Blossom Fest The Cabins Event

Kidnappings happen for one of three reasons:

1 - To satisfy some sick predication of the kidnapper.
2 - To eliminate a witness or otherwise ensure their safety.
3 - Because they were tasked with doing so.

The reasons for these men was still unclear, however their unsavory actions would not be without consequence. Aurelia would try to fake them out, something about a 'brother' that Trevor had failed to mention. A guffaw escaped one of the men's lips, "nice try." For whatever reason, there seemed to be a casual knowledge of Trevor's family tree. Long-term friends? Something else? Those three names were of course unknowns, while there -might- have been students that went by those given names, those were not the aliases that they used at the dance such as Aldrin.

Aurelia's scream would summon help, well something that somewhat resembled help at the very least. A motley gathering of students, ne'er do wells such as themselves that had decided to sneak off the the cabins for whatever reason. To snoop. To make out with the former Head Boy. To consume something a bit stronger than butter beer.

The other one, the less brave one in any case, Mari mostly cried. Admittedly a reasonable reaction to a kidnapping. "Gawd, shut-up kid," he complained with a hint of Jersey in his voice as he tried to lift the little girl up. Most wizards say Merlin's name in vain, a peculiarity like a great many things.

What were they going to do with the girls? The answer was simple, they were taking them. "You'll see when you get there," Mari's kidnapper replied through gritted teeth. In truth, he had no damn idea what he was doing. "Not my problem whatever they do with you, should have minded your own business and stayed where you were supposed to," yes this was their fault for wandering too far. For being in a place that they should not have been. For wandering away from the safety of the herd. 

Little did they knew that there were three of them at the dance attempting to take with them one unfortunate little boy or girl. That they were exceedingly greedy and that taking two more only meant greater rewards. 

Auriella's scream should have summoned help, sadly their help was new to this hero thing. Far from stealthy, a steam of fireworks would blast heavenward as Elena Jones cast Periculum. A flash of red would light the heavens momentarily. Notifying whomever was near and quite far of their presence and possibly their mortal peril. Help would likely come eventually if they could hold their own against four full-grown men long enough for help to arrive. The snap of a twig and their location was identified. 

"This place is just crawling with wizarding brats," the new arrival announced. "Drag the two of them off and don't let Morgantha see you." Was he the leader or just the most outspoken among them? It was hard to say but they were heeding his orders. Their grips would tighten on the two young girls and they would attempt to lift them from the ground. They would not get five steps before a clumsy potential savior, more likely victim would stumble into their path. Was he the only one out there? The cause of the fireworks? The lurking presence they heard? Quite possibly.

For the moment the Elenas had an advantage, the men had no idea that there were two more. Of course the question was as the foolish former Prefect offered himself up as yet another sacrifice victim.

"Um...hey, I'm right here! You looking for a third to capture?"

The two who were not busied attempting to overwhelm a pair of weak little girls looked at each other. There was this almost audible psychic conversation between the two of them carried out in entirely non-verbals.

Another one?

Yeah, looks like.

Score.

I know, right?

Bit ugly for a little girl tho don't you think.

Yeah, they might want to keep this one.

The leer on their face would say it off if Anatole did not know his non-verbals. They would step forward and without a word one of them would reach for the boy's collar. "Fine, we'll take one more."

§

Idiots, Elena was surrounded by idiots, self sacrificing idiots of a kind worse than the shadowhunters from her beloved book collections. The Jace and Will Herondales of the wizarding world. Gryffindors.

Elena managed to keep her long string of curse words on the inside when Jangleton stepped on the twig, she also managed to stop herself from strangling Anatole for his dumb plan, what kind of idiot made a plan that hinged on two random people they don’t know, being able to use a spell they might not’ve learned. Did you say a Gryffindor? Good, you’re learning.

Luckily they had Elena Jones on their side to stop them from dying, or so the girl thought as she quickly yet quietly ran behind the cabin and then climbed up the side of it, all the while thinking of how the fuck she was going to get everyone out of this stupid mess, even the stupid Gryffindors, and even Aurelia. Much to her chagrin, Elena had managed to grow morals during her time here.

Elena crept over the roof of the cabin, and when she got to the edge shouted down, “Run kid run! We started the fire! Oh! And don’t forget when you’re holding an edged weapon.”

Hopefully that was idiotic enough to draw their attention, now Elena had that attention the plan was simple, Elena aimed her wand directly at the kidnapping asshats that’d taken over the cabins and yelled with a manic grin, “Incendio!”

It's interesting how someone's actions can completely change one's thought process. In this case, the "Gawd, shut-up kid" jerked Mari to attention as she noted the strange, underlying accent. The tears halted as she focused on not the words themselves but how they were presented. Not familiar with Americans, as her family were, for the most part, homebodies to Holt, she could distinguish the country of origin but not its region. Without thinking, she blurted, "Are you American? What are you doing here?"

At this point, she realized, it didn't really matter if she talked back or not. Thus far, not a professor was in sight, and she didn't really have much hope for the students who had also been around the cabin. They were trying, yes, and Bezu was trying, and Mari really wasn't doing much except adding some waterworks, but no matter what the children did, these old farts, with nothing better to do than reek their immoral souls on innocent kids, continued with their plan. So she kept going with responses, noting that the irritation in her voice was mounting: "And when exactly do you think we will be getting 'there'?" She murmured this question, nastier than she had intended. "For kidnappers, you seem to be taking your sweet time. You saw the sparks, someone is bound to come who isn't a student."

There wasn't much else to say or do. The new man who had arrived seemed a little more urgent, but still they just stood there, as if waiting for something. Mari surmised, with the little bit of brain power that she had left, that this "Morgantha" was not who they were waiting for. Meanwhile, her kidnappers seemed quite pleased with another offering himself up, like a sacrificial pig who really was just an addition to the increasing gluttony.

Shockingly, one of the students had a more practical method than the ones before. Mari wondered curiously why none of them had attempted a more damage-inducing spell previously, though perhaps they were just as frightened as she. Her eyes glinted, reflecting the light from the girl's wand. This was the first time that she was more occupied with something else than her kidnapper and his ever-tightening hands around her. A split second later, Mari blinked her eyes shut as she embraced the darkness behind her lids and whatever was to happen next.

Giving another day for those that have not had a chance to post yet. 

At least Aurelia had given it a try but she was no Slytherin and possess not much skills for a mere twelve year old to deceive these men. From a distance was a bright spark of red, one of spell she was familiar with, periculium. A warning signal, from who, she did not know. the darkness of the night made it almost impossible to see anything more than five feet away. A distress signal was of no use if there was no one there to answer it.

It did not take much effort for the men to lift her up. She was a twelve year old after all and barely weighed a hundred pounds. However, Aurelia would struggle with what ever might she had as the man’s grip tightened. Mari on the other hand, was not fighting but rather asking questions that Aurelia was certain she would not get the answers to. It was as if she was trying to make friends with her own kidnappers. A typical Hufflepuff.

Who ever Morgantha was, Aurelia did not want to meet her. The men started moving but it was barely a few steps before they stopped in their tracks followed by the voice of a young boy. Anatole Evans, Aurelia had not seen him in months since terrifying excursion into some tunnel the professors thought it was a good idea to bring them to. Anatole, with that spell of his had gave an ugly scar. Of course, it had been an accident but Aurelia was not the very least happy. Now he was being a bait of an idiot. Chivalry was one of the Gryffindor traits but this was the worst time to be a hero.

Then she heard someone yell for them to run, yet another familiar voice. Incendio. no not the fire-making spell. Any other spell but incendio. Whoever it was casting the spell was an idiot an idiot as well to be using such a hazardous wide range jinx.

Aurelia struggled to free her right hand from the man’s grip. If she was successful, she would pull her wand out and cast Infinite Incantem in the direction of the voice. She would not get burnt, not again.

A series of events happened very swiftly too fast to follow but perhaps the most notable was Elena Jones scaling the cabin to fire off spells from the roof. How she managed this was beyond the Gryffindor but it had worked, now only if she could work on her aim. As for Anatole, well, he had done the least thing imaginable. "Wha-are you crazy?"She hissed as he stepped forward and announced themselves giving himself up. Great, just great. Just what they needed, another person to rescue as the offenders stepped forward to seize the boy, Elena decided that was not in her best interest and if the Slytherin was displaying more bravado than the lion, that was going to be a issue she would have to fix and fix it she would."Sorry but I think your little party ends here."She announced to the group at large pointing her wand at the nearest foe."Let's hope you know how to dance."She smiled before uttering the incancation and watching the streak of light leave her wand."Tarantallegra!" Dancing Feet Spell. She could thank Defense Against the Dark Arts for that.

Though, they would probably become targets, Somehow, these guys did not seem like the type to take to such actions very kindly. She silently thanked that sparks had been shot up into the air. How did these jokers get onto the grounds anyways? Were they students? If so, they were doing something very questionable and potentially dangeorous, whatever they wanted with the two girls, the prefect decided that was not going to happen as she stepped forward her wand hand shaking a bit but steadied after a bit as she pointed it at the group."Right, one chance and one chance only. Let them go or you'll be groveling in the dirt in about 5 seconds starting now."5...4...3...2...1"Well?"

The kids were fighting back, that was their only chance to survive this ordeal. There was no hint of remorse in the men, they did not leer at them or have the evidence of a perversion or the predication for violence yet they did seem to be tasked with something. They dropped a name Morgantha. They also seemed to have no problems making little girls cry or knocking some sense into them.

Aurelia tried to break free, she was not going to die without a fight.

Roll: 13

The girl twist and writhed. He would tighten his grip.

Roll: 3

She would rip herself free. Unlike Mari, Aurelia would never be compliant. She did not have anywhere to run, not with this brute in her path. In a few second's time and likely with a few more bruises, the stranger would abscond with the young girls into the darkened wood. Mari was not a fighter, it was not in her nature. She was something different, no less heroic - just heroism comes in a great many forms. Mari would find her role someday.

But she did notice something, a hint of an American accent. But she was also suggesting that they hurry up and kidnap her more effectively. Which side was she on?

This was the moment heroes were born. One being Anatole Evans. He was playing the role of the brave fool, placing himself only a meter from the assailants. He was offering himself as the third, a proposal these ne'er do wells would not deny. Two of them had their hands full, they were not going to relinquish their charge because a newer, fresher, potentially tastier youth had revealed themselves. Yet all hands were not occupied. There was a third, and with a terrible glint in his eye he would approach the boy. A meter's distance not enough to protect the youngster from the stranger's grip.

Behind the building Elena would try to scale the wall.

Roll: 1

Elena was not particularly athletic. Blame the apparel. She would try to climb to the roof, but her brawn and her agility failed her. While not from the roof, she would still address the deplorable degenerates, perhaps the Slytherin was becoming more a hero than she had considered. 

“Incendio!”

The audacious girl proclaimed as she brandished her wand. 

Roll: 11 

A conflagration erupted from the tip of her wand, illuminating the darkness and filling the space with heat. There was something incredibly reckless with her choice of spell, but there was also no time to play it safe. Slytherins often play it safe, they take their time and they wait in the shadows for their best opportunity to strike. They make friends based on what they can do for them. They don't run head first into danger and save the day for a couple of people they hardly knew. 

But Slytherins hardly consider the fact that to be cunning does not mean that they have to always have a plan. That they cannot sometimes be brave. Sometimes the right decisions are not the best decisions.

"Infinite Incantem"

Aurelia tried to counter the flames before they reached their flesh.

Roll: 9

Aurelia failed, fortune was not on her side. The flames overtook her, and Mari as well as the men and even Anatole. The heat came in a flash, warm and good. It was the moment after the brightness left and the warmth faded that the searing pain would come as the nocturne air Fire would catch upon the very flammable siding. Embers would spark flames on the building immediately adjacent, behind the girls. 

The distraction was enough for Aurelia to see an opening and dash past her assailant.

Roll: 6

Mari was not so fortunate as the man that held onto her even tighter. His fingers would leave bruises on her arms as he grit his teeth and growled "this one is enough, we're getting too much attention." This was the moment that would also define Miss Elena Jangleton. Sometimes people do not think themselves brave. They want to just be there, satisfied with being average and mundane. It was easier being safe and secure, but what we think we want is not always what we always want. If she wanted normal, quiet and safe she never would have come out here. When she heard the scream and heard the call for adventure, she would not have come running. When Anatole did something incredibly stupid, calling attention to himself and Elena Jones as well, she would have used the distraction as her chance to flee. That would have been the smart thing to do, but not necessarily the bravest of choices. Heroism comes in all forms.

Elena would raise her wand and with the flick of her slender wrist she would scream:

"Tarantallegra!"

Roll: 2

It... was pretty darn ineffective. Her moment of heroism thwarted, but her presence coupled with that of Anatole and Elena was enough to deter these delinquents. 

"Whatevah," one of the men resigned himself to compliance. They had one, that was enough but he would have rather had too. 

Actions: 
○ They are attempting to depart with Mari (kidnapping victim) -- Bad Guy 1
○ Instead of attempting to grab Aurelia, he attempts to push her (and anyone else that gets into their way) to the side to clear Bad Guy #1's departure -- Bad Guy 2
○ The final Bad Guy would hit (with his meaty fist) the first person that attempts to save Mari.

Before her very eyes, the scene changed quite dramatically. Her questions remained unanswered, of course; that would be too easy. It would also be too easy if the kidnappers had just dropped Mari. She remained tight in his grips, wincing from pain. Bezu broke free, and the trio of newcomers attempted various things, yet the only thing that worked was potentially the most dangerous: incendio.

Whether it was prophecy or pure chance, Mari happened to have recently met someone who had suffered the ill-effects of fire before. These men certainly weren't masked, but they were just as mysterious. She wondered if Eris had fought or been as meek as Mari; in an instant, she realized it was far more likely the girl had wandered into danger herself. She was as fiery as her signature red hair. Mari, on the other hand, was just letting this happen...and she was paying for it. Eris had survived her burning, Bezu had escaped, and now Mari was fighting either flame or kidnapper, with no end to the torture in sight.

The flames licked at her legs; while the warmth was welcome, the knife-like slices of pain were not. Just a few days ago, her legs had been sliced up by shards of glass. It seemed as though she would never evade the pain. The only blessing was that Mari had not chosen to wear tights, so for now it seemed, she was not yet aflame.

Her heart raced, increasing in speed. When it all got to be too much - the flames biting at her ankles, the man's bruising grip, the anxiety of the situation, the returning of her tears, and her marathon-training heart beat, Mari let out a loud, piercing scream. She followed the shriek with one word: "Bezu!"

If she had known the others' names, she likely would have called them as well. Maybe if she was thinking clearer, she would have even called Morgantha, given that her kidnapper did not want Mari to be seen by the mysterious woman. Or maybe she was also a girl? Or maybe she was a gremlin or something else mysterious. Who knew.

In a split second decision, she decided to bite down on the man's arm. If Bezu had escaped by fighting, perhaps she should try too. She couldn't bear to be taken away from Hogwarts - her home, no matter the mixed feelings she had about her time here - especially if she was taken, with force, alone. The entire encounter had already certainly brought emotional damage; if she was taken, that damage would only be intensified to a possible point of no return.

Reminder: it has been 5 days. Will give several more/

§

The streets of London were, as you would imagine, not exactly a safe place for children. In Elena's time she'd seen slower and older and worse to do children disappear, so you can imagine exactly the kind of anger she felt towards the would-be kidnappers.

Would-be kidnappers, as there was no way in hell Elena was letting these bastards steal a child, the adrenaline and blind rage felt like fire flowing in her veins. Seeing all her allies fail to assist in any meaningful manner also didn't help, so it may not have been a plan that she created, but it certainly was something to watch.

Elena aimed her wand at the man holding Mari and anyone else in the vicinity, hopefully the other men, and let loose another, "Periculum!"

Red sparks in your eyes designed to hurt, to blind, the Slytherin then grabbed the knife from the ex head boy and with a startling howl of a battle cry, physically launched herself at the nearest man, not the one holding Mari, because the little girl might get injured in the crossfire. Elena tried to stab him with it, and lord knows she was 4'9" and 50kg of pure rage, so even though the consequences may be severe, the little blue torpedo was aiming right for the neck. What else did you expect.

Actions: Fire Periculum to blind/injure kidnappers. Try to stab kidnapper in the neck.