"...and there are even rumors, Miss Grey, of mutants so powerful that they can enter our minds and control our thoughts, taking away our God-given free will. Now, I think the American people deserve the right to decide if they want their children to be in school with mutants. To be taught by mutants! Ladies and Gentlemen, the truth is that mutants are very real, and that they are among us. We must know who they are, and above all, what they can do!"

"Mutants. Since the discovery of their existence they have been regarded with fear, suspicion, often hatred. Across the planet, debate rages. Are mutants the next link in the evolutionary chain or simply a new species of humanity fighting for their share of the world? Either way it is a historical fact: Sharing the world has never been humanity's defining attribute."

"Mutation: it is the key to our evolution. It has enabled us to evolve from a single-celled organism into the dominant species on the planet. This process is slow, and normally taking thousands and thousands of years. But every few hundred millennia, evolution leaps forward."

"Welcome to the future."

"There's something you're not telling us."

"When an individual acquires great power, the use or misuse of that power is everything, will it be used for the greater good or will it be used for personal or destructive ends? Now this is a question we must all ask ourselves. Why? Because we are mutants."

"What have I done?"

"Professor said you might be... different."
"He would know, wouldn't he?"

"Have you even begun to think what a slippery slope you're on?"

"Welcome to the war."

"Oh, I care. I care because I know how valuable you are."

"Are you a God-fearing man, Senator? That is such a strange phrase. I've always thought of God as a teacher; a bringer of light, wisdom, and understanding. You see, I think what you really fear is me. Me and my kind. The Brotherhood of Mutants. Oh, it's not so surprising really. Mankind has always feared what it doesn't understand. Well, don't fear God, Senator, and certainly don't fear me. Not any more."

"I don't have to be psychic to see that something's bothering you."

"Oh, my stars and garters."

"A very powerful mutant. He believes that a war is brewing between mutants and the rest of humanity. I've been following his activities for some time."

in the arms of an angel, fly away from here
from this dark cold motel room
and the endlessness that you feel
you are pulled from the wreckage of your silent reverie
you're in the arms of the angel, may you find some comfort here

and so we talked all night about the rest of our lives
where we're gonna be when we turn twenty-five
i keep thinking times will never change
keep on thinking things will always be the same

Several acres make up the estate of Xavier's. From the wooded area on the west lawn, to Breakstone Lake in the back, the place allows for a great deal of movement for students and their teachers. One can work in the greenhouse should they have a green thumb, play a game of Frisbee or baseball on the lawn, take a swim in the swimming pool, or even hang out in the stables and take a horse for a ride. Closer to the mansion is a hedge maze for students to try and get in and out of, a fountain, and some Japanese styled gardens that give a peaceful air. The basketball court, located on the east side of the mansion, is located directly above the hangar bay, acting as a cover. All in all, there's always something to do at the mansion.

The lower levels are X-Men territory. Gray-white walls and bright lights greet all members, current and future, as they make their way down via the elevator. Each room has a doorway that opens automatically, decorated with the X insignia. Cerebro is used to locate mutants, though only a psychic can utilize the machine. Other doorways lead to the locker rooms, the gymnasium, the infirmary, a mission debriefing room, storage closets, laboratories, the garage that houses more vehicles than can be imagined, the hangar bay, and the notorious Danger Room where all students learn to use their powers.

The main floor of the mansion looks like any other private boarding school would look. The foyer is an open entrance way, greeting all those who step within, the grand staircase located nearby. Down the hall is the office of the headmistress of the school, various classrooms for teaching, a kitchen, the dining rooms for lunch and dinner, a couple of different sitting rooms and main den, as well as a library for studying. It is abuzz with activity during the weekdays, making it quite hectic to try and make one's way from one spot to another.

Whether one takes the main staircase, the back staircase, or even the elevator, the second floor consists of the living quarters of all those who live within the mansion. On the east side of the mansion are the dormitories belonging to the girls, whereas the boys have theirs on the west side. The adults are scattered throughout, each getting a room to themselves and their partners, should they have one. Restrooms are communal for the students, meaning each wing has a bathroom shared by many, and yes, there is the secret passage hidden beneath a wall panel that leads onto the estate and safety should the time call for an escape.

The attic is considered to be the personal territory of Ororo Munroe. Due to her claustrophobic nature the open atmosphere has allowed her to safely make a home within Xavier's. Up here she has an opening to the roof where a small garden has been set up, her own little paradise for when she is looking for time to herself. None may enter without her permission, for the attic is hers and hers alone.

Whether you're taking the train in and out of the city, hitching a ride on the bus for a few quarters, or even hailing a taxi, talk can ensue, and if this is the case it is best to hold your conversation in that short or long amount of time you have been granted before arriving at your destination, or your desired form of transport arriving to take you elsewhere. So come on in and and rest up, you've got a long road ahead of you.

There is a part of North Salem that was designed directly for doing business. All law firms, doctor's offices, banks, and loan departments can be found in this part of town, generally located on the east side of North Salem. Most people walking down the sidewalks are dressed in suits, giving off a professional air that isn't seen elsewhere. If one is looking to make a few deals, get some money out, or even try and make a few robberies, then this is the place to be. Beware, however, for every building in this district has a surveillance camera rolling, an alarm button a touch away, and security guards patrolling their vicinity.

The park is a nice place to wander through midday. It's peaceful and friendly, a playground is located in the direct center for those with children. Vendors wander through the winding sidewalks selling their food and magazines, generally getting business from those taking a lunch break out of the office. Fairs and the like take up residence on the south lawn where the outdoor concert venue is located, a hot spot for music, rallies, and other forms of entertainment. Take a walk and see what you can find, but beware the cops. They don't take well to criminals.

By and large this part of the city is considered a shopper's paradise. There are a variety of vintage shops for clothing, books, and other odds and ends that the die hard shopper cannot pass by. It is often crowded, more so on the weekend when people are less likely to be working. Should one grow tired of shopping they can stop by any one of the numerous cafes and restaurants littering the street, welcoming all that might need a bite to eat, or some coffee and tea to drink. Also within this area is a well known church, offering a reprieve from reality.

Here is where most of the fine arts and education of the city takes place. The local cinema, a charming little out of the spot building, is located on one end, welcoming many to come in and see the various films they have showing. On the other end is the theater, a place for operas, plays, and the occasional musical. Black tie affairs go on every weekend here. And just down the way, in between the two, are several different museums ranging from art to history and even to science, depending on what one is looking for. Down another street is Westchester Community College, not far from North Salem Public Schools, and along another street, in the opposite direction would be North Salem University and the public library.

Though the name sounds bad, it is generally just a nickname for the area in which all local nightclubs are located. It's simply a neighborhood where one can bar hop and dance the night away if they are of age, though given the right bouncer, someone can probably scrape by with an invalid ID or two. Some places are mutant friendly, while others are decidedly not. It just depends on who's running the joint and if one knows the right people. It's all about connections down here, baby.

A small section of the city is dedicate to the more homey aspects of city life. It is here that post office, the fire department, police department, local hospital, grocery store and even the North Salem mall are located. Often people find they must drive in order to get here, or even take another form of transportation as it's not easily accessed by walking. However, the area is well lit with sunlight by day and street lights by night, making it safe to maneuver even when alone.

There is an alley way located in every part of North Salem. They are dark and dirty, filled with trash and debris between buildings. At night they are a dangerous place to be lurking as they can be used by the less than pleasant crowd of both humans and mutants. It isn't safe to travel these places alone, and coming across others making deals and trading barbs bodes ill well. Try and stay out of here, and you might keep your life.

Beneath the streets of North Salem lies a world that most citizens don't know exist. It is a maze of tunnels and chambers, a place of refuge for those who do not look as though they fit in. For the Morlocks it is called home, and for some mutants it is a place of hiding. A few manholes are considered doors into this underground cavern, and be careful where you tread. Not everyone is as welcoming of strangers as you might think.

By day it is a noisy lot in which fisherman and truck drivers are constantly yelling back and forth at one another, griping about this and that trying to get shipments out as quickly as possible. By night it is a different story. The docks are quiet, the place deserted. If one looks hard enough amidst the fog they can spy a warehouse or two that hasn't seen use for several long years. It's definitely the place to meet up for a late night talk that isn't supposed to be overheard.

Even the Hellfire Club has a level that isn't always known or talked about. Down here some of the less than appealing tactics of persuasion are used, generally ending with words that gain approval of those within the Hellfire Club. Only those members with keypad access are allowed down here, so stumbling down by accident is out of the question. If there ever comes a time when a hostage is needed, or extra honing of one's powers are expected, then it can be assured that this is where Club members will go.

The main floor of the Hellfire Club isn't what one would expect upon walking into this beautifully restored mansion. A front desk with a secretary shall greet whomsoever enters, giving directions to strangers, handing out mail to those who live there, and generally passing as the mansion directory. This level is used for Club business and consists of a more sophisticated tone. There is a dining hall to conduct business luncheons, a ball room to hold lavish affairs, and the smoking room lobby, a place to gather one's thoughts.

This floor seems to belong to the Inner Circle of the Hellfire Club. It is here that Elias Bogan has his office, and here where the Kings and Queens conduct business with one another, each one holding hours in their own study, and where summoned members of the Club may occasionally intrude. It is quiet and usually devoid of activity. Conversation is only ever held in hushed tones outside individual studies.

Up here, on the final floor of the mansion, is where members of the Club reside. Each member has their own room, some with balconies and others with lavish views of the city. It is a general rule of thumb to knock on a door and awaiting permission to enter than simply walking in, for each room is large enough to act as a tiny flat for those living here. The rooms come with a master bedroom and bath, a sitting room that breaks out into a small kitchenette, and even consists of a few closets for storage. By and by these rooms make for decent living for even the lowest ranking member.

A fairly rundown place to be, Breaker Apartments has become the new home of the Brotherhood of Mutants. It's here that all the shots are made, and new members are welcomed with a wary look. Given that it's located on the south side of town it is well known that the cops don't come out here, their own fears and superstitions keeping them at bay. This means that mutants can come and go as they please, their powers keeping the place from being torn down as the city once planned.

Harrington Row is known far and wide as college friendly. Those who attend North Salem University often find a cheap place to live here, making life much easier for those moving out on their own for the first time. For the most part it seems that the place is filled with a younger crowd, even those few families on some of the other floors are made up of college students settling down and attending school at the same time. It's a great start, especially given all the amenities that come with the place.

Though the name isn't very original, Uptown Apartments are a generally nice place to live. It's directly in the middle of the city, close enough to be within walking distance of the night life downtown. At times it can cost a little more to put up rent, but if one likes hearing the noise of the city it can be assured that it's worth the few extra dollars shelled out. On the outside the red brick doesn't look like much, but there is a friendly atmosphere inside, making it a decent environment to take up residence.

In the center of North Salem lies a newly remodeled apartment complex. Using money given to her by the X-Men, Angelica Jones has become the proprietor of this building, fixing it up into a livable location. The building is open to mutants looking for a place to live where they can pay reasonable rent prices, and be safe. Like a safe haven, the apartment complex is a comfortable living environment and protected by the X-Men.

For those considered homeless, or passing through with no place else to live, the city shelter offers a roof over one's head, and even an adjoining soup kitchen in the case of hunger. It isn't always a welcome place to be, but it's better than nothing. A few mutants have used the place in the past, blending into the crowd of misfits and outcasts so easily shunned by the rest of the city folk. The only problem lies in the fact that it is a single open room with nothing more than a simple blanket and a cot for a bed, hardly worth bragging about.

Once upon a time this apartment building used to be fairly well respected, and then time took its toll. The previous owner passed away and the place fell into disrepair. It was believed that a new owner would step in, but it seems that the Freedom Force has taken over instead. The place is now their headquarters, and buzzing with life. It isn't considered very big given that part of the building has been destroyed by one mutant or another, and with the various leaks dripping on people's heads it is safe to say that the building is a work in progress.

In lower North Salem stands an elegant and semi-glam hotel popular with tourists for its modern luxuries and comfortable rooms at reasonable prices. It offers far more than a cozy and safe retreat, with its multiple conference rooms for large business ventures, personal gym and pool, and a recreational center and a wedding gallery. This building has everything one could possibly need to enjoy the comforts of a home away from home. Danbury Plaza has since become the home base and permanent residence of the Resistants.

The world isn't as large as one would think. Most people travel far and wide in the blink of an eye, and if one is a mutant it can be even quicker. In here you are able to go wherever you want, be it another part of the United States, somewhere in Canada, or even a different country altogether. Happy travels, folks.

When one dreams it's as though a whole new world is opened up to them. Anything and everything can happen when we're asleep, and sometimes it can be fun to see just what's going on in our characters' heads, be it serious, a nightmare from the past, or something to take our mind off everything else. Sweet dreams!

Ever have a thread idea that would take place before the current site setting? Go ahead and post it in here. This for all those blasts from the past, things that have led to the here and now, and a general idea of what some characters have gone through and why they're in the current situation they're in.

Plots don't matter in here. What matters is seeing which mutant can beat which mutant. It's just fun and games, essentially. Take a look inside for more details if you're interested.

"It's only that you realize, while you were talking about organizing and committees, the extermination has already begun. Make no mistake, my brothers. They will draw first blood. They will force their cure upon us. The only question is, will my brotherhood and fight, or wait for the inevitable genocide? Who will you stand with-- the humans...or us?"

"That was a long time ago. Mankind has evolved since then."

"Actually they discovered that it's the male who carries the mutant gene and passes it on, so it's his fault."

"Hard to believe this once fit me."