Iceman, as well as the other heroes, see only destruction around them, a regal, stately home, school, community center, and refuge laid to waste. The estate that was so familiar as a true home now lies in shattered, smoldering pieces, broken apart to not much more than shards of what once was and can never again be. The fuming crater in the ground gapes as if speaking a silent reminder of a dream that has died with its physical manifestation.

The metal orb does not regard the participants below but hangs in the air, intermittently obscured by the smoke floating by it.

Iceman: You can have the Stunt but you can usually just include it in your dice pool without having to claim it in advance.

Kurt shakes his head, scolding himself for how often he's been caught off guard today.  Some X-Man he's allowed himself to become...

Nightcrawler glances over between Bobby and Scott, desperately looking to the originals for guidance even as he sounds like he may cough up a chunk of brimstone himself..

Once the scene settles into a serene landscape of destruction, the only activity comes from the smoke rising calmly from the crater, but it is silent. Those in the Brotherhood within sight of the metal orb gaze up at it, ready but making no move. The thing is enough to make Scalphunter stow his guns, Vertigo to lower her hands, and Arclight to straighten from a battle stance. The latter keeps her eyes on the heroes but the former two look to the object floating above them.

Juggernaut approaches from the other side of the ruins of the mansion, with the body of Avalanche over his shoulders, and holding Pyro and Toad in the cradle of his massive arms. He grunts then snarls as he approaches the orb but makes no move toward the heroes beside striding through any that get in his way.

The metal orb moves, lowering slightly, then a half-dozen of the plates stuck to the front of it fall, slamming to the ground below. The interior of the orb stands revealed, filled with the heroes' opponents from the Danger Room. Mystique stands to one side, holding her rifle and the other arm around Destiny, propping up the old woman. The body of the White Queen slumps against the other side. On the bottom of the mouth of the open side of the orb lies the inert body of Quicksilver, at the feet of the mighty Magneto, holding forth with his arms outstretched above him in a pose positioned for power and presence.

“Hear me, humans and mutants who stand against the Brotherhood: Though your hate and ignorance needed no seer, the consequences of your actions were not foretold. You have wrought great destruction this day, and you have renewed the animosity of a great enemy. My daughter might have been saved without your interference and now she is likely doomed. Know, Avengers and X-Men, that if I and my allies discover that her life has been laid to the same waste as this domain that such devastation shall be visited upon you ten-fold, even extending to what you hold dear in kind, as you have done to me. That is my vow to you this day, those who would call yourselves heroes,” he bellows, lowering his hands but still scowling through his helmet.

Bishop wasn't one to give speeches, much less having the patience to sit through one.
He paid no heed to Magneto's sermon, and instead went about circling around the crater and joining up with Cyclops.

Justice took a deep breath, his mind was in chaos he tried to calm his mind invoking the image of Angelica "I love you Angelica." he whispered softly, feeling a cold rush in his back, it was odd admitting his feeling but it would appear that only now so close to defeat he could admit it. I should have gone to be with her ... he thought, not just let my guilt prevent me to be with the woman I love.


OOC
INTENT: Recover Mental Stress
POOL: Team (d10), Struggling Idealist (d8), Psyche Expert (d8)
ROLL:12:23, Today: 21:42, Today: Justice rolled 1,1,8 using 1d10,1d8,1d8 with rolls of 1,1,8.  Recover Mental stress.
TOTAL: 8/D4/D8
RESULT: ?

PP:0 + 1 (Opportunity)=1

Wow talk about worst roll ever.

Iceman focuses on his training with Xavier still, trying to focus his mind and make the mind splitting headache go away. Thinking back to a happy memory of him and Lorna on their first date. He

OOC: Trying to recover Mental Stress.

Rolling Team d8 + Hopeless Romantic d8 (using a happy memory to overcome the bad mojo) + Enhanced Stamina d8 + Psych Expert d8 + d8 from opportunity.

Result: 1,5,3,3,5. Spending my last PP to up that to a 13 with d8 effect dice. Then gain a new PP for the opportunity.
PP 01, PS d10, ES 00, MS d12, Adrenaline Boost d8 Stunt

d10 returns to Doom Pool from Scarlet Witch Hex Fury
Add d8 to Doom Pool from Justice's Opportunities
Add d6 to Doom Pool from Iceman's Opportunity

Doom Pool (5d6, 7d8, 2d10) reaction to Justice's attempt to recover Mental Stress, Total: 8, Effect: d4 (msg #336):
Justice Physical Stress d12

Watcher rolled 4,2,1,4,3,4,8,4,3,7,2,8,1,7,8 using d6,d6,d6,d6,d6,d8,d8,d8,d8,d8,d8,d8,d10,d10,d12 ((4,2,1,4,3,4,8,4,3,7,2,8,1,7,8)).

Total: 8, Effect: d12
2 Opportunities (available first to Justice)

Justice's Mental Stress steps down to d10
-----
Doom Pool (5d6, 7d8, 2d10) reaction to Iceman's attempt to recover Mental Stress, Total: 13, Effect: d8 (msg #337):
Iceman Physical Stress d10

Watcher rolled 6,4,4,4,6,6,7,4,3,3,7,8,7,8,1 using d6,d6,d6,d6,d6,d8,d8,d8,d8,d8,d8,d8,d10,d10,d10 ((6,4,4,4,6,6,7,4,3,3,7,8,7,8,1)).

Total: 13, Effect: d10

1 Opportunity (available first to Iceman)

Iceman's Mental Stress steps down to d10

Those in the hole are able to catch their breaths, even if it is thick with smoke. Justice and Iceman find some kind of focus again. The relative serenity of the scene helps, even as Magneto's words echo from the end of his statement. Buried in his bold threats are bits of wisdom and perhaps a warning. Even Bishop realized in the back of his mind that there must be more than bluster in Magneto's words.

Doom Pool: 5d6, 7d8, 2d10 +d10 +d8 +d6 = 6d6, 8d8, 2d10

As Magneto lowers his hands, some of the metal plates that had covered the front of the metal orb rise in the air, as if held by invisible hands.

"Have you nothing to say? I had assumed you would show more activity in your time of need. Though my might deserves your awe, I hoped you would display more dignity than to cower silently." Magneto says, as he waves toward the hunks of metal that rise to just below the orb and, with curdling screeches as they scrape against each other, twist and curl into angled shapes as if they were soft clay.

Justice stood up floating out of the hole, he felt slightly better but still was in great pain "Old men, run away like the coward despot you are. The blame you so eagerly cast on other you should take on yourself... Go and know that next time we meet you and your band of minion misfits would feel the hand of justice."

He paused looking at Magneto with clear steel stare"There, you are happy? we have exchange the usual heroic villain banter... go play your little game elsewhere, we have work to do here like saving your daughter and building the damage you caused."

Justice turned away trying to see if there is anyone in need of aid.

'Jesus, does this guy ever talk like he's not speechifying in a comic book?' Spectrum thought as she came to a stop near the other Avengers.

Spectrum hovered next to the Avengers and X-Men and looked at Magneto. "Was your daughter the reason everyone here went mad and left a crater in the ground here? If so you might be better served being her father than standing there playing super-villain, ya cher?

Rahne lay in the bottom of the hole.

It's where her morale was right now so it only seemed fitting.
After all, 'Advice is free, Actions are not'; and their combined actions today had cost them all ... dearly.
At least, nobody had been killed,   although Rahne lay there now in a pool of her own blood.
... but she still had her Team around her (which was comforting to her)But her personal Psych, and her Enhanced Stamina were already beginning to help her recover.

She needed to calm herself down.
She was no good to anyone this Stressed Out.


Action: Calm her self down and overcome some of her Emotional Stress.
D10 Team
d4   Advice is free, Actions are not      for 1PP
d8   Enhanced Stamina
d8   Psych Specialist

- rolled 1,4,1,4 using d10,d4,d8,d8
TOTAL 8, Effect d4
2 Opportunities      for 2PP

PP = 6
This message was last edited by the player at 02:20, Thu 18 Oct 2018.

“Incoming”

From the way Magneto was shaping the metal around him into sharp spikes, Bishop was anticipating an attack at any moment.  He wanted to make sure the others won’t be caught off-guard either

‘Well, At least it would stop him from talking’

All 1s rolled in a dice pool count for one Opportunity/1 PP
Also, there is a maximum of 5 PPs at one time

Doom Pool (6d6, 8d8, 2d10) reaction to Wolfsbane's attempt to recover Mental Stress, Total: 8, Effect: d4 (msg #343):
Emotional Stress d12

Watcher rolled 6,3,5,6,2,6,3,8,4,6,7,4,2,5,10,4,6 using d6,d6,d6,d6,d6,d6,d8,d8,d8,d8,d8,d8,d8,d8,d10,d10,d12 ((6,3,5,6,2,6,3,8,4,6,7,4,2,5,10,4,6)).

Total: 8, Effect: d12

Wolfsbane's Mental Stress steps down to d10

Wolfsbane finds some focus again, though her mind is still not completely clear. With what led to how she arrived at the sub-basement to the struggle in the Danger Room to now, it all feels like a blur. The speed with which it all happened leaves her dizzy, but she can still move, and she can act, and she can feel the presence of allies around her.

Meanwhile, through the smoldering wreckage of the mansion, a figure approaches.

“I shall spare you," Magneto calls calmly. "The only harm you could do now clearly lies around you."

The metal panels that wove around each other at Magneto’s imperceptible bidding below the metal orb now make their purpose clear: they twist and turn into layers of right angles, becoming a construct of steps leading from the tilled ground to the lip of the orb itself. Scalphunter casts a scowl back at the heroes as he leads the Marauders into the floating ship, then the Juggernaut, with his allies in tow around shoulders and arms, follows them as well, snorting but not bothering to look back.

When his followers are assembled in the metal orb, Magneto casts one more address: “Heed my words, self-styled exemplars and protectors of humans: There is a war coming. In some quarters it is already here. Beware who you trust. Be cautious who you consider an ally and who you serve. Choose wrong and it could be the greatest act toward your imminent undoing.”

The metal staircase falls away and the orb floats upward as Magneto raises his hands. The transport gains speed as it rises and in a short moment is swallowed in the smoke from the exposed pit that was once the Danger Room.

Magneto, Mystique, Destiny, White Queen, Quicksilver, Juggernaut, Avalanche, Toad, Pyro, Scalphunter, Vertigo, Arclight exit the scene

Rahne climbers out of the Danger Room Pit, then turned to offer her hand to others to help them up and out.

The figure approaching from the midst the spreading, thinning smoke reveals itself to be the unhelmeted Iron Man, Tony Stark. His armor is smashed nearly beyond recognition, with wires and cords hanging from busted plates, those few that remain. Half of his exposed face is not the standard color of his skin, already starting to turn purple with a massive, oncoming bruise. He walks with a slow, deliberate gait, not attuned to his stride so much as that which he holds in his hand: a sphere-like item, nearly the size of a soccer ball, easy to confuse with his armor as wires hang from it as well, though fewer than those coming from his suit. The object is white, and as Stark approaches the others, it is bared as a skull. Its forehead catches the afternoon sun and a gem in the center of it shines brilliantly for an instant before being turned in Stark's hand.

"Tony!" a voice calls from the far side of the estate. The Quinjet that landed on the expanse of land sits nearly on its side, with a small hill beneath it from the ground overturned by the blast below. Hawkeye runs from the jet, with his arm in the cast like it was in the ready room before leaving for this mission, but now with a bloody bandage wrapped across his shoulder. Behind him walks the X-Man Storm, also looking worse for wear with her clothes singed and her face marked with soot, and moving more slowly than the archer, but she still makes the pace, and, blinking in the afternoon sun, takes in the mutants she makes out through the smoke.

Hawkeye catches up to Stark then stops to eye the object in the armored Avenger's hand. "What -- " he says lightly, then freezes when he realizes what it is. "It's -- he..." Then ceases moving, only looking slowly back at his teammate as Stark walks on.

Spectrum looked at what Tony held in shock before she turned to look at Hawkeye. “That’s not...is that...oh hell. No wonder she went mad.” She said as she seemed to sink into herself, looking small and tired.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:44, Tue 23 Oct 2018.

Iceman slides out of the hole in the ground looking down at the damage. "Crap! I had some leftover chili in the fridge."

He sees the Avengers gathering and slides down to them. "I think it's about time we got a..." then he sees what's Iron Man is holding.

Only Justice psychic powers keep him upright and standing/floating speechless. The bitter taste of defeat turn even more sour as he see what Mr. Stark is holding "you... you can fix it right?" he asked in a half naive half pleading tone.

Whatever the Avengers were up to – it was their own business.  For him, the greater concern was with would happen with the x-men now that the mansion was destroyed; it would definitely have future repercussions

“Now what?” he prodded Cyclops

She-Hulk strides from Bishop to jaunt up to where Hawkeye and Stark have met. "Clint, how'd you get he -- " she says, stopping abruptly when she gets a view of the object in Stark's hand.

Stark finally stops his amble, near the mouth of the pit, in a spot as good as any. He gazes at the skull in his hand in silence. As heroes gather around him and offer their comments, he finally looks up at the young Justice. His eyes are dry but they tremble, on the edge of bursting. "I -- this is beyond me," he croaks. "He was always beyond me." As if on cue, one of the few cords, a blackened thing, hanging from the skull falls from the skull toward the ground, bouncing once then into smoke of the pit.

If Cyclops can hear Bishop, he shows no sign. Since he pulled himself from the hole in the ground and the smoke cleared around him, he has stood silently, staring at what was once the proud and majestic mansion. His eyes covered by his mask, he faces the ruined structure without a word or movement. Eventually, his fists shake and his mouth pulls back along gritted teeth but he shows no other outward sign of emotion. A moment later, those subtle displays fade and he falls to his knees then hangs his head. His body shivers. "The dream," he mutters, near to silence, trailing off as if no one has ever listened.

"- It's only a thing" he was referring to the destroyed mansion.  He could hardly call the place 'the dream' -  Xavier's vision for the world was much more than a small, private retreat for mutants.  And now he found it so very hard to keep the displeasure out of his voice;  seeing his childhood hero in such a sad, pitiful shape was very disillusioning - he expected so much more from the leader of the x-men, the one he read so much about, someone whose heroics he aspired to emulate.

Well, he was over it now.

It was a stupid childhood fantasy anyways.

"Tony...the gem...didn't that play a very big part in realising him. You still have the plans and the case used to build his body, right? Isn't his...mind or matrix stored in the gem? If anyone can bring him back it's you." Spectrum said as she fought to keep tears from spilling down her face.