⬣//BLOSSOMING FROM A GAP IN THE ASPHALT.

[cccorp]

>>NAVAL MONTE // >>HEALTH // >>ROGUE NPC // >>CONFERENCE // >>Zelkova Corner

⬣//A TOWERING MOUNTAIN AMIDST THE WAVES

A new Root Town has been revealed: Naval Monte, a tiered city built upon a mountain jutting up from an endless expanse of ocean. These fortified walls house an innumerable number of NPCs who, unlike those which occupy other Root Towns, are quite a bit more advanced.

Those of you who spend entirely too much time logged in have no doubt noticed the set patterns the NPCs of Mac Anu and Lumina Cloth take to move from area to area. Their paths never change. Their dialog rarely diverges. Talking to a freshly painted wall would be more stimulating than conversing with your run of the mill NPC, but Naval Monte's are different.

They move in accordance with their own whims, seldom found in the same place twice. Some NPCs have entire families while others boast elaborate backstories and speak at length of their tales of bravery and triumphs over evil. While they won't accept your party invites, they may instead invite you to share a meal with their family and regale you with stories until you've had your fill.

Travel far enough into the depths of the city and you'll hear tales of a graveyard that sits within the core of the mountain, but the NPCs who guard this elusive site are defensive at best. Don't expect them to let you in, but given their advanced nature, you may be able to wheedle some valuable information out of them.

Be aware that there is a price to enter Naval Monte. After crossing the vast bridge leading right up to the mountain city, you'll be accosted by no less than a dozen eager vendors fighting to peddle their wares to you. Some are so desperate that they ask only for a single GP, and in exchange, they grant you passage to the city.

Ask them why they're so desperate to make a sale and they'll answer plainly: if you don't, the curse will persist.

⬣//FOR YOUR HEALTH

Come Saturday morning, an email flagged as urgent pops up in your inbox.

To our beta team,

It has come to our attention that a number of our beta testers have failed to report previous underlying health conditions that may negatively impact their ability to perform their duties as intended.

In our ongoing efforts to monitor the health and safety of our beta testing team, all participants in Fragment's closed beta test will be required to complete a health screening before the date of September 16th in order to continue participating in the beta.

Beta participants will be matched with a health professional in their area and the fees for their screening and assessment waived. As such, it is necessary that you make an appointment with the medical professional assigned to you or select another from within our network.

No exceptions will be made for those who fail to submit their health assessments to CyberConnect's Health and Human Resources department. Termination from Fragment's beta testing program and applicable legal action will be taken in the event that you fail to participate in these necessary steps.

We take the health and safety of our beta testers very seriously. If you have any concerns, please contact us at cccorp.ccmail.com.

Thank you for your continued efforts,
CyberConnect Corporation of Japan.

⬣//ON THE RUN

Murmurs of an unusual NPC have begun to circulate within Naval Monte.

According to eye witnesses, one of the local residents has "gone rogue". According to them, a woman with dishwater eyes and hair messily pulled into a loose bun has been spotted going door to door begging to be let in.

"We need to go," she shouts, her eyes glossy with tears, her every word slurred. "We'll be safe there! We'll be free! We can't live like this anymore!"

From what you've heard, that woman has managed to break free from the confines of her native Root Town and has been seen running through the streets in Mac Anu, Lumina Cloth, and the nameless Root Town in the sky. You may have even come across her, accosted in the street and urged to listen to her increasingly erratic ramblings.

"I need you to take me there! Take me to him! His father left the key within him!"

Ultimately, nothing you say or do will influence the woman's behavior or calm her down. All you'll get for your troubles is an ill feeling in the pit of your gut, something that blooms from within you and spreads infinitely outwards. An infection you can't cure.

You won't realize that the infection has begun to spread and mutate until you see it blossoming all around you, your fellow testers complaining of an unidentifiable malaise. You'll know what afflicts you and everyone you've infected when it's far too late to do anything about it. Until this unfortunate "bug" is patched, you'll continue to get sicker and sicker. The progression of the illness is as follows:

Stage one: The complete inability to lie, but is that really a bad thing? We could all stand to be more honest and communicative.

Stage two: The loss of one of your key senses, but only one. Maybe it's your sense of smell. Your keen tongue. Your vision. Whatever it is, it's a vital part of you that won't return to you until you log off, but when you next log in, you may find that a different sense has gone missing instead.

Stage three: Disconnect from your real world body. You'll realize after several days have passed that you can no longer feel your real self as keenly as before. You may not realize you've slapped yourself in the face or knocked a tooth out on the edge of your desk until you log out for the day and witness the extent of the damage.

Final stage: Memory loss. Your head feels foggy. Concentrating becomes a struggle, your thoughts sluggishly crawling through your mind and and ultimately losing their way. In the final stages of the illness, you may forget to log out for days at a time and wake to find yourself passed out on the floor with your headset jostled loose, inadvertently freeing you from the game.

The "cure," aside from a timely patch, may hide somewhere within the game. Before your senses leave you, you'd better start asking around.

⬣//YOU CAN TRUST US. WE PROMISE.

As many of you know, it isn't easy to get ahold of CyberConnect when you need them. Hien is, at best, completely useless. Pete isn't much better. It's for these reasons and more that players have been invited to a digital conference and encouraged to give a voice to the rising concerns within the beta testing community.

The conference is to be held, both ICly and OOCly, on September 23rd at 12PM EST. If you have any burning questions to ask the people who hold power and influence over the state of the game and what happens within it, you can't afford to complain about timezones. This is your opportunity to speak your mind and have those questions answered.

OOCly, the conference will begin on September 23rd at 12PM EST and end on October 7th at 12PM EST. During this time, your characters can ask whatever questions they'd like of CyberConnect corporate staff, bring up concerns, and provide insights on their beta testing experiences.

Participation is mandatory (ICly), so set your alarms and don't be late!

⬣//ZELKOVA’S CORNER

Hello, everyone! Sorry I was away for a while. I got stuck in an outer level of the game and it took me a week to get back, but I should be just fine now! I hope I didn't miss anything too serious...

I did see that all of you have worked hard on those recipes, though! I liked all of them so much that I've added each of them into the game so that everyone can make their own. Congratulations!

>>Navigation

Comments

THE PEDDLER

[cccorp]

[A destitute man in ragged robes begs you for GP, a single GP, in exchange for entrance to Naval Monte. He's the chatty sort, keen on catching your attention and weaseling his way into your wallet. You might be able to charm some information out of him if you play your cards right.]

[tinged]

[ when hani meets this man on sunday, they patiently listen to his pleas. and when he's done talking, hani takes both his hands gently into their own, giving them a soft squeeze and an even softer smile. ]

Of course. [ they give him 500 GP, a creampuff, and a bottle of whiskey. hopefully the money comes in a pouch and not coins because it's all going in his hands. ] Is that enough?

[cccorp]

Food...!

[ The man wheezes out the word and stuffs it into his mouth. It's just a cream puff, but man. He's basically salivating after swallowing that thing whole. Then he chugs the bottle of whiskey. He squeals in glee at the bag of GP. ]

More, more! You got any more, kind stranger?

[tinged]

I do! More food? Alcohol? Or both? Actually - let's do both. Tell me when to stop.

[ hani starts dishing out more alcohol. they don't have any more creampuffs, so he'll have to settle for chocolate bars. ]

[cccorp]

[ The man stares at Hani in awe as all those items are given out. The peddler isn't the only one around--there are others too, and they start grabbing at the chocolate bars and alcohol. Of course, he takes some too, but he's astounded by Hani's generosity. ]

What a nice youngster you are...

[ He takes a bite out of the chocolate bar. It tastes good. Maybe it'll help his extremely thin legs one day. And the alcohol? Well, it'll help him deal with the current situation better. ]

Young'un... what a charitable soul. What is your name?

[trollophoroi]

[ At the entrance, a beggar.

If Fandaniel knows anything about games, this NPC could be useful, and thus he stifles the immediate griefer urge to try and wipe the poor man out. No, no, Fandaniel, be nice to the NPCs. Besides, this one seems talkative, so, he'll hold up a single GP, but high up, out of reach, as soon as the NPC makes a move for it. ]

Ah, ah, ah, my friend. How about you tell me about Naval Monte first? Make it interesting enough and I'll give you far more than a single GP.

[cccorp]

[ The man can't reach too high from where he is, because he's too weak to jump that high, but he gives a hearty laugh anyway despite the desperation. ]

I know what youngsters like you do. Give me that GP first!

[trollophoroi]

Hmm? And what about beggars like yourself? Why should I trust you not to take this measly little GP and make a run for it right after?

[ Give him a good reason to, old man. ]

[cccorp]

Sonny, you think I can run?

[ Look at his thin ass legs, bro. They're sticks. ]

We won't allow you inside Naval Monte if you don't give us anything anyway.

[bleatingedge]

[Upon seeing the Peddler, a feeling of familiarity washes over Leo. He's been in the exact same situation before in his own past. So he plops down next to the man unceremoniously.]

Hey there. Care to share a meal and a drink with me?

[Out of his inventory comes two plates of barbecued meat - leftovers from the Beach Bash that he's finally getting around to finishing. Thank god for food not spoiling in your inventory.]

[cccorp]

[ The peddler laughs. ]

My maaaan. That looks very tasty, indeed. I will accept it, but we all want GP here, you see. I will never say no to food and drink by such a charitable one as you... but still, you cannot access this city unless you cough up some GP!

[bleatingedge]

Don't worry, that will come later. First, we eat.

[With little fanfare, he immediately begins devouring his portion, sauce dribbling from his lips and staining his fingers.]

[cccorp]

[ Who's he to refuse food when it looks like he could use some anyway? The peddler starts eating the barbecued meat on his own plate. ]

Holy smokes, this is some fine gourmet food! You sure you're giving this to me?

[threatmewted]

...You know what? How about I do you one better and cook you up a whole meal?

[cccorp]

Sorry, lass! A meal is a meal. It cannot pay.

[ Though some other people may want food, but alas. They also want GP. ]

[threatmewted]

What, not even if you sell it afterwards? I'm a pretty good cook, you know.

[cccorp]

Food cannot appease the curse, lass. Just as you cannot buy things with food. Naval Monte does not care for bartering.

[ So, yeah. Cough up that GP, girl. ]

[tylorific]

[ The first time Tylor shows up, he thinks nothing of offering up a single GP to enter and walk by without waiting or chatting. Probably too eager to explore for now without any serious reason.

But eventually, a day later probably, Tylor comes walking up again. A strange sight, having entered and chaos gated away only to revisit the entrance from this side. Whether the NPC remembers him or not, Tylor looks at him differently than he did before. Not past him or breezily, but regarding him as a person when he stops before him this time. ]

Hello there. [ Have another 2GP. ] Do you ever get tired of standing around here all day?

[cccorp]

Ohh, thank you, lad.

[ He will pocket those 2 GP. ]

Me legs are a bunch of sticks. They cannot hold my weight. This is a rare moment where I stand...

[ But then he sits on the ground again. ]

Alas, I have no advantage when it comes to the other merchants.

[tylorific]

Any time!

[ Tylor squats after the man sits, chin in one palm. ]

Oh, I see. But is there anything else you like to do?

[cccorp]

I like to tell stories! Of things long past... My memories aren't what they used to be, you see. But my stories always get interrupted when a visitor comes across the border. We have to ask them for money! We must! If you have more, we will gladly take them!

[insinning]

[In queue: one of the suckers for this game]

Um. I can give you GP but--why is it so important here? No other town needs it.

[cccorp]

It is Naval Monte's culture, lad.

[ Sure. We can call it that. The peddler grins, though Sinclair can most likely tell that he is desperate for GP. The other merchants are too. He isn't the only one who wants money. ]

So how about it? Buy our wares? Or donate.

[insinning]

Um. I can see what I have--[how much GP does he have left anyway]--but why is it Naval Monte's culture? What makes it different from other root towns?

[Have 100 GP as Sinclair points out...a thing to buy. Whatever that is]

[cccorp]

[ For 100 GP, Sinclair gets several low level potions! With his HP as a Lord Partizan, it might not even heal 10% of it... ]

Thank you for your business.

[ Wehehehe. The peddler grins and well, since Sinclair paid, he might as well give him something. The peddler clears his throat, but what follows after is a rather monotone voice, completely different than before. ]

Naval Monte is cursed. It thrives off GP. Otherwise, Naval monte will disappear into the mist for a thousand years. We have recently emerged from a thousand years of being hidden away... We would not like that to happen again.