An update from yesterday

[xp_bevatron]

Firstly, Liam and Catseye are returned to the mansion and recovering from their ordeal. It appears that they were targeted for kidnapping while at Central Park due to their visible mutant status. They were then transported to the Adirondacks for some manner of ritual combined with a "Most Dangerous Game" livestreamed hunt involving failed reality star Ulysses Bloodstone.

Bloodstone himself does not appear to be the one behind the magical aspect of the hunt - that was organized by his wife Verussa, who unfortunately seems to have escaped amidst the chaos. The focus of the ritual was an artefact - a ruby red stone not dissimilar from Illyana Rasputin's bloodstones. The similarity seems to be coincidental, though, as there is no apparent connection between them.

Approximately a dozen other visibly feral mutants of a variety of morphological types (rabbit, insect, et cetera) were also abducted from around the tri-state area and provided as prey for the hunters. The magic involved seems to have distorted the perception of the 'hunters', causing the prey to appear more bestial than their actual appearance.

The X-Men were able to intervene before any of the mutants could be murdered, and they were all brought back to the mansion in order to have their injuries treated (the more severe ones were transported to the emergency room). Some of the victims are still at the mansion while transportation home is coordinated.

SHIELD, the FBI, and local authorities were alerted as to the situation and had taken Bloodstone into custody for questioning regarding the human trafficking attacks as of our departure from the area.

Comments

[xp_magik]

I require all access to information retrieved or known about this artefact.

-IR

[xp_dust]

I have started tracing where the various victims came from with the help of XFI and will assist them to return home. Once home I will also try to set up appropriate physical and mental help, but I suspect a few of mutants will end up going into the Underground.

I will update when I have more information.

[xp_clea]

That guy again!? I thought he retired after what he almost did to Cata. I am glad everyone is safe. I am with Illyana on this one; I'll start prying from our connections and within Kamar-Taj.

[xp_daytripper]

Update from everyone's "favourite" SWORD director - Brand's people got dragged in by SHIELD due to the magic angle. Apparently the camera crew got everything on film, including the actual magic going on. We had a nice little chat about how that part of the tape is NOT going to be released in a court or anywhere else public for that matter, since we're in agreement (something I never thought I'd ever say) that people knowing about magic, demons, blood rituals and the like would generate a panic and make things worse for mutants and magic users both.

clea, share what you know of Bloodstone the person on the teams files. Whatever we have up on bloodstones the artefacts can be shared with Illyana.