2022, Stage 2 Gryffindor vs Slytherin: Match 2

@Alec Mason | @Astrea Soleil Neptune | @Piper Clark

A Knockback Jinx hit Piper, and the world seemed to turn sideways for a second, throwing Rose off balance internally. She adjusted her stance, and though her wand hand was forcefully steady, her left hand started to tremble, just a little.

She could remember in her first three duels how ruthless the other team had seemed, knocking her unconscious with no mercy. Piper fell, hitting the ground. Was Rose the one who wasn't showing any mercy now? That was what you were supposed to do, right? And yet she had gotten so mad at her opponents for their lack of compassion. Merlin, she had been such a child.

At least she had been nice to Piper. Whatever their intentions were behind not talking to them at all, not even a friendly word before the duel began, it obviously wasn't working. Their cold demeanor hadn't brought them any effective intimidation or advantage.

Rose caught, out of the corner of her eye, Astrea trying to send a Knockback Jinx towards Alec and it knocking her back, instead. Alec's spell was successful, causing all of Astrea's movements to slow.

Piper was taken off the stage, and the duel froze. Rose took this moment to catch her breath, sending an internal apology Piper's way. Somehow, when Alec had delivered the final blows in their last duel, she hadn't felt so bad. Rose pushed away her guilt and nodded at Alec. They were in a good position now.

They had to focus.

Hi everyone! There are slightly less than 23 hours remaining! I still need moves from the Slytherin team! @Alec Mason @Rose Moon @Astrea Soleil Neptune @Piper Clark

It was as if salt against the wound of pride, an admonishment from her own dear magic for doing so poorly. Astrea's own spell backfired against her in a way it hadn't done in over a year, the punch of knockback feeling ever more potent with the betrayal as she found herself billowed backwards with the strange sluggishness of the slowing charm nipping at her reflexes.

The duel momentarily took a halt as her downed partner was taken off the stage to receive medical attention, once more reminding the world how brutal such extracurriculars could be. Astrea, quietly testing the limits of her new position alone on the duelling piste, knew that it was not over yet. In silent resignation, she gripped at her wand tighter, knowing there was only one respectably available option left.

Action: Doing as strategised.

Round 9

Alec Mason vs Astrea Neptune

Reducio

Alec Mason cast Blindfolding Spell at Astrea Neptune.

Wisdom DC: 10 + 2 (Astrea's Lovely Creature) = 12
Wisdom Check: [d20: 19] + 7 = 26
26 > 12 → Critical Success

Accuracy Check: [d20: 5] + 9 = 14
Evasion Check: [d20: 10] + 10 - 5 (Arresto Momentum) = 15
14 < 15 → Miss

Rose Moon vs Astrea Neptune Alec Mason

Reducio

Rose Moon cast Disarming Charm at Astrea Neptune.

Wisdom DC: 10 + 2 (Astrea's Lovely Creature) = 12
Wisdom Check: [d20: 7] + 9 = 16
16 > 12 → Success

Rose Auto-Miss Check: [d10: 4] → No Auto-Miss (Astrea's Terrible Presence)

Accuracy Check: [d20: 1] + 7 = 8 → Critical Miss
New Target: Alec Mason

vs. Alec Mason
Alec Auto-Dodge Check: [d10: 6] → No Auto-Dodge (Alec's Evasive Maneuvers)

New Accuracy: [d20: 3] = 3
Evasion Check: [d20: 11] + 7 = 18
3 < 18 → Miss

Astrea Neptune vs. Alec Mason, Rose Moon

Reducio

Astrea Neptune cast Wind Jinx with Spell Spread.

Wisdom DC: 11 + 2 (Rose's Lovely Creature) + 2 (Spell Spread)= 15
Wisdom Check: [d20: 3] + 11 = 14
14 < 15 → Failure

Were Jake's eyes telling the truth? It seemed that he wasn't the only one upset at watching what had happened to Piper. Even Rose, who had knocked her out, looked shaken up by what had happened. But she was the one who had done it...Then again, it was a game...right? Was she just doing what she had to do...?

It was a two-on-one fight now. Astrea was alone against two lions, who had just felled her fellow snake. And Alec at least, seemed ready to incapacitate Astrea as well. Perhaps he could sense victory within his grasp. He sent a blinding hex in her direction, as quickly as Jake had ever seen it, and it was only narrowly that Astrea managed to escape it.

Maybe Rose was more shaken up than Jake knew...(perhaps it was that slight tremble in her hand that Jake had not seen)...but as she tried to disarm her opponent, the spell would not hit its target, her wand was far off course, and Rose was not in control. So much, in fact, that her spell actually came flying towards her own PARTNER, and Alec would have to side-step to prevent himself from becoming disarmed by her errant cast.

The Gryffindors had both missed, and now it was Astrea's turn to fight back. Jake saw the girl watching her two opponents, and as she waved her wand it was the wind jinx she tried to call forth. Was she going to do that thing she had done before...? Was she going to try to hit them both again?

Whatever it was, Jake wouldn't find out. Perhaps it was a mark of how long the duel had gone that this time Astrea's wand would fail her, and as she attempted to target the Gryffindors, she would find that her wand called forth no wind. Jake watched nervously. EVERYBODY must have been getting tired. Things were looking dire for the snakes, but it wasn't over yet. Not JUST yet at least. The clock was ticking, and this duel had reached the three-quarter mark.

Information

1. You have 96 hours (4 days) from the time of this post to post at least 50 words and owl me (Jake Morris) your moves.

2. Please don't hint at your move inside of your RP, as it gives the other team an advantage.

3. If you don't post before the deadline, your move will be void.

4. If you have any questions, or notice anything wrong in the mod post, please don't hesitate to send me an owl!

5. Your stats, abilities, and spells have been locked for this duel. Any new abilities added to your trunk after this duel started cannot be used.

6. For your convenience, here are the duelling rules, the duelling spells, and the latest patch. There are some changes including the new 12-round limit so if you haven't checked it out yet take a look!

7. Good luck!

The spectator thread for this duel can be found here
This duel takes place during Day 1!

Hex code:#A0A9B8

Alec had been ready, at least he'd thought so, he'd carried out his spell excellently, but Astrea was tricky to catch and he missed. Not good, not good at all. Alec glanced towards Rose hoping she had something up her sleeve, the only thing she had up her sleeve was a spell coming right at him. Alec yelped in surprise as he saw Rose's spell coming towards him. Luckily he was able to evade it, but he looked questioningly her way. Her aim must have been off, at least he had avoided it. ut even that didn't solve the problem at hand. They had done nothing this round. Astrea was going to start gaining ground on them. They needed to do better.

Action: Doing what was/will be owled~

@Alec Mason | @Astrea Soleil Neptune

Rose leveled her wand at Astrea, sending a swift disarming charm towards her remaining opponent. Her accuracy was terribly off, however, and her spell swerved, speeding towards her own dueling partner. He gave her a questioning look and her eyes widened apologetically. "I'm so sorry," she said. "I didn't mean-" She shook her head, hoping that he knew her terrible aim was not intentional. Both Rose's spell and Alec's spell didn't hit Astrea, and Rose saw as Astrea's spell failed. At least they knew she wasn't perfect. And she wasn't invincible. They hadn't gained any ground, but at least they hadn't lost any ground.

There are just under 22 hours remaining! I still need moves from the Slytherin team! @Alec Mason @Rose Moon @Astrea Soleil Neptune @Piper Clark

She could feel the power behind the spell whizzing past her, brilliantly cast and dealing more misfortune that an evasive Astrea needed. Had it hit, she had a feeling she would have been in a far more vulnerable state than a simple, unsatisfactory failed spell. Mentally preparing herself for yet another move to dodge, she kept a close eye on her other opponent, only for the attack to never come. How peculiar the nature that the lioness' action was foiled, turning at a right angle to pitifully target her own teammate! Easily dodged as it was, the fumble disarming charm was a well-needed, brief distraction that Astrea needed to take advantage of.

Wand raised, incantation pronounced and motion made, the intoxicating collection of magic seemed to taunt Astrea as it fizzled just shy of its fruitful formation. Her spent action, magic made electric sharp and collecting within the conduit that was her wand, was borne out of emergency and yet it had the audacity to fizzle at the last second. Internally shrugging off the slick self-disdain at such an anticlimactic cast, she prepared herself for the home stretch.

Action: Doing as strategised.

Round 10

Alec Mason vs Astrea Neptune

Reducio

Alec Mason cast Blindfolding Spell at Astrea Neptune.

Wisdom DC: 10 + 2 (Astrea's Lovely Creature) = 12
Wisdom Check: [d20: 1] + 7 = 8
8 < 12 → Critical Fail (Alec's Perfectionist -1 fail range, Astrea's Terrible Presence +1 fail range)

Effects: Alec is blindfolded, making him unable to see. Evasion and accuracy is 0 until blindfold is removed.

Rose Moon vs Astrea Neptune

Reducio

Rose Moon cast Disarming Charm at Astrea Neptune.

Wisdom DC: 10 + 2 (Astrea's Lovely Creature) = 12
Wisdom Check: [d20: 2] + 9 = 11
11 < 12 → Critical Fail (Astrea's Terrible Presence +1 fail range)

Duration: 1 Round (Rose's Keen Eye)
Effects: Rose's wand has been pushed out of her hand, making her unable to cast spells.

Astrea Neptune vs Alec Mason

Reducio

Astrea Neptune cast Wind Jinx at Alec Mason.

Wisdom DC: 11 + 2 (Rose's Lovely Creature) = 13
Wisdom Check: [d20: 3] + 11 = 14
14 > 13 → Success

Auto-Split Check: [d10: 2] → No Auto-Split

Alec Auto-Dodge Check: [d10: 4] → No Auto-Dodge (Alec's Evasive Maneuvers)

Accuracy Check: [d20: 15] + 12 = 27
Evasion Check: [d20: 2] + 7 = 9
27 > 9 → Hit

Duration: [d3: 3] → 2 Rounds (1-2: 1 round, 3: 2 rounds)
Damage: 50 + 10 × 10 = 150
Effects: Alec has -4 Evasion for duration of the spell (2 Rounds)

Was it the pressure of the counting clock, making the end of this duel loom ever nearer? Was it overconfidence? Was it feeling the pressure? Was it because Rose had almost accidentally disarmed Alec? Or was it just that quality about the Slytherin girl Astrea that gave Jake shivers? Jake didn't know...but suddenly something seemed to come over the lion team. Because what happened next wasn't at all what Jake expected.

He knew that it sometimes happened that people's wands didn't work the way they wanted to in a duel. Jake could understand that. His wand often didn't do what he wanted it to even in class, and he never had had the pressure of having to fight another student. Jake would be surprised if he could even cast at all. But after Astrea's wand had been messed up just before, it seemed she wasn't the only one struggling.

Alec was about to try once again to blind his opponent, when Astrea's swift wind jinx would swoop in. She wasn't going out without a fight no matter HOW outnumbered she was. This time it was a direct hit, and Alec would feel the gusts trying to billow him backwards. It didn't stop him though. Alec was determined too, and he kept his wand moving to finish his cast even as the gust hit him. Jake's eyes drifted towards Astrea to see if she would dodge the spell again, since it might only take just one to finish her off but....huh? He looked back and it seemed the blindfold WASN'T on Astrea but on Alec himself.

And just then, as Rose attempted to disarm the fighting snake, it was her own wand that fell from her hands. Jake's mouth dropped. The Gryffindor team was blinded and disarmed of their own doing, and then there was Astrea...her wind jinx had hit its mark, and she must have been sensing now that her last chance to come out on top of this duel was now. Were the tides really turning? Could it be that she could overcome these odds?

"Um, the duel is almost over!" Jake pointed out helpfully. Just one more sixth to go.

2 Rounds Remain

Information

1. You have 96 hours (4 days) from the time of this post to post at least 50 words and owl me (Jake Morris) your moves.

2. Please don't hint at your move inside of your RP, as it gives the other team an advantage.

3. If you don't post before the deadline, your move will be void.

4. If you have any questions, or notice anything wrong in the mod post, please don't hesitate to send me an owl!

5. Your stats, abilities, and spells have been locked for this duel. Any new abilities added to your trunk after this duel started cannot be used.

6. For your convenience, here are the duelling rules, the duelling spells, and the latest patch. There are some changes including the new 12-round limit so if you haven't checked it out yet take a look!

7. Good luck!

The spectator thread for this duel can be found here
This duel takes place during Day 1!

Hex code:#A0A9B8

This was bad, this was really bad. Alec had it all worked out but maybe it was the stress or the pressure getting to him, he didn't know. What he did know was in going to cast his spell he had done terribly, and instead of disarming astrea, he had it backfire on himself. A blindfold. The end was drawing near and Alec felt like this was practically sealing his fate. Was a faulty cast really going to be the thing that did the duel in? It seemed he was going to have to wait and find out.

Action: Doing what was/will be owled~