponent, as an afterthought. It was the nice thing to do... maybe. Ivy focused carefully on Cecily's Gobstones, grey eyes narrowed slightly as she tried to decide on which throw to use. Gosh, she hadn't played Gobstones in... almost a year now, was it? Maybe it was best to play it safe and use one of the easier throws first. She was sure that she would get back into the swing of it soon.

Ivy attempts a Classic Throw.
ACCURACY: 6│WISDOM: 7│STRENGTH: 5

Cecily once again found herself making her way to the Gobstones...court? pitch? She still wasn't quite sure what she should be calling the ring, but regardless of its name, she was once again readying herself for a match. Though Cecily was touted as the co-captain of the club, she was pretty sure she was just there for moral support and to fill out a match if there were an odd number of participants. After all, Amadea had been doing all the work-- she advertised, she arranged the matches, and she had been working all day to ensure that they went smoothly. Cecily was really quite unimportant to the whole endeavour, but regardless, she was just happy that she could show her best friend some support. She knew that this club was important to her, and she'd be damned if she let it fall apart.

So, the third-year found herself approaching the ring on a warm spring day to once again participate in a match of Gobstones, because Amadea needed her to. Plus, it didn't hurt that she had come to enjoy the game-- the look on Ami's face when she was drenched with the putrid liquid was priceless. Although, even though Amadea had told her that Cecily would be up against a first-year today, the blonde was still determined to avoid the fate of the loser. Sure, she had experience, and she had a slight advantage, since she was two years older than her opponent, but she had no way of knowing how good the other girl was. Hell, for all she knew, Ivy had been playing Gobstones since she could throw a pebble.

Speaking of, Cecily watched as Ivy selected a stone, making eye contact, Cecily waved and smiled. "Nice to meet you," she said, hoping to make playing with a stranger a little less awkward.

After returning the other girl's offer of luck, with a concentrated look, Cecily hefted one of her stones. Surveying the ring, she chose what appeared to be an open target, and let loose her stone.

Cecily chooses a Catapult Throw
Wisdom: 8
Strength: 6
Accuracy: 10

@Amadea Campbell @Ivy Bellamy

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𝓐madea smiled at both of the girls, observing them as they debated on their first moves. Both of them seemed to be sizing the other one up. Amadea knew nothing at all about Ivy Bellamy, except that she was a first year. If Amadea was being completely honest, she felt a little bad placing Cecily against the girl considering the large age gap between them, but there had been an odd number of participants to sign up and Amadea didn't want anyone to be left out. Thus, she had arrived at this compromise. Cecily not only had the age advantage, but also already had a win under her sleeve from the round she played against Ami. However, Amadea quickly remembered not to put too much stock in that; after all, it was Ami she was playing against. Plus, Amadea didn't know if Ivy had ever played Gobstones before; maybe she was secretly really good.

She put all of her thoughts aside about the outcome of the game and focused on the first round, which began by Ivy choosing to go with a classic throw. She seemed to have a fairly good strategy in mind, but the strength and accuracy behind her throw were slightly off and the gobstone rolled left of Cecily's. "That was close!" Amadea said encouragingly to the first year. She hoped that it wouldn't leave her too discouraged. It was only the first round, there was no telling what would happen next.

Then it was Cecily's turn. The Ravenclaw opted to throw her gobstone as strongly as possible toward Ivy's without much thought behind it. Unfortunately for her, the gobstone also missed, rolling right out of the ring. Both girls had missed, and they were tied yet again. "That was a good warm up throw," Amadea encouraged Cecily. "You'll get it next time; and you're up first for this round!"

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Player 1: @Ivy Bellamy Classic throw - DC results Strength: DC ≥ 9 roll: 3 + 5 = 8 Wisdom: DC ≥ 9 roll: 6 + 7 = 13 Accuracy: DC ≥ 9 roll: 2 + 6 = 8 Throw failure. Number of Gobstones left: 7

Player 2: @Cecily Quinn Catapult throw - DC results Strength: DC ≥ 10 roll: 11 + 6 = 17 Wisdom: DC ≥ 15 roll: 2 + 8 = 10 Accuracy: DC ≥ 13 roll: 13 + 10 = 23 Throw failure. Number of Gobstones left: 7

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CECILY QUINN TO POST FIRST.

A warm-up throw, Amadea called it, watching Cecily's gobstone sail past its target. She felt a hint of discouragement as she saw the shot fly wide, having high expectations for herself after her glorious win against Ami. Her disappointment, however, was softened by the fact that Ivy, too, had botched her shot, the stone soaring out of the ring without hitting a single stone. They were still even, just like this was the first throw. Except Cecily was not quite as confident as she had been twenty seconds ago. At least now she didn't have to worry about Ivy being some sort of Gobstones prodigy, as she had done just as poorly as the Ravenclaw had this round.

As Amadea sent some cliche encouragement her way, she really felt like making a snappy comment back at her, but before she could open her mouth, her brain managed to get in the way. Amadea was just trying to keep spirits light, make the game fun. She didn't deserve the wrath of Cecily's annoyance. Really, only a select few people did, and Dea was rarely, if ever, on that list. So, instead, Cecily replied to the girl with a simple smile. There was no need to hurt her friend for just trying to run a fun match.

Turning back to the ring, Cecily hefted another projectile, staring down the stones lying on the ground. Still seven left for both of them, but hopefully their tie would be skewed in her favor in a few short seconds. Bringing her arm back, the blonde chose a stone with a clear path, and loosed the one in her hand to send the Gobstone flying towards it.

Cecily chooses a Catapult Throw
Wisdom: 8
Strength: 6
Accuracy: 10

@Amadea Campbell @Ivy Bellamy

@Amadea Campbell @Cecily Quinn

Well, crap. Ivy's shoulders slumped slightly as she watched her gobstone miss its target and she sighed softly, annoyed. The redhead smiled at her and spoke a few encouraging words, although they would go in one ear and out the other. Why was everyone so nice nowadays? The Gryffindor found it rather disturbing, although she would still smile back at her and mutter a quick thank you. There was no need to be rude - the redhead was only trying to make things fun.

She took some comfort in the fact that Cecily had messed up her shot as well. At least they were even, and it was only the first throw. There was still a chance, and Ivy intended to break that tie in her next throw. She didn't remember being so bad at this game - then again, she had been playing against her sister in the past, who couldn't knock a gobstone out of the ring to save her life.

Ivy turned back to look at the gobstones on the ground in front of her. Seven on both sides - for now. Hopefully her next throw would work in her favour, and Ivy was beginning to recall the rules and throws a little clearer now. She picked up her gobstone and aimed once again, crossing her fingers with her free hand.

Ivy attempts a Conscious Throw.
ACCURACY: 6│WISDOM: 7│STRENGTH: 5

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𝓐madea studied the two players as they prepared for the next round. She was usually quite good at reading people and from what she gathered, it looked like both girls were quite disappointed with themselves for missing the first throw. Amadea's spirits sank slightly; she was hoping that this Gobstones Club would help bolster people's moods and allow them to have a good time. So far, the matches had ranged everywhere from being quite successful to also being very tense and awkward. Amadea had hoped that this last round would end off the day on a high note, but it seemed like both girls were not encouraged by Amadea's words of advice.

She would have said more to them but the fear of being snapped at stopped her, so she sat back and watched as the two prepared for the next round. Cecily was up first this time and she took no hesitation before lobbing her gobstone accurately toward the ring. Whatever had been going through her mind paid off, as her gobsotne strongly and accurately hit it's mark, knocking one of Ivy's gobstones out of the ring. "Dang Cecily, awesome throw!" Amadea cheered, impressed with how well her friend had made a comeback.

Now it was Ivy's turn. The girl took a while to think of her strategy, but ended up throwing her gobstone in a similar fashion to Cecily: quite strongly and accurately. Her gobstone found it's mark as well, knocking one of Cecily's out of the ring. "Way to go, Ivy!" Amadea cheered for the first year. The two were now tied again; this was going to be a close match. "Okay, round three! Ivy you're up first."

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Player 1: @Cecily Quinn Catapult throw - DC results Strength: DC ≥ 10 roll: 15 + 6 = 21 Wisdom: DC ≥ 15 roll: 10 + 8 = 18 Accuracy: DC ≥ 13 roll: 18 + 10 = 28 Throw success. Number of Gobstones left: 6

Player 2: @Ivy Bellamy Conscious throw - DC results Strength: DC ≥ 11 roll: 16 + 5 = 21 Wisdom: DC ≥ 6 roll: 3 + 7 = 10 Accuracy: DC ≥ 9 roll: 18 + 6 = 24 Throw success. Number of Gobstones left: 6

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IVY BELLAMY TO POST FIRST.

@Cecily Quinn @Amadea Campbell

Ivy frowned as Cecily's gobstone hit its mark, a little pang of disappointment running through her, and watched her own sail through the air with bated breath. She almost crossed her fingers for good luck, but decided against it. You couldn't depend on luck when it came to things like this - you had to rely on skill and experience. Luck was just a phantom of nothingness, something people created to make themselves feel better.

She grinned as her gobstone knocked one of Cecily's out. Ivy was beginning to feel a little more relieved, thinking that maybe she hadn't lost her touch, although she couldn't be sure if this was just a fluke. They were tied yet again, though, which was slightly annoying, but the Gryffindor was determined to break the tie. "Thank you," she said in response to the redhead's encouragement.

Then she turned to survey the stones in front of her. Six on each side. Ivy tilted her head, pondering which strategy to use. Perhaps she should go with her previous strategy, because that had worked well for her. Yes, that would makes sense, wouldn't it? She swung her hand back and tossed her gobstone in the direction in Cecily's set, watching it with slightly narrowed eyes as it flew through the air...

Ivy attempts a Conscious Throw.
ACCURACY: 6│WISDOM: 7│STRENGTH: 5

Her Gobstone collided with Ivy's with a satisfying clack, sending it flying out of the ring. Cecily smirked. It was comeback time, she was back on her game. At least, as long as she didn't screw it up again next round. Which she probably wouldn't. She had done pretty decently against Ami, hadn't she? It wasn't like she was a failure at this game or whatever; she just had her bad throws, and so did Ivy.

Speaking of, Cecily's spirits dropped just a fraction as Ivy met Cecily's throw with a success of her own. The Ravenclaw watched dispiritedly as one of her stones was sent soaring out of the ring, just as Ivy's had moments ago. A comeback for both of them, it seemed. Wait, did that cancel out? Was it still a comback if they both came back?

Cecily cleared her brain and focused on that task at hand-- nailing one of those stones right out of the ring. She hefted one of her own in her hand, taking a moment to select a target and align her shot. Bringing her arm back, she let it fly towards one of the opposing Gobstones, praying to the Gobstones gods (Godstones?) it would hit its mark.

Cecily chooses a Catapult Throw
Wisdom: 8
Strength: 6
Accuracy: 10

@Amadea Campbell @Ivy Bellamy

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𝓐madea watched the two girls as they prepared for the next round. Neither of them said too much; they must have been focusing on their strategies. Amadea stayed silent as well, letting the two girls focus on whatever thoughts were running through their head. Thinking of a strategy was an important part of the game of gobstones and Amadea didn't want to distract either of them. As the moderator, she had to make sure she gave them the best chance to succeed.

Ivy was up first for this round. Amadea watched as the Gryffindor threw her gobstone toward the ring. While she had an accurate eye for where she was aiming, the strength behind Ivy's throw was too weak and her gobstone rolled to a stop significantly before Cecily's, never making contact. This left Cecily with the chance to pull ahead and give herself an advantage.

Amadea turned to her friend and watched as the girl threw her gobstone toward the ring. Even though her throw seemed to be quite good, Amadea watched as Cecily's gobstone whizzed right by one of her own gobstones instead of Ivy's. She was lucky that the gobstone had missed; otherwise she would have just been helping Ivy out. "Okay so you guys are still tied," Amadea said. "Cecily you're up first for this round." Hopefully the girls could make a comeback this round.

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Player 1: @Ivy Bellamy Conscious throw - DC results Strength: DC ≥ 11 roll: 3 + 5 = 8 Wisdom: DC ≥ 6 roll: 11 + 7 = 18 Accuracy: DC ≥ 9 roll: 5 + 6 = 11 Throw failure. Number of Gobstones left: 6

Player 2: @Cecily Quinn Catapult throw - DC results Strength: DC ≥ 10 roll: 7 + 6 = 13 Wisdom: DC ≥ 15 roll: 2 + 8 = 10 Accuracy: DC ≥ 13 roll: 5 + 10 = 15 Throw failure. Number of Gobstones left: 6

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CECILY QUINN TO POST FIRST.