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

[hiryugaeshi]

I told you to pick the weapon you were most comfortable with.

[ Kojirou turns to make sure he's always facing Caren, bringing down his sword a few times just to check that she's paying attention. He's not trying to kill her, so he won't use everything he has, but there's no point going so easy that his student can get through things half-heartedly. ]

Your name isn't important, Caren Ortensia. What matters is what you do. How do you know who I am, who Servants are?

[ And why are you being so difficult? ... But he won't say that out loud. ]

[showsnopiety]

And you chose swords. If I chose what I was most comfortable with, how much would I learn?

[ She parries, using her hips and her legs to give herself balance and power to block his strikes, Caren make a few forays to the side. It's nothing to a swordsman like himself, but it is better than simply circling him around and around. It's far less spider like.]

The name might have meant something to you. But what I am is more than one thing. And I know you in more than one way.

[But she Adds with a sniff,]

Not in the personal sense of course. We had no reason to meet.

[hiryugaeshi]

A proper fighter needs experience against weapons of all kinds, don't you think?

[ Kojirou shrugs. Caren hasn't had the snot beaten out of her yet, which is probably to her credit, but it will be a long, long time before she's on his level. ]

So, how do you know who I am, then? I have the time to listen to all the ways.

[ He's going to train her hard, after all. ]

[showsnopiety]

If I didn't agree, I wouldn't be doing this.

[Just putting it out there. She was a little surprised she hadn't fallen at this point, but she chalked it up to her previous fighting experience. But she would, eventually. She was, after all, an amateur.]

You wont beat me to the ground until you know?

[She smirks, amused at the thought.]

Reports, naturally. I had a variety of sources to consult when it cane to you and others.

[hiryugaeshi]

You would probably have trouble giving any information while beaten up, so I'll refrain.

[ That's not the only reason, but it is definitely one of them. But if Caren wants to be taken to the ground so much, then Kojirou has no problems forcing the issue. Leveraging her next attack so she overbalances herself and becomes easy to trip sounds like fun.

So he'll do that. ]

Sources. The only people who know about me are the Servants and Masters of Chaldea and Fuyuki. You weren't at Chaldea, so I'll assume you're from Fuyuki, but I'd fought every Servant there and you weren't there with any of them.

[ Did that make her Archer or Lancer's Master? They were the ones who showed up alone, after all... ]

[showsnopiety]

How generous of you.

[Ah, that's a bit of force. She has to stop her circling to jump back, and offer a thrust to the face, then to the side, to the hip. Just to see how he'll counter such attacks, desperate as they are to regain the balance of her feet.]

How do you know I wasn't in Chaldea? Who do you think I am?

[It's a game to her, even as they continue to toy with one another. She wants to see how far she can push him before he gives up or demands more, one way or the other.]

[hiryugaeshi]

[ Kojirou dodges the thrust by leaning to the side, then pins the sword to the ground with his own when she tries to strike lower. His movements would be infuriating to someone with more training, not following any orthodox school of swordplay but whatever "feels" right. Kojirou would say such orthodoxies merely open oneself up to becoming predictable, and that would be deadly in a drawn out fight. ]

I know you weren't. You're not a Servant, a Servant could fight better.

[ Except Shakespeare and Andersen, probably. But the Casters not meant for fighting would know that much, and adapt their styles accordingly. They wouldn't bother learning how to work their way around a sword instead of the enchantments they're so suited to.

And there were only three humans in Chaldea. The Master, Dr Roman, and the shield girl. The woman in front of him was clearly none of them. ]

So you're from Fuyuki, but that was a large city. How could I possibly work my way through the entire list of Masters and their associates?

[showsnopiety]

Unless they were Caster, or perhaps Assassin. Oh, wait.

[She offers him a sweet smile, even as she attempts to pull her sword up, and away from his. This doesn't really feel like a lesson. Then again, she's not good about answering his questions either.

Why? No real reason. Mostly because she can.]

But, if I am from Fuyuki, there is only the process of elimination. Or, Occum's razor.

[hiryugaeshi]

You may be a vixen, but you're no Caster. [ As far as he's concerned, all female Casters are vixens. Except Medea Lily. Blame the ones he's met, they're all weird.

Kojirou lets Caren tug on her sword a couple of times before letting go, almost too suddenly. He wants to see how well she recovers, or if she falls on her ass for putting too much force behind freeing her weapon. ]

You don't seem to have the temperament of a Master either, but then again, I don't have the temperament of a Servant.

[ Masters are usually... hungrier. People don't accept the call of a Holy Grail War without good reason. But there are always exceptions, so he can't rule that out just yet. ]

[showsnopiety]

I'm not sure if I should be amused or insulted.

[Ah. She falters, takes a few steps back, could have fallen-but she twists around like a cat, before going back to the ready position.

Though...his words are rather amusing.]

Servants and Masters come in all shapes and sizes. Some become what they are due to need, rather than desire.

[It is a hint, though a vague one. But he's sort of right in that he's not exactly a typical Servant. (Is there such a thing? Who knows.)]

[hiryugaeshi]

Take it how you wish.

[ Vixens. They were beautiful creatures, sure, but they also tended to have a highly unpleasant side. Underhanded tactics, backstabbing as a matter of course, and being rather rude. Those were his criteria. Would Caren consider the jab at her personality a particularly grave insult? From what Kojirou has seen of her, probably not. ]

Are you saying you're a Master, then? You weren't Saber's, Berserker's, Caster's, or mine, so that leaves Archer, Lancer, Rider, and that frustrating golden one.

[ He's fought every Servant trying to climb those steps to Ryudou Temple, so he knows his Servants, and he's met a number of their Masters for that reason. So which was she? It feels like he's both getting closer and further to the truth now. ]

[showsnopiety]

[It's not an insult or a compliment. She has been called worse and better things, but truly it did not matter. If anything, she would compliment him, or shark at how astute he is.

She attempts to feint a strike, wanting to draw him out, maybe over extend himself. It's unlikely to occur, but its still good practice.]

So we've eliminated half. It's a start.

[Not much of one is implied, but she doesn't say it outright.]

So, gatekeeper. Let us see what you know. Which of these Servants is my reflection?

[She is guiding to and away from the truth. Because nothing gives her greater pleasure then his frustration. At least right now.]

[hiryugaeshi]

If you're trying to frustrate me into making a mistake, you'll have to try a lot harder. If you're just trying to be frustrating, then I must say you're doing very well.

[ He meets her feint easily, and decides it's his turn to take the offensive, by striking at all the standard positions: Head, wrist, and throat. Men, do, kote. If this was an actual kendo competition, he'd have to declare those out loud, but it's not, and Assassin's never done proper orthodox kendo anyway. ]

Rider and Lancer's Masters were cowards, calling their Servants back at the first sign of trouble, not putting in any real effort into breaching the gate, while you are here fighting me right now. The golden Servant had his own agenda and hardly seems the type to submit to a Master. That leaves me with Archer, it seems.

[ It would fit, since they're both shitters prone to trickery and scheming, at least from what little he's seen of both, but he's not really trying to get at a correct answer here, he's just tossing out a random line of reasoning and watching Caren for any response. Testing her pokerface, as it were. ]

[showsnopiety]

[She doesn't answer him either way. She only smiles. But she's concentrating on his strikes. She can't meet them, though he tries; her sword isn't quick enough, and it's just luck that he's using his wooden sword. Otherwise, she might have been dabbled with blood

Her blade falters, but she brings her other hand forward, to steady her blade.

But Archer...He chooses Archer. This amuses her greatly, and her lips quiver for a moment. Amused, but that's all.]

Is that what you've decided?

[hiryugaeshi]

[ Kojirou's not here to kill his students, even if they are annoying vixens! He's not going to hit them directly when a real sword. ]

I suppose if I had to choose, it would be Archer. But it's not a choice I'm satisfied with.

[ He can't say why, though. It just seems like there's something off about the whole question in the first place. Which Servant's Master was she? Perhaps she wasn't even a Master of a Servant, at least not when he had fought them. ]

[showsnopiety]

[Killing is for later. Possibly for enemies but not for alluring vixens.

Might bruise them a bit though. Slightly. It makes the lessons stick, more or less.]

You're not? And why is that?

[She's more curious if anything else, even as she tries to reward his strikes with those of her own. If swords play is the way she gets her entertainment, than so be it.]

[hiryugaeshi]

Archer was a coward without elegance, but he also had a singular purpose. All the Servants did. When I cross swords with you, I can't feel that at all.

[ Perhaps it was just the shock of a new world, but she didn't look like she was especially confused. Then again, he might have just misread the lady completely. ]

You suit Archer best out of all the Servants, but I still wouldn't say you suit Archer.

[ Kojirou steps left of her counter, bringing his own sword down on her shoulder. A good hard smack, enough to make sure that it'll be felt in the morning. ]

[showsnopiety]

[Confused? That would be a good way to put most people in this situation. Caren...rolled with it. Different day, same sort of weird nonsense to go through.

But she didn't agree or disagree with him, merely offered him a small smile-until he cracked down on her shoulder.

She didn't react fast enough, and she yelped in pain, dropping her rapier. Ow. Give her a moment and she'll pick it up again, and go back to her more or less default of determination.]

[hiryugaeshi]

[ Kojirou's sword returns to its resting place on his shoulder as he waits for Caren to pick her sword back up. He's not going to smack her again while she finds her sword, but...

He probably could. Maybe next time he'll try it, just to scare her. ]

It seems you're just not going to give me an answer that easily. There really is nothing harder to deal with than women and petty men.

[ He shakes his head in mock sadness. He does want to know the truth of course, but he'll play along with Caren for now. What else can he do? Beat her until she speaks up? That's not his style. ]

[showsnopiety]

[He might just, and he'll see a little of how graceful she can be with her body, if not with a sword. Her shoulder does sting, but she's experienced worse. It's still functional.]

It's not a surprise. You don't know how to deal with people at all.

[She offers him a mock salute with her blade, her smile mocking.]

Consider it a well earned reward. Perhaps I should offer you more than the truth, to give you some incentive?

[She's teasing him, a bit. That's not surprising though, considering who it is. She might not actually give him anything he does not already have.]

[hiryugaeshi]

You'll have to forgive me. I'm but a simple wanderer, and my sword speaks for me more often than not.

[ He's not really sorry. Kojirou may not have the potential to be a king, or the charm to steal people's hearts with a glance, but he's fairly sure he's at least alright with people. Caren's just being difficult. ]

That does depend on the kind of reward, doesn't it? I'm a simple man without many wishes, how would you seek to satisfy me?

[ Kojirou's steadfastly refusing to be teased here. He might not be able to win in this arena, but he'll play along. ]

[showsnopiety]

What a lying tongue you have.

[She's not sorry either. She's verbally toying with him as much as he's toying with her with this sword play. Silly Kojirou. Caren's not a people.]

I'm certain there are a number of ways that I could fulfill such a thing. Not your weapon; you have one and I can not give what can not be found. You wouldn't trust me for a deep mana exchange, even if you could feel pleasure from it.

[Her shoulders lifted in a small shrug.]

I am without monies at the moment. I could tell you a true story. Or is there something else you would wish from a woman like myself?

...perhaps an apology for making you think so much?

[hiryugaeshi]

I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to retract that statement. I'm in full possession of all my faculties, mana exchange or otherwise.

[ Wow, that's super rude. What did he even do to have his manhood be insulted? Caren hasn't even seen it! Besides, even if it didn't work, the modern world had handy things like Viagra I mean what. He's insulted, but it's not terrible enough to make him lose his ever-present aura of smug. ]

But well, I believe gifts are worth more when offered rather than demanded. I'll take whatever you have to give.

[ He really doesn't want money though. What's he supposed to do with money? ]

[showsnopiety]

Oh, do you now? I might have to ask you to prove it.

[She smirks. Mana Viagra, it's all the rage in the black market. Who needs mana caches, it's all about...ok, joke over. But really, she hasn't seen it, but it doesn't stop her from hitting below the belt.

Just to see what would happen if she kept hitting him and if he could possibly lose the cloud of smug.]

But I haven't offered anything that I wouldn't give. So name what you want, Assassin. Else we'll be here all day while you guess.

[hiryugaeshi]

I don't have any wish that you could possibly grant, but I do have to protect what little honour I have...

[ Really, how did it come to this? He doesn't even have a name worth defending, but he does have a little bit of pride in his body. It's usually confidence in its martial ability, but everything about it works perfectly fine! ]

So I may have to partake in just a little immodesty.

[ Really. A little. ]