⬣//A WHOLE NEW YOU.

[cccorp]

>>Premise // >>Introduction // >>Party // >>Zelkova Corner

⬣//CONGRATULATIONS! YOU WON! 🙂

On a day like any other, you're checking your email when one in particular catches your eye. We invite you to Fragment, the subject line reads, and the sender is a name everyone is familiar with: CyberConnect Corporation.

It doesn't matter whether you signed up for Fragment's closed beta months ago or simply found the mysterious email sitting in your inbox. The fact remains that you are one of the select few chosen to participate, and in a word gone fully digital, you can't afford to turn down such an opportunity.

Those who accepted the invitation were given much more than a free pass to beta test the latest and greatest MMO. Upon confirming their participation, employees of C.C. Corp arrive at their homes and outfit them with top-of-the-line internet — a must to play such an advanced game — a brand new PC, and a state-of-the-art VR headset created by C.C. Corp themselves specifically for this beta test. You may call it excessive. They call it necessary.

Welcome to The World's first event! Your plotting post is here.

⬣//YOUR ADVENTURE BEGINS SIMPLY.

When the morning of July 29th rolls around, you're finally able to access Fragment and create your character. By default, your avatar resembles your real world appearance, but naturally you're able to fully customize your look from head to toe. Want green skin? You got it. What about twintails that stretch down to the floor? You won't have to worry about those clipping through your armor in a game as advanced as Fragment. The sky is truly the limit!

Once you've settled on your avatar's appearance and class, you log into your home Root Rown: Mac Anu, a city forever at twilight with a series of canals snaking through it. It's done up in a series of flowing banners and balloons, glitter and confetti carried along by a gentle breeze you can feel along your cheeks.

Players are given some time to wander around the Root Town and acquaint themselves with the feeling of being fully immersed in a digital fantasy world, but after some time, a soft, playful voice echoes all across the Root Town.

"Hi, everyone! It's time to begin! Meet me at the Chaos Gate!"

When everyone gathers for the meeting, they're greeted by the cheerful face and pitchy voice of an enthusiastic young boy. Unlike you, a level 1 newbie without a single GP to your name, targeting the boy reveals a few things: his name is Zelkova and he's level 100. Huh. Is he cheating? Maybe he's someone important?

In either case, you'll have your answer when Zelkova begins to speak, sweeping his arms out wide to greet all the new beta testers.

"Welcome! I'm Zelkova. I'll be your point of contact during Fragment's closed beta! Before we start celebrating, let me give you guys your armor and equipment. You can't fight monsters without that stuff, huh?"

With a wave of his arms, a table pops into existence before Zelkova. Sprawled out on the table is an immaculate collection of... shabby level one weapons and equipment. Yikes. What, did you think you'd be fabulous from the jump? That's not how MMOs work!

Zelkova encourages everyone to step up and grab the set (or sets, if you're an Adept Rogue) to outfit themselves.

YOUR NEW ARMOR AWAITS.

Blade Brandier: Rusted Blade Leather Cap Ugly Cuirass Deft Gloves Worn Boots

Twin Blade: Railroad Spikes Leather Cap Ugly Cuirass Deft Gloves Worn Boots

Wavemaster: Splintering Rod Tacky Hat Light Robe Light Gloves Old Shoes

Macabre Dancer: Paper Fans Tacky Hat Light Robe Light Gloves Old Shoes

Edge Punisher: Yaoi Oar Helmet Worn Armor Frayed Gloves Squeaky Boots

Flick Reaper: Farmer's Sickle Leather Cap Ugly Cuirass Deft Gloves Worn Boots

Harvest Cleric: Magical Girl Stick Tacky Hat Light Robe Light Gloves Old Shoes

Lord Partizan: Stop Sign Helmet Worn Armor Frayed Gloves Squeaky Boots

Shadow Warlock: Travel Pamphlet Tacky Hat Light Robe Light Gloves Old Shoes

Steam Gunner: Water Gun Leather Cap Ugly Cuirass Deft Gloves Worn Boots

Tribal Grappler: Fishticuffs Leather Cap Ugly Cuirass Deft Gloves Worn Boots

It's... not very impressive, sure, but beginner sets in MMOs never are. Better get dungeon crawling if you want to step up your glamor game.

"Well, that's all the boring stuff for now! This is an exciting opportunity for us all, so why don't we start the beta with a proper party?"

⬣//PARTY LIKE IT'S Y2K.

What better way to celebrate your acceptance into Fragment's prestigious beta program than a blowout party? Every inch of Mac Anu is decked out for the occasion, and once everyone has picked up their armor, Zelkova's armory disappears to reveal a vast banquet table piled high with food, drink, and party favors.

There's cuisine from every corner of the world just waiting to be devoured, and what's more, you'll taste the food like you're really eating it! Zero calories never tasted better. The drinks work much the same way, and there's even alcohol that will get you drunk in no time flat. Take it easy on the cocktails!

Still, maybe you're not feeling adequately dressed for the occasion. Never fear! There are a set of armor skins to pick from. Feeling a bit peckish? Dress up as a vegetable. If veggies aren't your style, how about this sleek little number? Those are just a few of the silly party costumes available for the occasion, and when it's time to depart, Zelkova will graciously allow you to keep your favorite skin to wear whenever you please.

Finally, don't forget to pick up some party favors! There's a foam weapon that, when equipped, takes the form of your class' weapon of choice... but what does it do, exactly? Well, hit another avatar with it and find out for yourself. There are also an array of paint ball guns, nerf guns, and water guns for use in Root Towns. Pick up one of each! Be the annoying friend no one wants to invite on a dungeon run.

Before you leave, Zelkova hands you a Greeting Card that can be emailed to anyone on your friend list. "Try sending it to one of the new friends you made today! I promise they'll love it! Oh... but be careful not to accidentally send it to someone too."

⬣//ZELKOVA'S QUESTION CORNER

⬣ Zelkova, this level one armor sucks! I want better stuff!

"Don't worry, new player! Better equipment is a button press away! Well... after you earn it. Why don't you give Area Exploration a try?"

⬣ I'm a social butterfly ready to spread my wings and take flight on the winds of friendship! Can I start a guild?

"Heehee... About that! This is a beta, you know? We're still getting stuff ready! Maybe if you wait patiently, you'll be able to form and join guilds in... a week from now. While you're waiting, make some friends! You'll need guild members!"

⬣ I hate walking! My feet hurt! I want something that will do all the hard work of moving around for me!

"What? Your feet hurt...? Turn off the pain sensors in your feet! As for alternative travel methods... well, there are "those"... Oh, that's a great idea! Give me some time and I'll see about finding some Grunties for all of us!"

⬣ How can I communicate with other players? I want to stay in the loop!

"Great question! That's what the official forums are for! You can ask for help, search for parties, share interesting discoveries you've made and just about anything else on your mind! Give it a try, but be careful: the head admin is kind of a grump... but you didn't hear that from me, hehe!"

"That's all for this week's edition of Zelkova's Question Corner! If have questions you'd like to ask me, send me an email any time!"

>>Navigation

Comments

[fluorite]

i - equip, unequip;

[ Having the beginner armor handed to them is nice and all, but that doesn't help Fai when it comes to actually equipping it. He's never played an MMO before, and that very fact becomes quite obvious when he equips a piece of armor... and then immediately unequips it because he's clicked on it again when he should have left it alone.

He does this a couple more times, and a frown starts to grow prominent on his lips. ]

Hmm...

ii - time to party;

[ He's mostly here to have fun, and that means using the tools provided to him to make his own kind of fun. Unfortunately for everyone else, "making his own fun" turns out to be spritzing people with the water gun or pelting them with the plastic darts from the nerf gun.

Fai mostly targets the antisocial people in the crowd, but he might also simply feel inspired and hit your character anyway. It's too bad for everyone else that he's aiming for the head and he's got good aim. If your character feels something hit the back of their head and they turn to find the source, unfortunately whatever hit them will now also hit them square in the face. ]

Oops~

[ Yeah, he sounds real apologetic. ]

iii - to drink or not to drink;

[ When he's done with being a nuisance, Fai takes up a station at the banquet table, trying out different types of food. It's a strange feeling, being able to taste the food and feeling a little bit fuller from it even though he's well aware that he isn't actually eating anything real. Honestly, he's not going to think about that too hard, because it'll give him a headache.

So, Fai decides he'll see just how advanced this game is via the alcohol selection and he quickly snatches up two cocktails. With everyone gathered in a small area, it doesn't take long for him to bump into someone else. ]

Care to share a drink with me?

iv - wildcard;

[ Create your own adventure! Feel free to plot with me and we can come up with our own prompt! ]

time to party

[curvaceous]

[ While Kara isn't one of the antisocial people in the crowd, she'll still become a victim of Fai's nerf gun escapades...as if she doesn't have a nerf gun in her hands herself. She feels herself get pelted, and she turns around to face the perpetrator.

There's a mischievous glint in her eyes as she immediately shoots a dart back at Fai, aiming for his torso in particular. ]

Oops!

[fluorite]

[ This is the perfect reason to target the more social people here—they'll hit him back. ]

Ah, a counterattack!

[ He grins, immediately aiming for her face yet again. He'd never aim for the face in the real world, but here? Avatars can't actually get hurt by foam darts. ]

unequip

[tinged]

[ hani has played other MMOs before. kind of! but still, this experience is pretty... unique. in a new and fresh way! in a good way!

but knowing how to equip gear (which is vastly different from knowing how to equip the correct piece of gear for their job), well, that doesn't stop them from copying this blond player.

equip. unequip! equip. unequip! this is kinda fun~ haha! ]

[fluorite]

[ It takes a couple of moments for Fai to notice someone else doing the same thing, and he immediately wonders if he's being copied.

Honestly, it's pretty funny, so he can't even be upset. ]

It's fun, isn't it?

drinks!!!

[secondthoughts]

[ It just so happens that Fai runs into an alcoholic.

Hector brightens at the new face, and he holds out a hand to take the drink. Hand it over!! ]

Be more than happy to.

[fluorite]

[ Oh, perfect! Fai hands it over before holding up his own. ]

Let's have a toast! To the beta test starting~

drinks

[regressive]

[ What do you mean by he's done being a nuisance? Talking to Joonghyuk and offering him a drink is the exact definition of being a nuisance in his book. He gives Fai a look from head to toe. ]

I always wanted to drink pixels.

[ Feel free to take that as a yes. ]

[fluorite]

[ Just wait until he sneak attacks you with a nerf gun, Joonghyuk! It'll be when he least expects it...

But for now, Fai just shoves the cocktail at him. ]

Now is the perfect opportunity! You must be excited.

[ Yeah, he's just going to ignore the blatant sarcasm for his own purposes. ]

ii; 1/? i'll let you know when i'm done

[dissimulative]

Hey, watch it--

[ Then he turns around to get hit on the face. Great job. He shrieks in being startled, but then he actually gets a good look at his attacker-- ]

[dissimulative]

[ Wait a fucking second. He pauses when he sees his face for real. ]

Y--

[dissimulative]

[ ...

He checks the character info. There's no way that nerdy tutor has time for video games. No freaking way. ]

done

[dissimulative]

Oh my god. Small world. Fai? I know--

[ It's a great time to shoot him again, just saying. ]

ii - time to party;

[ganymed]

[ ..... Looking at Fai like he is not amused at all. ]

Oops, is it?

Equip, Unequip

[threatmewted]

[An edgy Flick Reaper is watching him, amused.]

Tell me you've never played an MMO before without telling me you've never played an MMO before.

equip

[sicklysweet]

You know...

[Owen is just watching Fai - he doesn't seem to have any idea what he's doing, which is entertaining enough, but he could still stand to have a bit more fun.]

Every time you do that, your items take damage to their durability.

[He's lying, but he sure sounds confident!]

equip, unequip

[tot]

[ uta will be watching fai unequip and equip his armor for a little while before thinking if she should speak up or not. she's uncertain if it's because he doesn't know what he's doing in earnest or if he's doing it on purpose for...some reason. you would think that anyone who was invited to the beta would know how to play the game but you also never know???

either way, after enough time, she'll approach him with a bright smile. ]

You know, the starting armor in this game isn't as bad as it could be.

iii drinks drinks drinks

[trollophoroi]

[ And who Fai bumps into is a short man in one of the nifty little butler armor skins that were available. He looks quite prim and proper in it, no doubt much more akin to his real-life self than he would in his regular level-one caster gear.

Admittedly, the haircut is much different. The real Amon Isai kept longer hair, but... In any case, when Fai approaches and he turns from picking over the food on the expansive banquet table with great interest, he turns, his first thought to turn whoever this was down, but when he sees such a familiar face, he pauses, he stares, and then a sly smirk creeps over his face. Well, well. ]

Oh? But you've never asked me to share drinks before, have you?

iii

[legendofthelion]

[Dehya's having a similar experience, bewildered that the food feels filling but knowing as soon as she logs out her stomach will actually be emptier than when she logged on.

She looks a little thoughtful as she eats a little sausage roll. When Fai offers the cocktail, she takes it with a smile.] Sure. Is that alcohol?

[She saw the bottles, but didn't take a closer look yet. Could someone really get drunk in VR, anyway?]

ii;

[userunfriendly]

[ "The most antisocial people in the crowd," huh.

Is it to anyone's surprise that Michel is absolutely taking a watergun shot to the face? ]

Ghrpht—

[ Did he lose HP from that? He might have lost HP from that. Reaching up slowly to wipe the water off his face, augh. ]

ii

[ntrd]

[Aoi's been standing more on the outskirts of the party and has been keeping to herself. It looks like she's staring through the others rather than looking at them.

When Fai's dart hits her right in the middle of the forehead, she doesn't even react for a good ten seconds. She doesn't speak, move, or even blink. She just stands there, staring right at him. Once he says something, she does finally react.]

Event start. Affectionate points with Aoi at zero.

time to party!

[glassbell]

Wah!

[ He shouldn't be bothered getting hit with a water gun, but it feels like the real deal! He may be frog shaped, but that doesn't mean he needs water right now! (It just means he's an easy target)

Thankfully, he is prepared! WITH HIS OWN WATER GUN. He turns towards Fai, wielding it like he's a star from a movie. It looks silly but hey... ]

Are you ready for revenge?

time 2 party

[tablescraps]

( Mithrun was just standing around, somewhat removed from the crowd, in his in this event skin (mask up on his head, like a fascinator, and not covering his face) with such a stillness a person might think he'd decided on becoming an AFKer on day one - except he does glance around on occasion, so he's clearly there.

Fai gets a clean hit off him, which gets a jolt out of him but not much else. He stands there a little wëtte for a second, staring down at the drip-droplets running down wherever Fai got him.

He looks to Fai.

And then he zips toward Fai suddenly with his dumb foam broadsword to try and hit him back, )

iii. if it's not too late for fais... pokes fingies together

[ophidie]

Sorry, I'm gonna have to decline.

[She turns him down firmly but politely, the same way a waitress might reject a patron's offer to purchase her a drink while she's on the job. It's too bad he already has the drink in hand, but he's the one who made the assumption. He brought it on himself, just like she surely brought this upon herself by looking a little too unapproachable.]

What else do they have? Something like coffee, maybe?

[She assume that, since he's already carrying the other glass, they'll go their separate ways after that.]

ii

[insinning]

[ Normally Sinclair would be more startled. Except, he's already covered in paint.

And when he turns around...

This is on his head.

He makes a gesture at Fai as if to say 'why?']