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!
footfalls: (how r u alive)

someone has to get cannonballed so i guess it's syr

[personal profile] footfalls 2016-09-14 10:12 pm (UTC)(link)
[suddenly]

[her carrier attempts to gleefully cannonball into Syr's pretty face!!!]


Huh -- ?!

[HOPEFULLY IT DOESN'T LAND... the impact's probably similar to getting paintballed in the face...]
chronosynthesis: (28)

Rip his pretty face

[personal profile] chronosynthesis 2016-09-15 12:24 am (UTC)(link)
Ah! [Syrlya is promptly slammed in the face with a small flying horse, causing him to jerk back and shake his head rapidly.] Well hello to you too!

[He grumbles a bit, rubbing his face.]
footfalls: (whispers nervously)

it was beautiful while it lasted

[personal profile] footfalls 2016-09-15 12:35 am (UTC)(link)
[LORD, things lenalee regrets: picking the first carrier she saw]

Sorry! It does that a lot! I don't know why...?!

[but she reaches up to wave it away for a peaceful ten seconds so that she can look at Syrlya's face with WORRY AND CONCERN]

Are you okay?
chronosynthesis: (54)

Don't tell him he's not pretty anymore

[personal profile] chronosynthesis 2016-09-15 12:39 am (UTC)(link)
It's all right--ah, I don't think it actually did any damage. [He lowers his hand and blinks right back at her. Syrlya is a strange enough sight from afar but up close gives a really clear view of how thready his face and eyes are. Are those flower petals.

But at least he isn't bruised.]
I suppose being excitable isn't the worst thing.
footfalls: (stunned)

ive got some bad news for u syr.....

[personal profile] footfalls 2016-09-15 01:40 am (UTC)(link)
[Lenalee gives a SIGH OF RELIEF]

Thank goodness, I've hurt you enough already.

[except]

[uh]

[SYR'S FACE.... IS VERY BEAUTIFUL, BUT ALSO STRANGE.... Lenalee, who was peering into Syrlya's face with CONCERN, is now gazing at it with a look of amazement SLASH confusion, and hasn't actually moved out of his space just yet because she's like confused now???? his hair... IS IT MADE OUT OF LEAVES OR PETALS??]


[and once again]

...Huh?

[she's totally in his space tho sorry syr]
chronosynthesis: (67)

Nooooooo

[personal profile] chronosynthesis 2016-09-15 01:48 am (UTC)(link)
[Syrlya stares right on back at her, blinking slowly. Those sure are literally pitless flowers inside his eyeballs, going cross-eyed at her.

He furrows his brow, which despite expectations does not caught any rustling.]
Ah, did it scratch me after all?
footfalls: (wake up WAKE UP)

JUST KIDDIN

[personal profile] footfalls 2016-09-16 12:37 am (UTC)(link)
[Lenalee STARES for a few seconds more, then she jerks back as she realizes that she's all up in Syr's space,.]

Oh no, it's not that! [wait, did it?? she wasn't exactly checking for wounds there because FLOWERS] Sorry, I just didn't realize...

[it's not like Lenalee's demon racist, but she's only met one non-human species in her entire life (and also believes in vampires and is Afraid of them, so maybe she is a little demon racist) so it's with Great Hesitation that she finally speaks up]

Are you -- human?
chronosynthesis: (91)

[personal profile] chronosynthesis 2016-09-16 01:10 am (UTC)(link)
[He shifts back a bit with a wry smile.] That obvious? [He shakes his head.] No, I am Sylvari... I imagine it is not something you have heard of. My people appear to be exclusive to my home.
footfalls: (winsome)

[personal profile] footfalls 2016-09-17 03:32 am (UTC)(link)
...Sorry. For asking like that...

[it's instinctive. it feels like she tread on something, like maybe his kindness and the fact that he caught her from falling and she's ashamed a little -- to have asked outright in that way. but, there's also a part of her, the part that always recoils from anything not human, beating unsteadily within her.]

[but it's true she's never heard of Sylvari... She shakes her head.]


It is my first time hearing it. [the Black Order usually kept a lot of tabs on all the supernatural, fictional or otherwise. so, maybe Syrlya's right.]

...Sylvari, huh? [but the difference here is that... it sounds very different from what she's used to.] That's a pretty name.

[not like akuma, noah, or innocence]
chronosynthesis: (30)

[personal profile] chronosynthesis 2016-09-17 03:57 am (UTC)(link)
It is not the worst way you could have reacted. [He tilts his head with a softer smile.] Thank you! I quite like it myself.
footfalls: (nice nice nice)

[personal profile] footfalls 2016-09-21 10:58 pm (UTC)(link)
[aw syr is cute]

Well -- you did help me, after all. [is lenalee implying that she would have kicked syr for telling her that he's a plant person if he hadn't helped her???]

[maybe]


Does it mean anything in particular?
chronosynthesis: (43)

[personal profile] chronosynthesis 2016-09-22 01:42 am (UTC)(link)
Oh... besides my people? Ah--none that I know of. It is simply what was decided we would call ourselves, instead of "the strange plant people from the large tree on a coast". [He snorts.] Does "human" being anything else? I've never actually asked before, I just assumed that was all there was to it.
footfalls: (a flesh wound)

[personal profile] footfalls 2016-09-25 03:50 am (UTC)(link)
[that gets her to smile]

No, you're right. As far as I know, human just means humans. [though maybe Lavi would know more on that subject since words are his forte.]
chronosynthesis: (44)

[personal profile] chronosynthesis 2016-09-25 05:56 am (UTC)(link)
[He chuckles.] So you have your carrier, but what weapon have you chosen? There are safer areas to acclimate to it.
footfalls: (that's marie behind her)

[personal profile] footfalls 2016-09-25 07:47 am (UTC)(link)
[at that, she looks down at the shoes in her hand, then holds them up a little for inspection.]

I chose these. I'm not much for swords or axes or guns. [she could probably use a sword, but she's never had a reason to use them for more than sparring matches with kanda] Is there a training hall nearby?
chronosynthesis: (66)

[personal profile] chronosynthesis 2016-09-25 08:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh! [He grins wide, leaning closet to inspect then.] They're beautiful.

There is a place for safe training in the halls that I can show you... do you know what they do?
footfalls: (laughs okay wait what)

[personal profile] footfalls 2016-09-27 11:43 pm (UTC)(link)
[beautiful... she manages a smile at the compliment, because it's true, they're beautiful. she just doesn't know if they'll be useful...]

I know they'll let me fly, but that's it... I have to figure out whatever else they can do. [another smile, this time more genuine.] Thank you, Syrlya. You could just give me directions if there was something you were in the middle of doing...

[??? SHE LANDED ON HIM AND DISRUPTED HIS DAY...]
chronosynthesis: (93)

[personal profile] chronosynthesis 2016-09-27 11:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, it is all right! I was headed back to the halls anyway, so I do not mind showing you. The building is overwhelming at first.

[He gestures for her to follow.] And if you ever need me, you need never hesitate. I am in the King hall, room 205.
footfalls: (ur in it for life)

[personal profile] footfalls 2016-10-01 04:44 am (UTC)(link)
[She starts to follow!!]

Room 205...? [WAIT A] That makes you my next-door neighbor, then! I woke up in room 204.
chronosynthesis: (06)

[personal profile] chronosynthesis 2016-10-01 05:18 am (UTC)(link)
Oh--then it shouldn't be hard for you to find me at all! [He grins.] Truly, if you need anything, simply come by and knock. It is the least I can do as your comrade.