pawnstorm | intro ♚ april

Entry tags:

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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ maybe because boys are dumb, but you didn't hear that from Saber. The drop of the plush gets her to look up at Asuna as if there's danger. Are they being attacked? What's wrong?

Where is the action--oh... She closes her eyes as she returns to this humiliation once more. ]

Yes. It is the Holy Grail... [ A sigh. ] Fate likes to weave satires, it seems.

[ She only almost DOES IT. Saber worked hard to find her a new one she isn't going to drop it so easily.

SABER CHILL ]

Holy Grail... [ That was in stories about King Arthur, wasn't it? She doesn't get the thing about Fate but I can't believe you hei ]

There's no way it's the same Holy Grail from legend, right? [ She's trying to look closer but it's IMPOSSIBLE she is stuck behind this plush. Maybe she should just send it to Setsuna now and pay for it later. It's hard to talk normally. ]

[ hello? Saber and the Holy Grail are fated to never be, yet here we are. A ploy by the crosscheck mods to instill the very hurt and suffering Saber has dealt with and accepted just to SLAP HER IN THE FACE. ]

That is what they told me... But it is not the Grail I remember. [ The Grail is entirely different--destructive, powerful... Nothing like this cup that refills itself and protects.

She doesn't notice how interested Asuna is, so she doesn't try to show her. ]

[ You know, Asuna would get it if she knew Saber was actually King Arthur. She would then proceed to ask if she could be a Knight of the Round Table if she gets promoted to a Knight. She will but she dunno. Asuna is livin on a prayer.

I mean man that Holy Grail. Rough stuff. ]

You... remember? [ UM ] You read about it, too?

[ This plush is slowly getting on her nerves. This seems like an important conversation and not one a plush should be between. ]

Yes, I remember. [ It's to indicate that she doesn't read about the Grail. ]

I, like many heroes of legend and history, sought the Holy Grail in a series of wars. [ Wow, she is hyping herself up, but she's talking in the context of her world where she is powerful! Even if she's a girl here and there, it doesn't change who she is. ]

It is but a far-off dream...

[ Asuna catches that differentiation, raising an eyebrow. But, once more, it's half hidden in fluff and stuff.

Saber is talking like she fought in a war for the Holy Grail. Seriously? She knows there's some incredible people here, brought from other worlds, but SERIOUSLY? ]

If you remember... did you know the Knights of the Round Table?

[ She's into Knights ok ]

Yes. They are my knights. [ The bomb drop is hereee. She guesses it doesn't matter much if her identity is revealed. They're not in a Grail War here... And the servants that do learn it, will only forget then next time they are summoned. ]

Do you know of them? [ While her legend is known well across the world, it may be different in this one. ]

My?

[ My, my, my... ]

Edited (FUCK) 2016-05-08 21:11 (UTC)

[ Huh. ]

Huh?!

What is wrong, Asuna? [ She raises her eyebrows as she tries to think of... wHat she said that might have sparked this reaction.

She's not sure if she said anything out of the ordinary?? ]

[ SABER???? If Saber said her knights then that means

She's King Arthur?! Wait, but... King. Saber is a girl. Maybe she heard wrong. Again.

That could happen. ]

A-ahaha. I'm sorry, Saber. It's hard to hear you behind this plush, I think. [ Man forget this, she's setting it down at her feet so they can talk face to face. ]

There, that's better. So, you were saying that you do know the Knights?

[ She scratches her cheek... Thinking if she has to maybe clarify? It's probably hard to believe since she is a small girl, after all. Appearances make an expression, after all. ]

Yes, they are my knights. [ This will be different this time. ] I am Artoria Pendragon--most would know me as King Arthur.

[ That's what she thought she said.

This is a joke, right? She can't help but think of it as a joke. Or Saber is a bit funny in the head.

No. Is there a world, a universe where King Arthur is actually a girl? That actually sounds much better than the original story where he's a guy. Girls can be kings.

So cool.

Er, but, she still can't just believe that this is THE!! King Arthur. ]

Hold on. You said your name was Saber, didn't you? [ She's so CONFUSED, therefore not bowing to a king yet. ] Is that an alias?

[ This is no joke. King Arthur of legend in her world is a strong, independent woman!! There have been plenty of men that are actually women in the fate/ world actually, but gender/sex never speaks for one's skill on the battlefield. ]

Yes. It's the title given to me. [ There's a nod. Asuna is quick to catch onto these things. ] I was summoned under the Saber class during the Holy Grail War. To conceal my identity, I went by that alias like many other servants seeking the Grail.

[ Gender/sex never speaks for one's skill in anything yo!!!

There are a lot of concepts and words that are new to her in what Saber, uh, King Arthur said to her so she's just so lost. It's easy to catch onto the alias but what does she mean Saber class? Is that the same as the ranks here in Blanc?

That would be like calling someone who has a Knight rank just "Knight." Well, she might not be opposed to that entirely but all the same. All of this seems to convoluted to be a joke or that Saber is taking a game too seriously. Like some chuuni.]

Um, Your Majesty... [ She seems to be going along with it for now. ]

Will you be gathering more Knights to uphold the code?

[ She blinks several times, not expecting the question. It's... Nostalgic and makes her think back on the time when her own knights were barely starting out. They were young, optimistic--they had dreams to serve their country, to be knights worthy of the king.

She's almost speechless, but she knows she must speak. A bold, important question, must be answered with the same finesse. ]

... My time has long passed, Asuna. [ A knight's honor isn't something exclusive, but she's guessing Asuna is asking to be considered part of the rounds...? But even then, what appeal is there to being a knight in modern times? At least she's assuming Asuna is from a modern world.

Maybe she can be convinced if there is a good reason to this. ]

[ She's kind of asking she's just being POLITE ABOUT IT or trying to anyway.

It's true that King Arthur's reign is over but... but she wanted to believe there was a reason everyone was brought here. For Saber, maybe it was to create a gathering of Knights to spearhead the Hero Force. She wants to stand there at the front line but she can't do it alone.

And she's not the type to put a group together like that. Not like Saber, who was a King. ]

Yes, but you know about Noir, right? The Knights of the Round Table were a group of exceptional warriors. [ ASUNA, SABER ALREADY KNOWS THIS ] If we were to do the same thing here, we would have a powerful fighters working together to make this a world without war. So we can go home.

[ She's talking fast and by the end she's almost breathless ]

[ All of this enthusiasm makes her smile, but at the same time it's rather wry. It's endearing, yet at the same time makes her feel inadequate in comparison of her beliefs. Still, she answers sternly. ]

... My knights became who they are from their own diligence. [ She did not teach them, only lead them. Even then, she led them where? A world without war doesn't exist, but she doesn't say something so cruel. ]

Are you sure that you are not up to that task yourself, Asuna? [ As in why don't you lead? There's no ridicule, only genuine advice. The world needs more leaders and she thinks passing on the torch benefits it far more. ]

[ But didn't they come together with King Arthur's leadership? That's what she's getting at. BE THE LEADER THE ROUND TABLE NEEDS.

No, a world without war doesn't exist. But someone very important to her has that hope, her senpai, and so she carries that hope on her shoulders as his kouhai. Maybe a world without war isn't possible, but a peaceful world might be. ]

M-me?

[ Her? Lead? Knights of the Round Table Version 2.0?? ]

But you're here. Why would I lead?

[ are you shirou emiya? Is this Fate/Stay Night all over again? Her smile isn't so self-pitying and incredulous now that Asuna seems so meek. ]

Why not you, Asuna? [ Another question comes, leaving Asuna little time to answer because she speaks again. ]

I can tell by the look in your eyes that you have what it takes. [ It's the light in her eyes, the enthusiasm in her voice, and her strong aspirations. They are all beautiful, nostalgic, reminding her of when she was like that. ] Every king, every knight, must start somewhere.

I will assist you if you wish to make this real.

[ She won't let Asuna blindly go into this at least?! ]

[ LOOKS DEEPLY AT SABER SHIROU STYLE

Asuna can think of a few reasons for not her. For one, she's not a king. She's not even a knight, really. She wants to be. For another, she's never lead anybody before. Even during the dungeon or while fighting, she was better at following along then calling the shots or going her own way to help others.

She's also pretty sure she can't stand in the same shoes King Arthur did. That kind of responsibility and pressure seems daunting.

But Saber has a point too. They have to start somewhere and her cheeks flush as she gains the blessing of the King, herself. Blessing and support.

SHE CAN'T DEAL. Blinking rapidly, she looks at her feet. ]

... Really?

[ Ah... Are you a village maiden? Or a warrior? Which is it? She tilts her head to one side for a second, trying to meet Asuna's gaze somehow. However, she relents quickly, considering that not everyone can hold the responsibilities of a king.

It's a path one will walk alone. It's dark in every single way no matter how much glory is thrown on it. But this isn't about being king, it's about bringing others together to collectively work as a team. ]

You have to believe in yourself. [ That is all she can say and another thing: ]

And ask yourself if this is what you truly want.

[ Both. She's a young girl thrown into war, she had a fragile heart but when the tough gets going Asuna kicks ass too.

If Asuna is one thing, in this world or the one she's from, it's that when she has a goal she will complete that goal no matter what it takes. The village maiden who was looking at the ground shyly raises her chin and her eyes are full of resolution. ]

This is what I want. With a group as talented as your knights had been, we'll be the front line.

[ Even if she doesn't believe in herself, she has incredible willpower. ]

Good. [ That is the spirit that kindles the same in Saber. There is a smile that shows confidence as she too raises her head higher, one fit for a king even of her stature. It's strange to be talking about this in a milk shop, but as said previously... Baby steps.

It's a heavy prospect, but nothing more than child's play for a king--that is if they can find worthy people. Saber is also still a pawn, but whatever she's a king. ] While my sword is not present in this realm, I still promise victory.

Whenever you are ready or need me, you may call for me.

intro ♚ april

it's just barely there right

no...... :''( it phat not FLAT

if it's too fat she won't ever find pants

wears yoga pants her whole life

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/3

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)