Condemned... (To be continued)

[Teal]

Upon agreeing to track the suspicious group you are told to await further instructions. The next morning you receive a letter either by mail, by email, or by carrier Goonie. The letter's contents are as follows:

"Morning brave adventurer. Your mission begins today. Bring your weapons, supplies, and gear with you and meet me by where the shop used to be at the ruins of Toad Town. You will find others there on the same mission. If you get there early you might as well get to know each other if you haven't yet. I'll be there 10:00am sharp.

This letter will self-destruct/delete in......soon.
-Firago"

[draexzhan]

Erill was the first to arrive at the ruins of toad town. He was always an "early" person. He had received two messages from a goonie. One told him to come here, and the other was....goonie crap. Erill stood by a busted fountain, that continuously sprayed water in a northwesternly direction. He raised his staff, and the water shifted in his direction, and sprayed his face, washing off the goonie crap.

[g!rl_k.s.a.]

Maya walked up to the meeting spot where the letter told her to meet. a small glaive on her side. She stood in the middle of the town and waited for everybody else.

[Zyph]

Erlosung was already in Toad Town near the meeting spot, receiving an email from someone by the name of Firago. He was rather curious of the nature of the email, reading "This letter will self-destruct/delete in......soon". He later discovered a sort of hidden cryptic coding within the mail where it would delete itself, and from that discovery, can only imagine this Firago knows some sort of engineering, or at the least some coding knowledge.

He was at the moment simply watching from somewhere else. He is rather hidden from normal view, just waiting for the others to arrive. He brought with him a large variety of supplies, including a decent amount of money he saved throughout his life thus far, doubtful it would have much of a use in a seemingly currently apocalyptic world.

He saw from where he is watching a robed dark red Yoshi, who was using a sort of manipulative magic to spray his face with water. He also later saw an orange Yoshi with red clothing and a weapon which seemed to be a glaive arrive at the meeting spot. He checked the time to see it isn't 10:00 am just yet, and thus concluded neither of the two Yoshis were Firago. While waiting for the mysterious Firago to arrive, he contented himself by analyzing the magic of the robed dark red Yoshi for future purposes. He decided not to be at the spot just yet, not feeling it is time to introduce himself to the people he will be working with.

(I will post soon for now the sketch of how Erlosung looks like in the sign ups. Decided how he looks from the sketch would influence later how others will react to him in the RP

Edit: Unfinished sketch of Erlosung is posted in the Sign Up thread.)

[Elemental Ninja]

Ignuss found the meeting spot as well. He made sure to be cautious not knowing who this "Firago" was. He saw the other Yoshies and relaxed a bit.
Ignuss "this is the meeting spot correct?"

[Yoshiken]

Hansen walked out from behind the corner of the damaged store. He was looking at his watch, and saw that he was still a tad bit early. He looked up to see that a group was already gathering near the storefront. He was happy at first to see his new comrades, but his joy became unstable when he took a good look at them. They were definitely an odd, mysterious looking bunch, and he assumed that none of them were Firago, because it was still not time.

"Alright! I need everyone to listen up! I understand that we will be working together, and so I need to know all of your names, and any information that would be relevant to this investigation. My name is Hansen, and I am a lead detective in this region. By the way, does anyone know anything about this Firago guy?"

[g!rl_k.s.a.]

"Nope. Have no clue about who this Firago guy is, only except that he tried to blow me up." Maya frowned.

[Teal]

A shadowy Rex with red eyes looked down upon the group from atop a partial roof. "This is it?" he thought to himself. "It's 10 right now...There can't be THAT many people late! Going to have to make the best of it...Let's see...time to make a good first impression what kind of an entrance should I make? Should I use a smokescreen and appear? Maybe I should jump in and make a dramatic scene with my weapons!"

Just then the roofing he was standing on crumbled from beneath and sent him stumbling down. "Whoa! Ah!" he shouted as he fell off the roof and hit the ground near Hansen with a thud. Lying there he growled and painfully said, "Damn this curse..."

The Rex gets up brushing himself off. He had viridian and pale blue skin. Wears a blue hooded jacket with a white circular emblem on the front and maroon boots. The Rex also has wings bigger than usual for a typical Rex; big enough to support him in flight.

"I was expecting a larger group," The Rex said. "It was an awkward meeting yesterday...The Investigation Effort members didn't discuss much about the mission with you guys did they?...Wait...I could be talking to the wrong people. If you know who I am then I'll tell you more details about the mission."

[Zyph]

As he waited, he saw another Yoshi arrived as well as a Toad, which for some reason made him feel weird. However, he concluded that they cannot be Firago. Later, waiting for a little more, a small alarmed beep signifying it is 10 am. He then saw a Rex fell off the roof and thought that can't be Firago either, but rather someone clumsy.

Erlosung then decided to come out of his hiding spot and slowly walk to the meeting spot, seeing more people have arrived. His robes were flowing freely with the air as he walked in a rather menacing motion to the meeting spot, looking down looking very suspicious looking. As he arrived at the spot, he used a little telekinetics to tie his robes together in a smooth flowing fashion then looked up at the group, showing no sign of emotion due to his fully covered face.

"It's 10 am... It's time..."

[draexzhan]

Once he concluded his face had been thoroughly washed. Erill stopped the spell and the water continued spraying in its original direction, wearing away at the concrete where it struck. Knowing it was now 10 am, he looked around at the group that had gathered. 2 yoshis, plus himself, a toad, and someone hiding in a bush. Then he heard a roof crumble behind him and saw a rex fall smack onto the ground. Then the incognito came out of hiding. Erill looked back an forth between the rex and the mysteriously garbed one.
"Am I correct to assume that one of you is Firago?"

[Elemental Ninja]

Ignuss looked at the rex "a clumsy one are you? that'll get ya killed. I am to assume this is this Firago person. Nice to have your acquaintance. Some call me Ignuss others call me the Shadow."

[Yoshiken]

Hansen didn't see Erlosung come out of his hiding, because he was too busy trying to shield his eyes from the dust that resulted in the Rex falling from the sky right in front of him. "Jeez! Watch it! I mean, I can understand if you wanted my autograph, but don't be afraid to approach me from the ground next time!" Hansen said, slightly laughing at his own jokes.

After hearing what the Rex had to say, Hansen raised an eyebrow. "Ah, so you must be Firago! I am glad you decided to 'drop' by...literally. Anyways, I really don't know anything about this mission. If you could enlighten me...or all of us for that matter, then it would be much appreciated."

Hansen lifted up his head and saw Erlosung standing in silence, almost completely covered from head to toe. "And here I was thinking this group couldn't get any stranger..." He whispered to himself.

[Zyph]

Erlosung saw Erill come up to the spot, and just stared at him as he looked back and forth from him to the Rex. Being in close proximity to Erill and observing his behavior, already he doesn't like Erill and doesn't feel comfortable, being aware Erill can do magic.

He then saw Ignuss look at the Rex and noticed that he concluded the Rex was Firago. As soon as Ignuss said his name and mentioned others called him "the Shadow", he pondered why others would call Ignuss such. Seeing the other yoshi Erill can do magic, he assumed Ignuss must have some sort of magic within him as well that would cause others to call him "the Shadow".

The possiblity of the Rex being Firago was further emphasized after he heard Hansen concluding that the Rcex was Firago. Erlosung already doesn't like Hansen due to his rather commanding tone of voice when he arrived. When he heard how Hansen talks with jokes and puns, Erlosung began to dislike Hansen even more and now sees him as the largest threat in the overall group thus far. Erlosung's disliking of Hansen only elevated after hearing Hansen's self whispered statement as he was looking at Erlosung: "And here I was thinking this group couldn't get any stranger..."

Erlosung gave a slight groan, realizing this is the kind of people he will be working with in this mission. He then looked at the Rex and just gave him a short stare. He decided that the Rex was indeed Firago.

"...Hello, Firago...", he said with a dull, but serious tone of voice.

Afterwards, he gave everyone a stare one by one, starting with Maya first and then at Hansen last and the longest with no definite sign of emotion.

"...lead detective... Hansen... heard your statement... ... ... not funny..."

From there, Erlosung remained silent and looked at Firago for details of the mission, keeping as distant as possible from Hansen.

----------
("almost completely covered from head to toe"? What isn't covered I ask? He's supposed to be completely covered from head to toe, as in no skin is exposed.)

[Teal]

The six foot tall Rex with a rifle-looking weapon slung on his back nodded and said, "Then you guys ARE the ones who agreed to do this mission..." He looked at the Toad, the orange, red, and blue yoshies, and the humanoid. "Just six of us? I expected more...Anyway yes I am Firago. An engineer and marksman. I'll be leading the mission for you guys. By the way did you like those self-tearing and self-deleting letters? I made them myself haha." He heard the dark blue yoshi's remark. "You can say that again...good to meet you Ignuss. I think I'll be one of the people calling calling you Shadow..." He cleaned off his necklace wiping the dirt off of it using his jacket. It was a curious-looking ancient calendar.

Firago held back a chuckle from hearing Hansen's jokes. "Heh...looks like we've got a comedian. You must be the one and only Hansen correct? You're a bit popular around these parts..." Then starts walking down a road heading west. "Let's get going, I'll tell you all the mission along the way. So this group is accused of cultivating the petrifying virus. It is also said that they use forbidden magic to cause these...not-so-natural catastrophes...Intelligence says that they have a hideout in the next town over. I'm not sure where but I think it's in the old mine where they used to get the top secret material to make glowing '?' blocks...not that anyone uses them anymore."

"Our mission is to 1) Determine whether or not this group is responsible. 2) Discover how exactly they cause such chaotic damage across the globe...it's just a group of people. and 3) Find out if they use the same bizarre techniques as that Ruki creep. Just know that we might run into possible combat...be prepared."

He looked back to see if everyone was following. "Let's recap on what we know about the virus so far...It petrifies you in minutes when it decides to attack your body. It is highly contagious: It spreads by direct contact with someone who has it and it is airborne in close proximity of someone who has it. No one appears to be immune to it, it can infect anyone. Once you are infected it can start petrifying you at any time but not necessarily right away when you are exposed to it...unless you get it from direct contact which happens much sooner for some reason. This means it's possible for you to go on for days, weeks, even months with the virus in your body and still be 100% flesh. Remember that guy who was infected for 3 months without turning to stone?"

"I have created masks that will protect you from breathing in the virus. But I don't have any Hazardous Material (HazMat) protective suits to protect you from direct contact though so be careful. I don't want to end up having to drag your statued butt anywhere.

"Ignuss I assume you fight barehanded correct? I have a pair of protective gauntlets you can borrow. Your boots should also be enough to protect you in combat."

"...So any questions? I definitely have one for each of you aside from Ignuss and Hansen: What are your names?"

[g!rl_k.s.a.]

"My name is Maya and it is nice to meet you Firago. Although it would have been nice to have met you without you falling from the roof and nearly killing yourself." she smiled at that. "The name is Maya and its a pleasure to meet you. You have anybody else we'll meet?"

[Elemental Ninja]

"Just so you know, I'm not exactly a brainiac. I can't help much with riddles and detective stuff. ah, so you have a pair of gauntlets. Not necessary but they'd be nice. can I see them?"

[Zyph]

Erlosung simply listened to Firago as he briefed the mission to the group and reexplained what the virus is all about. He then heard Firago having masks that would protect the group from breathing the virus in as well as gauntlets, which caught his interest.

After seeing an opportunity to ask, Erlosung approached near Firago and asked him a few questions personally and quietly as possible so only and only Firago can hear him.

"Erlosung Kante... I'm a Bio Scientist Researcher Engineer... ... Masks and equipment?... What material are they made of, Firago?... I am well aware of the nature of the virus; I have researched it myself along with others as soon as the first discoveries of the virus...

As you can see, my body is fully covered; none of my skin is exposed. I am not sure what material those masks and other equipment you have are made of, as the virus is rather intricate in that it can pass through many, many materials and infect practically anything living... so as to say, the virus is very adaptive to infecting all sorts of species...

The things I am wearing at the moment, like my current mask, is currently somewhat effective at repelling the virus, but it isn't perfect; the virus still has a chance to get through. Being a researcher, Firago, I'd like to know what you used to make those masks... It may help aid me in creating perhaps a vaccine... I joined this mission in hopes I may make a discovery of a vaccine through whatever experiences may happen throughout this mission.

If you are wondering whether or not I am infected, I'd like to say I am not... but what do I know? I can say the others and I have researched the virus with state of the art precautions, careful not to get infected ourselves. This includes wearing hazmats, levels of sterilization of ourselves and the air of the room we are to work in, etc. ...though however I am now alone, as the others have become victims of the virus, sacrificing themselves trying out the many prototype vaccines and suppressants we tried creating, but to no avail at exterminating the virus problem thus far... "

[draexzhan]

"I happen to know a lot about forbidden magic." Erill spoke up, "For one thing, there are two reasons a spell would be forbidden. One, is that, obviously, it's too powerful a spell and is a danger to everyone. And two, is a lesser known fact. If you use too much powerful magic at one time, you won't be able to control it, rather, it will control you. Magic itself is neither good nor evil, for it is without conscious, and if it consumes a soul, its behavior becomes unpredictable and very dangerous. Its powers exceed our imagination, and is virtually invincible. There is only one record of this ever happening, and it nearly destroyed the world. How it was stopped is not known. This is the reason I'm helping. This plague is just a trifling matter compared to the possible disaster of apocalyptic proportions that I'm worried about."

[g!rl_k.s.a.]

"The only type of magic I know is how to lengthen and shorten my glaive at will. It makes things so much easier for carrying and attacking." Maya said.

[Teal]

"Well Maya I was expecting more of us in the group. I'm not sure if we'll meet anybody else." Firago replied to Maya.

"Why wouldn't these gauntlets be necessary mister Shadow?" Firago said to Ignuss showing him the protective gear. "Unless you plan on being a statue or exclusively kicking you better put these on because our targets might be infected with the virus..."

"Earl I'd like to say my masks are perfect as well." he whispered back to Erlosung. "But as with any type of protective gear designed to block this virus. The results are uncertain. My condolences go for your comrades...they made brave sacrifices but thanks to this darned virus it was all in vain...My equipment has special magnetic particles coated in alcoholic wax that repel the virus." Firago continued to go on about how it repels the virus using many engineering terms that few would understand. "So that's why I'm confident these masks are necessary for the mission."

"We will need your knowledge of forbidden magic for this mission mister No Name." Firago said to Erill.

Firago started walking backwards looking back at the group. "Well then let's see we have a detective, a bio engineer, an expert in magic, and warriors who specialize in fighting. We've got some utility in this here group!"

Standing in Firago's direction were a pair of toads. The yellow one has both arms and half of his face turned to stone and the other's "mushroom cap" was completely turned to stone along with one leg succumbed to the effects of the virus. It is unknown what color the toad with a stone head was. "Please....help us....." They moaned as if they were zombies. "My head....the weight is unbearable...." Another half petrified red toad emerged out of hiding from behind a dead petrified tree. "There isn't a cure...I envy you.....share the pain...." He held his hands out in front of him apparently intent on infecting someone.

Firago is walking backwards right towards them not paying attention analyzing the members of the group. He was only a few feet away from them and will contact them if he isn't warned quick enough.