2021 Stage 3 Group A: Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw Finished

There was nothing quite like an official duel. Pericles couldn't compare the jolt he experienced when he and Dee were called to the stage, nor the sense of ceremony he felt while climbing the stairs, to any other situation. The adrenaline wasn't close to what he endured in a spontaneous event, entirely unlike the other impromptu battles against an unexpected foe. It was something anticipated, an energy he could weaponize, lighting up his senses with an electrical buzz. He relished the duality that came with knowing they were essentially safe, that this would be over once they won or were knocked unconscious, while preparing to willingly walk into a dangerous duel. Eager to test his skill, anxious about letting down his team or partner, preemptively rueful for any pain he may cause yet simultaneously driven to debilitate their opponents as swiftly as possible, the whirlwind of emotions was narrowly concealed behind an artfully neutral expression. Though the eyes- sharp, bright, calculating- gave him away. He was excited.

As Pericles climbed the piste alongside his partner, he sent Santario a smile which radiated gratitude. He still hadn't faced the Slytherin in a duel, so his perspective of her as a benevolent moderator remained unchanged. The co-captain nodded politely as the new rule was reiterated before honing his focus on the stage's opposite end. He knew little about Alec and AJ, but was speedily processing what he did know. Both boys were equal to them in year; Dealla and Pericles had lost their first duel, then won their second. The other two had lost both matches, the co-captain heard, though that wasn't enough to discredit them. With this being their last opportunity to prove themselves, they were sure to be especially dangerous. He found himself afraid to speak too confidently, lest he jinx them, and instead touched the tips of two fingers to his bronze eagle badge. Their previous win made him confident, but Peri was careful not to become cocky. With a raise of his wand, he bowed to both opponents, then fluidly shifted into an accepted duelling position. "Show them how hard we've worked, captain."

As strategized.

Dee took a deep breath when their names were called, but when she stepped forward, her movements were confident. There was excitement beating through her veins, tension in her shoulders, but not in the same, near desperate way that last stage had brought. She - they - had proven that their first duel had been a fluke, to herself, and anyone who had cared to watch. Today was a blank slate. The pressure to succeed was still there, but it had receded to a weight she could bear, one that brought her to life instead of pushing her down. Today, she could enjoy the competition, the exhilarating feeling of measuring your skills with those of your opponents.

It was the last round of duels for this year's tournament, which would determine final rankings. After this weekend, they'd know the champion, and Dee would do everything in her power to make sure that champion was Ravenclaw. Their team had worked hard, and today they would show the results. They wouldn't disappoint, Dee thought with a wry smile, so neither would she.

Pericles was a well-known presence by her side as they approached the stage, from two duels and many, many hours spent practising together, and this time, both the referee and one of their opponents were familiar faces, too. Santario, who had also presided over their first duel, and AJ on the Gryffindor team. She wasn't sure she would call either of them friends, exactly, but she liked them well enough to throw Santario a brilliant, excited grin, before her attention focused on AJ. "Good luck!" she called over to him, eyes bright. "You'll need it." Her gaze flickered over to the other boy, Alec, and back to AJ. "Don't hold back, we won't, either!"

Next to her, Pericles touched the badge on his clothes, and Dee automatically mirrored the movement, shifting her smile towards her partner. "Oh, we will," she agreed, and moved to take her stance.

To say that AJ wasn't exactly feeling confident was an understatement. He could hardly look Alec in the eye this morning when they'd met to discuss strategy. He had felt so often recently that he didn't deserve to be looked upon at the Captain of the Pride of Pendrast. That compared to the caliber of duelists that formed the Gryffindor team, he didn't deserve to stand amongst them.

It was tricky to push those thoughts from his mind as he approached the stage, facing off against their opponents. A team he'd heard only good things about in terms of skill. He gave a small smile to them. "Wun oer loose, a hoop ta' leern somethen' tehdee." He nodded politely to them before taking his position and drawing his wand. The elaborate craftsmanship of the thing taunted him, as if telling him it belonged in the hands of someone better.

He looked over to Alec. "Lut meh knoo uf a' need ta' duck thus teem." He cracked a small joke, more in an attempt to lift his own spirits than anything else, poking a bit of fun at some of Alec's wayward casts from past duels.

He took a deep breath, time to see how long he lasted.

Sticking to the plan

Round 1

AJ vs Pericles

Reducio

AJ cast Obscuro at Pericles
Wisdom DC: 10
Wisdom Check: [d20: 4] + 8 = 12 > 10 → Success
Accuracy Check: [d20: 7] + 7 - 1 = 13 -1 from Charmer
Evasion Check: [d20: 10] + 7 = 17
13 <17 → Miss

Alec

Reducio

Failed to post in the allotted timeframe. Action is Void.

Dealla vs AJ

Reducio

Dealla cast Obscuro at AJ
Wisdom DC: 10
Wisdom Check: [d20: 1] + 10 = 11 > 10 → Critical Failure
Effects:
- Accuracy and Evasion are reduced to 0 while blindfolded.
Duration Until removed. Requires a full action.

Pericles vs Alec

Reducio

Pericles cast Incendio Duo at Alec
Wisdom DC: 12
Wisdom Check: [d20: 17] + 8 = 25 > 12 → Success
Accuracy Check: [d20: 5] + 7 = 12
Auto-Dodge (10): [d10: ] 7 < 10 → No auto-dodge Target's Evasive Maneuvers
Evasion Check: [d20: 13] + 7 = 20
12 < 20→ Miss

Just like every duel between the words “you may begin” and the actual casting of spells, the air became heavy. Like the atmosphere right before a lightning storm, it builds up all of that energy right before it is finally released into a brilliant flash through the sky. Eventually, the tension would release as the duellists cast their spells. AJ and Alec levied their wands at Pericles, a black strip of cloth shooting from AJ’s wand narrowly missing Pericles. Alec’s wand produced no spell, and perhaps it had been as some sort of fake-out to goad his opponent into targeting him, but it certainly seemed like he had been ready for something.

Dealla aimed her wand at AJ, performing the same spell as the opposite Captain. However, instead of the black strip of cloth shooting forward and wrapping around her opponent’s eyes, Dealla would be blindsided by her own spell as she felt the cloth wrap itself securely around her head, plunging her into darkness. Pericles, whether a reaction out of both opposing boys drawing on him or not, targeted Alec sending a stream of roaring flame towards the Gryffindor. Alec would seem to dodge this with ease even if he did seem to be not entirely paying attention to the spell cast at him.

An exciting start to say the least, with everyone dodging and one spell backfire. Santario’s eyebrows raised slightly in surprise at the outcome of this round, but she knew this set of duellists would not fail to entertain in the rounds to come.

OOC Info

1| You have 96 hours (4 days) from my timestamp to post a minimum of 50 words and owl me, Santario Martin, your actions. It is inadvisable to describe your actions until after the mod post.
2| Deadline Date: Tuesday, April 27th, 2021. If you do not post or owl in the allotted time frame, your action is void.
3| Extensions up to 24 hours can be requested before the deadline once per round Via Owl. It will be based on the original timestamp.
4| Your stats, abilities, and spells have been locked in as of posting this thread. You can still update your trunks, but they will not count for this duel.
5| Good luck everyone and have fun! If you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out via owl or discord: Santario#3981.

Spectator Thread Tell your friends to come cheer you on!

Pericles possessed a regrettably small capacity for banter, that is, unless it was retaliatory. He wasn't one to "start" things. Dealla compensated for this entirely (with enough sass for both of them), her taunt instantly instigating a tiny smirk from her otherwise placid partner. The joy of it didn't reach his eyes. Those were fixed, unblinking, warily set across the stage. On Santario's command, they launched into action. No light-handed incapacitation from him this time: Peri dove straight into the offensive, summoning a torrent of flame to let his opponents know he meant business. This was going to be their last official duel for some time. Why not go all out? What was more, it seemed that each match chipped away at his inhibitions, emboldening the boy. The fire missed, but no matter. They were just getting started.

A jerk of his head caused the blindfold to blow by harmlessly. Dealla wasn't spared from fate, yet Peri knew an Obscuro wouldn't hold her for long. At the start of their last match, his attempt at disarming an opponent had backfired, and in the successive seconds said opponent blindfolded him. He remembered the sharp sting of alarm, being both blind and unable to cast. But Dealla's voice- sensible and soothing- had broken through the buzz of panic and enabled him to get back in the game. Pericles tried to return the favor, summoning all the calming confidence he could muster as he called "Steady on, Dee!" Comradely support was all well and good, though he also knew the duelling captain was a practical person, so he sought to soothe her nerves by being her eyes until her own were freed. She would hear him hiss hastily from the side: "Both missed- one didn't cast. What are they playing at...?"

As strategized.

The usual excitement seemed to fill the air as Alec had thought about dueling that day. The two boys had done terribly so far. Losing two duels. They weren't doing as well as they could have been. New strategies had to be placed. He wasn't trusting his skills. They had practiced. He'd done enough to wear himself of anxious worries day after day. Was it enough though?

A quick check in. The answer felt as if it were no and yes. One round in. He'd completely forgotten to cast! His mind had been whirling. Focused on defense rather than offense. It was honestly anyone's claim that could or would happen next. Alec just needed to focus. They were going to win. They were going to do this for Gryffindor. And they were also going to bring the Ravenclaws some chocolate in the hospital wing if Alec felt they'd been hurt too much. Whether winning or not for that one. Maybe they'd take a chocolate frog card and a cool library spot as a token of peace as well.

Even if the duel was supervised. He doubted the fact that people still didn't end up very injured. It was expected now at all school-like things. Alec just hoped this time, the damage wouldn't be on him. Readying himself and his wand he smiled the other team's way. Putting a look on his face that said he totally meant to not at all cast. Saying, “good luck!” Turning to his teammate. Mouthing the words, “I know we can do this. We've practiced. We can win.”

Action: Doing as planned.

A calm breath out, steady and focused. Her aim found AJ, tip of her wand swaying slightly before it steadied. Her action was clear, strategy planned with Pericles weeks ago, the time since then spent on practice. "Obscuro," she said. A second to realise the by now familiar sense of wrongness, of her wand rebelling against her, and her world went dark. Not again.

Frustration welled up in her, hot and bitter, swelling in her throat, and for a moment, it was all she could do to stand frozen, her heart beating too loud in her own ears to hear anything else going on around her. She'd thought she'd overcome this. Her fingers tightened around her wand, eyes stinging beneath the blindfold. Dee didn't cry often, or easily. When she did, the cause was usually anger - or frustration.

But no. No, she wouldn't cry here, on stage, because of one failed spell. Their last duel had started off much worse than this, with Pericles both blindfolded and disarmed, and they had still turned it around. Pericles, who could do for them this time what she had done last time: Keep their opponents busy until she was able to re-join the duel. Who kept her updated about the situation now, telling her that at least he had gone unharmed.

She forced a breath out through her nose, and pulled her attention back to the present. Step one: Getting rid of this blindfold. Step two: Win. Step three: More practice.

The typical Flipendo firing squad that usually found its way to the young Scotsman didn't strike this time, which he supposed he should be relieved about. Though perhaps his anticipation of such an event occurring is what caused him to aim just off target with his spell, or more likely was that Pericles was just that good.

His heart was pounding, but this was more from excitement than nerves. At the end of the day, AJ always received a thrill and a rush from Duelling. He loved it, every second of it, even the painful sensation of blue light slamming into his form until he was unconscious. It was the shame afterwards, after every defeat that ruined the rush.

This time, everyone remained relatively unharmed. Though his teammate almost wound up scorched. AJ hated Incendio, he really didn't see victory as being worth setting your peers alight. Though perhaps what perturbed him more is that Alec didn't seem to be reacting. [color#BF0000]"C'mon Alec! Whun ah asked fer no' freendleh flupundos ah didnae mean don' doo unnethen!"[/color] His tone was joking, but he did hope that would snap his teammate back to awareness.

In his lapse of focus, it seemed Dealla had somehow managed to blind herself, a rare advantage for the Gryffindor team, he only hoped they could capitalize.

Sticking to the plan