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.
Niko was decidedly impressed with the man's candor. His feelings on the former conversation partner were clear and didn't mince words. It was to ther point that she actually wanted to laugh. All that earned him, however was a slightly wider smile. He was funny.
The same could be said about his response to her comment. Really she was only joking but, once again, he had a point. Be honest, make them feel doubly worse.
"Touche," she replied.
But it was onto things that could be controlled: his jacket. In an attempt to prevent straining she beckoned him to the bar. Surely someone there would have a truck or two to clean it up. Granted, if not, she could easily pay to have it cleaned or replaced. But it was better to not reveal that side of herself too soon.
Moving to the bar, Niko gave a nod to the bartender who suddenly looked a little nervous in her presence. However he wasn't given the opportunity to state why as A.J. had immediately addressed him by name and presented the problem. The look on his face was enough to show it to possibly be a lousy cause.
"Ugh, sorry, sir," he said. "Club soda works in some cases but I think there's a little too much to handle that. But...let me check something..."
Niko watched as Marco stepped away from them, taking A.J.'s jacket away. Niko haff no idea where he was going but admittedly she was curious. Bit with him gone, her attention slipped back to her comrade.
"Well here's to hoping Marco can save the day." She leaned against the bar, a smile in get eyes as she looked upon A.J. "In the meantime, would conversion with me be a sufficient distraction? Or do you not wish to converse with your attacker any further?"
Though his opinion of her didn’t matter all that much, a small part of her was embarrassed by what she had just done. Hopefully he didn’t think she was some ditz. Granted it helped to separate ‘Melissa’ from the ‘Bloody Samurai’, but there was still something basic about being viewed in such a way by someone attractive. It was like a remnant of a youth that she had long ago mostly forgotten.
He was generous at least, stating that she had not ruined his conversation. Instead it seems that she rescued him from a tedious time. She peered over his shoulder at the gentleman he had just been talking to; the man had already disengaged from their talk and seemed to be chasing after one of the attractively dressed nurses to chat them up.
She scoffed as she turned back to her spillage victim. ”I get the sense that the feeling is mutual between you two,” she offered with a smirk.
Niko watched his expression, smirking as he stated his plan for the rest of the evening: free food until the big event. Certainly the response of a wallflower. Which was odd considering he was far more vocal when he was fighting for someone’s life. It seemed that there were some differences between work and socializing.
Then he smiled. He introduced himself and Niko finally had a name to go with the face. Again, it was odd that she almost felt guilty for putting him through what she did the other night, but it was a passing feeling, at most. Instead, she just returned his smile and reached out to take his hand.
”Melissa,” she said with a respectful nod. ”It’s nice to meet you, A.J.”
Awkwardly she held her hand out before looking to see that both his hands were already filled with a combination of napkins and jacket. A genuine smirk on her lips she placed her hand on top of his jacket filled one, bopping it up and down. When he hand recoiled, she flexed her fingers, feeling that some of the moisture from the spill job had now transferred to her hand.
She flicked her hand off to the side before she smirked apologetically to him. ”Sorry…” she said as she reached to his other, napkin filled hand. She gave it a slight squeeze to dry off fingers. ”Well, if you do get mistaken for waitstaff, just tell them your a famous neurosurgeon. Either they’ll be too intimidated to keep conversing or too apologetic to talk to you again.” Her head tilted. ”Um, you know, why don’t you follow me? I’m sure the bartender has some club soda or something to keep that from staining.”
She wasn’t normally this clumsy. Niko had an excellent awareness of her surroundings but she also didn’t care to be surrounded by so many people. They were all here for a good cause but some of them seemed a little more inebriated than others -- and the evening was just starting! Still, she wasn’t going to judge them for having such a vice. So long as they obeyed certain rules, she was almost fine with it. Still, they would warrant a close eye whenever they exited the party.
But back to the issue at hand. Even one who has many skills as possessed could get careless. She has had a few close calls in combat over the years, but none of those were as embarrassing as accidentally bumping into someone in a party. At least it helped keep up her mortal visage as Melissa.
Cursing under her breath she pulled out a napkin to dab at the offensive spot, only looking at the face of her victim when they turned around and began to pull off their coat.
Shit.
This was admittedly not something that she was expecting. The shorter man before her instantly became familiar. The beard, the hair, the eyes, it wasn’t hard to forget a face like that, especially when it was pleading for understanding for your actions. It was the EMT. The one that she had pursued and ruined his ambulance in the hunt for one of her victims that he was trying to save. In the end her mission was a success, but not without feeling a pang of guilt.
She straightened up a little, feeling a little funny in this close presence. She didn’t know what it was, like a strange tingling that put her on edge. Nervousness? But...why? Yeah he was cute but in her centuries of life no one made her feel like that. It was ridiculous. She shook it off when he spoke, inquiring if she were alright.
”Excuse me? OH! Yes,” she said, tilting her gaze down a bit. She didn’t remember him looking frumpy in his EMT clothing. Again, she shook the thought away as she caught his eye. ”Sorry, I just seemed to have misplaced my footing.” Her earthen eyes glanced to his coat in hand. ”I’m so, so sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt you. I hope I didn’t ruin your jacket.”
Every once and awhile, a party was needed. That was seemingly the mentality of “Melissa” Kobayashi. Admittedly it was probably the strangest identity she had ever crafted for herself in all the centuries that she had existed, but it was certainly the most effective for the current time. People loved and hated celebrities, especially of the socialite variety. They were also easily ignored, something that Niko was absolutely revelling in. It honestly felt like the safest identity to hide her nightly escapades in.
Though she could certainly do without the copious amounts of selfies she needed to take.
But yes. Parties. Back to parties. Being in the public eye often Niko had to make decisions that were both in line with her current image and that would also keep the company in the good graces of the people. One of the best ways to do that was with fundraisers and other such events that would show just how much her company, Red Pearl Publishing, cared about others.
For tonight, her focus was not going to be on the police force, but rather a party for all the medical professionals that have been doing a diligent job of trying to help support, research, and all other medical personnel who continue to do their amazing jobs through the deaging epidemic that has been occurring as of late. It may seem like a frivolous thing considering so many people’s lives are being ruined, but Red Pearl Publishing was planning to reveal quite the sizable donation to the medical field during the festivities.
It was a perfect plan.
In the Starlight Towers, the party planners had converted the entire upper floor ballrooms into rooms of elegance. Tables were littered about, with gilded chairs and white linens. Upon each were swag bags aplenty, many of which were printed with a variety of thank you notes from deaged victims thanking these professionals for their hard work. Inside were all sorts of expensive gifts, the kind of which are usually only seen in Hollywood parties. Fine crystal glasses sat next to finest porcelain plates and sterling silverware.
It was a party of excess, but it was one thrown for the noblest of causes.
Music poured in from speakers hidden by hanging drapes of gauzy rose gold curtains as people talked and laughed. The good thing about these medical types was that at least some of them knew how to handle their liquor (though, admittedly, not all). The party had just started and most of the attendees were enjoying the free appetizers and drinks before the dinner actually started. At this moment, the organizer, Melissa Kobayashi was making her rounds.
Dressed in the brightest shades of crimson, she wore a formal, fitted dress that accented her curves. A champagne flute in hand, she smiled as she moved through the one of the larger rooms greeting those important guests but also making sure to offer a smile and a handshake to those regular workers who were partaking in the comforts of this party.
But why? What was Niko doing this? There were other ways to throw a party, even make donations without being seen. Well, truth be told, she felt a little guilty.
"We don't judge guilt, that's for the courts. We help all. Who are you to do that? To judge?"
The tone, the disappointment, the frustration, she could still hear it in her head. That EMT was a good man and one with a valid question. She doubted she would see him again but she hoped that this party would, in some small way, return his faith to the world. The last thing she needed was to spoil an innocent heart in such a way.
Niko stepped away from one of the chief surgeons in attendance, smiling and offering another wave to a trio that passed by in conversation. She had only just turned in time before she noticed she was far too close to someone, and was a split second too late to keep from bumping into their back, knocking some champagne onto their back.
”Oh my god,” she said in her soft voice. ”I’m so, so sorry. I’m such a klutz.’
Niko breathed a heavy sigh of relief. That was one less soul for the Man of Shadows to feast upon. She rolled her neck, irritated that it had taken as much time as it did to bring this woman to justice but was satisfied (mostly) with the results. There was a lot of collateral damage (shame, since she liked that bike) but she was assured that the souls elderly couple who had suffered could not rest.
Of course, not everyone understood her motivations. After watching the light vanish from her victim’s eyes, Niko, the Bloody Samurai, turned away from the ambulance and started her walk back to the shadows. The heavy footfalls caused her armor to sing their crimson song, but stopped when the demands of another grabbed her attention.
Her back to the ambulance, Niko kept her hand resting upon the hilt of her sheathed blade, but did not feel the need to draw it. Rather she simply lowered her head to the ground as the EMT shouted and made a ruckus. He wanted to know what right she had? Who was she to judge? And, finally, wanted to know who she was.
For several seconds, Niko just stood there. Half sheathed in the shadows, half exposed under the flickering light of a dying street lamp. Her armor melded in and out of the shadows as she stood there, unmoving, before she briefly turned her head. In the darkness under the brim of her helmet, her a single bloody eye could be seen reflected in the minimal light.
She stared at him firmly, her coarse-sounding voice responding with, ”I am the justice you all deserve.”
Several shorts in the streetlamp occurred, Niko vanishing in and out of the shadows before the light just stopped for a second. When the light blazoned again, the samurai was gone, slipped back into the darkness and far and away from the scene just as the sirens and rushing nurses came to the ambulance’s aid.
The hospital. That was where he was headed. Niko could see the distant lights of the medical center as it drew closer and closer. She had never chased down a target this far. But tonight had been particularly cruel. The brutality with which the gang showed that elderly couple was -- animalistic. It was savage. The likes of which she had only seen when the Man of Shadows was pulling the strings.
In all fairness, the woman was probably going to die, no matter how quick the EMTs had brought her here. But she wouldn’t take that chance. She had to be sure. She had to watch the light leave that woman’s eyes to ensure that the Man of Shadows wasn’t there.
So she pushed this as far as she dared go. The caltrops were thrown. The tires burst like bomb blasts beneath the carriage of the ambulance. The driver, though skilled, tried to swerve to avoid rolling the entire vehicle and killed everyone inside and out. Again, Niko had to appreciate that he was a skilled driver and a dedicated professional. She truly hoped he wouldn’t stand in her way again.
The ambulance rolled to a stop. She could hear the sounds of frustration within. Pulling her sword from the top, she hopped down onto her two feet and immediately made her way to the back. She was running out of time. They were within view of the hospital. She had to make her move and escape before it was too late.
Her hands gripped her blade, pushing as much lifeforce into it as she dared. A silver arc of light, reflection of her sword, sliced through the doors in the back, removing the handles with ease. With no resistance, the doors swung open and Niko looked in to see the harmed EMT and body of the woman she had eviscerated. In the front, by the wheel, the driver had turned and stared intently. He offered her a warning, hurt Donnie and she action will never be forgiven.
Niko stood there, watching the pair of them and Chelsea. Her sword held in hand, she peered with unseen eyes from beneath her helmet. A second later, she hurt the guttural gasp of a final, agonized breath, and she turned to see her victim’s head lull to the side. Her wounds were too grievous for anyone but a miracle worker to save.
Sword raised, Niko held it aloft before she swiped it down and ceremoniously returned it to its scabbard. ”It was never my intention to hurt ‘Donnie’,” she gruffly said. ”Just hurt. I only kill the guilty.” Turning to back to the EMTs, she started away from the ambulance, but not before stopping and turning back to the workers. She nodded to them both. ”Get him inside. Heal him.” Turning back around she started to head off to the shadows. ”And from now on, leave the guilty to me.”
Physics were a bitch. It was a gamble whether or not she was going to make this landing so, when she did, a satisfied smile spread across her lips. Seemed that her luck continued to hold out. However, she couldn’t count her chickens just yet. Her landing upon the roof would have certainly caused a ruckus inside the cabin and so she had to be prepared to move fast to ensure she wasn’t knocked off the vehicle.
Sapping the blood essence that she used to fuel her body, she infused it into her bonded sword instead, causing it to sing in the whipping, open air. Feeling the strength grow within the curve hunk of steel, she lifted her arm, turned sword to face downward, and drove it down with all her might.
A horrendous screech of metal-on-metal struck her ears as she buried the blade of her sword down to the hilt. Her handhold secured, she held onto the blade with all her might, growling as the ambulance began to pick up speed, turning and driving to a location that she couldn’t surmise. It wasn’t the police station so what on earth was the driver thinking.
With a growl on her lips, she pulled a thick strip of leather from her belt and hooked one end to her arm, and the other to the firmly planted sword. Insurance in case the psycho driving attempted to buck her off the vehicle with a sudden brake job. Oh, and also because she had an idea for stopping this behemoth before it reached its intended destination.
Opening a pouch on her belt, Niko had to feel with her fingers, looking for the correct objects she sought after. These had come in handy when the age of the modern vehicle came around. Too many times she lost criminals on horseback when they hopped into cars. She knew she needed a way to stop them if she couldn’t get a car of her own.
Niko held onto one sword with her hand and moved herself into a kneeling position. She needed to wait until the driver was on a nice, long stretch of road where he couldn’t turn. Her grip tightened as she felt the vehicle swerve, desperate to avoid civilians. It was only when they were on a relatively empty stretch of road did she hold up her other hand.
”I hope you have your seatbelts on,” she whispered.
With a grunt she threw her arm outward, sending a sparkle shining through the dimly lit street. She had to throw with all her strength, bolstering it a little by weakening the piercing durability of her sword. She had to...otherwise she would get a handful of hallowed-out caltrops in the face. But, sure enough, she pulled in just enough strength to watch the sparkling, hallowed needles of steel litter the street just head.
Posted by Niko Kobayashi on Apr 28, 2020 22:14:37 GMT -6
Zeta Mutant
Crimson
Pansexual
Single
44
16
Apr 15, 2023 6:50:52 GMT -6
Jorge
Niko watched from the shadows. The blood of the man she had just cut down slowly streaked down the edge of her sword before she flicked it off to the side, sending it splattering against a nearby wall. With a crane of her neck, she turned her head to the ambulance. She had informed the standing paramedic to get his comrade and drive away. They weren’t her targets. The last woman was. If anything she considered her words quite generous.
It seemed that they didn’t share her belief.
Wiping any remaining blood with her gloved hand, she heard the roar of an engine and watched as they still managed to load up her last victim. The doors slammed, the sirens blared, and she sighed deeply under her mask. This was not the direction she wanted things to go.
Just as they peeled away upon sight of her stepping out of the shadows, she turned and disappeared back into the darkness. This wasn’t the end of her hunt.
***
Moments later, as the ambulance moved swiftly through the streets of New York City, another swift moving vehicle merged into the flow of traffic. Effortlessly weaving between the vehicles, a sharp, red motorcycle cut through the traffic as if it were nothing. In the distance, the fleeing ambulance soon had someone in pursuit; a samurai in blood red armor. Revving the engine she pressed on faster, coming alongside the emergency vehicle.
As she rode she focused on her body, pulling her lifeforce from her sword and focusing it on her limbs and muscles. Her eyes sharpened, her muscles hardened, and as she drew closer to the ambulance she ground her teeth before she stood, planting her feet onto the seat of her motorcycle and inched as close as she could to the ambulance.
A prayer crept under her breath as she mouthed the word ”Sorry,” under her mask. She did not wish to further terrorize these EMTs who were just trying to do their job…
...but she was just doing hers.
Her prayer uttered, Niko stared at the top of the ambulance, choosing her target, and leapt her bike. Without a rider, the bike clattered and ground, sending up a shower of sparks and eliciting a chorus of honks and screeching tires. The Bloody Samurai aimed herself for the roof of the ambulance, sword out, ready to finish what she started.
She wasn’t looking to go to a hot tub party. There were better things for her to do. But the one thing she recognized about this world was that she needed to keep up her dual identity. There was information everywhere, there were people scrutinizing every through small camera phones, and suspicious minds always trying to find connections. Early on in the modern age, she learned the benefits of hiding in plain sight, and thus, that was what she was going to do tonight.
Tonight she wasn’t Niko Kobayashi, the hunter of criminals known as the Bloody Samurai. No, tonight she hung up her sword and armor and, instead, donned a black-and-white striped bikini and wrapped herself in the guise of Melissa Kobayashi, the trust fund socialite philanthropist whose “grandfather” ran Red Pearl Publishing. Tonight was to be a night of revelry, if only for the sake of appearances.
Getting into the establishment had been simple enough. She smiled and waved to her fans, took a few selfies, and then proceeded inside. It didn’t take long for the catcalls and whistles to be thrown her way, but a flirty smile, followed by a disinterested turn of her eyes had been enough to keep most interested parties away. She wasn’t here for a fling, but to show up, throw some money around, and donate to a good cause.
A white, gauzy wrap covered her lower half, acting as a kind of ethereal shawl which circled her waist. A long island iced tea in her hand, she took a few sips of it as she made her way past the hot tubs (to be revisited later and into the auction area. That was what she was here for anyways, right? To spend money and increase her philanthropic image. Surely this will give her some necessary coverage so she could run around doing her real work.
Once she was in the auction area, Niko began her wandering, checking out the various silent auctions that were available. She could easily win any of them but she would play fair. After placing a bid for some Salsa dancing lessons, she sighed as she continued to wander. From her phone she typed in a few words into her social media account, no photos though because that would be rude.
OMG. Hot Tub party is lit! Show up and donate to a worthy cause! #hottubparty2020 #funddeagers #checkitout
After posting the Chirp, she sighed and continued to wander. She wouldn’t stay long. Just long enough to raise awareness, win a couple of bids, and maybe enjoy a soak before she slipped back out into the night. The Man of Shadows didn’t rest, so neither should she.
Posted by Niko Kobayashi on Apr 15, 2020 23:59:10 GMT -6
Zeta Mutant
Crimson
Pansexual
Single
44
16
Apr 15, 2023 6:50:52 GMT -6
Jorge
Judgement had been cast. There was not deterring this bloody angel of justice. As well-meaning as the EMT was, she wasn’t going to let him stand in her way, even if that meant moving him by force. It wouldn’t be the first time. Other do-gooders had attempted to get in her way before but, more often than not, a swift strike to the solar plexus or a choke hold allowed her to gently remove them from the game. At the end of the day, she had to uphold her mission, no matter what.
Approaching from behind the EMT, she set her crimson eyes onto the wounded and terrified man. The healer wasn’t bothering to get in her way and instead was focused on saving his partner. Smart move. It was unfortunate that he had gotten hurt in this matter but she had warned them to move away from the assailants. Doing so probably would have kept him from being harmed.
She would feel guilt about that later. For now, justice needed to be served.
Moving past the EMt, she stopped just long enough to glance and see just how bad off the other was. Her stony silence hung thick in the air before she whispered to him. ”Call it in. Save his life.” Her voice was firm as she started to draw her sword again. ”Leave the others to me.”
She didn’t wait for his confirmation. No agreement or final warnings, instead she just zeroed in on the assailant, raised her sword, then bolted after him. The wounded gunman screamed as he backed off into the darkened alley, his form then eclipsed by the crimson-clad samurai before they both vanished from this. An arch of silver catching the streetlamps momentarily flared. A sound the likes of which you can only hear in a butcher shop followed.
And then the panicked gasping stopped.
Tense moments followed before the red samurai returned, stepping out from the shadows, ruby droplets falling from the point of her blade onto the concrete below. She stared at the EMT before she turned to face the woman she had initially injured. After a second, she lifted her sword again and marched towards the gurney bound woman.
She knew people. She knew them all too well. When you live for as many centuries as she has, it isn’t hard to get a feel for a person or a type of person. This was especially true when it came to their job choices. Yes there were those odd choices that ended with someone being utterly miserable in the job, but for the most part people tended to gravitate to those jobs that they were well suited for. It often painted a pretty clear picture of who they were.
For Niko, looking down upon the paramedics, she knew that they were good people. Through everything they continued to work, trying to save the life of the woman whom she had just gutted. It was a pretty hopeless cause but she could respect how much they wanted to save her, even in the face of a gun-wielding madman and an armed samurai of justice.
She respected that so much that she gave them the time they needed to escape. With a harsh word and a flick of her sword, she demanded that they leave. If they turned around and walked away, leaving the two criminals to her, they needn’t worry about repercussions. After all, it wasn’t them that she was after, but those two that cruelly killed the older couple. Still, she wouldn’t let anyone stand in her way of delivering justice upon those that required it.
The EMTs refused to move at first. Valiant hearts. One in particular tried to reason with her, humanizing her prey by stating her name. Whether or not that was really the woman’s name, Niko didn’t know. She knew that she was a criminal, a monster just like the Man of Shadows, killing without care. If she couldn’t find her true quarry then she could cut down all those who acted like him, in hopes of stemming his eternal influence.
It may have seemed a foolish errand but her extraordinarily long life has been in pursuit of this creature. She was made of willpower and fortitude. Eventually she will catch him. Of that she was assured. In the meantime, the others would pay. They would all pay for spilling innocent blood.
A person moved and time slowed for her. The EMT moved, hands up, clearly showing his submission but too stubborn to move himself away from the wounded woman. His actions, as innocent and well-meaning as they were, however caused alarm in the gunman. The man turned, gun aimed at the EMT, his eyes off the real threat in favor of a closer target.
That was the only opening she needed.
There was a quick swipe of her hand and a bolt of silver. A throwing knife cut through the air, immediately catching the gunman’s hand, causing him to scream out in pain.
While he was distracted, the angular, red shadow stepped forward, off the top of the ambulance and onto the concrete below. Niko landed with a thud, each plate of her samurai air jingling in a sound of metal bolts and wood. As she straightened herself up, she pumped some of her spare lifeforce energy into her armor, strengthening it to protect herself as he marched towards the cringing, cursing man.
He blade held to her side, she slowly began to raise it as she spoke. ”I said...walk away,” she demanded of the EMTs. ”These two must be held accountable. I won’t tell you again.” That was the last warning she would give them and instead turned her focus fully onto her prey.
How many centuries had she been doing this? Most would call her a madwoman for hunting down and slaughtering murdering bastards like this. They would say she was merely feeding the problem as opposed to solving it. That this was exactly how one fell from grace and became the very thing that they were chasing after. But Niko didn’t see it that way. The Man of Shadows fed off of discourse and misery. People like the ones she was chasing now only continued to perpetuate it.
Therefore, the more of them that she hunted down, the more likely she would cross paths with that monster and the fewer innocent victims left behind in their wake.
But now wasn’t the time for philosophy. Rather she was busy hunting down the last of her prey. The man had a knife out, running through the darkness of the abandoned building, trying to hide. It reminded Niko of whenever she used to go hunting. Following the sounds of an injured and scared animal trying desperately to escape. Niko was merciful though and, upon finding them, would make their end quick. There was no telling if the same would be offered to this one.
Stalking through the dark shadows, the red-clad woman moved with the ease and grace of someone with all the time in the world. It didn’t matter to her that the sounds of sirens began to fill the air outside the building. She was too cool, too collected to let that truly bother her. So she continued, armor snug against her frame, soundlessly save for a few muted clicks and clacks of the individual plates. She would find him, of that she was assured.
A clatter echoed to her side. She turned, sword held high as a rush of movement filled the air. In a panic her quarry fled, accidentally knocking over a barrel with discard wood balanced atop it. He squeaked fearfully, running back the way they came. Niko wasn’t far behind him.
While running he stumbled across the spot they were just at, fumbled with something one one of the dead bodies, and proceeded with another anxious run towards some form of exit. Only when he found a door did he finally breathe a small sigh of relief, burst through it, then turned around and firing off into the shadows of the building. The door slammed closed and he turned down the alley to see Chelsea being tended to by EMTs.
Gun drawn, he advanced and demanded to be brought into the ambulance with them. They needed to get out.
“Get us out of here!” he shouted in a panic.
THUD!!
There was a thud and a creak from the ambulance. Above it was only darkness save for the passing red lights of the sirens. But as those lights spun and spun, they briefly illuminated more red than they should have. Looking closer, EMTs and victims would see a hunched over figure, bathed in red, slowly unfurl itself. Taller and taller the entity stood, looking akin to a demon from the darkest pit of hell. Once fully standing, the angular edges of its armor, the bloodied sword in its hand, the figure pointed the edge of the blade towards the villains.
”Guilty,” he dark, husky female voice said. The sword then flicked to the EMTs, attempting to shoo them away. ”Leave them. Now.”
Evil was everywhere. If there was anything that the last six-hundred plus years taught Niko Kobayashi, it was that evil it very deep-rooted, with no end in sight. While that was disheartening for anyone to accept, in the case of this eternally vengeful woman she was willing to look on the bright side of things; it meant she could continue on until she achieved her long, sought after goal.
The Man of Shadows. She wanted his head. But she needed time. She needed skill. Most of all, right now, she needed blood.
It was simple enough to keep her sword sated. Tonight, for example, she had stumbled across the remnants of a mugging gone bad. An innocent, older couple had seemingly been caught wandering through a local gang’s territory. The foursome of men and women jeered and harassed the poor couple until one of them got just a little too trigger happy.
A gun blast later, the man lay dead and his wife accidentally had her head crushed in when she was hurled into a nearby wall to stop her shouting. Still, the bastards weren’t remorseful about it. They shrugged it off, giggling and rifling through wallets and a purse as they ran off down the street and into a nearby abandoned building that was considered a “safe haven” to them.
They thought they got inside unseen. But someone saw them. She saw them.
Evil is a cancer. The only way to combat it, is to cut it out. \
***
She moved fast. The first two didn’t even notice that it happened. Lounging upon filthy couches, surrounded by discarded beer bottles and empty food containers, they laughed and readied another round of beer. The sword came down down, a flash of silver in the darkness as two were immediately cut down.
The last two jumped up in surprise, one man and one woman, both wearing their gang colors. They quickly recoiled away from the spurting blood and through the flickering light of a trash can fire, they could see the silhouette of an angular, armored mass. One pulled a knife, the other lifted a bat and jumped forward threateningly.
There was a barely a flick of Niko’s wrist as the blade swiped through the air. She opened the woman’s flesh and stepped past her as she cringed and cried, dropping her weapon. Leaving her to die of her wounds, the bloody samurai made for the last criminal, the man with the trigger happy finger. He screamed and ran off, Niko following him from behind at a slower but even pace.
***
It hurt to breathe. Chelsea didn’t let that stop her, though. She had managed to stagger down the steps and through the barred doors of the building. Only a few more steps were attempted before she leaned against the wall, one hand attempting to press against her stomach in a vital attempt to hold onto the vital ichor that seeped out between her fingers.
A passing jogger found her, barely alive, and his hand flew to his phone. Quickly he dialed 9-1-1, though if they could get there in time, he had no idea.
Meanwhile, within, the hunt continued. The last couldn’t hide forever. Niko would find him. She always found them.
Posted by Niko Kobayashi on Feb 13, 2020 23:15:45 GMT -6
Mae likes this
Zeta Mutant
Crimson
Pansexual
Single
44
16
Apr 15, 2023 6:50:52 GMT -6
Jorge
Individual
Character's full name: Niko Kobayashi Alias/ Nickname/ Code name: Melissa Kobayashi, Ms. Kobayashi, Nik, Crimson Samurai Gender: Female Age: 713 [Updated: 4/12/2023] (Looks 25 years old) Date of Birth: February 14, 1310 Birthplace/ Home/ Place of origin: Bronx, New York Nationality: American (formerly: Japan, England, Sweden) Ethnicity/ Cultural Heritage: Japanese
Appearance
Hair color and style: Long, straight and black. Hangs down past her shoulders only a small bit. When conducting business she will normally wear her hair either down and flowing or up in a tight bun. When out in the field, she will often slip her hair into a ponytail, or into what others have dubbed, her warhawk. Skin Tone: Soft and light colored. Pale as a new moon. Eye Color: Deep and dark brown, but when looked upon closely, there is a slight tinge of red. Height: 5’8 but she can appear as tall as 6’0 when wearing her armor. Build: Lean and muscular. She has the body of an Olympic level athlete who has spent her life training. Visible mutation: None...unless you count her eternal youth. Scars/ Tattoos/ Piercings: There is a set of three deep scars on her stomach, around her belly button. The scars are varying in age, but all appear extremely old. Other features: There is a slight tinge of red around her irises and she smells of cherry blossoms.
Everyday clothing style: Niko continuously adapts with the times. These days her more outgoing persona enjoy tight fitting clothing, yoga pants, skirts, bright tops. But when by herself she has no problem just relaxing in jeans and t-shirts or loose top. Uniform: A crimson red suit of samurai armor that she claimed from her fallen husband so many centuries ago. It is older, slightly battered, but seeming still can take a lot of damage. Sleepwear: Pajamas, Large shirt and underwear, just depends on what she’s feeling. Miscellaneous clothing: She wears a necklace that her husband gave her of a japanese coin with a cord of leather moving through the center.
Character
Personality: Niko is an interesting sort of woman. As strange as it seems, she has a personality for damn near every occasion. Having lived as long as she has had to reinvent herself a variety of times as clearly the same woman cannot look as she does and lived for as long. Because of this, it is hard to pin down her true personality and it takes someone of true fortitude to really know who she is.
Currently, on the outside, Niko goes by the name of Melissa Kobayashi, the granddaughter of the book publisher Hiro Kobayashi. She is young, sweet, throws magnificent parties but is able to be professional with work. Many suitors have fought for her hand, though it seems she has very little interest in settling down. Attention is not something she strives for but happens to follow her around when she least wants it to. So far she has learned to live with it, simply smiling sweetly before attempting to find some form of privacy.
However this isn’t the true Niko Kobayashi. She is very quiet. Very down to earth but she is also a very weary soul. She has lived far longer than she should but she is honor bound to her promise to find the Man of Shadows and stomp down evil wherever she comes across it. With a willpower as firm as steel, honor bound, and true, she is someone you definitely do not want to cross. She has crossed oceans of time to stomp one creature -- imagine what she’ll do to someone who crosses her?
Hobbies/ Interests: There are too many to count. Niko has spent centuries tracking down the creature that killed her family and that as required her to spend a vast amount of time learning trades, blending in with the world, and adopting over personalities. But there are a few hobbies that have managed to stick around. These include:
Hunting
Fishing
Swimming
Combat Training
Stage Make Up
Poetry
Forgery
Painting
Horseback Riding
Blogging
Reading
Sword training
Archery
Extreme Couponing (don’t judge >.>)
Job or part time job and description: Currently: She is a “trust fund” baby, the granddaughter of the head of Red Pearl Publishing. The reality is that she makes all the decisions through a scapegoat and just uses the money to live her life and feed her obsession for hunting down the Man of Shadows. Fears/ phobias/ concerns:
Niko’s greatest fear is dying before she can complete her vow of stopping the Man of Shadows. He took everything from her, on more than one occasion, but she has never been able to best him. She fears she will only continue to fail until she can no longer persist.
She fears forgetting her mission. Every time she has to force herself to rebond to another sword and resurrects, she loses a piece of her memory. She still cannot fully remember her parents names and she is forgetting her siblings, but she can still see them as foggy memories. It scares her the idea of forgetting them entirely.
Flying. She will never get used to that. Give her a car, a train, a boat, hell, walking she would even prefer. But flying is something she tries to not do if she can avoid it.
Special talents: She is a skilled painter, but not because of her past. She actually was one of those few people who remembers when Bob Ross started his program and used to follow his program closely. Because of that she takes great pleasure in painting landscapes. She also is a bit of a car nut and loves the classic cars she used to drive in the 50s.
Morality
Good/ bad/ neutral/ other: True Neutral - Niko believes herself to be good but she will do whatever it takes to uphold her creed to destroy the Man of Shadows.
Mutations
Mutation description: Life Force Infusion and Manipulation - Life force is the way. Niko has been gifted with the ability to absorb and manipulate the life essence of others -- but only by spilling their blood. In a way she is a sort of essence vampire. She must spill the blood of the guilty (or those she finds guilty) and add their lifeforce to her own. In doing so, she is able to manipulate that life force in a variety of ways, whether it’s strengthening her body, her armor, or her sword. But such abilities require a focus and for Niko, it comes in the form of her sword, Juuchi Yosamu (translation: 10,000 Cold Nights). And though her gifts are extremely powerful, they do have their ups and downs.
Strengths: To draw in the life force of others, Niko must draw their blood. When she does that, when their blood spills upon her sword, her armor, or her flesh, it will be added to her own life force. From there, she can then push that energy into one of three aspects of herself that make her a most formidable adversary and a scourge to the criminals of the world.
Life of the Body: Niko will always absorb a bit of the life force she gathers to herself. The added benefit is that it keeps her young, beautiful, and physically fit. She can also spend a bit more of the life force into strengthening her body, putting her at Olympic levels of fitness. In this state she is able to lift more and run faster.
Life of the Armor: In a pinch, Niko can push some of her life force into her samurai armor. This will make it gleam like a silver moon and strengthens it to the point that she can stop cars or even deflect bullets. But it only works on the armor. If there is an explosion or a piercing weapon that makes it through her armor, into a joint or gap, she will still he harmed.
Life of the Sword: The most important aspect is her ability to add life force to her sword. This will cause the sword to shimmer like gold. In this state it can cut through most anything. However, the hardier the object, the longer it will take to cut through, but it will cut.
Weaknesses and Limitations:
Life for a Life: For her abilities to work, Niko needs to take the life of another. She has focused her attention on the criminals of the world, making them all pay for what she suffered in her youth so many centuries ago. However, given how the world has evolved, it makes it harder and harder to get away with such crimes. If she slips up, she could easily find herself on the wrong side of the law.
There’s Always a Drawback: Despite the variety of ways she can use her life force, there is always a means by which there is a work around. Buffing her body will only make her so strong. She is still susceptible to piercing weapons, bullets, explosions, etc. Her armor is only so strong and there are gaps in certain parts. If those are target, she could easily be harmed or rendered incapacitated. Lastly, her sword allows her to cut through anything but the blade itself still must obey physics. The sword will take longer to cut through a block of steel than it would through a block of wood. And, being disarmed, the sword will be of no use to her.
Way of the Sword: The most drastic aspect of her abilities is her need of her sword and what happens if she is parted with it. Her sword is her focus and allows her to focus her mutation to draw life force from others. Because of how much blood she has spilled over the years, the sword and herself have formed a link; a link that dictates if the sword itself is damaged beyond repair, she must replace it otherwise she will succumb to the centuries she has held back. She will have 24 hours to procure another sword and commit a ritualistic seppuku. This will cause her effectively “die” but is then allowed to be reborn as her young, beautiful self with a new sword. However, should the sword and her be parted, and she is unable to do her ritual for 24 hours, she will die.
Lost Memories: Niko has lived an extremely long life and, in that time, has lost her sword very few times. However, those few times have everlasting effects. When she commits her ritual and returns to life, part of her memory becomes extremely foggy. She has only had to commit this act two or three times since she’s walked the earth, but it has left some of her earliest memories as mere whispers. Therefore she tries to take great care of her sword, lest she forget her mission entirely.
Physical Abilities
General Physical Capabilities: Is a finely honed athlete. She has the strength, speed, and flexibility of someone who has trained their entire life. Her reflexes are sharp as it has aided her throughout the years in fighting a variety of villains (both powered and not). Fighting Style: Niko has trained in a variety of fighting styles over the years. She has mastered many forms, including: Fencing, Swordplay, Bare-knuckle Boxing, Close Quarters Combat, Jeet Kune Do, Aikido, Zui quan (Drunken boxing), and Ninjutsu. Fighting Style Pros/Cons: Pros: 1.) Having such a wide variety of martial skills allows her to compensate for most any situation. 2.) She has a wealth of combat knowledge which has aided her in her journey to destroy the Man of Shadows.
Cons: 1.) There is always someone who will be better than her. Just because she has this variety of skills, doesn’t mean that someone hasn’t trained harder and longer than her. 2.) She can be physically overpowered. If she goes up against someone who is just stronger than her, she will fail.
History Of Your Character The life of Niko Kobayashi is as tragic as it is old. The most important thing to note is that Niko is far older than she appears. Though she looks to be no more than 25 years old, she is, in reality, over 700 years old. But while many would want to live such an extended life, Niko will be the first to tell you that it is not all it is cracked up to be. And if it weren’t for her sworn duty, she would have laid down her sword long ago.
14th Century It all began in 1310. Niko was born to a simple family, a farmer and his beautiful wife, people whose faces she can barely recall anymore. She had one sister, Himari, and one brother, Kosuke, and from what she can recall, they lived a happy life. It was harsh. Everyone had to help out with the farm but they managed to make do and it was a good and honest existence. But things would eventually change when Niko entered her twenties during the beginning of the Genko War.
There was a grasp for power and her world was split in two. War spilled out across the country side as a civil war broke out over a coup for power and it wasn’t only the ruling class the felt it, the outlining villages did as well; Niko’s village being one of them.
War swept through. She watched in horror as family members were cut down, one by one, though she honestly can’t remember in which order anymore. In the end, Niko was left with only herself and a band of murderers looking to sate desire.
It was a harsh struggle but Niko managed to break away, pulling away the sword of one of her attackers and driving it into his chest. As his blood spilled down the blade and over her hands, she felt a swell of power course through her. Eyes flashing red, she launched herself into battle, moving faster, striking harder than any of her attackers. In the end, only Niko was left standing in the shambles of her home. But she could recall, before the bloodlust took over, that one of the men, the ringleader, had a strange grin and a look of shadows trapped within his eyes. It was only when she cut him down did the shadows vanish and she was left alone.
Staggering away, unsure of what she had done, she sought to find a home elsewhere.
Niko could scarcely understand what happened to her until she came upon a temple and spoke with one of the holy men. From what she described, she was told that she had been inhabited by a demon and that she must swear her life to the gods to make up for her crimes. That was the most they could say before turning her away.
From there, Niko wandered. There were some that tried to take advantage of her, others who offered her shelter, but it was when she came across another gang of bandits that she would meet the next stage of her life.
Haru Kobayashi, a samurai and general for one of the warring families came across Niko as she was defending herself. He marveled at her skill with a sword and jumped in to aid her in battling her enemies. When the last fell, he offered her shelter and a space to heal. Upon learning she had no family anymore, he made it his mission to give her a better life. He trained her in the arts of a samurai and, before long, the two of them quickly fell in love. But it was a love that wouldn’t last.
A man. A man of shadows, one who spurred on the war between the clans snuck into the Kobayashi household and possessed one of the servants and ran Haru through with his own sword. Niko was shocked and quickly dispatched the servant, only to watch the Man of Shadows flee from her body before escaping. He was the same specter she saw that attacked her village. She vowed revenge against that “demon” and would follow him onto the ends of the earth if she had to.
15th Century Leaves Japan and tracks the Man of Shadows to the kingdom of Champa. Niko confronts the demon but falls when he manages to break her sword. Thinking she has failed, she uses another sword to allow her to die with honor. However, she discovers that doing so will rejuvinate her and help her bond with a new sword. She eventually loses him when the Vietnamese king, Le Thanh Tong, conquers the land.
16th Century Witness’s the plague sweeping through England. Niko sweeps the land, unaffected, tracking the Man of Shadows. Loses him again. She forges documents labeling herself as a traveling noblewoman to keep her safe.
17th Century In the midst of the English Civil War, Niko flees the country in search of the Man of Shadows but seemingly loses sight of him and instead moves back to mainland Europe. Upon her arrival she immediately discovers him again and the two battle, which again ends with the destruction of her sword. She once again brings herself back into battle with a new blade.
18th Century Niko has settled in Switzerland, having lost track of her prey. Here she buys and invests in the Karlsson Publishing House but continues to keep an eye out.
19th Century After hearing news of war breaking out in the Americas, Niko takes up her blade again and travels across the sea. There she finds her target again and nearly ends him when the two are separated by cannon fire. She escapes and begins to plant herself into the new “American” way of life.
20th Century Niko moves to Canada when Japanese Internment camps started to sprout up across the country. This will be the third time that Niko breaks her sword in battle with a superpowered individual. Again she is forced to forge another bond.
21st Century This most current century is still very youthful to Niko but certainly has allowed her to refine her processes. After leaving Canada, she returns to the U.S.A. knowing full well that the Man of Shadows is still in this country full of development and strife. Still a leading name in the publishing world, she moves the Karlsson Publishing House operations to Japan and opens up offices in New York City, under its new name: Red Pearl Publishing.
Niko has never let on that she is a mutant, thus when the Registration Act of 2007 came into being, she remained in hiding and kept her activities to a minimum, just allowing her to do what was necessary to continue her work.
Living through the attack of New York by living trees, the rise of the M.E.T.A.bots, and the rift between worlds, Niko has learned a variety of things. She keeps herself as careful as possible, hiding her actions but admittedly with the advent of personal cameras on everyone’s cell phones, it has become harder to do what she needs to do.
Worst of all, the Man of Shadows is back. Caught on a video uploaded to social media, Niko knows the creature still persists to this day. So she will uphold her mantle and do whatever it takes to finally bring him to his inevitable end. No matter the cost.
Roleplay What’s your OOC alias?: Jorge Where did you learn about this site?: That’s cute. To think there was a time before I knew about this site. Silly. Do you have any other characters on MRO, if so who:Jorge Cervantes , Belladonna Honey , Akshay Malik , Booker B. Bookman , Celeste Teal , Charles Red Fish Sample RP: He ran. He ran as fast and as hard as his lungs could carry him. James wasn’t prepared for this. When he agreed to step out tonight his idea for a “quick job” was just knocking over a liquor store for a few hundred and running off to some secret place to freely spend. But Hector. Goddamn Hector! He had to put shells in the damn shotgun! What was he thinking! They had argued about this but Hector was too stubborn, believing that if he didn’t, that would be the one day that they were unprepared.
And now look what happened. The liquor store owner, a nice old man, lie dead because Hector got spooked. Heard a noise, jumped, and squeezed the trigger. Now they were both dead. How? That was the craziest part. Since when were there samurais in New York City?!
James gasped for breath. As soon as he ran from the shop he bolted down the street and refused to stop. Who knows how many blocks he ran before he rounded another corner and stumbled into a shady alley. He was breathing hard, his lungs burning, his eyes feeling like sandpaper. He hadn’t blinked since he saw it, had he? Hadn’t blinked since he was arguing with Hector and saw that sword pierce his chest. There was a shower of red that James had to wipe from his eyes. It was only when he did that he noticed the towering, red silhouette standing behind Hector, lifting him up, impaled on a sword.
He took one look and ran. It was a samurai. It was a F***ING SAMURAI! He had seen enough martial arts movies to know when he saw one but...why? HOW?!
Leaning against the brick wall, he tried to calm his breathing but his chest just wouldn’t stop burning. Every noise startled him: rats scampering, distant sirens, the soaring of planes high above. He shook his head. Home. He just needed to get ho--
VRRROOOOMMM!!
A car sped by. He squeaked and jumped backwards, crawling further and further back into the alley. Here. He would just way here until things finally died down. It was nice here. It was dark, it was safe, it was--
thud...
His back pressed against something. Gulping, he very slowly turned around and spied that he had backed into a shape. Large, imposing, angular, he was about to stammer a question to ask what it was when a passing victim across the street illuminated the alley and he saw a demon faceplate stare down at him.
“OH GAWD!” He shrieked. “NO I...I--URK!!!”
***
It wasn’t hard to track him. He ran like a flailing fool, fear guiding his movement. How long had she hunted people like him? How predictable were they? In this case it was easy to tell as he ran for the first dark and shadowy alley he could find. The only way he felt safe, apparently. Taking the back alley would be simple enough, chase him down from the other side of the building, breath silent, footfalls barely noticeable in the din of the city. When he stopped she was already there, advancing on him from behind.
Murderer. Murderers couldn’t be tolerated.
His fear drew him in, embracing the darkness that she had accepted long before even his ancestors were alive. When he bumped into her, a passing vehicle briefly illuminated her face, demon’s snarl enough to send his panic into a boil. It was a quick movement after that.
The song of her blade cut through the air. The point driven deep. The crimson spilling across metal. It took seconds. Stepping away from his fallen body, the Crimson Samurai held the blade up and breathed a deep sigh. Blood swirled and faded, evaporated into thin smoke which she breathed in. Before long, the blood was gone and the sword was sheathed.
”Guilty,” she spat at the fallen man. Then, turning, she slipped back into the shadows and back towards the waiting motorcycle. She was done for the night. Justice had been served for that liquor store owner. Her own? Well, she was one step closer.
