2021, Stage 2 Group B: Gryffindor vs Hufflepuff

Banner by Lucia Fox

The idea of the smoke came from a moment of panic. A brief moment where Maria perhaps wasn’t thinking of all the things that could go wrong but instead just really wanted to do something. After dodging Katrina’s Incendio she wondered how long she could still last, or how long it would be before the lion could land her next hit. There was only so much she could do at this point.

Katrina prepped herself for an offensive spell. The flames went flying across the dueling pedestal. Perfect aim. Much like her extensive practicing in the Room of Requirement. Katrina saw the bracelet on her wrist again. It was a good luck charm after all. Confidant that her spell was all it was going to take to win, Katrina wryly let a smile on her face. More of a confidant smirk. But Katrina didn't hear the tell-tale thud. She looked back to see Maria unharmed. No flames. No winning. How had she dodged that?!

Instead of confidence, anger fueled Katrina. She prepped her nastiest spell just as smoke began to fill the space between the angry lion and her prey. Come on. Katrina couldn't even see Maria's form in the smoke. There was some movement, but Katrina couldn't tell if that was Maria or if it was the result of her movement. Stupid smoke spell. Katrina felt the smoke cling to her lungs, she bit back coughs as that would give away her location.

Now what?

@Maria Dee

Round 15

[Katrina Walker, Year 3, Human] 88.67% HP (796/900) STA: 9 | EVA: 8 | STR: 3 WIS: 11 | ARC: 9 | ACC: 5 --------------- Healing Sage Perfectionist Charmer ────── –1 ACC, –1 ARCP (Bogies) Faints in 3 Rounds -160 HP (Flipendo) +56HP, -2 Faint counter and reset ACC + ARCP (Reparifors)	&	[Calanthe Choi, Year 2, Human] 8.6% HP (86/1,000) STA: 10 | EVA: 5 | STR: 2 WIS: 7 | ARC: 9 | ACC: 9 --------------- Statistically Relevant (+2 STA) Prodigal DADA ────── Eliminated
	VS
[Maria Dee, Year 2, Human] 40% HP (280/700) STA: 7 | EVA: 6 | STR: 5 WIS: 8 | ARC: 6 | ACC: 8 --------------- Sixth Sense Evasive Maneuvers ──────	&	[Autumn Ivy, Year 2, Human] 0% HP (0/500) STA: 5 | EVA: 5 | STR: 7 WIS: 7 | ARC: 8 | ACC: 8 --------------- Sixth Sense Perfectionist ────── Eliminated

Katrina Walker

Reducio

Katrina cast Reparifors at herself
Wisdom DC: 11
Wisdom Check: [d20: 15] + 11 = 26 > 11 → Success
Healing: 10 + 7 (9 ArcP - 2 CoB) × 5 = 45 + 11 (Healing Sage +25%) = 56
Healing Spell resets the Curse of Bogies debuff to –1 and delays fainting by 2 rounds

Maria Dee VS Katrina Walker

Reducio

Maria casts Flipendo, at Katrina
Wisdom DC: 9
Wisdom Check: [d20: 18] + 8 = 26 > 9 → Success
Accuracy Check: [1d20:20] + 8 = 28 - 4 (Fumos) = 24 - 1 (Kat's Charmer) = 23
Evasion Check: [d20: 9] + 8 = 17
23 > 17 → Hit
Damage: 100 + 6 × 10 = 160 HP

Both duellists and onlookers were cast into suspension as the smoke swallowed Maria and Katrina alike. The former wasn't to be slowed by such a simple obstruction. She took a chance of casting into roiling darkness, utilizing her intuition and hearing to pin precisely where her target was. It was almost as if that cloud didn't exist for the badger, whose Flipendo flew through it and smacked into her opponent. But Katrina had been bought a moment to fight the more pressing problem at hand: though she had been harmed, falling unconscious was more of a threat. She used her cover to cast another soothing Reparifors onto herself, delaying the bogies curse and mending some of that blunt damage done. Blessedly, the smoke cleared soon after, enabling their audience a clear view of the two once more.

Reducio

{ @Katrina Walker | @Maria Dee }

- Remaining duellists have 96 hours to add their posts (this time on the 21^st).
- By that deadline, please owl me your team's actions. This should include 1) both character's spells or actions 2) who your targets are. Do not post this info before the next round's mod post, as it will give your tactic away!
-If you don't post in the allotted time frame, your action will be considered invalid. If you require an extension, you can contact me via owl or Discord (Lib#1474) before the next moderation. You will be given a 24 hour extension in addition to the original 96.
- The minimum WC for this duel is 50 words.
-Your spells, stats, and abilities are locked in for this scene.
-Scuse the shortness of this one, I'm playing late night catchup

There wasn't much of a warning. A spark of light. Then Katrina was flying through the air. Maria was continuing to impress Katrina, but that wasn't the top of her mind. No, winning this duel was. Katrina ignored the pain from the Flippindo and righted herself. She cast the Healing Charm on herself once more, bathing in it's rejuvenating blue light.

She got back in position with deadly fire in her eyes as the smoke cleared. Maria wouldn't know how much the Flippindo hurt and chopped off a good deal of her ego. No, Katrina wasn't here to play around. She was here to win.

@Maria Dee

Banner by Lucia Fox

Thankfully even as the smoke hadn’t cleared yet Maria was still able to tell where Kat was. A lot of things faltered this round but her intuition did not. But then again there was the blue light that meant Kat was once again healed. Clearly frustration would continue to be a common theme in this duel.

“Getting tired yet?” Maria called from her side of the area.

@Katrina Walker

Round 16

[Katrina Walker, Year 3, Human] 88.67% HP (796/900) STA: 9 | EVA: 8 | STR: 3 WIS: 11 | ARC: 9 | ACC: 5 --------------- Healing Sage Perfectionist Charmer ────── –2 ACC, –2 ARCP (Bogies) Faints in 2 Rounds -6 ACC (Verdimillious)	&	[Calanthe Choi, Year 2, Human] 8.6% HP (86/1,000) STA: 10 | EVA: 5 | STR: 2 WIS: 7 | ARC: 9 | ACC: 9 --------------- Statistically Relevant (+2 STA) Prodigal DADA ────── Eliminated
	VS
[Maria Dee, Year 2, Human] 40% HP (280/700) STA: 7 | EVA: 6 | STR: 5 WIS: 8 | ARC: 6 | ACC: 8 --------------- Sixth Sense Evasive Maneuvers ──────	&	[Autumn Ivy, Year 2, Human] 0% HP (0/500) STA: 5 | EVA: 5 | STR: 7 WIS: 7 | ARC: 8 | ACC: 8 --------------- Sixth Sense Perfectionist ────── Eliminated

Katrina Walker VS Maria Dee

Reducio

Katrina cast Incendio Duo at Maria
Wisdom DC: 12
Wisdom Check: [d20: 16] + 11 = 27 > 11 → Success
Accuracy: [d20: 1] → Critical Miss
As ally of the caster and target are both unconscious, does not redirect... towards them

Maria Dee VS Katrina Walker

Reducio

Maria casts Verdimillious, at Katrina
Wisdom DC: 6
Wisdom Check: [d20: 6] + 8 = 14 > 6 → Success
Accuracy Check: [1d20:10] + 8 = 18 - 1 (Kat's Charmer) = 17
Evasion Check: [d20: 2] + 8 = 10
17 > 10 → Hit
The target suffers –5 ACC and additional –1 ACC for every 5 points in Arcane Power, total -6 ACC

The match had appeared precarious for some time now, yet the scales refused to tip in the favor of either duellist. One cursed yet otherwise hardly harmed, the other battered but possessing uncanny evasion, Katrina and Maria were an unprecedented match. As their referee stood near the stage to keep a keen eye on the exchange, he would find himself inadvertently involved. Katrina cast another crackling Incendio Duo towards Maria, however, it seemed the bogies were getting the best of her. The spell careened off at an angle, eliciting a yelped "Woah!" from a ducking Pericles as the flames blew by his head. Instead of hitting the Hufflepuff, the fire dashed against the long-forgotten moderator seat and caught the wood. With a whip of aspen, he cast a quick Extinguo (WDC 8, rolled 12), enveloping the flame in a soothing cloud of mist. Even as the spell surged forth he craned his neck to watch the duel. The matter of aiming was about to become harder yet for the Gryffindor. Maria had selected an unexpected spell, Verdimillious, sending a bolt of emerald sparks spiraling towards Katrina. It didn't hurt when it hit at least. Still, the witch would be seeing green stars, dancing irritably in her eyes. They swam in her hazy vision. She would need to rely on hearing, intuition, and luck if she was going to land a blow within the next several seconds.

Reducio

{ @Katrina Walker | @Maria Dee }

- Remaining duellists have 96 hours to add their posts (this time on the 24^st).
- By that deadline, please owl me your team's actions. This should include 1) both character's spells or actions 2) who your targets are. Do not post this info before the next round's mod post, as it will give your tactic away!
-If you don't post in the allotted time frame, your action will be considered invalid. If you require an extension, you can contact me via owl or Discord (Lib#1474) before the next moderation. You will be given a 24 hour extension in addition to the original 96.
- The minimum WC for this duel is 50 words.
-Your spells, stats, and abilities are locked in for this scene.

Katrina knew how close Maria was to being eliminated. There was a sense of fear in her expressions and actions that was the only reason Katrina kept pushing forward so determinedly. It was still getting harder to continue. There was a part of her that just wanted to let the Curse of the Bogies beat her, just give in. But she couldn't do that, she had to win for her team.

Katrina cast Incendio Duo again, her aim was very, very off. She heard the moderator call out, "Sorry about that," Katrina replied, wincing a bit in sympathy. She couldn't get in trouble for accidentally attacking a moderator, right? She turned back to Maria, realizing that apologizing wasn't very scary and that exclamation might just have ruined her confidant deadly facade. Oh well.

Katrina prepped herself for the incoming spell she noticed Maria muttering. What came next was the last thing she'd expected. Light. Lots of it. The sparks weren't going away either. She shook her head and stumbled back a step. She blinked a bunch to no avail. This wasn't great. Now what?

@Maria Dee

Banner by Lucia Fox

Maria let out a gasp of concern as the spell initially intended for her strayed of its path and nearly hit Pericles. Clearly officiating a duel also meant that you were not exempt from the danger of being hit by a spell. At least he dodged it.

The Hufflepuff hoped that it was a sign that Katrina was getting tired. Her aim was off but at the same time Maria had been dodging spells left and right. The few she managed it land only served as distractions to prolong the frustration. She had to play her cards right, but really she was going in blind to her hand.

@Katrina Walker

Round 17

[Katrina Walker, Year 3, Human] 96.89% HP (872/900) STA: 9 | EVA: 8 | STR: 3 WIS: 11 | ARC: 9 | ACC: 5 --------------- Healing Sage Perfectionist Charmer ────── +76HP, Faint counter and debuffs removed (Crit Reparifors)	&	[Calanthe Choi, Year 2, Human] 8.6% HP (86/1,000) STA: 10 | EVA: 5 | STR: 2 WIS: 7 | ARC: 9 | ACC: 9 --------------- Statistically Relevant (+2 STA) Prodigal DADA ────── Eliminated
	VS
[Maria Dee, Year 2, Human] 17.14% HP (120/700) STA: 7 | EVA: 6 | STR: 5 WIS: 8 | ARC: 6 | ACC: 8 --------------- Sixth Sense Evasive Maneuvers ────── -160 HP (Flipendo)	&	[Autumn Ivy, Year 2, Human] 0% HP (0/500) STA: 5 | EVA: 5 | STR: 7 WIS: 7 | ARC: 8 | ACC: 8 --------------- Sixth Sense Perfectionist ────── Eliminated

Katrina Walker

Reducio

Katrina cast Reparifors at herself
Wisdom DC: 11
Wisdom Check: [d20: 20] → Critical Success
Healing: 10 + 7 (9 ArcP - 2 CoB) × 5 = 45 + 11 (Healing Sage +25%) = 56
• Critical Success of Healing Spell gives +20 HP and removes all effects of the [Bogies], including the faint counter

Maria Dee VS Katrina Walker

Reducio

Maria casts Flipendo at Katrina
Wisdom DC: 6
Wisdom Check: [d20: 1] → Critical Failure
Damage: 100 + (6 × 10) = 160 damage to self

Unperturbed by the wayward spell, Pericles sent a fleeting smile back at Katrina, calling simply "No trouble at all! Becoming a duellist, let alone a co-captain, entailed agreeing to a certain level of occupational hazard. Besides, scorch marks would give the seat character, serving as a reminder to future referees that they must always be on guard. It was fortunate that he had already extinguished it. In the next moment Pericles became so perfectly distracted that his intent was shattered, causing the spell to splutter out prematurely. This was because Katrina had just cast one of the most beautifully executed healing spells to grace the stage this championship. Despite the Verdimillious impairing her vision, the Gryffindor's resolve had gained a second wind. With an immaculate casting of Reparifors, the witch was awash in lavender light, symptoms fading with it. The last nasty glob of mucus fell from her nose. Greenish color bled away, a glow of health taking its place, all aches and agonies reduced to nothing more than memory. The Curse of the Bogies- the one thing holding her precariously close to failure- was banished.

The scales of possibility, suspended in equilibrium for a fantastically long while, took a dramatic drop. Maria had performed spectacularly for facing down an experienced third-year on her own, but her mystifying luck seemed to have run out. Her opponent had just shed a dangerous disadvantage. It may have been that this was enough of a shock to douse her determination, or perhaps her wounds were simply getting the best of her. She was weary, battered, facing a fully recovered opponent. Whatever factor caused her concentration to break, the result was disastrous. The Flipendo intended for Katrina instead burst from the back of her wand, hitting her with such force that Maria stumbled backwards on the piste. Their referee went rigid with anticipation, catching breath should he need to halt the match, waiting to see if the Hufflepuff would- could- hold out until the very end.

Reducio

{ @Katrina Walker | @Maria Dee }

- Remaining duellists have 96 hours to add their posts (this time on the 28^st).
- By that deadline, please owl me your team's actions. This should include 1) both character's spells or actions 2) who your targets are. Do not post this info before the next round's mod post, as it will give your tactic away!
-If you don't post in the allotted time frame, your action will be considered invalid. If you require an extension, you can contact me via owl or Discord (Lib#1474) before the next moderation. You will be given a 24 hour extension in addition to the original 96.
- The minimum WC for this duel is 50 words.
-Your spells, stats, and abilities are locked in for this scene.
- me getting two opposite crit rolls back to back

Still blinded from the light charm, Katrina decided to go the safer route. Healing. For what felt like the millionth time this duel, Katrina cast Reparifors. But something was different this time, the charm felt easier to cast, the light brighter and clearer. As the circle of light descended, Katrina gasped. It felt wonderful. There was a euphoria that filled her to the brim. Her nose cleared, aching ceased, headache faded away, and she returned to feeling 100%. No more curse. She didn’t even know that was a possibility, but she was certain that’s what just happened.

Just as Katrina refocused on Maria, half expecting to see another sickly green curse sent her way. Instead, Katrina was lucky enough to see the spell backfire on Maria, the end of her wand erupting in light, shooting her back across the stage, fairly close to the edge. The thud of her body hitting the floor made Katrina wince despite herself.

This was it. Katrina smiled, this time not in an attempt to be menacing or appear brave. Simply because she felt the feeling of success wash over her. The duel wasn’t done yet, but it was just about.

@Maria Dee