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.
The Syndicate continued to run. Ion exercised his influence as the counselor from behind the scenes. He had thought that he had kept his entanglement with the organization hidden from all those with whom he did not have direct dealings.
He was wrong.
In an effort to neutralize the Syndicate, a group within SUPER had outed Ion as a high ranking member and put an operation into action to deal with him. Had they simply arrested him they would have a legal fight on their hands. Even were it to occur in the secretive Mutant Intelligence Surveillance Court or MISC. Killing him could create a violent reaction from Syndicate.
Luckily for SUPER, there was a third option.
Ion was leaving his office and walking to his electric car one afternoon when a murdered out SUV skidded to a stop in front of him. Immediately his power flared to life. The glow of Saint Elmo’s fire reflecting back at him from the shine of the SUV. Electricity arced from finger to finger on his hand. A stall tactic. Look as menacing as possible while while his power was still building in lethality.
The door opened. A man in a suit stepped out. Ion’s power winked out. Before Ion could even work through what had happened, a tranquilizer dart sprouted from his neck. His eyes pupils dilated and he slumped forward into the waiting arms of the adapted.
Over the next couple days, Ion had brief moments of consciousness. None were long enough for him to attempt anything to escape the fate SUPER had planned for him. He was aware of being in some place like a hospital. He had an IV and was wired to monitors. One time a man noticed that Ion was conscious and told him that, “Soon. Very soon you will no longer be a threat to National Security. For now though, rest. You have quite the day tomorrow.”
After that he awoke one last time before there was nothing.
William awoke. Last he remembered he had been in his bed. Now he sat, leaning against a fancy car he had never seen before, in a parking garage. He stood up and looked around him. The other cars had New York license plates. Which was odd. One car having a New York plate would interesting. Every car he saw… That was worrying.
Looking around the parking garage William confirmed that almost every car was from New York. The ones that were not were from other Northeastern states. He walked back toward the electric blue car he had been leaning against when suddenly the door handles protruded and little lights turned on illuminating them.
It was as if the car had chosen him.
William opened the driver side door and sat down in the car. Conveniently he had recently earned his driver license. He looked for how to start the car. There was no ignition to put a key in. There was no button to start it. The car seemed to be running though. Everything inside the car was operating, but he could neither hear nor feel an engine running. William shrugged and then put the car in reverse.
It moved.
After he backed out of the spot he put it in drive. It continued to drive.
”Let’s see what this car can do.” William said as he pulled out of the garage and onto a street. The car was incredibly responsive and he wanted to make the most of it.
It was a few hours later that William found himself sitting in a New York City police station. A motors officer trying to verify Williams identity. William knew he was in trouble and was trying to cooperate with the officer. The officer was none too pleased at William. The officer insisted he was lying because William Maxwell Faraday was in his thirties. William protested, he even provided his birthday to help narrow the search. The officer said it was… 2020? That couldn’t be right, William knew it was 2005 and that he was 16.
The officer and William went back and forth and it wasn’t long before the officer yelled. William flinched back. He then fell off his chair as his body was covered in the purpleish glow of a coronal discharge. William thought he was on fire. He slid across the floor using his hands to propel himself. Several officers stood up and approached.
”Help me!” William said to them. He held out a hand and an arc of electricity shot out and struck one of the officers. A few of the others drew their service pistols. One of them, a sergeant told them to lower their weapons and spoke to Ion.
“Hey kid. It’s alright. No one’s hurting you. This is all you.” The sergeant stepped closer. “Take a deep breath. There you go.”
Focused on the sergeant, William did as he was told. He tried to calm himself and breathed deeply. Slowly the discharge faded away. The sergeant held out a hand to help WIlliam up.
“Novak. I’ll take care of the kid. Get back on patrol.”
William sat with the sergeant for a few hours as he tried to look William up in their database. The sergeant was calm and non accusatory. He told WIlliam that William was a mutant and not to worry. There was somewhere that William could go and he could stay until the whole mess was sorted out.
The sergeant also found a set of clothing that fit William better. The suit he had been wearing was almost the right size. It was as if it was made for him after a couple more years of growing. Jeans, tennis shoes, a band T-shirt, and a jacket.
It was nearly sunset when the police SUV pulled up at the mansion. The sergeant killed the engine and climbed out. William followed his lead and got out of the vehicle.
“This place is good to gifted kids like yourself. You’ll see.” The sergeant said as he waived William to follow him.
The pair of them walked to the front door and the sergeant rang the doorbell.
”You’re welcome.” Ion said, his tone conveying somewhat that thanks was not necessary. He would never do something for a thank you, always with another motive, and so a thank you wasn’t something he often cared about.
There was a pause before Celestina answered the question. To Ion the pause meant she was considering raining legal hell down on her parents. There was no doubt they deserved every bit of it. Eventually Celestina replied, "How about in the middle?"
Ion nodded and clapped his hands together. ”The middle it is.” Ion produced his phone and after a moment of swiping around he began to type into it as he spoke to Celestina. ”Most of their trouble will not affect you. Motions and filings they have to respond to. Headaches and paperwork, at the end you’ll have a single afternoon in court. Assuming they don’t drop it before then.”
After he finished speaking he entered a few more things into his phone before turning it off. He had typed himself a brief synopsis of there conversation and made a few notes to himself of how to proceed.
Keeping him from something important? There was always something important Ion could be doing. A case that he could be working on or something less above board. He was the counselor in the Syndicate afterall. An attorney who truly believed it isn’t what the truth was, it was what the police could prove. ”Not going to law school sounds like a wise decision. There is always something important to be doing, but breaks to have fun and destress are more important.”
As for what she did, Zoe was a zebra trainer. A job that seemed a bit of a misnomer based on her description. ”So… You are more of a zebra wrangler.” The title had the benefit of evoking an image of a cowboy or vaquero breaking, riding, and otherwise working with an animal.As for outside of work, Zoe listed activities that would largely be done at home. Ion idly wondered if Zoe was more of a homebody than a social butterfly. There wasn’t enough information to form a fact-pattern.
Ion stopped himself. He didn’t need to analyze the woman like this was voir dire.
”Quite the creative type.” Ion gave her a smile.
What did he do when he wasn’t lawyering? ”Not much lately. Lawyering has all but consumed my time. Back in law school I hustled pool… It was good for beer money.” Ion thought for a moment before adding, ”I have been playing the grand piano in the lobby at work though. It is an excellent way to clear your head.”
The waiter returned with the wine. Ion thanked him and took the bottle before removing a cork and pouring two glasses.
“Are you ready to order?” Asked the waiter.
”I’ll have the fugu,.” Ion siad to the waiter before turning to Zoe and adding, ”It pairs well with the wine.”
Spare Strike Lanes had terminated an employee, Russ Henderson, and they alleged it was in response to him destroying company property and scaring away patrons. Mr. Henderson claimed it was because he was a mutant and the owners had been looking for an opportunity to terminate him.
Mr. Henderson had retained the services of the firm Ion worked for Ion went down to Spare Strike Lanes to do a little digging. He had requested all documentation regarding Mr. Henderson and security footage of the event in question during discovery. Now he was speaking with employees about the situation to provide perspective.
Ion had spent most of the day outside. The last thing he wanted was management hounding him as he tried to interview employees. This meant he needed to speak with the employees as they made their way outside on break, taking out the trash, or just loafing. He had managed to speak with a few employees before one who was obviously a mutant stepped outside.
Perfect.
”Excuse me, miss. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions about Russ? Ion asked as he approached the robotic looking woman. Her perspective would be worth an order of magnitude more than those of the employees he had spoken to already that day.
It seemed that Laura had been tight lipped to both Ion and Zoe. Which was fair enough, it forced the pair to engage each other instead of just falling on Laura’s brief. ”There are days it seems that is all I am.” Ion said. Being a lawyer could at times be so demanding on your time there wasn’t a moment for anything else. ”All she told me was that you work for a zoo.”
Wine was agreeable, she just asked whether they wanted red or white. ”That depends on what you would like to eat. A white would go better with the seafood and a red best with red meat.” Ion explained, ”Sakura is known for their seafood.” Ion then turned to the waiter and ordered a bottle of a very expensive bottle of white wine. One that he knew paired exceedingly well with fugu.
The waiter turned to Zoe to see if she would like anything else before bowing and leaving. ”Tell me about yourself, Zoe.”
Ion didn’t have to wait long before he saw the hostess leading a blonde woman in white and black to the table. Just above average height for women, cute, she appeared to have an average build but the jacket made that difficult to confirm… He stopped himself from evaluating her. Had he continued he’d likely begin to categorize her like he was in voir dire and she was a prospective juror. Not the best way to interact with a date.
When she reached the table she greeted him and introduced herself. Ion smiled politely back at her and once she had sat extended his hand across the table, ”Nice to meet you, Zoe. Laura has told me next to nothing about you.” he stated in the tone people usually used to exclaim that someone had heard ’all about them.’. Humor was always a safe icebreaker.
Seeing that both parties had arrived at the table, the waiter, a man named Miyazaki, came by to take drink orders. Ion gave the drink menu a quick look before asking Zoe, ”Wine?”
Celestina looked shocked, someone offering professional help for her at no cost was clearly not something she had been expecting. Offering to work for someone pro bono was not something Ion had expected when he went into the diner for lunch, either. ”I’m sure.” Ion answered, smiling. ”I’ve got a soft spot for mutants in trouble.” And he had a quota for pro bono work to meet.
Ion produced one of his business cards. It has the firm’s name, his name, the address, and his direct line. ”Here is my card. My number is on it if you need to reach me.” He passed over the card before, with a gleam in his eye, asking, ”How completely do you want to beat them? Do you just want to win the case and move on or do you want to bury them in litigation so completely they’ll do anything to get back above water? Somewhere in the middle?”
Ion parked his blue Edison Model S along the side of a ritzy, industrial chic Japanese restaurant. Or rather, he pulled up next to a spot and the vehicle parallel parked itself. Sakura had small outdoor section, but as the owners had gentrified a small warehouse it was a large indoor venue.
When he provided his name to the hostess, Ion was walked to a table with an excellent view of a pair of set of Tesla coils that had been set up in a cleared area of the venue. Ion thanked the hostess and took his seat. One must always be courteous to those who can influence your food. He would wait for his date to arrive to order. In the meantime he checked his phone. Work never quit after all.
A fellow attorney had set Ion up on a blind date. A friend of hers, Zoe, was to meet him there. The friend had set it up, all Ion and Zoe had to do was provide their names to the hostess and they would be sat at the same table. No need for pinned flowers or other accessories.This worked well for Ion, he didn’t want to have to pin something to his suit jacket. A green suit with a striped button up underneath. No tie, this wasn’t an event so formal he needed one.
The friend had let Ion choose the venue, as long as it met her approval. Ion had always been a fan of singing Tesla coils, or Thoramins as they were sometimes called. A display of how beautiful electricity could be. From there the friend made the arrangements.
An advisor. Mr. Cervantes was looking for counsel for operations on this side of the rip. That was something Ion could do. His profession even meant he was often called Counselor. It also made sense that Mr. Cervantes would seek out Ion. Most attorneys simply know how to provide legal cover to criminals, Ion was someone who pursued actus reus himself and knew how to provide cover for his actions going in. Exactly the foresight and planning Mr. Cervantes would need for this universe.
Being at the forefront of progress? Mr. Cervantes of course did not literally mean at the forefront, that position would of course be filled by himself. A counselor to the one at the forefront though, depending on how much influence said counselor had would be perfect. Ability to help shape everything but without having to be the face. Being at the forefront in a more abstract or broader sense would be perfect.
”You have my attention, Mr. Cervantes.” Ion said, ”Let’s say I am willing to be your counselor. Will I have an office or work from where I work now? Would I have full access to this organization? People and papers. To provide counsel I must have access to all information. And what are your expectations, beside providing counsel?”
If he was to join an organization he would need to know how things would work. He also needed to know if he would be able to have what he needed to have to do what was asked.
Ion was not one who craved praise. Mr. Cevrantes’ teasing compliment was met by a lack of change in expression or posture from Ion. All Ion cared about in what Mr. Cervantes had said was that he was correct in his conclusion. When Mr. Cervantes let silence fall, Ion maintained his silence. He had said what he needed to say, he would wait for Mr. Cervantes to disclose what it was that he truly wanted.
The waiting was worth it. Mr. Cervantes continued and provided what he was looking for. First and foremost he needed exactly what Ion was. An attorney. An attorney who favored mutants. His side of the rip was a legal mess for mutants. Ion had looked into the law on the other side, it was as if the Bill of Rights did not apply to mutants. The Fourth Amendment protected “the People” all that was necessary was to make mutants not “People”.
Mr. Cervantes ended his brief with a mention of money. Money was an excellent motivator, and one Ion enjoyed. Money was a means to what he truly wanted. Power and control. Money itself could be viewed as power, but it was only as powerful as what it could buy. It gave you power over the corrupt only. Money could be used to buy institutions though and those institutions could give you power over even an honest man.
”That you have, Mr. Cervantes.” Ion said as he continued to consider what he had been told. ”Let’s say I am. You are looking for someone who is more than just an attorney, someone to simply provide legal cover. How would I fit into your organization?” Ion had a suspicion Mr. Cervantes was looking for an advisor. A natural role for an attorney. And Ion wanted details before agreeing to anything.
Posted by Ion on Apr 6, 2018 23:41:02 GMT -6
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Nov 23, 2024 18:01:17 GMT -6
Fuegogrande
Parties were always an interesting experience for Ion. The way he operated when working left his brain in an confrontational mindset. This was useful in most aspects, but at parties it just made you someone people didn’t want to be around. It was therefore a good thing that Ion had spent the last several days working on familiarizing himself with Syndicate as it existed on paper. The time spent neither in court nor babysitting a client allowed him to take a step away from that way of thinking.
Ion checked his watch. The party would likely be in full swing by the time he got there. He set his pen down on the pad he had been taking notes on and closed the file he had been reading. The time for work was done, it was time to relax. And the new Counselor for the Syndicate should make an appearance.
A quick switch to an electric blue suit and a bowtie and he hopped into his car to head to the Sapphire. Once there Ion set his electric car to valet mode and stepped out to let someone take his car for him. It would be delivered to the executive parking for him.
From there it was up to the top floor and into the Diamond Lounge.
As expected the part had already begun as people milled about, talking and drinking. As one would expect in such a venue, those in attendance had dressed to the nines. Ion smiled as he gave a casual look around the room. Such attractive people were in attendance. But before making the rounds and introducing himself, a drink was in order.
Ion strolled up to the bar and ordered a glass of Macallan 1954, neat. An expensive favorite of his. Ion had seen to it that the Sapphire had a bottle set aside for him. As he waited for his drink he scanned the crowd. The only truly familiar face was Poseidon. Other than him he saw Charlie Sinclair . Poseidon had indicated she was someone he should meet.
Drink in hand Ion made his way toward Ms. Sinclair. She was with another woman; early twenties and in an over the top dress. ”Good evening, ladies.” Ion waved his drink nonchalauntly and vaguely in their direction. ”Mr. Cervantes indicated I should meet you, Ms. Sinclair. My name is William Faraday, but you can call me Ion.” He turned to the other woman, ”And a pleasure to meet you as well, miss?” Ion asked the woman with Charlie.
Mr. Cervantes reaffirmed he was not the Detective Jorge Ion had already encountered. His claim to be from much farther away was one Ion would dispute in the literal sense, the other New York was essentially in the same place. From a metaphorical perspective it would indeed be further. Down that line of thought only lay argument for argument's sake. Unproductive at that moment. And irrelevant.
Mr. Cervantes was recruiting.
”By all objective measures I am both able-bodied and of sound mind. The latter I imagine is of more interest to you.” Ion said and took a casual step closer. His power had now been running a very long time. If Mr. Cervantes attempted something untoward, he would see what happens when you cross a lightning bolt with a plasma cutter. ”And you wouldn’t be here, now, if you didn’t deem me appropriate for this… job?” Ion guessed. It fit.
Ion took a few steps closer as he spoke. His movement was marked by casual confidence, ”The question I have is what you need. The detective of this universe is smart and you seem the same. Only… Darker. You ask first for someone able-bodied and you have no problem with intimidation tactics. You want muscle, mutant muscle I would wager. Yet, you approach someone like myself. Someone who makes precision strikes, someone who targets the linchpins. You are looking for something more than just muscle. You’re looking to set up roots in this universe so you need people who know this world. How it works, the who’s who. A position in leadership of something… An organization… Perhaps something akin to a mob or mafia? Stop me if I am in the wrong.”
Ion stopped walking as he finished speaking and held his hands out, arms moving outward to his sides, palms up. He now stood a few yards from Mr. Cervantes.
Her parent’s didn’t make any claims about cutting off Celestina. That was good, this would make things easier. Without a clearly stated intent to not pay for college there is some precedent that money would be guaranteed if there exists the means. It wasn’t a slam dunk, but the more angles you had to work with the better. Ion filed that thought away for later.
Good. Celestina had shared this information with two individuals. This was not good. While in civil court there was not Fifth amendment protection, perjury is only punishable when proven. And while clever wording so it wasn’t perjury in the first place was always a good bet, if her parents found these people and had them brought in as witnesses it would undermine the case. The comment of her not thinking they would be able to prove it was not the answer Ion had hoped for, but he could work around it. It’s why he made the big bucks.
Ion took a few bites. Calmly working his way through what Celestina had said. He took his time before speaking again. ”You having told two individuals makes this more difficult, but not impossible. I doubt your parents would do anything to call witnesses. If they do though, you’ll know.”
After a final bite, Ion wiped his hands and cleared his mouth with a drink. ”Celestina, my name is William Maxwell Faraday of the Roark and Rearden Law Firm. I would like to represent you in this matter, Pro Bono of course.”
Jorge Cervantes was there to talk. He knew Ion had strong armed a juror and wanted to talk. About Ion’s future? If he wasn’t there to arrest Ion, what was his angle? Ion put his hands in his pockets, adopting a nonschelant posture. If Mr. Cervantes wanted to talk, they could talk. In the glow of Ion’s power and streetlights.
”Well it depends. Was a threat made, was it believable to him, did I cause any injury, and was any evidence to tie it back to the perpetrator left?” Ion emphasized the last point. ”But something tells me you know a little bit about that yourself.”
This Jorge Cervantes wasn’t bothered by juror intimidation. He had the look of a man who’d seen it done several times to get his way. Ion moved on to where mr. Cervantes was wanting this conversation to go. ”So yes, let’s discuss my future. What can a corporate and criminal defense lawyer who you allege to have seen intimidate a witness do for you, Mr. Cervantes?” Ion asked and cocked his head to one side, curious to hear what Mr. Cervantes had to say.
