2021, Stage 2 Group A: Ravenclaw vs Slytherin

Round 2

Dealla Prince vs Astrea Neptune

Reducio

End of Levitation Charm

Dealla casts the Blindfolding Spell at Astrea
Wisdom DC || 10 + 2 Astrea's Lovely Creature = 12
Wisdom Check || [d20: 7] + 10 = 17, Success
Auto-Miss Astrea's Terrible Presence || [d10: 1], No Auto-Miss
Accuracy Check || [d20: 20] + 8 = 28
Evasion Check || [d20: 18] + 9 - 4 Floating Debuff = 23
28 > 23 → Hit
Effects || Blindfolded, 0 Accuracy & Evasion, must use a full action to remove the blindfold. -20HP from end of Levitation charm.

Astrea Neptune vs Dealla Prince & Pericles Dralt

Reducio

Astrea casts the Knockback Jinx at Dealla & Pericles
Wisdom DC || 9 + 2 Spell Spread = 11
Wisdom Check || [d20: 2] → Critical Failure +1 Crit Range due to Spell Spread
Damage || 100 + 10 ArcPower x 10 = 200
Effects || Astrea is knocked back and loses 200 health.

Pericles Dralt & Henry Knight

Reducio

They remove their blindfolds.
Effects || No longer blindfolded.

The brilliant badger moderator could only stand with her mouth agape as she watched the duel of the century, in her opinion, take place. Pericles and Henry seemed to go with the right minded thing of quickly ripping off the beautifully materialled blindfolds. Willow briefly wondered if she could snag those to use as headbands or a belt later. They did look quite nice. But her mind quickly shed that thought as there were more important matters at hand! Pericles and Henry would be left readjusting to the light as Astrea and Dealla seemed to face off against each other.

Dealla spoke calming words to her partner to try and assuage their fears that this was just the beginning and they had plenty of time to bounce back! While Henry spit out some intense choice words for his partner. The Vipers were venomous indeed, and proved it on the battlefield. Perhaps it would be Henry's distraction that was Astrea's downfall in attempting her next cast, as the standard backfire they learned in every class about spells happened. She would drop to the ground and fly, still gracefully in Willow's dutifully unbiased opinion, backwards away from the battle as Dealla ended the Levitation Charm! With the concentration of an Eagle diving for prey Dealla shot off a spell that would give Astrea a taste of her own medicine by including her in the blindfold club that seemed to be having a meeting on the battlefield.

It wasn't exactly a great place for a club meeting, but was there every really a safe place at Hogwarts? While Henry was ready to jump back in, Pericles still had a lost wand! Dealla's concentration only grew more difficult, and Astrea would take the first damaging hit of the battle. There was no telling what would come next! Except, it's a duel so there will probably be more spells.

OOC Notes

• You'll have 96 hours (4 days) from my timestamp to post and owl me your next moves. They should be sent in by January 27th, 2021.
• If you do not owl me an action or post by the deadline then your action is discarded.
• You may request a 24 hour extension via owls if the situation arises.
• If you think anything is off in this mod post feel free to owl me!

@Dealla Prince @Pericles Dralt @Astrea Soleil Neptune @Henry Knight

Edit || Changed round 1 to Round 2. Took out Levitation Charm debuffs, additional -20 to Astrea's Health

Pericles' fingers flitted for the blindfold. His mind was racing: should he kneel to make a smaller target of himself while he fought the knot, or was it best to stay on his feet, keeping nimble should he hear a spell whistle his way? The confidence of a twelve-year-old boy was a delicate thing. He could feel the burn of that miscast reddening his ears, dropping his stomach like a rock. Then he heard her; Dealla, his partner and captain. She didn't sound cross or exasperated with him whatsoever. There was no reprimandation or impatience. Rather, her voice was a balm on his stinging pride, taking the edge off of anxiety's cruel weight. She sounded certain, steady, and her call for calmness had exactly its intended effect.

Pericles released a slow breath. His sensible nature had been appealed to, smoothing the spike of emotion with the wetstone of logic. Instead of picking with panic at the blindfold, he now explored the knot's shape, drawing out the correct lines to free himself of it. The boy had been passively aware of one opponent verbally nettling the other. It made him feel the luckier for which side of the piste he stood upon. Although the "power of teamwork" might not necessarily save the duel, it at least made him feel better. Finally freeing himself of the Obscuro, Pericles dropped the blindfold to the stage and stood. The transition back into light left him blinking, squinting as he searched. Dealla wasn't losing momentum when the plan didn't go exactly as intended. He wouldn't either.

As strategized.

Dee didn't dare take the time to check on how Pericles was doing. She could feel her palms get slightly sweaty, the wand feeling less secure between her fingers. Not that she wasn't confident in her abilities, but facing two opponents on her own would be tough... not to mention, there was something about Astrea that just set her teeth on edge.

Their initial strategy was definitely off the rails, had relied on Pericles being able to cast while she was maintaining the Levitation Charm. Obviously, that wasn't realistic right now, and it only took her a split-second to decide to drop Astrea in favour of doing the same thing to her that she'd done to Peri. Half a thought to ending the spell and the Slytherin fell, leaving Dee free to cast. "Obscuro!" The spell was determined, still, confident enough, but it was still a relief to see it connect, conjuring a blindfold around the third year's head, and Dee let out a short huff of relief, barely audible. A reprieve, if nothing else, to give her time to regroup and come up with a strategy. Only now Henry had gotten rid of his blindfold, giving her yet another thing to worry about. Great.

Reaching behind his head as the boy carefully but rather quickly undid the knot to his blindfold while his wand sat clutched between his teeth.

Throwing down the blindfold before retaking his wand tight but also loose in his left hand when a blast of light shot toward his eyes forcing them to readjust quickly since the twelve year old knew every second of a duel was crucial to winning and the second year was determined to win as he retook his dueling position, wand in front, knees almost bended but loose, wand held tightly but also loose in hand, and eye forward at his opponents.

From a emotionless face and adjusting eyes, the tweleve year old watched as his partner's spell backfired against her while she also fell from the sky. Unable to do something just as a blindfold much like his own and the ravenclaw boy fastened around her eyes which in the end even through he wasn't showing it in his face, the boy felt bad for his partner and that his choice of words comparing his old to his new partner.

Keeping his dueling position and face emotionless as he whispered enough that only his partner could hear, "you alright," a pause before, " stay focus and calm, we still have time," allowing for a quick nod toward his partner before facing his opponents with a emotionless face again.

The blonde haired boy whom he recognized from the frog choir still was disarmed while the captain seemed rather ruthless at least to the twelve year old which was when a idea sparked into his mind.

Remembering how Amara and him spent their first and only duel together bantering and firing off spells so what if instead of bantering with your partner, what if one banter with their opponents almost to throw them off or distract them which were two things Henry would love to do at the moment. Distract his opponents, specifically the ravenclaw girl with words sounded brilliant at least in the tween's mind.

Looking over at the female ravenclaw still wiry a emotionless face, giving no hint on his next move as he shouted toward her, " I always heard that Ravenclaw's were just a childish copy of Slytherin," giving a beat as his eyes flashed over the female ravenclaw captain before continuing " isn't your team called; murder of merlin? How kind of you to name your team after a slytherin," the know it all was glad he read multiple books just to say that which was technically a insult but possibly something that could get under the female ravenclaw captain's skin as Henry's eyes flashed away from her and retook his position, ready to perform his next move.

Action: As Strategized
Interacting: @Astrea Soleil Neptune | @Dealla Prince
Mentioning: @Pericles Dralt

Plan of action: Initiate a blinding stroke of the knockback jinx. Astrea's legs still met air at every movement, the sense of balance and touch throwing her off slightly as she made the motions to cast the spell, spoke the familiar incantation. But- Something was wrong.

They had been taught what happened when a spell does not cooperate in the classrooms, when the spell goes wrong without intention. But she hadn't the time nor place to necessarily glance down at what was happening the few times it had occurred to her- always the situation too life threatening, the situation too dire. Not like this time. The potent magic building, building within the tip of her wand too quickly to allow her to ready herself as she physically felt the knot of red energy rear back as if a spooked stallion. There was no where for it to go- no where to go except out-

With a fire cracker of red, Astrea had been doublecrossed by her own magic- backfired, dropped and blindfolded, she was a sitting duck aching with the blow. The rush of wind, the gripping dread of knowing there was an end to this weightlessness and yet not knowing when it was to come. She went down hard- her vision suddenly taken midway and leaving her unprepared for the harsh landing, woefully cursing her luck. She had spent so long cultivating her magic to defend and attack others that she had forgotten just how much of a punch it packed, just how much a backfire hurt.

Biting down a foul hiss of deep dissatisfaction at both the failed hit and the shock of pain that had rattled through her when she had been blasted backwards, Astrea pushed herself up back onto her knees and then her feet. She was sure to have bruises come tomorrow, flares of colour upon pale skin that mirrored what had happened during the Blossom Ball so long ago, but the wounds to her pride had no time to wait. Smooth out the expression, let the crackling adrenaline rush carry away signs of weakness.

Blinded by her opponent and worse for wear thanks to her own magic, it was quite the role reversal from what they had done to the silver-haired boy immediately as the signal had been called. Her only saving grace was that she had managed to keep hold of her wand, the outlet of power that had betrayed her for the first time in who knows how long. If Astrea was even a fraction feraller- even a portion deeper into her second-year nonsense that had nearly made her a target practice-, perhaps the tight lid upon her emotions might have spilled out a bit by this point. The soft material of the blindfold allowed no light to come through, blocking off chances of making either a hit or a miss.

She could hear her partner whisper the barest of an encouragement towards her before announcing to their opponents the irony of their duel team name. Over the beating of her calming heart, over the disorienting feeling of balance restored, the brief moment of distraction allowed her to get her bearings and realise- yes, what an unfortunate detail. One would think that the Ravenclaw duellists would do more research over their team name, considering the reputation the house of smarts had built up. How funny, to boast the badge of the house they had been pitted against and fly with feathers that belonged to another. How funny, Astrea amused carefully, to turn the tables.

Action: As Strategised.

Round 3

Dealla Prince vs Astrea Neptune

Reducio

Dealla casts the Fire-Making Spell II at Astrea
Wisdom DC || 12 + 2 Astrea's Lovely Creature = 14
Wisdom Check || [d20: 6] + 10 = 16, Success
Auto-Miss Astrea's Terrible Presence || [d10: 3], No Auto-Miss
Accuracy Check || [d20: 13] + 8 = 21
Evasion Check || [d20: 11] + 0 Blindfolded = 11
21 > 11 → Hit
Duration || [d3: 3] = 2 Rounds
Damage || 100 + 6 ArcPower x 10 = 120 - 12 -10% Damage due to Astrea's Terrible Presence = -108 HP
Effects || Aflame for 2 Rounds, -60 HP every round.

Henry Knight vs Dealla Prince

Reducio

Henry casts the Wind Jinx at Dealla
Wisdom DC || 11
Wisdom Check || [d20: 2] → Critical Failure +1 Crit Range due to Astrea's Terrible Presence
Duration || [d3: 3] = 2 Rounds
Effects || Henry suffers -4 Evasion for 2 Rounds.

Pericles Dralt

Reducio

Pericles searches for his wand.
Effects || -1 Round to Disarming Charm

Astrea Neptune

Reducio

Astrea removes her blindfold.
Effects || No longer blindfolded.

If Willow had been in the stands for this one, surely she would've had a rough time watching the disaster that was slowly overtaking this match. Pericles was left to himself to search for his wand, which reminded Willow of Velma in Scooby Doo searching for her glasses. She mildly giggled to herself at the imagery, but quickly attempted to regain the poise as the very serious duelling moderator that she was.

Henry Knight was rapt with insults and venom thrown at the other team, but perhaps he should've been focusing on his own spellcasting instead. As he attempted to send the Wind Jinx towards Dealla, his spell backfired hitting him with his own hit of a wind gust. This would leave him dizzy for a couple rounds which might have an effect on his ability to dodge. Despite the storm of hits that had come for Astrea last round, she was successful in removing her blindfold. This was only to be met by a jet of green flames from Dealla which promptly set her on fire.

Astrea was looking a little worse for wear, being the only one on the field that had taken damage so far. Willow's heart ached to jump down and stop the whole thing to heal her up, but the badger knew what the ethereal girl had signed up for. This was just part of the sport and she was there to bear witness to it. Perhaps this wasn't the greatest sport for a bleeding heart like Willow to witness, but she enjoyed it nonetheless. It was quite the nail biter as she prepared herself for the next round.

OOC Notes

• You'll have 96 hours (4 days) from my timestamp to post and owl me your next moves. They should be sent in by January 30th, 2021.
• If you do not owl me an action or post by the deadline then your action is discarded.
• You may request a 24 hour extension via owls if the situation arises.
• If you think anything is off in this mod post feel free to owl me!

@Dealla Prince @Pericles Dralt @Astrea Soleil Neptune @Henry Knight

The insults thrown at her from the Slytherin team were an annoyance, like a mosquito, buzzing, buzzing in her ear, but Dee at least partly blamed her lack of focus in the previous duel for her miserable failure, the way she'd let herself be distracted by what was going on around her, and she wasn't about to make the same mistake again. While she itched to reply - was that really the best he could come up with? - every second right now was crucial. She had to press forward, push her momentary advantage, until Pericles was ready to rejoin the fight.

And she did. "Incendio Duo!" The green flames spouting from the tip of her wand shot towards the increasingly battered looking Slytherin girl, and, once again, managed to make contact, leaving her burning. Dee let out a small breath - nothing obvious, nothing visible - unable to feel anything but relief at the sight of Astrea on fire, and allowed herself just a second to relax. Anything to distract their opponents was a blessing, although apparently Henry was doing a fine job distracting himself.

Dee couldn't help the smirk springing onto her face at the sight of the Slytherin boy's own conjured winds whipping around him, tearing at him and pushing him off-balance. Didn't look like he'd be able to dodge or aim too well in that state. "That kind of stupidity can only come from a Slytherin," she called back easily, referring to his earlier comments. "Haven't you considered that maybe it just means that we're going to murder your team?" Their name choice hadn't considered something as superficial as Houses. They were named after Merlin, the Prince of Enchanters, House irrelevant. There was more to say, of course, always more to add, dig into his self-provoked failure with razor-lined words, but-

Enough. Shutting Henry down might have provided momentary satisfaction, but focus was key, and she wouldn't let his clumsy attempts of distraction succeed. Maybe this would teach him to shut up and focus on his casting instead.

A deep breath out, she tried to center herself. She had to hold out, couldn't be much longer, but now she was faced with two opponents at once.

Eyes adjusting, posture tense and ready to spring from the path of any incoming spell, Pericles witnessed Astrea falling from the air only to be battered back, blindfolded, and set ablaze in quick succession. Opponent or no, it was enough to turn the twelve-year-old's expression dour. While duelling was truly formative for young wixes, it could be brutal to behold. If there was any comfort Astrea might draw from the onslaught, it could be the realization that she was singled out as a threat, someone who drew fire for the intimidation she inspired. Henry, on the other hand, had managed to coax a steely look from the oft airy boy. Pericles could be a bit of a literalist: insults like "childish copy" weren't enough to get under his skin, but questioning the reasonability behind their dubious team name? The nerve! He spared a second for an indignant huff before scouring the piste for a glint of pale aspen.

Losing the wand was an unforeseen setback. His performance in practice was perfect. Not a single spell of his had failed, certainly not backfired, and his dodging had been equally impeccable. Now their roles had been reversed. When it was needed most, Dealla shone, and the pride Peri felt for her quickly overcame any regret he'd had for his failure at the start of the duel. Casting a cheeky half-grin her way, he called: "Looks like you don't really need my help, eh? Can deal with both of them on your own?" They were Dealla's own words, to the letter, parroted back at her from their previous practice. Though, he wasn't inclined to let her hold the fort on her lonesome for very much longer. Pericles had spotted his wand and made a dash for it, tacking on breathily, "Unless of course, you don't mind sharing the fun."

As strategized.

Deft fingers reached up and around to unknot the blindfold hindering Astrea, the darkness falling away to the sudden shock of light surrounding. Blinking away the spots in her vision by the great contrast and dropping the too-soft offending fabric, Astrea looked upon the opponents with an increasingly potent sense of internal annoyance. It seemed that between her partner and her, she was the one to be targeted. Logically it made sense- and Astrea was always one to withdraw herself into the solid embrace of hard facts-, as she was the only third year in the duel and clearly showed off the power of double casting, but for it to be a reasonable deduction didn't make the battering any less frustrating.

She could only stare at the wand pointed at her and its accompanying friendly conversation directed wholly against her with a truly unimpressed expression before she was engulfed in an unnatural green flame. The girl in front of her was all flourished wand and loud announcement- one did not need to project the incantation with such gusto when even a whispered one pronounced properly did the job just as well. But alas, the dramatic effect. A flaring warmth bloomed as the heat caught at Astrea's fine clothing, the firelight's gleam catching silvered eyes eerily as yet another sensation was tossed aside in favour of adrenaline. This was not the first time she had been set aflame- far from it, to school at Hogwarts was not an experience as safe as it should be- and yet this was the first time that she had been struck so blatantly when kicked down.

It was extraordinarily inconvenient- extraordinarily unfortunate- for her to be subject to such a barrage of incapacitating spells so quickly. They were not very far into the duel and already they were faring worse off than expected. But their Ravenclaw opponents seemed cockier than expected, both of them responding critically to Henry's acknowledgement of their truly questionable team name. Silly.

This was not a test of skill- they had long ago tried that before even making it to the duel teams- but instead one of magic's fickleness and Lady Luck. It just so happened that Astrea had never been one to align herself to fortune alone, her magic difficult to tame and more powerful in its unruliness. A difficult child, a disobedient dog. A faucet for chaos.

Action: As Strategised.

An extension has been requested. All posts and moves are now due on February 1st, 7:10pm EST (UTC -4).

@Pericles Dralt @Dealla Prince @Astrea Soleil Neptune @Henry Knight