2022, Stage 1 Slytherin vs Hufflepuff: Match 6

Another year, another round of duels. Starlee had been working as best she could on her studies, and, even though it had been minimal, she felt like she had improved in her spellwork. It was now finally time to put all her hard work into action.

With the new addition of the Junior and Senior leagues, Starlee was much more confident this time around than her previous duel, in which she had been taken out entirely by a fifth year, leaving Tone to fend for himself. He also forfeited after she had been knocked unconscious, which was something Starlee couldn't even fathom, but at the same time, the odds really didn't seem in their favor. She disliked him anyway, so holding their loss against him seemed like the appropriate action.

This round she had been partnered with a girl, Sarah Lightwood, who was from the year above her and was someone she hadn't really interacted with much aside from dueling practices. She also didn't really know much about their two opponents; one was in her year so she knew her vaguely from their classes and then Jake had actually moderated her last duel of last season. Hopefully this time she could stand her ground.

Action: Doing As Strategized

What in the world had he been THINKING?

Jake didn't know what had got into him to make him sign up for dueling. Maybe it was the fight he had had with George about acting like a child. Maybe it was that he'd wanted to prove that he could be strong. To others? To himself? Maybe he'd just wanted to be stronger, braver... or maybe he'd just signed up to show that he could.

But none of those reasons felt like very good ones right now, as he slowly made his way up to the dueling stage on shaky legs that threatened to stop holding him up. It was all well and good thinking about it, but it wasn't until they called him to the stage that it became real life. Standing in front of a million people was bad enough when you were the one watching the duel and having to enforce the rules. It was nothing like standing in front of them when you actually had to cast spells and stuff. He hated when people watched him. Even in class he messed his spells up much more than he did practicing alone. And from his OWN watching, he knew firsthand what kinds of spells other kids could throw out in a duel, and what might be facing him on the platform.

He was pretty sure he was gonna throw up.

With a clatter, Jake's wand dropped to the ground through sweaty fingers. He bent down, face flushing, as he picked it back up. His eyes drifted towards the stands, where he knew some of his friends would be watching. He didn't want to embarrass himself in front of them, but he also didn't want to die. He hoped seeing a friendly face would give him confidence, but it just reminded him how many people were watching. The small fourth-year froze, looking out at the audience. He was only shaken from his stupor when Meenaugh (who Jake remembered very well indeed) told them to follow the rules. The boy nodded, and looked across at his opponents. After a year of co-captaining, he sure knew those. Trembling slightly, but hoping nobody would notice, Jake got ready to raise his wand.

"Good luck everyone," he mumbled. Soon the spells would be flying. He felt like he'd been cast with a leg-locker jinx. Was he even going to be able to move?

Action: Doing as Strategized

⠀

┏⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀┓ date | 10.21.22 dialogue | #5e638d ┗⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀┛ Reducio @Jake Morris @Dorion Anderson doing as strategized

Somehow, Callista found herself back at the duelling piste.

She had considered quitting so many times, but she could never make herself talk with her captains. She could just imagine Dorion’s face… Callista stayed because she just couldn’t bear to do that to them, but also, she just couldn’t find it in her to leave. She wasn’t a quitter (at least, not right now). Besides, the captains implemented a new system. She couldn’t leave without at least giving it a go first!

That was how she found herself on the stage once again, wand in hand. This time, she was a third year and duelling alongside Jake, and although her nerves still rattled her, the rush of adrenaline was more comforting that frightening. The familiar buzz of anticipation put a smile on her face. It was a small one, but it was one that said, I’ve been here before, and I’m so ready to tackle this. …okay maybe that wasn’t exactly what was going through her mind; it was more like, Oh my gosh I’m so nervous, I hope I don’t pass out again during Jake’s first duel. But there was a tiny bit of confidence in there!

Either way, Callista flashed what she hoped was a reassuring smile at her partner. Poor Jake looked like a nervous wreck. It reminded her a bit of herself last year—not that she was much different now. It was a little strange reassuring an upperclassman, but it softened her little heart to see him so anxious. “Hey, we got this! Good luck,” she whispered.

Her wand hummed, as if it knew that it was about to start throwing spells again. Callista inclined her head towards the Slytherins and Meenauh, took a breath, and tightened her grip. Let the duelling commence.

ROUND 1

Starlee Kennedy vs Callista Lovis

Reducio

Starlee Kennedy cast Wind Jinx at Callista Lovis.
Wisdom DC: 11
Wisdom Check: [d20: 15] + 10 + 1 Comprehend Languages = 26 > 11→ Success
Auto-Split (10): [d10: 4] → No Auto-Split
Accuracy Check: [d20: 18] + 8 = 26
Evasion Check: [d20: 9] + 11 = 20
26 > 20 → Hit
Damage: 50 + 7 × 10 = 120
Duration: [d3: 2] → 1 round
Effects:
— Callista Lovis is hit by the Wind Jinx and receives 120 damage.
— Callista Lovis will suffer –4 EVA for 1 round.

Sarah Lightwood

Reducio

No post → Action is void.
Void Actions Total: 1.

Callista Lovis vs Starlee Kennedy

Reducio

Callista Lovis cast Slowing Charm at Starlee Kennedy.
Wisdom DC: 10 + 2 Sarah's Lovely Creature = 12
Wisdom Check: [d20: 15] + 9 = 24 > 12 → Success
Accuracy Check: [d20: 20] + 9 = 29
Evasion Check: [d20: 5] + 8 = 13
29 > 13 → Hit
Duration: [d6: 2] → 1 round
Effects:
— Starlee is hit with the Slowing Charm and will suffer –5 (–4 + –1 (for 7 ARC)) EVA for 1 round.

Jake Morris vs Sarah Lightwood

Reducio

Jake Morris cast Full Body-Bind Curse at Sarah Lightwood.
Wisdom DC: 14 + 2 Sarah's Lovely Creature = 16
Wisdom Check: [d20: 14] + 10 = 24 > 16 → Success
Accuracy Check: [d20: 14] + 12 = 26
Evasion Check: [d20: 13] + 9 = 22
26 > 22 → Hit
Duration: [d3: 3] → 2 rounds
Damage: 50
Effects:
— Sarah is hit with the Full Body-Bind Curse and is paralysed for 2 rounds unless broken out of the spell.
— Sarah is unable to move and cast, but also cannot be attacked.

Meenauh almost jumped with her wand before her as she thought something forbidden has happened. First she noticed Callista slowing down Starlee as her opponent shoot a powerful Wind Jinx her way (and hit). She didn't she anything flying from Sarah's wand, but just her body getting into a paralysed shape and falling down onto the stage without attempting anything.

Only then came the realisation who did that, and it was Jake. Jake Morris, the small Hufflepuff. Meenauh relaxed back (well, of course, not, she was still tense, but a bit less tense as she realised everything went by the rules) into her usual referee stance and continued to watch. What a start!

I N F O R M A T I O N

• You have 96 hours from the timestamp of this post to owl me, Meenauh Silmataurea, your actions. If you do not send your actions or post within the allotted time, your action is void. There are no extensions.
• Word count minimum is 50 words, but feel free to write as many as you like. Do not hint at your actions in your post, as it'll let the other team strategize against you.
• Your stats, abilities, and spells have been locked as of the posting of this thread. Any new spells that are added after today cannot be used.
• For any questions, comments, or concerns I ask that you only contact me through my owls.
• And most importantly, have fun!

Duelling Spells

Duelling System

Newest Patch

Spectator Thread, Day 1

⠀

┏⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀┓ date | 10.21.22 dialogue | #5e638d ┗⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀┛ Reducio @Jake Morris doing as strategized

“Arresto Momentum!”

Callista’s voice joined in with the other duellists’ as she swished her wand. Her face was one of absolute concentration, and it showed as her spell fired off without a hitch and zoned in on Starlee like a missile. A burst of satisfaction lightened her heart as she watched the spell hit, but she only had a small respite before she herself was hit.

Starlee unfortunately launched off a wonderful wind jinx that she didn’t see coming until it was too late. Darn these winds—as soon as they collided into the girl, Callista could almost feel her feet lift from the ground. She wasn’t exactly the sturdiest, and she hated the feeling of not being in total control of her body. It hit hard, too, more than she had expected.

At least Jake was able to fire his spell without a hitch, and it seemed like Sarah hadn’t done anything just yet. Callista tried to send a thumbs up his way even as the wind ensnared her like a typhoon (spoiler: it didn’t work very well). “Stick to the plan!” she said. In a smaller voice, she said to herself, “We got this.”

Jake managed a shaky nod when Calista whispered that they had this. He wished he believed her... It had all seemed SO much easier in his imagination, when the spells weren't real, or the pressure. He knew he was older, and the captain, but it was really easy to seem brave when you didn't actually have to do it. This was something very different. Usually when things started happening his instinct was to hide, but there was nowhere to hide here, you had to either stand and fight, or get hit.

The time they waited before Meenaugh started the duel was probably just a moment, but felt to Jake like an eternity. Frozen in the gaze of the onlookers, and in the face of what was about to happen, the boy's head turned slightly, as a bunch of wildly waving arms caught his peripheral vision in the stands. It was then that he saw his best friend George, his face painted like a badger. When their eyes met, George's expression twisted into a funny face, and the hint of a smile appeared on Jake's, in spite of all of his nerves (or maybe because of them). For just a moment, he felt a little lighter, that is... until Meenaugh said..."Begin!"

Jake's face snapped forward. This was it. There was no backing down. He couldn't move, he felt like he could hear his heart pounding. He had only ridden a rollercoaster once in his life, but he still remembered the feeling of dread when the bar came down, the coaster began to move, and there was no turning back anymore. That felt kind of like this.

"P-Petrificus Totalus!" Jake squeaked, his arm jutting desperately forward towards one of their opponents whose wand was going to raise to attack them. His eyes squeezed shut, bracing himself for the pain, but nothing hit him, and when he opened his eyes he saw the girl falling backwards, stiff as a board. Jake winced as she hit the ground. He looked at his wand in awe. Had HE done that?

"Sorry!" He blurted out, seeing how hard the Slytherin had landed. Really, Jake couldn't believe his wand had actually listened to him under pressure. OR his arm and mouth, for that matter. He'd barely even been thinking about what he was going to do until he did it. All he'd been thinking was that he needed to stop her from casting at him. Still, it hadn't looked fun, and he hadn't meant to hurt her. But just then he heard a familiar voice hooting his name. Jake looked up, turning his head towards George's voice, seeing the badger-painted boy who had cheered for him. This time George looked positively ecstatic, a huge grin plastered on his face. Jake felt his face flush with embarrassed pride. He raised his hand in a small wave towards his friend (taking his eye off the duel just for a moment).

"You alright?" he asked Callie, who had taken a wind jinx. That was a spell Jake knew well, but if she could keep her balance in the gusts she would be ok. When she raised a thumbs up (or at least he thought that was what she was trying to do in the windstorm) he figured that meant she was ok, and through the gusts he heard her say: 'Stick to the plan'!

Right, right...the plan...the plan...

What was the plan again? Jake was pretty sure that before the duel they had talked about it but he had spent the whole time nodding his head and being anxious about dueling and he was pretty sure he didn't remember a word of what they'd talked about.

"O-okay...!" he called back, too embarrassed to ask what the plan actually was. Maybe he would figure it out as they went along. He saw she had slowed down Starlee though. That was a little bit of a relief. It might make it easier to dodge. Anything that helped him not get hit. That was really as far as HIS plan went. Anything else had gone out the window once he'd stepped on the platform, and whatever else happened was just gonna happen.

Action: Doing as strategized

ROUND 2

Starlee Kennedy

Reducio

No post → Action is void.
Void Actions Total: 1.

Effects:
— Arresto Momentum effect on Starlee expires.

Sarah Lightwood

Reducio

No post → Action is void.
Void Actions Total: 2.

Strength Check DC: 10 + 1 STR = 11
Strength Check: [d20: 20] + 2 = 22 > 11 → Success
Effects:
— Sarah breaks out of the paralysis and suffers -3 EVA for 1 remaining round.

Callista Lovis vs Starlee Kennedy

Reducio

Callista Lovis cast Knockback Jinx at Starlee Kennedy.
Wisdom DC: 9 + 2 Sarah's Lovely Creature = 11
Wisdom Check: [d20: 4] + 9 = 13 > 11 → Success
Accuracy Check: [d20: 17] + 9 = 26
Evasion Check: [d20: 5] + 8 - 5 Arresto Momentum = 8
26 > 8 → Hit
Damage: 100 + 7 × 10 = 170
Effects:
— Starlee is hit with the Knockback Jinx and receives 170 damage.
— Wind Jinx effect on Callista expires.

Jake Morris vs Starlee Kennedy

Reducio

Jake Morris cast Wind Jinx at Starlee Kennedy.
Wisdom DC: 11 + 2 Sarah's Lovely Creature = 13
Wisdom Check: [d20: 16] + 10 = 26 > 13 → Success
Auto-Split (10): [d10: 7] → No Auto-Split
Accuracy Check: [d20: 8] + 12 = 20
Evasion Check: [d20: 6] + 8 - 5 Arresto Momentum = 9
20 > 9 → Hit
Duration: [d3: 3] → 2 rounds
Damage: 50 + 6 × 10 = 110
Effects:
— Starlee is hit with the Wind Jinx, receives 110 damage and suffers -4 EVA for 2 rounds.

It seems the paralysis work not only on Sarah, but also on Starlee, who was probably so shocked that forgot to cast any spells. Which was utilised well by the opponent. Callista shot a nice Flipendo at her, while Jake added a Wind Jinx on top. The slowing charm was blown away by the wind, but only to disorient the target further.

The good news was that Sarah seemed incredibly strong to easily break out the paralysis and almost jumped back on her feet, ready to act, although slightly disoriented as well.

I N F O R M A T I O N

• You have 96 hours from the timestamp of this post to owl me, Meenauh Silmataurea, your actions. If you do not send your actions or post within the allotted time, your action is void. There are no extensions.
• Word count minimum is 50 words, but feel free to write as many as you like. Do not hint at your actions in your post, as it'll let the other team strategize against you.
• Your stats, abilities, and spells have been locked as of the posting of this thread. Any new spells that are added after today cannot be used.
• For any questions, comments, or concerns I ask that you only contact me through my owls.
• And most importantly, have fun!

Duelling Spells

Duelling System

Newest Patch

Spectator Thread, Day 1

While Starlee had felt rather prepared going into her duel, by now she was definitely not. The first round when fine, at least on Starlee's part since she managed to land a hit, but Sarah stood there motionless. She hadn't watched many of her partners duels, so she wasn't sure this was a tactic she used? Was she that confident? Or was something entirely blocking her concentration? Starlee could only guess.

Of course Starlee had taken a hit as well, and she felt her self slow immensely. She wasn't sure why but this slowing seemed to affect her so much so she lost track of things and ended up missing the next round. Sarah had been bound, so she freed herself, but Starlee was in the perfect position for the attack, which both the Hufflepuff's did. She was starting to feel her energy waver, but she hoped they could still try to win this.

Action: Doing As Strategized

⠀

┏⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀┓ date | 10.21.22 dialogue | #5e638d ┗⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀┛ Reducio @Jake Morris doing as strategized

Maybe there was some truth in that saying about optimism making you perform better. …or maybe that wasn’t a saying at all, and she just made it up, but either way, Callista did seem to be doing better than in years prior. The wind was dying down, and she no longer had random locks of hair flying into her face! Whoo!

She was also able to fire off a clean Knockback Jinx, and coupled with Jake’s beautiful Wind Jinx, Starlee was looking a little worse for the wear. Strangely, she hadn’t seemed to try anything, although her partner—Sarah? Callista had been too distracted to pay much attention during the announcement in the beginning—was able to quickly break free of the Body Bind. It was faster than she had anticipated, but nonetheless, the duel seemed to be going in their favor, for once.

Somewhere in the back of her mind, Callista worried that they were being overconfident, and they still had a long way to go, but she pushed that voice away. She was more experienced now (well, that’s what she told herself; she really only has one or two years of experience), and she knew that overthinking was only unhelpful on the duelling stage.

…as much as she tried to tell herself that, she still couldn’t completely shake her worry. Still, she was trying her best, and she deserves props for that!