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

[quaria]

[ It only affects Setsuna because a part of him wants to try sometime. If they're selling well, it must be for a reason... He doesn't want to judge if he hasn't even tasted them yet. Maybe... just maybe, they're actually good. (Spoilers: People buy them because of either bizarre taste or for the drinking challenge.) What an adventure that will be.

It's nice to meet fellow milk lovers, though. When the girl looks at her chalice, he curiously looks as well. That's... quite a cup. Is she planning to drink milk out of it? This is his immediate thought. But he shouldn't be making assessments to a girl he just met, that's rude. So he brushes the thought off and leads the way in the shop. ]

Follow me.

[armorial]

[ She's quiet, watching him after he gestures her to follow him. There's some doubt and suspicion, but she doesn't feel any danger. After a couple of seconds, she tags along and follows rather closely to him, almost like a ghost. Yes, a ghost into the milk shop.

Also, it would be blasphemy to drink from the Holy Grail. ]

Are you planning to make a purchase? [ She's not sure what's the notion. Why is he asking her to follow him? She is only a stranger... She takes in the whole shop either way, looking at the intricacies and detail. ]

[quaria]

[ More accurately, two ghosts walk into a milk shop...!

Setsuna is unaware of the nature of her weapon, though he has already heard a little of the Holy Grail thanks to a certain King. Still, he wouldn't know how to process it as an outsider who knows little of their war. But that doesn't mean that he wants to remain ignorant. One day, he hopes to understand more of it... War in general is something that he really despises. But he isn't the kind to turn a blind eye and say he has nothing to do with it. Even war stories from other worlds, he would want to hear and understand them. It matters to him, as someone fated to become an envoy of peace.

But those are for another time. When the girl asks him that question, he looks over with familiar eyes. Even though it's true they're strangers, in this world that doesn't matter. Because in this world, they're wearing the same uniform and is fighting under the same flag. Even if their heart and loyalty would be elsewhere, it doesn't change the fact they do have to work together to make it through. So however temporary, they are comrades. ]

Yes. [ And now, it's his turn to ask: ] How sweet do you prefer your milk?

[armorial]

[ Maybe one day, young pilot. The grail is a dark tale--also a lot cooler than the one she has in her hands. She tilts her head when the question is asked. There's some silence. She isn't obtuse, so she easily figures out what is happening, but she doesn't make any remarks yet. Instead, she looks up to the menu, then back at him. Her expression blank as ever, she speaks. ]

Shouldn't the question be "how sweet should I make my milk?" [ She can be clever when she chooses to be! Of course, it comes with some more straight-forward words. ]

Thank you, but you do not need to pay for me. The experience itself is enough. [ There's a nod of reassurance. ]

[quaria]

[ The girl completely evaded his question effortlessly. Setsuna's eyes blink once, not expecting that answer. And while he is obtuse, he still is capable to throw humor back. So in order to convince her, he offers: ]

You mentioned the experience is enough. In that case, would you still be opposed to sharing a bottle?

[ There's paper cups in the store meant for drinks, so they can easily split the milk and equally experience it; just as she stated. Since she dodged his question earlier though, he won't be able to tell now if she's a sweet-tooth or otherwise. Or maybe he can get creative.

Yeah, maybe he will. Setsuna picks up two milk bottles from the shelves, holding both near her to await her reaction on either one. His left hand has chocolate almond milk, while his right hand has strawberry cream milk. Come on, cute King. Show him something here. ]

[armorial]

[ SHE WOULD BE OPPOSED, but constantly rejecting someone's kindness may come off rude to their hospitality. For now, she yields. ]

I am not opposed to that, no. [ Her eyes follow him as he looks at the paper cups and now down to the selection of milk. There's some silence as if she's trying to decide. It's true, she is thinking of which may be best to share. ]

That is a fine selection. [ She doesn't feel anything particular to any of the flavors, actually. Beggars can't be choosers. Instead, she waits for him to pick himself. Maybe this is just a strange ritual for him? It's not like he asked her to pick one even though she is assuming right now. There's some silence as there's no decision yet. ]

What about the strawberry cream? [ She's at least keen enough to know when something must be done. ]

[quaria]

[ It's simply because Setsuna is too awkward. He really does want to find something in here that she will like. But he can't do that unless she speaks up. Since she doesn't want to though, it's up to him to find out somehow. He can make recommendations, but it doesn't mean that she'll enjoy them... They might have completely different tastes, which is all right with him. Though as much as possible, he wants to find something that they will mutually enjoy.

These two are no good, then. Well, they are decent to start with because they are more common flavors. Nah, he'll pass on these since they didn't cause a nice reaction from her. After a small shake of his head, he returns them before picking up a new pair: apple milk vs milk tea. What about either of these? He does the same thing and waits to see a reaction. No matter how many bottles they go through, he'll definitely find one she will like! Or not. He knows when to yield when necessary, but a few more tries can't hurt. ]

[armorial]

[ She's quiet, watching him switch through another selection. She won't hesitate this time! All of this is for her even though she would be fine with any of his choices. There's some time before she taps onto the milk tea bottle.

She does like tea.

Looking back up at Setsuna, she waits for his reaction seeing if maybe he likes or does not like her choice. ]

[quaria]

[ As there's less hesitation from the girl this time, he can tell that there's something about the milk tea that draws her. Whether it's simple curiosity or she genuinely likes the flavors involved, it's good enough for him. He decides with this one as well.

So this time, Setsuna only returns the bottle of apple milk. He nods now, able to come up with a decision himself. He too likes tea, so this is definitely their snack-drink for the day! He goes ahead and leads the way to the counter, purchasing the milk tea before looking over to her again.

He's going to take care of opening the bottle now, so he looks at her hopefully to take two paper cups for them. ]

[armorial]

[ She literally doesn't do anything until he looks at her for a couple of seconds. Catching his drift, she'll go acquire the paper cups now neatly stacked since she still has her grail in the other hand, unable to consider that she can leave it back in he room. ]

... Thank you. [ It's a little strange. All of this is a little strange?! ] You may call me Saber. What is your name?

[ Maybe this would make it less awkward for her. ]

[quaria]

[ Welcome to Celestial Being, Saber. You'll fit right in, cute awkward King!

Anyway, after Setsuna manages to open the bottle, he takes the first cup to set on the counter temporarily — just so he can pour the milk tea properly. Once that's done, he does the same for the second cup. After securing the bottle's lid, he puts it away in his travel bag to free both of his hands.

Now, he offers the other milk tea for her to take as he acknowledges her introduction. ]

Setsuna F. Seiei.

[ Saber. She's named after a sword? That's his initial thought. He actually likes her name, as a sword has a symbolic meaning for him. ]

[armorial]

Setsuna... [ She says it to herself as if to remember it. His name is actually strange, but she doesn't comment on it at all. Instead, she'll hold onto the cup given to her and looking into the contents. If only she can hold it carefully with two hands because it's important to her right now, but the grail occupies her other.

She'll take a small sip. ]

It is delicious. [ NECTAR OF THE GODS. She's practically beaming without a smile, just her aura is bright. ]

[quaria]

[ It's true that he has a strange name, he won't deny it if it's ever brought up. He's grown to be quite fond of it. Ah, but she likes the milk tea...! Success. He's relieved to know that they found a flavor that she can enjoy.

He proceeds to drink as well, taking in a good amount. It'll probably be evident that he really likes milk, as his own bright aura blends well with hers. What a blinding sight. ]

... It is nice to meet you. Saber.

[armorial]

It's a pleasure to meet you as well, Setsuna. [ There's a nod. She was almost engulfed by this delicious milk that she forgot her manners. She takes another sip, savoring the flavor as much as she can.

A bottle is limited, after all. ]

If there is a way for me to repay you, please do tell me. [ This is the best thing and she wants to show her gratitude. ]

[quaria]

[ Setsuna knows that although he's fine without the favor returned, he can never tell if he really might need help in the future. If such a chance presents itself, then... He'll accept it and ask for her assistance without doubt. After all, they're allies now. Whether they recognize this or not, the fact remains that they will fight side by side.

He offers the remaining milk to her afterwards, hoping that she'll accept this too. He understands that it's tough to find one's self pulled away from familiar territory, especially if they have a role to fulfill in them. Although it isn't much, he means to have the milk to come across that she's not alone in this world.

Her sentiments are returned; as long as their goals align, then he too will continue to support her in the future. ]

It is appreciated.