2022, Stage 1 Slytherin vs Hufflepuff: Match 9

Ming had not been appreciative of the renewed interest people had been showing him this year. Additional scrutiny was not a bad thing inherently, but the way some eyes looked at him made him feel.... unclean. As a direct result, the quiet snake had been keeping to himself even more this year than the year prior; this being his first appearance on a public forum this year.

It was not the worst thing, then, that he was being paired with Miss Fowl. She was an unearthly beauty who seemed to draw every eye, and Ming was hoping that her presence wold mitigate the uncomfortable looks that he kept getting from his peers and upperclassmen.

So great was his aversion to attention in fact, that he did not even wish his opponents good luck as he might otherwise have. Instead he merely nodded at the two Hufflepuffs; taking up his position on the duelling podium. Although Mr. Lansdale had not insisted upon it, , he bowed.

The rules must be adhere to, after all. It was all that kept him from the swirling mass of chaos.

Credit to Sienna Lenoir for my awesome banner!

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Emma was nervous. And not just a little but a lot. She had signed up for dueling but had not expected to be a second year on the team. Thankfully they had instituted some changes so she at least wasn’t facing off against someone who had way more spells in their wheelhouse. But still, last time she had tried to face off against someone had not gone well. She almost expected the same thing to happen today.

Straightening her shoulders as she climbed up onto the stage after they were introduced. She had to pretend she knew what she was doing at least. Or well, she would try. She just didn’t think she would have that confidence. Emma was hopeful that her partner, AngelFyre who she didn’t know very well would be have a better grasp on the whole thing. Breathing out, she watched as one of their opponents bowed.
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AngelFyre was ecstatic that a new year of dueling was upon them. She had been in only one official match and that one was at the end of last season with fellow Hufflepuff duelist, Autumn Ivy. The whole experience had been one of the highlights of her year. Even though her clock had been cleaned, and she smiled to herself as she noted the moderator of this match was one of the aforementioned clock cleaners, she had stood her ground for eight rounds against the two (then) four year, experienced duelists. She felt good about that and came into this duel with at least an idea of how things worked operationally, so that calmed her anxiety somewhat.

She took her place on the piste with her partner, Emma Wynn. Emma looked a little nervous, but that was normal. That energy could be channeled into her casting and it would all be fine once the spells started flying. Smiling as big an encouraging smile as she could to Emma, she took a couple of steps over to her, turning her back to their opponents and whispered in her ear "Just trust in your training and all the practice the team has put into helping us hone our skills. If it takes the pressure off, think about enjoying the match rather than pressuring yourself to win it. That often helps me clear my mind and you would be surprised to know how effective it can be. We have this, partner! No matter what the ultimate outcome will be here today, it is going to be a great match!" And when she pulled back, she winked at Emma and took to her spot again.

She gave a silent nod to Galton and finally turned her attention across the piste to her opponents. She had seen them in the corridors, of course, but did not know either one of them. She politely nodded to each of them in recognition as worthy opponents and then got into standard position. Closing her eyes, she began to shut out all extraneous noise and thoughts from her mind, readying herself for whatever may come.

The time has finally come to finally show her true skills in duelling. She knows this day will come eventually when she sign up to join the Slytherin duelling team some time ago, and ..here she is. Ready to shine and blow her opponent away with her skills and beauty. Pea walks unto the match with the utmost confidence and a slight smile. She flips her white pearly hair to the people looking at her while finding her position beside her partner.

Reducio

Pea already notices Ming standing in his spot. She smiled at him lazily and nodded. She didn't have much opinion on him other than him being a nerd. Although he does looks good for a nerd, he is also not too bad at using his wand. Let's just hope he won't screw things up for her, but she doubts it, usually her fellow Slytherin proof to be much more competent than any other houses.

But now unto a more interesting topic- which is her opponent~ the one she is about to destroy for today. Pea scanned the two girls opposite her with her blue eyes. 2 Hufflepuffs birdies she was not too familiar with. Pea smirks at the girl who seemed to be too nervous to be here and is ready to give her a little taste of what is to come. "Well look what we have here~ don't be too nervous sunshine, this will be over soon enough with you on the ground." Pea smirked and winked at the little Hufflepuff girl.

Pea scoffs at the nervous girl's partner who seems to try to calm her down with encouraging words. Hufflepuffs and their pitiful self-encouragements are really pathetic. "I guess if your idea of enjoying yourself is losing, then you will have the time of your life." Another smirk tainted her pretty face. But she just couldn't help herself, she is just having too much fun. Especially with all the things that have been going on in her life, she needed this relief.

Interacting : @Hui Ming, @Emma Wynn, @Angelfyre McCubbin
Mentioning : -
s t a m i n a : 6 | e v a s i o n : 6 | s t r e n g t h : 4
w i s d o m : 7 | a r c a n e p o w e r : 5 | a c c u r a c y : 7
Action : doing as strategized.
Abilities : Alluring | Lovely Creature
Partner : Hui Ming

Round 1

Pea Elena Fowl vs Emma Wynn

Reducio

Pea Elena Fowl cast Rictusempra at Emma Wynn
Pea Elena Fowl does not have Rictusempra in her trunk - action is void

Hui Ming vs Emma Wynn

Reducio

Hui Ming cast Tarantallegra at Emma Wynn
Wisdom DC: 9
Wisdom Check: [d20: 15] + 8 = > 9 → Success
Accuracy Check: [d20: 7] + 10 = 17
Evasion Check: [d20: 12] + 7 = 19
17 < 19 → Miss

AngelFyre McCubbin vs Hui Ming

Reducio

AngelFyre McCubbin cast Obscuro at Hui Ming
Wisdom DC: 10 +3 (LC) = 13
Wisdom Check: [d20: 10] + 7 = 17 > 13 → Success
Auto-Hit (19, 20): [d20: 18] < 19 → no auto hit
Accuracy Check: [d20: 2] + 8 = 10
Evasion Check: [d20: 11] + 6 = 17
10 < 17 → Miss

Emma Wynn vs Hui Ming

Reducio

Emma Wynn cast Bullarum Immortalem at Hui Ming
Wisdom DC: 9 +3 (LC) = 12
Wisdom Check: [d20: 3] + 7 + 1 (Comp. Lang.) =11 < 12 → Failure to cast

Each team would appear to laser in on one person from the opposite side. The snakes would opt for a set of more aggressive spells, while the badgers made to cripple their opponents senses.

For two of those duelists though, nothing would come out of their wands. Emma would try to cover the other side in bubbles, only to have her consent ration pop, no magic would come. Similarly, Pea would try to get a laugh from a badger with the tickling charm. Just like Emma though, no magic would come from her wand. Perhaps it was the nerves that had eaten away at the two duelists.

Whatever it was, Hui and AngelFyre did not have the same issue. AngelFyre would choose to lead with a favorite of Galton’s - Obscuro. The beautiful blindfold would sore across the stage, aimed at Hui, but fine no purchase. The snake had been too slick for that. Hui had his own bundle of magic for the badgers though. A crafty Tarantallegra would shoot forth. Emma would escape the clutches of dance, just barely. She would not boogie today.

The first bout of spells left no mark on the stage once the magic settled. A moot round. Clean slate for either team to make their moves.

Information

• You have 96 hours from now to write your posts. A minimum word count of 50 is needed per post.
• In the same time period, send me (Galton Lansdale) your team's actions per owl. Do not hint at your actions in your post.
• If you don't post in the allotted time frame, your action is void.
• Your Stats, Abilities, and Spells have been locked to what they are now for the duration of this duel.
• Please owl or message me if you have any questions or concerns!
• Here you can find the rules to the Duelling System.
• Best of luck, let's have some fun!

The spectator thread for this duel can be found here.
Come cheer for your House and friends!

Well, that round was just an embarrassing display for everyone involved. AngelFyre was really trying not to laugh, but she could not help it. Her silly sense of humor got the best of her at times, and for better or worse, which was yet to be seen, her funny bone had been tickled.

Seeing the beauty of the blindfold she cast fly across the piste towards Ming, only to have him dodge it, was disheartening, sure. But disastrous first casts stymied each and every duelist on the stage, ranging from well-timed, yet disappointing, evasive movements by opponents to wands playing opossums in the hands of their masters. The whole scene struck her as comical and her first thought, hand to God, was 'Well, no harm no foul, or is that Fowl', and it was that unintended pun that had her unexpectedly trying to tamp down a fierce case of the giggles.

Poor Emma. She was going to think her partner was a certifiable loon. AngelFyre was, of course, anything but, yet that remained to be proved. She shook it out and bit her cheek to quell the giggles and then looked to her side, towards Emma. She could feel the sobriety of the moment cloak her once again as her singular purpose for standing there came back into focus. She cleared her throat and nodded, hoping to convey to her partner that her head was back in the game.

Before she got back into casting position, she closed her eyes and ran her right hand over the badger pin Simon had given her for her birthday. She never practiced or competed without it. It always helped to calm her, allowing her to focus. This point in time was no different.

STA 7 ||EVA 6 ||STR 1 ||WIS 7 ||ARC 6||ACC 8
Abilities: Seer 1 • Fearless
Trunk: Here it be!
Health: 700/700

Credit to Sienna Lenoir for my awesome banner!

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Emma had just nodded at her teammate, not sure if she opened her mouth anything more than a croak would escape, and then to have her spell fail to cast, she wished she could melt into a pile of goo right there on the stage. Mind you, none of the other spells landed, but still at least AngelFyre's had actually caused something to happen. Honestly, it was like she was back in that room at detention, trying her best for some bravado when she knew she was empty handed.

Of course, that meant nothing as it wasn't like she would walk away after the first round, forfeiting. That wouldn't be fair even though her partner was stuck with her. Bet she was regretting that now, Emma thought miserably. Emma heard a sound from beside her, and looked over, her nose scrunching and her head tilting as she wondered what the heck could be so funny. And if the laughter would affect the next round. Was that even a thing? Maybe it would psych them out? Emma could hope. Or that the laughter had some unknown effect on the efficacy of her casting. One or the other.

Emma turned resolutely back to face their opponents, hearing the clearing of her throat and assuming that her partner hadn't fallen to the floor from the laughter.
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The white-haired groans as the spell that she cast never even leaves her wand. This is almost never happened to her before, and the fact that it happen the first time she tried to cast a spell in an official match just felt like the worse thing that could happen to the blue-eyed. Thankfully everyone also not having a fantastic first round. Angelfyre tries to blindfold her partner, but obviously, missed. As for her partner, Ming, he tried to cast the dancing feet spell unto Emma, but sadly also missed. Other than that, well, the girl that is too nervous, can't even perform her spell correctly. Maybe she was too distracted by her otherworldly beauty, as most people are. But she will not make a comment on that as she too did not successfully perform her spell. Another disappointment filled her mind.

Although, what angered her most are the Angelfyre laughing maniacally in front of them in the middle of this game. Is she laughing at her? or is she laughing at herself? She hopes is the latter, because nothing angered her more than being laughed at. "What's so funny, Mccubbin?" She hissed at the Hufflepuff girl.

Interacting : @Hui Ming, @Emma Wynn, @Angelfyre McCubbin
Mentioning : -
s t a m i n a : 6 | e v a s i o n : 6 | s t r e n g t h : 4
w i s d o m : 7 | a r c a n e p o w e r : 5 | a c c u r a c y : 7
Action : doing as strategized.
Abilities : Alluring | Lovely Creature
Partner : Hui Ming

So. Not the kind of start that would leave the entire school in awe at his abilities. Still, it could be worse. It could definitely be much, much worse. At least no one on his side had a complete breakdown into hysterics right at the beginning of this battle.

"Very droll, Miss." His short comment did little to keep his contempt out of his voice. These kids needed to learn a little bit of humility, rather than laughing at others when they could not land a hit themselves.

"Perhaps I should show you something really worth laughing over, hmmm?