2021, Stage 1 Gryffindor vs Ravenclaw: Match 1 fin

Phaedra knew it was only a matter of time until he threw up a shield, but she had at least hoped her speed could beat his while blinded. With an effortless flick of her wand, she aimed for both the overcast and her opponent. Like dawn, the clouds part, but the streaks meant for Alan exchanged casters and rebounded. Oops. Well, at least her healing had prepared for something like this. He couldn't keep it up forever.

Doing as strategized (x)

With the return of the voice came a world of pain. It hurt to receive the blowback of Phaedra's spell, but it hurt worse to deal damage back to Phae.

"You lack focus. It is no wonder you cannot keep your promises,," said Aida's schizophrenia.

"This isn’t over!" shouted Aida aloud in rage. Hold it together!

Action: Doing as strategized.

Alan would have loved to be smug about this, he really would have absolutely adored being happy in the situation and in a way he was. But he was too concerned about all he did in the moment, just to stand on his feet a little longer. But he couldn't help but grin, he was being smug after all. A huge grin plastered his face even visible beneath the blindfold that wrapped snugly around his face, blinding him. Yet he was still standing, despite the other team's best efforts to knock him out he bested them once more. Perhaps another round? The fact that he was bound and in a helpless situation and still managed to keep standing was exhilarating! "I would have expected to be out by now!" he cheered, as he steadied himself, looking where he knew somewhere his opponents would be standing.

action: owled

Round 23

Alan Vanes

Reducio

Alan casts the Shield Charm.
Wisdom DC: 12
Auto-Fail Chance 20%: [d10: 2], no failure
Wisdom Check: [d20: 14] + 7 = 21, success
Effects: This round Alan gets a d10 of what the shield does.

Phaedra Stavrou vs Alan Vanes

Reducio

Phaedra casts the Knockback Jinx at Alan.
Wisdom DC: 9
Wisdom Check: [d20: 2] + 15 = 17, success
Shield Charm: [d10: 5], Spell Dissipates

Aida Mòrsgor-Ama Ellwood vs Alan Vanes

Reducio

Aida casts the Fire-Making Spell II at Alan.
Wisdom DC: 12 + 2 Alan's Lovely Creature = 14
Wisdom Check: [d20: 2] + 10 = 12, fail

Lightning

Reducio

Alan: [d10: 9], fail

So... almost nothing happened. Alan cast the Shield Charm once more, and Phaedra's Knockback Jinx dissipated on contact with the shield, not hitting Aida this time. Aida's spell didn't even get out of her spell, fizzling out at the tip of her wand. The lightning was silent once more. Willow sat down to start thinking about the Transfiguration Essay she had due that she hadn't started yet.

I N F O R M A T I O N

• You have 96 hours from the timestamp of this post to owl Willow Anderson your actions. If you do not send your actions or post within the allotted time, your action is void. Remember: We no longer allow extensions.
• Word count minimum is 50 words, but feel free to write as many as you like. Do not hint at your actions in your post, as it'll let the other team strategize against you.
• For any questions, comments, or concerns I ask that you only contact me through my owls. I prefer to have papertrail of duelling concerns on the site.

Spectator Thread

Once more the Gryffindor would cast the spell, growing ever so slightly more worried with the situation as it went on. How was he supposed to get out of this? Was there a way at all? He knew he couldn't give up or throw the duel and to be fair he was not looking forward to dropping unconscious. Would it hurt? It was a condition the fifth year never had to suffer before and it terrified him. He would keep on standing, fighting back and perhaps he would turn this around... he would... he would make his house proud! He would try, could he try at that point? The Gryffindor shook his head. He just needed to focus a little longer.

action: owled

In the middle of her schizophrenic episode, Aida failed her spell. Usually she was one of the best amongst her peers at getting a spell off, even among brainy Ravenclaws, but her mind was revolting against her hard.

"Pitiful excuse for a human," said Aida's schizophrenia. "Just a little girl who wishes she were anything but."

"I don't have to take this!" crowed Aida out loud. She had always been pretty quiet before her condition took root. "YOU'RE NOT IN CONTROL!"

Action: Doing as strategized.

In an odd way, Aida's failure was lucky. Again, Alan shielded—really, he was the main perpetrator here on dragging the duel out—and Phaedra stuck to offense, sending another Flipendo in his direction. Dull in comparison to her previous Ventus, it served as a classic example of less is more, for this spell weakly dissolved upon contact. Phaedra was becoming irritable with her time being wasted. “Are you quite done?” He could Protego until his wand gave in. All they had to do was just keep up the pressure.

Doing as strategized (x)

Round 24

Alan Vanes

Reducio

Alan casts the Shield Charm.
Wisdom DC: 12
Auto-Fail Chance 40%: [d10: 7], failed

Phaedra Stavrou vs Alan Vanes

Reducio

Phaedra casts the Knockback Jinx at Alan.
Wisdom DC: 9
Wisdom Check: [d20: 14] + 15 = 29, success
Accuracy: [d20: 1] + 12 = 1, Crit Miss (Only available target is Aida)
New Accuracy: [d20: 8]
Evasion: [d20: 14] + 6 = 20
8 < 20 → Miss

Aida Mòrsgor-Ama Ellwood vs Alan Vanes

Reducio

Aida casts the Fire-Making Spell II at Alan.
Wisdom DC: 12 + 2 Alan's Lovely Creature = 14
Wisdom Check: [d20: 1] + 10 = 1, Crit Fail
Damage: 60 + (10 x 10) = 160hp
Duration: [d3: 3], 2 rounds
Effects: Aida is aflame for 2 rounds and loses 160 HP

Lightning

Reducio

Alan: [d10: 5], fail

Against all odds, Alan still didn't suffer any damage despite his spell failing. Phaedra's spell went haywire again and went for Aida who was able to dodge it. But Aida's spell failed, and she fully set herself on fire. But she was also- maybe having a breakdown. Cautiously Willow leaned forward and called out to the girl, "Hey Aida... are you ok? Besides... being on fire. Like- mentally? Are you ok?"

I N F O R M A T I O N

• You have 96 hours from the timestamp of this post to owl Willow Anderson your actions. If you do not send your actions or post within the allotted time, your action is void. Remember: We no longer allow extensions.
• Word count minimum is 50 words, but feel free to write as many as you like. Do not hint at your actions in your post, as it'll let the other team strategize against you.
• For any questions, comments, or concerns I ask that you only contact me through my owls. I prefer to have papertrail of duelling concerns on the site.

Spectator Thread

The frustration boiling beneath her normally composed exterior seemed enough to melt a crater into the piste where she stood. Nose and mouth crinkled into taut, unimpressed lines, Phaedra snapped her head to her partner. The senior was so focused on Alan that she hadn't given a passing thought to the pale, now burning witch, not until Willow's voice carried over the arena. “Aida. Snap out of it.” Whatever it even was, or if it could be snapped out of in the first place. All she knew was that they would not be outsmarted by someone who wasn't even trying.

Doing as strategized (x)

Aida barely noticed Alan's spell failing as Phaedra's knockback jinx flew at the pale witch. On instinct Aida still managed to dodge it.

"They all want to end you. No one wants you here. Even your partner is mad at your failures and is tired of putting up with you. Just go already. You're a freak born to be alone forever."

"TRUST ME!" yelled Aida as she tried to channel a huge incendio duo at the opposition. Utterly tilted, Aida blew back the spell onto herself by accident. Burning alive was an ironically apt expression of her feelings, dying inside from the pain of losing her grip on Alexander. It hurt. Everything hurt. She didn't want to want this anymore. She didn't want to be a human, nor a failure, nor a little girl with voices shouting at her. The duel moderator was... what? Aida could only take Willow's words as an angry joke. After all, Aida was making the moderator stay here a very long time because Aida just wasn't giving up. Aida always made these damned duels last forever. She always took forever at everything; even Valentin knew she was slow.

Must stay positive... after everything we've been through... It just... can't stay like this, thought Aida. Something must change, now and forever, if I'm going to keep myself alive.

“Aida. Snap out of it,” came Phaedra's voice sharply. Like a slap in the face, it hurt, but it was right. Some voices were right. Some voices were wrong. Aida didn't have to agree with any of the voices or do what they said. Even if Phaedra was mad and trying to hurt Aida [though she probably wasn't], Aida couldn't just retaliate by attacking Phaedra back or giving up. That had never been Aida's way. White Aida had to find an honest solution to all the problems that haunted her, even if others did not like her.

The fire still hurt. This was what it was to fight, to hurt. Aida knew it, and it was always like this, but this hurt in a way she had never successfully dealt with before.

The smoke of her own burning skin filled Aida's sensitive nostrils. It's fine that they don't like me, never liked me. I don't like me either. So forget it, I'm not going to be what they want. I obviously fail at being what others want, so I should just become what I want to be. Then at least one of us might be happy again, thought Aida.

Today, I will start again. Then, one day, I will be happy again.

Action: Doing as strategized.