United Heroes MUSH - User contributions [en]

2755/Ladies of Limbo, FIGHT! -- Er, Reunite!

2017-10-09T15:00:47Z

Prototart: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2017/10/08 |Location=Xavier Academy |Synopsis=Ladies of Limbo, FIGHT! -- Er, Reunite! |Cast of Characters=1435, 296, 145, 284, 248 |pretty=yes }} {..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2017/10/08
|Location=Xavier Academy
|Synopsis=Ladies of Limbo, FIGHT! -- Er, Reunite!
|Cast of Characters=1435, 296, 145, 284, 248
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:1435|Noriko Ashida (1435)}} has posed:'''      Sunny fall afternoons are great for hanging around outdoors, and as such, Nori's playing frisbee on the front lawn. However, none of her friends are around, so... She's playing against herself! She tosses, watching the red disk sail through the air, before streaking across the lawn, trailing sparks, and catching it. Not quite as good as playing with other people, but better than another afternoon trying to study. 

:'''{{#var:296|Kitty Pryde (296)}} has posed:''' The front yard isn't USUALLY the place one sees such activities happening, and this isn't exactly in plain sight. But the sounds of metal-on-metal have been ringing across the grounds for a good while now. It's *not* the same sound as Logan beating on his bike in the garage, and feminine laughter starts accompanying those metallic sounds. So by following the sounds, one happens across the source: The two young women in the flat clearing of the lawn are as different as night and day in some ways, but both move with fluid grace. The brunette's katana meets the blonde's -- is that a broadsword she's wielding?! -- with that same ringing sound that drew the watcher. With a graceful twirl away from the engagement, Kitty laughs again. "Hey! No extra demons in the mix, Yana!" she calls out, as if maybe the blonde on the other side is cheating just a little. "Lockheed doesn't get to come play, neither can the critters! Last time, one tried to bite me on the butt!" She dances away from a particularly strong strike levelled at her by the blonde and the small dragon swooping above the fight chortles his amusement. 

:'''{{#var:145|Illyana (145)}} has posed:'''     All things being relative, Illyana is dressed simply. For her. That's the opportune phrase - simply, /for her/. The pants are black leather, just shy of skin tight and laced down both sides; the top is black cotton, but tight enough that you could see the impression of her bra straps if she quit moving long enough, and with the sleeves cropped short in lieu of fine, black mesh ones attached by mean of clips and hooked against the thumb and forefinger of each hand. The neck isn't quite plunging, but the fact she's wearing a high-shine black corset over the top does seem a tad excessive, especially given that - well, that she has a large sword in her hands, and that she is actively using it. This is to say nothing of the boots she is wearing, matte black leather with spikes at the toes, sport four-inch heels. They are, apparently, the most practical pair of shoes she currently owns.     Despite the activity, despite the sunlight, Illyana is pallid as always and doesn't seem to have worked a sweat at all, and despite the impractical attire appears to in no way have disadvantaged herself.     As Kitty disengages, Illyana cracks her neck to the side. There's a little twitch to her lips - it's almost like a smile, but Illyana doesn't smile, and so it must be some optical illusion. "It is not my fault, that is simply the largest target!" she replies, with a tone that's ... not openly mocking?     Strange things are afoot at the Circle X. 

:'''{{#var:1435|Noriko Ashida (1435)}} has posed:''' Noriko Ashida snags the frisbee out of the air with a jump, before pausing to look over at the ongoing swordfight. Well, that's certainly more exciting. She still has no clue how you're supposed to fight in heels, especially on grass, but apparently Illy can do it. She wanders over to within about twenty feet of the pair before calling "How many demons equal a Lockheed, though?" Aaaah, Xavier's. You certainly don't get stuff like this at other schools. 

:'''{{#var:296|Kitty Pryde (296)}} has posed:''' "Oh, you freakin' WENCH!" Kitty retorts, circling her best friend. With her dark hair in a ponytail and wearing workout clothes -- leggings and a sports bra/tank -- with a pair of trainers on her feet, she looks FAR more casual than Illyana. And she is definitely sweating and breathing deeply. Though she's in good shape, this exercise is not for the weak. She doesn't flick a glance toward the observer -- it's not like it's an unusual thing to be watched while training in this place, after all -- but she does call back, "Depends on if she brings the big ones!" Launching herself forward at high speed, Kitty executes a tumbling move that brings her within sword-slashing distance of Illyana, phases right on through her friend to come out the other side of her body and bring her sword down from over her head to cleave the Demon Queen in two. 

:'''{{#var:145|Illyana (145)}} has posed:'''     "Half of a demon at best," Illyana directs to Surge - which is, again, an unusual thing, owing to how she generally just doesn't acknowledge anyone she is not standing directly next to unless it's to say something that's just absolutely *horrible*.     That she does in fact let herself be distracted means that Kitty does in fact manage to phase through her, and to cleave a remarkably sharp sword down at her - though it seems like playing, and though it IS playing, these swords are both terribly lethal weapons.     And Illyana's response to this is a click of her tongue, left foot moving backwards - and heel biting down into the ground, sending her falling onto her ass at exactly the right angle to make sure that, although she isn't harmed in any way, Kitty's sword slashes down the front of her top and leaves it hanging open, exposing the (really, surprisingly simple) black bra she wears beneath it, which luck of luck has not been rent in twain.     Illyana, sitting on her ass with her top hanging open, fights against the turf until a clump of it is sent leaping skyward and her heel is released. "That was not a loss," she huffs quietly.     "That was outside interference." 

:'''{{#var:1435|Noriko Ashida (1435)}} has posed:'''      And THERE is the reason why Surge never wears heels. One, they tend to not work at several hundred miles per hour, and they also make you vulnerable to uneven ground. "Totally not my fault. And you aren't going to get clean one on ones in an actual fight, either." After standing there grinning for a second, she zips back inside, before returning with a hoodie that totally wasn't borrowed from the school store. "Here you go, better put this on before the new kid shows up. I hear he's a starer." 

:'''{{#var:296|Kitty Pryde (296)}} has posed:''' She was SUPPOSED to parry! Not go flashing her BRA!!! Kitty pulls that sword strike in an instant, so that what could have easily been a killing blow just slices those strings. The only reason she didn't phase is was because it means she wins. "What, now we're playing football??" she queries, standing on the air above her former roommate. Bending down, she offers Illyana a hand up. And a grin and TIGHT hug once the Russian is on her feet. Because Kitty can't NOT hug her. Being home is a-may-zing and her joy lights her up from the inside. It's been a long three years. Then she settles her feet to the turf, her sword pointed downward. "We'll call it a draw," she says generously. "But only if you take back that comment about my butt." 

:'''{{#var:145|Illyana (145)}} has posed:'''     Illyana produces another huff, snatching the proffered hoodie from Noriko's hand. Without bothering to actually get up, Illyana unfastens her waist cincher (a long row of tightly secured buckles runs down the front), drops it onto the ground next to her, then (glumly) pulls off her (ruined) top, wads it up into a ball, and casts it off to the side. It doesn't go very far, because it's just a wadded-up ball of cotton and fishnetting.     "So? They are just tits," she says to the helpful blue-haired girl, shoulders lifting then falling in a shrug that, let's be honest, makes them bounce quite a bit, it's what they do. If only to mollify the surely-in-need-of-mollification Kitty, Illyana *does* pull on the hoodie (which is not at ALL her style) and then manages, after grabbing onto Kitty's arm, to get back onto her feet.     The hug - well, it makes Illyana flinch at first, but she relaxes into it. She almost likes like she's enjoying it! Nonsense.     "It ... is not THAT big, no." 

:'''{{#var:1435|Noriko Ashida (1435)}} has posed:''' Noriko Ashida grins. "Yeah, but you'll never hear the end of it. And he'll start bragging to his friends, or something." Admittedly a bit weak, but it's also kind of distracting seeing the feared Illyana Rasputin actually acting, dare she say, NORMAL? She turns to Kitty, extending a hand. "Don't think we've officially met. Noriko Ashida, Surge. Nori's fine too." 

:'''{{#var:296|Kitty Pryde (296)}} has posed:''' Illyana's surliness is something Kitty simply pretends isn't there. Because somewhere in that blonde is the amazing, beautiful, fun roommate that Kitty knows. And she'll make it back. Or at least as far back as a dour Russian can. Kitty will take any tiny moment that her best friend gives her, because they WILL be okay. Both of them. Once Illyana takes her hand and allows the hug, Kitty steps back. Keeping her katana in her left hand, she turns to Noriko. "Yeah, that new kid... someone's gonna hurt him. The *first words* out of his mouth were about how hot the students were here." She rolls her eyes expressively. She takes Noriko's hand. "Kitty Pryde. Really nice to meet you. That's Lockheed," she adds, gesturing slightly upward. 

:'''{{#var:284|Colossus (284)}} has posed:''' Rather than through the front doors of the mansion, Piotr appears around one of the sides of the building. Although it's not one of his official responsibilities at the school, the gentle giant has made gardening and various other bits of landscaping work on the grounds part of his routine, and it seems like he's at that now. To this point, a rather over-large sack of mulch chips is carried swung over his shoulder, bound for a currently empty would-be flower bed out front of the building that he's apparently working on. Important business! Making his journey over, he spots the group out front, but still goes to put the bag down first, hefting it over and dropping it off with a soft thud. Clapping his hands twice, he then meanders toward the sparring bunch, waving at a short distance. "Hello Snowflake. Oh, and Katya. Is good to be seeing you both out!" Both are offered a large smile. "Are practicing?" Noriko is offered a smile in turn. "I should not be in way." He gestures over at the empty flower bed. "Since are no trees here, I am adding mulch instead of fall leaves. Good nutrients for spring growth before ground is freezing." 

:'''{{#var:248|Megan Gwynn (248)}} has posed:''' Megan Gwynn is flying around, as she often does since graduating. Venturing into the world, and interacting with it, in a way she hasn't since coming to the Institute. At this moment she's buzzing over the lawn, but drops down and slows down when she sees activity. 

:'''{{#var:145|Illyana (145)}} has posed:'''     Currently being hugged by Kitty, Illyana looks - well, not terribly uncomfortable, which is something of a rarity as concerns Illyana and physical contact. She is also wearing too-tight leather pants, impractical heels, and ... a Xavier Academy hoodie, which is to say the absolute minimum 'kind of out of place and like, not really matched to the rest of her outfit.'     "Hello, Piotr," says Illyana. There is a gigantic sword next to her on the ground. (It is not the Soulsword, as that makes 'practice' difficult and 'abrupt dismemberment and villainous laughter' far more likely than even Illyana is comfortable with while in Kitty's presence.)     "You are never in the way!" Illyana, acting like a human being, is likely to be something of a shock for Surge - acting like a human to TWO PEOPLE at once? A revelation, the likes of which Saul had on the road to Damascus. Or, well, at least kind of surprising. 

:'''{{#var:1435|Noriko Ashida (1435)}} has posed:''' Noriko Ashida winces, shaking firmly and giving a wave to the dragon. "Yeeah... Someone's gonna punch him. I'll probably just zap him a little if he doesn't get the hint, assuming there aren't any teachers looking. She gives a nod to Piotr as he arrives as well, grinning back. "They're practicing, I was watching. Playing frisbee by yourself gets old." From above, Nori's electric blue hair is probably pretty recognizable, the teen looking up again as Megan starts to come in for a landing. 

:'''{{#var:296|Kitty Pryde (296)}} has posed:''' Piotr's approach renders a change in Kitty's demeanor, too, though she is low-key about it. Only the faint blush across her cheekbones may give away that she's a little flustered by his appearance. But her tone is steady and her smile easy as she murmurs, "Piotr. It's good to see you again." She's been gone for most of the past three years, only home on summer break from university, but her ties here run deep. Especially with the two Russians. "We were..." practicing, she means. And then her grin turns positively wicked. "Until Yana fumbled and flashed... what'd she call them? Her *tits* to the yard." Because it's fun to see Colossus blush. And to tease the hell out of Illyana. 

:'''{{#var:284|Colossus (284)}} has posed:''' Of course, Piotr always has the most sparkling, perhaps wildly inaccurate image of his sister, so he takes none of this as strange - although her being in a good mood does seem to reflect back in his own. Though he does add, maybe even humorously: "I mean in way of sword, if have not finished." Though it seems like they have, so he ambles closer, leaving the yardwork for at least the moment. Nearer, Noriko's mention of Kitty's pet has him glancing up briefly at said flying friend and then back between them. "Is very good to be having you back. You are enjoying travels? Mm, is like my reason for first coming to school, da? To study and learn in new place." And while Piotr would generally not bother to think much of anything about his sister's odd dress, neither her strange 'normal' choice nor the oddly actually-normal clothes layered over them, when Kitty gives reason to the odd ensemble, he does in fact look a little uncomfortable. "Ah- erm. Well. If is just you girls here, is fine, da?" Though there is a worried look toward the front of the school building, where certain classrooms do have outward facing windows. Just like him to be worried for the modesty of someone who wanders around in spiked quasi bondage gear. "Do you need to go and change, snowflake?" 

:'''{{#var:248|Megan Gwynn (248)}} has posed:''' Megan Gwynn is about to come approach the group, who seem to be having a time, when she's interrupted. It seems that Lockheed starts to kick up a fuss, signaling everyone about Pixie, then flying to her and circling her. "Hello," she says with a little wave. "It's ok, I belong here. I'm just going to say hello to everyone." She'll then land with the others, sizing up who's having fun here. And possibly at whose expense. 

:'''{{#var:145|Illyana (145)}} has posed:'''     The Russian - the pale Russian - no, the - look, the one with the tits, alright?     She purses her lips together (it almost looks like a pout), and huffs out a discontented lungful of air at the words of her best friend. "I did not flash them!" protests Illyana, arms nonetheless folding over her chest and shoulders tensing, posture pushing up to immaculate straightness. She turns her head to the side, hair flipped, and offers up a scoff of protest.     "They just came out! It was not my fault." She nods her chin towards the brunette. "Her sword cut open my shirt, and it just happened! Any anyway, as I said, they are just - "     Illyana pauses; she clears her throat.     And, in her brother AND Kitty's presence, she restrains herself.     "They are natural."     She unfolds her arms; she waves a reassuring hand towards Piotr. "No, no, it is fine now, the hoodie is ... it is fine, everything is fine." 

:'''{{#var:1435|Noriko Ashida (1435)}} has posed:''' Noriko Ashida snrk. She'll have to high five Kitty later. When there are less angry blondes with oversized swords who can teleport her to a hellscape. On the plus side... Illy seems to be glaring a bit less now that Piotr's here? Although... "She's right, Kitty. She still had underwear on anyway. I think Flashing technically requires no underwear..." 

:'''{{#var:296|Kitty Pryde (296)}} has posed:''' Kitty just laughs. Because to see Illyana fluff and flounce and flip her hair is a welcome sight indeed. "I love you, Yana." She moves carefully with the katana in her hand to the sheath that sits off to the side near Piotr. Carefully covering the blade, she throws the strap over her shoulder and tilts her head to watch Pixie land. "Lockheed, she's not one of THOSE fairies. Don't breathe on her. I mean it!" The miniature dragon seems to huff, hovering as if deciding whether to bug Megan further, and then flies off with a chatter of something dragon-like over his shoulder. He might e singing, he might be cursing... who knows! Clearing her throat, she looks at the small group. "I have to admit, it's really nice to be back. Lot of new faces. I hope you guys are liking it so far." She glances an almost-shy look at Piotr and says, "I don't start my job for a few days, so if you'd like help with some of the mulching, I can lend a hand." 

:'''{{#var:284|Colossus (284)}} has posed:''' This all - discussion of underwear details, things being 'natural', what have you - is obviously all far more than Piotr needs to hear on this topic! Since what he needs to hear is NOTHING. In specific OR general really, as talking about boobs with a bunch of female students is definitely inappropriate! Who is he, Remy? And of this is reflected in an expression that is a rich combination of embarassment, discomfort, and dismay. It's the the pure concept of 'awkward' given shape on his face. So he capitulates quite readily to Illyana: "Da, is fine." If that means they can stop talking about it, anyway! The little dragonling flying over to Megan proves a very convenient distraction, however. Look! Over there! "Ah hello," he calls over as she comes to join the group. Similarly, when Kitty approaches to put away her sword, he glances back down toward her. "There are many new students these days. And with troubles going on, some have already shown themselves to be very promising." But his smile broadens suddenly at her offer of help. "Oh yes, if you are wanting to join me, I would be very happy." To which, he somewhat hastily adds, "Ah, most students, they do not show interest in such things." Ahem. "So, what is new job?" 

:'''{{#var:248|Megan Gwynn (248)}} has posed:''' Megan Gwynn gives Piotr and the rest a wave, as the dragon is leaving her alone now, but then starts to catch up. "Hang on, did someone's top fall off in some training? Or am I misunderstanding what people are saying?" She then looks to Illayana and smirks. "At some point I maybe should learn how to use weapons better? Since I have one and all, once that cost a great deal." 

:'''{{#var:1435|Noriko Ashida (1435)}} has posed:''' Noriko Ashida grins. "Yeah. It's pretty nice here. Would be nicer if I'd done better on that History test, but..." She looks back and forth between Kitty and Piotr, before taking a few steps back towards Megan and Illyana to give the pair a bit more privacy. "I've been mostly sticking to unarmed stuff with Logan... might be worth learning as well, if you'd be interested." Hey Illy, an excuse to beat up on the girl you blame for embarassing you! 

:'''{{#var:145|Illyana (145)}} has posed:'''     Illyana's finger snaps towards Megan, and - well, there isn't much niceness at all to the look she directs at the Welsh girl, just cold, hard eyes and an otherwise expressionlessly face.     "It did not fall. It was cut."     And immediately her attention turns back to the only two people in the world for whom she holds any particular affection - posture, expression, eyes, everything about her in the blink of an eye softened to a point that appears *almost* human.     Both of Illyana's hands rest on Kitty's shoulders and, from behind, she leans and asks, "Yes, Kitty, would you like to be alo-one?" 

:'''{{#var:296|Kitty Pryde (296)}} has posed:''' Great. Big. Anime. Eyes. Illyana behind her?? That's always just a little scary. Seriously! It is! And Kitty goes just a little tense and then blushes PROFUSELY. "No, Yana, thank you so much. I'm sure you'll be a wonderful addition to mulching the gardens!" she retorts quickly. Is it an attempt to keep Illyana with her, or an attempt to drive her away? Kitty does attempt to reclaim her equanimity with a grin at Megan and Noriko. "Logan is the best trainer around here for combat of many kinds. He taught me almost all of what I know." Not counting Ogun, of course. And then to Piotr, she adds, "Uhm... the new job? It's... working with STAR Labs some. Remotely, though -- I don't have to live in Metropolis or anything." 

:'''{{#var:284|Colossus (284)}} has posed:''' Of course, at Illyana's sing-song-y offer, Piotr goes up on the defensive too, to the degree that it's almost hilariously self-incriminating. He even holds up his hands. "No, no, of course you are all welcome to be joining in!" He looks past her at the other two girls as well. "Is great deal of work, the gardens. It would be good if more students were participating. Is good, in this modern world with the little phones everywhere, to be keeping in touch with nature." That's his excuse and he's sticking to it! With schoolwork being discussed, he does switch back to teacher-talk a bit. "Ms. Croft is good teacher," he points out to Noriko. "I am sure, if you are having trouble, you can ask her for extra help?" And then a firm nod. "Friend Logan is very good. I am helping sometimes too, with hand-to-hand training. Or you can schedule more time in student danger room. Practice is always making perfect, da?" Kitty's new job earns an impressed sort of look. "Oh, that must be very interesting. You are... working for them as computer programmer?" 

:'''{{#var:248|Megan Gwynn (248)}} has posed:''' Megan Gwynn winks at Illyana despite the cold response, and she laughs a bit. "My apologies." Noriko and Kitty get a nod, as she stretches her arms and folds her wings. "Logan probably knows something about blades..." She watches the dragon a bit more, as the dragon flies off in rage(?), and snickesr before winking at poor Piotr. "I might have to take a look. Being out of school would give me more time for gardens." 

:'''{{#var:1435|Noriko Ashida (1435)}} has posed:''' Noriko Ashida ...wait she came out her eto relax, not get drafted for dragging bags of mulch around. "Y-yeah... It's just balancing school and the hero stuff. I mean, I'm helping fight Darkseid, than have a test a few days later? Whiplash. And yeah, Danger Room stuff is okay, but the schedule's a bit full at times." 

:'''{{#var:145|Illyana (145)}} has posed:'''     "I am not a very good teacher."     Unless you want to learn to walk in ballet heels, this is a statement as true as can be. Nothing of Illyana's demeanor and temperament would give reason to believe that she's a person you want swinging a sword at you when you've only just learned to pick one up.     "SHE... trained ME," she says, finger placed at the very tip of Kitty's head, brow arched in Surge's direction. " sort of. It is complicated. There is time travel involved, you see? Also, there are alternate dimensions. Anyway, yes, it is best to perhaps ask Logan. Oh! Or Ororo, perhaps? She taught me much of the magic I know that isn't about murder."     An ever-so innocent flutter of her eyes, face over Kitty's shoulder, and she says, "Not that I murder, of course. A figure of speech!"     "But I do not think this one knows magic. Again, it is all very complicated. For certain she can teach you how to fight, however!"     On a pivot, her attention shifts.     "Yes! What is your new job, Kitty?" 

:'''{{#var:1435|Noriko Ashida (1435)}} has posed:''' Noriko Ashida shrugs. "I don't know, I"m not really magical. But... I guess I'll ask Kitty later. I... should probably go get some dinner though. I'll see you guys around!" She gives the group a wave, before disappearing in a streak of blue light and sparks again, heading back inside. 

:'''{{#var:296|Kitty Pryde (296)}} has posed:''' Piotr's dancing hands and horrified expression just makes Kitty's blush even worse!! But Illyana's praise brings the dark-haired girl's eyes around to her friend with a small smile. Their bond is a complicated one. It is easy to see from the way the two girls stand together, though, it is an abiding one -- there is a graceful utter lethality to the way both of them move with swords in their hands but in that one shared smile, even with Yana babbling about murder, there is a moment where an observer can see that these two women will never stand anywhere but back-to-back against whatever comes. "Blades? Yes, Logan of all people definitely knows blades." Kitty supresses a laugh at the thought of Logan and his blades. She turns her attention back to the two students. "Quite well. Also, Kurt is a phenomenal fencer, if I remember right. So there are choices of teacher. Depends on what suits your style." Her eyes go between the two girls. "The schedule here can, at times, be grueling. Balance is important... don't lose that." She waves as Noriko heads for the house. And then she laughs quietly. "New job. Computers. Research. Developing new tech." She bites her lip and looks really excited. "At STAR Labs. And the Watchtower." She wasn't sure she was going to blab, but it's Yana and Piotr! And their opinions matter to her. 

:'''{{#var:284|Colossus (284)}} has posed:''' "I am sure teachers are understanding when there are... interruptions to class schedule, for emergencies," Piotr does point out, a bit more empathetically to Noriko, hopefully before she decides to zip off. "We are all knowing what is like, to face great dangers. Is stressful! So, I am thinking exceptions can be made. Maybe speak with Ms. Croft about having... how you say, 'making up test' after time for more studying, da?" To the rest, he happily announces, "You are all welcome to help. Is not so much work." Says the giant! He starts over toward the mulch bag, tearing one corner to make a spout of sorts, and lifting it to pour some out. "Garden work is mostly not too difficult. For this, I will handle heavy lifting. If you are wanting to help, the mulch will need be, mm, spread out even? I am bringing tools eariler." Indeed, there's some shovels, rakes, smaller hand trowels, etc in a little pile. "Working for STAR should be very rewarding!" he tells Kitty with genuine excitement, that helping somewhat in focusing elsewhere than any floating 'awkward.' "Is great accomplishment. I am very proud." 
}}

Magik

2017-08-16T11:25:57Z

Prototart:

{{CharacterNew
|NameOnMUSH=Illyana
|Color=#333
|TextColor=#c1c1c1
|Char_id=145
|Img=http://i.imgur.com/W8Zmhlm.jpg
|FullName=Illyana Nikolievna Rasputina
|Gender=Female
|Species=Mutant
|Theme=Marvel
|Chartype=FC
|Active=Active
|Occupation=The Darkchilde; Queen of Limbo
|Groups=[New Mutants], [Xavier's], [Mutants]
|Quote="I am The Darkchilde, the adopted daughter of Belasco. I have the body and mind of Illyana Rasputin, but I have lost her soul. I am one who should not be."
|PAge=Late Teens/Early 20s
|AAge=Oh God Who Knows
|DOB=January 17th, 2011
|Height=5'4"
|Weight=130 lbs
|Hair=Blonde
|Eyes=Glacial Blue
|Actor=Miss Mosh
|Song=
|Profile=Illyana Rasputina was dead. And, then, she wasn't. The Demon Queen of Limbo; the successor to Belasco; the favored child of the Elder Gods. She is sister to Piotr Rasputin, Colossus. She is not a very nice person.
|Abilities=-------------------------------< Ageless >---------------------------------

Be it because of just how very long she has spent in Limbo, her position as its ruler, her skill as a sorcerer or simply the nature of her resurrection and the fact she is no longer properly human, Illyana has ceased to age. She has spent uncountable years in Limbo, and in at least one future was alive as late as 2099.

-----------------------------< Darkchilde >------------------------------

At one point, Illyana could transform herself into a demonic form with enhanced strength, speed and durability. And she still can - but given the nature of her resurrection, a persuasive argument could be made that it is her *human* form that is now the 'alternate.'
As the Darkchilde, Illyana can lift several tons, is immune to small arms fire and to all forms of heat and flame (natural and otherwise), and possesses a level of agility and dexterity, and reflexes, slightly above the human maximum.
In this form, Illyana's teeth and nails are razor sharp, she possesses enormous horns, sports a tail, and has digitigrade legs with cloven hooves.

-------------------------------< Eldritch Armor >-------------------------------

'Eldritch Armor' is the colorful name for the protective armor that forms upon Illyana's body when she draws the Soulsword; when wearing the guise of a human, it will generally present itself only as a sleeve and pauldron for her sword arm, the left.
It can, however, grow to cover essentially her entire body no matter the form - she simply tends to keep it largely suppressed.
As protection, the Eldritch Armor is second to none. It protects her from essentially all mundane and most supernatural weapons - even the deadliest blade slides off its surface - and most forms of harmful energy dissipate upon impacting it.
It is less effective at protecting Illyana from crushing blows; she has been knocked unconscious and suffered broken bones even while wearing the full suit, and there are virtually always places of exposed skin where a skilled opponent could land a blow.
In terms of appearance, it is wildly variable - but it is always clearly *armor*, and always brilliantly shining, reflectiv metal like the organic steel her brother transforms into.

-------------------------------< Enhanced >-------------------------------
Even while wearing the form of a human, Illyana is not *entirely* that.
She possesses enhanced strength - able to lift several hundred pounds, beyond what a woman of her apparent strength and stature should be capable of - and greatly enhanced durability. She has been thrown through buildings, dropped several stories, riddled with arrows, beaten, tortured - all with no lasting physical damage.
She heals with remarkable speed; while not "regeneration," injuries that a normal woman would spend months recovering from tend to vanish within hours at most.
While resistant, she is *not* invulnerable - these things still hurt a great deal, and it is *entirely* possible to remove her from a fight with a sufficiently excessive application of violence, and on at least once occasion she has passed out from pain while severely beaten and riddled with arrows.

-------------------------------< Psionic Shielding >-------------------------------
Be it because she is not truly human, be it because she is a sorcerer of profound ability, be it because she has endless lifetimes worth of trauma and horror to break the mind of anyone who attempts it - Illyana's mind is warded against *all* intrusion. Not even telepaths of the grade of Charles Xavier and Emma Frost have ever been able to do so much as read her surface thoughts without her affirmative consent.
(Because of how *her* abilities work, Karma *has* proven capable of seizing control of Illyana in the past.)

-------------------------------< Sorcery >-------------------------------
Illyana is among the most powerful sorcerers ever born of human blood, possessing a level of mastery so profound that in the event of the death or fall of the Earth dimension's sorcerer supreme, she would be a candidate for the role; as it stands, she *is* sorcerer supreme of Limbo, and within that realm her power is all but unequaled.
(At one time, her abilities were severely constrained while on Earth - but for whatever reason, be it the nature of her resurrection, a growth in skill and the maturation of age, or some unknown change in the fabric of the universe, this is now far from being true.)
As a master sorcerer, Illyana can conjure, control and shape force to bind, to attack; to mold the elements, to create and to shape and puppet items; to bring forth spirits; to create shields and barriers; to form illusions, and more. And, like virtually every sorcerer, can sense and detect the use of magic, and items and beings of a mystical nature.
Her field of specialization, as should be little surprise, are the very blackest sorts of magic.

-------------------------------< Soulword >-------------------------------
As a child, one of Illyana's mentors attempted to instruct her in more benevolent forms of magic and guide her towards the shaping of a totemic tree linked to her lifeforce. Illyana, instead, created a weapon - one of the most devastating magical artifacts ever encountered, the sum and total of her sorcerous might and a symbol of her rulership over Limbo.
The blade is nothing less than anathema to illusions, and to all beings of a magical nature - even the very mightiest of spells break against it as if glass, and used in Limbo it could shatter even the bonds of the great Cyttorak to his avatar. Supernatural entities capable of surviving its brutal applications are rare indeed.
Against mundane matter, it is less effective - but it is still a burning, magical sword of enormous power. It has proven capable of sheering through a Sentinel, and of blocking even high-powered projectile weapons.
When used on living, non-magical beings it will in most case pass through them, triggering a wave of pain so intense that unconsciousness usually follows - it can, however, do profound damage if Illyana so desires it. Thankfully, she generally does not unless moved to extremes of anger.

-------------------------------< Teleportation >-------------------------------

Limbo's relationship to both time and space are, to say the least, *odd* - it connects to all places and to all times, and EXISTS in all places and all times. A "natural" phenomenon of Limbo arising from this are so-called 'stepping discs,' discs of blinding light connected to unpredictable locations within both space and time.
Illyana's mutant ability is to control them. By subconsciously scanning the entirety of the Limbo dimension, she draws forth discs that link to a specific, determined place and time - to *any* place and *any* time.
Perhaps the most powerful teleporter on record, Illyana can move herself - or anyone else - to any location she desires, irrespective of distance and with absolute accuracy, including even very large numbers of people across very large distances - she has, on more than one occasion, traversed interstellar distances. She does not need to journey with someone she teleports, and does not need to be present to teleport someone to her, or to an entirely unrelated location.
The discs are conjured forth at, for lack of any better descriptor, 'the speed of thought' and as such are of use even in combat situations - removing projectiles from the field or re-directing them, evacuating civilians, or simply dumping a target into Limbo or several dozen feet into the air.
(Illyana *can* travel through time, and has done so with distressing regularity - but for obvious reasons, this isn't a power that serves any particular purpose outside of TPs.)

==============================================================================
|Skills=----------------------------------< Combat >----------------------------------

Illyana has spent nearly her entire life fighting.
As a child, she was trained in armed and unarmed combat by one of the X-Men from a timeline where they had been stranded in Limbo; she fought to even survive the experience, and eventually killed her once-tutor after she had become a mindless beast controlled by Belasco.
As a New Mutant, she fought because it was expected of her - against villains, against bigots, against giant robots and the like. And, after her resurrection, she waged endless, terrible campaigns to once more seize control of Limbo.
Illyana has no 'style' of combat - it is simply a mixture of different martial arts moves and defenses taught to her as an adolescent, combined with the instruction in combat all X-Men receive. In conjunction with her surprising strength, she is capable of inflicting a shocking amount of damage even empty-handed - and, like anyone who learned to fight because they *had* to, Illyana always fights dirty.
She is most dangerous, however, when armed. Illyana's skill as a fencer and swordsman is all but unequaled - she has quite handily defeated Belasco (who has untold centuries of experience), and innumerable demons; she is just as skilled with other bladed and edged weapons, from daggers to axes.

--------------------------------< Languages >---------------------------------

A native speaker of Russian, Illyana is also fluent in English (though she continues to speak it with a noticeable accent). She is also intimately acquainted with virtually every knowledge used in magic today, or at some point in the distant past - Latin, Sanskrit, Hebrew, Greek, and a seemingly endless list of tongues spoken only by demons and other infernal beings.

--------------------------------< Leadership >---------------------------------

Although not a skill usually associated with her, Illyana is in fact a fantastic leader - or, at least, a fantastic *monarch*. To direct troops because they have sworn fealty to you or fear your power is a very different thing from inspiring others to follow you because they share your convictions.
She is also a master strategist, but again, her military strategy is appropriate to Limbo.

--------------------------------< Manipulation >---------------------------------

Illyana is, unfortunately, *very* good at manipulating people. She knows the right things to say, in the right way and at the right time, to make people do what she wants or needs them to do. Ultimately, most of her social interactions are manipulative in nature - it's one of the few ways she knows to interact with others.
In addition, she is *terrifying* when roused to anger; even beings far greater in stature and apparent physical power than her have backed down when confronted by her wrath.

---------------------------------< Occult Lore >----------------------------------

Having spent her entire childhood being instructed by one of the most infamous demonologists in all of human history, and having advanced beyond even his *skill*, Illyana's knowledge of the occult is terrifyingly comprehensive. There is vanishingly little she does not know about magic - about the weaving of spells and the destruction thereof, about demons and spirits, about mystical items and artifacts, about strange realms and individuals.
Her knowledge of the black arts, in particular, is essentially unrivaled.

------------------------------< Pain Tolerance >------------------------------

Illyana spent the better part of her childhood being tortured, and went on to survive grotesque injuries from countless sources during her time as a New Mutant and, following her death and resurrection, during vicious combat against disloyal hordes in Limbo.
She is able to ignore, and to continue functioning, even while experiencing levels of pain that would leave virtually anyone else weeping in a ball; for Illyana, pain is only an issue worth addressing when it is so intense it threatens to send her into shock or unconsciousness.

==============================================================================
|Resources=----------------------------------< Limbo >-----------------------------------

Illyana is ruler - varyingly Sorcerer Queen, Demon Queen, etc. - of the nightmarish dimension most frequently referred to as 'Limbo,' a place frequently identified as Hell by those who have survived it. It *isn't* Hell, but it *is* populated by a seemingly endless number of demons as foul as anyone who might be encountered there.
Limbo connects to all places, to all times, and time within it passes *very* differently than in the material world - days can pass in Limbo while mere seconds elapse on Earth.
As ruler of Limbo, Illyana commands its armies - varying legions and races of demon - and its resources, including all the treasures of Belasco's armories and vast, dreadful libraries.
(OOC Note: Most summoned demons are brawlers - super-human strength and durability. She has access to a wide array of magical items, and likely to artifacts for TPs. The answer to the obvious question - 'Why doesn't she just flood every fight with a million demons and always win?' - is 'because that isn't how she's written.')
-------------------------------< New Mutants >--------------------------------

The founding members aside, Illyana was one of the first to join the so-called 'New Mutants' - the second group of Charles Xavier's students, several years after the graduation of his first, the original X-Men.
While her relationship with them is sometimes strained - she is, after all, not a terribly easy person to get along with - they are the closest she has to actual *friends*.
----------------------------------< X-Men >-----------------------------------

Illyana spent the better part of half her life ... sort of ... with the X-Men, who count among their number her all-too-loyal brother Piotr, the mutant known as Colossus. She has access to the resources and to the technology of the X-Men, and has an unfortunate habit of manipulating fellow members to further her goals.

==============================================================================
|Weaknesses=---------------------------------< Belasco >----------------------------------

Belasco's relationship to Illyana is ... complicated, to say the least. He abducted Illyana from Earth, raised her as his apprentice - and, in time, was dethroned and nearly destroyed by her.
Following her self-annihilation and the death of the innocent mortal left behind, Belasco re-created Illyana. Drawing forth every scrap of her essence, every memory of her held in the minds of the denizens of Limbo and Earth alike, he forced her to exist again. Unfortunately, the thing he created lacks a soul - it is The Darkchilde, *not* Illyana.
Belasco, in his own way, loves Illyana - but he hated The Darkchilde.
She is a symbol of his failures - his failure to protect his apprentice, his failure to recreate her, his failure to prevent her from conquering his realm. Upon his most recent defeat, it seemed he had come to realize that The Darkchilde is, in most ways, Illyana - but it is impossible to predict the future actions of ageless, immortal demon-kings.
Unknown to most, Belasco had a daughter - Witchfire. She hates Illyana *and* The Darkchilde, a loathing that cannot be measured; she was the object of her father's 'affection' and his apprentice, and has claimed Limbo as her own. She has, on numerous occasions, attempted to kill Illyana.
---------------------------------< Demonic >----------------------------------

Generally speaking, Illyana - at least while on Earth - appears to be human.
She is not.
Owing to the means of her resurrection and the fact she holds claim to only the smallest, guttering sparks of a soul through her possession of the Soulsword, Illyana is technically a *demon*, not a mortal.
She is vulnerable to some things to which a demon is vulnerable - she has, on one occasion, been banished and bound to Limbo through means of a weaponized artifact. She is presumably less resilient to 'holy' items than most.
She is not, however, vulnerable to most things to which a common demon would succumb. For better or for worse, she can claim title to the highest rank of infernal hierarchy, ruler of her own realm, and cannot be banished or abjured by most common spells.
--------------------------------< Distrusted >--------------------------------

The people who knew Illyana best - the X-Men and the so-called New Mutants - spent years believing her dead, having in fact watched her die and attended her funeral.
And now, having returned from beyond the veil, she is ... different. She is colder, darker, more manipulative.
The New Mutants, her brother, and a handful of others are willing to overlook these changes (she has, after all, endured unspeakable trauma and presumably death), others are not so generous; a few, indeed, believe that she is not Illyana Rasputina at all, no matter what scans and tests say.
The problem is far, far worse where it concerns the younger students, those who followed after the New Mutants - it's hard to afford any measure of trust to someone who engineered a situation where one friend lost an arm, someone who in fact *stole a piece of another friend's soul*.
----------------------------------< Limbo >-----------------------------------

Rulership of Limbo comes with certain drawbacks, as does her connection to the realm in general.
There have been, and likely will in the future be, parties who wish to usurp her control over Limbo - rebellious subjects, treacherous minions, even invading demon kings from other realms.
In addition, because of the way that Illyana's teleportation abilities function, if she is cut off from Limbo she cannot teleport herself or anyone else - blocked from accessing the realm, she simply cannot summon stepping discs.
(Moreover, teleportation is a two-stage process - a stepping disc transports one to Limbo, and then to the final destination. While this generally occurs with such rapid speed that it is never even noticed, it is still a disturbing notion for many.)
--------------------------------< Unnatural >---------------------------------

Illyana Rasputina *died*. Something rose in her place, forced back into reality by the darkest magics ever wielded by Belasco, one-time king of Limbo and the high priest of the Elder Gods. She possesses the mind and body of Illyana Rasputina, but does *not* have her soul.
She registers as unnatural to certain senses and abilities; she is unaffected by things that target the soul, or require a soul to properly function on or against someone.
She has severely stunted emotional capabilities, and people often find her creepy - and anyone with even the smallest sensitivity to such things will know that she is a thing that should not be.
=============================================================================
}}

Magik

2017-08-08T09:10:25Z

Prototart: Created page with "{{CharacterNew |NameOnMUSH=Illyana |Color=#333 |TextColor=#c1c1c1 |Char_id=145 |Img=http://i.imgur.com/W8Zmhlm.jpg |FullName=Illyana Nikolievna Rasputina |Gender=Female |Spec..."

{{CharacterNew
|NameOnMUSH=Illyana
|Color=#333
|TextColor=#c1c1c1
|Char_id=145
|Img=http://i.imgur.com/W8Zmhlm.jpg
|FullName=Illyana Nikolievna Rasputina
|Gender=Female
|Species=Mutant
|Theme=Marvel
|Chartype=FC
|Active=Active
|Occupation=The Darkchilde; Queen of Limbo
|Groups=[New Mutants], [Xavier's], [Mutants]
|Quote="I am The Darkchilde, the adopted daughter of Belasco. I have the body and mind of Illyana Rasputin, but I have lost her soul. I am one who should not be."
|PAge=Late Teens/Early 20s
|AAge=Oh God Who Knows
|DOB=January 17th, 2011
|Height=5'4"
|Weight=130 lbs
|Hair=Blonde
|Eyes=Glacial Blue
|Actor=
|Song=
|Profile=Illyana Rasputina was dead. And, then, she wasn't. The Demon Queen of Limbo; the successor to Belasco; the favored child of the Elder Gods. She is sister to Piotr Rasputin, Colossus. She is not a very nice person.
|Abilities=-------------------------------< Ageless >---------------------------------

Be it because of just how very long she has spent in Limbo, her position as its ruler, her skill as a sorcerer or simply the nature of her resurrection and the fact she is no longer properly human, Illyana has ceased to age. She has spent uncountable years in Limbo, and in at least one future was alive as late as 2099.

-----------------------------< Darkchilde >------------------------------

At one point, Illyana could transform herself into a demonic form with enhanced strength, speed and durability. And she still can - but given the nature of her resurrection, a persuasive argument could be made that it is her *human* form that is now the 'alternate.'
As the Darkchilde, Illyana can lift several tons, is immune to small arms fire and to all forms of heat and flame (natural and otherwise), and possesses a level of agility and dexterity, and reflexes, slightly above the human maximum.
In this form, Illyana's teeth and nails are razor sharp, she possesses enormous horns, sports a tail, and has digitigrade legs with cloven hooves.

-------------------------------< Eldritch Armor >-------------------------------

'Eldritch Armor' is the colorful name for the protective armor that forms upon Illyana's body when she draws the Soulsword; when wearing the guise of a human, it will generally present itself only as a sleeve and pauldron for her sword arm, the left.
It can, however, grow to cover essentially her entire body no matter the form - she simply tends to keep it largely suppressed.
As protection, the Eldritch Armor is second to none. It protects her from essentially all mundane and most supernatural weapons - even the deadliest blade slides off its surface - and most forms of harmful energy dissipate upon impacting it.
It is less effective at protecting Illyana from crushing blows; she has been knocked unconscious and suffered broken bones even while wearing the full suit, and there are virtually always places of exposed skin where a skilled opponent could land a blow.
In terms of appearance, it is wildly variable - but it is always clearly *armor*, and always brilliantly shining, reflectiv metal like the organic steel her brother transforms into.

-------------------------------< Enhanced >-------------------------------
Even while wearing the form of a human, Illyana is not *entirely* that.
She possesses enhanced strength - able to lift several hundred pounds, beyond what a woman of her apparent strength and stature should be capable of - and greatly enhanced durability. She has been thrown through buildings, dropped several stories, riddled with arrows, beaten, tortured - all with no lasting physical damage.
She heals with remarkable speed; while not "regeneration," injuries that a normal woman would spend months recovering from tend to vanish within hours at most.
While resistant, she is *not* invulnerable - these things still hurt a great deal, and it is *entirely* possible to remove her from a fight with a sufficiently excessive application of violence, and on at least once occasion she has passed out from pain while severely beaten and riddled with arrows.

-------------------------------< Psionic Shielding >-------------------------------
Be it because she is not truly human, be it because she is a sorcerer of profound ability, be it because she has endless lifetimes worth of trauma and horror to break the mind of anyone who attempts it - Illyana's mind is warded against *all* intrusion. Not even telepaths of the grade of Charles Xavier and Emma Frost have ever been able to do so much as read her surface thoughts without her affirmative consent.
(Because of how *her* abilities work, Karma *has* proven capable of seizing control of Illyana in the past.)

-------------------------------< Sorcery >-------------------------------
Illyana is among the most powerful sorcerers ever born of human blood, possessing a level of mastery so profound that in the event of the death or fall of the Earth dimension's sorcerer supreme, she would be a candidate for the role; as it stands, she *is* sorcerer supreme of Limbo, and within that realm her power is all but unequaled.
(At one time, her abilities were severely constrained while on Earth - but for whatever reason, be it the nature of her resurrection, a growth in skill and the maturation of age, or some unknown change in the fabric of the universe, this is now far from being true.)
As a master sorcerer, Illyana can conjure, control and shape force to bind, to attack; to mold the elements, to create and to shape and puppet items; to bring forth spirits; to create shields and barriers; to form illusions, and more. And, like virtually every sorcerer, can sense and detect the use of magic, and items and beings of a mystical nature.
Her field of specialization, as should be little surprise, are the very blackest sorts of magic.

-------------------------------< Soulword >-------------------------------
As a child, one of Illyana's mentors attempted to instruct her in more benevolent forms of magic and guide her towards the shaping of a totemic tree linked to her lifeforce. Illyana, instead, created a weapon - one of the most devastating magical artifacts ever encountered, the sum and total of her sorcerous might and a symbol of her rulership over Limbo.
The blade is nothing less than anathema to illusions, and to all beings of a magical nature - even the very mightiest of spells break against it as if glass, and used in Limbo it could shatter even the bonds of the great Cyttorak to his avatar. Supernatural entities capable of surviving its brutal applications are rare indeed.
Against mundane matter, it is less effective - but it is still a burning, magical sword of enormous power. It has proven capable of sheering through a Sentinel, and of blocking even high-powered projectile weapons.
When used on living, non-magical beings it will in most case pass through them, triggering a wave of pain so intense that unconsciousness usually follows - it can, however, do profound damage if Illyana so desires it. Thankfully, she generally does not unless moved to extremes of anger.

-------------------------------< Teleportation >-------------------------------

Limbo's relationship to both time and space are, to say the least, *odd* - it connects to all places and to all times, and EXISTS in all places and all times. A "natural" phenomenon of Limbo arising from this are so-called 'stepping discs,' discs of blinding light connected to unpredictable locations within both space and time.
Illyana's mutant ability is to control them. By subconsciously scanning the entirety of the Limbo dimension, she draws forth discs that link to a specific, determined place and time - to *any* place and *any* time.
Perhaps the most powerful teleporter on record, Illyana can move herself - or anyone else - to any location she desires, irrespective of distance and with absolute accuracy, including even very large numbers of people across very large distances - she has, on more than one occasion, traversed interstellar distances. She does not need to journey with someone she teleports, and does not need to be present to teleport someone to her, or to an entirely unrelated location.
The discs are conjured forth at, for lack of any better descriptor, 'the speed of thought' and as such are of use even in combat situations - removing projectiles from the field or re-directing them, evacuating civilians, or simply dumping a target into Limbo or several dozen feet into the air.
(Illyana *can* travel through time, and has done so with distressing regularity - but for obvious reasons, this isn't a power that serves any particular purpose outside of TPs.)

==============================================================================
|Skills=----------------------------------< Combat >----------------------------------

Illyana has spent nearly her entire life fighting.
As a child, she was trained in armed and unarmed combat by one of the X-Men from a timeline where they had been stranded in Limbo; she fought to even survive the experience, and eventually killed her once-tutor after she had become a mindless beast controlled by Belasco.
As a New Mutant, she fought because it was expected of her - against villains, against bigots, against giant robots and the like. And, after her resurrection, she waged endless, terrible campaigns to once more seize control of Limbo.
Illyana has no 'style' of combat - it is simply a mixture of different martial arts moves and defenses taught to her as an adolescent, combined with the instruction in combat all X-Men receive. In conjunction with her surprising strength, she is capable of inflicting a shocking amount of damage even empty-handed - and, like anyone who learned to fight because they *had* to, Illyana always fights dirty.
She is most dangerous, however, when armed. Illyana's skill as a fencer and swordsman is all but unequaled - she has quite handily defeated Belasco (who has untold centuries of experience), and innumerable demons; she is just as skilled with other bladed and edged weapons, from daggers to axes.

--------------------------------< Languages >---------------------------------

A native speaker of Russian, Illyana is also fluent in English (though she continues to speak it with a noticeable accent). She is also intimately acquainted with virtually every knowledge used in magic today, or at some point in the distant past - Latin, Sanskrit, Hebrew, Greek, and a seemingly endless list of tongues spoken only by demons and other infernal beings.

--------------------------------< Leadership >---------------------------------

Although not a skill usually associated with her, Illyana is in fact a fantastic leader - or, at least, a fantastic *monarch*. To direct troops because they have sworn fealty to you or fear your power is a very different thing from inspiring others to follow you because they share your convictions.
She is also a master strategist, but again, her military strategy is appropriate to Limbo.

--------------------------------< Manipulation >---------------------------------

Illyana is, unfortunately, *very* good at manipulating people. She knows the right things to say, in the right way and at the right time, to make people do what she wants or needs them to do. Ultimately, most of her social interactions are manipulative in nature - it's one of the few ways she knows to interact with others.
In addition, she is *terrifying* when roused to anger; even beings far greater in stature and apparent physical power than her have backed down when confronted by her wrath.

---------------------------------< Occult Lore >----------------------------------

Having spent her entire childhood being instructed by one of the most infamous demonologists in all of human history, and having advanced beyond even his *skill*, Illyana's knowledge of the occult is terrifyingly comprehensive. There is vanishingly little she does not know about magic - about the weaving of spells and the destruction thereof, about demons and spirits, about mystical items and artifacts, about strange realms and individuals.
Her knowledge of the black arts, in particular, is essentially unrivaled.

------------------------------< Pain Tolerance >------------------------------

Illyana spent the better part of her childhood being tortured, and went on to survive grotesque injuries from countless sources during her time as a New Mutant and, following her death and resurrection, during vicious combat against disloyal hordes in Limbo.
She is able to ignore, and to continue functioning, even while experiencing levels of pain that would leave virtually anyone else weeping in a ball; for Illyana, pain is only an issue worth addressing when it is so intense it threatens to send her into shock or unconsciousness.

==============================================================================
|Resources=----------------------------------< Limbo >-----------------------------------

Illyana is ruler - varyingly Sorcerer Queen, Demon Queen, etc. - of the nightmarish dimension most frequently referred to as 'Limbo,' a place frequently identified as Hell by those who have survived it. It *isn't* Hell, but it *is* populated by a seemingly endless number of demons as foul as anyone who might be encountered there.
Limbo connects to all places, to all times, and time within it passes *very* differently than in the material world - days can pass in Limbo while mere seconds elapse on Earth.
As ruler of Limbo, Illyana commands its armies - varying legions and races of demon - and its resources, including all the treasures of Belasco's armories and vast, dreadful libraries.
(OOC Note: Most summoned demons are brawlers - super-human strength and durability. She has access to a wide array of magical items, and likely to artifacts for TPs. The answer to the obvious question - 'Why doesn't she just flood every fight with a million demons and always win?' - is 'because that isn't how she's written.')
-------------------------------< New Mutants >--------------------------------

The founding members aside, Illyana was one of the first to join the so-called 'New Mutants' - the second group of Charles Xavier's students, several years after the graduation of his first, the original X-Men.
While her relationship with them is sometimes strained - she is, after all, not a terribly easy person to get along with - they are the closest she has to actual *friends*.
----------------------------------< X-Men >-----------------------------------

Illyana spent the better part of half her life ... sort of ... with the X-Men, who count among their number her all-too-loyal brother Piotr, the mutant known as Colossus. She has access to the resources and to the technology of the X-Men, and has an unfortunate habit of manipulating fellow members to further her goals.

==============================================================================
|Weaknesses=---------------------------------< Belasco >----------------------------------

Belasco's relationship to Illyana is ... complicated, to say the least. He abducted Illyana from Earth, raised her as his apprentice - and, in time, was dethroned and nearly destroyed by her.
Following her self-annihilation and the death of the innocent mortal left behind, Belasco re-created Illyana. Drawing forth every scrap of her essence, every memory of her held in the minds of the denizens of Limbo and Earth alike, he forced her to exist again. Unfortunately, the thing he created lacks a soul - it is The Darkchilde, *not* Illyana.
Belasco, in his own way, loves Illyana - but he hated The Darkchilde.
She is a symbol of his failures - his failure to protect his apprentice, his failure to recreate her, his failure to prevent her from conquering his realm. Upon his most recent defeat, it seemed he had come to realize that The Darkchilde is, in most ways, Illyana - but it is impossible to predict the future actions of ageless, immortal demon-kings.
Unknown to most, Belasco had a daughter - Witchfire. She hates Illyana *and* The Darkchilde, a loathing that cannot be measured; she was the object of her father's 'affection' and his apprentice, and has claimed Limbo as her own. She has, on numerous occasions, attempted to kill Illyana.
---------------------------------< Demonic >----------------------------------

Generally speaking, Illyana - at least while on Earth - appears to be human.
She is not.
Owing to the means of her resurrection and the fact she holds claim to only the smallest, guttering sparks of a soul through her possession of the Soulsword, Illyana is technically a *demon*, not a mortal.
She is vulnerable to some things to which a demon is vulnerable - she has, on one occasion, been banished and bound to Limbo through means of a weaponized artifact. She is presumably less resilient to 'holy' items than most.
She is not, however, vulnerable to most things to which a common demon would succumb. For better or for worse, she can claim title to the highest rank of infernal hierarchy, ruler of her own realm, and cannot be banished or abjured by most common spells.
--------------------------------< Distrusted >--------------------------------

The people who knew Illyana best - the X-Men and the so-called New Mutants - spent years believing her dead, having in fact watched her die and attended her funeral.
And now, having returned from beyond the veil, she is ... different. She is colder, darker, more manipulative.
The New Mutants, her brother, and a handful of others are willing to overlook these changes (she has, after all, endured unspeakable trauma and presumably death), others are not so generous; a few, indeed, believe that she is not Illyana Rasputina at all, no matter what scans and tests say.
The problem is far, far worse where it concerns the younger students, those who followed after the New Mutants - it's hard to afford any measure of trust to someone who engineered a situation where one friend lost an arm, someone who in fact *stole a piece of another friend's soul*.
----------------------------------< Limbo >-----------------------------------

Rulership of Limbo comes with certain drawbacks, as does her connection to the realm in general.
There have been, and likely will in the future be, parties who wish to usurp her control over Limbo - rebellious subjects, treacherous minions, even invading demon kings from other realms.
In addition, because of the way that Illyana's teleportation abilities function, if she is cut off from Limbo she cannot teleport herself or anyone else - blocked from accessing the realm, she simply cannot summon stepping discs.
(Moreover, teleportation is a two-stage process - a stepping disc transports one to Limbo, and then to the final destination. While this generally occurs with such rapid speed that it is never even noticed, it is still a disturbing notion for many.)
--------------------------------< Unnatural >---------------------------------

Illyana Rasputina *died*. Something rose in her place, forced back into reality by the darkest magics ever wielded by Belasco, one-time king of Limbo and the high priest of the Elder Gods. She possesses the mind and body of Illyana Rasputina, but does *not* have her soul.
She registers as unnatural to certain senses and abilities; she is unaffected by things that target the soul, or require a soul to properly function on or against someone.
She has severely stunted emotional capabilities, and people often find her creepy - and anyone with even the smallest sensitivity to such things will know that she is a thing that should not be.
=============================================================================
}}