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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!
liberal_arts: (not stopping not yet)

[personal profile] liberal_arts 2016-04-13 09:55 pm (UTC)(link)
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...
sakeplz: (Needs To Be Carried Home)

[personal profile] sakeplz 2016-04-13 11:21 pm (UTC)(link)
Awwww! But you're so pretty and you fit so well like this!

[Well he has to bend over a bit to wrap his arms around him and nuzzle his cheek but otherwise he fits? Maybe?]
liberal_arts: (kissed by a rose on the grave)

[personal profile] liberal_arts 2016-04-13 11:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Beauty can be just as easily appreciated from a more comfortable distance, Jiroutachi.
sakeplz: (Just One Little Drink)

[personal profile] sakeplz 2016-04-13 11:58 pm (UTC)(link)
If you wanted to appreciate my beauty you only had to say so. [That's literally not what he said, Jirou.]
liberal_arts: (y'all ain't startin shit with the missy)

[personal profile] liberal_arts 2016-04-14 01:01 am (UTC)(link)
Please don't proposition me in public, Jiroutachi.
sakeplz: (Shhhh It's A Secret)

[personal profile] sakeplz 2016-04-14 01:06 am (UTC)(link)
In private then? [Okay now he's just twisting words for reals.]
liberal_arts: (dosu kiri)

[personal profile] liberal_arts 2016-04-14 01:12 am (UTC)(link)
I have sincere doubts you'd even make it that far. -Kasen is grunting, trying to keep Jirou just a bit more upright than "falling over".-

Plus I'm not really in need of any sort of mana exchange at the moment... -But Jirou will probably need some for the inevitable hangover...-
sakeplz: (Funny Story)

[personal profile] sakeplz 2016-04-14 01:18 am (UTC)(link)
Not with me around! [He'll get plenty of mana with Jirou hanging all over him like this.]

Let's go this way! [Kasen, he is going to start walking. While still hanging onto you. Like you're his favorite cuddle buddy or something.]
liberal_arts: (little things that make you look cute)

[personal profile] liberal_arts 2016-04-14 04:27 am (UTC)(link)
-And right into a seedy night club... He guessed this was just going to be his night. As heroes, at least, they were treated to a somewhat quieter VIP section, at least. But not once could Kasen pry Jirou off of him, and on more than one occasion the service at the club assumed they were lovers...-
sakeplz: (You Have Some Too!)

[personal profile] sakeplz 2016-04-14 05:17 am (UTC)(link)
[Does Jirou mind that they look like lovers? Nope. He's busy enjoying the benefits of the alcohol they can get and how people like to talk so freely around someone toasted off their ass. Giggling, he leans against Kasen and bats his eyes.]

Kase-saaaaan! Enjoy a drink! It'll be fun!
liberal_arts: (grip and breakdown)

[personal profile] liberal_arts 2016-04-15 12:00 am (UTC)(link)
Fine, fine... but I'm trying to keep my wits about me, you know. -There was no point in arguing it any more. Plus the drinks were rather colorful. Especially that enchanting blue one...

Of course Kasen was also wise to Jirou's game by this point. He was a robust man, to be sure, but he was no fool, and Kasen trusted him to have his ears well open in spite of his inebriation.-
sakeplz: (Dance Dance)

[personal profile] sakeplz 2016-04-16 01:29 am (UTC)(link)
I'll take care of you, Kase-san! [Waving his hand, he gets drinks for both of them. Two of the bright blue ones! With his new drink in his hand, he sips at it then licks his lips as he pulls the other sword right against him.

Hey, if they're going to be mistaken for lovers then he's really going to sell it. Mainly because who would look twice at pretty lovers sitting together getting tipsy? Or toasted in his case.]


Proooomise! [A giggle and he rests his head on his shoulder, nuzzling his neck in the process. Partially because he's pretty sure he heard something fun in this direction so if he leans all over Kasen then he can get closer to it! Never question the drunken cleverness. It can work well.]
liberal_arts: (GET FUCKED SCRUB)

[personal profile] liberal_arts 2016-04-16 04:34 am (UTC)(link)
-Exceptionally well. Kasen kept his eyes elsewhere, looking for interesting gestures of the hand, or slips of the tongue. All the while he wrapped an arm about Jirou and held him as close as he could without blocking the taller blade's hearing, but for all the world they simply looked like a pair of amorous heroes, enjoying the night...-

What a wonderful flavor...
sakeplz: (Saluting You)

[personal profile] sakeplz 2016-04-16 07:29 am (UTC)(link)
Wah! You haven't even had a taste of me yet, Kase-san!

[He giggles some more then has some more of his drink. Maybe he could compare notes with Kasen later when they were alone. That could be fun. Of course, it's possible he'll just wander off to do something else instead. One never knows with Jiroutachi.]
liberal_arts: (who got the keys to the jeep vroooom)

[personal profile] liberal_arts 2016-04-17 12:14 am (UTC)(link)
-He practically spat his drink out at that line, and his face was as red as beet.-

Jirou, please...
sakeplz: (Caught With The Booze)

[personal profile] sakeplz 2016-04-22 12:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Please let you taste me? Kase-san! We're in public!

[He gasps as if completely shocked but such a bold declaration. That he just made up. Because Kasen totally did not say that.]
liberal_arts: (you wouldn't steal a car)

[personal profile] liberal_arts 2016-04-23 04:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Could you not?! -Jirou was really pushing at the walls of his patience.-
sakeplz: (Caught With The Booze)

[personal profile] sakeplz 2016-04-24 12:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Not what?

[He blinks so innocently after a sip of alcohol like he really has no idea what is going on or why Kasen is flailing.

He's full of it though.]
liberal_arts: (who got the keys to the jeep vroooom)

[personal profile] liberal_arts 2016-04-24 07:07 pm (UTC)(link)
What a frustrating person you can be... -What had he gotten himself into?-
sakeplz: (Saluting You)

[personal profile] sakeplz 2016-04-27 09:59 am (UTC)(link)
At least I'm pretty! [He giggles then has some more of his drink. It's tasty and he's not about to let it go to waste!]

Ahhh are you doing art here, Kase-san?
liberal_arts: (I'm a caring individual most of the time)

[personal profile] liberal_arts 2016-04-27 08:35 pm (UTC)(link)
-Thank the 8,000 gods, a change in subject.-

I have been, though I'm afraid I haven't any complete projects at the moment.
sakeplz: (Haha!  I'm So Big!)

[personal profile] sakeplz 2016-04-27 08:37 pm (UTC)(link)
I want to see when you're done! They'll be as pretty as you!

[Because that makes sense somehow.]
liberal_arts: (you clever devil you)

[personal profile] liberal_arts 2016-04-27 11:34 pm (UTC)(link)
They'll be give to the people of Palamede. They'll be the ones to see them first.
sakeplz: (Lalala~)

[personal profile] sakeplz 2016-04-27 11:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Really? What are they? [Okay now he's ACTUALLY curious.]
liberal_arts: (another couple of rounds)

[personal profile] liberal_arts 2016-04-27 11:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Paintings, poems, all mediums really.

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