intro ♚ october

[boardmaster]

WELCOME TO CAPABLANCA

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 ♟ Déjà Vu Up in this Clue

Did you enjoy your time in the Kingdom of Gammon, Heroes? Blanc knows that you've been working hard on the international front, and they've never been prouder, but it's time to come home! Your work in Blanc is far from over, after all. Blanc wishes they could offer you a better welcome, for those returning from Gammon and those who just woke up in the Hall of Glory naked in their beds, as Heroes only have bad news to come home to. This time, it’s the coastal town of Capablanca that needs your help.

Some may recall the mysterious disappearances that happened not too long ago, and by the looks of it, the kidnappings apparently haven’t stopped. Although the number of disappearances isn't nearly as drastic as it was before, the townspeople are especially alarmed by the disappearance of Eric Caruana, the mayor's beloved son. After his disappearance, others began going missing as well, and Blanc needs the Heroes on this case before things that any worse! Upon arrival in Capablanca, the Heroes are met by Mayor Pierre Caruana, who looks like he's seen better days, and his butler, Charles.

Pierre Caruana My son has always been reckless, but never had he been away from home for so long. Not without saying a word. His wedding has been postponed because of this… but that isn’t important right now. Charles, please entertain our guests while I get them some refreshments. And… tell them what they need to know. [ dramatically sweeps across the room and retires to the back of the mansion ]

Charles Oh, but I can— do it… [ SIGHS ] I’m sorry about the master. After his wife died ten years ago, his son is all he has left. We can only imagine how distraught he is. He’s probably at the bar, drinking his sorrows away… That’s why we were hoping you would help us in our search. The young master is the adventurous sort, but he’s also not the type to worry his father. It's a miracle the D'Amore family hasn't called the wedding off. No one in Capablanca has seen him since Delphine… I just pray he comes home safely. [ tugs on the moon pendant he wears around his neck ] Don’t be a fool, Eric... —Ah! Um, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Investigating around the city with the help of the reticent Detective Bleu, you'll be able to observe ONE of the following clues, which may prove to be helpful to help solve the case. Work together with other Heroes to obtain information on-site, and share clues whenever possible!

Dreading the thought of walking around all of Capablanca alone, colleless and mountless? Not to worry: the mayor has arranged for group caravans to accompany Heroes as they travel and conduct their investigations. If Heroes prefer to investigate in smaller groups (or alone, you lone wolf, you), they may also borrow a mount of their choice from the city's stables. This mount will have to be returned after the day is over, so don't get too attached! Lastly, veteran Heroes with mounts of their own are welcome and encouraged to offer newbies rides. You were once in their position! Give them a hand, would you?

TWO ♟ Sharing over Herring

After a long week of investigating and gathering as much information as you can, Heroes will be asked to report to mayor Pierre Caruana's villa by dusk with their findings. When you arrive, you'll also be greeted by a familiar sight, waving cheerily at the Heroes from the mayor's side.

	Thierry Toussaint Heeeey, over here! [ gives each Hero a conchiglia la la ] Today must have been busy for everyone. Thank you for your hard work! Oh? That look in your eyes... I feel like you’ve found something that can help us.
	Pierre Caruana I am eager to listen to anything you may have found. But first, please, follow me, Heroes.

The mayor will lead you towards the shore, and eventually, to cross the Bridge of Perenne and reach Graupera. The great hall of the House of Solare has been set up for the Heroes. There are many luxurious couches and hammocks to rest your tired body on, and soft acoustic music fills the air. There is also a large table at the middle of the room with various dishes unique to Capablanca. Heroes may dine on dishes such as grilled lobster and tuna, ravioli with tomato sauce, crab gnocchi with white wine cream sauce, warm goat cheese salad, and various high-end wines.

During dinner, both Teddy and mayor Pierre Caruana will be making the rounds, listening to any information the Heroes are willing to share. If you haven't already, now is also a great time to discuss your clues with other Heroes and try to put together a bigger picture. Before the rest of the staff come in with desserts, the mayor asks everyone for their attention.

	Pierre Caruana There appears to be... substantial evidence that Merilorn Forest is connected to the recent disappearances, including my son. I don’t believe he’s lost. I… think that he might be hiding from us. As we all know, entering the forest won’t be without difficulty, so I don’t believe he wandered that far, but…
	Thierry Toussaint Our people looking into the matter. [ gives the Heroes a reassuring smile ] We’ll take it from here. If there are any updates on the case, we’ll be sure to notify you.

THREE ♟ Leaf it to the Pros

While the disappearance of the Capablancan citizens is definitely a tragedy that needs to be solved, life continues to go on for the town. It's Calendi, and that means taking advantage of the changing seasons to earn a few extra colle. Or perhaps you just feel like doing something else in between investigations. Either way, stop killing time and start killing game! Chefs in Capablanca will pay top dollar for wild game, including elusive and vicious magical animals.

To make your job harder, the animals are capable of basic elemental magic, and will use it to defend themselves. Ducks are able to attack using water magic, foxes make use of wind, and rodents (such as rabbits and squirrels) use earth magic. It's actually quite difficult to discern what animal is in season right now, as a clever rabbit and a persistent duck seem to be fond of tearing down “rabbit season” and “duck season” posters around town and replacing them with the other.

If hunting wild game isn't your style, the chefs are also interested in acquiring fresh autumnal fruits and vegetables such as apples, pumpkins, squash, and sweet potato. You may either gather these in the wild, or harvest them from a farmer's field for a small cut of the commission.

Lastly, Bel Petto Beach happens to be Capablanca's pride and joy, and citizens would be very angry to see their shores littered with fallen leaves! Help sweep leaves off the sand and away from the ocean, where they tend to blow whenever there is a strong wind.

INFO ♟ Welcome!

Welcome to Crosscheck's October intro log! Please remember to read the Arrival Info! For any further questions, please see the FAQ or reach us at the Contact Us page. Have fun!

Don't forget to vote for a Ranked Uniform Design, your character will be wearing one of these in the future! Voting will close on 10th October.

Comments

[careosene]

[ To the Carrier, dryly: ] Don't think I won't pluck you the next time you pull a stunt like that, Feathers.

[ To Jumin, apologetic but mostly with admiration for his maintained calm: ] Sorry. He gets excited when he meets new people, and right now that's just about everyone. You okay?

[ Katniss bends over to offer him a hand and notices for the first time how tall he is compared to her. People in her hometown tend to be shorter on average because of their living conditions, so the height variance is pretty novel. ]

[yancat]

Yes, I am.

[ Emotions are meant to be controlled. Given everything that's happened, he finds it difficult to do that this morning. Let it be known that whether you do it unconsciously or not, interdimensional travel will always mess you up. ]

... Thank you. [ Even making you say things you don't normally utter on a regular basis. He takes her hand firmly and pulls himself up, smoothing and adjusting his coat when he's back on his feet. ] I don't suppose you're a new arrival too.

[ The woman is young. He's noticed most people here are. ]

[careosene]

[ She gives a curt shake of the head. ]

Only in a manner of speaking. I arrived with the last batch, so I'm probably newer to this world than most of the Heroes you'll meet today. That was a month ago. [ It's a little frightening the way time seems to move so quickly here. Only after Katniss finishes does it occur to her that Jumin might have reasons for asking that go beyond idle curiosity. Hesitation renders her silent for a moment. Then she seems to make up her mind about something and lifts her chin, meeting his gaze dead on. ]

It's not easy, is it? This.

[yancat]

It isn't.

[ He's sincere, if only because there's no point in keeping up appearances. She is a girl, but they're both in the same predicament. No, she's been here a month longer—away from home, away from family. He supposes she's learned a few things during her stay. He has to give respect where it's due. ]

But I don't plan on letting it get to me. Dwelling on the situation is unproductive, and I'm a man of results.

[ A pause. ]

Although [ He looks away and sighs. ] I do miss Elizabeth.

[careosene]

[ She's surprised to hear her own brand of pragmatism coming out of his mouth, and wondering if perhaps Jumin might not be a kindred spirit of sorts. He'd certainly be first.

That admission of longing, though... Well, she can relate to that as well. ] Elizabeth?

[yancat]

Yes. [ He shows her a small smile. ] Elizabeth the 3rd. Eyes blue like the ocean, fur white as snow...

[ He frowns before he gets lost in his imagination. ]

Ah, she is my cat. I was hoping that she would be here with me, but I suppose a cat doesn't have a place in war.

[ Nor do the members of the RFA, so he's glad he hasn't met any of them here. At least, not yet. None of them have to be torn away from their worlds like he has. ]

Do you have any pets back home?

1/2

[careosene]

[ His cat.




Well. He should at least get major points for kicking her expectations to the curb, setting them on fire, and throwing the ashes into the void. ]

[careosene]

[ But then she thinks of Prim; her sister, were she now at Katniss's side, would be lost without Buttercup or Lady, her goat. That compassion is something Katniss treasures very much, so she can understand where he's coming from - at least in part.

She's also a bit taken a back by the smile. Now she's able to see, for first time, what most people probably notice right away. He's exceedingly handsome, albeit in a way that's completely foreign to her. It's easy to imagine the girls from home swooning and gossiping about him as they'd done with Gale.

Katniss glances at Foxfeather and gently strokes his breast. ] Actually... people can't usually afford to keep pets where I come from. My family has a cat, though. Buttercup? But technically she belongs to my sister. I just saved him for her.

[yancat]

[ Yes, his cat. Under normal circumstances, he'd be running all over town looking for her, but upon arrival, he's slowly realizing he's lost so much more than that. The only reason he has himself together is the hope that all of this is temporary.

This time, his smile is directed at Katniss. ]

Then Buttercup is special. [ "Just saved him for my sister", which means she did it for someone else. Family has always been a priority for Jumin, and he's glad to meet people who feel the same. ] I can't say Elizabeth the 3rd has a dramatic story like Buttercup's, but she was given to me as well.

[careosene]

[ Talking about it brings the memories back in full. Katniss smiles too, wryly, and shakes her head remembering the slow and steady way she and the cat had bonded over table scraps. ]

Why the Third? Were there... other Elizabeths?

[yancat]

Yes.

[ Jumin answers without hesitation, as if he had prepared for this question all his life. He takes his new puppy in his arms—much like he would his own cat—and strokes her fur. ]

The first was the virgin queen of England. During her rule, she defeated the Spanish Armada and spread literacy, stability and prosperity throughout the land. The second is currently the longest-reigning British monarch, queen regnant, and female head of state in world history.

The third is, well. She is my life partner.

[careosene]

[ JUMIN PLS ]

Don't tell me they were cats too.

[ It takes her a moment, because specifics were often left out, but she can vaguely recall a map from school and laughs. Her carrier seems to find it funny too, because he immediately begins to whistle. This guy may be getting more emotional range out of her than everyone else put together. ]

You know, we might be from the same world after all. I think I remember hearing about an England back when I was school. Where are you from? [ beat ] I'm Katniss, by the way.

[yancat]

[ Achievement Unlocked: Katniss' Laugh

A hint of a satisfied smile can be found in Jumin's eyes. He's glad that someone gets his humor. People tend to say it's precisely what he lacks, but Katniss' reaction proves otherwise. ]

I am Jumin Han. It's a pleasure to meet you, Katniss. [ A strange name. Is it English? He doesn't think he's ever heard it before. ] Does England not exist anymore?

[careosene]

[ Her thoughts go along the same line, but his question puts her off.

After a beat of consideration, she comes closer still and puts a hand on the dog's head. ] Let's say you answer my question and I'll answer yours. Sound fair?

[yancat]

Interesting. [ And fair, but mostly interesting. People often yield without question. ] Alright.

[careosene]

[ She gives him a look before stepping back and crossing both arms. ]

Truthfully I don't know what exists outside my country. [ frowning, but not sadly ] Panem– Our country used to be something else entirely. But there was a war. Kind of like here, I guess, only worse. Now...

They don't tell us much. But I'm pretty sure there's no outside contact with whatever is left of the world. [ It's so different from here, she's actually a little stricken herself. ] How about you? Where are you from?

[yancat]

[ Wherever Katniss is from, he can't imagine it. In fact, he considered the possibility of meeting anyone from places like Panem very small, but surprise doesn't show itself so easily. He's more amenable to letting curiosity have its way, so he does with the quirk of his brow. ]

Korea. South Korea, if you want to be particular. Globalization is what makes the world go 'round, in our case. I know England and its queen are alive and well. [ A beat. ] I could arrange a visit and prove it to you, but given our current situation, it's next to impossible.

[careosene]

That's generous. I'd like to see your world someday. [ Panem wasn't the sort of place you could ever feel at ease - not in her District, anyway. It makes her wonder how life might be different, as it is now, with the opportunity to simply make friends. Explore things other than abandoned forests.

His offer is absurd as well as impossible, but the very fact he thought to suggest it puts the smile back on her face. ] What's Korea like? Nothing like Cassia, I gather. You don't fit in at all. [ He's like a giant, stoic, well-dressed ride dude surrounded by steampunk peasant losers. ]

[yancat]

[ Jumin doesn't fit in? Well, he can't argue with that. He knows he doesn't, but that's also because he knows he's #blessed. ]

Hmm... It's a small, highly-urbanized country in Asia rich in culture, history and national pride. It's the fourth largest economy in the world. In comparison, England—no, the United Kingdom is fifth. Of its population of 50 million, half live in high-rise buildings.

[ ... If she's looking for a more personal account, she won't get it from him. ]

South Korea is a leading innovator in the field of science and technology, and since the 1990s, it has also been a major exporter of popular culture and entertainment. A prince I know in the Middle East is very fond of Korean dramas.

[careosene]

[ It's a strange coincidence, but this kind of factual detail is exactly the sort of thing Katniss understands. Sure, her own language is more descriptive, lyrical. Prone to a sort of poetry. But she likes things simple. Plain. And it makes these places sound enough like Districts in their own right for her to feel a sense of kinship.

As if his earth and her earth aren't so different after all.

Then he ruins it by throwing in a non-sequitur and she gives him another Look. IS THIS WHAT HE'S ALWAYS LIKE?? ]

Oh? Exactly what kind of social circles do you run in, Mr. Formality? You talk about queens and meet with princes and yet you're here a hero like the rest of us. What is – ...was your lifestyle like?

[yancat]

[ Jumin quirks an eyebrow at the nickname, but doesn't think much of it. After being called names like Trust Fund Kid on a regular basis, small jabs like these are nothing. Katniss means no harm by it, anyway. He is formal af. He can easily thank his lifestyle for that. Talking about it, however, is a different matter. ]

I'm the heir of my father's company. [ Present tense. It's still true. ] I'm sure that will suffice for now.

[ Besides, as much as he'd love to know more about Katniss and Panem, he has more to do than stay and chat.

He checks his wrist, only to realize that his Rolex isn't where it should be. ]

What time is it?

[careosene]

Time? [ Promptness was never a concern of hers so she's a little irritated at herself for not having an answer to this one. ] I don't know. If you have an engagement or something don't let me keep you. [ a shrug ] I just wanted to make sure your carrier has a good home. [ Top shelf bullshit!

But like her totally unintentional, unknowing dig at him, she can't see how dismissive or unkind that might sound. ]

[yancat]

[ Fortunately, he doesn't take offense to that. Animals are important. ]

She's not Elizabeth, [ The sharp look in his eyes softens, remembering where he isn't. ] but I hope that I can take care of Catherine well.

[ Yep.

That's the dog's name. ]

[careosene]

Let me guess. Another queen.

[yancat]

Empress, actually. [ He's pretty pleased with it, too. ] I'm just following my friend's naming sense.