16453/Something Stirs in the (Meta)Physical

Something Stirs in the (Meta)Physical
Date of Scene:	01 August 2024
Location:	Frontyard - Xavier's School
Synopsis:	When Mutants, and Godly intnet, cross paths.
Cast of Characters:	Wolverine, Storm, Havok, Polaris, Scarlet Witch

---

Wolverine has posed:
Peace settles down upon the mansion this cool Summer evening. As a gentle breeze goes through some windows, rustles against the branches in nearby trees. And everywhere else. There's a sense of calm that moves between everything in, and around, Xavier's School for the Gifted. There's no threats. No reavers, Sentinels, Sinister, Magneto and everything else the X-Men handle. And on this evening, those in the mansion learn a very simple, yet important, lesson. Peace can be fleeting.

Nothing shows on the cameras. No radar, or sensor pings beforehand. There's a cacophony of noise about. All the sensors become a little. Cameras start to ping. Alarms blar and the basement to the mansion flashes the color red as the security alarms continue. Something's on the ground. A lot of something, according to the sensors. The cameras get some glimpses, but the arrival brings some sort of interruption or interference.

In the distance there's flicker of red lights as something moves at the edges of the forest. The galloping sound of what sounds like wild horses in the distance. If someone goes to look, it's a nightmare. The actual horses with mains, eyes and hooves of fire.

Moving across the grounds, and getting close to the mansion, are big figures. They're humanoid. People may call them devils because they have firehouse red skin, yellow eyes, horns, but they lack a tail. They have large claws on their hands and feet. They have a name, but require someone to look into lore about HADES.

Sometimes when the Gods plays, things will get caught in the crossfire. Things like peace.

Storm has posed:
Storm is up in her attic at the beginning. Sipping tea and listening to music as is her normal when she's feeling less than socialble. Though when the klaxons begin to ring - and the X-Men have a way of knowing their alarms are going off - she stands and goes to the window. After a moment, she flies out, looking over the back yard a moment before turning and flying over the roof of the mansion to see what's on the other side.

What she sees makes her pause. This can't be real right? Surely she's dozed off in her chair or something and this is a nightmare. Speaking of. She can't help but remain still for a moment longer while watching these creatures start to come towards the mansion. Her eyes then - finally - narrow just a bit and she moves to fly down towards the driveway in almost a sonic blast sort of way. Landing, she stands up straight and glances around again.

"What have we were?"

Wolverine has posed:
Storm lands witha firm noise as there's a rush of wind as she lands with a "BOOM!" practically. Some of the vehicles in the garage jostle. One even has the alarm go off. And that's when two of those red skinned creatuers start to barrel toward storm. They're moving not with a big sense of urgency, but curiousity is overriding a need to caution or something similar. They move to see the source. Maybe to see if it's edible or something. They won't know what they're getting into. Storm does not look like anything they usually encounter. And vice versa.

Storm has posed:
There's not a lot of time to really think as the creatures turn their attention to her once she lands. So Storm does what she does best, floating back up into the air, her eyes turning a pristine white and glowing as the wind picks up a bit and clouds gather in the skies above them. She picks out a few targets in quick timing and calls down lighting to crash down either at their feet, or on their toes - just places that wouldn't mortally wound them but would definitely send a wake up call. Not all of them, as she is trying to see how they react. She'll bring out the bigger guns soon, however, if she needs to.

Wolverine has posed:
Clouds grow and thunder starts to fill the noise on the outside. Lightning begins to crackle then it lashes downward hitting near the creatures. That sudden flash of light, the release of energy, and all of it so alien to them. They creatures hiss. They make inhuman grunts and growls and then the pair start to move away. Everything is a little too much for them. Maybe others would react differetnly, but something about this startles them to the core. IT doesn't stop anything as they just flee elsewhere to the grounds.

Storm has posed:
Storm watches them scatter and gives a roll of her eyes before she's flying through the skies once more and landing right in front of one of the creatures. She attempts to grab it by the shoulders, or in some way to stop it from moving and hold it still. "Who are you and what have you come for?" Asking this and then. "Who do you serve?" She's in no mood to be played with, or to do any playing but she is also without her comms and it appears no other help is coming just yet.

Wolverine has posed:
Landing in front of one of the creatures may remind her of landing in front of Hank McCoy. Yes, Hank is a gentleman, but people often forget he's a hulking person. Someone with muscle and power, but knows things such as restraint, caution and empathy.

These creatures are not Hank McCoy. They know none of these things. So, when Storm attempts to grab one by the shoulder, the creature tries to grab her. To give her a toss, or even slash at. The creature isn't sure. It's something that maybe works on instinct in moments of fight or flight. The lightning caused flight, but Storm might be causing fight.

Storm has posed:
No. They're not Hank. And she's not got strength on her side. Still, having grown up a thief and mastered some combat techniques - she can hold her own really well. So while the beastly demon tries to fight her off, she counters in trying to get it into a hold that it cannot break from. All the while she's watching the other creatures continue to head towards the mansion and wonders what's taking others so long. She also has half a mind to let this one go and head for the Nightmare that seems to be possibly leading the charge.

Havok has posed:
Not a minute ago, Alex had passed through the main gate thinking it was going to be a normal visit to Xavier's. He and Lorna have been living in Mutant Town for some time now and he wanted to come back to visit a few people. A simple visit. It's never a simple visit. Nothing is ever simple when it comes to the X-Men.

Alex spots the aberrations on the lawn and Storm confronting them. His blue eyes widen, his body flashes hot as his adrenaline spikes. He floors the accelerator on his black two door Jeep Wrangler and grips the steering wheel tightly, white knuckling it. More than just the change of blood pressure within his hands; it's actually his hands beginning to glow in preparation for what's about to happen next.

Alex aims for the biggest demon on the field that's not already engaged. Not with his hands, but with the Jeep. Likely that's Nightmare. So he's hoping to careen through other smaller demons in route to the big one. Alex intends to ram the creature with the full force of the nearly 2 ton lifted vehicle riding on oversized mud tires.

Wolverine has posed:
Storm has the red skinned entity in the hold and it screams. The other hand tries to stab and claw at her. Crying out in pain and frustration, catches the attention of the other creature that was startled by the lightning. They try taking a swipe at Storm. It's up to her how to fend this off. What does give her some advantage because of what happens next.

The roar of the jeep ushers forward as it weaves and pushes forward. IT bashes into some of the red creatures ona turn, but it keeps moving toward the nightmare. Everything against the creature goes "CRUNCH!" metal collides with other worldly flesh. It's very side when horses, dear, and everything else like it, get hit by a car. Yes, the car is in rough shape when this happens, but the animal is always worse.

That's the fate of this nightmare that lets out an otherworldly cry. It's like a "neigh" put through several layers of distortion then turned up to eleven. The noise is loud and completely alien.

But Alex's Jeep might need a lot of TLC now.

Storm has posed:
Storm lets the demon she's currently fighting against go when she sees the Jeep coming through the gate and roaring through the crowd of demons. She takes to the skies while watching the Jeep ram through demons until it runs into the horse. That seems to stop both the Jeep and the Nightmare, so she moves to fly down towards that scene, hovering just a bit off the ground. "You always have to make an entrance, don't you?"

Havok has posed:
Alex was wearing his seat belt. But that doesn't stop him from being knocked around inside the 2020 Jeep. It also triggers the airbag to go off which helps, and hurts his case. It kicked his hands off to the side, breaking them from their grip of the steering wheel and slamming his left into the side panel and his right off to the seat next to him. Even though he's got a steel bumper, it's gonna need lots of work. The grill was penetrated and the engine begins sputtering and shaking as he hits the brakes and comes to a stumbling rocky stop after the impact.

Alex is still conscious, but needs to get his bearings for a moment. He pulls the handle and opens the door to fall out off to the side onto his hands and knees. He knows he needs to get moving. He should have leapt from the Jeep before impact.. but he really wanted to see it through. He hears Storm's commentary and shakes the cobwebs out of his head. He mutters, still facing down... "It's part of my charm..."

Wolverine has posed:
In the silence of the commotion that's when the red skinned "Demons" begin to assess everything that happened. The nightmare is down. And that's when the pair begin to talk. It gives them something to go for. Two leap toward storm. They're a mass of red sinewy muscle, sharp talons and teeth. One might be dodged, but it may take some effort to get by both.

Alex will see three moving toward him. They're not shambling like zombies, nor are they moving like a very hungry Hank McCoy after the kitchen gets his favorite pastry.

Havok will have some time to react, but will it be enough for a man that just collapsed out of a car.

The creatures look a lot like hank build wise, but the hands and feet have long sharp claws. Similar teeth as well.

If Havok doesn't scramble he's going to have his own set of claws to worry about.

Havok has posed:
Little time to react is right. One of the creatures quickly closes on Alex and with hideous claws; it will swipe upward. <first roll> Alex will get hit in the latissimus dorsi, but use the momentum to roll under his Jeep and roll to the other side. He is cut pretty deep. The claws sliced through the belly of the muscle - luckily he's got a lot of it. He args in pain while rolling. But once on the other side of the Jeep, he'll roll to his feet, pivot toward the Jeep itself, raise both of his arms, and blast the Jeep with his superheated plasma. Thus blasting the Jeep toward the demon on the other side, but also vaporizing a hole through the Jeep to strike the demon in the chest <second roll>.

Polaris has posed:
Lorna Dane had planned to head to Genosha but she had left something important at the mansion, so she drives in through the front gates..And is rather surprised to see a battle going on in the front yard, involving..Demons?! Emerald eyes narrow and she screeches the car to a halt, attention focused solely on the fallen Havok, and she flies quickly to his side, erecting a shield around them both.

"Alex..? What the hell is going on? Are you alright?" deep concern is written all over her face.

Wolverine has posed:
Everything is close, tense and dangerous. Those call can really do some damage. But everything turns when there's a "VSHOOOO" as the energy collides into the jeep. Then it flies forward into the demon. It practically gets ran over, it's just thanks to force rather than an engine.

The dmeon is runched.

Right now there are several red skinned creatures roaming the grounds. Their size, and build, are simialr to Hank McCoy. But they have long claws on the fingers and toes. Their teeth are equally sharp.

They just appeared out of nowhere, Lorna won't know that until after the chaos subsides.

Right now there's at least five more of those creatures on the grounds and they're moving to the noise. That means the two vehicles in various motions, the cries of fallen creatures and everything else.

Havok has posed:
Alex is definitely bleeding from his right side. He's holding pressure on it with his left hand. He is standing, but shaky. He just blasted his jeep and a demon. But there are so many more around. He sets his jaw, tightening it against the pain and he says, "I just got here. Storm is down." - he points to her location - "Fly us up and over. See if you can get the demons off of her. I'll provide cover fire!"

Lorna and Alex are quite versed in fighting together. She flies them both in her bubble and he blasts all around. That's his plan anyway. He blasts... lots of holes in the ground shooting at demons. At least he's keeping them on their toes.

Polaris has posed:
Lorna Dane's eyes widen at the wound in his side, but she nods, lifting her arms, creating a protective magnetic bubble around them both. And while Alex does the blasting, she keeps an eye on the ground, searching for Storm. The sight of red skinned clawed monsters causes her to tense, teeth clenched, hands fisted ready to fight, but she has to focus on Storm first.

Finding her on the ground surrounded by demons she frowns and takes them a bit closer, "To our nine o'clock, demons closing in fast on her, I'll try and get us as close as possible." and indeed they work like a well oiled machine,Havok blasting while Polaris does her best to navigate and focus on defence. But will they reach Storm in time..?

Wolverine has posed:
The pair start to work in tandem. Polaris and Havok in the air. And yes, they find Storm on the ground. The beasts knocked her down. They cut her up a little bit, but they don't really go in for the kill.

The pair can clear a path to her. They can grab her and move her from the threat. Or they can diverge the threat to them.

They're a well oiled machine with a choice now. How handle this.

Havok has posed:
Alex blasts. Alex blasts a lot.

He clears a path to Storm. That's really the only choice. He calls, "Do a grab by, let's get some height on this and nuke them from orbit. I don't have my com on me. I don't know why no one else is coming out of the mansion to fight. We need backup."

Alex will remain standing within the green bubble, because there's no way he's going to egress. He blasts with one hand though. Still holding his right side. He's cut pretty good.

Polaris has posed:
Lorna Dane nods and takes them in low, low enough as she dares without getting dragged down into the mass of monsters. But she trusts Havok and knows he's got both their backs. Dipping low,, she grasps Storm by the waist and nods to Havok, "Got her, get ready to nuke..I'm taking us skyward.."

And with that she takes them high above the carnage below. He makes a good point, the Mansion has some good automated defense systems even if the Xmen might be largely absent. Surely there's a reason they haven't triggered? Or more likely were destroyed by this inexplicable swarm?

But such ponderings are best left for post battle discussions. She focuses on keeping them well protected, both from the demons and the elements as she takes them as high above the mansion as they can safely go. "In position, do it!" she nods to Havok.

Havok has posed:
Charging up... getting ready to follow the plan. Alex releases the wound and puts both hands together. He spreads his feet and legs so he can aim straight down. His body begins to glow white hot. Then he releases. It simply doesn't come from his arms and hands like normal. This time it comes from his torso, shoulders, and even upper legs coupled with his arms and hands. The blast is an area effect attack and will not only strike several targets, but it will also create a crater in the ground beneath them.

Wolverine has posed:
The creatures are separating from Storm. The blasts are doing their part. The energy causing blasts and making everyone scurry. That crator int he wake followed by smoke and the smell of scorched earth. Yet, it hits a few of them to say the least.

But those in the distance start to move closer. There's that flash of light, and sound, it gets attention. People can usher Storm off to safety.

That light shines brightly, people in the mansion can see it. There's a clear spike in energy that can catch certain senors and attention.

Those in the mansion can see all the sensors still going off. The lights flashing in basement. And the lights can still be seen by several in the mansion.

Those red skinned creatures are moving promptly they can be seen with the naked eye. Now, for those that can see beyond the veil, there's a spike of energy that might call out. Rumblings in a place that's normally very banal.

Havok has posed:
Havok just blasted the crater from the safety of Lorna's energy field that contains Polaris, Storm, and himself. He blasted so much of his super heated plasma that he's spent. On top of that, the injury he sustained from the demon clawing his side is getting the better of him. Probably some poison in the wound from the demon claws. He ughs and mutters, "Lorna.. I.." and then drops to his right knee and crumples onto his side within the sphere, unconscious.

Polaris has posed:
Lorna Dane's eyes widen in fear and worry as Havok collapses. Dhe now has two unconscious passengers in her bubble of protection and let's hope that his sweeping blast cut a path through the monsters because she needs to get them to safety and quickly.

Emerald eyes scanning the grounds below for the car she arrived in, Lorna presses her comm badge sending a desperate sos to any who might be nearby..

Is the mansion even safe right now? It may be wiser to flee to Mutant town but with two passengers and demons on their tail can they make it? She takes a moment to make some mental calculations..

Scarlet Witch has posed:
With a grand display of teleporting chaos magic, Wanda Maximoff appeared above Lorna's protective shield, her crimson energy swirling around her like a tempest. Floating gracefully, she surveyed the scene below, her eyes narrowing as she took in the chaos.----"Lorna, I'm here to help!" she called out, her voice carrying over the sounds of battle. Her eyes glowed as she activated her Witch Sight, allowing her to see the rampaging demons and the source of the spike in energy from the mansion.----"These are Mephguours demons!" Wanda said, her tone laced with surprise. "sent to cause chaos and destruction. We need to act quickly."----With a series of intricate motions, Wanda began to weave her chaos magic into a protective sigil barrier, the crimson energy forming an intricate design in the air. "Lorna, get everyone to the center of this barrier!" she instructed, her voice firm and commanding. "It will protect them from the demons while we figure out how to deal with this."

Wolverine has posed:
Lorna has no clue if the Mansion is safe. No one is screaming, or at least none that she can hear, from the mansion.

Pressing down upon that button brings about the unexpected. Crimson energy sqirls into existence as claws press against an energy shield. Lorna would recognize what these red skinned entities are.

She would also know it would take a -lot- of energy to get so many beings in the same place, at the same time, with no open portals or anything else.

There's about seven of these creatures, maybe more. All moving toward the light. scurrying.

And now it's up to Lorna to follow as Wanda says with the oncoming threat. At least that press of the com brought in an expert in that field.

Polaris has posed:
Lorna Dane smiles faintly at Wanda, relieved to see her half sister once more at a time of need.

"Good to see you and not a moment too soon." the energy barrier is appreciated and she moves her two passengers within the newly constructed shield which frees her to fight as it doesn't seem they will be able to flee so easily.

Green energy flares from her fists as she eyes the demons, blasting a pulse blast that gets too close. "Demobs, huh? So how do we send em back to hell or whatever?"

Scarlet Witch has posed:
Wanda snaps her fingers, igniting the tips of her index with a spark of chaos magic. Tracing arcane gestures in the air, red sigils are written in front of her one by one, rotating in a circle as mirrors of those same sigils appear on the ground surrounding Lorna and the others, completing the protective magical barrier to free Lorna of her defensive posture.----After this, Wanda floats down to land next to Lorna, making a flick of her wrist to make chaos energy pour from her palm like fountain water. "Here, take my hand for a moment. I'll give you an infusion of mystical energy for the time being to integrate into your power. This should permit your attacks to banish them to where they came from." Holding out her hand to the emerald haired mutant. "I will do what I can to figure out the source and stop this hellish nightmare from continuing."

Wolverine has posed:
Flowing from her hands is the green energy from Lorna. A blast will send the back and jars them a little. Her energy ringing true as the woman focuses. She's pushing the demon away.

That's when the half sister, the one of Romani blood, Wanda starts to moe. Red sigils coming to life in those motions. They pulse with life as she keeps the motions going.

An orb forms around Lorna. That defensive spell coming to life before the Mistress of Magnetism's eyes.

Siblings join together and the energy starts to flow between them. There's a thrum of familiarity to the creatures. They may not know where they are, who they're around, but they recognize that energy. And it frightens them.

Those moving in on Lorna pause and try to turn. The second the pair exchange energy. That familair thrum causes a scurry of claws to scrap against the road of the driveway, the grass and everything else. All of them are moving.

It further cements some information to Wanda. They're used to arcane energy.

What Lorna understands is that these things do fear something.

Polaris has posed:
Lorna Dane nods to Wanda, taking her hand and focusing her energy into green blasts directed at the demons, which when merged with Wanda's chaos powers takes on a more purplish hue.

"You never run out if new tricks, do you.." she muses with a slight smirk, but as they flee closer to the mansion she quickly snaps to attention, reaching with her powers for scraps of metal that remain behind from the blasted jeep, reshaping them into small daggers that circle round her before arcing out at more demons. "We can't let them penetrate the school!"

Scarlet Witch has posed:
Returning to levitating just above the ground, Wanda starts the workings of a invocation. Her eyes glow with determination as she begins to chant, her voice resonating with ancient power. Her hands moving in fluid, intricate patterns, tracing the air with crimson energy that crackles and sparkles with raw chaos magic.----"By the power of Wundagore and the mystic flame, I command thee demons, return from whence you came. Chaos bind you, darkness flee, By my will, let this place be free."---As she speaks, her gestures become more forceful, her fingers splaying wide before curling into fists, then opening again to release bursts of energy. The crimson magic flows from her hands, forming glowing sigils in the air that pulsed with power.----"Spirits foul, heed my decree, In the name of the Scarlet Witch, be banished from me. From this realm, you shall not stay, Back to the shadows, be gone this day!"---Wanda's voice rises with the continuation of the incantation, her hands coming together in a powerful clap that send a shockwave of chaos magic rippling outwards, signalling the range and readiness of the last few preparations of her invocation. The air around her shimmers as the sigils blaze brightly, the force of her magic. The area sizzles and a red mist rolls out from the center point of the Scarlet Witch as she continues to weave magic, relying on Lorna to have her 6 and buy her time for this spell.----As Lorna expresses the dire need to protect the mansion, Wanda starts to weave more into her incantation, Wanda's hands continue to weave the chaotic energy, her voice unwavering as she adds her focus to protecting the X-Mansion. The crimson tendrils of magic dance around her, forming intricate patterns that begin to coalesce into a protective barrier around the mansion.----"By the ancient seals of power and might, Guard this place from the demons' blight. Wards of protection, rise and stand, Defend this mansion, by my hand."----Her gestures grow more deliberate, her fingers tracing complex runes in the air that shimmer with an otherworldly light. The crimson energy spread out.----"No darkness shall breach these sacred walls, By the Scarlet Witch's call, no evil falls. With chaos as my shield and will as my sword, Protect this home, by mystic accord. Spirits of light, I summon thee, Guard this place, keep it free. By the power vested in me, This mansion is safe, so mote it be."

Wolverine has posed:
@emit

Makeshift magical daggers form and they find the shoulders and backs of two fleeing demon. Each piece of metal either cause an inhuman scream , or cause those screams to lengthen. The metal pierces and practically burns thanks to the addition of Wanda's help.

Wanda begins the first spell and that's when things get interesting. It works, but there is a difference between working perfectly and working. This is the altter.

As creatures get sent back one by one, there's a building "feedback." The source of what sent these entities over. Oh, it's strong. Wanda has only felt magic like this, but rarely. While not brought out directly, like with a summoning spell, this is the energy of the Gods at play still. What that magic lacks in chaos, does makeup in raw power. So, she's going to feel that feedback. Just a little reminder, it took something with great will to bring these creatures here.

Thankfully the protection to the protection spell still works and all that concentration to send the creatures away work (or mostly). There could be a stray in the distance easily taken down by Lorna.

Eventually the sisters are left alone in the defeaning silence when chaos leaves and order is restored. For now.

Polaris has posed:
Lorna Dane arches a brow, quite impressed by the power of her sister's magic against these fiends - not that she ever doubted her but each time seeing her in action is quite incredible.

She makes a come thither motion, summoning her makeshift daggers back to her, then spying a fleeing demon or two in the distance, she hurls a shower of daggers at them with fearsome magnetic force, determined not to let a single one escape. Who knows who their boss is or what message they might relay to them?

When it seems they have taken them all down she breathed a sigh of relief, glancing at Wanda to make sure she hadn't exhausted her powers before moving towards their fallen comrades.

Lorna has many questions but her first priority is to ensure the health and safety of their friends. "Hurry, they have been injured pretty badly! We need to get them inside, to the med lab.."

Scarlet Witch has posed:
Magic is a fickle mistress, as much as the mistress that is wielding it. Wanda is utilising a lot of power, sensing the great power that has caused this own bit of chaos. She struggles against energies the likes of the great Cththon, and for the first time in a while, the forces that fight back against her burn through her entire body. - - -But Wanda is the reality nexus being of this universe. All magical energies and presences meet in her, and she can tap a voluminous mystical wellspring of power to accomplish feats that no mere mortal or immortal ought to be able to do. Fate and time shift a little around her with every action she takes, and she can have a profound impact on the world. Which is why, when the smoke clears persay, they are left victorious. At least for now.- - - Breathing heavier and slowly teetering down until she is on her feet again, Wanda rubs her arms with her hands and sighs, "There... I think we're ok for the time being."

Wolverine has posed:
The world is calm, still. A quietness runs over the mansion grounds. All that are left are two siblings, and two teammates in various state of health. They could use a medic and fast. Still, just the team of them alone and the world seemingly safer because of it.

Scarlet Witch has posed:
Wanda staggered slightly, her chest rising and falling with heavy breaths as the residual energy from the powerful spell coursed through her. The mystical feedback from banishing the godlike magic had taken its toll, leaving her winded, shaken, and visibly tired. Her once glowing eyes dimmed to their normal hue, and the crimson energy around her faded away.----With a weary sigh, she turned to Lorna, her voice soft but steady. "Lorna, I've exhausted myself quite a bit with this spell. I need to rest for a while, but I'll stick around the X-Mansion to put up some wards and ensure the danger is truly gone."----Wanda offered a faint, reassuring smile. "I just need to lie down for a bit. I'll be back to help soon." She nodded politely to the others, her gaze lingering on her sister with a promise of continued support.----With that, Wanda drew upon the last reserves of her strength, her form shimmering as she summoned her chaos magic one more time. In an instant, she teleported away, leaving behind a faint trace of crimson energy that dissipated into the air. She needed to recover, but her determination to protect those she cared about remained unwavering.