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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!
handle: earthenring (Default)

[personal profile] handle 2016-04-10 07:48 am (UTC)(link)
[ Sorey quickly moves to kick the rat out of the way, cringing at the sight. It's enough to make anyone sick to their stomach. Though, once he mentions his sword, he can't help but wince once more. ]

I could, but-- I'm not so sure if healing them is what you're looking for.

[ His sword is something used to heal, not exactly kill. ]

You alright?
Edited 2016-04-10 07:48 (UTC)
topkong: gaelriz (11)

[personal profile] topkong 2016-04-10 12:00 pm (UTC)(link)
[ The look he has is nothing more than confusion and disbelief, the most deadpan of expressions... ]

Hold on. Your sword doesn't INJURE things? It just heals?

[ Well, that's lovely. Looks like he's going to just plunge his staff DEEP INTO THIS RAT and ugh gross, not to mention it's so difficult? Thankfully, with its heart smashed, it actually stops moving. ]

It looks so sharp! And deadly! What good is a sword if it isn't for defending yourself?

[ HE'S SO CONFUSED! It's like the opposite of most weapons he's seen. During his mild shock, a charging rat nails him squarely in the stomach, knocking him down.

Well, now he's definitely not alright. ]
handle: optimisty (pic#9785924)

[personal profile] handle 2016-04-11 12:19 am (UTC)(link)
[ Sorey looks somewhat sympathetic for the rat, though he looks back up at the Monkey afterwards. ]

... Yeah. It's pretty weird, but the sword I had beforehand is gone. They gave me this instead. [ He unsheathes his sword. ] If you get hurt, let me know. One strike should hep you out.
topkong: gaelriz (28)

[personal profile] topkong 2016-04-11 07:25 pm (UTC)(link)
[ His confusion is only slightly tempered by the fact he has to use his staff like the dullest skewer known to man and also by the fact a rat basically used him as a way to do a backflip and then kick him under the chin. What the heck... ]

Yeah, I could use some of that... uh... are you sure you're not going to accidentally kill me with that thing?

[ His counter to the rat attack is a swift smash that leaves it a little more flat than it probably wanted to be. ]
handle: virizion dns (but in this closing darkness)

[personal profile] handle 2016-04-15 07:33 am (UTC)(link)
[ Sorey can at least use his body to protect the Monkey if needed. A part of him wants to ask about the fact, that well-- it's a talking monkey -- but, he'll save that for when they're out of danger! ]

If I use it on myself, will you believe me?
Edited 2016-04-15 07:33 (UTC)
topkong: gaelriz (11)

[personal profile] topkong 2016-04-16 01:57 am (UTC)(link)
[ ... ?! ]

No! No, I mean... look. I believe you. Just be gentle, okay?

[ Wukong's all about Sorey proving his sword as a tool for healing rather than a weapon, but not like that! He'd rather be the test animal for this experiment. So he closes his eyes and tears open his uniform (thank goodness he has so many extra ones in his room)... ]

Just be quick.
handle: virizion dns (we still have a chance to make it)

[personal profile] handle 2016-04-17 09:32 am (UTC)(link)
--Right!

[ He closes his eyes, taking in a breath. He can't help but be a little nervous, though he doesn't doubt the words of the person who told him what this sword was for.

And in one swift movement, he moves the weapon forward, concentrating his mana into hopefully healing the monkey's wounds. It's not enough to fully heal him, but it should help, at least.

He opens his eyes shortly after, looking to the stranger for a reaction. ]
topkong: gaelriz (12)

[personal profile] topkong 2016-04-17 05:48 pm (UTC)(link)
[ He grits his teeth, squeezing his eyes shut harder--- either he's going to feel refreshed or get hurt somehow. Best to expect the worst, even if the quiet confidence exuded by the swordsman and his odd weapon does give him SOME hope that it'll be the former and not the latter.

Seconds pass, and the injuries he had taken: a few bruises, some minor cuts... gone? A soothing and warming energy that barely lingers in the places he'd been hurt. Granted, he still aches in other places but that's okay. He'll take what he can get. ]


Oh. That's... better than I expected!

[ Opening his eyes, Wukong gives Sorey an embarrassed smile while scratching the back of his head. ]

Thanks, friend. I never doubted you for a moment. So, what's your name?
handle: optimisty (pic#9785924)

[personal profile] handle 2016-04-18 05:07 am (UTC)(link)
[ Sorey sheathes his sword, forcing laughter when he mentioned never doubting him. He was though, wasn't he?

Still, the important thing was that he was alright, and that they were out of danger for now. ]


I'm just glad that I could help! [ He puts his hands to his chest, looking over the monkey.

Wow... So it really did heal him! That sword was definitely amazing! But, he can definitely feel the effects of what he'd heard about before regarding mana. ]


Sorey. It's nice to meet you!
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?
handle: earthenring (Default)

[personal profile] handle 2016-04-22 05:36 am (UTC)(link)
It's just that-- [ He's used to hunting if it means that he's hunting for food. Killing needlessly always left a pretty bad taste in his mouth, and he's used to saving others - not killing them. However, he's more than away that for this Monkey's case, it may very well be different.

Either way, he's glad that he trusted him enough to heal him. Though, in a way, they're in this together. ]


Well, why not? Seems kind of cruel to just kill them, doesn't it?
topkong: gaelriz (25)

[personal profile] topkong 2016-04-23 03:03 am (UTC)(link)
[ With the reprieve, he's able to slip his staff back into the awaiting clutches of his tail. Better than it getting lost while attached to his hip! It also acts as a pretty convenient mock-kickstand. ]

It's only cruel if you think my intentions are, which they aren't. [ A soft smile spreads. ] These creatures aren't natural, and we're not in a position to ask for them to leave. If we have to worry about them, then that's an additional problem.

[ Though, he does find Sorey's desire to find non-violent ways respectable. ]

Maybe, after it's all said and done, we can find a way to keep mana from doing things like this. It's a shame, isn't it?
handle: earthenring (Default)

[personal profile] handle 2016-04-23 07:43 am (UTC)(link)
That's a good point. Sorry.

[ He frowns at the idea that he's accidentally called him cruel. That hadn't been his intention at all, yet he can understand why he'd say that. ]

That's a good true. ... I'm still new at this, but... I've heard that powers can grow in time here, too.

[ Though, truthfully, he still doesn't know anything about the place he's arrived in. ]
Edited 2016-04-23 07:44 (UTC)
topkong: gaelriz (37)

[personal profile] topkong 2016-04-23 05:02 pm (UTC)(link)
[ He waves off the apology, shaking his head. ]

No, no. You mean well. I get that. Admirable that you're looking for other options, because I'm more of a one-track kind of monkey.

[ Are there even other kinds? A mystery. But he's happy to give Sorey a gentle pat on the shoulder. ]

You're not wrong. I think, given time and effort, our abilities do get stronger. A few months ago, I don't think I could have controlled my weapon as well as I can now.

[ Looking at the poor dead rat, he sighs. ]

I think with the rats cleared, we're good to go.