pawnstorm | INTRO ♚ FEBRUARY

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INTRO ♚ FEBRUARY

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.

ONE ♟ Settling In

Welcome to Blanc! You wake up on one of the beds inside the Hall of Glory. You might still be feeling a little light-headed, but sudden dimensional travel will do that to a body. You could have sworn visions of a fantastic world flashed before your eyes not long ago: monsters, magic, and a mission to save the world. You can't quite recall much beyond the basics, but could this be it?

Save your questions for later! The room nannies are quick to urge Heroes into their uniforms (with their beaks if necessary) and to point them to the pick-up locations for their Blanc-issued Weapons and Carriers. Hopefully, nobody but the pigeon’s watching you change. On the other hand, maybe you're the type to turn every roommate into a new friend before you even step foot outside the room.

As you make your way down the halls, you might notice strangely familiar faces around you. But don’t linger too long to chat—the people in charge of the armory and the menagerie have gone through many Heroes before you, and still have many more to go after you. NPCs need meal breaks, too! If you don’t make a decision in time, the random Weapons and/or Carriers they pick for you can be just a little odd.

And if you’re hungry? No matter how rich you were in your homeworld, you’re penniless now until you earn some colle. Thankfully, the Hall of Glory provides free meals to Heroes and those associated with them! Sunday’s breakfast and lunch are bananalicious and seafood pasta. A friendly visiting scholar may have a word of advice for you: “Beware the dining hall on Mondays.”

But you’ll barely have time for lunch before guards come and round you up. “For the parade,” is the only reason they’ll give you.

TWO ♟ Welcome Celebrations

Trumpets sound, cymbals clang and the crowd roars as the parade gets underway! What’s all the fuss about? Well, you Heroes were sent by the gods to save Blanc, right? Of course they’d celebrate! Smiling and waving at the citizens of Caissa from your uniquely crafted float might be a chore, but hey, they love you. Are you really going to let them down, or lose the spotlight to the fellow Heroes sharing your float?

The reception after the Prime Minister’s speech is like some kind of idol session, with Caissa citizens coming up to shake hands and welcome the Heroes warmly. Some are even asking for autographs!

There’s a lot of things to do in festive and lively Caissa, even late into the night under a light fall of snow. Sparrow Town is all lit up, ready for another festival next week.

While some shops are closed for the holiday, others have buffet tables or are giving out free samples to the Heroes. The food stalls here are way better than the bizarre cafeteria menu at the Hall of Glory! Why waste the opportunity to finally gorge on real food? The shop owners have done their best to impress, showing off their local cuisines proudly along the city streets: from the local hamburger joint to the exotic L'adderan curries, you'll find a little of everything to whet your palate. Your growling stomach will likely thank you for the food. … Oh, wait. That wasn’t you? You think the fish sandwich on your plate just sang? Nonsense. That just means you had a marvelous piece of fish bread. Please remember to visit them again sometime when you have the colle, okay?

Various stalls with games and activities have also been set up. Maybe you can impress the crowd by nailing an apple with an arrow or by sacrificing your friend(s) at the water tanks! An unusual Go-style stall offers something like fish scooping, but be careful: touching the fish with your bare hands will leave you feeling funny… Wow, you’ve never seen that color before! But whatever it takes to impress the children, right?

Said children might try and get you to dance in the falling snow. Better not mess up, though, because everyone in Caissa seems to be watching.

THREE ♟ The Day After

Hopefully, you didn’t sleep too late after yesterday’s celebrations! Or maybe you slept badly, since it felt like something was watching you…

The free breakfast that awaits you at the dining hall is… something special. Please enjoy it to your heart’s content! Remember: no food fights, and leave no leftovers! Nothing will save you from the chef’s disapproving mustache swirl if you do!

If you want to make money (to get away from Monday’s Horrors), there are now jobs up for taking at the Hall of Glory and the Poisoned Pawn! If there’s nothing to your taste, check back again every so often. Something new might pop up!

Heroes not in the mood to be errand-runners (it’s understandable, you’re Heroes after all!) can hang out in the parlor, read in the library, or express yourself in one of the Hall’s many studios or other rooms.

If lying back and taking it slow isn’t your thing, you could train or spar! Being summoned to a new world takes a toll on the body, and some Heroes have lost abilities familiar to them. Besides, it’ll take a while to get used to your weapons. Some of them might even be disobedient, backfiring at worst and unresponsive at best. Try not to hit your fellow Heroes (including yourself), or you’ll either have to find enough Heroes to cast weak healing spells or carry the wounded to the infirmary. While the snow has been cleared overnight, it’s still very cold!

INFO ♟ Welcome!

Welcome to Crosscheck's grand opening log! For any further questions, please see the FAQ or reach us at the Contact Us page. Have fun!

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[TODAY'S WEATHER FORECAST: cold temperatures, leftover snow, and falling motorbikes. it is only by Kaito's quick reflexes and light feet that he manages to duck and dodge out of the way before Setsuna's bike crashes right into him]

Whoa--!

[instead of puffing up indignantly at the near accident, however, Kaito immediately trots over to Setsuna's side, crouches down, and offers him a hand. his gaze flickers from side to side, searching his fellow Hero for any obvious injuries]

You okay down there?

[ Ugh, really. Setsuna couldn't move right away due to the painful impact against the snow; for now, he's trying to hold onto his back part. A headache yesterday, and now this... He's off to a good start.

He's only able to reach out to the hand after the sensation subsided. He keeps his other hand on his back though, soothing it out more as he stands back up with the young man's help. ]

... My apologies. More importantly, what of you?

"More importantly?" I got out without a scratch.

[he hoists Setsuna back onto his feet, lets go of his hand and lets his arm drop to his side]

I'm pretty sure I'm not the one we should be worried about, here.

[ Without a scratch... Setsuna takes a moment to observe the other, wanting to personally confirm it now that he's able to do so. Relief shortly washes over him when he receives full confirmation.

And the kind words cause him to bow his head slightly in appreciation. ]

Regardless, that was dangerous... It is good that you are unharmed.

[ This kid is too nice... Others would've yelled at him for that. ]

[fortunately for Setsuna, Kaito is not the type to lecture. he waves a hand, indicating that it isn't that big of a deal]

Don't worry, don't worry. No one's hurt, so no harm, no foul.

[pauses briefly, gaze flickering from the bike to the ice canals and back again]

. . . but you sure do like to live on the edge, huh?

[Kaito and ice didn't get along; if it were him, he would've preferred to drive on ground with plenty of traction]

[ Thankful for the other boy's understanding, Setsuna nods his head in appreciation... At the comment about his recklessness, he also turns his eyes to the ice canal. Well, he can't deny it. ]

Sometimes, it is necessary to take risks...

[ That statement will continue to hold true, especially when the war actually begins in this world... ]

[. . . well. he'll get no argument, there]

Maybe.

[with a snicker, Kaito steps to the side to pick Setsuna's motorbike up off of the ground]

But there's a difference between "necessary" risks and "risks you take just for fun."

[and a daredevil like Kaito was certainly familiar with both kinds of danger]

[ After seeing the bike pulled back up, Setsuna walks over to secure one side so it wouldn't fall down when the boy would let go. ]

I appreciate it...

[ For pardoning him, as well as helping him and his bike up. ]

And I am doing it for the sake of adjusting to the weapon. It has been difficult so far.

[he makes sure the bike is secured before he lets go. no one wants that thing to fall to the ground again. what if it broke? Kaito had no idea who fragile these historic relics were, anyway]

Aaah, so it's like that, huh?

[he rubs the back of his head thoughtfully]

I haven't even tried doing that yet, but my "weapon" is just a yo-yo. 'M sure it won't take much practice to learn how to use.

[little does he know. . .]

[ There's a lot of worries involved with a weapon like Setsuna's... Aside from learning to control it (which already works unlike an ordinary bike), there's also learning turning it up and calibrating it. He wonders if he'll be able to find replacement parts for it later, if ever the necessity arrives.

Setsuna is beginning to wonder if he picked wrongly. But he didn't want to regret his choice. He wants to do his best and learn it. Hearing the other boy's weapon choice though, he feels himself question its reliability. And as a result, he feels slightly better about his... ]

A yo-yo...?

[ He's curious now, though. He's looking with anticipation, wondering if he'll be able to see it... Especially seeing it in action. ]

Edited 2016-02-14 10:54 (UTC)

A yo-yo.

[and, as proof, he scoops the wooden yo-yo he had attached to his belt in his hand and shows it to Setsuna. it seems pretty plain, actually. . . albeit larger than a normal yo-yo. plus, it has a ♣ carved onto both sides]

Blunt and heavy, but non-deadly. It'd knock enemies out pretty easily if I threw it right. Could probably be used for stuff other than fighting too, like lassoing objects from far away or pulling myself up a wall. Plus--

[HAVE YOU EVER SEEN ANYONE DO THE ROCK THE BABY YO-YO TRICK SETSUNA, because Kaito sure is doing that right now]

I know how to tricks with it. Heh.

[ Staring... Staring in quiet amazement. No, Setsuna has never seen it...! In general, he doesn't have much experience in witnessing entertaining things. So he's easily impressed by the small trick that the other boy showed him.

Yeah, he takes that back. From what he's seen and heard so far, that yo-yo weapon is more useful than he initially thought. ]

That is... impressive. Have you already figured out its magical ability?

[with a flick of his wrist, Kaito recalls the yo-yo back into his palm. he turns the toy around and frowns at it, before he shakes his head]

No, not yet.

[he follows his response up with a shrug]

But I did just get it. I've still gotta get used to it, yeah?

[though to be frank, he wasn't in a hurry to discover this objects magical ability, if only because he preferred to rely on his own skills over those related to spellcasting. or. . . well. he presumed the yo-yo's ability would be related to spellcasting somehow. he wasn't completely sure about that just yet]

[ Setsuna surely agrees with that. After all, that's the reason why he's doing such risky actions on his own magical weapon. He nods in understanding. ]

That is... true. Do your best... at your own training.

[ Now, he's claimed enough of this kid's time... He should get going. ]

I apologize for earlier again, and thank you for your assistance.

Just don't. . . hit anyone in the head while you're doing it, right?

[says the guy who nearly gave a few people a concussion the very same day he got his yo-yo. you're the pot preaching to the kettle, Kaito]

And oi, don't mention it. Where're you heading? It kinda looked like we were going in the same direction.

[ The reminder is still something Setsuna appreciates. He almost smiled, though doesn't and merely nods to reassure the boy. ]

... Are we? I am heading to the local orphanage, to answer their job post.

[aha! so his observation had been correct]

You too, huh? Because building snowmen for money is probably the easiest job anyone's ever completed.

[his grin widens]

Why don't we head that way together?

[ Well, he can't argue with that. It's true... Although, the main reason why he picked it is because he was reminded of someone important to him.

Setsuna calmly watches that friendly grin, nodding to agree to the proposition. ]

I will... give you a lift.

[ He promises not to crash this time!! If he goes along slowly (and not use the ice canal), then he should be able to get them there safely. ]

[it's generous offer, but after watching Setsuna almost crash into him. . . well. Kaito seems understandably dubious]

Are you sure you don't wanna. . . y'know. Walk? After taking that spill?

[ That reaction is expected, so Setsuna isn't offended at all. He remains with his unagitated expression. ]

As I have stated earlier, I am doing it for training. However, I will not speed up this time.

[ If he controls it slowly, it'll be impossible to get into an accident. He can just continue practicing properly at a latter time. ]

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INTRO ♚ FEBRUARY

C

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i'm sorry, i lost my icon keywords so the earlier tags are ruined ;;

it's okay!! my inbox has survived /o/

/gives you a flower... ///

wah!! ///

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aaa sorry for the delayed tag!!

no problem at all!

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