Fall Ball 2021 Samhain Festival

Giddeon was not indifferent to the chaos, instead he was a mere observer there only to make things worse for his own cruel amusement. There were monsters that walked among them, they just were not always hags and fiends. Some walked in the skin of man. He would watch Marion flee, dangerous, damaging, reckless spells slung in the girl's direction. She was nimble and fast, terrifyingly so. She looked like great fun, no wonder his brother loved her so.

@Dealla Prince, some old lady would enter the ball. She was nothing particularly interesting or special, just someone who arrived late was was uninvolved in the fun. He would meander over to her, smiling of course because it was such great fun to see the chaos first-hand. "Hi lady," he smiled, abandoning his date that had no interest in him despite being a payer.

"It is really crazy over here," he proclaimed. "Probably dangerous," he let out a laugh, no a giggle. "I am just going to enjoy some candy and stay out of the way," he claimed. He opened his second bag of candy. Yes, it was sealed and offered her a handful of the contents. If before the next round of moderation her date (@Jack Warren) comes to her side the same offer wordlessly offered. Some candy, perhaps then they could be gluttons and enjoy the passage of this civil war in the comfort and safety of the sidelines.

Action: Offering candy to Dealla and possibly Jack Warren (if he shows).

Interacts with: @Jack Warren & @Dealla Prince

Mentioned: @Marion Davenport & @Erin Ryan

Inventory: Packaged and sealed candy inside his satchel. Wand. Heavy stuffed animal (small).

He would hear the shouts, the spells -- none of which safe or kind. He knew some of them were meant for Marion. Did they try to burn her? The answer was yes, he fought to turn his head. To know and to see but he could not. It was simply hell, watching the roiling heavens approach promising a much-needed storm to cleanse this hellscape.

All that he could move was his eyes, otherwise paralyzed. Surrounded by those that wished him and his ilk harm. The knowledge that Marion was in danger. The thought, in spite of his brutality and indifference, that Vladimir was also. Strange that he would think of his killer at a moment like this, to fear for him rather than of him. They were still friends, at least in his heart. He was not Victor, not wholly and he knew that but he was trying. He could feel with Victor felt, all of the Victors as each was made and each was spent. He lived at least in memory Vladimir's betrayals. He recalled his own short-comings, his selfish shame. Laying here on the ground gave him time to think, to recall and to of course feel the pain or preemptive loss.

There was nothing he could do, magic had tethered him to the earth. So helpless but not hapless he would ponder what he might do when his power was restored. It was a cruel truth, the ways of the world and the means by which people seek to achieve their goals. How he had died more than once for the sake of fear, paranoia, jealousy, indifference and rage. How it did not matter, his death or his life that is. Life moved on even after his ended. Nobody cared, less perhaps a few. Jack, Ileen... Those poor bastards, they would just suffer as Mary and Vlad had. As his parents did. He should pity them, knowing that they would suffer tremendously. He should hate the others, they were the cause of much pain. And... he realized that he did. That he was no longer sorry for that evening, the one where he died in that basement. Where their carnivorous nature was laid bare,willing to fight, to rip one another apart for almost nothing.

Back then, when he had his regret. When he wanted to stop the fighting because he could not bear to see the suffering of the few who refused. Some of them were not refusing to fight any longer, no they were calling Mary a 'hag' and rallying others to a violent cause and a brutal ends. His regrets back then were premature, manipulated and erroneous. The darkness did well to kill him, to cut through his shell and his wiggling core in one fell swoop. At least that was his conclusion, he was not ready back then. He was not strong enough, angry enough. He was uncertain.

Merlin, he hated them...

Outfit: Suit

Inventory: Wand, flowers, corsage (for his date), chocolates and a small gift.

Action: Nothing for he is bound.

Interacts with: None, he is unable.

Mentions: @Jack Burnett, @Marion Davenport, @Santario Martin & @Ileen Knight

| Outfit | Brouche |

Percival glowered at the boy finding his illy placed threat to be nothing more than rubbish. As if he hadn't attacked her at all. It did nothing more than make his chest tighten as anger seeped into his very bones. "As if I would hurt her." he snapped as he looked down towards Ileen's frozen face. It reminded him of their earlier similar situation. He wondered why Ileen was frozen so much about him. Though, it wasn't as if she had been asking to have her spell backfire or for this boy to attack her. He needed to save her from her imprisonment. Her face was devoid of life, bringing a sick feeling to his stomach.


His gaze flicked as the dead boy shot a spell out towards the other Percival. Why should he care about Victor's well-being? As far as he knew the boy was the one who has caused all the unbridled chaos today. If he didn't have to already take care of Ileen he would have gone straight to making the boy pay for ever even thinking of coming back to life. The want to free Ileen from the spell that held her was strong. He had done it once before. Was it incalculable to think he should be able to do it once again? Before the boy could even think to raise his wand it seemed Ileen was freed from her stupor. It seemed that she had not learned to put herself in harms way as she went to protect the boy who had hurt her. Percival blinked his eyes wide with surprise. The boy would stand up from his crouched position. His gaze flicked to the frozen form of Victor. No compassion would be held within in his gaze. He needed to keep only two people safe here, and that was him and Ileen. "Ileen we should leave." he said as he reached to grab the girl's hand.

Action: Attempting to grab Ileen.

Interacting with: @Ileen Knight, @Victor Moore
Mentioning: @Henry Knight, @Bridget Collins, @Thomas Lestrange, @Marion Davenport, @Santario Martin, @Percival Gray

Stats:

Reducio

- Abilities -

Foulplay
Lovely Creature
Beast Master

- Statistics -

| Stamina 6 | Evasion 6 | Strength 9 | Wisdom 8 | Arcane Power 8 | Accuracy 9 |

Erin would be taken down. It was only a matter of time before someone hit her with their shot. Erin's limbs would snap tightly to her sides. Her bare knees and her ankles glued together. She toppled over, unable to break her fall her head would strike the ground hard and she would be left seeing stars.

She was unable to defend herself in hit sorry and vulnerable state. She would try to break the unseen fetters but her incredible and awesome strength was insignificant in the face of arcane talent or perhaps luck. Laying on her back, the back of her head throbbing still, she would get a view of the sky and the impending inclimate weather.

The loss of her ability to move did not make her no longer manifest. She could still suffer the passage of time, the vision of them swarming her, the knowledge or rather paranoid fear that they were inhuman and the fact that she could feel pain. The ache of her head, the throbbing of her bones that no longer fit right inside her skin. Her mind raced from her disadvantaged vantage point, her fear of monsters a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Erin had won what she most coveted, to feel something. A terrible plea to make to a dark creature whose pleasure came from the suffering of creatures. The transition from a young woman to hag was not a painless process and crones such as they were not known to be kind. Her suffering, not a necessary part of the change but necessary for the entertainment of diversion of her cruel makers.

Time was moving fast. Faster than they would suppose. It was suddenly 2030. Only 3.5 hours until the end, an unexpected leap in time for some as the hourly increments became 1.5. If time moved with such haste, then the war was lost. Erin would not make it. The slugs that infested her would not be expelled in time. It would be a loss.

Action: Nothing, she is bound.
Inventory: Wand, a neat piece of wood she found.
Attire: Dress, barefoot, hair as pictured above.
Interacts with: @Percival Gray, @Thomas LeStrange, @Serena Towers, @Xailah Alptraum, @Galton Lansdale and @Illowy Magnard.
Mentions: Hags

Note: Becomes a hag at the stroke of midnight (this is defined by the moderators of this thread).

Jack fell to the ground as Victor evaded his tackle, but it seemed to matter little. In the chaos that ensued, Victor was hit by Percival's Freezing Charm and then subsequently protected by Ileen, who threw herself at the older boy. Jack's heart was full of gratitude for the girl who had done what he would have if he could have. Picking himself off the ground, he tried to think of what to do next.

With Victor frozen and somewhat protected, that meant he could concentrate on Marion. Meanwhile, Erin was taking bites out of people, but Jack didn't know how to help her. Others seemed to know what to do, but they were missing their aim as he had. He couldn't tell who knew what or he might have tried to help. In the meantime, all he could do was catch Thomas' eye when his fellow Slytherin called out to him.

”You know what she is, Fox.”

He knew what she was? It was true, then. If Thomas knew it, it had to be true. Who knew more about the hags than him, after all? But what could they do? Even if there were many of them, they were all just kids. They had to get the attention of the adults somehow. But how?

Of course. Thomas knew. They had to reveal her to the masses so not just a handful of them were aware of the danger that Marion Davenport posed. Jack hated to waste a spell when everything seemed to be so important now, but from Thomas' words, this seemed to be the top priority. He took out his wand and aimed it at Marion, determined not to look at Victor as he did so.

"Revelio!"

...Aaaaand she was gone. Santario's cry for Orion's help might have caused her to flee. It was sharp thinking on Santario's part, but too bad Orion probably wouldn't make it in time to catch Marion.

What about Erin, though? Could she still be saved?

Not knowing what else to do, Jack hesitantly made his way toward Erin, taking in the sight of her. What had they done to her? Surely things couldn't end for her this way. He held out his arms to her, as if to hold her in them. The others wanted her to stay put. Maybe he could at least keep her still long enough for whatever spells they needed to cast on her to take effect.

"Erin," he tried to speak to her, "I know you're still you in there. You still remember me, too, right?" He gave her a pained, awkward grin, wondering if he was going to know what it felt like to be bitten into in a couple of minutes. "This was the suit I wore when we went to the ball together that one time. Remember?" He reached out with both arms to envelop the frozen girl in his embrace.

Outfit: An old outfit modified to fit his new size this year

Inventory: Wand, Invisibility Cloak, Bluebottle Broom, Locksmith's knife

Action: Attempting to use Revelio on Marion Attempting to catch and hold Erin physically as well as attention-wise (while she is immobolized)

Interacting with: @Erin Ryan

Mentions/Proximity: @Victor Moore, @Thomas Lestrange, @Santario Martin, & @Ileen Knight

Abilities: Prodigal Charms Learner, Binding Mark, Perfectionist

Stats: Stamina - 6 | Evasion - 7 | Strength - 3 | Wisdom - 15 | Arcane Power - 7 | Accuracy - 7

Post Tracker: [1], [2], [3]

Interacting: @Victor Moore | @Percival Rainwood
Mentions: @Bridget Collins | @Percival Gray | @Jack Burnett | @Erin Ryan | @Selim Faust

Ileen still had her hand tightly closed around Victor's upper arm to keep him upright despite frozen limbs and was still standing in front of him to shield him from potential attackers. Even though she probably couldn't do much against the charging Ami-bear. But it seemed that the focus of her classmates had turned to Erin and Marion anyway. Even Jack, who had just tried to throw himself protectively (or so Ileen hoped) on Victor, got up and moved to Erin after glancing at the boy. She didn't know what was going on in his mind. She didn't know that much about him personally, about his bonds and friction. She thought she had caught a glance at his true personality. The boy who was misjudged and still tried to protect others. As she had been treated that way as well she could relate. Maybe that was why she had a weakness for those personalities. Like Selim or Percival. She had given those boys, including Victor, a leap of faith. Knowing little about them and still feeling a connection there. Or hoping for one. I don’t like to give up on people when they need someone not to give up on them. Maybe hoping one day someone would do the same for her. Percival probably already did.

Ileen's heart fluttered in her chest as her dark eyes darted over the people throwing spells. She fought back the rising panic that threatened to make her tremble. Bridget had shouted that Marion was a hag and Erin was attacking her classmates - Ileen knew something was wrong, but she also knew she didn't have enough information to interfere. Her mission was uncontroversial. She wanted to get Victor out of here as unscathed as possible. Probably now would be a good time to just remove him from the scene.
But that wouldn't be fair. She had not forced him to flee with her to safety, neither in the fight club, nor in the common room. She couldn't decide for him. With a trembling hand, she pointed her wand at him. "Please let us get out of here. Please. Before you get attacked again." She begged. But why should he listen to her anyway? "Finite Incantatem."
Bitterness resonated in her voice. She knew he wouldn't come. Why should he? He wanted to protect the girl as much as she wanted to protect him. He probably wouldn't go without Marion, just as she wouldn't go without him. But it was worth a try.

Percival probably had a similar plan, though Ileen doubted it included Victor. He had broken free of his rigidity and rushed to her side, trying to grab her.
Her gaze searched his eyes. "I can't go without Victor." Desperation threatened to paralyze her. Percival would understand. He had saved Selim and Mathias with her. He would understand. Wouldn't he? "I can't let him die again."

Action: Casting Finite Incantatem on Victor
Ability: Sixth Sense, Prodigal Charms Learner, Healing Sage
Stats: Sta:8 | Ev:9 | Str:3 | Wis:11 | Arc:6 | Acc:11

If Victor was released from the Spell--

His form no longer frozen would crumble. His knees buckle, his midsection curl forward as he yielded to gravity but caught himself before he fell. A harsh series of difficult and full breaths to fill his lungs. He could feel the girl's grip on his shoulder, it ached with trembling tenderness and concern. He gathered himself wordlessly, disoriented and in need of his bearings.

He searched for Mary with his pale gaze. Fled, her attackers not in poursuit. He did not see her unmoving, battered form on the ground as he had feared. Relief washed over him, his eyes watered. He was glad, but also sad. She had left him amongst enemies and he felt ashamed for holding that at least in part against her. She knew they would hurt him, possibly break him open and she did not stay, she did not try to help him. She did as Thomas said she would, she abandoned him and his heart ached.

A sleeve would slide across his eyes. He was replaceable, they would make him over and over again. It was the cruelty of the hags, a means to torture not only Vladimir who had killed him so many times over by now but also Victor who lived and recalled each and every one of those deaths. The carelessness, the callousness, the indifference to his pain and suffering, The allowance of his loss for the sake of their paranoia or pride.

This was just how it was. Never the same. Never good enough.

Ileen would urge him to run but he would hesitate. "If they want me dead, I won't survive the threshold," Victor admitterd. He was going to die, yet again and he would face it. The pain and the regret. A part of him believing he would come back again, not knowing that he was the last. That the workshop had been discovered (Slender Daddy adjacent). That the blood that was used in that dark magic had been for the most part exhausted (Vladimir as well as Victor's remains). That the hags themselves had been driven back, deeper and further from the school (the summer event where the forest burned).

"As this life comes to a close, I will take something good with me," he declared as he turned to Ileen. If Ileen did not avoid him, a hand would reach for the profile of her face. A palm cool from the autumn chill. He would go in for a kiss, likely his last knowing that Percival was there. That his enemies were many. That he had a chance to die a happy man.

___________

If he is still bound, he does nothing.

Action: Attempt to Kiss Ileen. No roll needed, if she avoids she avoids.

Banner credits to the lovely Sylvie O'Niell, of course

Missed again. Typical, honestly, perhaps the idea of a laser sight on his wand that he contemplated ages ago would actually prove to be a good idea. At least he wasn't fatally harming anyone with his mistakes this time around... Boom! Roasted by his own subconscious!

...

Regardless, Thomas quickly pat Sylvie on the shoulder as a nonverbal congratulation, attention largely focused elsewhere as he watched a Gryffindor boy with glasses and an apparent love for murder retrieve a knife that had previously been hidden away. The younger boy's eyes widened as he watched him approach, bound and determined to end this all before... Some deadline, apparently. The Ravenclaw himself was unaware of what it could have been, but he knew he had to act quickly to keep Erin safe.

"Sylvie, look," Thomas gestured to Jürgen, urgency clear as day in his tone. The boy was much taller than he was and was holding not a wand but something that felt far more sinister. At least there was a shadow of a doubt before, perhaps the talk of killing and murder was all hyperbole, the boy was planning on just knocking Erin out maybe! Now, knife in hand, his intentions were clear and Thomas was appalled. Unable to read the boy's mind, he had no way of knowing the internal conflict that lead to this moment of course.

This was no longer some great misunderstanding. This was life or death, and Thomas had chosen to preserve the life of the hag woman for better or for worse. "You're trying to help?" If the situation were less dire, the Ravenclaw might've bitten back with a comment along the lines of well, remind me to avoid the hospital wing when you're interning there, but time was of the essence after all. Thomas hadn't wanted to hurt people getting into this exchange; in truth, however, he had to stick to his roots, and the hours spent practicing dueling were hardly spent on spells that caused no harm. The first thing that came to mind was a tried and true classic from his first year, "Flipendo!"

Action: Casting the Knockback Jinx at @Jürgen Hess
Mentions/Interacting with: @Sylvie O'Niell, Jürgen Hess, Erin Ryan, Hugh Lowe, Galton Lansdale, et cetera really

To her surprise, Sakura turned and noticed her. Sana smiled and folded her hands together in front of her. She beckoned Sana over and Sana, thankful, walked over to her friend. "Hi Sakura! " Sana turned to Shimizu-san and bowed slightly, as he had just done. "Hello Shimizu-san. You both look... really amazing." She added, gazing at their outfits. Were they matching? How cute! "Oh, did you guys plan the outfits, then?" She asked, thinking about how she hadn't really planned hers. It was lucky that they had fall colors, but she packed it since it was one of her favorites.

Sana risked a glance at Sakura, trying to catch her eye. She knew her friend was independent. She made sure Shimizu-san was not watching, and she raised her eyebrows at her friend, looking at Shimizu-san then back at her. Shimizu-san looked around at the chaos, and so did Sana. Spells were flying, there was blood, and Sana's eyes widened with fear. "What is happening? Is that normal? Are all Hogwarts students that uncivilized?" She frowned slightly, seeing no one really doing anything about it.

She nodded to the offer, looking at Sakura. "I Think it's a good idea to leave here... to the harvesting festival? Maybe it's better there than here." She glanced nervously at the chaos and nodded to herself.

For a time, the coven the boy was conned into serving materialized into his higher power, having provided answers to his father’s mysteries early in his first year. Bound and useful, the absent purpose found it’s home in the lake’s murky waters near the once vacant groundskeeper cabin. Earning his loyalty, tasking him with many devious acts. Most notably, bringing Erin Ryan herself to their doorstep as a toy for them to play.

Of course Thomas was never aware of the scope. Rival covens residing respectively in the forest and dungeons. Having confused them to be a collective unit, a harsh lesson was learned that left his throat dripping with his own matter. He only saw what he wanted to see, selfishly driven by his own truth, discounting the repercussions his actions provided. The many ailing students on full display, some of them his close friends, but not enough to dissuade his selfish motives.

The coven he serves was exposed earlier this summer, his mother finally pulling the strings to unravel the mystery of senior Lestrange. Simply revealing that he is alive and well, having started a new family. Abandoning Thomas to escape the fowl connotations that came with disgracing a pureblood line. Drawing up his mother to a fling not worth sticking around for.

The theme of this story was blood, woven into every decision. His father’s rejection, the coven’s source of strength, and an incensed Erin Ryan beelining to Thomas now. Things have a way of coming back around. The former friend, Erin Ryan has not forgotten Thomas’ many failures. Risking her life, exposing her scars, withholding information about her substitute Parce. Thomas was as much to blame as anyone for her impending turn, one he was defiantly unaware of.

In the wake of his coven’s betrayal, his focus became singular. His date, Falentra Black and her role to twist the knife into Howard White became background noise. His friends, such as Bridget and Santario only drew a glimmer of his attention, deterring him from this course of revenge on a momentary status.

Thomas was dangerous, not physically or magically. But for the connections he has developed, the loyalty of his friends, and the sympathy of other students, such as Jack Burnett or Evelynn Decipio. The absence of Flash Holmwood would receive its due consideration in good time, though just another gust of dust that idly passed a furious set of ice blue eyes. Eyes that remained locked onto Marion Davenport as she turned to retreat towards the forest.

Though he sensed the fury, even if Erin did not issue a typical insult in her approach. The countless spells and interventionists attempting to detain the girl we more than enough to draw his gaze. Having practiced his nimble ways through his rigorous ice training sessions, a brief satisfaction could be found in another sidestep to let Erin pass empty mouthed.

Yes, mouth. Erin’s decision of attack was what left Thomas in silent confoundment. Eyes flickered from a retreating Marion to the girl he was intertwined from the moment he stepped foot onto the campus. Always three, they say. As if chosen, Erin…Thomas…and, Howard. As much as he’d hate to admit it, the half-dhampir was crucial to this end. Whether in assistance of Erin, or Thomas, his presence was needed. ”HOWARD! Thomas’ visage lifted towards the sky, as if calling for a god. Unaware of where the boy lurked this evening, hopeful he was within shouting distance. ”Flash!” The next in line for requested aid, a valuable weapon placed firmly in his eye socket.

Now left with a decision that leaves many ripples. While Erin Ryan had many suitors this evening, Thomas knew how to attain her focus. Leaving the others with many opportunities to subdue. Yet, the cagey blond’s silhouette grew smaller in her retreat towards the forest.

A decision that was made before his entrance to the ball this evening, having been in tune to Erin’s waning days as a human. Attempting to save her was never his priority, she was beyond that. Even if the status overturned, Erin would never be the same. She was better off dead. The boy turned to his friends, most notably Santario, Bridget, Burnett and Black. ”I have to finish this, I’m sorry.” Not the emotional goodbye onlookers may wish for, only a lifeless declaration.

The boy quickly turned away, a decision we could all see coming. A story that began with a helpless boy following a crone into her domain, and it would end the same.

[quote]Action: Calling for Howard&Flash, chasing girls(Marion), attempting to leave the thread.

[quote]Interactions:@Marion Davenport | @Santario Martin | @Bridget Collins | @Falentra Black | @Howard White | @Flash Holmwood | @Jack Burnett | @Erin Ryan