OOC Annoucement:

Howdy!

Just as a heads up, the duel has been extended. You have until midnight (GMT-7) on Sunday November 22, to finish your duels.

If you have any questions or concerns, please ask

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IMPORTANT: Also, please indicate in an OOC note in your next post whether you would prefer your next duel to be the FINALS (with possible dueling guests) or another round with students. We only have time for one or the other

Right. Another duel. Thornton wasn't exactly thrilled about the prospect, but had once again been considering his openers. It was the only time he would be able to plan ahead and, since his opponent last time has conceded, he was still feeling not at all practiced.

And he was having to face Dante.

Armored up, Thornton gripped his wand and considered the space around him. He watched Dante's feet and hips to see if there'd be any hint at which way the boy might dodge a spell. He wished he'd been able to see him duel last round.

With a bow, Thornton readied himself. He needed to diminish Dante's ability to move. And maybe even to see.

"Obscuro." He spoke clearly, though he attempted to keep his voice low. It was no good if Dante knew exactly what was coming. Taking a quick step to his right, he followed it with a more softly spoken Orbis, hoping to fatigue Dante right from the start, and maybe keep him stationary for just a little bit.

As soon as the spell was cast, Thornton readied himself for retaliation.

Well at least it was just Thornton this time and not some older student. Not that Dante would have cared anyway. Still he did not really watch any of the duels previously so he had no idea what Thornton liked to do and if he was predictable with certain spells. It might have been a smart idea to do that. But whatever now.

Oh well lets get this things started. With the bow out of the way and greeting done. They could start the duel.

"Protego" Dante casted. Deflecting the Obscuro back at Thornton and then knew that could only be that start of a chain of spells because really who would try just one spell. Plus Thornton was a ravenclaw. He waited and saw him casting something dodged it and good thing to or that could have ended badly.

"Serpensortia"

He cast trying to cast when he finally had a moment and tried to place the snake as close to Thornton's feet as possible and what Dante liked snakes. Even though he was being a bit predictable with starting out the duels.

OOC: I'm fine with the next duel being the FINALS

Right. Shields. Thornton side-stepped the returning Obscuro instinctively, having completely forgotten it was a possibility that his own spell could be used against him. Heart racing, Thornton spotted the snake that materialized where his feet had been. He had to do something with it. He had to keep it from getting to him. He had to.. Panic rising, he said the first thing that came to mind.

"Serpens Oppugno," and sent the snake slithering right back toward Dante on the attack. Whew. When he looked back on it, he'd see it as a gift that Dante had provided Thornton with a means of attack, but all the same, he was not a fan. Creatures. In duels.

Hoping that the snake would serve as distraction enough, Thornton shifted to his left, to have his spell attack from a different angle than the snake. Dante couldn't handle them both at the same time, could he?

"Colloshoo," he said softly, aiming quite carefully for Dante's legs. He needed to keep the boy in place.

You know he should have expected that. But he thought Thornton would panic more. But what did he know. He did not hang out with Thornton as much as he should. It was a thought. He was focused on the awesome snake he conjured going after him that he was a second late trying to side step his next spell and got his feet glue to the ground. Great just great.

Stuck and had a snake going after him.

And the icing on the top of the cake is the snake was actually trying bite him. Now he was yelling some really choice words at nobody in particular.

"Animalis Fidelis"

There, his snake again and still stuck. Not that he minded at the moment. Though he was just going to let the snake stay out of the duel for now.

"Calavrio"

Dante quickly cast at Thornton. Maybe he should have unstuck himself first.

Maybe.

That snake... Thornton kept one eye on it as it returned to being friendly to Dante. It was still in play, though, and it made Thornton nervous. He was beyond surprised, though, when the next spell from Dante was not to free himself but rather to cast at Thornton.

And so the hair removal jinx hit him full on. As his own hair fell out, he brushed his hand across his forehead, trying to hurry it up. Clumps of hair falling in front of his eyes was a huge distraction.

He continued to move to his left, hair still falling out of his head, so that he was more to Dante's side. With the boy's feet stuck to the ground, well, maybe it would make this easier. But that snake.. It really had to go.

"I'm really sorry about this," he said to Dante, taking aim at the snake that was still near the Slytherin. "Bombarda!" An exploding snake would be, at minimum a distraction, and at maximum, well.. Thornton didn't want to /hurt/ Dante. But well, guts in the eye would sure sting.

With Dante immobile, the next thing to do would be to keep him from casting, and to that end, Thornton followed up quickly. "Silencio!"

Merlin, he hoped this would be over soon. He was getting tired.

Thornton, that was very cold blooded of you killing his snake. Dante approved. Though he should not being making horrible puns at this time. It was so not the time for puns. He should be focusing on the duel. Though even doing that Dante could not help but laugh as he watched Thornton's hair fall out.

It was pretty hilarious....Sorry Thornton.

"Finite"

Dante cast at his feet just moment before he was silenced by Thornton. Talk about rude. He did not even know non verbals to make himself talk again.

This duel was getting more fantastic by the minute

Ok. That was gross. Exploding snake bits were now up there on the list of things Thornton never wanted to see again. Ever.

Sweat was dripping down his forehead, whether from heat or from nerves, he had no idea, but without any hair, well, it had nowhere to go but into his eyes or down his neck.

So that was pleasant.

Dragging his hand across his forehead, he tried to assess. Ok, Dante was mobile but.. not casting? The silencio had landed!

What now.. what now... did Dante know non-verbals? Or should Thornton be worried about him just.. running at him? Quick quick quick, he needed to think. Worry about wand? Or fists? The skittishness was apparent, and the inability to make a decision resulted in two spells, aimed at Dante, but with dwindling strength.

"Incarcerous! Expelliarmus!"

So here he was a mute Dante. Who was not that skilled enough or practiced non-verbals. To know any non verbals. So he was royally.....yeah. He dodged the first spell by luck more than skill. It looked like he was dancing up here. It was not a good look for him. But one spell was never enough and he got hit with the second spell Thornton cast and lost his wand.

Like this duel couldn't get any better.

He was not one to give up. But at this point he was too tried to use magic and could really only keep on dodging unless silencio wears off. Plus he had no wand on him at the moment and was looking around for it while trying to keep track of Thornton.

This was seriously an awesome time right now

As Dante's wand flew out of his hand, Thornton started to look around, as if a referee would pop up. Dante was wandless, unable to speak, only able to dodge spells physically.. it would be bad form to cast on him now, right?

Was this over?

"You.. alright?" Thornton tightened his grip on his wand just in case something else was coming.

Nevermind that Dante couldn't answer.

Well, that was certainly quick and too the point. Well executed in other terms.

As he moved into the center of the arena, Sabel stooped and picked up the wand that had clattered off closer to the edge of the arena. With his own, he cast a finite at the muted Barrington. Both boys got a small smile of approval. "Well done, the pair of you."

Handing the wand back to Barrington, Sabel clapped the kid briefly on the shoulder. Then, it was turning to Baines and shooting a brief gold spark over the kid's head. "Thorton Baines, winner!"

His eyes skirted to the snake guts that were about, and a few specks on the kid's clothing. "You two might want to get cleaned up." Couldn't imagine that would smell very good later.

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OOC: Thanks so much for dueling! It was an awesome read! Duel is now officially over.

Thanks for your feedback! In consideration of feedback and time constraints, we are going to do a final round of duels between students. However if you would like to duel a Professor from the club, please VM or PM me (and I will check with the chosen professor) This will be a 'for fun' challenge duel, if you decide to do so (and should not replace the duel with the student you are paired up with, so please consider your own time constraints/options).