intro ♚ september

[boardmaster]

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!

Comments

Kainé ♟New Pawn

[oneris]

Ia

[ Awakening indoors, in unfamiliar territory, and being given the most bullshit explanation she'd ever heard had left a sour taste in her mouth. Like she had sucked on a nettle or something. It all felt like a load of shit. Like something some nutcase might come up with. But each moment that she spent moving around the grandeur palace like Hall of Glory almost made her believe in this shit...

It would explain so much, wouldn't it?

Vanishing from her little hellhole shack outside of the remains of the Aerie. Waking up in near luxury - uncomfortably naked. Uncomfortably aware of the fact that she no longer had her usual attire, her weapons. The moment she'd been handed her uniform, she had covered up. She didn't want to look upon the malted grey flesh covering her left side. To look at the scares from her Black Scrawl infection. Her uniform was at least something she could feel comfortable in. With much prompting from the bird in her room, a talkative thing, she'd gone and collected carrier and weapon, still angry, still uncomfortable. Still... unsure.

Stiletto heels clicked loudly upon the stone walkway. The silver haired woman narrowed her golden eyes, scrutinizing each person she passed. They were all so... different. So much more lively than the people she had known. And being around so many people was making her skin crawl. Slender bandaged fingers curled tight at her side. Upon her shoulder, the tiny clockwork doll that was her carry sat, little hand clinging to the vermilion dress shirt. ]

II

[ It was lighter than one of her previous swords. The curve wasn't really any different, although it lacked the serrated edge she preferred. Her golden gaze lingered upon the rings at the top, their coppery tinge glinting in the sunlight. Heaving a heavy sigh, Kainé rolled her wrist, turning the blade this way and that to further scrutinize it. The symbols embossed above the haft were unfamiliar to her. Just an aesthetic choice, she assumed, and dismissed them.

Kainé felt her lips draw down at the edges, as if she couldn't bare the thought of using something so light. But it would do, she needed a weapon after all... most of all because she felt so different. If there were any Shades in this place, she'd slaughter them all. It didn't matter if they screamed for mercy or not.

The silver haired woman shifted, tucking her left hip inward as she lifted the sword once more. This time she wasn't inspecting the sword, but rather adjusting her stance so as to find the best way to carry said weapon. Her gaze locked upon the practice dummy. Stiletto heels pressed into the stone for a moment longer before she swung forward, blade tearing through the air with the same brutality of her previous weapons. The blade tore into the uniformed dummy. ]

III

[ Wildcard ]

I

[chronosynthesis]

[Kaine is able to clothe herself just in time for Syrlya to push the door to their room open amidst the chattering from the mechanical pigeon. Hearing its voice again causes him to pause in the doorway before he peers in.]

Oh--hello! You're a new face. [He smiles.] Did you just arrive?

[oneris]

Can it bird.

[ There was a sharpness, an acidity to Kainé's voice that might have made most people back off. But the bird didn't even blink an eye, as if it were programmed with the knowledge that some people were anything but agreeable. Golden eyes, a lasting reminder of the Shade's taint, swiftly turned their attention to the door, her mouth parting to spill out something with equal venom until she caught a glimpse of her roommate.

Some part of her was, admittedly, weirded out, but not enough to affect her considerably. After all, she had seen a boy go from being human to being a skeleton with an over-sized head. She had seen grotesque amalgamation of shades. She had... she was different, as well.

Twisting her features into a scowl, Kainé finally spoke. ]

Just who the hell are you? And what the hell do you mean did I just arrive?

[chronosynthesis]

[Syrlya's eyes widen slightly as he walks into the doorway and leans against it. Huh.] My name is Syrlya. I assume that you awoke very suddenly in this room without your possessions? It has happened to all of us so far.

[oneris]

So people just drop in like this all the time? What kind of hog shit is that?

[ The silver haired woman gave the mechanical bird a sharp glare, as if it was to blame for this mess. Not that it had anything to do with this mess. ]

And you just take this shit in stride?

[chronosynthesis]

... What else are you really going to do? [It's a genuine question, although he suspects she hasn't yet ventured outside their room.] Whether I accept it or not does not change the reality of what is occurring.

1

[quaria]

[ As those stiletto heels click against the ground, Setsuna's attention is easily caught by the sound. Calmly turning to face the approaching figure, the first thing that he notices is how unwell this young woman looks. He stays where he is for now, allowing her to be the one to close in their distance.

It didn't take long. And when the two of them are at an appropriate measure for a conversation, Setsuna quietly speaks up. ]

Are you all right?

[oneris]

[ The silver haired woman would have continued walking, ignoring those who returned her gaze or might have wished to speak to her. She would have ignored Setsuna as well, but her carrier had reached out with it's tiny hand and given some of the loose, silver strands a gentle tug. Kainé paused, finding herself pulling her bandaged hand close to her body. Her gaze swept over the other, lips drawn into a tight frown.

In the past... no one had really asked such a thing, had they? General kindness was strange, foreign. And she wasn't sure how to react beyond a barbed comment. ]

What the hell does it matter to you?

[quaria]

[ Coincidentally, Setsuna is more used to hearing rougher comments than kindness as well. That's why when the woman sharply responds to him, he remains with the same expression. He doesn't flinch in surprise either, since he was already expecting the possibility of a response like this. He can understand, as certainly none of them asked to be brought here, and much less become... Heroes.

He doesn't answer immediately, remaining silent for a couple of seconds before speaking again. ]

More than me, you should put concern on yourself.

[ What he means is that, whether or not she lets him help matters more than how he feels. She can ignore him, that's fine — or she can allow him to properly assist her. He already has a feeling she doesn't really care about his opinion, so he won't speak unnecessary words. ]

ii

[verisimilitudes]

[There is no other way to surmise it- her sword is a fearsome weapon. When his gaze lights on the figure inspecting it, to his credit Laurent experiences only minor surprise. She seems slight for something to fear-inspiring- but he, of all people, understands what it means to appear one thing and be another.

She does not lift it timidly.

There is a ruthless grace to the way she moves, an efficacy of motion with only one inevitable outcome that he suspects had been decided the moment her eyes had locked on the dummy. Along the edges of the practice arena and securely out of striking range, he takes the moment to observe in silence. He has seen so many different personalities represented in Caissa's would-be heroes- though he finds the majority competent in their own way, it is refreshing to see skill he is familiar with. The sword, it would appear, is never an unwelcome ally.]

[oneris]

[ The woman wrenched the sword free of the dummy after a moment, inspecting the depth the blade had managed to travel. Cloth tore, wood splintering as her sword came free. Kainé tilted her head slightly, and with a huff returned to her initial stance. Her strength, it seemed, had been depleted considerably. And there was no Tyrann to mock her, to tease her about being weak. She was still strong, yes, but... not strong enough.

If this were a Shade, she probably wouldn't have made a scratch on that black and gold shimmering, moving skin. If one could call it skin, anyway.

This time she shifted her stance, sliding the sword to her other hand while tucking in her right hip. When she struck out this time, she aimed for the side, just above the hip. ]

[verisimilitudes]

[Her form is impeccable. It is not an observation that he makes lightly and that is because Laurent understands hard work when he sees it. The way that she carries herself, the precision in the way that she moves, the certainty with which her strikes find their marks all speak to hours of dedicated study. This is not a simple hobby. It is entirely likely that this is a skill cultivated for survival- a matter of necessity.

He waits until she's finished, when her next blow takes the dummy in the side, and maintains a courteous distance; it is perhaps one of the only times Laurent could ever be considered polite.]

You seem disappointed.