2024/25, Stage 3 Hufflepuff vs. Ravenclaw: Match 8

This was it: the end. She knew it well, brought previously by these same set of wands. There was something almost Shakespearean to be sent to the hospital wing in a body stretcher by the same set of older, more experienced hands. She couldn't tell if it was comic or tragic. Perhaps a mix of both.

But as she stood on the balls of her feet, the end didn't come—save the flame still catching on her robes. Maybe that was the comedy of this match: the fact they were still up somehow. Still, it was unpleasant to watch all three wands pointed towards her colleague, Avis Marlong, including a blindfold. And that was the tragedy of it all as the world undoubtably went dark, something she'd experienced twice from these Hufflepuffs. Hopefully, it would be less disorienting for Marlong rather than just the beginning of the end.

STA: 7 | EVA: 7 | STR: 2
WIS: 7 | ARC: 4 | ACC: 8
Muggle Condition

Action: As Strategized

Date: May 4

Interacting With:@Emily Shephard and @Costanza Jewelweed

Word Count: 65/50

OOC Notes: Reducio Speaking: b38900 Thinking: Italics

↜↝

Outift: Reducio A hufflepuff uniform.

Round 5

Sunday 4th of May, 2025
Afternoon Slot

Once more, all three Hufflepuff duellists believed it best to focus their attentions on the now vulnerable Avis. Damage was key, and these badgers had long realised it. Yet Emily’s Flipendo went slightly wider than required— even blindfolded, her opponent found it easy enough to evade. The other two attempts met more predictable results. Costanza’s Flipendo collided roughly with Avis at the same time Minnie’s repeated Incendio Duo licked up the first-year’s clothing. The two attacks combined into a veritable cocktail of pain and, without rebuttal against such an assault, Ravenclaw would experience its first material loss. With Avis’s collapse, they were suddenly outnumbered— Hufflepuff had downed their first opponent.

Immediately recognising the situation, Astrea stepped forward to dismantle Hufflepuff’s hard work. Away went the blindfold and newly catching fire. A few counter-spells and a rapidly-cast levitation charm soon found the first-year in the safe custody of medical personnel, who would surely restore her to good health in time to retrospectively realise the duel’s outcome.

With that matter taken care of, it was obvious that the duel meant to continue. Astrea returned to her place without fear for rogue spellwork, motioning for both teams to ready themselves once more. “Duellists, you may proceed.”

Information

1. You have 96 hours from now to write your entrance posts (50 words min).
2. In the same time period, send me (Astrea Soleil Neptune) your team's actions per owl. Do not hint at your actions in your post.
3. If you don't post in the allotted time frame, your action is void.
4. Your stats, abilities, and spells have been locked to what they are now for the duration of this duel.
5. If you haven't yet, please familiarise yourself with the system and our latest patch.
6. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to owl or DM me.
7. Good luck, and have fun!

Duelling Spells

Duelling System

Newest Patch

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

And there it was: Avis Marlong was on the ground. Honestly, it was surprising it took this long considering the way she had been so directly targeted from the very first round. There was no way around this and she'd known it from the second the inequity of the rosters had been announced, regardless of hesitation: they were doomed.

Maisie swallowed and resettled her feet.

STA: 7 | EVA: 7 | STR: 2
WIS: 7 | ARC: 4 | ACC: 8
Muggle Condition

As Strategized

May 4th 2025
Speech: #cfa120
Thoughts: Italics
@Minnie Duke and @Costanza Jewelweed

And down Avis went! Emily tipped her invisible hat to her. She put up one heck of a good fight. She was always the toughest of the birdies, but now she deserved a good, long rest.

One down. Two to go.

Perhaps with their opponent's strongest fighter down for the count, the other two would be easy to pick off to secure the Hufflepuff win. Alas, only time would tell.

It was time to keep up the solid work. In no time, Hufflepuff just might be able to pull it off, Emily thought.

_{Word Count: 94}

Action: Will Be Sent ASAP

Stats: Stamina: 7 | Strength: 6 | Evasion: 7 | Wisdom: 8 | Arc Power: 7 | Accuracy: 6
Abilities: Non-Human Enthusiast |Cat's Grace

Date: May 4

Interacting With:@Emily Shephard and @Costanza Jewelweed

Word Count: 88/50

OOC Notes: Reducio Speaking: b38900 Thinking: Italics

↜↝

Outift: Reducio A hufflepuff uniform.

Round 6

Sunday 4th of May, 2025
Afternoon Slot

It was as if the removal of one duellist from the piste foreshadowed the passion of the rest. Though this duel could not boast the same explosive chaos of Astrea's personal experience, the flurry of overlapping strategy was nonetheless impressive considering their circumstances.

Once more overpowering transfiguration's plateaued limits, Minnie ruthlessly pushed towards a fiery end. Clearly, this duellist had a signature spell. Incendio Duo's tried and true flame shot across the piste for the hundredth time, meeting not its intended target but a far more disappointing one— the floor. The same experience would be unfortunately shared by Costanza, whose Knockback Jinx met little success against an otherwise passively dodging target. Yolanda threw back no spells in retaliation, even when cornered along Hufflepuff's offensive theatre. Was the duellist biding for time, or had she taken Avis' loss harder than expected?

As half of the piste's duellists fruitlessly engaged with each other, every other participant sought not damage but deliberate obstruction. With Avis as a late example, it seemed that Emily aimed to recreate this devastating finish with yet another blindfold. Try as she wished, Maisie was no match for the elder duellist's aim. Yet as darkness descended upon her, she would not stand to be the only duellist incapable of sight. A billowing cloud of thick, opaque smoke sprang forth from Maisie's wand, blanketing all but Minnie in a matter of seconds. A classic Ravenclaw technique, and one that cemented this round’s return towards hindered spellwork.

Unfortunately for the crowd, Astrea had never been a duellist or moderator to relay every happening. What each player would hazily see against the fog would be the same as her own vision, without any additional aid other than their own skill and instincts. Considering their already impressive talent displayed, however, even these setbacks would likely not break match 8’s morale.

Information

1. You have 96 hours from now to write your entrance posts (50 words min).
2. In the same time period, send me (Astrea Soleil Neptune) your team's actions per owl. Do not hint at your actions in your post.
3. If you don't post in the allotted time frame, your action is void.
4. Your stats, abilities, and spells have been locked to what they are now for the duration of this duel.
5. If you haven't yet, please familiarise yourself with the system and our latest patch.
6. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to owl or DM me.
7. Good luck, and have fun!

Duelling Spells

Duelling System

Newest Patch

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