boardmaster: (Default)
BOARDMASTER ([personal profile] boardmaster) wrote in [community profile] pawnstorm2016-05-08 12:00 pm

intro ♚ may

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.
cutiepanther: (60)

[personal profile] cutiepanther 2016-05-11 05:33 pm (UTC)(link)
I-I know that!

[ As far as fighting goes, Maki can shoot. She spent so much time learning healing magic that she can't even put together a decent fireball or anything. Not that fire would help her here... ]

Aieee!! [ Tumbling forward, Maki ends up on her back as the dragon trashes, seemingly taking its time with them, not straight rushing them down. Maybe it knew to be cautious of magic? ]

Run where?!
path_to_the_world: (mad cry)

[personal profile] path_to_the_world 2016-05-11 09:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Away!

[He grabbed her hand again and just started to run, casting wind magic again to hurl whatever was around them back behind them just in case the dragon decided to rush them again. He wasn't looking back. If they could get some distance and the dragon decided they were no longer interesting... then maybe... maybe they could do something.]
cutiepanther: (10)

[personal profile] cutiepanther 2016-05-11 10:33 pm (UTC)(link)
[ That's better than sticking around, but not exactly all that much of a strict plan! There were likely to be others around, other Heroes who would be called to the sound of fighting, but that meant the two of them had to survive until then or figure something out quick.

At least going quick does give Maki an idea.
]

I-It's catching up!!

[ Seeing how the dragon had lifted off the ground with a heft of its wings, they needed to move. Maki gathered up her mana in her hand and slapped Tyrnen hard on his back, and then thrust her hand above her head. She used her new ability Bless for the only thing that made sense at the moment.

Speed up!
]
path_to_the_world: (Shadow face)

[personal profile] path_to_the_world 2016-05-12 02:32 am (UTC)(link)
[The sense of becoming faster was an interesting one. In fact he almost tripped not knowing what to do with his feet, but managed to not completely stumble. Still, running faster would only help for so long, but he never had any idea of what options they had.]

HELP!

[He cried out loudly hoping someone would hear. Running and yelling wasn't the only thing though, he still used wind magic where he could trying to knock the dragon of course or at least deter it somewhat. Still he couldn't do much while running. For anything truly impactful he had to stand still.]
cutiepanther: (29)

[personal profile] cutiepanther 2016-05-12 06:24 pm (UTC)(link)
[ That's about the extent of what Maki can do here! Bless and Restrict really worked better with a group rather than practically trying to solo bosses without a tank!

She could try to shoot the dragon with her revolver, but she can do it while they are running, and what good would a fire spell do on a dragon?!

Maki thinks to yell out just how dead they are when--
]

Huh? [ Rounding around a tree, Maki steps back from out under it as they are running to realize that the dark storm clouds above have started to release hail. Small at first, but definitely troublesome.

More so for the dragon apparently, as it comes to a stop, shaking it's body like a wet dog furiously.
]
path_to_the_world: (casting)

[personal profile] path_to_the_world 2016-05-13 01:10 am (UTC)(link)
Maybe....

[Tyrnen slid to a halt seeing the storm rise and the dragon slowing down to deal with the hail it seemed to find annoying. Maybe they should do something, maybe... just maybe.]

I'm going to cast a spell, please keep an eye on things and pull me away if it starts at us again.

[Because it was easy to lose oneself in casting.

He took out a small book, it was his first weapon, he held it in his hands and concentrated, channeling his mana into the book. The more he fed it, the darker the storm got, the hail got thicker, rain started to mix in. After a few moments of the clouds getting blacker and the storm getting thicker there was lightning in the sky and thunder following it soon after. If he could make this storm bad enough... maybe... maybe it would do something to the dragon or make it go away. Or... give time for something more useful.
]
cutiepanther: (89)

[personal profile] cutiepanther 2016-05-13 05:04 pm (UTC)(link)
[ It's strange, but the hail hurts Maki too. It started so small, but it is quickly picking up in size. What were once barely more than a tiny pebble, they were growing large and faster.

Maki's not the only one who notices, as the dragon's attention is turned to the sky angrily unleashing a giant blast of flame above it that clears the air... for a second.
]

R-Right! Just make it quick!

[ Rushing to stand behind Tyrnen, she gathers her own mana, pressing it into his back to increase his Spell Casting Speed with her Bless. It's the least she can do! She knows how strong his spells are, but if the dragon manages to stop focusing on the hail and on them again it's all over! ]
path_to_the_world: (upset)

[personal profile] path_to_the_world 2016-05-14 11:06 pm (UTC)(link)
[After instigating the storm to this point and getting it to where lighting was now striking the ground he switched weapons. Or more accurately he started to channel through his second one. The same one he used on the ship though it was going to take a lot out of him to do right after the other. He also wasn't sure how effective it might be, he didn't know what to expect with a dragon.

Like before a rain of butterfly shaped light rained down, it also mixed with the storm bringing mana charged lightning down with it. Though the storm now was far beyond his control, and now built itself up on it's own momentum.
]

We need to get out of here....
cutiepanther: (93)

[personal profile] cutiepanther 2016-05-16 02:13 pm (UTC)(link)
[ The dragon roars through the storm, cutting Maki deep to her core. But even as Tyrnen calls for them to run she.. stops. And shakes her head slowly, a moment of time for them to breath gained by Tyrnen's spell. ]

W-We can't. This dragon has already destroyed so much... w-we have to stop it.

[ She's scared. Her entire body looks like it's shaking. But she isn't going to run. Her fingers curl around the handle of her revolver on her hip, feeling Diva pressing encouragingly around her legs. ]
path_to_the_world: (pic#10193120)

[personal profile] path_to_the_world 2016-05-16 09:43 pm (UTC)(link)
How do we stop it? I can only do a few more large spells, and they all take long preparation times.

[Did they have that long? And what if he used up the rest of his mana and the dragon was still going strong?]
cutiepanther: (92)

[personal profile] cutiepanther 2016-05-17 02:34 pm (UTC)(link)
I-I think it's weak against ice!

[ Had she read something about dragons before? Maybe the hailstorm currently raging overhead had reminded her of it. But reaching into her bag at her side, Maki sighed, taking out what looks like a leather collar studded with diamonds.

Her new weapon that she hadn't had a chance to use yet.
]

I need you to distract it this time...
path_to_the_world: (blank)

[personal profile] path_to_the_world 2016-05-17 10:32 pm (UTC)(link)
I can keep the storm up, though I'm not sure how to distract it much. I can try and blow as much of the hail on it as possible though.

[He wasn't really a move around a lot sort of person, and he wasn't lucky enough to have projectile weapons.]
cutiepanther: (74)

[personal profile] cutiepanther 2016-05-18 02:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Just... just run around or something!

[ And with that... Maki shoves Tyrnen out in the path of the dragon's ire, the beast's head snapping to face him.

...So yeah, good luck with that Tyrnen, Maki has to put on this embarrassing piece of fashion while she summons up the last of her mana.
]
path_to_the_world: (mad cry)

[personal profile] path_to_the_world 2016-05-18 08:41 pm (UTC)(link)
What?

[He wasn't athletic, he was far from it. All being shoved did was had him trip over his own feet and fall face first into the ground.

Run around? Run around!? This girl was impossible!
]

I hate you!

[He scrambled as quickly as he could to his feet and out of the direct gaze of the dragon. Lucky for him it was only right after he got out of the spot that the dragon attacked it.

This girl... this girl was going to get him killed.
]
cutiepanther: (38)

[personal profile] cutiepanther 2016-05-19 02:53 am (UTC)(link)
[ Maki really is the athletic one here, she's been running every morning every day for the past year or so after all. It isn't easy being an idol! But better runner as she is she needs him to be the distraction now. ]

You can yell at me later!

[ With Tyrnen going one direction Maki waits until he has the beast's attention and runs the other direction. She needs to get behind it, so that she can use her new weapon since she's still learning it. Any distraction and she can't be certain it will do anything at all. ]
path_to_the_world: (pic#9934794)

[personal profile] path_to_the_world 2016-05-19 04:42 am (UTC)(link)
[Tyrnen spent most his time reading, or using magic to make things convenient. Maybe he should try harder to exercise....

But, he could at least use the wind to help him a little. Whatever she did though he hoped it was quick. He could only try for so long.
]

cutiepanther: (100)

[personal profile] cutiepanther 2016-05-19 04:53 pm (UTC)(link)
[ If he wants to get beat by a girl who can run a lot longer than him, he's welcome on her daily runs.

For now she's planting her feet in the ground, even as the hail continues to rain down on her, chilling her to the bone. But that's perfect.
]

Please work... please work... please work...

[ Tyrnen may or may not hear her pleading with her herself over there, since he's still dealing with the dragon that's charging right at this moment.

Which gives Maki the chance she needed. Touching the choker at her neck, she uses all the mana she can gathering it around her body in a bluish-white light. The dragon, sensing it, finally turns from Tyrnen, but it's too late, Maki's spell is too fast. Thanks to this hail she's at her strongest.

In an instant the air around the dragon grows even colder.. as spears of ice form hanging in the air.
]

Take this! [ She yells, as the sharp points of the icles in the air thrust down into the dragon, as another half dozen shoot up out of the wet ground.

With its own roar, the dragon lets out its deathknell, impaled on spears of ice thanks to Maki.
]