I saw the thread title and thought this was going to be a write up of an idea I've been kicking around for a while: a campaign where the players make the same characters using the rules of every edition and then use the appropriate edition for the things/levels each edition did best. And then, with your X-Men reference, I thought about adding a time travel element to it, and I got really excited while waiting for the page to load.
But no. Le sigh.
Where is the reference in 5B? I did a cursory search of the pdfs, and I didn't see any.
Thaumaturge X.
"In ancient times, the world was Original, and there were many Dungeons, and many Dragons
And in the first age did cometh the conqueror Xagyg and he did establish a mighty empire.
But against him the twisted brothers Blumz did rise and plot against Xagyg.
In a cunning coupe did they dethrone and banish Xagyg,
And replaced him with the wicked Queen Lilliwas and thus did usher in the age of agony, the 2nd age.
Mighty Queen Lilliwas was not content to rule but the meager realm of Xagyg
But did expand her grasp to hundreds of Realms beyond the ken of her mortal subjects
Yet under her cruel rulership did many heroes rise against her in revolt,
And as he kingdom crumbled under the weight of corruption and excess
There came the wizards three - Tomne, Wewet the and the "Traitor of Blood" the Piks Lilliwas
They cast down Queen Lilliwas and in her place did re-establish a kingdom upon the Coast,
And thus was born the 3rd Age,
But there was unrest, for the Wizards Three did favor their wizardly kind
And those without the skill to wield magic were casually ground under the Wizard's feet
Again did unrest grow and again great heroes united against the Wizards three
It was Ooshein the rogue,
Snilloc the warrior
and Tywat the warlock
To whom the disenfranchised rallied
With promises of balance, sanity and a casting down of the old ways
And the realm was thrown into chaos and war
Unlike that which had ever been seen before
Each town became unto a point of light in a sea of darkness,
And brother turned against brother with zeal,
Allied to the Wizards Three or the Balanced Trio
In time those loyal to the Wizards Three undertook a great exodus
And under the auspices of the Great Golem,
Establish the Lands of Noma
And war did rage until the Mighty of King Xagyg and Queen Lillwas
Did shatter into a hundred realms -
Some under the Labyrinth Lord,
Some under the warlord Osric,
Others were filled with Castles and Crusades,
And yet others filled with Dark Dungeons.
Into this age did the mighty warrior-mage Slarem stride
And under his guiding hand
Did usher in the Fifth Age
This is a young age, yet untried - and unto which you, my friend have been born...
If this realm does suit you, young adventurer -
there are many doors to the past through which Queen Lillwas hand did stretch -
And perhaps, in to the future;
Go forth and close them; fix them if you must -
And perhaps this age shall grow mighty and strong from your deeds!"