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

[despairing_hope]

Oh? Are psychopaths common here? That isn't a very good selection process is that's the case.

As for myself I don't think I'll cause you any trouble, and if I do I'm sorry.

[kyusei]

Just because they bring people expecting them to be heroes, doesn't mean they're the greatest of people.

[ That's just his opinion. Nohrians exist, after all. ]

So you were going to go on the pigeon tour, right? You should get going before it pecks your eyes out.

[despairing_hope]

I can believe that. It does seem more random than any actual planning.

[Otherwise why would they want him? He wasn't even healthy enough to be physically active.]

I'm not really sure. It seems like a lot to do suddenly. I think only a proper protagonist would have that sort of drive after waking up like this.

Though, you make a good point, it would probably be useful to check out.

[kyusei]

The gods here have strange tastes, I suppose.

[ How else would can they explain it? ]

... I still have no idea what you're trying to say. You know this isn't a game, right?

[despairing_hope]

Are you sure? It feels very much like one!

[But then everything could be made into a game, even horrible awful things could be turned into a game.]

Though, a game isn't necessarily not serious, or not dangerous.

[kyusei]

It may seem like a game to some people, but a war is very far from just a mere game.

[ People die... His own mother died in a war. To call it something as juvenile as a game as certainly riled him up. ]

You must have come from a pretty grim place if that's how you see it.

[despairing_hope]

Perhaps....

[ It was quite true, but there was no particular reason to talk about the mutual killing game at this point. Not to mention the state of the rest of the world, though he only had a vague understanding of that.]

More... I've been informed heroes can't die, and the abilities we find ourselves in and the set up of ariving here. There are games in my world with these sorts of plot devices and mechanics. Dungens, war, combat, almost all of them have it. I rather liked one series where you have to collect one hundred and eight people. Though I suppose the new goddess series shouldn't be ignored either.

[kyusei]

[ This man... is definitely strange and it's hard for Takumi to swallow that all in. He's still trying his best to take in all he says.

He's... guessing that they have games that simulate a reality? How strange. ]

I've never played such games that would be so similar to this. Sorry.

[despairing_hope]

Ah, how unfortunate. I suppose that makes sense though. People come from all sorts of different worlds, right? Also, I would say there is a lot of fictional books that also tell similar stories to this set up.

I'm being incentive though, aren't I? What sorts of things does your world have? Judging by your reaction is there a conflict?

[kyusei]

You're right.

[ It's a little unsettling how easy it is to tell. He doesn't think he's giving anything out, but then again he isn't the most convoluted book on the shelf. ]

My kingdom is at war against another, very similar to the situation we are right now. There's no room for failure even if we come back to life.

[despairing_hope]

[Nagito himself is also extremely observant and really good at figuring things like that out.]

I see, so this situation is a rather personal one for you.

[kyusei]

I can't say it's personal, but I can empathize.

[ Since it's practically the same, just a little bit different. It doesn't involve his family, so it's actually a little relieving. War is still painful though. ]

The goal is winning and returning home somehow.

[despairing_hope]

Returning?

What about those who have nothing to return to?

[kyusei]

[ He hasn't thought about that... He knows they're pulled at different times and worlds, but he hasn't considered someone coming from a horrible predicament. At least more horrible than being forced to fight a war with little guidance. ]

I'm sure with all we've done for Blanc, they would allow those that wish to stay do so.

[ BUT THAT SHOULDN'T JUST BE IT. ]

Along with a free house.

[despairing_hope]

I'm not particularly interested in staying here, but going home isn't a particular option.

Though I suppose o could always risk it and see if it turns outwell.

[kyusei]

Should I even ask why you shouldn't return home?

[ He raises his eyebrows at that. The guy is already weird, so he's assuming a weird reason that possibly has ways to go around it.

Actually, he's not even sure what to expect. ]

[despairing_hope]

I might be dead, or possibly in a coma. It's hard to tell. So being awake and alive is definitely a more desired state.

[Despite what he was saying he was cheerful about it.]

[kyusei]

[ He's awfully quiet as he lets those words sink. He's sure he's not hearing things, pretty sure. ]

Excuse me?

[despairing_hope]

I'm the equivalent of being dead in my world, potentially.

[Since he really wasn't quite sure. It was a mystery.]

[kyusei]

What--[ He has never heard of something like this yet? It was a possibility he thought about, but he never considered it seriously until now. ]

Are you all right? Wait, no. Of course you're fine. [ YOU'RE JUST WEIRD. ] How can you be so casual about this?

Magic can't even revive the dead where I come from.

[despairing_hope]

Why shouldn't I be? I expected to in the worst case die, but instead I woke up here alive. It could be that I didn't actually die like I thought I would, or perhaps I have ended up here at exactly the right time and because of this I have been saved.

The magical medicines here seem rather advanced too. So perhaps they did something before I was completely gone. There's a lot of theories that could be made, but are they really that important?

[kyusei]

Usually, death changes one's attitude towards life. Most people, if not everyone, fears death to varying degrees.

Does dying, possibly never waking up, not scare you?

[despairing_hope]

I don't fear death at all, I have been expecting it for a long time and welcome it. When it's constantly at your shadow, it simply becomes an old friend.

Anyway, I chose how and when I died. Can you really fear something of your own making?

[kyusei]

Was ending your life really the only solution you could find? I'm not in the place to say what you should do with your life, but that's...

Drastic.

[despairing_hope]

It was the only way to drive events in the direction I needed them to go. A small price for a worthless peice of trash like myself. In fact, it might have even been too good for someone like me to even hope for.