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⬣//JUST AS A SEED TAKES ROOT.
A team of four courageous adventurers managed to unearth a secret Area unique from the others: the Hulle Granz Cathedral. Unlike other Areas, this one is lacking all the usual monsters, dungeons, and treasure. What might the purpose of this Area be, then...?
Well, if you’re feeling penitent or perhaps wish to hold a sermon of your own, head to Hidden Forbidden Holy Ground and knock yourself out. What? Too soon?
Anyway, be not afraid! The cathedral is perfectly safe. Following Ganymede’s little incident in the cathedral, a timely email has been sent out to beta testers regarding health and safety that reads as follows:
To our beta team,
Please exercise caution when playing video games for extended periods of time. Take breaks every thirty minutes and do not sit in the same position for more than two hours at a time. Remember to stay hydrated and play in a well-lit environment.
Failing to take care of your health while gaming can result in a litany of health complications, including but not limited to eye strain, muscle fatigue, headaches, dizziness, and involuntary loss of consciousness and motor functions.
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.
Guilds have been patched into the current version of Fragment and are now available for players to create their own and join others. While some guilds have opted to go the private route, others are in need of players to fill their ranks!
The admins have kindly supplied those recruiting for their shiny new guilds with a number of goodies to aid in their player gathering efforts:⬣ A bundle of personalized flyers proudly displaying their guild logo and a description of the guild’s @ home and available amenities.
⬣ Party poppers and streamers. Nothing screams “join my guild!” like a face full of glitter, confetti, and colorful strips of ribbon.
⬣ A megaphone that lets your voice echo far and wide, even across Root Towns and Areas, but with great potential for abuse comes restrictions! The megaphone can only be used five times before it breaks. Use it wisely!
⬣ A unique recipe for a cocktail, latte, tea, or other type of beverage that can be blended up and served in little sample cups to court potential members. These drinks are unique to their guilds and, when consumed, have a special effect that reflects the leader of that guild. Is your guild leader a pretty cheerful guy? Drinking their special brew will make you feel happy too!
Whatever effect your guild’s drink has is up to the leader’s discretion, but if you so desire, drop a comment under the questions top level and we’ll brew one up for you.
Additionally, you may host a guild open house and invite potential guildies into your @ home to let them take a look around! Guild @ homes are typically locked to guild members & their guests only, so use this as your opportunity to put your best foot forward and impress the world with everything your guild has to offer.
Also arriving with the newest update are mountable Grunties! Aren’t they cute? ...Well, they’re someone’s definition of cute.
While the ability to ride around town and in Areas at 2x speed is certainly alluring, you can’t just walk up to the Grunty Ranch located in each Root Town and take one out for a stroll. If you want a mount of your very own, you’ve got to commit! Becoming a proud Grunty owner means you must first become a proud Grunty parent, and to do that, you’ll need to raise your Grunty from infancy into adulthood.
Just what kind of adult might your Grunty become? That depends on how you raise them and what you feed them. Those strange "foods" popping up all over Areas might not taste good to you, but they sure do to Grunties!
For more information on how to acquire a baby Grunty of your very own and raise it into a proper — or not so proper — member of Grunty society, head on over to the Grunty Ranch.
Mac Anu, the City of Twilight known for its gentle ocean breezes, has been uncharacteristically warm lately. Very, very warm. Its usual orange skies have been swapped out for vivid blues, the sun dwelling high in the sky and threatening to burn everything in its wake.
It won’t take much wandering to feel the effects of heat exhaustion sink in, and even after you log out for the day, those symptoms seem to linger. Do Hien and Zelkova know what the hell is going on? Of course not. Unusual occurrences are slowly becoming the norm in Fragment, it seems, but the point of a beta test is to work out any kinks. Report it and move on.
Lumina Cloth is similarly affected by unusual weather phenomena, but it’s much more pleasant and hospitable than poor Mac Anu. The sun hangs just above the horizon, bathing the strip in early evening light. It’s much cooler here too, and what’s more, it appears that a carnival has rolled into town. What fun!
All the usual carnival fare is here: greasy fried foods, drinks served in foot long glasses, and a litany of carnival games that are totally not rigged. Entry is free and so are the prizes, but some of them take a bit of legwork to win.
⬣ Successfully PK another player to win the carnival exclusive Thursday The 12th™ skin. PK’d players will receive an appropriately spooky ghost skin of their own!
⬣ Step on up to the dunk tank and get dunked on to win a sexy swimsuit skin! Both the dunkers and the dunkees will win this skin, but only those who successfully dunk the player in the tank will be rewarded with the chance to show off some skin. The appearance this skin takes is dependent on the player wearing it, so have fun and get creative with it!
⬣ Take a trip through the hall of mirrors with a friend and do some reflecting! Stare too long into the mirrors and you might recall a memory that doesn’t belong to you, but to the person venturing through the hall of mirrors with you. Did that really happen? Surely it’s all in your head. Memories available for memshare are limited to the ones listed on your application.
Additional rewards include giant plush monsters that can be used to decorate guild @ homes and private rooms (limit one per player!) and a pet goldfish that, unfortunately, will die a hero’s tragic death within a week. Womp womp.
We’ve had a busy week! It seems like there was a glitch that allowed players to equip other players as weapons, which resulted in a ten player chain, wielded by none other than our hardworking head administrator, Hien! I’ll have a talk with him about not doing this kind of thing in the future, I promise!
That wasn’t all, though. An unknown entity reached out to the players participating in the ten-player chain and issued them a special title: Good Friends Stick Together. Fragment’s not supposed to have titles. Well, at least not in the beta. But you can go ahead and add it to your name if you want to anyway, and it shouldn’t cause any problems! We still can’t pinpoint who sent those messages and how they overrode the permissions to create those titles in the first place, but... Hmm. I don’t want to start any rumors, so I’ll keep looking into it.
There are those armor sets too, which I didn’t know had been handed out to those of you that reached level 25. Oria brought it to our attention, thankfully! There’s not a whole lot we can do about it now, but we know that some of them are pretty invasive. But knowing is half the battle, right?
Our friend Ganymede suffered an accident recently that had him lying unconscious in the hospital for about a day. He seems to be feeling better now, thankfully. Ḩ̵̲̼͆̃͐̆ò̸̧̰͕̥̈́͒̕͜p̷̫͙̯͇̾̄͜ę̸̹̒f̷̠̭͉̱̅͘ǘ̴͎̙̥̭̈́̈́l̵͇̙͍̳̜̇̓̒l̷̬̲̀̆̈̅̂ͅỳ̵̧̻̖ ̷̠̫̭̰̦̋͗h̴̰͕̑͗e̸̦̼͇̾͘ ̴̡̢̝̺̳̊̎̎̔p̴̳̠̼̜͔̂̅̐à̵͕̹̟ͅỹ̴̡̛͝s̶͉̕ ̴̢͕̬̑̆̕͝b̸̹̲͗͒̊͑͠ē̶̛͖͠ṯ̸̻̺́͒͐t̶̻͕͎̑ĕ̶̖̀͗͛͋r̷͙̗̙̲͙̓̚͝ ̷̻̠͉̈́̚a̷̡̙̳̽́̀̋̔ẗ̴̢̨̛̬̺t̴͖̳͝ē̷͇̆͆̍̚ͅn̵̪̜͉͊̉̔̄͐t̵͕̼͈̓͋̈́̕î̷̬o̸͇̐͋͑͌n̶̟̫̟̽̑͒͐͘ ̷̜̈́̈̀̂̎t̶͙̂͛ô̸̠̜ ̶̫͎̎h̶͖̳͛i̸̗͖̖̅̂͆̄͛s̸͔̈́̇̍ ̸̩̗̻̕s̵̬̼̳̲̞͝ù̸̞̺̣͙̾͒͛ŗ̴̻̟̻̭̂̈́r̶̡͈̲̣̣͋̊͗̕o̶̥̝̮̓ų̴̻̯̬̊̑̑͌̉ͅn̶̢̙̦͔͖̈̒͝d̷̰̼̤̥̃̿͒̌̎i̸̯͑̾͊̑͝n̵̦͐g̸̪̾͝͝s̷̛̝͙̣̹̍͛͝ ̸͔̲̠̩͗̓̀͘a̷̛̼̓̈́͊ṅ̵̥͆̎ḑ̶̨̯̱͍̇ ̷̛̗̮̀̆ḧ̴̼̪́͗͝i̵͓̬̤͂͐͒s̶̮̎̿̃ ̴̛͔̋͗̽h̷̝͑ͅē̴̱ȃ̵̝͎ͅļ̷͍̀͐͊̊̽ẗ̸̼̺̟̥̼́̄͛h̶̥̹̬̮̽̅ ̷̟̖̮͛́̿t̸̢̤̤̂͒͋̍o̶̼̟̓ ̵̥̳͙̖̆̈́ả̶̛̳̱͙̖̩̿̽͘v̴͈͉͖͊͘ỏ̶̤͚̅͑͝i̴̱͈̩̳̳̿̇̕͠ḏ̵͙̮͗͆ ̶̯̭̝̹̯͊s̸͍̰͔̔̀͋͋̐u̷̟̠͑̔̏̚c̵̨͖͉͇̀͆͘ͅh̴̨̓͌̄̈ ̶̧̱̻̼̏̃̃i̷̱͉͈̿̎̋͒͜͝n̴̢͓͍̂͝͠c̷̢̢̛̹͚̑̓̅ͅi̶͕̟̻̘̫̾͌d̶͉͉̏̇e̵͉̱̩̯̤͐̎̉̾n̸̡̠̈͜ţ̴̇͑̈́͘s̵̩̼͔̙̙̉͘ ̵̮̯̞̮̾̈́͋̔̈h̵̡̗͉͉͈̉̐̅̚ȁ̵͖͚̖̾p̸̰̬͖̩̀̈́̆̓p̶̢̛̼̈́͆̒͘ͅe̷̟̘̩̲̻̾̊n̵̨̩̜̟͆͘i̵̙͉̺̮͠ͅṋ̷̆ġ̶͙͚ ̴̩̋à̷̄̑̂͝ͅǧ̵͖̜͍͕̒̑͒a̷̧̛̞͐̃̈́͘i̷̯͉̬̯̽̍n̷̘̝͓̽̅̕!̵̩͑
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[ He doesn't sit just yet, as Hien seems to be content with standing for now. He looks at the waters in which the gaze eventually stops at the white tree in the middle fo the lake. The crystal clear waters in which the pitch blackness can be shown to hide the depths below make it seem as if it guards the very tree itself--any who tries to get to the tree will be heavily punished and sent to the abyss. ]
Didn't you say you wanted to check things out? Be my guest, and look around to your heart's content.
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[Matoba stretches out, unequipping his sandals- no need to have the extra armor in a monster-less field, and if Hien wanted to PK him he would do it with a measly few more Defense points or not- so that he can dip his toes into the waters of the lake.]
[They're cold and crisp. The lake certainly feels like it would swallow you whole if you slipped into it all the way, but for now he's content to contemplate its depths, rather than to gaze on the majesty of the light in its center.]
I do, but this is most of what there is it see here, right? I can see it fine from right here, for now. What's the hurry?
...By the way, Hien-kun. Was your avatar set to level 100 from the start, or did they make you grind all the way up to get there? Did you get to pick your equipment, or did you have to play for it?
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I feel like I'll be judged regardless of my answer.
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[He glances back to Hien again.]
Don't you agree?
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The beta started upon the beta testers' entries, so this avatar was already level 100.
[ ... ]
I considered telling them to make me start from level 1, but I decided against it.
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Hoooh, handed everything with no effort, that's pretty nice.
[He's blatantly teasing now, since Hien made a stink about it!]
... But, I am curious why you decided to do that. --I'm not saying I can't imagine a lot of reasons; I just want to hear yours.
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So it makes him more compliant than usual and overlooks Matoba's blatant teasing. ]
If I was, I would have been another beta tester. That's not my my main job.
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"The power to do what you need to do as the Head Admin", ..huh.
[Matoba looks at him for a moment with that unreadable smile of his, and then turns back towards the tree. It was beautiful; like it held a thrall that beckoned you forward, enticing unsuspecting visitors to step into the waters and try to swim towards it, promising some unknown bounty or salvation- where instead there was only the deep plunge into nothingness...........]
[....A blink, and he snaps out of it. This place was probably pretty dangerous, all things considered. Should it really be open to the public?]
I don't disagree with that assessment. People don't like it, but being heavy-handed is the only way to get them in line for their own good, sometimes. [To keep them in line. To protect them.]
[His calm smile turns onto Hien again.] So I don't hold it against you, Hien-kun. But I'm still going to get my revenge when I can. Please remember that.
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[ He watches Matoba look at the tree and turn towards him again. ]
Should I be waiting three more level cap breaks later? Even at an equal level, I'm confident that it won't be easy for you to get your revenge.
[ heh. ]
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[His eye on him is even, challenging.] But being separate topics does not mean that one cannot address them the same way, does it?
[With a soft grunt, Matoba pushes up from his spot and stands, flicking one toe forward in the waters in a childish splash before spinning in place to face Hien. His hands clasp behind his back.]
And... I think that you underestimate the avenues and forms that revenge can take, Hien-kun.
[Matoba's smile is sweet, in the same way that an arsenic trap is sweet. He takes a picking step forward, and another.] You're not very creative if PKing is the only thing you can think of.
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[vine voice] I can't believe you've done this
[Giving your opponent more proximity to you? Matoba had certain plans, that was for sure. One of his hands had been reaching downward towards his grimoire, a threatening move that surely no one could blame Hien for reacting to.]
[But now he has Hien's hands on him.]
[The shove might have worked if he hadn't already been on his guard to expect exactly that. They're near the edge of a lake, of course that's what Hien's going to go for! But knowing that, Matoba hands grasp onto Hien's arms by the wrist and upper bicep, using that leverage and Hien's off-balance from the shoving motion to launch himself forward on his toes, fingernails digging into Hien's skin.]
[The height difference isn't much, which means it's no effort at all to land his lips against Hien's, a crushing force that's none sensuality and all brutality, all dominance and hunger.]
[And against it, before he can throw him off, he hisses against his mouth, claws still dug in like a kneading cat.]
Stop being so easy to tease if you don't want to attract the trolls, Admin-san.
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That's why Hien gasps for air when the kiss ends, because he was that shocked to stop breathing for a moment and the rest played out on its own.
The perks of being in a party is that party members cannot deal damage to one another, nor target each other with skills nor spells.
But everything else? Fair game.
That's why this time, Hien attempts to give a very strong kick to Matoba's stomach to send him into the waters while trying to shake the hands off his arm. Cool your dick, politician (assumed). ]
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[Drenched at the waist, though, Matoba pulls himself back up from the waters with a sloshing leap and looks at Hien anew. His grin, usually so controlled and fixed into place becomes something wild and fascinated instead, and he throws off one sleeve of his kimono with a fairly universal sign.]
[If Hien wants to throw down? He'll throw down.]
[Matoba is not a hand to hand fighter, typically; but you don't survive where he is without the ability to throw a punch. If Hien has the experience to recognize it, there's no formality to Matoba's form, but there is learning- as he lunges forward, fists up, with a right hook towards Hien's head.]
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[But it's not about that. Feeling everything around him- the rocks digging into his feet, the force of Hien's blows coming at him- it's all about feeling what this world can convey. And it's about what he can get, by seeing how Hien reacts to this. And by letting him see it.]
[Being pushed off easily doesn't deter him, though. He jumps right back in with an elbow towards Hien's neck.]
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Now that he's fighting someone like this, it feels like he's reliving his old memories where he did this often. He doesn't believe it was traumatic—in fact, it felt good. He felt alive. It was much better than what smoking could do for him.
That's why that last kick has a lot of strength behind it. He wants Matoba to give up thoroughly. ]
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[But still, he's grinning, breath heaved out.]
[He leans against the side of the wall, fingers scrabbling against it and nails dirt-packed, and pushes himself off to go again.]
That's more like it, Hien-kun. [He wishes he had his bow and tantou on him in the game like this. Then they could really test each other. Oh well. Even despite that, he goes for a headbutt.]
cw possible gore
When the attack connects, he doesn't give Matoba a break. He grabs him by the collar(?) to pull him closer and it looks like he's about to kiss him, but his teeth viciously bite into Matoba's lips in an attempt to tear them out.
If successful, Hien will shove Matoba into the lake after that. If not, he'll try again. ]
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[No.... He can keep going. His body isn't damaged, so by all means, he can--]
[He realizes what is going to happen in the split second he sees Hien's face coming towards him and his mouth parting, and it's only a violent grip and a twist into Hien's hair that keeps him just enough distance from flesh to keep from teeth tearing in. Then he's struggling with all his might, beast vs man, to keep him from getting close enough.]
Attack dog, huh? [His voice is rough and throaty with effort, different like this, not the smooth and clinical detachment he usually speaks with.
[He sucks in the bits of breath and willpower he has (it's all mental, he reminds himself) and shoves Hien off, or himself away, whichever it manages to do. At this point, the lake is probably the better embrace, anyway. SPLASH.]
[Floating on his back as he gasps for breaths, for a second there is quiet, and then a bubbling, entirely too exhilarated laughter.]
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He really despises being called an attack dog and his eyes narrow while overlooking the lake and a floaty lunatic on the surface of the water.
Hien picks up a small pebble and throws it at Matoba's head. Shut up. ]
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[Another bubble of laughter as the pebble hits him. Gasping for air, he stays there and floats, an eerie silence settling back in around them as the background music of the cave permeates the air once more with its calming, unfitting chant.]
[Hurting others is a skill, like any other. Physically, emotionally, with actions or with words- it didn't matter. One of them was more suited to one than the other, but in equal measure, he thinks. You don't have to like the skills you were endowed with. You just have to be good at them.]
[After a number of loud breaths, he calls out again, eye on the ceiling of the cave.]
Were you a cleaner, Hien-kun?
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None of your business.
[ Just to spite him, he splashes water on Matoba's face. ]
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[It just is.]
[His eye finally slides back onto Hien from where he floats, hair loose all around him, breathes still coming out in slow heaves. His expression has changed, unreadably neutral.]
I suppose not. [But that's never stopped him from finding things out before.]
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You look like a healthy, dying man.
[ He mutters, splashing Matoba's face a little more with the lake water. ]
Why do you like bothering me so much? There's still nothing I can do for you that you want.
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