Team Five & Six Complete

Flash tried pathetically to swing at the self-righteous gnat, but each swing caught nothing but air. With the way Søren had nearly knocked him unconscious with just a few hits, he thought it would be simple. Instead, now he was an underdog, getting cheered on by the obnoxious crowd. So… annoying...

Because of Flash’s second attempt at bartering for peace, as well as his inability to land a blow, Søren was getting hurt. It was like getting hit himself, he winced painfully even though the attack looked comparatively weak. This was all a mistake, wasn’t it? Believing that people backed into a corner would listen to reason. He should never have given him a second chance, he was always going to put himself first. Flash should have seen it in his raving gaze.

The point still stood, he had to be stopped before this punching game could end. The boy was actually pretty good at dodging away, even in a state that seemed close to delirium, but his luck would end eventually. Hopefully sooner rather than later. Though at first, Flash had no qualms with this kid and his problems, he was starting to get a chip on his shoulder. Not very dignified of him, but frustration was starting to pile up.

Also, if he did well enough, his team might be inspired to help him. Best to try to avoid that. Certainly all of them wanted to get out of this place as quickly as possible... right? People wanted to not have to hurt each other... right?

Action: Performs these actions only if Alex is still standing after other people attack him, or if no one else on his team attacks this round
1. Sucker punch
2. Hammer fist
3. Anime rage (believe me, this takes a full action)

Reducio

Sucker Punch: A punch that takes the enemy by surprise, possibly knocking them out or otherwise incapacitating them. Could be an unexpected blow to the stomach or a strike from behind that the victim did not see coming.

Effect: A Contested Wisdom Roll is performed to see if the opponent is taken by surprise. If the wisdom roll fails, the attack is an auto-miss. However, if the wisdom roll is successful then the attack is an auto-hit for 25 damage * strength modifier. This attack has a +1 critical range and can only be used by a user once every other round.

Hammer Fist: A compacted fist is brought down upon the target, usually using the outside area of the fist.

Effect: Attacks 1 target at +0 accuracy for 15 * strength modifier initial damage and 10 * strength modifier damage per round for the next 3 rounds.

Ability: Calming Presence
Stats: Sta: 7 ★ Eva: 5 ★ Str: 6 ★ Wis: 8 ★ AP: 3 ★ Acc: 6

Teammates: @Thomas Lestrange @Søren Silverwood @Maria Dee
Rivals: @Alexander Varellion @Thora Larkston @Jessica Lester @Astrea Soleil Neptune

If Maria wasn’t suspicious before, she was definitely suspicious now. Well, suspicious and annoyed. Annoyed partly because their opponent wasn’t backing down, and mostly because he sounded like an anime protagonist in a boss fight. To her, he looked like he was one blow away from ultimately passing out. As for suspicion, that was reserved for the one and only Thomas Lestrange. He was saying some… odd things in response to Alex’s statements. What did he mean by “Only the beginning.”? The rest of his words felt like replies their adversary’s long speech but it felt like he wasn’t saying them to him.

Before she could make her own move, the boys had already started going at each other. Alexander tried hit Søren, Flash tried to hit Alexander but ended failing, and Thomas seemed…off.
The young girl took a step back and tried to make sense of what was happening (as there was much going on). She took a look at their “host” Victor, trying to get any sort of clue or semblance of meaning to everything going on. There had to be something she could find out about him that could help them.

Then she took a look at the crowd, and the people around. The shadows and sounds seemed to blend together in a dizzying blur. An overwhelming feeling came over her, making her breathing quicken and her stomach churn. After having experiencing this feeling a few times this year Maria was pretty good at recognizing it now. No, this was not happening. This couldn’t happen now. This had to end before things got… ugly for her.

Amidst her panic she somehow managed to calm herself down long enough to zero in on Alex. This boy was one blow away from stopping so this Hufflepuff was determined to deliver that Huff especially if no one else was going to. She was desperate to stop this and get out of the ring, and as her mother says “Sometimes even if you didn’t start the fight, you have to finish it.” Right now, she needed to finish this. If not for the sake of her teammates for the sake of the meal that threatened to show itself again and for her own dignity.

Mustering enough courage she made her way over to their perpetrator and delivered a jab of her own.

Action
1. Observe Victor for clues or more information.
2. Jab at Alexander
3. If missed, tries again.

Abilities:
Sixth Sense

Stats:
Stamina 7 | Evasion 6| Strength 5 | Wisdom 4 | Arcane Power 6 | Accuracy 7

Group 5
[7] Søren Silverwood - did nothing this round.
[4] Flash Holmwood - sucker-punched Alexander.
[28] Maria Dee - observes Victor but sees nothing.
[32]Thomas LeStrange - did not post this round.

Group 6
[33] Alexander Varellion - Knocked out.
[34] Thora Larkson - did not post this round.
[35] Jessica Lester - did not post this round.
[36] Astrea Soleil Neptune - did not post this round.

@Thomas LeStrange just stood there. All of his fanfare was for nothing, he was letting the others duke it out. Their success or failure was not his concern, Thomas had his own ambitions and there was nothing that would stop him.

@Maria Dee would take another look at Victor. The strange boy wearing a skin that does not seem to fit. That was too small for the voluminous clothes he donned. Far too weak to hold his own but he possessed an uncanny confidence. Outnumbered by his agitated peers in this debilitated state, he was making a spectacle for the amusement of the audience.

Observation: does she notice anything in particular regarding Victor?
Roll: 12 + Wisdom 4
[DC 20]

The analytical badger would squint at the strange young man. He was far from ordinary but she would not be able to divine what was off. What was wrong with him? She would learn nothing more.

Meanwhile, @Alexander Varellion had to keep fighting. He had to keep standing. He had more to gain and more to lose than the others. Those that wanted to win for the sake of doing so. To answer a question to a question they hardly believed. Alexander had lost a part of his life. He did not know who he was. What he was anymore. On the infinitesimal chance that Vladimir had the answers he so desperately needed, Alexander would have to fight on!

Alexander jabs Flash.
Attack Attack 4 (accuracy of attack) + 8 (accuracy) -2 (fumos) + 2
Evasion 3 + 18 (evasion)

First he needed to take on @Flash Holmwood would scurry away and Alexander's wild fist would cut through just air. It was an act of desperation coupled with exhaustion. The fatigued boy was barely standing and it shown as he staggered forward after the miss.

[Action Stack won't allow all of Flash's actions to be at the end of the round but the first action could be after Maria's and Alexander's]

This was Flash's chance to end it now. The girls seemed to have no interest in fighting. Stop Alexander and then this fight could be over.

Flash attempts to sucker punches Alexander
Wisdom Roll (Flash) 18
Wisdom Roll (Alexander) 10

Alexander's luck had come to an end. Flash would hit Alexander squarely in the jaw and the boy would crumble onto the floor. His knees would buckle and his head would hit the ground hard. The girls, yes his teammates had just let it happened. They were uninterested in the prize. They were uninterested in the boy. Let him fight. Let him fail. let him die. The crowd roared in celebration of Flash's success. The boy that was willing to fight rather than talk it out. The boy that was willing to rip Alexander's answers away.

Slytherin through and through...

Considering the fact that Thora Larkson (never posted), Jessica Lester (never posted), Astrea Soleil Neptune (just posted watching). Looks like Team 5 won this fight.

Over the deafening roar of the crowd, Victor would limp into the ring. "Group Five!" The boy declared but his voice was drowned out by the frenzied crowd. He would clap his hands politely. He would continue to talk but there was no voice heard, the basement was too loud. [Reading Lips: A great fight, the girls don't seem interested so calling it now.] True to his word, the girls were not forced to enter the fray. There was no punishment for their lack of compliance.

His eyes would look down on Alexander. It was hard to discern an expression from his face as he put his thumb into his mouth. His thumb would emerge, the pad bleeding a thick viscous, black fluid. He would hold his thumb over Alexander's mouth and let it drip.

Drop...





Alexander would spasm violently on the ground, his flesh would turn ashen but he would rise. His carriage unnaturally twisted. The position of a crab, he would walk out of the ring.



Alexander was not conscious, he was too damaged and broken but he was out of harm's way. Again, if nothing else the boy appeared to be dedicated to the value of his promised word. A bit of splattered blood, most of it belonging to poor Alexander would stain the rink. Alexander would collapse a second time next to Victor.

Feel free to celebrate in character. Once the other fights are done you will be onto round 2.

Thankfully coming for him rather than his Asian allies, the fellow Slytherin threw another dazed jab Flash’s way. Flash took plenty of hits in his life, but he wasn’t about to incur extra damage for no gain. The lone fighter was at the end of his tether, smoke still in his eyes as Flash side-stepped his unthreatening fist. Distracted by his own singular mission to fight until he dropped, Flash took the failed opportunity to punch him squarely in the jaw, finally knocking him cold. At least now that he was seemingly unconscious, he wouldn’t get any more hurt. Flash shook out his hand at the pain caused by the collision with bone. He hardly went around punching people. In fact, it may have been the first time in his life that he ever lashed out physically with the intention of causing harm.

The moment his blow connected, the crowd roared as though it was some kind of victory. Of course they would think that… Victor only confirmed it as he shuffled into the ring like a zombie, accepting the implied forfeiture of the rest of the unconscious boy’s team, who looked on complacently, like fish in an aquarium. It would have been better if they had left, Flash didn’t want people seeing him like this, no matter how justified he found his actions to be. Idly caressing his knuckles with his other hand, he looked out at the faceless crowd as their jeers continued. Practically nothing of note on first casual glance. Of course this whole thing was suspicious, but they were one step closer to ending it. It was a shame the dodgy imp landed two blows, instead of forfeiting outright. Now Flash and Søren were minorly injured, which was less than ideal.

It was hard to say whether he had always intended to feint, or if Thomas was to blame. It wasn’t like he could ask him now that he was lying motionless on the ground. Thomas was awake though, and unharmed. And notably, the only shirtless one in the group. Wasn’t it getting cold, what with him not even attempting to exert himself? Flash had plenty of things he wanted to ask him, but no reason to think he would give a straight answer.

The two had first encountered each other in the clandestine meeting late at night in the common room, where he had been hidden away only to reveal himself and be more than useless at the ball. The way he reacted to the information about Marion possibly having a binding mark, as well as the conspicuous mark he had on his arm would have been enough to make him suspicious, but after talking to Erin Ryan, he had reason to deeply distrust him.

He had reasons, but not evidence. Flash absorbed information like a sponge, but he never relied completely on secondhand information. Thomas wasn’t exactly making a good case for himself on his own though. Still, he was on Flash’s team. He wasn’t about to start throwing accusations when they had more fights to get through. Better to not let on just how much he knew about him regardless, if he really was dangerous. Even though Flash craved adoration, he knew when it was better to keep a low profile.

As for Maria and Søren, they had both been active participants, to varying degrees. It almost looked like Maria might have punched the Slytherin herself, if he hadn’t already been in the perfect position for the final blow. Looking towards the two of them, and by nature of him being around, Thomas as well, Flash nodded his head in acknowledgment, since they ‘had won’, as macabre and toneless as that was. How much nicer it would have been if that kid had just accepted Flash’s sovereignty from the start. Perhaps it would be easier with the next group, but he was done giving second chances.

”Thank you.” He didn’t have to say what for, he didn’t want to say too much. Anything he said was stuck in reality, free to be interpreted in any manner of ways. Still, gratitude needed to be offered when it was felt.

What little joy of victory he may have had was subsequently dashed when his eyes caught the suggestion of movement behind him. Turning around quickly, expecting another kick to the face, he instead stumbled back at the sight of the unconscious boy crawling away in a hideous inhuman display. Flash had lots of composure to spare, but none of it was spared for THAT. He felt his back bump into Søren, needing the welcomed support to keep from falling over from shock. The boy collapsed after reaching Victor. What had Flash missed? What was happening?

Flash hated not knowing. Yet then, with the reanimated crowd talking loudly amongst themselves, Flash’s weak voice wouldn’t have mustered the strength to question it. Perhaps things were worse than he thought. Perhaps he was only making things worse. A dreaded thought.

Action: Be shooketh.

Ability: Calming Presence
Stats: Sta: 7 ★ Eva: 5 ★ Str: 6 ★ Wis: 8 ★ AP: 3 ★ Acc: 6

Winners: @Thomas Lestrange @Søren Silverwood @Maria Dee
Loser: @Alexander Varellion

There were winners and there were losers. Victor would wait until the ring was cleared. Cleared of the conscious and... the unconscious. Presuming he had a growth named Jack, he would not amble far. He would simply address Flash with a simple nod. He was not sure how to take this fight. The proclamations to fight,primarily from Thomas. The decree to not fight, only to then have the same boy take them down. He wondered what brutality the winning team were capable of. This was a lose-lose as far as he was concerned.

Vladimir was a madman but he had put his faith to him. Unsettled, he shifted. He wanted to break away from those who had drawn so close to him. They did not understand, there was no way that they could. He had no choice but they did. He let out a quiet shiver but fought to maintain a steely facade. "Excuse me," he announced in a soft shaking voice that was hardly over a whisper. "I have to..." His voice trailed off.

Victor would make his way into the ring yet again. The crowd riled from what they had already seen. "Thank you. Thank you. This has been an entertaining night I am certain. The last groups for this rung, please enter. Number six, number thirteen..." his voice trailed off as he took a long look at her. "Wonder why Gideon, Abbandon and Loralei put so much down on you and why they want me to say that out loud?" An inflection of a question, the boy did not quite understand what he was being asked to say but he did it all the same. He let out a wicked sounding laugh to follow. This was a show, the boy was trying with a face even his mother would have rejected. However, San would know those names and what those names together meant. Nothing good. *Cue tragic backstory*

"Thirty and thirty one. You will be facing off against Jack." Why did he get a name when nobody else did? "Seventeen, twenty one and twenty two," he continued not noticing his own mistake. He would return after his announcements were made. Some of the more reckless and potentially dangerous students made a show of their participants.

Once outside the ring, the boy would seemingly shrink. "Don't go Jack..." not that he ever had, he was attacked by one of the fighters already in the ring before he ever stepped foot inside.