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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!"
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If you could... get over here?! Stop lagging behind this th—!
[ But it's reached him and it whips about to smack Fandaniel with its tail, sending the little Shadow Warlock flying a good yard or three away and landing in the snow with a puff of white. ]
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He smacks the Watersaurus's tail with his stop sign, pulling its ire away from where it had begun stalking Fan into the snow.
It turns slowly and Tylor paths around its backside. ]
Are you okay over there?
[ At least the tank is still in good spirits! But he does sound genuinely concerned on the way over to check on him. Of course, the surviving mobs plus the Watersaurus are still following him to the snow party. ]
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[ Fandaniel spits out a mouthful of snow and drags himself first up into a sit and then, upon seeing the army of mobs coming their way, he struggles the rest of the way up. The genuine concern has been brushed off, seeing how it's something Fandaniel simply doesn't wish to accept.
He must be doing this on purpose, right? He must have noticed, hasn't he? No matter now. They has monsters to fight and he has aggro now, so there's no simply leaving on a whim this time around. ]
Get their attention again! I'll whittle the weaker ones down!
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[ He calls as he books it as fast as he can, going wide to smack the Watersaurus with his stop sign, brandish. It works! And he makes a happy, triumphant sound the moment just before the beast spins the other direction. Tylor takes a direct hit, tail thumping into his side hard.
Towards Fandaniel, a yelling Tylor is flung. Catch? ]
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Or, well, he was doing that.
Only he finds the stupid monster flinging something back his way first! And it's shaped like an Adept Rogue! ]
Oh, come on now.
[ And so Fandaniel eats snow for the second time in one dungeon run as he does, in fact, catch Tylorific, level 1, by getting landed on. So. Technically a catch. Only technically. ]
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[ Tylor is chatty as he stands and casually brushes the snow off himself. He offers Fandaniel a hand like there isn't a herd of monsters barreling down on them. Perfect time for small talk!
With a wince-- ]
This game is amazing, you can really feel the pain. Ow.
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And the weight. I shan't be "catching" you the next time you go flying like some overgrown baseball.
[ Ah, but here comes the calvary... for the Watersaurus, that is. Definitely not them. Fandaniel steps away from Tylor and begins throwing out his one pathetic little level-one spell over and over again. Fireball, fireball, fireball. ]
They're going to swarm us, if you weren't aware!
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Oh, you're right! [ Unconcerned per usual-- ] I don't think fire is very good against water though.
[ But he shrugs nonchalantly and tries again to brandish the closest attacker just as it tries to spit water at Fandaniel. Tylor takes the hit for his new friend, smacking the monster so they can try and clear these smaller foes before the watersaurus whips its tail again. Which, it's probably gearing up to do any minute now.
Tylor isn't ready for it per se, but he's seen it twice now and will react on gut instinct to tackle Fandaniel out of the way if needs must. ]
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dirtsnow a third time in such quick succession. ]I am aware but this is my only spell at this level!
[ At least it costs so little SP that this level that he's able to spam it. It does do some damage, at least, so the health on the monsters do steadily tick down. ]
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[ Tylor sounds empathetic to his party member's apparent luck status, but that doesn't mean it's put a damper on his optimism! ]
Don't worry though, we'll be fine! I'm here to help!
[ Said right as he gets hit in the face with water and splutters a bit. He keeps aggro though, swinging his stop sign wildly at them and leading them in a circle around Fandaniel. He'd been trying to stay close enough to protect him in case some got free, but even as they continue to thin the numbers he's accidentally created a monster vortex of sorts. Complete with a Watersaurus tail that the both have to almost rhythmically dodge or risk being tossed into the snow again. ]
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[ The words are growled out. When he cleared it out solo but back then, he'd taken it slowly, carefully, and he's made the mistake of trying to take Tylor out himself rather than pulling the same crap he did with Mithrun. Let him pull, log out, death, but noooo, he wanted to get in a more personal PK on at least one of these losers.
And now he's stuck in this wintery hellscape with the clumsiest tank he's ever met! ]
Just keep kiting them in the circle!
[ And the whittling down of monster HP continues and continues and... continues... until all that's left is the lumbering Watersaurus, still only barely scratched by their scattered efforts. ]
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[ Tylor asks, voice impacted by the jump he takes in the middle to avoid an attack. He looks over, saluting Fandaniel with his stop sign without stopping his feet from carrying him only just out of reach of the monsters at his heels.
Thus the grind begins, and eventually ends with one remaining pain in the-- ]
Nice! Now there's only the big guy left. [ Tylor rests his hands on his knees, waiting for said big guy to catch up with him. At least he doesn't have to run as fast anymore.
In fact, now he's walking backwards, making faces at the watersaurus because he's forgotten that he has other classes, other skills he could be using right now. Flimsy fireballs have got it handled, and he'll smack it with his stop sign to keep aggro. ]
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[ Tylor may have forgotten but Fandaniel has not! But he isn't in any position to make Tylor change classes, nor will he ever really be. Only Tylor can do that and he's chosen Infinite Tank. Still, between the two of them, they slowly, so very slowly, whittle the watersaurus down to only a scant few final HP. ]
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[ Tylor gets bored enough to start dancing a little as the watersaurus lumbers after him. Eventually, eventually, Tylor accidentally hits a different ability, farmer's sickle out for a drunken slash at the very end. ]
Oh, I forgot that's how it works.
[ And as soon as the watersaurus is down, Tylor bounds back to Fandaniel, aiming to throw an arm around his shoulders. ] I knew we could do it.
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You... you really did pull the entire dungeon.
[ Who is this guy?! ]
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Oh, I guess I did.
[ He sounds way too happy about it, reaching out to pat Fandaniel on the back. ]
You did a great job too, even this weak. Just wait until you've gained some levels, I bet you'll be unstoppable!
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Yes... and I shall be certain to show you just how unstoppable the very moment that I can.
[ By PKing him, of course, but that won't be today. He's tired after all of that, although he could argue the most exhausting part had been dealing with Tylorific over this entire grind of a dungeon. ]
But since we are done, I shall be taking my leave. Until... [ Ugh. ] Next time, I suppose.
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[ Predictably, he's unperturbed by that growl. Enjoy your future screaming tome and new guild member! ]