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

1-A

[careosene]

[ Miranda’s hesitation is more than understandable: it’s shared, albeit with some differences. Katniss doesn’t find it the least bit surprising that there’s a concealed entrance but she cannot for the life of her puzzle out the reasoning that led to this insane series of events.

Kidnapping people and consigning them to fight in a war? Fine. Terrible, but fine. Happily shipping them off to school free of charge? What the hell kind of operation are the leaders of Cassia even running?! There’s so much cognitive dissonance between the “war” part and the “first day of school train adventure” part she hardly knows where to begin.

Seeing that she’s not the only one out of place brings only mild comfort, but it’s enough to put things in perspective. She turns pityingly to the woman with the dog, studying both as her own carrier hovers mutely above one shoulder. ]

…Need a hand? [ Her smile is the wobbly kind, as if it can’t quite decide whether there’s anything worth sticking around for, but it is genuine. ] You’re not going to feel anything if that’s what you’re worried about - cross my heart. It's just a hologram.

[ Illusion, hologram. Tomato, tohmato. No need to complicate things by trying to guess the actual trick behind it, right? ]

tmw you find yourself in the wrong ya novel premise...

[chronostrigger]

[ Normally, Miranda is the type to easily startle. She doesn't do well with speaking with unfamiliar people, and equally unfamiliar situations don't often end well. But for the most part, she does her best to stay strong, even if she has had a number of false starts standing there on the platform.

Surprisingly, Katniss doesn't make her jump, but the older woman does startle slightly, turning toward her hesitantly.

Her carrier, however, seems unfazed, her tail gently curled and wagging slowly. Hello! ]

O-oh, I...

[ She looks conflicted, her gaze flickering between the woman and the platform.

Wait... ]

A h-hologram?

all we need are some sparkly vampires from noir......

[careosene]

A projection of something that's not actually there. You know, like a wall or a tree... [ There's a moment of doubt, the situation having quickly gotten away from her, before Katniss drums up the memory of her younger sister.

She's probably not the best at comforting people, but the least she can do is stride with confidence to the spot between the two guards, glancing briefly at them for nods of approval before sticking an arm through. ]

Like this. [ A chill runs down her spine, suggesting that maybe her hologram theory isn't entirely right. Rather than trying to correct herself now, though, she steps out of the way to let another traveller pass through. ]

See? It's not real so there's no harm done.

man don't even joke like that...........

[chronostrigger]

[ Oh, she could understand that in some capacity (although "hologram," that word is still unfamiliar), and so Miranda nods. She's on the same page now, Katniss.

And when his steps forward, Miranda does as well, although at a somewhat slower clip. Her carrier trots ahead, being the dutiful protector dog that she is and, as Katniss goes to demonstrate, she watches intently. Miranda, however, stops somewhat cold as the woman's arm goes in and... well, goes in, actually that's not... so strange a thing now is it?

Ah, so it's almost like a barrier, but somehow they are able to pass through. She gets it now!

(Should she be concerned that something like this was somewhat normal?) ]

A... all right then...

[ Offering Katniss a somewhat hesitant yet understanding smile, the older woman nods before walking toward the wall as well. Lead the way! But better do it quickly, because it looks like her carrier might be ready to hop through without them. ]

LMAO you're right too real

[careosene]

[ Katniss is only too happy to go ahead, pleased that the process turned out to be a lot simpler than she'd expected. It's such a good feeling, in fact, that she finds herself nodding cheerfully at the unimpressed guards until one of them holds out an arm to block their path. ]

Identification and fee, please.

Huh?

[ Fee? What fee? She casts a glance at Miranda, wondering if perhaps she knew about this. If their kingdom is anything like her home, this could end badly. Visions of whippings and jail pop into her mind unbidden. ]

[chronostrigger]

[ It felt a bit unsettling, walking directly at a wall and not stopping, and Miranda couldn't help but hesitate slightly at the finishing line. Even still, they manage to get past without a hitch (well, maybe a minor stumble from her, but), and once on the other side, Miranda exhaled deeply. That went much better than expected!

Turning toward the other woman to say something, she stopped, however, when a guard greeted them. O-oh, wait a minute. She has experience with this (somewhat!), and vaguely leaning toward Katniss, she whispers to the other woman. ]

I-I think he wants to see our ba-badges.

[ She wasn't going to make the same mistake she did the last time at least he didn't stick his hand out like he wanted to shake hands. Even thinking about that was embarrassing!

And with that thought in mind, she gently grips the lapel of her blazer, showing the Pawn badge on her coat. ]

I-is this all right?

[careosene]

[ Katniss is still stuck on that "fee" part, but the guard seems satisfied with Miranda's presentation and waves dismissively at the portal. ]

Go on through. He'll meet you on the other side to take care of your payment.

[ He? Who? Though she's somewhat stunned, she has enough presence of mind to flash her own badge. As long as they're set it shouldn't matter much who they're referring to. She gives Miranda a brief but grateful half-smile and steps forward. ]

Thanks for the heads-up. I forgot about our rankings. Guess there's a lot to take in...

[chronostrigger]

[ Wait, someone was looking up to her?! Oh please don't do that, miss, you'll only be disappointed! Very, very disappointed! The most disappointed! ]

He..?

[ Well, if Katniss wasn't going to ask, then she would, somewhat worriedly. Someone was going to pay for them? She hadn't been here for a few hours and she was already indebted to someone........... ]

No, it-it's all right, please don't thank me...

[ Holding her hands up to stop her, Miranda waves them a bit.

Meanwhile, Frauke takes this moment to get a bit closer, sniffing at Katniss and looking at her. Hello? It's okay, you don't have to be worried, we're all in this together :D ]

[careosene]

Then I'll have to thank your friend instead. [ Frauke's attitude is most welcome, especially since Katniss can feel her own Carrier uselessly snoring away in her breast pocket. By now she's already getting used to befriending animals rather than hunting them, and gracefully drops to her knees so she can have a go at scratching the canine behind the ears, which where she usually scratches her sister's cat. ]

[chronostrigger]

[ Oh, this woman was going to thank her? Wagging her tail subtly (no, she wasn't going to act too excited), Frauke moved her head into Katniss' hand, enjoying the attention. Yesss right there! Happy panting is go!

Seeing this, Miranda couldn't help but smile, a gloved hand brought close to her mouth. What a sweet person. ]

Aren't you lucky, Frauke?

[ Letting out a quiet, happy little bark, the carrier's tail began to wag harder. ]

[careosene]

[ At first she draws back, eyes flicking from the animal to Miranda and back. Then, with a swallow that's hardly noticeable, she continues to scratch and pet Frauke, barely able to resist a smile of her own. ]

I'm surprised: animals don't usually like me. [ Which is totally fair all things considered. ] You're lucky you got a dog.