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⬣//A WHOLE NEW YOU.
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.
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.
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.
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 BootsTwin Blade:
Railroad Spikes Leather Cap Ugly Cuirass Deft Gloves Worn BootsWavemaster:
Splintering Rod Tacky Hat Light Robe Light Gloves Old ShoesMacabre Dancer:
Paper Fans Tacky Hat Light Robe Light Gloves Old ShoesEdge Punisher:
Yaoi Oar Helmet Worn Armor Frayed Gloves Squeaky BootsFlick Reaper:
Farmer's Sickle Leather Cap Ugly Cuirass Deft Gloves Worn BootsHarvest Cleric:
Magical Girl Stick Tacky Hat Light Robe Light Gloves Old ShoesLord Partizan:
Stop Sign Helmet Worn Armor Frayed Gloves Squeaky BootsShadow Warlock:
Travel Pamphlet Tacky Hat Light Robe Light Gloves Old ShoesSteam Gunner:
Water Gun Leather Cap Ugly Cuirass Deft Gloves Worn BootsTribal Grappler:
Fishticuffs Leather Cap Ugly Cuirass Deft Gloves Worn BootsIt'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.
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, 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!"
2/3
What the HELL was that for!? What is that- Did you EQUIP another player?? Multiple times?? Are you clowns fucking around with a bug instead of reporting it!? What... sort of...
[Pete's last vestige of energy, spent bitching, suddenly leaves him. His head properly drops to the ground, before his body fades into pink sparkles which may just be the normal death effect but if it's possible to customize, you know Pete did.]
C-C-COMBO BREAKER (party time no more tag order)
That.
That was not intended.
His hands. They're stained with blood.
VOGEL HAS GAINED A LEVEL IN BLOODY SINS THAT CANNOT BE FORGIVEN
Blue Screen of Death commences]
3/3
See, that's what happens when you fuck around with bad code! Idiots, every single one of you! You're fucking lucky I turned the pain sensors off in my settings or I'd have a way bigger problem with you! Now get your shit together already and tell me what exactly you clowns did to cause this horseshit so we can get it report-
[And he made the mistake of trying to show a modicum of human kindness by giving this nervous boy a little pat. Accidentally triggering the menu option to further this farce and equipping Sinclair.]
Ah hell.
sneaking one in cuz why not
Now then, let's find the next player who will join us... What do you suppose would happen if any of us logs off?
paging the next victim
Honestly that depends on how this weird glitch is coding you guys as equipment. Might just leave a static copy of your avatar in there.
But that ain't the point! Are you trying to make it worse on purpose!?
[Pete doesn't want to participate but he's gesticulating as he talks which with this insanely long weapon(??) Which is just going to result in someone getting smacked by accident.]
lmao hi
And then something very long and unusual swings from seemingly nowhere, giving Misteaks a view of nothing but some oddly mangled renderings of player models, before he gets hit square in the face.
His HP bar immediately plummets, along with Barrett and his handful of quiche. There is more egg on the ground than blood. But at least he's still alive?]
...Ah.
[That's all he manages to wheeze out at first.]
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He wants to be mad at Beel but really this is his own fault and also the guy is like a dog he can't yell at him.]
Oh- Goddamnit, listen, Misteaks, just, don't move. Stay on the floor. Let me see if I can fill out a damn bug report in this position.
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[He is so heartbroken. Have you ever seen a man ready to cry more over a meal, spread across the street like so many fallen leaves, stained in the blood of combat?
He's got a nasty nosebleed from the smack to the face, sitting up painfully despite the protestations from a voice he recognizes but can't place...
...
Wait wtf is in his right hand]
...Mr. Pink. [And... others.... jesus what is happening here, this is like a cursed pinwheel.]
What did you do? That really hurt.
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What are you guys doing? [Is this some new PvP tactic??]
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I got hit in the face. And my breakfast got ruined. [His HP bar is still so abysmally low and his face hurts and he has no idea HOW he's holding onto this massive wheel of player models...
He just sighs, before holding out the mass of players-holding-players to the stranger.]
Take it. I don't want to deal with this.
[Except he is either 1) bowling Dehya immediately over the head by doing this or 2) lighting himself up as an equippable rather than the pete/sinclair/chicken/mithrun/oria/matoba conglomerate.]
1/2
Beel manages to slap Dehya sideways and she careens to the ground with a startled yell as he HP rapidly drops to 1.
A second before she scrapes herself off the floor.] If you don't want to deal with it, why'd you hit me with it?!
[She highlights Beel to try and figure out what goes class even is, and right below the stats, she sees it.
...
...
>equip]
2/2
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There's only a sullen muttering of "But my quiche..." from her new giant fly man + several other people + knuckles. He is of no help here.]
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...and starts slowing to a crawl the moment he sees the pinwheel of equipped players ominously towering above him in the distance.]
Wh...at? [Sure enough, his poor brother is trapped in this mess. He rushes over, but still keeps the warning in mind and tries to keep his distance.] Barrett!! Just- Just hold on, okay?! I'll figure this out!
[How is he even going to get him out, though?
Maybe if he just approaches Dehya with caution...]
H-Hey, uh... I'm guessing this is some kind of bug, so can you tell me how you got all that in your hand? Maybe we can undo it.
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I swear to GOD, I think Hien is deliberately ignoring this. Everyone here is a fucking nightmare.
[Turning his gaze as much as he's able to Levi;]
There's some sorta glitch that's causing people to equip other avatars for some fucking reason. Your guess's as good as mine how to undo it.
[And to Beel;]
And you, quit whining, we'll buy you a new damn quiche when we get outta here!
[HE DOESN'T NEED BEEL GRUMBLING AS A BACKING TRACK TO THIS CHAOS.]
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[And why is Hien ignoring this fiasco?! What kind of useless head admin is he?!
Anyway, to Dehya:]
Can you go into your gear and unequip them? Maybe swapping back to your actual weapon will drop them.
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First she gives Beel a wary look.] Hey, if this works you can't hit me again. You almost killed me the first time!
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kind of sort of here just he's doing this gif
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Hi bro.]
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[He rummages through his inventory for a potion...and also a donut he'd been saving for
briberyemergency situations like this.]Bear. [Once he's sure Barrett has his attention, he holds them up.] Catch.
[Can Barrett catch anything in that state? If not, there's going to be more carnage on the ground to go with the eggs.]
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He catches the donut with his one free hand and immediately stuffs it into his mouth, motioning carefully for the potion.]
Y' g't m'r t'rxt?
[You got my text?]
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Why else do you think I'd be here? Seriously, what got this all started in the first place...?
Well, doesn't matter right this second. I'll get you out of there. Just hold tight.
[Haha, he thinks he's going to solve this.]