2022, Stage 2 Hufflepuff vs Ravenclaw: Match 6

Reminder: You have about 30 hours to post and send in actions. Failing to post means your action is void and failing to give actions means your team does nothing but passively dodge.

I still need actions from Hufflepuff and a post from Phaedra.

@Lindsey Springhall, @Lucia Fox, @Phaedra Stavrou

Phaedra wasn't surprised in the slightest that both Lindsey and Lucia turned their wands towards her. Eye-roll masked from the blindfold's tightening, her last glimpse before darkness was her own successful Obscuro. Tit for tat. Hands figuratively tied, she could only nod in the direction of Samantha's voice. “Thank you.” She was on fire, but it wasn't a terrible first round, she supposed.

Doing as strategized (x)

Round 2

Lindsey Springhall

Reducio

Lindsey removes her blindfold.
Effects:
- No longer blindfolded (for about 2 seconds)

Lucia Fox vs Phaedra Stavrou

Reducio

Lucia casts Knockback Jinx at Phaedra.
Wisdom DC: 9
Wisdom Check: [d20: 19] + 9 = 28, success
Accuracy Check: [d20: 2] + 0 Blindfolded = 2
Evasion Check: [d20: 2] + 0 Blindfolded = 2
2 = 2 → Impaired Hit
Damage: 100 + (6 x 10) = 160 / 2 impaired hit = 80

Phaedra Stavrou

Reducio

Phaedra removes her blindfold.
Effects:
- No longer blindfolded

Samantha Salwis vs Lindsey Springhall

Reducio

Samantha casts Blindfolding Spell at Lindsey.
Wisdom DC: 10 + 2 Lovely Creature = 12
Wisdom Check: [d20: 16] + 8 = 24, success
Accuracy Check: [d20: 17] + 7 = 24
Evasion Check: [d20: 2] + 0 Blindfolded = 2
24 > 2 → Hit
Effects:
- Lindsey is (re)blindfolded with 0 accuracy and evasion until removed.

With three duellists blindfolded, no one was expecting anything particularly flashy from this stage. For those trying to watch multiple duels, this would be the perfect moment to switch their focus. If this was on TV, you could practically take an ad break (though doing that a minute in would be painful). However, expectations were not necessarily the fact of what was going to happen, and though it was no peak of flashy casting, anyone who'd looked away would miss something interesting.

Firstly, the sole duellist with her vision perfectly unimpaired was, of course, on the attack. Samantha essentially had a free shot. Would she use it to land a devastating Flipendo? To send a wand flying away? Out of any number of things he could have done, Samantha chose the arguably most annoying option and cast another Obscuro, so that right as Lindsey removed her first blindfold, another one took its place.

That was where the casting was expected to end, but an observant eye might notice Lucia's wand raising. She could see nothing, and yet perhaps she was confident in her memory of where Phaedra had been standing. It wasn't the worst idea ever, since she knew Phaedra was also blindfolded and perhaps had the element of surprise on her side (unless Samantha called it out). Her spell was strong, the accuracy of it not so much, but somehow it was just in the ballpark enough to catch Phaedra in the leg.

Was it worth it, though? Because now, both Hufflepuffs were still blindfolded and both Ravenclaws were free to attack. Samantha's move was surely frustrating for Lindsey, and not the most honorable, but it was certainly strategic. Ravenclaw, for the moment, had the upper-hand.

OOC Info

1. You have 96 hours from my timestamp to write your entrance posts (50 words min).
2. In the same time period, owl me (Bridget Collins) your team's actions. Do not hint at your next actions in your post.
3. If you don't post in the allotted time frame, your action is void. There are no extensions.
4. Your stats, abilities, and spells have been locked in as of posting this thread. You can still update your trunks but they will not count for this duel.
5. Please familiarize yourself with the latest patch and the full rules if you haven't already.
6. If at any point you have questions and concerns, my owls and DMs (Bridget Collins#5102) are open.
7. Good luck and have fun!

@Lindsey Springhall | @Lucia Fox | @Phaedra Stavrou | @Samantha Salwis

Spectator Thread

As soon as she got the chance, Lindsey quickly tore the cursed fabric down using her spare hand. It was so good to see the world again - in her own eyes, of course. But she was only sighted for approximately 2 seconds, and a second blindfolding spell from Samantha blindfolded her. Black fabric tightly wrapped her eyes again. That feeling was - ah, she really didn’t know how to describe it. Frustrated? Furious? She wasn’t sure. Biting her lips, Lindsey growled under her breath. This wouldn’t be an easy game - perhaps.

as strategized · trunk

Both opponents being blind meant she could let her guard down, right? Wrong.

The hit reminded her of that dumb thing her cousin did when he kicked the back of her knees, but far more disorientating. Caught off guard, Phaedra squeaked on the way down. Leg violently swept behind her, she fell forwards into a crouch resembling that of a runner before the start. She did not linger in this faceplant-saving pose for long. With a vigor, Phaedra sprung to her feet and ripped the blindfold off. From the force, it was a miracle her wand remained in her grasp.

“...I'm okay,” she announced unprompted, a sorry attempt at masking the fact that Lucia had one-upped her. It wouldn't happen again. As her eyes readjust to light, and as she fought the desire to nurse her aching leg with a rub, Phaedra was surprised to see Lindsey and Lucia still both blindfolded. Samantha was doing an awfully good job at holding her own. “Nice one.”

...Now where were they?

Doing as strategized (x)

With her partner blindfolded Samantha was the only one on their team to cast a spell. She liked the idea of having the opponents blinded and unable to see. The young girl could cast any spell she desired, but she picked obscuro. She expected both of the Hufflepuffs to remove their blindfold, but only one of them did. Luckily for Samantha that was the one she had aimed for. After Lindsey removed her first blindfold another one wrapped around her head. Perfect.

Lucia had cast a spell at Phaedra while being blindfolded, which came as a big surprise to Samantha. Somehow Lucia was able to hit the oldest duellist, which was quite impressive. It may have been cool, but it did mean that Lucia was still blindfolded, just like Lindsey.

The second-year was really happy with this round, her spell had hit and Phaedra had removed her blindfold. When the older girl complimented her, Samantha felt unstoppable. All her spells had hit so far and not a single spell had hit her. She didn't care about the fact that she had just cast 2 spells, from which one was to a blinded opponent, and nobody had even targeted her. She was doing amazing, according to herself.

Round 3

Lindsey Springhall

Reducio

Lindsey removes her blindfold.
Effects:
- No longer blindfolded

Lucia Fox

Reducio

Lucia attempts to Body Block for Lindsey.

Phaedra Stavrou vs Lindsey Samantha & Lucia

Reducio

Phaedra spell spreads Disarming Charm at Lindsey and Lucia.
Wisdom DC: 10 + 2 Spell Spread = 12
Wisdom Check: [d20: 2] + 15 = 17, success
Accuracy Check vs Lindsey: [d20: 1] → crit miss
New Target: Samantha
New Accuracy Check: [d20: 6] = 6
Evasion Check (Samantha): [d20: 17] + 7 = 24
6 < 24 → Miss
Accuracy Check vs Lucia: [d20: 14] + 12 - 2 Spell Spread = 24
Evasion Check (Lucia): [d20: 9] + 0 Blindfolded = 9
24 > 9 → Hit
Duration: [d3: 3] → 2 rounds (1d3, 1-2: 1 round, 3: 2 rounds)
Effects:
- Lucia is disarmed for 2 rounds, must use Search for Wand action.

Samantha Salwis vs Lindsey Springhall

Reducio

Samantha casts Wind Jinx at Lindsey.
Wisdom DC: 11 + 2 Lovely Creature = 13
Wisdom Check: [d20: 2] + 8 = 10, fail

With Ravenclaw free to attack as they pleased while Hufflepuff saw only black, perhaps it was best the badgers accepted whatever damage they might take in the next few moments in favor of escaping this dead-end situation. And Lindsey did just that, getting to work on her second blindfold. Lucia, however, continued to be a surprise, stepping as best as she could blindly in front of Lindsey, shielding her. Was it that effective of a blockade? Well, the eagles probably would have little trouble switching their angle just a bit to shoot past her, but it was an admirable attempt. It also made strategic sense; Ravenclaw looked like they might keep the Hufflepuffs stuck in an endless loop of blindfolds, so one of them taking the hits broke the cycle.

Ravenclaw wasn't doing that again, though. Phaedra opted for a spell with similar effect, at least in terms of taking away an opponent's ability to cast. Again, she wielded her wand to perform a mighty split. This one did not go as well. The red light did indeed bifurcate, and one headed straight for the raven-haired badger. The other veered far more to the side than intended, coming closer to Samantha than anyone. Maybe that shock was why Samantha's attempt at the Wind Jinx sputtered out. Bridget had been watching the movement of her wand in anticipation, impressed at this second year casting an advanced spell. She clearly knew the wand movement and incantation well, there were no errors there, but something lacked: concentration, the ability to perform it in a pressure situation. Ah, maybe next time.

As the dust settled, Hufflepuff would have a set of free eyes, the former Beater ready to go back at it. Her partner, not so much, still blindfolded and her wand now nowhere to be seen, courtesy of Phaedra. A few errors had prevented Ravenclaw from capitalizing as much as they could have, but the situation was still looking in their favor. It was, of course, early; she would not yet count the badgers out.

OOC Info

1. You have 96 hours from my timestamp to write your entrance posts (50 words min).
2. In the same time period, owl me (Bridget Collins) your team's actions. Do not hint at your next actions in your post.
3. If you don't post in the allotted time frame, your action is void. There are no extensions.
4. Your stats, abilities, and spells have been locked in as of posting this thread. You can still update your trunks but they will not count for this duel.
5. Please familiarize yourself with the latest patch and the full rules if you haven't already.
6. If at any point you have questions and concerns, my owls and DMs (Bridget Collins#5102) are open.
7. Good luck and have fun!

@Lindsey Springhall | @Lucia Fox | @Phaedra Stavrou | @Samantha Salwis

Spectator Thread

She wasn't unstoppable and the young girl was confronted with that truth in the next round. Samantha had been confident enough to try a third-year spell she had learned a couple of weeks ago and it didn't go as planned.

The wand movement and incantation went well, only the brunette was distracted when she saw a spell coming her way. For some reason, Phaedra's spell came rushing her way instead of to the Hufflepuffs. Samantha saw the spell coming her way and luckily was able to dodge it on time.

With big eyes, she looked at her dueling partner. "You are not supposed to aim at me!" Samantha was aware that Phaedra knew that as well, but she still couldn't stop herself from saying it. In her mind, it was Phaedra's fault that she failed her spell.

Again tearing the black fabric down, Lindsey was surprised to find that Lucia stepped in front of her and shielding her. A black fabric still wrapped around the raven-haired girl’s eyes, and her wand was gone steps away - courtesy of Phaedra, no doubt, as Lindsey saw the red light just in time when she removed her blindfold. Speaking of Phaedra, it seemed that her spell-splitting ability somehow went wrong this time, for one of the red lights veered right towards Samantha, while the latter walked out of its way with ease.

“Oh Lucia…” she gasped, widening her eyes in surprise. Lucia was being so selfless, trying to block the spells coming in Lindsey’s way. “Th - thank you so much.” she whispered to her partner gratefully. Even if Lucia wasn’t able to see, Lindsey still gave her a smile with gratitude. They would do this. Together.

as strategized · trunk