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

Maki Nishikino | Love Live!

[cutiepanther]

♚ One: P.S. I Love Idol Hell

[ Back home, Maki was only just getting used to receiving fan mail at all. It had started off small, seeing how she was just one of nine members of an idol group out of a small no-name high school in Akihabara, Tokyo. Only after they finally became internationally famous with their performance in New York City did the letter and things really start to roll in. Soon she saw herself with her friends up on giant posters and billboards all around Akiba, creating perhaps the most surreal moment of her entire life!

So to see it again, addressed to Maki and piling up in the mailroom is almost a daily occurrence now. She's been going out of her way to help in every town she ended up in, healing when she could, passing out bottles of healing potions she's been working on getting better at, sometimes even putting on impromptu performances in the Airy when she travels by airship. It's not that she's ever wanted to be famous, but she can't seem to avoid it much either...

The problem really becomes apparent when Maki opens her mailbox and ends up trying to catch the avalanche of letters and small package, letting out a weak cry and she's knocked down, nearly drowning. ]

Kyaa!!

♚ Two: Distant Howling Festa

[ Seeing how she's now a King, having been promoted recently, Maki decided that she would try to take on a few more jobs, rather than spending all her time in the library studying. That said, she still makes sure to check in with her not dad friend Lord Light, working on her healing technique whenever she can. After a night in a small tavern (where they wouldn't let her go to sleep after singing "Aishiteru Banzai" three times, Maki headed out with another hero to a nearby town, Southwell-by-the-sea.

She had heard rumors that the town may have been a little worse for the wear.. but no one could say exactly why.

The first thing Maki and her partner would have noticed as they walked an old, windy dirt road together was the smell. Something like burnt popcorn filling the air.

Just as they reach over the last hill, they can see down at the bottom of the slope was is not a town at all. But a burned crater that threatens to overwhelm them with the strong scent of char and ash. ]

Oh my god... what... what happened...

♚ Three: Breath of Summer Colored Fire

[ How could they fight a dragon?! The beast had landed with a giant gust of wind right in front of her, there in the farm closest to Southwell-by-the-sea just over another hill. The dragon had come for the livestock here, and was met with Heroes instead. It attacked as soon as Maki had arrived, giving her just enough time to catch up to the Heroes who had been tracking it ahead of her. It had landed in an already burning field in front of Maki and the others, staring them down, blowing out embers with a huff from its snout. ]

W-What do we do?!

[ Her voice felt heavy, like it could barely squeak out of her throat. She had fought a few things in her time as a Hero here... but this... was something completely different!

That's when the dragon took a great breath in... and Maki knew what was going to happen.

What she didn't know was that as a King now, her mana signature attracted the ire of things like dragons. Which was why it let loose a cone of fire right where the poor redhead girl stood frozen in terror. ]

One

[long_live_the_queen]

[Kaede had been busy systematically opening each package she'd gotten in the mail, ostensibly checking each small cluster of chocolates for poison or explosives. In reality she was just eating one from each box, because yes she was going to be That Person.

Someone else walking into the mailroom initially went mostly unnoticed—until a mountain of paper falls on them. Kaede leaned around the corner to look, and...couldn't help chuckling. A rare noise, from her.]

Problems?

[cutiepanther]

[ ...Okay, if Maki even begun to think that there could be EXPLOSIVES in her packages she might never be able to open another again. At the moment she's already careful of eating the sweets in them!

But that's mostly because she's afraid of the extra calories.

With the mountain of letters practically dumped on her, Maki could only begin to think this would be how she died. It would be like that American story about the hiker all alone in the mountains, stuck between rocks--

Okay it would be nothing like that at all! But she is definitely feeling embarrassed enough to die seeing how she's on her butt on the floor covered in letters like it were a snow drift. ]

I-I can handle this just fine!

[long_live_the_queen]

[Kaede's just made of 500% paranoia, don't mind her.]

Sure about that?

[She stepped over to nudge a pile of the letters away with her foot, still gnawing on a chocolate.]

2

[liberal_arts]

... Scorched earth. Leave nothing behind. It is the policy of monsters... -And not necessarily the traditional kind, he thought, as he stepped past her, surveying the damage.-

We should prepare the proper rites for this sort of thing...

[cutiepanther]

There were people living here...

[ It's a quiet sort of thing, that she mutters under her breath, but Maki is definite shaken up here! She's covering her nose and mouth with her hand, trying not to breath in the smoke still coming slowly from the embers that used to be fields.

She looks at her travelling companion, watching Kasen's back as he strode ahead of her, finding her legs a little heavy to move just yet. ]

Rites?

[liberal_arts]

Burial rites. -He didn't turn back to her, but he did stop. Maki was... he knew she was hardly cut out for this sort of thing. She was an artist, but not a soldier... His heart felt heavy knowing she'd seen so much more than she ever should have already.-

One

[stonefree]

[After spending most of the morning figuring out more about this strange and bizarre place, Jolyne looked like she had gathered enough information. Although, there were still a lot more questions running through her mind. Whoever wrote those letters sure were vague what about happened...

Suddenly, her thoughts came to a halt as soon as she heard a loud scream from across the hall! Being the curious girl that she was, she couldn't help but pop in and see what just happened!

Of course, once she did? Jolyne had to give a whistle]

Well look at you! Aren't you little Ms. Popular?

[cutiepanther]

[ Maki should have been here long enough to realize that things like this could almost be expected. Then again, she hadn't thought that all the healing she had done as she travelled would be so well received.

The avalanche of letters and small boxes is definitely getting through to her though, even as they threaten to suffocate her! ]

I-I didn't ask for all of these! [ Okay, not suffocating, but definitely embarrassed, hiding her reddened face behind her equal red hair, as she attempts to move the letters and find her footing. ]

[stonefree]

Tell that to all those who sent you those letters, I don't think they will agree.

[Snarking aside, Jolyne walked toward said huge pile of boxes and letters before digging the poor girl out. As she looked through the letters, she couldn't resist a snicker or two.]

But I can tell you have some very serious admirers! You must feel really loved.

Three

[path_to_the_world]

[Water and wind surged up between Maki and the flames, it served as a good enough barrier to not let the girl get roasted alive, and it stood long enough for Tyrnen to grab her arm and yank her away behind a wall.]

Don't just stand there like that!

[Though he yelled rather harshly his heart was in his throat. He hadn't been sure if his reaction time was fast enough, he had almost been certain he was late and she was good as dead. He was so glad his impromptu reaction had managed to do something. Still... it wasn't like they were out of danger.]

[cutiepanther]

[ Maki hadn't taken barrier magic, but maybe she should have. Then again, given her completely and utter uselessness in the face of fear, it might not have helped.

She is forcefully jerked back into the present situation thouh, feeling the searing heat licking her skin, and being yanked back before she could take any real burns. If she had her eyebrows burnt off though she would scream for a week. ]

I-I don't... [ Her heart is pounding away at a thousand beats per minute, but her reaction time is still slow. Getting the words to her mouth seems to be the most difficult thing in the world, perhaps as much as trying to stop her body from shaking. ]

I don't know how to fight that thing!

[path_to_the_world]

That's because you don't fight it!

[He took her hand and started to try and drag her further away, put more walls and other things between them and the dragon.]

Others fight it, we support them. You were learning healing magic right? Did you ever look into protection? This is the sort of thing you cast shields for, on the others, and heal their wounds. There's nothing either of us can do when we're that close.

two

[ateaist]

Ufufu...you silly girl! It's exactly what we're here to figure out, you know.

[In a display of camaraderie to this absolute stranger Nobunaga even slaps a hand onto Maki's shoulder, giving it a firm little shake, but it's brief. She lets go soon after, walking ahead.]

Well, come on!

[cutiepanther]

But--

[ And like that she's being clapped on the back, and can't help but nearly fall forward, needing to take a step to catch herself! She's definitely not used to that kind of violent camaraderie!! She's an idol, not a soldier, as she's tried to explain on so many occasions.

But now, she might not be a soldier, but she could begin to think of herself as a medic at least. ]

W-Wait, shouldn't we wear masks or something?! [ The smoke could hurt their lungs, or so she would think, her medical knowledge still leaves some to be desires. Though as she exclaims, she hurries along after Nobunaga in her Hero uniform, the clinking of glass potions in the bag at her side announcing her steps. ]

[ateaist]

Should we? Hm...no, I don't think I will. You can go find one for yourself if you'd prefer.

[It sounds like an offer at least, as if she wouldn't really care if Maki did, but then Maki is human, so maybe it'd be a good idea...despite that, Nobunaga seems intent on marching forward regardless. She might be a pawn, but she hardly carries herself like one.]

If we hurry, we might even solve this before anyone else! Wouldn't that be something?

one

[medicament]

Oh!

[She's standing in front of her personal box reading one of the letters apparently addressed to herself (even though she has just arrived) when Maki's cry reaches her ears. Luna quickly closes the mailbox and goes to check what exactly has happened. It's not that difficult to find out where that sound came from, though, all thanks to the pile of letters on the floor.]

Oh my...are you alright? Do you need any help?

[cutiepanther]

[ Maybe Maki should have expected it... but she's still unsure how anyone could fit so many letters in a single small mailbox. ...It had to be magic. Everything around here seemed to be magic, despite the fact that a short time ago Maki was very sure that it really didn't exist at all!

Buried beneath the avalanche of white envelopes now, she might be wishing it wasn't real still. ]

I-If you don't mind... [ And from beneath the pile, a girl's hand appears, as if reaching up to be saved. ]

[medicament]

[Luna takes her hand immediately after spotting it and pulls Maki up on her feet carefully. The mountain of envelopes becomes slightly smaller as some of them slip down on the floor, making it more like a huge puddle now.]

You must be one of the greatest heroines out there. It's an honor to meet someone so formidable!

[She's completely serious and even bows in front of her before introducing herself.]

My name is Luna. Do you need help with carrying these?

One

[catfishtail]

[Namazuo's been pretty happy with all the notes and packages he's gotten. Especially the packages. Especially the ones with candy in them. All the candy. All of it for Namazuo.

Though at least he's not too wrapped up in sugary delights to not notice Maki getting knocked down by all the stuff she's received.] Whoa, you okay?

[cutiepanther]

[ Hopefully he's only eating his own candy and not sneaking into anyone else's mailboxes!

Not that Maki would be eating all hers anyway, an idol has to worry about the extra calories.. ]

I-I'm fine! [ Comes a voice from beneath the pile, followed by a small whine as the pile shifts from her moving under it. ]

[catfishtail]

[He wouldn't do that! He's not that desperate. Yet.]

You don't sound fine...here, I'll get these off you. [He starts to clear the pile away.] You sure did get a lot...

3

[hiryugaeshi]

Stop gawking and get out of the way!

[ It's not often that Kojirou loses his calm, but some poor unprepared idiot about to scorched by a fireball will do it. Thankfully(?) for Maki, she doesn't actually have to move, because a hooked chain is going to shoot through her uniform's collar, and once it's latched on, will reel in like she's some giant red fish. ]

You're a King now, aren't you? Enemies are going to attack you, so you had better learn to get quick on your feet. Now stay behind me, we're going to slay ourselves a dragon.

[cutiepanther]

Eeeeeh?!

[ It's a confused sort of squeal from the redhead as she finds herself jerked back by the collar, raising her hands in front of her defensively to try to use her mana to keep her face from being scorched. It happens without her even realizing she's doing it, landing with her back against Kojirou's chest with an "oomph". ]

Yes... but.. how?!

[ The dragon was huge, something Maki had never even seen before, much less had the pleasure of being face to face with it. It's no wonder she had been stunned!

Her weapon had felt useful against smaller birds and monsters that she had to fight before, but the stomping and raging dragon in front of them seemed to be another level completely. ]

[hiryugaeshi]

A dragon is no different from any other beast. Just a little bigger, a little cleverer, and occasionally breathing fire.

[ So really, no difference at all! Kojirou carefully removes the hook from Maki's uniform, making sure not to tear any more holes in it than he absolutely has to, as the dragon stomps closer. He's remarkably calm about the whole thing. ]

I'll engage it, so just stay beneath my flag and support me, how about that?

[ Yes, his flag. Kojirou's a Knight now, he gets a flag. It's one of those fancy elemental ones.

He's not going to wait for an answer though, who has time for that with a dragon barrelling down on them? He gives her hair a rough tousle before pushing her aside to grip his sword tightly with both hands, running forward to meet the big damn lizard head-on. ]