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

iii

[rollin]

[ wait what is saber wearing LOOK THIS IS IMPORTANT

Yata's a surfer. He knows how to swim. But he's also stupidly in love with anything athletic, so here he is, doing laps in Airy's pool. He'd practice in the sea, but getting harrassed by mermaids is a risk he does not want to take.

So as Saber stands at edge of the pool, at some point, she'll see him emerge from the water... in front of her. ]

Uh.

[ He pushes his goggles up to make his a halfway proper conversation. He'd go on with his laps, but Saber seems to want something. ]

Can I help you?

[armorial]

[ IN HER UNIFORM?! She picked out pants... She is so caught up with forming her resolve, that Yata catches her off guard for a second. She almost kicks him in the face--thankfully, she only backs up one step as he emerges. ]

Sorry--[ He's offering assistance?! But he seems annoyed?! And preoccupied? He looks like an adept swimmer, but she can't just ask him. He is busy. ] I didn't mean to be a burden. There is... nothing.

You may continue with your sport.

[rollin]

[ DON'T KICK HIM!? Who the fuck is this person, talking all fancy and shit? He seems annoyed, but that's... how he usually is. Don't mind him. ]

You paused. I definitely heard a pause. You wanna swim or something? I heard they were teaching the new recruits... [ So, she should go there? Why is she here? ]

[armorial]

[ That's how you treat thugs though?? By kicking them? She can already pick up that Yata is a bit rough around the edges (is that bad). ]

Yes. The commander made us walk the plank. [ She doesn't even need to say more since it should be obvious what happened next. She closes her eyes as if that'll wash away all the shame. ]

I am not sure if that's the best approach. [ but then again commander may possibly be drunk, so she refrains from saying anything negative. ]

[rollin]

[ No, we all know Yata's a thug...

Anyway, he snorts. ]

Haha! Sucks to be you. [ Because that is one funny image. He wishes he could've seen it! ] But you made it out alright, yeah?

[armorial]

[ There's an eyebrow twitch when she hears him say that. She doesn't like pity! Why does this boy have to be rude?! There's an exasperated sigh--she is pitiable. Someone just smite her. ]

I thought I was in actual danger. [ She's a little miffed now due to Yata's attitude, but she tries to keep her words as neutral as possible. However, she crosses her arms indignantly. ]

[rollin]

[ At least he can read social cues. ]

At least you're alive. I'd say you were lucky. Weather's been pretty bad lately. [ But why was she even with the captain in the first place? Hmm. ] Wait, so... you dunno how to swim?

[armorial]

Yes, I am glad... But--[ She almost freezes as he basically hits the nail on the head. There's some silence. She wasn't expecting him to pick up on it so quickly. She thought she was being subtle!! ]

I cannot swim, yes. [ Why? ]

[rollin]

[ For starters, she wouldn't have to walk the plank if she knew how. Yata doesn't need to be a genius to figure that out. ]

Why doncha practice here? Water ain't that deep. [ He jerks a thumb at himself. ] And I can teach ya!

[armorial]

[ StOP. Yata, you are not supposed to be a smart one even common sense-wise. Her shoulders tense up up at the offer. She's surprised. ]

Would you really...? [ She let's it sink in-- ] I don't want to be a bother to you.

[rollin]

[ wOW don't look down on him! He can be super smart. Like, if Saber and Kamamoto walked the plank at the same time, he would catch Kamamoto first because Saber falls slower than him. Obviously. He's so... smart!! ]

Nah. We're all Heroes now, right? That means we're comrades, and comrades help each other out. They never leave each other behind. So get outta your uniform and get in here!

[ ... Yeah, he can't tell if Saber's a girl. ]

[armorial]

[ SHE WAS SO APPRECIATIVE OF YATA despite for his thug whore mouth, but all of that gets shot down so fast. There's a slightly darker aura as she squints at him. ]

While I am grateful for your kindness... I believe that there is also attire for this. [ She's doing her best not to slay him with sharp words. She knows she doesn't have any assets, but she isn't comfortable with stripping and going into the pool!

Swimsuits are not any different, but its purpose weighs for her (she doesn't know yet). ]

[rollin]

[ He narrows his eyes back at her. She doesn't have to get so mad! What is Saber, a girl? ]

Then put it on and come back. [ Duh.

For the record, he's in his swimming trunks. ]

[armorial]

[ I know you wanted to say speedo. ANYWAY, Saber continues to peer at him, but relents after the logical suggestion is given. She remembers seeing the provided swimwear, but did not find it useful at the time of discovery. There's a nod. ]

I'll be back shortly. [ This man is only trying to be helpful, yet she's giving him a hard time. Either way, she feels it's only natural to introduce before she goes. ] May I have your name, fellow Hero?

[rollin]

[ No... Only Kuroh wears speedos... It looks like she's willing to give swimming another shot under his wing. Yata won't let you down, Saber! He introduces himself with a grin. ]

I'm Yata! What do I call ya?

[armorial]

It's a pleasure to meet you, Yata. [ She gives him a small how in reverence. This is the name of her swim teacher!! Hopefully, he doesn't find this embarrassing. ] You may call me Saber.

I'll be going now. [ To change!! It takes her maybe 10-20 minutes before she returns in a white one piece and a towel. One pieces are better than bikinis, she thinks. She still looks rather uncomfortable in this swimsuit though, but she's here. ]

I'm ready. [ She is a girl; look at her!! ]

1/2

[rollin]

[ He snorts at her politeness. Stop!? it's kind of embarrassing. ]

Hey, no need for that. Saber, huh? Hehe, that's a cool name. Aight, I'll be here!

[ He'll be at the edge of the pool, goggles around his neck as he does stretches until— ]

[rollin]

[ —he slips and falls on his butt. Ow. ]

GYAAAH! S-S-S-Sa...

[ He shields himself with his arm. His face is on fire. This is the boy he was talking to a while ago!? ]

What happened to you!?

[armorial]

Yata? What is wrong? Are you all right? [ She'll kneel down, towel in one arm and offers her free hand to help him up. ]

... Nothing has happened to me. [ She... She doesn't understand why he's reacting this way. ]

[rollin]

Eh? O-oh. Uh. [ He probably looks like a tool, so he pushes himself up. Without her help. ] It's nothing. I'm fine!

[ But if she was a guy, teaching her would be a whole lot easier... He wouldn't be looking away, for example. ]

You should warm up... before you get in.

[armorial]

[ If he had acted normally, she wouldn't have pressed the issue. However, he's acting so different than before. It makes her uneasy, clutching onto her towel as she rises back up. She listens to his words and nods, but-- ]

... Was it something I've done? [ She has no clue right now. ]

1/2

[rollin]

What? No! You didn't do anything!

[ He waves his hands in a panic. She's getting the wrong idea, but he has no idea how to make this right without throwing himself under the bus. ]

[rollin]

[ Nevermind, he hangs his head and pouts. ]

I just realized... I've never taught a girl how to swim before.

[ So it's kind of awkward. ... He hasn't done a lot of things with girls, actually. ]

[armorial]

[ SHE'S OFFENDED if only slightly, but she can see in his reaction that he's not trying to provoke her. She exhales quietly though a bit tired of the subject of her gender/sex. Either way, she mentally shrugs it off!! Some guys are just...

Weird with girls? Even though she doesn't necessarily find herself too feminine. ]

It shouldn't be any different from teaching a man. [ Yata, she is trying to help you. ] If it helps, you may think of me as male.

[ Even though this basically sounds like Yata has gynophobia. ]

[rollin]

[ They're both terrible afflictions, gynophobia and casual sexism. Someone please help this boy. Yata's mostly just awkward and inexperienced, though. He fidgets at Saber's suggestion. ]

Really? Is that cool?

[ Girls aren't as fun to hang around because he can't treat them the same way he would a guy, but if Saber says it's okay to treat her that way, then... It kind of helps. A little. The next time he looks at her is a shy glance. He's trying. ]

... I'll do my best.