BOARDMASTER (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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pawnstorm2016-05-08 12:00 pm
boardmaster) wrote in pawnstorm2016-05-08 12:00 pm
Entry tags:
- !intro,
- !job,
- aigis (persona),
- aisha clanclan (outlaw star),
- akito/agito wanijima (air gear),
- allelujah haptism (mobile suit gundam 00,
- allen walker (d.grayman),
- anakin skywalker (star wars),
- arjuna (fate/),
- artoria pendragon (fate/),
- bolin (legend of korra),
- chloe (lacrimosa),
- cirno (touhou project),
- gaius (fire emblem: awakening),
- gilgamesh (fate/),
- hajime hinata (dangan ronpa 2),
- haruna (kantai collection),
- henry jekyll (fate/),
- ichigo hitofuri (touken ranbu),
- illidan stormrage (warcraft),
- irisviel von einzbern (fate/),
- jolyne kujo (jjba),
- juzumaru tsunetsugu (touken ranbu),
- kaede (elfen lied),
- kasen kanesada (touken ranbu),
- kojirou sasaki (fate/),
- lapis fathalla (original character),
- lola pacini (degrassi),
- luna (zero escape),
- makoto sako (devil survivor 2),
- minato arisato (persona),
- namazuo toushirou (touken ranbu),
- naruto uzumaki (naruto),
- natasha romanova (avengers academy),
- nobunaga oda (fate/),
- nora (nora),
- one (drakengard 3),
- patricia watson (skullgirls),
- sakura (fire emblem: fates),
- sakura haruno (naruto),
- sasuke uchiha (naruto),
- scathach (fate/),
- setsuna f. seiei (mobile suit gundam 00),
- shin-ah (akatsuki no yona),
- shinn asuka (mobile suit gundam seed),
- sion astal (lolheroes),
- souji seta (persona),
- vietnam (axis powers hetalia),
- wukong (league of legends),
- xander (fire emblem: fates),
- yukari takeba (persona)
intro ♚ may
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.
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.
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...
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?
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.
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.
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.
no subject
Suddenly, a faint noise catches her attention, and she looks up to see a young man in front of her. U-Um... how long has he been there?! Oh no, was he forced to listen to her crying like a baby this whole time? Why didn't she check to make sure she was alone? This is so embarrassing... and he's just staring at her!
She flushes a little, opening her mouth to apologize when he offers her a single flower, still looking at her expressionlessly. H-He's... so serious... it's actually intimidating her a little. She isn't sure how to interpret his expression (or lack thereof) and she definitely doesn't know how to interpret the flower... unless he... is he trying to cheer her up? Is this flower for her? Now that she looks at it a little closer, it's very pretty... she's never seen a flower that glows before. ]
I-Is this for m-me?
no subject
That hand of his shortly opens, the flower resting in the middle. Setsuna will allow the girl to take it herself, hoping that its tiny warmth will calm her... By picking up the flower, he hopes that she will catch the unsaid implication. Even though she's far from home now, it doesn't necessarily mean that she's all alone. In this world, there are others who were taken just like her... And in that sense, these people can empathize with her. He is a living proof of that, staying by her side in this moment without saying anything to berate her.
No, instead he's staying here to let her know that it's all right. It's fine — to feel loss, to feel sad... But it's going to be all right, because she's not alone. ]
no subject
It's hard for her to maintain eye contact—she keeps looking up at him, then away, then back, then away again, not unlike a cornered baby animal. Is he going to answer her question? Oh goodness... what is she supposed to do now?
Then he nods, unfurling his hands to wordlessly offer to flower to her, and she still... ends up staring a little, then repeating the eye contact cycle again a few more times, as if she's afraid this is all some sort of elaborate trap. But... she's not the best at reading people, but now, to her, his stare looks so earnest that she can't help but trust him... and she slowly takes the flower, relaxing a little at she draws it towards herself and nothing happens.
It's... it's so pretty, glowing softly from the inside, and strangely warm against her fingers as she curls them around the petals, gently cradling the flower in her hands as if it was made of glass, a precious thing. Then she smiles, more in her eyes than on her lips, finally understanding the gift for what it is. ]
Th-Thank you. [ She glances up at him, her expression softened. ] It's very lovely.
no subject
It is... But more so than when I held it, for you have given it a purpose now.
[ The flower's loveliness can only increase, because someone is now treasuring it. The flower's life has been given a meaning, because the girl in front of him now considers it precious. To someone like Setsuna, that kind of thing... It's an honor. Today, both the flower and him has offered her a memory that she'll hopefully remember.
Setsuna shifts himself again, leaning back at the wall as he looks at the courtyard one more time. Her nervousness didn't go unnoticed; he'll look elsewhere for now, hoping that it'll help her calm down. Though he stays by her side, offering company should she want it for a while longer. ]
... Solar flower, that is what it is called. A native flower here in Blanc.
no subject
Either way, she finds herself blushing a little, flustered by the implication, even if it couldn't have been what he'd intended... made worse by the fact that he's moving to sit down next to her. At first, she tenses, her heart racing—but he's looking away (and not staring at her so intently, thank goodness!), and she starts to relax a little.
It's... it's kind of nice. He has a calming sort of presence, and she has the soft glow of the flower to keep her hands and spirits warm... m-maybe this place isn't so bad after all.
(If only... if only she didn't have to be alone... no, that isn't right anymore... if only she didn't have to be separated from her home...) ]
A s-solar flower... I've never seen anything like it. [ Where does it get its glow from? She wonders as she very carefully strokes one of its velvety petals. ] Are they common here?
no subject
Even if everyone familiar is far away... Not one of them has to look too far to find someone who can understand. When the girl breaks the temporary silence, he carefully heeds her tiny voice once more. In his mind, he already knows that he can't offer her much... But that's exactly why he's doing what little that he can actually do. His gaze lowers to his lap, hands gently closing. ]
Me neither, not until I came to this world. It is not difficult to see them in shops, but I heard they are most common during the summer.
[ Summer... Only a month left to go before it's here. It's so surreal for Setsuna, who has been here since winter. ]
no subject
She hopes it's summer soon, so she can see more of these beautiful solar flowers. They have a happy connotation to her now. ]
Heehee, I can't wait to see them all...
[ She smiles, considerably more cheerful than she'd been just a second ago. Just having something to look forward is bringing her focus ahead instead of what she'd left behind. It's... it's not an ideal situation, but she has to be strong. Maybe this world is like a deep realm, and once she helps the people here she can go back home like she was never gone at all. If they can't be here to watch over her, then she'll make her siblings and retainers proud!
Uncurling her body a little, she looks over at her new friend and says quietly, but sincerely: ] Th-Thank you.
[ It probably comes off as out of the blue, but... she means it. ]
no subject
Setsuna too is thankful, so he nods his head in a motion that almost seems like a bow. It lasts for about two or three seconds before he allows their eyes to meet again. There must be something more than the flower that motivated her, as that glimmering smile holds such considerable heart. He couldn't have caused that by himself. But what ever is bringing her such strength will definitely help her through this world. He hopes that she'll keep holding onto that. ]
You will soon... In one more month, summer will be upon this land.
[ And while she knows the implication by now, it doesn't hurt to be reminded again. She doesn't have to wait for summer to arrive alone. He reaches a hand out, slowly stroking her head once. Only once before moving that hand away. ]
no subject
She notices him start to reach out and looks up, surprised to find he's actually reaching out towards her. U-Um... what is he planning to do? She tenses up out of habit, her eyes wide, but doesn't actually try to stop him—then his hand settles on top of her head, slowly stroking backwards. It's over before she can really decide if... it's kind of nice... but he only does it once.
It's not even a particularly intimate gesture—she's pretty sure he just pet her like a child or dog, to comfort her—but she finds herself blushing anyway, mostly because she wasn't expecting it, and... and she doesn't even know his name! ]
O-Oh... [ Oh no, she'd forgotten what she was going to say! What should she do now... is it weird to introduce herself after that? Maybe she should talk about something else... urgh, she's just so bad at making conversation!
In the end, the silence grows protracted... ]
no subject
Setsuna shifts back a little, unexpectedly looking awkward. It seems despite his initial appearance, there's much more to his calm exterior. After a short moment of wordless uncertainty, he reaches into the travel bag on him. It's then that he offers her a couple of milk candies. Does she like sweets? He can only hope so.
Wait a minute... This is probably weird, too!? They're only acquaintances at most, and she probably suspects him to an extent! Although he realizes this too late, since he's already offering it towards her. He can't take it back now, so he just stays still. Awkwardly. ]
S, sorry.
[ This is difficult... Although, maybe it'll actually enlighten her? She isn't the only one between the two of them who is bad at socializing. ]
no subject
N-No! P-Please don't apologize! I... I-I'm sorry, I-I'm not very g-good at this...
[ You know, being socially competent... she's blushing even harder now in her embarrassment, waving her hands in front of her so frantically that she... knocks... the candies right out of his hand...
Please let her die now. ]
I&mdas;oh no—I'm s-so sorry! [ This might continue on for a while if he doesn't stop her... ]
no subject
But if neither of them calm down, then they'll probably just mutually continue to embarrass themselves. So Setsuna takes a deep breath after the candies drop to the floor, moving his hands to gently hold hers — he squeezes them in a reassuring manner, hoping that she would settle down as well. It's then that a gentle sensation surfaces much more strongly than when he briefly patted her head. Their mana signatures meet.
Although she can't see them, as a Knight meanwhile — he can clearly witness the flow of life around her. ]
It is all right...
[ It's fine, so... He tries to say that through his soft gestures. ]
my broken html.... grimaces
What is this? It's so... gentle... and she feels so much more peaceful now, like she's lying in bed listening to the soft tip tap of rain against her window.
Is she feeling... him? Or...
While she was lost in her thoughts, she'd just been wordlessly staring down at their entwined hands, her lips parted in wonder—but now reality catches up to her, and her head snaps up, her whole body going tense. Oh... oh no, she was just staring! Like she was mesmerized by... his hands...
And then she slowly goes red with the realization that they've been holding hands this entire time, and she was acting like... like... ]
A-Ah... I'm s-sorry...
[ She doesn't pull her hands away, though. ]
i see nothing (blush)
Setsuna meanwhile is surrounded by Sakura's own mana flow. It's as if he landed in a field of flowers... A sweet scent, a soft and kind presence of a blooming tree shading him from the sun — he can feel all of that at once. He watches her hands as well, but only briefly and mostly focuses on her expressions. Is she finally calming down? He allows time to pass by, staying still for now until he's certain that she is. His gesture is meant to reassure, nothing else. ]
You do not have to apologize so much. Or at all.
no subject
Finally, she almost opens her mouth to apologize for apologizing so much, but catches herself just in time—except she doesn't know what to say instead. She supposes that underneath everything he's also trying to tell her that she doesn't have to be so nervous around him—or at all.
It's easier said than done. For her, it's a force of habit to say sorry—she's so shy that she strives to make herself as unobtrusive as possible, to make as few waves as she can. She wishes she could be bolder... that she didn't worry so much about what other people thought of her... that she could be more of herself even around strangers.
But... baby steps. Maybe this is her chance to try. ]
Heehee, sorry... [ There's an undercurrent of humor in her voice, her smile curving like she's aware of the irony of an apology for too many apologies. She's so silly... but her spirits are buoyed, at least. ] I'll try.