2023/24 Stage 2 Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw: Match 3

Damion was pumped. He had just won the last duel and he was in yet another duel. This was with the Gryffindor house. A part of him was hoping it would have been against Kim but a part of him was glad it wasn't. He might not have the heart to hurt Kim to be honest or Hades for that matter. He was all set for the this duel and he smiled looking at his team.

Stats: Stamina: 14
Evasion: 9
Strength: 9
Wisdom: 8+2 (10)
Arcane Power: 9
Accuracy: 10
Abilities: Lovely Creature | Statiscally Relevant | Broken Broomshaft | Catch | Advance Casting
Action: As strategized.

@Evelynn Decipio, @Jay Victoria & Pericles Dralt

House Colours: Hufflepuff
"Thus the skillful general conducts his army just as though he were leading a single man, willy-nilly, by the hand."

~ Sun Tzu

The boy's experience with dueling Ravenclaw was a bit of a mixed bag. One one hand, he had suffered quite a terrible defeat at their hands, but on another he had somehow managed to turn the tables on a much older student and render her very powerful arsenal almost completely useless. He was not smart, but he was clever. This was his only ace in the sleeve.

And he was facing off against Pericles, so he probably should be expecting that fifth ace to be found and revealed right away. Piérre may have been as snappy as a whip and as sharp as a rapier, but Pericles was simply... well... Pericles.

Piérre didn't think that Pericles could be bad at anything, really. Almost as much of a Jack of All Trades as Piérre himself was a Master of None.

At least he had Evelynn by his side, and an older student that Piérre had only seen vaguely a few times and then hadn't really paid further attention to. Well it was good to have a full team complement, at least. "Well..." He conjured a weak smile. "Let's do our best. You'll probably stick out for longer and do better at this whole dueling thing than I ever will." He wasn't feeling very confident... not against such intimidating adversaries.

He just hoped that he wouldn't be forced back into that Death Wing again. He could live with anything--anything--other than that...

He tried to meet Pericles' eyes, pressing his lips together lightly and giving him a concerned look forged mostly out of personal apprehension as opposed to a begging for a mutual armistice before sighing and shaking his head. Well... he didn't like it... but the show most certainly had to go on, didn't it.

Doing as Strategized
Calming Presence Allies: Evelynn Decipio & Jay Victoria

Pericles stood at the sound of his name, luring an aspen wand from his sleeve as he moved through the crowd at a gliding gait. The fifth-year didn't exude confidence nor pride, but a sense of sureness, calmly calculating his odds along the way. He was taking the stage with the ever-constant Dealla, a long-term partner since the Duel Club was reinstated, and the less familiar but notably sturdy Damion. Those were good odds on their own, though there was still their opponents to consider. Evelynn had proven herself a force to be reckoned with time and again. Jay was both a surprise and anomaly, as Peri was wholly unfamiliar with his presence on the piste, meaning he couldn't begin to anticipate his strengths or skills. Then there was Pierre, whose uneasy expression was met with a stark lack of one.

The Ravenclaw's flat neutrality was as much a part of his tactics as anything else. That look- or lack of one- didn't hint at the lack of closure from their interaction at the Fall Ball. There was only an emptiness that guarded whatever thoughts and feelings stewed under that strategic scrutiny. It split with a polite smile, the sort that wordlessly reassured all was fair on the piste, and no damage committed here would be held against the jester. Pericles might not have been especially pleased with Pierre's actions outside of the Club, but it would be a disservice if either held back in a proper match. There was honor to it as long as they played by the rules, and until the match was won, that was all that mattered. The rest would have to be addressed elsewhere.

Speaking of doing things by the book, the Ravenclaw raised his wand and swept into a traditional bow. When it came to duelling, Pericles operated with a sense of ceremony, though not all of his rituals were standard fare. He had a handful of odd luck-chasing superstitions he followed, sometimes dragging Dee along to go knock on trees or buying bezoars to keep in their pockets. His rituals were either hit-or-miss, or- like unicorn's blood granted immortality at the cost of a cursed life- guaranteed only a skewed chance of success. In the years since Duelling had launched, he had a bizarrely even win-loss ratio: six wins, six losses. They followed a pattern of one then the other, and if fate really was keeping score, this match was set to be the next win. The thought stretched his smile into a relaxed grin. "I'd say we're due some luck," he muttered to Dee from her side, assuming the accepted combative position.

Action: As Strategized

When Dee stepped onto the duelling stage this time, she listened for the inner thrill that used to always accompany her duels. The excitement, tingling under her skin, that never failed to bring a grin to her face, sharp and intense. Today, it wasn't quite there, muted and distant.

Her last duel had been nothing short of frustrating; missed spells and failed casts had dominated the Ravenclaw side of the field, their lightning based strategy gone fruitless. But it was not just that. Perhaps her enthrallment with duelling had been waning for longer than she'd wanted to admit; starting when she'd stepped down from her captain position well over a year ago. Watching her co-captains do the same, replaced by newer, younger faces, her old team mates and partners leaving the team... It was not the same anymore. Loyalty, to those who stayed, to Phaedra and Del and Peri, had kept her. Love for a sport that didn't bring her the same joy it once had.

And still, she mused, she was here, hair tied back to keep her vision clear, wand in hand, same as ever. Ready to face down a Gryffindor team once again, although at least this time, the match seemed more even. Peri was there with her, another flashback to the start of her duelling career: He'd been her very first partner, and the friendship they had built on the trust that had formed back then. Damion, on the other hand, felt less reliable; they hadn't been partnered yet, and he had rejoined the team only a few months ago, but perhaps he'd prove himself today.

She threw Peri a smile, anyway, quick and amused. "Overdue, I'd say," she hummed, taking her place and readying herself. She was not planning to lose again today.

Was it that time again already? It seemed almost like yesterday that she and her team had faced off against the Eagles. They'd managed to eek out a win, performing better than Evelynn had expected of them, carried in large part by Vanes' crowd control and Lansdale's power. She herself had hardly contributed, better serving as a target to divert attention away from the other two.

Perhaps it would be much the same again. There was certainly an element of familiarity. Given her first match against Slytherin, and having most recently been pitted against Ravenclaw, Evelynn was fully anticipating—perhaps even hoping—to find herself squaring off against Hufflepuff. Not so.

"..Again?" The question slipped from her lips without intention, heavy with resignation. It wasn't that she disliked their opponents. It was simply that despite their recent loss, they were very capable individuals, among the most intelligent of their year, and not ones with whom the ex-seeker was keen on dancing again so soon. Still, it could be worse. She could be up against Dimitri again. As Dralt fell into a bow, she was reminded that at least here was a shared sense of respect and propriety. A studious gaze lingered on him longer than the rest.

"If that's where your head is at before we've even begun..." Her eyes peeled from Dralt to flick in Pierre's direction, steel grey as cool and flat as her tone. "...then this match is already decided." Edged with impatient annoyance, her words cut towards the Hufflepuff imposter. "You're a captain. Act like one."

With a crimp of her lips, she withdrew her wand from her sleeve and fell back to her position, mirroring the bow that had been sent their way. Her energy and effort of late, both in class and extracurriculars, might have been minimal and ever-slipping, but she could manage that much right now at least. A bow, a few spells. Fingers, some scarred and others in various states of healing from small cuts and scratches, rolled the unpolished handle of her wand between them. If she was lucky, the match would end quickly. Or unlucky, as the case might be. Her track record when paired with Pierre wasn't great, and what she knew—or more accurately, what she didn't know—of their third member hardly inspired faith that they would prevail. Not to mention the Eagles had a score to settle. The odds were not in their favour.

But that had never stopped Evelynn before. If anything, a small glint of defiance flared within her. On the one hand, she would prove that she could stand her ground; on the other, she would take the licking she suspected was coming. The first would be gratifying. And the latter...well...she couldn't say she would be deserving of anything else.

Action: As strategized

Round 1

Evelynn vs. Dealla and Pericles

Reducio

Evelynn casts Nebulus at Dealla and Pericles

Wisdom DC: 12
Wisdom: [d20:6] + 15 = 21 > 12 → Success!

Duration: [d5:3] → 2 rounds
Effects: Dealla and Pericles will suffer -5 accuracy and -5 evasion for two rounds. Any enemies targetting them for the duration will suffer -4 accuracy.

Jay

Reducio

No RP posted within the deadline. Missed post count: 1

Pierre vs. Pericles

Reducio

Pierre casts Aqua Eructo at Pericles

Wisdom DC: 13 + 2 (Damion's Lovely Creature) = 15
Wisdom: [d20:5] + 12 = 17 > 15 → Success!

Accuracy: [d20:9] + 16 - 1 (Dealla's Charmer) = 24
Evasion: [d20:8] + 12 = 20
24 > 20 → Hit!

Duration: [d3:3] → 2 rounds
Damage: 80 + 15 * 5 (ARC) = 155
Effect: Pericles will suffer -4 accuracy for two rounds and is now wet.

Damion vs. Jay

Reducio

Damion casts Flipendo at Jay

Auto-Fail (5% from Evelynn's Wandmaker): [d20:18] → No auto-fail
Wisdom DC: 9
Wisdom: [d20:18] + 10 = 28 > 9 → Success!

Accuracy: [d20:17] + 10 = 27
Evasion: [d20:16] + 9 = 25
27 > 15 → Hit!

Damage: 100 + 15 * 9 (ARC) = 235

Dealla vs. Jay

Reducio

Dealla casts Confringo at Jay

Auto-Fail (5% from Evelynn's Wandmaker): [d20:1] → No auto-fail
Wisdom DC: 17
Wisdom: [d20:11] + 14 = 25 > 17 → Success!

Accuracy: [d20:16] + 16 = 32
Evasion: [d20:15] + 9 = 24
32 > 24 → Hit!

Damage: 150 + 15 * 8 (ARC) = 270

Pericles vs. Jay

Reducio

Pericles casts Confringo at Jay

Auto-Fail (5% from Evelynn's Wandmaker): [d20:7] → No auto-fail
Wisdom DC: 17
Wisdom: [d20:14] + 11 = 25 > 17 → Success!

Accuracy: [d20:16] + 14 = 30
Evasion: [d20:11] + 9 = 20
30 > 20 → Hit!

Damage: 150 + 15 * 10 (ARC) = 300

"Whoa! Whoa! STOP." Julian raised his hands up in the air, eyes wide in alarm. It was by far the most violent start of a duel he had witnessed to date. The Gryffindors had gone the route of attempting to impair their opponents, with Pierre encasing Damion in a strong wind and Evelynn surrounding both Dealla and Pericles with a thick fog via a well-cast Nebulus. They didn't manage to be fast enough, however, to put a stop to the Ravenclaw's coordinated offensive.

Three spells hit Jay in quick succession. First, Damion Kockback Jinx caused him to stumble back, before Dealla and Pericles blew the ground at his feet up with twin Blasting Curses, sending the boy flying back. He didn't get up.

"Is he alright? Tt was a silly question. There was no telling, of course, how bad it was until he was checked over at the Hospital Wing, though unconsciousness was rarely a great thing. But he nonetheless felt compelled to ask it. The boy hadn't even had a chance to cast anything.

Brutal.

Information

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

Good luck!

The spectator thread for this duel can be found here.

Come cheer for your House and friends!

@Evelynn Decipio

House Colours: Hufflepuff
"Thus the skillful general conducts his army just as though he were leading a single man, willy-nilly, by the hand."

~ Sun Tzu

"My head is firmly on my shoulders... I think. I seem to remember screwing it on right today, though I could be mistaken." He tried to crack a light joke, though he wouldn't pretend that he wasn't put off quite a bit by the sharpness and the near venom in the once... pleasant Eevee. His brows creased in mild concern. "Y'know I still don't know why I was made captain... It was meant to be a joke and now I just feel foolish." He mused to himself, though his eyes didn't leave Evelynn's, as if he were trying to determine what the change in persona was all about.

He had a bad habit of not staying in contact with those that he deemed to be his friends... something that left both himself and those around him lonely, and something that did a number on Piérre's ability to both make and prioritize real human relationships. And... it hurt.

But there was not time to think about it as the spells flew and it seemed that the newest member of the dueling team was basically transformed into a 'fine red mist' within instants of the flag being thrown. Piérre shielded his face with his arms until the dust cleared, grimacing a bit to himself as it seemed that history would repeat itself once more. His brows creased in frustration. Seriously?! Once was a fluke, twice is unfortunate, but make it a third time and Piérre would swear that the universe truly did have to be out to get him. It didn't help that his self-confidence was down in the dumps since last year, that was a delight.

People kept vanishing. Weird things just kept occurring... People that he had once loved were turning stone cold in his heart and transforming into individuals he had never met before in his life. He was ruining these relationships, was destroying them like a deep and disgusting pestilence in his very marrow. It was as if it just followed him about, he the plague rat carrying the disease...

How long until he vanished too?

Well, let's get this over with. "Aqua eructo!" A jet of salt water, courtesy of Madame Mediterranean, arced across the stage with all the pressure of a power-washer, hosing Pericles down nice and neat whilst a haunting fog from Evelynn swept across to obscure the sights of two of the three Ravenclaws. "... out of curiosity, Eevee... how does one "act" like a captain?" It wasn't a sarcastically-toned question.

It was genuine curiosity, genuine intrigue and mild confusion that came from Piérre in full. He tipped his head. "What do you want to see out of me being a captain?" His words were soft, quite serious and rather considerate.

But perhaps the better question was the one that wasn't asked aloud. 'How am I supposed to make any of this better when I constantly prove I'm no good at doing it myself?'

Doing as Strategized
Calming Presence Allies: Evelynn Decipio & Jay Victoria

Quick and brutal, that was the start of this duel. All too aware of the fact that duels were now even shorter, the eagles had decided to start this one off with an all-out offense - which proved shockingly effective.

Confringo was a spell Dee had learned not that long ago, and it was definitely still a challenge to cast, but both her and Peri's explosions went off beautifully at Jay's feet, followed by a more traditional (and safer) knockback jinx from Damion, which finished the job. Time. Twenty seconds into the duel, one Gryffindor down.

In retaliation, Peri had gotten splashed with enough water to partially flood the Ravenclaw side of the stage - Dee gingerly sidestepped the water puddles, remembering how their own strategy in the first stage had involved dousing their opponents in water and them frying them with lightning - and just as she was about to comment on the success of their first round, the air around her filled with a dense fog, obscuring her vision of both friends and foes. She sighed. "Is this obsession with fog just a Gryffindor thing?" she asked thoughtfully. She knew some people were eerily good at navigating in the soupy fog, seemingly not having to rely on their visual sense. She could only hope that this group of Gryffindors wasn't among them.