The X-men run missions and work together with the NYPD, striving to maintain a peaceful balance between humans and mutants. When it comes to a fight, they won't back down from protecting those who need their help.
Haven presents itself as a humanitarian organization for activists, leaders, and high society, yet mutants are the secret leaders working to protect and serve their kind. Behind the scenes they bring their goals into reality.
From the time when mutants became known to the world, SUPER was founded as a black-ops division of the CIA in an attempt to classify, observe, and learn more about this new and rising threat.
The Syndicate works to help bring mutantkind to the forefront of the world. They work from the shadows, a beacon of hope for mutants, but a bane to mankind. With their guiding hand, humanity will finally find extinction.
Since the existence of mutants was first revealed in the nineties, the world has become a changed place. Whether they're genetic misfits or the next stage in humanity's evolution, there's no denying their growing numbers, especially in hubs like New York City. The NYPD has a division devoted to mutant related crimes. Super-powered vigilantes help to maintain the peace. Those who style themselves as Homo Superior work to tear society apart for rebuilding in their own image.
MRO is an intermediate to advanced writing level original character, original plot X-Men RPG. We've been open and active since October of 2005. You can play as a mutant, human, or Adapted— one of the rare humans who nullify mutant powers by their very existence. Goodies, baddies, and neutrals are all welcome.
Short Term Plots:Are They Coming for You?
There have been whispers on the streets lately of a boogeyman... mutant and humans, young and old, all have been targets of trafficking.
The Fountain of Youth
A chemical serum has been released that's shaving a few years off of the population. In some cases, found to be temporary, and in others...?
MRO MOVES WITH CURRENT TIME: What month and year it is now in real life, it's the same for MRO, too.
Fuegogrande: "Fuegogrande" player of The Ranger, Ion, Rhia, and Null
Neopolitan: "Aly" player of Rebecca Grey, Stephanie Graves, Marisol Cervantes, Vanessa Bookman, Chrysanthemum Van Hart, Sabine Sang, Eupraxia
Ongoing Plots
Magic and Mystics
After the events of the 2020 Harvest Moon and the following Winter Solstice, magic has started manifesting in the MROvere! With the efforts of the Welldrinker Cult, people are being converted into Mystics, a species of people genetically disposed to be great conduits for magical energy.
The Pharoah Dynasty
An ancient sorceress is on a quest to bring her long-lost warrior-king to the modern era in a bid for global domination. Can the heroes of the modern world stop her before all is lost?
Are They Coming for You?
There have been whispers on the streets lately of a boogeyman... mutant and humans, young and old, all have been targets of trafficking.
Adapteds
What if the human race began to adapt to the mutant threat? What if the human race changed ever so subtly... without the x-gene.
Atlanteans
The lost city of Atlantis has been found! Refugees from this undersea mutant dystopia have started to filter in to New York as citizens and businessfolk. You may make one as a player character of run into one on the street.
Got a plot in mind?
MRO plots are player-created the Mods facilitate and organize the big ones, but we get the ideas from you. Do you have a plot in mind, and want to know whether it needs Mod approval? Check out our plot guidelines.
Posted by Liz Sundance on Aug 10, 2010 22:44:12 GMT -6
X-Men
Metazoa
Chartreuse
Straight
960
9
Sept 9, 2024 8:03:10 GMT -6
Zek
Elizabeth sat in the middle of the church. Her pew was empty, save for the lonely mutant perched at the end. All around her sat easily over a hundred other people, all of them unable to take their eyes off of the exuberant preacher. Even though the man kept pacing the platform, yelling and talking about the end times and Heaven and Hell, Liz couldn’t help but to smile. There she was, in the middle of a crowd of humans, in the middle of the most dangerous city she’d been in, and yet she felt so at peace. For centuries, churches had stood as sacred sanctuaries, opening their doors to the needy and the scared. Liz certainly fit the later part.
This was her first time out of the mansion alone, ever since the time where she’d first met Amber. She had come to the church, as if she were a moth drawn to the flame, hoping that she’d find some sort of security there. Surely nothing would happen. No gunmen searching for mutants. No muggers or people ready to kidnap young women. No deathworm-controlling, creepy men. Just a convicted minister trying to save the souls of all whose ears heard his words. It felt so safe to her, like home. Finally, Liz wasn’t looking over her shoulder every few seconds, nor was she carefully observing and scrutinizing every person that walked by. She didn’t feel like she needed to. Perhaps she had finally found the one place where she could truly feel safe.
A tear rolled down her face at the thought, a serene expression decorating her face. The fancily dressed woman behind her thought she was just getting into the service and was ready to be “saved”. But Liz didn’t notice anyone staring at her, the new girl in the church. She was just focused on the preacher, drinking in his every word. She needed to attend a church more often. If her experiences (she wouldn’t dare call them adventures) in New York had taught her anything, it was that life was short and she needed to make each second count. So she needed to start worrying about her life after death. Another tear rolled down her cheek.
She absently smoothed a few wrinkles out of her skirt, feeling just a little out of place at the church. Almost everyone in attendance was dressed up in their Sunday best (which made sense, considering it was Sunday evening) and here she was, wearing a simple jean skirt and blouse. Her feeling of standing out was the only thing that marred her imaginary security blanket the church had given her.
As engrossed in the sermon as almost everyone in the building was, she never heard the muffled explosion go off underneath the main entrance. Nor was she aware that flames were starting to race through the wooden floor above the boiler, slowly creating a blazing blockade in front of the massive and ornate double doors. Smoke started spreading out through the air, but it was practically unnoticeable by anyone, even though the flames had begun multiplying across the front part of the church.
But all she was concentrating on was the moving lecture of how wicked the world was and how everyone needed to be saved. That went on for what seemed like ever, although it was probably only fifteen minutes. Elizabeth suddenly noticed how hot it was getting in the sanctuary. She wiped a few beads of sweat from her head, noticing how red the preacher’s face had become. Slightly distracted, Liz glanced around at the congregation. Children were starting to fidget, women were fanning themselves, and men were loosening collars and ties.
Posted by Cold Steel on Aug 11, 2010 11:27:23 GMT -6
X-Men
Team Leader of the X-Men Teacher of Self-Defense
color=48D1CC
4,380
107
Sept 11, 2024 5:25:13 GMT -6
Standing on the roof of an apartment building Sam looked down to see a bunch of kids splashing in the water that was shooting off from a faulty fire hydrant as they should be without his mutation to keep himself cool when things were well beyond most humans temperature limits he would have been sweating through his shirt, a puddle that was all that would have been left of him. It was a hot day and a day like this, let’s just say people aren’t the most rational when the day was as hot as it was. He debated turning off the water but quickly decided against it when his earpiece clicked on to notify him he was getting a call.
”I’m here…” Sam said his finger touching the response button so they could hear him, ”A fire?” he asked making sure he heard correctly, ”Church… firefighters in traffic…” Sam sighed and nodded his head, ”Got it, on my way!” he clicked his earpiece again and did a one eighty and iced his body up shooting the now vacant roof from under his feet. Now sliding on a patch of ice through the air Sam skated as fast as he could to get to the church fire all the while thinking how ironic it was a church was on fire.
It was obvious to some Sam wasn’t a church person more obvious to those he was closer with he wasn’t religious in the slightest, how could he be, the stuff he had seen the things he was forced to do as a kid, it would have been hard for anyone to be religious after that, let alone believe in a higher power. If he lived a normal life, had a normal childhood, grew up with a family and then eventually grew into his mutation instead of being forced into it, things would have been different it was much easier he thought to be able to have the faith that someone was looking out for him, but he didn’t everything he did he set into motion on his own there wasn’t anyone pulling the strings.
Even if he didn’t believe in what everyone else did it didn’t mean he hadn’t developed the sensitivity to not step on or insult anyone’s toes. Toes that were already threatening to burn down with the church they were in. The call was for smoke being seen through a window or two but with this heat, it was only a matter of time before it spread like wild fire, luckily for Sam it wasn’t a dry heat, he still had enough to work with in the air, and he was sure their would be a hydrant somewhere near there.
Four minutes that was how long it took him to get there, not the best response time but seeing as the FDNY were still in traffic and didn’t show signs of getting there anytime soon… he circled the church for a second and spotted some smoke coming from a few of the windows, clicking his ear he called into dispatch, ”Looks like a fire alright…” Sam said as he dove down forcing the slide down towards the church.
Posted by Liz Sundance on Aug 11, 2010 13:55:44 GMT -6
X-Men
Metazoa
Chartreuse
Straight
960
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Sept 9, 2024 8:03:10 GMT -6
Zek
The smoke had a lovely scent to it. It wasn’t just regular wood smoke, it had a sweetness to it, hiding the danger it represented. It reminded Elizabeth vaguely of going to her paternal grandparent’s house. They lived on a farm out in Iowa, and they always had some type of special wood burning in their fireplace. It was a surprising memory, adding to the feeling of being at home. Another tear rolled down her cheek. Even as spittle flew from the preacher’s mouth, Liz just couldn’t help how unafraid she felt. She decided that she was going to start going there more often.
And then a child screamed.
Instantly losing her concentration on the minister, like every other person in the room, Beth jerked her head toward the sound. A small boy, maybe only four years old, was clinging to his mother, head on her shoulder and staring at the back of the room, facing the front of the church. The boy shrieked and screamed bloody murder as tears fell and soaked his mother’s fancy dress. Even the preacher stopped, leveling the boy with a heated stare. Elizabeth turned even more to see what the boy was screaming at.
There, beyond the beautiful stained-glass doors at the rear, brilliant lights shone through. They danced around, illuminating the greens and blues of the doors. Then Liz put two and two together. “Fire!” someone behind her yelled, obviously thinking the same thing the little empath was. Fear streaked through the people in attendance. Little children began crying as they heard the news. Men jumped up out of their seats to see what was going on. Women tried in vain to gather up their children. The man who’d been preaching began yelling, trying to get everyone’s attention.
Everyone could smell the smoke by then. A grey haze began developing in the room as smoke sauntered in through every available opening. The entire foyer to the church must’ve been ablaze, as the fiery lights shone through all the doors leading to the front of the church. A middle-aged man in a crisp black suit recoiled from a door leading out into a side hallway with a shout of pain. He was clutching his hand, making Liz think he burnt it. That must’ve meant that the flames had spread all along the halls surrounding the congregation. From the looks of it at the moment, they were trapped.
Fear wormed its evil little way into the animal empath, embedding itself within her mind. They were stuck in a burning building. Quickly remembering the things she had learned in kindergarten, Liz dropped to her knees and rolled under the pew in front of her. That’s always what you were supposed to do in a fire, right? Chaos flooded the sanctuary as people began shrieking and frantically searching for a way out. Many futilely tried all the doors they could find, only to find angry tongues lash out at them with heated wrath. Scorching heat began driving most of the people to the middle of the sanctuary.
Huddling under her pew, Liz watched in wide-eyed fear at all that was going on. She reached into her pocket for her cell phone, to call the fire department, and then realized that she still hadn’t bought a new one. With a fresh demoralizing thing like that, her terror built up, thinking they were all going to die. Surely by then, the entire building as on fire!
However, the fire had merely surrounded the enormous room, lashing out at all the other rooms bordering the exterior of the church. Thousands of dollars in electronics, decorations, and other things began going up in smoke and ash. Within minutes, the frightened congregation had a room-thick solid fortress of fire isolating them from the outside world.
Posted by Cold Steel on Aug 12, 2010 13:13:09 GMT -6
X-Men
Team Leader of the X-Men Teacher of Self-Defense
color=48D1CC
4,380
107
Sept 11, 2024 5:25:13 GMT -6
Approaching the church, which now gave off an enormous amount of heat Sam was forced to touch down to the side of the church instead of above it. It was a good thing he didn’t have his heat sense active at this time cause if he did… he doubted his brain would be able to handle the amount of heat that the flames were giving off. Human body heat was one thing but it would have been like staring into the sun if he was looking at a flame with it.
Screams could be heard from inside the church and from what he could tell there was some sort of problem leaving the main hall where most of the people were, guessing it was because of the path the flames took he knew he had to intervene but the problem with a burning building one he was more than familiar with was the lack of moisture in the air. Flames always seemed to engulf what little moisture there was in the air to begin with so it wouldn’t be a surprise that he had to focus on what mass amount of ice he could muster before entering a burning building.
The ice armor around his body grew a few more inches around him doing his best to make it so he wouldn’t have to keep on exiting and entering to restock on his supply of ice something he figured he had to do to begin with. Normally he would just go to the top of the roof cut a hole in it and force some water down to force the flames to extinguish when the water drowned them. However two problems often occurred when this happened the firs major problem was if there was anyone left in there they would run the risk of drowning as well and the second big issue was that buildings often became weaker due to fires, if he chose to flood the building there was a chance it would collapse.
Deciding that flooding was not safe as of nor a good idea he decided to come with an entirely new solution. Walking over to the church entrance he took a breath and sealed his armor so no air could enter or exit the suit, meaning it gave him an additional few minutes before he would have to rely on holding his breath, which meant he would have to exit the building.
Opening the doors the ice around his hands ‘hissed’ from the heat that was on the doors, smoke billowed out and clouded his vision as a few people exited from the building coughing and crouching low to the ground, silently hoping the FDNY was closer that they were before Sam moved onward making his way to the center of the church where mass was being held but could now be heard of screaming folk.
When he spotted a window he sacrificed a small bit of his ice armor to form a projectile to force it out of a window attempting to make it easier to see, if smoke has a way out of a burning building it takes it, just like a few more people he spotted running towards him and to the exit.
Slowly with heavy breathing due to the amount of focus he had to put on his armor he approached a wall of fire, and sighed this was going to be a lot harder than he thought. Sacrificing more and more of his armor Sam managed to make a small impact in the wall of fire however it was to much to handle in his one go so he had to return back out side.
He didn’t know how long he was in the church but if couldn’t have been longer than five minutes but as he was heading out he noticed a few men dressed in firefighter gear storm in, “Sam?” one of the officers asked, a few dozen members of the FDNY knew Sam on a first name basis helping them snuff out fires time and time again did that, ”There is a wall of fire, in front of the man hall of the church, I know there are people trapped on the other side, we need a hose in here now!” the fire fighter nodded, “I’ll call it but we can’t get a line in here, to dangerous with the fire and the hose might break and then it won’t help anyone…” Nodding his head now far more visible than it was before due to his sacrificing his ice armor, ”Just shoot the stream at me, I’ll direct it from there!” Sam said as he turned to see the firefighters attaching a hose to the hydrant.
Posted by Liz Sundance on Aug 13, 2010 10:18:24 GMT -6
X-Men
Metazoa
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Sept 9, 2024 8:03:10 GMT -6
Zek
“Everyone! Please stay calm!” the preacher shouted over the congregation. This time, the holy man had some affect over the flock. People began quieting down a little, realizing that they really had no chance of escape. Crushing hopes like that tended to make people docile. By then, everyone had congregated in the middle of the sanctuary, as far away from the heat and fire as they could get. From Elizabeth’s position under a pew, she could see several other people, mostly children, under many other pews as well.
As a strange calm began settling over the people as the minister stood, the pastor began leading them in prayer. “Dear heavenly Father,” he began, going on in requesting help from above. Many of the attendees soon took up the prayer, adding their voices and cries to their god, despite the circumstances. A few small children were crying and screaming, but other than that, the room was silent save for the snapping and crackling of the fire and the solemn and urgent voices of the people.
Liz couldn’t believe her ears! At a time like this, when the whole building seemed ready to fall upon their heads like a rain of fire, the people were praying! They weren’t even trying to create a shelter out of the pews or something. They were totally giving up! It was like they didn’t care if they burnt up! Of course, Liz didn’t really know much about faith and the strange things it made people do. She just thought she’d made a mistake in going there. Her sense of peace and security was shattered now as the fiery death devoured the church.
Her fear and panic soon began flowing freely over her mental dams. But fortunately/unfortunately for her, there were no animals in her range to feel her fear. Of course, animals weren’t easily tolerated in a church, and all animals were smart enough to flee fire and smoke. It was good, because now Liz didn’t have to worry about causing imaginable terror to any poor little creatures. It was bad because Liz was utterly and completely powerless.
Soon the useless mutant could hear coughing. It started out slow in the beginning, consisting of a few people coughing a little bit. Then, as most of the people kept praying on, about five more people started coughing. A couple more minutes passed and more people started coughing. Hacks and wheezes began erupting. “Everyone! Get on your knees!” the minister said, confusing Liz as to whether he was helping them avoid the rising smoke or if he wanted them to pray more.
Even though smoke had a useful tendency to rise, there was enough smoke in the massive room to attack Beth’s eyes. She wiped the stinging water away, coughing a bit as she did so. Where was these people’s God now?
Posted by Cold Steel on Aug 15, 2010 22:57:53 GMT -6
X-Men
Team Leader of the X-Men Teacher of Self-Defense
color=48D1CC
4,380
107
Sept 11, 2024 5:25:13 GMT -6
The sound of fear and panic echoed throughout the burning church only to be dulled when they met the roaring flames before him. Sam coughed slightly waiting for some water to make it through the mess that was the entranceway of the church. He along with four other firemen waited monetarily till the rest of the fire crew could get the hose up and running. “Sam, we got the hose set up, now run by me again what exactly you want us to do? Cause shooting the water right at you might not be the best idea…”
”I know what I’m doing tell them to run it low then I’ll give you the signal!” the firefighter waited a second, “But…” he was cut off by the urgency in Sam’s voice, ”NOW!” yelled the ice mutant ready and needing the water to be shot at him. He didn’t know the exact amount of force the water would have but he knew it was a lot, and it was what he would need to manage to get this wall of flames down.
The sound of the fire died down when he heard the jet of water flow in through the opening he had created not long before. Quickly stepping to the side trying to keep his cool the best he could Sam focused on the stream of water and began to freeze it from the center of the stream outwards, it was the best way after all to create ice when it was this hot. Pulling the ice towards him and letting the water shoot off towards the flame wall there was a loud hiss and the sound of some wood breaking, he didn’t know if it was a bench or something else but he knew he had to weaken the stream less the water do more harm than good.
The ice he had created had begun to form around his body covering any cracks or holes he had in his armor moments before due to his previous engagement with the flames. More and more water was being converted into steam once it hit the flames or pulled off towards Sam as ice, eventually he had enough to do what he wanted to do. Focusing on the ground right behind him Sam formed a half dome in front of the stream forcing the water to rise up and below in a wide arc much less powerful as the single jet but still effective to get the job done.
Serious damage the wall of fire was taking as steam and the sound of sizzling could be heard all around him as he moved forward with the dome so the wide arc of water that was shooting over his head drenched the flames and the walls that were once on fire. Four minutes and the water did enough work for him to see the main doors and the thing that sounded like broken wood. Redirecting the dome in two different directions forcing more ice to form and more flames to die out he focused on the broken bench of wood for a second before turning his attention to the doors.
“They are moving the line for now, until we can make sure everyone is out!” the sound of water ceased and Sam nodded his head placing his hands on the metal door handles pulling the massive doors open. Aside from the flames still roaring behind him, he looked somewhat surprised everyone was on their knees still. ”Yo!” Sam said getting every ones attention or at least attempting to. He didn’t know if he failed or succeeded due to the thick smoke but he had to find a way to vent the smoke so everyone wouldn’t suffocate.
Posted by Liz Sundance on Aug 16, 2010 12:01:43 GMT -6
X-Men
Metazoa
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960
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Sept 9, 2024 8:03:10 GMT -6
Zek
Somehow, over the hissing and crackling of the fire, and the wailing and coughing of the praying congregation, Elizabeth heard the sound of wood breaking. They were doomed. A feeling of hopelessness pierced the blonde’s heart as she realized what breaking wood meant. The fire’s burning the entire church down. That must’ve been the ceiling or a support or something. The whole church was going to crash and burn around their heads. And the stupid people were just kneeling, praying!
A little trickle of anger wormed its sneaky way around the fear in her heart. Why were the people wasting their time when they could be doing something to save all their lives? Or at least prolong them. Why couldn’t they…build a barricade around them from the pews, in effort to stave off the fire for a few more seconds? Or try fanning away the smoke? Something. Liz wiped her burning eyes with her sleeve and then pulled her shirt up to cover her nose. Many of the praying people were coughing and wheezing. Hopefully, none of them had asthma or any respiratory disease. The smoke alone could kill them. Just like the rest of us.
Children were screaming. They were about the only people who weren’t praying. But they couldn’t do anything to help. It pained Liz to watch little toddlers bawling their eyes out in the face of their dooms. Tears welled up in Elizabeth’s eyes, as a result of both the smoke and her sadness. All the other small children were huddled under pews like she was, although none of them were close to her. She wiped sweat from her face as she stared with wide, fearful eyes at many of the children, hating how their faces reflected hers. The mutant closed her eyes and wept to herself, from all the varying emotions she’d felt.
Then a voice called out through the thick gray smoke. It was merely the word “Yo!” but it was enough to grab everyone’s attention. Suddenly, a dozen or so people began shouting “Hallelujah” and started rejoicing. At least, they shouted and rejoiced in between gags and chokes. Liz was starting to understand why. She had been so wrong. There God really had stepped in to save them!
Opening her eyes, Liz smiled as fresh hope coursed through her, taking the edge off the fear she felt. Something was going to happen. She could just feel it. They were going to make it out. She could also feel how the heat seemed to have intensified. She was drowning in sweat by then, giving up on the idea of wiping it away. It had to have been over 100F, at least. But she didn’t know that an ice mutant had opened some of the doors to the sanctuary, enabling the fire to finally assault the metal-and-plaster-and-stone encased holy stronghold. Not many others were aware of it either. Although just about everyone heard the voice, nobody noticed the figure standing near the back and likewise didn’t notice how the fire attempted to pour into the room.
But Liz did notice something. She noticed tiny bits of stuff falling through the air. Bits of white and black matter fell, some having orange glows that vanished quickly. It reminded her of something. It reminded her of the ash and soot that always appeared around her grandparent’s fireplace. When they were burning logs.
Burning logs. On a hunch, Liz peaked her head out from under a pew, gazing up at the ceiling. Sure enough, there were burning logs. Brilliant oranges and yellows swirled about in the fire dancing on the rafters. If the situation hadn’t been so dangerous and out of hand, it would’ve looked very pretty. The empathy guessed that the logs extended through the walls and had caught fire outside the room. But she didn’t know for sure. The flames soaked into the wood like water, spreading themselves all over the beams. Liz watched as they started burning and charring. And she watched them falling.
As bits of burning wood started falling throughout the room, Liz screamed and jerked her head back under the pew. Other people noticed the falling debris and soon scrambled for protection, most going under the pews as well. As panic and fear flooded her again, Elizabeth desperately tried praying.
Posted by Cold Steel on Aug 17, 2010 11:05:18 GMT -6
X-Men
Team Leader of the X-Men Teacher of Self-Defense
color=48D1CC
4,380
107
Sept 11, 2024 5:25:13 GMT -6
It was weird even though he called out to them a majority of them were still praying some said hallelujah but still not the reaction he was expecting. Children were crying and people were still for the most part panicking, it was clear that the smoke and lack of clean oxygen was getting to them. ”Guys,” Sam said waving the firefighters in behind him. “Too much smoke, guys break the windows and Sam…” Sam turned to look at the lead firefighter and blinked through the ice armor he was sweating and he had a panic look on his face.
He was looking up; turning his attention upward he spotted it the ceiling caught fire. ”Shit!” Sam cursed as he aimed his hand towards the one of the falling debris a jet of ice shot forward and barley even put the flaming piece of wood out.
”There is too much smoke and not enough moisture! Get the line back in here!” turning his attention back to the opening Sam lowered the ice he had set up moments before and altered it only to have it melt due to the flames coming back for more, attempting to force Sam and the fire fighters back into the main hall of the church.
”Get them to fire it again!” Sam demanded and had water poke through the fire once again with a loud sizzle. Forcing some water into ice he redirected it into little streams dousing the flames once again while pulling more and more towards him. Water started to swell around him on the floor carrying some debris of food and ash, regardless of what it was carrying it was there for another purpose.
His foot stomped in the water and it turned to ice, it was cool and strong but it wasn’t meant for the floor no it served another purpose. As a large wooden beam started to fall Sam pulled the ice from his feet and formed it into a large pole. As the burning wood fell he forced the pole of ice to intercept it and knock it off course, not only did it not go out, but it went through a large stain glass window.
Some of the smoke vented out as more and more water surged in around him. ”Break the windows!” Sam said to the firefighters who were already in the process of smashing a few. He could tell because of the shatters. Turning his attention back to the ceiling and forcing another few beams out of the way from it’s initial targets (the people below them) Sam decided to force a few of the fires that erupted out on a few of the pews.
A loud sizzle followed by another one and another. The smoke started to ease up and the fires that were present in the massive hall died off, more and more water started to spread out on the floor due to his ice melting when they came in contact with the flames. While he was distracted a beam fell onto a pew with a person under it, his vision grew as the smoke fanned out the windows. Running over through the water loud splashes could be heard. Placing his hands on the beam the flames vanished and it began to cool, no longer was the pew in danger of burning just cracking.
”Shit!” Sam cursed and slammed his foot into the water as he already struggled to lift the large beam, it was to heavy for once person but a pair of hands made of ice rose from the rippling water followed by a large and thick forearm. Soon enough a large golem made of ice grabbed the other side of the beam and pushed it upwards attempting to help Sam.
His legs were shaking from the weight and with a loud huff he and his golem managed to toss it into a candle stand where no one was thankfully hiding. A sigh and the golem turned to water and fell back down into a puddle joining the large mass of water. ”Are you alright?” Sam asked the person hiding under the pew that he just saved from a burning wooden beam. He didn’t expect a reaction but he wanted to make sure who ever was under it all right. “Sam, we gotta go before the rest of the ceiling caves in, start evacuating the people, the pathway is good to go, just make sure they avoid the water!”
Posted by Liz Sundance on Aug 18, 2010 15:15:57 GMT -6
X-Men
Metazoa
Chartreuse
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960
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Sept 9, 2024 8:03:10 GMT -6
Zek
Elizabeth coughed some more. Obviously, she wasn’t praying right or something because nothing was happening! As she mumbled and muttered for a miracle or for any type of help whatsoever, she listened in to what other people were praying for, hoping to get an idea on how to do it herself. She heard some people yelling and speaking unintelligibly, helping her not one bit. Others were talking and wishing for deliverance from the fiery furnace. Still others were just complimenting God and thanking him for helping already. In short, Liz was just as confused and terrified as ever.
But in her straining for voices, she heard a couple others. These voices weren’t praying, not by a long shot. And they weren’t constantly stopping to cough or choke or whatever, due to the smoke. And it was also a bit hard to hear them over the roar and crackle of the fiery tendrils and shoots. As the oppressive heat and smoke filled the room to its fullest, Liz managed to hear another person say something that she’d never heard inside a church before. The slight shock of that word almost made her forget her fear and the danger she was in for a moment. Almost.
A strained cough racked her lungs as she swallowed in more smoke. Another bit of burning rafters caught her eye as it fell. It made Liz wonder how on Earth something so beautiful as the sight of the scarlet and amber tongues dancing around the wood could be so deadly. As she watched with fear-widened eyes, the debris fell. And suddenly froze and were thrown off course. With eyes bulging, Liz retreated under the pew again, clawing at her eyes in order to see better. “Hallelujah!” she breathed to herself, thinking she’d just seen a miracle. The debris would’ve fallen on a pew, directly over the spot where two small children huddled.
And then more minor miracles began occurring. As if God had unleashed an Arctic assault on the fire, ice began flying through the air. Flaming, falling planks and logs began flash freezing and falling in different directions besides down. From her disadvantage point, Liz could only see some of it, but it was enough to know what was happening. As the fire unleashed a new assault by creating more fire along the pews, burning through the congregation’s defenses, it was attacked by waves of frost and water. She heard a cry go out to break the windows and the danger-prone empath realized that she could hear shattering glass. And she realized what that meant. Freedom!
But there were still many falling bits of fiery wood and Elizabeth’s luck would not have allowed her to escape unharmed, she was certain of it. But a curious thing happened. Even as smoke clouded her eyes, she saw something trickling towards her. She carefully touched it, uncertain of what it was. It was liquid. It was cold. It was clear. It was water. Stunned and amazed, Liz’s fear faltered a bit. It was water. Water destroyed fire. But why was there water? A quick glance told her why. The ice. As it melted, it made water. Duh.
And then she heard a loud CREEEEACKKK! Before Liz had time to do more than cover her face with her hands, a loud thud sounded as something heavy banged into the pew directly over her. A small shower of flaming wooden splinters fell on both sides of her, just missing her face. The debris fell into the water that was now all around her, creating several hisses and sizzles as the fire extinguished. A small scream escaped Liz as another loud CRACK! could be heard, as if the pew was ready to break and collapse. The heat and smoke around her seemed to intensify in seconds, as if the pew was on fire.
Panicking even more, Elizabeth’s life flashed before her eyes. This was it. This was the time she was going to die. I was right. As if a small consideration lent to her, Liz had the grim satisfaction that her dreams, feelings, and nightmares had always been correct. She was going to die in a fire. A strained cough racked her body as Liz prepared to die.
Then the same word that was best left unsaid inside a church was repeated, much louder than it had been said before. No, it wasn’t louder. It was closer. Timidly peeking through two fingers, Liz stared at…ice. What looked to be two feet and ankles made of ice stood almost right in front of her covered face, doing some kind of work since the empath could hear sounds like a struggle from a couple yards up. Looking down, Liz could see another pair of icy legs. Very confused and thinking that the smoke was messing with her, it was all Liz could do to cower and stare at…whatever was going on.
A very audible crash sounded from another corner of the room. And then there was suddenly a voice (the one that had said the unspeakable word in the very sanctuary itself) asking if she was okay. Staring and blinking at the icy appendages on the floor (also being puzzled by the water the other set had just…melted), Liz could manage a small nod and nothing else. Conflicting emotions swirled around her, fear taking dominance but others vying for power.
If fear hadn’t already established its rule over her, it would’ve seized power instantly as more words filtered through the smoke, words from another person. The ceiling was going to collapse.
Posted by Cold Steel on Aug 22, 2010 15:12:51 GMT -6
X-Men
Team Leader of the X-Men Teacher of Self-Defense
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It was a mess smoke was still pouring in from the surrounding rooms and exiting through the now shattered windows of stain glass, it was a shame. Sam had never been one for religion but he always appreciated beautiful things and this church, even now that it was falling apart in the flames of irony he could tell at one point it was beautiful. The blonde girl covered in water and ash nodded her head, she was all right, well for the most part she was still stuck in a burning building.
”How about we get you out of here?” Sam asked crouching down bending his knees and offering the young lady a hand to help her from under the pew. The ice around his face melted away for the most part and traveled down his ice-covered body. Looking up he spotted most of the other churchgoers being evacuated and lead out by the fire fighters. A smile touched his lips glad that for the most part things were starting to look up.
“Sam! Look UP!” the voice from one of the firefighters echoed out and then Sam did just that, he looked up. The smile quickly faded and was replaced with a look of fear and surprise. The ceiling was starting to collapse falling in small bits at first but within seconds larger and larger clusters started to fall. ”Shit!” Sam cursed again as he stood up and slammed his feet into the water glad that there was so much around him.
”Cover your head!” Sam commanded to the girl that was with him, waving his hands down then up focusing on the water, which turned to ice with a chilly second and rose above them forming a dome over their head. Hands straight up Sam closed his eyes and focused on maintain the ice to make sure they didn’t get crushed when the dome was buried under all the rubble. With a crash Sam felt the weight of the burning ceiling force the dome down slightly threatening to cave it in.
Uttering another curse something that most churchgoers would frown upon Sam lowered his stance and forced the ice around his body upward reinforcing the small dome he had created. The rubble from the ceiling eventually stopped moving and that was when Sam lowered his arms and fell to his rear letting out a sigh. ”That was close huh?” Sam asked as he took a deep breath and looked to the girl.
Posted by Liz Sundance on Aug 23, 2010 16:19:01 GMT -6
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Blinking away the stinging smoke and still wondering if she wasn’t seeing a hallucination, Elizabeth began squirming out from under the damaged pew. She accepted the hand offered to her and she gasped when her skin came into contact with the shockingly cold ice. It was such a temperature difference that it felt unbelievably cold and like it was freezing her skin off. Sweat on her hand instantly cooled and froze within seconds. It blew her mind how cold the thing was when they were all inside a building that was quickly acquiescing physical matter to infernal flames.
Liz let go as soon as she had managed to stand up, grimacing as blood began reaching her lower legs and feet again, sticking pins and thick needles into every single vein. The smoke was slightly thicker there, even though now Liz could see that it was escaping the building through several broken windows. Too bad the fire had plenty of materials with which to keep the smoke at the same density. The blonde nearly doubled over as a cough forced its way out of her, scratching her throat with all the choking smoke.
And then, before the animal manipulator could even look at her rescuer’s face, she heard a shout about the ceiling falling in. A look of horror and almost total disbelief flashed over Elizabeth’s face before instinctively hiding. The girl crouched, ignoring the painful tingling, closed her eyes, and raised her arms above her head, even as her frosty-savior instructed. A few bits of wood and dust hit her as she cowered only a foot or so away from the living snowman. In the back of her mind, Liz was able to enjoy the coldness radiating from the ice, engaging the dreadful heat in a steamy battle.
With a sound like a buffalo dying from a horrible gutting mixed with a piece of sheet metal being fed through a blender, Beth could guess that the ceiling had suddenly gave out. Preparing for the worst and honestly expecting to see the preacher’s former words in person, Liz made a vow to God. If I survive this, I swear I’ll attend services every week and I’ll become the nicest person you’ve ever seen!
And then the terrified mutant heard loud crash and a series of smaller crashes and tumbles. Confused and scared that she was about to be brained by a flaming log, Elizabeth cautiously peeked out from between two fingers, staring at the floor. The floor that seemed to be a lot dryer than before. Where had the water gone? And there was no fire covering the floor, explaining that the water had evaporated. Really confused, Liz looked up.
And let her mouth hit the floor in total surprise. The burning ceiling from high up above had been replace with a second ceiling over her savior’s head. One that seemed to be seamless and completely made out of ice. Any exclamation or remark at all died in her throat. Really, she ought to have expected something like that. But, an ice dome in the middle of a burning church? Since when is that ever the natural thing to think of?
And then Liz noticed something else as the iceman cursed. Something was wrong with his legs. It looked like they were melting. Melting up. Elizabeth watched, completely confuddled and confused at what was happening. But then she noticed the ice vanish, leaving behind an actual pair of feet and legs. And a human body. And a human face. So it wasn’t some miracle-incarnate. Her rescuer was just a miracle. One that seemed to have some difficulties standing up. What little water that was left on the floor splashed as the man came tumbling down to land on his butt, letting out a seemingly-casual remark.
Really, Liz just managed a nod. What on Earth or any other plane of existence have I gotten myself into? First she’s at church. Then it burns. Then a ice-guy arrives. Then the ceiling falls. Then she makes a pact with God. Then God fulfills his end of the deal. Then the iceman protects them both with an ice bubble. And the guy has an eye-patch? What was he, a pirate-wannabe? Confusion still etched its way along her features with a raised brow and uncertain expression. She didn’t even know if she was scared or not. If it hadn’t been for her divine promise, Liz would’ve sworn off churches and the resulting drama right then and there.
Posted by Cold Steel on Aug 28, 2010 10:13:14 GMT -6
X-Men
Team Leader of the X-Men Teacher of Self-Defense
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4,380
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Sept 11, 2024 5:25:13 GMT -6
The deep breathing continued as he tried to calm himself down from the excitement that was happening moments before. Now for the most part the dome seemed stable as the rubble managed to fall around it, even if he destroyed the dome (which he wasn’t going to do) he doubted that much of the debris would attempt to fill in the gap that the bubble he created left.
She nodded her head, and he leaned forward, ”You alright?” Sam asked again hoping he could get more than a simple nod. It wouldn’t however be surprised if she nodded again, it was for the most part a traumatic experience for someone, to be stuck in a burning building with no way out.
A second went by and he heard his earpiece click, ”Yeah?” the other end let out a loud sigh over the radio and he asked if he was all right and if anyone was with him. ”I’m fine a scratch here and a bruise there but nothing major…” he paused and looked the girl up and down starting with her face, covered in ash and a few cuts he nodded his head, ”Got a girl with me, she looks pretty young and a little banged up, can you guys dig us out? Or at least get the hose out here so I can dig us out somehow?”
He waited for the response and nodded his head. Removing his hand from his ear he looked to the girl and smiled, ”Looks like we are going to be here for a bit…” he didn’t want to tell her that due to the collapse of the building and a few other events the line to the fire hydrant was broken. She was already having a rough time with all this no need to scare her any more than she already was.
Posted by Liz Sundance on Aug 28, 2010 20:16:36 GMT -6
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“You alright?”
The blonde darted her questing gaze from the curious ice shield around them to the man’s face. Eye-patch and all. Speaking up, Liz answered. “Ye…” she said so faintly that a dog wouldn’t have heard it. But even the tiny bit of effort it took to make that much sound scraped her throat and caused her to cough. Seconds later, when her lungs had stopped revolting against her and the smoke, she cleared her throat to try again. “Y…” was all she could manage. She cleared her throat another time but she still failed. After another cough came upon her, Elizabeth looked at the man and just nodded again, unable to talk with all the smoke scraping and filling her throat.
And then the now-frostless man started talking. Frowning a little in confusion, because it didn’t sound like his words were directed at her, Liz stared back at the man’s face. Or more accurately, his patch. As much as she didn’t want to, Liz couldn’t help stare at the patch, wondering what the eye would’ve looked at. She just barely noticed how the guy’s hand was to his ear before Liz dragged her eyes away to look at something else, like the impromptu igloo they were in.
She half-tuned her rescuer out, mostly listening to a scattered rain of miscellaneous debris plunking against the roof of their bubble. It wasn’t much. Most of the roof had probably fallen when the majority of it had fallen earlier. Now it was probably just flaming splinters falling upon the dome. The mention of a “girl” caught the mentioned girl’s attention and she tuned in to what the man was saying. She looked banged up? Liz brought a hand to her face and then winced as her searching fingers gently grazed what had to have been a small cut on her cheek. How had that happened? Liz didn’t know how she’d been cut. When her hand pulled away, she saw a tiny bit of crimson blood standing out against her gray-and-white ash-covered finger.
Preoccupied with her physical condition, Liz didn’t hear the rest of the talk the man was having with whoever else he was talking to. Probably has a Bluetooth device or something. When he informed her that they would be staying there for awhile, Liz just stared blankly back at him, as if to say, “And the significance of that is…?” She drew her legs up in front of her, her filthy and wet skirt clinging to her legs as she wrapped her arms around them. Surprisingly, Liz wasn’t as scared now, really. Amazing how one’s fear of dying in a fiery and collapsing church can be alleviated by a simple protective shield made from ice. And plus, her vow had been answered. So it all left Liz feeling very strange, both emotionally and physically.
“Got any cards?” she managed to choke out in a tired and hoarse voice. She coughed again as her smoke-scoured throat protested against her unlawful use of it.
Posted by Cold Steel on Aug 31, 2010 23:22:10 GMT -6
X-Men
Team Leader of the X-Men Teacher of Self-Defense
color=48D1CC
4,380
107
Sept 11, 2024 5:25:13 GMT -6
Through the dim light that was able to pass through his dome of ice he eyed the girl as she tried to force some words out on several attempts finally managing after she tried to make light the situation with a joke. Sam smiled and let out a small laugh, ”Well, if it wasn’t for them burning up in the fire I would be more than willing to play but…” Sam shrugged slightly then looked down to the ground where a few small puddles managed to remain despite the dome pulling most of the water around him, he silently thanked his ice armor for being the extra nudged it needed before it pulled all the water from around them.
Reaching over to a nearby puddle Sam focused on his mutation and formed a cup and then melted a bit of the inside of the cup turning it to water. Reaching down and picking it up he smiled and offered it to the girl who just got done coughing no doubt due to the smoke, ”Here!” Sam said lifting the cup towards her, ”Careful, it’s cold though”
Turning his attention back to another nearby puddle he did something similar and took a small sip from the glass of ice. His throat wasn’t as bad as hers not nearly as bad, he wasn’t the one stuck in the church as long as her. Once his thirst was quenched he looked to the girl and smiled once more, ”Now, how about you tell me your name?”
Posted by Liz Sundance on Sept 1, 2010 20:36:46 GMT -6
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Elizabeth managed a rueful smile at the iceman’s remark. Yeah, she hadn’t really been expecting any cards. They were in a church after all. Wasn’t that just something you didn’t do? But Liz was no expert of matters like that. And anyways, she didn’t think the man would care, considering his favored use of that one particular. She remained in her position, staring at everything and nothing in particular. She just wasn’t paying attention. Like there was really anything to pay attention to. Sure, the water that was slowly soaking away somehow was cool, but it was as interesting as watching grass wilt.
She focused a bit when she realized the man was doing something with the water. She stared, slightly bored and mostly expressionless, as he froze the water and then somehow turned it into the rough shape of a cup. He then handed it to her, looking friendly enough. Heeding his warning, the girl tentatively stretched out an arm and gripped the cup firmly with both hands to prevent it from slipping. It was ice, after all! A faint sloshing sound surprised her and she realized that there was water in the cup. As she brought the frozen cup to her lips, she could see specks of white and black floating around in the liquid, undoubtedly due the grime and debris that had been littering the floor before the dome was erected.
But she pressed her lips together, nearly freezing them to the cold ice, and attempted to filter out as much junk as she could, gasping a bit at the ice-cold water streamed down her throat. “Uh,” she exclaimed softly, the water feeling wonderful on her sore throat. She sipped more of the wonderful elixir, allowing it to bring a painful chill to her teeth and a soothing coolness to her damaged throat.
“Thanks,” she managed to somehow get out, taking a small bite out of her sculpted cup. She placed the frozen container on the floor by her feet, chewing and sucking on the bit of ice in her mouth, gleaning more of the cold drink. She noticed that the man was drinking from a similar device, although she was willing to bet, er not bet, since she was still in a church, that the man was immune to the cold and therefore the cup wasn’t freezing his hands off.
And then he asked about her name. It was preceded by a friendly smile, like he was trying to make her more comfortable or something. Now why would he do that? Because he was clearly a mutant and wanted to keep up a reputation? Or something else? The blonde’s guard rallied itself a bit and it took her a few seconds to respond. “Elizabeth,” she said, speaking as levelly as she could. A choking cough broke free from her after, causing her to suffer for several moments afterwards. Then she looked the man man straight in the eye, as if to ask “And you?”