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!
tailend: (me está enloqueciendo)

[personal profile] tailend 2016-09-09 12:38 am (UTC)(link)
Who's never seen a bottle of tea before?

[Like, honestly... He's already ripping open one of these slightly squashed cake's packaging and taking a huge bite. Not bad for smacking him to the ground.]
maidhem: (peering)

[personal profile] maidhem 2016-09-09 12:56 am (UTC)(link)
I haven't before today, [She said, as if that were obvious.]

And I don't know how long those machines have been here, or how long my Lord has been here either. But they look really neat!
tailend: (got me begging)

[personal profile] tailend 2016-09-09 01:02 am (UTC)(link)
[It's just tea in a bottle...! These cakes wrapped in tiny hell packages are way weirder - of course, he's already shoved the rest of this one in his face and moved on to number two.]

Sure, sure. Nothing more exciting than a box that spits out food.
maidhem: (teasing)

[personal profile] maidhem 2016-09-09 06:24 pm (UTC)(link)
A box with a window that spits out the food you asked for, [Felicia corrected, a pleased little smile on her face.]

They don't exist where I'm from, but I really wish they did!
tailend: favaro sucks (i missed this one and i don't care)

[personal profile] tailend 2016-09-09 07:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Okay, okay... don't split hairs. [It's a box that spits food, whatever! He could make a box that spits food easily, it's not impressive or anything. Not that he has tried, but still...]

They don't look that hard to put together, if you ask me.
maidhem: (questioning)

[personal profile] maidhem 2016-09-09 11:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Maybe not, [Felicia said, eyeballing one of the bottles of tea as if to try to figure out how to open it. The little white cap on top had an arrow pointing around in a circle...]

But what about the insides? It has to be more than a box with a window and a drawer. Is there an invisible man in there pulling the drinks out or something?
tailend: (end of the night)

[personal profile] tailend 2016-09-09 11:51 pm (UTC)(link)
[An invisible man... Sorry, he stops to laugh at that, covering his mouth so he doesn't wheeze out cake pieces. That's it, he's dead, cakes and invisible men have killed him. He's never seen a vending machine before himself, but if he had to guess—]

You can't be serious! [pfffFFFFF okay, okay. He's winding down from laughing.] It's probably mechanical.
maidhem: (tsun tsun)

[personal profile] maidhem 2016-09-09 11:55 pm (UTC)(link)
I've never seen anything like that before!

[Felicia protested, hand roughly turning the cap to open the bottle so hard that she accidentally dropped the cap and splashed some tea ont he ground.]

And I'm not a Mechanist either-- I don't know how they work!
tailend: (end of the night it's going down)

[personal profile] tailend 2016-09-10 12:03 am (UTC)(link)
[Ooh, tea waster. He's telling.]

Okay, okay! I'm telling you, there's no invisible man. It has buttons, so there has to be a mechanism inside that they move around. Like... a trigger on a crossbow, I guess.

[This is not a good comparison but what the hell is electricity.]
maidhem: (peering)

[personal profile] maidhem 2016-09-10 12:16 am (UTC)(link)
[Even if she did spill some tea, at least she didn't bare her ass!

...besides, electricity is something that can kill you. :|]


That's one very strange looking crossbow, in that case, [Felicia said simply, looking sadly down at the spilled tea before taking a sip of it from the bottle. It was.... really, really sweet!]
tailend: (she's up all night to the sun)

[personal profile] tailend 2016-09-10 12:19 am (UTC)(link)
It's the same concept! The concept!

[Work with him here... He's not pulling the front piece off any of these machines, so crossbow conjecture is the best he can do.]
maidhem: (questioning)

[personal profile] maidhem 2016-09-11 04:12 am (UTC)(link)
So pushing the buttons is like shooting off an arrow at a target?

[She tilted her head at the weird man, hoping that she had gotten at least this much correct!]
tailend: (end of the night it's going down)

[personal profile] tailend 2016-09-11 04:46 am (UTC)(link)
Well, uh... [He rubs his chin, thinking... If he had a crossbow on hand this would be a lot easier to explain??] The parts of the bow that fire the arrow are just a machine, y'know? Pushing a button must make some machine parts move inside!

[He's SO SURE but only half correct.]
maidhem: (derp)

[personal profile] maidhem 2016-09-13 03:35 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, is that right?

[She understood none of that, but she was pretty sure it sounded legit. Maybe she could use this information to help someone else someday!]

How much do you know about these machines? Are they common where you come from?
tailend: (you nasty but i like your type)

[personal profile] tailend 2016-09-13 03:55 am (UTC)(link)
What, the snack machines? Nope.

[He says this confidently... He has no idea how they really work.]

But I'm just making an educated guess! I know my way around a trigger, so what's the difference?
maidhem: (questioning)

[personal profile] maidhem 2016-09-13 07:20 pm (UTC)(link)
A lot of things-- because the only things I know of that have triggers like that are some crossbows.

[She stated matter-of-factly, inching closer.]

But you sound like you're smart for someone so weird. Maybe we can help each other out!
tailend: (me está enloqueciendo)

[personal profile] tailend 2016-09-13 09:09 pm (UTC)(link)
[Ack, right in the dignity.]

Weird... You don't have to say it like that. I'm not feeling too inspired to help someone with that kind of attitude.
maidhem: (derp)

[personal profile] maidhem 2016-09-14 03:51 am (UTC)(link)
But anyone who strips in public has got to be a little weird!

[Felicia said, all innocence, and followed it up with a sheepish smile.]

It's okay to be weird, though. I'm a maid and I can't even serve tea without breaking some cups, so that makes me a little weird too!
tailend: (the force from the beginning)

[personal profile] tailend 2016-09-14 03:54 am (UTC)(link)
[Wow!!]

That makes me eccentric, and you someone who's not good at her job. So there, neither of us are "weird"!

[He says this... like he didn't say anything rude...]
maidhem: (peering)

[personal profile] maidhem 2016-09-14 04:05 am (UTC)(link)
No, stripping in public makes you indecent. Breaking tea cups just makes me clumsy.

[There was a very distinct difference right there....]
tailend: (i feel the same and i wanna meet her)

[personal profile] tailend 2016-09-14 04:07 am (UTC)(link)
[No... no, he likes his better.]

Well that's still not weird! And a clumsy maid is still bad at her job!
maidhem: (tsun tsun)

[personal profile] maidhem 2016-09-15 06:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Don't say that! I'm not entirely useless!

[And....she pelts Favaro with one of her closed bottles of tea.]

I'm trying to be friendly with you even though you're weird, and you're making it very hard!
Edited 2016-09-15 18:48 (UTC)
tailend: (i'm up all night to get some)

[personal profile] tailend 2016-09-16 02:41 am (UTC)(link)
[Ack, tea! He holds his arms up to shield his face, but getting hit with a full bottle of tea isn't fun. Stop that!!]

You keep throwing stuff at me! What am I supposed to do?! You're lucky I'm still here talking to you!!
maidhem: (game -- serious)

[personal profile] maidhem 2016-09-16 03:36 am (UTC)(link)
You don't know me at all to be making judgements about how good I am at my job!

[And, brows furrowed at the weird person, she stubbornly unscrewed her remaining bottle of tea and angrily drank from it. It was sweet-- really sweet, almost sickeningly so-- but she didn't even taste it.

She was just so upset about thise whole affair.]
tailend: (she's up all night for good fun)

[personal profile] tailend 2016-09-17 12:47 am (UTC)(link)
You just told me you break teacups. Is that in the job description?

[He's just saying...]

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