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

Allen Walker | D.Gray-man

[likethelight]

ONE A | FIRST FLOOR KING

[ So we're... not going to get so far as letters. And missions. And all that.

Not yet. First.. ] !

WAHH—HAH!? [ ???!

Because this morning... this morning in front of King 110 after that (BOY? GIRL? ??!) screech there is a very loud and resounding CLONG! that can only be... well, no one is likely to recognize what it sounds like to throw a mechanical pigeon against a wall, but it's that. Before a white-haired teenage boy flings the door open with an equally loud crash.

A very naked teenage boy.

BECAUSE COME BLOODY ON. WHO WAKES UP WITHOUT CLOTHES IN A STRANGE PLACE AND JUST ACCEPTS IT. YESTERDAY HE WAS IN LONDON PUTTING ON A CLOWN COSTUME FOR a pence here and there to get by CHILDREN. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PLACE AND WHERE IS IT/HE. THIS INN IS BOLLOCKS. THIS IS WHY HE HATES STAYING IN THE RED LIGHT DISTRICT.

Wait, speaking of— ]

Ah, Tim...? [ The boy straightens suddenly, suddenly quite... calm and normal-seeming, looking around and behind him.

And forgetting he's clutching the bedsheets quite tightly around his waist. His... very naked waist. Which is where an incredibly large and ugly scar ends, one that seems like someone tried to saw him in half from the shoulder down and mostly succeeded. There's also the pretty strangely tattooed and... red (plated??!) left arm. And another scar in his stomach that seems like someone... gutted him? What did this kid go through...

He seems to forgotten that though and is looking around in a borderline huffy impatience that slowly becomes... um..

The Oh Shit factor. ]

...hello?

ONE B | MAILROOM

[ Later on he can be found sucking somewhat sulkily on a candy in the mailroom. Uniformed now, a golden... marble? with wings? sitting atop his head after his white hair's been pulled back in a short ponytail, and leaning against a wall he reads through his mail.

And the letters. The very long letters. Ah...

Over a few minutes, his expression smooths from sulking to very smooth and quiet. Serious. Oh..

Allen swallows the candy then and touches the golden golem on his head reflexively. Like a small, reassuring sort of pat and it buzzes its wings in response. ]

... Okay. [ It's very soft, spoken to himself but if anyone were to catch his expression it's anything but okay. Flickering by quickly, conflicted, moved, but... Heavy. Guilty.

So very guilty.

And he taps the golem again, smiling in a small and stretched sort of way. ]

Alright then— [ He stops short, like he was about to say a name but doesn't.

"Tim." ] ...

[ His eyes hood. ] Mm. Sorry.


THREE

[ Anyone who's been around Allen up until this point would have known him to be... well, pretty oddly calm for someone very new. Asking questions, a soft heart and empathetic towards the carnage in the countryside when they got to it, but handling it with a straightforward earnesty like it's something he's done many times before. Missions. Death. Lives left upset in the wake of it and trying to give them comfort and answers even if they have none.

Anyone seeing him interact with the farmers might find it weird he's so warm and genuinely kind with them. Like he's been doing this forever—or is very good at feigning that familiarity if it means he can reassure someone.

But now, when they've traveled further and the skies have finally descended, the wind beginning to scream...

...behind the wings of dragons?!

Dragons are real? ]

Look out! [ Whoever you are he's tackled you now, a slim but very solid mass ploughing into your backside. Right before any protests or further things Allen might have said would be drowned out by the fireball that flies past them in an understated foom and scours the ground, whipping their hair. ]

1 - Hey Roomie

[drawmecute]

*As far as alarm clocks go, white haired boys running the hell out of the room screaming and entirely confused definitely qualifies as a good one. Lola's not exactly gotten a chance to put on her face, or comb her bed head, or have her coffee...*

Maybe you'd like to put on your clothes..?

*She's peeking out of their door and offering him his uniform. She's... not dressed enough to get on with her day, but she's modest at least in her tank top and loose fitting pants. Both in shades of purple.*

Because I'd really like it if you'd, um, get dressed. This is embarrassing. People will talk!

oh god

[likethelight]

... [ There is a girl.

There is a girl. In his room. That he cannot remember how he got in. That he was apparently naked in. Who he doesn't know. And who obviously slept there. And he can't remember any of it.

And he still has no clothes.

Has he become his master?

He accepts the clothes she offers somewhat woodenly, one hand still clutching the sheets around his waist in a deathgrip. ] Mm-mn...

[ Did anything she say really register? Not really. ] Thank you.

[ If her nightclothes are purple his face is—...actually all of the color's kind of drained. ] Miss...?

[drawmecute]

*Lola grabs a jacket to throw on over her obviously not meant for public tank top, pulls it closed enough, then grabs what appears to be a small pink kangaroo rat.*

I'll, um, wait outside until you put on your clothes, then I can try to explain what's going on?

*She does her best not to stare at any of the scars and marks on him, and she manages to just have her eyes dart to the scars, then away, then to his face, then away again. Look this is weird and she is kinda glad she woke up to an empty room. And yes she missed he asked for her name, she was distracted by him being really naked.*

one b

[praises]

[ It's strange, to see someone appear to work through so many flickers of emotion in such a short time. Allelujah has taken a few trips to and from the mail room, mostly in the interest of keeping things tidy. Well, tidy, as it relates to how forward Blanc's citizens have become with their admiration lately.

(Namely, he doesn't want anyone having to deal with more embarrassing novels, letters, or paintings, if possible.)

Yet this young man seems to have encountered none of the above, and a brief curl of curiosity and sympathy drives Allelujah forward. ]

Excuse me, if I'm disturbing you. But are you all right?

[likethelight]

[ If Allelujah has been in and out of the mail room, he's probably seen Allen there for a while now. It took a while to get through the stack of letters. He started with the candy. Who wouldn't.

But oh— ]

Ah... I'm alright. [ He shakes off the brief surprise, a slightly sheepish smile switching on. Er, he didn't mean to be caught talking to his golem.. And he takes quick note of the man—is he one of the "Heroes" brought here like Allen then...? ]

It's just— [ how do you even put it in words?

He raises the letter he was just reading a little to indicate it. ] .. not really what I was expecting.

[praises]

[ A little displacement was to be expected, especially given how, ah, rude... the awakenings sometimes are.

But they're here to support one another, Allelujah firmly believes that. Just as those around him did for him some months prior. Who else would understand? ]

I see. Some have been a little... intense, it's true. But what makes you say that?

3

[medicament]

[Most likely she's just as taken by surprise as Allen is, but his reflexes were definitely faster than hers; actually, if it wasn't for him, it might have ended really bad for her, to put it mildly. So far, the worst that has happened to her are stains on her uniform, but there's no time to pay attention to such details.]

W-We need to run and warn the farmers...

[Do they really need a warning, though? There are a few of them across the sky already.]

1/2

[likethelight]

[ ...! ]

2/2

[likethelight]

[ She's so familiar...

Luna's urging snaps him out of it though, and looking up at the skies while be gets to his feet, offering her a hand up in the process. ]

Everyone should try and get to safety. [ He says it in agreement, not missing the stutter and offering a small, reassuring smile. He sincerely doubts anyone is going to miss hearing that thing, but...

It seems like making sure no one gets hurt is her intention, right? She didn't worry about herself at all. ]

[medicament]

[There's no time left to spare, but Luna fixes her eyes on him and doesn't do anything to get up for a while. What is this feeling? It's like they have seen each other before, maybe even talked...but it's impossible. So how come...?

It has to remain a mystery, though— for now at least, since there are more urgent matters, and hopefully she might have the chance to ask him some questions later after the situation calms down.

So, Luna takes his hand and gets on her feet.]

That includes you.

[As far as she knows, they should reach the farm in time, they just have to hurry and run as fast as they can.]

Can we...go together?

1-B

[armorial]

[ She has been watching him once in a while because of that little marble on his head. Her own carrier hiding behind her ankles, a lion cub stealing glances towards that golden thing as well. Maybe even interested. Point is, she's here cleaning out her mail as well. A hero cannot refuse the love and admiration of the people... Especially when it comes with food. Not everyone is fortunate to have money!!!

Still, she's... a little concerned with his expressions. ]

Are you all right, fellow Hero?

[likethelight]

[ Allen blinks for a second, looking up in a little surprise--but smiles lightly at the question, the expression from before quickly chased away. The golem on his head swivels and looks as well--mostly at the lion cub that's been eyeing it.

It gives a wiggle, flicking its wings. ]

I'm alright.. [ He is, even with a lot of confliction. It's just a lot to process.

Still, he has to ask-- ] Is it normal, receiving mail like this?

[armorial]

[ The lion is startled by the flick of its wings, making a small yelp as it buries its face into Saber's ankles. She sighs... little lion, please do not get startled by absolutely nothing.

She goes over to look at her own mail, but is... not sure where to start either. ]

I haven't been here long, but we did win a recent battle against the opposing nation. [ She nods a couple of times while shuffling through the envelopes, not sure which to open first. ] I imagine it boosted their morale overall.

1b.

[passtave]

[ The golden glint of Allen's golem catches Sakura's eye first, drawing her attention away from her letters and gifts. (Like him, she takes her time reading them as well, then feeling guilty about the praise and gifts when she probably doesn't even deserve it... how can she resist the sweets, though?)

She watches the golem for a moment, her eyes wide. What a strange... thing... she's never seen anything like it! Finally, she notices the familiar-looking head the little golden ball is sitting on—wait, doesn't she know him? She could swear...

Yes, she's definitely met him before! She even knows his name... Allen. He was very kind to her... just when she's gearing up to say hi to him, she remembers that she couldn't have met him before, since she just got here. Was she just hallucinating? Did she dream it? But how is she so sure of his name?

Thanks to her sudden existential crisis, in place of that hello a soft squeak escapes her instead, and she immediately turns red with embarrassment. To make matters worse, she just realizes that she's been staring at him for a very long time... and he probably doesn't even know her.

This is the worst. ]

1/2

[likethelight]

[ Is there something on his face...

It takes Allen a while to realize he's being stared at, being as lost in his thoughts as he was, but he does when he senses someone approaching him (the golem following suit and staring at her with... well, there aren't eyes there, but it scrutinizes her like it has them). And he blinks at seeing a girl standing there seeming... very...

...did she squeak? Is she blushing.]

... hello. [ ? ] Are you alright, mi--

2/2

[likethelight]

[ Sakura.

He's called her Miss Sakura before. But that's... er...

Allen just blinks for a moment, expression stilling and letters in hand quite forgotten, and presses his lips together. This is probably silly, but... ]

...I'm sorry, have we met?

[passtave]

[ Oh no, he noticed her! He saw her staring and now he probably thinks that she thinks he's weird—or he just thinks she's weird for staring! How rude of her... ]

U-Um. [ She looks... slightly relieved that he apparently recognizes her too, but still pretty much like she wants the ground to open up and swallow her whole. Why can't she ever make a calm and dignified first impression... or second impression, as the case may be. Even though she still isn't really sure how that's possible. ]

I-I think so. Y-You look so familiar... [ She trails off, debating whether to bring up that she knows his name or if that's just too strange to start with... eventually, she blurts out: ] Your name is A-Allen, isn't it?

three

[hymnals]

Oof.

[ Adra goes down like a sack of feathers, his cheek smushing against the muddy ground, his long, blond hair fanning around his face from the backdraft of the fireball. ]

Damn it -- get off of me! I was fine! Light, you people are acting like you've never seen a damn dragon before in your lives.

[ Ugh. Did he just taste mud? What a great day so far. ]

[likethelight]

[ ???!!! He just saved you and??!

Still somewhat atop the elf, Allen goggles for a moment. He was trying to protect you, damnit. ]

This is normal for you?? [ WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PLAC—No, you know, Allen should really know better by now... and he does get off at the other's request, off to the side on one knee and immediately looking skyward to see if the creature is coming back. ]

[hymnals]

[ As soon as Allen rolls off, Adra gets to his feet. He smooths down his uniform, spits out mud, and looks generally irritable. With a wave of his hand and a muttered incantation, two barriers pop up -- one around his own body, one around Allen's. ]

Dragons? Yes, though they aren't typically so aggressive. Keep still: the barrier will protect you from another gout of flame if it circles back.

[ His ears perk forward, alert for the sound of wings. Which are, indeed, rapidly approaching. ]

THREE

[corpsedoctor]

[ Wha--!

He's suddenly on the ground. The idea of that makes it sound a lot less violent that he happens to meet with the ground, however. But he believes most of that to be his own fault. Thunderland allowed himself to become overly fascinated with the idea of possibly dissecting the dragons to actually notice one was getting a little too close. Still, he is starting to get up -- and lightly pat at the hair of the young man that tackled him. ]

Are you all right? For doing such a fool thing like saving me instead of worrying about yourself first?

1/2

[likethelight]

[ Head pats...?

Allen blinks a bit at that for a moment. Well yes, he is used to people calling the things he does foolish, but...

He cracks a bit of a lopsided smile at that. ] I'm okay.

[ He's fine, there's just smoke in his tousled hair. Maybe some singed ends. And smoke coming off the back of his uniform.

He dusts himself off a little, rising to his feet as well. Patting a little quickly at the smoke coming off his shoulders. ] Isn't it better if we both make it out of this?

2/2

[likethelight]

[ But the rumble and heavy foom behind them though reminds that the dragon is still there as it lands heavily and with an oddly elegant lurch, claws digging into the dirt as it wheels around towards the pair.

Seems they ended up in a pasture it had decided to take and raze as its own feeding ground. Bodies. Cow and human alike. All charred and barely recognizable. ]

[corpsedoctor]

[ Be happy that he isn't swatting angrily at the head instead to get the smoldering, small flames out. ]

Why burn everything for its feeding ground? Marking of territory against other dragons? The food it could eat is beyond recognition so could that mean its digestive track-- [ Thunderland continues to murmur to himself before taking out a small telescope from his pocket. He tucks the telescope under his chin as a ribbon is produced seconds later to tie it roughly around the body of the scope. ]

Ah, it could be a god but they are only such if they act... or is it power and idea that elevates anything? [ He lifts the spyglass before the white ribbon abruptly changes color to a dark red. ] Fire? Fire against fire, then?

If we both survive, that is what you were saying, hm? [ He isn't a Bee but has admired the job that they did. He always did. Lifting the handheld telescope up to look through it, pointing toward the dragon. ] Well, then ... we may have to start running.

[ He says this as a blast of fire explodes out the end of the scope toward the dragon. Of course, he is still not well-versed in using mana -- what he deems as heart -- in this manner. He is already collapsing down to his knees even as the end of the attack is fading off. ] That was your chance to run...