Saturday, March 11, 1920
The edge of the Forbidden Forest
7 PM
It was an...unusual time for a drill and an unusual location. The afternoon had been forsaken for the cover of night. It was better for the drill he had planned, and a nice shake-up from what the students were used to.
All necessary precautions had already been taken. The students would have to go out of their way to injure themselves, and at that point, there wasn't very much he could do about it.
Maddox stood before them, sleeping toddler in hand. After they'd spent the evening working the grounds, Evander had passed out, and he hadn't had enough time to head back to the castle, then all the way up the tower to hand him over to Julia. It was no matter. They wouldn't be out there for tremendously long, and while the boy had been stretching and putting on weight, he hadn't grown so big that he would cause his father strain.
Above them, the moon hung low, half its face doing what it could to illuminate the grounds. Torches completed the work, set out at equal distances outside the forest.
"Consider this a special little trip. One by one, you'll enter the forest and follow the path marked by the luminescent mushrooms. There's a perimetre set up to ensure no one can wander too far in." The man wasn't about to spend his night scouring the forest for the directionally challenged.
"Stay sharp, there's something lurking in there." It went without saying that he wouldn't be telling them what.
"Conquer whatever you find on your way out. I'll see you on the other side."
They could begin with whoever wanted to go first.
Round One
You enter the forest, the crunching of dried fallen leaves your only companion.
For a while, your path is made clear not only by the mushrooms the professor mentioned but also by the lights that come from the torches back on the outside. This is a small reprieve, one that fades with each step you take into this dark and foreboding world. The shadows close in around you, towering trees looming in their silent watch.
Already on high alert from the warning the professor gives you, you can't help but perceive every sound that rises. The insects are a standard affair, and in the distance, you think you hear the faint sound of clicking. It can all be excused as the sounds of nature on such a serene night.
Before long, maybe you've even grown comfortable.
Seven minutes of walking without anything trying to swallow you whole might be all you need to finally lower your guard. The dark aside, you can still make out the tree line to your left, assuring you that safety is not far off and the path before you is wide.
Then the rustling starts.
It echoes in the high canopies, making it difficult to tell where it's coming from at first. A few more steps and it becomes clear; it's behind you. When you speed up, it speeds up; when you slow, it slows. Turning reveals nothing, but you're fairly certain that you're no longer alone.
OOC: Hi friends! Welcome to the second 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 (only) stating your character's magical strength for the drill. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out <3
This drill ends on March 5.
The forest? Nighttime?
Count her in.
Rae wasn't about to fuss over the change in time and location. For her, it was always a treat being given explicit permission to enter the forest she and Echo had been spending more time in of late, now that certain things had come through. No looking over her shoulders, no grumbling while she was marched back outside of it—you'd think the badge would make some difference. Better than aimless wandering, she'd be entering for a purpose and would be given something to focus on.
Two months, that's all they had left before their OWLs, and Rae found herself clinging more and more to opportunities to practise her wand work. With all the extra work she'd been putting in, the girl barely recognised herself, but she knew she couldn't afford to stop. Healer Graham had provided her with some information packets from St. Mungo's, and the Collegium was very clear on its requirements.
There was no choice; Rae had to do well—better than well. O. Nearly all Os. If she thought about it too hard, she ran the risk of hyperventilating or throwing up, so...she focused on the smaller chunks.
Study this, practise that, and leave the exam worry for later.
Even tonight, she wasn't thinking about this as OWL prep but as a chance for charms prep.
She would go first, thinking it better to get on with it.
Entering the forest didn't bring her dread. It hadn't exactly become a 'frequent haunt' by any means, but it wasn't a place to be viewed with fear in her book, only caution. Even as a first-year, Rae had never fallen for the tall tales, and she certainly wouldn't start now. Instead, she took the time – wand already in her palm and ready – to enjoy the stroll.
It was a cool evening with spring fast approaching, and it already lifted her mood more than forcing herself to remain inside with any amount of books ever could.
When she heard the rustling, Rae stopped.
Barlowe had mentioned that there would be something waiting inside for them. She'd almost forgotten. Almost. Rae turned, ready to handle whatever the man had up his sleeves, but found...nothing...?
Huh.
She moved forward a few paces, listening to ensure that she really had heard what she had. Sure enough, there it was again, a second pair of footsteps shadowing hers. It sent the fine hairs on the back of her neck rising. Was it getting closer?
The Slytherin lifted her wand, not wanting to wait too long to find out.
"Revelio," she tried, hoping to give herself a bit of clarity.
Magical Strength: Power
"Stay sharp, there's something lurking in there."
Wasn't there always? Benji couldn't recall a single time he'd participated in anything - class, Spellcasters, etc. - with Maddox Barlowe that didn't result in something lurking and viewing him as prey.
"Conquer whatever you find on your way out. I'll see you on the other side."
Benji waited for the others to go through, content to wait his turn. When others were out of earshot, he glanced at the man, a wide grin stretching across his lips. "See ya there, Dad." All in jest of course. While Maddox was his step-dad now, Benji thoroughly enjoyed making light of the entire situation.
He'd called Morgan 'sis' on Christmas Eve less than ten minutes after they'd been told the grand news. The look she'd given him could have caused him to self-combust.
The boy took his leave of his professorstepdad, and wandered off into the woods. He drew his wand from his pocket, following the glowing trail that had been laid out before him.
Benji had never been afraid of the forest and found refuge within the quiet and tranquility that its depths offered. He was sneaky enough, often managing to bypass the notice of professors or the less adventurous prefects, and he certainly wasn't afraid of giant spiders or centaurs. A smile curved along his lips, remembering how terrified of centaurs his cousin had been.
As he wandered along the trail, the boy kept his eyes peeled, though knowing Barlowe, whatever it was that was waiting for him likely wasn't going to just step out and make its introductions. He listened quietly, each step of his thudding along the soft earth while another echoed...behind him?
Great. Benji sighed, looking over his shoulder, but finding nothing. He took another step, and another, each one mirrored by a sound behind him. A little faster, and faster it came. It stopped when he stopped.
The boy frowned, turning completely to study the empty space behind him. If it were a Hidebehind, he was complaining to Julia immediately following this. He'd seen how that thing had tried to eat Ren.
He was no good at revealing charms, and decided well...if something was hunting him, the best he could do was make it stop. He turned again, resuming his walk, listening carefully for the steps behind him. There they were, mirroring his again, one after another.
Without warning, the boy turned and slashed his wand in the direction of the footsteps. "Expulso!"
Power
you cling to that old adage, this hurts me more than you
well i doubt it
Round Two
Rae
Fail!
What a nifty spell for cutting through all the mystery. Not a fan of suspense, it seems. Light sputters at the tip of your wand, and for a second, it appears as if it might listen. But sputtering is all it does, as you lack the control to see it through. Shame, it would've been a perfect spell. Nothing comes of the revealing charm, just an empty forest and the pervasive feeling that something is still very much watching you. Thankfully, it doesn't stay hidden much longer. Out from the shadows jumps a large beast with the face of a human, the body of a lion and the tail of a scorpion.
This is no longer a simple forest stroll.
Every nerve in your body makes it very clear that you are not here for a picnic, unless you plan to become the main course. Whether you paid enough attention in creatures class and know what this beast is, or you've got no clue, it's no excuse to stand around waiting to find out how real the professor makes these drills.
The creature takes up an offensive posture, ready to lunge at you without a moment's notice. Running...while certainly a strong impulse, isn't likely to serve you well. Chances are, it's faster. Chances are, it's already decided you're prey.
But you have to do something.
"Come closer," it coos as it slowly moves closer. "Come let me have a look."
Its soft words belie the viciousness that lurks beneath the surface. It lunges, barely missing you, but your time is running short. You'd better think of a way to get away from this thing before your chances of escape drop to zero.
Benji
Fail!
Well that's...certainly a spell. Not very useful for detection or revealing things, but it...it does things. Blue light cascades from your wand, and a massive explosion erupts by a nearby tree. It's magnificent and loud but ultimately useless at shedding light on your pursuer. Thankfully, it doesn't stay hidden much longer. Out from the shadows, from the direction opposite of where you cast, saunters a large beast with the face of a human, the body of a lion and the tail of a scorpion.
This is no longer a simple forest stroll.
Every nerve in your body makes it very clear that you are not here for a picnic, unless you plan to become the main course. Whether you paid enough attention in creatures class and know what this beast is, or you've got no clue, it's no excuse to stand around waiting to find out how real the professor makes these drills.
The creature takes up an offensive posture, ready to lunge at you without a moment's notice. Running...while certainly a strong impulse, isn't likely to serve you well. Chances are, it's faster. Chances are, it's already decided you're prey.
But you have to do something.
"Come closer," it coos as it slowly moves closer. "Come let me have a look."
Its soft words belie the viciousness that lurks beneath the surface. It lunges, barely missing you, but your time is running short. You'd better think of a way to get away from this thing before your chances of escape drop to zero.
Round Three
N/A
Finish Line
N/A
Of all the times for her wand to sputter.
Uuuggghhhh.
Rae flicked her wand into the air a few times, trying to get the magic to wake the hell up before she could get herself mildly injured or maimed. The revealing charm wasn't difficult. It was nothing she should've been struggling with, given how clear her head was and how prepared she felt. Yet, there she was, standing in the dark with a spell that had gone nowh--.
Was...was that manticore?
Huh.
Barlowe had finally lost his mind. Honestly, she always knew he would someday, but she imagined dragons when that finally happened. The basilisk was a precursor that showed the man's proclivity for creatures that didn't like to curl up on your lap and sleep. This was little more than another entry in that book. A manticore. Right.
If things had been leisurely before, they certainly weren't anymore. That thing was sizing her up like it was set to have her served rare. Simulation or not...she didn't need that imagery lingering after the drill.
"Come closer. Come let me have a look."
Uhhh...she was going to go ahead and decline that offer.
It lunged, and Rae dashed, narrowly getting out of the way. She felt the sudden rush of wind as the creature swept by her. A chill ran up her spine. It was now a lot closer than anyone should be comfortable with, and while Rae's legs buzzed with kinetic energy, ready to BOLT, she had to be realistic.
It would win.
Instead, Rae planted her feet firmly, squared her shoulders and lifted her wand. She had an idea, one she'd gotten from a lesson some time back. .It would work, it had to. "Lumos!" she tried. If that failed, she'd just lie down there and let it kill her. At that point, her charms skills would be shit and deserving of fake!death – not that Barlowe would appreciate the dramatics, but it would certainly be called for.
Just put her out of her misery. St. Mungo's would never accept her.
Round Two
N/A
Round Three
Rae
Success!
Oh, what tipped you off, you clever girl? How did you know this overgrown cat still likes shiny lights? The manticore turns to charge at you again, but it goes still the moment the light bursts from your wand. It's safe to say the creature is more than fascinated; it is mesmerised by this display and unable to focus on anything else. Strong muscles loosen, its jaw falling slack. It looks like it could stand there staring forever.
There's no time to waste. It's better to make use of this opportunity to flee while it presents itself. This is easily the head start you need, and in the distance, you think you can make out the finish line of this little drill. The professor wasn't bluffing when he said it would be pretty straightforward, and he certainly put a lot of effort into ensuring you never ventured too deep beyond the trees.
All you have to do is cross the line back onto the grounds, and the drill will be considered over.
There's just one problem. The once immobilised creature is slowly coming to its senses. Running is the only means of closing the gap and making the exit. Anything slower and you've already been caught.
So you run, or at least attempt to.
The adrenaline in you pushes you to the top of your speed. Behind you, you can hear the creature quickly closing the distance. Just a little further. The solitary light of a torch beckons you into its rest, but the manticore is persistent. It takes some degree of distance, but finally it catches up to you. With one powerful leap, it cuts ahead of you to block your only exit.
It won't fall for the same trick twice, surely not, but perhaps there's a way to definitively handle this sort?
OOC: Minor powerplay alert. It is assumed your student ran. Standing still or walking, or deciding to hide instead, would all result in an automatic end to the drill, at which point your character would be unable to proceed and equally unable to earn full marks. This is because the moment the manticore recovers, it would quickly overpower your student if they aren't already far enough ahead. There is a mechanism that triggers at a certain distance that changes its drive from 'devour' to 'detain'. If you prefer this ending, you are free to disregard any mentions of running and write it the way that feels best for your character, understanding the outcome you are agreeing to.
Finish Line
N/A
Morgan’s stomach was in knots; it had been since Christmas Eve. Sure, everyone else thought that she was fine, but was she? She honestly wasn’t sure. She hadn’t been fine when she found out about Evander, and now she loved the little blob more than anything.
Surely she’d love this one too.
But Morgan could still be unhappy about the inevitable changes that would be happening in her life; a step-mum, step siblings, a new house, a new half sibling… it was so much.
While Benji was fine referring to her dad as dad, she didn’t know if she’d ever call Julia her mum. She would feel like she was erasing her real mum. That thought made her sad, wondering what her mom would think about everything going on.
The last time Morgan was around her, she’d been rude. And so now that was the memory she had to live with.
Her green eyes fell on her sleeping brother, who her father was holding. He’d caused her so much grief at the beginning, and it had turned out fine. She had her time with her dad that was just hers. But now there’d be even more people in the house.
Where would that leave her?
Once it was Morgan’s turn, she entered the forest. She blinked, her eyes adjusting to the darkness. The glowing of the mushrooms were enough to pull her in further. She followed the path they created, her wand gripped tightly in her hand.
The further she walked, the more relaxed Morgan got. She found herself lost in thought, frowning. Would this be a brother or a sister? Speaking of sisters… Kathryn wasn’t the most friendly, and the Gryffindor didn’t really know how to talk to her. She’d yet to even try to spend much time with her.
What about Benji? Morgan wasn’t the oldest anymore. Benji was. And he was keen to be happy about the situation.
Morgan stopped in her tracks when she heard rustling. When she stopped, it stopped. Deciding she was still alone, she began walking again. But the rustling was there again. And then she stopped, and there was nothing. She turned around and scanned the darkness, her wand held out ready to cast if she needed to.
But there was nothing there. Absolutely nothing.
She knew she wasn’t alone though. What trick did her father have up his sleeve this time?
“Revelio,” Morgan attempted, hoping that her magic was strong enough to show her who or what was following her. Her eyes continued skimming the space behind her.
Power
What...the hell...was that?!
Benji's mouth fell open, his expulso having done nothing but make the creature reveal itself. From the shadows came what he could only call a monster. A scorpion's tale. The body of a beastly cat, and - probably the most horrifying - a man's face.
The boy backed away, holding his wand tightly in his hand. A manticore. He definitely didn't know how to deal with those. They'd never come across them in their CoMC classes, and Benji wasn't the type to look up or study things he wasn't assigned.
"Come closer. Come let me have a look."
"Th-thanks, but I think I'm alright mate."
The creatures words were cold, predatory. Goosebumps raised along his arms and neck, warning the Hufflepuff that he was in a dire situation with something that he hadn't the first clue how to fight. If he couldn't fight, then he was meant to run.
The monster suddenly lunged and Benji shouted some sort of curse that even he didn't understand, before he took off sprinting through the forest at break neck speeds. He didn't have to defeat it, he told himself as he ducked beneath low branches and jumped over fallen trees. He just needed to escape, and he couldn't do that if he was hollering to high heaven and making a scene.
But maybe he could provide the damn thing a distraction while he ran. He'd never tried it before, and he was fairly certain they only worked on dementors, but it was worth a shot. Looking back only momentarily, an image of his little sister, smiling, came to mind.
He...he could use that.
"Expecto Patronum!"
you cling to that old adage, this hurts me more than you
well i doubt it
Why had she signed up for this again? Each and every time Tilly said it would be her last. Not really interested in the more dramatic types of magic, she really just wanted to hide in the Greenhouse. And then, as always, she stood in line with the other students glutton for punishment.
"Consider this a special little trip. One by one, you'll enter the forest and follow the path marked by the luminescent mushrooms. There's a perimetre set up to ensure no one can wander too far in. Stay sharp, there's something lurking in there."
Of course there was. There was always “something.”
"Conquer whatever you find on your way out. I'll see you on the other side."
One of these times it was likely that he would, in fact, not see her on the other side.
Walking down the forest path is almost soothing. She loved being outside in nature, surrounded by the trees, familiar scent of earth and something specifically nature. She categorized it as green. If a color could smell, green would smell like the forest she was walking in.
More than once Tilly stopped to look at a plant, feeling its leaves to see if she could sense anything from it. The mushrooms making sure she stayed on the right path.
The farther she got, the more comfortable she became. Mistake number two it seemed. Number one being showing up at all.
The sound of rustling didn’t immediately alert her to the presence of something. It happened again and Tilly stopped, wondering if she had heard something. As she began moving again, ears trained to listen she heard it again. That’s when she knew she was not alone. No surprise there, he had mentioned something lurking.
Wand out in front of her, pointing into the nothingness that was this strange forest, her senses on high alert. Wanting more light seemed like a good bet, and would possibly scare off any threats. Maybe. Who knows. “Lumos Duo!” She said, pointing into the darkness, nervous on what she might find in the darkness.
POWER
If you tell a redhead
NOTto do something
She’ll do itTWICE and take pictures....
It worked. Okay. Good. She didn't have to contemplate other futures that required less magic and spellwork after all. When the drill was over, she'd have to review the revealing charm just to make sure it wasn't something on her end, but for now, there was a mesmerised manticore and a whole bunch of distance she needed to create before it came back to its senses.
For as long as she could, Rae kept her wand light going as she turned and zipped through the wooded pathway. Chances were, it was faster, and there was no doubt it was bigger. Rae wouldn't dare try to outmanoeuvre it by physical means. All she needed to do was get to the opening that was coming into view before...
Oh no...
She could hear it coming again, determined steps quickly closing what distance she'd managed to carve out for herself. Damn it! She was so close. Rae pushed harder, knowing she only needed a little more burst and a prayer. As far as she knew, the line of trees there was the finish line, and getting there would put the big beast out of business.
Closer.
Closer.
But it was getting closer, too. Her heart hammered inside her chest as her legs threatened to buckle under the pressure. They wouldn't, not while she remained firmly in charge of her body. Until her lungs gave out or the creature managed to knock her down, she told herself she would keep running. Soon, she could see the grounds beyond the trees. It flooded her with immeasurable relief but a bit of scepticism that beating Barlowe's final challenge relied on physical endurance.
As it turned out, it didn't.
A shadow darker than the already dimly lit forest soared above her. Looking up, she caught the creature at the end of its leap. It stood before her, menacing and ready to finish what it had started.
Fuck.
A few more steps and she'd have been out of there. Ugh. She had to think. Think think think. A manticore. She knew things about them, remembered things. They...um...hm...
An idea struck her suddenly.
Turning her wand to a nearby tree, she could only hope it would work. "Diffindo!" she said, trying to bring it crashing down onto the persistent beast. It was large enough to make a difference. and that had to count for something.
Round Two
Morgan
Success!
What a nifty spell for cutting through all the mystery. Not a fan of suspense, it seems. Light bursts from your wand, bathing the area with keen interrogation that does reveal the culprit. Once invisible, the form of a large beast with the face of a human, the body of a lion and the tail of a scorpion appears, though very faintly at first. Having more control of one's magic may have provided a clearer picture. It realises it has been spotted and knows its little game of hide-and-seek is over. No matter, it is ready to begin you
This is no longer a simple forest stroll.
Every nerve in your body makes it very clear that you are not here for a picnic, unless you plan to become the main course. Whether you paid enough attention in creatures class and know what this beast is, or you've got no clue, it's no excuse to stand around waiting to find out how real the professor makes these drills.
The creature takes up an offensive posture, ready to lunge at you without a moment's notice. Running...while certainly a strong impulse, isn't likely to serve you well. Chances are, it's faster. Chances are, it's already decided you're prey.
But you have to do something.
"Come closer," it coos as it slowly moves closer. "Come let me have a look."
Its soft words belie the viciousness that lurks beneath the surface. It lunges, barely missing you, but your time is running short. You'd better think of a way to get away from this thing before your chances of escape drop to zero.
Tilly
Fail! (N.B.: Spells taught in classes aren't owned until the end of term when they are officially claimed. This didn't affect the role, it's just a note)
Light has always been an excellent means of displaying fear and providing much needed...illumination. It's the natural sensible choice, or would be, were the foe visible. Turning to find nothing was the first hint that this enemy won't be so easily spotted. The area floods with light, but light can only reveal what is already there. You see nothing, as was the case before. Eventually, the invisible mask does fade from the creature on its own to become a large beast with the face of a human, the body of a lion and the tail of a scorpion.
This is no longer a simple forest stroll.
Every nerve in your body makes it very clear that you are not here for a picnic, unless you plan to become the main course. Whether you paid enough attention in creatures class and know what this beast is, or you've got no clue, it's no excuse to stand around waiting to find out how real the professor makes these drills.
The creature takes up an offensive posture, ready to lunge at you without a moment's notice. Running...while certainly a strong impulse, isn't likely to serve you well. Chances are, it's faster. Chances are, it's already decided you're prey.
But you have to do something.
"Come closer," it coos as it slowly moves closer. "Come let me have a look."
Its soft words belie the viciousness that lurks beneath the surface. It lunges, barely missing you, but your time is running short. You'd better think of a way to get away from this thing before your chances of escape drop to zero.
Round Three
Benji
Success!
Ah, a patronus charm. Famous for its ability to chase away dark creatures while being an unusual choice for a creature invulnerable to magic. Thankfully, the boy isn't trying to banish it with a concentrated source of goodwill, only distract it. Manticores are notorious for being mesmerised by bright lights. The patronus bursts forth as intended. It quickly becomes unable to focus on anything else. Strong muscles loosen, its jaw falling slack. It looks like it could stand there staring forever. The patronus, however, is already beginning to wane. Perhaps with more endurance it could stand a longer chance.
There's no time to waste. It's better to continue making use of this opportunity to flee while it presents itself. This is easily the head start you need, and in the distance, you think you can make out the finish line of this little drill. The professor wasn't bluffing when he said it would be pretty straightforward, and he certainly put a lot of effort into ensuring you never ventured too deep beyond the trees.
All you have to do is cross the line back onto the grounds, and the drill will be considered over.
There's just one problem. The once immobilised creature is slowly coming to its senses. Running is the only means of closing the gap and making the exit. Anything slower and you've already been caught.
So you run, or at least attempt to.
The adrenaline in you pushes you to the top of your speed. Behind you, you can hear the creature quickly closing the distance. Just a little further. The solitary light of a torch beckons you into its rest, but the manticore is persistent. It takes some degree of distance, but finally it catches up to you. With one powerful leap, it cuts ahead of you to block your only exit.
It won't fall for the same trick twice, surely not, but perhaps there's a way to definitively handle this sort?
OOC: Minor powerplay alert. It is assumed your student has continued to run. Standing still or walking, or deciding to hide instead, would all result in an automatic end to the drill, at which point your character would be unable to proceed and equally unable to earn full marks. This is because the moment the manticore recovers, it will quickly overpower your student if they aren't already far enough ahead. There is a mechanism that triggers at a certain distance that changes its drive from 'devour' to 'detain'. If you prefer this ending, you are free to disregard any mentions of running and write it the way that feels best for your character, understanding the outcome you are agreeing to.
Finish Line
Rae
Success! [hidden attribute: power match]
It shouldn't have worked. The tree is massive, its roots buried deep inside the ground. It has stood a proud giant for longer than you might be able to imagine – theoretically speaking. All that changes under the power of your cast that cuts a line clean through. Luck is on your side as the tree happens to have a lean that takes it clattering on top of the ornery beast. It's big enough – heavy enough – that the creature can do nothing but shriek its displeasure, finally subdued in a meaningful manner.
This is your chance to make it out, and you'll be wise to take it before the professor can throw something else at you.
Are you imagining it, or does the entire path open itself up to you? The trees begin to move, parting until you can no longer deny what you're seeing. It truly is the end of the drill, and as you step out from under the dark canopy, you find yourself once again safely on the grounds of Hogwarts. Looking back, the trees have returned to their normal position, and there are no traces of the beast. Were you less certain of yourself, you may think the whole thing was imagined. This feeling is made worse by the fact that you are sure you're exiting...in the place you entered.
The professor is still standing there, sleeping toddler in hand, and many of your clubmates are standing around awaiting their turn.
But surely you were walking for ages, and there really was something that considered you dinner. Perhaps you were simply turned around with all the running. Does it truly matter anymore?
The drill is over; you have survived and are free to stick around or go off to enjoy the rest of your night.
She...probably should've thought that through a little more. Rae's eyes widened as the tree gave into its lean following her cast of the severing charm. It did what it was supposed to do, but the Slytherin girl wasn't so far from the manticore that she wasn't now staring a crushing death in the face.
Quick as she could, she stumbled back, barely avoiding the thick trunk as it moved to bury the manticore. Just a few inches closer and she would've joined the struggling beast as it fought to free itself.
Merlin.
After taking a final look to ensure it really wasn't going anywhere this time – just in case she needed to fell a second tree – Rae climbed her way over to the other side to continue on her way. That's when she saw the landscape shifting. What could've easily been a trick of shadows and lights quickly became an entire path opening itself to her. It removed any ambiguity about how much further she might have to go or whether there was anything else she would need to face.
A real end.
Rae moved toward it, expecting she would have a bit of a walk back to rejoin the others. Imagine her surprise when she stepped out to find them all...already there...? Huh.
Had she come out the wrong way?
Rae turned back to the trees, wondering briefly if she'd somehow gotten turned around while she was figuratively running for her life. But it couldn't have been possible. The Slytherin had kept her eyes on the faint light of the torches once they'd come into view and had followed the glowing mushrooms as she'd been instructed. There shouldn't have been any reason...and yet, there was the man, and there were her clubmates, almost exactly where she'd left them.
"You know what?" she said, turning to the professor. "I don't think I even wanna know." Somehow, feeling like she'd been entered into some trippy mind games hurt her head more than the idea that the man had actually let her into a forest with a manticore she was nearly sure wasn't real to begin with.
How'd he pull it off? She might ask him when she was ready to give it more thought. For now she gave Evander a very gentle pat on the head, then told Barlowe she'd see him at breakfast. The night was still young, and she had places to be.
Her spell lit up the area, but all she saw was the forest illuminated like the sun was shining a spotlight on the trees. There was nothing that screamed danger, thankfully, but she knew there was something lurking in the trees.
Then the face came into view, followed by the body. What. The. Hell.
Professor Barlowe had lost his ever loving mind. Taking in deep breaths while her heartbeat raced, she held her wand as steady as her shaking hand would allow. She hated facing off with danger. THIS. THIS right here was why she liked her plants. For the most part, they were fairly docile. Except for that one time, where she almost died, they were typically happy just being in dirt. And above all else, THEY WERE NOT MANTICORES.
"Come closer," it coos as it slowly moves closer. "Come let me have a look."
Nope, that was a BIG HELL TO THE NO. Who in their right mind would listen to that? Come closer? Nope. Tilly started to back away, wand still raised, pointed at the Manticore.
Gearing up to act, her mind decided on a spell without much thought. The beast lunged for Tilly, just as she yelled “Immobulus!”
Not waiting to see what happened, and hoping that the beast was stopped in its tracks. Tilly made a break for it, running as if her life depended on it. Which… It probably did.
Power
If you tell a redhead
NOTto do something
She’ll do itTWICE and take pictures....
Round Two
N/A
Round Three
Matilda
Fail!
It was uncertain whether the girl was trying to give her former creatures professor an aneurysm or was simply trying to find out how real the beast was for herself. With a spell like the one she'd cast, either could be true. Manticores, as she would've learned from the syllabus, are invulnerable to magic. While the spell bursts from her wand effortlessly, it has no effect on the mighty man-eater. The creature continues its dogged pursuit until a bright light appears to the side, temporarily mesmerising it. For a moment, the manticore stops in its tracks.
There's no time to waste. It's better to continue making use of this opportunity to flee while it presents itself. This is easily the head start you need, and in the distance, you think you can make out the finish line of this little drill. The professor wasn't bluffing when he said it would be pretty straightforward, and he certainly put a lot of effort into ensuring you never ventured too deep beyond the trees.
All you have to do is cross the line back onto the grounds, and the drill will be considered over.
There's just one problem. The once immobilised creature is slowly coming to its senses. Running is the only means of closing the gap and making the exit. Anything slower and you've already been caught.
So you run, or at least attempt to.
The adrenaline in you pushes you to the top of your speed. Behind you, you can hear the creature quickly closing the distance. Just a little further. The solitary light of a torch beckons you into its rest, but the manticore is persistent. It takes some degree of distance, but finally it catches up to you. With one powerful leap, it cuts ahead of you to block your only exit.
It won't fall for the same trick twice, surely not, but perhaps there's a way to definitively handle this sort?
OOC: Minor powerplay alert. It is assumed your student has continued to run. Standing still or walking, or deciding to hide instead, would all result in an automatic end to the drill, at which point your character would be unable to proceed and equally unable to earn full marks. This is because the moment the manticore recovers, it will quickly overpower your student if they aren't already far enough ahead. There is a mechanism that triggers at a certain distance that changes its drive from 'devour' to 'detain'. If you prefer this ending, you are free to disregard any mentions of running and write it the way that feels best for your character, understanding the outcome you are agreeing to.
Finish Line
N/A
It....worked?!
Holy shit. It worked! Not only was it his first real patronus - and a raccoon just as he'd suspected - but it was doing its job distracting the bloody monster and giving him time to flee. There was no time to stand and admire his work, rather the boy was insistent that he would survive this ordeal.
He tore over the path as fast as his legs would carry him, thankful in this moment that he had kept up with his daily workouts. His breaths came heavy, his shoes pounded against the forest floor, heart slamming into his chest as the boy moved as fast as he could.
Merlin, this was almost like that time with the basilisk when he'd abandoned his wife and decided it was every man for himself. Chivalry had left Benji that day, and he was certain it would have left him this day too if Rocio had been around.
Rae? He probably would have just flung her over his shoulder and hoped for the best as he ran. Rae was fast, but not nearly as fast as him and he didn't exactly fancy the sound of her bones crunching while he made his escape.
The creature suddenly leaped, apparently broken from the enchantment of his raccoon, landing in front of him with a slam that shook the ground beneath him. Benji skidded to a stop, his mouth falling open, eyes wide as he realized this was probably it.
Maddox really was going to kill him.
Pity. He really would have made a great step-son.
The distraction had worked before. Light...something...light...
"LUMOS!" Benji shouted with a quick flick of his wand.
you cling to that old adage, this hurts me more than you
well i doubt it
Well, that didn’t work.
Shit.
It was times like this where Matilda realized spending so much time with the plants and so little time practising spells and studying, was probably a bad idea. She could vaguely remember lessons in COMC where they discussed Manticore, but she hadn’t been paying attention.
Obviously.
She could hear the beast when it realized she was on the move. It’s large paws running faster than she ever would. The ground vibrating with every stride. The sweat started forming on her brow, small drips running down her face and neck. Breaths coming in pants as she ran as fast as her feet would carry her.
It was times like this that Tilly hated their skirts and heeled boots. Girls were at a disadvantage,
With one final thump, the beast landed in front of her, blocking her exit. Tilly skidded to a stop, calculating her next move in rapid fire in her head. She didn’t know enough about the beast to fight, so she had to evade.
One spell came to mind so she cast it before the beast could pounce. Pointing her wand at the tree off to the side, taller than her and the beast, Tilly said “Carpe Retractum!” In this instance, she wasn’t trying to bring the tree to her, but bring her to the branch of the tree. She specifically pointed her wand on a taller branch. Holding on to her wand with both hands, she hoped and prayed that it would work.
If you tell a redhead
NOTto do something
She’ll do itTWICE and take pictures....
Round Two
N/A
Round Three
N/A
Finish Line
Benji
Success!
As no one ever said, second time's the charm. There was no reason to fix a system that wasn't broken, and what one source of light could do, another could do just as well. The light shoots from the boy's wand to illuminate the dark forest. Shadows flee in its wake, banishing them from the surrounding area. As before, the manticore takes pause. One might think it would've learned from the first distraction, but there was no overriding natural instinct. The manticore is once again subdued, clearing a place to escape.
This is your chance to make it out, and you'll be wise to take it before the professor can throw something else at you.
Are you imagining it, or does the entire path open itself up to you? The trees begin to move, parting until you can no longer deny what you're seeing. It truly is the end of the drill, and as you step out from under the dark canopy, you find yourself once again safely on the grounds of Hogwarts. Looking back, the trees have returned to their normal position, and there are no traces of the beast. Were you less certain of yourself, you may think the whole thing was imagined. This feeling is made worse by the fact that you are sure you're exiting...in the place you entered.
The professor is still standing there, sleeping toddler in hand, and many of your clubmates are standing around awaiting their turn.
But surely you were walking for ages, and there really was something that considered you dinner. Perhaps you were simply turned around with all the running. Does it truly matter anymore?
The drill is over; you have survived and are free to stick around or go off to enjoy the rest of your night.
Matilda
Fail!
In a marvellous display of wand work, the spell worked. Magical rope jets out from the Gryffindor's wand, whisking her up into the safety of the trees. By all indications, it is a success, and she's left dangling from the high branch. The issue? She's still in the forest, and the manticore is now sitting at the base of the tree, waiting for her to come down. It's patient and knows she can't stay up there all night. Unless she's got a broom, she's not about to be flying out, which effectively means she's stuck.
Luckily, a whistle blows in the distance, and the manticore goes off in search of it.
This is your chance to make it out, and you'll be wise to take it before the professor can throw something else at you.
Are you imagining it, or does the entire path open itself up to you? The trees begin to move, parting until you can no longer deny what you're seeing. It truly is the end of the drill, and as you step out from under the dark canopy, you find yourself once again safely on the grounds of Hogwarts. Looking back, the trees have returned to their normal position, and there are no traces of the beast. Were you less certain of yourself, you may think the whole thing was imagined. This feeling is made worse by the fact that you are sure you're exiting...in the place you entered.
The professor is still standing there, sleeping toddler in hand, and many of your clubmates are standing around awaiting their turn.
But surely you were walking for ages, and there really was something that considered you dinner. Perhaps you were simply turned around with all the running. Does it truly matter anymore?
The drill is over; you have survived and are free to stick around or go off to enjoy the rest of your night.
And she was flying. It happened so fast that she forgot to scream, her heart beating fast with the adrenaline. Before she could comprehend her decision she was in the branches of a tall tree, holding onto the trunk for dear life.
“Holy shit.” She whispered to herself, hand resting over her heart, trying to breath deep to get her nerves under control. Looking down, Tilly looked into the eyes of the waiting beast. It was at that moment that she realized, even though her magic worked, she was now thoroughly stuck. Great…
Sitting down on the tree branch, still too high for the Manticore to grab her, she waited for something to happen. Her brain started running through options… Yep… there were none that she could see working. Sitting seemed best, until the Professor realized he was short one red head.
A whistle rang out in the distance, causing the beast to perk up and run away from the tree keeping Tilly safe. She could hear the paws padding along the forest floor, getting quieter as it increased the distance. Once she was sure the beast was truly gone, Tilly climbed down and started running towards the path and exit.
As she came to the end, the Professor waiting with little Evander in his arms sleeping away and her classmates hanging out, it almost felt like a dream. Did all of that really happen? On one hand, she hoped it was a figment of her imagination, but the burn in her muscles and the rapid beat of her heart told her that she did, indeed, get hunted by a Manticore.
Fun Times.
She needed a vacation.
If you tell a redhead
NOTto do something
She’ll do itTWICE and take pictures....
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