Equestrian Task Force: ETF

A lone mare walks through the Manehattan streets lost in her own thoughts. The crescent moon that Princess Luna graced the night with tonight adds just enough light so that the unicorn mare could navigate the streets without much thought. Maybe if it was darker, she would have noticed the silhouette occasionally following her. Suddenly, a flash of green envelops the young mare and then just as quickly, she disappears without a trace.

Scales walked down the corridor as she does many times whenever she meets new recruits for the task force. Her small stature as a dragon allows her to barely hold onto all of the dossiers, reports, and other scrolls needed for her job. She sighs out-loud as she carefully enters a briefing room spreads out her scrolls on a table. As she organized her scrolls as per her ritual, she decided to glance over one of them detailing the new group she was soon to meet as she awaited the new recruits to show.

"This group looks....interesting." Scales speaks to herself tapping a claw on the table.

OOC:

Oh well this is a familiar setup. And another Dragon named Scales? Can no one think of any better names?

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"Oh hang on," Phoenix starts, as he steps into the surprisingly all-but empty room. "Well that's odd, usually I'm the last one to show up. Weird." He walks over, his brown wings fluttering slightly at a slight draft. "Hmm, hard to be all super impressive when there's only one other here. I guess that can wait then. So you are... Scales? Probably Scales. It's usually Scales." He takes a seat in one of the pony-sized chairs- good thing he had the foresight to change. "I'm sure you inexplicably know about me through some magic file, then. Phoenix? I'll save my introduction for when the rest get here."

A charcoal-grey unicorn entered, red eyes surveying the room and its pair of inhabitants. He carried himself with a distinguished and regal air that was probably above his station, but he carried the appearance well. He took note of the other inhabitants of the room, wondering which of them was the authority figure in the room before deciding that the young dragon behind the table was in charge. He took a seat on one of the chairs before clearing his throat. "Shade here," he said simply, not knowing what else to say.

It was not perfectly clear when Marvelous Misfortune had entered; there was no metaphorical fanfare, no literal chill winds as when she walked somewhere. Her control over her talent had grown substantially; she quite enjoyed her new trick.

She sat in a chair, in plain view, and remained unnoticed. She watched quietly, silently judging the other recruits as she waited for someone to look towards her...

Scales looked up when Phoenix came in and lazily continued reading.
"Honestly, what we have on you seems like its either made up or embellished beyond recognition. But that doesn't really matter, as long as you can do the job. And Scales isn't my real name just the name I chose when I came here.... I thought it was cool.
Scales started paying more attention as more ponies came in.
"So Shade has shown up and I'm assuming..." She trailed off looking at Marvelous,"that you would be Marvelous Misfortune. And with that we're just missing one more pony if my files are correct. As we do wait though I'm told to answer any pre-briefing questions you might have."

"I think all my questions'll be answered in the briefing." Phoenix stood up again, walking up to the table. "So what do you have on file for me anyway? I'm a bit curious if 'made-up' and 'embellished' are the right words, as opposed to, say, 'ridiculously awesome', or 'fact'."

"I have one," Marvel said, raising a hoof up. "Who else sees those 'files'. It would be unbelievably inconvenient if too many ponies and others knew what I can do."

"Sorry im late, I had stuff at the thing and yea. Names Neko, short for something else really ridiculous." He sits at the only seat left waiting for someone to inform him of whats going on. "SO i really don't know anything about why we are here and what were suppose to do, phoenix aaas just like "don't be bish about it, go to the meeting, why do you ask so many questions, don't be a bish." So i did and yea." He sits super nervous of what he is going to do next and what they're going to tell him.

"Oh yeah, you're the other one. I'm pretty sure I didn't ever say that. In fact I'm pretty sure I told you the wrong place to show up." Phoenix goes back to looking at Scales, "ANNOYED" practically plastered on his face.

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For those not in the loop (the one of you), Ray is new and doesn't know how backstory works yet. But I guess NOW Phoenix and... that guy know each other from before.

Scales shuffled through some of the papers as she occasionally looked at Phoenix.
"I have one report saying that you look like and this is a direct quote "straight like-a bat out o Tartarus"....not really sure what that meant and another saying that another creature using the same name walks on its hind legs. It's all really just more and more conflicting reports about who you are and maybe even what you are but as far as I can tell you look normal to me. And as far as who gets to see my files..." She trailed off turning to Marvel, "Nopony gets to see the actual reports we have other than myself and the Princesses. Can't have too many ponies knowing everything that I know, otherwise I wouldn't be all that great at my job."
When Scales noticed Neko walk in, she exhaled deeply and tried her best to look as official and commanding as possible.
"Now that the last pony is here, I would like to formally welcome you all to the Equestrian Task Force. We are the guardians of Equestria and the Crown from behind the scenes. We operate in the shadow of of the Royal Guard and combat any forces that threaten Equestria that "normal" guards cannot handle. We also make it our business to keep tabs on individuals of interest, special ponies, and....others."
Scales paused to collect her thoughts.
"But that doesn't really explain why you all was called to be here. There is trouble brewing in Equestria and but the Princess Celestia and Luna are hesitant to address the problem openly but they want it to be done quietly. This mission if you choose to accept will put your life in danger but it will be for the greater good of Equestria....and also with the added perk of whatever funds, information, or resources that you want to use for the mission and any other personal desires. I only ask that you put the mission first. And unfortunately I cannot give put the full details of what this mission is unless you agree to complete it to the very end."

"Yeah, because I'm totally gonna turn around and leave now. I didn't even get any free punch and cookies. I'm in, so which Princess am I murdering or not murdering, and which magical mystery item are we trying to go find, as if I don't already know." Phoenix looks back at ...pfuh Neko, and says "Bet money I already know." He turns back to Scales. "And by the way, both those reports are technically accurate, and technically insane. So just go with what you feel like."

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I actually forgot what the setting notes are, but I figured it was either something something Nightmare Moon/Discord/Sombra/Chryssi, or something something Helements of Armory. Or I'll be pleasantly surprised.

Shade looked over at Pheonix with a mixture of curiosity and disbelief. Mostly curiosity. Were all his kind this strange? It didn't matter, he'd committed to the mission, and Shade would have to get along with the irreverent being.

"I'm in," Shade declared. "You can count on me out there... I wouldn't be here if I weren't willing to accept the mission."

"How far do "personal desires" go?" Marvel asked, leaning forward slightly. "Because depending on the answer, it's distinctly possible that you don't have anything that I might want."

"Oh, don't worry about that. It is the nature of these deals that the powers that be have something you want, or the means to acquire it. The more fantastical it is, though, the more they bank on you not coming back to claim it." Phoenix flapped his wings once, more emphasis than anything. "But I do second the question- what exactly do you have to offer anyway?"

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FIRST SKILL CHECK IS MINE! Persuasion to have her spill on our rewards, resources, and assets. 6+7=13

First ASSISTS of the game are YOURS. HINT.

"I wanna know too"

I want to roll a persuasion check assist. 7+8

The member 'raythings' has done the following action : Dices roll

'd20' : 8

"Well most if not all of you are looking for information. The ETF, being so good at intelligence gathering, has some info that I'm very sure would make this little venture very worthwhile for all of you. And for those of you that wish for other things, I do have the authority to make it happen. Obviously other than becoming the new ruler and things such as that are out of my hands but anything else under the sun is available if you want it."

"Oh well when you put it that way. Ok so who do you want us to kill?" He says it naturally, but then Phoenix pauses, and adds, "Or make friends with. Whichever way we do it here."

"Wonderful. Does this arrangement suit you as well Marvelous? or do you need more convincing?"

Marvel bit her lip slightly. Having been presented with the oppurtunity, there were questions she wanted answered. Where were the other talents? Surely there were more than two; three if you counted that Fluffy Crust mare. Could they really help her find others? Would they? Bad Luck and Misfortune weren't the sort of things a smart ruler would allow to congregate...

"...Fine. But, I want it it well understood; if I decide to take my ball and go home, don't stop me. I won't let your secrets out, and any attempt would end badly for everyone. As I'm sure you gathered by now."

"Look out, this one's super srsly guise. Careful, your enigmatic ways might overload Neko's brain." Phoenix reaches for his file so he can get a better look at it. "As it tends to happen, any of us deciding to just leave, or getting mad, or going rogue, is going to cut this little vacation short, because whatever objective we have is going to be just out of reach of 2 of us. Anyway, I think we've all agreed to the rules of the game, so let's get the setting? Who, what, when?"
Just because I feel like insulting Neko some more. Also I'm reading my file, so I'm sure we can discuss what else it might say.

"Wonderful. And with that let's get down business. Over the past few years, there have been several missing ponies, mostly unicorns, never to be seen or heard from again. The only evidence we have related to this is the occasional police report about flashing green lights at night in the same area the ponies went missing. Now the main issue is that I only know of two explanations regarding this. Either Chyrsalis is trying to make a return which I doubt at this moment or another pony by the name of Toodle Roo is behind this but since he is still in the pits of Tartarus, that leaves me in the worst position ever: not knowing what is going on."

"SO we get to go an find someone that you may or may not know is involved and we may or may not be killed looking for people that may or may not be alive. Cool beans. Do we get some cool stuff, make things extra showy, gokaiger style. Im ok with that. Also what does my file say, im not exactly how im qualified for this."

Shade pondered the news of their assignment for a moment. This would look to be a tough one. "Where exactly have these disappearances occurred?" Maybe that would be a good place to start...