pawnstorm | intro ♚ september

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intro ♚ september

WELCOME TO Grantebrycge

We’ve all had those dreams: you wake up on a table, to blurry, ominous images and the certainty that you are absolutely buck-naked in a room full of strangers. This is not quite it.

Instead, you come awake to the sun on your face. The soft burble of water nearby. The hustle and bustle of a busy street and the faint, fortifying smell of bread. You open your eyes and there’s no one there at your bedside, but there is what appears to be the end of the world happening just beyond your window.

There’s a crack in the world across the sky, the “sun” is the totally unnatural light spilling from that crack straight into your eyes, and someone’s left a neatly pressed and folded uniform at the foot of the bed that isn’t yours. Somewhere in the room, there’s a strange clatter like beads, the click of claws on the floor.

Something’s in here with you.

Also, you are naked.

ONE ♟ Video Killed The Radio Star

Rise and shine, Heroes. It seems that today is filled with good fortune as the morning is very uneventful, aside from the monthly arrival of new comrades. This is the perfect time to grab your weapon, Carrier and uniform and use your time to look around Caissa. While exploring or catching up on the latest gossip, you might blow past the delivery carriages outside of the Hall of Glory, but you certainly won’t be missing the steampunk televisions and vending machines which will be set up around noon time by your lovely maids and butlers! The TVs are placed in every single bedroom as well as leisure rooms so you can enjoy your daily fix of popular cooking show Inferno Kitchen, primetime Cheoksan drama Summer Cantata or the Gammonian hit series Sport of Crowns! The vending machines can be found in the hallways and contain snacks and drinks such as canned mackin’ cheese (or as Noirs like to call it, Lovekraft Supper), Pooky, Cpt. Pepperoni, Mountin' Do, or Eight Up. You are free to come up with your own TV show or vending machine food items.

Thierry Toussaint
My dearest Heroes! I hope today finds you well, and for once I bring good news! [ he laughs a little sheepishly. he’s dressed less formally than in previous somber declarations and his hair looks windblown, like he ran here ] As you well know, our recent victories and mostly importantly, a successful alliance with Gammon has brought no small amount of blessings: we have more resources, better manpower, and the invaluable help of our Gammonian colleagues not just in war, but also in advancing our civilization!

And so it is my pleasure to unveil our new and improved broadcast technology— [ a pause, where he winks ] —do I look clearer to you? It’s a little harder to tell from this end, I’m afraid. You’ll be able to receive better, brighter and more varied content from our country’s talented producers. Oh…

[ another, longer pause. teddy looks offscreen and then laughs ]

I’m not getting paid for this, I promise. I don’t need any other motivation to be excited for my country, do I? In addition to the television programs, we will be helping with the release of newly developed vending machine technology that brings fresh and healthy snacks to the streets of our capital, and hopefully, beyond. It would be nice to have one for my office.

I’ve mentioned our Gammonian friends, haven’t I? And I’ve saved the best for last: as a token of the friendship between our countries and all that we can do for each other, Gammon has assisted us in completing Platform 40— … 42 and 5/8ths, an instantaneous portal between our very own Caissa and Cochrane. I look forward to even more cultural and commercial exchange from all the way across the Rokirovka Ocean!

And ah, speaking of exchange—the Platform has been completed just in time for you, dear Heroes. Gammon has actually extended another invitation to you: as national and international icons and users of magic, they would like you to visit their school of magecraft, Pigeonsblood, in Grant— Grant… [ … ] You will be able to reach the school easily through the Platform!

Pigeonsblood’s Headmaster has assured me that you would be a great inspiration to their incoming class of aspiring mages; I urge you to take advantage of this opportunity. Gammon’s knowledge and mastery of magic, as you may have seen during your previous visits, is nothing to take lightly! And if you like what you see, I’m told Gammon would be happy to sponsor classes for Heroes at the school. I’m sure they want to keep the inspiration flowing, hm?

Thank you once again, all of you, for making such wonderful things possible. I’m sure your achievements will continue to open doors, both metaphorically and literally, for Blanc and for yourselves.

Meet up with your chums, old and new, and head over to Caissa’s train station. Once there, locating the Platform 42 and 5/8ths is an easy feat. There are two guards standing watch and they will stop curious civilians from sneaking past them. They will only let Heroes use the Platform and as such require proof of identification. A Hero’s uniform, rank badge or a passport identifying yourself as such should do the trick. As the platform functions as one of Gammon’s checkpoints, you will need to pay a small fee of 200 colle to pass. Should you be a new arrival, the Prime Minister will suddenly show up and pay the fee.

Where’s the portal, you might ask? Take a deep breath, walk through the wall between the guards and you’ll find yourself in Cochrane! Heroes might experience some sudden vertigo or a near insatiable hunger for pork. Very minor side effects vary from person to person.

In order to reach Grantebrycge, Heroes must travel from Cochrane to Friedgood and then a little ways further. They are free to make this journey by foot, mount or train. Directions to Grantebrycge are vague but you can’t miss the landmark of the Great Face Cliff, a monument depicting the faces of the towns’s founding members. Poobin and Cemron seem especially stern as they glare down at anyone who dares to visit.

TWO ♟ Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!

Upon entering Grantebrycge, Heroes will be immediately be ambushed by swarms of eager students from Pigeonsblood’s welcoming committee. This committee consists of upperclassmen from each of the Four Branches - Achroite, Prehnite, Bixbite, and Citrine, and they are dressed in uniforms in their Branch color (pictured here in the Bixbite red). Officially, they’re here to help you learn more about Pigeonsblood, give you a tour of the campus, and show you what each Branch can offer you so that you can make an educated decision about which to enroll in. Unofficially, they’re there to try to talk you into enrolling into their particular Branch and some will ramble on about how their Branch is the best while others fight amongst each other to try to get your attention.

Once the tour is finished, the committee will lead Heroes to the administration building. There, they’ll part with you to attend to other duties, leaving you with a reminder to head to the center plaza in an hour for the freshman orientation party. Heroes can enroll in classes if they so choose and have made a decision as to which Branch is the best for them. It’s recommended as it’s free, courtesy of Gammon. If they enroll in classes, they will receive their class schedule, a permit for a uniform, and a key to their dorm room. Head to the university shops later to have them take your measurements!

NOTE: The rooming and class schedule are up to player discretion. If there is an official mission the professors will allow an absence - Heroes can’t save the world if they’re worrying about their GPA, after all!

For those who choose to not enroll in Pigeonsblood, they can explore the campus some more, but either way make sure to head down to the central plaza before the party!

THREE ♟ The Part Where They Rope You in with Free Food

Stepping into the center plaza puts you in the middle of excited back-to-school buzz. Several event booths line the plaza, all eager to get your attention. Some will try to recruit you to their school club. Others are simply there to provide information, such as maps of the school and information about the Four Branches. Still others get even more specific, headed by banners marked “THE TOTAL IDIOT'S GUIDE TO A SUCCESSFUL ACADEMY LIFE” and “GUIDE TO HAPPINESS: HOW TO NOT DIE DURING EXAMS”. A few generous booths will provide you with free food like “Splotted Richard” or “Bangers and Mash” to fill your tummy, as well as school merchandise, such as Branch-specific pens, face paint, flyswatters, and other bits of merchandise.

If those don't get your attention, the freshmen running your way definitely will. They're beyond excited to see a Hero among their ranks, and approach you eagerly, yelling things such as, “Did you enroll? Let's do our best together!”, “You're my inspiration! I hope we're classmates!” and “Please let me know if you need a tutor! I wouldn't mind…” Thankfully, their enthusiasm is brought to a stop by the welcoming committee, who make their way to the center plaza and hush the excited freshmen. After a heartwarming speech about youth and school spirit, the committee flashes their new classmates a bright smile and finishes with: “And now, it's time for some fun!”

What do they mean by fun? The freshmen are more than eager to demonstrate! Aside from the fun offered at the various booths, there are many magic games to partake in. There's “Splash Tag,” where players must use water magic in lieu of touch to play tag, “Air Races,” in which racers use psionic, gravity, or wind magic to boost their movement, “Hot Potato,” in which the temperature of the potato is increased with each pass until it explodes on the loser, and Illusion-based Pictionary.

A few steps away from the commotion, near where the welcoming committee made their speech, is a tall bulletin board. Various flyers are posted here-- club announcements, dating ads, tutoring offers, and of course, Pigeonsblood help wanted ads.

INFO ♟ Welcome!

Welcome to Crosscheck's Month intro log! For any further questions, please see the FAQ or reach us at the Contact Us page. Have fun!

Remember to check out the uniform contest for ranked Heroes!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

♟ o1-A. GET A RUNNING START.

[ After the initial shock of... well, everything, it was suggested that Miranda try and go out on her own. Yes, that would normally be a great idea, and while she had been feeling more sure of herself lately, that was within the company of others who she knew. This was a new world, full of people from a multitude of different places, and that was...

Well, it was a bit much right now. So please excuse her, but Miranda will be taking her time, a ticket held very tightly in one hand (her sleeves pulled up and over her palms as best as she could) as she watched various heroes filter into Platform 42 and 5/8ths. Because of course she found it, it was hard to miss with the strange numbering, but...

Just.

Take a step forward.

Get on the train, you've done this before Miranda.

Well, all right, maybe she's never had to walk into a wall to do it, b-but it looked safe enough? Right?? It was some kind of illusion maybe, it had to be!

No one would laugh at her when she inevitably face planted into the wall, right?

. . .

Someone might need a bit of help here. Or maybe the canine carrier by her side, whining quietly and nosing at a passerby might get a bit of attention. Excuse me, Mister or Miss Human, can you help her get her human master to move? She's going to miss her train otherwise :< ]

♟ o1-B. FIRST DAYS ARE THE WORST.

[ After taking an absurdly long time psyching herself up to actually step onto the platform and board the train, her new uniform and Pawn badge clearly pinned to her lapel, Miranda walks through the passenger cars looking for something. Trailing behind her is a rather fluffy black-and-white dog carrier, who seems content enough with just sniffing around. New smells to be had here, she's happy.

Each time Miranda passes a cabin, she'll stare into the window (hello?), as if looking for something, or someone, before sighing and moving on.

(All occupied. Every single one.)

Eventually, after doing a few rounds, the woman will finally, slowly, open one of the sliding doors, looking extremely uncomfortable. ]

[ Come on, this wasn't so bad, right? She could do this. She was an adult. ]

♟ o3-A. IMPRESSIVELY UNIMPRESSIVE.

[ The thing about working as an exorcist is that much of the things one does goes unnoticed by the general populous. They protect the people from the shadows, from places that the innocent dared not tread, and quite honestly that suited Miranda just fine. The people that she met during missions were lovely, and while there were those who dipped into the occasional flustering gratitudes, it was always more flattering and sweet than excessive.

This? This was excessive. ]

[ Surrounded by a gaggle of first-years, each professing their adoration of them (of her?!) for the whole world to hear, Miranda was swimming in a sea of Do Not Want. Gushing about how cool heroes were, and oh man is that a spear that's AWESOME, there appears to be no escape.

That is, until she locks eyes with someone. PLEASE HELP?? She doesn't... actually know what to do with this, judging from how intently she's wringing her hands. Also she's locked on now, so it would be rude to just leave her there, right? ]

♟ o3-B. A MOMENT TO BREATHE.

[ While the festivities moved outside, Miranda took this moment to discretely edge her way back in, away from the crowds. She wasn't very good with this sort of thing haaa...

And truthfully, after an extremely heartfelt reunion and being shuttled around from place to place, she needed to recharge before casting back out into this new world.

But there was more to it than that. All of this... didn't it feel a little too convenient? She wasn't a tactical thinker like some, but it didn't seem like just a coincidence. And the fact that nothing was explained, how they got there, or why there were others from her world here...

Had they somehow been pulled into some kind of trap?

Even this place, with its high towers and austere architecture felt all too familiar to their headquarters. There were clear differences to be sure, but the similarities were hard to ignore. The world seemed very different, enough so to give her pause, but in the same token...

Her Innocence was gone. That was the first thing she noticed. And it's replacement... Miranda had no idea what to do with it. She was stripped of any means of defending herself and others, and without it, without Time Record, she felt vulnerable. But if they truly wanted to divide them, truly wanted to cut them off, then why..?

Why was he here?

(...was he really...)

No, Miranda, don't think like that. Don't let doubt come into the equation!

...Maybe being left alone with her own thoughts wasn't such a good thing after all.

Lost to her own thoughts, the click of nails against the marble floor beside her as Frauke kept at pace with her master, the woman would occasionally stop to simply look and, at times, admire the artwork or architecture. ]

[He's fine dealing with crowds and all of the festivities they bring. They still make him wary, and he'll probably never fully relax around them, but even so, Lavi wanted to to take some time away from them and mull over his thoughts.

He's actually managed to find somewhere rather out of the way and delightfully empty of any shrieking students or any of the starry-eyed citizens that seem to want to follow Heroes around; nobody wants to be excitable over statuary when there's so much more going on. He's not actually dozing, either, though he certainly gives off that appearance. Sprawled out on the floor instead of the bench right behind him, he's just letting his head rest on the seat as he sifts through his thoughts.

Judging by the fact that he can hear normal footsteps accompanied by the clicking of an animal, probably a carrier, he assumes that someone else made an escape from the more lively areas, too.

Without opening his eye, he calls out, just so he doesn't startle anyone too badly.]

S'pretty quiet here, yeah?

[ Perhaps it was that seeing Lavi lounging was such a natural thing that Miranda didn't notice him at first. Or maybe she was caught in her own thoughts, trying to sort out what one should do when thrust into a situation like this. But had he not spoken up, Miranda would have missed him completely.

Frauke? Not so much. Even before the other exorcist spoke, the canine began to saunter over, the friendly thing that she was. Her human seemed to be in a better way than she was in that crowd, so she didn't have to be as worried about corralling her around. She could get a lay of the land, and possibly a few pets in the interim. Win, win.

But hearing that voice, Miranda stopped dead in her tracks. (Her carrier? Not so much. Time to make a new friend!) Bringing a gloved hand to her chest, she looked toward the source and...

Her eyes wide in disbelief, she stared. ]

...Lavi?

[He was already, regrettably, going to have to get up, judging from the his carrier popped out from behind him and went to hop around Frauke, but it's her voice that gives him pause.

He opened his eye when he started to get up, of course, and had even taken a moment to pat Frauke on the head, but he's only halfway pushed himself off of the ground when he catches sight of Miranda. He might think that he was hallucinating, but she's not the first person from back home that he's seen, so it's not entirely impossible that she's really standing in front of him.

That means he really should say something. He smiles as though he's been caught doing something, though he had only been resting a bit, but if he was going to see her again, he would've chosen a better way to reunite. It's too late for that now, and he doesn't want her to pull an Allen and freak out too badly or run away, so he gives her a wave, like it was any other day.]

Miranda!

[Don't just stand there, man. He puts one foot in front of the other, quickly making his way over to her. He'd hug her, but it's Miranda, and what he doesn't want to do is startle her with too much too fast.] You're actually here! I gotta say, it's good to see you again.

Miranda Lotto | D.Gray-man | OTA

3b yaaaaay

well since you were lurking ♥︎

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1a

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1b

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1b MY FAVORITE DGM CHARACTER

I hope I don't disappoint then!

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1A!!!

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3a im sorry he's so rude

it's totally cool I'm laughing

1-A

tmw you find yourself in the wrong ya novel premise...

3a

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