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

[praises]

I recognized your spell.

[ Before them, the dragon thrashes to its feet, snorting a flare of anger and heat through its nostrils. Allelujah's heel scuffs on the cobblestone, warding Lapis back. At his wrist, his new weapon advances, a single blade. And the dragon is quick to notice, molten eyes pinning on it. Rearing, its claws sink into the ground with mighty cracks. It bellows, the noise rising into a hissing shriek, scales seething and illuminated by the fires it set.

Allelujah doesn't move, all too willing to keep himself between her and it. ]

You shouldn't have come alone!

[oneirism]

[She should've expected that answer, really. They've fought together enough times that he would know what her wind spell would look like by now.

And as the dragon rises to it's feet, Lapis tenses instinctively, ready to move just in case as she watches the fire and heat escape from it. It's both terrifying to look at, but also amazing in a way - truly like something from a fairy-tale that came to life, but far more malicious than a fairy-tale could ever be.

Her feet take her a few steps back as Allelujah wards her so, glancing at his weapon briefly, her attention soon focused on the dragon as it shrieks. Worry fills her once more when she realizes Allelujah isn't moving out of the way, her hand tightening around her wounded arm, ignoring the resulting sting.]

- I couldn't wait! I had to get the dragons away from the farmers!

[The dragon hisses once more, another stream of fire and heat bellowing from it's mouth, before it advances towards the pair.]

[praises]

[ No, he's not getting out of the way. While his reprimand had been frustrated, angry for the sake of the situation, Allelujah can't fault her. He's done similarly in the past, and would do so again. They're in a position to protect these people who had no means to protect themselves against this abject violence, and Allelujah recognizes that it's a duty they share. To shift his focus to her is natural, knowing they must survive to protect.

The dragon charges and Allelujah thrusts his shield aside, moving to direct both himself and Lapis out of its way. It whirls in a flourish of violence, a prideful show of color, and comes down hard with a snap of its jaws. Allelujah allows it to meet Malakim, to exchange blows of teeth against metal. Each strike rings terrible and vibrant, and Allelujah may have the reflexes necessary, but his strength in comparison to that of the creature leaves him to defend. His blade doesn't pierce the tough scales of its snout and face. At least, not until he feels a whisper of darkness within him, the following flood of gravity pooling in his limbs. Velocity. Hallelujah.

Reflex and thought merge, briefly, and Allelujah sees it — the dragon bellows, flaring its wings against the glow of the fires.

Go for the throat, Allelujah. ]

Lapis! [ Allelujah calls to her without looking away. ] A wind spell! Catch its wings, force it up!

[ If she can do that, he'll have a clear shot at its underside. They have seconds. ]

[oneirism]

[While Lapis can understand why he was angry, she still doesn't regret what she's done. As long as the farmers are safe, then it was worth the pain. Plus, she's certain a couple of healing spells will be enough to close up the wound - once she manages to regain enough mana to do so, anyway.

But first they need to deal with the dragon, who doesn't seem to have any intention of retreating anytime soon. The jarring sounds of teeth clashing against metal rings in her ears, and she tenses as she tries to think of something, anything, that she can do.

The call of her name quickly gets her attention, her eyes flicking from Allelujah to the dragon, her hand already reaching for her ribbons before he finishes speaking. Force it up, and go for the underside.

Which is why there's no hesitation, and she's quick to summon another tornado, the winds catching the dragons wings and forcing it up, a guttural roar escaping it as it tries to fight against the winds.]

[praises]

[ Allelujah is used to this spell that floods the air from behind, circling about and amassing into a formidable tornado. He braces as it rages around him, slamming into the dragon's outstretched wings. The shape of them changes, billowing, carrying its form skyward. With its balance compromised it rears back on the road, claws breaking the stone in an attempt to find purchase. Lapis manages to give him the few seconds that he needs despite her injuries, and he couldn't be more grateful.

Vacuum and velocity come to life, two brief spells he prays will work together — one to make him lighter and faster as he rushes forward, another to strengthen his attack. With grit teeth, he manages to get underneath the creature, taking a crescent-shaped swing up with his blade arm. It carves into the underside of the dragon's throat and neck, cleaving the soft scales, muddying up its roar. Blood splatters the ground, and it spits broken flame, unable to fully fight back now. On the last of the wind, it takes to the air, away from them. It must think there's easier prey to find than them.

Which is good, Allelujah doesn't know if he'd be able to kill one, and he couldn't ask Lapis to attack again in her state. A state that's now at the forefront of his mind as he turns to her, urgently. ]

Are you all right? How deep did it get you?

[oneirism]

[It's a relief that the spell works, since she doubts she can do it again - she feels so dizzy now, and it's really only stubbornness that keeps her on her feet. She's able to watch as Allelujah rushes forward, her eyes widening as he carves his blade into the underside of the dragon - the sigh of blood splattering across the ground causing her eyes to squeeze shut for a moment.

Which she regrets doing almost instantly, as she can feel her mind swim for a moment, before she forces her eyes open again when her roommate turns to her. Her hand stays stubbornly pressed against her injury, even if by now her hand has been dyed red.]

... I'll be fine. Some healing spells sound be able to close the wound. [A quick shake of her head to force away any lingering dizziness, gold eyes focusing on him once more.] Thank you, Allelujah.

[praises]

[ While he'd like to take her words at face value, Allelujah knows how hard she'll push herself if she's left to her own devices. It's not difficult to catch wind of how uneasy she looks on her feet. Blood loss is enough on its own, but he guesses the mana loss is also taking its toll. Briefly, his gaze lingers on the blood saturating her fingers clutched to her tattered uniform, then cuts to the rest of the their surroundings. While flame still rises from nearby buildings and fields, the effort is that much stronger to protect them; soldiers drive dragons from the streets, and mages are dampening fires.

Like this, he can do what it is what he wants to. Which he punctuates with: ]

I'm sorry, Lapis.

[ — because he's stowing Prayer and moving forward, holding out his hand. ]

I don't have a spell powerful enough to heal that, and we've done all we can here. You should come with me. Please.

[oneirism]

[Lapis knows he won't listen to her, that he knows her better than that by now - the words are more of a habit at this point, from days where any sort of interaction with people was completely shallow. She can already guess what he might try to suggest next, now that the dragons are being pushed back a little more - which is why there's no reaction at his apology or how he holds out his hand.

Her first instinct is to insist she's fine, that with a little more mana she can heal herself. But she takes a deep breath, her lips settling into a thin, firm line, until she exhales with a loud sigh.]

... Alright. [And with her non-bloody hand, she shakily reaches to place her hand in his. It's one of the rare times where she'll actually listen to someone.]

[praises]

[ Perhaps it's a little underhanded of him, knowing how much she values being able to hold her own. Were the circumstances even the slightest bit different, he'd probably defer to that determination, but... he's seen it. What price there is to allowing an injured ally to continue fighting. It's a risk he's no longer willing to take, not even here. So when Lapis finally takes his hand, he's using the momentum he still has on his side to pull her forward. ]

Then try to bear with it.

[ His following motions are swift, pointedly leaving little room for protest — one arm coming to circle at the angle of her knees, the other around her back. Scooping her up from there is the easiest part, leveling her at his middle, her injured arm secure between them.

(Now comes the hard part, which is the look she'll probably be fixing him with.) ]

[oneirism]

[Even if some part of her is aggravated over having to stand down, Lapis can understand why - even though her pride is a bit wounded now too. But she is grateful too, that she has people like him looking out for her. Of course, when he takes her hand, she thought he was just going to help her walk to somewhere to recover. She certainly wasn't expecting to find herself pulled forward and into his arms.

It actually takes her a moment to process what just happened, her expression simply stunned before red starts to creep across her cheeks. He's... he's actually carrying her?!]

- W-wha... [And despite her best attempts to force it away, she can't hide the fact that she's now embarrassed and blushing.] Y-you don't have to carry me, Allelujah!

[praises]

This will be the fastest way back.

[ Because she's out of mana, she's injured, he thinks she has to be tired — but he doesn't want to throw all of those at her as if they're weaknesses. Allelujah learned better, a long time ago, thanks to allies of his both here and gone. ]

It's not about pride, or what you can do.

[ Below, gravity pools at his feet, shimmering. Hallelujah allows him to make use of velocity, thanks to the mana exchange. ]

It's about helping one another when we need it.

[oneirism]

[... He's right, and it's enough to ease her embarrassment. Especially since she knows if their positions were reversed, she would've done the same for him.

So she sighs quietly, letting her head rest against his chest with a soft huff - the blush lingers on her cheeks, but she's at least not flustering completely now.]

... Alright. Thank you, Allelujah.