pawnstorm | intro ♚ september

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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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Somehow, even in a world full of magic and monsters, Maki thinks she's found the most impossible sight here when she stumbles upon Kaede. She's playing with her Carrier, that much is clear, and perhaps not the strangest sight in front of her.

No, that would be that almost clear as day smile on the other girl's face. Maki is certain that's a smile. She's seen that face smile before after all, she would know!

She can't help but (trying to) sneak up to Kaede from behind the tree, leaning on it as she comes around. ]

Having fun, Kaede-san? [ ...It is Kaede, isn't it? She hopes. ]

[That did startle Kaede somewhat; she jumped a little, making the griffon she was leaning against sleepily chitter and mutter without fully waking up.]

Don't do that.

[She wasn't smiling now, posture tensed and arm raising like she was going to fend off an attack. Even with what was almost a smile, relaxing the rest of the way was difficult.

She did calm a bit when she saw it was Maki, at least.]

[ Being around girls who teased her more often than not, she learned a thing or two! Which is why even when Kaede suddenly seems to change, and even scolds her, she stays true to her playful smile, thinking that Kaede is really just faking that scary face now, the one that made Maki think that she might suddenly throw her again... ]

I just was walking by, and it looked like you were enjoying yourself. Do you secretly love animals, Kaede-san?

[Kaede lowered her arm, resting her hand on the griffon's head to scratch its ears. The rest of her still scowled and frowned and huddled her shoulders into a defensive sulk.]

Animals are fine. It's people I can't stand.

[ Leaning forward, Maki's red hair falls forward off her shoulders, but it does well to frame her smiling face as she looks down at the other girl. ]

Is that so? Even me?

[Kaede made a face somewhat like a scrunched up frown, leaning away from Maki as far as possible without letting go of her griffon or getting up. So not terribly far, and with her posture all strangely stretched and overextended.]

Don't touch me.

[HISS]

[ That's rude! Maki is here trying to make friends and she's being given the cold shoulder. ]

I-I wasn't! [ She's apparently embarrassed that Kaede thought she was going to. ]

Can't you be a little more friendly?!

[>Your feral cat requires more socialization to learn to friend]

I don't like people touching me.

[Most of the time and mostly because she didn't know what to do if they did, besides freezing up.

...though that wasn't really an answer to Maki's question.

Kaede straightens back up, though awkwardly and a bit slowly. She didn't physically shove Maki out of the way, either, just continued keeping her distance.]

[ Sadly Maki isn't Honoka. Way back when Maki had pushed everyone away from her because she was afraid to make friends with everyone. But Honoka had pushed past all of Maki's prickliness and made a friend of her. As far as she's come though, Kaede is still a difficult case. ]

I wasn't going to! W-Why would I suddenly start touching you?!

[ Maki stammers over her words, uncertain of Kaede's implications, but disliking them all the same! But she tries to calm herself, even as she looks like she's simmering... ]

I just came to say hello since I say you playing with your Carrier, but if you're too busy then I'll just go read somewhere else to read!

[Unfortunately Kaede interprets Maki's fluster as anger, and grabs onto the opportunity to become angry herself. Anger was familiar and safe and far away from thoughts and questions about interpersonal interactions that Kaede had no answers for.]

I don't know, I don't understand you people half the time anyway!

[She still blurted some answers that might not entirely make sense, but they sounded angry, so there.]

Do I look busy?

[But she also wasn't moving away. Reading was...quiet, she supposed. Not something that required a lot of thought or conversation, nothing too terrible.]

[ She's not angry at Kaede, at least beyond thinking the other girl ought to give her a break! They are allies after all, aren't they? And there's the whole.. Nyu thing, that makes Maki think there must be some goodness beneath the other girl's surface.

She just might not be the best person to get it out. ]

No, or else I wouldn't have come over to bother you in the first place!

[ So she admits to bothering her? Well, Maki doesn't always think about what she says... Which when she realizes how that sounds she's quick to puff up her cheeks, and then quickly sit down at a 90 degree angle on the tree from Kaede, keeping far out of her personal space but refusing to leave now. That would be admitting defeat after all. ]

[They're like hissy cats, I swear.

Kaede still watched Maki suspiciously over her shoulder as the other girl sat; definitely out of her space, not immediately troubling her, this was...fine.

And her griffon was waking up at all the commotion and making grumpy, complaining whistles at her. She stopped glaring at Maki, turning back to face forwards and scratch under the griffon's chin to calm it again. The other girl wasn't going to hurt her; it was safe to take her eyes off of her.]

[ Way not to say anything at all. Maki pulls out her book she has with her, more information on the school and the branches and things, planning to read. Only, given that she's spending every two seconds to look up at Kaede to see if the other girl was going to hurt her there's not much reading going on here. ]

...So, did you pick a Branch?

[ That is, if Kaede even is planning on attending, Maki only assumes she is. And really, as much as she thinks she wants to sit in silence, she doesn't know how to. ]

[Kaede looked up, after a long moment of staring down at her mount's feathery ears and closed eyes and beak trilling quiet and contented sounds. She looked up only enough to clear her shoulder, a single red eye peeking over her hair.]

Prehnite.

Prehnite? Really? I didn't think of you as that kind of person.

[ No, all signs pointed to the kind of lessons focused around beating people up and new kinds of abilities to do that seemed more in line with what Maki thought about Kaede's personality. I-In a good way! ]

[are you doubting her questionable fashion choices]

They seem to encourage talking the least.

[Unless, of course, someone had a Bad Idea. She rather distinctly remembered a tally board outside of one of the lecture halls with "Injuries, Near-Death Experiences, and Unwitting Human Sacrifices" on it.

Most of the tallies were on the Injuries side.]

[ Of course, Maki takes fashion seriously after all~ ]

Really? That's how you chose?

[ Maki sounds almost derisive, which she realizes too late, after she's already said it. Afraid of making Kaede mad she's quick to correct herself. ]

N-Not that it's wrong! You can choose however you want, it doesn't matter to me!

You sure about that?

[TARGET ACQUIRED though at least not for her anger. Kaede sounds more amused than that.]

It sounds like you care a lot.

Eep!

[ She squeaks, covering her mouth quickly, and turning away from that face because she doesn't want to be eaten and die before she's ever even been kissed. ]

I-I don't I swear I don't!

Edited 2016-09-21 15:10 (UTC)

[no don't move that's how you get the T. rex's attention--oops too late]

You like talking to people, don't you? Why are you shutting up now?

[Kaede's even turned around now, leaning over her sleeping griffon and reaching out to poke Maki in the side of the face. And again. Like an obnoxious cat.]

[ She's gonna die, she knows it. Already she's leaning back, book in front of her to protect her! Somehow. ]

Mouuuu!! I-I'm not going to give in that easily!!

[ Her cheeks are red as can be, and burning hot to the touch. ]

[maki you're awful at hide and seek]

Where'd your spine go? You had one before.

[Kaede's used to burning things! She's too stubborn to drop the weapon that lights itself on fire, after all. So she keeps poking the other girl's cheek whenever she can get past the book.

Poke. Poke. Poke.]

[ She literally has never played hide and seek.

She has however, been teased to such degrees before, even if her defenses are weak, and she looks like she might pop. ]

K-Kaede!!! [ Her puffed up cheeks only serve as better fodder for poking as which point she screams. ]

S-Stop itttttt!!

[Maki was behaving much like a small animal fluffing itself out to defend itself from predators. One that also used shrill screeching as a valid tactic.

Kaede is subsequently a bit startled. Her hand snaps back, her head jerks away, and--ow, her ears are still ringing.

She sure did stop, though.]

[ That's 100% exactly how she was acting, not that she thinks of it that way. It's just natural instinct for Maki. She's so used to being teased like this by her friends that she can't help it.

But apparently... that did the trick?! Eyes opening wider, Maki's eyebrows knit together for a moment before softening, as if she were worried she somehow upset Kaede....

Right before she gives a loud "hmph" and turns half away again. ]

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