intro ♚ april

[boardmaster]

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!

Comments

Jiroutachi | Touken Ranbu | OTA

[sakeplz]

[One]

[The Airy has greatly improved Jiroutachi's mood with the bars available and he's happily toasted again. Humming, he decides to head off to avoid assisting in repairs. You see, that is faaaar more likely to sober him up and he just can't have that! Which is why he's now heading off to go somewhere more interesting and see if he can listen in on anything that will get him some money. Because money means alcohol! Perhaps he might not be a genius (even if he's smarter than he acts) but he can put two and two together!

Which means he's now wandering about in the entertainment area with a drink in hand to listen in on things. It's amazing who will talk when a drunk is around. Believe it or not, he's actually a good partner to have for blending in because who will look twice at the very tall and pretty man when he's clearly so very drunk? No one!

And that's why he bumps into someone and even leans on them a bit.]

Whoops! Clumsy meeeee.

[Two - B]

[What is a terrible place to use an oodachi and be tall? Smaller places! Where is someone who is tall with an oodachi for a weapon? If you guessed the halls and stairs and cellar of this place then you guessed correctly. And he's so miserable the whole time too. Not only is it difficult to maneuver but he's having to do far too much activity for his tastes. Annoyed, he huffs as he beheads another rodent while he works his way toward the towers.]

They want us to do all of this?

[Huffing, he looks back as he realizes someone else is there.]

Do you have a smaller weapon to use? [A pause and then a cheerful smile.] Or alcohol?

[Three]

[The thing Jiroutachi should be doing? Practicing magic or using his sword's ability. What he's doing instead? Why, he's sitting there with his carrier enjoying what looks like a bottle of wine that's he's brought along here. He's not the least bit bothered by the sea so it seems that he's been looked over for that part. It also helps that he hasn't looked at her assets either, not having been the slightest bit interested in them.]

Ahhhh! This is delicious!

[Okay it's not sake but it's still good. And that's why he looks at the nearest person to where he's seated.]

Take a break and enjoy some wine with me!

[Wildcard]

[Make your own prompt! I will happily follow along!]

2B

[catfishtail]

[Namazuo's been back here practicing with his weapon, which isn't as easy as it sounds since it's a slippery catfish bludgeon that needs practice to even hold on to. He figured now would be as good a time as any to fix that...but then he hears a familiar voice.]

Jirou-san? Ah, I'd lend you mine, but it's kind of hard to hold...

[sakeplz]

[A tantou! What a good sword to have in such tight spaces! He will even forgive little Namazuo's lack of any alcohol to give to the lush. That's how pleased he is to see him. Smiling brightly, he tilts his head ever so cutely.]

Nama-kun! Perhaps you can use that to get rid of some of these! I'm worried I might sober up doing all of this!

[That and he's having trouble using his oodachi. Because big and tight spaces don't usually work out too well.]

[catfishtail]

Okay! Maybe you can help me stab those big rat things once I knock them out. [Because unfortunately, his weapon isn't very good for stabbing. He'll just have to level up to go back to stabby mode like the good old days...]

2b

[mithrarin]

Funny thing. My sword's useless unless I charge it with my staff's power.

[Which is why despite the cramped conditions, Dust has neither in his hands. His sword is sheathed behind his waist, while his staff is strapped over his back in a manner than really cramps his cloak's style.]

[So it goes. He wasn't given a choice in either, after all.]

But we have more resources than just weapons, you know.

[sakeplz]

Whaaaaaat? That's not going to help.

[He huffs and puffs those cheeks out. This isn't going to help them get through this at all! That's so not fair and Jiroutachi is already trying to determine if there is a better method of doing...

Wait, they have other resources? Give him a second. He's drunk.]

Other?

[mithrarin]

We're Heroes. That means we can use magic.

[Dust is either unaware or choosing not to recognize the drunkenness in play here.]

It isn't much, but it ought to be enough against rats.

three!

[sunderings]

[ Break? Enjoyment? Wine? At the offer (though is it truly one at all? its phrasing lends only to a happy exclamation!), Sion cannot help but shake his head with a too-airy laugh, equal parts startled and delighted. Startled, because the notion of breaking for rest hadn't at all occurred to him (much less the idea of breaking for leisure!), and delighted if only because it is heartening, to know that such exuberance exists among his comrades. And though he gives pause, weighing the decision between continuing on with training or indulging upon a whim...

Ultimately, he smiles, seeing no harm in making a new acquaintance—how silly would it be, after all, to not come to know the very people one is to fight beside? ]

I will caution that I am ill-experienced with the tasting of wine— [ Voice lilting with both a tease and a measure of honesty, Sion seats himself beside the other man, legs long and elegantly crossed at the ankles. ] —but if you would still have me as your companion, then it would be my pleasure to try my hand at such a dalliance with you.

[sakeplz]

You don't need experience to enjoy wine! [Says the drunk. Should he be trusted with spreading this knowledge? The answer is no. No he shouldn't.

Anyway, he goes to pour some for his new drinking companion. A nice healthy amount because this stuff is tasty and should be properly enjoyed in decent quantities. Again, still not sake but it will work out very nicely for him in his opinion.]

There you go! [And now for introductions.] I'm Jiroutachi! Usually I'd be drinking sake but I couldn't find any right away. This is yummy though so it works out.

[And when you're drunk...who cares!]

[sunderings]

[ 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.

1!!

[hoasen]

[Somewhere on good ol' Capablanca, Vietnam bumps straight into a very tall, uniformed hero. A hero she had not met before, and he was completely wasted.

She looks up, just to see if he was even okay.]

Goodness!

[sakeplz]

Hellooooo!

[He giggles then keeps his arm around her, giving her a wink. Is it the kind that says he's preten...? Okay that's a stupid question. He's totally drunk here. So why he's blinking is a mystery.]

What are you up to?

[hoasen]

[SUDDENLY, SHE'S BEEN TOUCHED.

He's friendly and drunk though, which is why she hasn't completely shoved him off, but she's definitely got questions marks going around in her mind.]

I-I'm investigating! What about yourself...?

1

[liberal_arts]

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.

[sakeplz]

We won't faaaaaall. I'll keep you up, Kase-san!

[He lets out a pleased little giggle then actually gives Kasen a nuzzle before offering him some of his alcohol.] Drink?

[liberal_arts]

I'm not particularly in the mood to drink, though I thank you for the offer... but please, try not to lean so heavily against me...

1

[theskyenceguy]

[it just so happens that the person Jirou bumps into is a prickly, displeased detective who doesn't like people suddenly invading her personal space. accidental bumps and nudges she could forgive, but a drunkard leaning into her with a laugh and a playful exclamation about his clumsiness?]

[nnnnnnope]

[she immediately shoves a hand in Jirou's face and attempts to push him away. somewhere in the back of her mind she feels a small twinge of familiarity, but that gets pushed aside in favor of her trying to maintain her own dignity]

Do I look like a walking stick or an arm rest to you?

[sakeplz]

Noooope! You like a cozy friend pillow!

[Jiroutachi no.

But that hand she's using isn't getting him to stop leaning on her at all and he just continues to hold onto her even though he's so much bigger. Of course he notes that he seems to be familiar with her but he figures that's something that he can think about at a later date. Like when he's not being a silly dru...

Actually he's almost always drunk so maybe that's not such a good thing to rely on.]

Hello friend.

[theskyenceguy]

We're not friends!

[she shoots back immediately, perhaps a bit hastily, when her attempts at shoving him away don't work. she keeps her hand planted against his face and tries to pull away from him next. if she succeeds, this means he'll be left with no support, but she can't deny that watching him faceplant onto the ground would be pretty freakin' hilarious]

You can't call someone you just met a friend.

One, because how could I not? These two drunken fools deserve each other!

[sugegasa]

[Shunsui's mood had improved a great deal upon realizing he had access to alcohol as well. He'd even managed to finagle a lovely bottle of something strong but rather sweet tasting from a kind soul aboard the ship, although he couldn't be sure whether it had simply been a gift or the winnings from one of the strange games he'd sat in on.

He wasn't that great at gambling, and had really only gone along with it to make friends. Still, he had a bit left in his bottle and was quite happy to wander a little!

Which was what he happened to be doing when the extremely handsome gentleman happened to bump into him. Shunsui couldn't claim innocence himself; it had long been his habit to use his usually quite exaggerated drunken state to listen and gather information. Still, this was a pleasant distraction!]

Yare, yare, no harm done! Are you all right, though?

omg you have no idea how happy you have made me with what this cr can be

[sakeplz]

[Jiroutachi is not used to finding people who are taller than him (even if it's only barely with this one here) so he takes a second to blink at this fun discovery before beaming. Why? Because he can smell alcohol on that breath which means he's found a kindred soul. Without his usual drinking companion around he's been wondering who he can enjoy drinks with but it looks like he's found a good one here!

Possibly. But there's hope!]

I am! Swords are tough you know!

[He lets out a giggle before leaning in a little closer. Personal space? What is that? Jiroutachi seems to be lacking in familiarity with the concept.]

Ahhhh but are you as drunk as I am? You're the first I've seen that is!

oh good! I've always wanted Shunsui to meet a fellow mostly-pretending drinking buddy/cohort xD

[sugegasa]

[A kindred soul indeed! Although contrary to his usual nearly impentrable tolerance for alcohol, this one did seem to be affecting him! Not overly, but he did notice a slight lessening of the close watch he'd been keeping on his surroundings. He made a mental note to take it easy on the rest of this bottle and to refuse seeking out more.]

Indeed they are! Are you a sword, then?

[This was asked in total sincerety! Shunsui was in no place to judge and had seen far stranger things than a sword taking human form, after all. First one he'd seen with his own eye, though, and his curiosity was definitely piqued!

Still, he'd been asked a question and should really answer that first!]

Hmmm, I'm honestly not sure how drunk I am. The alcohol here does seem a bit stronger than I'm used to, but this is my first bottle so I certainly hope I'm not too far gone as yet!

three, comes in late with starbucks

[timelesssurprises]

[Oh hey, another familiar face. With alcohol as well, now that's someone who knew how to enjoy himself.]

Ohh, how generous. Pour me a nice, tall glass will you?

[He eyes the bottle curiously. This is obviously not the usual sake.]

What is this stuff anyways?

that starbucks line must have been killer

[sakeplz]

It's wine but it's red! I think they said a dessert wine?

[He wasn't paying thaaaat much attention to be honest. But he pours the other sword a nice big cup of it before handing it over.]

But it's really tasty, Tsu-san! Even if it's not sake!

[He's still looking for sake.]

[timelesssurprises]

Thanks.

[He doesn't hesitate to take a huge gulp of it. The taste is a lot more tangy than sake, quite a different feel to it too.]

Oh, this isn't too bad! Do you have more?

[Make that two sake raiders.]