Banishment PV Professors

River watched Elaine as she searched the tunnels. He couldn't figure out for the life of him why it was that she insisted on going farther on alone. They were already far too spread out and with no way of knowing the true number of their enemies, continuing on without backup seemed like an awful idea. "What exactly are you looking for?" He asked the head of house in a hushed voice. "Don't you think we should turn back? Meet up with the others? Strength in numbers and all that." Whether or not his question was to fall on deaf ears remained to be seen.

As he waited for an answer, River reviewed what little options he had in the scenario where she refused to head back. He could turn around that very moment and just hope that Elaine would follow him. The man didn't count on that happening, however, and he didn't dare leave the woman to fend for herself in this hellhole, regardless of how skilled at magic she was. The other option was sticking with her and doing his best to ensure that neither of them died. Upon further thought, that really seemed like the only option that had a chance of working. With a shaky sigh and an even shakier hand, River raised his wand towards the dark corridor in front of the two. "Lumos Duo."

Shit! Artemis thought to himself as he had to concentrate on keeping the fire going while sidestepping the large rocks falling down toward him. But he still managed to keep his flames going. There was a small opening that he could see through that would allow his flames to also move through without causing more damage to the structure around him. His intent was to send the flames through the opening and have it spread widely through the room to hopefully take out that blasted hag that was still in there somewhere, but without full visual, he knew that he would potentially hurt his friends that were still in there. He couldn't drop his focus though. This spell was helped them destroy the shadows and it would help them get rid of that ugly old carnivorous wench.

Just as he went to move his wand to aim the fire through the small barricade opening, he heard a sound behind him and abruptly turned to aim the fire at the oncoming threat. Thankfully, with the flame's help, he only saw two of his colleagues. Maybe they could destroy the barricade or at least open it wider for the flames to go through. This hag wanted them all, there was no doubt, but she seemed intent on getting to Marcus the most and if Artemis could just have the flame dance around the corners of the room where he couldn't get to before, he was sure she would be destroyed this time. Whether or not the other two chose to start moving the rocks before them or chose to stand there gaping like a bunch of Gridylows out of water, Artemis would have his flames move through the opening and around the corners of the room, faster than he had them whipping around the shadows from earlier.

He was determined to take out this Hag and get his friends back to safety.

Action:Guiding the Firestorm Charm through the opening to cover each corner of the room in flames hoping to catch the Hag in the process.

Abilities: Perfectionist - Fearless- Evasive Maneuvers- Non-Verbal Magic - Wandless Magic

Stats: Stamina: 12 ~ Strength: 6 ~ Evasion: 8 ~ Wisdom: 20 ~ Arcane Power: 12 ~ Accuracy:12

Nothing. Her words went unheard by anything but the critters inhabiting this part of the dungeons, deep down beneath the walls of the castle proper. Elaine was a madwoman speaking to herself, antagonizing an enemy that wasn't there anymore.

You killed the hag, what else did you expect to find? A foe, a friend, a challenge?

Another moment of silence, her heartbeat echoing in her ears. Then Elaine chuckled to herself.

The half-eagle prowled across her skin, somehow closer than she was used to. It reminded her that her arm still tingled from where it had dug its metaphorical claws forearm. In all her years the creatures inked onto her skin had never hurt her, and she had half a mind to pull up her sleeve and see for herself if there was any actual damage, if something had changed... a voice interrupted her thoughts.

Elaine turned around, dark brown eyes staring into the darkness. "Professor Jemari," she greeted the man, staring at him for a few seconds, wondering where he had come from, why he had followed her.

"I was looking for-" She didn't finish her sentence. There was a smell in the air, beneath the musk and rot of the unused corridor, not exactly sweet but sharp, something familiar, a note of... sulfur. The softest breeze coming from further down carried it along, a breeze that shouldn't have been there in the first place. The smell of demons, of alchemists. She lifted a brow, intrigued, while she heard River Jemari cast the incantation of a Lumos.

"I don't think the thing I was looking for is here anymore. There is something else though, down there. Let's just go a little further, if you wouldn't mind," Elaine finally replied to his words.

Her hands were steady now, both of them, and she followed the smell and the soft gust of air without waiting for his answer.

Action: Follow the smell and the wind.

Reducio

Stats: ♠ Stamina: 12 ♠ Evasion: 10 ♠ Strength: 4 ♠ Wisdom: 20 ♠ Arcane Power: 12 ♠ Accuracy: 12

Abilities: Fearless ♠ Perfectionist ♠ Sixth Sense ♠ Non-Human Enthusiast ♠

The sound of rocks shattering and filling up the room before them was thunderous in Rosalind's ears, and she clenched her jaw, working through the pain and using it as fuel to fight on. She could see one of the newer staff dangling from the ceiling, struggling against his binds - something had him, but she'd need to get closer to see. Someone was beside her - she never checked who - but she was sure if it had been a hag, she would know by now. "We're coming, hold on!" she shouted, calling out to Marcus as the vines tried to tear him apart.

She was a woman of her word, springing into action despite the mountain of rocks that had piled up between them. She had to clamber up carefully - her old bones would crumble like paper mache if she ended up falling between them or off of the pile. It was an unsteady platform, partially owing to the fact that she wasn't very good at gallivanting around like this any more, but it was possible.

Once she got an angle, she had a plan - snuff out the light she had put on moments ago, stick her wand out toward the vines, and cast a simple jinx that she hoped would be enough to buy Marcus some time. "Relashio!" Verbally cast, for dramatic effect and in the hopes that she wouldn't embarrass herself by ruining the cast of such a basic spell.

action: Climb the rock and try to relashio Marcus to freedom.
Stamina: 8 || Evasion: 13 || Strength: 10 || Wisdom: 12 || Arcane Power: 10 || Accuracy: 12

The axe of @Ivar Eide struck true, crushing the skull piece by piece as each blow found its mark. The Norseman's rage would have been felt by any who laid their eyes on the madman unleashed at these undead. Admittedly, the man had seen an awful amount of betrayal tonight from people who should have been mere colleagues, his boss even. His wide eyes would flicker over to the skeleton ravaging the part-Goblin just a few feet away. A spell whisped past @@Gargott Dunaid's ear, missing his undead assailant. The skeleton's back would get crushed completely under a heavy blow of a mace wielded by the suit of armour. If the Groundskeeper looked past his saviour, he would find @Zahid al-Benghazi ibn Masoud staring in his direction.

@Maya Galim would find all enemies defeated by the time she arrived to come and aid her fellow professors. While she might have been late to the fight here by the entrance, there was another purpose she was able to fulfil as their guide. Not that @Caradoc Browne had time for that. With worry in his bright blue eyes he looked down the hall from where Maya had emerged. If she was back here, then what was happening down there? Why did she return? A mind racing on its own, the Head of Hufflepuff got himself up on both feet and started to run as fast as he could into the darkness. There was no time to lose at this moment.



As @River Jemari found himself locked behind @Elaine Pendrast the latter would find the hallway lit by her companion's wand. Pointing out the trail she was left with, they would follow it. The soft breeze would escape their senses as they hit another empty corridor. There was only one way to go, back from where they came and yet... They both had seen what happened to Marcus. Elaine picked up on it quickly and River would soon follow. The wind was coming from right in front of them, yet there was no door nor window to let it freely pass.



Both @Aleksander Ostrowski and @Rosalind Kibitzer scaled the rubble reaching the top in mere seconds. Both wands flashed in the air simultaneously, yet both had another target in mind. Their voices raised and lifted along the cavern, their spells were effective. Whilst @Marcus Iwasaki struggled to pull himself free from the root's grasp, Rosalind's spell made short work of his binds which released him on to the ground. "She's up there!" The Potioneer's voice would ring across the halls as he pointed to an elevated balcony sculpted in the cavern wall, partially obscured by surrounding stalactites.

While @Artemis Vernatis would try his best to let the roaring flames reach greater heights, the flames did not quite reach the balcony the old crone was hiding on. A hideous laugh escaped her breath as she seemed to spit on the ground in seeing him fail. Waving one hand in the air, it wasn't clear if she was taunting him or summoning something else. Perhaps something behind him? @Hjørdis Jensen, partially visible by now as both hers and Artemis' disillusionment charms began to wear off, saw herself surrounded by enemies. With the swirl of her wand, she seemed to attract the heavy clouds of smoke pushing against the cavern's ceiling. As a final swipe slashed into the air, a swarm of daggers would sling into the room on all sides towards her colleagues. Two daggers each would sink into each professor's body (you can choose where). Etta's deafening laughter would fill the cavern as a wicked smile unravelled itself with crooked teeth above the flickering light of fire beneath her.

Allies
Marcus Iwasaki
400/1500

Artemis Vernatis
400/1200

Gargott Dunaid
850/1300

Rosalind Kibitzer
500/800

Maya Galim
1000/1100

Zahid al-Benghazi ibn Masoud
1300/1400

Ivar Eide
1100/1200

Caradoc Browne
1100/2000

Aleksander Ostrowski
1300/1500

Enemies
Auntie Etta
1400/1500

Sister Hattie
Disintegrated.

Third Hag
Escaped.

Hjørdis Jensen
700/1500

She blinked. Ample noise reached her ears. People were coming? She could hear them. Colleagues, friends, someone...? Anyone? She searched the cavern that she found herself in now, looking for them. Elsk? Was it him?

The beautiful warm sand had been replaced by the dirty, cold stones. The sunlight had been replaced by a blazing flame. The building she had seen was long gone. It was miserable and cold and smelly. Purple eyes searched the room, hitting on the figures that appeared. It was not Elsk. It was not a friend... It was a foe. Her mind raced, trying to think of what was happening or what she was supposed to do. Dozens of plans flooded her mind. She could no longer escape.

The enemies surrounded her. Hjørdis frowned. Where was everyone else? Where were her friends? Was this still a dream? She had no idea. But she could see figures appearing through the smoke. They were surrounding her. From one to now three? How...? Where were they coming from? She had no choice. She had to do something. She had to stand up and fight, that was all there was to it.

Fight... til the light goes out...

The light shone brightly in her face. Through the smoke, she saw another figure start to appear. A fourth one. It was four versus one... Any signs of her dream had long gone. There was no beach nearby, no Jeger, no adorable puppy, no Elsk, nothing. She was pretty sure she could faintly hear music but over the sounds of voices, laughter, feet hitting the floor... she could barely hear it.

Wiping the back of her hand over her uninjured cheek, she attempted to clean off the dirt. More than likely, she added a streak of blood and dirt onto it but she could not see it. Her purple eyes scanned the room, falling on each enemy that approached. They were situated around the room. They were closing in. Where the bloody hell was everyone? Did they get dragged away or leave or...? Where did all of these enemies come from?

One of them spoke. The voice claimed that 'she' was there. He was pointing all of the figures to... her?! She was the "she" in this sentence? Four of them and only one of her. She was still wounded, badly. She was beginning to lose track of how many injuries she had but she had no choice.

She had to keep fighting. With a look of determination in her eyes, she drew her weapon. Waving her wand around, she launched her attack. Through the smoke, she started to fire arrows left, right and centre. There was no alternative anymore. There was no one else around, she had to fight against them all. Buy enough time for the reinforcements to come. Besides, at this stage, there was no escape. It was either do or do not. There was no try. She would stand and fight. It was that simple. Four enemies, surrounding her. Without pausing, she released her attacks through the air, piercing through the smoke.

Without hesitation, she fired. Again, and again, and again. Trying to take them down, trying to wheen out the numbers. The enemies were trying to burn her or knock her out with the smoke clouding the room. She would not let them. They made the fatal mistake of giving her a weapon, she would use it against them. Smoke to daggers... fire. If nothing else, her Slytherins would likely be pleased with her. After all, hoarding daggers or fighting seemed to be a thing for them.

Besides, these were hags. No one would cry if they got stabbed. Well, maybe their hag friends would cry. Who knew? Did hags even have friends? Did they consider anyone their friends? Were they even loyal to each other? She had no idea. More importantly, how many bloody enemies were there?! She heard a laugh. Her eyes quickly searched the cavern. She spotted a figure up on an elevated balcony, almost hidden from view, "Marcus..." She said softly, relief in her voice. He was alright. He was safe. As long as he stayed away, he was safe, right? Maybe there was an escape up there. But if she knew him half as well as she thought she did, he would come rushing in and that would not be good for him, "Marc! Stay back!" She warned him quickly, hoping he did not come down to her rescue. She was in a rush, she couldn't say his full name every time. Come on. Maybe he could get reinforcements if there was an escape up there... Or he could rain down hell on the figures. Whatever he did, she just wanted him to stay back and do it.

ACTION: - Betrayal -
STATUS: Injured, Invisible and Mind-Controlled | HEALTH: 700/1500

Stamina: 15 | Evasion: 9 | Strength: 2 | Wisdom: 20 | Arcane Power: 10 | Accuracy: 14
Abilities: Sixth Sense | Evasive Maneuvers | Perfectionist | Poison Resistance [others pending]

Outfit of the day

OOC: Still using Til the Light Goes Out

Artemis grunted in pain, again, as more sharp objects entered his body, but this time, they stood there sticking out of his right shoulder and his abdomen. The dagger in his shoulder he would remove quickly with his left hand that wasn't still controlling the flame, but he resignedly left the one in his stomach alone for now. He knew from some minor training from an old Muggle friend of his back in America that if you removed a knife from a wound that wasn't bleeding overly bad, you will remove the "plug" that the knife or item was currently stabbing. Until he could concentrate on healing that wound, he would leave the knife inside his body and focus on the wench on the balcony. The Potion Professor's cry of "She's up there!" helped Artemis figure out where to focus his fire and he promptly aimed the flames toward the balcony.

"One of you subdue Hjørdis before she collapses the entire cavern on top of all of us!" he growled out, as he spoke through the pain he was feeling in his stomach. But he knew that he couldn't focus on his own pain. He needed to get rid of this Hag.

More importantly, he needed to live so that he could return to his children. His family. He couldn't let the bitch win and kill him here. His family needed him alive. He refused to let his children see his mother and sister bury an empty box long before they needed to bury him.

Action: Directing the Firestorm Charm up at the balcony where the Hag taunted the group.

Abilities: Perfectionist - Fearless- Evasive Maneuvers- Non-Verbal Magic - Wandless Magic

Stats: Stamina: 12 ~ Strength: 6 ~ Evasion: 8 ~ Wisdom: 20 ~ Arcane Power: 12 ~ Accuracy:12

"We're coming, hold on!" Marcus could tell the Divination professor's words were directed at him without even having to look. It's not like anyone else had gotten themselves stuck in such a ridiculous situation again. This was his second time being grabbed by those ridiculous vines, and he had done absolutely nothing useful in the time between. It seemed he was to consistently play the bait during this whole encounter, being used to lure his colleagues further into the fray. His frustration with the whole situation continued to weigh on him as he fought against the vines with all his might. He was disheartened by how the situation continued to go for him, but he knew that reinforcements arriving was a good sign. They could likely take care of the hag - or track it down to wherever it was - much easily than he seemed to be. There was zero chance that at any point during this fight he was going to give up, he had a fighter's spirit. His physical battle was ongoing as he struggled against the vines - not wanting to be torn apart - but his mental battle was weakening. That attack to his mind earlier had drained him more than he cared to admit, and the way this "fight" was going didn't help.

"Relashio!" The sound of this particular spell made Marcus look up as his arms continued to flex against the vines. He saw the light of the spell headed right for him, and he ducked out of instinct. Regardless the spell wouldn't have hit him. As soon as he felt the vines loosening and lowering him, the man yanked his arms free and fell the rest of the short way to the ground. He was able to land on his feet this time, but it was not getting any easier. The wound on his chest and neck still bled freely, and all the struggle against restraints and falling from the ceiling was taking its toll on him.

Marcus looked to the entrance of the cave where he knew the others were. If he could have, he would've expressed his gratitude, but without a mouth, even that simple task was much harder than it should be. That would all have to be done later. As his amber eyes adjusted to the fact that the huge spinning fire in the room was not going to burn him on its current path, he heard the shout of the Potions professor. "She's up there!"

Amber eyes traveled up to the balcony that was pointed to, and Marcus felt his nostrils flare in response to the sight of the vile creature. When and how? Of course he hadn't found the stupid thing up there, he hadn't thought there might be a place up above for it to hide. There was no way Marcus could reach that thing. His plan to fucking stab it in the face with his wand had kept getting interrupted by its ability to do magic. Now it was well out of his reach, and he knew in that moment that he was once again rendered useless. No magic. No ability to reach the hag from his current spot. Climbing the cavern would take far too long, and it would escape by then. Spells would surely be the only way to stop it at this point. The man's tightened grip on his wand would've broken anything more fragile.

Before he could process his next move, he noticed the smoke that had accumulated at the top of the cavern was lowering. Why? The hag had waved her hands just a second ago, so he had to assume it was her doing. His entire focus was on the hag rather than on the others behind him. He had to do something. In fact, he would-

And that's when he felt the knife going into his back. Marcus' eyes widened at the sensation, and he likely would've cried out in mere surprise if he could. But before he could fully even process what had stabbed him, a second one landed just below the first. He had no idea in that moment that they were knives going into his back. In fact, he almost fell forward out of pure shock as he was instead brought back to a very similar sensation. Claws piercing his back as he tried to run away.

Marcus found it hard to breathe in that moment. He needed more air than his nostrils would allow. He needed to gulp in giant breaths, but he was unable and felt his chest getting tight. What was happening? Why could he not move? He was back there. The light of the full moon shining down on him. The villagers around him screaming. He could hear them. He was back there on that night. The terror of knowing that running was useless. The beast was massive. Fast. Terrifying.

"Marcus..."

A few seconds later that felt like hours, Marcus pulled himself out of the memory and blinked rapidly. No. He was here in the hag's lair. Right. There... there wasn't time for his trauma right now. The man looked over his shoulder and saw the two knives sticking out of his back, and that helped bring him back to the present. That shit hurt. And they had landed in a place he could not remove by himself. He didn't know if it would've been better to remove them at all, but as he tested his body again, every movement he made now seemed to bring a wave of pain from the placement of the knives."Marc! Stay back!"

Right, her voice. That's what had brought him back to reality. Marcus quickly turned to face those behind him, concerned by the fear in Nora's voice and expecting more knives that he would be prepared to dodge this time. This was his first time seeing the forms of the Charms professor and the Head of Slytherin since they had entered the cavern, and it was clear they had in fact been disillusioned this whole time. All of the professors seemed to have been stabbed by these mysterious knives, except-

Well, the one his eyes gravitated towards most. Nora. She was looking up towards the ceiling - more specifically the balcony that had been pointed out by the potions professor. He was trying to catch her eye, but she seemed so focused on the-- purple? Why were her eyes purple? Why had she called his name but only had eyes for the.. the hag? She seemed to look at it with such concern. Mind control? Is that what the hag had tried to do to him with that intense pain in his head? That was the only explanation as to why in the world she would call him Marc. Did he need to start calling her Nor in response?

It was in that moment of realizing it was Nora who must've flung the knives and literally stabbed him in the back that Marcus Iwasaki felt angry. He did not get angry very easily, usually maintaining a calm disposition. Sure, he was irritable around the time of a full moon, and he was easily annoyed with children, but his anger was a different monster entirely. There were several reasons for his anger, and one of them included the fact that Nora had let herself be taken over. Another reason was that he had been unable to stop what looked like a very nasty slash across her face. She had been marked by the same darkness that was covering his own chest, but in a much more noticeable spot. He was angry at the uselessness he felt. At the woman he subconsciously thought of as a best friend. At Browne for not being there to help. At himself for underestimating the fact that the hag was fucking magical and could easily one-up the man who relied only on his fists. He would've been far more useful fighting the skeletons back in the dungeons, though he had no idea that's what the other group had been up against. Sure he had not anticipated being separated from the group and pulled through a literal wall and used as bait, but.. well, he was fucking pissed.

As the Charms professor did his job and began to attack the hag, he also mentioned subduing Nora. It seemed Professor Vernatis had read Marcus' mind. Without a second more of hesitation, the mouthless man went straight for the blonde woman.

Action: Grapple Nora

Reducio

Grapple: This is a basic attack where you attempt to pin a target. Pinning a target means that you will also not be able to move. This is an accuracy roll to see if it will hit and then a contested strength check between the grappler and the target to maintain. This would be rolled at the start of each round.

Health: 400/1500

Racial Abilities: Werewolf Form (Rend, Bite, +10% damage) | Heightened Senses (tell familiar people by smell) | Track Hidden People (within 24 hours) | Wolf's Cry | Predatory Abilities (+25% chance to enter hidden, +2 stealth) | Intimidation (uneasiness, -1 acc, +1 crit fail to all around)
Chosen Abilities: Obnoxiously Strong (+10% strength) | Martial Artist

Stats: Stamina: 15 | Evasion: 7 | Strength: 20 (22) | Wisdom: 4 | Arcane Power: 4 | Accuracy: 15

"Dead end." River stated the obvious. "We should really get..." The professor felt an unexpected sensation wash across what little of his skin was exposed to the elements. It almost felt like a breeze, yet it couldn't be one. The wind couldn't come out of a wall, and even if it could, the professors were underground- there was nowhere for the wind to be coming from. Then again, a wall could easily be faked if you were skilled enough at magic, and for all he knew the wind could be coming from a tunnel to somewhere above ground.

Now what was left was to decide how to approach the situation. They could still turn back- in fact, that was probably the safest choice. It was an odd thing to come across though, and River's curiosity got the better of him. The professor decided to throw caution to the wind (pun not intended), and, without giving himself the time to change his mind, flew towards the wall. He didn't go fast, of course- if he was moving at full speed and the wall wasn't an illusion... well the other professors wouldn't let him live that down. He did, however, go fast enough to not have the time to rethink the decision.

Dead End.

From the looks of it, River Jemari was right, in front of them was a dead end. At least what appeared to be one, in any case. With her own eyes, Elaine couldn't discern anything wrong with the stone walls of the corridor or the wall that marked its end - but magic was a thing that went beyond the eyes. The tiny bit of wind on her skin, the smell of sulfur that was still in the mouldy air, told another story.

Before she could raise her voice, the Flying Professor had rushed ahead on his broom, flying straight towards the wall in their way. Some might have called it stupid, but Elaine was the Head of Gryffindor House, so she felt compelled to think of his actions as bravery in her head. Being here in the first place, chased by shadows, searching for the hags' lair, required a fair amount of courage.

Today is the day of the brave, she mused silently, not entirely sure that by tomorrow another wouldn't call it "day of the fools" instead.

Wand still in hand, she followed the younger professor with measured steps, her heels clicking on the granite floor.

Action: Follow River in walking through the wall.

Reducio

Stats: ♠ Stamina: 12 ♠ Evasion: 10 ♠ Strength: 4 ♠ Wisdom: 20 ♠ Arcane Power: 12 ♠ Accuracy: 12

Abilities: Fearless ♠ Perfectionist ♠ Sixth Sense ♠ Non-Human Enthusiast ♠