Amy Fox, Quidditch Coach Extraordinaire
October 10, 2007 11:48 AM
Quidditch Match One: Aladren vs. Pecari by Amy Fox, Quidditch Coach Extraordinaire
The first match of the season dawned bright and early on the second Saturday of October. The day's forecast predicted that the temperature would be typical for Arizona at that time of year: mid-80s, sunny, with a light breeze. The perfect weather for a day of Quidditch. As the day was still rather early, however, Amy had placed a heating charm upon herself to ward off the morning chill. Although temperatures in the high-60s might seem rather warm to someone from up North, Amy, a true Floridian, found the temperatures to be a bit nippy.Reaching into her pocket, Amy extracted the rosters of each team, examining the players. The Aladren roster seemed to be quite the same as the years before. Anne and Ben had been obvious as the Captain and Assistant Captain. Zoey finished off their trio. Each had been on the team for quite some time so each was practically a given. Zack and Paul had also been on the team for a few years and Hyana had had her first year on the team the year previous. Chris Dupree was the only addition to the roster, replacing Geoffrey.
Flipping to the next sheet of parchment, Amy glanced over the Pecari roster. The most obvious change was that the blonde Bludger-chaser had been benched. Not that Amy could have hardly blamed the Cravens. While the girl had some obvious spunk, she had been injured by a Bludger in almost every game that she had been a part of. The chances of her getting injured in yet another game were astronomically high. Amy herself would probably have benched her. The replacement had come in the form of a girl named Meredith Lail. Amy knew very little of the girl, so she wondered if she would work well with Saul, the new Assistant Captain, and Lizzie. With Stephen as Keeper and Elly as Seeker, the seven was complete.
The teams seemed rather evenly matched. Amy found herself, for the first time, quite interested in how the game would pan out. Of course, while the students were either snot-nosed brats or hormone-raging teenagers, it was hard to ignore the fact that the fifth and sixth years on the teams had gotten better, some even good at the sport. Amy wondered who would win. It didn't matter that Aladren hadn't made it to the championships. And it certainly didn't matter that Pecari always did.
Walking out onto the pitch, Amy's aqua robes swished around her as she magically led the trunk of Quidditch balls to their preferred location. Dropping them to the ground, Amy replaced the rosters in her pocket and then chanced a moment to look around the pitch. The most noticeable addition from the night before was the medic's tent. Shaking her head, Amy removed her gaze, not wanting to catch sight of the medic. She and Wolfe never agreed, especially when it came to the dangers of Quidditch. It was too early in the morning for her to get into an argument with the likes of him.
Within a few minutes, students and professors began to trickle into the stands. It was almost time for the match to begin. Walking back to the shed, Amy entered her rooms, dropping the rosters off on one of the closest tables and proceeded to grab her bag of equipment. In the mere minutes it had taken Amy to retrieve her gear, the stands had seemed to fill. Marching back to the trunk of Quidditch balls, Amy dropped her bag to the ground and began rummaging around inside. The first item she removed was her broom. The specially-made, one of a kind item was one of her most prized possessions. She then removed her goggles and protective gloves before closing the bag once again.
The teams would soon be entering the pitch. Pulling on her gloves, Amy made one last sweep of the pitch. Everything was in order. She had forgotten nothing.
Soon the Als and the Pecs had made their way onto the pitch and gathered 'round. She waited a moment for silence before covering the rules, "You know the rules, but I'm just going to take a moment to remind you. No dirty plays. Wear your uniforms at all times. Don't leave the pitch or you'll be disqualified. If you get sick or injured, the medic is over there." At this she pointed in an off-handed manner to the rather large tent that was located on the pitch. "Captains, shake hands and then return to your teams."
Moving off to the side, she opened the trunk of balls. "Instead of being on the count of three, as in previous years, I'm just going to sound a whistle," she mentioned at the last moment. The first to be released was the Snitch, which paused in the air above her head for a moment, before flying away. The next to be released were the Bludgers. The large, metal balls zoomed off in the air. After placing her goggles on her face, Amy grabbed the Quaffle.
Retrieving her broom, Amy straddled it, ready to push off the ground and join the players in the air once the ball had been thrown. Raising her wand into the air, Amy looked out at the teams, before sounding off a loud whistle that reverberated throughout the field. The ball was immediately tossed into the air. The game had begun.
OOC: Alright, I need your name, your team and your position in the name heading. Be sure that you read all of the previous posts before posting so you won't miss something important. I expect these posts to be detailed, with special attention being paid to spelling and grammar. That being said, good luck and have fun!\r\n\r\n
Subthreads: Pre-Game Team Meetings (nm) by Amy Fox
Spectators Post Here! (nm) by Amy Fox
Starting off by Saul Pierce, Pecari Chaser with Meredith Lail, Pecari Chaser, Lucas Smythe, Aladren Keeper, Anne Wright, Aladren Chaser, Paul, Aladren Beater
Beating is quite fun by Paul Tarwater, Aladren Beater with Chris Dupree, Aladren Beater, Elly Eriksson, Pecari Seeker, Zack Dill, Fox
Up, up and away by Elly Eriksson, Pecari Seeker with Zack Dill, Alderaanian Seeker
On the bench *hums 'Centerfield'* by Caedence Redoak, Pecari Benchwarmer with Irene Liddowe, Pecari Alternate
[Post match] Beginning the celebrations by Lexi Stafford with Chris Dupree, Lexi
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Amy Fox, Quidditch Coach Extraordinaire
Quidditch Match One: Aladren vs. Pecari
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Amy Fox, Quidditch Coach Extraordinaire
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Paul Tarwater, Aladren Beater
October 10, 2007 5:53 PM
Beating is quite fun by Paul Tarwater, Aladren Beater
Paul had woken up very early this morning to shower and get ready for the first Quidditch match of the year. He ate a big breakfast, grinning at how their first match was against Pecari, Aladren had to win against them this time, they just had to. Everyone on the team had some experience (Chris had said he'd played on the team before as well) and Pecari just couldn't beat them this year!Though Paul hadn't practiced a lot due to the overwhelming amount of people on the pitch all the time (who happened to be extremely annoying), and Paul didn't like to deal with him. It was bad, yes, but he believed he had enough to make it here. What more was it than tension release he had to do? And to protect his teammates and harm others. All things that he had a liking for, not that harming others was fun exactly, just it helped relieve the tension. As in, hah, take that, see what I get every bloody day? Well, okay, it was fun as well.
Pulling on his uniform, Paul headed down to the pitch with his splintering broom and bat. Hand-me-downs from his father that Paul was given. Thomas Tarwater had been extremely proud that his son was playing Quidditch as Thomas had when he was younger. And he was also glad Paul wasn't as "desocialized" as he was at home (apparently all people in sports were sociable, and Thomas was worried that his own detatchment over the years reached his son, but since Paul was in sports that wasn't the case, Paul wondered if his father ever realized how extremely wrong he was).
Meeting with his team, Paul looked around. Though he wasn't smiling as many of the people he saw were, Paul couldn't deny he was excited. Quidditch didn't make him as happy as that day he found the quiet place in the Gardens thanks to Danae, but it was still a good thing. There was more than one way to release his tension after all. He looked at Anne though, when he needed to, and watched watched until she was finished shaking the Cravens' hands and it was time to kick off.
With a quickly disappearing grin, Paul kicked off and entered the warm air, fully ready to Beat any Bludger into a Pecari's face. Spotting one right off, he sped towards it, not wanting either of the extremely scary Cravens or even Chris to get to it first, he wanted to hit that Bludger.
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Paul Tarwater, Aladren Beater
Beating is quite fun
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Paul Tarwater, Aladren Beater
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Chris Dupree, Aladren Beater
October 16, 2007 12:44 PM
That it is by Chris Dupree, Aladren Beater
On his arrival to the Quidditch pitch, Chris gave a sigh of relief, thankful that the temperatures weren’t high. It was still warm for him since he was from New York state and he would be undoubtedly be sweating by the end of the game due to the physical intensity, but it was bearable.Waiting with his team, he shifted anxiously from foot to foot. This would be his first game in a couple years. Most people probably didn’t remember that he had been on the team. He wasn’t returning to his former position of Keeper, but rather to Beater. Perhaps, it was a good thing; as Beaters saw more action than the Keeper, and he could really show, prove what he could do. To help, he had used water to force back his hair into a ponytail, which created a tuft of curls at the end. He normally didn’t do this, but if he didn’t, his peripheral vision would be deterred, which was a heavy disadvantage for a Beater.
When Coach Fox began her speech, Chris was glad it was short, just a reiteration of the rules. Then, came Anne’s, which was rather minute. Chris’ purpose was to protect the team’s Seeker at all costs. Logically, speaking, it also meant that the Seeker was just as important on the other team, which also meant that though he would be protecting Zack, he would also be targeting the Pecari Seeker.
Chris mounted his broom and kicked off with his team. He closed his eyes for a minute before the Coach blew her whistle. The feel of being up in the air was as natural as breathing for Chris. He had no idea how he had ever managed to give it up. Opening his eyes, his game face on in the form of steely determination, he was ready. Just in time too as the whistle sounded. Chris gave a soft muttering of expletives, as a Pecari Chaser took control of the Quaffle.
He didn’t have time to think about it though as he had a mission. Spotting a bludger, he leaned forward on his broom, a little old, but still fast, as it had been a new model when purchased, he zoomed towards it. At the same time, he saw Paul doing the same thing, but Chris was closer. His beater’s bat in hand, he hit the quaffle, aiming it upward, hoping it would hit the orange-haired girl that appeared to be the Pecari Seeker.
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Chris Dupree, Aladren Beater
That it is
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Chris Dupree, Aladren Beater
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Elly Eriksson, Pecari Seeker
October 17, 2007 2:50 PM
Being beaten isn't by Elly Eriksson, Pecari Seeker
OOC: I assume you meant he hit the bludger, not the quaffle :PBIC:
The Pecari team was starting off well, with one goal already. Elly hoped it would only continue. Zack, the Aladren Seeker (or the Alien Boy, as Elly had thought of him since her conversation with Nikki), had joined her in the sky, and Elly tried her best to keep a vague eye on him, too, as she looked out for the Snitch.
The trouble was, she only had two eyes, so with one of them on Zack and the other looking for the Snitch, Elly heard the bludger before she saw it shooting upwards through the sky right at her. With little time to react, Elly urged her broom forward. She shot a few feet across the air, which thankfully was sufficient to get her body out of the way of the bludger, but not her broom. The tail end was angrily buffeted, tipping the broom handle down so sharply that Elly almost went sliding off the end. She urged her damaged broom onwards a little longer before righting herself, eager to get out of the way of the bludger’s return course.
Once safe, Elly peered over her shoulder to assess the damage. "Damn it all," she muttered under her breath. Several of the twigs were bent, some broken entirely, but all in all it didn’t look like it was going to hinder her progress to a noticeable degree (though she was already considering using a different broom for future games; broomsticks didn’t last long once they’d been damaged).
Great, so now she was going to have to keep one eye out for the Snitch, one eye on Zack, and one eye looking out for bludgers. Unfortunately, there were only two eyes to utilise, so she just had to be extra vigilant.
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Elly Eriksson, Pecari Seeker
Being beaten isn't
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Elly Eriksson, Pecari Seeker
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Elly Eriksson, Pecari Seeker
October 23, 2007 12:59 PM
But then I suppose that's the point by Elly Eriksson, Pecari Seeker
The damage to Elly’s broom was only affecting her flight a very little, in that she had to put a touch of extra effort into turning corners than she was used to. Definitely time to get a new broom – or just a broom, in fact, because Elly had never owned one herself. Still searching for the Snitch, Elly began to wonder how much brooms cost, and how she would go about getting one. Perhaps she could talk to Irene? Her relatives own a Quidditch supplies store, didn’t they? Maybe Elly could purchase her broomstick from them.Glancing back down towards the game to ascertain the locations of the bludgers (getting almost hit was definitely enough to make her want to avoid being actually hit), Elly noted that Aladren were now in possession of the quaffle and, by the looks of it, heading towards the goals. Elly didn’t concern herself with worrying about that – Pecari had an excellent Keeper. What she did concern herself with, however, was the tiniest glint of gold below game height. Could it really be the Snitch already? Elly had never spied the tiny ball so early into a game before.
Deciding it was far better from a winning perspective to be safe than sorry, Elly angled the tip of her broom handle downwards, preparing for a dive. Zack was closer than she was, and he certainly had more experience at Seeking than she did. Elly’s only chance would be if he didn’t notice for just long enough to allow her to get there first.
Taking a deep breath, Elly mentally crossed her fingers (because actually crossing them would complicate holding her broom somewhat) and took the plunge, diving back towards the ground.
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Elly Eriksson, Pecari Seeker
But then I suppose that's the point
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Elly Eriksson, Pecari Seeker
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Chris Dupree, Aladren Beater
October 23, 2007 1:38 PM
Indeed, it is. by Chris Dupree, Aladren Beater
A snarl escaped from the normally nice to the point of boy scout Chris. The game was in play and testosterone was getting in on the act. He had failed to do the intended damage to the Pecari Seeker and now the bludger was gone for the moment. Wiping the beads of sweat that were forming on his forehead with his shirt, he took a moment to survey how the Chasers, Keeper, and other Beater were doing.The Captain had the quaffle and was heading towards the goals, a good sign indeed. Not so good was the fact that the Pecari Chasers were tailing her, one especially getting a little too cocky, as he pushed against Anne. 'Come on, come on,' he urged in his mind. He knew Anne would rather she be taken out than the Seeker. He gave a small mental cheer when Paul hit a bludger towards the kid. He would have done it himself, but he wasn't in position to not to mention the fact that the sooner he took out the girl, the more chance Zack had of getting the snitch.
He turned his attention back to the Seekers. Zack. Check. Elly. Elly? He saw her flying towards the ground. She had spotted something, which just might mean the win for Pecari. 'I don't think so,' he thought with a grin, as he spotted a rogue bludger. Gripping the bat tightly, he took aim, this time slightly down and to the side, which would hopefully at the very least if not take her out would deter her from the target. The bludger made a satisfying cracking sound against his bat, as they made contact.
Once the ball was on its path, Chris followed behind. If she managed to avoid the bludger by some miracle, he had every intention on finding it and sending it back. His only thought was that the only one who would be getting the snitch today was going to be Aladren if he had any say.
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Chris Dupree, Aladren Beater
Indeed, it is.
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Chris Dupree, Aladren Beater
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Elly Eriksson, Pecari Seeker
October 24, 2007 2:33 PM
Doesn't mean I have to like it by Elly Eriksson, Pecari Seeker
Elly couldn’t quite believe it – as far as she could tell, Zack wasn’t gaining on her, but she couldn’t really spare time to look round to make sure. The Snitch was still in sight, about halfway between where Aladren were trying for a goal (or had the outcome of that been decided already? Elly couldn’t be sure) and the grass below, darting around like a flame. Checking her grip, Elly continued her dive, increasing her speed just a little, aiming right for that beautiful ball. It would be so fabulous if she managed to secure a win for her team, though it would be a shame for Mere’s first game to be so short.The Snitch was there – it was right there! Elly bit her lip as she flew towards it, intent on her goal. Her undivided attention proved to be more of a hindrance than help, though, as Elly heard the telltale whoosh of a bludger far too late. She turned her head to the noise, daring to take her eyes of the Snitch for a split second, only to discover it heading right at her at a fantastic speed. There wasn’t much time to make a decision; if she kept on course for the Snitch she’d collide with the bludger before getting there, and her quest would likely have to be abandoned in favour of the medic’s tent.
With only a moment’s hesitation, Elly hauled her broom handle up, choosing remaining in tact over being bludgered, and urged her broom onwards out of the bludger’s path. Naturally, she had forgotten that the damage already inflicted on her broom would hinder its progress. As Elly had already discovered when turning corners, the Cleansweep now had minor issues with sudden changes in direction. A consequence of this was that Elly had not been entirely successful in removing herself from the bludger’s path, as a sickening crack shortly made her painfully aware. The metal ball had crunched into her knee, knocking Elly painfully off course and making her shout an expletive that in usual circumstances would have earned her a detention for sure.
With a sick feeling rising from her stomach into her throat, Elly clutched tightly to her broomstick with her gloved hands. She was no longer able to keep herself balanced with her knees, as she was accustomed to doing, seeing as one leg was now refusing directions from her brain, and so was more or less useless. She couldn’t see the Snitch any more – had Zack caught it already? Or had it merely darted elsewhere, still to be sought? Knowing that there was no way she could play with such little balance, not to mention the shooting pains up her leg that were gradually becoming more persistent, Elly began a rather wobbly descent. Luckily she was already fairly close to the ground, and the Medic’s tent wasn’t all that far away.
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Elly Eriksson, Pecari Seeker
Doesn't mean I have to like it
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Elly Eriksson, Pecari Seeker
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Zack Dill
October 27, 2007 6:59 PM
But I can take advantage by Zack Dill
As was normal for Zack, he ignored everything going on with the Quaffle in favor of seeking the snitch (and now avoiding bludgers). Fortunately, no bludgers had come after him so far this game - the Beaters were on top of their game because he'd seen Elly nearly get hit once when he'd heard the crack of a bat a little too close to ignore.He'd looked away and started looking for the snitch again, calling out quietly under his breath, "I know you're out here." Then at the same time he heard another crack of a Beater's bat meeting a bludger, he spotted it. He looked first for Elly, and found she already had her eyes on the Snitch and was going for it.
Ignoring the bludger and trusting that to Chris, who he knew was nearby, Zack kicked into gear and dove after the golden ball. By virtue of his relative position to its location, Zack's delay in noticing it wasn't going to hinder him too much. Elly had very impressive eyes.
As the distance closed, he heard a girl's scream from about where he expected Elly to be, but he didn't turn around to see. It was pretty obvious at this point that Chris must have tagged her. Besides, the little golden alien was nearly in reach and everything else was secondary.
He gave an extra burst of speed to the Enterprise, chasing after the snitch as it made a sharp turn to the right. Five feet and closing. Just needed to go a little faster . . . four feet, three, two. . . . Zack reached out his gloved hand and closed that last foot. His fingers closed around it, and he whooped with triumph. "Got him!" he shouted, waving the alien victoriously over his head so that all could see his capture.
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Zack Dill
But I can take advantage
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Zack Dill
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Fox
October 27, 2007 7:01 PM
<font color="red">Aladren Wins!!!</font> (nm) by Fox
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Fox
<font color="red">Aladren Wins!!!</font> (nm)
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Fox
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