⬣//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

[worldbent]

Right, it's probably going to be a real investment.... I mean, they were able to afford personally delivering us all this equipment, so it's definitely some deep pockets they're working from.

[How did they manage to convince all their investors? He thinks he should take a look into CC Corp's funding, the next time he logs back out.]

But here we are, guinea pigs. [He smiles.] Might as well enjoy it, whatever they've got planned for us.

[fluorite]

May as well! For now, we get to enjoy as much digital food as we like that tastes as good as it looks.

[ He grins, having another bite of his cake. ]

Are you usually interested in things like that? Where companies get their money for such large ventures, I mean.

[worldbent]

[Is he interested in things like that? Absolutely, from both a personal and a business perspective. But, let's just focus on the personal one for now.]

I'm interested in CC Corp, I guess, [He shrugs casually.] I've been following their games for a while. When I heard they were developing this one, I wondered where they got off spending that much money to develop it, but it seems like it might actually pay off- as long as they can get their shit together for the gameplay itself, at least.

How about you? How'd you end up hearing about this, if it's your first?

[fluorite]

[ Ah, so he has some kind of history with them. That makes sense, at least enough for Fai to not follow up with any other questions. ]

Stumbled upon a strange email from them inviting me to the beta test. I doubt I would have even heard about it otherwise.

[worldbent]

A "strange email"? Oh, yeah. I read about those online.

Pretty weird of them to invite people randomly, but they probably just got your email from a partner sponsor marketing list or something. [This guy seems like the type that would use his real email for stuff that'll spam him...] But you decided to do it anyway, huh?

Pretty brave, but the free internet upgrade seems worth it.

[fluorite]

[ Fai gives him a shrug. ]

I figured I may as well, just to see what all of it was about. I looked into it after I saw the email and did some research. Apparently this beta test is pretty exclusive, so I didn't want to pass it up.

[worldbent]

That was what they claimed, anyway, but just look at who they let in.

[Is he talking about Fai? Yeah, he's talking about Fai, but at least he's not the most clueless one here.]

Makes you wonder how exclusive it really was. I guess with a game they invested this much into, they want it to be casual-friendly to have the biggest reach.

Shame. They always ruin these games with that sort of thinking.

[fluorite]

[ That just gets a laugh out of him as he shrugs. Like... he's not wrong, so there's no reason for Fai to be offended. ]

You take games like this seriously, hmm?

[worldbent]

There is no point to doing anything that you're going to half-ass.

[Somehow, Fai might get the sense from the calmness of his voice and the way Matoba's eye settles on his that he's serious when he says that.]

...Of course, this is just a game. When I lose my appetite for it, I'll just drop it. Until then, I'd like to enjoy myself with an experience worth spending my time on.

[fluorite]

[ Ah. So he's really serious about this, is he? Maybe it should put Fai off, but he finds himself intrigued instead. ]

I think it makes sense. I don't half-ass anything myself either, especially if I put a lot of time into it. With only a finite amount of time available to me, I wouldn't want to waste it.

[worldbent]

[Matoba smiles. Ah, a kindred sort of spirit, huh? "Finite time" is right.]

[People in his position don't tend to live long.]

I'm glad you think so. Casuals aren't very fun to play with usually, because you just end up having to do all the work of carrying them.

I'll just drop anyone that doesn't pull their weight.

[fluorite]

You might have to spend some time coaching me, but I'll pull my weight. I don't like wasting people's time when it comes to leveling.

[ He grins, giving a little shrug. He'll waste people's time in plenty of other ways. ]

I plan to be good at this game, even if it takes a while.

[worldbent]

That's the spirit!

[Play tutor? Not really of interest to him, but if Fai could be useful.... Matoba's eye narrows, casually pulling up a target on him. Now that's interesting. A fellow Warlock, huh?]

I might be able to tell you a thing or two. [Though, shouldn't he view him as something of a rival? The corner of his mouth curls.] As for you, you ought to find healers or a tank to stick to for the time being. You aren't likely to survive the early levels, otherwise.

That's as much free advice as I have at the moment. After all, once we experience the battle system for ourselves, we'll truly have a better grasp of things.

[fluorite]

You make a good point. I'll keep an eye out for these "tanks".

[ A healer is easy enough for him to grasp, but he isn't sure what a tank does. Go first in battle, possibly? That's what makes the most sense. ]

I doubt I'll have much information that's of use, but we can trade tips.

[worldbent]

If I'm not mistaken, the class was called a... 'Partizan', in the character creator? [Matoba taps his chin. He always made a beeline for magic classes, so he hadn't spent a huge amount of time examining the more physical ones, but he's pretty certain that was the one with the most defense.] Hopefully for us magic-users, there will be a decent spread of players who chose to go with support. It's a necessity, at this level.

...You're an easy target, thanks to your low health. Do keep an eye out. [A grin. It's not a threat, not exactly, but Matoba wouldn't hesitate if he saw him in an opposing team.] If you're a quick learner, I'm sure you'll do fine.

[fluorite]

I'll keep that in mind.

[ Time to gather as many support classes as he can on his friend list! He smiles in response to that grin. ]

Thanks. And I'm sure you'll be leagues above the rest of us soon enough. [ After all, he seems to know what he's doing. ] I'll see you around.