2021, Stage 2 Group A: Gryffindor vs Hufflepuff

𝓣aking her stance, Amadea casted. "Flipendo!" she commanded, watching as the spell shot from her wand toward the other team. Beside her, Amadea heard Lydia do the same. It seemed as though the Hufflepuffs were back on their game - Lydia's spell seemed almost extra powerful and Amadea watched as both spells flew toward AJ, hitting the Gryffindor squarely. No spells came her way this round, which left Amadea plenty of time to watch as AJ crumpled to the floor. Between participating in duels and moderating her own, she had seen this happen a countless number of times but it never became less worrisome. Amadea knew that this was just a part of duelling and the knocking out had to happen sometimes but it didn't make her feel any worse. She wasn't some sort of destructive machine that would knock people out without a second thought; she was simply a Hufflepuff girl with a heart that felt bad when this happened. Still, she knew that she couldn't think about it too much. This was just what had to happen in order to win the duel.

"Good job!" Amadea said to Lydia, giving her teammate a smile. "Feel better AJ!" she added in a louder voice; she knew the Gryffindor was unconscious but perhaps he could hear her anyway. Amadea cleared her mind and prepared for the next round.

Action: As strategized

Alec watched as his teammate fell unconscious. A part of duelling, it didn't help every time it happened. It made Alec wish he was always out first, he was aware AJ was the better of the two at casting spells anyhow. And so of course it had put him off when casting his own spell, he was going to need a long break after this.. This put together with other things recently, duelling hadn't been a bright idea. Taking a deep breath to ready himself for the next round, he attempted to smile the other team's way. "Good luck, though I might be the one needing it." He was going to try to win this for AJ, and at the very least he could once again say he didn't go down without a fight. Alec now readied himself, wand in hand in the proper position getting ready for the next round. Hopefully this would work out in his favour.

Action: Doing as planned.

"Flipendo!"
The moment the incantation left her lips, Lydia knew this time the Knockback jinx was particularly strong. At the same time she heard Amadea cast the same spell, and for a second she almost hoped that AJ would not get hit by both spells at the same time, since she had experienced how much a Flipendo could hurt, let alone two.

However, she couldn't help but feel proud as her spell hit the Gryffindor Captain; it wasn't a secret that Lydia was quite competitive, sometimes even too much. She had been distracted by AJ being removed from the field, that for a second she didn't realise that Alec had cast towards her; the moment she saw the spell fly in her direction, she quickly moved out of the way, giving a smile to the other Gryffindor.

"Thanks! Good luck to you as well!" she replied to him, as she kept her voice light; even though she was competitive and this was a duel, she liked the friendly atmosphere that there was going on.

"We've got this!"she told Amadea, and then, setting her eyes on her target, Lydia got ready for her next move.

Action: Doing as strategised.

Reminder: You have about 29 hours to send in actions. Failing to give actions means your team does nothing but passively dodge. Please ask for an extension if you need one.

@Amadea Campbell | @Lydia Cooper

Round 8

Amadea Campbell vs Alec Mason

Reducio

Amadea cast Knockback Jinx at Alec.
Wisdom DC: 9
Wisdom Check: [d20: 13] + 9 = 22, success
Accuracy Check: [d20: 9] + 10 = 19
Auto-Dodge Evasive Maneuvers: [d10: 3], no auto-dodge
Evasion Check: [d20: 18] + 7 = 25
19 < 25 → Miss

Lydia Cooper vs Alec Mason

Reducio

Lydia cast Levitation Charm at Alec.
Wisdom DC: 9
Wisdom Check: [d20: 14] + 10 = 24, success
Accuracy Check: [d20: 16] + 5 = 21
Evasion Check: [d20: 14] + 7 = 21
21 = 21 → Impaired Hit
Effects:
- Alec is floating half the normal height (0.5 m) until nullified, -2 Evasion
- Control Check as normal for Lydia until spell end (Alec will only take -10 dmg when dropped)
- Alec can still actively dodge but it will only be half as effective

Alec Mason vs Lydia Cooper

Reducio

Alec cast Knockback Jinx at Lydia.
Wisdom DC: 9 + 3 Lydia's Lovely Creature + Part-Veela = 12
Wisdom Check: [d20: 14] + 6 = 20, success
Redirect Alluring: [d10: 2] → no redirect
Accuracy Check: [d20: 9] + 7 = 16
Evasion Check: [d20: 18] + 6 = 24
16 < 24 → Miss

The remaining three duellists were all able to cast their spells just fine. Aim was a slightly different story. It was nothing atrocious, granted, but it seemed they were perhaps a little hesitant in getting back into things now that AJ was gone, or maybe just more focused on not getting hit and joining him. Alec avoided Amadea's Flipendo, but the one he sent in return at Lydia missed as well.

It would be Lydia, coming off of her impressive Knockback Jinx, who would be the only one to land a spell. Sort of. The Levitation Charm just clipped Alec in the shoulder and didn't appear to be as potent as the spell typically was. Alec wouldn't be lifted as far off the floor and seemed to have a bit more control over his movements than the levitation usually allowed.

Well, this round hadn't been nearly as action-packed as the last, but Bridget was still figuratively holding her breath. Alec would have to get his act together if he wanted to win this and if the Hufflepuffs were to end this quickly with both of them still standing, they too would have to step it up a bit. She hoped they all at least could finish on a high note whether they left this stage on their feet or on a stretcher.

OOC Info

1. You have 96 hours from now to write your posts (50 words min), in which you describe what happened in the first round.
2. In the same time period, owl me (Bridget Collins) your team's actions. Do not hint at your next actions in your post.
3. If you don't post in the allotted time frame, your action is void. Extensions up to 24 hours can be requested before the deadline.
4. Good luck, and have fun!

@Amadea Campbell | @Lydia Cooper | @Allister-Jameson MacAllister | @Alec Mason

Lydia's eyes followed the blue light that came from Amadea's wand, hoping that it would hit Alec; unfortunately for her team, the Gryffindor boy avoided the spell, but the redheaded girl didn't get too discouraged. Setting her eyes on him, she raised her wand and cast her Wingardium Leviosa.

The spell left her wand, but it wasn't completely right; to confirm that, when the spell hit the boy, he started levitating not too high, and Lydia only slightly frowned. The spell still worked and, more importantly, it did not backfire. Keeping her eyes on her target, she concentrated on her next move.

Action: Doing as strategised.

𝓐madea gave a quick smile to both Lydia and Alec before readying herself for the next round. "Good luck!" she said, directing her words toward both of them. Then, Amadea steadied herself and pointed her wand toward Alec. "Flipendo!" she said, watching as the spell whizzed toward him. Unfortunatley, Alec was quite swift and easily dodged her incoming spell. Again, Amadea didn't have to worry about evading herself as Alec targeted Lydia. Her teammate was quick enough to dodge, though, shooting off her own spell toward the Gryffindor. Amadea watched and smiled as her spell hit and Alec was suddenly floating above the ground. "Good job!" Amadea said to Lydia. Then she readied herself again for the next round.

Action: As strategized

Reminder: You have about 25 hours to post and send in actions. Failing to post means your action is void and failing to give actions means your team does nothing but passively dodge. Please ask for an extension if you need one.

@Alec Mason

Alec was destined to failure at this point, he supposed his train of thought had been along the area that at least they could get something down. This didn't seem likely to happen, he wasn't sure he was too happy about it. They'd lost the last duell, Alec had blamed it on himself, his bad spell casting, and his constant inability to stay focused. He wasn't amazing at duelling, his situation was certainly compromising, but he was going to try. The last spell hadn't gone as planned, nor had his situation. He was mid-air, like a puppet sort of. What it felt like to float, a joy. At least he was still up and going. His spell had missed, but he was going to try.

And with some control over his movements, he prepared for the next round.

Action: Doing as planned.

Round 9

Amadea Campbell vs Alec Mason

Reducio

Amadea cast Knockback Jinx at Alec.
Wisdom DC: 9
Wisdom Check: [d20: 16] + 9 = 25, success
Accuracy Check: [d20: 15] + 10 = 25
Auto-Dodge Evasive Maneuvers: [d10: 6], no auto-dodge
Evasion Check: [d20: 6] + 5 Levitating = 11
25 > 11 → Hit
Damage: 100 + (13 x 10) = 230

Lydia Cooper vs Alec Mason

Reducio

Lydia maintains Levitation Charm.
Wisdom DC: 9 + 2 Control Check Round 1 = 11
Wisdom Check: [d20: 9] + 10 = 19, success
Effects:
- Alec continues to float: -2 Evasion, can still actively dodge but it will only be half as effective

Alec Mason vs Lydia Cooper

Reducio

Alec cast Knockback Jinx at Lydia.
Wisdom DC: 9 + 3 Lydia's Lovely Creature + Part-Veela = 12
Wisdom Check: [d20: 10] + 6 = 16, success
Redirect Alluring: [d10: 7] → no redirect
Accuracy Check: [d20: 2] + 7 = 9
Evasion Check: [d20: 7] + 6 = 13
9 < 13 → Miss

Luck really was not on Alec's side. The Gryffindor was trying, you had to give him that, but alone and away from the stability of the ground, he was vulnerable. Lydia directed her concentration towards maintaining the Levitation Charm she'd cast instead of trying for a different spell. It was a smart move, and only accentuated the value of having a teammate. Hufflepuff could still use a much more versatile strategy, in this case, holding Alec in place while Amadea sent another of her powerful Knockback Jinxes his way.

Alec couldn't avoid the blue light, not while levitated and with Amadea's excellent aim. The spell would hit like a punch to the gut, and though Alec was still standing, he didn't look like he'd be able to take much more. Despite Bridget's silent encouragement, hoping the Gryffindor would at least be able to keep the badgers on their toes, his Flipendo missed Lydia once again.

Come on. Bridget was still very much impartial, being both the moderator and not knowing any of the duellists well enough to want the outcome to go a certain way, but Alec was the underdog here. Who wouldn't want him to land even just one more spell before Hufflepuff ended this, as they likely would? Regardless, they all had something to show for. Powerful spells, successful hits, quick dodges. Not to mention a friendly, supportive atmosphere she hadn't seen anywhere else. Maybe the end was drawing near, maybe it wasn't.

OOC Info

1. You have 96 hours from now to write your posts (50 words min), in which you describe what happened in the first round.
2. In the same time period, owl me (Bridget Collins) your team's actions. Do not hint at your next actions in your post.
3. If you don't post in the allotted time frame, your action is void. Extensions up to 24 hours can be requested before the deadline.
4. Good luck, and have fun!

@Amadea Campbell | @Lydia Cooper | @Allister-Jameson MacAllister | @Alec Mason