Interacting with @Hanako Tone, @Dan Palmer, @Bridget Collins and @Caelan Stewart

Margo allowed Hanako to guide her away from the ruckus, her stare fixed on the hand that had previously been on her shoulder. She frowned. Her next bout of physical contact probably wouldn't be quite so friendly.

Margo barked out a laugh as the boy introduced himself. "I would say nice to meet you, but I really don't want to be here either." She sighed. Hanako seemed to be under the illusion that she might dislike him for helping their team. Now, Margo didn't know how anybody else would’ve felt about it, but she thought that that was a little contradictory. She crouched down and started to pull her boots off, trying to block out the noise of a boy shouting about some guy called Victor and an interrogation. She turned back to Hanako, feet bare and several inches shorter.

"You kidding? I'm feeling very self-preservative right now and you did our team a favour!.. Besides, I can hardly think low of you when I'm such a shorty myself." Margo grinned before sparing a mournful look at the wedges on her soles of her boots. Man, those could've come in really handy.

”Oi.”

Margo dragged her gaze away from her boots to face the newcomer who was apparently in their team. To her surprise, it was their Quidditch captain. Margo’s eyes widened as she reminded herself not to mention her utter dislike of the sport in his presence. ”Heya Cap’n!” She said brightly. Perhaps a little too brightly. She didn’t want her teammates to think she was crazy. ”The name’s Margo here. Sewing enthusiast, guitar player, food lover...” She trailed off. ”Oh and don’t offend my cat - he might eat you. What ‘bout you?”

Margo blinked at the arrival of her final two teammates. Well that had been easy. “It’s Margo.” She murmured in reply to Bridget’s introduction. ”And apparently we have to watch out for the bulky but supposedly gentlemanly dude over there. He’s the one that could knock ya hooter in.” Margo sighed dramatically. “Chivalry is most definitely dead.”

But she couldn’t quite hide the grin on her face in response to her fellow Scotsman. Fight club was turning out to be much more fun than she’d anticipated. If only she didn’t have the sinking suspension that all humour would disappear once they actually started to fight.

Once Margo lost her humour, the fear would set in. And she wasn’t just scared for the fight, oh no. She dreaded it.

Reducio

Abilities: N/A
Stats:
Stamina: 6
Evasion: 7
Strength: 5
Wisdom: 8
Arcane Power: 8
Accuracy: 6

---

A grin like a crocodile and a bob like a funny catfish

Interacting with @Selim Faust and mentions @Opeila Seilun

After a while of waiting the boy behind the desk got out of his seat and began to lead everyone inside, similar to what of a shepard and his sheep. His voice sounded familar, as if he had talked to him not so long ago. Whoever it was, they didn't half have a shroud of mystery over them "The ring," the boy explained before opening a mystery trap door to a set of stairs. Whatever place they were heading too, was clearly meant to be kept a secret and out of the way of the public eye "Don't bother lighting your wands," he warned. "Wand magic won't work here," he said as they walking down the damp stairwell

No wands? something about that didn't sit well with Percy. This was almost turning trap territory as they continued to descend, a slither of chatter beginning to come through as they got closer to their destination "You will leave, once we have a victor... You have been so interested in getting answers, "The pain and terror of your victims hardly collateral damage,"" now it was starting to become clear... they had been drawn into something they shouldn't of, a place where the Hogwarts professors wouldn't be able to find or save them. However, their true intentions for being here was soon to be revealed. The cloaked boy led them towards a ring, surrounded by many spectators who were cheering and stomping their feet on the floor. It was apparent the students of Hogwarts were going to be tonight's entertainment, and it wasn't going to be without tears.

The fact that someone would do this to children was sickening, however it appeared to be a popular pass time amongst the spectators in the crowd. Percy slowly walked to the side of the ring and slowly folded his arms as the boy made his way into the ring. Keeping an eye on him and the people that gathered around him for precaution. When the kid got into the ring, his hands reached up to his hood and removed it, revealing more than a familiar face. Victor Moore... the kid he warned in the abandoned toilets. His suspicions about the kid were correct after all, and now the regret of letting him go was starting to dawn.

Victor went on to explain the rules, mentioning the fight club and bare knuckle combat. Percy lowered his eyes slightly and took a deep breath, not for himself but for his fellow peers. He knew how to throw a good punch in a physical fight, but others may not be so fortunate. Friendships and other things were bound to be broken, unless someone came up with a quick plan. Even he knew that would be a low possibility "Group Three is 20, 19, 16, 9, 23 and they will be facing Group Four comprised of 2, 11, 24 and 25. Victor announced to the crowd, making the boys face flick with worry. He wasn't sure as to who was on his team, but he was sure of one person on the opposite team. A girl named Opelia was presumed to have the number 2. If he was right, then the prospect of going up against girls was becoming clear.

Ever since a young age, his parents drilled in the resentment of violence against women. And he was determined not to break that crucial lesson. Although, if his life was in danger, he would have no other choice. There was ways around it though, and maybe he could use it to eliminate them with little to no pain.

Percy looked back up and began to scan the area for the numbers mentioned, seeing if anyone he recognised was on his team. But, something else would catch his eye. Selim, a fellow dorm mate was looking for an exit from this enclosed facility. If he decided to come back, Percy keeps his gaze on him and spots the glint of his knife as he moves closer to the ring in the direction of Victor. There was no doubt Selim was going to do something nasty with them, and he didn't want to wait and find out, especially if Victor had valuable information they could extract from him at a later date. Percy began to push through the crowd at a fast pace, not minding who he bumped into before quickly reaching out his arm to try and grab him by the collar.

Action: Keeps an aye on Selim as he searches for exits. If he stays over there, Percy would return his gaze to Victor and not worry about the assault. However, if Selim tries to attack Victor Percy tries to grab his collar and prevent him from getting into the ring.

Stamina: 7 Evasion: 5 Strength: 4 Wisdom: 6 Arcane Power: 7 Accuracy: 6
Ability: Fearless

Interacting with: @Ileen Knight, @Erik Tharaldson, @Cassandra Ironwoods
Mentioning: @Vladimir Athanatos

Dealla felt dumb-struck as she listened to the announcements from the strange boy. She couldn't shake the familiarity, the feeling that she should recognize him, but it had been almost two months since the Blossom Ball where she had seen him burn, and most of that terrible event was a haze in her memory. She hadn't bothered looking at his face then, too horrified by his burns.

Ileen grabbed her hand, and she squeezed back, just as tight.
With all the signs there had been, all the guessing and speculating, she hadn't really thought they'd have to fight each other. That it was a physical fight, without magic, somehow made it worse - as if it was more real, more impactful, more damaging to take someone out with your fists than it was with your wand. It wasn't, really. But it still felt that way.

Dealla jerked when she heard Ileen's number called - the very first one - and her stomach sank as she listened to the rest of them. They hadn't been grouped together, which meant that they might have to face each other at some point - even if it wasn't in the first round.
She got another jolt when she heard that name - Vladimir. Her eyes narrowed. Of course he was in the middle of this. Wasn't he always? He'd been at the Blossom Ball, fighting while the world burnt down around him, he'd been the bait, luring the Ravenclaws into the Forbidden Forest. He'd been at the center of so very many things that it seemed he was the spider, spinning his web, threads going into all directions, and now they were all tangled in it.
The prize was a joke, and Dealla knew it. Vladimir was a third year, and even between those, he was different. No team would stand a chance against him after going through three other battles against their peers first. Again, Vladimir was the unattainable bait dangled in front of them, but this time, instead of fighting the forest, they'd have to fight each other.

Dee was torn from her thoughts when Ileen turned on them, yanking on the Ravenclaw's shirt to see her number, to confirm what Dealla already knew: They were in different groups. Ileen would be in the first match, Dee in the second, and if they both won, they'd meet in the second round.
But Ileen was obviously fraying at the edges, her voice panicked and choking, and that was enough to get Dealla to focus on the present. She could be strong for her friend, if not for herself.
"We won't die," she said firmly, reassuringly, forcing Ileen to meet her gaze and hold it. "You heard him, right? The fight ends when someone is knocked out. We're all going home after this." She smiled tensely. "There's enough to worry about. Don't imagine it to be even worse."

Ileen's next words, however, struck a chord with her. If we have a winner in the end, we are all losers.
Did it have to be that way? What if there was a way out - what if there was a way to reach that unattainable bait, to keep the damage and suffering as low as possible? What if there was a way to beat the system?

But before she could go further into the thought, she was interrupted by another student, one she hadn't talked to before.
"Hi Cash," she replied, smiling, bright in spite of the situation. "I'm Dee. And yes... It's hard to imagine, isn't it?" She was about to ask why the student had approached them, when her eyes fell on Cash's shoulder. 16. One of her team mates, then.

"I wish..." she muttered. "I wish there was a way to not give them what they want." To outsmart them, both the audience and Vladimir. To make sure they actually stood a fighting chance.
The ghost of an idea was starting to form.

--------------- Stamina --------- 4 ------------- Evasion --------- 7 Strength 3 Wisdom 8 Arcane Power 6 Accuracy 7

--------------------------------- Abilities Evasive Maneuvers

Actions:
Standing around
Abilities:
Evasive Maneuvers
Stats:
Stamina: 5
Evasion: 9
Strength: 3
Wisdom: 4
Arc Power: 6
Accuracy: 8
Total: 35

Interacting: @Wyatt Starkey @Percival Rainwood
Team: @Ileen Knight @Percival Rainwood @Selim Faust @Wyatt Starkey

Seer

Sta: 3 Eva: 10 Str: 5 Arc: 2 Wis: 5 Acc: 5

Wearing:

Reducio

When Erik broke away from the girls who seemed to have turned to him for protection and comfort, Jack had to put a great deal of effort into keeping any hint of amusemenet off his face and very nearly failed due to the smirk that threatened to curve the line of his mouth. While he had been looking forward to getting to know the flirtatious and brave young man for a while, now, these weren't the circumstances he had hoped to do so under. Even then, though, he supposed he would have to take what he could get.

"I'm so glad to see you so enthusiastic about this, Tharaldson," Jack told the light-haired second year, "But I rather liked Flash's strategy already. What's wrong with all of us simply going limp, playing dead, or just outright refusing to fight? Wouldn't that be the most simple and fastest way to settle everything?"

His hazel eyes followed the excited upperclassman's shoes as they were thrown off in a display of eagerness. "Perhaps I was mistaken, but...I took you to be a fellow of self-preservation, not someone who went around looking for a fight."

Ability: Prodigial Charms Learner
Stats: Sta: 5 || Eva: 7 || Str: 3 || Wis: 8 || AP: 6 || Acc: 6

Interacting with: @Erik Tharldson

No matter how perfect one can make themselves up to be, ultimately, one will find out they do possess at least one fatal flaw.

Dmitri Jones is pretty put together as a student wizard--he's smart, definitely composed, and undeniably gifted. At least, he likes to think he is. If there was anybody in the entire school that tended to overperform and exceed expectations (academically), it was him. Though seemingly non-intimidating at first glance, the boy possesses some kind of curious, calculating, methodical aura if people only looked closer into his intense, brown eyes.

And herein lies the problem.

The boy, wanting to keep things the way they always were--status quo, if you will, tended to micromanage anything that could possibly upend the sense of security he has established for himself. For the first two years of his Hogwarts life, the boy was successful in this pursuit, avoiding the tragedies his peers undergone by immersing himself in schoolwork. Just... this year was loads different because the threats have finally found its way even into his safe spaces.

So when the shady stranger offered answers--a possible end to a year of unending mysteries and questions the self-proclaimed gifted wizard couldn't decipher--in exchange for their will to fight, Dmitri couldn't help but be drawn forward into the suddenly-appearing staircase.

Except...

They apparently couldn't use any magic.

What the hell? The older Slytherin boy thought frantically to himself as he watched the cloaked kid disappear into the trapdoor first, followed by the gaggle of Slytherins. They're just going to go headfirst into a shady entrance with an equally suspicious minor with no means to defend themselves?! "Wait--!" Dmitri started but abruptly stopped just as the last of the students disappeared below.

A strategy flickered through his mind.

It always pays to be one step ahead of one's adversaries, and them thinking Dmitri was just another naive kid who didn't know better will give him that advantage. Surrounded by stupid kids all year, it shouldn't be hard for him to play as one. Aware enough to know he isn't much of a fighter, the boy swore that whatever happens, he'll find a way to get his answers without having to brawl--and without the mysterious cloaked figure knowing his plans.

He was a Slytherin through and through.

Looking around, Dmitri slid out his wand from his pockets and attempted to sneak in a conjuration spell. If magic did not work inside, he'll have to do it here. Whatever advantage you can give yourself, Dmitri. Do it. He thought to himself just as he whispered an incantation.

"Arachnos." It made sense. Something already conjured into being couldn't possibly be affected by magical restrictions. At least, the boy thought so.

Whether or not he successfully acquired spiders that he could hide under his clothes, the boy disappeared into the entrance.

STATS AND ABILITIES

Reducio

ACTIONS

Attempt to cast the Spider-Conjuration spell with Spell Spread activated