Out Of Range S.W.A.G Closed

Time was ticking away and Bridget knew it. The Slytherin couldn't boast some internal clock or the like, but Quidditch matches had definitely improved her grasp on time. The S.W.A.G. game was only set to last twenty-five minutes, so it wouldn't be long until it was over. And if she could just hold onto the ball a bit longer, she could actually win.

Winning one of these games was a strange thought. Sure, last game she'd been on the winning side, but that was a team battle. Her 50% chance of victory then was much higher than whatever that percentage was now. Plus, the other side had been rather unlucky and had two of their team members decide to go get themselves disqualified, so her team had that to their advantage as well. But winning on her own... she hadn't really considered it a feasible possibility until now.

It was too soon to celebrate, though. She could still lose. Bridget wasn't very strong, so any one of the other players could probably rip the Quaffle from her arms. Quickly slipping her wand back into her pocket, she let both of her hands fully wrap around the ball. She at least knew she wouldn't give the ticket to victory up without a fight.

Still, even better than putting all her effort into holding onto the leather ball was avoiding anyone coming at her. Shifting her weight to the balls of her feet, ready to dart at a moment's notice, Bridget prepared to dodge. If she could just dodge, she could win.

Hoot! Hoot! Up above the Great Lake, a lone brown barn owl flies through the cool spring air making its way to the owlery. A loose feather frees itself from the bird's wing and tumbles down to the ground where a group of young witches and wizards play a game. Arms outstretched, Jorah sprints ahead ready to tackle hug Ruthie for ruining his chicken dinner. Something wasn't right. Jorah broke his stride coming to an abrupt halt just before Ruthie. She hadn't reacted to his impending attack at all. In fact, she hadn't reacted to anything recently. Not at the success of her jinx on Jorah, not at his reaction to said jinx, nor at the other SWAG members currently running and hexing each other around them. "Hey Ru? Ruthie... Ruthie are you alright?" Was this her PTSD coming back? Was Ruthie locked in a catatonic shock? Jorah's heart raced as he panicked. He didn't know what to do. The game went on, but Jorah just stood there with Ruthie praying for her to come back to herself. He did the only thing he could think of, he embraced his friend in a hug. Holding her tight he told her, "Hey its gong to be ok...its going to be ok." He repeated himself trying to convince himself more than her. Little did he know, this would be the last time he saw his friend. Their final hug was short lived as Jorah was hit in the face with a rogue knockback jinx that sent him flying a meter backwards.

In the days following the SWAG club game, Ruthie Greer had left Hogwarts. There was no somber goodbye, no note, she was just gone. On that day Jorah lost his best friend and he didn't even know why. He could only assume that Ruthie's parents were concerned about her mental health and pulled her from school to heal. Classes continued on as usual. There was another ball, chaos ensued, rinse, repeat. Ruthie's absence was felt throughout Hogwarts but Jorah was taking it particularly hard. He didn't have that many friends to begin with and they were all disappearing. First came Shauna's untimely death, then Ruthie's sudden departure. This time Jorah blamed himself. When Jorah got stabbed in the Masquerade ball, Ruthie was filled with remorse for inviting Jorah to the ball in the first place. Her guilt and the horror of that night morphed into a post-traumatic stress. If Jorah hadn't fought the giant, if he had just grabbed Ruthie and run he wouldn't have gotten hurt. If he didn't get hurt, Ruthie would have been spared the guilt responsible for her leaving.

He had to do something, to see if she was ok. Jorah locked himself away in his dorm room and put his quill and parchment to work. There was a lot he had to say, but he couldn't put it into words. With every failed draft, Jorah crumpled the parchment into a ball and started again from scratch. As he wrote he pictured all the moments the two had experienced. They first met at the Sorting Ceremony. She was sorted after him and sat next to Jorah. Together they would go on to join the Ravenclaw Quidditch team. During their first game Jorah was knocked from his broom, but Ruthie saved him as he fell through the air. They shared her broom and won that game, celebrating in the common room with an after party. Ruthie was competitive and even played in the fall Dodgeball game. When she was knocked into the frigid water, Jorah draped Ru with his cloak to keep her warm. The Masquerade came and that's when Jorah first noticed her as not just a tomboy. She was pretty and Jorah experienced his first crush. The night was going so well, but then everything changed when the half-giants attacked. Jorah was almost kidnapped, he was stabbed in the back, and lost consciousness. Jorah woke up in St Mungos, but he wasn't alone. Ruthie was there in a singed and bloody ballgown. She gave him a red Phoenix plushie which she bought at the gift shop. Jorah named him Joaquin the Pheonix and together Jorah and Ru took turns eating Bertie Botts Every Flavored Beans. They never did get to dance that night. When Jorah found out they shared the same favorite Quidditch team, he was so excited to give Ru her Christmas present, a Pride of Portree flag. After returning from Winter Break, Ruthie became a Prefect and even started her own club, the Frog Choir. Jorah came to watch her sing, he was not disappointed. When Valentine's came he gave her a friendly card that was scented with Amortentia. Her favorite smells were oak trees and the ocean. Ruthie loved nature and Jorah wasn't surprised that she smelled the ocean after growing up on fishing boat. This trip down memory lane was bitter sweet. Several hours later, the floor was covered with balled up parchment, but Jorah felt finally felt satisfied.

The boy made his way to the owlery with a sealed envelope. The small tower was quiet save for the ruffles of a few restless owls that noticed Jorah's presence. He looked at the letter one last time. Jorah had finally expressed his feelings, but more importantly he now had a way to see if Ruthie was ok, he needed to know. He found an owl to send the letter, but Jorah paused. He remembered how Ru just froze during their last SWAG game. Wherever she was now, it was probably better than here... better without him. How could she forget the masquerade and heal with Jorah still in her life? Would sending this letter bring her back to that dark place? He couldn't risk it, he couldn't hurt her again. Jorah turned from the owl and left the tower. At the top of the stairs he leaned over the stone railing and ripped apart the letter. With each tear he tore away any hope of seeing his friend again. He scattered the pieces into the air and watched them rain down on the valley down. As they disappeared from his sight he whispered, "Goodbye." Tears rained down his cheeks as a lone barn owl flew into the owlery. Hoot!

Action: Wishes Ruthie Greer Goodbye

Some wild amalgamation of skill and luck had preserved Pericles in the third range. That, and the fact that he had complete confidence in the notion that there was one person in the game which wouldn't spell him. They two oddballs taking the opportunity to team up wasn't just practical. It was bolstering, a stoke of one's confidence, having a friend to play besides. While they may have wound up separated not all too far into the match, the simple fact that they had one another's best interest in mind made matters more fun.

Though the spell had missed Astrea, so too had Pericles been spared. He didn't pause to celebrate, quickly closing the gap between he and Xailah, still grinning all the while. Any offer of the ball would be overlooked- he trusted her feline grace to prevent any awkward fumbles. Instead, maintaining that protective stance, the lad hastened to her side and resumed scouring the field. Astrea hadn't maintained an onslaught, but Anastasia was taking aim at his teammate. Not for the first time that night, Pericles resented the fact that first-years were not taught shielding spells. It seemed a necessity to the wannabe-auror, but for now, he would make due with his present arsenal. Taking the blow would be unwise. Xailah was swift, she had seen the spell as well, and he had faith she could dodge. That didn't mean he oughtn't at least retaliate. Wand whipping the correct motion, Pericles barked back "Tarantellegra!"

Action: Casting Tarantellegra at @Anastasia Beckett

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mentions @Pericles Dralt
word count 478 | text colour #274E13
abilities terrible presence
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Her eyes narrowed in annoyance as her target shared the same idea, the point of a wand aimed directly at eye-level. She only saw the flash of red that signified a well-cast flipendo erupt from her own instrument before snapping her head to the side, free hand coming up as a secure shield over her eyes from the sparkly green she had glimpsed. A good move- her hand retracted in one fluid motion and brilliant green met her vision where there was red-tinged black, shooting an evil eye towards the shock of white hair. She was unscathed, the other was decidedly still in once place- both were not affected by the mutual aim it seemed. Disappointing.

Time was no longer syrupy and thick, it was ticking by too fast for her taste and the game was set to settle to a close soon. It was no fantastic thing to realise that the lucky ones who had managed to snatch away the balls would step up to their places as victors. Not without a good reason either. Even if frustrated that things did not manage to work out as it could have, the Slytherin could not deny the fact that the two were adept in how they manoeuvred around the game, the leather balls kept safe in their grasps. Attempting to swat the tickets to victory so late into the game would only result in one of two scenarios; No one receiving the win, for there was not enough time to swipe them away and safely secure them in the same move without being sabotaged, or simply humiliation from failing to strike the future winners when it truly counted.

No. She refused to make a fool of herself. Losing graciously having put up a fight was better than fighting until the end without the desirable results for now. Next time shall be different. This time she knew what to look out for individually, knew a snapshot of strategy that her clubmates went to- one of which she truly did not want to see, but apparently hopping around half-dead like a headless chicken worked as well as it was self-demeaning. Some simply disappeared or froze up- just as amusing and useless as watching a clown show.

She had established herself as a skilful caster long ago. At least she had done that, even if she did not reign victorious, she had put a sign upon her that signalled at least some semblance of danger crossing her and gained a good ally in Aurelia. But her aggression was not sated.

Astrea's target of before was distracted. Distracted and raised up to fire at another instead of fleeing from his perilous position. What a shame. "Flipendo." The game was good, the game was a perfect chance to display their skills, but the Slytherin hadn't the satisfaction of successfully launching someone out of the game with her. It was unimportant and yet so stirring. As the game continued toward its close, this was her last chance.

After all, everyone deserved a chance to fly.

Action: Casting Flipendo at Pericles. Again.

As both of Katrina's targets fled to other ranges, she felt the pain in her chest begin to throb again. So much for winning. Instead of pursuing a win, Katrina decided that she would prevent anyone else from winning, or at least easily winning.

She turned to the weaker opponent (one with a ball that is) and smirked. If she wasn't going to win, then she wasn't going to let the winner win that easily. The girl in range 3 with the ball @Xailah Alptraum looked frightenedly at another student. Good, two against one.

The options ticked in Katrina's, still slightly shaken, mind. She settled on the same spell that had shaken her up. Lets see how well this girl could fly.

With a slightly terrifying look, Katrina raised her wand, "Flipendo!" It was mean and cruel and nothing like Katrina's typical demeanor, but her aching arm limply at her side was making her unnaturally ruthless. She was going to make everyone pay.

Who knew where this monster came from, but it seemed like the emotions had been festering for a long time. This feeling of letting it all fly was almost soothing. Let someone else feel the pain of her emotions for once instead of her keeping it all and helping everyone else.

Besides, in the end, it was just a game-- right?

Action: Casting Knockback Jinx at Xailah

Back in the Game
- @Rafael D'Spacito & @Bridget Collins -

He would watch Rafael take off the blindfold, reaching up slowly before he pulled off the piece of fabric that loosely wrapped around his head and covered his eyes. Upon meeting each others eyes the other kid would stare at him with a silly grin, giving him a short wave and thanking him to which Alan responded by quickly waving back at him before he turned around to focus on the game. His gaze drifted over the area as he tried to make himself a mental image of the current situation. A lot of people were in an attempt to cast Flipendo at a girl he learned to call Xailah. Meanwhile Bridget seemed to be in the possession of the other ball, a quaffle.

Alan remembered that by the start of the game the two of them had agreed not to attack each other, but he couldn't let her win either right? There was also no way he could steal the quaffle from her and his mind ran through possible ideas and actions, when one idea formed in his head. His eyes narrowed in on the quaffle in her hands and a mischievous grin formed on his lips. Th game would be over after this and this would be the only chance to not lose; it would be the chance for a tie which would make all of them winners. "S-Sorry, Bridget!", he called out, having the decency to at least warn her and hoped that he simply was in the game and that this was to be nothing personal. "Avifors," Alan cast, not on Bridget herself but rather on the quaffle she was holding in her hands or at least that what he was intending his target to be. He knew it would be foolish to do, especially with her moving around so quickly but he felt like he had to try at least! If successful whatever is hit would turn into a little dove and flutter around, circling the heads of students. Was the initial thought smartß Perhaps, but in no way thought through like most of the ideas the third year had to offer when it came to quick thinking.

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S.W.A.G Moderation
6th round
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BALL	POSSESSION	RANGE
Quaffle	Bridget	One | 1
Rugby	Xailah	Three | 3
Flying Bowl	Alan	??? | ???

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ALAN	HEALTH 1100 STATUS In Game RANGE 1 | One	S • W • A • G	DAMAGE & EFFECTS none none Reducio Being in the same range with Bridget didn't show up as a possibility to win by trying to grab the Quaffle from her hands. The thought that came to him was... to not win himself but to spoil the victory for the Slytherin girl. The effort was probably too much, because the spell, though successful, derailed from its trajectory and hit the bowl that served haven for Jorah's chicken wings. Though Jorah stepped away and headed after his leaving friend Ru, the bowl was happy. As the previous owner cared to fill the bowl with fake wings, the new owner was kind enough to support the bowl with actual wings. The bowl first popped out blue small wings on its sides and tried to transform its whole essence into a small flying creature, but the size of it was too big, so the bowl remained a bowl, with a tail, a beak and two small blue wings. It was happy. It started to float around the battlefield, ready to forever and ever serve its new master — Alan Vanes.

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DAMAGE & EFFECTS none none Reducio critical success for cast, critical fail for accuracy, critical success for evasion. The last seconds of the game were the most eventful for the charming Gryffindor. As she understood the victory slipped away to the edge of the perimeter, she put all her inner rage into a powerful Flipendo. So powerful that all the concentration went into the spell itself and not the targeting. If Xailah would be hit, not only she'd be thrown outside the circle, but she'd break a bone maybe after flying for ten metres, not less. Lacking of concentration on the targeting sent the spell towards the spectators and hit the poor Evelynn in the left side, throwing her a couple of metres away from the place she stood/sat.	S • W • A • G	HEALTH 500 STATUS In Game RANGE 2 | Two	ANASTASIA

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ASTREA	HEALTH 254 STATUS In Game RANGE 2 | Two	S • W • A • G	DAMAGE & EFFECTS 254 none Reducio It seemed Astrea maybe had a crush on the white-haired boy. How else could one explain the obsession with her intentions to knock him back? Was her head too hot from emotions, which caused the lack of good aiming? The spell missed the boy and flew towards the poor girl, Evelynn, who was just getting up after a curved flight and fall. The spell hit her right in the chest, sending even farther away from the game field. She would feel nice once she stands up. If she'd even manage to. It's high time some fellow Gryffindor or two would help her and bring her to Hospital Wing. Just in case.

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DAMAGE & EFFECTS none none Reducio None	S • W • A • G	HEALTH 338 STATUS In Game RANGE 1 | One	AURELIA

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BRIDGET	HEALTH 500 STATUS WINNER RANGE 1 | One	S • W • A • G	DAMAGE & EFFECTS In possession of Quaffle none Reducio The move was smart. The dodging was flawless. Despite Alan's effort to spoil her victory, she managed to hold the Quaffle til the very end of the game. Good game, Bridget. A deserved victory.

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DAMAGE & EFFECTS none none Reducio No action.	S • W • A • G	HEALTH 692 STATUS Disqualified RANGE 2 | Two	EMMA

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KATRINA	HEALTH 328 STATUS In Game RANGE 2 | Two	S • W • A • G	DAMAGE & EFFECTS none none Reducio Being in the middle between the two ball holders put Katrina in a state when the victory was not possible. Despite the fact, she wanted to at least make less winner in the game. A good and nice Flipendo could do the job. Aiming at Xailah, Katrina cast her spell with a clear incantation, but something was off and the wand produced nothing. Bitter thoughts may have messed up with her concentration.

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DAMAGE & EFFECTS none none Reducio Who else but Pericles could think several steps ahead? Watching the battlefield, he noticed Ana on fire eyeing Xailah. His knighty heart couldn't hesitate. Xailah had to be protected. No win for him in this game, but at least he could save a win for his friend. A spell sent Ana's way missed her good, as the fiery Gryffindor was a evasive little thing. But what the spell managed to do was probably messing with her aiming, which made her miss Xailah. Goal accomplished.	S • W • A • G	HEALTH 440 STATUS In Game RANGE 3 | Three	PERICLES

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PIERRE	HEALTH 3 STATUS In Game RANGE 3 | Three	S • W • A • G	DAMAGE & EFFECTS none none Reducio The boy spent the whole game jumping here and there, trying to not be hit and actually understand the game. He may have not noticed the game was over, but the remaining stamina of his would probably make him just lie on the grass, trying to collect the remaining thoughts together.

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DAMAGE & EFFECTS none none Reducio Sitting. Grinning. Not saving Evelynn just yet.	S • W • A • G	HEALTH 522 STATUS Eliminated RANGE YEETED	RAFAEL

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RIVER	HEALTH 700 STATUS In Game RANGE 1 | One	S • W • A • G	DAMAGE & EFFECTS none none Reducio The last seconds of the battle did not inspire the red-headed Ravenclaw to fight for the win. She had her victory in the club before, so she must have decided to let others win. Generous move, River. There will be other chances to win.

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DAMAGE & EFFECTS none none Reducio	S • W • A • G	HEALTH 600 STATUS Disqualified. Did not post 2x RANGE ---	RUTHIE

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THORA	HEALTH 554 STATUS Disqualified RANGE 1 | One	S • W • A • G	DAMAGE & EFFECTS none none Reducio No action.

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DAMAGE & EFFECTS In possession of Rugby ball none Reducio It was not only about the win, but also about not being hurt. The pure rage, which the second-year Gryffindor (Ana) was full of, leaked through the eyes, which gleamed with fire. In a cat-like leap, she tried to dodge the spell, but there was no need. The spell went far off and the next second, the game was over. She was in possession of one of the balls. That meant she won.	S • W • A • G	HEALTH 1100 STATUS WINNER RANGE 3 | Three	XAILAH

Spectators The game is over. We have two winners: @Bridget Collins and @Xailah Alptraum — both of them managed to keep the Quaffle and Rugby Ball in their possession. Great game, girls! The thread will be open for another 4 weeks, in case anyone would want to finish RPing the end and leaving. (We're most interested in the poor spectators, of course, who got hurt the most, both physically and emotionally).

───────────────── @Katrina Walker @Xailah Alptraum @Piérre Marchonné @River Dewlight @Thora Larkston @Bridget Collins @Alan Vanes @Pericles Dralt @Anastasia Beckett @Aurelia Notrésvace @Astrea Soleil Neptune @Emma Hill @Jorah Moussa @Evelynn Decipio @Rafael D'Spacito Jorah's Alan's Flying Bowl

Katrina fizzled out as the last of her adrenaline ran it's course. The game was ended and she was quite beat. She had come in ready to win and left not really feeling like a winner.

She stuck around laughing at the bowl flying overhead, even though the laughs where a bit pained from the previous spell that had left her diaphragm heaving. She honestly had no clue where the bowl had materialized from, but it still put a smile on her tired face.

The second year frowned at her left arm again, a small part of her was afraid that she may have pulled it out of socket when she flew a few minutes previously. It ached dully and hung limply at her side. In an attempt to draw attention away from it, Katrina supported it using her good arm, wincing as the muscles in her shoulder loudly complained.

She looked around at everyone, several seemed to not be fazed. No one seemed ready to collapse just yet so she didn't worry about moving anyone to the Hospital Wing just yet. She would most likely take a trip there if anyone else did to have a nurse check out her arm, but if no one went, she would deal with it herself.

Katrina walked over to Range 1 where Bridget was standing with the Quaffle. "Nice job! How does it feel to be a winner?" Katrina would always be a good sport in the end.

Even though she was bummed that she didn't win, Katrina still felt satisfied that she tried. It was certainly a disappointment that none of her spells had worked as she had planned, but there was always the next game.

Katrina looked back to Bridget, "I didn't see much, but you must have done a lot to keep that Quaffle in your hands for so long. How'd you do it?"

Open to Interactions
Interacting with: @Bridget Collins
Mentioning: SWAG Club