22 Jul 2018, 06:36
Potions Class
Audi, vide, tace, si tu vis vivere in pace.
According to that, Cel was to hear, see, and be silent if she wished to live in peace-- it was what she tended to follow, even if the following actions did sometimes leave her wishing that she had voiced her thoughts-- this occasion presented itself as one of them. No sooner did she think of the notion of teamwork-- Professor Valtome vocalized it.
Perhaps this was nothing to be vexed by, perhaps it was only her own competitive brain, but it was this that set her into regret at not speaking up. There was, of course, a reason why she was not a Gryffindor. His words, however, seemed quite fitting of the obstacle that stood before them. She concentrated only on what was ahead, not the little conversation happening among the other students, as she followed the Potions Master deep into the darkness that she would fear at night.
This was not, frankly, a competition. They were to work together, or the obstacle would fail to be moved-- that was apparent and made quite obvious by his words. She was silent again, not daring to take the risk of speech, as she simply listened and internally agreed with the Slytherin boy's words. A flick of her wrist brought the long stick of chestnut back into her hand from where she had stowed it after her failures and final successes at spellwork-- the incantation, the gesture, both were on the tip of her tongue.
And yet. And yet it seemed as if the students might have forgotten something-- forgotten a possibility of using physical strength alongside arcane, both at the same time. It was true, not many of the gathered students flaunted much muscle, but would it be an advantage still? The answer was unknown to her and she would not provide it unless she needed to. After all, maybe simply magic would be enough.
Decidedly the girl told herself that if they succeeded, she would remain in her silence, and if they did not, she could speak up. There was no need for her to waste her energy, the energy that could be fed into casting the Levitation Charm along with the others, on speaking of something they might not even agree on-- she could bring it up later if it was needed, or never if it was not.
Eris's voice began counting down-- or up-- and Celynne's wand raised, summoning the curious focus necessary for casting any spell at all, the peculiar hooked and flipped L shape of the wand gesture, and the strangely backward wording of the incantation. Unlike the others, she did not count down in one, two, three. Her countdown was not in English, as the sonorous words in the damp and cold-in-many-ways air of the dungeon. No, she was far more familiar with the language she was not born with but preferred nonetheless. Here is how her countdown went, not understood by any but those who knew her language of the dead:
Unos. Duos. Tres...
24 Jul 2018, 03:10
Potions Class
“Have any of you taken the time to consider the power that you posses apart?”
Apart, from what? From his weapons, his slingshot? His magic, even? Why would he take the time to consider that if it was never going to happen? The only reason to consider it is if it was a potential eventuality. And the only way that could ever happen is if someone were to take those powers away. And the only person capable of that was the professor. The professor that had just admitted to setting traps for them.
"Now have you considered the power you possess together?"
So that was what he was getting at. Trying to get them to gauge the strength that them working together as a team would muster. But honestly, there wasn’t any point in imagining it. The way he saw it, Eris was probably a lot stronger than any other individual student here. Honestly, celery and the mystery kid would probably just get in her way, as would Kaegen himself. The power they possessed together wouldn’t be much different than the power she possessed as a singular unit. Even if they could give a significant contribution as a team, they would have to trust each other. And that was not going to happen.
"By this, I mean your employment of teamwork. Imagine all that can be achieved when people pool their strengths toward one common goal?"
He had already thought about this, and it didn’t equate to much. Why was this professor trying to make them work together when the best bet was obviously to stay in the background and let the heavy hitters take out the obstacles? If he focused his efforts on helping the group, someone was going to get stabbed in the back. On the other hand, he could watch everyone’s back and make sure that no one got any funny ideas. That would contribute more to the team than blindly throwing his might behind the rest of them.
The professor’s words were terrifying to say the least, a quiet, calm confidence radiated from them. The calm confidence of something that wasn’t at all worried about you because to that person, you were nothing but a snack. A snack that had no hope of life or survival. Kaegen started to feel a cold sweat bead up on his forehead, prompting him to pull his scarf up slightly higher.
The professor wanted them to work together to move the mass of stone? Move it where, exactly? They would have to pivot it to make room. But the most confusing part of the matter was that the professor wanted them to move it in the first place. What was even the point? What sinister plan did the imposing man have up his sleeve? Was he going to wait for them to get close and then use the rock wall to smash them against the wall?
The mystery boy spoke up pointing out the obvious “solution” apparently completely missing the obvious trap it represented. He was clearly not the brightest firefly in the swarm.
Eris spoke up, introducing herself. But she didn’t seem quite the same as she usually did, assuming it was her, anyway. Not only had her hair lost some of it’s fire, but so had her voice. It sounded cooler, colder. Less forceful. He had no idea what the hufflepuff campout was, or why it had anything to do with fire. Neither did he much care. Despite the slight coldness of her voice and hair, she still sounded like her.
Eris then suggested to cast the spell on the count of three. Had she missed the trap too? Missed the fact that the professor clearly wanted them dead and the only way to not be dead was to not blindly follow everything he said? Kaegen’s hand twitched to his wand, reflexively obeying Eris’ command to cast the spell, but he stopped himself. She didn’t need his help, he wasn’t a powerful wizard. Definitely not powerful enough to make a difference one way or another. But as weak a wizard as he was, he was still a good hunter.
And so instead of pulling out his wand, he sat down. Feet facing the professor, slingshot loaded and pointed down his legs, under his robe, at the tall man. If the predatory blonde decided to attack eris, Kaegen was going to make sure he never lived to see the next sunrise. Or at least he was going to die trying. A drop of sweat dripped off of the end of his nose, never before had he been in a situation where he had to protect a friend before. It put a lot of pressure on his little shoulders. It was a feeling he did not like.
Apart, from what? From his weapons, his slingshot? His magic, even? Why would he take the time to consider that if it was never going to happen? The only reason to consider it is if it was a potential eventuality. And the only way that could ever happen is if someone were to take those powers away. And the only person capable of that was the professor. The professor that had just admitted to setting traps for them.
"Now have you considered the power you possess together?"
So that was what he was getting at. Trying to get them to gauge the strength that them working together as a team would muster. But honestly, there wasn’t any point in imagining it. The way he saw it, Eris was probably a lot stronger than any other individual student here. Honestly, celery and the mystery kid would probably just get in her way, as would Kaegen himself. The power they possessed together wouldn’t be much different than the power she possessed as a singular unit. Even if they could give a significant contribution as a team, they would have to trust each other. And that was not going to happen.
"By this, I mean your employment of teamwork. Imagine all that can be achieved when people pool their strengths toward one common goal?"
He had already thought about this, and it didn’t equate to much. Why was this professor trying to make them work together when the best bet was obviously to stay in the background and let the heavy hitters take out the obstacles? If he focused his efforts on helping the group, someone was going to get stabbed in the back. On the other hand, he could watch everyone’s back and make sure that no one got any funny ideas. That would contribute more to the team than blindly throwing his might behind the rest of them.
The professor’s words were terrifying to say the least, a quiet, calm confidence radiated from them. The calm confidence of something that wasn’t at all worried about you because to that person, you were nothing but a snack. A snack that had no hope of life or survival. Kaegen started to feel a cold sweat bead up on his forehead, prompting him to pull his scarf up slightly higher.
The professor wanted them to work together to move the mass of stone? Move it where, exactly? They would have to pivot it to make room. But the most confusing part of the matter was that the professor wanted them to move it in the first place. What was even the point? What sinister plan did the imposing man have up his sleeve? Was he going to wait for them to get close and then use the rock wall to smash them against the wall?
The mystery boy spoke up pointing out the obvious “solution” apparently completely missing the obvious trap it represented. He was clearly not the brightest firefly in the swarm.
Eris spoke up, introducing herself. But she didn’t seem quite the same as she usually did, assuming it was her, anyway. Not only had her hair lost some of it’s fire, but so had her voice. It sounded cooler, colder. Less forceful. He had no idea what the hufflepuff campout was, or why it had anything to do with fire. Neither did he much care. Despite the slight coldness of her voice and hair, she still sounded like her.
Eris then suggested to cast the spell on the count of three. Had she missed the trap too? Missed the fact that the professor clearly wanted them dead and the only way to not be dead was to not blindly follow everything he said? Kaegen’s hand twitched to his wand, reflexively obeying Eris’ command to cast the spell, but he stopped himself. She didn’t need his help, he wasn’t a powerful wizard. Definitely not powerful enough to make a difference one way or another. But as weak a wizard as he was, he was still a good hunter.
And so instead of pulling out his wand, he sat down. Feet facing the professor, slingshot loaded and pointed down his legs, under his robe, at the tall man. If the predatory blonde decided to attack eris, Kaegen was going to make sure he never lived to see the next sunrise. Or at least he was going to die trying. A drop of sweat dripped off of the end of his nose, never before had he been in a situation where he had to protect a friend before. It put a lot of pressure on his little shoulders. It was a feeling he did not like.
Shade-Beacon, Master of the Castle of Avarice
24 Jul 2018, 05:32
Potions Class
Eris notices a wall of green ooze lining the wall on the far left, drag marks along the ground surrounding the boulder, and the distant drip drip drip of droplets of water falling into a puddle. Nothing seems to be amiss.
All was going according to the prescribed plan set forth by the professor before the night had come. Obstacles varying in intensity had been laid in dotted segregation throughout the entirety of the dungeons, the first of which was none other than the large boulder that they were now moving from their path through combined efforts. One...two...three...Unos...duos...tres... Whatever terminology they prefered, the countdown remained consistent. Four of five followed instructions well and cast their spell on the boulder
Boulder - [ DC15 ] vs ArcPower - [16]
Their combined power over the arcane was enough to move the large stone, but they struggled greatly with the effort, even as they worked together. They found that it was far heavier than any prior anticipation could have prepared them for, and instead of levitating off the ground as they might have been expecting, the boulder groaned raucously along the ground as they moved it aside. A labour through magic it might have been, but the effort would leave the less fortified winded.
[Anyone who made the attempt with less than 5 Stamina feels weary and loses -1 Control for the duration of their next post].
It would have been much easier had their friend, Kaegen, done as instructed and cast the spell alongside his peers.
As for the boy in question who sat with his back turned to the rest of the group, he found that he was facing empty space where the professor had been standing before the spells were cast. The man who had been standing there only moments ago had simply vanished without a trace, nothing left behind but the suppositious signs of his disappointment in Kaegen. The boy had unwittingly started a chain of events with his warranted suspicion of the Potions Master. In his suspicion, he was the first to see them. The glow of tiny red lights moving in the shadows in the far distance. The visual is soon followed by the sound of muffled squealing, and then they become clearer. The lights of red are small and beady, eyes reflecting the dim light in the darkness. A seething flood of rats, each as large as a puppy but gaunt and half-starved, is scurrying through the dungeons towards you all like a torrent of black water!
All was going according to the prescribed plan set forth by the professor before the night had come. Obstacles varying in intensity had been laid in dotted segregation throughout the entirety of the dungeons, the first of which was none other than the large boulder that they were now moving from their path through combined efforts. One...two...three...Unos...duos...tres... Whatever terminology they prefered, the countdown remained consistent. Four of five followed instructions well and cast their spell on the boulder
Boulder - [ DC15 ] vs ArcPower - [16]
Their combined power over the arcane was enough to move the large stone, but they struggled greatly with the effort, even as they worked together. They found that it was far heavier than any prior anticipation could have prepared them for, and instead of levitating off the ground as they might have been expecting, the boulder groaned raucously along the ground as they moved it aside. A labour through magic it might have been, but the effort would leave the less fortified winded.
[Anyone who made the attempt with less than 5 Stamina feels weary and loses -1 Control for the duration of their next post].
It would have been much easier had their friend, Kaegen, done as instructed and cast the spell alongside his peers.
As for the boy in question who sat with his back turned to the rest of the group, he found that he was facing empty space where the professor had been standing before the spells were cast. The man who had been standing there only moments ago had simply vanished without a trace, nothing left behind but the suppositious signs of his disappointment in Kaegen. The boy had unwittingly started a chain of events with his warranted suspicion of the Potions Master. In his suspicion, he was the first to see them. The glow of tiny red lights moving in the shadows in the far distance. The visual is soon followed by the sound of muffled squealing, and then they become clearer. The lights of red are small and beady, eyes reflecting the dim light in the darkness. A seething flood of rats, each as large as a puppy but gaunt and half-starved, is scurrying through the dungeons towards you all like a torrent of black water!
Rats ∞
§ Stamina: 2
§ Agility: 6
§ Strength: 1
§ Accuracy: 1
Their squeals and snaps leave no room to wonder what their intention is, and they are gaining ground with every breath that is taken, clearly having been summoned by the disturbance of sound as the boulder dragged across the ground. Their numbers are teeming, and it is impossible to gauge an exact or even approximate figure as they flood the space. Quickly, action must be taken in the form of fight or flight. Beyond the newly opened pathway that lies ahead is a wide corridor leading deeper into the dungeons. It is a straight passage of pale, grey stone which soon ends at an empty vestibule. There are two options available to you:
§ Flee through the newly opened path.
Should you choose to take the only path to flee open to you, you will notice the sound of dripping getting louder and louder the further you go. Soon you arrive at the seemingly bare antechamber with the door wide ajar as if in invitation. Close behind the sound of the swarm of rats grows ever more clamourous as they stride forth for flesh. Attempts to lock the door behind you will prove fruitless, for the thing seems to have been rusted stiff with age and lack of use.
But it is your only saving grace. Leave it open and the rats will be upon you in mere moments. Decide to leave it open and allow the rats to enter as you try to find another exit in the unfamiliar room may prove ill-advised. Yet it may be all you can do if you wish to survive the sudden hunger for fresh human flesh.
§ Stand and fight.
Likewise, you may choose to take your chances in open combat with the wicked flood of unnatural rodents wanting nothing more than to tear into your skin and nibble until nothing is left.
Decide quickly, for they will be upon you soon, and then there will be no other option but to fight the battle with every possible odd stacked against you.
§ Flee through the newly opened path.
Should you choose to take the only path to flee open to you, you will notice the sound of dripping getting louder and louder the further you go. Soon you arrive at the seemingly bare antechamber with the door wide ajar as if in invitation. Close behind the sound of the swarm of rats grows ever more clamourous as they stride forth for flesh. Attempts to lock the door behind you will prove fruitless, for the thing seems to have been rusted stiff with age and lack of use.
But it is your only saving grace. Leave it open and the rats will be upon you in mere moments. Decide to leave it open and allow the rats to enter as you try to find another exit in the unfamiliar room may prove ill-advised. Yet it may be all you can do if you wish to survive the sudden hunger for fresh human flesh.
§ Stand and fight.
Likewise, you may choose to take your chances in open combat with the wicked flood of unnatural rodents wanting nothing more than to tear into your skin and nibble until nothing is left.
Decide quickly, for they will be upon you soon, and then there will be no other option but to fight the battle with every possible odd stacked against you.
"𝔳𝔞𝔫𝔦𝔱𝔞𝔰 𝔳𝔞𝔫𝔦𝔱𝔞𝔱𝔲𝔪 𝔬𝔪𝔫𝔦𝔞 𝔳𝔞𝔫𝔦𝔱𝔞𝔰"
30 Jul 2018, 04:32
Potions Class
Kyden was pleased that his plan to move the large rock/boulder worked though it had been much harder than expected. He was also pleasantly pleased that for the most part his fellow students had agreed with him and they had been able to work as a cohesive unit. He turned around quickly at the sound of scurrying.
He saw the rats coming towards them and quickly took steps backwards toward the newly revealed path. He tried to quickly analyze the situation but was also starting to panic on the inside. He looked toward the path and back towards the rats. The best decision that popped into his head was run towards the opened door he could see.
Kyden started running towards the door. "COME ON GUYS FOLLOW ME!" He hollered in hopes that everyone followed him. Once he was inside the room he stood by the door waiting to see who had followed or who had decided to stay and face that rats. Though judging by the amount of them that had been coming towards them and their size, they had been the biggest rats he had ever seen, he didn't think anybody would stay.
He noticed the lock was rusted on the door and swore mentally, this was not looking promising. He spoke to who ever had come along with him, hoping everyone had. "I think we can try to lock the door with the locking charm but for added measure just in case it doesn't work some of us should hold the door closed while some of us look for an exit to this room.
He saw the rats coming towards them and quickly took steps backwards toward the newly revealed path. He tried to quickly analyze the situation but was also starting to panic on the inside. He looked toward the path and back towards the rats. The best decision that popped into his head was run towards the opened door he could see.
Kyden started running towards the door. "COME ON GUYS FOLLOW ME!" He hollered in hopes that everyone followed him. Once he was inside the room he stood by the door waiting to see who had followed or who had decided to stay and face that rats. Though judging by the amount of them that had been coming towards them and their size, they had been the biggest rats he had ever seen, he didn't think anybody would stay.
He noticed the lock was rusted on the door and swore mentally, this was not looking promising. He spoke to who ever had come along with him, hoping everyone had. "I think we can try to lock the door with the locking charm but for added measure just in case it doesn't work some of us should hold the door closed while some of us look for an exit to this room.
ACTION: Run to the room and suggest a plan. Start looking for an exit from the room.
Last edited by Kyden Goodlow on 30 Jul 2018, 21:08, edited 1 time in total.
Kyden Zarye Goodlow // Editor for the Slytherin News-magazine //
30 Jul 2018, 10:44
Potions Class
Perhaps it was their juvenile magical abilities, or Kaegen's refusal to participate, but getting the boulder out of the way was harder than he'd imagined. Pushing the rock along the floor instead of having it float effortlessly aside like the quills in class, the piercing sound of it as well as the draining effort left Scott feeling weary on top of satisfied with their success.
Retrieving his wand back into his pocket, Scott closed and opened his eyes once slowly to gather himself again. This might be the reason as to why he wasn't the first to notice obstacle number 2.
In Professor Valtome's place, his disappearing frankly more ominous than the ruthless animals approaching, was now a mischief of rats getting closer at an alarming speed. Their threatening ways and features had Scott stumble back with a gasp, probably knocking into someone, and instinctively backing away as far he could before Kyden said what to do.
"Colloportus!"
Scott didn't bother checking the door if it had worked. If the other's felt they should reassure it then they could- but he threw his entire body mass against the door immediately after casting. His head was spinning, and he sure hoped Kyden or the others would find a more sustainable solution soon.
He did not like rats.
Retrieving his wand back into his pocket, Scott closed and opened his eyes once slowly to gather himself again. This might be the reason as to why he wasn't the first to notice obstacle number 2.
In Professor Valtome's place, his disappearing frankly more ominous than the ruthless animals approaching, was now a mischief of rats getting closer at an alarming speed. Their threatening ways and features had Scott stumble back with a gasp, probably knocking into someone, and instinctively backing away as far he could before Kyden said what to do.
Turning his back to the beasts, Scott saw the Slytherin making his way further down the corridor now available to them. Running after, and escaping into the mysterious room as well, he waited recklessly by the door for everybody going their way could make it inside. Once this was it, he did as suggested and retrieved his wand to attempt a locking charm on the not-so-promising mechanic."COME ON GUYS FOLLOW ME!"
"Colloportus!"
Scott didn't bother checking the door if it had worked. If the other's felt they should reassure it then they could- but he threw his entire body mass against the door immediately after casting. His head was spinning, and he sure hoped Kyden or the others would find a more sustainable solution soon.
He did not like rats.
ACTIONS:
(-1 control)
Get into the room and eventually close the door
Cast The Locking Spell
Keep door closed by pushing against it
The biggest thing you can say is 'elephant'
Stamina: 10 | Evasion: 7 | Strength: 11 | Wisdom: 8 | Arcane Power: 6 | Accuracy: 8
30 Jul 2018, 22:33
Potions Class
The room seemed fine, there was nothing lurking in the shadows to attack them. She was safe, safe enough to cast the spell without worrying about a snake or a masked figure coming out to kill Eris, and the strange group that she had found herself going on this adventure with.
They all cast the spell, but the boulder was harder to move than Eris thought it would be. The pink haired girl let out a hiss of anger and frustration, willing the spell to do more damage. When the boulder finally moved making an ugly noise as it rolled across the floor, Eris whipped around to turn towards Kaegen, who was staring at the empty space were the professor had been. Of course it was him who hadn't cast the spell with them. Just, of course.
Of course Kaegen hadn't listened to simple instructions, that would just be too easy for him. Eris might of been mad, had she not known Kaegen and his strategies first hand, after a long year of unlikely friendship. While Eris had changed, for the better or worse, Kaegen had stayed the same. Wore the same scarf, acted the same, and had the same thinking patterns. Eris had never been good at understanding what Kaegen wanted, or at he was trying to attempt, but she forced the scowl building up on her face to vanish.
"Kaegen, I know you're doing what you think is best but can you help us next time? I-"
Her voice trailed off, as Eris let out a gasp, staring at the horde of animals that had appeared out of nowhere. She had seen rats in the castle once before, when she was a prefect with Serena Towers. Honestly, for an expensive magical castle, they could have some kind of pest control. It wasn't that crazy, considering they were wizards who did crazy things, like midnight adventures & fights with magic, also known as duels. But nooo, for all their magical attributes, they simply couldn't get some good pest control.
Someone shouted follow me, but Eris's wand was already out, pointed at the horde of rats. "ARE YOU A WIZARD OR NOT? We have magic, just fight these stupid things. They could be part of the next obstacle, you blithering idiot!"
Oh yes, vocabulary lessons were being used. Just, not in the way that one would assume fancy vocabulary should be used. Eris had her wand at the ready, but the rest of the kids were running away! Had they never been in an adventure before? Although she wanted to fight the rats, doing so alone seemed like a bad idea. She might of been brave, but Eris wasn't stupid. One midget vs an army of rats was not going to go well.
With a groan and an eye roll, the preteen raced after the two boys. Obviously smaller than the rest, Eris was hardly able to keep up. Each of her paces was slower than the rest of the pounding footsteps, but she was not afraid. The heavy panting and loud footfalls were the only noises Eris was making, as she made it to the room last, just as Scott shut and locked the door, pressing his whole body up against it.
Once Eris caught her breath, she started to laugh heavily at the expression on the boy's face. "They're just rats, we could of fought them, but now we're in this putrid room, without a professor or anyone to help us."
It was just them. No rats, no Valtome, no plan.
ACTION:
run into room
insult everyone.
sorry not sorry bout' what i said
STA: 6 EVA: 7 STR: 1 WIS: 8 ACC 9 ACC: 9
abilities: transfig DC -5
31 Jul 2018, 06:31
Potions Class
He saw the rats first, realized what they were and the threat they represented. Realized that he was completely screwed unless he had a chance to escape. The boy turned, facing the corridor to escape, but paused and waited, turning to face Eris, to stare at the little red head as she talked to him, asked him to help them next time.
It was understanding, the tone of voice and words chosen meant to convey that there were no hard feelings, but it didn’t matter. “Can you help us next time.” Next time. As in he didn’t help her this time. As in he was a useless, pathetic excuse for a prefect. And not worthy to be her friend, not worthy to be the backing authority behind her name.
The next thing he saw was the two boys fleeing down the tunnel, and then heard Eris shouting.
"ARE YOU A WIZARD OR NOT? We have magic, just fight these stupid things. They could be part of the next obstacle, you blithering idiot!"
So that was what she wanted him to do. Fight. Fight and defeat this next challenge. As the boy set his feet and faced the rats, he could feel the adrenaline start to trickle, then flow throughout his system. He could feel his pulse speed up faster and faster. His mind tried to convince him to run, but the little voice only his subconscious could hear reminded him that he had already failed. It wasn’t going to happen again.
How could he fail? He had instructions, he knew what his friend expected of him. She expected him to stand and kill as many rats as possible before they finally began to chew the flesh from his bones. He knew this was going to be his proverbial last stand, but the boy still hadn’t realized Eris had followed the other two. He was too scared, too focused on the task at hand.
He could feel something in him growing, feel a sharp pain in his gums. If anyone was watching from the shadows, they would be able to see rapidly expanding pupils as the young ravenclaw prepared for what he was about to do. His hand reached for his knives, prepared to take down as many of them as he possibly could. Eris had said magic, but he wasn’t comfortable enough with spells to use them in a situation like this. He was going back to his roots.
But as he took the first step forward, his body refused. The sense of self preservation that had been with him all his life was too strong to overcome by the admittedly unusually strong promise of a child. And so he reached for his wand instead, and leaped out over the rats. Above them.
”Fleependo”
With a sickening impact and a crack like a gunshot, the boy flew towards the ceiling. The rats had seen him jump over them, they would know where the closest source of meat was. Eris, at least, would be safe. Disappointed in Kaegen’s lack of courage, lack of strength. But still safe. As he reached the craggy ceiling of the cave, the boy grabbed his wand in his teeth and reached out with strong fingers, desperately grasping for a handhold.
If luck was with him, his unusually strong, dull pointed fingernails would come in handy once again. If he wasn’t, then he was faced with a rather sudden change in his current status as a living being.
It was understanding, the tone of voice and words chosen meant to convey that there were no hard feelings, but it didn’t matter. “Can you help us next time.” Next time. As in he didn’t help her this time. As in he was a useless, pathetic excuse for a prefect. And not worthy to be her friend, not worthy to be the backing authority behind her name.
The next thing he saw was the two boys fleeing down the tunnel, and then heard Eris shouting.
"ARE YOU A WIZARD OR NOT? We have magic, just fight these stupid things. They could be part of the next obstacle, you blithering idiot!"
So that was what she wanted him to do. Fight. Fight and defeat this next challenge. As the boy set his feet and faced the rats, he could feel the adrenaline start to trickle, then flow throughout his system. He could feel his pulse speed up faster and faster. His mind tried to convince him to run, but the little voice only his subconscious could hear reminded him that he had already failed. It wasn’t going to happen again.
How could he fail? He had instructions, he knew what his friend expected of him. She expected him to stand and kill as many rats as possible before they finally began to chew the flesh from his bones. He knew this was going to be his proverbial last stand, but the boy still hadn’t realized Eris had followed the other two. He was too scared, too focused on the task at hand.
He could feel something in him growing, feel a sharp pain in his gums. If anyone was watching from the shadows, they would be able to see rapidly expanding pupils as the young ravenclaw prepared for what he was about to do. His hand reached for his knives, prepared to take down as many of them as he possibly could. Eris had said magic, but he wasn’t comfortable enough with spells to use them in a situation like this. He was going back to his roots.
But as he took the first step forward, his body refused. The sense of self preservation that had been with him all his life was too strong to overcome by the admittedly unusually strong promise of a child. And so he reached for his wand instead, and leaped out over the rats. Above them.
”Fleependo”
With a sickening impact and a crack like a gunshot, the boy flew towards the ceiling. The rats had seen him jump over them, they would know where the closest source of meat was. Eris, at least, would be safe. Disappointed in Kaegen’s lack of courage, lack of strength. But still safe. As he reached the craggy ceiling of the cave, the boy grabbed his wand in his teeth and reached out with strong fingers, desperately grasping for a handhold.
If luck was with him, his unusually strong, dull pointed fingernails would come in handy once again. If he wasn’t, then he was faced with a rather sudden change in his current status as a living being.
Shade-Beacon, Master of the Castle of Avarice
3 Aug 2018, 22:14
Potions Class
A fronte praecipitum, a tergo lupi.
She should have known better than to relax after a success. She should have kept her wariness near, her apprehension sharp, yet she neglected to do so, instead turning toward the other Ravenclaw present with a slight furrowing of her brow. "What are you-" Then came the rats.
Domestic rats were nice. They were intelligent. They were clean. They were cute. These were, quite obviously, not domestic rats - brutes, dirty, and definitely less than pretty. Cel spared nought more than two glances -one to analyze the oncoming flood, one to check on the reactions of the others- before Kyden's shouted words registered and her body responded, all before she fully analyzed the situation, running after the others.
The skittering noise -that was the rats. The squeaks, snarls, the fury with which they were running- a definite indication of aggressiveness, and therefore danger by such large numbers. Briefly, the girl considered Eris's words, but quickly dismissed the idea -"just rats" were not something a knockback jinx had a chance against- and continued her sprint, blindly following the only path left, and only hoped that everyone saw the odds as she did.
Dripping water filled her ears -immediately her mind burst in thought- it meant a way for water, for moisture, to gather there, wherever there was. It meant a path out. But there was no way they had the time to find out now, she knew and lamented as she crossed the threshold; the only way out was not so obvious to her as she' hoped.
She whirled, she counted, everyone was present, but where was Kaegen? Too late to wait, it was, as Cel hurtled toward the door again, wand still in hand from her Levitation Charm, but before she could so much as part her lips, the assertive one dictated her thought. formed long before - Locking Charm.
Would it even work? The lock was rusted. The rats were coming. The boy was nowhere to be seen. And only now did she notice how tired she was; her spellwork was quite a lot more taxing than she expected. There was, there had to be another way to do this - both logic and intuition told her that this might not be the path to victory or at least safety. Were lock's inner mechanisms rusted enough to budge? Maybe. Would a closed door keep the rats at bay? Perhaps. Would the spell even succeed? With some large amount of luck, it was possible, yet very unlikely. Nevertheless, Kaegen was likely dead either way -if they waited they'd all die, if they locked the door then they might survive. Besides, he seemed resourceful enough to not get himself killed - maybe.
The contemplation flashed through her mind, thought after thought after thought, in a fraction of a second, and she'd barely analyzed each individual idea as another barrage of whirling inquiry slammed into her mind at full speed. They had potions, after all. Why not use them?
The door, old and rusty, might not hold. Spells, at least of the ilk they'd learned so far, were useless in direct combat against such numbers. Potions weren't volatile enough against so many...but what if they used their Exploding Potions against their environment instead? "Wait, I think we need to-" And...but it was too late; the others were already brandishing wands - she followed suit, her words broken off in an exaggerated sigh. Remember. Recall. Refocus. Clearly, they were too frantic to process a new possibility, one that could possibly fail too. Would probably fail. Cel should understand that, but her idea grew still in her mind. A quick, hurried glance around the room for any details she could possibly have missed was all she had time for before she raised her wand, drawing the wand gesture in midair, lips opening to pronounce the word - last thought of her idea and the resolution of entertaining it later running black in her churning head. "Colloportus!"
Action: Cast Locking Spell
Glance around the room for details
-1 Control
Reducio
A precipice in front, wolves behind
3 Aug 2018, 22:22
Potions Class
There was no one watching from the shadows. The dank space was filled with not another living soul but those of five underprepared children and starving rats. Was, at the very least, for at least four of them had fled through the portal into the next room, knowing that such an enemy as the legion of rats was not to be contested. The other, the straggler, Kaegen, remained. Whatever he planned to do he would have to do it quickly, for the rats were almost upon him.
”Fleependo”
What in the...! Did he just intentionally cast the spell incorrectly? Whatever he wanted to achieve from the miscast, he seemed to be getting his wish as his body launched through the air high above the rats, and then he attempted to latch onto one of the hardwood beams on the fifteen-foot-high ceiling.
”Fleependo”
What in the...! Did he just intentionally cast the spell incorrectly? Whatever he wanted to achieve from the miscast, he seemed to be getting his wish as his body launched through the air high above the rats, and then he attempted to latch onto one of the hardwood beams on the fifteen-foot-high ceiling.
Ceiling - [ Attempt to grip DC9 ] vs Kaegen's Strength - [ 4+7 = 11]
Kaegen's Agility - [ 8+3 = 11 ]
He had somehow managed to sink his hard nails into one of the solid beams of wood that lined the ceiling of the underground. His wand remained between his teeth and his scarf hung loosely around his neck. He was agile, which served him well in this situation. The rats scurried past towards the door that the others had fled through, aiming for easier prey that was within reach. Kaegen's hold on the wooden beam was shallow, and already he could feel himself slipping. The launch propelled by the failed spell had done its part, but it had not done enough to keep his nails ensconced within the solid wood. If he wished to remain where he was, then he would need to be ready to reconfirm his hold on the beam. He needed to think quickly, for even now a number of rats remained below him, trampled by the others to get past. No matter how he looked at it, they were waiting for him to fall so they may then enjoy his flesh. Some tried scaling the walls to get to him, but they slid back to the ground, their paws far too wet from their journey through the damp dungeons.
The others had left their friend behind to his fate, though maybe they thought he deserved whatever happened to him. He hadn't helped them before with the boulder, so maybe this was some kind of revenge play on their part. Leave the straggler. We don't need him. Let the rats enjoy their lunch, right? Eris, for one, seemed nearly intent on standing and fighting honourably against the odds, brave soul that she was, but reason soon took root when she noticed the others fleeing for their lives. The moment they were all in the room, Kyden suggested a quick plan, and Scott wasted no time putting it into practice, Celynne not far behind.
"Colloportus!"
The others had left their friend behind to his fate, though maybe they thought he deserved whatever happened to him. He hadn't helped them before with the boulder, so maybe this was some kind of revenge play on their part. Leave the straggler. We don't need him. Let the rats enjoy their lunch, right? Eris, for one, seemed nearly intent on standing and fighting honourably against the odds, brave soul that she was, but reason soon took root when she noticed the others fleeing for their lives. The moment they were all in the room, Kyden suggested a quick plan, and Scott wasted no time putting it into practice, Celynne not far behind.
"Colloportus!"
Door - [ 7HP ] vs Cast DC10 Scott's Control - [ 3-1=2 + 18 = 20 ] [ Deals 5dmg ]
Door - [ 2HP ] vs Cast DC10 Celynne's Control - [ 7-1=6 + 14 = 20 ] [ Deals 4dmg ]
The door slams shut with such force that a cloud of rust detaches from the metallic hinges and flies straight into Eris', Celynne's and Scott's faces. The combined power of their spells was enough to see results. The hollow sound of dozens of large bodies slamming against the surface could be heard clearly as the rats in their teeming numbers collided unceremoniously with the door. It remained tightly shut, however, as Scott pressed his weight against it. He was the strongest physically in the group, and the door itself seemed sturdy enough despite its age. The rats scratched and nipped when there was no more space for them to crash against it, but nothing worked as their bodies piled atop each other in the dark corridor. The crush would soon pressure the door if something more permanent was not done, for their combined weight was becoming more and more overwhelming as the time ticked by.
Kyden, who had quickly assumed the position of group leader, was proactive in his approach, trusting in the competency of the others to keep the rats at bay as he searched the new room for signs of an exit that they could use to truly be safe from the devilish rats. The room was dimly lit with a pale, bluish light that had no source. The sound of dripping water that Eris had noticed earlier intensified, sounding much closer than it had before. The room is not quite as bare as initially thought upon entry. The floors are dry and dusty, each step disturbing a new cloud that threatens to choke you. The stale odour of rotting flesh is overpowering, and a careful glance will show that the bones, teeth and fur of several small animals litter the crevices. Kyden would see it first. A grey monolith of smooth stone, five feet high, stands at the opposite end of the room. On its face lies the following riddle:
The path ahead lies far behind,
Unlock the truth through great design.
Twist and turn, it will not open,
For thoughts alone leave will unspoken.
Rap me once, no time to linger,
Come to me with a secret whisper.
Like thieves in the night with treasures to hide,
There is no one else with whom to confide.
Magic words, long since forgotten,
Used by those most vile and rotten.
With words of old and firm decree,
Bid me open, so says me.
The room, as far as you can tell, houses no other form of life or any discernible exit. The crevices are far too small and littered with death for you to have any hope of squeezing through. The words written are the only clue, and you must figure out the meaning before it is too late. But wait. There's more. Written in finer print at the base of the monolith you can see what appears to be unintelligible markings, the inscription more recent than the riddle, though still very old.
Kyden, who had quickly assumed the position of group leader, was proactive in his approach, trusting in the competency of the others to keep the rats at bay as he searched the new room for signs of an exit that they could use to truly be safe from the devilish rats. The room was dimly lit with a pale, bluish light that had no source. The sound of dripping water that Eris had noticed earlier intensified, sounding much closer than it had before. The room is not quite as bare as initially thought upon entry. The floors are dry and dusty, each step disturbing a new cloud that threatens to choke you. The stale odour of rotting flesh is overpowering, and a careful glance will show that the bones, teeth and fur of several small animals litter the crevices. Kyden would see it first. A grey monolith of smooth stone, five feet high, stands at the opposite end of the room. On its face lies the following riddle:
The path ahead lies far behind,
Unlock the truth through great design.
Twist and turn, it will not open,
For thoughts alone leave will unspoken.
Rap me once, no time to linger,
Come to me with a secret whisper.
Like thieves in the night with treasures to hide,
There is no one else with whom to confide.
Magic words, long since forgotten,
Used by those most vile and rotten.
With words of old and firm decree,
Bid me open, so says me.
The room, as far as you can tell, houses no other form of life or any discernible exit. The crevices are far too small and littered with death for you to have any hope of squeezing through. The words written are the only clue, and you must figure out the meaning before it is too late. But wait. There's more. Written in finer print at the base of the monolith you can see what appears to be unintelligible markings, the inscription more recent than the riddle, though still very old.
What does this mean? Symbols that you have never seen before. The dripping water seems to become slightly louder with every minute that passes, but otherwise, the room is silent save for the squeaking of rats on the other side, the door your only reprieve from what lies beyond. Scott's strength is a saving grace, as he seems to be holding up just fine despite the crush of desperate rats that want nothing more than to break through and feast on your flesh. Think quickly. He cannot hold them off forever.
From this point onward you are allowed to post as often as you'd like to discuss, experiment and make attempts to find solutions, during or after which a decision must be made. Small moderator narrations may occur if something of significance occurs. Keep in mind that only two (2) spells can be cast and two (2) physical actions can be taken between moderator posts.
"𝔳𝔞𝔫𝔦𝔱𝔞𝔰 𝔳𝔞𝔫𝔦𝔱𝔞𝔱𝔲𝔪 𝔬𝔪𝔫𝔦𝔞 𝔳𝔞𝔫𝔦𝔱𝔞𝔰"
12 Aug 2018, 16:12
Potions Class
"Deodamnatus!"
Those who knew the young Ravenclaw would know that she practically never swore-- well, close to never. In her thoughts, perhaps the occasional mild Latin obscenities, extremely mild ones, would make their ways across her mind, and yet none of them ever made it out of her lips-- except this one, the extremely rare word uttered out of quiet frustration, meaning goddammit. If one knew her well enough, he or she would know that her mental gears were soon to rust and spark if her frustration was not mitigated somehow.
But-- there it was, the wall behind them, even as Scott's strength held the door shut tightly. She wasn't sure how long he would last, but lunged for the wall, tracing a finger delicately along the lines of words as her disparate eyes darted along, individual words sometimes mouthed silently.
Magic words... long forgotten. ...Open
The three phrases caught her eye, and her mind flew again, bolting like lightning through possibilities, like light through clouds. Magic words-- it must be a spell. Long forgotten-- it couldn't be Alohomora, then, or Aberto... But she remembered, she recalled, she could practically see her homework's perfect O in Professor Henley's script, the essay detailing the two unlocking spells used too long ago: Portaberto. Open Sesame.
Which, which one? She didn't bother to alert her teammates, if they were to be so called, of her realization-- time was of the essence, and the more of it she could save, the more she would have on her hands... to help them all. The only other Ravenclaw was Kaegen, and they'd left him behind-- which meant it was her job to be the brain now if none of the others stepped in. The solving of the riddle had been executed in close to no time for her-- but which one?
Her eyes caught on the carved symbols below, etched onto the smooth stone of the menhir.
... a code, a language, of some sort. There were a couple of repeats in the symbols, one that had appeared three times, even, if that happened to be a hint in unearthing the cipher... E was the most common letter in the English alphabet, and so must be the third character and its triplets--Oh.
Easily now, she matched the letters in her mind, finger underlining each character as she did so. It was easy; it had been less than a minute, and yet this was just such a good example of the puzzles that Professor Valtome would create for them-- and under the stress of adrenaline, even better. Still, she did not waste time informing her teammates-- she had no idea whether or not it would work if she uttered the words alone, but if it didn't, she could tell them later.
Kneeling to scan the words again to make sure nothing had been missed, Cel raised a hand, unsure of whether or not she needed a wand-- from the description of the riddle, probably not. Rap me once... She rose again, curling her fingers into a loose fist, knuckles facing toward the door. The moment of uncertainty, of hesitation, that came to anyone before a decision overtook her, almost made her lower her hand before she raised it again. Knock.
"Open Sesame," the girl whispered.
Action:
C U S S
Solve the riddle way too fast >-<
Cast Open Sesame