2021, Stage 3 Group D: Ravenclaw vs. Hufflepuff Finished

Mentioning @Phaedra Stavrou @Logan Baird @Lucia Fox

Finally a spell of Cade's own making launched itself towards Lucia, but it was his luck that she managed to evade it while struck by Phaedra's flipendo. Cade soured his hopeful expression. This match was turning out even more worse than he'd imagined. But that wasn't the worst of it. His heart leapt to his throat when he noticed Phaedra unconscious and smouldering beside him. "Phae!" Cade gasped, his brown eyes reddening with emotion, it was as if part of him fell over and died. She was the strength of the entire duel. If it wasn't for her energy he would have been in the same position. Cade watched with a sobered expression as she was carted towards the hospital wing. This was it. It was up to him now. With renewed determination, Cade readied his wand arm, furrowed brows pointed in Lucia's direction.

Doing as strategized

HUFFLEPUFF WINS!

This was the round.

Everybody knew it—could feel it in the air, even.

Only two competitors were left standing on the dueling arena overseen by Dmitri, all of them looking like a simple breeze could sweep them off their feet. Whoever lands the first hit would definitely take the crown. It was inevitable. Everybody thinks so.

And both of them knew it.

The pressure couldn't be pleasant, the Slytherin presumed. Their house's glory was on the line from the moment they stepped onto this stage—but more so at this very instance. He couldn't possibly relate. Most of his duels were decisive, almost unfairly so. But this one, even for him, was a clear challenge of skill.

In the space of a gasp and a breath, Lucia and Cade spoke—no, yelled—their incantations, desperate for their own spell to hit the other and bring home a win. Both spells were intense, Dmitri's head almost turning away of their own accord if not for the way he was on the edge of his figurative seat.

As the dust settled, only one remained.

"We have a winner, everybody!"

Right there at one end of the arena, gasping for breath in both exhaustion and relief, was Lucia Fox.

"Hufflepuff wins!"

Lucia Fox vs. Cade Darkbound

Reducio

Lucia Fox casts Flipendo
Wisdom DC: 9
Wisdom Check: [1d20: 12] + 8 = 20 → Success
Accuracy Check: [1d20: 12] + 6 = 18
Evasion Check: [1d20: 8] + 5 - 2 = 11 -2 from Bullarum Immortalem
18 > 11 → Hit
Damage: 100 + 4 ARC * 10 = 140

Effect: Cade Darkbound sustains 140 HP worth of damage and is knocked unconscious.

Cade Darkbound vs. Lucia Fox

Reducio

Cade Darkbound casts Incendio
Wisdom DC: 9
Wisdom Check: [1d20: 17] + 5 = 22 → Success
Alluring Check: [1d10: 2] → No Redirect
Accuracy Check: [1d20: 9] + 8 = 17
Evasion Check: [1d20: 15] + 8 = 23
17 < 23 → Miss

OOC Info

1| You have 96 hours (4 days) from my timestamp to post your replies and owl me, Dmitri Jones, your moves. Together or separately, I don't mind, just make sure to send them to me within the time limit.
2|The word count requirement for duels is 50 words per post, but you may post more if you would like. Please do not describe your action before it is described in the mod otherwise you are giving the opposing team an advantage to strategize against you.
3|Any submissions after the 96 hour timestamp will not be counted. Failing to give actions means your team does nothing but passively dodges. Failing to post even though your action has been submitted means your action is void.
4|You may send me an owl BEFORE the deadline to ask for a 24-hour extension. Each round can only be extended once by either team.
5|Good luck everyone and have fun!

Lucia couldn't help but notice her opponent's anguished expression as she struck down his teammate. But then he gained strength, just as Lucia had done after Logan had been taken out, and readied himself. Lucia knew that this would be it. Both of them were battered and bruised, tired out of their minds, and definitely in need of a trip to the hospital wing, and whoever hit next would knock the other out.

Something which duelling had taught Lucia Fox was that sometimes you just needed to get your wand out and fight for it. Merlin, it sometimes even felt good, which frightened Lucia a little - but she was starting to learn that there were times to be kind and gentle, but there were also times to have a goal and get there through vicious spellwork.

Right now, vicious spellwork was all that could save Lucia from going down at the last hurdle.

She was so close.

Readying her wand, Lucia struck as soon as her friend had left the stage. "FLIPENDO!" she screamed. She focused all her energy on that last spell, on that last stand- and then, quite suddenly, it was over.

"We have a winner, everybody!" The words barely reached Lucia's ears as she watched Cade fall to the ground. She'd done it. She and Logan had done it. And now she just wanted to get out of there.

"Hufflepuff wins!" Lucia met her sister's eyes in the crowd and Briar jerked her chin up a little. The older Fox sibling smiled. She and Briar were so close in age and had spent so long together that they were experts at reading each other. From that one movement, Lucia knew what Briar was saying. Well done. But we'll beat you next time.

As soon as she could, Lucia slid off the stage and made her way through the spectators towards her, wrapping her little sister in a hug. "You need to go to the hospital wing," Briar told her, and the Hufflepuff suddenly realised just how much of her was aching. She and Logan may have won, but both of them had certainly taking a beating. Speaking of Logan...
"I need to go see Logan," Lucia croaked. "Tell her we won." She paused. "Also- see Ravenclaws. Say sorry."
Briar sniffed, sounding extraordinarily like their mother Ebony. "It's a duelling match, Lucy, they signed up for it. But alright. They'll be at the hospital wing too. Come on, I'll help you down the stairs if you need it."

And so Lucia left, leaning a little on her sister, to join her teammate and apologise to the opposition. How very Hufflepuff of her.

thanks for a great duel! if you feel like doing a slightly awkward thread in which lucia apologises to phaedra and cade, owl me haha

Papertrail - House points allocated to eligible winners (Lucia Fox & Logan Baird)