⬣//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 SEXTON

[cccorp]

[A gaunt man in ashen robes guards the entrance to Naval Monte's graveyard. His sunken, unblinking eyes stick to you like tar, following your every movement. He's in no mood to talk, but if you word your questions wisely, you may get an answer out of him. Just don't count on it.]

[tinged]

[ wow, this man sure is gaunt, but it's nothing whiskey and chocolate won't fix! hani doesn't have any questions for him because they're not curious about this graveyard yet. but they do offer him a bottle of whiskey and x99 chocolate bars, neatly stacked next to him at the entrance.

they salute him and leave. for now. ]

[cccorp]

[ ... ... ...

The sexton quietly looks at Hani put down their offerings and leave. He watches their back as they go and his eyes trail over to the chocolate bars and a bottle of whiskey set down at the entrance. A chocolate bar is taken first and the sexton eats at it slowly, but steadily. It's sweet.

A single tear flows from his unblinking eyes. ]

[tinged]

[ later, much later, hani returns because it has just occurred to them that one drink for 99 chocolate bars is not enough. so they sheepishly add in one more bottle. ]

Ah, do you have a name?

[cccorp]

[ The sexton looks up and sees Hani offer one more bottle. ]

I am the sexton.

[ ...

Apparently, that's all he'll say about that matter. ]

[tinged]

I am called Hani. [ hani tilts their head as a thought comes to them. ] Do I keep the "The" part?

[cccorp]

[ Hm. ]

Whatever you want. I care not.

[ Grumpy, but considerably less grumpy to Hani. ]

[tylorific]

[ Tylor is all smiles as he waltzes up. Because he isn't cursed with honesty yet, he says nothing about gaunt creepy dudes.

Instead, he offers him a cream puff right up to his face to see if he will take a bite. He is thinking this NPC is like the other towns. And like the others that he's tried chatting with, he doesn't expect a serious answer to-- ]

Hi there! Say, have you ever been to Lumina Cloth? You'd be a hit at night clubs.

[ He sounds genuine actually. ]

[cccorp]

[ Despite Tylor's tone and how he holds a cream puff to his face, the sexton continues to look grumpy at him. However, the difference lies in that the grumpiness seems more real than the usual NPCs. It looks almost human-like.

But that's all Tylor gets, a grumpy glare because he will not dignify that question with a verbal answer. ]

[tylorific]

[ Tylor blinks at the realism without offense as he withdraws the proffered cream puff to nibble at it himself. ]

Oh. Not a fan of cream puffs, huh? Then what sorts of things do you like? Doesn't it get pretty lonely standing out here all alone?

Don't tell me you want money as bad as all those other guys.

[cccorp]

It is my duty. A job. I will not move from here. I do not take bribes.

[ He continues to stare at Tylor with those sunken, unblinking eyes with no change in expression. ]

[tylorific]

[ Tylor laughs lightly, a clear and good natured sound. His words are just as bright and genuine-- ]

Wow, I really admire your dedication. But this is a gift, not a bribe!

So are you sure you don't want one? I don't mind sharing, especially with a hard working guy like you.

[cccorp]

Money is not of importance to me.

[ Also this guy will keep moving to get in Tylor's way, even if he's just slightly walking back and forth. It's like this guy is a goalkeeper or something. ]

All that matters is nobody goes in.

michel -> sinclair -> sexton

[userunfriendly]

[ Was Michel drawn here by the resonant goth energy, or is it just that he can't trust Sinclair not to commit a felony if he turns his eyes away from him? Either/or. He's now sizing up the graveyard and the solemn man in front of it. ]

Who is interred here?

[ ...Straight to the point, as usual. ]

[insinning]

[...MICHEL?

Sinclair doesn't say anything for a moment, utterly flabbergasted. Uh. He turns back to the sexton, offering some food! Fruit, cake, sweets]

Um. Hello. We're here to give--out food as well. Would you like some?

[cccorp]

[ The sexton is very intent on not letting anyone pass him no matter what. ]

That is none of your business, outsider.

[ Poor Sinclair... he just gets ignored. He will not be taking bribes. ]

[userunfriendly]

[ What's that look for! There's nothing wrong with being blunt with NPCs... or people... It's just courteous to get to the point of what you want, right? ]

...I ask because I wish to know who it would be appropriate to address prayers for.

[ How's that for a plan b, Sinclair? ]

[insinning]

[You know what, that works. He wont insist on offering food - not the same as the peddlers outside, huh?]

[cccorp]

There are many. I doubt that you care about anyone in these graves.

[ The sexton doubts their intentions. ]

[bleatingedge]

[After a heartening meal and conversation with a peddler, and a bit of exploration of Naval Monte, Leo finally makes his way to the entrance of the city's graveyard.

Softly stepping forward with his arms raised, he approaches who he thinks is the right person to ask some questions.]

Greetings. Are you the sexton?

[cccorp]

[ Despite Leo's careful approach, the sexton does not look like he wants to engage in conversation as his eyes, black and deep like tar, stay on Leo, unblinking. At least he acknowledges his existence though, and seems to be on guard. He will not let anyone pass him. ]

[bleatingedge]

[The sexton's deep stare does startle Leo a bit, but still, he has questions that need to be answered.]

I'm just here to ask a few questions.

I had a chat with one of the peddlers in front of the city gate, and he told me that the graveyard is your pride and joy. Is there a reason why it's guarded so heavily?

[cccorp]

It's because no one is allowed to go inside.

[ That may be obvious, but it doesn't look like he'll explain that any further. ]

And I will not allow anyone to go.

[bleatingedge]

Fair enough. I have no intention of entering.

[Putting a hand on his chin, he looks the sexton over with a mixture of curiosity and concern. Noting his gaunt form, Leo pulls out some of the trail rations he bought earlier as well as a bottle of juice - he doubts someone guarding a graveyard vigilantly would want alcohol. He wordlessly offers them to the sexton while he continues asking questions.]

How long has the graveyard been protected for?

[cccorp]

For as long as I have lived.

[ His tar-like gaze sticks onto Leo with his body only moving to stand in Leo's way if he tries to peek past him.

Though he's welcome to try. ]