Magik
Context
Illyana Rasputin was originally minor, early 1980s X-Men supporting cast – Colossus’ kid sister.
However in 1984 she was suddenly turned into a young woman and anti-heroine with a demonic possession problem after being kidnapped and spending years in another dimension as a sorcerer’s apprentice.
Magik has remained a popular character, primarily associated with the New Mutants, and with her own small mythology full of demons and sorcerers and magic swords.
This profile is an older, gisted one.
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Background
- Real Name: Illyana Nickolaievna Rasputin.
- Marital Status: Single.
- Known Relatives: Nikolai (father, deceased), Alexandra (mother, deceased), Piotr (aka Colossus, brother), Mikhail (brother).
- Group Affiliation: New Mutants, (former) Hellions.
- Base Of Operations: Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, Salem Center, New York.
- Height: 5’ 5” Weight: 120 lbs. Age: 16
- Eyes: Blue Hair: Blonde
More context
Limbo
The dimension that Magik knows as Limbo is different from the timeless dimension commonly designated True Limbo. In True Limbo time does not pass at all. In Magik’s Limbo, time passes, as people do age, things grow old and eventually die.
However, Limbo seems to touch on all times. It is possible that these are simply alternate dimensions where the events are actually occurring, but there is also evidence to the contrary. Thus a traveler in Limbo may escape into a different time altogether.
Magik can use her extradimensional senses to scan the Earth dimension for the location she wishes to return to, whether it be a destination in space or in time. The GM may feel free to impose a Difficulty Modifier to such an attempt, depending how far distant from her native time and place she attempts to travel.
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In earlier tales, before most of Limbo was affected by the Magus’ transmode virus, Magik commanded the loyalty of S’ym. This is a demon of great power, who apparently is bound to serve the Master/Mistress of the Limbo Dimension.
S’ym is strong enough and tough enough to take on Magik’s brother Colossus on an equal footing. His possible mystical abilities were never much shown, but at very least he is highly resistant to Mystical Damage.
The Two Soulswords Theory
It may be noted that Magik’s original Soulsword was a spirit-created item comprising “the totality of her Sorcerous Power”. In New Mutants (IIRC) #21, the Soulsword suddenly changed its appearance, and immediately Magik began manifesting her “mystic armor”.
This writeup takes the stance that the Two Soulswords theory is essentially correct. The Soulsword Magik used after this change was actually Belasco’s. It was aiding in her corruption. Every time she summoned and used it, she was aiding in the corruption of her own soul, unaware.
Since she eventually succumbed to the temptation to fully assume her Darkchilde persona, this is a Plot Device and not reflective in the Soulsword’s stats. The two swords are identical in function, aside from appearance, other than this “Corrupting Influence”.
Powers and Abilities
Magik was a superhumanly powerful mutant as well as a highly expert sorceress. She could teleport herself and others across space and time, via “stepping disks” of an unknown energy, traveling via her access to the dimension of Limbo.
She could teleport across continental distances in space, or across centuries in time, but always had to pass through Limbo.
While on Earth her mystical powers were limited, but in Limbo she was capable of virtually any feat of magic.
History
Colossus’ sister was kidnapped by the sorcerer Belasco and taken to Limbo. For 7 years she was trained as his apprentice. She eventually overcame him and returned to the X-Men, where she found that only seconds had passed for them.
She battled her evil side for years. Illyana eventually sacrificed her powers to stop a demonic invasion. She used the timeless nature of Limbo, canceling out her own existence.
When her friends broke open her burnt, charred mystic armor, they found the seven-year-old little girl that had been originally kidnapped to Limbo.
She later died of the Legacy virus (short version, more to come later).
Not long after, Amanda Sefton and Excalibur wrested with Belasco over Limbo. A mysterious arm clad in what seemed to be Magik’s mystic armor broke through the surface of Limbo, clutching the Soulsword. It was strongly implied that this was, in fact, Illyana.
It ought to be noted that it was obvious that Marvel had plans to bring her back at one point. In X-Force Annual #1, set 10 years in the future, Magik had returned to the New Mutants led by Cannonball, and helped to free Mojoworld. Technically this is still a possible future (see the Two Soulswords theory above).
Description
Magik is a pretty blonde with long, straight hair and blue eyes. Unfortunately her beauty masks the corruption of her soul. When she so wished, she could project a sense of her evil nature, especially when intimidating or threatening others.
She normally dresses like a typical teenager. Her costume varied from time to time as the New Mutants grew and developed, but her most-used one was the basic New Mutants black and gold, with parts of it replaced by her silver mystic armor (usually the right arm and shoulder, and left leg).
Her Soulsword is bright, untarnished metal that burns with a silvery flame.
Personality
“The face of an angel hides the soul of a devil”.
Illyana is a study in contrasts. A loyal friend, a good person, a hero determined to do the right thing no matter what the cost to herself personally. Yet she is given to acts of cold rage and brutality against her enemies, and constantly flirting with an “ends justify the means” philosophy.
She recognizes that use of her mystic heritage endangers both her own soul and, by extension, the entire world should she succumb to her Dark Soul. At the same time often uses evil’s own weapons against it, recognizing that they are the most effective ones she has.
Illyana fought with her dark side right up to the end. Should she still be alive (as is theorized), the struggle no doubt still goes on.
Quotes
“I lied… I’m a demon sorceress, what did you expect ? Sue me.“
DC Universe History
Magik’s story is a classic tale of the strength of the human spirit overcoming its own limitations, and the nobility of self-sacrifice. Magik properly belongs in a Vertigo series, where the serious themes of her life can be better explored. Magik would be best served in her own book rather than attaching her to someone else’s.
However, I think that to keep things firmly entrenched in the DCU, you must replace her demonic mentor Belasco with someone from the DCU. Neron comes to mind.
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Magik
A 1702 Point Character
| Dex: 05 | Str: 03 | Bod: 06 | Motivation: Unwanted Power |
| Int: 05 | Wil: 05 | Min: 08 | Occupation: Student, Sorceress, Mistress of Limbo |
| Inf: 07 | Aur: 08 | Spi: 08 | Resources {or Wealth}: 000 |
| Init: 021 | HP: 040 |
Powers:
Dimension Travel: 10, Time Travel: 25, Teleportation: 07, Detect (TimeSpace “Jump” Locations): 08, Magic Sense: 08, Sorcery: 12, Skin Armor: 03, Magic Field: 05, Mind Blank: 10, Iron Will: 06, Mystic Freeze: 10, Magic Blast: 09
Bonuses and Limitations:
- Dimension Travel: Travel Only between two Dimensions (Limbo and Earth, -400 BC ), Location Jumping (+100 to Base Cost.), Any failure of a Dimension Travel Check displaces the character and any passengers in Space and/or Time at the GM’s discretion (-2).
- Time Travel: Contingent Upon D-Travel (-2), Minor Marginal (-1), Any failure of a Time Travel Check displaces the character and any passengers in Space and/or Time at the GM’s discretion (-2).
- Teleportation: Range in Normal Rather than +7 (-1), Self Only (-1), Contingent Upon D-Travel (-1). Teleport is typically used “In Combat”, where she flashes in and out so quickly that she barely touches the Limbo plane. (Thus acting more like Teleport than D-Travel).
- Skin Armor: Partial Armor, Can be bypassed by a Trick Shot (-2).
- Magic Field and Skin Armor together represent her Mystic Armor, and Only work together (They cannot be activated separately). Magic Field is Self Only (-2), and Can Attack through Field (+1). Magik’s Mystic Armor is automatically activated when she summons her Soulsword (0), or when RAP’s of Mystic Damage are about to be scored on her (+1).
- Detect has the “Extradimensional” Bonus (+2).
- Iron Will can be added to AV to break free of mental controls (+2).
Skills:
Acrobatics: 05, Charisma (Intimidation, Persuasion)*: 07, Martial Artist: 04, Occultist (Create/Identify Artifact, Occult Knowledge, Premonition): 08, Occultist (Ritual Magic: 12), Weaponry (Swords and Knives): 07
Bonuses and Limitations:
Use of Occultist for Create Artifact or Ritual Magic are Minor Marginal, costing 5 HP per Use (-1).
Advantages:
Iron Nerves, Lightning Reflexes, Language (Russian), Area Knowledge (Limbo), Scholar (Spellcraft), Magic Background, Magic Rank (Sorceress Supreme of the Limbo Dimension).
Connections:
Shadowcat (High), X-teams (High).
Rituals:
Most of Magik’s mystical abilities she has wielded on Earth are best represented by Ritual use. Note that any Ritual with a Casting Time of more than 0 Require that she cast a pentagram of flame, which acts as a Necessary Component. Any 0 CT Rituals do not require an NC.
- Wards: [Force Field: 10, Magic Field: 10, CT: 06] Magik’s Use of Wards to seal off a Building or Room against Physical and Mystical Intrusion makes use of her own Life Force. As the Wards are attacked, RAP’s done to the Wards are subtracted from her own Current Spirit Condition as Bashing Damage. When she folds, so do the Wards themselves.
- Scrying: [Remote Sensing:12, CT: 02 AP’s] Extradimensional: Senses through dimensions (+3 FC, APs rolled vs Travel Distance) instead of through the Earth Dimension (-2 FC), Sight and Hearing Only.
- Astral Projection: [Spirit Travel: 12, CT: 04] Magik can send her astral form anywhere on Earth in minutes. She usually does this to scout a location before Using her power to Teleport there.
Drawbacks:
Age: Young [16], Authority Figure [Sorceress Supreme of Limbo], Exile (Involuntary – Russia), Guilt, Mistrust (Mutant), Secret Identity, Uncertainty.
Equipment:
MAGIK’s SOULSWORD [BODY 12, Magic Blast: 12, Magic Shield: 09, Neutralize: 14, Exorcism: 14, HP Cost: 366. Bonuses & Limitations:
- The Soulsword must be Summoned from wherever it rests when not in use, and thus cannot be taken away.
- Magic Blast has No Range(-1), and Uses the Wielder’s own AV, and is only effective against Magical Beings, Artifacts, or Creatures.
- Neutralize: Only effective against Mystic Powers, Sorcery or Rituals, or the Effects from them. (I.e., if Witchiepoo turned Doug Ramsey into a frog, the sword could not take away Witchiepoo’s ability to turn other people into frogs, but could dispel the effect that turned Doug into a frog.) (-2) .
- Exorcism: Only effective against Mystic Linked, Sorcery or Ritual versions of the Powers Exorcism is Effective against (-2).
Illyana’s Magic
Illyana is/was supposedly the Sorceress Supreme of Limbo, therefore endowed with incredible mystical abilities. However, in actual use she rarely uses her magic for anything meaningful.
She therefore has the Power of Sorcery, but it is Only Usable in Limbo or when she has assumed her “Darkchilde” persona, Is Seriously Marginal, And may be considered a Plot Device, depending on how a PC/GM wish to use it. It should overall be used as part of a long-term “Corruption” subplot.
Illyana may still make use of Cast spells using her Occultist Skill without difficulty, though they often go slightly wrong or fail altogether on Earth, and she is understandably reluctant to do so, considering that using her magic aids in her own corruption.
Magic Rank (Sorcerer Supreme) (100 HPs)
There is only one Sorcerer Supreme in each dimension, who is the focus of magic energies and attention and often that dimension’s protector or defender. A Sorcerer Supreme can only lose his title if he is formally challenged by a Master, who, if he defeats the Sorcerer Supreme, takes over the title.
Magik was the Sorceress Supreme of the Limbo dimension. Magik II (Amanda Sefton) currently holds that position. If she ever loses the title of Sorceress Supreme she will lose 4 APs from Sorcery and Occultist as well as 1 AP in each Mystical Attribute. The new Sorcerer Supreme gains these APs, which will return to Magik if she regains the title.
Note that in Magik’s case, the loss applies whenever she is Outside of Limbo, and thus she will most often return to Limbo to cast Spells.
Helper(s): Sean MacDonald, Nick Yankovec, Sébastien Andrivet, Chris Cottingham, Dr. Peter S. Piispanen, Roy Cowan, KalEl el Vigilante, and Mario Di Giacomo for the Two Soulswords Theory and Why Magik is Still Alive.
Source of Character: X-Men, New Mutants, X-Force, and Excalibur comics, the Magik Limited Series (Marvel).