intro ♚ december

[boardmaster]

WELCOME TO POLGAR

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 ♟ My Anaconda Don’t

Brace yourselves, Heroes, for Prime Minister Teddy has a special announcement for you today. It’ll be delivered either via carrier or mechanical pigeon.

	Woman? Hello, Heroes! Hmm? Who am I? If I don’t tell you who you are, you’re calling the police? Ahaha, no need to be so hasty!
	Thierry Toussaint It’s me, Teddy! The prime minister. This might be overwhelming for the new arrivals, but we need everyone’s help for this mission. Have you heard of the Alfersa? They’re a proud warrior race that live in Polgar. They’re said to be blessed by the goddess Gladia since they’re naturally strong, sensitive to mana, and skilled in combat. I guess they’re pretty much like our Knights? Without the magical talent, of course. We’re hoping they’ll lend us a hand in protecting Blanc. The Alfersa are distrustful of men, so negotiations have been difficult… Now that the Gladia Games are underway, I’m hoping to meet some beautiful women—I mean, recruits! It’s a recruitment drive, after all! Right, Alex?
	Alexandre Verdoni Prime Minister, I don’t know what possessed you to think your ridiculous ideas will actually work, but please refrain from making a scene at the Games.
	Thierry Toussaint Ah, ah. [ waves a finger at ] It’s not Prime Minister. It’s Zeed Stun, an enigmatic beauty from the East! Alex, come with us!
	Alexandre Verdoni No. Please refrain from making transparent aliases undercover. Heroes, the Alfersans have an extremely matriarchal society. The Prime Minister recommends that you follow his example to fall in their leader’s good graces, but I personally find it unnecessary. Stand tall, be proud, and may Gladia bless you on your journey. Oh, and… dress light. Get some sunscreen.

You’ll be given time to prepare before heading out. This is when you decide if you’ll follow after PM Teddy’s example or not. He has provided a generous number of colorful dresses to choose from. Unsure of how to pull off a good look? Ask your fellow Heroes or the maids and butlers of Hall of Glory for assistance.

Once you’ve made it safely to Polgar, you’ll be greeted with a feast for the eyes. A procession appears to be underway with several nubile women dancing to the beat of drums. For every pause in the drumming, anklets fill the air with a sweet, chiming sound. Leading the parade are scantily-clad shrine maidens. Should you happen to stumble too close, you will be greeted with an icy stare. Waiting at the end of the road is the matriarch of the Alfersans…

	Thierry Toussaint O Gracious One, I am Zeed Stun. Today, I am here to show you the dance of my people—
	??? You have a snake.
	Thierry Toussaint I’m sorry?
	??? You have [ grabs between his legs ] a snake.
	Thierry Toussaint Guh!
	??? [ in one fluid motion, the woman smears Teddy’s makeup off and makes him her personal footrest. for the first time since the Heroes’ arrival, she smiles. ] … Oh, praise Gladia. So these are the Heroes She said I would meet. I am Diana Serpente, Queen of the Alfersa, Lady of the Serpents, and head priestess of Gladia’s temple. Gladia has been telling me all about you. Ever since you put the soul of my ancestor to rest, I’ve been thinking of a way to repay you. After receiving this [ digs her heels into Teddy’s back ] pitiful man’s request, I should have known it all along… Lending you our strength was the answer.
	Thierry Toussaint Thank y—ugh!!
	Diana Serpente [ steps off Teddy… ] However, we don’t help just anyone. What’s friendship… [ lifts the chin of the nearest female Hero ] without a little intimacy? The Gladia Games are underway. I invite you all to join us in the festivities! Before we fight, let us make merry in the name of Gladia!

As you walk around Polgar, you’ll lay eyes on the various shops, with those specialized in weapons and armor the most renowned and high quality of them all. Female Heroes are in luck as they will receive discounts. Male Heroes will have to pay the regular price regardless of what they look like. However, those who didn’t decide to look pretty for the occasion will find a much increased price tag. If you’re in desperate need of colle, these shops will let you polish and arrange their merchandise for a decent wage.

TWO ♟ It’s a Jungle Out There

As per tradition, everyone participating in the Gladia Games must hunt down the monsters near the city. It is believed that Gladia herself sends them a different beast each year. This year, giant spiders crawl dangerously close to Polgar’s outskirts. Bring parts of the spider back to the city as proof of your skill and valor. Those who kill fifteen or more spiders win ONE of these fabulous prizes: one high quality weapon or armor, their very own pet anaconda or a night with Teddy!

In the Polgarian jungles, the humid air is thick with blood. Ferns and heavy branches covered in thick moss make the area difficult to navigate. Reedy sunlight filters in through the trees. You have a feeling that you are being watched… In fact, venomous snakes might jump out of the underbrush! Should you get bitten, have another Hero heal or help you suck out the venom. But don’t get distracted; danger looms from above as well. Like in the forests between Caissa and Petrosian, leafy vines are prone to descending and embracing Heroes rather intimately.

Heroes who have paid a visit to Salamanca Temple back in the day might recognize the spider nests once they’ve found them. These arachnids the size of a car will leap very high into the air and scuttle between branches to camouflage themselves during the battle. Some might even spin a cocoon for you until they come back to snack on you later. Avoid getting bitten—their venom can render you numb and unintelligible.

Kill the spiders and take down the nests, but remember: no one wants a forest fire. Safety first!

THREE ♟ Light and Sweet, Hot and Heavy

The Alfersans will welcome you back once you return to Polgar and are happy to take the spider parts off your hands. You didn’t forget to bring them with you, did you?

The festivities are now in full swing! Heroes, hit the streets for the citywide party! Large trays with food are being passed around as Alfersans view the close sharing of food as an act of camaraderie. It is customary for men to feed the women by hand. Yes, with their fingers. Alfersans will also encourage Heroes to join their dances, and some will keep dancing in front of you until you agree. As it turns out, dancing together actually only means holding hands and taking a jovial stroll around the shrines. You should be light on your feet and stay in rhythm, but the ritual isn’t too difficult.

Dancing may be good for the soul but your feet can only carry you so long until you are tired. Why not check into one of the many resorts? Or check out the far more numerous high-class brothels? Or perhaps you’d rather spend a relaxing day at the hot springs, spas or restaurants? The hot springs in particular are quite special here, as they are heated by the kiss of molten hot magma, blessed by Gladia herself. They possess healing properties, yes, but more curiously, if you happen to soak in the warmth for too long, you may start to feel a bit… virile.

INFO ♟ Welcome!

Welcome to Crosscheck's Month 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!

Comments

Rory Connor | Open

[moreasleep]

One

The fuck business are you running?! You sold the same shit to her at a fraction of the price!

[Rory leaned over the counter as he screamed at the woman's face. He had taken the time to select the perfect handful of plants, only to find the woman wanted to charge him thrice the price labelled on it. The woman insisted that 'snakes', especially ugly ones, had to pay more.]

Eat a bag of dicks!!

[Maybe... maybe stop him. This was not looking good for the rest of the Heroes.]

Two

[Rory did not care for the slaughter. There were better methods for animal control. That was not why he came. As long as others were at risk of harm for this stupid game, he had to be there for them.

Should anyone appear to be in danger, he tore through the forest to get through them whether it was with a barrier to keep the animals at bay, or with a healing spell to mend wounds and dispel poisons.]

two

[openhanded]

[It's not exactly clear how it happened, but Sorey is a bit over his head. Kings have notoriously bad luck and he is no exception. At first it appears that the white-garbed King is simply out for a brisk jungly jog... and then five or six giant spiders skitter after him.

He spots Rory and waves his arms frantically.]

Run, man! They're really mad!!!

[moreasleep]

[Despite the warning and the obvious incoming threat, Rory planted his feet to the ground.]

What'd you do?!

[While yelling, he traced runes in the air and cast a barrier. The small, barely visible barrier tripped several spiders, causing an arachnid pile-up. That was about all the time Rory had to spare and he quickly joined Sorey in his retreat. He took one look at his white and gold garb and groaned in frustration.]

A king? Fuck me...

[This much bad luck in one place would be the death of them, won't it?]

[openhanded]

[Rory, language. Goodness. He is very thankful for the barrier; it seems Rory possesses the trap kind. Sorey's is a bit more straightforward.]

I stepped into a spider nest, and then I freaked out and set a bunch of the little baby spiders on fire...

[He laughs a little awkwardly, even as they run.]

I'm Sorey, by the way! I didn't catch your name before! [Might as well ask while they put some distance between themselves and the angry spiders.]

[moreasleep]

[Hey, this was a perfectly legitimate time to cuss. These spiders were about to dine on them, or rather, devour Sorey and use Rory as a toothpick. He was looking better than the last time they met, but the man was still a rail.]

You're doing this now?!

[They could exchange names later, if they survived, which looked increasingly less likely by the second. One of the spiders shot webbing at Rory's foot, anchoring him to the ground. If his language was bad before, it was terrible now. He swore up a storm as he tried to pull his foot free. His hand went to his belt as he seriously considered removing his shoes and trousers if he could not break free.]

[openhanded]

Ah, crud!

[That's Sorey's contribution to the swearing when he sees Rory go down. Enough fooling around. Time to deal with these jerks, then.

He reaches toward his own belt, but this time it's for the hilt of his sword. The gilded blade looks like something out of a legend, and maybe it is. He deftly hacks through the webbing, freeing Rory without hurting him in the process.

Another spider flings some webbing at Sorey but he's quick to block it with a well-placed barrier. A slight flick of his right hand, the one holding the sword, and white flames burst along the blade.]

I guess there's no escaping this time. Let's see what you've got, hellions!

[moreasleep]

[At least it spared him a few colle. Rory released his hold over his belt and he stepped back.]

Hellions?

[Well, he supposed there were terms that are more bizarre, though he could not think of any for now. While he hated to see spiders die, especially when their rage was completely justified, he did not stop him. The most he could do was to take out as many as he could without killing.

When the next shot of webbing came, Rory cast a shield that reflected the attack, tangling the spider in its own web.]

Soon as you see an opening, run.

[openhanded]

[Sorey understands that this is part of the test. Still, he would've liked to... not walk into a spider's nest and end up racking up all the points (mandibles???) at once.]

Only if you run, too!

[The spiders are not really dungeon monsters and they're not weak to holy magic, but Caliburn's flames are better than nothing. He jumps right in, ducking beneath their sweeping, hissing attacks. Rory's help is enough that he can score a hit, and he cleaves a spider in half.

With the holy flames faded, he's left with just a sword. That's fine. He fires up his original weapon-- a magical barrier attached to his wrist like a buckler-- and he uses it to deflect physical attacks and, if necessary, ram another spider in the face.

Maybe they have this.]

[moreasleep]

Of course I'm running! You think I want spiders tearing apart my ass?!

[Rory kept them covered with a well-placed shield here and there. When casting took too long, he launched jars at the spiders, some of which contained spices that irritated the senses. So far, this was going relatively well. Yet, how long could their fortune last? One of the spiders turned to Rory and hurtled its gigantic body his way. He ducked, though the spider never landed.

Was that... were those vines tangling around the spider? And—oh, they were embracing it. This was disgusting.]

Fuck everything. We got to get out of here, now!!

[openhanded]

[Sorey turns his head to see what happened to the pursuing spiders-- only for a second, lest he fall behind-- and he sees... something incredibly lewd. It's hard to tell that it's lewd, though, since Sorey is as pure as freshly-fallen snow.

But he doesn't want any of those vines to be near them, that's for sure.]

I can see the way out!

[Indeed, they are coming to the main path where the tangly forest falls away, but there are vines slithering along the ground enough to make even Sorey hesitate.]

Stay close!

[His sword burns to life again. Magic is magic and he can use it to cut through the vines, so he does; every one that gets past his sword is met with a well-placed barrier. And the ones that can slip past that, well-- he did tell Rory to keep close.]

[moreasleep]

Got it!

[Rory kept close as Sorey performed some much-needed pruning on the vines. The very forest seemed alive with these perverted perennials. The few that made it through the blade and barrier met with a metal shield. Rory bought one a while ago and it had proved useful through countless situations.

By the time they made it through, Rory was short of breath and pale. He looked Sorey over to check him for injuries before looking at himself. There was still webbing on his clothes; he could only hope that it would not ruin it. When he saw a green plant on his shoulder, he screamed and threw it aside.]

Fuck!!

[Wait, it was not moving. It was only an innocent leaf. His face felt hot. Maybe he could just blame that on exhaustion.]

[openhanded]

[That was... not the manliest scream, but Sorey isn't judging. He's looking at Rory with wide-eyed concern. He reaches out as if to set a hand on his shoulder, but he's not sure how Rory will react, so it just kinda hangs there for a second before he goes through with the motion.]

Hey-- hey, it's all right. We're out of it.

[He's panting and desperately low on mana, and Rory looks to be about the same. Maybe some platonic mana exchange is the way to go here. He'll just... keep his hand on this shoulder, then, if he's allowed.]

Are you hurt anywhere?

[moreasleep]

[Immediately, Rory slapped his hand away with the back of his hand.]

I'm fine! Shit. Just don't touch me.

[All this mana exchange nonsense made him sick. He understood it was necessary, but did people really have to touch without any warning? Luckily, he prepared for such situations. Rory took out a flask filled with mana rich curried butternut squash soup and he shoved it at Sorey's direction.]

Good job not getting us killed, by the way.

[Though Rory still looked angry at the fact that Sorey caused the commotion in the first place.]