Xavier's
Those who fight for Xavier's dream include the X-Men, their reserves and the students at the institute. Most of the X-Men and Moira MacTaggert's reserves believe in Xavier's dream of mutant-human cooperation to some degree or another. They are convinced that they are doing the right thing by looking to prevent all-out war between the two sides and protecting both mutants and humans alike from each other. While a large part of the student body at Xavier's school also hold this view, there is a growing number among them that think they should be fighting back against the humans after hearing recent reports of atrocities committed by the later. All are welcome at Xavier's, mutant and human alike.

The Brotherhood:
The majority of the Brotherhood subscribes to Magneto's vision of a future where mutants take their rightful place ruling over humans. They see mutants as being superior and thus, find nothing wrong with killing a human or two in their quest to establish the new dominion. However, there are those in their midst who only joined because they feared the alternative. They believe that it's kill or be killed but are less likely to sanction extreme acts of violence than the more radical members. Consequently, the Brotherhood's actions are usually seen as justifiable by the rest of the mutant community, lending credibility to their cause. All manner of mutants are welcome in the Brotherhood, as long as they believe in the cause.

The Acolytes:
The Acolytes, like the Brotherhood, believe in mutant superiority. The key difference between the two factions is that these fanatics allow no place in their world for humans and even the weaker of their kind. They believe in the doctrine of gene purity, leading them to work towards purging the undesirable elements from existence through violence. Their attacks are always brutal in nature, large in scope and unlike the Brotherhood's reprisals, frequently unprovoked. The Acolytes will not hesitate to kill any who stand in the way of their mission, including the race traitors that attempt to defend the flatscan humans. Only the most powerful and destructive mutants are accepted into their ranks.

The Neutrals:
These are the individuals, both humans and mutants alike, who have yet to take a side. The neutrals are a dying breed. Immediately following the Dark Cerebro Incident, thousands of formerly integrated, normal-looking mutants were exposed for who they really were. To escape the subsequent manhunts, many took to the roads in search of others like themselves. On the human side, millions turned anti-mutant overnight when it was leaked that mutants were responsible for the attack several months prior. All that remains are those mutants who were lucky enough to avoid exposure and a small band of humans waiting for the dust to settle before pledging their allegiance to the victor. [This group is restricted. You must provide very good reasoning as to why your character has still yet to pick a faction in order to apply for a neutral.]

The Mutant Underground:
Formerly just an overarching term that referred to the activists, vigilantes, and concerned citizens (both human and mutant) who championed mutant rights in the courts, in the media, on the battlefield, and on the streets, it has only recently coalesced into a genuine organization. The Underground grew out of the need for a support system among mutants following the chaos of Dark Cerebro. It attracted those too free-thinking to be a Brotherhood lackey and too grounded to swallow the lofty ideals of Xavier’s dream. They are seen as the realists among the mutant population, fighting for survival and practicality rather than an abstract notion. Members feel justified in their violence, seeing no other alternative now that the courts and media have been turned against them. The faction is on the verge of leading a full-fledged insurgency and has begun training members appropriately. It has divided into two main “arms”: Spies who infiltrate, gather intelligence, sabotage and work in the background, and Insurgents who bring the firepower.

Weapon X:
A conspiracy theorist’s worst nightmare, the Weapon X program is the dark fruit of military and defense budget spending. No country in this era, and particularly one that believes itself a superpower, can afford to ignore the kind of strategic advantages mutant talents can offer. This shadowy government funded black ops organization captures, studies, and experiments on mutants. Overseen by the mysterious Director, this faction gives whole new meaning to the term: biological weapon. Here mutant assassins are bio-engineered, brainwashed, and put to deadly use in the service of protecting humans from their own kind.

Hellfire:
They say you can never be too rich or too thin. This lot would argue that you could never be too powerful either. Old money, top class breeding, and inspired decadence carry the clout here. A secret society hidden within an international and exclusive social club, these mutant elitists plot for world domination through the use of economic, political, and corporate influence. The Lords Cardinal of the Inner Circle comprise their most powerful members and the titles of office are inspired by the names of chess pieces. They are the privileged few who regard the world as their chessboard with humans and lesser mutants as their pawns. They see nothing wrong with manipulating and selling-out their brethren as long as there is power to be gained and money to be made.

The Humans:
These are the individuals who champion the human cause. They see mutants as a threat to their way of life and to a degree, their existence. Members of this faction are fanatical in their zeal and will stop at nothing to pacify the mutant uprising. To compensate for their lack of innate abilities, many have resorted to technology, some of the most advanced known to human and mutants alike. Various organizations such as the Friends of Humanity and the Church of William Stryker (who deem the late Weapon X director a martyr) as well as the US government itself are prominent organizations within this faction, their common goal being the reassertion of human dominance.