Match 2, Teppadren vs Pecalus on Quidditch Pitch

DH Skies

November 10, 2017 1:52 PM

Match 2, Teppadren vs Pecalus by DH Skies

As they were still short a full time coach, the staff were sharing the matches between them. Selina had played Chaser for her house team back in the day at Salem, so she was no stranger to fast paced flying and keeping an eye on events on a Quidditch pitch. As there were only two teams this year, they were running a ‘best of three’ format, which meant this could be the last match, if Pecalus scooped another victory. She was torn between wanting them to win to save anyone having to referee a third match, and hoping that Teppadren drew level because it would be nice for the kids if the season went on a little longer. There were few enough Crotalus players on the pitch, and she didn’t feel gung-ho enough about it (she was not an alum of the house she oversaw) that house pride didn’t sway her either way.

Whilst the snow had faded from the grounds, they were still in the middle of an Irish winter, in spite of being in the desert. Whilst the founders may have enjoyed their home climes, and whilst she was generally glad not to be sweating out in a desert climate, she thought they might have done well to not include the Quidditch pitch in the enchantment, and to let it maintain more temperate weather. They had probably decided that playing in the cold was character building.

The temperature was in single figures (centigrade), the ground was hard with frost. It wasn’t raining yet but it was very overcast with a strong wind. Selina would much rather have been inside, regardless of the warming charms she could cast to keep herself comfortable. She had advised all captains to make sure their teams were topped up with the same.

“Good morning,” she greeted the spectators. “Thank you for coming down to the second match of the term. Again, we see Teppadren take on Pecalus, with Teppadren needing this to stay in the competition.”

Turning back to the teams, she addressed them.

“Speak now if you haven’t had warming charms cast?” it never hurt to double check. Once she was sure no-one was going to turn into an icicle, she called the captains forward to shake hands, before releasing the Snitch and Bludgers. Holding the Quaffle, she gave it three… two… and a blast on her whistle, as she threw the scarlet ball into the air.

OOC - Please put your house colour in your title. How to do this, along with other Quidditch rules, can be found here. The match will stay open for exactly two weeks from the day and time of posting.

Subthreads:

Potentially my last Quidditich game by Captain Ginger, Keeper with Jozua, Teppadren Beater, Ben Pierce, Pecalus Beater

Hoping this turns into a redemption story by Eden, Teppad. Seeker with Lily S, Pecalus, Seeker

0 DH Skies Match 2, Teppadren vs Pecalus 26 DH Skies 1 5

Captain Ginger, Keeper

November 10, 2017 9:18 PM

Potentially my last Quidditich game by Captain Ginger, Keeper

Teppadren's first game did not go as well as could have been hoped, at least, in that it did not win. They hadn't done badly though. It had been a low scoring game, and Ginger hadn't really had much to do, as Jack and Louis were quite accomplished at being Chasers and Amelia had done a reasonable job for her lack of experience as well. Despite the Teppadren team's slow start getting the Quaffle in the first place, all three Chasers had done quite a good job, and her job as Keeper had been pretty easy. Lily just got a bit luckier than Eden did that game, and the match went to Pecalus.

She kind of hoped it went just as easily for her today, because it was bitterly frigid out here, and she wasn't willing to swear her fingers (even with the warming charms and thick gloves on them that probably wouldn't help her ability to catch and throw, but which she didn't dare go without) wouldn't shatter in the cold if she had to use them to block a speeding Quaffle (she had practiced enough in the winter to know they probably wouldn't, but she could not discount the possibility outright). As a Californian who wintered only a mile north of the Mexican border, she though cold was barely tolerable when there was pretty snow to make it worthwhile. Playing Quidditch in the deep freeze just seemed to her like something that should be rescheduled. As a seventh year, she had, of course, done this before, but that just made her hate it more. It meant she knew how bad her hands were going to sting when they made contact with a cold Quaffle, and if it did start freezing rain out here, like the clouds looked like they were threatening to, then it would get really miserable.

Couldn't they just wait until spring and spend this awful day inside?

No. No, they couldn't. Because sometimes wizards were really dumb (like when the Irish founders made Sonora's weather charms), and Quidditch just seemed to exacerbate that.

She pasted on a smile as the rest of the team gathered around her and Jack. "Anyone need help with warming charms?" she asked, and distributed them out to those who needed them. Once that was done, she she looked over to Jack to see if he wanted the honors of starting the pre-game speech, since she'd taken lead on the charms. After he'd had the chance to say anything he wanted to say, she concluded with, "Whatever happens, you've all been great people to play with, and I'm glad I've had the opportunity to meet and practice with all of you. We've got this. Go forth and do Teppenpaw and Aladren proud!"

And with that, she went with Jack to shake hands with the other team's captains. Soon enough, the whistle blew, and Ginger was in the air, flying toward the Teppadren goals that were her charge to guard at least this one game more. She really hoped they won. She didn't want her last Quidditch memory to be in this wretched weather.

1 Captain Ginger, Keeper Potentially my last Quidditich game 302 Captain Ginger, Keeper 0 5

Jozua, Teppadren Beater

November 21, 2017 10:36 AM

I wouldn’t be adverse to that, honestly by Jozua, Teppadren Beater

Jozua didn’t want to play Beater. He would grant it was better than playing Chaser, because his Quaffle Throwing skill was utterly dwarfed and eclipsed by the relative magnitude of his Bludger Smacking skill, which in turn was infinitesimal compared to his flying ability, but comparing his flying ability to a good Quidditch player was like comparing an old man out for his daily constitutional to a foot racing athlete in his prime. Jozua and the old man could get where they wanted to go without any trouble, but speed wasn’t exactly their hallmark.

Beating ordinarily wouldn’t necessitate being as fast as the Chasers, if one was assigned to the Seekers, who didn’t dart from one side of the Pitch to the other like manic pixies like the Chasers did, but with Teppadren up against Pecalus, the seeker on the other team was Lily, who just so happened to be Jozua’s best friend and secret crush and pretty much the very last person he’d ever want to whack a heavy ball of destruction at, with only the possible exception of his own mother, so he’d been assigned to assist the Aladren Chasers rather than subject him to that conflict of interest, but the Aladren chasers were, as mentioned previously, manic pixies darting all over the pitch, so Jozua had spent pretty much the entire game just trying to keep up with everyone. He was unwilling to confirm or deny the assertion that his bat had never so much as glanced against a metal ball the whole match.

And now the same two teams were having a rematch. But this time with newly added frost and the potential for freezing rain. He could no longer remember why he’d thought it would be a good idea to rejoin the Quidditch team.

He glowered at Ginger because he thought it was maybe somehow her fault. Those little drawings she put on her sign up sheets were probably laced with mind control curses. She was a devious and insidious villain. She was too powerful in her victory over Jozua’s weak mind to even notice his scowl.

As she headed over to shake hands with the opposing captains, Jozua took the moment to sneak a covert nod of greeting and luck to his best friend on the other team, then heaved a heavy sigh and readied his broom.

The game started and Jozua figured his best shot at doing something besides following the chasers around like a lost puppy again was to knock a bludger into their midst while they were all still sorting out who even had possession and which direction they were going to tear along the pitch first.

He got lucky and caught up to one of the bludgers quickly and swiftly smacked it in the direction of a Pecalus player just as they figured out their flocking direction. Ha. Even if he missed, he was already doing better than last game. Well, unless it hit an Aladren by mistake, but he didn’t think his aim wasn’t that bad. Probably. He hoped not anyway.

1 Jozua, Teppadren Beater I wouldn’t be adverse to that, honestly 348 Jozua, Teppadren Beater 0 5

Ben Pierce, Pecalus Beater

November 21, 2017 11:37 AM

I’d be happy to help you lose by Ben Pierce, Pecalus Beater

Ben was so ready for this game. Lily had snagged them the snitch and the win in the fall, and he had every confidence the fourth year could do it again. He gave her a grin and a wide grin and offered a high five as he jovially told her, “You got this!” as they began to assemble for their captains’ pregame speech.

He’d already put on a warming charm - he was a fifth year from Pecari, applying a warming charm before leaving the Commons was as automatic as putting on his coat in the winter months; and even more so when he was wearing a robe instead of a coat, like today - but he was barely feeling the chill. He was still warm from his jog out to the pitch (which had been longer than strictly necessary so that it could serve as his pregame warmup exercise.) He kept jumping and bouncing in place as the captains and coaches talked, too, to keep from cooling down too much before the whistle blew.

Soon enough, it did just that, and Ben was off, bat in hand looking for a bludger. Lily’s Tepp friend got to the one he’d spotted first, but it wasn’t hard to guess which of the Pecalus players he would take his shot at. He knew from watching him in past games that Jozua was not a particularly skilled beater and he tended to take the easiest shot that presented itself (when he got to take any shots at all).

Having correctly anticipated the target and put on an extra burst of speed, Ben was able to intercept and lay claim to the bludger before it reached its intended victim. Grinning at his minor victory, Ben swung his bat and sent the bludger flying instead toward one of the Aladren chasers. It really wasn’t a fair beater match-up, with Sammy and Ben up against Joe and Jozua (and would have thought a combination team would field two Teppenpaws as beaters?) but Ben was willing to take whatever advantages they had. The Teppadren chasers were probably in for an unpleasant game again.

1 Ben Pierce, Pecalus Beater I’d be happy to help you lose 339 Ben Pierce, Pecalus Beater 0 5

Eden, Teppad. Seeker

November 22, 2017 6:31 PM

Hoping this turns into a redemption story by Eden, Teppad. Seeker

Eden didn’t want to play Quidditch anymore. She hadn’t done a very good job last time, letting the other girl catch the Snitch. Ginger was a very nice captain (no wonder her brother was dating her) and said that it was okay, but it wasn’t. Eden felt very bad and had cried a lot after that. Quidditch was her connection to her dad, which had been completely unexpected by her but somehow apparently super expected by him, as he sent her a broom two years in a row and now he sent applicable letters (“Good luck” and, a few weeks later, “I’m still proud of you”). Eden still couldn’t figure out how he knew all that would happen, but she wanted him to be proud for a reason, not just because he was her dad. That meant winning, and she hadn’t done that.

She had very meekly and politely suggested that maybe she shouldn’t be on the team anymore, but here she was, still getting ready to fly up into the cold, gloomy sky. Eden had let Ginger put a warming charm on her, but she still felt the winter all the way down to her tiny little bones. Eden didn’t really like the cold very much.

Last time, she had followed Lily in the hopes of outspeeding her if she found the Snitch, but that obviously hadn’t worked, so when the whistle blew and the balls were released, Eden went off more on her own, searching the sky with sharp blue eyes. This time, they had to win. For her dad and for Ginger, who would otherwise be done playing Sonora Quidditch forever. Eden didn’t want to be responsible for that. She wanted Ginger to be happy, and her dad to be proud of her, in whatever capacity that could happen or she could believe it was happening. So she had to be good. Better. Best. Eden needed to catch the Snitch.

12 Eden, Teppad. Seeker Hoping this turns into a redemption story 385 Eden, Teppad. Seeker 0 5

Lily S, Pecalus, Seeker

November 30, 2017 4:48 PM

Hoping for a second success. by Lily S, Pecalus, Seeker

After the last match, Lily had felt very proud of herself. Her brother had refused to speak to her, but she didn't care because her team had won all because of her. She didn't necessarily gloat over the holiday, but she did tell everyone how incredible it felt to hold the Snitch in her hand and hear her house-mates cheering for her in the stands.

As expected, her mum lectured her on the dangers of playing such a sport, but her eyes twinkled with pride. Her dad, on the other hand, had slapped her on the back like he would one of her brothers and congratulated her. Adam, not wanting to show favouritism, had congratulated her with a small gift when they were alone, commemorating her first win. Later, Lily's dad took just her out to celebrate, a rarity with three other siblings, and she'd very much enjoyed eating whatever she wanted to her heart's content. Though her holiday soured later on, those first few days back home had been blissful.

It was a glorious feeling, winning, and she hoped to feel it again.

Lily donned on her uniform and looked outside of her window to check the weather. It was ghastly. She thought she'd left the cold back in London, but by now she ought to have expected it here as well. Snow was great fun to play in, but she preferred the hot weather even if it meant sweating and sweltering under the sun. She sighed, but there was nothing she could do about it. Before stepping outside, she cast a warming charm on herself and hardly felt a difference as she walked to the pitch with her broom in hand.

This time Lily knew she needed to focus more and be even better than last. It was almost a bit of luck, really, spotting the Snitch first, but Lily wanted to make certain she had a faster broom and quicker eyes to see the gold. Her hair was still too short to tie up, but long enough where it got in her way at times. She knew she should have cut it again before coming back to school, but it was too late. Lily just hoped it didn't get into her eyes and distract her. Though she hadn't practised at all during the holiday, since returning to Sonora she spent almost every evening in the MARS sports room trying to improve her keen eyes. She was still learning in this newer position and she didn't want to let her team down.

Lily made eye-contact with Jozua on the other team and reciprocated his nod. It was unfortunate that they found themselves on opposing teams again, but at least he wouldn't be trying to de-broom her with bludgers. Lily mounted her broom and soared up at the whistle. There wasn't much for her to do yet since it was unlikely that the Snitch was going to present itself this early in the match. She tried to stay out of the fray and instead flew closer to the walls of the pitch, hoping for luck to be on her side once again. She wouldn't mind playing another round, but ending the series here with another win for Pecalus would definitely fall under the 'gloriously epic' category.

40 Lily S, Pecalus, Seeker Hoping for a second success. 357 Lily S, Pecalus, Seeker 0 5

DH Skies

Match 2, Teppadren vs Pecalus by DH Skies

<font color=yellow>Captain Ginger, Keeper</font>

Potentially my last Quidditich game by <font color=yellow>Captain Ginger, Keeper</font>

<font color=yellow>Jozua, Teppadren Beater</font>

I wouldn’t be adverse to that, honestly by <font color=yellow>Jozua, Teppadren Beater</font>

<font color=tan>Ben Pierce, Pecalus Beater</font>

I’d be happy to help you lose by <font color=tan>Ben Pierce, Pecalus Beater</font>

<font color="yellow">Eden, Teppad. Seeker </font>

Hoping this turns into a redemption story by <font color="yellow">Eden, Teppad. Seeker </font>

<font color=tan>Lily S, Pecalus, Seeker</font>

Hoping for a second success. by <font color=tan>Lily S, Pecalus, Seeker</font>