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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!
starspangled: (pic#8145974)

[personal profile] starspangled 2016-09-14 11:09 pm (UTC)(link)
[Steve exhales, letting go of any further protests and giving her a smile instead. She's kind, and kindness matters. Maybe being here...well, it can't be all bad if there's people like her.]

Thank you. The next one's on me. [Steve won't forget, but he doesn't want her to think that it's just about paying her back.] That way we can try the vending machine again.

[And that sounds like fun, doesn't it? He bends down to get the can, offering it to her.]

Do they have machines like this where you're from, Miss?
hoasen: (contemplation)

[personal profile] hoasen 2016-09-16 03:08 am (UTC)(link)
[Steve will be happy to know that there are many good people here, even the ones who don't seem so. Although, you still have your really strange bunch, a few creepers...]

It is not problem, and you need not to...unless we find something strange too, it would be fun to try it again. I wonder what other crazy things they have.

[She thanks him as she takes the offered can. Now how to...eat this. She's turning it around in her hand to figure this out.]

They do, but it doesn't look like this. More box like. This here, it looks quite...clockwork, I guess? And you can call me Vietnam! What should I call you?
starspangled: (pic#8178775)

[personal profile] starspangled 2016-09-17 11:48 pm (UTC)(link)
I doubt we've seen the last of them. Call it a hunch.

[The only thing that would surprise Steve at this point is if nothing else surprises him.]

Yeah, I know what you mean. This feels more like art than something you get snacks out of.

[He looks back at the machine again, and somehow he can't help but think of Tony. He'd probably like all the gears and bells and whistles, where Steve prefers things functional but a little simpler.

His head turns at the introduction. It's a word that he knows, just not as a name - but that doesn't mean it can't be one. Steve quickly reminds himself of that.
]

I'm Steve Rogers. This might sound strange, but you're from Earth?
hoasen: (A BARGAIN WHERE?)

[personal profile] hoasen 2016-09-18 12:15 pm (UTC)(link)
I think your instincts might be on the right track.

[Just saying, after all the weird things she's seen too. Although she never would've thought superheroes were real, so.]

Yes, like art! It's a very beautiful vending machine. Nothing plain, like back home. Though it probably shouldn't matter, considering its practicality should be more important. [Which it is.

And he sure heard right, anyway. She bows her head politely--]
It is nice to meet you, Steve Rogers. And yes, I am from Earth...ah, from 2016. I am guess you are too. At least from Earth. [Who knows about the time.]
starspangled: (pic#9418699)

[personal profile] starspangled 2016-09-20 12:15 am (UTC)(link)
The very same year.

[He's surprised, a little pleased. The twenty-first century never really felt like "home" until he was taken away from it completely. She almost feels like a little piece of it now, even if they've never met before.]

So what are things really like around here? I hear that we've been drafted to fight in a war.
Edited 2016-09-20 00:15 (UTC)
hoasen: (seek)

[personal profile] hoasen 2016-09-20 12:24 pm (UTC)(link)
[Vietnam's eyes widen just for a moment. It's one thing to meet people from earth, but so far she has not met anyone from the year 2016 who isn't a country like herself. To know that there is another who understands their world (sort of, they both come from whacko Earths) just warms her up. And to think all because they bonded over a vending machine.] How is 2016 right now? [Last thing she remembered? Olympic games.]

And...h-how familiar are you with magic? That is the kind of thing we are destined with here. And we have been, not our war, not our country, but we are made to fight for them. I do not mind, if it promises us a way home. They say they will work on it.
starspangled: (pic#8879290)

[personal profile] starspangled 2016-09-21 01:40 am (UTC)(link)
[How is 2016 right now. Steve blinks at the question before smiling, though it's a little pained around the edges.]

There's been a couple of international incidents. The man responsible for the last one's been caught, but... [People died, and nothing can bring them back.] Let's hope for peace now.

[For their world, at least. For this one too, though that apparently depends largely on them.]

I can't say that I'm too familiar with it. I'm a soldier, not a sorcerer. The people in charge here, do they seem trustworthy to you?
hoasen: (visualise)

[personal profile] hoasen 2016-09-25 01:14 pm (UTC)(link)
[She winces now he mentions that. It hurts just as much for a country like herself to know of how something has happened in their world. But such is the way of history.

She nods sadly, even though she can't smile. Mostly because she knows forcing a smile just makes her look weird.]
As long as the one who is responsible is caught, then peace can be achieved...no?

[She rubs the back of her neck.] Likewise, I do not know magic, not really. [Nothing controlled, anyway.] As for the people here, I am indifferent, so I do not trust them wholeheartedly. But they are better than who we are to fight.
starspangled: (pic#9892390)

[personal profile] starspangled 2016-09-28 01:11 am (UTC)(link)
It's a start.

[Steve nods in agreement. Peace requires healing, and healing is a complicated, personal process, it works in different ways for different people. For some, it doesn't work at all.

He listens closely to her answer, and that's another thing that they agree on.]

If what I've heard is true, we really can't just sit back and do nothing.