boardmaster: (Default)
BOARDMASTER ([personal profile] boardmaster) wrote in [community profile] pawnstorm2016-04-09 04:30 am

intro ♚ april

WELCOME TO GRAUPERA



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 CAPABLANCA & AIRY
As much as Blanc’s capital welcomes its Heroes, new arrivals such as yourself won’t have much time to settle. Get dressed and pick up your weapon and Carrier, because sometime in the afternoon, all floor nannies and Carriers will broadcast an announcement by Commander Lisbrand. She delivers a brief greeting to their new members, but gets straight to the point: they will be headed for Capablanca and the open sea beyond, in order to restore the fortress of Graupera for battle with Noir looming on the horizon. All new Heroes are expected to report to the Airy at the Caissa aeroport on the 8th along with their seniors.

On the morning of the 11th, Airy alights on Graupera, an island about two hours away from Capablanca by ferry. From here, you can either help the navy with Graupera repairs or assist in Verdoni’s investigations and head for Capablanca proper. Heroes will be staying in the (in)famous Hotel Caruana: they say you can check in anytime you like, but you can never truly leave. Nobody will quite meet your eyes or tell you what it means.

Wherever you are, the Airy will remain parked at Graupera.

TWO GRAUPERA, CAPABLANCA SEA FORT
What was once a heavily fortified island rests a ways off the coast of Capablanca; it looks a little too much like one of the thunderclouds slowly swarming on the horizon. Graupera has seen many battles and withstood the ebb and flow of wars. Formerly the city’s first line of defense until it was abandoned after the Reclamation, its dilapidated condition is the current bane of the Blanc navy. Blanc needs to bring it back to its former glory before it can face a single warship, much less Noir’s fleet of magical cannons. Blanc’s government has no doubt Heroes will do a fine job at returning the fortress to its former glory!

A ♙ The great stone and iron wall facing the wide open ocean has seen better days and is full of holes overgrown with stubborn clinging vines; cannonballs used a lifetime ago litter the grounds. The vines are extremely thick and may tangle the careless beyond hope of escape, not to mention filled with a pungent sap that will seep into your clothes and hair for days. It makes a great adhesive, though? Conveniently, parts of the wall are strewn across the floor, so at least some of the cannon holes can be repaired with enough improvisation, desperation and a bit of spit. The rest need new material provided by our helpful Heroes in Option C. Furthermore, the lingering damage from a previous attack and old age have turned the floorboards weak and unstable. The wood creaks ominously beneath the mass of even a single average-sized person, so watch your step.

B ♟ You might want to get your weapon before you descend into the dank depths beneath the castle. Once you make it down the steep, slippery stairs, you’ll be meeting the gigantic, hostile rats that infest the castle cellar from top to bottom. It looks like magical residue from long-ago battles has seeped into both the foundation and its inhabitants. The cellars have become a huge warren filled with strange mana currents, and sometimes flooded with water. If you're going to start an extermination campaign, you may want to recall the magical residue: chopping off a rat’s head and limbs will barely slow it down. It will keep going for hours unless you either lop off all its limbs or pierce its heart.

If you manage to make it all the way up into the castle’s two intact towers (the other two are half-collapsed), the uppermost levels are utterly covered in bird crap. You’ll be encountering the kings of this castle: the unusually large, grey-feathered sea birds that have taken up residence here. Albatrosses, gulls, pelicans, even sand pipers: they all share nesting and pooping space here. The feathers of each bird seem to have taken on stone-like properties not unlike the castle’s walls. They’re extremely ferocious and protective of their nests, which are filled with all kinds of things: twigs, shiny things, coin money, Option C’s supplies, feathers of all kinds, and some completely ordinary tools that seem too small for human hands, and much older than anything else in the place save for the walls. If you look closely, you might be able to see a few baby rats scattered in amongst the eggs and the peeping chicks. They’re being fed, too.

You’re meant to be moving the birds out of the place, but you might have enough trouble just moving their offal.

C ♙ Don’t feel like dealing with pest control? No problem! Blanc will need materials for rebuilding and other supplies for the coming battle! Everyone knows how important it is for the fortress to remain standing, so Heroes will be provided with gadgets and weaponry that should make it difficult for enemies to penetrate the walls yet again. Word has spread that the Heroes are transporting valuable goods, though, so you might have to fend off the occasional hopeful man or annoying mouse (rat) who wishes to borrow much-needed material.

Of course, all this rebuilding will be for naught if you are not prepared to defend the stronghold! Ammunition such as cannonballs, bullets and arrows needs to be transported to Graupera en masse, pronto. Equally important essentials include first aid supplies and enough non-perishable food and water to last a small army (you) a month or two. You wouldn’t want to have to scavenge for rat meat.

No one knows just how long this battle is going to last.

THREE Training
It’s time for you landlubbers to learn how to swim! Commander Lisbrand won’t be tolerating any sinking stones on her task force. The upcoming battle will be fought on the sea so your instructor, one of Blanc’s many fine captains (when she isn’t intoxicated), will make every single individual who hesitates at the sight of the open ocean walk the plank. She’ll even give you a helpful kick if necessary! Once that’s over, she will show you how to steer a ship. However, wandering eyes that land anywhere on the inebriated captain’s assets will be swiftly and spectacularly dealt a large bottle of the harbor’s best swill right where it hurts.

Blanc has also provided training dummies dressed suspiciously like prominent figures of the Othellian underworld. Now might be a good time to branch out and learn about your affinities. Heroes who have recently been promoted in Rank might want to set some time aside for getting used to their new abilities, too. Power and responsibility come hand in hand, after all!

INFO Welcome!
Welcome to Crosscheck's April intro log! For any further questions, please see the FAQ or reach us at the Contact Us page. Have fun!
hiryugaeshi: (no I won't stop being a smug shit)

[personal profile] hiryugaeshi 2016-04-11 08:08 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Skill at arms isn't everything, but don't tell Kojirou that. He sees Vivienne's defensiveness, and smiles. It's actually a good thing. It means she's not satisfied with mediocrity. ]

Not just any samurai, you'll find. [ Indeed, in his entire life, Kojirou hasn't met a single person more skilled than him. Even in his afterlives as a Servant, and now as a Hero, there have only been a handful of people that were his match in pure skill.

Now, people that could just smash him out of the way with superior strength and speed were a different matter altogether, but not everyone can have magic blood and magic swords. ]


But we all have to start somewhere. It took a lifetime of practice for me to get to where I stand now.
hiryugaeshi: (really?)

[personal profile] hiryugaeshi 2016-04-11 08:23 pm (UTC)(link)
A dual-wielding style, I see.

[ If Kojirou were actually Sasaki Kojirou, he'd be more than familiar with twin blades. After all, in the legends, Sasaki Kojirou was the rival of Miyamoto Musashi, one of the most famous dual-wielders in history. But as it is... ]

It's a lot of work, but I suppose it might be worth it.

[ He's only passingly familiar with the Book of Five Rings, but wasn't it said that people with two arms should be able to use two swords perfectly well? ]
sugegasa: (Default)

Shunsui Kyouraku | Bleach | OTA | Will match format!

[personal profile] sugegasa 2016-04-11 08:34 pm (UTC)(link)
One

Waking up naked wasn't strange to him. Nor was having light in his eyes. He was used to sleeping until well after sunup if he had any possibility of getting away with it, and this didn't seem to be any different!

...Something was, though, and not just the nagging voice in his head reminding him that he hadn't gone out drinking for quite some time and that his quarters at the First never let light in at quite this angle (since he's arranged his futon specifically to avoid such things). And the room seemed to be inhabited besides...

Well, nothing for it but to get out of bed! Using a blanket for cover, of course. The note on the folded uniform did little to comfort him, but he supposed there was no better way to learn about the place than to follow orders, as long as they didn't seem too offensive!

The airship was beautiful, and huge. Shunsui spent a good deal of time simply wandering around, with his butterfly alternating between his nose and shoulder and a bottle of alcohol acquired from who knows where in his hand, making conversation with anyone and everyone he could.

Two A

Repairing fortifications seemed the least disagreeable and labor-intensive of his options, so Shunsui set to work as best he could. He managed to get stuck only twice in the clinging vines, so it was a good thing his weapon was a katana!

Still, the damage was extensive, and he had to make several trips to gather building materials from the other helpful people working on that aspect of things. Luckily, he managed to find out about the adhesive qualities of the sap fairly quickly (and would need to issue an apology to whomever was tasked with trying to clean his uniform. Such a shame, it had looked so nice!)

But the adhesive did make it fairly simple for him to gather some of the rubble and use it as a filler until something more permanent could be built. It wasn't the most stable thing, but as a stopgap measure he imagined it would hold.

"Doesn't look too bad, eh?" He finally asked the butterfly who had made a habit of landing on his nose. It reminded him of a jigokuchou, aside from the bright pink on its wings. "We should give you a name. How does Hana sound? That way I can be calling you either Nose or Flower and you won't know which. Seems rather fitting, wouldn't you say?"

Yes, Shunsui, by all means make friends with your carrier in order to distract yourself from work.

Three

He'd never been one to keep his eyes to himself, especially around pretty ladies! And she had alcohol, to boot.

Yep. He was definitely going to wind up with several bumps to the head before he'd managed any training whatsoever.

Wildcard

Make something up! I'm open to playing anything out.
hiryugaeshi: (still insufferably smug)

C!

[personal profile] hiryugaeshi 2016-04-11 08:37 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Kojirou heard the word "sword." So of course he's drawn to it. How can he avoid where swords congregate, or where swords are needed?

But then he hears the details of what's needed, and... ]


That sounds like a lot of menial work. I certainly have a blade on hand, but surely there must be something more challenging.

[ He's a Pawn too, but it would be hard to tell from his attitude and demeanour. For one thing, Kojirou seems utterly unthreatening: An almost effeminate man who if not for his striking looks and twin swords hanging from his belt, would be utterly ordinary, Hero's uniform or not. For another: He's clearly not feeling grunt work. ]

Besides, I'm not carrying any bottles apart from my wine flask, and I'm not giving it up for vine sap.
baka_jyanai: (well that's nice)

1

[personal profile] baka_jyanai 2016-04-11 08:39 pm (UTC)(link)
-Caren wasn't alone up there, of course. Cirno had an affinity for both sky and water, finding herself well at home in either, but particularly among the birds, including a cute little sparrow with a familiar feather pattern perching on her head, earning a giggle from the fairy as she played with her.-

You're not Mystia, but you'll do in a pinch, huh?
hiryugaeshi: (no I won't stop being a smug shit)

Changing things up with 2C!

[personal profile] hiryugaeshi 2016-04-11 08:41 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Kojirou had to abandon his sandals, but he's definitely in a much better state than Yukari as he takes a break at a table. A table that's completely covered in weird crap now.

At least he wasn't actually using the table for anything. ]


You know, you should probably clean up before leaving. You don't want to drip all through town, do you?

[ And smell weird, too. ]
flawless_precision: (pic#)

Captain Phasma | Open

[personal profile] flawless_precision 2016-04-11 09:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Two/A

[As much as she'd rather be hunting vermin right now (proverbial and literal), as a Pawn she's not at all prepared for the task. It's irksome to go from a position where she was respected beyong her rank, to finding herself at the bottom of the hierarchy, but she manages. It's just a matter of showing she's capable.]

[Which, given the present circumstances, is a little harder than it sounds. It doesn't take her long to figure out the floorboards aren't going to support her. If people of average build are having difficulties, someone with her extreme stature and musculature wouldn't stand a chance. As such, she keeps to edges and places where the supports look at least halfway decent. She collects cannonballs, clears the area, and does what is required with efficiency. Fools, however, might mistake this patience for complacency.]


Three

[Stormtroopers were trained for all sorts of environs, considering their tour took them to vastly different planetary systems. Swimming wouldn't have been overlooked (indeed, there were special units devoted to seafaring and underwater assaults). She's adept, and committed to growing her skill.]
showsnopiety: (I wanna take you there)

[personal profile] showsnopiety 2016-04-11 09:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Mystia?

[Ah, darn. She should have kept quiet. She knew that person from a dream, and yet...it was curious, how she played with the birds.

And really, she just wanted to ruin her day. She looked so happy, it was annoying.]
baka_jyanai: (Combat Rock)

[personal profile] baka_jyanai 2016-04-11 09:14 pm (UTC)(link)
[ one - a ]

-Cirno lived in a lake, of course, but she'd never seen this much water in her entire life. Gensokyo had been sealed, and land locked, for as far back as she could remember, and the sea was entirely alien to her. And as soon as she was distracted from how amazingly cool Commander Lisbrand was, she found herself even more fascinated by the vast ocean, dashing over to a nearby observation deck at the aeroport once they had landed, leaning over the rail.-

Oh wow! I can't even see the other shore! This is amazing! I could make a whole castle out there! -Well, if she had her powers, anyways...-


[ one - b ]

-Well this was getting to be quite a scene. For all of Capablanca's entertainment opportunities, it was not what one would consider a family friendly environment, and with Cirno's lack of stature and apparent lack of maturity, she'd gotten herself into a bit of a pickle. Namely, she wasn't allowed into any of the casinos or taverns, and she'd had her fill of being told 'no', exploding into a flurry of ice dust and angry entitlement.-

What do you mean I'm TOO YOUNG?! I'm sixty years old, you can't tell me what to do! I'll kick your butt in if you tell me 'no' one more time, I don't care how big you are! -And that bouncer was hella big...-


[ two - b ]

-Unnatural Chill's abilities were coming quite in handy down here, freezing up some of the flooded patches over so that Cirno could skate along, quickly and surprisingly efficiently taking out a few of the mutant rats, though it might be the thick mana streams enhancing Cirno's abilities a bit. She was still a Pawn, after all.-

Watch me! Watch me! -That and she seemed more concerned with showing off to these strangers. Here she had a fresh start, and lacked the reputation she had back home of being a complete moron. Still, it was only a matter of time...-


[ two - c ]

-The pallet of cannonballs had to weigh at least several hundred kilos on its own, and the supports of the wagon were straining, but here was Cirno, rope slung over her shoulder, as she tried desperately to pull it along, each step a laborious epic. She was clearly completely out of her range, strength wise, but she refused any help and tried to take it all on herself, huffing and wheezing, but not stopping to rest or even wipe the sweat off her brow. It'd be admirable if it wasn't so dramatically unnecessary.

Eventually, she'd start to wobble, her legs finally starting to give up on her...-


[ three ]

-The plank was not a diving board. The plank was not a diving board. The plank was not a diving board. And yet Cirno made an absolute spectacle of herself (noticing a theme here?) when it was her turn, bouncing several times before striking what she thought was a cool pose before flipping several times in the air and make her way into the water...

...

... only to crack her head on the plank, shattering it in two, and crashing into the waves below belly first. Told you it was only a matter of time.-


[ wildcard ]
-choose your own stupid adventure-
baka_jyanai: (they totally do)

[personal profile] baka_jyanai 2016-04-11 09:17 pm (UTC)(link)
A friend of mine from back home! -Cirno nodded, the bird seeming to nod with her.-
liberal_arts: (another couple of rounds)

a

[personal profile] liberal_arts 2016-04-11 09:20 pm (UTC)(link)
I was thinking I wanted someone to talk to, and here you arrive. -Kasen chuckled, turning to the other with a small bow.-

I think I'll outline a poem about it before we land... I never grow tired of it.
liberal_arts: (who got the keys to the jeep vroooom)

1

[personal profile] liberal_arts 2016-04-11 09:22 pm (UTC)(link)
H-heavy... -Kasen ought to be used to this by now, but really...-

Try to at least stand upright, friend. If we're both falling over, not much will get done.
showsnopiety: (I think I'm falling)

[personal profile] showsnopiety 2016-04-11 09:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Other then the satisfaction of beating your ally to the ground?

[This woman is little more than she is, by rank. But she conducts herself as so much more. What was she once, or what did she believe herself to be? Caren cannot fathom. But there is a part of her that appreciates this. Enjoys that there were those who could walk with their heads held high, as if wearing a crown.

But there was another part of her that would like to break One's pride. It would take time, work. Effort. But the results of having the woman before her on her knees...what a rush it would be. It would take time, of course. But such a thing...

It would be worth it. First, though, she would have to get to know her, in order to understand her. Then, in time, she would know how to break her.]


Amusement, perhaps? Or a way to hone your own skills, with magic or weapons you're unfamiliar with? Those are all valid reasons. I could provide more if you wish.
showsnopiety: (In the midnight hour)

[personal profile] showsnopiety 2016-04-11 09:50 pm (UTC)(link)
And they're a bird?

[If that's a carrier, they look smarter than hers...]
topkong: gaelriz (5)

[personal profile] topkong 2016-04-11 10:07 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Wukong really wishes his master was here to teach this guy a lesson in measured efforts and having the right mentality approaching problems, like this whole pest removal situation. Gritting his teeth, he follows with staff in front of him, ready to get rid of a few birds...

The poop is probably the most gross part, floor stained white and gray with speckles of... something. Observation being the most key factor in his training (and something that he felt he needed to do; perhaps it was the rank assignment meeting that he dimly felt was important), the monkey sat and watched as the armor plating repelled the fatal attack. ]


... like steel, huh? So that means...

[ ... slashing, bladed weapons would be ineffective. Of course. Well, this is why Wukong accompanied the swordsman, right?

With a gull flying straight toward him, he rears back with hands wrapped around the base. He's going to have to really nail this one! Channeling his mana, he swings as hard as he can as the bird approaches and---

--- well, that'd be a home run if the bird didn't completely shatter into pieces. Not just the feathers, too... ]
topkong: gaelriz (1)

B

[personal profile] topkong 2016-04-11 10:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, good. Thank you very much!

[ He's so happy someone finally appeared to sedate the creatures somehow. Otherwise, how would Wukong brutally smash some of the rock-feathered birds into a fine, fine dust? They could probably package that, sell it somewhere...

... but nah, that's a little too aggressive. Wukong's all about the unnecessary violence, but he'll try to gather as many resources into his pockets and belt. Not to mention: waiting for someone, ANYONE to appear to help actually proved to be a good idea, instead of charging into a one hundred-versus-one situation. That's not using the noodle properly. ]


How long can you keep that up, bud?
topkong: gaelriz (17)

C...

[personal profile] topkong 2016-04-11 10:22 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Well! Someone's wearing the bossy pants today! Someone with a familiar voice, that also had a laugh that could cut glass, pierce hearts, and destroy the ego, superego, and id of a man.

Curiosity will kill the monkey. So, here he is. Standing behind her with his hands on both of his weapons--- the staff that looked very similar to the one that Yi had given him, crafted by Doran... and a banana. A banana. ]


... I don't think I'm properly equipped to cut things down.

[ Why is he even here, then?! God. ]
showsnopiety: (I'm down on my knees)

[personal profile] showsnopiety 2016-04-11 10:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Later perhaps.

[Which might have all sorts of discoveries discussed, but she'd like some tea or something to play with while she's doing it tbh.]

...thank you.

[She almost wants to grumble, but she takes his arm and...does his arm have muscle in it? How did he hide that under the uniform? Suspicious. Maybe.

She blows out a breath.]


This is highly embarrassing.
showsnopiety: (I close my eyes)

[personal profile] showsnopiety 2016-04-11 10:39 pm (UTC)(link)
[She would be happy to tell him after this. When she's not in the danger of falling. She tenses when the wood creaks, but stays silent. She doesn't know how flighty he could be, and how she might end up alone and weaponless.

Though the splinters do hurt, and she'll be spending a lot of time with tweezers, she shakes her head.]


It can't be helped. This is better than falling through the floor and breaking my leg.

[She'd rather not, since that would mean a lot of time wasted and energy as well. It still hurts, but she motions for him to keep pulling.]
showsnopiety: (like an angel sighing)

[personal profile] showsnopiety 2016-04-11 10:50 pm (UTC)(link)
So it's a meditative state or focus. [She nods, closing her eyes as she tries to get her breathing to calm, her mind less agitated. Calm and....she can feel a rush as mana flows through her arm, and light flares in her palm.]
showsnopiety: (In the midnight hour)

[personal profile] showsnopiety 2016-04-11 11:04 pm (UTC)(link)
[She nods. While there was magic in her world...Caren had no capability for it. Her body didn't have the circuits.]

We had magic in my world, but I've no practice with it.

[A shrug.]

And I'd rather spare myself from being bitten again. If you're wanting to try the sword, I will use the shield. Or would you rather go against a blunt weapon?
showsnopiety: (like an angel sighing)

[personal profile] showsnopiety 2016-04-11 11:17 pm (UTC)(link)
[Just a couple of doubting doubters. It's the real reason they'll get along so great really.

She inhales slowly, positions her feet. It's more or less mimicry as to what she'll do here. An arm positioned behind her back, feet ready and then....

A forward thrust with the sword. She's testing, and truly it's a beginners move. He'll likely slap it aside, but at least she'll have learned something.]
baka_jyanai: (completely oblivious)

[personal profile] baka_jyanai 2016-04-12 12:33 am (UTC)(link)
Yep! She's a night sparrow! She can sing real awesome and cook really awesome! And she's a super fast flier! -Cirno's friends were awesome because she was awesome, clearly.-
mithrarin: (frown)

[personal profile] mithrarin 2016-04-12 01:29 am (UTC)(link)
That's what I'm trying to figure out. How long it lasts. If I can put my staff away and fight with the sword -- if not now, then when I've mastered it better.

[Thus the juggling of weapons and the shifting, and the generally poor technique. He's trying to understand.]

Not sure I can effectively use both at once without a lot of practice, or some other trick to it.
showsnopiety: (When you call my name)

[personal profile] showsnopiety 2016-04-12 01:31 am (UTC)(link)
You said awesome twice.

[Cirno you're super weird.]