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!
justhief: (suits because)

[personal profile] justhief 2016-04-18 06:11 pm (UTC)(link)
I've got a whole bunch of it, thanks for the help by the way.

[Meanwhile Lupin will pet some of the sleeping birds, just because its hard to pet birds normally without them flying off or getting attacked.

Okay he's got a point, at least it isn't math.]
wingbottle: (pic#10083875)

[personal profile] wingbottle 2016-04-18 06:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Like this?

[Kobato holds out her bottle and throws out a star like object...there's a small burst of white light in the distance! But now she's pink.]

AHH!! I'm a bird! I'm a plane! Eh?????

[Phew, the pink goes away after she sings a silly song.]

Is it gone? Is Kobato still pink?
justhief: (hero of justice)

[personal profile] justhief 2016-04-18 06:21 pm (UTC)(link)
[Oh right, for a minute Lupin forgot that thievery in general is frowned upon by most of the law-abiding community.]

Don't worry about that, I only steal from the wicked. Said airship I once took belonged to a gang of sky pirates who used it to rob travellers and other airships.

[Nothing like an adrenaline rush and the view of the starlit night sky to add to the joy of flight.]
avantguard: (shock » friendly fire is on)

that's....... true but what boobs

[personal profile] avantguard 2016-04-18 07:08 pm (UTC)(link)
[ What's that muffled sound? Like having headphones on and someone is trying to talk to her.

But there are no headphones. Is she hearing things? She stops browsing and carefully straightens, looking around.

Suddenly milk plush. With a gasp she stumbles back into the display, making the bottles rattle. ]


Wh- [ ... This girl reminds her of Setsuna. Quiet and kind of awkward. ]

You scared me. [ But she reaches for the plush so now HER FACE is covered. ] Thank you very much. You didn't have to, miss.
querella: Utahime scan credit <user name="rekka-alexiel" site="tumblr.com"> (From the forest drenched in blood)

[personal profile] querella 2016-04-18 07:30 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Regeneration? No, the areas her chakram had torn through were not regenerating. The wounds hadn't closed and what limbs had been torn through remained tattered. It must be the mana currants keeping the heart and mind going in these disgusting creatures. Like something Three might have created and forgotten about.

One would have to do more then simply cut away at the flesh. Dismemberment might slow them down, but perhaps an attack directed at the head or heart would do the trick. And although One could surely deal the damage, the smell of these beast was beginning to get to her, piling on to the exhaustion that might take hold if she used her weapon's mana draining ability for too long.

Given more time and practice, she was sure the effect of the chakram's ability would lessen. Or, at least, she would be able to overcome it.

As soon as the barrier fall, so too does the carmine glow begin to dissipate and the weapon's chain returns to its normal length. The Intoner swallowed hard, eyes watering a little. It was in her best interest not to show any weaknesses this early into the fight. Besides, if she could somehow figure out how to pull in the mana currents and use them to buff herself and Saber up, this battle would be a lot easier. But for now she has to focus all her might on hacking through their enemy. ]


Do not use up all your mana. [ The command comes out with a little more bite than One meant for it to have. But she is certain the other won't make a big deal out of it. ] I can hold these beasts off without use of the barrier for now. If you need to replenish your mana, grab my free hand. Physical contact is... one of the easiest ways to replenish it.

[ As... silly as it sounds, it is the only offer she can make for now. It was a slow process and they both could use it if worse came to worse. ]
querella: (Wilderblades)

[personal profile] querella 2016-04-18 08:01 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Crimson eyes narrow as Caren draws nearer, watching the movement of her hands, and then the shawl itself. It was, like any other weapon, more than meets the eye, she was sure. And what power did it hold? That was the real question.

She knew everything there was to know about her weapon - or at least she could claim she did. Her true weapon was similar to this chakram. The one that had skidded away from her in her final moments before she died with the parasite inside of her. But that was old news, history. For now the Intoner shifted her stance when Caren struck, turning away from the blow. She brought her arm down in an arc, hold on her weapon changing with it. The blade turned from it's initial upright position to sideways as she moved, blade brushing against Caren's shawl. The Intoner turned her body inward with the movement.

She didn't remain in that position for long. No, she moved forward with a quick step and threw the chakram outward. The three foot wide blade sliced through the air, chain snapping forward with it. ]

[personal profile] rememberher 2016-04-18 08:33 pm (UTC)(link)
[ ...Was it safe? With a few tentative squeaks, Poro slowly pokes his nose out from the hem of the tarp, staring out upon the world with wide, guinea pig eyes. Lux seems none the wiser to their antics, too focused on the task at hand.

Angling the opening of the canteen to avoid any sap touching her hands, she remains focused, even frowning slightly. ]


I have a feeling it can be quite useful in certain circumstances. If nothing else, we can use it to set more stone along these walls, if or when we run out of plaster.

[ Although sticking your enemies to the walls (maybe even upside down?) is an A+ strategy. ]

[personal profile] rememberher 2016-04-18 08:36 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Unfortunately, his change in strategy does not win him any points, the blond angling her chin upward in disapproval. ]

Any form of stealing is a crime, regardless of the players.

[ Good luck with this one, Lupin, she's got a sense of righteousness bigger than the whole of Blanc. ]
Edited 2016-04-18 20:36 (UTC)
praises: (to me it's all new)

[personal profile] praises 2016-04-18 08:51 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Allelujah has noticed something, but he's still honestly trying to figure out exactly what that is. At her time comment, he blinks over at her, momentarily surprised, then laughs. ]

So it is. [ Returning to the task, he's glad for the conversation. ] By that vein of thought, if the 1800s were two-hundred years ago for you, then they were five-hundred for me.
showsnopiety: (I'll take you there)

[personal profile] showsnopiety 2016-04-18 10:34 pm (UTC)(link)
[Face touching isn't perverted FYI. And Nora, the would be cat dog, ends up crouching on a barrel as if he's a cat. Weirdo. He could stop circling, but of course, he doesn't agree to that. Mostly because he can.

Dumb dog.]


It's called agreeing to disagree.

[He's considering throwing barrels. She can't have that. Even if he has figured out (or was told) what a cur is, that doesn't mean she'll allow him to throw things like a monkey.]

And does that mean nothing is your fault? Idiot mutt.

[Those words were meant to distract, not just insult. She's breaking the circle now with a burst of speed, to get close enough and...oh, remember that red cloth she'd been holding?

She's snapping her wrist so she can wrap the end of it around his neck. And yank.]
topkong: gaelriz (41)

[personal profile] topkong 2016-04-19 12:14 am (UTC)(link)
Maybe you should reconsider. Bananas are the best, just like me.

[ Careful to avoid the crap, he gets back to his feet while putting his staff back into his tail's grip as well as slipping the bananarang somewhere secure. Though he wouldn't outright admit it, Wukong definitely didn't account for two weapons that relied on his mana being used.

And he definitely wouldn't ask Kojirou to share at this moment, if he's so squeamish about a little poop. Wukong DID try his best to not get any on him, but it's inevitable. A nice, hot bath would easily remedy the solution.

What doesn't a bath fix, though? ]


Fine. Better do a good job, because I don't feel like picking a bunch of feathers and beaks out of my skin if things don't go well.

[ And he starts grabbing as many of the stolen things as possible, gathering them and stuffing them into pockets and any empty space that he can. ]
topkong: gaelriz (37)

[personal profile] topkong 2016-04-19 12:14 am (UTC)(link)
[ Yeah, sorta.

It's good the rats stopped, because even with the healing, they'd probably both tire out before being overrun by big, angry, magical vermin. Even two of those qualities is troublesome, but all three and with only one able fighter? Whew.

At least there's one thing he knows about Sorey--- he's pretty darn positive. Energetic. Curious? Like an explorer he knew once, though the one he knew was way more arrogant and harsh. ]


Sorey, huh? I'm Wukong. [ He nods as a simple greeting, probably a little late for that but--- ] So, why did you want to knock these things out, anyway?
topkong: gaelriz (38)

[personal profile] topkong 2016-04-19 12:14 am (UTC)(link)
[ Yeah, it's furry.

The good news is that Wukong FINALLY can get to his weapon after Nora is able to free himself... though not without taking some of the monkey's fur with him. Eh, it'll grow back (or maybe he can find some hair restoration tonics or spells or something, they have those here, right).

And with more than enough anger and energy, he plunges the staff straight through the rat's heart. The frenzy is over, the ceiling is still shaking, but at least Wukong has finally won over the stupid, undying rodent and he can't lift his weapon out of the corpse and---

--- oh it's kicking its gross feet and it's not a corpse again-yet. ]


GET THE HELL OFF!

[ Mostly in surprise and definitely-not-fear, he swings the pole around to get rid of the thing and it's free! It's free to go flying at Nora!

Sorry not sorry. ]
topkong: gaelriz (38)

[personal profile] topkong 2016-04-19 12:14 am (UTC)(link)
[ Oh, he's laughing too. A choked, sad muffled laugh.

Wait, no... that's an internal sob.

ANYWAY--- actually, he regrets asking for help because he's Wukong! The best! The Monkey King! He's got this, no worries. The best she could probably do is bind the coconut with a tiny thing of light and MAYBE he could pull it off--- if they were back home, that is.

Instead, he's going solo. 1v1. In the Baron pit. ]


Watch out!

[ He can feel it peeling off? It hurts, but he's worried about flinging it into Lux's face, so he'll shake it up and down and up and down and---

THERE IT GOES INTO SPACE. With a sigh and shaky smile (wow this could have gone real poorly), he looks at the pile with a weary eye. ]


Alright, now that's over, I can get to---

[ Thunk. What goes up, must come down. ]

[personal profile] theskyenceguy 2016-04-19 01:18 am (UTC)(link)
[judging by this woman's reaction, such a proclamation probably wouldn't make her feel any better. she pulls the sheets tightly around her person and scowls, edging slowly back towards the foot of her bed, where the neatly folded uniforms lie]

As if! I didn't break into anything! Someone must have kidnapped me, stolen my clothes, and dumped me into this room.

[personal profile] theskyenceguy 2016-04-19 01:20 am (UTC)(link)
[somewhat glumly]

No. Not at all.

[god what she wouldn't give for a bag of Snackoos right now. not even just as a weapon to throw at people]

Still much better than rice, and probably much easier to find.
catfishtail: (yeah!!!!!)

[personal profile] catfishtail 2016-04-19 01:24 am (UTC)(link)
Well, I haven't heard of Glenwood, so I guess that makes us even!

[And since they've been talking for a bit, now's a good time to give out his name, right? Right.] Ah, I'm Namazuo! Namazuo Toushirou.

[personal profile] theskyenceguy 2016-04-19 01:26 am (UTC)(link)
Only major jerks would let you try to repair a run down fortress with hands like those and no medical supplies with which to treat them.

[and Ema wasn't-- okay no, she was a jerk sometimes. but not that kind of jerk!]

Hey, stay right here, okay? I'll be right back.

[TIME TO GO YELL AT SOMEONE GUARDING THE MEDICAL SUPPLIES. and although Ema disappears out of sight to do so, her voice doesn't move out of hearing range. so. . . Kaede can probably hear the loud way she corners an innocent Blanc soldier who was tasked with guarding said supplies, the way he protests and insists that they are for the upcoming battle, annnnnd the way Ema cuts him off continuously with threats of chucking apples slices at his forehead]

[u go girl]
burlyheart: (salute)

[personal profile] burlyheart 2016-04-19 01:26 am (UTC)(link)
"Apologies." What was that about, Mr. "I Have A Life, I Swear"? It could be worse. He could have called her Ma'am.

"That is a very good thing to hear from someone. The unhealthiest mindset is to be satisfied with half-hearted efforts."

[personal profile] theskyenceguy 2016-04-19 01:28 am (UTC)(link)
[rhetorical or not, Ema is glad to answer]

Chocolate covered corn snacks that fly through the air with the grace of an Olympian discus, when thrown by the right person. They make a very satisfying noise upon impact.

[ka-tonk]

[she eyes the stranger suspiciously, but-- unable to find anything wrong with him-- nods when he asks to sit]


If you want. You can have some of this rice, too. It's okay.

[personal profile] theskyenceguy 2016-04-19 01:33 am (UTC)(link)
[instead of replying verbally, Ema merely squints at Lux, as though she's scrutinizing both her and her words. after a moment of silence, she speaks again. it's a question]

Do you consider yourself an optimist?
Edited (TYPO) 2016-04-19 03:52 (UTC)
carptricks: (or rhythm and blues)

[personal profile] carptricks 2016-04-19 01:36 am (UTC)(link)
[considering the only training he had was high school P.E. level kendo lessons. . . well, he certainly wasn't terrible, but he's leaps and bounds away from becoming an expert swordsman]

I don't see why I'd focus on teaching myself swordsmanship when I've already got two other weapons to master.

[he says a bit dryly as he lifts his firearm and takes aim at a nearby target, both hands gripping the handle]

I think it's important to realize how little you know, sure. But you've also gotta understand and train your strengths too, right?
carptricks: (that the crew)

[personal profile] carptricks 2016-04-19 01:42 am (UTC)(link)
[and he's ducking, dodging, weaving and jumping over food carts to avoid collisions himself. he sure is dexterous, isn't he?]

The rights to what, your chase scene? How can you sell that to him when no one's recording it right now!

[the angry men are yelling at them to slow down and get back here. predictably, Kaito isn't listening]
fadetoweiss: (❋ thorn-apple)

[personal profile] fadetoweiss 2016-04-19 02:23 am (UTC)(link)
Ah, you can call me Alba, or Weissmann - I certainly respond to both! [ Technically true. They are both his names, after all. ]

Saber, is it? Well, it's a pleasure. [ Weissmann files the name away for later. Saber, like a sword. That's interesting. ] If names dictate your path, yours must certainly be suited for a place like this!
showsnopiety: (I think I'm falling)

[personal profile] showsnopiety 2016-04-19 03:06 am (UTC)(link)
"No apologizes needed." Again, swift, for she feels this is correct. It's just what she likes to be called, in deference to being called anything else. (Ma'am would have earned her room mate a funny look though).

"That isn't me. I either do it, or I don't." Honest to the core. "Otherwise, I would be wasting my time, and others." She'll find out soon that she's speaking to a workaholic, somehow.