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.
It wasn't long before the car slowed and pulled up against the curb outside of Garik's lavish new york skyrise. His "mansion" just outside of the bustle of the heart of the city. His living quarters were on the fifth floor, just below the spa/pool room, and the rooftop garden.
The driver hustled out as soon as they were parked to try and get the door open for Raijin before he could himself, and was visibly sweating a bit under his brimmed hat. Maybe it was time for a career change? Probably.
"Bye, Mr. Samurai! It was nice to meet you!" She waved with a red crayon in her hand from her seat, with her book spread out on her lap to a new page.
The door closed again and the drivers ran back around to get in, both relieved that the scary man was out of his car, and irritated that he still needed to drive his boss's daughter around some more. "Where to next, Miss?"
Eisley hummed, watching the building as the car pulled away. "You know what I feel like right now? Cotton candy! Say, do you know any places with cotton candy, Mr. Driver?"
She started drawing again. A fresh face, with a blocky body, and a cap. She needed to switch to black from red, though.
"Say... Mr. driver... what's your name?"
~~~
The compound Garik resided in was multi-level and packed with security. He had offices on the second floor for meetings, and the first was reserved for storage and security quarters.
Two men would greet Raijin just inside the main entrance. He'd be required to walk through a metal detector and surrender any weapons on him before he could go any further.
The elevator up to different floors was also manned by a security guard. Two guards were stationed outside of the entrance of the elevator on the fifth floor, which needed a security access card to even get to. Another two men guarded him personally and typically lurked outside of whatever room he was in. Typically a few more people were in the building, including personal security, personal chefs, maids, and such.
Each security guard had been hired for various reasons. Some were just skilled in physical combat, some were more tactical. Some were ex-cons who had been hired when no one else would take them, due to past convictions. Each was dangerous in their own right.
"I don't doubt it! They really scared me silly when I first moved in. He likes to hire people who he knows can "do the job" and all that. Haha."
She blinked curiously at him at the comment about her age, but it wasn't taken as an insult. "Sure feels like it!" She didn't comment any further, until his remark about whether she had killed someone or not. The faces of eleven people, even the barest glimpse, rolled through her head. She'd decided weeks ago that she'd commit every one of them to memory forever. Names and all. A constant reminder of what her mission now was.
Eisley smiled a bit wider, with just a little tinge of sadness at the corners. "That's a very personal question."
She cupped her hands around her mouth and directed her attention at the driver.
"Mr. Driver! My father's friend would like you to go faster! Could you please? I'm sure he won't kill us both if you hurry!"
Although the driver made no comment, there was a noticeable increase in speed.
"He likes to think of himself as being one," She muttered distractedly, before reminding herself that it was rude to pay attention to other things when someone was talking to you. "He's trained in something... I don't know what though. He had a bunch of different colored belts in a case on his office wall."
She shifted a little so that she could face him, hands still clasped neatly in her lap.
"I've never seen him actually fight anyone, though. He likes to keep people on hand to do that for him. You'll probably encounter at least five or so before you get to him." She smiled cheerfully as if they were discussing good weather that aligned with her plans.
Did he respond with a threat and a question? Sounded like a question to her.
"A trap? Hm... Not for you, and I hardly doubt anyone would give me a second look, actually. My father busses me around quite often to get me out of his hair. I've encountered many concerning characters in cars like this." It was one of the things she both liked and hated. Kind of a coin toss as to whether you got trapped in a car with a kind, but slightly suspicious person, or a super shady character who leered at you the whole time and made concerning remarks.
"Besides, I'm a widow in mourning, and I have no connections to any of the unscrupulous people he brings home. I'm sure if the story were to even reach the media they'd just love to run some fanciful tale of what a tragic character I am. Rich Criminals dying are a dime a dozen here anyway. Hardly even newsworthy nowadays. Though... if grandfather were to get involved... maybe."
She didn't hear the first thing he'd said because her head had been turned and the door had been open still. Eisley glanced at the man when he spoke again, now that she could hear him better.
"Not very long. Father doesn't like to live in the heart of the city. He doesn't like "dirty, unsuccessful slobs", or traffic." After poorly mimicking Garik's deeper voice, she looked back out the window and smiled.
Why was she okay with Garik dying? "He's never been much of a father to me in the short time I've known him, and while I am thankful for the education he paid for he's honestly a waste of the gift of life he was given." She didn't owe him an explanation, but he somewhat surprised her by asking in the first place. Her ex-father was selfish, mean, cavorted with demons, and a liar to boot. He had ties all over the city with just about every unscrupulous character. It was rather fitting that he'd get taken out by one of them in the end, wasn't it?
The driver didn't say a word. He was barely even listening. After years of driving around with shady characters in the back, he'd grown used to just ignoring whatever it was currently being talked about. Probably better for him, that way.
The driver pulled up to the curb and helpfully scurried out to open the back door for them, hardly even sparing the tall man with the sword a second glance. It wasn't his job to care who the young estranged daughter of his employer spent her time with. He just drove her places.
"Thank you!" Eisley climbed in carefully and scooted all the way over to where her backpack was. Which was pink, with a large plastic unicorn on it. She liked it because it reminded her of Mr. Unicorn, who used to live in her old worn-down backpack.
Once Raijin was inside, the door was closed by the driver and he scurried back in. As the car pulled away Eisley zipped open her bag and dug out a little planner (which was also unicorn themed, of course)
"Rai...jin" She scribbled it down in her notes, now that she had a name to go with a face. There was a very childish doodle of the man in the suit he had been wearing when she first glimpsed him, beside the blank space that had been waiting for a name. A whole page dedicated to him of facts and assumptions. She crossed out a few that had proven wrong, scratched in a few that were more correct, and then snapped the book shut and tucked it away again.
She sat back in her seat with a smile on her face, hands clasped in her lap, and watched the scenery pass.
Oh? Had she underestimated him? Maybe there was more brain in there than she had thought. She'd have to let Father know about that, as well. Her expression shifted a little. The forced nervousness slipped away, and in its place settled a warmth and softness that definitely didn't fit the situation at all.
"Well, honestly, it was more for you than it was for me. Typically men of your stature and temperament feel most at ease when I seem frightened, or meek. My apologies, for I had not assumed you would be this observant."
The melting cup of shaved ice in her hands still was rediscovered, and she lifted the little plastic spoon to take a bite. Mmm! Strawberry!
She met his eyes again, unwavering and entirely too sweet. "You will, and I know you could, but that's hardly anything to be scared of. When my time has come I will welcome it with open arms."
She turned and started walking off, depositing her treat in the trash along the way. "And yet, I don't think you will. Killing me gains you nothing." Her small pink phone came out, decorated with glittery star stickers and unicorns. She texted the driver and less than a second later the sleek black car was pulling around the corner.
She wouldn't be able to describe his stolen sword past the barest description. She hadn't spent any time looking at it any more than she needed for a job for the thief. She knew enough about it to see that there were some matching qualities, if only in decoration.
Still, she looked at his shorter sword (she'd need to ask Father about them later) and spent a moment picking out similarities. "... A little. Definitely longer, and with the same color ribbon, but the one he's got has wavy lines on it."
She shifted a little away from him, toward where she'd indicated her car was waiting. "He collects old weapons and stuff. He's got a bunch of other swords in his office."
He told her to wait, and so she did. It irked her a little, honestly, but she was nothing if not polite and sometimes it was hard going against a man's demand when Garik had spent more than a year training her to do exactly that.
Honestly, it didn't even make her mad. Deep inside she just got a little bit sadder. Clearly, this man had lost his way a long time ago. He'd worked with her father and yet he couldn't see the good they were doing. The man was sick. Tainted deep in his soul, assuming he still had one and hadn't sold it for his magic tricks.
She allowed him to grab her and threw out an appropriate response for someone in her position. Kept her arms limp and noodly, allowed her feet to catch a little in a slight stumble.
She busied herself with smoothing the hem of her dress back down and then startled when she looked back up and he was staring at her.
He'd noticed her bait, but had yet to bite.
"My Father?" She stammered, allowing herself to seem suddenly aware of the size difference between them. Regardless of how little he had cared before, she knew Eisley from a few years ago would have been shaking in her shoes from having someone's attention so intensely focused on her. She let herself play into it.
"G-Gerik...Herzog?" She shifted on her feet uncomfortably, averting her gaze again. "I... I can't remember the address. I haven't lived there very long."
Her younger self would have been scared and intimidated and rightly so considering what she knew about the man before her now. "My father has a driver take me places. He's waiting down the block for me. I... really should be getting back to him, actually."
Dangle the bait a little more. Tug a little, make him fight for it. If everything went according to plan he'd bite, and she'd be able to reel him in.
Ugh. Gross. So he was even less of a person than she had originally thought. A slime-covered slug wearing the skin of a person. That coupled with his apparent use of demon "magic" from what Father had said, made him even more of a future target. She filed that away for later, though.
A pretty flush bloomed on her cheeks which she tried to cover with one hand. All of the clips from movies she had seen in her life where the girl blushes and assumes the innocent, dainty, meek guise were useful awfully quick. She blinked up at him with wide doe eyes, before averting them.
"Oh goodness! I could never!"
Add in an embarrassed shift here to two, a few 'snuck' glances, and she hurried to try and move the conversation along.
"I'm Eisley! Father McCallen spoke with you a few days ago about some kind of private matter... I couldn't help but notice you. I've never seen someone with, um... tattoos like yours, or swords and stuff."
She continued on with the shy act for just a little bit longer, fiddling with the cup of melting shaved ice in her hands, before looking to where his swords would be and "noticing" that one was gone.
"Oh... you only have one today."
She made a little bit of a show playing on the slow, innocent act, before pretending that an idea had struck her. "Oh!"
She leaned in a little, uncaring of whether he smelled, or how tired he looked. "Did you lose one? Could I help you find it?"
Then, as an afterthought, she let her brows crease a little and tapped her lips with a finger.
"How strange, though... My father just acquired a sword himself. He was talking so animatedly about it last night at dinner."
It wasn't terribly hard tracking him down. He was a large, angry man stalking around the city looking for a lost item. Eisley had just enough connections to get a call once he was spotted, and it was only a short drive from there to the street address.
She dressed in her Sunday finest, with a ribbon tied around the end of her braid. It did take much to walk around the opposite side of the block, stop by a small vendor who was selling shaved ice and get herself one, and then "happen" to walk in the direction facing him.
She was all smiles and made extra sure to convey the proper emotion of her face lighting up on seeing him. "Mr. Samurai man!" She didn't know his name as far as he knew. Her Father had never said it in front of her if he even cared to know it himself, and it would be entirely too suspicious if she spit it out now.
She skipped over with a youthful smile on her face. "How are you? It's been a little bit since I last saw you!"
My, oh my. He certainly looked grumpy didn't he? So much emotion boiling inside because his toy had been stolen. It really was a shame so many people put so much of themselves in objects. Why, even with Mr. Unicorn she'd long since grown out of needing him as a constant companion. She felt she was better for it now, even if she missed him terribly still.
"Oh, but you don't look very happy. Is something the matter?" Innocent head tilt. Small smile. Same as she ever was.
Eisley would be the first to admit that she was impatient, even though she was trying hard not to be. The paperwork was signed and on its way to be filed.... but it would take time. She was still stuck in Garik's house, surrounded by empty gifts that had been used to try and soothe her into compliance. She laid awake a lot of nights dreaming up what her next room would look like. She could imagine the simple walls of the church, perhaps with some dainty flowered wallpaper. Maybe a few of her favorite drawn pictures-- she was getting a lot better at not simply scrawling like a child! Still had a long way to go through.
There was a phone on her bedside table... a gift she had been given but had never used. When she had been younger a piece of technology like that would have been a tremendous gift to have been given. Sure, charging it would have been a pain, but... maps at the tips of her fingers? Addresses to numerous safe houses and food banks? She'd never had the gall to steal one as it just made her a bigger target for others on the street.
Now having one just felt like surplus. There were games on it she supposed, but electronic games weren't quite as fun as the ones she could puzzle out with her fingers. She didn't have friends to call, wouldn't have been able to communicate with Garik, and didn't much care for pictures of herself.
Eisley turned over in her too-big bed, burrowing deeper into her pillow as she looked at the little brick of metal, plastic, and glass beside her bed.
With Father McCallen, though... maybe she had a reason to take pictures now? To document the start of her new life... a happier life.
The thought made her smile, and for the first time in a long time, she snuggles into sleep without a worry.
~~~
"Could I trouble you for a few minutes to talk about--" Eisley, with another of the faithful by her side, stepped out to block the path of a pedestrian. The man stopped and glanced at them nervously, and then at the flier in her hand as she eagerly held it out to him. "I promise, mister, it won't take very long at all! I'll make sure to keep it short, just for you!"
She smiled prettily and batted her dark eyelashes at him. Her hair was down, a few strands tied back with a bow to keep the locks from swamping her face. She didn't wear makeup unless tinted chapstick counted, but her features were naturally very delicate by nature. The young woman was dressed in a very feminine, conservative white dress with lace embellishments, and cute but comfortable mary jane shoes.
Her companion was taller but slim and unassuming by the looks of him. Thick glasses on his nose and his hair swept back and combed. They looked the part of well-meaning, if annoying, churchgoers.
The man they had stopped was in his mid 20's and was on his way to work. He was early seeing as he was taking his time walking, and technically had a few minutes to spare...
"Ah, what the heck. Sure. I've got a few minutes." Maybe he'd end up with a phone number by the end? Who knew.
Eisley smiled and launched into the prepared script with energy, backed up by her companion to explain the things she still had a hard time with.
Since the very first moment she could remember, when she was old enough to recognize that something was wrong with her mother, she'd yearned for a parent like she used to see on TV. A doting mother who tied bows in her hair, or a loving father who would pick her up and spin her while they both laughed.
Ten years by herself on the street, forming fragile bonds with strangers who didn't stick around for one reason or another. In and out of shelters, with dreams in her head of running into the one someday... the perfect family who would see her and welcome her into her arms. She'd hoped, really really hoped, that when Garik had appeared in her life and thrown lavish clothes and toys at her... that that dream had come true. But it didn't take a genius to discover that all the baubles in the world didn't make up for distant dinners and a father who rarely even looked in your direction.
By the time she'd ended up at the Church and found the priest, she'd all but given up on that dream. Set in the belief that this was just what her life was until she was old enough to move out.
And yet...
"I would love nothing more."
The tears came then. Hot on her cheers, over pristine white bandages, and down her chin. She didn't bother trying to stop them, because she knew she would fail. Neither did she try to stop her voice from cracking as she stood a bit shakily, and faced him.
"You're the best father I could have ever asked for!"
Of course she would say yes! That was the easiest question in the world. She would trade all of the fine dresses and stuffed animals in the world for a chance at a family, one that was made from real, honest-to-goodness love. It didn't matter how small.
Eisley rushed him in a surprising burst of speed, trying to be careful not to trip on her way over, and threw her arms around his middle.
If she were a bird, like Siobhan liked to call her, she would have ruffled up in obvious pleasure at the praise.
He knew he could count on her
He touched her shoulder. Physical contact to affirm his happiness with her. Her clasped hands tightened in her lap.
He was even more pleased with her idea of an alternative escape route and offered to take her with him to check it out. The corners of her lips tugged into a shadow of a smile at that. It would be the first time she had gone with him anywhere without a group tagging along or her father.
Eisley watched him curiously as he turned and... fidgeted? Father McCallen didn't do that. She'd never seen him do that before.
"Grandfather had no interest in me. Even more so now that I have the last name of a household full of demons." She blinked. There was no fire in her voice, she was simply stating a fact. "Father and he are not on good terms right now. Grandfather left months ago."
"Father isn't shy about voicing his opinion on when he hopes he will pass away."
She shifted her gaze away from him to the papers he'd set before her, reaching out as soon as she was sure he intended for her to read them. Terms and conditions. Legal jargon she wasn't at all versed in. She recognized a few big words here and there, and some of the simple stuff stood out, but honestly, she stopped reading the moment the word 'adoption' rolled out of his mouth in that gravelly, scarred voice of his she had grown to cherish.
...Adopt her? The young woman sat there, staring blankly at the page in her hand while her mind struggles to catch up. Father McCallen wanted to adopt her?
All at once years and years of repressed anxiety came flooding back. The fear of whether or not she could trust someone, and what they sought to get out of the deal. There had to be a reason. There was always a reason. Her mother hadn't wanted her until money was involved. Her father hadn't cared about her until money was involved.
But surely not... not Father McCallen?
"...He only agreed on the terms of you gifting him the resources you gathered in Portugal, but I worked in some terms that had them returning to you should he pass on..."
Was it money for him too? Or was it something else?
She felt like crying suddenly for a lot of reasons. A mix of emotions from so many different directions that she couldn't get a handle on it. There was guilt, too... sudden and overwhelming. How could she even begin to suspect him?
"You... want me as a daughter?" It took a moment, but she set the page down and tore her gaze away, finally dragging it to him. Her flurry of emotions clear on her face. "Why?"
She felt small again. She didn't like feeling small. She liked to think that they had a very good relationship... The priest was kind. Listened to her. Gave her infinite time and patience where others had not. He accepted her already, so why go that extra step? Nothing was ever that... that SIMPLE.
She sat with a ruffle of her skirt, smoothed the fabric back down, and smiled. "Thank you!" She was pleased with herself. After weeks of hardly talking she still had a pretty good grasp on all of the manners that had been drilled into her over the last year and a half.
"I'm familiar with this part of town. There are larger crowds in specific blocks of time in the area. There's a common tourist hotspot just down the street, and they tend to move through this side road over here as a shortcut, instead of going around." She held up three fingers and explained the three days this generally happened, the blocks of time it usually popped up in, and a few other important bits about the area.
"-and over here... this is a pretty common spot for a group to set up. Usually two pickpockets and two or three campers. They will stalk these sidewalks following the large groups of tourists, and the others on the corner keep an eye out."
She pointed out that the corner that was commonly used was in a direct line of sight of their planned area. "Street people are always watching, so I'll have Mary and Louis hit this corner harder than usual. Aggressive canvasing is usually enough to make the group move away so that nobody catches onto the two pickpockets going around. If we hit it early enough we can have it cleared well before it's time, and smack in the middle of a tourist dump."
She paused to look up at him and make sure what she had said made sense. He understood, right? She sure hoped that had come out clearly.
"Also, if anything goes awry, this path over here is a commonly used escape route. I've used it myself before. It drops down into one of the abandoned tunnels, and dumps up you out three blocks up in a different section."
Eisley was still working on getting to know each of the Fathers most trusted. She knew their names and some small facts about them from small conversations before or after service. Her favorite Sunday class teacher was there, as well as the father of one of the other kids in that same class.
She was too old for kid classes now, though. She liked to sit in and help on craft days, for the most part, her extracurricular education had been taken over by Father McCallen and all of the puzzles of life he likes to show her.
She offered smiles in greeting to those that looked for them and settled into her usual spot among the rest to listen to her most favorite person speak. She was excited about being involved again... she'd just barely been included when Gerik had decided to rush her off to Portugal. Any way that she could help the mission was welcome, and being new to 'Canvasing' made it still a very exciting role to play.
She was not expecting in the least to be given the lead, in any capacity, upon her arrival back... but she couldn't stop the swell of pride that came with it. He trusted her. Really trusted her. She would make sure she worked as hard as possible to not betray that trust. She wasn't even worried about the others being jealous or feeling slighted, because she knew that among those gathered each knew that their role was just as important as the next. They were a team.
"Yes, Father McCallen. Thank you."
Given that her role had shifted slightly, she stepped forward so that she could review the detailed notes and plans. This was the first time she had seen them, whoever their target was had been picked and the details worked out while she was away on her own personal mission.
...Azar. Interesting name. Boisterous and a showman with his devil powers.
She switched from the notes to the map and started plotting a course. The Father obviously already had his own plan, but... she'd offer any revisions she could think of once everyone had left. She didn't want it to seem like she was getting a big head or anything.
She made mental notes while everyone else got their assignments, and then broke off to meet with the rest of the canvassers after Plan B was discussed. It was a short and to-the-point check-in to make sure everyone knew their role as a team. She had seen Chance do it a few times before and everyone seemed to appreciate it, herself included.
After the team broke off and they started filtering out, Eisley lingered behind. She didn't really have anything to return to outside of the church, now. Her marriage had thankfully been short-lived, and her blood father wanted nothing to do with her.
"Father, if I may?" Once the last of his flock, beside herself, had left, she turned back to Father McCallen.
"Can I offer some thoughts on the draft you have there?"
