2023/24, Stage 2 Ravenclaw vs. Hufflepuff: Match 7

If she wasn't dead before, she was now. Pain, flame and sickness exuded from her body and she struggled to breathe, mucus filled gasps trying to fill her lungs with air. This was her worst duel yet. Maybe if her wand would actually listen to her and she could bloody hit something, it wouldn't be so bad, but for now... She was in Hell.

Round 6

The badgers wanted to act now, while there was an opening, and Piérre didn't blame them. However, it would seem that the ravens also anticipated a certain opening of assault themselves. They too action accordingly. Through snot and mess, Beatrice would put on her dancing shoes and evade the knockback jinx of Axyen... though admittedly even if she hadn't been actively dodging she probably would have come to no harm anyways. It didn't hurt to be safe, though, considering her recent streak of awful luck in previous rounds. However, as soon as danger had passed, she would feel a heart palpitation and a sudden wave of exhaustion that would roll over her. The sickness had caught up with her at last, and for at least a few seconds still the effects of the curse would take its toll on her mental capacities. She would be unable to think clearly enough to take a concerted action the next round.

"Ahhhhh Mucus ad Nauseum, here's the phase out phase, friends!" There was general murmuring in the crowd as bets began to pass hands and lips evenly. This duel had been a rollercoaster, to be sure, and there was no way that money would not be passing hands in the form of sickles or galleons at this point. Piérre smiled, delighted to know that he was the one that was presenting all of this for their amusements. "And from what I'm hearing there seems to be a current bet of six to one... not sure which side it's for. Maybe it's both! Let's hear those bets increasing to wilder odds! They're not going to stop yet!"

A trio of other of knockback jinxes also went flying: two of them were from Ravenclaw. Zach and Cassian had managed to produce their own and sent them off towards the crippled Axyen... but that wasn't Axyen's only concern, as an explosive knockback jinx from Clark--so powerful, perhaps, that he lost control of it due to surprise--escaped his control and flung itself towards Axyen as well! "Another catastrophic failure! But what a cast! Mark those down too!" Piérre crowed. "Start making running bets on those numbers too!" He goaded the audience.

While Axyen easily evaded Clark's wayward spell, he was unfortunately caught completely off guard by the other two. He simply was not fast enough to evade either, even despite the Hail Mary of a health buff from his ally Alyssea with a prodigal Reparifors. Both would hit him, and he would both be knocked back and crumpled down. He would not be able to stand again.

"Oh geez. Take a breather guys." Piérre muttered distraughtly. The flames on Zach and Beatrice smoldered out in the interim, leaving their marks before vanishing. Going over to Axyen, he checked to make sure he was still alive: which he was, thank God. With an incantation of "Sublevo Brevis." Axyen's body was magically lifted and then guided by a limp hand by the proctor until he was where Piérre decided to continue the duel. After guiding Axyen to the ground, Piérre would suck air through his teeth lightly as he appraised the injuries. Mostly blunt force from Flipendos, it would seem. Nothing too awful. Bumps and bruises after he would wake up... but likely no lasting damage.

Surely he wouldn't have to see the nurse over this...

Well he would still do his best anyways. Unnecessary trips to the Hospital Wing tended to be a good thing overall... "Yeah keep going. I'm still keeping an eye out." He said flatly, waving his hand at the remaining duelists without really paying attention to them. He was more focused on Axyen now.

Information

1. You have 96 hours from this post's timestamp to owl your moves to me (Piérre Marchonné) 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. I will try to moderate early if all actions and posts are in before the deadline. If you do not wish for me to do this, please owl me.
5. Your stats, abilities, and spells are considered locked for this duel. If any are added to your trunk since 25th January, they may not be used.
6. If you have any questions or feedback regarding this match, please feel free to owl or DM me.
7. Handy links: Duelling Rules, Duelling Spells, and the most recent patch.
8. Good luck and happy duelling!

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

banner by the amazing lucia fox

Nope, nope, nope. What was that meme again from Bridgerton? Sorrows? Prayers? Sorrows, sorrows, prayers. Yes, that sounded right. Alyssea needed a lot of that (prayers) now that they were one man down. The healing spell was a bad move. She just wanted to make it to the final round without blacking out.

action: as strategized.
sta 6 | eva 7 | str 6 | wis 8 | arc 6 | acc 8
abilities: prodigal transfiguration learner | evasive maneuvers

mentions: @Clark Baird

This cool banner was made by Pericles Dralt

"Gotcha!" Zach exclaimed silently when his and Cassian's Knockback Jinx hit Axyen. He looked at Cassian, and gave him a "Good job!" nod. He felt a sense of relief about this round. Zach then turned his attention to Bea, hoping he could do something to help her. But for now, there was nothing he could do. This made him want to do more self-study about healing magic.

The duel was nearing its end. The flame on his shirt also faded away. You can do it, Zach. He said to himself. The boy drew his wand again and pointed it towards his opponents. May the odd be ever on Ravenclaw's favor.

Action: as strategized
Trunk

Thanks to Lucia Fox!

This was getting more and more intense, it was honestly scary with how much was happening. Axyen heard the crowd, no help. In fact, he was kind of feeling a bit more panicked, but he couldn't let that show. He had to try his best and every single spell he cast wasn't a waste if it hit an opponent. Axyen was ready to try and dodge whatever the Ravenclaw team would send at him and his teammates, but perhaps he just wasn't as ready as he hoped to be. Suddenly something must've went wrong with Clark as suddenly his knockback jinx was heading his way. Axyen was able to dodge the incoming spell. Axyen focused his effort on sending his own knockback jinx towards Beatrice. "Flipendo!" Axyen called out, but the spell missed its target. Axyen would simply think of his next action... but that next action will never come... not in this duel.

"Try to be more careful, let's go and win this!" Axyen called out to Clark, of course he made sure to try and sound friendly and say it with a smile(despite all the pain he was feeling in that moment). He didn't want to unintentionally be rude to his teammates. Alyssea healed Axyen, but sadly that wouldn't be enough for what was being sent towards Axyen, still Axyen managed to get out two words, unbeknownst to him... they were his final words for this duel. "Thank you." Axyen said to Alyssea, but then Axyen focused back on seeing what the Ravenclaw team was attempting to do and then Axyen realized that there were two knockback jinxes rushing towards him. He of course tried to evade the incoming spells, but he failed and the spells made contact with him, one moment he was in the dueling ring, the next moment it was just pure darkness. Axyen was out. If there was something Axyen wanted to say to his teammates before fully going unconscious, it would be something alone the lines of: 'sorry I was unable to be more useful in the duel, but you guys rock; so, let's win this duel and make Hufflepuff proud!' It might've given a motivation boost, or just more pressure, but Axyen got to say none of that or at the very least tell them to keep pushing through.

Information

• Action: Doing what's unplanned - getting knocked out.
• Abilities:Prodigal Defense Against the Dark Arts Learner | Beast Master
• Stats: Inside signature.
• Wand:
  • Cherry Wood
  • Phoenix feather

The end of the duel was quickly approaching. Cassian and Zach moved in sync, both of them launching jinxes at Axyen, who was now eliminated from the duel. He was good (a little too good maybe) and so Cassian was just a little relieved to see him go. He made eye contact with Zach after the successful double attack. Zach nodded and Cassian nodded back. One down, two to go. Just as long as one of them didn’t go down next. Bea was particularly in danger, but Cassian hoped she’d be fine. He and Zach would have to do their best. Now was the home stretch, the final leg. There was no room for mistakes. Total concentration.

Action: as strategized
Abilities: Prodigal DADA Learner
Stats: Stamina: 6 | Evasion: 8 | Strength: 3 | Wisdom: 4 | Arcane Power: 10 | Accuracy: 9

@Beatrice Langstreth & @Zach Zaphiere

He giggled like a maniacal goblin who was asked by a theater director to play a psychopathic lunatic. He cast a spell that was so brilliantly created but when he aimed it towards Beatrice, it was like the spell had a mind of its own and found itself darting towards Zach, the rumored grass-eater-herbology-club-member. And he dodged it. However it seemed all three of the opponents would target next to him, targeting the poor boy who was already so feeble.

Action: As strategized
Abilities/Race: Part Goblin Y1, Prodigal DADA
Stats: Sta 7 | Eva 10 | Str 0 | Wis 7 | Arc 6 | Acc 8
Wand: [not wandmaker] Walnut Wood | Phoenix Feather

The flames still burned. Licked at her clothing and the delicate white skin underneath. She most definitely would have to go to the Hospital Wing after this. If the nurse wasn't already in the spectators watching. This felt like a backstabbing of the highest order. Flame, fire, warmth. That was her thing. And now it was used against her.

She shivered in pain as her heat sensors in her body flashed cold and hot, her mind almost becoming overwhelmed with the stimulation. She had to withstand this. They had to win.

Round 7

Just as quickly as good fortune had graced the Hufflepuffs, it would seem that Lady Luck was revoking it. Their stand had been valiant, and it had most certainly had to be a duel for the times, but the clock was running out... and Piérre had a sneaking feeling that because of the new cuts to the dueling times... Well he simply kept trying to keep an half an eye on Axyen... only for a wind jinx from Zach to single out Alyssea with a whipping vengeance as she had sent a heightened fire spell for Beatrice. Alyssea's spell would unfortunately miss the mark--perhaps on account of the wind interfering with it as it spiraled for the recovering and now recovered Beatrice--and the girl would go down.

"Oh come on!" Piérre exclaimed again. Seriously?! What was it with how bloodthirsty some of these duelists could be? I mean, sure, he had been knocked out before, and that had been rude enough, but at least in some situations he had been able to walk away from the fray instead of being left completely out cold. This was just merciless on a different level. "Well, take a moment I guess." He muttered as he cast the brief hovering charm on Alyssea as well and brought it off to the side in the same way as he had Axyen even as Clark's fire spell only just missed the Flipendo King Cassian.

As for Cassian, he would try to cast the tickling charm... and perhaps he did have the words right... or maybe he just had the action right... but was it supposed to be a feather or was it more like a leaf...? He would find himself unable to successfully remember, let alone recall and attempt to cast the spell, and as such the moment would pass him by without his being able to successfully act upon his intent to cast.

Piérre shouted loudly again. "Alright kids! We only have a few minutes left! Sling once more! And try not to kill each other, please for the love of God." He grumbled the last bit to himself, crossing his arms and petting Figaro to distract himself from the miffed-offedness he was starting to feel.

Information

1. You have 96 hours from this post's timestamp to owl your moves to me (Piérre Marchonné) 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. I will try to moderate early if all actions and posts are in before the deadline. If you do not wish for me to do this, please owl me.
5. Your stats, abilities, and spells are considered locked for this duel. If any are added to your trunk since 25th January, they may not be used.
6. If you have any questions or feedback regarding this match, please feel free to owl or DM me.
7. Handy links: Duelling Rules, Duelling Spells, and the most recent patch.
8. Good luck and happy duelling!

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

Clark mumbled. He was not having a good time what with his girlfriend being knocked out. Okay, fine, maybe not his girlfriend physically but in his mind they were together for all of eternity but it hasn't been said yet. They all singlehandedly targeted her and it made Clark feel a little riled up, and he wanted them all down for their crimes.

Action: As strategized
Abilities/Race: Part Goblin Y1, Prodigal DADA
Stats: Sta 7 | Eva 10 | Str 0 | Wis 7 | Arc 6 | Acc 8
Wand: [not wandmaker] Walnut Wood | Phoenix Feather