Ronan gritted his teeth as the man laughed at him, the laugh reminding him of this loathsome father and anger seared through him. He would have to concentrate that energy solely on this man and not on any of the other employees at his side. He glanced over at the two men beside him that the man was insisting he join up with.

"Guys, I know it sounds crazy but we should listen to his advice." Ronan insisted looking to the one man who had not attempted to fight him just yet. "I mean, what's the worse that could happen right?" he gave the man an encouraging smile and then took out the gobstones from his pocket, still feeling taunted by their challenger.

"If we devise some sort of a strategy well I think that it would be quicker to get past him and on to the next level. That's everyone's goal isn't it?"

"Dammit," Benjamin said backing up and joining the other people in this challenge. Benjamin nodded at everyone.

"He's right," he said looking at the challenger who suggested working together. "If we're going to have any chance at this, we need teamwork. Because, well, none of us are trained fighters with... These weapons." Benjamin rolled up his suit jacket's sleeves and backed up away from the attackers hoping his comrades would join him.

"If you're a well-enough trained fighter, the weapon does not matter. However, I do concur. Standing here and talking is unrealistic. We would not have this opportunity if faced with this situation. Given that this is an educational exercise, we should treat it as such... And make sure that our instructors give us the best education they can. Even if that means we get hit a few times." Hopefully, they got it. Though as their opponents were intelligent, and chosen to face them, it was very possible that they would easily figure it out as well. As he didn't know anyone here, he would just have to make do.

"I am Drago Carracio, by the way," he said as he shifted his stance, bringing his right foot back, readying his attack. "Call me Armand." With that, he dashed forward and hoped the others would follow his lead, going after their opponent. The swing as well came in from the right, a natural move as he was left-handed.

Skander listened to the man he was facing and immediately switched his stance to the position suggested. Maybe if he thought of this like he did fencing things would go easier. After all some of the moves had to be similar. Right?

Watching Drago begin to move Skander followed, attacking the man on the left, aiming for his body instead of his broom. Twisting his body around to avoid any counter attack Skander found himself behind their opponent/instructor. In this position there may be a slight advantage if he could move fast enough and if the other man didn't turn around. While he was thinking he lashed out with the broom, hitting the man on the back of his knees, a place that should cause his legs to buckle if Skander had done it correctly.

Right.

That was what Marina had been trying to do, you know - go for teamwork. Only, she had been attempting to NOT say that out loud, because that wasn't exactly the best idea. But now that they were all 'lining up' - so to speak - against the attackers, she had no problem showing that she was quite willing to do the same.

"I'm good with that," she said, as she moved swiftly, to swing a broomstick at the nearest attacker's head, and follow that by quickly shooting a pair of gobstones at the two of them.

Benjamin sighed. He realized the point of the task was NOT fighting, but team work. Why would the magical games and sports challenge want to teach them about fighting styles? Ben thought this to be un realistic. Benjamin was not going to swing randomly without a plan, so he decided to convey his idea while the other competitors were swinging.

"Everyone!" Benjamin said slamming the end of his broom to the floor. "I really don't think that the Magical Games and Sports challenge would want to teach us about fighting. It's about team work."

Erik walked into the room still feeling rather confused as to the dummy/woman and how he had forgotten she was a dummy. As he looked around he saw the image of a not very friendly man and sat down to listen to what he said. Taking the parchment he read quickly, no magic, obstacle and to use either broom, paper or gobstones. Hmmm. He smiled again as he stood up and looked around for a broom. He preferred the broom, it reminded him of stick fighting back home.

Finding a broom he placed one hand on the tail twigs and the other about halfway up. "Alright...now where's this obstacle eh?" Moving his hand briefly he unbuttoned the top few buttons on his shirt getting ready for a fight since he was sure he'd have to.

His eyes went to Ben and he pursed his lips, "Well it is conceivable Ben that Magical Games and Sports would teach someone how to defend themselves with their equipment. How many people do ye know that would run away when being attacked because they don't know to use their brooms or gobstones?" Well it wasn't inconceivable. "Well the only way to work as a team would be to split up to take the obstacles and someone sneak by. Like in Quidditch. Ye form a formation so that yer blocking chasers hold off the other teams so that ye can score. In that case I'll take the lad."

Ronan kept quiet as everyone insisted that they shouldn't come up with a strategy first but simply attack at once because it seemed the quickest way possible.

'Alright but that means we won't--' he began to think to himself before someone spoke up and said exactly what he wanted to happen in the first place.

"Exactly! We need to learn to work together as a team. And teams strategize to defeat the common enemy." the young man insisted looking to all of the people he was working with now.

"C'mon, we really should think about this before just going on and attacking. I'd rather not be injured the entire time going through these last few challenges."

Were they all stupid? They seemed only insistant to state the obvious and talk things over. At least some of them had started to follow his example. Think on your feet, people! All of this was thought in the space of time between his blow and his opponent's counter...

Xylia nearly went cross-eyed as the man (rubindo) grabbed at the air while she twirled her broom in the air. Does he even realize that I'm nearly ten feet away from him? Probably not.

Then the woman (SenoritaMaxie) threw several gobstones at her and they hit her twirling broom. The stones spit out a bunch of gunk on the floor about three feet behind her. But she didn't know it.

"New guy. Join these two." She rolled her violet eyes. "Oh, come ON! This is getting BORING. Do I need to tell you what to do? Start attacking me with the handle of your broomsticks!" fumed Xylia and she was secretly wishing that she had permission to use Unforgiveables on the group.

Marina rolled her eyes. Men were just silly. "Guys, this IS teamwork," she said quietly. Her broom was still raised. Sort of. "How do you suppose we will 'strategize' - there is neither time, nor place, to come up with a plan. Everything we say is HEARD by the people here -" She meant the attackers - "So it's obvious we can't strategize."

"Sure, this is about teamwork but, given that this is the Department of Magical Games and Sports, it is also about split-second decisions, stamina and learning how to work spot-on."

"I would say it's a pretty good option is to do what we were doing -- circle our specific attacker. We're meant to use the broomsticks, to defend ourselves." Had they not heard Mr. Vindictus? "Some of us could have directed the attention of an attacker one way, and the others could have used that to their advantage." That WAS what she had been trying to do, you know -- until all these people here had managed to make her reveal the obvious out loud.

Men.

Wait.

Her gobstones - they had spit out lots of goo. Not too far behind Xylia. Could Marina use that to her advantage? Narrowing her eyes for a moment, she forgot all the talk, and headed straight for Xylia. She didn't hit the woman, but locked her broomstick with Xylia's, and pushed her backwards.

Could the she get the woman to slide backwards enough, so that she would slip? It was a faint hope, but it was there. And if it didn't work out -- well, there was always another chance.

Hopefully, anyway.

"Oi! You lot are mine," grumbled Alistair. "Leave the broad alone and focus on me. I am your attacker, so what are you going to do? Assess the situation and take a vote?"

He knew that a man (Esme) was behind him. "Frontal attack, lad. Now if we wanted to be sneaky, we would have snuck up behind you so get in front of me with your other mates."

Alistair stepped to one side and assumed an attacking position. Little did he know was that his left boot heel was an inch away from a puddle of Gobstone goo.

"Oh, you're a feisty one! I like that," cackled Xylia as she and the woman struggled with their locked broomsticks. She took a step backwards and snarled.

She pushed forward with her broomstick. "Do it again, princess. Show me how bad you want the key."

"Do you want me to say thank you?" Marina asked, eyes flashing. "Because I'm not going to." She pushed forward with all of her might - and then, both very suddenly and quickly, she moved her broomstick away. That should dis-balance this woman. Raising her broomstick then, pretty much at once, she attacked the other woman with its handle.

No time to point out she was here to learn, not to take a key. Sure, she wanted the key, but reason number one she had arrived at the Education Fair was -- well, education.

Let them attack you, Xylia. It's what they're paying you to do. But I want to hurt someone! She let out a huff of frustration as she absorbed the blow and took a step back.

Her foot slid and she put all of her weight on her front foot. "Not bad, sugar," she purred and made a downward diagonal swipe at the woman's knees. However, her balance was still rather unsteady.

Erik turned his head toward the woman and he raised an eyebrow. "Alright lass...ye and I..let's dance." Gripping the broom handle in the position he'd been taught to since a young lad he came closer and smirked as he stared at her. Starting to circle her he waited for her to start, "Come on Ms. Big Talker. Show me what ye got."

Marina swiftly moved her broomstick, to block Xylia's swipe. The attacker!woman was pretty close now, so Marina took one hand off her broomstick, and used it to shoot a gobstone, right between the attacker!woman's eyes. She had figured it would be a good idea, since it would be much harder to miss, at such close a range.

Then, realizing that the attacker!woman's balance was still unsteady, she quickly thrust forward her broomstick, to lock it with Xylia's again, and push the attacker!woman backwards, with all of her might.

This challenge was... aggressive.

"Oh, you have no idea what I'm capable of," Xylia winked and her violet eyes widened as the unexpected happened as the woman attacked while she had her guard down.

It was the final thrust of her opponent's broomstick that sent Xylia backwards and she flailed for a brief moment. "Not ba-"

SMACK!

She felt her feet fly into the air as she fell backwards and landed with a hard smack on the floor.

"UGH! You got stupid Gobstone goo in my HAIR!" she shrieked. Can I HURT her? No...they threatened Azkaban if I misbehaved. ARGH!

After a minute on the ground, she raised her hand in a simple gesture of surrender. "Fine. You did it. Congratulations. Now run before I change my mind."

Score! Marina moved her broomstick away, as the attacker!woman was sent flying backwards, but she was at the ready, to spring into action, if the attacker!woman got up again.

Which the attacker!woman did not.

"Can't run in high heels," Marina said sweetly, as she slipped her feet back into them, and straightened up. "Thanks for the fight." Even though she could tell Xylia had been less aggressive than she probably could be. But, then again, Marina had not been allowed to use a wand - or, for that matter, Taekwondo - either. So things were even, really.

... and, that decided, Marina turned round. Time to finally head on to the next challenge.

Erik smirked as the woman took his challenge and his grip on his handle tightned, "Nah I don't think ye know what I'm capable of." Seeing as he'd grown up sparring with his younger...brother...bad time to reminisce there. And just then the woman who'd been trying to get at her succeeded as he distracted the obstacle woman and he smirked, "See...diversion."

Crossing his feel he kept his broom close as he circled her and waited for her move. He wasn't going to strike first. It was all about studying your opponent.

Xylia got back to her feet with her broom in her hand and eyed the man. "Watch out where you step, love," she purred and cocked her head to one side. She began to twirl her broom slowly. "Crossing your feet is bad news. Very bad."

Suddenly, the broom arced over her head and she brought it down in a sharp, diagonal motion towards the man's midsection.

Erik eyed the woman curiously and smirked, "Thanks for the tip." He stopped crossing his feet yet kept walking slowly. Waiting for the blow that was sure to come.

Sure enough he saw her broom rise up over her head and he blocked the blow with the middle of his broom. Tilting his broom over his broom skillfully he swung the handle toward the side of her leg making sure to keep her broom handle blocked.

The blow was blocked and she scowled. Xylia pushed her broom forward and took a few steps back. Then without hesitation, she jabbed it towards the man's groin. "Ha!"

Erik watched as she took a few steps back avoiding his attack but didn't catch the angle of her broom. Before he could block it he found himself doubled over and wincing. "One point to the lass," he managed to get out before shaking himself off. "Low blow love." Wincing again he cleared his throat and gripped his broom again.

Fine she wanted to play dirty...two can play dirty. Eying her he brought his broom down swiftly toward her shoulder before quickly twirling the movement and sweeping the tail end of his broom and the lower handle under her legs to sweep them out from under her.

Dropping the parchment, Prometheus watched as it exploded in shades of purple. He knew that this was going to be a physical fight; however he knew he would be alright. Prometheus had been taught martial arts by his father and many other teachers, through out his life traveling the world.
Now wishing he had not worn such tight clothes, Prometheus consider for a moment taking off his shirt but decided against it, perhaps a bit rude he mused to himself. He shrugged out of his jacket and tossed it over to the wall. Breathing deeply he heightened his sense, not knowing when or from which direction the fight was to come.
He stood ready, his body poised for the fight.