Fall Ball 2021 Samhain Festival

Ahhh. A whisper of a thought filled Galton's mind as Jürgen's knife slashed into him. And it was the only thought that occupied his mind as he tumbled away from Erin and watched the violence that would meet Hess. A few recognizable characters in the scene, but with the budding of new pain, Galton's grasp on reality slipped for a moment. The warm pain pulling his conciseness to stare up at the storm above and become lost in it for a moment. What perfect weather for a day like today.

Like a flash of lightning, Galton snapped out of his second long daydream. The storm summoner himself had called for his attention. The young wizard who seemed to be a fan of weather magic was here to lend a hand. And, compliment Galton! If this were a normal day, it may have gone strait to the small teen's head. Confirming what the small teen already knew in his prideful, somewhat delusional head; he was Galton the Glorious after all. But today was not a normal day, and Galton was not the normal Galton. Today was serious, Galton's thoughts needed to be much more than a rabid insatiable hunger for candy and compliments.

So Lansdale began thinking of his next move as he replied to his fellow duelist.
"The prodigal healer! I will owe you one after this." He gave Henry the best wink he could manage, and raised his can of slug repellent. "In the meantime, here!" He had come up with his plan. It was time for some festive cologne, specially crafted for this occasion.

He'd begin to spray the repellent onto Henry, then the next closest by, they could use a little aroma armor. There was a seemingly familiar girl near Erin, a Professor and then his other party members. Time for some aromatherapy.

Outfit: Robes (seasonal colors)
Inventory: Wand, repellent for slugs, 2x jelly slugs, sherbet lemon.
Stats/Abilities:

Reducio

STAMINA: 11
EVASION: 12
STRENGTH: 3
WISDOM: 11
ARCANE POWER: 5
ACCURACY: 10

Abilities:
Evasive maneuvers
Spell Spread
Evasive Maneuvers II
Blindvision

Action: Spraying as many people (in Erin's vicinity) as possible with Slug Repellent (starting with Henry, then Xaliah, and so on)
Interacts with: @Hugh Lowe, @Erin Ryan, @Serena Towers, @Jürgen Hess, @Henry Knight, @Orion Lécuyer, @Xailah Alptraumand anyone else around Erin

Selim Text Color: #4d0f25
Aku Text Color: #614f6d

"Of all the wonders that I yet have heard, it seems to me most strange that men should fear seeing that death, a necessary end, will come when it will come."- William Shakespeare's 'Julius Caesar'

Full Outfit:

Reducio

Better late than never they say. Milosh had mentally cursed himself for wearing simply a long sleeved button up and jeans. The outfit wasn't the warmest for a fall evening. The blonde 5th year Durmstrang boy would lean against the chilled, cobblestone wall of the castle, waiting. Upon the creak of the grand doors his gaze turned and immediately lit up. He'd press himself off the wall and silently creep around the girl, hugging her from behind. Hoping to get a startled response from the girl he'd chuckle and land a gentle kiss on top of her head.

"I hope you don't oppose me escorting you down to the ball?" A cheeky grin made his face light up, offering his hand to her. After their hands had met an electrifying zap coursed through him. She always had cool hands and his were always warm, perfect in a sense, for each other. He'd clasp his fingers over hers, his hand being slightly bigger as he gave rubbed her cool hand with his thumb. When had he gotten so caring? No, he just cherished the short time they got to see each other as being in a relationship from different schools was.. challenging. Letters and words couldn't always make up for one's actions.

As they walked to the grounds and arrived at their destination he'd scan the area. It looked rather, unappealing and slightly dirty. Alas the decorations and fall colors were nice he'd furrow his brows at the mud pit. As much as it looked fun to wrestle your friends in tonight was Kath's night and he was pretty sure she wouldn't want to ruin her dress. Taking his other hand that was free from the girl he'd wrap it around her waist, pulling her close so they could merely dance or talk and hopefully avoid any slick spots.

"Anything interesting happen since we last spoke? Or perhaps more languages you wish to woo me with?" Milo let out a cheeky remark. Her being fluent in several languages honestly astonished him. She was even fluent in his own first language, Russian and his school's language, Bulgarian but alas they spoke mainly in English. Her accents were quite.. cute or attractive in a sense. Who doesn't love a girl with brains and an attitude to go with. He'd let their conversation drift, just focusing on the two of them at the moment, no matter the chaos around them.

@Katherine Labrouder

───────────────

───────────────

Legacy of the Knife

Jurgen Hess may be unconscious upon the floor, but his presence could still be felt. The knife wounds he had given to Erin Ryan and Galton Lansdale continued to bleed. The trickle of red life's liquid slowly sapping the two students of their energy and vigour.

Bleed

Galton takes 50 damage
Erin takes 50 damage

Galton health = 950/1,100
Erin health = 650/800

All Smiles

Whoever had cast immobulus at Erin Ryan must have been malicious indeed. For why else would they subject the poor girl to what would come next? Her jaw had been clenched closed, her attempts to break out of the enchanted binding through raw strength proven ineffective. Yet, there was a beast inside of her that would find a way out, and that meant forcing its way through her teeth. The shattering and popping of bone was audible, were she capable of speech, perhaps Erin Ryan would have screamed. For tooth after tooth were torn from her mouth, the giant black slug leaving her throat and escaping through her ruined maw.

Perhaps, it was the pain that drove her forward, for the good deed of Jack Burnett, his attempts to talk her down from her less-than-human state earned him a punch from the crazed hag-in-the-making. Years of serving as Slytherin’s beater had no doubt left her with strength to spare, and once more a crack rang out from her direction. Yet, whereas the earlier horrific sounds had erupted from her own body, this one originated with the fox. Clenched fist made contact with orbital socket, hard.

Slug Eruption

Number of Teeth
1d6 (1-3 (6 Teeth); 4-5 (12 Teeth); 6 (24 Teeth)) = 6
Erin takes damage = STR*Number of Teeth (10*24=240)

Erin health = 410/800

Punch
Erin's Accuracy
10+10=20
Jack's Evasion
10+7=17
Damage
25*Erin's Strength(15)=375

Jack health = 225/600

An Adult!!!??

Orion Lecuyer had likely not expected to find the scene before him when he entered from the Fall Ball. Blood and slugs and all sorts of disgusting ichor were hardly the sort of thing a professor expected when attending their first official school ball. Still, the man's experience fighting the dark arts evidently shone through, and he was swift on the draw. Another slug vomiting charm was sent forth, hitting the bleeding Slytherin girl.

Not that it mattered. For even as the spell hit, the girl was once more convulsing, another bestial terror visible from underneath her skin as it crawled up her throat and out of her ruined maw. The slug was smaller than the first, approximately half the size, and without the same dense chitin that covered its older compatriot. But it was a creature of nightmares all the same, and the mix of saliva and blood that coated it granted it an appearance straight out of the most horrific muggle films.

Slugulus Eructo

Orion's Wisdom
13+20=33
Orion's Accuracy
11+18=29
Erin's Evasion
1+13=14 (crit fail)
Erin's Alluring
7
Erin's Evasive Manouvres
6

The Big, Scary Slug

The slug that had bitten down on Serena Towers continued with its assault, razor-like teeth continuing to bite into her flesh, blood spurting from the wound, covering both the girl and the creature with the thick, iron-smelling liquid. Through the pain, she managed to raise her wand, hitting the writhing creature point-blank with flipendo. Whilst her pet rat and ardent protector, Pizza Rat, attempted to bite at the skin of the fell beast. Unfortunately, whilst he may be strong in Serena's heart, that was the only place to which his strength extended. Howard White, too, didn't hesitate in moving to protect his friend (and absolutely nothing more, honest), his half-breed claws digging into the black chitinous hide of the Hag Slug. Hugh Lowe, too, attempted to smash the slug with a heavy fist, only for the rear of the creature to move with an entirely unnatural grace, betraying muscles and bones that by no means should have existed.

Still, where his own attack had failed, his assault did cause the creature to open itself up to the twinned claws of Aurelia Notrevasce. The raptor's claws ripped at the skin of the monstrosity.

Even still, the Slug refused to release its grip from Serena.

Howard's Claws

Howard's Accuracy
2+17=19
Slug's Evasion
4+10=14
Damage
50+STR(14)*10 = 190
Slug is bleeding for 5% of total for 4 rounds (10 per round)

Slug 1 health = 810/1,000

Flipendo

Serena's Wisdom
10+15=25
Serena's Accuracy
3+10=13
Slug's Evasion
1+10=11 (crit fail)
Damage
100+AP(5)*10 = 150

Slug 1 health = 660/1,000

Pizza Rat

Pizza Rat's Accuracy
9=9
Slug's Evasion
5+10=15

Aurelia (Owl Form)

Aurelia's Accuracy (One)
15+13=28
Slug's Evasion (One)
4+10=14
Damage
15*STR(9) = 135

Slug 1 health = 525/1,000

Aurelia's Accuracy (Two)
6+13=19
Slug's Evasion (Two)
4+10=14
Damage
15*STR(9) = 135

Slug 1 health = 390/1,000

Hugh Punches

Hugh's Accuracy
12+7=19
Slug's Evasion
12+10=22

Slug 1 bites Serena
Auto-Hit due to being Attached
Damage
300

Serena health = 400/1,000

The Small, Cute Slug

Galton Lansdale was not the type to hesitate, even when bleeding profusely from his arm. Instead, the boy took to spraying slug repellant on those around him. Moving swift as a coursing river, the duellist managed to get the liquid on Henry Knight, Xailah Alptraum and Thomas Baines before the smaller slug had a chance to strike. As if on cue, the second he had stopped spraying Thomas, the second creature lunged. It's intention had been Xailah, yet as if sensing the spray, it changed course, lunging toward Sylvie O'Niel, as she stood protectively in front of Thomas. Had it been fully grown, no doubt it would have found its target. But as it was, a juvenile, the girl managed to avoid it just in time.

For its trouble, the slug would earn a slash from the same girl it had avoided. The blade that had been used against Erin, once more utilised in combat.

Galton's Spray
1d3=3
Henry and Xailah noted in Galton's post. Thomas chosen at random from those closer to Erin than to Slug 1.

Slug 2's Attack

Slug 2's Accuracy
12+5=17
Sylvie's Evasion
13+6=19

Xailah's Attack

Xailah's Accuracy
13+10=23
Slug 2's Evasion
17+5=22
Damage
50*STR(2)=100 (50 Bleed)

Slug 2 health = 400/500

Medic!

With Galton Lansdale wounded, Henry Knight saw fit to heal the boy, casting episkey in hopes of at least somewhat alleviating the pain and damage that had been done to the older boy's arm. The spell was flawless in execution, and the wound slowly began to knit itself together. Yet, blood continued to flow from the closing hole, the bleeding not stemmed.

Episkey

Henry's Wisdom
3+11=14
Healing
50+0*10=50

Galton health = 1,000/1,100

Relationship Troubles

Jealousy makes people do stupid things, and sometimes smart things, Percival Rainwood's attempt to punch Victor Moore may have been able to be described as either, depending on one's personal bias. Unfortunately for those on Team Percival, the boy who had so recently locked lips with Ileen Knight managed to avoid the attempt to hit him in the face. It would seem the fortune of the night did not favour Percival at all.

Percival Punches

Percival's Accuracy
13+9=22
Victor's Evasion
14+12=26

What Just Happened?

✿ Erin's teeth are missing, it's horrible
✿ Erin punches Jack
✿ Orion hits Erin with another slug vomiting charm
✿ Another slug comes out of Erin's mouth
✿ This slug attempts to attack Sylvie, but misses
✿ Xailah stabs the second slug
✿ The first slug is still eating Serena
✿ Serena, Aurelia and Howard go to town on the first slug
✿ Hugh and Pizza Rat miss
✿ Erin still cannot speak (duration 2/2)
✿ Xailah, Henry and Thomas are covered in Slug Repellant (TM)

Health Bar

Aurora Ranvier 365/500 Hadrian Zuheir 200/400

Jürgen Hess -25/500 (KO) Tyranni Whitethorn 725/1,100 Percival Gray 300/700 Serena Towers 400/1,000 Galton Lansdale 1,000/1,100 (BLEED) Erin Ryan 410/800 (BLEED) Jack Burnett 225/600

Hag Slug 1 390/1,000 (BLEED) Hag Slug 2 400/500 (BLEED)

Disclaimer: Contains a rude word.

Interacting with @Howard White, @Hugh Lowe, @Galton Lansdale, @Erin Ryan and anyone else around

A scream escaped her lips as she felt the slug continue to gnaw into her body, her eyes rolling back from the sheer pain. Clenching her jaw tightly and wrapping her fingers tightly around her wand, she tried to steady her shaking hand. To this day, she had never really thought about if slugs had mouths or teeth. They were cute but she had never thought about how they ate. In truth, she was not sure how much longer she would be able to tolerate the pain. It was too much. She was literally being eaten alive right now, "It- It's burrowing. I think- or- feeding-" She whimpered breathlessly, trying to warn the others. She was not sure exactly what it was doing but she had two ideas. It was either feeding on her to heal itself or give it more strength, if that was a thing it could do or it was trying to burrow inside her to stop it from getting hurt more. Or worse.

But this was just one of the slugs. There was another from the sounds of it. Maybe even two or three by this point, she could no longer tell. Her gaze tried to focus on Erin. This thing was inside of her. They all were. They were eating her from the inside... Serena could not even begin to imagine the pain that the Slytherin must have been in this entire time. It would have been months, maybe even years of this? She had no idea. But it was commendable if nothing else, the girl's strength and perseverance to go through this hell and still be standing. All of this... was to save Erin from any more suffering. That was the plan. Yet nothing had gone to plan so far. Freezing her was not part of the plan, trying to hurt her in any way other than the slug vomiting charm was not part of the plan.

Tears streamed down Serena's face before she was even aware she was crying. It had just started and Serena had already had enough. How the hell did Erin go through this hell on a daily basis? No wonder she was angry or trying to hurt others. Her pain would have been worse than this constantly, it was only reasonable to lash out at others.

She had to get the slug off her before it was too late. But no matter what happened, it refused to get off her. The flipendo did nothing to change that. None of the attacks did. It was draining her strength relentlessly though. She knew what she had to do. In a way, it was simple really. Almost too simple but it would work. It would force the slug to get off her. Force it to leave her alone... But after that, it was free to attack anyone... Erin included. "Pizza... kill the fuckin' slugs..." She growled in panted breathes, the pain evident in her shaky voice as she whimpered.

Her wand moved from the slug to herself. She had to heal herself. She had to close up these wounds it was making, stop it from breaking through. More than that... she had to keep the slug away from Erin. It was the only way. Even if it meant keeping it on her. Even if it meant... well, she did not really want to think about that. Groaning, Serena steadied her wand, staggering a little from the pain. She had to keep still, she had to stop the slug. If she was in pain then she could not even begin to imagine the pain that Erin was in right now... "Episkey!" She whispered, flicking her wand and pointing it straight at Erin. She had made a promise. They would save Erin. No matter what. She was damn well going to do her best to see it through, even if this was the last thing she did...

What Pizza Rat lacked in accuracy and size, he more than made up for in spirit and bravery. He may have been a weakling but his owner loved him more than anything in the entire world. That had to count for something. Anything. If nothing else, he sure as hell would do his best to not give up. The slugs were awful though. They were scary and gross and more than that, they were hurting his friend! He was unable to hit any of them, they were so fast... But without hesitation, the little brown rat that was getting far too much exercise today readied himself for another pounce.

SERENA'S ACTION: Casting Episkey [WDC 17] at Erin Ryan
Pizza Rat's Action: Bite Hag Slug

Stamina: 10 | Evasion: 13 | Strength: 1 | Wisdom: 15 | Arcane Power: 5 | Accuracy: 10
Abilities: Part-Goblin, Evasive Maneuvers, Beastmaster
Fifth-Year Armour: +10% auto-dodge on attacks [=20% auto-dodge overall]

Pizza Rat 200/200 Health
Can bite a target, inflicting them with 25 damage and a diseases status -1 evasion (stacks up to 3 times) on a single target per attack.

Trunk Items: Wand, Invisibility Cloak, Magical Candle (unlit), Repellent for Slugs (given to Tyranni)
Other Items: Gideon's Sugar-free Candy (acquired here)

Outfit of the Day (with winged boots and wristguard wand holder)

Action: Collecting teeth, let me know how many I get. I will collect all of them.

Interacts with: Nobody

Mentioned: @Serena Towers, anyone else involved in the hag slug fight.

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

Even as Jack found himself able to hold Erin at least once more, she was bleeding badly from the knife wound she had been given. A student beside her (Galton) was, too. There was something ferocious trying to get out of Erin, but Jack only discovered what that was when the giant black slug burst through her teeth, breaking them out of her mouth.

Horrified, he didn't see the punch coming as Erin blindly lashed out and caught him violently with her fist. Her ridiculous strength took its toll and he went down with the blow, knocked away from her even as the Professor Orion Lécuyer was warning him to take a step away from the older Slytherin girl. He hit the ground hard, yelping at the pain and groaning at the impact with the floor. That was what he got for sticking his nose where it didn't belong when he had no idea what he was doing. At least the professor seemed to, however.

"You're dead meat Moore!

Looking up, Jack heard the voice of another of his dorm mates, Percival Rainwood. After Victor's spontaneous kiss with Ileen, Jack supposed he could understand Rainwood's feelings, but he doubted Percival would actually kill Victor. He hoped he wouldn't, anyway. He would have liked to be sure of it, but for the moment there was one other thing he wanted to tend to. While he was glad Orion was trying to take care of Erin, Jack was still concerned about her bleeding out. He was worried about Galton, too, but as he glanced at the older Gryffindor, he still seemed much better off than Erin.

Sitting himself up, Jack raised his wand once more and attempted to aim it at the girl with the missing teeth, making the wand movements from memory as he spoke the incantation for the Bandaging Charm. "Ferula!"

He knew, of course, and saw that Thomas had been rounding up others to go after Marion. He might have, too, if he thought there was anything they or he could have done against her, but as things were, he thought there was more he could do for Erin and Victor then and there then chasing after the hag girl without any teachers in the know. Hopefully Orion's colleagues would follow after them soon.

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 the Bandaging Charm on Erin's bleeding wound

Interacting with: @Erin Ryan

Mentions/Proximity: @Victor Moore, @Orion Lécuyer, @Percival Rainwood, & @Galton Lansdale

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], [4]

Outfit: Suit

Inventory: Wand, small lockpicking knife, wizard tight, corsage (for Tyranni).

Action: KO

Interacts with: None

Mentions: None

Interacting: @Galton Lansdale | Loki
Mentioning: @Erin Ryan | @Rose Moon | @Juniper Kelly | @Orion Lécuyer | Jürgen Hess | @Gideon Athanatos

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

Rain glued the boy's messy mop of hair to his face and head, and though he tried to brush it out of his eyes it seemed that such an endeavor would remain unsuccessful. The sudden onset of the thunderstorm startled him admittedly, though he was hardly scared of thunder the stressful situation he found himself in was hardly helped by the cacophonous sound of the tempest that currently hung over the festival. Not to mention the sound of the debacle Erin found herself in, though he hardly had the spoons to feel sympathetic at this time. The Ravenclaw's glare sharpened, brow furrowed as he tried to focus on what was happening as his senses were overwhelmed by far too many inputs at once.

Hand? Grabbed. Arm? Yanked. The force he was pulled with dragged him back to reality and out of la-la land. Thomas resisted the gesture on instinct, but the boy found he was no match for his Gryffindor friend's strength as she shielded him, selfless in instinct. As always. The boy's hand was clammy and cold, furthered by the rain, and he returned the probable death grip Sylvie had on him twofold (at least, he'd certainly try). Anxiety paralyzed him for a moment or a mod post, but as he saw danger approaching his friend, for the first time in his life, he knew exactly what to do next.

The slug lunged for Sylvie, and though she was able to avoid the attack a wave of unfamiliar anger swelled in his chest. Sure, he cared for those who were harmed in the past, felt compelled to act the hero, but it was because he was answering a call to action. Thomas tended to be among the last conscious throughout his escapades at Hogwarts, forced into positions where he had to act, no one else was able to. This was not what drove him forward at this moment, what forced him to step around Sylvie and steel his nerves. Later, he would likely observe how tumultuous his emotions were, and how peculiar such an occurrence was, with disdain.

Thomas knew that the creature wouldn't shift its focus from Sylvie, and his blood boiled at the thought of any harm coming her way. Every muscle in the young wizard's body was tense, this entire situation was hardly fair. His Gryffindor friend was good--unequivocally so, the kind that didn't require all the extra thinking to rationalize moral acts--she never ran in the face of dangers big or small. Even if Sylvie spat in the face of every good judgment at times some would argue at all times, it didn't matter to him, it shouldn't matter at all! She was inconceivably rash and had a bonus adrenal gland where her frontal lobe should have been, and Thomas could not let anything happen to her.

Knuckles white as he gripped his wand, the boy's voice lost its usual aloof air as he cast, without an ounce of hesitation, "Diffindo." His aim was rather simple, slice the slug in half.

Action: Casting the Severing Charm at the slug currently attacking Sylvie
Mentions/Interacting with: @Sylvie O'Niell, slug