Quidditch Stands || Secret Blossom Ball Event

Action: Exit the thread by flying to the castle with Arc unless stopped by some malevolent force. (Looks at Moderator)

Permission granted by @Arc Perscivious to godmod his character

Interacting with @Cecily Quinn @Celynne Gray

If it wasn't the cacophonous, high-pitched explosion of glass and debris from a transfigured Mosp that snapped Dmitri out of his trance, then it was the urgent shaking of his shoulders he got from the quickly-retreating Celynne Gray.

Things happened too quickly for the boy to process. Because for him, one minute he was flying full-speed at an ugly insect, feeling his claws sink into its soft body, and the next, he was on the floor, screams and yells echoing around him, and the faint smell of fire and... burning permeating the air in the general vicinity. Disoriented, Dmitri stood up shakily, managing to get his legs under him after a few seconds of trying to recover his bearings. Having two different presences invade your head out of nowhere and then getting them expelled quite violently the next moment isn't the most pleasant thing to experience. But by then, the only things he could think to himself were thank the gods I am free and holy shit things are really fucking getting down.

Swiveling his head quickly back and forth, the boy took stock of the situation and was aghast at the degree of chaos that was going down. Below, in the main area, there were flames consuming gods know what--tables, chairs, maybe even students--hell, all the screaming's making the Slytherin think some kid might probably be actually dying. The boy shook his head. Whatever is happening down there is not his business... yet. He'll take things one at a time, and the main priority here is him not dying. By the state of him, Dmitri's doing a pretty lame job as of the moment.

Shaking off his worry, the boy turned to follow in the general direction his two peers ran towards.

As he trotted off, he noted that the owls' presence in his mind still existed, but this time was different. The feeling wasn't as all-encompassing as it was before. Yes, he could still distantly feel the predatory instinct running through his mind, giving his strides an extra grit to it that he normally wouldn't be exhibiting, but all in all, he wasn't losing himself.

Maybe it was finally getting the thrill of the hunt and letting out their pent-up frustrations on the insect, or the desperate shaking he received from Celynne, but whatever it is, their thoughts didn't seem to be as pervasive. Whatever happens next, he has his full faculties up and running.

Dmitri would watch, impressed as Ms. Gray transforms a column of smoke into daggers as she runs into it, transfiguring them perfectly into weapons that drop into the hands of the other Ravenclaw--Quinn, Cecily Quinn she said her name was. At that moment, the boy would know what they were trying to do as he stares intently while Cecily lines her shot at a Mosp hovering above them. Looking up, he'd see his giant owls circling them, and not willing to risk the transfigured creatures getting impaled if, god forbid, Quinn's shot missed, he sent them a thought--merely a suggestion--to stand by, away from the foray.

Afterwards, with a flick of his wand, he would attempt to levitate two of the daggers Cecily held in her hands, aiming to shoot it at the same mosp she was targeting. "Let me borrow some of that. Wingardium Leviosa!"He didn't run the risk of the daggers falling down into the main area below and impaling some poor, unfortunate soul as the said weapons still would be in midair even if he missed.

STATS AND ABILITIES

Reducio

ACTIONS

Dmitri: Cast Wingardium Leviosa to impale Mosp #20 with two levitating daggers [Spell Spread Activated]
Owls: On standby

Mod Note

(Hello all! I wanted to apologize for the late moderation, I was whisked away on an impromptu trip early Saturday morning and just back a couple of hours ago. I have a completed outline written up which should be smoothed out and ready to go some time in the next 14 hours. I'll be taking posts right up until the second I hit submit, so if you haven't posted yet, you have a little window left! Thank you all for your patience.)

Moderation Post

(Vampyr Mosp cake by Corinna Mcguire)

Professors Vernatis, Karr, and Lian have flown overhead and entered the pitch.

@Quinn Healy parted ways with @Nico Shymane, who he bid to be his eyes in the sky. Nico, perhaps due to the size of her heart, her obligation as a prefect, or an amalgamation of the two, saw the scene of utter chaos in the pitch and chose to help. Nothing would prevent her from sweeping down from the stands and joining the main fray. Quinn could handle himself, but there were many lost souls down in the pitch. Having moved to aid @Noah Page, the half-giant effortlessly pulled the boy to his feet. Noah, riddled with panic, was appropriately anxious about his first catastrophic Hogwarts boogaloo. Although unsure as to what he should do, he had done the right thing by calling out for help, thus garnering the guidance of a seasoned student. They were not alone however.

The purple mosp had also answered his cries, giving up on pursuing Saskia- whose broom was far too fast for it, and drifting down in search of snacks. It was descending towards Quinn's back when @Meenauh Silmataurea intervened from some ways away. The girl had just finished off a mosp of the red variety, and this aimless beastie was next on her list, her aim striking true despite the darkness. While she felt a pang of compassion for the creature she had slain, the prefect's responsibility to her peers won out. She quickly crossed the stands and cast cast her Diffindo in the dark. A rather foul, acrid yellow goo oozed from the mosp where it was sliced. It splattered the stands, causing its proboscis to flail in agony, then its wings gave an angry buzz. The creature diverted from its sniffing about, abandoning Quinn and Noah to dart off towards Meenauh. In its sudden swell of rage, darting stinger-out, it missed her very narrowly. She would feel a residual breeze from its bulk buzzing by tousle her hair.

Mosp 2
• Mosp took 180 damage from Meenauh's Diffindo. Left Quinn and Noah to attack her.
• Nico, not interacting with a mosp, transitioned to the Pitch.

@Alexander Varellion had witnessed @Aida Mòrsgor-Ama Ellwood's benevolent endeavor of securing and saving the mosp. Yet her hand was sliced by a stinger, and before he could rush to her aid, the girl was swallowed up by another student's smokescreen. He cried out her name, voice joining the mix of panicked shouts in the night. Despite the disorientation and claustrophobia, he succeeded in casting Lumos, the light at least affording him a hazy view of the stairs he was stepping on. Aida had passively committed her surroundings to memory. Although the smoke closed in from all sides, her other senses compensated for lack of sight, taking in the sounds of movement and telltale reverberations in the wood. She overlooked the pain of venom throbbing through her hand, managing to calm her voice while using it to guide Alexander. Aida attempted to soothe him with assurances of escape and promises of future fun. The light at the end of his wand pierced the smoke, and once reunited, they managed to carefully navigate out of the fixed cloud. They were in the clear, though the mosp thudded pitifully down the wooden steps, blindly flinching its stingers all the while.

Mosp 4
• Mosp lost 260 HP total, alive but in a very bad way, remains bound.
• Aida and Alexander have escaped the smokescreen.

@Lamik Fillestar and @Elena Jangleton, caught in the heart of that swirling smokescreen, heard the sounds of (disturbingly close) cries and beating wings. The smokescreen had been an inventive attempt at downing the vampyr mosps, and while it had robbed them of their vision, Fumos served the unique purpose of providing cover for means of escape. The mosp was busy being chased in blind circles and would not pursue. Moving both in smoke and darkness, let alone on stairs, would prove to be a daunting task. Yet they managed all the same, crossing over to the next section of stands and into clear air.

Behind them, @Celynne Gray followed the owls, charging across the stands and delving into the smokescreen. Her cast of Fumus Lamina had an instant effect: like a vacuum, it sucked the smoke in towards her wand, the haze twisting and swirling speedily. Her mind's eye acted as an anvil and hammer, forging five matte black knives. Smoke was made solid. They tumbled towards the stands, yet no clattering would come. Two were caught midair by @Dmitri Jones' dual Wingardium Leviosa, thrown point-out with a flick of his wrist. Three were seized by @Cecily Quinn, who had sped to Celynne's side, and with one eye fixed firm on her target, she took aim. It was a wild plan, but one which proved shockingly efficient, as all three daggers- despite the darkness the thing hovered in- met their mark. The mosp, all of the sudden free of the smoke, buzzed around in a stupid circle as it tried to comprehend where its target human or owl assailants had gone. One grazed the edge of its fat torso, the next hit the opposite side, leaving angry gashes in its round body. The last lodged itself right under a blobby arm, causing the little limbs to flail in panicked pain. It tumbled back, looking as though it may fall, only to erupt with infuriated buzzing. It veered up only to dive down again. Dmitri was dishing out half as much as he was taking tonight. Perhaps his excess efforts resulted in excess attention (or perhaps the dice have it out for you, I rolled for targets both times, honest). Whatever the case, the mosp wasn't going out without landing a hit, and this time it carved a frightfully deep cut across his cheek. The stinger dragged like a dagger, leaving venom and a split in his skin. It burned as it bled, a blinding disorienting pain, the sort which puts off one's aim. At least only the mosp was mortally wounded. It circled around behind him, wobbling weirdly in the air, seeking another target for its final stand.

Mosp 20
• Fumos smoke was successfully converted into knives
• Mosp took 62 + 101 + 72 = 235 damage, is rapidly bleeding out
• Dmitri took 111 damage (447/600)

@Annie Morgan called out for @Saskia Nicholson to flee the catastrophic ball, insisting she seek safety far from the chaos. She attempted to distract the mosp, which was clearly seeking something (or someone) to latch onto, performing a quick cast of Incendio. While the witch was competent, it may have been that her wand was on the fritz. Walnut wood wands were said to be difficult to dominate. A burp of sparks were emitted, and nothing more. Saskia, glad to see a familiar face, wasn't willing to let her take the ornery creature on alone. She remained, joining the fray with Flipendo, landing a successful cast and hit. The mosp tumbled back, pummeled by the abrupt force. Although conflicted by the urge to help her friends, @Serena Towers elected to take the less reckless route, renown Hufflepuff compassion compelling her to save at least one person. The young @Elspeth Gollens wasn't a seasoned combatant: she needed to get off the battlefield before it sucked her in. By the light of Serena's Lumos, with Annie and Saskia covering their escape, the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw were able to exit the stands. They dashed through the sky without attracting insect interception or pursuit.

However, Serena took her light with her. The combating witch duo were plunged into darkness, and it was from the darkness that the infuriated mosp emerged. That wretched hybrid dove for Saskia, swinging the bottom of its body out to the side so as to slash with its stingers without colliding. It cut an angry wound into her left leg, one which did not bleed too badly, but certainly burned from a burst of fiery venom. The pain was distracting enough to put off her aim, if only slightly, though the darkness certainly didn't help.

Mosp 24
• Mosp took 160 Flipendo damage and is still trucking.
• Serena and Elspeth have successfully exited.
• Saskia took 76 damage (824/900)

@Xailah Alptraum, safe in the stands on the back of a broom, took a moment to compose herself after the brush with death. She pointed out the fire in the stands to those nearby. As @Breana Oliveire rejoined them, the light of her Lumos joining that of @Ruby Cazares and illuminated those around them, creating a pocket of visibility. The Ravenclaw tentatively implied her willingness to fight or flee, though acknowledged others were still at risk. No one was safe. Would they be willing to remain in the den of madness, helping who they could, or flee before things became any more out of hand? One among them had already made up her mind: Meenauh, who took off to aid another set of students further away in their section of the stands.

@Raine sage, currently the keeper of @Arc Perscivious, managed to maneuver her petrified friend onto a broom and out of the ball. The scene beneath them was wild, chaotic, yet beneath the chaos the number of mosps was rapidly dwindling all around. She may have passed professors on her way out: three had joined the fray in the pitch and were working swiftly to save the students.

First Mosp Dead (Took 411 damage)

Second Mosp Attacking Meenauh (Took 180 damage)

Third Mosp Dead (Smashed goblet)

Fourth Mosp Being dragged (Extinguished, bound)

Twentieth Mosp Attacking Dmitri (Took 235 damage)

Twenty-Fourth Mosp Attacking Saskia (Took 160 damage)

(Post 1: lights out) - (Post 2: mosp faq) - (Post 3: first strike)
(Post 4: general chaos) (Post 5: killing blows)

If your character is interacting with a mosp, leaving the Stands is written as an attempt.
Mosps are numbered by their arrival at the ball as a whole (counting all scenes)
The next mod post will take place on 6/14

@Xailah Alptraum @Ruby Cazares @Breana Oliveire @Meenauh Silmataurea @Margo White

"Fine! We're both mad!"

There was something to be said for mad acts. While Pericles seemed a sleepy sort of oddball, his average "spacing out" session was the resulting daze of overthinking. When all was still, his mind was free to roam, distracted by outlandish contemplations and dazzled by the potential found in each and every day. His thoughts often overlapped into a din akin to mania, and these were the times in which he would seek to soothe himself with puzzles or the odd experiment. There was no denying that the Blossom Ball was all madness. Grappling a mosp, catching a person on broomback with minimal flying experience, these were both mad acts. Yet there was something to it all which satiated Pericles' tendency for excess thought. Being surrounded by chaos, he had more than enough situations to spread his attention to, and a bizarre sensation of clarity came to him. The situation had mapped itself out like a puzzle. Keen as his propensity for stratagem may have been in that moment, his emotions were a mess.

“That's not fragility. She cares, Pericles. There's a time for practicality and a time for kindness, but being nice doesn't help when you're being attacked.”

Nor does unkindness, he wanted to rebuke Ruby. Strength isn't threatening to leave forever.
While Pericles could not bring himself to be outright angry at Xailah, he was feeling hurt, cross, agitated, protective, confused. He had intended to invite Breana onto his broom, particularly with a sense of defensiveness for her riled up, though the jumble of complex and utterly unfamiliar emotions fell into the darkness with Xailah. In that moment there was only the blinding white-hot fear of her falling. Frustration had given way to purpose, then that too was overwhelmed by an incredible rush of elation. What she had said was practically forgotten the moment he knew she wasn't about to be lost to the forces of fate... and gravity. Xailah's voice resonated in his head, managing to permeate the barrier of uncertainty, urging him to control the broom rather than allowing it to determine their flight. It inspired a sense of command, the authoritative tone riling some formative memory that insisted he ought to act. They arrived at the stands, but not before he saw Breana beelining- pun intended- towards the pursuing mosp.

It came again, that cold feeling of fear that he was on the verge of a loss. Pericles did not handle loss well at all, and the idea of losing sunny Breana- the poor girl, heckled into an act of self-sacrifice- was a grim notion indeed. What followed happened in but a blur. The mosp had landed a hit, yet so too did Meenauh, and her strike was far more finite. The mosp was falling and Breana was rising. He registered Xailah's reassurance, and for what felt like the first time since he dove over the railing, the young wizard was able to breathe. Shifting to check on his passenger, Peri only managed a brief blurt of "Xail-" He had turned to find her hiding behind her hand, his elation so high and her sorrow so suppressed that he had not sensed what was happening until he saw it for himself. Like a deer in the headlights, the boy froze, eyes wide. "Xailah?" He repeated on a softer note. She had never struck him as the hugging type, and Pericles wasn't a particularly touchy person either. He settled for reaching out to tenderly take her bicep, giving it a sympathetic squeeze. Chin ducked and tone turned tranquil as he tried to pacify her, murmuring, "You're alright. It's going to be okay. We'll make it be okay, yeah?" He would maintain his hold for a moment before dismounting, letting the broom hover in midair before purposefully placing his hand on the shaft. "Take this," he urged. Whether she took it to battle or took it to safety was entirely up to the metamorph, though Pericles explained, "I don't think I could cast and fly very well, if I'm being honest."

The Ravenclaw had dismounted in time to see his housemate join them. Relief flooded his features, and when she asked if they were okay, he answered certainly "Yes," before, more importantly, "are you alright? Your leg...." With a quick look to those around Peri asked, "Does anyone know the bandaging spell?" It didn't matter that Breana was stumbling over her words. It was clear to him that she still wanted to help, not because he had asked her to keep close, but because people were in danger. He didn't take the time to point it out; instead the boy mustered an encouraging expression.

"Uh... but, I mean if you guys think it's better to, like, go for a safer route, I... just... well..."

Pericles shook his head and looked to the witches around him. "I could use your light, if you're coming. I need t'stay. I heard about this ball early on, then I didn't try to stop it. I trust you to know yourselves better than anyone- if you need to leave or need to fight. I'm truly grateful you all agreed to the stands. But it isn't your ship to go down with." With a tense smile he seemed to say, it's mine. "If the one person you save from the stadium tonight is yourself, or each other, I'll be grateful. I can't leave until this is over." There was one face no longer among them, one who was running, taking off across the stands. Meenauh. His stare rounded before darting ahead of her, spotting her target, and the next urge to act overcame him. Pericles gave chase, following after the older prefect with wand at the ready. Long legs and a quick pace carried him in lengthy strides, only ending once he came into range, seeing the mosp blow by Meenauh and back towards himself. The aspen wand whipped forth: "Flipendo!"

Action: Casting Flipendo at Mosp 2

entering from Quidditch Pitch/Main Ball

As Adam pulled himself up the last few stairs into the stands overlooking the wide pitch, he found that he'd nearly gotten used to the pain in his chest. The boy had figured out a few good tips for willing it away.

Number one: absolutely don't look down, no matter what. His shirt was still covered in blood and the wound remained unbandaged and far from pretty. Adam imagined that he looked like a character from a Muggle zombie movie, aside from the fact that he was, you know, still alive.

Number two: breathe carefully. He doubted that the creature's stingers had pierced his lungs, even though they'd certainly cut deep. Adam wouldn't have been able to make it all the way up here if the damage was really serious. Still, if he inhaled or exhaled too sharply, his chest would burn in protest, and he'd be forced to stop moving until it was under control again. It slowed him down way too much to work through. He'd developed a rhythm as he climbed the stairs that he tried to maintain as he got into the stands: in...out...in...

Number three: don't do anything stupid. That probably should've been the most important rule, but unfortunately, it was also the least realistic. Adam had been stupid just to come up here in the first place instead of getting back to the hospital wing where they could help him out. As he took in the scene in front of him, Adam realized that he hadn't escaped from hell after all. No, he'd just stumbled onto its balcony.

A cloud of smoke covered much of the stands, interrupted here and there by patches of clear air and glowing wandlight. For a moment, Adam was afraid that the fires from below had spread all the way up here already, but he couldn't hear the telltale crackling of flames. It must have been a magical smokescreen, cast to escape the group of winged beasts that were buzzing angrily through the air. Adam glared at them and his grip tightened on his wand instinctively. There weren't quite as many up here as there had been on the pitch -- as far as he could see, at least -- but the fact that they were here at all was a problem. How many of the bugs had descended upon their ball? How long was it going to take to get rid of them all?

Adam took a moment to steady himself before plunging into the smokescreen, trying not to crash into anything or anyone as he searched blindly for his Ravenclaw friend. There was no guarantee that Cecily Quinn was up here, but it made sense; she'd have surely found the most isolated place at the party within an hour. Adam winced as he realized how snarky he sounded, not intending to bring the girl down whatsoever. She liked her peace and quiet, and he couldn't blame her for that. He'd been the one to drag her to the ball, and now that peace and quiet had turned into fire and blood (for him, at least). He'd have to apologize. A lot. Frequently.

It didn't take long for the blond boy to realize that stumbling around was a fruitless effort. He wasn't going to find Cecily this way -- the only thing he might find was the edge of the stands, and god only knew if he'd survive a fall to the grassy pitch at this point in the evening. He hesitated to call out for her at risk of drawing the attention of one of the creatures instead, hoping to avoid their stingers entirely. Unfortunately, it was the boy's only option if he wanted to make any progress through the smoke. Holding his wand out in front of him warily, Adam shouted over the sounds of chaos and hoped that the universe would be nice to him just once more tonight. "Cecily! Cecily! Are you up here?!" Adam had a hard time believing that his voice had made it two feet past his lips. "Cecily!"

Something was bothering him. The buzzing sounds of the creatures from below permeated the air, but they were accompanied by a heavier noise. It was like a different type of beating wing: the kind that a giant bird might make as it flew through the air, or worse yet, a dragon. Could there possibly be a dragon up here? It didn't seem logical to Adam, but nothing about the evening really did, and the possibility frightened him even more. He started to lose his grip on his breathing pattern and felt his chest ache again. There was clearly a different type of threat in the stands, and although Adam really didn't want to find out what else was flying around, he knew he had to.

Failing to keep the trepidation out of his voice, Adam continued his plunge forward, keeping up the search call the entire time. "Cecily! Come on, where are you! Cecily!"

(Free) ACTION: Call out for Cecily, stumble through stands

STA: 12 | EVA: 4 | STR: 6 | WIS: 6 | ARC: 9 | ACC: 8
Calming Presence ~ Spell Spread ~ Prodigal Charms Learner

Mentions: @Alexander Varellion
Action: If Alexander casts the levitation charm on Mosp #4 (specifically its coat), proceed towards the exit somewhat more happily with a mosp balloon in tow. It would be pulled along via the lasso that is securing the coat that is wrapped around its body.

If Alexander does not cast or fails a cast of levitation charm on Mosp #4, proceed towards exit dragging mosp #4 anyway.

In either case, Aida will try to leave in order to go to Prof. Griffith’s door (which I assume still existed at the time of this event) in order to save Mosp #4’s life.

Character Stats:
Stamina✵ 5, Evasion✵ 5, Strength✵ 4, Wisdom✵ 8, Arcane Power✵ 9, Accuracy✵ 4
Ability: Blindvision
Hit Points: 429/500
Click here for a conceptualization of Aida's would-be Mosp Balloon.

Thread left unless apprehended.

♠ Metamorphmagus ♠
♦ Cats Grace ♦
@Pericles Dralt @Meenauh Silmataurea @Aida Mòrsgor-Ama Ellwood

Xailah will cast Immobulus at mosp 24, but only if Aida's attempts to exit are successful.

If Aida is unsucessful, Xailah will give her broom to Aida.

Reducio

Her dress:

-

interacting | @Dmitri Jones, @Cecily Quinn, @Adam Harringtom

mentioning | N/A

As the knives flew through the air, barely visible glints of patterned steel shining through the darkness, Cel squinted to see them sink into their mark. She winced at the violence a little, her heart momentarily going out to the insect, but, well, thoughts of sympathy quickly went away when you remembered that the thing was trying to actively murder you too. Such was the way of war.

So the blades sinking into the insect's exoskeleton was a victory to her. She smiled a little: only Cecily would manage to land a target like that shrouded in pitch black darkness and on such short notice, too. A shame that it hadn't managed to take out a wing, as the mosp was still uninjured enough to buzz around angrily—she almost wished it had died on the spot to shorten its misery—but quickly withdrew her concern as it made a beeline (eheheheh) for the Slytherin boy, this time much more conscious than the first time, and raked its stinger across its face.

Cel grimaced. This time her sympathies reached out much more quickly, but comfort would be less effective than, you know, an actual solution. She was a Ravenclaw, after all. "Man, you are one unlucky devil," she muttered as she pushed herself up to climb on the seat directly behind them. Seizing his arm with her free hand, she tugged him close enough to reach easily, then stood up in the seat and raised her wand above his head.

"Reparifors," she intoned carefully, focusing on the wound to his face—and the one from earlier, though she didn't know if she had enough energy in her to heal both completely. The faint shower of purple light reminded her of the darkness that they still lingered in, though, and she squinted ahead to the flickering of feathers, then to the still angrily buzzing mosp that had just retreated from its attack on Dmitri's face, then to Cecily with her last two knives.

"Hey," she said as she used his shoulder as leverage to hop off the seat, whether it was welcome or not, "we need light. How averse are your owls to Bluebell Flames?" And then she nodded at Cecily and the two knives still in her possession, making sure she heard.

But then she heard another voice, calling her friend's name. She whirled—and, well, the night didn't do wonders for long-distance vision, but it wasn't that long after all, and she was certain she remembered Cec saying something about going to find another friend. "Adam?" she called questioningly, blinking confusedly. Who'd come up here if they had the opportunity to get out? Then again, up here was probably better than the main dance floor, so that was understandable, especially if he didn't want to leave his friend to the giant insects. "We're over here! Are you okay?"

STAMINA 5
EVASION 8
STRENGTH 2
WISDOM 11
ARCPOWER 10

ACCURACY 9
ABILITIES Prodigial DADA and Perfectionist I

ACTION attempt to cast Reparifors on Dmitri.

-

Action: Dodge.