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: (i feel the love feel the love)

[personal profile] tailend 2016-09-11 12:16 am (UTC)(link)
[That's not the point of a free goat at all...?? Somehow Mikael is the nicer person here in this goat's eyes, so it does indeed start to follow him. Favaro finally gets off his ass, for this.]

Alright, goat thief... Come back here!
oneregret: (look ash i'm almost done with ur icons)

[personal profile] oneregret 2016-09-11 12:22 am (UTC)(link)
[You know, today isn't such a bad day after all. He's still pissed about various things, like losing to the red-eyed swordsman, but this is kind of funny.]

It's carrying my crow for me. [He's just walking along. Mine adventures!!] What're you doing here?
tailend: (tu cuerpo y el mío)

[personal profile] tailend 2016-09-11 12:45 am (UTC)(link)
[tHAT'S HIS GOAT?]

It's a bird! It can fly!

[Give him his goat back, or: watch him keep trying to catch up with it only for it to zoom ahead just out of reach.]
oneregret: (fucking end him)

[personal profile] oneregret 2016-09-11 12:55 am (UTC)(link)
You're annoying.

[Didn't even answer his question?? Mikael watches the goat move ahead, still following after it.]

You don't deserve it if you can't even get it to look your way.
tailend: (i'm slicker than an oil spill)

[personal profile] tailend 2016-09-11 01:10 am (UTC)(link)
[YOU CAN'T HAVE HIS GOAT?? that he hates, whatever. He throws Mikael a glower over his shoulder as he continues to try scooping up the goat. Ugh!!]

Your bird likes me better than you, so speak for yourself!
oneregret: (only if you're a duck)

[personal profile] oneregret 2016-09-11 01:38 am (UTC)(link)
Then let's trade.

[He pretends like he doesn't care either way, but really he knows Emergency Food is useless. He will be on the Top of this argument.] Or you can try leaving it alone.
tailend: (una noche loca)

[personal profile] tailend 2016-09-11 01:49 am (UTC)(link)
[He'll take both of these useless little animals, he swears.

Gimme the bird. You and that little bastard deserve each other.
oneregret: (that was mostly an accident)

[personal profile] oneregret 2016-09-11 01:53 am (UTC)(link)
Go ahead and take it. I'm not telling it what to do.

[Emergency Food looks sort of wide eyed between Mikael and Favaro, only settling in further into place on this goat. Mikael's steps slow as he spots some minerals, stopping to collect them. Man, he was told there were beasts, but there's only goats.]
tailend: (it's going down)

[personal profile] tailend 2016-09-11 03:02 am (UTC)(link)
[Well, if Mikael is just going to go stare at minerals... Favaro makes one last dash for the carriers, this time managing to scoop up both goat and crow and immediately turning on his heel to make a run for it.

Peace out, weirdo.]
oneregret: (Id do an impression of you)

[personal profile] oneregret 2016-09-11 03:09 am (UTC)(link)
[Okay........ Reaching into his shirt, he pulls out a dinner knife he'd swiped earlier in the day and chucks it after Favaro. Maybe he can at least startle him or cut him off. Emergency Food is startled!!!]

I didn't say you could take both.
tailend: (the baddest thing around town)

[personal profile] tailend 2016-09-11 03:15 am (UTC)(link)
[What the hell! Why a dinner knife!! Favaro does indeed come to a halt, spinning on his heel and continuing - backwards and more slowly, but he needs to stare irritably at Mikael for being a crazy person now.]

You didn't say I couldn't! [also, knife-] They're gonna miss that in the dining hall!

[But it turns out Favaro is also a silverware thief, but less for crazy person reasons, as he produces a fork to lob back at Mikael while he literally runs backward with a goat and a crow tucked under his other arm. You'll never take him alive!!]
oneregret: (and a stronger right arm)

[personal profile] oneregret 2016-09-11 03:22 am (UTC)(link)
[He tilts his head to the side to dodge that fork, a smirk falling into place on his lips. Little does Favaro know that this is exactly what Mikael was hoping for to begin with. Some action!!

He takes off after him. Emergency Food actually probably tries to peck at Favaro's arm... He has a job, boy!!]


By the way, this is all just me protecting my carrier. [So he can't get in trouble, just for the record. He draws his sword... while running.]
tailend: (tu cuerpo y el mío)

[personal profile] tailend 2016-09-11 03:31 am (UTC)(link)
[What the fuck, bird! This is betrayal! Favaro yelps his disapproval and tries to shrug the bird away from pecking at him, and also still keep it for himself...??

This is all getting more difficult to do while running backwards, especially with Mikael whipping out a sword, which is the final thing that inspires Favaro to take the risk and turn back around to sprint forward again. He can deal with the pride hit of running away like a fool...]
oneregret: (i have to murder them)

[personal profile] oneregret 2016-09-11 04:20 am (UTC)(link)
[That just means Mikael can speed up. Outside of the mines, it's awfully foggy, and Mikael's pretty sure he won't be able to navigate that quietly while dealing with two animals. So he chases.]

You're wasting energy.
tailend: (stop this wild ride)

[personal profile] tailend 2016-09-12 08:20 pm (UTC)(link)
[Maybe, maybe not... No, definitely not; from somewhere up ahead in the fog there comes the distinct sound of Favaro yelling about more crow pecking, and a thud. What is he doing??

He's disappeared. There are two carriers just innocently standing on the ground, and Favaro is suddenly nowhere to be seen.

oooooooooo spooky]