Behold A Pale Horse
| Behold A Pale Horse | |
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| Dates run: | January 6-7, 2024 |
| Run By: | Dex |
| Read the logs: | Behold A Pale Horse |
"I am Death," he hissed. "No man excels me. No man escapes me. I am Death, and the grave follows behind me."
The final installment of the Horseman Arc.
Contents
Timing
Part 1: Avignon
The X-Men finally gain a lead on the series of massacres across the globe.
Cast
Cyclops, Phoenix, Blink, Dazzler, Bevatron, Dust, Spectrum, Echo, Rogue
Plot Summary
Intelligence from X-Force initiated an all-call for the X-Men to investigate potential threats from Clan Akkaba at the Fete des Mutante Arts Festival outside Avignon, France. There was already chaos unfolding as they arrived — a figure in red and black body armor found maiming and murdering the assembled guests. Phoenix identified his mental signature as Wade Wilson.
Blink and Echo first engaged Deadpool, deploying different strategies, as the rest of the team worked to provide crowd control and evacuate. Deadpool was mentally unstable, completely ruthless, and possessed a significantly stronger healing factor than their former friend. Deadpool’s ability to soak up damage proved hard to counter and Blink, Echo, and Spectrum were wounded.
The situation became even more complex by the arrival of Malice and the Marauders (including Prism, previously thought dead). The Marauders declared that their objective was to apprehend Deadpool, who they believed was the Horseman of Death.
The X-Men were forced to engage with the Marauders as Deadpool continued his rampage, dipping in and out of individual fights with the team. Cyclops and Phoenix were interrupted from direct confrontation with Deadpool by Prism and Arclight. Bevatron and Dazzler faced Scrambler. Dazzler, Spectrum, and Blink fought Blockbuster and Riptide. Dust was disrupted administering field medicine to Echo by Greycrow and Vertigo.
With the X-Men's attention split, Malice confronted Deadpool to learn that he is not the proper Horseman of Death. She was removed from the fight quickly by Phoenix after trying to manipulate Rogue.
The X-Men discovered that Deadpool escaped in the confusion of the melee and were left, alone, to care for their wounded without any clear victory. They realized that the entire encounter did not add up — there had not been enough carnage for Clan Akabba, there had been too many enemies, and this had taken too much time. This wasn’t Death. This was a ruse.
External Links
Part 1 The X-Men arrive in France and engage Deadpool.
Part 2 The Marauders arrive.
Part 3 The twist is revealed.
Part 2: District X
District X is beset by the combined forces of Clan Akkaba, Friends of Humanity, and their hired mercenaries.
Cast
Marie-Ange Colbert, Illyana Rasputin, Angelo Espinosa, Inez Temple, Julio Richter, Shatterstar, Darcy Lewis, Liam Nelson, Theresa Cassidy, Meggan Szardos, Sam Guthrie, Susan Storm, Madin Doug Ramsey, Kevin Sydney, Catseye, Felicia Hardy, Warren Worthington, Barbara Morse, America Chavez
Clan Akkaba, Friends of Humanity
Plot Summary
Summary here.
Part 3: Death
The Horseman of Death advances on District X.
Cast
Molly Hayes, Gabriel Cohuelo, Arthur Centino, Hope Summers, Wanda Maximoff, Topaz, Artie Maddicks, Hope Abbott, Kurt Sefton, Jubilation Lee, Amanda Sefton, Kyle Gibney, April Parker, Garrison Kane
Plot Summary
Summary here.
Related Links
X-Men Mission: Town Called Malice
X-Men Mission: Behold A Black Horse
External Links
Trivia and Meta
Trivia
IC notes stemming from the plot. Eg: "As a result of this Character A developed a crippling fear of ottomans".
Meta
Plotrunner: Dex
Subrunners: Isaura, Rossi (Part 1: Avignon); Tink, Walks, Al, Isaura (Part 2: District X); Tapestry (Part 3: Death)
Plot posters by Walks.
