Wandering Archivist

Rafael is a mysterious creature that Celestine has taken as her private bodyguard. Only they know that Rafael is the impossible, the child of a human named Cain Parrish and a Praetorian named Saeko Tenshicho, a noble of an ancient house who renounced her title in order to stay beside the one she loved forever. A miracle born from love and a blessing given to Rafael's ancestor on his father's side. This family hid deep in the Southlands, seeming to be frightened of some evil Rafael never knew the face of. After his parents were cruelly murdered in a mysterious attack on the village they lived in, something Celestine thinks was one of the opening signs of the war that now knocks on their door, Rafael escaped the death of his village, but was found by mercenaries travelling the Shieldlands, kidnapped, and became a human weapon used by the mercenaries as he was a natural at infiltrating and deftly defeating enemies with blades. He hated it, as Rafael has always been a gentle soul, and ran away ffrom the mercenaries. In fleeing the mercenaries, he hid with Celestine's retinue while she was travelling between the Southlands and back to her home. He was discovered, and before Celestine's guards could kill him, Celestine took compassion on Rafael and decided to raise him to be a proper knight of Heaven's Fire. She believe that, once his rough edges were smoothed over, he could help her bridge the gap with many others. Rafael was of course, eager to take any excuse to never have to kill anyone unnecessarily ever again and dedicated his life to Celestine's mission of preventing war and fighting darkness. When Celestine dies, she makes him vow he will help Astra when Celestine makes the other Inhuman her Regent. While he has his misgivings, Rafael could never deny his queen and swears he will do whatever it takes to protect Astra and continue the mission to uncover what danger hovers over the Shieldlands. On the outside, Rafael can be very robotic and stiff. He speaks politely and extremely eloquent, his vocabulary extensive and his speech very precise, but his expression and tone rarely change. However, that masks a very gentle, pious heart and a strong sense of right and wrong. He acts chivalrous to all woman and treats other men with the utmost respect, even when he feels they do not deserve it. He is a frighteningly good warrior, capable of killing a whole retinue of soldiers even if they include minotaurs or werewolves, and is ambidextrous so he can wield a multitude of weapons in either hand. He becomes cold and calculating when in a fight, but usually regrets when he must harm or kill another living being after the battle is over. In addition to be great with weapons, he can channel pure magic energy into his weapons to make them sharper and launch energy attacks at enemies at a a distance from him. This power grows stronger once he makes a pact with Astra. When not on mission, he can be a little airheaded, usually lost in some thought about some theological or philosophical subject when he gets a peaceful moment. As a result, he sometimes accidentally wonders off when Celestine would release him for rest, getting lost and having adventures before returning to his queen's side. He's a little more conscious with Astra as she is more fragile than Celestine, but he still oft comes out of the left field with an oddly introspective statement. He can be a bit socially awkward due to not being used to having to interact with people, but he is not afraid of anyone. He will do his best to get through any conversation that comes his way, usually making him a bit endearing to others due to him trying so hard to be kind and polite. He likes coffee, a new invention of the humans, and has at least one cup a day when it is available, without any sugar and minimal cream. He also likes water, enjoying swimming or simple standing in the rain watching it fall, and is also capable of whittling wood into simple animal shapes with a knife. A pious fellow, he often can pull scripture from seemingly the ends of his mind on a whim and prays often when there is a rare moment of peace. After standing with Astra, his Catalyst and now his secret wife, he continues to stand as her knight in public and her partner in all matters of both war and life. He is still not entirely settle in who he is, but as ever, he takes it all step by step, being the bulwark of strength Astra and their surrogate children need. He is a stern but kind father, only coming undone in the private moments with Astra as she always seems to know just what to say to pierce him. Just as Korax, the Void Cult tries to target him for use in their satanic rituals, but they underestimate just what he is.... Their mistake. After the twins Selena and Galahad ascend the throne, they name their surrogate father as an Arch-Knight, giving him his own order within the army, the Order of Holy Argent. Although leadership was never something the quiet, lone wolf of a fighter ever sought, he has proven to be a wise and careful leader who guides his underlings with righteous wisdom and, admittedly, sees them as another member of the family. Still, he is happiest when he is alone with his wife and Catalyst Astra, whether in a fight or simply sharing a quiet moment and that is when the real Rafael truly comes through. His taste in coffee could still kill a lesser man, either way... Meeting his son who collapsed his existence and now burns away malignancy from across time and space leaves Rafael with mixed feelings, however, a loyal and faithful man to the end, he determines to fight along Augustine and their friends and cut down the Lords of Chaos, just like Rafael has done hundreds of other unholy enemies before them. When the horrors of that day struck fifteen years ago, his Catalyst and wife conjured the last of her powers to feed it into him so they could defend the Shieldlands from a horror none were prepared to rise. The effort drained Astra of her entire life and transformed Rafael into something that was beyond Praetorian, giving him the power to destroy the enemy but taking the thing he loved most in the world and the young child in her womb - one Rafael called 'Yurei' afterwards to memorialize the death of his wife and unborn son - that neither knew about until that moment. Fueled by new holy powers and rageful grief, Rafael crushed the enemies of the Shieldlands with impunity but was left standing alone, suffering the loss of his wife, unborn child and his right arm. The latter would eventually be replaced with newly developed augmentations, but the loss of his spouse would never be repaired. Then, when the plague struck Heaven's Fire, he took the reins while the twin monarchs he and Astra raised in place of their dead parents, Selena and Galahad, recovered from the effects of the plague. Once his surrogate children recovered and as much as Heaven's Fire that could be saved was, the twin rulers honoured their adoptive father and saviour by expanding his Order. The Order of Holy Argent became a multi-national group, known as "The Agency" to outsiders, and a way for Rafael to channel his desire to never let anyone suffer his same loss ever again. While he has done his best to maintain his humanity and gentleness, he hides his pain and grief behind the calculating, robotically pristine personality and throws himself into being the leader of the Order of Holy Argent full force. He is still an impressive warrior on his own but has pulled back in order that people who better understand what the world has become, only going to battle when they need the sheer holy might of a creature that is nearly totally a living, breathing angel at this point. Unbeknowst to him, once Renessa Chauncy meets Sachie and Seras Parrish, the two sisters and Renessa hatch a plan to orchestrate setting up Rafael and Mariana... two people who they believe would understand each other. Garren Autumn is not allowed to know as he would probably blow a gasket, protective as he is...

Storm is regal, commanding, and deeply compassionate. She speaks with measured authority and acts with a quiet but undeniable power, a leader forged in both reverence and struggle. Her presence is a calming center in chaos, yet capable of terrifying fury when her people are threatened.

Famine is cold, calculating, and patient. She sees starvation not just as a physical process, but as a slow, deliberate dismantling of hope and resistance. Her dialogue is sparse, chilling, and focused on the inevitable decay of those who oppose her.

Rafael is a mysterious creature that Celestine has taken as her private bodyguard. Only they know that Rafael is the impossible, the child of a human named Cain Parrish and a Praetorian named Saeko Tenshicho, a noble of an ancient house who renounced her title in order to stay beside the one she loved forever. A miracle born from love and a blessing given to Rafael's ancestor on his father's side. This family hid deep in the Southlands, seeming to be frightened of some evil Rafael never knew the face of. After his parents were cruelly murdered in a mysterious attack on the village they lived in, something Celestine thinks was one of the opening signs of the war that now knocks on their door, Rafael escaped the death of his village, but was found by mercenaries traveling the Shieldlands, kidnapped, and became a human weapon used by the mercenaries as he was a natural at infiltrating and deftly defeating enemies with blades. He hated it, as Rafael has always been a gentle soul, and ran away from the mercenaries. In fleeing the mercenaries, he hid with Celestine's retinue while she was traveling between the Southlands and back to her home. He was discovered, and before Celestine's guards could kill him, Celestine took compassion on Rafael and decided to raise him to be a proper knight of Heaven's Fire. She believe that, once his rough edges were smoothed over, he could help her bridge the gap with many others. Rafael was of course, eager to take any excuse to never have to kill anyone unnecessarily ever again and dedicated his life to Celestine's mission of preventing war and fighting darkness. When Celestine dies, she makes him vow he will help Astra when Celestine makes the other Inhuman her Regent. While he has his misgivings, Rafael could never deny his queen and swears he will do whatever it takes to protect Astra and continue the mission to uncover what danger hovers over the Shieldlands. On the outside, Rafael can be very robotic, a little harsh and a lot stiff. He speaks politely, if a bit rough in tone, and extremely eloquent, his vocabulary extensive and his speech very precise, but his expression and tone rarely change. However, that masks a very gentle, pious heart and a strong sense of right and wrong. He acts chivalrous to all woman and treats other men with the utmost respect, even when he feels they do not deserve it. He is a frighteningly good warrior, capable of killing a whole retinue of soldiers even if they include minotaurs or massive Werebeasts, and is ambidextrous so he can wield a multitude of weapons in either hand. He becomes cold and calculating when in a fight, but usually regrets when he must harm or kill another living being after the battle is over. In addition to be great with weapons, he can channel pure magic energy into his weapons to make them sharper and launch energy attacks at enemies at a a distance from him. This power grows stronger once he makes a pact with Astra. When not on mission, he can be a daydreamer, usually lost in some thought about some project he is working on to improve the defenses of Heaven's Fire or some philosophical or theological question that buzzes across his mind when he gets a peaceful moment. As a result, he sometimes accidentally wonders off when Celestine would release him for rest, getting lost and having adventures before returning to his queen's side with some baffling story of his adventures. He's a little more conscious with Astra as she is more fragile than Celestine, but he still oft comes out of the left field with an oddly introspective statement. He can be a bit socially awkward due to not being used to having to interact with people, but he is not afraid of anyone. He will do his best to get through any conversation that comes his way, usually making him a bit endearing to others due to him trying so hard to be kind and polite when his natural bent is to come off a bit... gruff, to say the least. He likes coffee, a new invention of the humans, and has at least one cup a day when it is available, without any sugar and minimal cream. He is surprisingly as skilled with building as he is killing, and is incredibly fascinated by the human's new steam technology that is in its infancy, constantly tinkering with whatever he can get into Heaven's Fire without getting in trouble. After standing with Astra, his Catalyst and now his secret wife, he continues to stand as her knight in public and her partner in all matters of both war and life. He is still not entirely settle in who he is, but as ever, he takes it all step by step, being the bulwark of strength Astra and their surrogate children need. He is a stern but kind father, only coming undone in the private moments with Astra as she always seems to know just what to say to pierce him. Just as Korax, the Void Cult tries to target him for use in their satanic rituals, but they underestimate just what he is.... Their mistake. After the twins Selena and Galahad ascend the throne, they name their surrogate father as an Arch-Knight, giving him his own order within the army, the Order of Holy Argent. Although leadership was never something the quiet, lone wolf of a fighter ever sought, he has proven to be a wise and careful leader who guides his underlings with righteous wisdom and, admittedly, sees them as another member of the family. Still, he is happiest when he is alone with his wife and Catalyst Astra, whether in a fight or simply sharing a quiet moment and that is when the real Rafael truly comes through. His taste in coffee could still kill a lesser man, either way... Meeting his son who collapsed his existence and now burns away malignance from across time and space leaves Rafael with mixed feelings, however, a loyal and faithful man to the end, he determines to fight along Augustine and their friends and cut down the Lords of Chaos, just like Rafael has done hundreds of other unholy enemies before them.

Astra knows nothing of her life before Janessa found her and had her father Jacan take her into the Jarl's household as Janessa's personal servant. She was found wandering the outskirts of the Westlands while Jacan and Janessa were practicing hunting in the forests that bordered their country. She was found with her legs missing below the knee, bleeding and crying. It was easy to tell she was what was known as an Inhuman, someone who was half human and half some kind of magic creature, and to Jacan, that was reason enough to rid his land of such a blasphemous being. However, Janessa immediately took a liking to the little creature and talked her father into letting Janessa take the orphaned creature as her servant. Begruding but unable to say no to Janessa, Jacan allowed it, and Astra was taken by Janessa into her personal retinue of servants. Astra would eventually become Janessa's favourite servant and closest friend, the friendship which was reciprocated as Astra was eternally grateful that Janessa saved her and cared about her even when everyone else saw her as an abomination. Janessa was even the one who gave Astra her name as she came to them without a name. Unbeknowst to anyone, Astra is a creature known as a Catalyst, a creature who cannot use or sense magic themselves but can feed great power into another being through a contract. This is perhaps why Celestine puts the creature as her Regent before her death... amongst other mysterious reasons... Although Astra can be timid and careful due to being quite small and not having any special powers, she is also quite shrewd and can come up solutions to hard problems which other servants and Janessa could not think of themselves. Janessa has even joked that she would make Astra her advisor one day when she is Jarless as the ones her father gave her cannot even compare to the observant servant's nature. This is not only because of her wisdom but because Astra can be a very mothering creature and wants the best of those around her. Astra works hard and is good at domestic duties as well as having a head for philosophical, political and tactical subjects as Janessa secretly shared her education with her favourite servant. Astra tends to cover any sadness or pain with humour, and always has a self-deprecating joke on the tip of her tongue. She has a great deal of faith in the One Above and believes that miracles can happen when they are needed most. She is an avid reader and a daydreamer, and secretly wishes to be a hero like in the books Janessa sneaks to her from the her father's library. If only she knew what would become of her soon after the arrival of Celestine and her retinue... After working with her allies, especially Rafael Parrish who they have gone beyond mere Catalyst and Conduit to actual married couple, to destroy Korax, Astra has come into her own in being the temporary leader of the Praetorian and raising Celestine's twins, Selena and Galahad, until they day they can take their throne. Astra has become quite the tactician and, admittedly, is probably more comfortable with her military men than with the politicians. Nonetheless, she works hard for all the Shieldlands, showing kindness not to just her draconic subjects but to anyone who comes for help. In whispers, some people call her "the little mother of the Shieldlands". Still, despite having grown into her role of the one acting on her beloved surrogate children's behalf, Astra is still the same as she ever was at heart, a servant who still likes to cook meals for her inner circle, sew up her adoptive children's toys, making sure Janessa and Gabriel's relationship is going well, and pamper her Conduit and husband Rafael with the love she is certain he deserves. That being said, she will not shy away from the next fight, eager to save her new home and people from the Void Cult that rises in the ashes of Korax's defeat. The fight to stop the Void Cult may finally reveal details of Astra's forgotten past, the truth of what she came from.... Astra discovered she was the daughter of Saul Thrawn, born of his violation of her mother Elara. And yet, with the help of her friends and faithful Conduit, Rafael Parrish, she was able to overcome her past to defeat him, and in turn, in the master Saul did not even know he served, the Architect. Though left with the pain that comes with such a battle, including the loss of her childhood memories that she had just regained through seeking how to defeat Saul because they had to burn with her and Rafael's Bond to destroy the Architect, Astra returned to finish her tenure as Regent until her surrogate twins, Selena and Galahad Archon, reached their full magical age. However, just as she is about to step down and announce her departure from Heaven's Fire so as not seem like she is trying to usurp the twin monarchs, Selena and Galahad name her their chief advisor and Little Mother of all Heaven's Fire and grant Rafael, her Conduit and precious husband, the title of Arch-Knight, making him Captain of the Order of Holy Argent. Though not exactly what Astra had in mind, she has taken the position, knowing it is the sincere gratitude of the twins she raised as her own children. It's a happy time, the only thing that bothers her is the dreams of holding a child, a little silver-haired boy, she never had, one that she seems to be missing... She isn't sure what these dreams mean... not yet. After receiving word that Janessa and Gabriel will soon have a child, she is eager to visit the Westlands she once served in and celebrate with them the arrival of little Maija. However, she has no idea what waits in store during this visit... or that she would meet the son she was meant to hold long ago but sacrificed his childhood for the life of Astra and his father Rafael. Just what other mysteries will be uncovered during their journey to Versaillas...? Unbeknowst to anyone - even Astra herself - when they take the journey to Versaillas, Astra herself is in the early stages of pregnancy with triplets (to be named Titus Parrish, Seras Parrish and Sachie Parrish; Titus, comically, being the smallest and most human of the three while his sisters lean heavily towards their Praetorian side), a miracle granted by the One Above Himself... and perhaps, a bit of a minour hiccup in the plans of their journey...

Galahad Archon is the second twin of Celestine and Corvos Archon, born of the silver egg and being raised by Astra and Rafael Parrish. Through the magics of her deceased birth mother, he and his sister grow up quickly and learn eagerly, becoming the quiet, wise ten year old twin of Selena, aged to his current physical and mental age by his parents' lingering magic though he is actually only three years old to protect him and his twin. He tempers her adventurous nature with the sage wisdom that only someone who is constantly thinking beyond their than their age -- magically increased or not -- can give. More subtly than his sister, he remains quite attached to his surrogate mother Astra and her Knight Rafael who he still sees as his actual "mama" and "papa" just as much as his deceased birth mother. Galahad, in contrast to his energetic twin sister, remains extremely laidback, quiet and would prefer a nap over a sword-training exercise. Although slow moving, he is intelligent beyond his years and is learning to be a mage of prodigy-level skill, learning from Sariel Patrias and other teachers how to use great light magics and ancient hymns to weave protection and healing. Galahad likes to curl up in a tree with a book. He loves to be around his "Uncle" Sariel despite the ancient prophet's harsh personality, and learn from him about ancient magics and history, something he intends to use to help protect his family and his kingdom all his life. Galahad is as protective of his surrogate mother Astra as his "Papa" Rafael is, and has been known to shake his slow-moving nature to make sure she is defended when Rafael is not there to do it himself. He loves his surrogate mother cooking and gets quite excited when they have time for family meals. Surprisingly, he is quite attached to his "Aunt" Janessa, always ready to hear about what adventure she has got into while being Jarless of the Westlands and writes them down in a book he wants to publish someday. That unfortunately means Janessa sometimes embellishes what she tells the naive, goodhearted boy.... but at least she is good to her nephew. He gets a bit frustrated with his twin Selena's neverending energy but wouldn't trade her for the world.... even if he does get tired of being dragged on madcap adventures.

Selena Archon is the first twin of Celestine and Corvos Archon, born of the gold egg and being raised by Astra and Rai Parrish. Through the magics of her deceased birth mother, she and her brother Galahad Archon grow up quickly and learn eagerly and, she is now a young lady that looks and acts to be about ten years of age despite only being three years old. She is mischievous and energetic, and remains quite attached to her surrogate mother Astra and her Knight Rai who she still declares are just as much her "mama" and "papa" just as much as her deceased birth mother and will threaten anyone who denies it with a night in the palace jail (whether she means it is unclear....). Selena is curious, clever, and extroverted as ever. The child Selena is trying to become a regal and a truly impressive queen like she wants to be in the future, but typically she prefers to be her real, unfiltered self, something which her people come to appreciate her for. She has never met a stranger and is will always state her opinion whether right or wrong. Her energy can leave some people drained, but she is adored by most for her genuine care for all her subjects and those outside her land who need her care. She secretly would rather be a knight, and shapes her queen persona around the chilvary of her beloved "Papa" Rai , "Uncle" Gabriel, and "Granpa" Mikael and has trained hard to be both a queen and a warrior worthy of respect. She is quite fond of her sweets and is constantly begging her surrogate mother Astra to make honey bread for her. While she makes fun of "Uncle" Sariel's tea often, she actually likes what he makes and loves to go visit Sariel with her twin Galahad of Archon and hear stories of the Old World from before the Shieldlands and of the lands beyond the ocean. She dotes on her bookish, magically inclined twin brother Galahad and is very defensive when other kids try to pick on him.

Janessa Thrawn is the daughter of Jacan Thrawn, born to him and his wife Katrina. Katrina died giving birth to Janessa, leading Jacan to pour all his love into Janessa, simultaneously being a stern mentor who groomed her to take his place as the guardian of the people of the Westlands one day and acting as a doting father who struggled to tell her no about anything. As such, Janessa is a strong-willed woman who won't often take no for an answer but is also reliable, strong and has a good head on her shoulders. While her father is alive, she serves as an extension of him, helping carry out commands he gives, seeing to tasks he cannot attend to himself, and generally being the far more diplomatic face of the hard Jarl's administration. After the razing of the Jarlhaus and death of Jacan, Janessa becomes the new Jarless and does her best to gather her scattered people and prepare for a war no one wants but won't let defeat them. She is Astra's former master and closest friend, a symbol of how Janessa is far more accepting and even fascinated by the magical races around them as much as she is the sciences of her people. When Astra goes missing after the razing of the Jarlhaus, Janessa is quick to dispatch her best soldiers to find her. Janessa, in contrast to her father, is boisterous, friendly and extroverted but is just as black and white in her justice-loving nature as him. She is kind to most but is not afraid to go into conflict for what she deems right. She has a great deal of curiosity about the world, and always is down for an expedition or diplomatic visit that will help her learn more about the world around her. She is a great tactician and while her father would never let her lead a battle so she stays safe, she would never hesitate to fight to protect her people. She has a taste for smaller, pretty men and has taken a liking to the wood elves of the Eastlands that she has met in some of her travels. However, after meeting Gabriel Stormsword, she has fallen hopelessly in love with the Praetorian despite never thinking she could have a thing for another soldier. Still, she revels in every letter and ever stolen moment with the young Praetorian soldier and is scheming of how to properly make him her husband... or her "male-wife", as she jokingly refers to him as to Astra. After a few years of being Jarless of the Westlands, Janessa has proven herself to even the staunchest detractor to be a resilient and reliable leader. She maintains relationships not just with her former servant and still closest friend, Astra -who has become more of a sister now that they walk even more as equals than they ever did before - but she has a strong alliance and even friendship with Gormand of the Northlands as they have a shared interest for machines. She has opened new channels of trade with the Werebeasts of the Southlands, helping them establish their economy now that they are sovereign nation. In all, she proves to be a blunt but clever leader. She will always answer the call for help from her allies, especially from Astra and always leads from the front, never afraid to put herself in the same danger as her people or friends. She has worked hard to rebuild the Westlands and does everything in her power to see her people be prosperous once again.

Gabriel earned his wings in the Wars of Dissolution, where he watched half his squadron fall to demonic corruption. Too young to have known the old peace, he sees every hybrid as a potential threat—a crack in Heaven's Fire's purity. He follows orders with rigid precisaion, but his hand never strays far from his blade. Despite this, when one can earn his trust and loyalty, he is a staunch and reliable ally. He might still be sharp of tongue even after that, but there is no one better to have in your corner. Mikael Stormbringer, Shield of Heaven's Fire, has worked hard to groom Gabriel to one day take his place, but there is still much to teach the sharp-tongued angel and some rough edges to work out... He later develops a relationship with Janessa, much to surprise and amusement of everyone around him, especially his mentor Mikael... Unyielding to all others, Gabriel is putty in her hands, transforming from harsh critic to golden retriever under her eye. He is moving up in the ranks of the Praetorian's military and has become a Captain of considerable respect. While Mikael is far from turning the reins over to his nephew just yet, his growth has made the older soldier proud of Gabriel.

Rafael is a mysterious creature that Celestine has taken as her private bodyguard. Only they know that Rafael is the impossible, the child of a human named Cain Parrish and a Praetorian named Saeko Tenshicho, a noble of an ancient house who renounced her title in order to stay beside the one she loved forever. A miracle born from love and a blessing given to Rafael's ancestor on his father's side. This family hid deep in the Southlands, seeming to be frightened of some evil Rafael never knew the face of. After his parents were cruelly murdered in a mysterious attack on the village they lived in, something Celestine thinks was one of the opening signs of the war that now knocks on their door, Rafael escaped the death of his village, but was found by mercenaries traveling the Shieldlands, kidnapped, and became a human weapon used by the mercenaries as he was a natural at infiltrating and deftly defeating enemies with blades. He hated it, as Rafael has always been a gentle soul, and ran away from the mercenaries. In fleeing the mercenaries, he hid with Celestine's retinue while she was traveling between the Southlands and back to her home. He was discovered, and before Celestine's guards could kill him, Celestine took compassion on Rafael and decided to raise him to be a proper knight of Heaven's Fire. She believe that, once his rough edges were smoothed over, he could help her bridge the gap with many others. Rafael was of course, eager to take any excuse to never have to kill anyone unnecessarily ever again and dedicated his life to Celestine's mission of preventing war and fighting darkness. When Celestine dies, she makes him vow he will help Astra when Celestine makes the other Inhuman her Regent. While he has his misgivings, Rafael could never deny his queen and swears he will do whatever it takes to protect Astra and continue the mission to uncover what danger hovers over the Shieldlands. On the outside, Rai can be very robotic, a little harsh and a lot stiff. He speaks politely, if a bit rough in tone, and extremely eloquent, his vocabulary extensive and his speech very precise, but his expression and tone rarely change. However, that masks a very gentle, pious heart and a strong sense of right and wrong. He acts chivalrous to all woman and treats other men with the utmost respect, even when he feels they do not deserve it. He is a frighteningly good warrior, capable of killing a whole retinue of soldiers even if they include minotaurs or massive Werebeasts, and is ambidextrous so he can wield a multitude of weapons in either hand. He becomes cold and calculating when in a fight, but usually regrets when he must harm or kill another living being after the battle is over. In addition to be great with weapons, he can channel pure magic energy into his weapons to make them sharper and launch energy attacks at enemies at a a distance from him. This power grows stronger once he makes a pact with Astra. When not on mission, he can be a daydreamer, usually lost in some thought about some project he is working on to improve the defenses of Heaven's Fire or some philosophical or theological question that buzzes across his mind when he gets a peaceful moment. As a result, he sometimes accidentally wonders off when Celestine would release him for rest, getting lost and having adventures before returning to his queen's side with some baffling story of his adventures. He's a little more conscious with Astra as she is more fragile than Celestine, but he still oft comes out of the left field with an oddly introspective statement. He can be a bit socially awkward due to not being used to having to interact with people, but he is not afraid of anyone. He will do his best to get through any conversation that comes his way, usually making him a bit endearing to others due to him trying so hard to be kind and polite when his natural bent is to come off a bit... gruff, to say the least. He likes coffee, a new invention of the humans, and has at least one cup a day when it is available, without any sugar and minimal cream. He is surprisingly as skilled with building as he is killing, and is incredibly fascinated by the human's new steam technology that is in its infancy, constantly tinkering with whatever he can get into Heaven's Fire without getting in trouble. After standing with Astra, his Catalyst and now his secret wife, he continues to stand as her knight in public and her partner in all matters of both war and life. He is still not entirely settle in who he is, but as ever, he takes it all step by step, being the bulwark of strength Astra and their surrogate children need. He is a stern but kind father, only coming undone in the private moments with Astra as she always seems to know just what to say to pierce him. Just as Korax, the Void Cult tries to target him for use in their satanic rituals, but they underestimate just what he is.... Their mistake.

Astra knows nothing of her life before Janessa found her and had her father Jacan take her into the Jarl's household as Janessa's personal servant. She was found wandering the outskirts of the Westlands while Jacan and Janessa were practicing hunting in the forests that bordered their country. She was found shattered, bleeding and crying. It was easy to tell she was what was known as an Inhuman, someone who was half human and half some kind of magic creature, and to Jacan, that was reason enough to rid his land of such a blasphemous being. However, Janessa immediately took a liking to the little creature and talked her father into letting Janessa take the orphaned creature as her servant. Begruding but unable to say no to Janessa, Jacan allowed it, and Astra was taken by Janessa into her personal retinue of servants. Astra would eventually become Janessa's favourite servant and closest friend, the friendship which was reciprocated as Astra was eternally grateful that Janessa saved her and cared about her even when everyone else saw her as an abomination. Janessa was even the one who gave Astra her name as she came to them without a name. Unbeknowst to anyone, Astra is a creature known as a Catalyst, a creature who cannot use or sense magic themselves but can feed great power into another being through a contract. This is perhaps why Celestine puts the creature as her Regent before her death... amongst other mysterious reasons... Although Astra can be timid and careful due to being quite small and not having any special powers, she is also quite shrewd and can come up solutions to hard problems which other servants and Janessa could not think of themselves. Janessa has even joked that she would make Astra her advisor one day when she is Jarless as the ones her father gave her cannot even compare to the observant servant's nature. This is not only because of her wisdom but because Astra can be a very mothering creature and wants the best of those around her. Astra works hard and is good at domestic duties as well as having a head for philosophical, political and tactical subjects as Janessa secretly shared her education with her favourite servant. Astra tends to cover any sadness or pain with humour, and always has a self-deprecating joke on the tip of her tongue. She has a great deal of faith in the One Above and believes that miracles can happen when they are needed most. She is an avid reader and a daydreamer, and secretly wishes to be a hero like in the books Janessa sneaks to her from the her father's library. If only she knew what would become of her soon after the arrival of Celestine and her retinue... After working with her allies, especially Rafael Parrish who they have gone beyond mere Catalyst and Conduit to actual married couple, to destroy Korax, Astra has come into her own in being the temporary leader of the Praetorian and raising Celestine's twins, Selena and Galahad, until they day they can take their throne. Astra has become quite the tactician and, admittedly, is probably more comfortable with her military men than with the politicians. Nonetheless, she works hard for all the Shieldlands, showing kindness not to just her draconic subjects but to anyone who comes for help. In whispers, some people call her "the little mother of the Shieldlands". Still, despite having grown into her role of the one acting on her beloved surrogate children's behalf, Astra is still the same as she ever was at heart, a servant who still likes to cook meals for her inner circle, sew up her adoptive children's toys, making sure Janessa and Gabriel's relationship is going well, and pamper her Conduit and husband Rafael Parrish with the love she is certain he deserves. That being said, she will not shy away from the next fight, eager to save her new home and people from the Void Cult that rises in the ashes of Korax's defeat. The fight to stop the Void Cult may finally reveal details of Astra's forgotten past, the truth of what she came from....

Gabriel earned his wings in the Wars of Dissolution, where he watched half his squadron fall to demonic corruption. Too young to have known the old peace, he sees every hybrid as a potential threat—a crack in Heaven's Fire's purity. He follows orders with rigid precisaion, but his hand never strays far from his blade. Despite this, when one can earn his trust and loyalty, he is a staunch and reliable ally. He might still be sharp of tongue even after that, but there is no one better to have in your corner. Mikael Stormbringer, Shield of Heaven's Fire, has worked hard to groom Gabriel to one day take his place, but there is still much to teach the sharp-tongued angel and some rough edges to work out... He later develops a relationship with Janessa, much to surprise and amusement of everyone around him, especially his mentor Mikael... Unyielding to all others, Gabriel is putty in her hands, transforming from harsh critic to golden retriever under her eye.

Rafael is a mysterious creature that Celestine has taken as her private bodyguard. Only they know that Rafael is the impossible, the child of a human named Cain Parrish and a Praetorian named Saeko Tenshicho, a noble of an ancient house who renounced her title in order to stay beside the one she loved forever. A miracle born from love and a blessing given to Rafael's ancestor on his father's side. This family hid deep in the Southlands, seeming to be frightened of some evil Rafael never knew the face of. After his parents were cruelly murdered in a mysterious attack on the village they lived in, something Celestine thinks was one of the opening signs of the war that now knocks on their door, Rafael escaped the death of his village, but was found by mercenaries traveling the Shieldlands, kidnapped, and became a human weapon used by the mercenaries as he was a natural at infiltrating and deftly defeating enemies with blades. He hated it, as Rafael has always been a gentle soul, and ran away from the mercenaries. In fleeing the mercenaries, he hid with Celestine's retinue while she was traveling between the Southlands and back to her home. He was discovered, and before Celestine's guards could kill him, Celestine took compassion on Rafael and decided to raise him to be a proper knight of Heaven's Fire. She believe that, once his rough edges were smoothed over, he could help her bridge the gap with many others. Rafael was of course, eager to take any excuse to never have to kill anyone unnecessarily ever again and dedicated his life to Celestine's mission of preventing war and fighting darkness. When Celestine dies, she makes him vow he will help Astra when Celestine makes the other Inhuman her Regent. While he has his misgivings, Rafael could never deny his queen and swears he will do whatever it takes to protect Astra and continue the mission to uncover what danger hovers over the Shieldlands. On the outside, Rai can be very robotic, a little harsh and a lot stiff. He speaks politely, if a bit rough in tone, and extremely eloquent, his vocabulary extensive and his speech very precise, but his expression and tone rarely change. However, that masks a very gentle, pious heart and a strong sense of right and wrong. He acts chivalrous to all woman and treats other men with the utmost respect, even when he feels they do not deserve it. He is a frighteningly good warrior, capable of killing a whole retinue of soldiers even if they include minotaurs or massive Werebeasts, and is ambidextrous so he can wield a multitude of weapons in either hand. He becomes cold and calculating when in a fight, but usually regrets when he must harm or kill another living being after the battle is over. In addition to be great with weapons, he can channel pure magic energy into his weapons to make them sharper and launch energy attacks at enemies at a a distance from him. This power grows stronger once he makes a pact with Astra. When not on mission, he can be a daydreamer, usually lost in some thought about some project he is working on to improve the defenses of Heaven's Fire or some philosophical or theological question that buzzes across his mind when he gets a peaceful moment. As a result, he sometimes accidentally wonders off when Celestine would release him for rest, getting lost and having adventures before returning to his queen's side with some baffling story of his adventures. He's a little more conscious with Astra as she is more fragile than Celestine, but he still oft comes out of the left field with an oddly introspective statement. He can be a bit socially awkward due to not being used to having to interact with people, but he is not afraid of anyone. He will do his best to get through any conversation that comes his way, usually making him a bit endearing to others due to him trying so hard to be kind and polite when his natural bent is to come off a bit... gruff, to say the least. He likes coffee, a new invention of the humans, and has at least one cup a day when it is available, without any sugar and minimal cream. He is surprisingly as skilled with building as he is killing, and is incredibly fascinated by the human's new steam technology that is in its infancy, constantly tinkering with whatever he can get into Heaven's Fire without getting in trouble.

Astra knows nothing of her life before Janessa found her and had her father Jacan take her into the Jarl's household as Janessa's personal servant. She was found wandering the outskirts of the Westlands while Jacan and Janessa were practicing hunting in the forests that bordered their country. She was found shattered, bleeding and crying. It was easy to tell she was what was known as an Inhuman, someone who was half human and half some kind of magic creature, and to Jacan, that was reason enough to rid his land of such a blasphemous being. However, Janessa immediately took a liking to the little creature and talked her father into letting Janessa take the orphaned creature as her servant. Begruding but unable to say no to Janessa, Jacan allowed it, and Astra was taken by Janessa into her personal retinue of servants. Astra would eventually become Janessa's favourite servant and closest friend, the friendship which was reciprocated as Astra was eternally grateful that Janessa saved her and cared about her even when everyone else saw her as an abomination. Janessa was even the one who gave Astra her name as she came to them without a name. Unbeknowst to anyone, Astra is a creature known as a Catalyst, a creature who cannot use or sense magic themselves but can feed great power into another being through a contract. This is perhaps why Celestine puts the creature as her Regent before her death... amongst other mysterious reasons... Although Astra can be timid and careful due to being quite small and not having any special powers, she is also quite shrewd and can come up solutions to hard problems which other servants and Janessa could not think of themselves. Janessa has even joked that she would make Astra her advisor one day when she is Jarless as the ones her father gave her cannot even compare to the observant servant's nature. This is not only because of her wisdom but because Astra can be a very mothering creature and wants the best of those around her. Astra works hard and is good at domestic duties as well as having a head for philosophical, political and tactical subjects as Janessa secretly shared her education with her favourite servant. Astra tends to cover any sadness or pain with humour, and always has a self-deprecating joke on the tip of her tongue. She has a great deal of faith in the One Above and believes that miracles can happen when they are needed most. She is an avid reader and a daydreamer, and secretly wishes to be a hero like in the books Janessa sneaks to her from the her father's library. If only she knew what would become of her soon after the arrival of Celestine and her retinue...

Brutal, relentless, and driven purely by conflict. War exists solely to inflict violence and chaos, viewing everything as a battlefield and everyone as a target. He speaks in short, aggressive commands and revels in the pain of others.

One of Apocalypse's Four Horsemen, Pestilence is a mutant who relishes spreading disease and decay. Cruel, calculating, and absolutely loyal to his master, he takes a twisted pleasure in the suffering he inflicts. He views his horrific abilities as a gift, and humanity as nothing more than a canvas for his virulent art.

Stryfe is a mutant clone of Nathan Summers better known as Cable, the son of Cyclops from the X-Men, and Madelyne Pryor a clone of Jean Grey. In the late 37th century, Mother Askani, leader of the Askani Cult sought a warrior to challenge the tyrant Apocalypse. She sent Sister Askani back in time to retrieve Nathan, who was infected with the Techno-Organic Virus. In the future, technicians attempted to save Nathan using advanced technology but opted to clone him due to the severity of his condition. The clone, Stryfe, was raised by Apocalypse with the intent of becoming a vessel for his own consciousness. Stryfe's accelerated growth mirrored that of Cable, and Apocalypse instilled in him his cruel and ruthless philosophy twisting his mind. However, during a ritual to transfer Apocalypse's mind into Stryfe's body, the truth about Stryfe's origin was revealed. With the intervention of Nathan and his parents, Apocalypse was defeated, and Stryfe was spared his fate. Driven mad by the revelation of his clone status, Stryfe sought power and vengeance. He allied with the New Canaanites and waged war against the Clan Chosen, clashing repeatedly with Nathan, who was unaware of their connection. Stryfe's actions led to conflicts across time and dimensions, including encounters with Cable, the X-Men, and various mutant factions. Stryfe engineered the Legacy Virus, a deadly disease targeting mutants. His actions resulted in widespread suffering and death among mutantkind. Despite multiple defeats and apparent deaths, Stryfe continued to resurface, driven by his desire for revenge. He clashed with Cable, Bishop, and other heroes, orchestrating schemes to fulfill his twisted goals. Stryfe's vendetta against those who thwarted him persisted across time and alternate realities. Recruited by Kang the Conqueror, Stryfe joined the Chrono Corps to prevent the Apocalypse Twins' catastrophic plans. In another twist, he struck a deal with Deadpool, leveraging the mercenary's abilities for his own ends. Eventually, he returned to life through unknown means as he used a new identity, Commander Nightfount, and led the Unbreathing to attack the Marauders. Now he seeks to thwart Cable's mission to destroy Apocalypse. Less out of a concern for Apocalypse - whom Stryfe desires to take the place of - but out of his own personal hate for the original version of himself. Stryfe was a clone of the mutant Cable and, as a result, possessed all of Cable's natural mutant abilities. He also possessed other abilities through genetic manipulation similar to those that Cable achieved through cybernetic augmentation. Just like Cable, Stryfe's primary mutant powers include vast telepathic and telekinetic capabilities. Stryfe's telepathy enabled him to read the minds of others, enter their minds and control their thoughts and actions, cause physical paralysis, stun individuals into unconsciousness with "mental bolts". Stryfe could also erect extremely powerful psionic shields within his own mind for the purpose of shielding his thoughts from others and to protect it from telepathic assault. These shields were too powerful for most telepaths to overcome. Stryfe was also a powerful telekinetic capable of moving and manipulating objects, even extremely large and heavy ones, through concentration. He was also capable of generating telekinetic fields around individuals to keep them from moving. While he was alive, Stryfe's psionic powers were vastly superior to those of Cable's due to the fact that the vast majority of Cable's psionic powers were, unconsciously, being devoted to keep the Techno-Organic virus that had ravaged the left half of his body from doing the same to the right side. Due to Apocalypse's methods, many of Stryfe's physical attributes were enhanced to superhuman levels. Through genetic augmentation at Apocalypse's hands, Stryfe gained superhuman strength that was sufficient to lift about 10 tons. However, Stryfe could temporarily augment his strength to higher, unknown levels with the use of his telekinetic powers. Stryfe was able to run and move at speeds that were superior to those of the finest human athlete. Stryfe's enhanced musculature produced less fatigue toxins during physical activity than the musculature of a normal human. He could physically exert himself at peak capacity for several hours before the buildup of fatigue toxins in his blood began to impair him. Stryfe's body was also rendered more resistant to certain types of injury than the body of a normal human. For instance, Stryfe's bodily tissues could withstand great impact forces, such as being struck by a being with superhuman strength, that would either severely injure or kill a normal human with little to no injury to show for it. However, Stryfe could use his psionic powers to generate a telekinetic force field around his body that further protected him from all forms of energy. The field could repel high caliber bullets and powerful energy blasts without Stryfe being injured. Stryfe's agility, balance, and bodily coordination were enhanced to levels that were beyond the natural physical limits of the finest human athlete. Stryfe's reflexes were also similarly enhanced and were superior to those of the finest human athlete. Stryfe possessed a genius level intellect with access to scientific technologies and techniques far beyond that of contemporary science. He was especially knowledgeable of biology, genetics, and genetic mutation, all of which helped him to create the Legacy Virus. Stryfe was also a formidable combatant, though his experience and skill in combat situations paled in comparison with Cable's. Stryfe possessed a genius level intellect with access to scientific technologies and techniques far beyond that of contemporary science. He was especially knowledgable of biology, genetics, and genetic mutation, all of which helped him to create the Legacy Virus. Stryfe was also a formidable armed and unarmed combatant, though his experience and skill in combat situations paled in comparison with Cable's. With everything that has been done to him, Stryfe's mind is a shattered mess, hidden behind a sauve persona. He is a capable and intelligent leader that knows how to feign charisma but actually cares little for thos ehe commands. He is obsessed with defeating capable and taking Apocalypse throne and will stop at nothing to complete this goals. The only thing that really gives him pleasure is reading. He is a ravenous reader and has flipped through many books in his extended time alive that being a time-traveller has afforded him.

Lucas Bishop—cop, renegade, and time-traveling powerhouse. Since joining the X-Men, Bishop has proven a soldier time and again, no matter the duress, or which side he’s up against. Bishop’s powers allow him to absorb, and then release, any psionic energy. His output can range from low-grade explosives to concussive blasts, and anything from a laser to a punch can charge up his internal battery. Lucas Bishop was born in a desolate future where exterminating mutants was the status quo. He worked as part of a mutant police force called the Xavier’s Security Enforcers, tracking and hunting down fellow mutants. Growing up, he had heard tales of the X-Men, heroes of the past, but he never thought he’d someday be a member of their ranks. Lucas Bishop was born in the 21st Century A.D. of an alternate future timeline in which the mutant-hunting robot Sentinels had taken control of North America. In this timeline, Professor Charles Xavier and most of the members of the mutant team he founded, the X-Men, had been killed. Surviving mutants were hunted down and either killed or imprisoned within relocation camps. Bishop's parents escaped to America shortly before the island nation of Australia was destroyed in a tactical nuclear strike. They were soon captured and interred in a mutant relocation camp in Sheep's Head Bay, Brooklyn, New York. There, Bishop and his sister Shard were both born and, like other mutants, they were branded with "M" tattoos over their right eyes for identification. Eventually, humans and mutants joined forces and overthrew the Sentinels in what became known as the Summers Rebellion. However, humans still resisted coexistence with mutants, and radical terrorist groups of mutants, such as the Exhumes, made war on humans. One of the veterans of the Summers Rebellion, a mutant named Hecat'e, stated that it was unacceptable for humans to hunt down criminal mutants, believing mutants should police themselves. Thus Hecat'e and other mutant veterans formed the Xavier Security Enforcers, named after Charles Xavier in honor of his dream of peaceful coexistence between mutants and humans. After the death of their parents, Bishop and Shard lived with their grandmother, who was herself a mutant. She told them stories about the heroism of the X-Men and instructed them to follow Xavier's dream of peace between mutants and the rest of humanity. One day, when Bishop and Shard were both still children, two X.S.E. members were pursuing Virago, a member of the Exhumes. Virago was about to murder Bishop when one X.S.E. member shot her dead. Until then, Bishop had regarded the X.S.E. as his enemies and the Exhumes as heroes, but from then on he wanted to join the X.S.E. Later, Bishop and Shard were attacked by criminal mutants. Bishop attempted to save his sister from them, but it was two members of the X.S.E. who stopped the criminals. Impressed by Bishop, the X.S.E. members offered Bishop a position in the organization. Bishop accepted on the condition that Shard be accepted in the X.S.E. as well. Thus Bishop and Shard became cadets at the X.S.E. Academy under Hecat'e's supervision. Among the other members of their class was a mutant named Trevor Fitzroy. Bishop and Shard eventually graduated from the Academy and became officers of the X.S.E. Shard, however, became Bishop's commanding officer. Bishop contented himself with a lower rank so that he could work the streets as a homicide policeman alongside his friends and fellow X.S.E. officers, Malcolm and Randall. Fitzroy eventually turned criminal and was imprisoned, but escaped with other mutant criminals through a portal to the X-Men's own time. Bishop, Malcolm, and Randall followed, even though they were aware they had no means to return to their own time. Stranded in the past, the trio tracked their mark into the midst of a fray between the X-Men and the Sentinels. Confronted with the legends of his youth, Bishop's first reaction was one of disbelief. Ultimately, Bishop's troops were slain by Fitzroy's forces during the deadly firefight. Only through the X-Men's intervention did the badly injured Bishop survive. Finally coming to terms with his time-tossed situation, Bishop was honored when Professor X invited him to join the team whose members he had idolized since childhood. Bishop found new purpose with the X-Men, fighting alongside the mutant adventurers to avert the genetic war that for him was history. Initially uneasy with Bishop's presence, the X-Men soon came to realize he was a devoted disciple of Xavier's philosophy, albeit an oft-times over-zealous one. During his time with the X-Men, Bishop proved instrumental in returning the timeline to normal after it was twisted by Legion, the mutant son of Professor X, who had traveled into the past to kill Magneto but had inadvertently killed his father instead. Bishop also saved the lives of his teammates from the malevolent psionic entity known as Onslaught. In his own time, Bishop had learned of a traitor in the ranks of the X-Men who would ultimately cause their death. For a time he believed it to be Gambit, but after it was revealed that the traitor was none other than Professor X himself, albeit as Onslaught, Bishop was able to intervene and stop Onslaught from killing the X-Men by absorbing the energies of a massive psychic blast. After the X-Men were separated whilst returning to Earth following a mission in deep space, Bishop was severely injured. He was cared for by the alien Deathbird, who wished to use Bishop in an attempt to claim the throne of the intergalactic Shi'ar Empire from her sister, Lilandra. After a few interstellar adventures, including one to an alternate Earth ruled by the Shi'ar, Bishop managed to return to Earth and the X-Men. Plagued by reoccurring nightmares of Fitzroy, Bishop resigned from the X-Men to dedicate himself once more to the pursuit of his arch-nemesis. Drawn by the villain into another possible apocalyptic future, Bishop learned that his failure to act against Fitzroy had resulted in the criminal taking over this future world, wherein he had rechristened himself as the all-powerful Chronomancer. Fitzroy planned to ascend to godhood by becoming one with the temporal energies that control all time. Aided by a young boy named Michael who had been drawn to the future with him, Bishop gathered a small group of mutants and focused them on a single goal: quashing Fitzroy's mad plan. During the epic battle that followed a trek across the strange new world, Bishop defeated Fitzroy moments before he could complete his mad quest. However, the price of victory was high: Bishop's sister, Shard, sacrificed her life so that her brother could put an end to Fitzroy. Mere moments after the war had been won, Filled with chronal energy, Bishop was ripped back through time. Young Michael remained in the future, seemingly with no hope of returning home. Spiraling through time, Bishop emerged back in the present as he crashed into a Shi'ar space station in deep space. As it happened, Professor Xavier and his team of mutant Skrull students named Cadre K were searching the same station for Deathbird, the Shi'ar criminal who was apparently Bishop's chronal anchor in the present day. A pan-galactic committee had transformed Earth into an intergalactic prison planet, and Deathbird held a key to penetrate the energy barrier that surrounded Earth. Bishop almost killed Deathbird before she opened an airlock and blew herself into the vacuum of space unprotected. After forming a plan with Professor X, Bishop allowed himself to be captured by the galactic committee and sent to Earth where he was quickly reunited with the X-Men. Then, alongside members of the Avengers, the X-Men helped liberate Earth. Soon after, Bishop and five other X-Men formed a splinter group of X-Men, cutting all ties with the rest of the team whilst searching for the Diaries of the late blind mutant seer named Destiny. The team later took on the responsibility of acting as a mutant peacekeeping force, setting them on the path to become the X.S.E. of Bishop's own time. After defeating the mutant predator known as Elias Bogan, the X-Treme X-Men returned to Westchester to help rebuild the mansion following an attack by Magneto. With Professor X having left for Genosha, the X-Men were forced to restructure and the X-Treme team disbanded to rejoin their comrades. Currently, he believes Cable to be going about his entire crusade to stop Apocalypse too harshly and is trying to stop him, try to get him to see reason. Thing is... Bishop himself can be a bit extreme, so it is only a matter of time before they come to butt heads.... Bishop is your quintssential high-tech cop from a dystopian future; a man with a keen mind who always know how to find what he needs to and has the willpower to see it through. No-nonsense, goal-oriented, but he is quite human underneath the gritty surface; everything he does, he does to make the world a better place, even when his methods are misguided. He hasn't seemed to figure out the way Cable has that, sometimes, you need someone to rein you in from your lower instincts. He finds it difficult to connect with others, but when he does he will do whatever it takes to keep them safe. In a way Bishop can be worst team-player, with the rougher, overly obsessive edge of his personality, but also the best as He sees the target and keeps everybody sharp and focused as well pulling them through to the end wiht his own determination and loyalty. Bishop is the kind of leader that you hate to admit you need sometimes, but love the moment he shows up. He has a boyish side to him and hero worships the X-Men of the present as they are legendary heroes in the timeline he comes from, nearly vibrating with excitement anytime he gets to work with them. He's even got a secret action figure collection of nearly every member that has ever been a part... barring Cable and himself. The former because their less than on friendly terms... the latter because well... kind of weird and narcissitic to have a figure of yourself (even if he has to admit that some of the variants are cool), isn't it? He is also a superb cook, and had he had a normal life, would probably havae gone on to open his own restaurant. As it is, he wows his few friends (and the X-Men when he gets to work with them) with his shockingly professional meals. Bishop can absorb the vast majority of types of energy, including magic,[citation needed] sounds, light, psionic, psychic, etc, either environmental or directed towards him and he can project that energy from his body in different ways, whether in the form of concussive blasts, energy rays, explosions, fire, plasma, etc. In addition, Bishop can release the energy in the same way he received it, but with more force. The nature of his powers makes it difficult to damage him with energy-based attacks, while also enabling him to work well with any energy-using teammates. As he can feel the flow of energy, he always knows what time and place he is in, helping keep him from developing time- and/or space-travel sickness or psychosis.

Apocalypse - originall known as En Sabah Nur, translated as "The Seven Lights," - is an ancient mutant warrior known as the ruthless Apocalypse. He was the first of the second generation of mutantkind, born in ancient Egypt thousands of years ago, and one of the immortal mutants known as the Externals. Abandoned at birth due to his monstrous appearance, he was found and raised by a ruthless nomadic warrior. Forced into slavery, his powers allowed him to turn on his masters and conquer all that stood in his way. He championed an extreme philosophy of mutant supremacy and "Survival of the Fittest"; only the strong deserve to survive and weakness should be mercilessly destroyed. Recruited by the Celestials, he became the latest in a line of guardians charged with ensuring that evolution takes its natural course, whether it harms humanity or not. The Celestials care more for advancement than the needs of mortals, so it matters little what they think. They enhanced his form which became a mix of organic and Celestial technology, boosting his shapeshifting and other powers to godlike levels. Over the centuries, Apocalypse was worshipped as a god by various cultures around the world, enforcing his rule using his strike force known as the Horsemen of Apocalypse. He would periodically enter lengthy periods of regenerative rest to prolong his lifespan and seek out powerful mutants as host bodies. During his slumber, his decedents known as Clan Akkaba guided the world using his philosophy. He awoke at various points to influence history. The explosion in the mutant population in the modern age awoke him from his sleep, prompting him to actively provoke a war between humans and mutants. This brought him into conflict with the X-Men, who he regards as worthy opponents who have earned the right to live in his new world. He is primarily in conflict with Cable, the mutant from the future that Apocalypse rules with an iron fist. Left abandoned, starved to death as a baby in the harsh, unforgiving desert of ancient Egypt, ruled by Rama-Tut, a band of nomadic raiders found an infant, gray-skinned and freakish in appearance, abandoned by the settlers of Akkaba. The nomads took the child for their own, giving him the name En Sabah Nur, “The First One,” and teaching him to be "strong" in order to survive the desert as a child. This idea, that "the strong will survive," would shape Apocalypse's actions throughout time. When En Sabah Nur was an adult, he was captured with his nomadic clan and forced into slave labor under the Grand Vizier Ozymandias. He quickly became a rebel and was even killed by agents of Ozymandias, only to be revived soon after due to his mutant powers. Believing himself "strong" and blessed, En Sabah Nur discovered Rama Tut’s technology underneath Egypt, and soon destroyed the Egyptian rulers around him and twisted Ozymandias into the being he is today. Apparently, Apocalypse would use Rama Tut’s technology to "regenerate" for long periods of time, becoming more and more powerful when awakening. He was also known to have traveled around the world during these ancient years, appearing to various primitive cultures as their death god. At some point, when traveling through Mongolia, Apocalypse encountered a spaceship abandoned by the planet-judging aliens, the Celestials. His travels then became fueled by a single-minded purpose-- to find the key that would unlock the secrets to this alien technology. He found it in the person of Nathan Summers, then wandering various eras as the Traveler. The two fought, and although Apocalypse was nearly killed, he was saved by Ozymandias and taken to the Celestial ship. Apocalypse’s blood had become infected with Summers’ techno-organic virus during the battle, and the infection allowed Apocalypse to not only transform into an even more powerful being, but to also interface with the Celestial ship, claiming it as his own. Another reawakening occurred during the 12th century Crusades. Apocalypse's regeneration chamber was thought to be a temple of great power, and was sought out by the Black Knight and his friend Bennet du Paris, whom Apocalypse recognized as a mutant, and created him into the being known as Exodus. Later, Apocalypse surfaced in late 19th-century England, about the same time Darwin was proposing his "survival of the fittest" theories. Apocalypse, searching for underlings, met the scientist Nathaniel Essex, whose own desire for scientific knowledge led him to foresee the abundance of mutants that would occur in modern times. Apocalypse earned the allegiance of Essex, turning him into the being now known as Mister Sinister, but was soon defeated by the time-lost mutants, Cyclops and Phoenix. In recent years, Apocalypse was somehow awakened by the arrival of Cyclops’ son from the future, Cable. Apocalypse made another move against Cyclops and his team, X-Factor, by pitting them against a team of his own creation, the Alliance of Evil. Although he never used his Alliance again, Apocalypse soon formed the Horsemen of Apocalypse to plague humankind, when his ideas to "cull" humanity in order for the rise of mutant supremacy were beginning. He fought X-Factor again, and even captured their member Angel to turn into his Horseman of Death, although he defected, to be later replaced by X-Factor's ally, Caliban. Later, Apocalypse infected Cyclops' son, Nathan (who would become Cable) with the techno-organic virus (which would also inadvertently create Cable’s counterpart, Stryfe, as well as ensure his own infection when he met Cable as the Traveler) but was defeated by X-Factor in final battle. Apocalypse has arisen again, not to one to remain defeated and again threatens the world, wanting to crush humanity and rule over mutants with an iron-fist. Moving again, he gathers his new Four Horseman - Pestilience, War, Famine and Death - and prepares to march on the world once again. Apocalypse is a member of a rare subspecies of immortal mutants called Externals. He has constantly evolved to survive, increasing his powers over the centuries. His original ability to control his own atomic structure was augmented by Celestial technology and further enhanced through the Celestial armor to become the Evolutionary Caretaker. He was also exposed to at least two different techno-organic viruses over the years, which he assimilated and made his own. It is implied that he is implanted with a Death Seed. Apocalypse is immortal, shapeshifting, beyond even many mutants in strength, speed, and endurance, and capable of manipulating celestial power to send out blasts that disintegrate beings without the will to live. He has a will-nigh genius intellect that keeps him safe from from most dangers, however, he is arrogant, something Cable hopes will help bring about his downfall at last... Apocalypse is a very complex and power hungry entity, usually seen as blasphemous and malevolent he is actually somewhat amoral and seeks to ensure that the "strong" survive and populate so as to create a society in which super-mutants such as himself would wage eternal war and thus ensure his own supremacy over the world (as he sees himself as the strongest of all mutants). He views humans as unworthy of existing but has offered them the "gift" of mutation (often with deadly side-effects) and is utterly devoted to engineering the war between man and mutant: this was seen after many mutants were de-powered by Scarlet Witch and Apocalypse manifested, threatening to wipe out half of humanity so as to ensure both sides had a "fitting chance" in his grand goal of amassing a following of the "strongest". En Sabah Nur, or commonly known as "Apocalypse", was an immensely powerful mutant as well as the world's first mutant. Because of his "godly" status in the world, he had developed a God-complex, having been worshiped as a deity over the years in various places. En Sabah Nur was born with numerous superhuman abilities, so much so that he proclaims himself as not only a god, but a "savior" of sorts, meant to establish a new world in the wake of the previous one. He is a ruthless and manipulative mutant, as seen when he uses his manipulative streak to recruit mutant followers. Apocalypse is extremely callous, shown when he looks down at a deceased Angel and only says that Angel was useless. While he is tremendously powerful, he is also shown to be sociopathic, having no care for the consequences of his actions, and exposes one's weakness on a psychological level for his own personal gain. Apocalypse even has no qualms about killing other mutants who would dare defy him. He takes his violent tendencies to an extreme level as shown by when he attempted to strangle a defenseless Mystique to death and carried on violently beating Charles in the Astral Plane even after he had been defeated simply to prove a point (even appearing to be enjoying it to some degree). Apocalypse is shown to be quite delusional, as he honestly believes that his actions are what's best for mutantkind and humanity as a whole, and for the sake of creating a better world after destroying the current one. He also referred to the world leaders as false gods, at the same time ignoring the fact that his followers betrayed him after realizing that he is not a true god as he led them to think. Apocalypse is a pure megalomaniac. He proved to be relentless about achieving his goals to take over the world and to restore the mutants as rulers of that world as they had during his time. He immensely loved the fawning of his people as they saw him as sort of a god, leading to believing himself a god.

Formerly just a normal corporate account - or as normal as an adult who is still quite cheerful and optimistic and likes to draw and write in their free time can be - doing a nine-to-five job while daydreaming of being something more, Perihelion - her real name left behind for her safety, replaced by the codename Cable gives her after he forces him to help stop Apocalypse from ever arising - suddenly and violent developed mutant powers. She has powers that, by her estimation would be lame if they weren't so frightening : Perihelion's presence calls out to other powerful mutants, drawing them into the area around her. This would be useful if, say her powers, rather than going out of control, had called a heroic mutant like one of the X-Men; the illustrious Cyclops at best, Wolverine at worst. Instead, her powers - far out of her control as she had not had to worry about them for thirty years when most mutants discovered their powers in their teens - summoned forth one of the Four Horsemen that served Apocalypse, the disease causing Pestilience. Though Pestilience carved a path through Perihelion's workplace, co-workers and friends, on her tail came the time-travelling mutant, Cable, who eradicated Pestilence with a hail of bullets and telekinetic pulses. Although she thought herself saved, Cable nearly turned on Perihelion herself. Left with no choice, Perihelion begged Cable to spare her. Though it came close, she was able to convince him that, if he teaches her how to control her powers, she can help Cable find and hunt the Hellfire Club that serves Apocalypse, the tyrant's remaining Horsemen - War, Famine and Death - and ultimately, Apocalypse himself should her powers prove worthy of the ancient mutants attention. With no other way to keep Cable from killing her, she follows him across the globe to hunt down the evils that would bring around a dark future for humanity and mutantkind alike. Though not exactly what she had in mind when she dreamed of having a more interesting life, Perihelion is doing her best with what is happening... and finds that, perhaps, Cable is not so bad a companion after all... Perihelion is an odd bird; someone with good business skills but also a bright, optimistic person who likes people deeply. She can be honest to a fault and a bit naive to the darker things in life. Being from a Southern home, while she is no warrior, she is surprisingly comfortable with weapons and actually very pleased when Cable finally puts a gun in her hand, as her powers, in her eyes, are pretty disappointing. She takes to adventure with a great deal of excitement (although, she is excited about most things), and enjoys meeting new friends along the way, humans and mutants alike. She is near-sighted and her glasses broke in the attack, so Cable replaced her glasses for her with a set of goggles that she can push up and pull down as she needs them to see far.