intro ♚ may

[boardmaster]

WELCOME TO Caissa

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.

WARNING: Contains death and related graphic descriptions.

ONE ♟ P.S. I Love You

It's a perfectly ordinary morning in Caissa. Enprise’s two suns peer over the horizon and smack into your face through the large bay window. At half past six in the morning, the floor nanny’s built-in alarm goes off and plays Prime Minister Teddy’s hit song Love Me Like Your Doughnuts. Once everyone in their rooms is up and awake, this mechanical pigeon announces that letters and small packages have been delivered to every Hero’s personal box in the mailroom. Yes, even you, Naked Newcomer! These letters are from the Heroes’ many fans all over Blanc. No matter who you are, there are small tokens of appreciation attached to the letters: these may include candies shaped like stars, chocolates with a surprise gooey center, or even a can of rainbow beans for those not fond of sweets.

Letters for veteran Heroes are full of praise and gratitude for the success of the naval battle at Graupera. New Heroes receive mail that express support towards their future endeavors as the Blanc military’s most formidable task force. That’s not all the letters contain, however; the citizens also plead for our Heroes’ help with new problems that have arisen in the fields surrounding Caissa. However, the details the letters provide are scant and vague. The fans seem more concerned with recent damage caused by some unknown entity. There is a 15-page narrative of how a man built this beautiful house for his lovely, sweet wife who did nothing wrong, but nothing about why the house is in shambles now. A market on the outskirts of Caissa lost 30,000 colle’s worth of food, but the writer neglects to explain what happened to the food. All you know is that this person stayed up all week taking inventory and now it has gone to waste.

Sharing letters with each other might give you a clue on where to start your investigations and figure out which areas were hit the hardest. Or you can talk about how cute your adoring fans are. One way or another, you’ll have to get tongues wagging to make any progress. Unfortunately, Blanc isn’t going to save itself and from the sound of it, this problem is bigger than expected...

TWO ♟ Distant Howling

After pooling information, the new objective is clear: to investigate the damages. The vast, vibrant fields around Caissa seem a good place to start. They are mostly empty, but here or there you will see some people from nearby smaller villages and farms. The villagers will admit to having seen threatening shadows move over the fields and having heard harsh, high-pitched howling. They are willing to point Heroes toward possible shadow sightings, but are otherwise reluctant to act as guides. They are simple townsfolk who wish to return to their quiet lifestyle.

You may come up with small settlements (e.g. villages, farms, inns, taverns, etc.) as they are considered minor locations.

Heroes will soon discover that some of the smaller villages have been burned down entirely. The smell of ash and charred wood is thick in the air, though some buildings are also smashed as as though by something large and heavy. Nearby trees which haven’t been uprooted or knocked over are scorched and their blackened branches crackle ominously in the breeze. There are large marks dug deep into the ground and—is that a cow? Heroes will find tagged fruit cows scattered everywhere, scared, confused and mooing sadly next to their dead fruit cow friends. Fruit cows are usually found in Gresser, how strange...

A couple of days’ worth of exploration may help you realize that whatever is terrorizing Blanc doesn’t only devour hapless animals. While trying to navigate the numerous backcountry roads and farmlands, Heroes may stumble upon some gruesome clues: a charred limb—or what’s left of it; teeth, half-eaten ribcages, melted jewelry, and other smaller bits; the less fortunate may actually trip over a corpse staring unseeingly into the sky. It has been gutted, half-roasted, and seems to have lain in the sun for some time; and if someone is brave enough to roll the body onto its stomach, they may discover claw marks on its back. The victim must have tried to flee from something.

The amount of damage grows the more our Heroes travel south. What could be awaiting them?

THREE ♟ Breath of Fire

Let’s put the clues together. Fire? Check. Claw marks? Check. Large shadows seemingly from something flying overhead? Check and check. Congratulations, Blanc, you are suffering from a dragon plague.

It will take several days for the Heroes to locate the source of the rumors. The dragons seem to have taken up residence in the hilly area near Caissa, where the slopes grow steeper and then drop suddenly off into cliffs. The beasts are quite willing to greet guests warmly: there’s nothing like a burst of dragonfire and a deafening screech to brighten your day.

The only warning you’ll get before they launch themselves into the air and at Heroes is the sound of trees bursting beneath their claws. Beware: a single swipe can cause some serious damage and their fire breath, fast, frequent and garnished with the occasional, boiling hot drop of saliva, is nothing you want to stick around for. The dragons cannot be reasoned with, nor can they be tamed. A queen’s Charm magic WILL NOT work. Should someone try and reach out with their senses to see if the dragons are somehow hurting, they will only feel something alien and terrible.

Heroes aren't the only ones suffering under the dragons’ claws, unfortunately. Scattered around the area are a few small and isolated farms, and the animals and the farmers are easy prey and unlikely to flee in time. Heroes will want to intervene before the dragons can devour and destroy. If they are too late, they will need to provide support. Put out fires, heal the injured, catch panicked cows before they become pot roast! The dragons might be coming around for another attack, so it would be a good time to test barriers and other damage control skills.

To make matters worse, Blanc’s weather has decided that now is the perfect time for a hailstorm. It’s barely anything at first, beginning with small kernels the size of corn here and there to wet the grass and ruin your footing. Then it becomes much larger and greater in number. Dragons are not exempt from this hailhole: large enough pieces may rip holes in their wings! Heroes may want to use this to their advantage; additionally, casting ice and wind spells will suddenly become a lot easier, and the dragons will struggle to navigate in the stormy weather, forcing them to land more often. Better get up on that dragon’s back!

In the end, survivors of the dragon horde let out one last, collective shriek before they turn southward. The battle has been won, but the war is just beginning: the dragons have only been chased away. Their nest seems to be elsewhere and that is a worrying prospect. Dragons aren’t native to Blanc, which can only mean one thing…

Meanwhile, a new job opening has appeared at Gresser. At least you finally know what to do with all those fruit cows.

INFO ♟ Welcome!

Welcome to Crosscheck's May intro log! For any further questions, please see the FAQ or reach us at the Contact Us page. Have fun!

Also by request, here are some Player Endorsements that may be of interest!

Heaven's Feel: Looking for something else to do? In the mood for more light-hearted mingling? Check out Heaven’s Feel, Caissa’s first heroic matchmaking service! Opening week is going on now.

Training Notice: This training notice is located on the bulletin board. You might want to take a look.

Comments

Aisha Clanclan | Outlaw Star

[herplaceinthesun]

One

[After the requisite screaming upset at being naked in a strange place, Aisha settles into the idea of being a Hero quickly? Why? Because it's obvious that if these people needed someone to help with their war, she'd be called and chosen. A Ctarl-Ctarl would be of great assistance to anyone, and someone like her...

(It wasn't if she was going to see home for a long time either way, after all)

The letters and gifts don't hurt. In fact, they distract her from the growing worry that something's wrong with her, that she's weaker. She doesn't have to fight to know that something's not quite right with her body, and it bothers her more than being whisked off here ever could. Her irritation comes out in the way she moves around the Hall, donning the uniform and holding a particularly thick letter up.]

Did this farmer ever actually say what happened to his damn house besides how sad his wife is about it?

[She gets his wife is beautiful and pure, but dang man.]

Two

[It takes a few days to get any real info out of people, but eventually she hitchhikes her way to a village on the outskirts of Cassia. It's a skill she's happy translates here, but soon enough she's frowning. There isn't much left of this place at all, a house here, a few trees there.

She's never seen a residential place hit so hard, and it isn't easy to swallow. People like this, just living their lives, deserved to be safe.

Aisha's eyes shut as she says a few words over the village, but soon enough they're flying open. You see, there's definitely at least one survivor of the fruit cow variety. And it's decided that the end of this hero's hair was worth a taste.]

Hey! Let go of that!

Three

[Oddly enough, she's excited. Eager, even.

Dragons? A hailstorm? The worst escort mission ever in the form of random fruit cows running around? It was pretty perfect, and this is something she knows she can deal with for the most part. Not alone, not anymore, but even in her state right now this was what suited her best. Granted, she couldn't exactly punch a dragon while standing on the ground.

Grinning, she points to the sky, the awe-inspiring creatures in flight.]

Is there any way you can get them down? Or Aisha further up?

Three

[drawmecute]

*Lola was terrified! She thought the sea battle was bad but dragons were worse, and hail was worse than rain. Generally she wanted to hide... on the other hand, the little airhead was aware that she possessed a rather unique helpful skill here. So, that in mind...*

No way! I could maybe get up there myself. But not if I tried to drag anyone along with me...

*Lola looked around for anything that might... ahah! Lola ran over to grab a long rope, and started tying one end into a loop she eyeballed at maybe being able to wrap around something of the dragon.*

Can Aisha climb?

*Also Lola was trying to figure out when the fuzzy catgirl was not something that bothered her. Cause really that should bother her right now.*

[herplaceinthesun]

[Being afraid was fair, and was probably the smarter reaction to the things going on around them. Being out here anyway took guts for most people, and Aisha could recognize that.]

I can't help you much down here... maybe if I'd brought a rifle. But I can definitely climb, this is nothing compared to what the academy would throw at us.

[Ctarl military school was no joke, not in the slightest.]

Just try to keep things steady.

[Hey, she's a catgirl but there are dragons here!]

[drawmecute]

Hopefully this rope is long enough...

*Because if Lola were a giant angry rampaging dragon she would not appreciate what Lola was about to do. She watched carefully, and when one of them swooped down low enough she kicked off the ground. A burst of mana from out of her boots and she was flying toward the Dragon's underbelly. Barely getting the loop in place so it snared on Dragon's foot as it moved past.*

I'll join you on its next pass!

*Lola didn't exactly grab hold of the dragon as she was up there, so she's going to casually fall back to earth and hope she's gotten good at this whole landing thing. She has been practicing but, but perfection isn't really something she's gotten to yet.*

[herplaceinthesun]

Whoa...

[That was pretty damn impressive, Lola. Aisha watches the rope loop around the dragon's foot, nodding. It won't be as easy as it would have been back home, but that won't stop her.]

Alright!

[Crouching low once the other girl's landed safely, she leaps up for the rope. Catching it tears at her hands, but she doesn't let go, even as she's knocked into a tree. The pain's distracting, but not enough to keep her from getting on the back of the dragon and holding on tight.

Now to get her weapon to work. How did this go again...?]

One

[showsnopiety]

Hm?

[Caren had been going over her own letter, and how they had been waxing in vein about how their...something or rather had been destroyed. Really, she didn't care. She just wanted to figure out what all the nonsense they were babbling about.

But nope, didn't get that at all. Golden eyes peered over the letter, taking the woman in. Strange looking, with her ears and tails. But it may or may not explain some of the uniforms that had been prepared in advance.]

Perhaps it is...ah. Between the lines? I'm uncertain why I'm supposed to care in the first place.

[Saint of empathy, that was Caren.]

[herplaceinthesun]

[Aisha can't help but laugh, heartily. This lady just didn't give a fuck, did she?

It was refreshing.]

Aren't we heroes? Isn't that what they brought us here for, to do their jobs?

[Her tone isn't lecturing, she sounds more amused than anything. It's the type of thing Aisha would expect from Terrans, needing assistance and pawning off all their problems on others.

She grins at the other woman.]

Save the damsels in distress?

[showsnopiety]

[If she cared, it was deep, deep down. Waaaaay down.]

I can't be certain if it's to listen to every sob story. If that's the case, then it's clearly a waste of their time and ours.

[Completely deadpan, even as she watches Aisha. She seems amused by Caren's antics, so she doesn't waver.]

Especially if it draws us away from actual people in distress. It's a house. A house can be rebuilt or relocated.

[herplaceinthesun]

[It's a unique reaction at least.]

You've got a point there. If it was just that I'd shrug it off, and this guy is clearly some kinda idiot, but...

Houses don't just disappear, do they? That seems like it could get messy down the line if we just let that keep going.

[The whole case has her curious, and far be it from her to resist wanting to know.]

three

[corpsedoctor]

[ It's unfortunate ... but Thunderland is just as eager as the young cat woman is to see dragons! ]

I believe that there is a way that I can get them down. [ He reaches into his jacket's pocket to pull out a handheld telescope. Adjusting his eyepatch first, he wonders if he's actually going to be able to do what he thinks he can do. Lifting the spyglass up, he looks through to try to catch sight of one of those dragons. ]

I really cannot wait to dissect this creature! Just a moment! [ He feels the mana pour out of his hands into his weapon before firing a volleyed shot out at the creature. It misses the mark but strikes another on the back. ] A positive ... it's definitely coming down to see us.

[herplaceinthesun]

Alright!

[Aisha's more than okay with watching the good doctor work, especially considering there's not much she can help with at the moment. Maybe she'll need to invest in some sort of gun again, but for now...

His telescope seems more than good enough. She can't help but let out a cheer when he gets a hit, it's so exciting! Even if she hasn't done her fair share to help yet.]

Good job! Is this the first time you've seen one of these things too?

[corpsedoctor]

It is! I've heard of such creatures, but never actually seen one myself...

[ Creatures like these would be considered god-like in his world. He cannot begin to understand what has caused them to act in the way -- and he is going to grab hold of the young woman's arm to start dashing for cover. ]

... I'm thinking they did not appreciate being shot with that blast!

[herplaceinthesun]

Yeah, they're mythical back home.

[There were pictures of them on the way to the Leyline, but Aisha didn't really know what that would mean. The important thing is that these creatures were here, now and currently trying their damnedest to burn the two of them to a crisp.

Luckily she can keep up, and hopefully there's something that can hold up under this onslaught.]

They should get a little tougher skin about it. After all, they did start this!

one

[avantguard]

[ His wife is a cinnamon roll, apparently.

This girl is talking to herself in the hall and Asuna glances at her as they pass by each other. She doesn't look familiar. Someone who looks like that would stand out, even among all the Heroes. Actually, she reminds her of Adra with her long ears...

Well, now, of course she has to stop them. She stops and turns, calling out: ]

Excuse me!

[herplaceinthesun]

[The purest of cinnamon rolls.

Aisha's a little caught up in her thoughts and this ridiculous letter. Of course, she does turn around when she's called out to, tilting her head curiously. All the annoyance drains from her face, at least for the moment.

Huh.]

Yeah?

urg sorry for late

[avantguard]

[ How does she go about this? She can't suddenly ask this girl she doesn't know if she's a blood elf no matter how curious she is. Asuna isn't blunt enough for that. ]

Are you a new arrival?

[ Yes this is a GOOD START ]

Same, actually! Don't worry about it

[herplaceinthesun]

[That's exactly how Aisha would have handled it! Because she's rude.]

Yeah, I am. Got all the welcome letters and everything~

[Did they get people in that often?

three.

[sunderings]

[ Endearing to him, her zeal, how it serves as a counterbalance to his poise as he stands beside her, hands clasped over the pommel of Guiding Light, the blade sunk into the ground at their feet to stand as a fulcrum. In battle, the Hero King is unshakable, though he is not unmoved by the sight of such proud beasts as they soar on high, even as one nears, gliding lower to the earth as it heaves a great breath of fire which would have most certainly charred a particular pair of Heroes to well done, were they not presently housed beneath a barrier which glimmers, iridescent even amid the smoke, ash, and hail.

The dragon banks, making to return for a second pass, and it is then that Sion begins with a blessing of negative design.]

A creature so weak— [ Though there had been nothing feeble about the beast in moment's prior, it falters now in flight, its mana-flow constricted by a blessing of negative design. ] —should prostrate itself before its betters.

[ And lo: the dragon's wings (and wings alone, for the second incantation woven into his King's decree is a curse, a magic not yet as honed as his specialty) lock into paralysis, and the creature crashes down to the earth with a mighty bellow, claws raking at the air, tail lashing as its snarl manifests in a pillar of fire without target, dissipating into the sky. ]

For you.

[ —is all which really must be said in the wake of such magic. Lifting Guiding Light from its resting place, the King holds the blade at the ready, golden eyes lambent and alight as he looks to his newly-met comrade. ]

I am at your back, my Lady.

[ I will guard you needn't be said. ]

[herplaceinthesun]

[It's not a perfect fit, her viciousness and his grace, but it seems effective enough. His blade and his demeanor are both beautiful to her, as it the barrier they stand under. Aisha isn't someone who'd ever asked for protection or ever would, but she can't deny there was something about being able to watch the carnage unfold.

She's smiling, in awe.

(For her?)]

You're speaking my language, good sir~

[There's more delight than anything else as the beast falls. This guy is good, there's no denying that. It makes her wonder how a person gets to be so powerful, but this certainly isn't the time to ask questions. Nah, time for action, and she nods in assent.

What she's going to do is not going to be pretty. But it'll be effective, and she feels the mana flow to her bracelets, strengthening her body for the task.

Once she gets to the creature, her assault starts like this:

Sharp claws sink deep into one wing, then another, tearing the appendage apart. It's still thrashing about, but there'll be no escape from their judgement. This is the sort of thing that make her feel alive, and no number of titles could ever replace it.]

[sunderings]

[ Good sir? ]

Sion.

[ Fluidly, he matches her pace, the curtain of his hair a silvered streak behind him as they make haste, bridging the distance between themselves and their fallen prey. Prey, because they are the hunters in the here and now, having tracked the horde to the southern hills of Caissa. And are they not both prepared to take their kill? His companion brandishes her smile as though it were a weapon, exhilarated and made all the more fierce by it, and where he is grace, he is also without mercy for any creature, however magnificent, which would endanger human life. ]

I am Sion Astal— [ And she is a vision, her claws rivaling the dragon's own as she dismantles the beast's wings, shredding membrane and snapping bone, practiced even in her ferocity. It does not escape him, how the bracelets which gild her wrists seem to be her true weapon, no more than the way the dragon writhes, makes to lash out against her in its agony. ] —Hero King of Roland Empire.

[ Or rather, lashes out at him, for where he'd maintained his distance before, he closes in now, well aware of the pull of aggression which goes hand in hand with his rank—it is precisely his intention to draw the beast off of her, away, so that she might be better able to strike.

And so begins a dance of dodging and weaving, his golden eyes locking with the blue of her own in the briefest of moments to let her know that it's all right for him to remain like this. There is nothing about his stance with is panicked: always, he is one step ahead. ]

And it is surely a maiden of battle who graces me with her presence now.

[herplaceinthesun]

Nice to meet ya, Sion. I'd say it's a shame it's like this, but I'm having a good time!

[It's practically a party over here between the two of them. Her lack of worry about him is the highest compliment she can pay in this situation. The dragon under her is hurting and angry, and soon enough all that anger is directed at Sion instead. Was this part of his magic, or was he too tempting a target to resist?

Either way, it seems like he can handle it, and when their eyes meet it's all the assurance she needs.

The bracelets are the weapon she was gifted, that allow her to use the one she preferred. Her body, honed and trained for this purpose. Not specifically, but if it stood in her way she could put it down. While tearing the damn creature apart didn't sound like a bad use of her time, it would take a bit more than she liked. Aiming for the head would be the most efficient, and she makes her way up it's torso as Sion dances away.

If she's a vision, he isn't half bad myself.]

His highness is a flatterer... but you're not wrong. [She's a delicate flower, who happens to like bashing heads in, like she's attempting now.] 'm Lady Aisha Clanclan of the Ctarl-Ctarl Empire.

[All notions of claiming her own or her empire's superiority are erased by the task at hand. Right now they were both on the same side, simply soliders.]

3. This is going to go spectacularly...!

[houndumb]

Do I look like a catapult to you??

[The source of the grumpy answer is a rumpled boy in a similar uniform currently shimmied about halfway up a tree; there may already be some dirt and dust on him in addition to sticks and leaves in his hair, suggesting this is not his first time challenging this particular tree. Maybe he's just really bad at climbing??

(There's what looks like a large, fancy armlet wound around one of his arms that he keeps fiddling with despite having to keep his grip on the tree.)

Nora's distracted just now, or he would have been more annoyed at being interrupted in his quest to... do exactly what Aisha's trying to do; there are one or two things he'd like to try with his weapon, but he was kind of counting on trying them out in a place with no people. This is an unforeseen kink in the plans, and he's going to treat it like one:]

Besides, these are mine! I saw 'em first, so how's about you go look for some that're already on the ground if you can't figure it out?

As well it should

[herplaceinthesun]

No, you look like an idiot.

[Silly boy, don't you know dogs can't climb trees. Aisha looks annoyed as hell but at least she isn't in danger at the moment. So they have plenty of time to have this really productive discussion. Which is definitely going to happen.

But climbing doesn't seem like a bad idea in and of itself, so she's going to steal his tree too! She climbs it with a fair bit of ease, sitting on a limb just above his.

She's not being petty, what of it?]

You can't call dibs on dragons, what the hell is wrong with you?

[houndumb]

Don't call me an idiot while you're copying me, moron!!

[Oh, yes, this is going to be an incredibly productive discussion, complete with Nora's hairtrigger temper snapping probably 500 times as Aisha casually invades his nonexistent treehouse. Also, he tries to block her while she's going up, like a completely mature and reasonable individual -- she's too quick for him, though.

Damn cats. He didn't have an issue with cats before getting here, but Enprise seems to be conspiring to change that... for some reason.

So he settles for kicking the tree trunk, which does nothing but stub his toe (though he keeps it to a hiss) and shake a few leaves loose, and glowering up at his unwelcome companion on her perch.]

And I can call dibs on dragons if there's enough of 'em out there, do you suck at finding your own dragons too? Is that it?!

[herplaceinthesun]

Aisha's not copying you. I'm actually gonna be successful, for starters.

[Reasonable and mature, that's the name of the game.

Giggling at him kicking the tree, she settles in. There were more than a few dragons, so it wasn't like taking a break was a horrible idea. Besides, this guy was fun to mess with, it made for an even easier target than the flying lizards.]

Nah, it's just that calling dibs implies that you can take it out by yourself.

[Which she severely doubts.]