Hufflepuff vs. Slytherin!

[Sydney Rawson H6]

Dipping into the game, A black ball was spotted soaring in the air toward Ivy. Syd wasn't about to let this iron ball fly unattended into her captain. Directing her broom in a sharp motion, she dove to her left to try to match the falling bludger's speed. The wind was blowing her bangs out of her face, to make a clear view for her flight pattern. Subconsciously, she was thankful for the clear view. Laying on her broom, she was a few feet away from Ivy and tried to come between her and the bludger. "Comeon..." she growled to herself as she twisted her broom around to face the bludger. Lifting her bat she pulled back and tried to deflect the bludger from her captain.

(( Deflecting the bludger away from Ivy, and directing it to Drake. ))

[Finn Miles H7]

For once in the game, Finn saw that he had a better chance at a Bludger than Sydney. He figured that she could chase after the free one while he went to defend Ivy from being hit. After all, she was in the middle of trying to get the Quaffle back for Hufflepuff, in what had started out to be a terrible match for the Badgers thus far.

Following the whizzing Bludger, he flew toward Ivy. "Look out!" he shouted, swinging his bat just in time to try to knock the Bludger in another direction. If he was lucky, he'd send it directly toward Wynd, who seemed to be carrying the Slytherin team on his back at that point. (Didn't see above post... )

Watching Sydney continue her streak of quick attacks, Finn decided to chase after the other Bludger. It had just narrowly missed Wynd, but he figured that perhaps he'd try to send it that way again. Circling back, Finn caught up with the Bludger and took a swing. It'd be the first contact he'd made so far in the match, and he hoped it was a good one.

((Attack on the Slytherin super-star. ))

[Kailyn Valak S6]

The Slytherin team was clearly dominating thus far, but that didn't stop the one Hufflepuff Beater from getting to every Bludger faster than the rest of them. This irritated Kailyn, but she had at least been able to defend Wynd the first time around. This time though, there was now a Bludger coming for both Drake and Wynd, though Wynd's was going to get there first, and so she figured she should defend him again.

Weaving in and out of the huddle of Chasers, Kailyn shot upward toward the oncoming Bludger. "Heads up, Lehane!" she said, swooping in with her bat at the ready. Once again, she planned to send the Bludger toward the nearest yellow blur. And that time it just happened to be Sophia Hallington.

((Defending Wynd, deflecting toward Sophia.))

[Madam Xiomara Hooch]

((NB: The next round will be a little longer than usual. I have been posting at about 2:30pm in the afternoon but I'm going to be out tomorrow, so I'll use that as an opportunity to move it to a slightly more convenient time for doing rolls every day... so the next round will be a little less 30 hours long. Hope that's all right with everyone!

There have been a couple of changes in the Hufflepuff line-up.

Ivy Tunstall H7 takes Seth’s place as Chaser.
Seth Wright H7 takes Ivy’s place as Keeper.

-----------------------------------

Stephen and Ivy, your focuses were not used this round so I have not counted them towards your respective totals of five.

Sydney attempts to defend Ivy from Kailyn’s Bludger and to deflect it towards Drake.
Kailyn = Bludger (D6 + Str) = 4 + 3 = 7
Sydney = Defend (D8 + Str) = 1 + 6 = 7
Tie! Re-roll.

Kailyn = Bludger (D6 + Str) = 4 + 3 = 7
Sydney = Defend (D8 + Str) = 2 + 6 = 8
Sydney deflects the Bludger towards Drake! There is a Bludger flying at Drake.

Finn hits a Bludger at Wynd; Kailyn attempts to deflect it towards Sophia.
Finn = Bludger (D6 + Str) = 4 + 6 = 10
Kailyn = Defend (D8 + Str) = 5 + 3 = 8
Kailyn fails to deflect the Bludger; it continues towards Wynd.

It is assumed that Kailyn would warn Wynd to dodge the Bludger.
Finn = Bludger (D6 + Str) = 6 + 6 = 12
Wynd = Avoid (D8 + Dex) = 7 + 6 = 13
Wynd dodges the Bludger!

Sophia focuses on stealing the Quaffle from Stephen, who attempts to defend it.
Sophia = Focus Steal (D4 + Str + Con) = 2 + 5 + 5 = 12
Stephen = Defend (D8 + Str) = 7 + 3 = 10
Sophia steals the Quaffle from Stephen! Sophia has the Quaffle.

Josephine searches for the Snitch.
Josephine = Search = 17
17 is not the Snitch number. Josephine does not see the Snitch.

Sita searches for the Snitch. She must get a search roll of 5 or more in order to search successfully.
Sita = Search (D6 + Con) = 1 + 3 = 4
Sita is unable to search.))

[Seth Wright]

Before Seth had even had a chance to prove he could play competently as Chaser, he was moved into his preferred, more practised position: Keeper. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Seth spoke to no one in particular - the clouds above him, if anyone - as he flew towards the goalposts, which Ivy had vacated in order to swap positions with him. As Keeper, Seth was much more confident. He hoped he would be able to do a good job in his last game. As he swooped around the hoops, Seth just caught the Sophia stealing the Quaffle from Wynd; Hufflepuff were back in the game!

[Ivy Tunstall]

Ivy breathed a sigh of relief as Sophia got the Quaffle. There was a long way to go to the Slytherin goalposts, though. She hoped that her friend had her wits about her, because this was going to be difficult with the Slytherin Chasers nearby and already fired up by a taste of success from their first goal. Ivy stuck close to Sophia, ready to ward off anyone trying to steal the Quaffle off her. So long as she could fly in formation with Sophia, surely the Slytherins would have a job getting through to snatch it off her?

Ivy changed her mind a little as she saw the male-not-a-Chaser Slytherin headed straight on a collision course for Sophia. And she'd thought the biggest threat would come from someone trying to grab the Quaffle off her friend! Someone trying to smash right into her face would probably be distracting enough that someone else could grab the Quaffle, and Ivy wasn't going to have it.
"Oh no you don't!" she shouted, to no one in particular, as she abandoned Sophia's side and instead flew ahead to try to block the cheating Slytherin from being able to commit his foul in the first place. She bobbed up and down in front of him, so quickly that she was almost a blur. He'd have to collide with her first, and then they'd see whether he still wanted to collide with Sophia!

((Ready to block anyone who tries to steal the Quaffle off Sophia.

Trying to get in the way of Stephen's crazed charge. ie. marking him.))

[Trinity Bleu]

Trinity didn't hold back a heavy groan as the Quaffle fell through the wrong set of hoops. "And Wyndy takes the first ten points for Slytherin," she scowled derisively. "Where was Collins looking? And here comes Tunstall, no doubt irritated with her Keeper. Unsurprisingly the first Hufflepuff substitutions of the game are made, with Collins coming off for Wright. Wright is now Chaser and Tunstall Keeper. Let's hope this is a better combination, folks. Well well, looks like Evans is making some substitutions too." Trinity squinted her eyes to stare at the green-clad figures mounting their brooms to swap places with their teammates. "Off go Blackfire, Fallon and Caoimhe, the Vice. Good riddance, boys. And here come St John, Donahue and Valak. Don't know what they're playing, couldn't really care less as long as they play badly," Trinity said with an air of nonchalence despite the extremely loud boos from the Slytherin crowd and the hawk-eyed teachers behind her.

"Now Tunstall has the Quaffle and she tries to pass it to Hallington. There's a Bludger flying at Tunstall, though, no thanks to Valak. Tunstall had better avoid it! And-- damn! Donahue gets his hands on the Quaffle!" Trinity narrowed her eyes in annoyance. "It can't be denied that Evans made good substitutions, though as the older boys who've just been cast away for the younger pack of Slytherin wolves, I would feel a little ashamed of myself." She gave a soft snort before continuing, "Rawson defends Tunstall from Valak's Bludger. Meanwhile, Lehaney gets what's coming to him with a Bludger from Miles, but argh damn, he avoids it, the shifty bas-- moron." Trinity rolled her eyes long-sufferingly, although the professors hardly sympathised with her. "Oh! And before Donahue can blink, Hallington has taken the Quaffle from him! Revenge must be very bitter indeed," she said with a hint of smug.

[Sydney Rawson H6]

"Bloody Hell!" Syd shouted as she watched a bludger fly right past the Slytherin Chaser, barely making his hair blow in the breeze as it past. "What I wouldn't do to stop is streek!" she growled as she laid low on her broom and shot down the pitch. She was set on trying to hit the Chaser. There was no doubt he was a good player, which was benificial for the Slytherin team; but not so much for the Hufflepuff team. But to many people's minds about them, Syd was a good player as well.

Feeling the heat of the summer day flow through her uniform a trickle of sweat ran down the side of her cheek. She barely noticed it as the speed she picked up by flying down the pitch wiped it away for her. Finally reaching the lonely bludger, she hit it with a back-hand-swing behind her which was where Wynd was busy flying the pitch. She needed to see this guy up against something powerful. Since he was valuable Syd was going to give him a run for his money.

((Bludger attack on Wynd + Focus.))

[Sophia Hallington H7]

YES! The quaffle was hers, finally! That'll teach those darn Slytherins not to mess with her! Well, in Quidditch anyway. Off the pitch she could barely be more timid. Luckily she saw a clear path from where she was to the end of the pitch, where she could try and score the equiliser for Hufflepuff. She dodged through all the players as quickly and carefully as she could without losing the quaffle. She arrived at the goal hoops, and aimed to shoot, hopefully ready before the keeper saw her shoot properly, focusing all she could.

((Shooting and focusing))

[Mary Evans]

Goodness, that was disappointing. All that effort to make sure her team is playing right and Mary herself failed to defend Wynd. Thankfully he made it out of that scrape and was still playing well, Stephan seemed to be doing well as a chaser too. Mary was grateful as neither he nor Adalia were actually chasers, but sometimes you just have to make do. Besides, at least they’re in the game and moving, helping out the team. That Hufflepuff girl though, Sydney or some other such city, was really dominating the bludgers though, making it so she and Kailyn were always reacting to something. Right then there was a bludger headed at Drake, which was very not good seeing as Hufflepuff were in possession.

With an annoyed sigh Mary sped after it, have to do damage control before she could really get control of one of the bludgers, but then she could turn it around hopefully.

((Focusing, defending Drake, and deflecting to Sita.))

[Adalia St John S5]

Here it was, the last game of the season, and the Slytherin team really weren’t doing overly great. They were winning, but the game had just begun and the Hufflepuffs seemed to be a bit more at it. Probably in a move to motivate her team by fear of being pulled Mary did a number of quick line-up changes, one which put Adalia in as third chaser. Not ideal... but it beats sitting on the bench. Adalia would really rather if she was put in as keeper and Drake was pushed over to chaser, but Adalia knew that he and Mary would know each other and be the same age and whatever else that would keep Mary from moving him, even though everyone in their right minds knew Adalia herself was the better keeper. It was all about politics really, and Adalia just had to be the youngest so they weren’t paying attention to her... yet.

As Adalia got her bearings in the game that blond girl... Hufflepuff... whatever her name was sped past with the quaffle, evidently intending to shoot. ‘Well, no time like the present really’ thought Adalia as she pulled up alongside the girl and tried to punch the quaffle out from her arms. Just too bad Adalia couldn’t punch the girl... that would be a lot faster.

((Focusing and trying to steal the quaffle from Sophia.

[Josephine Bowman S7]

Josephine dove down a bit to get closer to the ground, the game now going on above her as she looked for that familiar glint of gold. All she wanted was to catch the snitch and be done with the game. That would keep them tied and keep the Hufflepuff's out of the competition. They were annoying he probably as much as the other Slytherins. They seemed to be getting in the way constantly, well at least that's the way it seemed as Donahue had just lost the quaffle. Hopefully they'd get it back though before Hufflepuff tried to score.

((snitch searching))

[Stephen Donahue S7]

Stephen was angry...very angry as Hallington stole the Quaffle back from him. Green eyes narrowed as he watched the Hufflepuff take off for the goals. This was definitely not going to fly. She wasn't going to get away with stealing from him. Stephen felt the flare of anger as he shot off through the sky, his mind focusing on one thing and one thing only, stopping the Hufflepuff. He jerked his broom up, ready to take out Hallington at full speed. He wasn't about to slow down for anyone or anything at that moment. He just wanted to stop her.

((Focusing on marking Hallington))

[Drake Manning]

Despite his momentary lack of attention and getting hit by a Bludger, things were going well for the Slytherins. Or, they had been going well when Wynd scored, but now it seemed that one of the Hufflepuff Chasers had managed to get the Quaffle back away from Slytherin. Drake watched as everyone began flying his way.

As it should be though, a few of the Slytherin players surrounded the two in yellow, and Drake hoped that he wouldn't have to defend. But, if he did, he was ready for it. Perhaps the Bludger had knocked some concentration into him because Drake felt ready to stop an army, let alone a shot on goal.

((Defending and focusing.))

[Kailyn Valak S6]

Oi! She hadn't been able to prevent Wynd from getting hit, but luckily he was able to avoid the Bludger himself. That was fortunate. Kailyn watched in horror though as the Hufflepuff Beater sent another bludger his way. Damn, this girl was everywhere!

Kailyn flew off in a hurry, determined this time to do the saving herself. "Here comes another!" she shouted at Wynd before swiping her bat through the air, hoping that she'd hear the recognizable thud of the bat against the ball.

((Defending Wynd, deflecting toward Ivy.))

[Finn Miles H7]

Finn watched happily as things started to pick up for Hufflepuff. His Bludger attack hadn't been a success, but that didn't stop him from flying around to find the next attack. As it seemed though, Sydney had beat him to it. Perhaps she had taken some Felix Felicis today? Whatever it was, Sydney was on her A game. And, if he remembered correctly, she wasn't even a Beater for her primary position! Perhaps she should adjust that. Then again, Finn would probably say that Seeker was his preferred position these days, considering his performance in the Quidditch Skills Cup. Then again, he wasn't entirely sure. He couldn't make up his mind.

With nothing much to do, he circled the pitch, waiting to see what might transpire in the next seconds. He couldn't fly idle for very long, as Quidditch was a game of constantly changing action!

((Just flying...))

[Sita Mehadi H7]

Bleurgh... wobbly! She wasn't going to be much good for playing in America if she couldn't even sit straight on a broom! Sita decided that her loss of concentration might be due to boredom from staying in one place all the time, so she began to slowly circle around the perimeter of the pitch, looking down with her bird's eye view for any sign of the Snitch darting between the players or hovering near to the Hufflepuff goalposts where all was quiet now. She wanted to prove herself to everyone... most of all to herself... and to do that she really needed to spot the Snitch. Preferably soon.

((Searching for the Snitch.))

[Madam Xiomara Hooch]

((Focuses so far (out of 5):
Ivy 2, Wynd 2, Sophia 3, Sydney 1, Stephen 1, Adalia 1, Drake 1

-------------------------------

Mary attempts to defend Drake from Sydney’s Bludger and to deflect it towards Sita.
Sydney = Bludger (D6 + Str) = 4 + 6 = 10
Mary = Defend (D8 + Str) = 2 + 6 = 8
Mary fails to deflect the Bludger; it continues towards Drake.

It is assumed that Mary would warn Drake to dodge the Bludger.
Sydney = Bludger (D6 + Str) = 6 + 6 = 12
Drake = Avoid (D8 + Dex) = 8 + 6 = 14
Drake dodges the Bludger!

Sydney focuses and hits a Bludger at Wynd; Kailyn attempts to deflect it towards Ivy.
Sydney = Focus Bludger (D6 + Str + Con) = 6 + 6 + 6 = 18
Kailyn = Defend (D8 + Str) = 6 + 3 = 9
Kailyn fails to deflect the Bludger; it continues towards Wynd.

It is assumed that Kailyn would warn Wynd to dodge the Bludger.
Sydney = Focus Bludger (D6 + Str + Con) = 6 + 6 + 6 = 18
Wynd = Avoid (D8 + Dex) = 1 + 6 = 7
Sydney’s Bludger hits Wynd! As he has no actions this round, he does not need to roll concentration.

Ivy attempts to mark Stephen.
Ivy = Mark (D4 + Dex) = 2 + 6 = 8
Stephen = Avoid (D8 + Dex) = 5 + 5 = 10
Ivy fails to mark Stephen.

Stephen focuses on marking Sophia.
Stephen = Focus Mark (D4 + Dex + Con) = 1 + 5 + 3 = 9
Sophia = Avoid (D8 + Dex) = 7 + 2 = 9
Tie! Re-roll.

Stephen = Focus Mark (D4 + Dex + Con) = 1 + 5 + 3 = 9
Sophia = Avoid (D8 + Dex) = 4 + 2 = 6
Stephen marks Sophia successfully! Sophia will suffer a –2 penalty on her moves this round.
(Much as I am aghast at this development, also, yey! This is our first successful marking EVER.)

Adalia focuses on stealing the Quaffle from Sophia, who attempts to defend it.
Adalia = Focus Steal (D4 + Str + Con) = 4 + 2 + 2 = 8
Sophia = Defend (D8 + Str – Pen) = 7 + 5 – 2 = 10
Sophia retains the Quaffle.

Sophia shoots; Drake defends the hoops. Both focus.
Sophia = Focus Score (D6 + Str + Con – Pen) = 3 + 5 + 5 – 2 = 11
Drake = Focus Defend (D6 + Dex + Con) = 1 + 6 + 6 = 13
Drake saves the goal! Drake has the Quaffle.

Josephine searches for the Snitch.
Josephine = Search = 7
7 is not the Snitch number. Josephine does not see the Snitch.

Sita searches for the Snitch. She must get a search roll of 5 or more in order to search successfully.
Sita = Search (D6 + Con) = 1 + 3 = 4
Sita is unable to search.))

[chace]

Bang! All of a sudden it seemed like this game had suddenly sprang to life. Mary and Ivy had both done some substitutions and it had made the game more lively. The Slytherins were in it for the kill and the Hufflepuffs were here for the win. Currently the Slytherin Keeper had the ball but seconds before it had been stolen from Stephen (Viv!) as he was about to pass. Chace could feel his muscles tighten into a small smile. This is what Quidditch was all about. Action. For a while it looked like there would be no action but now, now was a different story. Slytherin had just scored and not allowed Hufflepuff to do so. The game was still young though!

((Intercepting Drake's pass))

[Seth Wright]

Seth gave a low groan as he watched Sophia fail to score. She had successfully surpassed the Slytherin Chasers' attacks (and as Seth had tailed her, he completely missed Sydney's Bludger hitting Wynd, which would've cheered Seth up a little), but then Drake managed to save her shot. Now the Quaffle was in his hands and Seth wondered when (because it would happen) Hufflepuff were going to get even. For now, all he could do was hover patiently at the other end of the pitch, praying for his team.