2023/24, Stage 3 Hufflepuff v Slytherin: Match 3

Jake hated to take a moment to stop casting, but he knew that if he didn't, he might not be able to make it. He turned his wand on himself, and tried to heal some of the damage that his opponents had been casting on him - The spell took effect quickly, allowing him to stand up a little straighter. In good time too... because in the moment he paused, his team-mates spell bounced right off of Ruby and came straight back for him! Jake quickly dodged out of the way, lucky that he had experience getting out of the way of people trying to pelt him with things.

"Is everyone ok?" Jake asked his team, trying to take stock - This duel had been the quickest pace one he'd ever been in, and maybe after just about EVERYBODY exploded, this round had been quiet simply because both teams were trying to take stock of things and heal some of the ones who had taken the most damage.

At least Hanako had stopped his flirting, it was a miracle! Between being blown up by fire crackers, and being flirted with, it was close, but Jake was pretty sure he'd take the fire crackers.

The explosions finally stilled for a moment. Listening to her body's signals and aiming to preserve her energy, Ruby threw up a shield with ease, watching with satisfaction as the Hufflepuff girls' spells respectively dissipated and bounced back at their team. Unfortunately, it missed them, but it also hadn't hit her, so that was good enough for now. There was some additional relief provided by Tone, which she was thankful for, but she didn't need to voice that. His ego was big enough already.

So he was right. Perhaps she preferred to be KO-ed if it meant she wouldn’t hear his voice. A thought that was not too uncommon among people who have met him. At her quip, he scrunched up his nose in a childish way. Having half the mind to decide against healing her. But the round started, her weary state still there - he rolled his eyes and let the healing spell ( which he hardly remembered but somehow managed to cast ) flowed through her. Parts of her wounds being patched up. Healing wasn’t his strong suit. But that ended up being a good call.

Doing as strategies but ALSO- talking with @Guinevere Russetwood ,@Lindsey Springhall, @Lucia Fox, @Jake Morris

Round 5

"And just like that, a light show is back on the menu!" Piérre crowed as the more brilliant fireworks of the Nec Divinos Crepitus variety sprung into being. One was a precise and deadly onslaught from the elder Ruby which sent each Hufflepuff other than Lucia that she angled the spell towards into a whizzing and popping frenzy, one was a powerful bullrush of sheer dragonsfire from Hanako that only Jake managed to just barely evade, and one was a warbling and exponentially powerful beauty of a split spell from Lucia that seemed to 'crack' itself neatly in twain to not only snap to on each target but to then seemingly twin its effect and crisscross its streams to the other--only Ruby managed to evade the brunt of a radial spray, which was more than what Hanako could say. "Despite being quick with the lip, Hanako's footwork seems to leave a little to be desired. But still! Tanking what... five hits by now?! And he's still got more in him left! Ruby too, having shorn through her brief and comforting respite of temporary healing... OH! Lindsey!"

Lindsey wasn't looking too good--she'd been basically swaying for a while on her last legs, but the combined noise, sights, and feeling of firecrackers cracking against her skin and ramming into her body was just too much. Before she went down, though, she sent one last Flipendo towards Ruby: "A final send-off Flipendo! .... and Ruby neatly evades, just as--! Awah sheesh..."

A spindle of Ventus from Jake twirled through the air and spun just a hair too much to properly find itself in the vicinity of Hanako--it instead whittled its way in Ruby's direction but didn't so much as rustle a single follicle on her head as it took to the comforts of the Dueling Club's ceiling instead. Piérre waved his hands again. "Stop! Stop. Again, yes, I know... yeah... Hey look, I can't help this alright?" He said to the audience as another tally mark went up for a disastrous cast or aim. After checking again for her condition of 'downedness', he was finally satisfied. "Okay okay. Sublevo brevis!" Just like before, the body of the downed duelist gently hovered in the air so that Piérre could take her gently by the hand and guide her off the stage and out of the way of danger. That job complete with her lowered to the ground and the immediate caretakers took over while the boy watched them with a searing sideeye.

"Continue! We only have a few minutes left! Final strategies on the line, time for final plays to be enacted!"

Information

1. You have 96 hours from this post's timestamp to owl your moves to me (Piérre Marchonné) and to make your 50+ word post.
2. Do not hint at your move in your post, as this can give an advantage to the other team.
3. Remember to send your move and make your post before the deadline. If either of these are not completed in time, your move will be void.
4. I will try to moderate early if all actions and posts are in before the deadline. If you do not wish for me to do this, please owl me.
5. Your stats, abilities, and spells are considered locked for this duel. If any are added to your trunk since 10th May, they may not be used.
6. If you have any questions or feedback regarding this match, please feel free to owl or DM me.
7. Handy links: Duelling Rules, Duelling Spells, and the most recent patch.
8. Good luck and happy duelling!

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

Ouch. A sharp hiss came out of his lips as the flurry of cracker jinx surrounded the duelling stage. Man, he could really go for a huge pair of sunglasses or something. The lights were messing up with his head and he was not liking it one bit. Still, a little glance and he recognised the rest of the duelist weren’t looking good. For once in the duel it seemed his team seemed to be in better shape but for how long?

At the mention of his sloppy footwork, Hanako sent a narrowed gaze and rolled his eyes at the moderator. A defensive comment about it however, was never said. Mainly because he had no quick retort to his words. Not like anything he said wasn’t true.

“Wow still standing? I never heard a thank you for last time. Im definitely the reason why you're still standing, you know~” he jested despite the cracker jinx around them making his head spin. He figured hey, Ruby might not make it at the end of the duel. Would she even have the time to direct a spell at him before she got ko-ed? Doubt it. Hanako may be somewhat terrified of her, but there was a time and place for everything. And now was the best place to piss her off. Perhaps the anger will serve as a motivation for her to stay with him till the end of their duel. Even if it was fueled by her urge to KO him herself after the duel is over.

Doing as strategies but ALSO- poking fun at @Ruby Cazares against his better judgement and a tad bit of being annoyed at Pierre

Lindsey fell to the floor, and Lucia winced as her friend was carried away. If everything went well, she and Jake would be able to visit her later in the hospital wing and they could all celebrate a game well won, but there was always a chance that that wouldn't happen, and they would instead be forced to break the news of their defeat. She steeled herself for the game to continue.

Jake watched, helpless to help as Lindsey hit the ground, and then the explosions started again. This duel was going to be over soon, he could tell, because he knew he couldn't last much longer, and he didn't see how anybody else could.

Jake was starting to think he should have chosen Hanako's flirting over the fireworks....

He could only hope their opponents would continue their bickering, cause they needed any bit of help they could get - of course Jake had to try to remain confident, he was a team captain after all, but he liked to take his time - a duel like this...well it was a bit of a nightmare really!

His own spell veered wildly off course - he REALLY had to keep his composure, but how could he when yet another explosion singed him!

It seemed they were back to the firework show. Everyone got hit by various Wizard Crackers at the same time that Ruby dodged out of the way of two of the Hufflepuffs' spells. Finally, they had managed to knock out one of the Hufflepuffs. Two more to go. “Wow still standing? I never heard a thank you for last time. I'm definitely the reason why you're still standing, you know~” She rolled her eyes. At least if she got knocked out she would be put out of this misery. She pretended to consider his words. “Hm... no, I'm pretty sure that was because of my Shield Charm,” she retorted almost lightheartedly before her expression hardened again. “Your thanks will come in the form of you being spared from that Blasting Curse if we win.”

Round 6

Two bubbles sprang to life around Team Hufflepuff as two bolts of white light sprang from Team Slytherin towards them. "Dual Protego defense! And dual Flipendo offense!" Piérre cried, watching the spells hiss towards the opposing side. Ruby's spell resonated into Lucia's bubble, its power absorbed and dissipated throughout the shield.

But Hanako's...

P-TINK! P-TINK! P-TING! P-TANGGGG!!!

Back and forth and back and forth that single white bolt flashed, ricocheting wildly between two powerful protegos that would not pierce and itself that would not be absorbed. Finally it broke away from the confinement that it had been consolidated to with an angle off of Jake's shield. Perhaps it was a lucky bounce or perhaps it had been directed, but either way it went hissing across the piste at a speed that Ruby even at her best would have been too slow to avoid. It would contact her neatly in the chest. Being Hanako's powerful handiwork as well it would send her flying off the stage even before Piérre could make it over there to check her condition.

If she wasn't unconscious from the blow, she would have been disqualified for stepping off the stage, after all.

Piérre's mouth was hanging open. "Uh. Well. That happened. New record for most protego bounces to juggle a spell, I suppose! Four is the record to beat, kiddoes!" He shook his head in wonder. "A-and I guess Slytherin is down to their last man! Let's see how Mister Tone will recover from this!" The boy blinked owlishly as Figaro butted his muzzle into his cheek. Satiating his feline with a light head rub, Piérre spared a glance towards Ruby to find her already being rapidly tended to. "K-keep going! Only a few more minutes left!"

Information

1. You have 96 hours from this post's timestamp to owl your moves to me (Piérre Marchonné) and to make your 50+ word post.
2. Do not hint at your move in your post, as this can give an advantage to the other team.
3. Remember to send your move and make your post before the deadline. If either of these are not completed in time, your move will be void.
4. I will try to moderate early if all actions and posts are in before the deadline. If you do not wish for me to do this, please owl me.
5. Your stats, abilities, and spells are considered locked for this duel. If any are added to your trunk since 10th May, they may not be used.
6. If you have any questions or feedback regarding this match, please feel free to owl or DM me.
7. Handy links: Duelling Rules, Duelling Spells, and the most recent patch.
8. Good luck and happy duelling!

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

*insert clown music*

Absolutely nuts. Absolutely friggin nuts. He didn’t even need to see Ruby get whisked off. Seeing his flipendo bounced right back at her, he let out an exhausted groan. Ruffling his own hair as if he was close to tearing it apart. It was way too late for a forfeit. “ Dead..” He mumbled, rubbing his cheeks with both hands as if trying to wake him up from this dream. “ Shes going to kill me when she wakes up..I'm dead..so dead…” It was a travesty really. Just as they gained the upper hand.

Pierre wondered if Hanako will recover from this? Hanako already looked like he was ready to be ko-ed. Like a man who already signed up for his doom. Those who had been following his duels for a while are fully aware what sort of duelist Hanako was. A sore loser, and a total quitter. As far as anyone could see, he was already at 0.1% hp purely from emotional dmg. He was far too busy imagining Ruby's final thoughts before his flipendo hit her. Nothing else he could do he supposed. He just took a deep breath and sucked it all in.

Was this how Opeila felt during one of their first duels of the season? He supposed he shouldn't have made fun of her for that. Karma's a real thing he supposed. Will he learn his lesson? Probably not.

Doing as strategies but ALSO- nope not flirting with anyone. Just him and his internal doom.