2023, Stage 2 Ravenclaw vs Slytherin: Match 4

It was still hard to take in: she was a duellist. And a young one too. In fact, despite many generations of Beaufort duellists, Cynthia was still one of the youngest as one of the two first year duellists in ten generation. Before, that had made her feel more nervous than ever, but now, she realised that this could be a chance to stop people from ignoring her. She — and her partner, Eun-ji Lee Hunt, would win this one for the eagles.

She lifted her head as her name was called and strode confidentially onto the piste. Or, at least, she tried to act confident and she was unsure whether she really looked that way, or if it was simply in her imagination. Everything was going well — until of course, it would not. She clenched her jaw — the Snakes would not win, no, no, no.

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Dialogue: ✕ Thoughts: ✕ Quotes: ✕

| Partner | @Starlee Kennedy

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Breath in.....

Breath out...

Monica took long deep breaths as she entered the arena. This was her first duel, a real one. The practice one she was apart of helped to prepare her for this moment, but this feeling, this match... it felt so different. There was so much more on the line. This wasn't a thrown together trial run, this was real. This was for your House, how she did in this duel, would affect her team, and the rest of the Snakes. There was tradition... honour laid out here in this room. Many witches and Wizards took stance here, showing off their skills, and either finding victory, or grand failure. Monica could only hope she could live up to the greats that came before her, to show that though she grew up in the muggle world, she could hold her own in a fight.

Monica looked over to her duelling partner, Starlee Kennedy. Beaming at the upperclassman, wanting to do nothing more than to make her proud. Across the way stood their opponents, Ravenclaws. Just like the trial run, Monica was facing off against the bird house.

Deep breaths... in and out.

Monica stood stoic, not wanting to show any signs of worry, or weakness. The first moment in battle is facing your enemies, and how that interaction goes can dictate the rest of the competition. How she wished she had Kiwi in this moment... but this was not the place for her little rat. She had left Kiwi in the care of Aurelia... This was the first time Kiwi wasn't with Monica, ever since adopting the rodent, Kiwi never left Monica's side... "No!" Monica stapped at herself, "Now isn't the time to worry about that, you need to FOCUS!"

The Moderator soon came out, seemingly a bit nervous, but who could blame her... this was all nerve racking. Monica stepped forward to the Moderator's request, while keeping an eye on Kennedy, wanting to mimic as she was, to hold tight to uniformity and synergy. Being closer to the Ravenclaw duo, Monica got the feeling the one was younger than her... she could feel her heart fall into a calmer pace, maybe this might not be as stressful as she thought?

Nessie asked if the two teams were ready, Monica just held her ground, waiting in anticipation for the duel to begin. She closed her eyes, a ritual she had become accustomed too for any new challenge she was facing... taking a moment to just align herself into a state of being needed for whatever was to come. Then she hear the words...."Begin"

| Action |
⊱ Arriving. Doing as strategized ⊰

| Abilities |
⊱ Beast Master | Martial Arts ⊰

STA 8 • EVA 8 • STR 8 • WIS 5 • ARC 6 • ACC 5
Slytherin Prefect

Blue in English, Red in Korean

When Eun-ji entered the duelling room, she probably looked as calm and put together as ever but in reality, her head pounded with tension. This might very well be her most difficult duel yet. Truth be told, the Ravenclaw was always lucky when it came to her partners. Both Dell and Dee were excellent duellists, who clearly knew what they were doing so she felt secure and confident having them by her side. Today, that same role fell upon her but she was lacking in so many ways. Apparently, a lot of people thought she was great at what she was doing too. Being the fourth year and yet to lose a duel sounded good in theory however the truth was she joined the sport late and somewhat unwillingly. Eun-ji had big admiration for duellists but never planned to join the team herself until her grandmother made her. She was thrown into the mix rather suddenly and still wasn’t completely sure what she was doing. This was okay in her previous duels but today, her teammate was Cynthia. A first year and the newest addition to the team.

Eun-ji met Cynthia a couple times by now (albeit briefly) and she watched her practice but they didn’t really know each other. Originally, the young girl seemed somewhat hesitant and unsure during their trainings but grew more confident each day. She was no doubt going to do her absolute best but the official matches were different than the practice ones. There were no breaks or mercy and it remained to be seen whether she had enough energy in that little body of hers to push through. Eun-ji sure hoped she did. She wanted her teammate to have a good experience even if they didn’t end up winning. First and foremost, she hoped the first duel wouldn’t be haunting her for weeks to come as it did in her case. Julian’s eagerness to set her on fire almost every round truly left a mark on her back then. She was fine now but it was not the best start.

Once their names were called out, the witch gracefully walked toward the piste, silently hovering behind the freshman. She wanted to be the reassuring presence Dellilah was to her in the past. Her efforts were not too obvious however. She didn’t want to come across as overbearing and she wasn’t here to babysit. Rather she would linger in the background like a security blanket not meddling but available if needed. Smiling softly, Eun-ji gave a slight bow in Nessie’s direction. The Hufflepuff had moderated her previous duel as well. It might have been Eun-ji’s favourite one so far. She didn’t really know the girl on a personal level but she seemed pleased with the fact that there was very little pain involved. A sentiment the Ravenclaw shared wholeheartedly. She liked duelling but being a daughter of a surgeon and a healer, she wasn’t fond of people getting hurt, let alone being the one inflicting said pain.

After greeting Nessie, she respectfully nodded at their opponents as well. She was not someone who enjoyed taunting the other party unless it was a friendly banter and even then, she would not be the one to initiate it. The last smile went to Kim, who came to spectate her match today. She appreciated his presence here although she worried this might not be the most glorious showcase of her skills. Having Nessie, Kim and Starlee, who witnessed her previous efforts was a bit conflicting. Eun-ji could feel the pressure building inside her bones. Too many people here knew she could do well and probably expected her to do well again, but would she? “Ready.” Surprisingly despite all those worries, she sounded quite confident. Thank God she was so good at keeping things bottled up.

@Cynthia Beaufort ٭ @Nessie Swansea ٭ @Kim Sato ٭ @Starlee Kennedy ٭ @Monica Evans

Usually, Starlee would be nervous for her duels. She would feel scared, unprepared, and nervous. But now, after the sudden passing of her father last November, she felt... nothing. Not happiness, not sadness, not scared, not nervous. She just felt like she had a job to do. School to focus on. Duels to do well in.

The once bubbly pre-teen was now completely stoic, hiding her true feelings and pain beneath a blank façade. To people that knew her, they would know something was off. To people that were just meeting her, she would seem cold and standoffish. Hopefully her new partner would be able to live up to Starlee's expectations, she didn't know Evans well at all.

However, she knew Hunt. After a mishap with walking pumpkins and Cash, who clearly disliked the older student, Starlee had found it easy to dislike her as well. Not just that, but she had a score to settle against her after one of last years duels where she had beaten both Starlee and Tone. Thank goodness she wasn't paired with him again, but that was a thought for another time.

When Starlee heard her name called, she walked up to the piste, taking a solid stance opposite the two Ravenclaws. Taking a deep breath, she calming raised her wand, ready to begin.

ROUND 1

Eun-ji Lee Hunt vs Starlee Kennedy

Reducio

Eun-ji casts Blindfolding Spell at Starlee.
Wisdom DC: 10
Wisdom Check: [d20: 3] + 11 = 14 > 10 → Success
Accuracy Check: [d20: 19] + 11 = 30
Evasion Check: [d20: 18] + 8 = 26
30 > 26 → Hit
Effects: Starlee is blindfolded, with 0 accuracy and 0 evasion until the blindfold is removed.

Cynthia Beaufort

Reducio

Cynthia actively dodges.
Effects: Evasion Active Dodge Bonus: 5 + 5 x 0.25 = 6.25 → 6

Starlee Kennedy vs Cynthia Beaufort

Reducio

Starlee casts Knockback Jinx at Cynthia.
Wisdom DC: 9
Wisdom Check: [d20: 3] + 11 = 14 > 9 → Success
Accuracy Check: [d20: 11] + 8 = 19
Evasion Check: [d20: 2] + 5 + 6 Active Dodge = 13
19 > 13 → Hit
Damage: 100 + 7 x 10 = 170
Effects: Cynthia takes 170 damage.

Monica Evans vs Cynthia Beaufort

Reducio

Monica casts Knockback Jinx at Cynthia.
Wisdom DC: 9
Wisdom Check: [d20: 3] + 5 = 8 < 9 → Fail

The ferocity with which the duel begun always surprised Nessie. One moment suspense, the next the cue, and then spells flying! The Hufflepuff tried her best to take it all in, watching the duellists closely as was her duty, to ensure that all participants were safe and that the rules were followed.

The Viridian Vipers acted in synchronization with their Flipendos, with Starlee demonstrating her experience on the piste with a successful cast to start off the duel. Her aim was on point as well, and even despite Cynthia's brilliance in trying to dodge the spell, the young Ravenclaw was hit. Nessie winced on Cynthia's behalf; a hit like that had to hurt.

However, Nessie liked to think that a duellist wasn't measured by the challenges they faced and the hits they took, but by how they reacted afterwards.

Meanwhile, Monica's attempt at a knockback jinx didn't seem to produce a spell at all. But Nessie didn't take this as an inclination of her fellow second year's skills, as that sometimes seemed to happen even to the older duellists she admired.

Starlee's success did not go unanswered, and although the Slytherin showed impeccable reflexes, Eun-ji's precision with her Obscuro was simply too impressive, and the Ravenclaw's blindfold covered Starlee's eyes.

Information

1. You have 96 hours from this post's timestamp to owl your moves to me (Nessie Swansea) and to make your 50+ word post.
2. Do not hint at your move in your post, as this can give an advantage to the other team.
3. Remember to send your move and make your post before the deadline. If either of these are not completed in time, your move will be void.
4. Your stats, abilities, and spells are considered locked for this duel. If any are added to your trunk since 26th January, they may not be used.
5. If you have any questions or feedback regarding this post, please feel free to owl or DM me. (I'm still learning - your patience, guidance, and understanding are much appreciated!)
6. Handy links: Duelling Rules, Duelling Spells, and the most recent patch.
7. Good luck and happy duelling!

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

Cynthia cursed under her breath as Starlee’s Flipendo through her back. ‘Rat,’ she muttered. She anticipated that both Snakes would try to get her out of the way first, which was a fine tactic, but awfully cowardly. Still, they were no Gryffindor. For this reason, she dodged. Granted, it was not the best start to her first (and perhaps last) duel, but it did save her from Monica’s Flipendo, meaning it did have some use.

She gritted her teeth and managed to stand up. But, she smiled when Eun-ji hit Starlee well. It was not fast enough to prevent Starlee from hitting Cynthia though, but at least she could not see for the time being. Cynthia would have to make sure not to be beaten the second round.

Blue in English, Red in Korean

As expected, both snakes went for the youngest member of the match right from the beginning. It was an obvious strategy but definitely a good one. If the roles were reversed, Eun-ji was sure her team would do the same. Surprising your opponent was great but it wasn’t always the best strategy. Since both Ravenclaws anticipated this might happen, they decided Cynthia should start her duel cautiously and dodge. Sadly, her action was only half successful. Starlee was an experienced duellist and was able to hit the young girl despite her best efforts. “You okay?” Eun-ji checked calmly. Thankfully her own spell also hit the mark, instantly blinding Starlee for at least one round and her teammate still looked pretty determined. She'll be fine.

“COME ON, BLAZING BADGERS!” The witch flinched upon hearing the familiar voice coming from the bleachers. It was barely noticeable for anybody that wasn’t scrutinizing her body language at the moment but she definitely felt it. Before she could stop herself, Eun-ji was already glancing towards the owner of said voice. Despite her obvious support for her own teammates, the Hufflepuff was sitting suspiciously close to her own duel. Could it be… She discarded her thought before she even got to finish it. That would be ridiculous. Unless she was here to see her fail but Lucia wasn’t that kind of person. They may have had a falling out and they were currently ignoring each other but she was not someone to enjoy watching other people suffer. Not to mention the girl always seemed to shy away from her problems rather than facing them head on. Surely, there was some other reason why she chose to sit there.

Focus! Eun-ji scolded herself, quickly turning back. She couldn’t afford to get distracted. Even such fleeting look could cost her dearly right now. Alright, let’s do this!

@Cynthia Beaufort ٭ @Lucia Fox ٭ @Kim Sato ٭ @Starlee Kennedy ٭ @Monica Evans

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Dialogue: ✕ Thoughts: ✕ Quotes: ✕

| Partner | @Starlee Kennedy

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Everything happened so quickly, just like that first moment in the trial duel. No sooner did Nessie finish uttering 'Begin' did Monica and Starlee raise their wands into action. Monica barely noticed anything around her, this was the first spell, she had to just focus on getting this right!

Both her and her partner pointed their attack to the First year Ravenclaw, Starlee struck first, her spell surged flawlessly, sending the target back. Monica could feel a smile grow on her face, watching the girl try to dodge out of the way, but to no avail. Monica tried to follow suit, but it was clear she had lost her concentration. So attentive to Starlee hitting, that her own spell barely made a spark out of her wand. "Crap!" Monica couldn't help but blurt out her frustrations, when a flash lit out of the corner of her eye. She just saw the tale end of the spell, but the other Bird had cast her own spell.... and it seemed to have hit Starlee! "Are you okay?!" Monica called over to her partner... After gauging what the damage was, she turned to face her opponents, "An eye for an eye...." A smirk sprawled across her face, as she readied herself for the next attack.

| Action |
⊱ Doing as strategized ⊰

| Abilities |
⊱ Beast Master | Martial Arts ⊰

STA 8 • EVA 8 • STR 8 • WIS 5 • ARC 6 • ACC 5
Slytherin Prefect

And with the uttering of Swansea's 'Begin!', Starlee was ready to go. Her focus on her opponents was strong and she knew what had to be done.

"Flipendo!" she half-yelled, her spell forming quickly at the tip of her wand and shooting toward the younger Ravenclaw. It was clear the girl had planned to dodge, at least clear to Starlee, and she aimed just so that the girl dodged directly into her attack. Perfect.

Unfortunately the pair's planned double attack was cut short with Evans' miss, and Starlee inadvertently let out a soft groan of disappointment. Sure, she wasn't going to snipe at the younger Slytherin perhaps as a certain previous dueling partner would have, but it was still a disappointment regardless. Something she couldn't handle more of in her life currently.

Possibly a mix of this plus her focus on aiming at the wiggling Ravenclaw, Starlee was quickly hit full force with a blindfold across her eyes. She let out a quick yelp in surprise, and then heard her partner ask if she was okay.

"Well... as okay as anyone who can't see can be I suppose..." the told Evans flatly.

It was a good move to be sure, but this match had just begun.