Duelling Practice

by Guest Tue Jan 17, 2012 3:31 am

Tarragon waited alongside the arena for Alys to show up at the Arena. He silently hoped she didn't show, but he knew Alys well enough to know it wouldn't be the case. He went through things in his head, dodging, offensive and defensive spells. He wouldn't deny he was scared because the one thing he hadn't told Alys was he'd never really duelled anyone before. He'd fired spells at his parents when they tried to teach him, but they had blocked every one of them successfully.

He looked around for Alys once more, and checked his watch, it was getting close to the time they'd agreed on, but it wasn't like Alys to leave things to the last minute.

by Guest Tue Jan 17, 2012 3:42 am

Alys made her way to the Arena, wearing her long cloak instead of their usual, knee length fur one. The witch hoped she wasn't late. And if she was, it wouldn't be her fault because she had gotten up on time. How was she supposed to know the other girls would have gotten up at the same time too, and that there would be a rush for the showers. She had been waiting her turn patiently, cooling her heels when Zara had came to her rescue, giving up her own spot for Alys. The witch had barely had time to give her a grateful smile before rushing off to perform her morning ablutions.

Deciding that her uniform would never do for a duel, mostly because it included a very unpractical skirt, the witch had decided to dress Muggle style. And so as not be be questioned a the attire, she had wrapped the crimson cloak around her and stuffed her uniform into her backpack to change into later.

A little out of breath, the witch made her way to the Arena to find Tarragon ready and waiting.

by Guest Tue Jan 17, 2012 4:05 am

"Hi," Tarragon spoke a little quietly, he was nervous now Alys had actually turned up.

He jumped the wall of the Arena and took up his place at the far side, still going through everything in his head. What was acceptable at this level, he wondered. He waited for Alys to ready herself, he'd follow her lead he decided, after all she did do the duelling class.

He hoped Alys hadn't made this too much of a public affair as well, he didn't want other people watching. He knew she'd have told Ava, but apart from that he didn't know what to expect.

by Guest Tue Jan 17, 2012 4:26 am

"Morning," Alys smiled, noting the nervousness in his demeanor. Was he nervous at the thought of dueling her? Somehow, the witch doubted that was the case. Watching him jump the low wall easily and take his place on one end, Alys stepped into the dueling area more carefully, her cloak still covering her from neck to toe. However, before taking her own place ten feet opposite the boy, she slipped off the crimson cloak to reveal her battle attire.

She had known her uniform would be an obvious hindrance and the closest thing she had to comfortable clothing were jeans and sweaters. But even those cooed get in the way. None of her jeans were tight at the ankles and it would be deadly embarrassing to fall on her own feet during the match. So the girl had sought out Ava and her very helpful wardrobe.

As of now, Alys had on dark blue tights teamed with a long sleeved white t shirt which hugged her body closely. White sneakers adorned her feet, making it easier to move and giving her step a much needed spring. Folding her cloak quickly, the witch extracted a few pins from her backpack and tied her long golden hair into a bun, making sure that no stray strand would escape to obscure her vision. In two minutes, she was ready and opposite Tarragon, her posture straight as she faced him, wand at the ready.

by Guest Tue Jan 17, 2012 8:14 am

He watched as the witch undressed from the robe to reveal a fairly off look of attire for Alys. He frowned at her before shaking his head to clear his thoughts. The attire was to make him not think of what was ahead of him, he thought.

Tarragon readied his wand as Alys did and bowed to her. He knew that much was expected in a duel. He then waited for Alys to make the first move, anything too quick and she may think him to hasty.

He kept going through spells he thought safe to use in a duel, for one he didn't want to hurt Alys, and two he needed to make sure he could protect himself from Alys. Both seemed pretty unlikely to be totally successful in a duel.

by **Jadzia Krulle** Tue Jan 17, 2012 8:25 am

Jadzia stood in the entrance of the arena, just out of sight of the two students. She had received a notice of a practice duel for this afternoon and was curious to watch. It was obviously not as public knowledge as she had anticipated, seeing that no crowd had gathered. They would have done well to practice with a bit more distraction on hand, but perhaps another day.

The Defense professor quickly noticed that the opponents were none other then two of her defense students. Leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, she watched as they prepared themselves for the duel.

'This should be interesting,' she thought to herself.

by Guest Tue Jan 17, 2012 3:56 pm

Alys tried to remember all the dueling curtsies that Ava had tried to teach her last minute as the blonde witch her emptied what appeared to be the entirety of the Risiko student's wardrobe from a backpack. While going over which clothes would be the least distracting to fight in, Ava had mentioned bowing, the rules of who went first, what a shield charm would cost and so on. Alys had tried to remember as best she could and now only hoped she didn't look like an idiot.

Tarragon had bowed first which meant he had given her permission to start. Bowing to him in return, she raised her wand, wondering which spell to try on him first.

Flicking her wand in a practiced motion, she sent a jet of blue light his way. "Impedimenta!"

by Guest Tue Jan 17, 2012 7:35 pm

Tarragon waved his wand across his body, deflecting the spell into the barriers of the Arena with a smile, that hadn't been so bad, had it? He circled round a little, he was in no rush, and if he came back at Alys too quick it would make him incredibly obvious.

"Expelliarmus!" He shouted, flicking his wand in Alys' direction, the red light jetting towards her very quickly.

by Guest Tue Jan 17, 2012 7:52 pm

Zara dashed down the corridor as fast as she could, hoping to make it to the Arena before the duel started, her wet hair was flying behind her, her bangs sticking to her forehead, and her uniform was haphazardly thrown on in her haste. While she didn't regret giving her place in line for the shower up to her best friend, Alys, she did wish that the other girls hadn't monopolized them either so that both, Alys and herself, could make it in time for the duel. She pushed faster down the corridor, sprinting as she moved closer to the large arena. Suddenly, she was thankful that her Papa had made her take those early morning runs with him once a week.

She rounded the corner and slid, slowing herself down upon spotting a Lehrer in the corridor. Straightening her robes, she calmly walked into the arena to see Alys throw out the first spell. Smiling to herself at her timing (and luck), she pulled off her cloak to reveal a bright Tee shirt, supporting her friend. It was out of dress code but showing her support, to her, was more important. She parked herself as close as she dared to the practice duel and, proudly, showed off her 'Team Alys' apperal.

by Guest Tue Jan 17, 2012 7:58 pm

Lukas didn't want to give their Lehrer a fright but it would be fun if she at least got surprised. He silently walked over and tapped on her shoulder. "Hello Lehrer" he said ever so softly.

by Guest Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:02 pm

Seeing the red beam aimed at her wand arm, the witch didn't have time to calculate. With a sweeping movement, she sent a similar red beam to the one coming towards her and watched the spells collide in the middle before dissolving into the air and cancelling each other out.

Seeing a chance, the girl flicked her wand once again, sending a second jet of red light to her opponent. Lets see how you like to be disarmed, she thought as the spell raced towards Tarragon.

by Guest Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:31 pm

Tarragon watched as Alys blocked his spell, but didn't realise she'd be so quick to respond, the disarming spell hit his right hand. He watched as it flew behind him and hit the wall. Cursing himself he scrambled backwards and picked it back up, careful not to make himself a big target. He'd have to be more alert now if Alys was quicker than he first thought.

"Impedimenta!" He shouted, pointing his wand at Alys. "Confundo! Expelliarmus!"

The colours erupting from Tarragon's wand were starting to make a rainbow, he watched carefully to see how Alys would cope with the mass attack.

by Guest Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:45 pm

The blonde was so surprised when her spell actually worked that for a moment, she couldn't do anytime but stare. A great error as she learned a moment later when Tarragon had his wand back and was firing a whole rainbow of jinxes and hexes her way, half of them she didn't even know.

"Protego!" she yelled, flinching as the colors sped towards her... and collided with the solid shield she had managed to conjure just in time. The witch watched as the colors bounced off her shield one by one and vanished, giving her confidence.

When her shield disintegrated after defending her from the final spell, the witch threw the first curse she could think of. "Reducto!" she said, sending the curse shooting towards him and realizing a moment later what the thing actually did. Oh heavens, please let Tarragon be able to block it. She didn't mean to send a curse his way. Why had she used a spell they'd learned in Dark Arts?

by Guest Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:50 pm

Tarragon instantly hit the floor as he realised what spell Alys had just fired in his direction, she must have forgotten what it did, she surely wouldn't have done that on purpose, would she? He scowled at her, before pushing himself up onto his feet in an instant. His wand out in front of him as he decided to circle her once more, thinking carefully about his next plan.

He fired a disarming spell at her hand, and without waiting any longer he continued his flurried attack.

"Impedimenta!" Spell one, aimed at her chest.

"Impedimenta!" Spell two, aimed at her left foot.

"Impedimenta!" Spell three, right shoulder.

Lets see how she deals with that, he thought to himself.

by Guest Wed Jan 18, 2012 12:15 am

The relief that swept trough her mind was replaced the next instant with fury as Tarragon purposely sent his next volley of spells her way. He knew he was faster than her at casting and she could only hold up a shield for so long. The blonde needed to dodge his spells and fast.

Just then, she remembered what the doctor had said on their first defense lesson. The best way to not get hit was to not be there when the spell came at you. With only that in mind, the witch jumped sideways, landing on her knees but avoiding the spells that were now all dissipating a safe two feet to her left.

Gripping her wand tightly, the witch pointed it to a the boy and shouted "Impredimenta!" hoping the unexpected angle will catch him off guard.

by Guest Wed Jan 18, 2012 12:20 am

Tarragon wasn't going to let her get him with the quickness this time, he deflected the spell back in her direction before firing the spell at her to follow her own. He could feel himself getting hot from all the work that was going on. He waited a brief second for the first to spells to either miss or hit their target, before sending another spell her way.

"Levicorpus!" He smiled wickedly as a bright flash erupted from his wand, that was enough to put someone off, let alone the effect of the wand.

by Guest Wed Jan 18, 2012 12:34 am

Alys, still on her knees, managed to avoid the first two spells but shivered when she heard him utter the third. It wasn't one she had come across in any of her reading and practice and from the sound of it, wasn't going to be much fun. Hastily the witch conjured her shield again and used to as deflect the the unknown spell.

Using her shield, the got up to her feet again and sent a a disarming spell his way. Not waiting for a counter attack, Alys pointed straight at his wand and said in ringing tones. "Wingardium Leviosa!"

Lets see how he dealt with two spells aimed at his wand, simultaneously.

by Guest Wed Jan 18, 2012 12:43 am

Tarragon waved his wand across himself and held the shield across himself strongly, both spells bouncing back off easy.

"Come on, Alys. I taught you better than that, surely?" He was in fighting talk mode, nothing was out of bounds in a duel after all. "You can only dance round for so long before you'll be tired!"

His eyes were full of enjoyment by now, hardly able to take them off of Alys' every move. He started circling her the other way, he flicked his wand as if to do a spell without uttering anything to see if she would jump at all. Waiting for her to make any movement, and until then he would do nothing.

"Impedimenta!" He screamed the spell in an unnerving way, hoping that both, or at least one, would unnerve Alys enough for his spell to finally find its target.

by **Jadzia Krulle** Wed Jan 18, 2012 12:55 am

Jadzia watched the duel play out, noticing the arrival of more students into the arena. The girl wasn't a student from her defense class and was horribly out of dress code. Pursing her lips, Jadzia was about to take points for the infraction when there was a tap on her shoulders.

"Do that again, Mr. Caesar, and I can guarantee that you'll find yourself in the infirmary. It isn't a wise choice to try and startle a defense professor," Jadzia lectured, turning her focus from the girl to her own student. He was lucky that she had been preoccupied enough that her natural reaction didn't kick in. He could have ended up hexed, cursed, or even with an uppercut to the nose. However, not wanting to take points from her own house, she simply waved both students into the room.

"Stay close to the walls. I've put up a shield spell here to divert any stray hexes."

Jadzia turned back to the duel and watched each student's spell casting. There wasn't much strategy to their duel. They weren't using all of their available resources against their opponent, relying too heavily on spell casting. 'Hmmm, perhaps our topic for the next defense lesson.' Jadzia thought to herself as the duel continued.

by Guest Wed Jan 18, 2012 12:59 am

"Come on, Alys. I taught you better than that, surely?"

The blonde's face turned scarlet at his words. Was he implying that she was no match for him? She would show him who-

The witch saw his wand flick and instead of a shield, she sent a jet of blue light to meet... nothing. He hadn't cast a spell. And in her haste, her angle had been totally off. Alys had missed Tarragon by a good three feet.

"Impedimenta!" she heard too late as the jinx caught her ankle and made her stumble backwards. The girl would have most certainly landed on her back if years of climbing walls hadn't taught her how to fall. As it was, she landed with one knee pressed to the floor, the other foot up in her half stumble, half crouch. Knowing that she would be completely vulnerable in this position the witch simply pointed her wand in front of her and cast a quick shield to catch her breath.

by Guest Wed Jan 18, 2012 1:08 am

Tarragon smiled as his spell hit Alys to the floor, not in a mean way, just because he'd succeeded in hitting his target in a duel. Alys was yet on the floor though, she was crouched, he decided it time to test out how strong her defence against him really was. He bombarded her with the Impediment Jinx, he didn't know how many times he said it, but he hoped the constant attack would force Alys to retaliate or give in. He side stepped back and forth trying to get at every angle he could. Frustration peaking as she hid behind the shield, he kept the flow of the spell going.

"Come on!" He shouted at her, "Fight back!"

Tarragon had never felt so good, but he didn't know why. Was he getting a kick out of making others feel inferior of him?

by Guest Wed Jan 18, 2012 1:49 am

Thank the heavens Alys had more sense to listen to his taunts of fighting back. Why would she fight back when all she had to do was sit here on the ground and catch her breath, take a time out and only maintain her shield which would get bigger the more relaxed and calm she felt. And sure enough, the shield held up against all the spells raining down on it. All the while, she was gaining her stamina and speed back and he was spending his.

For once, the witch felt she was ahead in the game.

All the running and jumping around had made her concentration lapse but now, she merely maintained her position, well covered by her strengthening shield as she watched Tarragon run and jump around, tiring himself out. She noted he used physical movements as much if not more than actual spells. He had to get tired sometime. Until then, she could just sit back and watch the show.

by Guest Wed Jan 18, 2012 2:08 am

Tarragon could see Alys' tactics, so he pretended to be tired out, leaning against the wall and puffing his cheeks out, still watching her. He was hot and a bead of sweat ran down his head, he wiped it with his left sleeve, his right hand still holding his wand ready. He quickly looked at the crowd before looking down at the floor.

His hair covered his eyes enough so she couldn't see he was watching her secretly, this was his advantage over her, and all he had to do was wait.

by Guest Wed Jan 18, 2012 2:27 am

Finally, the oaf was tiring off. He must have really worked himself out because he was now leaning on the wall, panting and even had his head bowed, wand held closely in one of his hands. Seeing her chance, the blonde leapt to her feet in one quick motion and dropped her shield.

"Expelliarmus!" she yelled victoriously. What better time than now to unwand him, when he was too tired to even hold his wand properly.

by Guest Wed Jan 18, 2012 2:56 am

Silly girl, Tarragon thought. He moved out the way of the spell just for it to hit the wall where he'd just been. He grinned at the slight marks Alys had left before flicking his wand in her direction.

"Impedimenta!"

Tarragon spoke the last spell softly, and watched as it his Alys in the chest. She was stumbling backwards, and Tarragon didn't hesitate this time lifting his wand yet again.

"Expelliarmus!"

Her wand fell from her hand, and Tarragon quickly scooped it up. If it had been anyone else he was duelling he would have celebrated, but instead he went over to Alys, handing her back her wand.

"Are you okay?" He asked cautiously.