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.
If she weren't careful, she was going to find herself quickly enraptured with what he was saying. He was egotistical, that was for sure... possibly even bordering on narcissistic... but he made a valid point, and did it in a way she could actually understand. Most of the time she couldn't filter through what people were saying when they got political, or, like her psychology teacher, got lost in their textbook way of speaking.
She admired the fact that he could speak of his own kind and hers in a way that came off both knowing and clouded. She jotted down his 'spirit of man' comment, not wanting to forget it, and tapped her chin with her pen. "Easier said than done, i'm afraid. It it's not my crippling shyness preventing me from approaching a visible mutant, it's something else." She was about to point out the fact that he had spoken to her first as an example, but paused and chose to put a word-wall between comparing him to a mutant in anyway.
"And that's just mutants. I wouldn't have been able to approach you, sir, in a million years. I would have been much to embarrassed."
Now, sad puppy eyes. Maybe it would work on him? She'd never know if she didn't try. Her bottom lip puckered out slightly and she heaved a slight sigh; nothing too big. She didn't want it to seem like she was exaggerating. "Perhaps I should have chosen one of the other subjects. Mental illness, or... or belief systems. Religion maybe."
Insert soft laugh, and scratch of the head. "Of course, how could I have known I was going to be graced with the opportunity to speak with a God? My classmates would probably kill me to have an opportunity like this."
The grin that grew on her face was instantaneous. She didn't usually show her teeth with a smile, but talking about home always brought about that reaction. "The Emerald City." She could envision the city scape nearly perfectly. It made her feel warm and fuzzy.
"And not the one with munchkins, lions, and flying monkeys. I'm from Seattle Washington. Born and raised there; the public transportation system has always been terrible. Probably always will be, but it grows on you."
The time she had been talking about had been the truth, if a little exaggerated as he had guessed. They didn't exactly send you flying, but at the same time they didn't wait for you to get seated either. She'd had her fair share of walkway spills because of it, but had never been the type of person to complain.
"It's a smaller version of this city, but with more hipsters and coffee addicts."
Speaking of busses, they were moving at a pretty good pace. Traffic wasn't terrible for once, so she estimated a short drive. They started around a corner, and her tightened her grip on the safety bar in order to not sway to the side with everyone else.
"No problem." She started, absently rubbing her free hand against her jeans. "Your little act worked like a charm I think. Bus drivers here are a lot more tolerant than the ones i'm used to."
In her home city the busses were always jam packed and the driver was always late for something. It meant they were 100% less likely to wait for you if you were running for the bus, wouldn't thing twice about tossing you off for silly reasons, and didn't take flack from anyone. She could get away with a lot more in New York, if only because the bus workers just seemed so tired all of the time. They didn't want to deal with any extra issues. So the ones she'd met just kinda went with the flow.
She did kinda miss them, though.
"And they let you settle before peeling away from the curb. You have no idea how many times I've been sent careening down the walkway from overzealous bus drivers."
Shelby shifted uncomfortably, but dealt with Alex's sudden closeness until the situation was overwith. People touching her, or grabbing her clothes, usually ended with her jerking away and sanitizing herself shortly after. She was borderline ocd about it most of the time, especially with strangers or new acquaintances. Forcing a small reassuring smile to shoot at the homeless boy and his bird, she shook the crawling of her skin off.
The driver glanced from her to him, primed and ready to shoot the both of them down. No bird, or no ride. But, a woman seated behind shelby had been watching the whole exchange, and was loudly chatting with her bench partner about therapy animals and how it was illegal in most places to question people about their animals. The poor man really didn't feel like having to deal with any kind of complaint about discrimination, so with a grunt he waved them to go sit down. "Go on, git. Before I change my mind."
Shelby snatched Alex's hand without a second though and hightailed it toward the back of the bus, pressing herself into a little corner by the back door. It was standing room only, but the ride wouldn't feel that long unless traffic was bad. She hooked her hand around the above-head safety bar and sighed.
"I don't see much difference between us, humans and mutants, save for the obvious. I wouldn't shy away from someone who's double jointed, so I couldn't ignore someone who could spontaneously burst into flames, either."
It was her honest opinion, if a little blunt and perhaps easily interpreted in different ways.
"I like to think I have an eye for beauty, oh magnificent one. I tend to find it where others don't or in places others won't look. Yours is larger than life, and thus impossible to ignore." She was being wordy. She needed to stahp. "But, I fear I am embarrassing myself. I don't usually talk this much." Then again, it wasn't everyday a Dragon god spoke to you.
And now, for the carefully worded truth: "The assignment I chose is to try and document the subtle differences of the human and mutant mind. Based on history, power, belief system... what have you. How does our society affect the mentality of a budding mutant? How does the individual power correspond with how they ultimately turn out... Does the person shape the power, or does the power shape the person." She fiddled with her paper. "Not many mutants are willing to share such intimate details with someone they feel can't empathize with them."
His humor helped her relax a little. Funny people were always a little easier for her to be around. In her mind humor was a sign that you weren't a serial killer or a jerk.
Well, good humor at least. Some jokes just really sucked.
"But of course, my good man. Why, just you wait. The moment we get there I will break out the tiny mustaches and wine flutes, and we can stand around hemming and hawing at art all day. Totes sophisticated."
Sliding up at the back of the crowd, she edged them into line and waited. As if on cue the bus she was waiting for pulled around the corner behind them. She fished out some change for Alex and her bus pass. "And don't worry about being interesting. I find that honesty is the most interesting thing about people when they first go to exhibits like this."
The line shuffled along until it was time for them to board. She tossed the change in for Alex, swiped her card over the scanner, and moved to find a seat.
"Uh, no birds on board."
Swiveling on her feet, she shuffled back to the busdriver as people continued past. "It's okay. He's a companion bird. You know, like companion dogs? Specifically trained to help with anxiety and stress. He won't make any messes. Promise." She glanced at Alex, then back to the driver who was giving the both of them a level stare with one eyebrow raised.
Japanese? He kept calling her little. Not that she minded; she was pretty short... even more so when compared to him. Was she supposed to bow at the waist now? Or was the rude coming some someone so obviously not part of his culture? She didn't know, so she decided against it. But, the kicker, was he thought she was a mutant.
Very briefly, she considered going with it. Both because it would be fun to pretend she was something special, and because she figured it would up the chances of him opening up to her. But, as she had before, she shot the idea down quickly. She wasn't prepared for such a lie, and knew she'd have no way of backing it up if he questioned her.
Her cheeks did darken however at her supposed manners. She'd never really thought of herself like that. She ate with elbows on the table and wasn't afraid to curse like a sailor when it was called for. She had been brought up to be polite, though, to everyone. So she guessed that must have counted for something. Now if she could just keep the image up she might actually get somewhere!
The fact that he had called himself a god wasn't lost on her. She'd heard it and mentally scoffed three times over. This would be perfect for her paper, though! The psychology of a mutant god. What got better than that?
"Unfortunately, no, your lordship." Good lord, was the the right term to use? "I'm human. The non-powered kind. I'm only here for a psychology assignment."
Flipping her page of doodles over so she had a clean sheet to work with, she turned to face him better, hopefully in a respectful manner. "Unfortunately, I haven't found the right person to interview." How to go about the right way of asking... manners.. manners. Keep it up with the manners.
"...If... if you don't mind me saying, your lordship, you are magnificent. Very... extraordinary; beautiful." She meant it too, and that honesty carried with her words. She could see the terrifying parts... the leathery skin of his wings, the talons and the fangs. But she could see the beauty in them too. She really wanted to try her hand at sketching him, but she had always been terrible at life portraits. They never came out like she wanted, and she didn't feel like she'd do him justice.
Her notes page was quickly becoming filled with doodles of bees and flowers, as her mind wandered. She indeed hadn't noticed the sounds of the approaching dragon, nor the shadow that fell over her, not the sounds of something gigantic breathing... ntil the wind of it hit her notes and caused the page to flutter. Then, and only then, was she drawn back into the present. And, my, where had the sun gone?
A booming voice earned a flinch and a quiet yelp, and her head snapped in the direction so fast it sent her hair flying around her shoulders. No normal person stood peering over at her, no... she was never that lucky. There was a dragon (she could only assume he was a dragon. He looked like a dragon!) right behind her, and holy reptiles, was he ever huge.
"I, um, I'm visiting, I guess." Though, she was new to the area. And city. And... east side of the country. "I'm new to the city, however."
She doubted she was expected to offer her hand to shake, so she didn't. She didn't like he expression anyway. No telling where other peoples hands, or claws and paws, had been. "I'm Shelby, Sir. Pleasure to meet you."
Paper in hand, she eyed him quietly. One of her hobbies, or interests... quirks?.. was to study faces. Or, in this case, whole bodies. Normally she was a harsh judge when it came to beauty, as she had her own individual standards... but at the moment her 'pretty' radar was going insane. He was terrifying, sure, as any Dragon-like creature would probably be... but at the same time he was a beautiful color, and she couldn't help but admire the various points and ridges on him. And he had the prettiest eyes...
Realizing she was opening staring, she flushed and corrected herself, turning her attention to the paper in her hands. Maybe he'd be her lucky fourth?
She meant to nod vigorously, but it only came off as a jerk of her chin. She couldn't take her eyes off of him; she was too scared too. As long as she had him in her sight in some small way she felt a little safer.
He jerked forward and in the dark it took a few moments longer than it should have for her brain to comprehend the movement. When it did, she dropped back flat, smacking her skull soundly on the cement as she did so. The little hiss of pain she gave was her only indication of the pain, but she refused to lift her arms to rub the pain away. Any quick movements felt like she'd draw more attention to herself, incite his anger further.
Then, he hissed the words she had been waiting to hear only moments before. Run. Run. Running meant escape. It meant freedom. Her pupils dilated slightly as a flash of relief washed through her... but it quickly died.
"...I... M-my legs won't work..." Try as she might, every signal she sent then to move resulted in a twitch and a jerk. They just weren't syncing up in her terror.
Her psychology teacher had wanted everyone in her class to pick a subject, preferably one that was either a little controversial, or one that had to deal with a known psychological problem. Shelby had chosen a controversial issue, and one that she felt was rather relevant considering the day and age. The workings of the mutant mind.
Now, considering the fact that she knew virtually zero mutants, she'd chosen a rather difficult subject for herself. She'd been content on simply diving into a few books as study material, until she was informed that everyone would have to interview at least one person in reference to the subject they chose. So, those who'd chosen paranoid schizophrenics needed to hunt down someone dealing with the condition for first hand information... and she needed to hunt down a mutant or two.
This was easier said than done for someone who didn't very much like people, mutant and human alike. Having to find someone that was a visible mutant (since she sure as hell wasn't going to go around asking normal looking people), she'd also need to initiate the conversation. At best she would come off as awkward and shy, at worst she'd come off as creepy and weird.
Thankfully, New York had a school that made her search relatively easy. The Mansion, as a few people called it, housed quite the assortment of mutants young and old. She just needed to find the chatty ones who didn't mind her prying into their innermost thoughts. Before heading on over, she'd called and spoke with someone about doing an interview on school grounds, and gotten permission. Of course, she'd worded the title of her essay a little differently... so as to not offend anyone who could set her on fire with their eyes.
And hour and a half later, and two bus rides, and she was at her destination. She was buzzed in and with pad and pen in hand, she started roaming the grounds looking for targets. The first two declined to participate on grounds that they had to rush off to class. The third gave her a dirty look when she let the idea behind her assignment slip accidentally. Collapsing on the edge of a fountain after five minutes of searching for number four, she jotted down a few notes about people being unhelpful, and started to doodle.
Maybe he'd have a different take on it. She kinda hoped he would, in fact. It would make things more interesting having someone tolerable to debate art with.
"Naw, don't worry about it. If anything you'll help me out. I can bounce ideas off of you and see how your opinion reflects against my own. Helps me concentrate on things." Boring things, at least. Besides, maybe with him there her classmates wouldn't feel as obligated to come over and force socialization on her.
"Isn't much to do in a place like this than wander from one place to the next, tilt your head at 'art', and pretend you fit in with the other snobs who show up to look sophisticated." Snorting at own words, then quickly recovering with a cough, she hastily added, "Besides eat, that is."
Her back hit the floor and forced the air from her lungs with a whoosh, and though some small part of her was ranting about having sewage on her hands and clothes, she dared not move. Unbeknownst to her the very air she was breathing was laced, and it wasn't making her panic any better.
All of the warnings that had ever been instilled in her were gradually fading into the back of her thoughts as she fought for breath and blinked a sudden bout of tears away. Cautiously but quickly, her bag was un-shouldered and shoved away from her. She didn't even go for the can of bear spray when it rolled out, along with her lipbalm. The crunching of her camera (her borrowed, school owned camera) she started.
"I'm sorry!" Slapping a hand over her mouth, she stopped the cascade of desperate apologies before they could begin, and forced herself to be quiet. She didn't know what he considered 'talking back' but didn't want to test the waters. She couldn't see him very well anymore. Just the light reflecting off of his many sharp pointy bits, and the looming shadow he had become.
"Um... Art. I'm about two and a half years away from my degree in fine arts." Years away, and dozens of classes. History, painting, photography, sculpture, you name it. Math. Ew. And an assortment of other useless classes she wasn't interested in.
"Gonna open up my own Gallery someday, er... after I have my degree. There's a new art exhibit set up at the Modern Art Museum."
Fishing in her bag, she dug out a recorder and a pad of paper. "My assignment is to find three pieces I like and write a piece on them."
She hated doing assignments like this, especially on Modern art pieces. In her opinion there wasn't any real talent in most things considered 'Modern Art'.
His reaction to cutting off the connection with the butterfly gave her reason to tilt her head. There was no way for her to empathize with that feeling, whatever it was, so she shrugged it off. "It's not much, really. Just a little corner cafe. And I get free admission to the museum, since I'm a student."
She'd be paying for food, and admission for one, but his thanks made her flush slightly all the same. She didn't like when people recognized her doing things for them. It made her feel self conscious.
"Have you ever been to an exhibit before?" She wasn't sure how the staff would react to his bird, er... ace... but they could deal with that problem when they came upon it. For now, she jerked her chin toward the sidewalk and started back out toward the street.
Snorting, she shifted on her knees and stood. "I don't like watching things die. Even... even if it isn't real death, or whatever." She'd feel bad for the little rat, who seems so energetic, and for the hawk. Not really for the bug, since it was just a bug. Her sentimentality didn't extend that far very often.
"I'm supposed to catch a bus a few blocks from head to head over to the museum. would you... uh... wanna come with? They have a killer club sandwich at this little sub shop."
Fiddling with her bracelet, she waited anxiously for his response. It wasn't often that she made offers like that to perfect strangers. Actually, she never made offers like that. Usually she just gave people money, or bought them food and brought it back to them. She didn't like most people knowing where she liked to hang out. Maybe it was this guys age, or the power he held, but she knew she'd beat herself up over it later if she didn't at least offer.
He was human, after all. A mutated human, but it counted nonetheless.
