2021, Stage 1 Hufflepuff vs Slytherin: Match 5

Interacting - @Astrea Soleil Neptune
Mentioning - N/a

Today was an exciting day: The day Piper would be able to prove that she could do more than set herself on fire. And win at it. Somehow, the atmosphere of today's round was much more intense than the chess combat round. Perhaps this was because it felt more authentic, more like the real deal. After all, these were official duels that people actually paid attention to. Piper had watched some of the morning duelers preparing, and they seemed so...so confident. One day that would be her, and she wouldn't feel rather like puking before the round. It didn't help that she and Starlee were the youngest people on the team. Piper's certainty with her spellcasting had dwindled after the summer's defeat. Her ego probably couldn't handle another loss -- but it definitely could handle the very powerful-feeling title of "Duelist." She just had to live up to that now.

What truly helped Piper from spiraling down the we're-doomed spiral was having a fourth-year partner. Astrea was quite understanding, and the oldest student in the whole round. Something about her had sent a shiver down Piper's spine at first, and it was an excellent thing she would not be on the receiving end of any of Astrea's spells. She seemed like the type of person who always calmly and magically knew what to do. A little bit of strategizing before the round had assisted in calming Piper's nerves. It was both intellectually stimulating and gave Piper some semblance of a clue of what was happening. For this round, not only was it important to do well and pay attention, but also to watch and learn.

After all, how would Piper learn to master the art of spellwork if she never practiced under pressure?

Now, the Slytherin stepped onto the platform facing the opposing house, taking a steadying breath. Her hair was pulled neatly back into a ponytail - simple and practical. She offered Astrea a small smile, a signal she was competent and ready. One thing Piper liked to think she was good at was masking uncertainty. If she went down burning - which she wouldn't - she would burn confidently, as though she had clearly meant to do so. And so, the second-year stood tall and planted, firm grip on wand, head held high with a determined expression. Piper was a member of the champion dueling team. There was nothing to do but act the part.

Doing as strategized

Bump! You have roughly 24 hours to submit your actions and make your posts before the deadline, after which they will be void. Remember, word count for duels is only 50!
@Elisabeth Erner @Maria Dee @Astrea Neptune

Another year, another day, another duel. Today’s opponents would be new ones, once again from Slytherin. Wand at the ready, Maria stepped into the ring. She looked over to her partner Elisabeth, who was now a second year. Their last duels did not end so well, but it seemed as though they were determined to start fresh and conquer anew.

To the side was the boy who had officiated their duel which seemed to last forever. It was still a vivid memory in her mind, all the bogies and fire, and the seemingly unending volley of spells. Pericles, she remembered the boy, and she distinctly remembered the duel, but she did not want to reminisce. It was a new day, and a new duel. Hopefully favor would be granted upon them.

Special Spectating Mention to: @Willow Anderson, @Anastasia Beckett, @Santario Martin

Once more, the duelling championships had arrived, knocking incessantly on the doors of filled practice rooms and mental compartments.

The first stage opponents hailing from Hufflepuff, Astrea had only spectated one of the morning matches before spending the rest of her time preparing, loyal as ever to her team but unwilling to hear the news simply in passing about her wonderful girlfriend's duelling results. With Anastasia as moderator and Astrea's own co-captain in play, it had been difficult deciding who her support reached out to and at some point she had started simply analysing the event without the specifics, pleased with whatever result but biased towards the idea of a Slytherin stage win. Going into her own duel had not regaled such internal conflict.

Deja vu edged at the corners of Astrea's memory as she stepped up upon the spectator-lined duelling piste, hair and sleeves pulled out of the way, a few months older with a teammate as vaguely unfamiliar as her new year title. Both she has had a month to learn cohabitation and yet Astrea still found a great amount of surprise in remembering her newly made upperclassman status, nearly all of her team considered almost-strangers in every way but merit of alliance. Nevertheless, even that unspoken alliance was a formidable enough trust for the sticking point of victory.

With the newly introduced system of moderation, each house had the opportunity to swap teams after each stage to better fit their opponents, allowing for more directed strategy and greater team matching abilities, but restricted long-term relation build up. With Astrea's already pitiful ability of communication, she had no high hopes for her social life and instead directed nearly the entirety of her duelling brain towards strategising, compiling and honing skills that would give them a feel for what they had gotten themselves into.

Her young partner, Piper, seemed incredibly driven, if not to the point of nervousness, though inexperienced. Astrea had watched from afar other two Chess Combat matches of the camp two hours before and after her own game, still emotionally recovering from the high of a somewhat satisfactory win barely scraped by, and, though the result had turned against their favour, the last batch of Vipers had put up a decent amount of resistance in the face of lowering odds. Astrea trusted this defiance would aid them in their duel.

Nodding simply in acknowledgement to her partner's go-ahead, Astrea steeled herself for the long trip ahead of them and faced the opponent side. Her wand, warmed with the electrifying magic running along her entire body and funnelled so precisely, crowed in anticipation at the prospect of proving themselves. The instinctual bond between man and magic intensified by need, an itch for a match well fought.

May Slytherin's ranks drink from the wells of fortune.

Action: Doing as strategised.

ROUND 1

Maria Dee VS Piper Clark

Reducio

Maria cast Incendio Duo at Piper
Wisdom DC: 9 + 2 Astrea's LC = 12
Wisdom Check: [d20: 18] + 8 = 26, success
Auto-Miss: [d10:7] fail Astrea's Terrible Presence
Accuracy Check: [d20: 2] + 9 = 11
Evasion Check: [d20:17] + 6 = 23
11 < 23 → Miss

Elisabeth Erner

Reducio

Alluring Spell Redirect: [d10:5] fail
Action void due to missed deadline

Astrea Neptune VS Maria Dee & Elisabeth Erner

Reducio

Astrea spell-spreads Ventus at Maria and Elisabeth
Wisdom DC: 11 + 2 Spell Spread = 13
Wisdom Check: [d20: 15] + 11 = 26, success
Auto-Split: [d10: 3], fail
Auto-Split: [d10: 9], fail
Accuracy Check: [d20: 20] + 11 = 31 - 2 Spell Spread = 29
Evasive Maneuvers: [d10: 7], fail
Maria Evasion Check: [d20: 13] + 7 = 20
29 > 20 → Hit
Duration: [d3: 1] → 1 round
Accuracy Check 2: [d20: 18] + 11 = 29 - 2 Spell Spread + 1 Non-Human Enthusiast= 28
Elisabeth Evasion Check: [d20: 17] + 4 = 21
28 > 21 → Hit
Duration: [d3: 1] → 1 round
Damage: 50 + 10 × 10 = 150
Effects: Maria and Elisabeth suffer -4 Evasion for 1 round.

Piper Clark VS Elisabeth Erner

Reducio

Piper casts Flipendo at Elisabeth
Wisdom DC: 9
Wisdom Check: [d20: 7] + 8 + 1 = 16, success
Auto-Miss: [d10:4] fail Astrea's Terrible Presence
Accuracy Check: [d20: 20] + 7 = 27
Evasion Check: [d20: 1] + 4 = 5
27 > 5 → Hit
Damage: • 100 + 7 × 10 = 170

The stage erupted with spellwork. Immediately the fourth-year Astrea displayed a mastery of magic, spell-splitting the wind jinx Ventus, two tunnels of air buffeting both Maria and Elisabeth. Their capacity for dodging would be reduced drastically. Her teammate Piper joined in on the assault, striking Elisabeth with a potent Flipendo. Perhaps her pessimism slowed her, or perhaps the Slytherins were simply too swift in their onslaught. Whatever the case may be, she did not fire a spell at the start, though was struck by two in quick succession. Maria tried to retaliate with a crackling Incendio Duo, though the second-year snake leapt out of the way. Pericles moderated from the sidelines with wide eyes, his stare steely as it flicked between the opposing sides, tense to see how Hufflepuff would return the favor.

OOC Information

Reducio

1. You have 96 hours from now to write your entrance posts (50 words min).
2. In the same time period, send me your team's actions via 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. If you haven't yet, please familiarize yourself with the changes made to the system in our latest patch.
5. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to owl or DM me.
6. Good luck, and have fun!

The spectator thread for this duel can be found here.
This duel takes place in the afternoon slot.

Astrea wasted no time in following the plan, casting a flawless Ventus that hindered the opponents well. This propelled Piper into action, and she eagerly leaped to attack not the older target, but the target that was similar in age and ability to her. She closed her eyes and hoped her spell would hit its mark. It struck true, and Erner was now looking a little worse for the wear. Now was not the time to taunt, even after the second-year dove to avoid a threatening spit of fire - she wouldn't relive any fire incidents today. No, she would win admirably and be a respectful opponent. While crushing the opposition into the ground.

Hopefully, she wouldn't have to be as dramatic to cast well in the future. Breathlessly, the Slytherin resteadied herself. Things were looking up much more than the chess combat had, and now was no time to jinx it.

Doing as strategized

About 22 hours left to submit actions and make posts before the deadline, after which they will be void. Remember, word count for duels is only 50!
@Elisabeth Erner @Maria Dee @Astrea Neptune

While Maria was always one to wonder what it would be to fly, she did not expect nor did she want to have to find out like this. As she saw her spell miss, the conjured wind quite literally swept her off her feet and into the air. Her hair whipped all around her and she struggled to keep herself still. This was not good. Not good at all.