Because of the nature of X-Men and it's multiple continuities that are virtually impossible to keep straight, I decided when writing my X-Men stories to create my own seperate continuity. Some people may not like that, and that's understandable, but I think this is the best way to approach my stories for everyone.
This cast of characters contains elements from several different continuities, but leans closest to X-Men Evolution, Stan Lee's original run in the '60's and the Claremont years of the '80's and '90's. If it's not mentioned in one of my stories, consider it non-canon for the purposes of my stories. The emphasis here is on the great characters and their character dynamics, not matching up perfectly to any one continuity.
A couple of characters, notably Jean, Gambit and Dazzler, have personality traits that are probably unique to my interpretation for the sake of fitting them in better in a high school setting, or in Jean's case personal appeal. While Gambit retains much of his established character, this is a rare occurance of him written as a teenager. I can only hope that what I write for them is entertaining on their own merits.
The stories are set in the late 80's and early 90's, but as with any X-Men story, certain liberties are taken with both technology and world events.
Xavier School Staff
Professor X (Charles Xavier)-55: Founder of the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters, a school that teaches young mutants to control their powers for the benefit of mankind. Himself a mutant, Xavier is the most powerful telepath alive and is the commander in chief for the special ops team known as the X-Men. Xavier's most endearing friend, and sadly rival, is Magneto, who paralyzed him in an early battle and confined him to a wheelchair.
Wolverine (Logan) – Unknown: The combat instructor for the X-Men, Logan's mutation allows him to heal at incredibly fast rates and gives him strong animal senses, both physical and mental. His past is a mystery, as he can remember nothing before the experiments that grafted adamantium to his skeleton, providing his signature claw weapons. Virtually unable to be killed, Logan struggles with his animalistic temper.
Storm (Ororo Munroe) – 28: One of the original X-Men, Storm chose to remain at Xavier's side to help teach the new generation. Born in Africa and gifted with control of the weather, Ororo was treated as a goddess in her homeland before being recruited to Xavier's mission, but found her true calling as a servant to all of humanity. Commanding an air or respect, she often oversees the X-Men on their missions.
Beast (Henry "Hank" McCoy) – 30: One of the original X-Men, Hank McCoy was one relatively normal in appearance, aside from his large hands and feet. The world's leading expert on genetics, a foolish experiment pushed his mutation further, leading to his current state as a blue furry ape-man. Fond of poetry, philosophy, science and math, he excels at teaching and truly thrives at the Xavier institute.
Psylocke (Elizabeth "Betsy" Braddock) – 23: A powerful telepath who often channels her abilities through a psychic knife, English-born Betsy is a strong, confident and independent woman. Trained in ninjitsu as well as a multiple martial arts and katanas, she is one of the X-Men's deadliest soldiers. Betsy has strong feelings for Warren despite the age difference and being his teacher, which causes her considerable guilt. A second generation X-Man, she opted to stay at the institute.
Seniors
Cyclops (Scott Summers) – 17: Deeply loyal to Xavier and his teachings, Scott is training to become the active field leader for the X-Men, a position he excels in as a brilliant tactician. Though prone to arrogance and self-righteousness, Scott has an inherently good and kind heart. He absorbs solar energy into his body and releases it through optic energy blasts; tragically, he can not stop this without the aid of Ruby Quartz glasses.
Marvel Girl (Jean Grey) – 17: Gifted with exceptional telekinetic powers as well as ever-growing telepathic abilities, Jean Grey promises to be perhaps the most powerful X-Men of all. Though stunningly beautiful and intellectual, Jean is shy and withdrawn, often retreating to the library to lose herself in romance novels. She has a large crush on the equally shy Scott, resulting in awkward flirtation that may one day blossom to true love.
Nightcrawler (Kurt Wagner) – 17: Abandoned at birth and raised by gypsies in a traveling circus, Kurt has both incredible athleticism and a flair for the dramatic. Despite his demonic appearance, Nightcrawler is very devout in his faith in God, and keeps a positive and often humorous worldview. Something of a prankster and hopelessly romantic, Kurt also has the awe-inspiring to teleport from one location to another simultaneously.
Colossus (Pietr "Peter" Rasputin) – 18: Raised on a Russian group-farm, Peter was already a giant of a man when his mutation manifested as he saved his sister from a tractor. Able to instantly transform into a hulk of living metal, Colossus is astoundingly strong and nearly invulnerable in this form. Perhaps the most pure and selfless of the X-Men, Peter can always be depended on to do the right thing. Secretly bisexual, Peter has a strong crush on Angel.
Angel (Warren Worthington III) – 18: The son of aristocrats, Warren is gifted with a powerful and impressive set of feathered wings that, combined with his bird-like skeletal structure, allow him to fly. Strong and fast and skilled with a wide variety of weapons, Warren is a dangerous combatant. Handsome, charming and aloof, he has the affection of many women and a few men as well, something that occasionally goes to his head.
Dazzler (Alison Blaire) -17: The blonde bombshell with an angelic voice, Alison enjoyed immense popularity in school before learning she was a mutant who could turn sound into light. Initially reluctant to join the Xavier institute until her boyfriend Warren revealed his own mutation, Dazzler eventually formed strong bonds with the X-Men that endure regardless of social status. Alison's powers can create powerful beams and shields.
Juniors
Rogue (Anna-Marie) – 16: Anna-Marie's unusual mutation causes her to absorb the energy, abilities and memories of anyone she has direct skin contact with. Though brief contact proves useful in combat, prolonged exposure has potentially lethal results. Already a loner by nature, her inability to be touched has made her more inhibited and short-tempered. Very sweet behind her tough and feisty exterior, Rogue is slowly adapting to her new life.
Iceman (Robert "Bobby" Drake) – 15: The youngest member of the active X-Men, Bobby's immaturity, arrogance and impulsive nature gets him into a lot of trouble. However, his sharp wit and smooth-talk makes him a welcome addition to the team. Able to freeze himself and water molecules around him, Iceman has one of the most versatile, and powerful mutations, but has a long way to go before he can utilize it effectively.
Shadowcat (Katherine "Kitty" Pryde) -15: Pretty, flirty and fun-loving, Kitty is one of the most affable of the X-Men and has good relationships with all of them. Able to turn intangible at will, Kitty is an expert an infiltration and espionage, and has also adapted the ability into an incredibly effective fighting style. She has a seemingly platonic relationship with Kurt and a vocal but somewhat unrequited fondness for Colossus.
Gambit (Remy LeBeau) – 16: A troubled youth from the streets of New Orleans, the charismatic sneak-thief has trouble abiding with the rules of the School. Considered a slacker by most, Remy nevertheless has proven to be an exemplary X-Man on the battlefield if not off. Able to charge any object he touches with explosive kinetic energy, it allows his signature playing cards to be devastating offensive weapons.
Magneto and His Acolytes
Magneto (Erik Magnus Lensherr) -52: Erik's earliest memories are the horrors of Nazi Concentration Camps, where he learned the harsh realities of bigotry and hatred. Determined that mutants will not suffer the same fate, Magneto initially formed the X-Men with close friend Xavier. Believing mutants to be superior and war was inevitible, he split from the group and created the Brotherhood of Mutants. The master of magnetism, he possesses immense power despite his age.
Mystique (Raven Darkholme) - Unknown: A shapeshiter and criminal mastermind, few concrete facts are known about Mystique, as even she has trouble sorting out nearly a century of assumed identities. Possessing a bizarre list of family ties, including biological sons Graydon Creed and Kurt Wagner as well as adoptive daughter Rogue, Mystique's guilt and anger with herself occasionally shatter her detached and calculating image. By no means loyal to Magneto, she has her own plans for the Brotherhood.
Sabretooth (Victor Creed) - Unknown: Posessing mutations nearly identical to Wolverine, Sabretooth worked alongside Logan in the Weapon X program and has similar problems with his memory. His fierce hatred and rivalry with Logan made him an ideal soldier for Magneto, who channels his violent wrath with missions while still giving him a long leash. Sabretooth is a murderous and psychotic foe who will seemingly stop at nothing to ultimately prove that Wolverine isn't The Best There Is.
Pyro (John Allerdyce) - 27: One of the original X-Men, Australian-born Pyro is able to manipulate fire with astounding control, but cannot create it. An egomaniac and a pyromaniac, John did not fit in with his teammates other than Magneto, and did not hesitate to follow Magneto when he left. He has a stalker-like obsession with Storm, who rejected his advances when he was on the team. Fiercely loyal to Magneto, Pyro often serves as the adult supervision for the Brotherhood.
Mastermind (Jason Wyngarde) - 48: A master illusionist and former member of the Hellfire Club, the most notable enemies of the original X-Men, Mastermind has an uneasy alliance with Magneto that is based more on bully tactics and mutual goals than any loyalty. Wyngarde despises his fellow acolytes as well as their leader, and has no use for the brotherhood; he simply follows the orders of Magneto and tries to keep a low profile.
The Brotherhood of Mutants
Avalanche (Lance Alvers) - 17: A troubled youth, Lance had little direction for his life before being recruited as the leader of the brotherhood. Able to create small earthquakes, Avalanche is a powerful enemy and a skilled leader who commands respect. Obstinate and arrogant, Lance can be cruel. However, he is very loyal to his teammates, even standing up for them against Magneto and his Acolytes. Bisexual, Lance has deeply rooted feelings for Kitty Pryde as well as teammate Quicksilver.
Quicksilver (Pietro Maximoff) - 16: The son of Magneto, Pietro possess truly incredible superhuman speed that makes him a frustratingly difficult opponent. Almost completely self-absorbed, the only people that matter to him are his father, his sister Wanda, and his boyfriend Lance. Pietro ultmately always sides with his father, leading to many decisions that have hurt his relationships with the other two. Brash, cocky, and manipulative, Quicksilver is the Brotherhood member Magneto has the most hope for.
Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff) - 16: Pietro's twin sister, Wanda has the ability to control chaos and make increibly unlikely events commonplace. Coupled with severe abandonment issues because of her time in a psych ward, Wanda was a danger to enemy and ally alike. However, Mastermind erased these memories and has replaced them with false memories of a happy childhood, leading to a more emotionally stable Wanda. Now close with her brother, Wanda's biggest worry is the attention of Toad.
The Blob (Fred Dukes) - 17: An enormous mutant with strength to match, Blob's body is nearly indesctruable, and his ability to increase his gravity makes him virtually immovable. Fortunately for the X-Men, the Blob is neither the most intelligent or the most malevolent of their enemies. He is a socially inept gentle giant who hates being picked on and responds with violent outrage. He hates to be laughed and has trouble keeping friends, aside from Lance and Todd.
Toad (Todd Tolensky) - 16: Toad's mutation is more than a simple froglike appearance; he is able to leap incredible heights and lengths with amazing precision, stick to walls, and has a 12 foot prehensile tongue that secrets a poisonous ooze. Todd's worst enemy is himself, as he lacks the motivation to do much of anything, including bathe. Infamous for his repugnant odor and often seen as the universe's chew toy, he nonetheless endears himself to his teammates through quirky humor and loyalty.