Saturday, November 6, 1920
Spellcaster's Society Club Room
2 PM
The first drill of the term was underway.
Maddox had spent the better portion of his Saturday morning transforming the club room into a...magical obstacle course--if it could be called that. There were no ropes for them to climb, or mud pits they had to crawl through, only a careful few ...situations the man had woven together with his magic, in order to test the progress of those within the club. It was safe to say the room looked nothing like the usual, cozy practice spot.
The dummies were gone, as was the club's flag. The plush rug was nothing but a distant memory, as were anything resembling walls.
Not that any of them would know that at the start. The professor gathered everyone outside the door to the room, not immediately allowing them to go in.
"I hope you've all done your review." Whatever that would look like for each student. Some practiced their spells obsessively, others swished their wands around a few times and thought it was enough. Maybe, in this case, it would be. Maybe they would walk away with a new appreciation for being prepared. It was always hard to tell with this lot. Merlin knew the man struggled to get a selection of them to do his readings and assignments. Actual prep for a drill that might endanger them?
He wouldn't hold his breath.
"You'll go in one by one, and the timer will start the moment the door closes behind you." This was a course after all. The gathered yet unseen audience would enjoy the show. "You'll be on your own in there...for the most part. Should you find yourself in actual distress, just shoot off some red sparks and I'll get you out of there."
Though he hoped it wouldn't come to that for any of them.
"Alright, in you go. Don't all rush at once."
Round 1:
The door creaked closed behind you with an eerie and foreboding squeak before its final, resounding thud.
Silence.
The emptiness of the room called to you, echoing with each thump of your heart inside your chest. It sat heavily, almost appearing to weigh your limbs down. Left, right, up, down, it was unclear what direction any of them lay. The oppressive darkness demanded to be felt. It was a creature in its own right, stalking you with eyes you couldn't see.
A faint scuttling could be heard all around you. Was it coming toward you, or trying to escape? Both seemed true at the same time, but you'll never know if you continue on in the dark the way you are.
Perhaps something can--should--be done.
In another moment, it would become clear that the faint noises were indeed heading your way and now with quite some force behind them.
OOC: Hi hi! Welcome to the first of 2 drills for the term! If you haven't already, take a look at the guidelines for how they'll work. Even though it's one student at a time, please just assume it was your character's turn and they headed in. No need to wait for anyone else to be finished. In order to qualify for full points, you must post in 3 rounds plus an ending post for a total of 4 posts. The drill will run for 9 days, and I'll be updating on a more frequent basis than lessons. This means that the more frequently you post, the sooner you can complete the drill. After 9 days, the thread will close for grading. Think of this as a somewhat 'timed' event. There's no one way to complete any round as there are a few acceptable options, so get creative and go with your gut! Please don't RP the result of your spell, only the attempt of it. The results will be posted by me whenever I give updates. If I update before you've posted, don't worry about it! This is all within your time (within the 9 days). Only one spell is allowed per round, so choose wisely. Please make an ooc note at the very end of your first post stating your character's magical strength for the drill. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out <3
Vinnie rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet, practically brimming over with enthusiasm as Professor Barlowe walked them through what was about to happen. This was what he’d been waiting for. Not lectures, assignments, or feasts. Not sitting bored at the back of a detention classroom. Just running blindly into an unpredictable wing of the castle and firing off spells with reckless abandon.
Granted, he wasn’t entirely sure the professor would appreciate that approach. Vinnie hadn’t been the best of students, showing up late to Care of Magical Creatures on numerous occasions and being generally loud and disruptive in class. That wasn’t to mention the occasion on which he’d levitated a student into the air and subsequently had a pretty good go at breaking the International Statute of Secrecy. No matter how well-intentioned that attempt might have been.
“I hope you’ve all done your review.”
There had been minimal reading on Vinnie’s part, but no shortage of casting. He had practiced spells nonstop the past week. For the most part, these had been spells that sounded cool and were vastly above his skill level, like Draconifors and Bombarda and conjuring a mountain. These attempts had been overwhelmingly unsuccessful. On a number of occasions Vinnie had found himself asking his Head of House to reverse something he’d done by mistake, or else in the Hospital Wing again.
“I’ll go first, Professor!” Vinnie volunteered eagerly, the bit about ‘actual distress’ and ‘red sparks’ missing him entirely. He was off through the door almost before he’d finished speaking.
Silence. That was the first thing Vinnie noticed, even before the darkness. He was so unused to the quiet - it was never that way at home with four siblings, and elsewhere Vinnie often ensured it couldn’t be. When the scuttling began it sent his heart racing under his skin, anticipation building to excitement as he faced the music.
He needed a source of light or a way to fend off a creature, fast.
Or both, Vinnie realized. His face split into a wide grin. He’d been itching to try to conjure fire for weeks. No better time than in the midst of real danger. Pointing his wand in the direction of the noises, Vinnie hollered, “Incendio!” He hoped fire would both hold back the creature - or creatures - and reveal the room by its light.
ooc: Attempting a tier 2 transfiguration. Vinnie’s strength for the entirety of this drill will be power (force and potency).
"I hope you've all done your review."
Snort.
Review.
Rae had seen that the professor had given some 'suggestions' on spells they might want to look at before the drill. She'd looked at the list, but hadn't done much with the suggestions. For her, there was no need. With or without the Spellcaster's Society, the Slytherin already practised her spellwork with the sort of passion and dedication that some might consider obsessive. She was already interested in improvement, something clearly seen in her level of casting. Half the suggestions were things she'd already gotten a good grasp of, the rest, she would get to eventually.
It wasn't a brag. It was hard work. There was a time when even a simple alohomora was far above what she and her wand could accomplish. Rae had set her hair on fire in the past and blasted herself into things.
It had all been...an experience.
When she'd heard duelling had been suspended, she didn't have the first clue where she'd get her fix for shooting off spells and showing herself what she could do. It was one thing to mutter spells by the lake after most of the castle had gone to sleep and another to have situations (or people) thrown at her. The latter allowed her to prove she had real-life application of the things she studied.
This probably wouldn't be as heart-pounding and adrenaline-inducing, but she bet it would come close enough.
So here she was, standing outside the door, listening to the spiel about safety. She wouldn't need it. Rae would pass every challenge or land herself in the hospital wing trying.
The moment it was good to do so, Rae nudged the door open and entered...uh...nothing? Rae blinked in the dark as the door closed behind her and the darkness wrapped itself around her. So this was how they were starting it. Okay. Not the worst. Not particularly thrilling, but she'd give it time. This was still Professor Barlowe. There had to be a catch. That meant she had to stay on her guard.
Sure enough, she heard the scuttling. Something existed in the darkness with her. "Lumos!" she attempted.
Might as well try to see what she'd be facing.
Strength: Power
I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose
✗ ✗ Fire Away ✗ ✗
Round 2
Vinnie
Success!
There's a fire inside this little Gryffindor, and it springs forth when he casts incendio into the darkness. The spell works! It's a great success! In fact, some may say it works too well. What should be a flame big enough to light Vinnie's path quickly turns into a roaring inferno with little control. Some of it caught onto his clothing, scorching the boy, but there was enough to hit the circle of brazier that had been set up in the darkness.
Vinnie's been socrched, but his path is now lit.
With light restored, the floor begins to tilt. It is subtle at first, just a slant that might cause you to lean in whatever direction goes against the angle of ascent. Soon, the slant would become the least of your worries. The floor begins to crack, a loud, sickening sound that tells you it won't support your weight for much longer. A massive chasm opens before you, the debris falling into the abyss. You hear them clatter to the floor, knowing they couldn't have gone too far.
Some pieces of the shattered floor over the chasm remain in place, floating but separate. They're too far away for you to jump (unless you'd really like to try your luck), but perhaps there's a way to put the pieces back together or to find another way across. A few pillars stand proud on the other side of chasm. They look sturdy and might also be of use.
Better decide quickly. The ground isn't done crumbling, and where you stand might be next.
As if to make matters worse, phantom figures rise from the chasm. They spiral up and down, their high-pitched shrieks and indecipherable whispers alerting you to their agony. They've come to collect you and will try to drag you down the moment you get close.
Better get moving.
Rae
Success!
Suspiciously, that spell looked like it nearly didn't work. It was a bit shaky there are the start, only a bit of a sputter, but the tip of the wand lit, flooding the once dark room with bright--some might say blinding--light. The girl may have to squint, but the room is no longer an ominous foe concealing whatever dangers may lie ahead.
Perhaps...a little less light, as it makes it difficult now to notice as the arena unfolded.
With light restored, the floor begins to tilt. It is subtle at first, just a slant that might cause you to lean in whatever direction goes against the angle of ascent. Soon, the slant would become the least of your worries. The floor begins to crack, a loud, sickening sound that tells you it won't support your weight for much longer. A massive chasm opens before you, the debris falling into the abyss. You hear them clatter to the floor, knowing they couldn't have gone too far.
Some pieces of the shattered floor over the chasm remain in place, floating but separate. They're too far away for you to jump (unless you'd really like to try your luck), but perhaps there's a way to put the pieces back together or to find another way across. A few pillars stand proud on the other side of chasm. They look sturdy and might also be of use.
Better decide quickly. The ground isn't done crumbling, and where you stand might be next.
As if to make matters worse, phantom figures rise from the chasm. They spiral up and down, their high-pitched shrieks and indecipherable whispers alerting you to their agony. They've come to collect you and will try to drag you down the moment you get close.
Better get moving.
Round 3
N/A
Finish Line
N/A
Too bright, too bright!
Merlin's soggy beard. Rae scowled, her eyes closing against the excessive brilliance that had erupted from her wand. The girl knew she was proficient at the charm, but for the love of Circe, there'd been no need for her wand to try blinding her. Curiously, some of the light from her lumos scittered off, settling in some braziers that hung around the room. It removed the need for her own and toned down the intensity of the glare.
It came not a moment too soon. Before she could figure out what was happening, the Slytherin could hear what sounded like earth crumbling. A second later, the crackling started, sending her entire frame into high alert. The entire structure shook, making her unsteady on her feet.
When it all settled, she wasn't expecting the gaping hole in the ground.
That...looked like it was trying to be a problem.
Inching closer to the edge, Rae tried to get an idea of how deep it might've been. It was certainly dark and didn't look like the sort of thing she'd want to fall into. The girl thought that she could just make out the bottom where the fallen debris had landed, but before she could be sure, the unstable ground by the edge threatened to give way. It forced her back, but she knew the solution was only temporary.
The 14-year-old had a feeling the whole thing would go down eventually.
Rae looked to the chasm again. She supposed with enough luck...she could make a jump for it. She could probably float some of the debris back up to make a bridge, too...
Hmm...
Despite the timer that ticked loudly, she allowed herself a proper moment to think. It wouldn't do to rush on ahead and end up at the bottom of the chasm, too.
It didn't take long for her to praise her decision. Had she made a run for it, she would've run right into the ghostly spectres that began to rise and fall over the abyss. She didn't need to get any closer to know they didn't mean her any good. That made her decision easier. She wouldn't be lingering long enough for them to get their hands on her. Braving her way through them without a shield might've made things unnecessarily difficult.
With determination rising high in her chest, Rae stepped to the edge of the chasm again. On the other side, she could just make out some columns and the way forward. If she aimed just right...
"Carpe retractum!" she attempted, hoping the columns would be sturdy enough and her magic strong enough to yank her to the other side.
I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose
✗ ✗ Fire Away ✗ ✗
Woah! The inferno from Vinnie’s wand raged more fiercely than he could have hoped. He stared at the fire for a moment in awe before the thick smoke and intense heat pushed him back. Flames caught the end of his sleeve. By the time Vinnie had stamped them out, the world was beginning to tilt.
He leaned back against the shifting of the floor, trying to see if there was a wall nearby to cling to. A loud rumble echoed through the room before he could truly get his bearings. Then a crack wove its way across the ground. It started out small, but soon the floor had opened up into a gaping chasm, more and more of it crumbling away by the moment. Soon - very soon - it was likely to reach him.
Vinnie was fascinated when the phantoms joined in. They looked and sounded nothing like the mostly-friendly ghosts who milled around Hogwarts. These things were creepy, their shrieks and incomprehensible whispering like something out of a Muggle horror novel. He wondered if they were actually just normal ghosts or something more sinister.
A solution didn’t come to him so easily this time. Vinnie stared at the hovering pieces of the floor, spread just far enough apart to look nearly impossible to cross, and wondered if he could take enough of a running jump to make it. Probably not, but it sounded fun to try. Surely there was a cushioning charm or something to prevent him actually falling to his death.
Vinnie itched to find out.
Instead, he pointed his wand towards the gaping chasm. In Professor Barlowe’s recommended review, there had been a spell about moving objects from side to side. Perhaps Vinnie could use that to line up the shattered pieces of floor and cross more easily. The reading had even mentioned something about heavy objects being easy-ish to move with that charm.
The problem was, Vinnie couldn’t for the life of him remember the spell. Something with motor in it? he wondered. Levimotor? Expelimotor? Liberamotor? None of those sounded quite right. Unfortunately, it had been one of those boring-sounding charms that people used for mundane things like moving their trunks around. More focused on the exciting spells, Vinnie had skipped over it.
Emboldened by his success with conjuring fire, Vinnie abandoned that plan for something more reckless - and a lot more exciting.
Pointing his wand with purpose, Vinnie remembered setting up his altar for Dark Arts back in September. Just as he had then, he imagined his magic as a real, physical thing inside him. He tried to envision it building in his chest, picturing vividly a rickety bridge across the chasm. Then, he pushed, out from his heart, through his arm, and down into his wand, hollering the spell to conjure a massive bridge across.
If all else failed, he could always try a running jump.
ooc: attempting an out-of-his-league tier 4 transfiguration, strength for the entire drill is power (force and potency).
Round 2
N/A
Round 3
Rae
Success! [hidden attribute: Power match]
It's a reckless move, one that could've easily backfired, but it didn't. In the end, isn't that the most important thing? The rope bursts forth from the girl's wand, shooting across the chasm before wrapping around the column. The spell, often used to pull things to the caster, is unable to budge the sturdy column. This doesn't mean all is lost. The power behind the spell creates enough force to yank her swiftly past the spectres before depositing her on the other side.
The landing is a bit shaky, but it's fair to say this stunt would've been harder without the extra oomph in her casting.
You've made it to the final challenge. The light you'd cast has been left on the other side of the chasm, but curiously enough, a pale blue light radiates from an unknown source. This source doesn't remain unknown for long. From the shadows, a serpent of brilliant blue flames slithers forth. It blocks what is clearly your exit, hissing and writhing in open defiance to your presence.
The heat radiating off this beast is harsh despite the chilling blue of its shade. Around the serpent, flaming walls rise off the ground, creating a maze-like structure. There's no use trying to run through them. These fires and the serpent they came from will leave you with nasty burns that'll have you in the hospital wing for over a week. You will simply have to take it down.
If you look closely, just below the head of the snake is a small, hollowed-out area containing a 'core'. Perhaps if you could find some way to dislodge it, the creature may yield to your power. Otherwise, there are plenty of ways to deal with fire.
Think fast, the snake is out for blood. It lunges at you, snapping violently in an attempt to consume you. It's not fooling around, and neither should you. The snake rears up, ready to strike again.
Are you ready?
Vinnie
Fail!
It's a bold feat for a boy so young, a show of ingenuity in the flesh. If only it had worked. Conjuring is difficult work. Creating from nothing requires the sort of transfiguration the boy has yet to begin dreaming about, and this fact is made clearer by the uninspired sputtering that comes from his wand. The fire is there inside, hot and ready with raw strength, but power isn't enough to defy such a large skill gap.
The spectres draw closer, pale bony hands reaching for the boy. They are surprisingly sturdy despite their translucent appearance. Their howls and moans pierce through his core. Their despair, their terror, they pass them onto him as they yank him aggressively across the chasm, removing the need for his own solution.
By the time they get to the other side, he is shaking involuntarily from the chill they have left inside him. It will take a few minutes for the residual heavy feelings they have imposed upon him to subside.
You've made it to the final challenge. The light you'd cast has been left on the other side of the chasm, but curiously enough, a pale blue light radiates from an unknown source. This source doesn't remain unknown for long. From the shadows, a serpent of brilliant blue flames slithers forth. It blocks what is clearly your exit, hissing and writhing in open defiance to your presence.
The heat radiating off this beast is harsh despite the chilling blue of its shade. Around the serpent, flaming walls rise off the ground, creating a maze-like structure. There's no use trying to run through them. These fires and the serpent they came from will leave you with nasty burns that'll have you in the hospital wing for over a week. You will simply have to take it down.
If you look closely, just below the head of the snake is a small, hollowed-out area containing a 'core'. Perhaps if you could find some way to dislodge it, the creature may yield to your power. Otherwise, there are plenty of ways to deal with fire.
Think fast, the snake is out for blood. It lunges at you, snapping violently in an attempt to consume you. It's not fooling around, and neither should you. The snake rears up, ready to strike again.
Are you ready?
Finish Line
N/A
Corbin glared across the hallway at the professor from where he was waiting, leant against the rough stone of the corridor wall. The man had had the gall to give him detention for six weeks. For being the only one willing to act when an actual kid was in danger. Maybe it had been reckless. Maybe he had gotten hurt.
But no one else had done anything. He would do it again, and no amount of punishment would convince him otherwise.
Six weeks. Every evening in detention while his classmates were free to do as they pleased. But Corbin had used his free time between. Reviewed spells in empty classrooms. Practiced his wand movements until his muscles ached. His hand inched towards the soft leather strap of his bag, secured over one shoulder. He had made other preparations too.
He held his breath and waited as first Folwell, then Elliot, entered through the door. When his turn came, he pulled his blackthorn wand from its holster and nodded curtly to Professor Barlowe before stepping through.
The door thudded closed behind him.
Darkness. Not just dimness - a proper black. His footsteps echoed against the walls.
The silence was broken when the skittering started. Well, that wasn't ominous.
His spare hand went for his bag, fingers searching for one of the potions within. Professor Roan's demonstration had been memorable - that explosion of his had rattled half the dungeons. Corbin was a Slytherin. When your Head of House took the time to show the more practical applications of potioncraft, you paid attention. You found the recipe.
With the skittering getting closer, Corbin freed a fiery orange vial from the confines of his bag. The light from the flask chased away the dark and he raised his wand toward where the skittering seemed thickest.
"Depulso."
The spell sent the potion rocketing across the room with a carefully practiced motion. The glass shattered violently against stone, and then—
Strength: Control
Some secrets are worth
discovering
Of course she'd done her review. Rosalie was nothing if not a diligent student. She enjoyed learning, and even moreso feeling powerful in her own abilities. That couldn't be realized if she didn't practice and study often. For a girl that wasn't a Ravenclaw, she had always strived to be at the top of her classes; not to show off or prove she was better than anyone, but to prove to herself she was stronger than she was the day before.
One day, she would be on her own, without the secure walls of Hogwarts to protect her and keep her safe. She needed to know how to stand on her own, how to defend herself when the inevitable worse came to worse.
The Spellcaster's Society was perfect training ground to see how far she had come.
"Alright, in you go. Don't all rush at once."
As the door thudded closed behind her, Rosie found herself enclosed in vast darkness. The last sounds of the door echoed amongst the room she was in, and she stood still for a moment, trying to let her eyes adjust before she ventured further.
It was no use. It was the sort of dark that offered no reprieve.
She was quiet, relying on her sense of sound since her sight failed her, hearing nothing but the soft intake and release of each of her steady breaths. She took a step forward, her footstep echoing in the same way the door had, before the sound of faint scuttling sounded all around her. It grew, slowly at first, but stronger as each second passed.
It was possible whatever it was was dangerous, but possible that it wasn't, and Rosalie wasn't one to throw chaos out without knowing what she was facing. She had her wand, not wanting to risk something going wrong if she were wandless this time. As good practice as it would have been, the girl was brave, not stupid.
"Lumos!" she said, flicking her wand in the direction of the skittering, holding her breath and praying it wasn't something that was going to make her pass out from fright the moment she saw it.
Strength: Endurance
a white blank page
And A Swelling Rage
Make no mistake, she'd expected the spell to work. From the moment she'd uttered the incantation, there'd been no doubt in he girl's mind that rope of some sort would shoot out and take hold of the other side. She even knew there would be some pull and that enough of it would see her clear across to the other side. What she hadn't expected was the shear force behind her cast, though she supposed she should've. Her earlier lumos had nearly blinded her.
Why wouldn't her carpe retractum try to break her neck?
Rae squeaked, half in delight and half in horror as her spell propelled her clear across the chasm. The spectres had tried to grab hold of her, but it seemed she was moving too quickly for them to get a good hold. Good.
Small victories.
Rae landed on the other side with a soft thud. As it turned out, the power had been just enough to see her across before teetering off, allowing her to not slam face-first into the column she'd attached her magic to. Another good turn. While the 14-year-old had never been one to shy away from injury, she had plans for the evening that revolved around her not being laid up in a hospital wing bed with half her bones shattered.
Turning her mind back to the task at hand, Rae lifted her wand and prepared for the next assault. It was coming. The professor had indicated during one of their drill prep sessions that there were always three challenges they had to overcome. If there had been darkness, then the risk of falling to her death...then next would be...
SsssSssSsss.
Ah. Giant fire snake.
Yeah, that might as well happen. Rae took a step back as the snake slithered into view, not wanting to become tangled with it before it was even clear what she was meant to be doing. The blue flames that formed its body were mesmerising, waves of heat cascading down its large, slender frame. While she stood there, that heat began to seep into her, suddenly making her own clothing almost unbearable.
"Merlin," she muttered, already loosening her tie and rolling up her sleeves. She had to think fast or she probably risked being boiled alive--nearly positive as she was that the professor would never let that happen.
Around her, walls sprang up, made of the same fire as the snake. They began to box her in, making escape--even back to the other side--impossible. That only left one choice, didn't it? She'd had to handle the snake. The exit was too close for her to suddenly be stumped now. She just had to uh....um...
Hm?
What was that? Peering closer, Rae noticed the crystal-like core lodged in the neck of the snake. Did snakes have necks? Was it all one long neck? She'd have to remember to ask the professor when she got out. For now, it seemed to be pulsing and radiating its own sort of magic, which made it her next target.
"Accio!" Rae uttered, trying to summon the core to her. If all else failed, she knew a nifty water spell that worked great on fires.
I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose
✗ ✗ Fire Away ✗ ✗
Round 2
Corbin
Fail!
It was a curious sight, potions in a drill designed for spellcasting. Somewhere behind unseen glass, the professor was surely shaking his head with the mildest form of wonder. The potion hits the floor with a momentary spark, but it is soon consumed by the darkness. Perhaps a spell would have been a better option.
Curiouser and curiouser, the boy casts depulso at the dark. While a useful spell in its own right, it does nothing to erase the darkness, leaving the boy to fail the first challenge.
Without light being restored, the floor begins to tilt. It is subtle at first, just a slant that might cause you to lean in whatever direction goes against the angle of ascent. Soon, the slant would become the least of your worries. As if someone has taken pity on the boy, one of the braziers lights up, providing a little light for him to see his peril.
The floor begins to crack, a loud, sickening sound that tells you it won't support your weight for much longer. A massive chasm opens before you, the debris falling into the abyss. You hear them clatter to the floor, knowing they couldn't have gone too far.
Some pieces of the shattered floor over the chasm remain in place, floating but separate. They're too far away for you to jump (unless you'd really like to try your luck), but perhaps there's a way to put the pieces back together or to find another way across. A few pillars stand proud on the other side of chasm. They look sturdy and might also be of use.
Better decide quickly. The ground isn't done crumbling, and where you stand might be next.
As if to make matters worse, phantom figures rise from the chasm. They spiral up and down, their high-pitched shrieks and indecipherable whispers alerting you to their agony. They've come to collect you and will try to drag you down the moment you get close.
Better get moving.
Rosie
Success!
Passing out from fright would be the least of her worries. Without doubt, the spell had worked. Unfortunately for her, without the necessary control, the light that poured from her wand soon became blinding. Forget seeing whatever had been lurking in the dark; if the girl wasn't squinting, she risked permanent damage to her corneas.
Still, the problem is solved, and the room is now lit. A portion of the light leaves her wand and fills the scattered braziers, allowing for more regulated lighting as she continues.
With light restored, the floor begins to tilt. It is subtle at first, just a slant that might cause you to lean in whatever direction goes against the angle of ascent. Soon, the slant would become the least of your worries. The floor begins to crack, a loud, sickening sound that tells you it won't support your weight for much longer. A massive chasm opens before you, the debris falling into the abyss. You hear them clatter to the floor, knowing they couldn't have gone too far.
Some pieces of the shattered floor over the chasm remain in place, floating but separate. They're too far away for you to jump (unless you'd really like to try your luck), but perhaps there's a way to put the pieces back together or to find another way across. A few pillars stand proud on the other side of chasm. They look sturdy and might also be of use.
Better decide quickly. The ground isn't done crumbling, and where you stand might be next.
As if to make matters worse, phantom figures rise from the chasm. They spiral up and down, their high-pitched shrieks and indecipherable whispers alerting you to their agony. They've come to collect you and will try to drag you down the moment you get close.
Better get moving.
Round 3
N/A
Finish Line
Rae
Success! [hidden attribute: Power match]
The core is lodged pretty tight. Of course, it would be. Being the lifeline of the serpent, the very essence of its existence, the crystal is not something the snake would easily relinquish. It requires a great deal of force to dislodge it. That power is not absent in the girl's cast. The core rattles, stubbornly remaining in place for a few more seconds before being suddenly yanked free of its fiery cage.
The moment it is dislodged, the snake wavers. It writhes from side to side in the final throes of vitality before slumping to the ground. The flames flicker out until there's nothing left but a trail of ash where it once coiled. Similarly, the walls that once warned to keep your distance also fall into heaps of ash.
The challenges are now behind you, and the door appears not far away. Stepping out, you'll find yourself in a portion of the club room that has been extended. There are rows of seating where an audience has watched you work through a large, one-sided gallery window. Some cheer, some offer comments you didn't ask for on how they could've done better.
Not far away, the professor stands with a clipboard in hand. He nods at you, not bothering to look up from his scribbling.
All he says is "The scores will be posted by the end of the week. Keep an eye out."
And with that, you're free to go or may stick around to watch the others work their way through the challenges. Perhaps you'll learn something.
OOC: You have come to the end of the drill! One more post is required for full credit. You may have your character react in any way you'd like.
Vinnie’s teeth chattered like mad by the time the specters deposited him on the opposite end of the chasm. Something heavy had come over him at their touch, and for a moment he could only stand in place, despairing. His body felt cold and empty, his endeavor hopeless. The howls and moans of the ghostly figures, which had fascinated him before, now chilled him to the bone.
Even when flaming walls rose in front of him, the chill didn’t dissipate. He regained a small measure of his usual enthusiasm, however, when he saw a giant flaming snake in his path. It lunged at him once, causing Vinnie to stumble back a step. Adrenaline coursed through his veins, making him feel marginally more himself.
Vipera Evanesca came to mind at once. It was one of the spells he had truly paid attention to in the review. Like Draconifors had caught his attention with the promise of seeing a dragon up close, the idea of vanishing a massive python had gripped him. The use cases were undoubtedly small, but vastly more exciting than ‘useful’ spells like dusting charms and ones used to pack up a trunk.
Still, Vinnie’s attempt to conjure a rickety bridge across the chasm had only petered out. With the chill of ghostly despair passed on to him, he suddenly didn’t feel so confident. Perhaps he didn’t have a chance at vanishing a snake after all. Instead, his eyes caught on something just below the fiery snake’s head.
Instead of the snake vanishing spell, Vinnie raised his wand and attempted to vanish the much smaller core.
ooc: attempting a tier two transfiguration (possibly higher or lower depending on core’s weight), strength for this entire drill is power (force and potency).
Tulip stood arms crossed and with a bored expression on her face, she had better things to be doing but her and Poppy had both been sentenced to yet another extra ciricular. Tulip as a it was More lady like than detentions and Poppy Becuase there are more spells than ones that cause fire. Poppy was clearly excited to see other students who weren't of house Hufflepuff run into difficulties whilst cheering rabidly for Hufflepuff students. Her younger sister had really developed a strong sense of house pride. Probabily a homicidal level of house pride in fact. She hoped Hufflepuff won the house cup for the next 7 years otherwise the level of destructive rioting and looting might become a problem.
The CoMC proff asked if they'd done their review, Tulip almost chuckled, she didn't do regular homework so why on earth would she do extra homework for extra ciriculars. She hadn't done her review, she practised the spells she needed to for what she needed when she needed them. If she couldn't see benifit she didn't didn't bother. It seemed today's club was more of a practical nature. Less goofing off at the back and more actually doing the magic stuff.
She watched lots of the other students go ahead of her, Poppy disapeared into the test yelling like some pigtailed William Wallace, screaming something unintelligible. She couldn't hang back much more it was becoming painfully obvious that she was stalling. "Fine, my turn whatever" she said stepping up.
The darkness was opressive. That was the first thing she'd noticed. It reminded her of the Forbidden Forrest, yes she'd been there, yes she'd been a first year. For most in the school Forbidden was more of an advisory rather than an actual rule. She knew Rose and her friends took boys there. Briair collected dubious plants there and she hid stuff there. Perhaps it wasn't a school thing perhaps it was just an Asquith thing.
Regardless this place reminded her of the forrest, the darkness that encroached on her the feeling of unease it gave. All that was missing was the damp sweet smell of rotting vegetation. Tulip could hear the sound of something coming towards her, it could be an animal or something worse. There was one thing that worked on animals in the forrest. "Incendio!" she said casting flame at the sound, maybe Poppy the fire bug had a point sometimes.
Strength : Control
For a second, Rae thought it wouldn't work. With the resistance she felt against her spell's pull, the girl was ready to throw her hands up and call the professor a dirty cheater--because it had to be his fault her spell wasn't working. It turned out to be an unnecessary accusation. With enough grit and power, Rae felt the core essentially 'pop' out of its socket, flying toward her like a well-deserved prize.
Rae side-stepped the incoming crystal when it was close enough, a triumphant grin spreading across her lips as she watched the serpent wither into ash. The gamble had paid off. In truth, Rae didn't know if she'd have been able to produce enough water to put out a snake of that size, making her even happier she hadn't needed plan B. With the walls it had erected, she was pretty sure running wouldn't have been a viable option either.
Stepping around the ashes, the girl made her way to the clearly marked exit. Stepping out on the other side, she admittedly hadn't been expecting anyone to have been watching. Had the professor mentioned making a spectacle of them? What if she hadn't been at her best? What if she'd fumbled and embarrassed herself??
She spotted the faces of a few of her friends on the benches, waving to them as they congratulated her on finishing like she had. Mixed in were the criticisms she didn't care for--the ones she certainly didn't remember asking for. Funny how that always seemed to work. Displaying as much restraint as could be expected of the girl, she flipped them off as she continued toward the professor.
Rae had been about to ask him how she'd done, but he cut her off with his words.
"The scores will be posted by the end of the week. Keep an eye out."
Ugh. Of course. A performance like that and she'd have to end up waiting for the results anyway. Didn't he know how to just down 'perfect score'?
Seeing no point in arguing--nothing would rush that man--the girl instead went to take a seat on the stands. There were still a few of her friends who hadn't gone yet, and she was interested to see how they did.
I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose
✗ ✗ Fire Away ✗ ✗
Her eyes squinted shut, her face turning away slightly from the intensity of the light that poured from the tip of her wand. Merlin. The girl knew she needed to work on her control and restraint when casting, but Lumos should have been fairly easy. She chalked it up to her nerves, and not necessarily wanting to see whatever it was that had been skittering about in the dark.
When the light lessened again, spreading out to the braziers around her, Rosie opened her eyes again, just in time to feel the floor tilt beneath her, causing the girl to stumble forward in the same direction. She swayed, arms flailing to keep her balance as she buckled her knees, watching as the floor cracked in front of her.
As the pieces fell away into the dark hole beneath it, her eyes narrowed, watching as phantom figures rose up, screaming and whispering as though they were in pain. There were two piece of the floor left. Far, but the girl was athletic and she had taken bigger risks on a broom before, jumping from one to another mid-air. She could pull it off.
She just had to get past whatever these ghosts were.
"Cave Inimicum," she said quickly, swishing her wand over herself, hoping if the charm cast, that it would shield her in sight and sound from the phantoms who were already starting to lean towards her. The girl took a deep breath, knowing this was either very brave or very stupid. Maybe it was both. It was probably both.
Taking a few steps back, the girl gathered her nerve, and with a running start, leaped from the 'safety' of the crumbling floor, to the closest piece floating above the chasm.
a white blank page
And A Swelling Rage
Round 2
Tulip
Success! [hidden attribute: Control match]
Whether the girl means to or not, her fire does just the trick of ridding her of the darkness. The control that Tulip possesses saves her from the fate of many others who had also tried to light their path. There is no spiralling inferno, but a neat flame that separates itself and spreads to the braziers that have been scattered in the darkness.
Truly, it wasn't brute force that was needed, but the finesse to not burn oneself alive.
With light restored, the floor begins to tilt. It is subtle at first, just a slant that might cause you to lean in whatever direction goes against the angle of ascent. Soon, the slant would become the least of your worries. The floor begins to crack, a loud, sickening sound that tells you it won't support your weight for much longer. A massive chasm opens before you, the debris falling into the abyss. You hear them clatter to the floor, knowing they couldn't have gone too far.
Some pieces of the shattered floor over the chasm remain in place, floating but separate. They're too far away for you to jump (unless you'd really like to try your luck), but perhaps there's a way to put the pieces back together or to find another way across. A few pillars stand proud on the other side of chasm. They look sturdy and might also be of use.
Better decide quickly. The ground isn't done crumbling, and where you stand might be next.
As if to make matters worse, phantom figures rise from the chasm. They spiral up and down, their high-pitched shrieks and indecipherable whispers alerting you to their agony. They've come to collect you and will try to drag you down the moment you get close.
Better get moving.
Round 3
Rosie
Success! [hidden attribute: Endurance match]
It was official, the Gryffindor girl was either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid. Maddox, from wherever he stood, wasn't sure which it was and didn't think he needed to know the answer.
Admittedly, while risky, the strategy isn't without merit. For someone skilled in endurance as she is, the girl is able to maintain her stealth while she makes the foolhardy jump. The spectres never see her coming as she hits the platforms, her movements and sounds obscured. One crazy jump, then another. A final jump in which she nearly misses and has to scramble up the side of the edge, but the girl is able to regain her footing and once again get on stable ground.
You've made it to the final challenge. The light you'd cast has been left on the other side of the chasm, but curiously enough, a pale blue light radiates from an unknown source. This source doesn't remain unknown for long. From the shadows, a serpent of brilliant blue flames slithers forth. It blocks what is clearly your exit, hissing and writhing in open defiance to your presence.
The heat radiating off this beast is harsh despite the chilling blue of its shade. Around the serpent, flaming walls rise off the ground, creating a maze-like structure. There's no use trying to run through them. These fires and the serpent they came from will leave you with nasty burns that'll have you in the hospital wing for over a week. You will simply have to take it down.
If you look closely, just below the head of the snake is a small, hollowed-out area containing a 'core'. Perhaps if you could find some way to dislodge it, the creature may yield to your power. Otherwise, there are plenty of ways to deal with fire.
Think fast, the snake is out for blood. It lunges at you, snapping violently in an attempt to consume you. It's not fooling around, and neither should you. The snake rears up, ready to strike again.
Are you ready?
Finish Line
Vinnie
Success!
The indomitable spirit of the boy was to be admired. Vinnie would make Godric Gryffindor proud, choosing to continue on after a failure like the one he'd just been dealt. With residual melancholy clinging to the boy, he managed to pick himself up and take on the massive serpent that sought to destroy him.
It's a risky attempt. After all, the boy doesn't know the true weight of the core. As they often say, luck favours the brave. Much of the crystal is itself made of flames, causing it to weigh much less than one might think. With more control, he would've had an easy time making it disappear, but his efforts aren't in vain.
With an extraordinary stroke of luck, the boy strikes gold, and the core begins to dissolve.
The moment it vanishes, the snake wavers. It writhes from side to side in the final throes of vitality before slumping to the ground. The flames flicker out until there's nothing left but a trail of ash where it once coiled. Similarly, the walls that once warned to keep your distance also fall into heaps of ash.
The challenges are now behind you, and the door appears not far away. Stepping out, you'll find yourself in a portion of the club room that has been extended. There are rows of seating where an audience has watched you work through a large, one-sided gallery window. Some cheer, some offer comments you didn't ask for on how they could've done better.
Not far away, the professor stands with a clipboard in hand. He nods at you, not bothering to look up from his scribbling.
All he says is "The scores will be posted by the end of the week. Keep an eye out."
And with that, you're free to go or may stick around to watch the others work their way through the challenges. Perhaps you'll learn something.
OOC: You have come to the end of the drill! One more post is required for full credit. You may have your character react in any way you'd like.
It worked. The snake collapsed to the ground, its flames flickering and waning until they faded altogether. Then the walls came down too, the labyrinth of fire vanishing to reveal a door. That’s it? Vinnie wondered. He felt a little disappointed. It had been thrilling not to know what would come next, and whether it might endanger him. He had hoped to throw a few more wildly unlikely spells before the end.
Arm singed, teeth chattering, ash clinging to his robes, Vinnie burst through the door. He wore a shit-eating grin, the dread passed on to him by the phantoms having dissipated in the wake of his success. “How’d I do?” he asked eagerly. The other students were there waiting with Professor Barlowe, having apparently been watching him the whole time from the other side. “Did you see that huge fire I conjured?”
Professor Barlowe only told him neutrally that scores would be posted later that week, not so much as glancing up. Even so, Vinnie’s enthusiasm proved unfaltering. He beamed at the other first years and older students he hardly knew. He felt amazing. Incendio had never worked in practice, nor had he successfully vanished anything at all.
Whether the scores would agree was another matter. Vinnie had given himself minor burns in the first task and failed the second one besides.
Yet this time he had broken no international wizarding laws, and been given no lectures. Conjuring a giant bridge may have failed him, but that only renewed Vinnie’s determination to succeed. Someday he would be able to conjure cool things like bridges and dragons. For now, he was content to bounce around the crowd of students with his usual overenthusiasm, cheering for whoever came next.
The light was a wonderful and reassuring sight, the darkness was gone but that knawing uneasy feeling remaind, the same as she always got coming out of the forrest. She was glad the spell had worked, perhaps Poppy really did had a point, when in doubt fire. No fire had worked then as most things had a healthy fear of fire.
Now she was faced with a weirdly tilting room, she tried to balance herself and the floor went against her and tilted in the opposite direction, oh that was not funny, it was like being on a wacky raft on the lake. She was trying to find a balance when she heard the sound of the floor begining to crack, "What the......" she exclaimed, oh look Proff Barlow trying to kill and mame students again, if he wasn't nearly getting pupils killed on school outings he'd rigged a classroom to kill them.
She then saw or rather heard voices from below her, although using the term voices was a push, they were groans and moans and they didn't sound like they wanted to make friends. She needed to get across to the other side, but she also wanted to avoid her new friends below. She had a plan it was crazy but right now she was all for crazy. She pointed her wand at herself and cast "Ebublio!" aiming to cast a protective bubble around her, as soon as it was formed she lept toward some of the remaining floating bits of floor, hoping being a bubble (or rather in) would make her journey more ball like and if it didn't it would help her bounce.
Strength : Power
Round 2
N/A
Round 3
Tulip
Fail!
Bubbles were surprisingly funny things, especially the magical kind. They were great for keeping water out and giving the caster or their target a burst of breathable air to help them in their struggles. Defense? Not so much. Tulip is now breathing better than ever and has encased herself in a bubble that keeps her locked in.
The spectres don't think much of this bubble, however. It's no magical protection, and its magic is not meant to withstand the assault that greets it. The ghostly fiends swarm the girl, and the bubble quickly gives in. Pale, bony hands reach for the girl once the flimsy bubble is no more. They are surprisingly sturdy despite their translucent appearance. Their howls and moans pierce through her core. Their despair, their terror, they pass them onto her as they yank her aggressively across the rest of the chasm.
At least she no longer has to risk that final jump. It looked brutal.
By the time they get to the other side, he is shaking involuntarily from the chill they have left inside him. It will take a few minutes for the residual heavy feelings they have imposed upon him to subside.
You've made it to the final challenge. The light you'd cast has been left on the other side of the chasm, but curiously enough, a pale blue light radiates from an unknown source. This source doesn't remain unknown for long. From the shadows, a serpent of brilliant blue flames slithers forth. It blocks what is clearly your exit, hissing and writhing in open defiance to your presence.
The heat radiating off this beast is harsh despite the chilling blue of its shade. Around the serpent, flaming walls rise off the ground, creating a maze-like structure. There's no use trying to run through them. These fires and the serpent they came from will leave you with nasty burns that'll have you in the hospital wing for over a week. You will simply have to take it down.
If you look closely, just below the head of the snake is a small, hollowed-out area containing a 'core'. Perhaps if you could find some way to dislodge it, the creature may yield to your power. Otherwise, there are plenty of ways to deal with fire.
Think fast, the snake is out for blood. It lunges at you, snapping violently in an attempt to consume you. It's not fooling around, and neither should you. The snake rears up, ready to strike again.
Are you ready?
Finish Line
N/A
|
