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

[showsnopiety]

[Mmhmm, yup, just mana exchange. She eyes him, especially as he starts growing red. Naruto...do you not get along well with other shounens, or do you need to kiss and punch them first?

But that question makes her think, and she opens the top of her drink before taking in a sip.]

I don't have the same basis as you do; the way that most people treat me here is rather strange.

[Affection is weird. Naruto is not exempt from that.]

But I bully him and he enjoys it, in his own way.

[acknowledges]

[It's hard to describe, but talking to Caren when she isn't teasing him is actually pretty comfortable. She has a kind of honesty that makes it easy for him to settle into, she says what she thinks without side stepping his feelings. That isn't a quality Naruto would have noticed a year ago, but as time had passed and the situation at home became more dire, he became more and more aware of it- when his friends would keep something from him, trying to protect him.

Naruto opens a bag of Cream Between and starts shoving a cookie into his mouth without pausing to consider it first. He talks around it, cheek bulging on one side.]

What'd'chu mean they treat you strange?

[showsnopiety]

[When she isn't trying to step on people's feelings or make them squirm, she's not terrible. Just quiet. But, she's noticed that Naruto, for all that he seems like a loud personality-and he is, she has no doubts about that-but he's more thoughtful then most people would realize.

She takes a sip of her soda, makes a face, but takes another. She's not going to waste it, even if it tastes weird.]

With...far more consideration then I'm used to. With kindness. I can take in account for some who are like that to everyone but...

Not all of them. It's strange, to be suddenly treated with so much respect, just because you're supposedly like them.

[acknowledges]

[The cookie tastes like... actually he's not sure what it tastes like, which is effectively translated by Naruto's sudden interest in the bag he's fishing them out of. The label doesn't tell him anything. He's still chewing. This might not actually stop him.]

You don't think you're like anybody else?

Why not?

[showsnopiety]

[Processed sugar? Bet it tastes like processed sugar. She takes a slow sip, and considers what to say.]

You mean other than the general lack of empathy?

[...he's going to eat the whole thing isn't he. Someone isn't gonna sleep tonight.]

[acknowledges]

But you've got empathy.

[Naruto says this as if he's confused, at to be fair he is a little bit- but to the outside observer it's anyone's guess what he's confused by. It wouldn't be the first time that Naruto was over-simplified.

The cookies are offered between them.]

Maybe it's a little different, but you've still got it.

[showsnopiety]

[She takes a cookie to nibble on, but she's frowning. But not about the taste.]

A different empathy? I doubt it.

[Naruto might enlighten her though. Who knows.]

[acknowledges]

[It really isn't about what he thinks, in the end, because whatever happens here they'll end up parting ways eventually.

There are times that talking to Caren reminds him of a person he'd met when he was much younger. Haku had also been kind, even if he'd wanted to be the opposite, even when he'd said that he would empty himself of emotions. He reaches for one of the cans on the table, the label flashy and bright.]

Caren? What do you live for?

[showsnopiety]

My role.

[She answers automatically, before frowning over her cookie. Yeah she needs more of that drink to wash it down. Too bad it's not booze, but then again, she's a tank. She doesn't get drunk easily.]

I take the sacrifices onto myself so others don't have to. That's the only reason why I exist. I take on pain and suffering so it may end for others.

[Or...that's her role as a rook, her role as exorcist.

....but is it her anymore? She doesn't know if that's why she lives.]

[acknowledges]

[Naruto's head bows, the thoughtful cast of his eyes turned towards his feet and hands resting loosely in his lap. It does make him sad, but it's also- he can't make those decisions for her. If Caren finds happiness then it needs to be her own kind and her own choosing.]

Is it still that way here? Did you decide that for yourself?

[showsnopiety]

[She's gonna take the Éclair looking thing and nibble on it. Oh hey, not bad for coming out of a venting machine. Bakeries do it better though. As for the conversation...

It makes her stop eating, and she lowers her food.]

It's that way here. I don't know how else to live. Even if it causes people distress.

[acknowledges]

[It wouldn't be the first time he'd heard words like that. Where else do people learn how to live? Even as a child himself, Naruto had thought there was only one way he could go- that there was only one choice.]

Do you wanna do anything different?

[showsnopiety]

I don't know if I can do it.

[She's honest about it. It's not so much there's only one route one choice but...what would make her happy?

She thought she'd never be truly happy, because it would mean others misery.]

[acknowledges]

Why not?

[There's an aspect of this conversation- of both of his conversations with Caren, that have reminded him to step out of his own realm of experience. It's easy for Naruto to make sweeping declarations, but this is something different. This is her reality and he should treat that with respect, even if it's hard for him to accept sometimes.]

[showsnopiety]

[For a few moments, she shut her eyes; when she opened them, there was frustration in her eyes. But she kept her voice soft and even.]

I don't know how. I don't know how to live without living for everyone else.

Maybe it's noticed, maybe it's not, but what else would I live for? If I don't have a purpose, I could easily become something else.

It gives me focus. If I don't have that focus...

Naruto Uzumaki. What do you think would happen if there is a hero with no morals and becomes easily bored?

[acknowledges]

I think-

[He starts, pauses, feels the tension in his jaw and swallows against it.]

I think you can have a focus without giving up being a person. People are more than just tools to be used.

When I was a kid I met somebody who taught me that we become really strong when we have something we wanna protect, 'cause it means we'll always have to keep growing, to work harder and harder to be the best we can.

Pain and suffering is really hard, but because we go through it, it means we can understand others.

[showsnopiety]

[She could have told him many things right then. Disagreed, argued with him, teased him. Poked holes in his memories.

Instead, she moved so she could, if Naruto let her, to lightly brush her fingers over his cheek.]

Perhaps that means I'm the strongest of them all then.

[She says it lightly, but her eyes never leave his face.]

You really are sweet, Uzumaki. How is it that you don't have a legion of followers and a lover at your side? Or lovers.

[acknowledges]

[It's easy to catch her fingers, to fold his hand over her own. He knows better than to underestimate her not because he's seen her in a fight, but because he knows she's much smarter than he is- that she's left this opening to allow him an out if he decides to take it. Naruto holds her hand instead, captured in the seconds after her touch had ghosted over his face, and his gaze moves to her features. His voice is quiet.

Her question has plenty of possible answers, but Naruto isn't pausing to mull them all over. He's always been the sort of person to listen to his feelings first- to follow that to the very end.]

Like you, not everybody wants to accept love.

[He has so much in his heart to give, and Naruto knows that. He knows that he cares for others so deeply that he wouldn't hesitate to give his life- but Caren isn't the first person he's met to reject something like that. He can't force those feelings on another, but all the same- Naruto has no intention of turning his heart away. If all he can do is love someone and endure, then he'll do it gladly. He'll love enough for both of them.]

[showsnopiety]

No. They wouldn't

[She did do it on purpose. She didn't have to touch him at all. She's not sure how stupid or clever he is. His...is a wisdom of the heart, if not related to not sticking his hands up vending machines.

It's something that she's not used to. She knows she doesn't have it herself, not that kind of understanding. She understands it logically, rationally. And yet...

Her fingers lightly brush over his. Can she love? Love means trust, and how much of that does she have? Maybe she should learn. It might not work. She doesn't know if it will. But...what can she do, but try?

Her expression had flickered in those few moments, pensive, uncertain, before settling on neutrality.]

This is...perhaps unexpected, particularly as there's no need to. But I would like to make a request.

May I kiss you?

[acknowledges]

[It's hard to know what to call this, but there's something shifting- in the tone of their conversation, in the way their thoughts are moving. There are only the barest tells in her expression, ones Naruto is able to recognize and name because one of the most precious people to him speaks the same way (in an averted gaze or a flicker of the mouth, the movement of a brow or twitch of a finger.)

Naruto watches, and he waits.

And then her question sits between them and Naruto feels the breath in his lungs get warm. They don't know one another particularly well, definitely not enough to be considered a proper courtship- and the only kisses he's had thus far have been either accidents or owed to mana starvation. Naruto has never been kissed because someone wanted to kiss him, and it shows in the vulnerable brightness of his eyes. The silence lingers for a moment, his gaze traveling to her mouth reflexively before jumping back up.]

Only- [What does he say? Where is his voice? Naruto's spine straightens and he starts again, steadier this time.]

Only if it's for you. 'Cause you wanna. And not 'cause you're trying to be nice to me.

[showsnopiety]

[It's a strange conversation. She'd admit to that. Looking back on it, she might realize it was some sort of pivot point.

But it is true. They barely know each other. Most of the time when they spoke it was off kilter some how-unless they were acting their age, more or less, thoughtless and staying in the moment.

Though there's a part of her that feels strange about it all, her gaze searching his face, the last statement makes her scoff, and shake her head.]

I don't do that. Don't something to be nice would accomplish nothing.

[And that's Caren. But still, she does want it for her-for one reason or another, not all of them that she can put her finger on just yet.

She leans forward. It's a gentle brush the first pass, tentative. It's the second she lingers, a careful press of her lips against his. It's...actually rather pleasant, and warm. He tastes sweet from the snacks they've been eating.]

[acknowledges]

[It's a glaring contradiction- to say that she doesn't do things to be nice when they've already talking about the things she does for others, but they've had that back and forth already, and even if they hadn't, she's already leaning forward. Naruto watches her hair spill over one shoulder, sees the sweep of her lashes- when their mouths finally meet his eyes have closed.

The first touch is a ghost of a kiss; the smooth curve, soft and barely there, reminds him of a flower's petal. The second time isn't as brief. He has half of a memory of being barefoot in the summer, when he'd stick one foot in a stream to test the temperature before going right in. It makes him think of that not because she seems less inhibited, but maybe because this time- this one feels the way he'd always expected a kiss to feel. Naruto can feel the warmth of her body everywhere they aren't touching. His hands lift slowly, trackable even without sight to guide them, and they come to rest along the slope of her jaw- cradling her face in his palms. At this angle his thumbs nearly brush her ears, fingers disappearing into her hair.

His face feels warm.]

[showsnopiety]

[They could go about that over and over, but that's not important. Not right now. Not when their eyes have closed and she's there.

He's warm. She thought his hands would be cold, but they're warm against her skin. And...it's quiet but...it doesn't unsettle her like she thought it would.

It's safe here.

She didn't want to pull away. So she didn't. Her fingers-light, questing, as if asking permission-touched his shoulders. And slowly, letting him decide if he didn't want the touch, her hands slid. One to cradle the back of his head, the other touching the back of his shoulder.

His hair is softer then she thought it would be. She liked it.]

[acknowledges]

[It's slow. Everything about it is slow, but because it's that way it allows them both to take their time, to accept the newness of the experience and- slowly, to let it go. The smattering of kisses he's experienced before have all been hurried things, a smashing of one mouth against another, a clack of teeth; desperate for survival or a literal collision.

His fingertips are tentative, barely brushing the surface of her skin at first, and with each shallow breath his touch becomes a little less uncertain- a little less wary. It's one thing to read about it or to have an idea of how things are supposed to be, and another to experience it himself. Their noses brush as the position adjusts; Naruto's forehead rests against her own and it eases them away, her bottom lip caught between his own until slowly, they separate. His eyes stay closed.]

[showsnopiety]

[It's slow. Sweet. It's not a struggle, forcing one thing or another. Coming together and...letting go.

When their lips part, she doesn't seek to pull away. Her nose brushes against his, half nuzzle, half...not quite settling into place. Her eyes stay closed.

She shivers once, before she settles. Fingers move to touch the softness of his hair, the fabric of his shirt. She could stay here for a little while longer, if he feels the same.]