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

[showsnopiety]

[She doesn't try to touch him again, but she is smiling. Clearly she's enjoying herself. Sorry Yoon. YOU ASKED AND GOT AWFUL.]

That's fine. I'd rather continue assisting you in your mana attempts.

Shall we proceed?

[C'mon palm out, they have work to do.]

[tsyoon]

[ Eyeing her hands suspiciously... Squiiint. ]

Fine.

[ He puts his palm back out with a grumbling sigh, struggling to get his focus back. ]

I heard there's healing magic. I'd be interested in trying that. What affinity does that fall under?

[showsnopiety]

[She raises her eyebrows, still amused at his huffing.]

Good.

[There, cupping his palm back in hers. He's all huffy. How cute.]

I'm not entirely certain if it has its own alignment or not.

[For a moment, her expression darkens.]

But I could assist you in finding someone who would know, and specializes in it.

[tsyoon]

[ He's also still a little pink but PLS IGNORE THAT??? ok. Yoon sighs again, then tries to stop sighing and actually just breathe deeply. It was working fine a minute ago. The touch does help.

And then the offer distracts him a bit from his annoyance and he perks up again, interested. ]

Really? You know someone?

[showsnopiety]

Yes. My room mate and a pain in my side.

[She sighs, a gusty sound.]

Sion is, however, an excellent healer.

[Among other things. He might also mistake Sion for her older brother.]

[tsyoon]

I'd like to meet this Sion person. [ Yoon decides immediately, not even asking. He straightens his shoulders, determined, and looks her in the eye.

...and then

the determination falters a bit.

Yoon blinks, realizing suddenly: ]

Hey! You forgot to tell me your name!

[ Because this is totally her fault and not his. Obviously. ]

[showsnopiety]

[Wow

This child

This child is truly something.

Caren slowly blinks.]

You haven't asked. And you've yet to offer yours.

[Just offering that he's also at fault. Clearly.]

[tsyoon]

I'm asking now.

[ Obviously.

He purses his lips, staring at their hands again. It didn't feel so awkward when they were actually focusing on training, but now that they're just talking and casually hanging onto each other... ]

You're the one who told me who your roommate is before you told me who you are.

But that's fine. [ Matter-of-fact. ] I'll be a gentleman and go first.

I'm Yoon. Thanks for helping me with magic. What's your name?

[showsnopiety]

He's more important, especially when it comes to healing training.

[She says it evenly, but she doesn't let him go. Because what's a little teasing between pawns?

But hey, how she's not so disgruntled about Sion.]

It's a pleasure to meet you Yoon. I'm Caren.

[tsyoon]

I'd offer to shake your hand, but you've already got that covered...

[showsnopiety]

....that's true. Then we could go for another type of greeting where I'm from.

[And that, sadly, is how Yoon will find himself kissed on one cheek, then the other.

No mouth kisses though. And is that a slight increase of mana?]

[tsyoon]

[ It's a slight increase of his poor small teenage heart, at least. He's so startled, he goes still -- like a rabbit stuck in the road, eyes wide.

Hell of a greeting........ ]

I- Isn't that way too familiar?!

What kind of touchy-feely country are you from?

[ He thinks she's making fun of him, naturally...

He also ended up squeezing her fingers in his shock, a little harder than is probably comfortable. ]

[showsnopiety]

If I was too familiar, I would have kissed your mouth too.

[She's smiling. Yup, she's smiling. Is she enjoying herself? Yes. Yes she is. Sorry Yoon. Making fun of him? With every chance she can get. Though...that grip does hurt a little.

Which causes her to flush. Oops.]

[tsyoon]

[ Yoon will mistake the flush for some semblance of decency finally peeking through. How wrong he is... Not that he needs to know that though. He already knows one pervert he didn't mean to go find another?? Just his luck. ]

No thanks. [ cutting her off quickly before she gets ideas about mouth kisses. sure, he knows he's handsome but this is uncalled for!!

At some point he realizes he's hanging on without meaning to though and quickly lets go with a startled grunt, then clears his throat loudly. ]

Ahem. Are we going to do anymore mana training that doesn't involve mana exchange demonstrations?

[showsnopiety]

[She's not a pervert; she's a tease. Major difference. She'd rather make him squirm then make him...well.

Caren manages a chuckle though, and when her hand is released, she rubs it, gently checking to see if she's bruised or if she's going to have a sprain later. Not his fault. Not exactly, anyway; he doesn't know how delicate she can be. It's not something she tends to speak about.]

We were, but you seem to be getting easily distracted.

[She tilts her head.]

Match your breathing with mine again. We need to get you back into that state of not focus.

[Wryly she adds:]

I think you're good for mana exchange demonstrations.

[tsyoon]

[ Yoon catches her rubbing her hand and feels a small pang of guilt. How hard had he been hanging on? He hadn't meant to-- ]

Sorry. [ He interrupts suddenly, ignoring the tease this time. ]

Is your hand okay?

[showsnopiety]

[She's startled, and blinks at him. Her cheeks flush, as if she was caught. You'd think her being a pervert would have had more of an impact on her, but no.]

It's fine. If there's any real problem, Sion will heal me.


Without asking permission.

[tsyoon]

[ Why does she sound mad about that...? ]

Does he tend to heal people without their permission or something? [ Weird.

Still, odd as it might be, this actually may be an opportunity. He's about to ask if he can try focusing on healing magic but then thinks better of it. That's too risky. He doesn't know what he's doing, and it's not fair to use her for experimenting like that. Chances are nothing will happen, but if there's even a small chance that it could actually go wrong and do more damage than good, it'd be irresponsible to try it without being aware of the risks. ]

[showsnopiety]

Just me.

[She's grumpy as she spreads her finger gently and slowly. She wouldn't mind being used as an experiment-it's happened before, one way or another. But more damage? She's seen some nasty stuff before, faced various kinds of pain.]

He knows it annoys me, since I think he's wasting mana. It's his way of teasing me, especially since I call him out for sulking like a little boy.

[She offers a slow, if suffering sigh.]

Even if I was injured more frequently at home than here. I'm used to wearing bandages.

[tsyoon]

[ She must be really delicate... He definitely didn't think he'd been holding her hand that hard, and he certainly hadn't meant to. But she seems mostly okay, and it's not like regretting it is going to help.

Yoon reaches out, serious this time. ]

Let me see.

[ He'd grabbed some bandages and ointments from what the ship had available for use, but it's not like he has that many supplies. That's another thing to work on. ]

[showsnopiety]

[...What. What is he doing. Caren gave him a suspicious look, and took a step back, holding her hand up to her chest.]

It's quite all right.

[Yoon, you're being judged for caring.]

[tsyoon]

I don't know much about healing magic yet, but I do actually know what I'm doing. The mundane way.

[ Seriously, no need to look so suspicious... ]

If you're hurt, I can help. Of course, it's not like I'll force you.

[ though isn't it actually kinda his fault ]

[showsnopiety]

[Caren, of all things, scowls and squints at him. People with their empathy and reaching out...they're so weird. But she forces herself to relax, her expression returning to its usual neutral state. Her gaze cool, pensive.]

I'm used to injury.

[It's just usually her body's fault, not someone else's. But she slowly extends her hand.]

Yoon. Will you use this? It's an opportunity. Maybe a healing spell will be more familiar, and assist in your focus.

[tsyoon]

[ Yoon blinks, surprised-- then hesitates. She's not wrong, but... ]

I don't know anything, not really. I don't actually know any healing spells. I don't know what could go wrong if I messed up.

It's irresponsible to experiment on you like this.

[ Seriously don't encourage that sort of behavior!! ]

[showsnopiety]

It would be irresponsible if I did not intend to bear the consequences, for good or for ill. I also have a high pain tolerance.

Not to mention doing this...you're more likely to succeed because you value healing. Other people doing better. It's something you can visualize, more than something you've never experienced before.

Correct?

[She's very rational about this you should praise her!]