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.
"I don't think I ever ran in those circles." Shade replied, draining his second beer. The beer dulled his senses, dulled his pain."My old circles would probably murder those people.'
"However...I bet an invisible man could get a lot closer than a half blind guy." Shade said, sliding his empty beer glass across the bar to the bartender. He withdrew an invisible blade from his sleeve and fiddled with it before it dissolved into smoke. Should I pay them a visit?
Shade took another swig from his new beer. The alcohol helped to dull the pain in his chest. He listened with modest interest as Cold Steel explained what he had found so far. Shade frowned at hearing that the warehouse was cleared out. Cold Steel might have caught it, if the ice mutant was watching close enough. He didn't like the sound of it. Amateurs wouldn't have access to mutant collars, and they wouldn't disappear if one of their contacts turned up missing. There was more to the story, whether Cold Steel suspected it or not. And Shade didn't like tag-a-longs. Shade was made to be invisible. He could slip in and out of nearly anywhere without any issues. Accompanied by nearly anyone else hindered him greatly. However, he doubted that would stop Cold Steel.
"Maybe you should buy some. And we see what we get from there?" Shade suggested.
It was Shade's turn to laugh. The Order, what a joke? There was nothing left of the Order now, except the giant golden doors that hung in front of the Sanctuary. The only reason they were still there was because not many people could move that amount of metal.
Shade hadn't thought it would deteriorate so fast after he- Shade coughed, feeling the promises tighten around his heart. He hadn't done anything, Shade reminded himself. He chugged the left of his beer to hide his discomfort, so Cold Steel wouldnt suspect too much.
Shade slid the empty glass to the barkeep as another took its place."Anti-mutant? What does that entail?" Shade asked, his curiosity peaked.
"You told me not to traumatize the kids. We don't want them telling their father about a murderous mutant now, wonuld we?" Shade replied, taking another large swig from his beer. He shifted his unseen gaze towards the other patrons in the room. The bar was sparsely populated. Most were relieving themselves after a long day. No one paid much attention to anyone but themselves. Shade turned back to Cold Steel, confident no one was dangerous enough to pose a threat.
"Do you have other orders at this time?" Shade asked, swirling the beer in his glass.
Shade slipped out from the darkness shadow in the bar. A nearby patron exclaimed as Shade's body became visible, appearing to materialize from thin air. Shade ignored the half-drunk man and approached Cold Steel from behind. Shade stalked towards him, eyeing Cold Steel's neck. It was so tempting. Not that Shade could do anything, but it was very tempting.
"Took you long enough..." Cold Steel's words snapped him out of his predator mode. Shade knew he could never sneak up on his guy.
"The kids are fine." Shade said, dropping onto the nearby bar stool before taking a gulp from the beer in front of him. "You know I hate dealing with kids."
"Heard the aunt had a thing for you."
"The aunt must have a thing for dark, mysterious types." Shade replied.
Was that a joke? Shade thought to himself. He shook his head. He was hanging around Cold Steel too much.
Tick, tock. tick, tock. Shade was getting impatient. He paced across the rooftop edge, waiting for his prey. His invisible cloak billowed in the wind at this height. It was nervous racking. Maybe he had overlooked something in this plan. His plan had an obvious flaw, of course. He was not allowed to murder anyone. Maybe that had caused him to not see another crucial detail. As the minutes dragged on, Shade began to worry. There was nothing connecting him. He had been sure to cover his tracks. Lenna would never know it was him, even if she didn't show. At least, he hoped. He double checked it, triple checked it, recapping the events that led up to this climax. Yes, he was sure that he was safe...
Headlights pulled into the alley below him. Shade's prey had arrived. It was time for the show.
Shade jumped down two floors and flipped the breaker for the building. Below, the lights snapped on, illuminating a path for Shade's prey to follow. It also started the timer on Shade's little surprise. He felt the stab of a dagger in his heart.
I'm not killing anyone. Shade thought. I'm just removing an old building. If Lenna happened to be inside the building at the time of the explosion, it wasn't Shade's fault. At least, Shade hoped his new found conscience would accept that. With his trap set, Shade jumped to hidden shadow he had purposely concealed to order to watch his prey's activities.
Below, Lenna would witness a path of lights illuminate before her, guiding her to the third floor where she would find two individuals tied to chairs, hoods over their heads.
How does an assassin guarantee the execution of their target? You leave them no other alternative but death.
Shade had been scheming for months in order to develop an effective plan against one of his mostly deadly targets: that Adapted, Lenna. He had spent months tracking her steps, learning every detail about her life: her habits, her contacts, who she cared about, who Shade could use against her. It was a slow and tedious process, especially because Shade had to be extra careful to avoid her nullifying mutation field. He had been caught once in it, powerless and defenseless. He never wanted to be in that situation again. He would never be in that situation again. Soon.
It didn't help that Shade was significantly handicapped in his assassination abilities. He had to deal with a target that removed his mutant abilities used to eliminate his targets and escape unharmed. In addition, he had to deal with the chains wrapped around his wrist, his promises. Among them, Shade was not allowed to attack someone, and it was hard to kill someone if you weren't allowed to attack them. Instead, Shade had to think outside the box and implore strategies that were not his usually style and expertise.
It was nearly time to strike. The most important information that Shade had discovered was Lenna's uncanny devotion to raised Lori's adopted daughter, Kaitlyn. It was admirable, if Shade had a heart to cared but it was an easily exploitable weakness of hers. It was obvious that Lenna cared for the girl, even if she tried not to show it to others. The other weakness was a little harder to track down. It took a chance meeting for Shade to catch them together. Lenna had a man, or at least someone she was romantically involved with. Shade didn't know the details (and honestly didn't want to), but it was another tool that he could use against her, extra leverage to apply more pressure on her.
Isolating Kaitlyn from Lenna was easy enough. Shade had to simply wait until Kaitlyn was inside the walls of the mansion. Lenna would be unable to contact the little Orderling without the risk of exposing her little spy to the other mansion residents. Keeping her away from her lover required a little more finesse. However, a missing cellphone and an emergency at work could go a long way. It would be too late for Lenna by the time he knew. Shade also made sure that she could not call on any Order members (if any were ever around). He would spring the trap while she was away. And no one, except maybe Shade, would be able to reach her in time. The only thing missing now was the target.
Shade, perched atop an abandoned warehouse, pulled the burner phone from his pocket and dialed the only number listed. He waited until the other person picked up. “Hello, Miss Lenna.” Shade breathed into the phone. “We would like to talk to you about a Mr. Hunter. We have him here with us. Please come join us. And Miss Lenna, don’t try anything funny. We have Kaitlyn here as well.”
Shade hung up and dropped a pin to Lenna’s phone, showing her the location. Now all he had to do was wait.
It hurt to breathe. The combination of piercing, cold air and bruised muscles made every breath painfully. Shade stumbled to cover. The snow clung to his clothes, revealing the invisible man to the trained eye. However, the blanket of white helped him blend into his surroundings. Shade barely heard Cold Steel's words over the howling wind. Get to the fire? What was he going to do there? Wasn't there still a couple of these mutants left? Shade didn't disobey the order though. He had to fulfill his promises after all.
Shade reached out with his shadow sense until he found the opening of the tunnel. It would have to do for now. In a puff of snow, he 'ported out and dropped cold and wet onto the solid ice floor. God dammit it was cold, but at least, there was a fire waiting. He pushed himself off the ice and half-dragged himself down the hall. Hopefully, Cold Steel would come back to help lead him back. If not, he could use his shadow sense to guess the location of Cold Steel's liar.
Shade sat alone in his room once again, contemplating his next move. He had spent months gathering intel, for Cold Steel and for himself, finding out everything he needed to know about his latest target. He had spent more months trying to circumvent the chains binding him around his left wrist, the chains that held the invisible dagger positioned against his beating heart. Shade rubbed the chains subconsciously. They were symbols of his servitude. Yet, recently, he was finding it easier to avoid the stabbing pain in his heart. The negative feedback was slowly working its way into his subconscious, softening his approach to the world. Shade no longer saw passing people as targets for killing, murders waiting to be committed. However, it had not softened his feelings towards one individual: that Adapted.
Lenna. Shade hated every Adapted, but he hated that her the most. What was an Adapted doing as a leader of the Order? As the swore enemy of every mutant, the Order should be eliminating every Adapted, not ruled by them. It felt like another chain wrapped around Shade's wrist. And he knew that she did not have the interests of mutants as her motivation. She only cared about the normal things humans craved: money and power. That was all the Order was for Lenna, a means to an end. She would betray the Order as soon as it did not benefit her anymore. Shade did not intent to let that happen.
The cold sting of death piercing his heart interrupted Shade's thoughts. No, he did not wish to attack her, Shade told his newly found conscience. The invisible dagger inched away from his heart. Lenna would come willingly to her own death. Shade wouldn't be able to stop her.
Shade materialized a blade of shadow and threw it across the room, pinning it to the picture of the blonde haired Adapted. Two lines connected her picture to the two most important things to Lenna, her adopted daughter and her boyfriend. She would do anything for them. With a threat on both of them, Shade doubted Lenna would realize that she was walking straight into a trap, or she wouldn't care. Either way, she would be walking straight towards her death.
The warm of blood caused Shade's fingers to tingle from the sudden temperature change. The shadow assassin stared at the red liquor as it poured through his fingers. His blade had stuck home, but the sensation of murder was somehow different. It had been over a year since Shade had split someone's else blood. Finally allowed to kill, the sensation felt foreign to him, almost filthy. He tried to wipe off the blood on his gray cloak, but the cold had caused the blood to coagulate in an instant. It stuck to his hand.
Shade's distraction was not shared with the rest of the battlefield. After the sudden surprise with the appearance of another target, Ballista turned to her fallen comrade and blasted Shade with a concussive blast. The shot blew Shade off his feet, bruising his ribs in the process. He skipped across the powdery fields until coming to rest in a snow bank. Face down in the snow with the wind knocked out of him, Shade was glad to hear Cold Steel's voice report that another mutant had fallen. The shadow mutant struggled to his feet, retreating from the fight as Ballista returned to their primary target.
The seat in the back appeared to be empty in the dark of night. Only a passing street light would hit the car, revealing Shade location. He didn't know why he hadn't opted out of riding in the van. It was loud and crowded. Shade preferred a bit more operating room when he worked.
The mutant in front of Shade was playing with his gun before they arrived. It annoyed Shade. The constant sliding of the bolt made Shade want to slide his knife into the man's throat. His heart burn flared at the thought, the effect of his conscience remaining him that he had made a promise to not kill. Shade growled softly at the pain. Tonight would probably be bad enough without Shade worrying about where to stab people.
Shade was glad Aura wanted to work in the shadows. It was Shade's specialty. The back up sounded like a problem for the others, but Shade only had to slip away in the shadows. He had the objective. He could count on the others for the distraction.
Cold Steel was locked in full combat with two different opponents, with a third attacker launching projectiles at him. Shade could see why the ice mutant had chosen the ice tundra as his battle ground. Everything in the environment was situated to assist Cold Steel and hamper everyone else. It was like Shade fighting in the night. Complete control.
After Knife Guy revealed himself, Shade had his target. His conscience tugged him towards the battle waging around Cold Steel, but he settles it by reminding himself that Cold Steel had ordered him to kill the 'porter. If he completed his mission, he was still protecting Cold Steel, technically. At least, the invisible knife posed against his heart seemed to think so. He felt the pain lessen as he materialized a blade from his pocket.
The snow was as much as a hindrance as it was to his opponents. He 'ported several times in order to build up speed. Shade wanted his blade to be in the back of the mutant's neck before he knew that another assailant had entered the field of battle. Finally breaking free of the snow, Shade aimed his 'jump' high. He materialized fifteen feet in the air, from the top shadow of an ice pillar. His momentum pulled him from the shadow.
Like a giant black bird, his cloak flapping behind him like wings, Shade descended onto his target. His blade was posed his right fist, cocked to strike. Shade could almost feel the blood between his fingers as he fell. The other 'porter would never even see his killer.
Cold Steel's tattoo was a sweet touch...if Shade was his betrothed. However, the shadow mutant was his slave. The symbol of slavery only formed heated words for the ice mutant in Shade's head. It was for the better. The fresh wave of hatred warmed Shade's body, sharpening his mind to his future task. He fingered the tactical knife, strapped to his side. Catching a 'porter in an unknown terrain was going to be difficult. Shade hoped he did not possess a sixth sense, like himself. Most jumpers needed to see or know their target. Shade only needed to know that it was covered in darkness.
Cold Steel seemed to be steeling his mind as well. The ice mutant had quieted, and Shade almost thought he was asleep. The shadow mutant had just unstrapped his blade to carve his name into the ice wall when Cold Steel announced the presence of their attackers. Shade followed Cold Steel as both their senses began to search for their targets. He felt the temperature shift colder as the X-man revved his abilities.
The cold numbed Shade's fingers and mind. He shifted away from Cold Steel, taking cover in a shadow. It was better for their attackers to believe that Cold Steel was alone, even if Shade was technically using Cold Steel as bait. The shadow mutant knew the X-man could hold his own. Shade's mind shifted to searching for the 'porter. Luckily, Shade had moved away from Cold Steel, because the snow exploded near him. At first, the shadow mutant thought he had been hit, but he could see the wall of ice. It had to be Cold Steel's creation.
There was four mutants. They appeared before Cold Steel, completely focused on him.
"Good. They don't know that I'm here. Shade thought. Two mutant revealed themselves to not be his target. He had two options left.
The battle was beginning as the two more combat oriented mutants began to assault Cold Steel. Shade remained unmoved. His conscience tugged a heart string, reminding him of his oath of protection. He quieted it by reminding himself that it was best to strike at the most opportune time. If he revealed himself too early, his attack would be wasted. He needed to find the 'porter. If he could cut off their mobility, Shade was certain that they could finish the other three off by themselves.
Plus, when else was Shade going to get to watch Cold Steel get his butt kicked for a few minutes? Shade allowed himself a small grin at the thought.
The tension was thicker than London fog. Shade could almost see Syn's mind at work, although her face never changed. The longer that Syn remained unmoved, the more Shade wanted to run. He palms were sweating in his hoodie, and he wanted more than anything to draw a blade for protection. But something stayed his hand. Something kept Shade more interested in Syn than her actions. A breath away from bolting for the door, Syn broke into a glamorous smile.
- “Wonderful! I’m so glad you’ve kept on doing your homework my dear Shade. I eagerly look forward to our next little chat.”
It took all of his effort for Shade not to breath a huge sigh of relief. In its replace, Shade grinned and gave a small nod. He remained seated. The shadow mutant did not entirely trust his legs to not run away. As she departed, Syn turned back towards Shade, flashing with a wicked smile.
"Me too." Shade replied as the door swung shut. The shadow mutant waited a few tense seconds to ensure the dark mistress had indeed left before he heaved a huge sigh of relief. Shade was amazed to see that his hands were actually shaking. He had not been this nervous since his first kill. Afraid that someone might see him in this shape, Shade moved into the shadows. He had escaped by the skin of his teeth, and he was happy to be alive. A sharp pain in his gut reminded him of his bonds.
Yeah, he had better report the meeting to Cold Steel.
Obviously Cold Steel had thought of everything when he had formed this little hide-away from solid ice. Although there was no wind, the air surrounding them was extremely frigid, not that Cold Steel seemed to notice. However, to Shade, every breath seemed to chill him to the bone. The ice mutant led the way as they traveled through a several of twists and turns. Even Shade, with his second sense, was finding himself lost in the maze. He was glad he had a guide. He was also glad when Cold Steel lit the small fire. The warmth was a welcome relief from their frozen surrounding. Shade extended his hands, allowing the warmth to spread through his finger tips. He wanted full control of his extremities when the party started.
Shade was a rather surprised to discover the details of Cold Steel's past. Although, it did explain why Cold Steel was such a good fighter. Shade could almost feel sorry for the ice mutant, if he did not have a past just as bad. It was weird discovering secrets about someone who had been his enemy for so long. As Cold Steel went over the battle plan again, he revealed to Shade some of the potential mutants that they might be facing off against. Shade wished it was darker. He would have a much better time fighting in the black of night. Hopefully, he could bait them into the dark tunnels, but if the hit squad were professionals (as Cold Steel implied), Shade doubted they would do something as stupid as that.
The teleporter was obviously the most pressing threat. Shade had little experience fighting other jumpers, but it sounded like the shadow mutant had a faster means of travel, if slightly more limited. Shade hoped he could find the rift walker while Cold Steel was trying to stall them. Shade would need a shadow to pinpoint his location.
"Yeah, I got the jumper. Just watch your back until I can find him." Shade said. He took the extended whiskey and swallowed a shot before landing it back. The liquor burned his insides, but it warmed him too. He was surprised by Cold Steel's offer, even a little taken aback, although Shade had no plans of dying here.
"Just drop my cloak at the Sanctuary. I think they will figure out the rest from there." Shade replied, taking another swig before hanging the bottle back to Cold Steel. He only hoped the the dream walker hurried up, finding their location. The cold was already dulling Shade's senses.
