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

[careosene]

You're used to it? [ It's kind of surprising: she’d thought the other so-called heroes would be plucked from lives much like hers.

With a soft chuckle, Katniss ducks her head in. ] That's actually a lot more helpful than I'd expected. So, then, can you show me some? It doesn’t have to be anything fancy.

[ A mental picture of the train going up in flames as blue as the woman’s hair pops into her mind. ]

[brightcrest]

In my world, magic is common. It's pretty common in many places I've gone to.

[ Those other places being other worlds doesn't need to be mentioned just yet. She's more at ease at least acknowledging that magic is A Thing, though, and she takes a single step into the car to give them some distance so she can attempt to demonstrate, though Aqua's concerned nothing will happen. ]

This world is a little strange and the magic is...different. I'm not so sure this will work.

[ Her hands open up and there is a kindle of fire magic at her fingertips. The thrum of mana makes the sword at her back respond despite how it's wrapped tightly to make it seem more like luggage. The hilt glows a gentle blue as Aqua's fingers light up. ]

[careosene]

[ Bewildered, Katniss finds there's little to do but watch. It's not the magic itself that throws her off balance, but how quickly and easily Aqua's already seemed to have mastered it despite the declared differences between this world's version and hers.

She is way out of her depth here.

Attempting to mask her ignorance on the subject, she shrugs. ] I don't know about that. It looks pretty magical to me. But – [ nodding at Aqua's belongings with some humor ] – I think something in your luggage wants your attention. Is that part of it?

[brightcrest]

This isn't much, actually. I'm afraid to do too much in a place like this.

[ Everything in the cabin would catch fire. But Aqua holds the flame steady, though she feels her energy draining far quicker than it should. She keeps the flames aloft, licking at her fingers, for just a few moments longer. At length, she closes her hands, and turns to look over her shoulder at the glowing sword at her back. ]

Oh. No, not normally.

[ It must be how mana functions in this world. Is it tied to her weapon? How strange. ]

I hope that doesn't happen all the time. It'd be hard to be inconspicuous.

[careosene]

[ Aqua's words remind Katniss that they're here to fight a war and her expression darkens.

It only lasts a second, though, because in the next she's made a decision. Leaving half the food uneaten, she wraps it, slides down so that she's completely inside the car again, and puts on the sweetest smile she can conjure under the circumstances. ]

If that's what a little magic looks like, I'd hate to see what 'too much' looks like! [ If she were the giggling type, she'd giggle, but that's going a little too far, so she simply holds out a hand instead. ] Think you can teach me what you know? My name's Katniss, by the way. What's yours?

[brightcrest]

[ At that, she laughs a little. ]

'Too much' can be good and bad, just like anything else. It can be powerful, beautiful, and helpful; it can be destructive and deadly.

[ Even with the darker, sobering subject, Aqua remains smiling. The expression is a polite neutrality for the moment, because she doesn't know what Katniss is used to, and she does not want to make it seem that everything is so bad. There is hope, at least.

She takes Katniss' hand and gives it a firm shake. ]

I'm Aqua. [ She pauses, then laughs. ] Like the color of my hair, sort of. It's good to meet you, Katniss.

[careosene]

I wondered about that. [ Her smile is a touch more sincere here. Something about the name and colour comparison triggers the warm trust Katniss associates with familiarity. Though she can't trace the origin, it doesn't bother her. If anything she feels more comfortable opening up about how much she knows - rather, how much she doesn't. ] It's not a side-effect of the magic is it? We don't have anything like this in Panem. [ she shrugs ] Not unless you count electrically generated force-fields as a type of magic.

[brightcrest]

I'm not sure. Maybe it's responding to my magic because it's mine. I was told to collect my weapon and this is what I was given.

[ It's not the one she's used to, either. She can't access her Keyblade, and that's her greatest worry. What if something needs to be done about the heart of this world? She'll be useless...and so will any other Keybearer who enters this place. ]

Electrically generated force-fields? Are they machines?

[careosene]

Something like that. It's... not exactly my area of expertise. As I understand it, electricity is a force that can be generated through different kinds of movement. [ Speaking of weapons, Katniss slings her own bow and sheath of arrows to the side, setting it down on the car seat beside her. ] Wind. Water. That sort of thing.

[ She pauses. Put this way, it sounds a lot like magic.

Then she shakes her head. ]

Sorry, I know you didn't ask for a lecture. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around how things work here. Comparison is all I've got, I suppose.