2021, Stage 1 Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw: Match 5

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• STA. 9 • EV. 6 • STR. 5 • WIS. 8 • AP. 11 • ACC. 6 •
FEARLESS • PRODIGAL CHARMS
╚═*.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.*═╝

• Sweaty Palms •

Sylvie wiped her hands on her clothes, taking a deep breath. Their moderator's words were almost fuzzy in her head, though she tried her very best to listen.

Her first duel... She could hardly contain her excitement as she walked up into her place beside her partner. She didn't really know the girl, but that didn't matter. The only thing that mattered right now was having fun! And winning... Mostly winning. At least that's how it felt in Sylvie's head. The young Gryffindor hated being bad at anything- ESPECIALLY in such a competitive scenario.

"This is so EXCITING!" Her wild gaze flicked over to her teammate as she rolled her shoulders and shook off the jitters. "We'll do great. I know it." With that, she turned her attention to the duel.

Ah. It'd been a while, hadn't it? So much time had passed since they'd last step foot in this large room, they'd nearly forgot about it. It still hummed in the candlelight, but the light was gentler somehow, something less electrifying. It didn't quite feel the same. But then, maybe a lot had changed.

Mars rolled their shoulders, touching a finger to the wand in their back pocket. Indeed. They stepped through the threshold of the doorway, easy steps leading them to the pitch. At the very least, this had changed.

Stepping up, Mars threw a smile in Robert's direction. A new dueling partner. A new person to scale the ropes with, to find the footing, to dance the stage. A new heartbeat to memorize and new habits to learn. Hm. Maybe it'd be fun. A new challenge to tackle, at the very least.

"Ready to win?" they asked simply. Dark eyes flicked over unknown opponents. Excitable ones. Nervous, maybe. Newbies.

Mars shifted back, wrist to their wand, dropping low and defensive. Time to test how much they'd forgottten.

Interacting with @Mars T'ien, @Sylvie O'Niell, @Elsa Veronica Bennett, and @Dmitri Jones

Robert walked onto the piste with a pep in his step. This was a moment he’d been waiting for since getting off the train at Hogsmeade Station, even if he’d imagined it slightly different. His stride faltered momentarily as he once again remembered this would be his first duel without the comforting presence of his former partner, Delilah Stewart. However, he composed himself quickly enough to pass it off as a slight stumble over uneven ground, and not even that unless under close scrutiny.

Robert glanced over at his new dueling partner to find a smiling face, and felt a grin wash over his own in response. "Was just about to ask you the same," he replied, eyes dancing with liveliness. He then looked over at his opponents with a face nearly the same, but just different enough to get a totally different message across. In fact, this was a face he'd been practicing for a while, along with most of his other seemingly natural expressions. It was a face that shone with warmth and humor, but was also strangely knowing, as if he shared an inside joke with the Gryffindors that even they were not in on. But still, it was clear that he was currently calculating their strengths and weaknesses, the slight shifting on his eyes making it obvious he was scanning their physical characteristics, and body language. In his mind, he was sifting through strategies, anticipating every outcome and playing the game of chess three moves in advance.

He was under no illusion, he once again faced off against a pair of his seniors. However, this time was considerably different from his first duel against Dmitri and Ruby. The age gap was severely lessened, and he now had the advantage of dueling experience over the two third-years, both of whom had never been on the team before to his knowledge. As if summoned by his thoughts, Robert suddenly realized that this new duel was being moderated by no other than Dmitri Jones. Inwardly chuckling at the full-circle nature of the moment, Robert directed his happy grin at the moderator. "Hey Dmitri!"

Finally, Robert began to settle into his dueling pose. Feet splayed apart, knees slightly bent, wand up. He'd never been one to twirl it around like a drumstick, but he did gently caress the magical instrument with his thumb. Finally, he would start the duel just as he had with every duel in the past. "Good luck guys!" he called across to the other team. He then quickly glanced over at his own partner. "Let's do this."

"Let the duel begin!"

Round One

———

The first round of spells was an... eventful one, if Dmitri says so himself. All four duelists chose very different offensive spells to start with, a rainbow plethora of projectiles and beams shooting off from their wands.

Of the four spells, only one was able to connect, a flaming burst of fire that sparked a flame on one of the Ravenclaws' garments—though, that is not to say that the others were too much of a fluke. On the contrary, the other spells came so close to their mark that Dmitri was sure just a bit of stance adjustment on the duelists' part could have made the difference.

"A respectable show of spellcasting, that was. Gryffindor starts off with a literal bang as they connect the first spell against their opponents."

Sweeping a hand in the general direction of the piste, Dmitri remarked, "We'll just have to wait and see what Ravenclaw is going to answer that with. Continue!"

Sylvie O'Niell vs Mars T'ien

Reducio

Sylvie O'Niell cast Knockback Jinx at Mars T'ien.
Wisdom DC: 9
Wisdom Check: [d20: 10] + 8 = 18, success
Accuracy Check: [d20: 5] + 6 = 11
Evasion Check: [d20: 2] + 10 = 12
11 < 12 → Miss

Elsa Veronica Bennett vs Mars T'ien

Reducio

Elsa Veronica Bennett cast Fire-Making Spell II at Mars T'ien.
Wisdom DC: 12
Wisdom Check: [d20: 10] + 8 = 18, success
Accuracy Check: [d20: 13] + 11 = 24
Evasion Check: [d20: 13] + 10 = 23
24 > 23 → Hit
Damage: 60 + 4 × 10 = 100
Effects: Mars T'ien sustains 100 HP worth of damage and is Aflame for 1 round, suffering 60 HP worth of damage unless nullified.

Mars T'ien vs Elsa Veronica Bennett

Reducio

Mars T'ien cast Bubble-Producing Spell at Elsa Veronica Bennett.
Wisdom DC: 9
Wisdom Check: [d20: 12] + 9 = 21, success
Auto-Dodge: [d10: 1], fail Elsa's Evasive Maneuvers
Accuracy Check: [d20: 4] + 10 = 14
Evasion Check: [d20: 5] + 10 = 15
14 < 15 → Miss

Robert Toukmond vs Sylvie O'Niell

Reducio

Robert Toukmond cast Curse of the Bogies at Sylvie O'Niell.
Wisdom DC: 12
Wisdom Check: [d20: 12] + 9 = 21, success
Accuracy Check: [d20: 14] + 7 = 21
Evasion Check: [d20: 19] + 6 = 25
21 < 25 → Miss

INFORMATION

• From the time this moderation has been posted, you have exactly ninety-six (96) hours to reply and send in your respective team actions. A minimum of fifty (50) words is required for each post.
• In the same time period, send me (Dmitri Jones) your team's actions per owl. Do not hint at your actions in your post.
• If you don't post or fail to send your actions within the allotted time frame, your action is void.
• Your Stats, Abilities, and Spells have been locked to what they are now for the duration of this duel.
• If you have questions or feedback on the moderation post, please do owl me.
• Here you can find the rules to the Duelling System.
• Good luck, and have fun!

The spectator thread for this duel can be found here

╔═*.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.*═╗
• STA. 9 • EV. 6 • STR. 5 • WIS. 8 • AP. 11 • ACC. 6 •
FEARLESS • PRODIGAL CHARMS
╚═*.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.*═╝

• A Swing and a Miss •

"Oh god, NOT THE BOGIES--" Sylvie spat out as her free hand shielded her face and then... Nothing? "Oh." She slowly peeked between her fingers. "Oh my goodness! Haha! Thank Godric Gryffindor." If they had hit her with that... The sneezing. The- The MUCUS... Nah nah nah. She refused to be miserable for her first ever duel. Besides... If any of her pals were watching- How embarassing! It was already enough that her spell didn't manage to make its mark.

Her hand lowered as she got back into position and shot a glance toward her partner. She was still in good health. And wonderful spirits! A good first round... "Girl power! Let's keep it up, we're gonna crush it!" Say it 'til it comes true, right? She prepared herself for what would come next.

Interacting with @Mars T'ien, @Sylvie O'Niell, @Elsa Veronica Bennett, and @Dmitri Jones

Robert liked to think there was a certain smell to the air during a duel, something apart from the obvious scents of sweat and burning flesh. He could never place a finger on what exactly the smell was, but it always invoked feeling of freedom and lightness in the young boy. Bouncing on his toes in anticipation of the duel starting, he was pleasantly surprised to see one of his opponents smile back at him, provoking a new, entirely sincere expression of pure joy.

However, that innocent happiness would not last long, replaced my concentration on the duel. It wasn't off to a great start, with the only spell connecting belonging to a Gryffindor. However, it was still early in the duel, and his partner didn’t seem to be dying quite yet. And so, Robert shoved any concern down, preferring to focus on winning than be distracted by emotion. He’d have time for that later.

Gods. Mars felt the fire before they really registered it hitting, eyes more focused on the spells that just barely grazed by their opponents. They could feel the flames licking at their skin, the smell of burning robes wafting up to their nose. Ah. Well, wasn't that quite the wakeup call.

It'd been a while, hadn't it? Been a while since their flight or fight response kicked in, since that adrenaline had raced through their lungs. Life had been such a whirlwind lately that they'd nearly forgotten how the magic felt, creeping through their fingertips and through the cherry wood. It felt... familiar. Good, weirdly. Even the flames sought to curb their stormy heart, vision clearing just a little.

Ah. Maybe this really would be fun.

Mars pulled up, out of their defensive stance. Gently, they gave their wand a little twirl. Hmm. "Toukmond," they stated, corner of their mouth pulling up ever so slightly, "You better not be worrying about anything dumb. The duel ain't over yet." Mmm. If anything, it was more like it had just begun.