16499/Magic in the Air

Magic in the Air
Date of Scene:	21 August 2024
Location:	Breakstone Lake - Xavier's School
Synopsis:	A group of heroes and X-men deal with some magical entities on the grounds.
Cast of Characters:	Wolverine, Havok, Spawn, Phantasm (Drago), Polaris, Rogue

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Wolverine has posed:
Reality is a delicate thing. It's a lot like time. Simple in conversation, but fairly complicated and delicate when working with. Be it fate, be it simple chance, or something else, the grounds to Xavier's mansion have been calling to forces unknown. Wanda Maximoff got a taste of the source, something old and magical. And something this old is bound to turn heads in the magical world. They're bound to return again, too. The only question is how.

Everything is quiet this evening. Then something peculiar happens. A flash of purple light comes down, almost like a lightning bolt except it doesn't come from the clouds, and originates about ten feet above the ground before striking it. The energy crackles and booms, but it's gone as quickly as it comes. And that's when things start to get weird.

The sound of cracking ice, or glass, comes forward and reality splinters. The cracks glow turning into small shards. Looking at them may present to the onlookers deep fears, glimpses into worlds that will never be thanks to choice and any number of things. These visions are quick flashes before it gives way. Reality opens to a glowing purple source that's darker toward the center and lighter shades as it lances outward.

Unlike the cracks, the small rift can be entered. And it can be exited, too. That's when heavy footfalls start to rumble forward. "CRUNCH" "STOMP" fallowed by the small sounds of rolling stones between steps and movement. Out steps an entity of stone.

This hulking creature is stone. From the toe tip to the top of the head, stone. Their face not in a permanent scowl, it just prefers to be that way. Various details like cheek boots, bags around the eyes, nostrils, and other bits of the humanoid face look to be crudely chiseled out of stone. Lumbering forward this humanoid entity is easily pushing past seven feet tall, going toward eight. The creature is wide. If the skin looked normal, people would think the Hulk went gray. Some scholars may understand the Trial standing in the world now.

Letting loose a horrible cry that sounds like thick nails going across a chalkboard. Yes, every security alarm in the Mansion goes off by the time the creature screams. A few other metaphorical, and literal, alarms may be going off too.

Havok has posed:
Alex is found in the hot tub/jacuzzi. Wearing his dark blue swim trunks with the Xavier's X on the left shorts leg. He was lounging, laying back, relaxed, thinking that things wouldn't go down on such a lovely night. He was enjoying the heat of the water while soaking up cosmic radiation, converting it to super heated plasma... otherwise, just taking time off from the stressful life.

But of course, something has to happen. That something is the ungodly monstrosity that zapped down from where ever. That something that threatens the peace and quiet of Xavier's. Alex instantly tries to tap his com badge, the thing he's not wearing. He only brought a towel. He stands and steps onto the edge of the stone framed jacuzzi and sizes up the monstrosity. He calls out to anyone who is around, "TAKE THAT THING DOWN. SOMEONE SOUND THE ALARM" and then he clasps his hands together and from his chest, down his arms, comes the bright white glow of the superheated plasma which is projected right over the top of the creature's head. Missing it entirely. How did he miss something so big? Oh wait, he rolled a 5.

Spawn has posed:
Since a week or so back, the Hellspawn has added the area around Xavier's mansion to its patrol route. He was prompted to pay attention by a visit from a "friend" who isn't friendly at all, so as time went by the monster started flagging off. First his patrols went not-so-close, then a little further, and tonight, in fact, Spawn isn't even in the same county when the rift finally opens up.

So when that sudden flux of interdimensional, and maybe inter-temporal, energies erupts on the grounds of Xavier's School, Spawn is flying his regular path over the boroughs of New York City. After a moment of pause taken to consider what the energies he just sensed might be, and what the strength of them might mean, most of NYC is treated to the low-flying sonic boom that rattles windows and doors and sets off car alarms for a good mile around the epicenter.

It will be seconds, or partial seconds, before the Hellspawn is physically on the scene, but BOY will that landing be an entrance!

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
There is indeed a change in the air. Be it from the sound of the energy or the sheer intensity of the illumination it is unclear but at some point. Another opening was made and another entity is ejected out.

A feathery ball falls and tumbles along the ground, leaving the visual of a raven dizzily straightening out at the end of the roll.

A wing lifts up, pressing against its head as it ends up with a first hand look to the opening.

Head tilting up the bird watches as the giant stone figure entering in.

It seems...familiar but, for the life of him, he can't quite place it. Looking to the face and confirming the eye count to be two. He's at least assured it's not a cyclops.

Pushing itself up to it's feet, Phantasm hops into the air to fly out of reach of the creature. The bird spins round, trying to get a quick assessment for where he landed.

Polaris has posed:
Lorna Dane has been acting oddly lately, not full out berserker or possessed, just...Off. And of fish too. She's been seen lurking in the dark, wearing goth, avoiding her friends..Oh and talking to bats.

This afternoon is no different as she lurks on the edge of the grounds just staring out at the wilderness surrounding the school. But of course Alex is in the nearby water/jacuzzi and when she spots him she blinks and reaches out an arm towards him, a look if confusion and concern in her eyes, shaking her head as if waking up from a dream.

"Alex...?"

And then of course there are those shards of light that offer glimpses into.. What is thus, alternate worlds? realities? For a moment she thinks she sees another version of herself, a fearsome version of her self and her eyes widen in fear, snarling and attempting to smash it..

But it eludes her somehow and more confusion follows with..A giant stone man?!

Imnediately she moves to battle mode, lifting into the air as she focuses on the stone creature, summoning a green bolt of pure pulse energy, aiming it at the thing's head, that's usually the weakest spot right?

Wolverine has posed:
The Mansion is all alarms after Xavier's call over the coms. Flashes of red light telling people to either hide of ready for danger. A danger that's already here. Those big lumbering steps shake the ground as the man of stone moves forward. Alex's shot goes wide, but maybe that wasn't what the roll was for. The creatre starts to move toward Alex, but something stops it. A bird. A simple raven practically calling to it.

Not all calls are a good thing as two big mitten like hands come together with a thunderous "CLAP!" it's trying to either crush the bird or let sound wave knock it off course. People do have their opening to attack now. In this moment, save for Nick.

And maybe this is why Nick misses the next entity to move forward. Another big humanoid, this one with a bit more fleshy skin. And a single gem where eyes should be. Too bad the jewel is clear, like a diamond. A small group of people here could be making jokes about a colleague, or family, if it were a ruby. Different type of Cyclops is here. One that is not friendly and going toward what could be the spot of something emerging from the depths, thanks to a curse and Hell magic.

Lorna's bolt of energy rings true and it wings the stone creature in the shoulder. Thankfully the bird is not crushed between a literally stone grip. But now the creature turns and starts to move toward the woman with green hair.

Havok has posed:
Alex is instantly distracted by Lorna's arrival. Of course she shows up now. The worst timing in the world when it comes to their interpersonal struggles. That distraction causes him to be caught off guard by the shockwave of the clap. It causes him to slip on the stone and fall back first into the jacuzzi.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Ok while the area itself seems familiar, it's not a recent familiarity. But before there's much time to consider the findings, the flash of movement draws the raven's attention back to the creature he initially saw.

"F-"

The bird flies up narrowly avoiding the oncoming hands. Now, Phantasm's current chosen form may not be all that impressive in appearance but there is one nice thing about it. Ravens are fast, the are natural acrobats and they do a lot of flight maneuvers most birds wouldn't even conceive of. But considering the true nature of the Phantasm- while the sound may be annoying, there doesn't appear to be any visible effects from any produced sound waves.

As the bird swoops up, the bird glances about. Finally taking note of the second one.

Ooooh. So there IS a cyclops.

Spawn has posed:
NOT the last super to arrive, heh heh heh.

Spawn might be the first one anybody would guess is the guy to come in shooting, and in this case he won't disappoint, but that's only because his array of paranormal senses is probing out far ahead. At a quarter mile out, the Hellspawn is already reviewing the material makeup of the entities that emerge from the inter-reality portal. More than sensing what they're made of, and where he might have to hit them to put them down, and what powers they might be bringing to the fight, he's reading intentions. Are they evil? Would it be right to try to send them to Hell? The answer comes when Spawn recognizes the energy patterns of Nick Drago and his Phantasmic alter-ego, ravenesque though it may be, and then the stone monster takes a belligerent swipe at the bird.

So as the new seven-foot-tall, four-hundred-pound monster comes soaring in at hypersonic speed, it is aiming itself directly at that stone monster like a big, black torpedo driven on by huge batlike wings. Flying so fast and so low, the force of air being pushed out of Spawn's way blasts straight down into the earth to cut a deep furrow and throw geysers of dirt and gravel into the air, driving straight-on at the target.

Polaris has posed:
Lorna Dane frowns as another creature that looks vaguely familiar emerges. Something is not right, these beings seem vaguely..Familiar. But too much else is happening at the moment to respond to that when Alex slips and falls backwards.

Green eyes widen in surprise and concern and she is instantly by his side, attempting to catch him before he can fall, readying a protective shield around them both should any of the strange beings attempt to attack while she does so.

"Alex! Are you okay?!"

Wolverine has posed:
Alex falls into the tub. For better or worse, nothing is paying attention to him. So, there is some strategy in that. Just because the world isn't watching doesn't mean you can't strike back at the world.

Nick gets a bird's eye view of the ongoing, albeit barely thanks to Lorna from before. He can see the chaos unfolding, much like Alex.

And then there's the sound of chaos bubbling to the surface. A sea of black, maybe some red, as Spawn literally bursts onto the scene going for the Cyclops. It cries in pain as Spawn's strength, claws and anything else go to work. It will try to head but the entity. That includes giving Spawn quite an eyeful.

Lorna is there to catch Alex, but who is there to watch her. "THUD THUD THUD THUD THUD" echoes as the stone creature moves toward her, raises a hand and tries to bring it crashing down upon her. If it connects Lorna will know what it's like to have a moving brick wall smash into still flesh with a lot of force.

Anyone in the mansion can see the wreckage of their yard. As two lumbering creatures, one clearly a cyclops and the other made of stone, are wrecking the place. Also, something black and creepy is in the yard. However, that black entity is apparently helping the mutants (Spawn)!

Havok has posed:
Alex is caught by Lorna just as he enters the water line and kept from sinking to the bottom - and preventing water rushing into his gasping lungs. He looks up at the green hair, and then beyond it. He reaches past her and blasts upward, trying to blast the descending rocky hand of the creature about to strike her. He yells, "SHIELD!" indicating the standard tactic of theirs, she bubbles them in her protective magnetic shield and they pawn the battle field. Or that's normally the tactic.

Spawn has posed:
Spawn missed?! Well, he hit something anyway! The real question isn't whether Spawn needs to dodge that headbutt... the real question is whether that cyclops can move fast enough to hit Spawn when he was traveling at several times the speed of sound... and of course the next question is whether that cyclops can prevent Spawn from picking it up and carrying it into the sky.

If the cyclops *can* hit Spawn when he's moving that fast, more power to him! Otherwise, that's the plan: A quick ride up into the sky, then a quick drop back to where it all started!

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Once the bird is no longer targeted by any creature, the raven's flight corrects itself. As Spawn focuses on fighting the one-eyed monster, Phantasm focuses on the one approaching the couple.

Wings flex and the bird does a combination of a partial barrel roll and corkscrew, somehow managing to right it's direction to fly forth.

As it moves closer, the bird ends up pulling an inverted loop, with it's flight path directing it's beak towards one of the monster's eyes.

Operation: Blind this guy is now in progress.

...

Title is a work in progress.

Rogue has posed:
A night out, a little shopping perhaps or maybe just some excuse for Rogue to have a little 'her time'. Whatever the reason, the southern bell was out of the mansion...but her trip back courtesy of her power of flight? Well, it allowed her to find the shocking sights below. Giant monsters attacking? One might wish that was a rare occurance but...well, at least it wasn't sentinels!

Zipping down, her approach towards the giant monster was a little more direct: high-speed punch at the speed of 'Oh crap!'

Polaris has posed:
Lorna Dane already has the shield raised around them both, lifting them into the air for a better vantage point. And while Alex handles the offensive, she focuses on defence, pouring her will into keeping that shield nice and solid and hopefully impenetrable, although she buckled and strains a bit at the might of the rock creature.

She is also vaguely aware of some creepy Hellish creature of sorts busting onto the scene along with a big black raven that seems unusually intelligent even for a raven. She will save the thanks for later.

For now, Lorna narrows her eyes upon the stone man, trying to get a read off his electro magnetic signature if she can..Is it living? is it animated rock? does it possess the same amount of metal as a human, as say, the hulk? Her ability to read the electromagnetic spectrum while not as refined as her dad's, is still enough to differentiate between animated rock and humanoid, if it had some internal organs similar to say, the thing, Hopefully.

Wolverine has posed:
Alex cries out, "SHIELD" and that's when the shield goes up. Thankfully. At least it can't go bad, right?

Spawn slams into the creature with all of that force and fury. The noise caues a sound wave to ripple through the yard. He goes up like a bullet and then drops the Cyclops downard.

That's when people below need to move. Because the Cyclops is a big entity and it's being dropped from a high point. That could hurt if anyone finds themselves beneath it.

The stone creature focuses itself on the Stone creature. IT flows into the path. The creature sreams as the beak scratches at one of the eyes. The eye also made of stone, but that claw doing some damage. A stone hand goes to clench at the eye. The raven would need to move.

That hand goes down on the shield again and again and again. "BOOM!" the hand comes down on the shield. The sound is deafening, but the couple is alive. They're not harmed. Granted, those giant fists could try to break the shield. And the creature is magical. So, the anatomy isn't human. There is nothing she could sense with her powers.

And what goes up, comes down. Hard. The Cyclops moans in pain, but there's barely time to react. That jeweeled eye blinks into to see southern fury rushing down on it. If Spawn is the sentence, Rogue is the exclamation point to possibly end it..

The creaute is beat up from Spawn's work alone, Rogue just causes more pain, injuries. Blood comes from the lip. Obviously some internal bleeding. Plus, Rogue could feel the center already feeling a little more pliable than it should be. Clearly, she worsened the injuries

If she keeps beating on it, the thing may not be getting up.

Spawn has posed:
Having taken the one-eyed-monster up into the sky and given it a long drop back to Earth, Spawn performs a physics-defying maneuver in midair which looks like a somersault but somehow manages not to cost him any speed. It's like particle physics in the space occupied by the monster suddenly collapsed and then reversed on itself.

Now, while Rogue sees to finishing off the thing he dropped from on high, Spawn rockets earthward at the stone monster currently attacking Alex and Lorna. His crimson cape, currently flared around him in a shape very much like huge batwings, flaps to drive him harder and faster.

This time, rather than looking to tackle or pick the thing up, the green fire burning in Spawn's eyes bleeds out of the sockets and keeps expanding until the entire being is engulfed in glowing green Hellfire, hot enough to melt anything short of Uru itself. The smell of burning ozone accompanies the meteor.

Havok has posed:
Being lifted with Lorna, Alex reorients himself within the bubble that's being beat upon by the rocky fist. He crouches on the floor of the bubble and takes aim again. This time toward the creature that's closest and he'll release his blast of fiery hot plasma. Hopefully disrupting or melting whatever these things are.

Polaris has posed:
Lorna Dane cries out as the creature slams hard into her shield, causing it to shudder..But it still manages to hold even as it brings her to her knees. She does get a reading off of the rock creature. "Ugh...Definitely not living..some kind of construct.." not enough metal to manipulate and use against it, but right now it seems she must focus on defence as Alex works on the offensive.

She tries to bring them a bit higher above the monster however, hoping to stay out of its reach. thankfully Alex's blasts cover a long range so distance isn't usually a problem for him. It's not like they haven't used this strategy many times in the past either.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
It would be nice to say that this was an entirely new tactic the raven has come with. Go for the eyes. But no. When small and dealing with a big bad, it's imperative to try and equalize the odds a bit.

Oh how boring.

Perhaps. BUT it also means having learned from past attempts. And while stone eye is a new one, getting the heck out and dodge is not.

Once the strike is made, the raven's flight diverts, moving itself out of the range of attack, seemingly seeking shelter in the trees. There's even the snapping sound of a branch.

Phantasm glances about, taking stock of the situation once more, while talons work on securing the stick in grip.

Second verse...slightly different than the first.

The bird flies forth, this time with the intent of phasing the stick held through the unscratched eye.

However when Spawn directs his attack upon the monster, Phantasm ends up veering away from the creature, opting not to get in the way of THAT.

This is doubly a good decision as Alex shoots a load of plasma to the creature.

Okay. Looks like that monster's covered. So wh-

Phantasm looks over to where the duo of monsters came from. Is it still open?

Rogue has posed:
"Well, you might just be one o' the uglier things that came a-callin' uninvited," Rogue offers as she looks down at the monster, rearing back her fist as the otherwise smaller statured girl was basically perched on the thing knocked prone. It was almost comical, that she was basically going to ground-and-pound something that she was basically sitting on the chest of, leveraged against its chest.

Punch, puch, even a stomp before she straightened up, eyes cast towards the other mutants, notably including Lorna given her current state.

"You guys okay?"

Wolverine has posed:
Green fire eminates from Spawn's eyes and that fire continues to pour forward starting to overtake the creature. To the point, the creature starts to swat like he's trying to hit the cause somehow, or put itself out. And then the increaseing temps are joined by the hot plasma from Havok. Energy lances toward the cracture.

The inhuman cry echoing. The scraping of stone. turning to high pitches, sound like tens, to hundreds of fingers clawing at a chalkboard.

And Lorna slams he rpower into the shield. Holding the energies at bay, the shield stays strong.

Nick would need to move quick to avoid getting squished. And they would need to stay out of the wayt o avoid being burned by the energies. Thankfully, Nick's decision to stay out is good.

Again and again Rogue's fist comes down. Even a nice stomp causes the creature to cry out in pain. While it's hurting, the Cyclops is better than the counterpart.

That stone creature cotninues to cry out in pain as the gray becomes red and yellow. Those cries continue their high pitched wail before it becomes warbled and the entity starts to melt. IT tries to move, and it sloshes around, but it's clear this thing will not be meant for this reality for long.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
With the most obvious threats being engaged or on the way out, it does allow for the raven to fly back over from where the pair of monsters came. The phantasm studies the area, looking for any signs that whatever opening the two came through is closed.

Spawn has posed:
So Spawn and Rogue tag-teamed the one-eyed monster with beatdowns, and then Spawn and Havok sandwiched the big, hard one in their superhot streams of... there's a sound like a death rattle echoing across the garden, and it might take a moment for anyone to realize that dry, rasping, choking snarl is the Hellspawn laughing.

Those huge crimson wings spread out and flare like a parachute, bringing Spawn's flight to a sudden whooshing stop that sends a mild shockwave of rushing air on ahead of him, toward the burning rock monster and the shielded mutants it had been beating on. The laughter grows louder, rumbling like thunder out of the seven-foot tall black monster in the air.

The last couple of peals of laughter die out as Spawn drops to the earth and turns to stalk toward the Phantasm-raven and the site of the portal. Like his sometimes partner in crime, Spawn reaches out with his paranormal array of senses to study the area where the portal opened, examining it for traces of why, how, and maybe who is responsible.

Havok has posed:
"Okay.. what the fuck was that?" asks Alex after observing the end of the battle and looking over the creatures that attacked. He's confused and at a loss for real words other than, "We need to get Hank out here to examine this crap. Oh, and Wanda too. Surely this is magic. Right?"

Rogue has posed:
Beating on the not-quite-cyclops seems to be working, but as she backed off to let the others respond and only getting back hellish laughter from Spawn...well, it was a little creepy.

Casually dressed, literally jeans and long-sleeved but cropped top that only bared a small bit of that technically lethal skin...she kind of looked a little out of place trying to pummel a quasi-mystical monster.

Still, drawing back to slam downwards feet-first at the knocked-down monster, the belle seemed quite willing to try and end the battle she'd been late to.

Polaris has posed:
Lorna Dane sighs, dropping the shield and lowering them both safely to the ground. She looks pretty winded from the fight but judging from the circles under her eyes and the isle skin, she seems under the weather and in need of sleep too. "I...Don't know..Wanda, yes..I need her.." and maybe a psychic too. For now she just catches her breath, watching the raven and creepy talk figure stalk towards that portal..?

Wolverine has posed:
There is a small bit of energy from where the two entities came. The thing glows purplle. People can see the energy, like someone has left a rift open. However, nothing seems to be going into it, or out of it. And people may not want to try to go into it. The center is bright while the edges are dark. IT's warm to the touch, but doesn't lash out like eletricity when touched. Just an earily, somewhat still, bit of energythat could be the start of more problems if not dealt with.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Confirming that there still is something there, the bird gives off a sigh. The winged form tilts forward in flight, balling up before enlarging in size and becoming more humanoid itself. Standing near the portal, the figure becomes more defined as he becomes unphantasmed.

Instead of the raven there is a male figure dressed in athletic attire from head to toe. He wears a hoodie but under the hood, the face can't be seen. No, it's not magic. He just got one of those black mesh masks one can get from party city.

Budget friendly!

A gloved hand lifts up, cupped and directed towards the portal.

Well if it worked in hell...

\<span style="color:xterm220"\>    "We understand that all things must end
    And with this you lend a helping hand.
    Let this action spun anew,
    Complete its course, moments few.


    With your blade we ask you to cut
    This portal out of its neverending rut.
    Of its ending we need to tell,
    With your help Azrael."\</span\>

As the words are uttered, a soft glow builds along the palm of the cupped hand before it ebbs towards the rift to close the opening.

As the portal goes poof. There is mild rejoicing for those aware of what happened.

Yaaaaay.

Spawn has posed:
While Nick takes a turn at closing the portal, Spawn stands there watching. The seven-foot-tall thing becomes motionless except for the never-ending motion of that crimson cape. From behind, it looks like a waterfall of blood washing over his head, shoulders, and back. From the front it isn't much better, when the cape clings to the Hellspawn's body and creeps around in the front to close and thus surround him. The glowing green eyes smoke continually at their corners, while the thing waits to see what will happen.