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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!
armorial: (pic#5238723)

[personal profile] armorial 2016-04-10 02:37 am (UTC)(link)
[ She is one for team play, but she's also used to soloing stuff as well. Either way, the mention of her weapon--She looks down at the golden chalice filled with water, then back up to dust. ]

I was told it makes barriers. [ Which is why she needs someone to kill stuff. ]
twosidedsword: (Learning About The World)

[personal profile] twosidedsword 2016-04-10 02:38 am (UTC)(link)
"Lola..." It's a pretty name just like the girl who had it. Shin-Ah took a second to look down at her some more (she was really quite small) before speaking again to offer his own name to her. "I'm Shin-Ah."

He looked at Ao who was currently vibrating from the purring she was doing, rubbing against the rat. Shin-Ah was apparently doing pretty okay right now so she had absolutely nothing that she needed to take care of. Obviously that meant free time to play with the new rat friend! Hooray!

"...unfair?" He wasn't sure what she'd meant about that.
armorial: (pic#5238747)

[personal profile] armorial 2016-04-10 02:44 am (UTC)(link)
I am not troubled. [ There is a harshness in her voice that would usually drive people away. A small sigh comes after with the drop of her shoulders. Catching herself in her bad mood possibly affecting others, she does her best to recover. ] My apologies. I didn't mean to use that tone.

It's that we're sailing over open waters, but I--[ How does she say it? She hates the ocean? Water is her mortal enemy? It reminds her of enemies coming to attack her country? ] I cannot swim.

[ That's hard to say for her. At least she doesn't need to retell her time on the plank. ]
sunderings: (upon this holy ground)

[personal profile] sunderings 2016-04-10 02:47 am (UTC)(link)
[ Ah. He cannot help but wonder at the man, curious to know if his merriment is inherent or, by and large, on account of the wine; the smell of liquor which, if one were feeling poetic, could be likened to a shroud (albeit, an inviting one!). But his glass is poured (and it is a generous helping of wine!), and Jiroutaichi's introduction is easy and warm; the man is refreshing in his candor, and...

Sion relaxes. In the company of a drunk, he relaxes and is more at ease than he has been in quite some time. ]


Sake?

[ Head cant, to the right—Sion is clearly unfamiliar with Jiroutaichi's drink of choice, though he is quite familiar with the wine. For all that he is ill-experienced with drinking, known to only partake of small sips for appearances at Court parties, he knows by route how to test for legs (but he's been poured so very much that it's likely for the best that he refrains!), how to discern notes and grade, though in this moment he will only raise his glass, offering his new-found companion a smile: ]

To good company, a fine drink, and the adventures to come. [ Well met! ] I am Sion Astal, Hero King of Roland Empire, and it is my hope that we may find many more moments like this one.
drawmecute: (Social Butterfly)

[personal profile] drawmecute 2016-04-10 02:47 am (UTC)(link)
"It is nice to meet you." Lola smiled, this interaction and her thoughts on hair completely separate, she barely even noticed that she had two fuzzy carriers making friends with each other still on her shoulder. Just a friendly pleasant little smile.

"Well, at home nobody has hair like that. And I put a lot of time and energy to keep my hair looking like this. When people have hair exactly like that in other places. Completely unfair." There's no real malice in her thoughts, which she says pretty much as soon as she has the words for them. Just a simple tragedy of fate that she can't be pink haired without the time, money, effort and stylist. What makes it worse, of course, is that her money and stylist are back in Canada. Not here. Thus her concerns that as her hair grows out she will need to do something. "And since yours is natural, I can't ask for your help getting my hair to stay like this."
twosidedsword: (Painful Past)

[personal profile] twosidedsword 2016-04-10 02:51 am (UTC)(link)
It wasn't her natural color? He'd never heard of such a thing but he was looking at it now to see if he could understand. Really he couldn't though. For all he could tell it was supposed to look exactly like this, even with her brows being a different color. Maybe that was just how hair worked in her world for all he could tell. Still, he had no reason to not believe what she was telling him.

"It's pretty." Maybe that would make her feel better. It was hard to tell since he'd really never been in this situation before. But he did know he wanted her to feel better in that moment. She seemed like the type of person who should have a smile on their face.
drawmecute: (So Incognito)

[personal profile] drawmecute 2016-04-10 02:53 am (UTC)(link)
*Well, the motion in the hall decided what Lola would do in her new setting. Well, after she got dressed. Clothes, even clothes that do not match her usual style, were a pretty important first step to whatever was going on. The movement in the hallway had her cracking the door open and looking out into the hallway.*

Did you wake up naked with no how you got here, or ended up naked. Wondering where all your designer clothes that matched your hair went?

*...please excuse this girl's terrible priorities.*
hymnals: and you stand in line (and you take your time)

[personal profile] hymnals 2016-04-10 02:55 am (UTC)(link)
[ He narrows his eyes. ]

Nearly everyone is 'funny' about those things.

[ Tapping the hilt, still. ]

Do you mean to say you aren't human? Or are you simply commenting on your own race?
sakeplz: (Another Drink)

[personal profile] sakeplz 2016-04-10 02:58 am (UTC)(link)
Rice wine. It's delicious.

[He approves of that toast too and lifts his cup to it, having a nice long sip of his wine after. There's a healthy flush to his cheeks from all the alcohol in his system as he takes in the name of the person next to him. Sion, hm? Hero King of somewhere. It's not a place he's familiar with so he's not that concerned about it if he's to be perfectly honest.]

Mmmmm. This is so tasty!

[There's a giggle from the big sword as he bobs his head back and forth like he has a song stuck in his head.]

And this is better than sobering up with all that training!
armorial: (pic#10133793)

[personal profile] armorial 2016-04-10 03:00 am (UTC)(link)
No, I should apologize. I can see that this is your room--[ And she notices a second man, Bolin, rustling and mumbling over yonder. She stays quiet as to not disturb him till he finishes his nonsensical talk before speaking once more. She's more distracted by the sheep than the fact that these are both men and she's the only girl. Sheep is cute. ] And I am trespassing.

I'll be taking my leave shortly once I'm clothed. [ She scoots closer to the edge of her bed, blanket still covering her, and picks up the uniform. It looks like she has not considered the possibly that this is planned or that this will be her room from now on. ]

Thank you. [ For the information. She thinks she can handle herself around the area and seek information on her own. She doesn't want to disturb others. If there's an opportunity to change, it isn't now because someone (she is staring at Bolin and sheepie) hasn't looked away like Adra.

Or woken up completely.
]
hymnals: you bring them right back to me (and every time i forget those things)

[personal profile] hymnals 2016-04-10 03:03 am (UTC)(link)
No, Bolin. We have a new roommate. Cover your damn eyes!

[ For his part, he still hasn't looked back at her, though he listened quite carefully to everything she said. ]

I'm afraid you misunderstand. This is, in fact, your room. You don't actually have anywhere else to go.

[ He makes a randomly pointing gesture with his hand, because he obviously cannot see her precise position with respect to the furniture. ]

Ought to be a letter on top of the uniform. Look it over. Feel free to shout.

of mice and kings

[personal profile] babbylon 2016-04-10 03:11 am (UTC)(link)
[Shockingly, for this one instance, two sworn enemies are well-matched: Saber has a defensive cup, and Gilgamesh has an offensive sword, so in theory this would go rather smoothly. There had been some minor scuffling in the beginning after the initial pairing, but once it had been made clear that this wasn't the Grail War and that there was little point in pursuing that conflict here, an unsteady truce had been formed and they'd both descended into the bowels of the castle without trying to kill each other. Amazing.

Again, in theory, this would've worked. They were both Kings and Gilgamesh was a ranked Hero now; he should've been able to handle something as pathetic as rats, no matter how big. But in theory doesn't always translate to in reality, and... well...]


WAH!

[...Gilgamesh winds up scrambling all over the place with rats swarming him. Look, they're gross, alright? He can't focus long enough to cast a spell or make a swing.]

WAHHHHHHHHHH! Saber, stop dawdling! Do something! I am imperiled!

[Go, go, Grail magic? Gilgamesh, idiot, just swat at them.]
sediments: (bolin and the crazy hair!)

[personal profile] sediments 2016-04-10 03:15 am (UTC)(link)
What?

[ He looks sleepily in the direction of their new roommate, barely even taking in the image that she presents. The only real concrete thought that occurs to him is noticing her blonde hair, and wondering if she's Adra's sister or something.

Oh, but then he realizes. ]


Whoa! It's a girl! [ An incredibly intelligent deduction from Bolin, as he finally ducks his head to lower his gaze and allow her some privacy.

He starts again, just to add something a little more substantial than his previous explanation. ]


Welcome to the room. I'm Bolin, by the way.
showsnopiety: (I close my eyes)

[personal profile] showsnopiety 2016-04-10 03:20 am (UTC)(link)
Commenting on my own race.

[She shrugs lazily. She gains nothing by saying she's something she's not.]

And commenting on the fact that my body usually reacts to the evil acts that humans can inflict, on themselves or each other. You could say that I am amused by the irony.
hymnals: burning into the night (but i can see the fire's still alight)

[personal profile] hymnals 2016-04-10 03:21 am (UTC)(link)
[ His eyes widen slightly. First, because that's an ice cold way of putting it, and second because ...what she is describing, exactly? Empathy is his first guess, but no. Her phrasing suggests that it goes beyond simple empathy. ]

What do you mean--reacts?

[ What do you mean--irony? ]</small
fadetoweiss: (❋ thorn-apple)

[personal profile] fadetoweiss 2016-04-10 03:29 am (UTC)(link)
Ah, really? I'm so sorry-- [ He flounders a bit, obviously flustered. But it seems she has a bit of a temper - even if it quickly cools. An interesting thing to know. ]

You can't swim? Well - unless we intend to mount an attack by swimming, I hardly think expert skills would be called for. As long as you can keep yourself afloat, help will come! [ Sometimes you do have to rescue yourself, but he's capable of that. No need to let anyone know, though. ]

It's just a matter of paddling around, you know. Humans are quite buoyant!
Edited 2016-04-10 03:29 (UTC)
drawmecute: (Baby I Got Your Flower)

[personal profile] drawmecute 2016-04-10 03:32 am (UTC)(link)
"Well, that is why I do it." Lola walked a fine line between shallow and vain. She was vain, she cared about looks, she wanted to be pretty. She wanted boys to let their eyes linger a bit too long on her. And she was more than happy to watch boys play basketball. Shirtless. But she did care beyond looks, but oh boy did looks matter for her. "My hair is brown, I can't accessories to that color scheme. My only choice was to dye my hair."

Which in Lola's fluffy little head was an accurate logical path. It also meant brand new accessories when her hair changed colors, cause this was a much paler pink than her last dyejob. "So what are you doing out here, come to enjoy the sun and sand?"
armorial: (pic#10134246)

[personal profile] armorial 2016-04-10 03:32 am (UTC)(link)
[ DIFFERENCES ASIDE, Saber does think this would end well. Gilgamesh, begrudgingly, is a good ally to have. He also has a sword... She has a defensive cup. It should work.

But she is here, watching him get swarmed by these oversized rats. It doesn't come to mind to use her barrier as of this moment--this is actually a great opportunity for Gilgamesh to use his skills while they're swarming him. IN ONE

SWIFT

BLOW--

He is screaming. There's maybe a second or two as she watches him while she's holding her chalice. She almost threw its contents into the air on instinct when she's called for.
]

There's nothing I can do, Archer. If I use the grail, you'll be trapped with them for a short time. [ They seem to be ignoring her which she's glad for. She's a little worried for her temporary comrade in pest control though. The rats are basically picking on the one that's "down". ]

Can you not use your weapon? These rats cannot possibly overpower the King of Heroes. [ ??? She has never seen this side of him, so she's lost. ]
plumblossom: (❀ alright)

1

[personal profile] plumblossom 2016-04-10 03:35 am (UTC)(link)
[ The view from the deck was breathtaking. She's seen skylines from mountains and skyscrapers—and she's ridden an airplane, sure—but she's never been on an cruise liner in the air. Her enthusiasm is just as high as Sorey's, and she clasps her hands in delight. ]

It really is! I've never ridden anything like it! [ But she notices the slight drop in his smile. ] ... Hey, did you find your friends? I heard you earlier.
twosidedsword: (Handsome Man)

[personal profile] twosidedsword 2016-04-10 03:38 am (UTC)(link)
Brown. He wasn't sure what the problem with brown would be. Brown would be a very pretty color on her as well. It was also a color that tended to go with everything as far as he could tell. Still, if other colors made her happier then he was already thinking of looking for what things could help her to keep the color as it was. Maybe there were potions.

He should ask Jae-Ha. Jae-Ha would know about things like this.

"I was listening. For investigations." He looked up at the sky then suddenly shot a hand out. Mainly because Ao had randomly bounced and he was catching her before she fell. She landed neatly in his hand and he gently put her back on Lola's shoulder. Shin-Ah was big but he was very gentle person.

"I like the sun." Though. That was the other word that should have been added there but he forgot.
armorial: (pic#10133792)

[personal profile] armorial 2016-04-10 03:46 am (UTC)(link)
A letter. [ She takes in what they say. She was going to read it once she excused herself, but this takes priority now--after she's clothed. Since both men have averted their gaze, she'll start getting changed. It doesn't take her long, now reading the letter. ]

I see. [ Her expression doesn't change. There's no shouting or yelling. Actually, her aura is that the same when she woke up. Calm. ] So we are here to aid those that have summoned us.

[ IT MUST BE LIKE THE GRAIL WAR, but it doesn't make sense to her. She doesn't recognize the name Bolin as a great hero in history. Perhaps of the future? Then again, no servant would give their name so easily. Maybe it'll be explained to her (pigeon will guide her later, no worries) later, so she does not ask questions. ]

It is an honor to have this opportunity to fight along both of you and fellow heroes. I hope that we can put aside any differences and work together. [ She never said she finished changing, but she bows anyway. IS THIS GIRL REAL? she real. and suspicious, but she'll deal. ]
hymnals: you're the pretender (what if i say i'm not like the others)

[personal profile] hymnals 2016-04-10 03:49 am (UTC)(link)
[ What the hell. ]

An honor? An honor to be dragged into a stranger's war. You must come from a hell of a world, friend.

[ His long ears twitch as he listens to the rustle of her clothing. Is she decent yet? He wants to open his eyes ... ]

I'm Adrasteius, by the way. Obviously that one over there has already kindly introduced himself. Sinu a'manore and all that.
armorial: (pic#10133771)

[personal profile] armorial 2016-04-10 03:52 am (UTC)(link)
[ UGH. She knows that this stranger is only being kind to her, even giving her encouraging words that would help her avoid learning how to swim. However, the point is that she can't avoid water in that scenario either.

She does her best to keep her voice from possibly cracking. However, acknowledging and voicing your shortcomings is a great step to making changes and becoming greater.
]

I... sink like an anvil in a lake. [ Begrudgingly. She's so petite, too. It may come surprising that she can't float like most. ]

[personal profile] babbylon 2016-04-10 03:55 am (UTC)(link)
I'm...

[Swing. And a miss!]

...trying...!

[Slice. Oh so close!]

Get off of me! I am King, you cannot accost me in this fashion!

[Smack, smack, smack, as tail after tail hit him and fang after fang dig into his poor, pale, perfect flesh. It's not a matter of overpowering them so much as overpowering his own revulsion long enough to attack with proper force, but perhaps this really is another side to Gilgamesh—a side that suggested he wasn't actually the most adept swordsman, that his form far paled in comparison to the King of Knights and that when it came to melee his skills really were, well, less than great.

But he tempers himself. He can do this! He won't falter in front of Saber! He makes a grab, takes a stab, and...

...

...oh. Uh-oh. That half-severed body once belonging to a rat winds up flung in Saber's face.]
sediments: (bolin and cute faces!)

[personal profile] sediments 2016-04-10 04:02 am (UTC)(link)
[ She's pretty relaxed about this entire thing, and it reminds Bolin a little of Toriel (who'd disappeared!). As weird as it is to see someone so nonchalant about being plucked from everything they know and dropped into a bizarre world, stripped of all of their previous abilities, he supposes that it is a little reassuring. It makes Bolin's attitude toward the entire thing a little less hysterical as well.

He keeps his gaze on his lap, drawing one leg up so that he can rest his forehead on his knee with a yawn. ]


Yeah, I guess we'll be working together from now on. [ She's really polite; her friendliness and earnest attitude has already endeared her to the earthbender, and he smiles a little down at his lap. ] You can ask us if you have any questions or need help with anything.

[ He's volunteering Adra as well since they're practically a team now! ]