intro ♚ september

[boardmaster]

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!

Comments

hak | akatsuki no yona | OTA

[fortheprincess]

ZERO: rated m for "my god Hak what are you doing"

[ Listen

the last thing Hak was expecting was to wake up in an unknown place without his clothes on. First of all, who stripped him? (Hopefully Yona.) Secondly, where is his spear and where are his clothes? Also, where the fuck is he. But he really just wants to know where his clothes are.

Also, there's a baby tiger propped up right on his stomach as soon as he wakes up.

Hak runs out into the hallway, backed up against the wall with his door wide open as he stares at the tiger--it's just looking at him with big baby eyes--and not really registering that he's outside without his clothes on. If you happen to pass by, you'll definitely see Hak in all of his glory.

Or maybe you'll come across him outside, where he's actually got a bedsheet wrapped around his waist covering his private parts in search for some clothes. The tiger's also trailing along behind him, completely unaware of his predicament. ]

TWO: branch wars

[ After actually finding proper clothes, acquiring his new weapon, and giving up on getting the tiger to stop following him, Hak's now at school and most certainly getting noticed by a bunch of the students. There's a swarm around him and he's really trying to escape because he's not interested in student life or anything nonsensical like that. He just wants to find his friends and go home?? Or at least figure out what he's doing here. Generally, the students in the crowd seem to be trying to persuade him to join their Branch and it's clear that he doesn't want to be here. ]

I'm not interested in any of your activities.

[ He's trying to be as blunt as possible about this...to no avail. Come help him please. ]

THREE: hak-senpai

[ Okay, seems like Hak can't escape being in a horde no matter where he goes. He's definitely getting noticed by the freshmen now, who all seem to be swooning over the "cool" new senpai. Hak's seemingly unfazed by all of this, only disturbed by the sheer number of freshmen heading his way, but the welcoming committee blocks them off, thankfully.

Once he gets away from them, he'll probably be caught staring at “THE TOTAL IDIOT'S GUIDE TO A SUCCESSFUL ACADEMY LIFE” banner. He kind of needs it if he's gonna be stuck here, because 1) he's an idiot, and 2) he has no idea what academy life even is. ]

Looks like they take this stuff pretty seriously.

WILDCARD

[ Anything goes! ]

ZERO

[twosidedsword]

[After dealing with the new roommate stuff, he's gone through his usual daily routine. He sits on his bed and starts to name people that he knows and cares about. All the people here in this place and then all the people from home. So far everyone is where they should be as far as he can...

Hak. Hak is here.

It takes a moment for him to figure out where the pulse is coming from but soon he's heading that way. He realizes that Hak is in the other dorm building and he runs as fast as he can. Which means he's breathless when he finds him.

It doesn't matter that Hak is naked. Shin-Ah runs at him and embraces him hard.]

[fortheprincess]

[ Alright. So. This whole being naked thing is pretty bad, especially when he realizes he's out in semi-public where people can actually see him. He should really get back in his room and at least get something to cover up, but he realizes it a second too late.

There's a set of footsteps he hears, and his defensive instincts kick in as he prepares himself for an imminent threat; but said threat is wrapping his arms around him, and Hak registers those bright golden eyes before anything else. ]

Shin-Ah?

[ JESUS you scared him. It's also kind of worrying that Shin-Ah is hugging him?? Well, he figures that Shin-Ah was probably worried. They all woke up in a strange place, seemingly separated, after all. After getting over the surprise, Hak pats him on his back once or twice...before he tries to slowly push himself away. ]

Er--Shin-Ah, now's not the time...

[ Clothes??? Clothes are a thing??? Does he not care about Hak being naked. ]

[twosidedsword]

[No. Shin-Ah does not care that Hak is naked. He doesn't care in the slightest. Hak could be without this sheet too and he'd still be clinging to him now. He's missed him so much and hasn't seen him in half a year now. The fact that they can be together again is a miracle to say the least.

Give him another moment. He'll pull back soon. Promise.

So yeah. Pretty boy hugging hot guy in hallway. Nothing to see here.]

wildcard 1/2

[flirtations]

[ After some resistance, Jae-ha has finally given in and is indulging the students in their games. If he's to actually learn something here, he should try to get at least a bit integrated into their culture, after all. He's currently engaged in a game of Illusion Pictionary.

He no longer possesses the ability to create illusions himself, but it's still pretty fun to try and guess the scenarios others create for the group.

At the moment, this particular student creating the illusion has a very... testosterone-filled prompt. The scene before them is a sandy beach, inhabited by a group of very muscular men in various states of undress posing and flexing. It takes Jae-ha aback, eyes widening with surrpise. But he's gonna figure this out!! ]

Oh, this looks like that place in Hartstocht, but it's a beach... do they go on vacations together sometimes?

[flirtations]

[ Suddenly, his thoughts are interrupted by the presence of a new half-naked muscular form entering the picture. Is that... Hak?! ]

W-WOW! That's some talent! [ How did this mage manage to get the perfect splitting image of Hak?! ]

rated m for "mom is going to box your ears, young man"

[tsyoon]

[ Strange things have been happening in the hallways of the Hall of Glory, lately... Impossibly cute pastries, girls sneaking around in front of people's doors, and...

Some kind of naked lunatic.

Yoon squints from down the hall. He'd been about to go downstairs when this guy made a huge ruckus of slamming his door open and running out with all his family treasures on display.

This guy...

Yoon takes a few steps closer, staring. At the man's face, obviously. Suddenly, that is more shocking than full frontal nudity. ]

...Hak?!

hi mom

[fortheprincess]

Yoon--there you are.

[ Why does everyone seem so shocked to see him today? Has it really been that long since he'd been knocked out?

He's so confused that it doesn't even occur to him that Yoon's actually seeing him naked. Not in front of the children, god Hak ]

Where the hell did all of you end up?

two

[interchained]

[It seems like Hak isn't the only one who's not excited about the perspective of going to school. So is Gilbert, actually, who's standing nearby, with his own swarm of students who are annoyingly persistent and excited to see a hero. While it's really tempting, he doubts that pointing his gun at them would be any good. What if they start fawning over the weapon instead?

Listen, he just wants to get out of here, fast.

And then, he notices Hak, who seems to be in a similar (if not the same) situation as him. Can't they find someone else to bother, really?!

The only way to go about is to distract the students, how should he do it though?]

Look! Is it a dragon up there?!

[Well, maybe dragons aren't as popular as heroes here, but it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that seeing one here is more unusual. That said, Gilbert tries to be at least a little dramatic about it and points his finger up, somewhere far, far away and hoping they're just going to buy it and give him a chance to run away as fast as he can.

Before he does that though, he makes an attempt at communicating with Hak through gestures, trying to show him that they need to go immediately...the question is whether these chaotic gestures will even draw his attention.]

[fortheprincess]

[ It's a good thing Hak's looking for any opportunity to get out of here, even if it's a simple distraction such as a guy yelling about a dragon. He actually looks at the direction of said guy's finger, but sees him gesturing at the corner of his eye. Honestly he has no idea what those gestures mean, but Hak's gonna get out of here, away from the crazy man.

He'll probably realize that Gilbert was trying to get out of here in no time, especially since Hak ends up running alongside of him, away from the crowd. ]

Not bad.

3

[quaria]

[ Comrade. It's all right. You're not alone, as Setsuna here is also reading through the same brochure. Idiots should stay together, eh. For the first minute or so, he doesn't say much but continue to read.

But after his new companion speaks up, Setsuna quietly lifts his head to look towards his direction. ]

This school is meant for the elite, so their standards are significantly high.

[fortheprincess]

W~ow.

[ He's not impressed whatsoever. They're so damn pretentious here that it makes him roll his eyes. ]

I'm impressed. All these rich people and they still don't have any alcohol.

hak-senpai?!

[hoasen]

[Meanwhile, you have Vietnam, who is dressed neatly in her uniform, ready to give this "school life" a shot. Isn't it every country's dream?! It kind of is.]

I believe it is for...how to say...ah, a school life represents youth.

oh

[fortheprincess]

[ Not his....... ]

Doesn't that mean it should be fun? [ He holds up the brochure in front of her. ] This is all about how not to screw up.

zero

[passtave]

[ Here is a pure, gentle soul who just wants to get to her room without incident, innocently walking down the hallway with her nose in a book about potion-making when suddenly—

Just as she's about to pass by one of the doors, it suddenly bursts open, and out comes a—a naked man?! Sakura stops right in her tracks as he blows by her and pancakes against the wall, stark naked from head to toe. At first, she's so startled that all she can do is stand there in complete, gobsmacked silence, her mouth open in shock and her eyes decidedly on his face and nothing lower!! But a second later— ]

AHH?!

[ AHHHHHH?!?!??! ]

quality tags 1/2

[fortheprincess]

[ Oh my god.

Look, if it were a guy seeing him naked Hak would care slightly less but this poor girl--this poor girl?! Yona would definitely smack him for this, holy shit, he's just gonna stand and mimic her expression as it occurs to him that he is indeed naked, and this girl is indeed terrified. ]

Hah--

[fortheprincess]

Sorry.

[ He says it hurriedly before running into his room and slamming the door behind him, and then he's gonna figure out that HEY, THERE ARE HIS CLOTHES AT THE EDGE OF HIS BED...and then peek an eye out through his door once he's fully clothed. ]

2 there be branchin

[showsnopiety]

[The students are naturally protesting because they think he's playing hard to get. And Caren can completely understand this. Completely. And while she would just love to watch him sink with the ship, so to speak...she might get more if he just helps him out a bit.

So Caren strides right in-a tiny thing of five feet and one inch, that's no small feat-and she moves to grab his arm, like some other school girl would.

And while she's wearing one of the uniforms-it's yellow, much like her eyes-her expression and body language is anything but swooning. She is, at best, cold.]

He's not interested because he's joining me for lunch.

[She glances up at him. He might be new-the mana that sparks between them from the contact might be startling for him-but she is doing this for his sake.]

Come. I couldn't find you, and I have no plans on losing you again.

[From the look she gives those around her, they shrink back. She might not actually be a dragon, but she puts the fear in them like one.]

here we go

[fortheprincess]

[ He's honestly just that apathetic?? Mostly annoyed. Get off of him. More importantly, why is one of them latching on to him--lunch? He didn't agree to anything, he's pretty confused. ]

Ah?

[ Immediately he notices the mana, and it's quite unsettling at first and almost causes him to jolt back. Almost. But what's more surprising is that he's starting to realize that she may be, in fact, a Hero, and so he doesn't protest when they walk away.

Also, she's kind of scary, but he's not gonna admit to that. ]

...I'm guessing I should be thanking you.

zero

[ateaist]

[On her way back to her room, finding someone strolling out of there stark naked can only mean one thing: she's got a roommate again. Two, in fact, but she'll dwell on that later - she has no shame in checking this guy out as he passes, but at the same time people tend not to like the whole nude-on-day-one aspect of arriving here. Whether they be the nudist themselves or the people having to watch.

So she ends up jogging ahead to catch up with him.]

Not that I mind the view lad, but you're going to paint quite a few faces scarlet if you keep going the way you are.

[She isn't talking to his face as she says all this.........]

zero

[fortheprincess]

[ Oh my god, please spare him ]

--Are you shameless?!

[ SHE PROBABLY IS TBH...not like Hak's normally any different, just. This. Why do these things happen to him. He's gonna move his hands to cover as much as he can. ]

At least tell me where I can find some clothes!

[ Welcome to K104, Hak. ]

zero. because I like to watch the world burn.

[chronostrigger]

[ This was already too much for her to handle. Miranda Lotto, a woman who startled easily, and was far better off dealing with things like strange new places and world jumpers along with someone else, had, against her better judgment, ventured out.

She intended on slowly exploring the town when she spots the tiger. What?

Then... it's master.

IT WAS IMPOLITE TO STARE. BUT WHY ARE YOU ONLY IN A SHEET? WHY IS THIS A THING THAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW?

Frozen for a moment, she finally brings her hands up to her face, a scandalized little squeal escaping her. You've been spotted, Hak. ]

MIRANDA NO

[fortheprincess]

[ WHY DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING

maybe because Hak's a dumbass who hasn't found his clothes yet

At least...he has a sheet on...he doesn't really see what the big deal is otherwise? Then again, girls are always shy and sensitive when it comes to this kind of stuff. He turns to the source of a squeal and sees a distressed young woman. ]

What?

[ "What"

He knows what's up, but....does he really need to apologize for this. ]

zero

[whipoflust]

[ What is he doing, indeed. Chloe stops dead in his tracks on his way. He is definitely not comfortable with nudity (he has his reasons, it's not just some "aw, so embarrassing" sort of uncomfortable here) and he he closes his eyes and rubs the bridge of his nose in an attempt to force unpleasant memories out of his mind. ] Sir, why would you go outside without wearing anything? [ There is no hint of fear in his voice, because he actually manages to mask it well. Almost entirely. Yep, definitely not good with being around naked men. ]

[fortheprincess]

[ Yes good, that saves Hak the trouble of trying to get this guy to forget about what he's seeing right now. He would be more apologetic about this if he realized that this was entirely his fault. ]

The better question is why I wasn't given anything to wear in the first place.

[ ........please ]