Log:Portraits of Power, Scene 3

Portraits of Power 2008/03/26 	 Blue Angel Broome Dark Horse Ellbeth Halcyon Kagura Sumegami Kibin Kihzra 3

Ellbeth mutters to herself, "Flying would be useful right now. Except the only flying spell I know of is enchanting a broomstick. There's a word that's used to call women riding broomsticks and I'm not going to open myself up to being called it."

Blue Angel, the powersuited member of the Young Warriors, speak. "I can help with that -- I can carry us out there."

Ellbeth speaks up, "The people who are staying behind. Don't think it's not as important as going to Mr Brooms. The cultists can can here just as easily as there. Afterall, we did."

Halcyon watches Ellbeth speak to Blue Angel, since she can see Ellbeth's lips. She steps toward her. 'I don't want to stay behind.' appears over her head in shadow-text.

Ellbeth nods to Halcyon turning so her lips can be read, "You won't be, my child. You're coming with me."

Kagura Sumegami sweeps around the Shinto shrine with a bamboo broom, glancing up at the stars in the night sky. Suddenly, she freezes in place and her eyes become vacant, staring off into the unknown.

Kagura Sumegami collapses to the ground, her broom falling near her with a hollow thud.

Blue Angel nods to the rest of her team. "Hold down the fort guys -- she's right. The bandits could still strike." She turns to Ellbeth and Halycon. "Ready?" Unfortunately her faceplate will likely mask her words from Halcyon.

Ellbeth nods to Blue Angel. "I'm ready. Halcyon, are you ready to fly?"

Halcyon glances around at the others, subtly keeping a bit more distance between herself and the kaboomer girl. She forms wings out of blackness at Ellbeth's query, and she nods.

Blue Angel lifts Ellbeth and Halcyon easily. "It's not First Class, but we should be there in a jiffy..."

Ellbeth says, "Lets make a brief stop just before when get to his house. I'll be able to scry around the area when the house is in sight. No need to go in blindly if the cultists have beaten us there."

Internal name has been changed. Type look to see the new description.

Halcyon watches Blue Angel on contact, having yet to meet anyone who is quite ready to be struck deaf and silent abruptly. The word 'Sorry' appears over her head, facing the armored girl.

Description has been changed. Type look to see the new description.

Blue Angel sets down at the shrine. She sets everyone down from her grasp. After a silent flight, she looks at Halcyon and Ellbeth. "That was weird."

Ashton jogs to the shrine after getting Fate's message.

Ellbeth smiles and nods to Blue Angel. "Yes. I know. At least you can still use your talents and powers in that circumstance." She then turns to Halcyon, "Unless it's an emergency or a situation where we can be assured of no threat it's best if you don't touch me. I cannot cast spells if I'm silenced."

Blue Angel spots Ashton arriving in the gates of the shrine. "Who's that?"

Kagura Sumegami lies on the ground, looking obviously dazed. A bamboo broom lies on the ground next to her. A large hawk perches on the shrine maiden's shoulder, glancing over at the new arrivals. The hawk lets out a high-pitched squawk and expands it wings, as if trying to protect the girl.

Ellbeth says, "He's Ashton. Also known as Kibin. One of the heroes from Starguard Gamma."

Halcyon nods, watching Ellbeth speak. She has the look of someone both used to hearing similar and a little down, but this swiftly vanishes on sight of the unconscious girl. Halcyon is at her side instantly, creating a big shadowy arrow above and pointed down at Kagura.

"Is she...?" Blue Angel asks, catching sight of Kagura. She flits up into the air and begins looking around, looking for the someone who may have attacked the poor girl.

Ashton arrives at the group of assorted heros. He asks, "What's going on here?"

Ellbeth says, "A good question."

Ellbeth goes over to begin checking on the condition of the unconscious priestess.

A Shinto shrine, outside the city.

Obvious Exits:

Halcyon decidedly does not touch the unconscious Kagura, both out of concern for what the bird might do to her and because people she touches tend to get very unsettled.

Kihzra keeps watch, in case the cause of the unconsciousness is lurking.

Ellbeth says, "I see no obvious injury. No sign she has been attacked."

Blue Angel calls out: "Nothing from up here!"

Kagura Sumegami starts to mutter in Japanese, still lying on the ground, "Darkness.... five faces... demons... become one.... reaching for the earth. Masked men.... wearing robes. Water crashing against rocks. A cavern.... They are there."

Ellbeth holds out a cupped hand and casts. The hand fills with water which she dabs onto the priestess' forehead. "Waken if you will."

Albert Steed (Dark Horse) is riding his motorcycle past the shrine as the heroes arrive. He glances over at the group as the bike glides past, and then he turns down another side street to park. He slides out of the saddle, and grabs his things from a saddle bag. Finding a secluded place to change, he quickly does so, and as then starts to move toward the shrine quietly, hoping to find out what's going on.

Ashton sniffs around for any posion, then notices that Kagura has already awakened. Oh.

Ashton isn't too sure what Kagura is talking about... he says to the others, "She's babbling something in japanese about demons.... or something."

Kagura Sumegami slowly regains awareness of her surroundings, and uses her arms to push herself into an upright position, still sitting on the ground. "Who.... are you?"

Ellbeth smiles and offers a helpful hand as Kagura sits up. "I'm Ellbeth Wyrd. These are heroes of the city."

Ellbeth thinks. o O (Mostly heroes anyway.)

Dark Horse slips into the shrine, still trying to keep quiet as he moves, and observes the group.

Halcyon waves with a rather friendly smile. Completely darkened.

Kihzra says, "Hi, tjasivju."

Kagura Sumegami takes the offered hand and gets up into a standing position, all the while the hawk on her shoulder keeps its balance, adjusting its claws on her shoulder. The Shinto priestess bows. "Thank you"

Ashton asks Kagura, "What were you talking about when you were on the ground?"

Kagura Sumegami looks to Ashton. "A vision from the gods."

Blue Angel sets down from her flight, powering down her propulsion boots. "Blue Angel," she says, with a wave. She turns to Ellbeth and asks, "This is who we came to get? Looks like she's totally partied out, already."

Ellbeth looks over at Blue Angel, "I don't understand Japanese. But apparently she had a vision that may be related to our mission."

Kagura Sumegami asks, "Mission?"

Ellbeth says, "Vision from the Gods?"

Blue Angel says. "Yeah. We're out to stop an art thief. Tell us about this vision."

Dark Horse recognizes a couple of people. Well...three of the group, at least. So, he comes out of hiding, and walks out into the open casually. He's non-chalant, acting like he was meant to be here, and he nods to those who bother to look in his direction.

The approach is noticed by Halcyon, and she offers a wave to the oncomer. Equally friendly is this greeting to the one she gave Kagura.

Kagura Sumegami says, "I saw 5 faces appear in the darkness... demons. They swirled around me and I began to fall into the darkness. These demon faces merged together, forming 1 single, giant demon. I was falling... falling towards the Earth... as if I was above the heavens, and the demon was reaching out to grab at both me and the Earth."

Blue Angel looks over at Dark Horse. She starts taking count. one, two, three, four... o O ( No way I'm carrying all these people... )

Kihzra says, "Is evirr paintings, yes?"

Kagura Sumegami continues, "Then, there was darkness again, darkness except for the light from some lanterns. I saw men... masked men in robes, chanting. I could hear the sound of water, the sea crashing against rocks in the distance. These men were in a cavern... " She pauses. "That is all I remember."

Ellbeth looks to Blue Angel, "Give Mr Broom a call. Make sure he's still ok."

Words appear over Halcyon's head: 'Maybe I can have a look'

Blue Angel nods. She pulls her PDA from a clip on her belt and begins dialing. She lets it ring for a little bit. Eventually someone picks up. "Yes. Sorry to wake you, sir..." She starts to have a conversation with the person on the other end. While she talks, she gives a nod to Ellbeth.

Ellbeth says, "Mr Broom's house is still a fair distance from here, Halcyon."

Halcyon offers her PDA toward Ellbeth. It's black.

Ellbeth looks relieved when Blue Angel nods, "... and the sooner we get there the better I'm thinking."

Dark Horse raises a brow, but just listens, as he tries to piece together what's going on.

"Yes, yes, everthing's under control. I'll be out to see you in a little bit, and I'm bringing guests..." Blue Angel says into her PDA.

Ellbeth peeks over Blue Angel's shoulder to see if there's a image coming from Mr Broom's PDA."

Halcyon puts her PDA away, making words appear over her head again, toward Dark Horse. 'Hi! I'm Halcyon'

Dark Horse nods to Halcyon, "Nice to meet you. I'm Dark Horse."

Blue Angel laughs as she hangs up. "He says he'll have tea and cookies ready for us. That's Mr. Broome, alright. So..." She turns to Ellbeth. "...any way you can magick us over there? I'm like a sportcar of the skies, not a minivan."

Ellbeth lets Blue Angel finish the call and turns to the new arrivals. "Quick story. Back in the 15th Cent an Italian artist named Pucini painted five protraits of demons. These paintings came to be known as the Portraits of Power. If brought together they can open a gate to Earth from Hell. Four paintings have fallen into the hands of cultists. We're trying to get to the fifth before that it is taken."

Ashton asks Blue Angel, "Over where? I could probably just run."

Halcyon's message adjusts a little. 'I think you said something but I can't read your lips.' She smiles, invitingly motioning Dark Horse toward Ellbeth.

"Mr. Broome's summer home." Blue Angel says. "It's on Chesapeake Bay. It's a bit of a trip."

Ellbeth nods to Blue Angel, "It will take me a couple of minutes to set up a portal. Is that faster than you can fly us all there? If it is I'll start setting up the protal and you take, uh, Kihzra and Halcyon on ahead."

"Mach 2's as fast as I've pushed it." Blue Angel says, "But I don't think you guys'll be able to, like, breathe, if I go that fast."

Ellbeth says, "How many can you carry and still fly fast?"

Kagura Sumegami says weakly, "I wish to help..." as she tries to rest a bit to recover her strength.

"Three... maybe four." Blue Angel says. "None of you look extra heavy. I think I can get us there in 3 minutes at top speed. You've got a plan?"

Ellbeth shrugs, "Maybe. Anyone able to create a force wall bubble?"

Kagura Sumegami raises her hand.

Dark Horse blinks, looking at Halcyon, but then moves over toward Ellbeth. He says quietly to himself, "Odd. Maybe I need to pick up sign."

Ellbeth smiles, "I suggest taking as many as you can on ahead, including someone like the preistess who can protect your passengers from the air rush using a force wall bubble."

Kagura Sumegami says, "I will need a few minutes to recover. These visions always take alot out of me."

Blue Angel says, "Well, if you can all fit into the bubble, I could totally take everyone."

Ellbeth nods, "Even better. Priestess, you can recover when we get there. Visions from God come rarely. Let's not keep him waiting."

Ellbeth says, "You rest. I'll cast a force barrier spell, Priestess/"

After a brief conjuration from Ellbeth, Blue Angel is able to lift the assembled heroes in a magical bubble. She flies at supersonic speeds out to a rural section of the Bay.

Ellbeth gathers everyone close together making sure somebody is between her and Halcyon, and casts the Mage Barrier spell to englobe everyone except Blue Angel in a powerful force wall bubble.

Halcyon remains a bit above the others in the bubble, doing her best to avoid physical contact.

Dark Horse chuckles. "I'm going to need a ride back after this. I don't plan on hitchhiking."

The Broome summer residence is nestled into a secluded section of Chesapeake Bay. A single road leads up to the building through lightly wooded terrain, where the home sits high a top a bluff that faces out over the Bay. It's 10" down to the water, wear the surf breaks over jagged rocks. The home is spacious two-story building, built with the charm of simple Colonial stylings. The home has circular drive in front with a garage standing adjacent to the home.

Blue Angel sets down the heroes in the circular drive in front of the house.

"That took a ginormous bite out of my batteries." Angel says.

Kihzra says, "Fink, I prefer walk to go by bubbre."

Ellbeth says, "Straight down. I cannot scry while maintaining the force bubble."

The door to the home opens, and there's a older gentleman standing there, looking at the heroes. "There you are," he says, seeming in a pleasant mood. He waves. "Welcome."

Kihzra says, "Fank you, tjasivju."

Ellbeth drops the force wall spell and nods towards Mr Broome, "It's a pleasure to see you... alive and well." She opens the conversation intending to impress the gravity of the situation upon him.

Dark Horse quietly runs his hands through his hair...and reflexively, he starts to look around the area where the group landed, looking for any hidden assailants.

Broome's brow wrinkles a bit more that it is already. "I'm not sure I understand what you're talking about. But please, come in. You all got here so quickly, I barely managed to get the tea on. Would anyone like some?"

Ellbeth says, "Yes. Thank you. But first, Mr Broome, can I see the painting by Pucini?"

Kihzra too, looks about more on reflex than anything.

Halcyon is also on the lookout, moving to the shadows and seeking out that which is hidden by them.

Ashton has no reason to be suspicious of anything, he's just listening to Ellbeth and Broome.

Broome waves for everyone to follow as he leads into the living room. "The painting? I keep it stored away in the attic. I'll fetch it in a moment, if that's alright. Sometimes, those stairs..." He offers a brief smile as if to apologize.

Ellbeth says, "The attic. You get the tea ready. I'll go and get it. Blue Angel, join me?""

Blue Angel says, "Hmm. I might have some bad news... Peregrine's disappeared from the art gallery at the academy. I'll bet that he's on his way here."

Kihzra says, "Disappeared? What you mean, disappeared?"

Ellbeth says, "That is what he intended. He doesn't trust us to protect the painting. He is not connected with the cultists. At least not knowingly."

Dark Horse raises a brow again as he follows, "Who's Peregrine?"

"Gone in a puff of smoke." Blue Angel says. "You know that trick he does."

Mr. Broome goes to the kitchen, which is fully visible past the countertop separating the kitchen and the living room. He starts pouring tea out until mugs.

Ellbeth nods and is looking for the stairs. "First, painting. Get painting."

Kihzra says, "How you know he is not connected wiv currtists?"

Ellbeth says, "I looked inside his mind. I am a mage after all."

Ellbeth grins, "Not a very trusting one either."

Kihzra says, "Qhah."

Dark Horse glances at Ellbeth, and stiffens slightly.

Halcyon appears to step out from around Ellbeth, rather than just appearing to materialize in front of everyone. This to reduce the potential unsettling factor.

Mr. Broome says to Ellbeth. "Up the stairs, last door on the right. It's the old kid's room. Now, my 'attic'." As he walks, he offers a mug to Dark Horse and one to Kihzra.

Ellbeth lifts the hem of her robes and bounds up the stairs two at a time heading for the 'attic' room.

Kihzra accepts a mug, but (again, on reflex) is sure to smell it before she takes a sip.

Dark Horse takes a hold of the mug, but doesn't drink. Not yet at least. Perhaps it's because of his mask. Or perhaps he's paranoid. He just continues to look around, walking with the mug. "So, how did you come by the painting, sir?"

Ashton sips his tea anyway. Is he the only one not paranoid here?"

Kihzra lowers the mug again, absently, after smelling the tea.

Upstairs, the kids room is a bit dusty, obviously the storage room for old boxes of things. By one wall, there looks to be an easle, with a painting resting on it. It's hard to tell exactly, because the easle and painting are beneath a cloth.

Ellbeth scans the room using her magical awareness before approaching the painting.

Dark Horse looks over toward Nathaniel again, assuming the man hadn't heard him. "Sir? Mr. Broome? How did you come across the painting in the first place?"

Halcyon takes no such precautions, entering the room with the curiosity of exploration.

"Oh. It's been in my family for some time now," Broome says. "Horrid thing." He pours more tea and offers some to Kagura.

Dark Horse raises a brow, "If it's that horrid, why keep it?"

Broome smiles. "I'm told that it's quite valuable."

Kihzra says, "If is varuabre and don't like it, is more better to serr it!"

Broome pours himself a cup of tea. He looks to Kagura and motions to a mug sitting for her on the counter. "It'll get cold." He looks to Kihzra and says, "Perhaps. But it's been in my family for so long. I couldn't bring myself to get rid of it. Did you know that my family was one of the first to colonize this area?"

Kagura Sumegami removes her sandles by the doorway and walks over to the cup of tea in her white socks.

Kihzra says, "Qhah. Is, cha, heirroom, yes? Understand."

Blue Angel heads up the stairs to catch up with Ellbeth. "Unless Peregrine can fly really fast, it'll take him some time to get out here..." she says, once she enters the attic room behind Ellbeth.

Upstairs in the attic Ellbeth is thinking. Her PDA comes out as she looks at Blue Angel. "Who's the only original owner still alive? Call me untrusting but - its easier to steal four and already own one than to steal five." She starts to place a call to Kihzra.

Dark Horse nods to Mr. Broome, "So, what's it a painting of, exactly?"

Phone: Kihzra? This is Ellbeth. Don't talk anything that reveals that. Try to stop anyone drinking the tea and watch out. Don't trust Mr Broome.

Kagura Sumegami sips on her tea and calls out, "Have you found the painting yet?" to those upstairs.

Kihzra says into her phone, "Qhah. Is good." SHe'd about come to the same conclusion.

Halcyon is at the painting, and has a peek beneath the veil.

Kihzra, looking about the room, seems backs into Kagura "accidentally", spilling the tea.

Ellbeth keeps her PDA in hand as she also goes over to examine the painting.

Kihzra says, "Qhah! Sorry!"

WHOOF! Off comes the veil, and Halcyon reveals the blank painting. She looks rather confused instead of suspicious.

Kihzra's jostling causes the tea to go all over the floor after only the briefest sip.

Kagura Sumegami kneels looks down at the spilled tea and kneels down to try to clean it up with a handkerchief.

"It's a biblical piece, actually." Broome says. "A rendition of the fallen angel Lucifer... Very riskee for the time it was created, yes."

Kihzra squats down to help Kagura with the task - and mouths to her, with her back to Broome, "Don't drink tea!"

Ellbeth says, "Surprise, surprise. Fortunately Mr Broome has said too much. The downfall of villains always. They just have to boast. Being one of the first houses built, in the old colonial style, this will certainly have an underground passage leading down to the sea, more accurately a caven in a cave leading to the sea. Blue Angel, which side are you truly on?"

Mr. Broome steps over to Kagura. "No no no. Allow me to clean it up." He approaches from behind Kihzra. "I haven't touched my tea. You can have that, while I clean this up."

Halcyon looks up at Blue Angel, not sure now what she should be thinking. So the girl goes completely unseen.

Kihzra nods and while Broome is helping clear the tea up disposes of most of hers in a convenient pot plant to give the impression she has been drinking her own.

Blue Angel says, "So you think Mr. Broome's behind it all? Should we confront him?"

Dark Horse sets his drink down on a convenient table, "Are you sure you don't need help cleaning that up?"

Kagura Sumegami waves her hand. "That is quite alright. I am not all that thirsty at the moment. But thank you."

Ellbeth says, "I suspect he is part of it. We can check. If we take this blank painting down and claim we've checked and it's the original we were looking for, if he seems surprised or concerned he know about the substitution, agreed?"

Blue Angel nods. "Let's do it."

Ellbeth calls down, "We've found it. I'm bringing it downstairs."

Halcyon vanishes from upstairs, appearing downstairs but still unseen. She watches Broome.

Broome gestures for Dark Horse to step forward in his place. "Thank you. These old knees..." he explains. He calls out. "You've found the painting, you say?"

Ellbeth takes up the painting, recovered, and carries it down to the living room. "It's ugly. So I left it covered. The stench of black magic on it is horrid."

Dark Horse looks around for some paper towels to use to clean it up. He then bends down to deal with it, but trying to keep an eye on Mr. Broome as he cleans. "I'm surprised you have joint problems. You seemed pretty...energetic. Too many sports when you were younger?"

"I held a few records in lacrosse when I was in high school and college." Broome says. "But no... No man can stand against Time." And with that he reaches down and tries to grab Dark Horse from behind.

Ellbeth puts the covered painting down on a chair, "There it is. I've checked it. Pure fakery. I see Mr Broome is busily answering our next question, whether he was fully involved in this."

Dark Horse glances back toward Mr. Broome just in time to notice the man's movement, and tumbles away from the older man, rolling to his feet...just out of grasp. "I...don't really like you THAT much, Mr. Broome."

Kihzra, though not about to use her sword on an old man, nevertheless figures it's a good idea to get him away from people. She attempts to pick him up by his clothes, swing him round and toss him across the room onto a sofa - she's not aiming at broken bones here. Till she knows what she's dealing with, anyway.

Mr Broome ducks beneath the reach of Kihzra's blade, looking surprising spry for an old man.

Mr Broome ducks back, just beyond Kihzra's reach, looking surprising spry for an old man.

Kagura Sumegami pulls out an ofuda from her sleeve and begins to gesture with it between her fingers as she chants out in Japanese. She then throws the ofuda paper charm out towards Mr Broome, hoping it will stick to him and freeze his movement.

Kagura Sumegami throws the paper ofuda at her target, which proceeds to land onto and stick on Mr Broome.

Kihzra thinks. o O (QhrokmBehuhr shonyt!)

Blue Angel moves to cover Mr Broome with her hand blaster. "Do-don't move, Mr. B!" She sounds perhaps a little shocked by what's going on.

Ellbeth casts a mage shield around herself. She looks at Mr Broome sadly, "Evil, villainous, and incompetent. Really, as the Principal of one of the city's better high schools I expected more from you." She casts a Spirit Strike.

Not sure what she should be doing in the situation, Halcyon simply stares as the others gang up on the old man.

Broome snarls angrily at Ellbeth. "Damn you Ellbeth Wyrd... you had to interfere!"

Dark Horse chuckles. "Meddling kids."

Kagura Sumegami pulls out another ofuda and starts to chant, while gesturing with the ofuda in her fingers. She then throws the ofuda at the prone man.

Dark Horse smiles as the others all show up and stop the older man. "Guess my light work was taken care of for me. I suggest you just surrender now."

Kihzra, torn between the idea of stopping a probable wizard before he does anything and not attacking a perhaps helpless old man draws her sword with a flourish, but then does nothing but stand ready.

Blue Angel continues to cover Broome.

Broome scoffs and looks around at the gathered heroes. "It seems as though you've captured me."

Kihzra frowns. That was *far* too easy.

Ellbeth says, "Do you want to tell us where the entrance to the underground passage is or must we tear the house up looking for it?"

Broome says. "Be my guest. You won't find it. If you let me go, I'd be willing to give up the location however."

Kagura Sumegami looks towards the others. "I saw a cavern by the sea in my vision... there were men wearing masks and robes in the cavern... Could the painting be there?"

Dark Horse clears his throat and steps closer to him, speaking softly...attemping to put his questioning skills to work, "Mr. Broome...where are the paintings? We know you have all five. If you reveal the location, it's possible that you may get to walk. But we need the location first...and we need to confirm that they're there."

Ellbeth nods. "Yes, most definitely. Which cavern is the question. God bless the national survey. Lets check with the mapping department." She starts working on her laptop.

Kagura Sumegami corrects Ellbeth. "Gods (plural) bless the national survey."

Dark Horse smiles slightly, continuing, "See...if we deduce where it is...before you tell us, well, you have no bargaining power."

"I've got a safe deposit box..." Broome says. "First National, Main Street Branch..."

"I can't get to them until morning," he adds, "Unless you feel like breaking in."

Ellbeth lifts her head from the laptop just long enough to say, "You're lying. After all these years you'll wait a moment longer than you have to. It's happening right now. And we're going to stop it before it finishes.

Dark Horse seems to smile beneath his mask. "I could break in...but that's beside the point. I don't think it's there. I think it's likely that you have some kind of access to underground caverns under this building. You're not in this alone...and your friends need a meeting place. If we were to wait until tomorrow, it would be too late to stop whatever ceremony your frat brothers are performing...as we speak." He pauses for effect. "Clock's ticking, Broome. I bet that Dr. Wyrd over there comes through with the location before you cough it up."

Ellbeth turns the screen around so all can see it. "Right under the house. Priestess, it might be concealed by magic. You'll be able to detect the spell on the entrance if it is. Lets find it. I'm going to scry down there and set up a portal in case we have trouble finding the entrance."

Kagura Sumegami nods to Ellbeth and tries looking around the house, seeing if there is any magic she can detect.

Dark Horse shrugs to Mr. Broome, "Afraid I was right. No more bargaining for you. I tried to give you a chance."

"GrrrrraaaaaaAAAAH!" Broome bellows, and he begins growing in size. His skin darkens and reddens. The thing standing before you is no longer Broome. Although humanoid in shape, the eight foot tall musclebound creature standing before you is not human.

Kihzra says, "Qhah. Knew. If not sorcerer, demon."

Kihzra is, in a strange way, pleased by the turn of events: no more hesitation about hitting an old man now that he's a clear demon. Grinning, she strikes a blow from the sword she'd been holding at the ready as soon as the demon bursts free of his bonds.

KRAAASH!!! The Broome-Thing is smashed out of the living room through the glass doors and into the backyard of the house. It struggles to get up.

Kagura Sumegami leaps thru the broken glass door and pulls out another paper ofuda. She stops, begins chanting in place as she waves around the ofuda in her fingers in various gestures. The ofuda begins to glow, and she throws it towards Broome.

Kihzra says, "Tuhtarunyt!"

Kihzra says, "Tuhtarunyt!"

Kihzra says, "Tuhtarunyt, a rohakh!"

In the aftermath of the attack, the creature is left without an arm and a good chunk of torso, oblitered by the divine light from the ofuda. How the creature is still alive is beyond anyone's guess.

Dark Horse watches as many of the people around him actually move considerably faster than he does. He's a bit surprised. He smiles, and just watches the beast, looking for an opening...a weak spot.

Blue Angel still has Broome covered. She fires a blast of energy from the palm of her armor at the Broome-Thing.

Ellbeth maintains her shield spell and stands ready to interpose a barrier between the demon and the Priestess. She does say in a satisfied tone, "See, I said we wanted a Priestess along. Can't beat them when it comes to demons and devils."

Around the edges of the hole that the Broome-Thing han blasted into it, flesh begins to knit and reform.

Kagura Sumegami slowly approaches the demon. "Speak! Where is the painting and your compatriots, demon?" she says as she pulls out another ofuda from her sleeve. She then begins to chant and gesture with the ofuda. The ofuda glows and she throws it at the prone demon.

Broome-Thing roars. "Never! We are too close, now!"

Dark Horse grimaces, "No weak spots...hrm...how about his eyes?" He steps forward, getting closer to the beast, and reaches into a pouch, pulling out a flash bomb. He then throws it at the creature's head.

Kihzra doubts the creature's bonds will hold it, so she charges to the attack once more despite them. "Know, demon, that I am Kihzra daughter of Pfarok, descendant of King Brun Sorcerbane who kirred a fousand demons!"

Ellbeth murmurs, "I am so not going to ask how many mages she's slain. I don't think I want to know."

The Kihzra's attack only succeeds in destroying the ofuda. "A descendant of Brun? Not on this world.." the Thing says.

Ellbeth doesn't think we have time to mess around with the Broome demon. She tells the Priestess, destory it's material body. That will drive it back to it's own plane. Then she summons up a second Spirit Strike.

Dark Horse chuckles. "I'm feeling...extraneous." He smiles.

Kagura Sumegami looks down at the knocked out demon and pulls out another paper ofuda. As she chants and dances the ofuda about in the air between her fingers, it begins to glow. She then tosses it down at the Broome.

Ellbeth sees the demon slump and fall as the spirits stream through its bodily form.

"Master... I delayed them for as long as I could...." Broome-Thing says. It erupts into flames and disappears, return to the pit from which it came.