X-Men: Rise of the Raven RP thread (IC)

[dragonrazor]

Raven, Raven
Black as Night
Reveal the Power
Reveal the Might
Ancient Raven, set in stone,
Reveal the truth within thy soul.

Mutation. The X Gene is a unique metagenetic marker found in all human life. In most, it is dormant. In some, it causes mutations. But more startling still is that while it can remain dormant all one's life, some things can force it to the surface. Those who awake in such a manner are referred to as Enhanced Mutants. Little is known about mutation. As such, the world has its prejudices. And some groups try to stoke the fire as much as possible.

The Xavier Institute, a boarding house and school for The Gifted. There, mutants can safely live and learn about their powers. The director, Charles Xavier, is the world's most powerful telepath, able to, if he so chose, stop the entire world mentally. His brightest students become members of the Xmen, a squad of highly trained mutants who protect people from those who would do them harm, human and mutant alike.

Ororo Monroe, Storm, the weather goddess, is his first student, and is the primary instructor at the institute. Together with Hank McCoy, known as the Beast, and James "Logan" Howlett, the Wolverine, and a few others, they teach new mutants how to use their powers for the benefit of society.

And no time is more rife with conflict than now. With the Sentinel program active, mutants who use their powers, whether for good or evil, are hunted. The Xmen are protected, but that means nothing to the instigators of the hunt. With more mutants appearing every day, and more disasters to be averted, the Xmen's ranks have been swelled greatly.

Kitty Pryde, known as Shadowcat, has the ability to phase through solid matter. Kurt Wagner, The Nightcrawler, can teleport through dimensions. Scott Summers and Alex Masters-Summers, Cyclops and Havok, can project beams of concussive force. Jean Grey, a powerful telepath and telekinetic, is able to fly and project force fields powerful enough to deflect space based weaponry. Anna Marie, last name unknown, known as The Rogue, is able to absorb the memories, life force, and abilities of anyone she touches. Together with other mutants that once attended Xavier's institute as students, they do what they can to protect the world's people. But sometimes, the cosmos has specific plans that are subtle.

Kitty Pryde has received a unique gift from her friend, Danielle Moonstar. A stone amulet in the shape of a raven, with glittering emerald eyes. And as the Xmen battled the forces of evil, a lone human watched silently, while the amulet graced Kitty Pryde's neck. As the battle raged on, the figure stood silently. But he didn't go unnoticed. Wolverine had picked up his scent, and was wary.

As the battle ended, the human moved, but not fast enough. Wolverine had caught him, or so he'd thought. As the others moved in, Wolverine was thrown off balance, his claws embedding in a wall backwards from the motion. It only got worse from there. Jean Grey held him in place with telekinesis, then tried to read his mind. Unfortunately, the moment she tried, he overwhelmed her with thoughts of random knowledge, turning her abilities against her teammates, and even against her, by making her project a wall around him as Cyclops and Havok tried to fire at him. When that failed, he dodged Rogue's grasping hand.

"Come on, Sugah, just a little touch and everything'll be fine."

He grabbed above her sleeves, holding on tight. "No, that's okay, I'm fine. As cute as you are, I don't like the look in your eyes." And then she went flying. Dodging Nightcrawler wasn't as easy. In fact, he went through several ports with the mutant, struggling, before flipping him into a charging Beast. But then Shadowcat reached for him, and he grabbed on, jumping backwards with her. As he ran for a wall, he knew he was taking a gamble. But that gamble paid off, as he passed right through the wall. As he let go of Kitty Pryde, he held the pendant in his hand.

He grinned, and she started in on him angrily. "Hey, give that back. Oh come on, at least tell me your name." She kept trying to reach for him, unsuccessfully. But at her words, he stopped, and smiled. "What's in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet. But a name I have, and I suppose you deserve it, considering the present I have. My name is Jon Verci. My friends call me The Raven. My enemies call me the Sword of Angelfire. Which would you rather be?" With that, he put on the amulet and took off running. Before she had gotten far, Xavier's voice was in her head, telling her not to follow. As the others caught up with her, they debated what it was about. That was when Xavier mentioned the small theft.

"Kitty knows who he is and what he wanted. Isn't that right, Kitty?" She reached for her necklace, and her eyes went wide. Xavier's voice came again. "Danielle is here with her grandfather. I suspect we all have some questions, don't we."


Back at the mansion, later.

Cyclops slammed a hand against the table. "WE SHOULD BE GOING AFTER THIS GUY. He took over Jean's mind, used her powers against us. He made us look like a joke, and took Kitty hostage."

Jean placed a hand on Scott Summers' shoulder, calmingly. "No, he didn't. He didn't do anything to me. When I touched his mind, it was like a flood of random trivia or something. It overwhelmed me, and I lost control of my powers."

Rogue grumbled, and Kitty shook her head. "He took the necklace you gave me, Danielle. I'm sorry." Xavier spoke at that. "Yes, it would seem that his only goal was the necklace. Did he say anything to you, Kitty?"

The elfin brunette shook her head. "All he did was introduce himself. He said that his friends called him The Raven, and his enemies The Sword of something or other. Then he said it was up to us which we were."

The old Tribal elder, Black Eagle's eyes widened in response to the name. Several team members caught it, and turned to him almost expectantly. Charles encouraged the old man to impart his knowledge. "The necklace was a talisman my granddaughter gave to you, Kitty. A Raven. In our culture, the Raven is a symbol of great power, but also great mischief. The Raven and the Coyote are said to be Tricksters. Known for practical jokes, the ability to control the wind, but they were also unparalleled fighters when cornered. This talisman is different, though. It was carved from a stone that fell from the heavens in time before legend, and fitted with the most perfect emeralds my people had ever found. It is said the amulet carries the spirit of the Raven itself."

Xavier frowned for a moment, then looked at Hank McCoy. "Hank, is it possible that this young man is a mutant? Or maybe something else." Hank shook his head at that. "Anything is possible, Charles, but Cerebro would have picked it up...unless...." He left the thought unfinished, but Xavier finished it for him. "Unless his X gene is still dormant, and what he did today was human ability."

Rogue spoke up at that. "How is that possible, Professor? Each one of us had him, but...it was like he saw through our defenses somehow. Between that Mindbomb on Jean, holdin mah arms like that, and taking Kitty hostage as a quick way out...."

Charles nodded slowly. "It is hard to believe, I know. Yet it is possible that he possesses some sort of enhanced perception or other uniquely developed attribute that allowed him to gauge our reactions without the need for an awakened X Gene. The fact that all he wanted was the necklace also is puzzling. But more than that, I didn't sense any hostility from him. Rather like all that was on his mind was a need to feel...complete. Black Eagle, is there anything else you can tell us? Any significance to the pendant?" He turned to face the grizzled old Native man.

"Well, there is an old legend that says that in the hands of one who is worthy, it can restore the Raven to life." This time, it was Wolverine who spoke up. "What if this thing is like the gems of Cytorrak?" Scott responded angrily. "Then that means it's even more important we find him before he does any damage." The old man spoke again, then turned away. "If the legend is true, the Amulet will only work when the moon is highest in the sky with the Raven directly overhead."

"So we have some time then. We need to find this guy before..." Hank spoke up, interrupting the chain of conversation. "If I may make a suggestion. According to what we've learned from Chief Black Eagle, the amulet will be used two days from now."

 

[Drakkwall]

It was a silent night at the lake known as Loch Ness, and at the great Castle of Loch, was there a visitor unlike any other. The castle was used as a historical museum, holding many ancient treasures of the British, Irish, Welsh and Scottish histories, including the mythological. and this visitor, was not her to just watch some of these things, he needed them for something, something that concerned him and his life.

A thick mist drew in from the Loch and through the dark hallways a robed figure moved through the halls, the many visitors inside not noticing him as he walked past them. Almost as if he was invisible to them all, soon enough he reached a certain item of the collection, the Hall of Arcane History, or better known as, The Chamber of Merlin. It was common facts that Merlin was known not only among the British tales but the Scottish, Welsh and Irish as well, and this visitor was after something of deep importance.

"Welcome good sir, are you here for the tour of The Hall of Arcane History?" Asked a cute tour guide woman, the visitor remained silent and she simply took ti as a yes. "Well then, if you look over to the left you will see-"

A deep and dark voice, otherworldly in itself and yet almost humane spoke up and interrupted her. "The Statues of the Dragons, the focuses Merlin used for his magic by amplifying magical powers through their unique resonance by trapping parts of his power in them, making it bounce around, causing the statues to vibrate together, creating a resonance of magical energy that amplified Merlin's power for as long as he lived. They are often told to have been used for summoning physical energy, giving eternal youth, make the world shrouded in mist and make the sun disappear, it is said that they were used by merlin to make Uther Pendragon give birth to Arthur Pendragon, King of Camelot."

She looked stunned, that was even more detailed informations about the statues ever recorded, and it sounded like he knew this with facts and not just theories. "Oh that's interesting sir, perhaps you would like to give me the tour? You certainly are knowledgeable enough, are you a professor in Mythology?"

"You could say that, though I never got the chance to finish College, an... Accident drove me away for an unknown amount of time. Now listen and I will tell you about these items, those of notice at least, half of these are fakes, imitations, worthless trash." He then walked into the chamber and pointed out a simple looking pot of iron. "The Dark Iron Pot, said to have been forged by the first arts of iron forging in the world, it was used by Merlin to make fey food as he had tasted it and thus could not stomach human food any more and had to make his own fey food."

The next was a golden statue of a unicorn. "The statue is fake, but the horn is not, it is of the Unicorn Arthur Pendragon killed one day while hunting, it brought disaster to the land, bad crops, dry wells, starvation and disease. But when he proved himself in the last test brought to him by the druids to give the Unicorn back its life, he was given the horn as a memento, somehow it ended up forged into this statue, such a waste, that horn grants the ultimate cure, healing any wound, restoring limbs, anything. But mankind are not ready for it yet, they were not back then, they are not now either."

Then he pointed out a shield with three snakes and a beautiful sword with a dragon shaped handle. "The Shield of Strass, the Snake Spirit, contains three poisonous snakes of the African world, made by a priest of Seth, the Egyptian snake god. And the Blade of Pendragon, used with dragon fire from the dragon chained in the caves beneath Pendragon's castle, made for Arthur himself, but he never used it, Merlin threw it away into a lake when discovering just how dangerous it was, and now it powers has been weakened after five centuries of lying in a fey lake, without a doubt, it would be powerful back in this days, but common iron and steel would never be able to hold such magic forever."

He then stopped as he came upon a large book, containing words of the ancient wizards, Merlin's Spell Book, given to him by a man he called father. "This... yes this is the one... what I was looking for. The First of the Five Arcane Tomes, the first magic spells ever written down are on these pages, just what I needed." The visitor then grasped the book and pulled it up and unfolded it ,the girl gasped.

"Don't!"

He just spoke up in a cool voice. "Stop shouting, this tome was enchanted by Merlin himself at his prime to keep itself in its original shape, he was more powerful then any wizard, even the Sorcerer Supreme, or Doctor Strange as you call him, no this book is in no danger of ever being damage, it is Merlin's legacy and I need it to help me become... myself again." A hint of longing hit his vocals as he flipped the pages and then closed the book and put it under his arm and turned around to see several guards with pistols armed at him.

"Freeze! Put the book down you crook!"

"Hmmm... seems like I am not as welcome as I'd thought, but it is to be excepted, humans always had a hatred for my kind, even subconsciously they detest me, so I will have to call for my friend." Turning towards the open balcony the robed man walked towards it, ignoring the guards' taunting voices.

"Who are you going to call for aid you mutant freak? The Loch Ness Monster? You freak stick together so I wouldn't be surprised if-"

They turned dead silent as the mist shifted and the man turned around towards them, glowing amber eyes smiling at them, a giant shape slowly emerging in the mist behind him, two large eyes glowing yellow. "Correct, I'd thought you'd guess on me calling forth the spirit of merlin, but he's a cranky fellow, no, my friend Nessie here, will do just fine, won' you Ness?" The mist then cleared as a large reptilian head roared out and the large reptilian head of the Loch Ness' biggest mystery, was there, in the flesh. The guards and the girl stumbled and fell on their behinds in fear as the mighty beast lowered her head to the man who calmly stepped onto it, and then she withdrew into the lake, and they both disappeared into the deep.

A while later at the shores on the other side of the lake rose the Loch Ness monster from the depths the creature lowered her head for the robed figure to get off. The robed man got off his ride and petted her head before she disappeared like a flickering light, moving towards the forest around the Loch he went towards the nearby village, he would need time to study his new tome, and hopefully, discover a cure for himself.

 

[Blaanid]

Allisa had just woken up from a horrible dream, and though it had scared the hell out of her, she couldn’t remember what the hell it was about. All she could feel was a sense of attraction to whoever it was in her dream and that never felt good to her, she preferred to know who it was she was attracted to, or at least remember who it was!

Looking at the alarm clock, she saw that it was already 7am and decided to get up and dress. She went into the bathroom to wash her hair and when she looked at herself in the mirror, she couldn’t help but laugh at the mess that was on her head, the mess that she usually referred to as her hair!

It was everywhere, and sticking up in ways that she didn’t know possible! All she could think was that the dream must have been one hell of a dream, and why not? Boys have wet dreams, why can’t women!?

By the time it was 9am, she was sitting in the library, trying to get her mind off of the dream, she wondering if it was because it was getting close to that time of the month, after all, her brain always did strange things when her hormones were going crazy, perhaps this would be a good day to stay in and out of trouble!

 

[knight713]

It was late in the morning or was late in the afternoon he didn’t know but he was quickly woken up from his sleep with the sound of a phone ring down stairs. The man looked up from the desk he was sleeping at. All over the desk he saw papers strewn about, books where left open. Almost all of them had strange writing written in the books and on the papers.

“ Yeah yeah wait a minute” the man replied as he gave a stretch before walking down a circular stair case. On either side of the stair case were assortment of books that dealt in strange subjects. One was mark demonology, another the study of how to summon demons, beginners guide to Necromancy. To many people these books where just books but to others they were real. The man quickly went made his way behind a counter the room was still dark he had yet open the blinds to let the light in. for some reason he preferred the dark.

“ Hello…Yes this is he” The man replied as he gave a yawn and gave his head a scratch. He had a late night, he wasn’t sure of the time he went to bed but it was late.

He listened to what the voice on the other end told him a freak or something like it. stole a magic tome that belonged to Merlin. It was at a museum in Scotland he didn’t hear where or was just to tired to remember what the man said. He told them not to leave that book in the museum, he had given them a copy to anyone else it looked just like the original but to one who new magic they could tell the difference. He also heard that they wanted him to find the person capture him and bring the tome back. But something was wrong. If he was going to be hired for a job the main branch in England would have called him not the Scottish branch. It seem like the people at the Scottish branch didn’t want the main branch involved.

“ Sorry to disappoint you but I’m busy” He told the man on the other side. He could hear the man yell Kris. He also heard that he still works for them, it was obvious that this person never learned that he quite the Talamasca.

“ I’ve been hired for another job sorry bye” Kris replied as he hang the phone up right before the man could finish. “ it seems like someone is trying to cover their ass:” Kris whispered as he tapped the glass counter. He did have another job he got a report the Raven amulet was seen in the possession of a girl a Kitty Pride.

The Raven Amulet was in a Cheyenne legend, From what he gathered from documents it could unlock a great deal of power. But at the time no true information was given about the amulet since the Cheyenne Chieftain didn’t trust the white man in the past. He knew the power that the amulet was one that should not be unlocked. Thus there was no true information about it unless he talked to the Cheyenne Chief himself.

“ Well I should be off” Kris replied as he grab a piece of paper off the counter that had a address on it.

Kris quickly walked out of the building, before he left he locked the door and place the closed sign back on the door. On the large window the written on the wall was Mephisto’s Occult and Magic shop. With one final turn he locked the last lock, but they weren’t the only locks on it. He had a spell in place that if anyone tries to force there way in they would be stopped by a barrier but if the person could use magic they could break it.

He quickly hailed a cab and told him where to take him, he slept most of the drive and was soon awaken when the cab came to a stop. Kris quickly paid the man and watched a he drove away. Kris stood alone there for the moment looking at the iron gates, maybe he should have called first and set up a appointment but he did have a number. Kris slowly walked up to the gate looking for a buzzer or a bell. he was told that this place was a school for mutants that would teach them how to control there powers. It was also one of a kind school the only one in the world.

 

[dragonrazor]

Most days, James "Logan" Howlett slept little. When someone lifted the big brass knocker on the front door to Xavier's mansion, which doubled as Xavier's Institute for Higher Learning, the former soldier known as The Wolverine was puffing at a cigar in the entry. The cigar was a gift from Anthony Stark, who few knew as The Iron Man, a self-made superhero who Wolverine had worked with a couple of times. At the heavy sound of the doorknocker, Logan stood up, and walked over to the door. He opened it wide, puffing at the cigar still, and looked at the man standing on the doorstep. "Whaddya want, Bub."

 

[knight713]

Kris quickly straighten up whe he heard the door opened and a man with a cigar stood in the door way. the man looked near 40 years old to Kris he looked like a dangerious man. One Kris didn't want to fight with.

" Sorry to disturbe you" Kris replied as he watched the man puff on the cigar, Kris didn't know what to say to this man. should he tell the truth which was alway s better or a half truth. Kris could tell that the man was getting slightly impatient when he didn't answer right away.

" My name is Kris Mephisto a client of mine asked me to see a girl by the name of Kitty Pride" Kris told the man. " Is she in" he added as he looked at the man.

 

[Erlind]

Scott came down the stairs just in time to hear the man at the door asking for Kitty. Today had been one of many recent long days and Scott wasn't ready to be particularly trusting of anyone. He shifted his glasses and for a moment there was a red gleam from behind them.

"I think you had better tell us what this is about before we let you in." Cyclops stared hard at the man trying to somehow see if the man would be truthful.

 

[dragonrazor]

Logan had to be thankful for Scott's appearance behind him. Then he walked back over to his seat, and grabbed a beer from a cooler he kept nearby. He walked back over, and slid one claw out from between his knuckles. He used that claw to slice off the top of the bottle, then took a long drink from it. When he spoke, it was with a disinterested tone. "I'd be truthful if I were you. Half the kids in the place can smell fear, and the Boy Scout back there is having a bad day."

 

[knight713]

Kris looked at the man who walked up behind the other man, this one was wearing red sunglasses and adjusted them when he moreless demanded him to tell them what this was about.

Kris watched as the older man walked to a cooler and pulled out a beer, what was strange was that a single claw imerged from his fist and poped the top off of the bear. Kris heard the older man say that half the kids here can smell fear.

" So it seems like it" Kris replied as he looked at the man in the red sunglasses, " so did someone handed your ass to you" Kris replied looking at the man. Once he saw the man step forward as if to challange him. Kris quickly cocked his right wrist and waited to see what the man woud do next.

" People only fear what they don't understand, People fear it and thus they want to destroy what they fear" Kris said softly " I have yet found anything I truely fear... yet." Kris told the older man with a friendly smile.

" I was hired to retrvie this item" Kris repleid as he pulled out a old picture of the raven amulet. By the reaction he saw the two of them give he knew that they seen it. " The client who hired me deal in Magical Artifacts. they find dangerous items and lock them away" Kris replied

' If its in Her possesion i request that you hand it over" He added hopign that what he said wouldn't entice a fight.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kei had missed the warm sun, cool sea breeze wind, she was in paradise several days ago working on her tan, surfing the big waves. But she wasn’t there on vacation she had a job to do. It was to kill snitch he was turning states evidence on a client that she worked for. She killed him along with everyone in the room plus a cute surfer boy she meet on the beach.

But now she was in New York she still had the tan from her time out in the sun which it turned heads from both sexes. The job was a strange one from a unknown client she only meet him via video conference. But he stayed in the shadows, the job was to steal a amulet. A minor job which would have gotten low pay, but not this time she was offered what ever she wanted. She accepted and was told about two people who maybe able to find the amulet. One was Kris Mephisto an expert in the occult and magical artifacts, and A Black Eagle his tribe founded it. Her first stop was at the tribe but he wasn’t there and they offered little information let alone put a decent fight.

“ Well now I should find This Mage or what ever he is” Kei replied as she stared at a picture of Kris.

 

[Erlind]

“Many people don't understand us sir, I know what people do to what they fear,” Scott told the man, grimacing at his words. It was still hard to get a total read on him, but his statement had made Scott a little more comfortable with him than Scott's words may have led him to believe. Then the man showed them the picture and explained why he was there. Scott shook his head touching his forehead as if a sudden headache had come on. “You'd better come in, sorry if I'm a bit on edge.” Scott lead him into the living room and they sat down. He still didn't want to trust the man, but he felt he had no choice. The one who had taken the necklace in the first place had done so with such ease Scott knew they would need all the help they could get if they intended to stop him. “My name's Scott and this is Logan. Kitty did have the necklace, but it was taken from her. This is a house of many talented people, Kris. Is that right, Kris?” Cyclops didn't wait for an answer even though he wasn't really sure of the answer. “Even with our ... unique talents, the man practically tossed us aside like rags. If you're looking to get it back and keep it safe, count us in.” Scott probably sounded angry to the stranger, but his anger was at the mystery man with the necklace not Kris. He didn't like being beaten and he liked it even less when it meant bad things for the rest of the world too.

 

[dragonrazor]

Logan listened to the explanation offered, then shook his head. He picked up his cooler and headed for the kitchen, walking beside the two of them on the way. He chugged the remainder of his beer and dropped the bottle in a recycling bin in the kitchen, then turned to face the two of them. "Chuck...I mean, Charles, is trying to determine how. He and Hank think the kid that did this has a partially awakened mutant ability. If so, it looks like the amulet will wake it up. If that thing's so powerful, I bet you're not the only one after it. Artifact or not, Bub, it's still just a weapon in the wrong hands."

Elsewhere:

Jon Verci, better known as The Raven, had spent the better part of his life feeling as if he were being torn apart mentally. The only thing that helped was separating himself into the two personas via video games. That is, until he found out about the Raven amulet. He knew it immediately for what it was, a powerful talisman that had the power to call forth the ancient Trickster deity of Tribal legend. And the moment he saw the necklace, he knew, too, that it was the only thing capable of fixing what was wrong with him. Because he literally was two people. He was Jon Verci, your average college kid, and The Raven. He believed that The Raven was the REAL Raven, a genetic remnant that the amulet would restore fully within him. He knew he had to act soon. The closer the Time of Ceremony came, the harder it became to keep himself from drifting mentally.

 

[NiteCrowe]

It was taking everything Kitty had just to not hold her head in shame. She had been entrusted with a powerful artifact, and then had had it stolen from her. I'm an X-man, I shouldn't have let it happen, she thought miserably as made her way down the stairs.

She stopped suddenly as she heard her name mentioned by an unknown voice who seemed to be having a conversation with Logan and Scott. Slowly, she began to phase through the corner until her head was just slightly visable. Yup there was a guy chatting with Logan and Scott, and both of them looked pissed. Quickly she pulled herself back through the wall, and began to run back towards her room.

She would use her IT skills to hunt down the man who stole the amulet.

________________________________________________________________________

In another building entirely, the mutant known as Toad sat and wondered and plotted. He'd finally been kicked out of the brotherhood, and it was the fault of those stupid X-dorks and his brother.

He'd had it, he was gonna prove that he could be a villain on his own. Who needed friends and partners, not he.

He was going to end the X-men.

and the brotherhood as well.

________________________________________________________________________

Perry stretched as he tried his best to ignore Logan, Scott and their 'friend', as he made his way to the small table next to them and started going through the post, looking for any addressed to him.

As he sorted through, he turned to face another table and shot out his tongue which promtly latched onto a bottle of water and pulled it back, which he expertly caught.

As he half listened to the conversation behind him, he debated about attempting to join in, but he knew that it wasn't his place and that if they needed him and his legal expertise, then they would let him know.

 

[Drakkwall]

"Yes... this holds the key... But I will need a key source... something that will let me perform the spell without failing..." The dark shadow murmured as he sat alone in the dim lit room he had brought for the night of a nearby Tavern, The Angels' Cauldron, oh how fate loved ironies. Flipping the pages the figure then looked upon an image of a medallion, the Raven Amulet. "Forged by the red people of the far west, beyond the edge of the world, said to contain the power of a Raven totem spirit, a powerful nature spirit like the feys. It holds vast powers and the emeralds its eyes are made of are wizard gems that generates magical energy on their own and stores it until further use. Those gems are what I need."

Standing up the strange put the book into a pouch, the book fititng in as if put into a black hole, and then blue lights began to fill the room as the strange chanted. "Vyezska hyumga gevlo graska." A swirling image appeared of Kitty Pryde and the stranger's eyes narrowed. "Mmmm... she's the one to carry the amulet for the longest in the last twenty four hours,and yet she doesn't have it on her... hey wait a minute. I recognize that man." He murmured as he saw Wolverine and then a flash of a memory, not his own, appeared of a man fighting like a beast with his bare hands, knives, guns and other weapons. "Mmmmm... this man holds interest of the spirits or I wouldn't have gotten that vision... He is Wolverine, one of the X-Men... So my search brings me back home to the United States? Fate truly loves irony."

Stepping towards the image the man disappeared with a flash of blue light, right before a gang of dark dressed special swat units entered the room, armed to the teeth with magical weapons, only to find an empty room. One of them took his radio and spoke into it in a German mannered dialect. "Herr Commander, ze culprit has escaped with ze tome, we do not know where he went, ze portal holds no transmitting magical energy, he's a cautious one Herr Commander."

"Be careful Captain, the cautious ones are almost always the clever ones, the most dangerous kind. Be quick with tracking him, we need that book back, if the English discover our failure in keeping the tome safe, and our personal dealings in the arcane, we're looking for long time in prison." The mysterious muffled voice stated back and the black men swiftly moved out of the room. but then several spiders emerged from the floors and furnitures and gathered together to shape into the dark shadow who had seemingly disappeared.

"Heh, simpletons, to fall for such simple illusions, now that I know that the Arcane Liberation Commander is after me to hide her own ass I will leave a little message to her bosses, though I doubt she will be that easy to capture, but for now it's time for the real deal." Tracing a rune into the air the dark robed man disappeared with a flash or red light, a scent of sulphur in the air.

------------------

At the streets of New York were life all so regular, traffic jams, black outs, pocket pickers, thieves and an occasional burst of hellfire creating a portal in the open streets. Stepping out of a burning circle of flames came a robed figure, a long reptilian tail swirling around beneath his cloak and robe, a hood over his face, hints of sharp spikes sticking out of his head and chin. "Hmmmmm New York City... been some months since I was in a big city. Now then..." Turning towards the frightening masses he tried to not appear threatening, well as threatening as he could looking like a demon of hell. "No need to fear, I am not here to fight, destroy, steal souls or kill anyone, I am simply looking for a certain person, who is part of the X-Men, where can I find them?"

And of course, reasoning and common sense, not part of a crowd of people seeing what they think is a fallen angel, and in three, two, one... "AAAAAAAAH!!!" "IT'S A DEMON FROM HELL!!" "HELL IS INVADING EARTH!!" "RUN!!!" "RUN FOR YOUR LIVES AND SOULS!!" Yep, people become panicking sheep.

Shaking his head at the sight of the panicking masses the robed figure walked along the streets, a hint of depression in his glowing yellow eyes. But he soon cleared his mind and kept walking, he had to find the emeralds and it wouldn't do to let his mind become unfocused, it is the worst thing for an arcanist.

 

[Blaanid]

Rogue had been up really really early that morning, she had been in the kitchen making breakfast for herself and Jean, they had both heard muffled conversations out in the main hallway, but paid very little attention knowing that “the boys” could very well handle it, especially with Logan’s lovely manners.

But finally as they were finishing up and Rogue was finishing cleaning the dishes, Jean went out to see what was happening, she standing beside scott whispering to him, “What’s going on Scott?” Her hand brushing affectionately up and down his arm, still feeling tired from the horrible dreams that she had been happening, thinking of how Alissa must be fairing among new friends and a strange new place, but this man before her she had never seen before!

 

[Erlind]

He took Jeans hand in his glad to have her there. "This is Kris, he's working for someone who finds artifacts like the necklace and lock them up for safe keeping. Hopefully we'll be working together." Having Jean around was the only thing that had been keeping recent life bearable. "Kris, this is Jean. You'll be meeting a lot of us if you plan to stick around, so I'd start learning names." Scott laughed a bit, hoping this would be a new friend and not just a line of false hope.

 

[dragonrazor]

Jon had been playing one of his favorite games most of the night following the acquisition of the amulet. Though he noted it was getting harder and harder to concentrate on the game, and more often than not, he was accidentally shooting his own teammates. Bidding them farewell, saying that he was feeling a little too trigger happy that day, he logged out, and started checking his research notes again. He knew the when that he needed to know. The where was simple enough. It was a place not far from Xavier's school. What he didn't know was that the specific place was crawling with some of Magneto's former minions. If he'd known that, he'd have already started surveillance and planning.

 

[Drakkwall]

OOC: I hope nobody minds the news doing a special report on the television.

The telivision in the room, which had been showing a Documentary about Mutant Genetics, suddenly shifted into the view of a well combed blonde man in blue suit, sitting on a helicopter, white teeth, well make uped and a charming smile, the sound of screams, gunfire and exxplosions. "Hello, I am George Dallen, of the Channel Six News and you are looking live at the mainstreet by Oscorp University where some kind of demon has emerged from a portal of fire and is causing terror, destruction and countless of deaths as it moves through the open streets. Police have gathered and tries to subdue the demon but they cannot seem to even touch the thing. Hey! Look! There it is!"

The camera shifted and showed a barricade of police cars, over thirty police officers firing at a lone robed figure walking calmly down the streets, his arms raised, not even doing anything. Bullets and energy bolts hit the figure but only bounced off his robes like they had hit a cushion, and dropped to the street, while the energy bolts dispatched like they were sucked out of energy. The figure kept walking, his arms still raised in a nonthreatening manner, and when he reached thep olice they tried to attack him hand to hand, but he seemed to... weave through them like they were not there, leaving the cops dizzy and unbalanced as he kept avoiding them.

Soon the figure had passed through the police and then looked up directly at the news helicopter, before the newsman could comment the being leaped into the air and in an instant landed on the helicopter's landing gear and spoke to the pilot. "Ahh good, a reporter, land on the rooftop." The pilot followed the command without question and landed on the rooftop of Oscorp University.

"Hey just wait here a min-" The well dressed man had no time to argue as a tail slapped his face, making his blond wig fall off, and grabbed te microphone. "Focus the camera on me." The camera man followed orders and the hooded figure's glowing eyes looked out through every screen of New York City.

"I am known as the Arcanist, the Spell Weaver and the Tiefling, I prefer either of those three, but I could care less about what you want to call me. I am not here to fight, nor to destroy, I have not killed anyone, even though this lying toad tells otherwise. What I want is not a fight, but an item, an item I need, and not for some cliche sinister plan to take control over anything, please, I have a life. I need to speak with a certain member of the X-Men whose been in contact with the item I need, tell me where the X-Men are, or bring them to me, and I shall be about my business, and leave you alone. I will be at the Oscorp Tower, waiting. But be warned, if you attack me again, I WILL DEFEND MYSELF!!" At his last words the figure, calling himself by three names, was covered by black and green fire, the microphone melting in his grip, and then disappeared in a flash of red light, and a strong scent of sulfur.

 

[knight713]

Kris smiled at the way The man called Logan talked he wasn't polite in the way he spoke. But yet he was still talked in a somewhat friendly manner.

" No I'am not" Kris told Logan. " but not just anyone can use it, from what little information i read about it. Only a select few can: " He added.


Kris was right there have been many magical artifacts that only a select few can use. Kris himself had in his possession many magical items that are said to exist only in myth.


Kris watched as another figured followed behind them and took a seat, Kris watched as the man's tongue shot out and wrapped around a water bottle and pulled it towards him.

" Hello sir" Kris repleid as he addressed the new comer

" Did any of you get a good look at his face" Kris asked them hoping that they knew what he looked like.

Kris saw a female figure walk into the room, she had flowing red hair, she looked very beautiful. But from what Kris could tell something was bothering her. Kris watched as she walked up to scoot and took a spot by his side. Which he took her hand in his.

“ hello Jean” Kris replied as he held out his hand and shook her hand, They way she and Scott acted together Kris figured that they were a item. “ Its nice to meet you” He added with a slight smile.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kei was walking down the street minding her business when several people ran into her knocking her to the ground. As she looked up at them she saw that they were looking back behind them at something that scared them.

“ watch were you idiots are going” Kei shouted at them as she replace her red beret on her head. As she got up she saw another wave of people running towards her, moving quickly she grabbed a hold of a person and slamming him up against the wall of a building.

“ You tell me whats going on” she order him, “ or I ‘ll kill you” she added with a smile


“ A demon has come from hell it’s the end of the world” The man blurted out as he struggled against her grip. Kei slowly loosened her grip but then quickly tighten it once again and threw him into a pile of garbage cans and watching him run away.

“ Interesting a demon from hell” Kei replied as she begun to walk in the direction of the commotion. As she walked past a TV store she saw the creature on the screen. It looked human but it had a hood over its face where you could see what it was. But what got her attention was that he had glowing red eyes. She listened as the figure say he will be on Oscorp tower.

“ Interesting maybe he is this Kris fellow ” Kei added with a smile.

Much to everyone’s shock Kei jumped into the air and fly off leaving many of the people on the ground she quickly flew towards the Oscorp tower to see if this person is in deeded Kris

 

[Blaanid]

Rogue came in during the conversation, she smiling at Kris saying, “I would shake your hand and welcome you, but I don’t think that you would like it.”

She gave Logan a flirty look saying, “But you like it when I touch you, don’t you Logan?” She looked back to see Scott and Jean caressing each other, now she understood why Logan got so moody around them, all she could think about was, “Why don’t you two get a room and get married finally!”

Jean kissed Scott’s cheek lovingly and then excused herself saying, “I need to lay down I think, my head feels like it’s going to explode!” She then made her way to one of the living rooms and laid down onto the couch, and to her great relief Rogue had come to her with some Advil and orange juice to help it go down.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Alissa finally came out to the group, she sensing somehow that there was some very male sexual tension in the room and laughed saying, “Logan! Stop that!” She somehow knowing that he was fantasying about Rogue again, he seeming sometimes to be more like a horny school boy than anything! And then giggled as she began to concentrate on his thick cock, her mind seeming to attempt to stroke it to life, there was no doubt that Alissa was attracted to the man with the sharp claws, she fantasying about him scratching her back with them every night now!

 

[dragonrazor]

Logan tilted his head at that, and nodded. He puffed at his cigar for a moment, then frowned. He didn't remove the cigar from his mouth as he spoke. "If this kid wanted that amulet bad enough to take on the X-men, chances are he knows what it does and how to work it. The Halfpint was the only one to get a good look at him. She said something about him, referring to himself as The Raven. We're still trying to figure out what to do about it. Boyscout here wants to charge off after him. Kitty's down because her friend trusted her with it and she lost it. Red's still trying to get over the effects of some kind of mind bomb she got hit with when she tried to read him. And Rogue just wants to get her hands on him."

The almost two hundred year old Canadian man just shook his head. "From what they told us, we have a little over a day to find him and the amulet. We got no clue where to look." At Rogue's teasing, he rolled his eyes, and then saw Alissa come out. "Hey, you seen the Halfpint? She still holed up in her room?"



Elsewhere, Jon sat watching the news broadcast. He frowned, staring at the television, as what could only be described as a demon made its demand. But something was off. He wasn't sure what, but he'd learned never to question what he thought was his instincts. His perceptions were definitely unusual, but he didn't chalk them up to anything more than following his gut. And his gut was telling him that something needed to be done and soon. But he couldn't go toe to toe with a demon. The X-men were one thing. He'd seen them fight often enough that he knew what to exploit.

 

[Drakkwall]

Frowning the Tiefling stood on top of the Oscorp Tower, the security guards all scrambling, armed to the teeth, but not brave enough to approach the demonic man as he stood there, the dark skies flashing with lightning. "...Where are the X-men?" He asked the empty air in an empty voice, making the men around him shrink as if spoken to by a parent or teacher, sighing at their fear them an turned towards watching the skies, he had created this storm to make sure no sun would breach his eyes, even if he wore sunglasses it was better to be safe then sorry.

Then suddenly a web hit the satelite tower near the other side of the tower's peak and a red and blue blur flew throguh the air, talking in a commenting voice. "Hey! New guy! Love the looks! What did you get the inspiration from? The Bible or the Inferno?" The blur hit a shield created by magical energies and bounced off onto the hard cement floor of the tower's peak, revealing a well known superhero.

"Spiderman? Oh by the Forgotten Realms. Don't tell me, here to put the evil guy behind bars for destroying the calm peace of New York City." The arachnid super hero got up, looking at the magician with a raised eyebrow, rubbing his left foot a little.

"Wow, you know me pretty well, did you get an index or something from the local newspaper?" The Tiefling snorted and waved his hand as the spiderman tried to cover him with webs, turning the webbing into solid gold, making it fall to the ground and shatter. "No I got a brochure from the local Anti-Hero Welcoming Committe." The sarcastic reply was not excepted, but neither was the webbings turning intp gold.

"Wow... were you related to King Midas?" He stated before webbing a trash can and flung it at the wizard who smashed it apart with a backhand. "Oh please, that second rate fey cursed king is no relative of mine, now leave me be I have no intention to fight anyone, all I want is the X-Men to give me the item, or at least the information of it's location, then I will go. No need to fight so stop trying to surprise and confuse me already."

"Wait, you're not here to fight?" "No, did you not see the broadcast? It went through the entire city not even two hours ago." Now the spiderman seemed a bit embarrassed and scratching his neck, then the tiefling noticed a strange musky scent in the air beforei t clicked and he chuckled. "Never mind, ladies control the men, even super heroes apply to this rule it seems." "I will just leave now, but I will be keeping-" "An eye on me so I don't hurt innocent, evil or slightly sinned people, yes I know, now scram!" It was surprisingly satisfying to talk down Spiderman, but then again he had always had a slight anger issue with him since he kept letting villains go in and out of jail, and got his cousing hurt i na robbery.

"Now then... I better give them a reminder, nothing serious, just a big empty boom." He then too ka deep breathe before he screamed out, the storm clouds sending out his voice as if the thunder was speaking with his vocals. "X-MEN!!! I AM STILL WAITING AT OSCORP TOWER!!! YOU ARE MAKING ME FRUSTRATED AND YOU DON'T WANT THAT!!!" He then turned off the spell and cleared his throat before looking at spiderman as he hadn ot yet left and was looking at him with wide eyeholes. "Amplified voice spell, nothing serious, just giving them a bluff to get them going, they aren't very fast when asked for but comes out instantly when something else happens outside, and yet when both happens, they are ven slower."

 

[knight713]

Kris gave a friendly smile to the girl who walked in and say to him that she would shake his hand and welcome him.

" Well if its from a pretty Lass like you then it would be forth the consiquence" Kris told her as he re straighten his monocle on his right eye.

Kris watched as the one called Jean leave the area which she was soon followed by The other girl carrying a class of juice and pills.

Kris watched as another girl came to join the group and yelled at Logan to stop doing something. Kris didn't know what she was referring to but he probably could figure it out.

Kris could feel the phone in his pocket vibrate on him but he was ignoring it, he was enjoying talking to his new found friends. But at last he answered the phone seeing who it was.

Kris quickly held the phone away from his ear as the voice on the other end was yelling at him. The voice was upset about something which was nothing normal.

" No the phone was on I was just ignoring it" Kris replied as he talked to the man on the other end, with that comment he got another sever yelling once the voice finally stopped yelling at him he told Kris what the problem was.

" So your tell me that a demon showed up suddenly and attacked the police officers that tried to confront it” Kris spoke into the phone. “ He’s know on the Oscorp tower” “ Okay yes I got the address I’ll see what the deal is” Kris replied “ He’s asking for the x-men to meet him okay got it” Kris replied as he hang up the phone.

“ I’m sorry but I would like to stay and talk to you guy some more but something came up” Kris replied

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kei quickly flew to the Oscorp tower and landed a few feet behind him

“ You there are you Kris Mephisto” She asked him as she walked around the figure sizing him up. He didn’t look like a demon but she couldn’t see his full face.

“ I would like an answer “ she added as she stared at him

 

[Drakkwall]

Turning around the robed man's body appeared white for a short second as lightning flashed over head and revealed his body to the woman, a long dark reddish brown serpentine tail slithering beneath the robes and the hooded cloak, clawed hands grasped a staff covered with runes and the face of a demon appeared beneath the hood, for an isntant. The man, or demon, spoke up in a rumbling voice, the same he had spoken with since he was seen, except for when he shouted for the X-men to hurry their slow legs- "No I am not the artifact and treasure hunter Kirs Mephisto, if I had been, I wouldn't go around in public this manner. Kris Mephisto has connections and resources, I don't, so I need a more direct approach to get what I need. So if you wouldn't mind, do as the spiderman did, and swing off, I have no business with you."

 

[dragonrazor]

Logan raised an eyebrow, then nodded at Scott. He set the cooler down and headed for the garage. He got changed quickly into his costume, and then climbed aboard a big old chopper of a motorcycle, roaring out of the mansion. He was headed to at least try to assuage the rage of the apparent "demon".

Meanwhile, Jon had thought the better part of an hour before getting changed into a black pair of pants and shirt, and throwing on a leather duster over it. The Raven amulet hung around his neck, completing the ensemble along with heavy punk boots. He was soon taking the elevator up Oscorp Tower, in spite of his better judgement, to at least tell the man that he couldn't have the amulet.

 

[knight713]

Kei smiled at the man when he told her he wasn't him but yet he knew what he did.

" Intresting offer but since your here, and people calling you a demon he may come" Kei replied as she looked at him. Spider man oh yes that super hero she have heard of him. She heard he's strong and may prove to be a intresting person to fight.

" If you don't mind i'll wait here and see if he comes" Kei added as she sat down on a metal box.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kris quickly left the room and walked outside, if this was a demon why did it ask for the x men. Kris was begining to get curious on what this so called demon wanted. Kris slowly held out his right hand, suddenly a circle of light appeared underneth him. so several stange writtings appeared in the circle and he rose into the air and he took off towards the tower.

As he looked ahead of him he saw a person on a motorcycle racing towards a destinaition unknown to Kris.

" I wonder who that is" Kris replied to himself as he looked down. he saw that the figure was dressed in a strange cloths.