boardmaster: (Default)
BOARDMASTER ([personal profile] boardmaster) wrote in [community profile] pawnstorm2016-09-07 10:15 am

intro ♚ september

WELCOME TO Grantebrycge



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 Video Killed The Radio Star
Rise and shine, Heroes. It seems that today is filled with good fortune as the morning is very uneventful, aside from the monthly arrival of new comrades. This is the perfect time to grab your weapon, Carrier and uniform and use your time to look around Caissa. While exploring or catching up on the latest gossip, you might blow past the delivery carriages outside of the Hall of Glory, but you certainly won’t be missing the steampunk televisions and vending machines which will be set up around noon time by your lovely maids and butlers! The TVs are placed in every single bedroom as well as leisure rooms so you can enjoy your daily fix of popular cooking show Inferno Kitchen, primetime Cheoksan drama Summer Cantata or the Gammonian hit series Sport of Crowns! The vending machines can be found in the hallways and contain snacks and drinks such as canned mackin’ cheese (or as Noirs like to call it, Lovekraft Supper), Pooky, Cpt. Pepperoni, Mountin' Do, or Eight Up. You are free to come up with your own TV show or vending machine food items.

Thierry Toussaint
My dearest Heroes! I hope today finds you well, and for once I bring good news! [ he laughs a little sheepishly. he’s dressed less formally than in previous somber declarations and his hair looks windblown, like he ran here ] As you well know, our recent victories and mostly importantly, a successful alliance with Gammon has brought no small amount of blessings: we have more resources, better manpower, and the invaluable help of our Gammonian colleagues not just in war, but also in advancing our civilization!

And so it is my pleasure to unveil our new and improved broadcast technology[ a pause, where he winks ] —do I look clearer to you? It’s a little harder to tell from this end, I’m afraid. You’ll be able to receive better, brighter and more varied content from our country’s talented producers. Oh…

[ another, longer pause. teddy looks offscreen and then laughs ]

I’m not getting paid for this, I promise. I don’t need any other motivation to be excited for my country, do I? In addition to the television programs, we will be helping with the release of newly developed vending machine technology that brings fresh and healthy snacks to the streets of our capital, and hopefully, beyond. It would be nice to have one for my office.

I’ve mentioned our Gammonian friends, haven’t I? And I’ve saved the best for last: as a token of the friendship between our countries and all that we can do for each other, Gammon has assisted us in completing Platform 40— … 42 and 5/8ths, an instantaneous portal between our very own Caissa and Cochrane. I look forward to even more cultural and commercial exchange from all the way across the Rokirovka Ocean!

And ah, speaking of exchange—the Platform has been completed just in time for you, dear Heroes. Gammon has actually extended another invitation to you: as national and international icons and users of magic, they would like you to visit their school of magecraft, Pigeonsblood, in Grant— Grant… [ … ] You will be able to reach the school easily through the Platform!

Pigeonsblood’s Headmaster has assured me that you would be a great inspiration to their incoming class of aspiring mages; I urge you to take advantage of this opportunity. Gammon’s knowledge and mastery of magic, as you may have seen during your previous visits, is nothing to take lightly! And if you like what you see, I’m told Gammon would be happy to sponsor classes for Heroes at the school. I’m sure they want to keep the inspiration flowing, hm?

Thank you once again, all of you, for making such wonderful things possible. I’m sure your achievements will continue to open doors, both metaphorically and literally, for Blanc and for yourselves.


Meet up with your chums, old and new, and head over to Caissa’s train station. Once there, locating the Platform 42 and 5/8ths is an easy feat. There are two guards standing watch and they will stop curious civilians from sneaking past them. They will only let Heroes use the Platform and as such require proof of identification. A Hero’s uniform, rank badge or a passport identifying yourself as such should do the trick. As the platform functions as one of Gammon’s checkpoints, you will need to pay a small fee of 200 colle to pass. Should you be a new arrival, the Prime Minister will suddenly show up and pay the fee.

Where’s the portal, you might ask? Take a deep breath, walk through the wall between the guards and you’ll find yourself in Cochrane! Heroes might experience some sudden vertigo or a near insatiable hunger for pork. Very minor side effects vary from person to person.

In order to reach Grantebrycge, Heroes must travel from Cochrane to Friedgood and then a little ways further. They are free to make this journey by foot, mount or train. Directions to Grantebrycge are vague but you can’t miss the landmark of the Great Face Cliff, a monument depicting the faces of the towns’s founding members. Poobin and Cemron seem especially stern as they glare down at anyone who dares to visit.

TWO Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!
Upon entering Grantebrycge, Heroes will be immediately be ambushed by swarms of eager students from Pigeonsblood’s welcoming committee. This committee consists of upperclassmen from each of the Four Branches - Achroite, Prehnite, Bixbite, and Citrine, and they are dressed in uniforms in their Branch color (pictured here in the Bixbite red). Officially, they’re here to help you learn more about Pigeonsblood, give you a tour of the campus, and show you what each Branch can offer you so that you can make an educated decision about which to enroll in. Unofficially, they’re there to try to talk you into enrolling into their particular Branch and some will ramble on about how their Branch is the best while others fight amongst each other to try to get your attention.

Once the tour is finished, the committee will lead Heroes to the administration building. There, they’ll part with you to attend to other duties, leaving you with a reminder to head to the center plaza in an hour for the freshman orientation party. Heroes can enroll in classes if they so choose and have made a decision as to which Branch is the best for them. It’s recommended as it’s free, courtesy of Gammon. If they enroll in classes, they will receive their class schedule, a permit for a uniform, and a key to their dorm room. Head to the university shops later to have them take your measurements!

NOTE: The rooming and class schedule are up to player discretion. If there is an official mission the professors will allow an absence - Heroes can’t save the world if they’re worrying about their GPA, after all!

For those who choose to not enroll in Pigeonsblood, they can explore the campus some more, but either way make sure to head down to the central plaza before the party!

THREE The Part Where They Rope You in with Free Food
Stepping into the center plaza puts you in the middle of excited back-to-school buzz. Several event booths line the plaza, all eager to get your attention. Some will try to recruit you to their school club. Others are simply there to provide information, such as maps of the school and information about the Four Branches. Still others get even more specific, headed by banners marked “THE TOTAL IDIOT'S GUIDE TO A SUCCESSFUL ACADEMY LIFE” and “GUIDE TO HAPPINESS: HOW TO NOT DIE DURING EXAMS”. A few generous booths will provide you with free food like “Splotted Richard” or “Bangers and Mash” to fill your tummy, as well as school merchandise, such as Branch-specific pens, face paint, flyswatters, and other bits of merchandise.

If those don't get your attention, the freshmen running your way definitely will. They're beyond excited to see a Hero among their ranks, and approach you eagerly, yelling things such as, “Did you enroll? Let's do our best together!”, “You're my inspiration! I hope we're classmates!” and “Please let me know if you need a tutor! I wouldn't mind…” Thankfully, their enthusiasm is brought to a stop by the welcoming committee, who make their way to the center plaza and hush the excited freshmen. After a heartwarming speech about youth and school spirit, the committee flashes their new classmates a bright smile and finishes with: “And now, it's time for some fun!”

What do they mean by fun? The freshmen are more than eager to demonstrate! Aside from the fun offered at the various booths, there are many magic games to partake in. There's “Splash Tag,” where players must use water magic in lieu of touch to play tag, “Air Races,” in which racers use psionic, gravity, or wind magic to boost their movement, “Hot Potato,” in which the temperature of the potato is increased with each pass until it explodes on the loser, and Illusion-based Pictionary.

A few steps away from the commotion, near where the welcoming committee made their speech, is a tall bulletin board. Various flyers are posted here-- club announcements, dating ads, tutoring offers, and of course, Pigeonsblood help wanted ads.

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

Remember to check out the uniform contest for ranked Heroes!
femmefailtale: (Um!!!)

[personal profile] femmefailtale 2016-09-08 07:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Look out, we got a badass over here.

Maybe it's a little much of me to ask but... how many years we talkin? Two? Three? [There's no way it can be that long, she can't be more than twenty. Right?]
royaliability: (Default)

[personal profile] royaliability 2016-09-08 07:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Almost twice that.

[Early twenties. Vaguely. idk.

But Ragnanival is pretty terrible after all. The men are warriors, the women are warriors, not being a warrior is the greatest shame of all.

Presumably everyone satiates their need for food and water with the blood of their enemies or something, eliminating the need for any other kind of occupation.
]

And I spent my formative years training in preparation for when I formally joined.
Edited 2016-09-08 19:47 (UTC)
femmefailtale: (Yo.)

[personal profile] femmefailtale 2016-09-08 07:55 pm (UTC)(link)
...So a soldier born and raised, huh...

[She's heard of some magic knights who practiced from the time they were born--that cute Bast was one of them. Still, she never quite got why they were so dedicated.]

For you, then, it's just another day with a different cause. Don't worry about it too hard, outside of when we're actually at war there's plenty to do and plenty of fun to be had.
royaliability: (Default)

[personal profile] royaliability 2016-09-08 08:04 pm (UTC)(link)
["Fun" isn't really in her dictionary, Mel...

Contributing to the war effort would be far more honourable than what was waiting for her back home, so it's what she's more interested in. Gwendolyn doesn't really have any interest in anything outside of that without a father figure to angst over anymore.
]

Is there a lot of downtime in between battle, then?
femmefailtale: (Got my shit wrecked there...)

[personal profile] femmefailtale 2016-09-08 09:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh yeah... most battles end within a day. Dungeons too. They've come at about once a month so far--but there's jobs to do in the meanwhile so that you don't ever get bored.

If you're a busybody, anyways. Me, I just kind of... coast.
royaliability: (Default)

[personal profile] royaliability 2016-09-09 11:50 am (UTC)(link)
[She thinks that's not really a good answer. Structure is important, yadda yadda, but she keeps that to herself.

Because Gwen is, in fact, a busybody. But she also knows when to speak up and this ain't one of those moments.
]

I think I'll aim to contribute frequently, yes. "Coasting" isn't really how I like to do things.

Have you been to one of these dungeons before?
femmefailtale: (Teehee!)

[personal profile] femmefailtale 2016-09-09 02:11 pm (UTC)(link)
[And now she's laughing.]

Yeah... I went to one once. Don't think you'd be that fond of it--it was a little bit too raunchy for your average visitor.
royaliability: (Default)

[personal profile] royaliability 2016-09-09 03:04 pm (UTC)(link)
...you are aware I am referring to one of the dungeons we are expected to trek to on occasion?

[Not some, like, weird sex dungeon.

Her disbelief is mostly because she doesn't want this to be weird okay..."raunchy" isn't the word she expected when it came to good old fashioned rpg exoploration.

Can't they just be like back home? Volcanos, Forests, The Underworld.

Okay she hasn't been to two of those yet, but still.
]
femmefailtale: (Yo.)

[personal profile] femmefailtale 2016-09-09 03:05 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes, I am aware. Trust me, I know a dungeon from a dungeon. Fungeon? Whatever you want to call it.

It just happened that this dungeon took place near a carnival in a place that's like... hella red light district? Made for some interesting stories.
royaliability: (pic#10563591)

[personal profile] royaliability 2016-09-09 03:15 pm (UTC)(link)
...that certainly does sound unusual.

[She is not committing to "yeah it's not my kind of thing".

Because it's not and she knows it.

And Mel knows it.

But she still isn't gonna say it.
]

And if unusual is common around here, I'll just have to get used to it.
femmefailtale: (Teehee!)

[personal profile] femmefailtale 2016-09-09 03:21 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah. For what it's worth? Not so hard. The stars out at night are nice, and life here's... mostly peaceful.

I'm sure you'll find your niche before long. And if not, I hear that's what school is for anyways. And wouldn't you know it? We're in one right now.
royaliability: (Default)

[personal profile] royaliability 2016-09-09 03:27 pm (UTC)(link)
[She stares for a moment, completely quiet.]

...if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were part of their recruitment team.

[That's a joke.

Or, well, she's trying.
]
femmefailtale: (Got my shit wrecked there...)

[personal profile] femmefailtale 2016-09-09 03:31 pm (UTC)(link)
[It gets a laugh out of her at any rate--not that Mel's a hard target.]

You caught me. I'm totally on the take--this pays super well.

But seriously.

I figured I'd join Bixbite since they've got those killer red uniforms and it's just kind of my color. Who knows, I might learn something about healing while I'm at it.
royaliability: (Default)

[personal profile] royaliability 2016-09-09 03:55 pm (UTC)(link)
[She's considering Mel's point, really. And it's not like she can even bring herself to disagree; she has a set goal in mind after all. She's going to dedicate herself to this war and do whatever she can to help.

But in the meantime, she is going to need to occupy herself. At least with lessons she'd be getting stronger in a way that would help with the war effort.

Gwen looks down at the pamphlet in her hand for a moment, thoughtful.
]

...

You were right, at least. It sounds as if I would fit in well with Achroite.

...if I do go through with it, I'll likely sign up with them.

["If" at this stage means she more than likely will.]
femmefailtale: (Yo.)

[personal profile] femmefailtale 2016-09-09 04:22 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm glad to hear it! Like I said, blue? Totally your color.

Anyways, I'm Meliora. Good to know me, I'm sure, but the more important thing is who 'you' are. Don't meet a lot of battle-hardened amazons around here. At least, I haven't.
royaliability: (pic#10570919)

[personal profile] royaliability 2016-09-09 09:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Meliora. [Repeats it once with a nod, then places a hand to her shoulder and bows.] My name is Gwendolyn. I hail from the Kingdom of Ragnanival.

It's a pleasure to meet you.

[...truthfully, the topic of herself is her newfound least favourite topic. She'd rather not talk about herself at all anymore.

But...
]

I was a valkyrie, not an amazon.

[important!!]
femmefailtale: (Yo.)

[personal profile] femmefailtale 2016-09-09 10:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, really? Huh.

[She pauses here for a moment.]

What's the difference between a valkyrie and an amazon?
royaliability: (Default)

[personal profile] royaliability 2016-09-10 12:59 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm not an amazon.

[It's neither snarky nor another attempt at humour, she just says it straight up because that's...honestly the difference to her.]

Valkyries serve beneath Lord Odin, our King. We fight on the frontlines of battle to bring him victory.
femmefailtale: (Teehee!)

[personal profile] femmefailtale 2016-09-10 02:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Aha... So you valkyries serve Odin, and Odin tells you to fight and you fight.

You'll fit in fine, then. You just have a different King.

He's a pretty cool guy, right? Gave me a camera and everything.
royaliability: (Default)

[personal profile] royaliability 2016-09-10 04:04 pm (UTC)(link)
A camera?

[pls explain]
femmefailtale: (Yo.)

[personal profile] femmefailtale 2016-09-10 04:16 pm (UTC)(link)
[She holds up her polaroid camera.]

It takes images of things I'm looking at. You've never seen one?
Edited 2016-09-10 16:16 (UTC)
royaliability: (Default)

[personal profile] royaliability 2016-09-10 05:06 pm (UTC)(link)
[A shake of her head.]

No, never.

Outside of warfare, much of my Kingdom's technology is...lacking compared to this place.
femmefailtale: (Teehee!)

[personal profile] femmefailtale 2016-09-10 05:50 pm (UTC)(link)
So you're from a real war kingdom, huh..?

[Well, that's definitely a thing.]

Then in that case, there's a lot of stuff you've got to learn about. First on the list? Goofing off. What do you do for fun?
royaliability: (Default)

[personal profile] royaliability 2016-09-10 07:33 pm (UTC)(link)
I hone my combat skills.

[.....this is gonna be a tough one, Mel. Sorry.]
femmefailtale: (Do they come in pink?)

[personal profile] femmefailtale 2016-09-10 11:52 pm (UTC)(link)
[...hm.]

Okay, but when you're not doing that? What then?

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