2022, Stage 3 Ravenclaw vs Slytherin: Match 1

Confidence was rolling off Dealla in waves as she marched onto the stage for her third duel of the season. It was hard not to feel confident, facing an opponent she had already beaten soundly once, when he'd been paired with a stronger (and more intimidating) partner, and Phaedra at her own side. Combine that with her usual penchant for overconfidence, and she doubted there was any opponent Phaedra and her could not take with a touch of luck on their side.

"Hi Alan, hi Tiger!" she greeted the Gryffindor prefect before whirling around to take her spot on the stage, slipping her wand from her pocket. She rolled and stretched her shoulders, trying to get rid of some of the tension, not very keen on cramping up during the duel, then turned to offer Phaedra a fist to bump. "Let's get them."

Henry and Piper received a cheerful wave. "Hope you're ready to get knocked on your butt again!" she called over, thinking of the last time she'd duelled Henry. They'd see if he'd improved since then. He had won his last duel, which she had moderated, but he'd also had Bridget by his side then.

A nod at Alan's instructions, a deep breath, and Dee got into position. Time to win another duel for Ravenclaw.

@Phaedra Stavrou | @Alan Vanes | @Henry Knight | @Piper Clark

Henry thought himself to have rotten luck with duels that year. Both duels that year, he was aginest friends whom he cared for. Henry hoped his luck wasn't that rotten, the nights leading up to that hoping not to be aginest Delilah Stewart. While they dueled in the past, those weren't official and the teen admired her. However, his opponents this stage might be worse.... aginest someone whom he lost to already.

Third stage. The last duels of the years, it all came down to this and Henry was panicking but doing well to hide it. A glance at his partner, who wasn't Bridget Collins. The teen enjoyed dueling amd learning from her but it seemed that would remain in the practices, wishing her luck in her own duel before finding his.

A soft smile toward his new parther. Piper Clark. The girl showed potential and a quick witted duelist at least from what he seen from her other duels. She to had a fourrh year partner before this stage. The teen worried, anxiety thundering over as he doubted his skill. Wondering if the last two duels won was the cause of his partner or both of them?

Loki accompanied his onwer, the orange feline offered his onwer a meow and rubbed aginest the legs of Piper before running off toward the side to stand near Alan and his own feline.

Shall we have history repeat itself

Climbing up onto the platform, getting to his spot at the end. Henry looked over and saw a fifth year, that didn't settle his nerves and Dealla Prince. The ravenclaw who beat him last year. The teen knew this could be his chance to redeem himself from last year but his pessimistic mind saw this ending one way. With him unconscious on the ground, failing himself, letting down his partner, and proving to be a burden to his team.

The teen drew in a breath, eyes flashed across the platform to the ravenclaw duo. A small smile flicker aross his face as he called back, "been needing to get some sleep recently, hit me with your best," the lad saw the ravenclaw captain duel Alec Mason during the first stage and decided to keep the banter friendly. Unlike the gryffindor.

The teen have been undefeated for that year but everyone has to lose at least once if your not someone like Dmitri.

A nod toward his partner, lowering his voice so only she can hear him as he spoke"remember the strategy and trust each other, we'll be fine," a soft smile toward her before he took his stance. Emotions drained from his face. Knees slightly bent, wand held loose but firmly in his left. A glance at Piper then ahead.

"Ready, Pipe?"

Action: and history repeats itself...
@Piper Clark|@Dealla Prince|@Alan Vanes|@Phaedra Stavrou

less than 24 hours
@Phaedra Stavrou, @Dealla Prince, @Henry Knight, @Piper Clark

@Dealla Prince @Henry Knight @Piper Clark @Alan Vanes

Head held high, Phaedra climbed the piste after her captain. Today was the last stage of the season—the duel that undoubtedly mattered most. She was pretty certain that, as usual, the Championship would boil down to her team and the Viridian Vipers once again, though Gryffindor was also still in the running. It was funny how history repeated itself, but unlike what history had so cruelly denied them before, Ravenclaw would snag the trophy this time. She was confident in it.

When Dealla turned to offer a fist bump, she smiled and extended a dainty fist to meet it. The act reminded Phaedra of the Salwis girl's interactions previously, but far less awkward in that she was slowly growing accustomed to these more informal means of celebration. Perhaps it could have also been credited to Dealla's person in general, what unfortuneately little Phaedra knew of it anyway. She had long desired a chance to stand by Dealla's side—an attitude that was not extended to many.

Upon their opponents' entrance, Dealla spoke first to a raise of Phaedra's brow. Could it be? Banter, finally? How fun. She knew she'd chosen her partner wisely, and seemingly lucked out with a quick-witted opponent as well. Taking her place on Ravenclaw's side, Phaedra adjusted the sleeves of her robe. Hopefully they would not impede on the accuracy training she'd toiled so recently for. Her last duel had left much to be desired. “Oh, you poor thing,” she teased when the fabric was to her liking, now inspired by her captain. The faux concern for Henry's apparent sleep issues sat weighty on her tongue. “Luckily for you, Dealla and I are most merciful. Lights out before you know it.”

Perhaps to some, such a statement could have been taken as threatening. And it was, partly, but Phaedra knew neither Henry nor Piper personally to drag any unresolved baggage with her onto the piste. As far as the fifth-year was concerned, this was just a game of baiting remarks. Dipping into a courteous, pre-duel bow that contrasted with her words, Phaedra would then retrieve her wand and take on an eager stance to begin. She would not lose her hard-won streak to Slytherin today.

Doing as strategized (x)

Mentions: @Phaedra Stavrou | @Dealla Prince | @Henry Knight

The careful optimism Piper had begun her last duel with was dissipating as she walked onto the duel stage with Henry. There were several components to this; the first was that last duel she had passed out fairly quickly into the round, despite her consistent spell success. If her personal hits were good but she still couldn't dodge other spells quickly enough, her chances against even older and more experienced opponents were even worse. That was the other issue; her opponents this round were none other than a fifth year, which currently sounded eons older than a simple second year, and the Ravenclaw dueling captain. As per usual, the Slytherin inhaled deep breaths and maintained a stoic face. She may not need optimism; she only needed skill and a good amount of luck. Hopefully the odds were favorable, she surmised as she sized up the opposition.

The first opponent, Stavrou, vaguely reminded Piper of a snake. It might have been her features, her nose, or the peculiar way she held herself. She seemed laid back but a tension surrounded her. Piper had the feeling she was prepared for anything in a strategic way, and she knew it. Prince was just cocky. Piper was not sure what caused her to be this elated; she hadn't checked the scores recently. Perhaps she had won her last duel. Either way, Dealla appeared confident the Ravenclaw win would be quick. Piper's thoughts were interrupted by something furry weaving through her legs. Henry's feline, who ran off the piste. Maybe it was a good luck charm. Piper took Henry's encouragement to heart, although was slightly irked at him for insinuating weakness to the other team. He seemed to be of a good nature, albeit nervous, but Piper had heard about him being so gifted with Charms he moved up to fourth year coursework. She had also never been referred to as "Pipe" and definitely did not like it, but she said nothing for unity purposes.

Piper held her head high, allowing a small, knowledgeable smile to coil about her lips. She felt the pangs of nervousness in her stomach, to be sure, but felt much more rational this time and just as confident in her team's strategy. Regardless of the outcome, the Vipers would not be put to shame today. Phaedra's sleek jab at their competence didn't faze Piper, though it did kindle another internal competitive fire. Last duel had been completely serious and silent; perhaps a change of tactic would aid her. She may as well have fun. The second year jutted out her chin in response. "I wouldn't speak so quickly...pride comes before the fall. So keep it up." She gave a brief bow, hazel eyes glittering, and gripped her wand tightly.

Doing as strategized

Round 1

Alan gave a nod to Dee, though a grin would also slip through despite him trying to seem formal. Of course he believed that Ravenclaw had this in the bag but he couldn't say this openly. The duel would start with each person ready to make their move and both Slytherin students made the mistake of choosing none other than Dee as their target. The first one she would dodge, a Blindfolding spell that came from Henry. However with the second spell, an attempt to Flippendo her from Piper, she moved weirdly almost as if she had expected the spell to arrive in that exact fashion, a way to move that Alan mainly knew from Galton! He gave a proud nod and watched the Ravenclaw retaliate and they were not joking around, despite their clear verbal banter. Phaedra would split her spell voluntarily, a powerful water spell that had become a favorite of Alan's, as both jets of water crashed into their targets painfully. They looked roughed up from that alone and Alan wondered if they'd last much longer. Dee too was at the top of her game, conjuring a blindfold that tightly wrapped around Henry's head and taking away his vision. It had been close to missing but something must have made the snake lose focus in the last moment.

Phaedra vs Henry & Piper

Reducio

Phaedra cast Pressurized Water Charm at Henry & Piper.
Wisdom DC: 13 + 2 = 15
Wisdom Check: [d20: 20] + 15 = 35, crit success
Accuracy Check: [d20: 16] + 12 - 2 Spell Spread = 26
Evasion Check: [d20: 18] + 6 = 24
26 > 24 → Hit
Damage: (80 + 10 × 10) + 70= 250
Effect: - 4 Acc [2]
Accuracy Check: [d20: 11] + 12 - 2 Spell Spread = 21
Evasion Check: [d20: 9] + 7 = 16
21 > 16 → Hit
Damage: (80 + 10 × 10) + 70 = 250
Effects: - 4 Acc [2]

Dee vs Henry

Reducio

Dee cast Blindfolding Spell at Henry.
Wisdom DC: 10
Wisdom Check: [d20: 14] + 10 = 24, success
Accuracy Check: [d20: 10] + 11 = 21
Evasion Check: [d20: 7] + 6 = 13
21 > 13 → Hit
Effects: blindfolded until nullified

Henry vs Dee

Reducio

Henry cast Blindfolding Spell at Dee.
Wisdom DC: 10
Wisdom Check: [d20: 6] + 11 = 17, success
Auto-Dodge: [d20: 18], fail Evasive Maneuvers
Accuracy Check: [d20: 6] + 8 - 1 Charmer Dee = 13
Evasion Check: [d20: 3] + 11 = 14
13 < 14 → Miss

Piper vs Dee

Reducio

Piper cast Knockback Jinx at Dee.
Wisdom DC: 9
Wisdom Check: [d20:16] + 8 = 26, success
Auto-Dodge: [d20: 19], success Evasive Maneuvers

I N F O R M A T I O N

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Day 2: May 1^st, Morning Slot

Dee's face split into a grin when Phaedra returned the fistbump, which grew even wider when her partner promised Henry to help with his sleep troubles. Most of her previous partners had taken a bit more... coaxing to join in the banter. She shot the older girl an appreciative glance from the side, anticipation rising inside her. This duel was going to be a good one, she could feel it in her fingertips.

Piper's warning was thus met with another excited smile. Granted, the thing with the pride and fall tended to come true for Dee every once in a while, but that didn't tend to be a permanent fix to her confidence that bordered on arrogance if the situation called for it. Not even a temporary one, momentary was more like it. "Oh, but who's going to do the falling?" she returned, still smiling. She didn't plan for it to be her.

On Alan's signal, spells came flying - two of them her way. Apparently her charming personality hadn't been enough to keep them from targeting her, although she supposed she could see it as a compliment that she was the centre of their attention. She narrowly ducked out of the way of Henry's blindfold, then, on instinct, stepped to the side just enough to avoid Piper's knockback jinx, before finally getting around to her own cast.

Phaedra, meanwhile, seemed to have ambitions to turn the stage into a waterpark. They had decided on their opening strategy beforehand, of course, so Dee had expected the water, but she was still startled by the sheer volume and force of it. In the chaos, it was easy to sneak in the blindfold that wrapped around Henry's eyes, leaving their opponents dripping wet, and in Henry's case, blinded on top.

"Eager to fulfill your promise, huh?" she asked Phae, sounding both amused and pleased by their opening act. If they kept that up, lights out before you know it would not be far off.

@Phaedra Stavrou | @Henry Knight | @Piper Clark

Action: Remembering the first stage...
@Piper Clark|@Dealla Prince|@Phaedra Stavrou

@Dealla Prince @Henry Knight @Piper Clark @Alan Vanes

At Alan's beckon, the four sprung into action.

An immensely powerful jet erupted from Phaedra's wand and split for the both of them. The elemental charm had become a personal favourite, in both effects and grandeur. Meanwhile, Dealla was targeted, two spells heading in her direction. Any conflicted feelings Phaedra may have had over not being focused for once simply subsided at her spectacular display of footwork. It seemed otherworldly, considering her own two left feet. “Whoops. Too much?” she asked her concerning the water, smiling. Of course not.

She watched with pride as a blindfold wrapped around Henry's head, courtesy of Dealla. Predictable, he called it. Phaedra guffawed, disbelief etched on her features. Predictable, really—tell that to their flawless opening. Instead of entertaining him further by disassembling what was, in her eyes, a ridiculous statement, she would point her wand at him in particular. “Spare us the advice, Knight. It's better suited for Slytherin.” The leaderboards didn't lie. Whereas Ravenclaw had at least managed to break even with Gryffindor, the Vipers had not. She couldn't imagine that their captain was pleased about it.

Doing as strategized (x)