⬣//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

[gluttoning]

...My quiche.

[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.

[legendofthelion]

[It's getting incredibly difficult to miss the growing lance of people sticking up in the distance. Dehya of course has to see what is going on at some point and what she comes to witness rounding the corner is... uh...]

What are you guys doing? [Is this some new PvP tactic??]

[gluttoning]

[he is a man in mourning]

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

[legendofthelion]

Okay. [Neither of those questions answer what's up with the amalgamation of player models, which she continues to stare into like some horrible void until it's swinging right her way.

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

[legendofthelion]

Oh. [The chain continues. Dehya holds the player pinwheel up by Beel's ankle. It weighs much less than she would have assumed.] I don't think that's supposed to happen.

[gluttoning]

[well this might as well happen

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.]

[trashtier]

[Having received an SOS text from Barrett, Levi comes rushing over!

...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.

[conjecturecycle]

[From within the pinwheel of horror or whatever we're calling this, is a frustrated noise from Pete ]

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.]

[legendofthelion]

[Dehya continues to hold the players aloft as she turns her head to state at Levi, bewildered.] Uh... yeah, what he said. When I targeted this guy it had the option to equip him, so now they're all my weapon?

[trashtier]

What...the hell. I've never seen a bug like this before.

[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.

[legendofthelion]

Yeah, hold on. [Dehya furrows her brow, navigating into the menu-- and then stops.

First she gives Beel a wary look.] Hey, if this works you can't hit me again. You almost killed me the first time!

[gluttoning]

Oh. Sorry.

[At least Dehya gets an apology.]

[legendofthelion]

... Okay. [She's standing on 1HP so it's a real act of faith, but she opens her menu back up again with the intention of unequipping them.

Of course, things never go as they want.]

[gluttoning]

You're the one who hit me in the face. [>:(]

[conjecturecycle]

It was an accident! You think I had any control over this catastrophe!? You're lucky I'm willing to get you a replacement, paly!

[gluttoning]

Maybe you should watch where you're going. [His face is still bloody and his HP bar is still in the red as he squints at Pete from where he is now glued to his wrist.]

[insinning]

[MEANWHILE, as the orientation gets more and more hideous, Sinclair allows this to happen as he stares into the headhen Mithrun's eyes,.

Ah, this is familiar. This is deserved.

Carry on with the argument]

[tablescraps]

( Mithrun gazes deep into Sinclair's eyes with his big, abyssal headhen eyes. He clucks at him softly with his quiet tone of voice.

He's probably reassuring Sinclair, telling him this isn't his fault and he shouldn't be so hard on himself, and saying that he's there for him.

(Mithrun is not expressing any of these sentiments, but wouldn't it be nice if he was, with his horrifying chicken face? At least it'd be some respite for Sinclair during this whole mess.) )

[conjecturecycle]

Maybe you should consider there's bigger things to worry about here. Look at blondie here. He's a wreck.

[He refuses to even acknowledge the guy who's head is a chicken now wtf is that about.]

[gluttoning]

Good food might help.

[Except that's now all over the street.

No he is not going to let this go.]

[tablescraps]

( In the short distance behind Pete, there comes a soft, ominous bawk.

Don't worry about it. )

[gluttoning]

[His HP bar is close to empty and his face looks like he took a crowbar straight to the nose, but he still lifts his free hand amidst the mess, looking very mad.

Hi bro.]

[trashtier]

Yikes. They really did a number on you, huh?

[He rummages through his inventory for a potion...and also a donut he'd been saving for bribery emergency 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.]

[gluttoning]

[Donut? Yes!!!

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?]

[trashtier]

[Here comes the potion!]

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.]