12444/A LARP Session goes wrong

A LARP Session goes wrong
Date of Scene:	19 August 2022
Location:	Central Park
Synopsis:	The LARP session gets interupted by a Possession, and many heroes come out of the crowd to help.
Cast of Characters:	Hope Summers, Mary Jane Watson, Ororo Munroe, Michael Hannigan, Robbie Reyes, Phoebe Beacon

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Hope Summers has posed:
    Central Park is a beautiful place, full of greenery, and nature, to an extent. It's not the most wild place, but it is the most wilderness for some that they can easily access. Thick old trees, lush flora with a few hints of fauna to make the place feel like it's alive and natural despite the concrete prison surrounding and constraining what once grew here freely.

    Taking advantage of the nature are handfuls, dozens and even hundreds of people. Couples on a quiet retreat. Gaggles of students savoring the last few hours of their summer vacation. Loners seeking a place of true solitude. And the crux of today's adventure, a large grouping of people who have come to enjoy the cooled air of september in their battle garb and to fight for king and country. For glory and honor!

    Roughly seventy or so people of various backgrounds, ages, and ethnicities are doing what they love. Playing pretend. Today is the culmination of months and months of continuous role play and as such a grand battle has been ordered to take place. The set up has been completed and we are fully in the heat of the moment and the zenith of combat.

    Voices roar and rise as swords smack against shield, spell beanbags splat against trees, and nerf arrows sail past their targets as their aim is notoriously difficult as they rarely fly true.

    We could follow any one of these people into the heart of their story and see the fiercity at which they play, but there is something much more pressing as a woman playing at being a witch with her satchel full of spell bean bags is often reached into so she can 'heal' a team mate, or blast a foe with some eldrich magics, but today, something new is happening with her. Erin, now 'Ritta of the Underworld' has brought with her to complete her outfit, has a dusty old tome hanging from her belt in a custom made leather holster that swings and slaps against her thigh as she pulls up next to a tree and takes a moment to catch her breath and pauses to brush against the fabric of the book and smirks at the incredible luck and find in the book store.

    "Come Ritta, we have a land to claim." Says one of her friends, motioning with his sword in hand to help him fight.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson enjoys walking through Central Park. It's always lovely, and you see great things. She's drawn into the area amongst the crowd that's watching the Larp. Having done SCA events a few times in hte pas tyears ago (when hired on as a 'bar wench', don't ask). She just goes to watch from a distance, respectfully away with whomever else there is in the crowd of non participants. Not something she would go back to..
    hits a little too close to real life. But she can enjoy people that are clearly enjoying themselves. Even as she geos to tell Sonja to be quiet in their shared headspace for going on about children playing.

Ororo Munroe has posed:
Summer is indeed beginning to wind down, if not in temperature, then in the movement of students as they begin their paths back to school. It is in these 'quiet' moments that Ororo finds herself, walking a path in the park, just watching people, nature, and the beauty of the moment before it will change again with the season.

The tumult is heard beyond, and the signs posted for both the event and for recruiting had been noted by the Weather witch. Her path takes her closer to the noise, the battle is as fever pitched as beanbags and nerf weapons can be, and Ororo watches at battle-side.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
The park has gotten weird today.

Being that it is in the middle of the city, that could be considered a statement that doesn't even merit mentioning. But there are days where there's just a STRONG need to state it. So! Once again. The park has gotten weird today.

Mike is not one of the LARPers that are mid-battle. But after taking time to go back to condo to restock on needed supplies. The show that was visible from the residence window was hard to ignore. So, ignore he did not. Instead he has made his way towards the outskirts of the battle area to watch curiously.

Just a glimpse. Mike assures himself. It won't take long.

Robbie Reyes has posed:
For Robbie Reyes, the appeal of Central Park this glorious afternoon is in its solitude. The type of solitude that can only be found amongst a crowd; anonymity, and the knowledge that nobody here is paying even the slightest bit of attention to him. He's just some lanky Mexican kid eating a soft-serve ice cream cone and observing the nerdy proceedings.

There's at least one familiar face who's shown up to watch; Michael gets a little upnod of greeting from Robbie. But before he can wander over and attempt to be social, something *else* grabs his attention. He pauses mid-lick of his cone, and squints slightly at 'Ritta'. Or, more precisely, her book. Huh.

Hope Summers has posed:
    'Ritta' takes a deep breath and smiles her deep purple painted lips up towards her commrade and then pushes off the tree with her shoulder and raises her hand up towards the sky and speaking gibberish she throws it towards the foe her team mate was rushing towards. The beanbag misses and strikes the earth. HARD. Rock, grass and dirt spray heavily from the divot and the area next to the hit slowly fades from green grass to almost water starved crunchy strips of dormant grass.

    'Ritta' doesn't notice as she's caught up in the moment and the girl has a battle cry now as she digs out another bean bag and throws it hard again. This one slaps into her teammate's shoulder and he spins heavily from the hit acting always like he should when struck. He's that good and into it, but when he hits the ground on his shoulder and rolls twice with their foe pausing and holding up his hands, "Whoa whoa, time. Time." Then 'Ritta' pauses. "What?" She asks, her purple matching eye liner framing her confused eyes as she steps closer to the man she put down. Rolling over onto his back and trying to undo his jacket, as he's struggling with pain or something as they look down at his exposed hand and it's fully grey and unmoving and a trio of screams horrific and pained cry out into the park.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
This gets Mary Jane's attention as she swears. Of all the times to come without her work equipment. And nothing is going to be useful.. She goes to start on a jog over towards the area, calling out, "Everyone, get out of here? Go away quickly and don't freak out. Give space and call the authorities. Help one another out if anyone is hurt!" Her voice is calm and authorative as she makes sure to project it as loud and as booming as she can.

Ororo Munroe has posed:
Ororo hasn't truly honed her 'magic' powers, but she can feel the lines, the way it all interacts with the world around her. She's more than just a 'weather witch'.. she's a master of the world's chaos systems. So, when that beanbag hits the ground with the force and impact of something much, much heavier, her attention is riveted. It's on the impacting of the young man who first takes the hit as he should, only to discover that there's a great deal more that lies underneath that has her moving forward.

She catches sight of cellphones that are out, and as she moves past a small group, she points directly at one of them, "You, call 911." In her path, the one directed does just that.. as do a group of onlookers. (Others just film for their 15 minutes of fame on the news outlets!)

She's not a healer, no.. but Ororo considers herself something of a 'first responder'. "What happened?" Mary Jane's orders gains a quick look, searching to meet those eyes before she nods, turning back to the young man.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
As Mike skims through the crowd, there's a slight glimpse of a familiar face amongst the observers. Seeing the nod, the musician gives a slight smile and a nod in return.

And then Robbie's mannerisms change a little. Curious, Mike looks in the direction Robbie does, trying to determine the point of concern. Just a girl playing with bean ba-

And then someone's down screaming.

Oh Shi-

Going against the flood of persons, Mike starts to wade through the crowd of observers to head closer to the source of the disturbance.

Robbie Reyes has posed:
Robbie's torn on what to do. Go in for a closer look at the book Eli swears is no good? Or keep walking, mind his own business, and just -- for once -- enjoy his downtime?

The decision's made for him, unfortunately, once the screaming begins. He stuffs half of the remaining ice cream cone into his mouth, and tosses the rest into a nearby trashcan as he makes his way over to the brewing altercation. Not quite a jog, but there's definitely some urgency to his rapid approach.

He'll let the others handle tending to the guy who's been injured; his focus is on that book. "Hey." He angles in, tries to grab Ritta's arm. "Hey, you. Where'd you get that?" His eyes flick to the book, then back to her face with a slight frown.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Phoebe happened to be in the park as well, watching the shenanigans. As a LARPer of the proud Kingdom of Lord Foog the 2rd (Blessed be his Name), she had a vested interest in seeing the garb of the others. She's up in a tree, leaning against the trunk in her own LARPing garb, consisting of a blue cape with her go bag about.

    She purses her lips, watching as someone gives a battle cry, and slings a beanbag at a guy. Aah, Beanbags, the preferred weapons of Truth, Justice, and a piece of the Magical action in a live-action RP battle, but she narrows her eyes. She frowns a moment -- and she hops down from her tree.

    And as people begin to pull off the stricken's clothing, she runs *faster*.

    She gives a sharp whistle, bringing two pinkies to her lips, and then signs that she's a medic. Her eyes narrow, feeling the hair ont he back of her neck rise up as she comes closer. She looks to Robbie as he tends to the book, and she turns her focus to the sufferer, pulling her bag closer as she takes out her actual aid kit and begins to assess the injury.

Hope Summers has posed:
    People standing nearby the shouts pause and those beyond that barely even seem to register something is going on, but that sense of dread that starts with the trio spreads, wide, and the fighting stops in a ripple outwards from the points of the bean bag impacts. The whole session seems to fall under a spell of sorts, a feeling of unease washes through. "What's going on?" "Is someone hurt?" "Whose the redhead?" "White hair... That's odd." Voices speak in whispers as Mary Jane and Ororo run past.

    No one actually leaves and many people pull out their phones not to record, but to fight the pause that sometimes happen in these things, but there's that odd feeling most can't help but shiver from. Crowds don't stop people from advancing, but they're not helping either, as the 'first responders' approach. The man on his back screaming and crying gets louder and louder until it just stops. Not from his mouth closing, but an agonizing sound as his vocal chords sieze as the stone continues to crawl across his skin turning him into a pained lifelike statue crying eternally.

    'Ritta' looks up and swallows, "I-I-I..." She can't find words as she watches her friend literally change in front of her, and the man he was play-fighting looks to her and takes a step back. "What did you do?"

    "What did you do?!" He shouts again as Mary Jane, Ororo, Mike, Robbie and Phoebe enter the area roughly at the same time with Robbie reaching out to grab 'Ritta's wrist and she screams again, turning to rip her hand away as she's suddenly at a loss as to what's going on, but the question half-reaches her, "I-I only th-threw a spell at him. I did-didn't even mean to hit him." She says, tears running down from her eyes, smearing her makeup and making her face quite shocking.

    The question about the book though draws a much stronger reaction from her and she tries to step forwards and push Robbie away. "It's just an old dumb *BOOK*!" A WAVE of unknowable energy pushes away from her and the book at her hip, magical, but also based in the holy-hell spectrum and yet, it's neither of them.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would go to frown over and move to take a breath, "It's all right, something happened. I don't really know, but I guess you might have some level of actual magic to you." She would hold her hands up over in an 'at ease' position. "And it manifested when you did the spell and something came out of it for real. So just go ahead and breathe, relax, and let yourself try and focus. There are people here who can help fix things. Just please relax and give them a few moments to help figure out what happened."
    People going past that aren't attempting to rampage on or trample people are mostly ignored. Anyone getting out of the area is given a quick nod of thanks.
    She goes to speak quietly, "Will he still be able to breathe?" If he fully turns to stone. That's said over to Ororo.

Ororo Munroe has posed:
"No, don't touch them.. either of them," comes from Ororo's mouth even as Robbie reaches to grab the girl's arm. 'Ritta' is obviously just as scared, alarmed, upset and confused as the rest of them. This can be a myriad of things, from the..

(What is that on the girl's hip?)

This could be many things; from some arcane demon, a new eruption of mutant ability, or something else entirely.

Still, as Phoebe arrives, Storm isn't far from the pair involved. "We need to get the girl out of here, for her safety," is murmured to those in proximity. In response to Mary Jane, the mutant shakes her head ever so slightly, the white hair wisping in the calm of the air. It's too calm. "No," is whispered, "but he won't need to.."

Storm rises from her crouch to search for that first beanbag that was tossed and created a divot in the earth. It may give them answers before any finger-pointing begins.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Well, if anything about this situation proves anything, it's that Mike is no precog. Otherwise he'd probably have stood on the OTHER side of the crowd before any of this happened.

But as it is, the non helpful crowd end up making for a bit of a human fence as he weaves through. Once getting past the cluster of folks, Mike quickens his pace to approach.

As it becomes clearer that the man on the ground is completely stoned, he shakes his head. That's probably some type of rule violation right there.

Robbie Reyes has posed:
Robbie's far, far stronger than he looks. And normally, a shove like that wouldn't budge him even slightly. But whatever that book is about, it seems to have quite the effect on him: he's flung away from her and slammed into a picnic table with a loud CRASH. Wood splinters as he hits it and then plows right through, tumbling a few times in the grass.

A few onlookers scream, and one of them turns his cell phone on Robbie so he can capture what's happening while recording.

The dazed mechanic, meanwhile, checks to make sure he's mostly intact (broken arm, a few scratches, no big deal) before picking himself up slowly. "I'm gonna need that book," he tells 'Ritta', eyes flicking Ororo's way, but seeming to only barely register her warning. Again he approaches, cautious, bleeding from a gash in his cheek.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Phoebe looks at the man on the ground, and she pulls her hood over her further. She wasn't counting on having to use any powers like this, and uncharacteristically she is completely silent.

    She waves off others around her, motioning for them to back up, keeping her face cast in shadow.

    Her nose wrinkles, and she brings her hands up and over the stoned man. She closes her eyes and focuses.

    Like long ago, the blond bloke on the floor in the bar, Diana in a hospital bed, now this lad in the middle of the Green.

    Her fingertips start with a subtle pinkish glow that grows brighter as she breathes out, tracing its way languidly up her veins as the woman in the blue cloak and high boots tries her own magic against that which has accursed the sufferer. The backs of her hands light up with eight-pointed, squared stars embedded in concentric circles.

    Robbie, Sonja and Michael would probably recognize Phoebe's magic circle as she tests her mettle. She'll let the others handle the book... for now.

Hope Summers has posed:
    Thankfully for 'Ritta' Mary Jane is able to piece together and dictate what happened to those who are asking as she's lost mentally and trying to figure out what she did, how she did it, how much trouble she's going to be in, what can anyone do to fix this, is she cursed, is he cursed. Her mind is going a thousand miles an hour in pure fear, especially after the shove of Robbie. She wasn't aiming to hurt, but to merely get herself some breathing space.

    Then Ororo is saying he wont need to breathe, and she gasps. She killed him. The tears are really streaming now. Even as she turns away from Robbie, not realizing she shoved him FAR more than she EVER should have been able to. But the sounds of the crowd's reaction as they back up and gasp and oooo and whoa at the man standing back up like he wasn't even phased casts a dark and ominous mood across the area.

    Ororo's searching for the original bean bag is quickly found and the thing is burried halfway in the ground like a cannonball but the dormant and dead grass gives the oddest notion that things are far more nefarious than simple gravity or transmutation spells or powers.

    Phoebe however helpful as she is and is trying to be saving the man from being a stone artwork in the park's oddest spot for a sculpture, isn't given the space she needs because she asked for it, in fact most people are moving closer and crowding her, more afraid of Robbie and 'Ritta' than her or the poor man at her feet. "Whoa WHOA!" Someone says and reaches down to grab Phoebe by the collar or under her arms and they try to pull her away as things start to heat up. 'Ritta' reaches into her satchel as Robbie comes for the book and she screams more words of gibberish and throws the bag at the young mexican-american. A wave of frigid cold washes out in the wake and the front of the beanbag shifts and contorts until it's a deadly pointed shard of ice, impossibly white flying towards Robbie, just past where Phoebe's head was over the stoned man.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
All right, keep the girl distracted and from panicking as Mary Jane goes, "It's all right, it's just like he's sleeping. As soon as we can reverse this, it's going to be fine. You've seen Sleeping Beauty, right? Well, kind of the same thing. Admittedly it's probably going to take a bit more thn a kiss to wake him up, but don't worry. There are a lot of people around who can help figure out what happened and reverse it."
    Okay, she really has no exact idea what's going on, but her job is keeping the girl calm until the others can help resolve things. That's something she can do. "Take a breath. It will be fine. I promise. And as soon as this is fixed, the first thing you can do is turn him into a frog for making you scared in the first place."

Ororo Munroe has posed:
Ororo makes it as far as the first beanbag divot and crouches down, her hand over the patch of grass that is burnt by magical forces and winces. Out of the corner of her eye, she can see Robbie doing //exactly// what she'd asked him not to. And there, there was the result. While she may not be a precog, she has a great deal of experience with the 'oh my god, what is happening, what am I doing, how am I doing this?' crowd. Many, many years of experience.

"Don't touch her. Or that book," is called out. This is going to call for calm and not for outright.. violent overbearing. They'll get it a different way. "She'll only defend it to your detriment." Or all of theirs.

Phoebe's motions with the lad on the ground is given a long, sympathetic look for the two of them. "Great Mother," she whispers, "please aid them," her version of lifting a quick prayer as one of her dear friends does to his own chosen deity.

The blind attack of the girl at Robbie gains Ororo's full attention, and she rises to her full height, if not a little higher, in order to try and get 'Ritta's attention. "Stop that. No one is trying to hurt you." And, of course, with the crowd beginning to press, that'll be a hard sell.. particularly with the next beanbag attack.

"Don't attack the girl," is added.. "It'll only make this worse." Famous last words?

Probably.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike's head turns as he watches Robbie go sailing into the picnic table. Holy sh-. He looks back to the girl who had been yelling earlier. Yeesh a bit of power to her it would seem. And a very troubled sort.

The musician has found over time there are different ways to hide. It doesn't mean he's good at all of them, but when a crowd is focusing on others and aren't all that concerned about him, that makes the shift a little bit easier as he glances to the ground for a moment. The scar on his right forearm transitions over to his left.

As Ritta throws the bag, Mike moves towards the cosplay hag. One hand grabbing onto the rope holding the book. With an application of power, he moves to remove the book from her possession... quietly.

Robbie Reyes has posed:
It's not.. Robbie, strictly speaking, who's so interested in that book. It's his other, somewhat nastier half. And when Eli wants something, well.

This time, at least, he anticipates the beanbag sent hurtling his way, and dodges neatly to one side as the ice spike hurtles past and shatters against a tree trunk. His broken arm's mostly mended itself by now; he rolls the shoulder to test it, but keeps the lion's share of his attention on 'Ritta'.

"I'm doin' my best, but I don't think I can hold him off much longer," he explains to Ororo without looking over. "He wants it bad." Indeed, his eyes are flickering red-gold, and he's tense and twitchy with the effort to hold back the transformation.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Everyone else is going for the book. Phoebe was focusing on the man -- why? Because she knows her own capacity, but she hears the 'whoa, whoa,' as someone reaches for the back of her neck and she tries to say that she's fine, she needs *room* and *time* -- but a little difficult in her position. She feels her Light go a little bit wild as she's pulled back, her arms flailing, and she turns to try and back-leg catch her assailiant who had pulled her back before the ice hits.

    Instead, she brings one hand up, forming a shield as ehr eyes glow the same rosey pink-gold color as her magic.

    <I would recommend if you are not superpowered, that you leave the area.> her voice echoes. <Now.>

Hope Summers has posed:
    Mary Jane is shot a glance by 'Ritta' and she snarls towards the red head "No. It. WON'T! He's dead! I killed him! I didn't mean to but I did!" She screams again, this time her mouth goes a little too wide, a little too big, her jaw a little TOO unnatural.

    Only Robbie would be able to see as she's squared up to him but within her mouth inside her throat there was a flicker of a golden light, a pair of two nearly infinitely small dots of light. And yet, Eli senses exactly what that is.

    Turning away from Mary Jane, the woman digs in her satchel for another bean bag as the third one sails past Robbie and meets the tree trunk that had already been damaged with splinters from the park table Robbie was slammed into, and the ice stabs into the wood, and rapidly the leaves begin to turn and wrinkle, starved, water and life sucked out of them. There's not even time for the leaves to change colors they just shrivel and expire as the tree is forced dormant as well in a very short time of seconds. Another clue for Ororo to follow and sense. They're not dying, but the life is drained from them. The stoned man is still unique however.

    Mike's assault wasn't even noticed, until the tug on her belt is felt and the woman's hand swipes down towards the Phantasm's wrists to brush him off and away from her, a screech as she howls at the invasion. "IT'S MIIINE!" And the un-non-holy aura explodes from the book once again, sucking at Mike's life force while she shoves him away.

    Phoebe's struggle to heal the stone man is real, she puts one man down on the ground with his leg being easily caught and yet he was only trying to help her, save her from 'Ritta's attacks, but things are getting messy and the crowd is quickly convinced to disperse, and many do so, though many remain, feeling as though their LARP selves are truly 'superpowered'. "We're here to help." One says, moving to try and help Phoebe by dragging the statue away from the immediate combat area.

Ororo Munroe has posed:
That tree.. Ororo can feel it in her soul, the way the life ebbs from it.. no, the way life is //pulled// from it, setting it into some sort of life/not life state. Essence is torn from it, forcing dormancy. The 'Mother Goddess' draws a rapid, harsh inhale, and turns blue eyes towards the tree, then back to 'Ritta'. "Oh child," is murmured, "that's not you." To look upon the entire tableau, Storm's come to the final conclusion that the girl is being somehow driven, coerced..

The moment that 'Ritta' is shoving against Mike, Ororo puts a hand up to send a wall of air as a shield to push the both of them back and away from each other. "That won't work," is offered. What they could really use right now is a telekinetic.. "Don't touch it." Which is a change from 'Don't touch her'.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
With this general outcome it is apparent that Mike did not grow up picking pockets. Before he even had a chance to affect the pouch with his abilities he's getting swatted at. Which wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't for the blast of energy that comes with her screech.

Mike reels back in reaction moving as quickly as he can to get out of the range of the aura. What the hell was that?! Mike doesn't notice the gust of wind. His clothes and hair don't even seem to move from the blast but Ororo's words do reach his ears.

He holds up his hands, giving a look of mock surrender. Ok fine. No grabbing at the book.

Robbie Reyes has posed:
If the Stormcaller's warnings were not enough to stall his approach, then it seems something else that Robbie sees.. *is*. He's close enough to catch a glimpse of something -- a light? -- emanating from the girl's throat when she speaks.

Scowling slightly, he looks askance to the others for a moment, eyes skimming over Phoebe and Mike, whom he's at least acquainted with. "It ain't her doing this. She's possessed or.. or being controlled." Which corroborates what Ororo suggested, at least. His gaze flits back to 'Ritta'. "By somethin' even Eli's scared of." Since when does Eli *get* scared? He snorts. "Telekinetic won't help. Not against this."

Once Mike's regained his feet, he tries again. Hands held out in front of him, palms up in clear surrender. "Where'd you get the book, chica?" he asks, slowly. Carefully.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    People just don't listen and Phoebe is getting frustraited.

    <If you want to help him, go and get behind enemy lines -- before I call the game masters to take a look at your beanbag count.> Phoebe broadcasts to those around her, but she's straining. Ritta's cries, the feeling, that pressure against the back of her neck, and she keeps her shield up. <I need time to fix him. But I *can* do it. I just don't know if I can do it *here*.>

    ... and then it registers.

    <... Eli's scared? What could scare *Eli*?>

    It is absolutely clear to anyone with any mystic sense that she's magical, mystical -- probably not a magician ballet cat, but who knows.

Hope Summers has posed:
    The wind whips her hair wildy back and forth and she's pushed by the force, but keeps her feet with a snarl, her focus aimed at Storm a ways away but she then snaps back to Robbie, the one that seems to be truly defying her and pushing the subject. 'Ritta' remains stead fast, book still at her side and yet her eyes continue to water, she's still crying. There's a part of her fighting within herself. Maybe if the book is removed she'll be released, but maybe not. "It's. Mine." She snarls her teeth grit and then ground, the scraping sound audible and something akin to nails on a chalk board. It's rough and vile. "I got it." She notes, but refuses to tell where.

    People start to get the hint from Phoebe, and the few that remained start to back away as well. Even another redhead with a large gun backs away somewhere, but she doesn't know why. One of the people fleeing notes to Phoebe, "You need to keep yourself alive too if you want to help him." And tries to urge her to back away as well.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Going to take a moment to glance over at the redhead with a gun in a 'what is going on here' expression. Then she glances over at the book, voer at everyone else.. And then part of Sonja goes to kick in while she's distracted. Mary Jane rather dislikes the senes of feelign helpless and has decided that the girl being cagey with them is not a good sign. So, the Sonja part of Mary Jane strides forwards, intent on trying to just get in close range, twist the arm over quickly to try and make it lightly pained, and if she couldyank the book away. The Hyborean woman did not particularly -like- being played around with.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike blinks as Robbie states that the woman might be possessed. Well... there's one way he could check it out. And considering what it was like coming near the book... The musician looks over to one of the LARPers carrying prop swords and follows after them. "Hey! Could I borrow that for a minute?"

Sword acquired, Mike moves away a few steps, looking to the sword for a moment as the scar returns to the right forearm.

He takes a moment, holding the sword out.

'Michael lead the way
When danger's near
In the darkest day
Remove our fear.

As we go the length
To make things right
Please lend your strength
Your will, your might..'

There's the slightest of glows that builds around the prop before it sinks into the material.

Robbie better be right about this because they're going to look like asses if not.

Mike starts to approach with the prop, held down in as unthreatening manner one can when holding a fake sword. She's a LARPer. She knows it's harmless, right?

Robbie Reyes has posed:
Well, if Robbie is one thing, it's defiant. Stubborn. Tactless. That's technically three things, but the point is.. he can be kind of an ass. "Don't matter," he murmurs, working his jaw slightly as he watches her. "It doesn't belong to you. And you're gonna give it to us and walk away. At least, I hope you are. 'cause I really don't wanna have to hurt you." *But I will*, says the faint twinge of his upper lip, the tension in his tall frame.

And he watches impassively as Mary Jane moves in to try to take it once again by force, and Mike approaches with his borrowed sword; unmotivated to stop either of them.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Phoebe breathes out.

    I'm a lot tougher to kill than most people give me credit for. she answers, and her eyes narrow as she draws up, readying herself, her magic circle shield still spinning, one hand raised as her cape billows in a most cool manner. If Michael, appealing to Michael should fail, and Robbie needs a hand -- he can count on Balm's power.

    There is suddenly a whole lot of Holy and Light power flooding the area, as she tries for her Area of Effect to both distract Ritta, and work on the poor stoner.

Hope Summers has posed:
    'Ritta' was once again focused on Eli and Robbie and as she was preparing to cast yet another spell at him, the sound of the tree behind Robbie groans as the wood itself is drying and the bark begins to fall off the trunk in heavy sheets that crash on the ground below. It's a rather shocking and disheartening sound. Decay in the midst of life. Something that just was and is yet not further.

    The witch was slidding her hand back into her satchel but the other arm is grasped and in a motion 'Ritta' is send head over heals and is on her back quickly, though the touch of her skin is cold. VERY cold. Sonya will feel an almost singe like pain from any point of contact. The woman is freezing, and not just cold, it's like she's pulling in the heat from the world around her, within her.

    The Holy spells and magics being cast and names of angels evoked, gives the woman a pause as she cowers just slightly but squirms in a wrestle against Sonya. "Get. Off. Of. ME!" She screams again, and once again her mouth opens wide and the air seems sucked in, or the heat, or the life. But the Holy AOE and the Saintly embued foam causes her to struggle mightily, a strength her body shouldn't have.

    Yet as soon as it's done, Sonya rips the bindings and the book is removed from Erin and she arches her back up, pressing her shoulders and ankles into the ground below and she gasps in horror, a face of pain and suffering yet no sound escapes her dislocated jaw.

    The stone man is beginning to shift shades of grey, the spell seems to have an effect, but Phoebe was correct, this WILL take time to cure him. The magic used on him is something alien to everyone present. Counteracting it will take some trial and error and caution.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Red Sonja is used to pain. Even if Mary Jane and her body are not. SUch a simple thing as pain is something that can easily be channeled away and ignored. It takes just a moment; her opponent is focused on the act of casting rather than at protecting herself, and a flip and yank manages to fling her away from the book while securing it for herself.
    She glances over at the others and moves to quickly dart away, falling back over with the book and towards Balm. The other woman seemed the most helpful so far and knew what was going on, so hopefully with it she could do a bit better.. Or give it to someone who could make use of it.
    Red Sonja was being rather restrained. She hadn't broken anything in anyone yet and was going purely to send her first target off balance before quickly disengaging with her prize. "I hope this is of some use, wizard. And even if not then it removed from our adversary's arsenal it weakens them." Foolish wizards, always so fixated on having /something/ be a fuel for thier powers rather than from within.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
As the other things go down and Ritta focuses on the book thieves, Mike finishes his approach. With a lift of the sword he tilts his head as Erin reacts to the book being taken from her. The sword doesn't swing but remains ready as he watches her behavior.

"She still possessed?" Mike asks of Robbie. Whether or not he swings is fully dependent on his answer.

Robbie Reyes has posed:
Robbie narrows his eyes slightly at the question from Mike, like he's trying to gauge the answer to it. His gaze sweeps over the girl, down then up again. Finally, "Nah." A little of the tension in his shoulders unravels, but he doesn't move an inch.

To Mary Jane: "That book's bad fuckin' news. You should let me hold it." Maybe his voice wavers slightly there; maybe Eli's trying to exert control again.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    <The book is bad fucking news and none of you should hold it; don't lick if you don't know how spicy it is.> Phoebe broadcasts, and with the addition that the girl was down, the book removed from her, she turns her attention back to the boy.

    <I can bring him back. I'm *certain* I can, but I need a better place to do it in.> she adds, and looks around the group.

    <I can also provide a place for that book to be studied.>

Hope Summers has posed:
    The book removed and the trauma of the day washing over her, Erin is on the ground on her back and feeling like the worst person for hurting her friend is still streaming tears from her face. Her make up is ruined and the witch LARPer is no longer a threat she does frown deeply and look up towards Robbie mostly and is apologizing through her tears. She is truly regretful and sorrowful about what she's done, and yet, she still hasn't answered the question he asked.

    Where did the book come from?

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
And Red Sonja is frustrated over. "Then get rid of the damned thing or whatever." The book was hurled over towards the ground to hit it and let the others deal with it. Sonja feels -something- is off. Somethign stands out in her consciousness that she's not aware of. Which she likes even less as she hisses and snarls.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
With Robbie confirming that Erin isn't in need of a demonic banhammer, and that the book is going to cause problems. Mike looks around. As Erin provides the soundtrack of the search with her regretful sobs from her time with the book with Robbie and Phoebe providing backing vocals with their requests for the book.

And then Red Sonja provides the counter melody. Sometimes that counter melody is all that's needed to have a song make sense.

As she throws the book, Mike moves forward, bringing the prop sword to strike the book where it lands.

Robbie Reyes has posed:
The book, for the time being, is put out of Robbie's mind as best he can. Eli's still pestering him about needing to get a look at it. Needing to touch it. *Go pick it up, what the fuck are you waiting for, kid?*

But he focuses his attention on the girl huddled on the ground, crying. Two steps closer and he drops into a crouch, and offers his hand to help her up. "Hey. My friend here's gonna do what she can for him, yeah? Wasn't your fault. C'mon. What's your name?" He attempts a smile, nose crinkling a little under the freckles. A brief aside to Phoebe, offered over his shoulder without taking his eyes off the girl, "Where's a good place? You tell me what I'm lookin' for, I'll get him there for you for one low cost of nothin'."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    <... a place in the Cauldron, in Gotham City called the Curio. I have an office there.> Phoebe looks to Robbie, and she looks to The Book.

    <Your friend, what's his name?> she asks of the girl, looking over to the book as Michael prepares to take the boffo sword and be rid of it, bringing both hands up as if to shield the group from anything that might come flying out of it.

Hope Summers has posed:
    "I-I" Erin says with a frown, "I'm Erin." She says up towards Robbie and then rolls her head against the ground to look towards Phoebe, awkward because of the angle, and she swallows at the nothing in her throat, "He- His name is Will." She says with a deeper frown. "Pl-please. Help him." Not realizing Phoebe's voice was in her head. The life seems to be drained from her face, but that might be left overs from the magic that was in her, or coursing through her, or on account of the crying. She's not looking great.

    As Mike's foam sword rises up to prepare to strike the book. As the sword comes down, the book seems to almost anticipate the blow, or the aura, or something in the strike causes the book to physically react, but, too slowly as it is still a book and *PUFF* Mike is standing there with a foam sword tip poking against the top of a closed book. Nothing Happens.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Red Sonja would look at the others, "Then take that thing if you cannot destroy it then throw it into the deepest, darkest hole you can find and let it never be removed." That's her thoughts on the matter. But whatever is -within- there is no longer pushing at her mind.
    "There is a consciuosness wihtin that of a twisted nature. Almost as bad as some others I have encountered. Do not toy with it at all or presume your skills and experiences are enough to handle it. Destroy it or banish it so far beyond that it will never appeara gain."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
As the book farts in his general direction, Mike looks down to it. He did see the movement just prior but it just lays there he lifts the padded stick up. Well. That was anticlimactic.

He steps back.

Robbie Reyes has posed:
"We'll do our best," Robbie promises. He leaves his hand out for an awkward few moments before abruptly withdrawing it. Mary Jane gets a little grin. "Ain't my first evil book rodeo, chica. But you're not wrong." He pushes back to his feet, and notes to Erin somewhat grimly as he steps back a few paces, "You're gonna want to look away for this."

'This', being the power that shudders through him, and the way his eyes flicker once more and then ignite with hellfire. Then his fingertips light up, his hand, his forearm, though curiously the leather of his jacket does not burn away. Then the power's channeled away from him like he's throwing it-- and bursts open in a twisting moebius ring of runed fire.

He turns, and nods to Phoebe. Through that portal, presumably, is her home.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    <Erin. I am Balm. I'm going to take care of Will.> Phoebe tries to keep her face tilted, her mouth moving just offbeat with the words, and she gives a smile, and she gently takes Erin's hand in her own, and leaves a card with a phone number on it with the girl.

    Her confidence for healing Will was high, but it would take time.

A lot of time.

    ANd that wasn't something she had a lot of.

    She looks at the book. She looks at Michael, and then she tilts her head back and gives a sigh. Magic is a mess. Magic is so messy.

    <Bring the book.> she asks, and as Robbie opens the portal, she takes a breath, and she almost takes a step back as an ugly memory resurfaces, but she gives a nod.

    She signs a 'thank you' to Robbie, and goes to step through the portal, to bring Will to Apartment 3A at the Curio.