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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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For a second, it seems like Mithrun won't be able to lift him. And then, with a startling snap gesture, Oria's off - gone sailing to the other side of the stream, maybe a little too far. sorry for any fall damage, buddy )
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Since Oria expected it, he manages to land on his feet. Good thing he has reflexes from inline skate parkour. But damn, that was a bit further than he thought it'd be.
He goes close to the edge. ]
Here! I'll be there just in case!
[ If Mithrun falls in or something. ]
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However, we must respect the natural 1 he rolled. He launches himself across the river with apparent success, but that last-second pivot of the oar, accounting for its broad and thin base rather than a proper hold a real pole would have, causes just enough of a sharp spin that his heel doesn't find proper hold when he hits the other side.
He slips into the water with a sploosh. Slapping at the water, he seems intent to recover from his blunder before the waters carry him off— but his fingertips only brush the bank, and he's unable to make progress. )
My leg's caught in—
( —Something? He doesn't know what. It feels firm, and thick - but strange. It's then Oria can see the dark shadows of figures beneath the beautiful blues of the moving water - and the corpselike hands of Magatumkuros grabbing at Mithrun's cloak and neck to drag him back under - and his oar's somewhere down the river, stuck between the bank and the rocks.
Fortunately, Oria probably won't be left alone for much longer - with the number there are, it seems likely some will try to surface and come for him, too, once Mithrun's good and drowned. )
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Mithrun!
[ Oria doesn't hesitate to get in the river, but not before shooting rapidfire at the Magatumkuros around Mithrun in an attempt for them to release him. Triple Doom is loaded into the skill queue so many times as he chugs a SP potion right after. All those trying to come for him will eat bullets. Maybe even stepped on if they don't get out of the way. He's busy!! Leave!! He's still trying to be careful with his paper-thin defenses, but sometimes you have to risk it.
Even for the monsters that he can't quite kill right away, he pistol whips and shoves them over for good measure even if they do normal attack damage. He's trying to get there as soon as possible.
Hopefully Mithrun hasn't drowned yet?! ]
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The Magatumkuros are relentless - or, at least, they're animated as such. They blast apart easily enough at middling levels of HP and gnarl and twist after Oria with their bleeding and mangled bodies, giving the impression that they're persisting, zombie-like, even after being "defeated" - but well-timed shots and pistol whips that knock their HP to a proper zero do sink their half-bodied corpses back into the water, their numbers thinning. They don't got a lot of HP, it seems; just numbers.
Mithrun's still undrowned by the time Oria gets there, at least, and done a decent enough job of beating back and kicking off Magatumkuros so he can try to propel closer to Oria - he doesn't die as easy in Areas as he does in Root Towns because that would interfere with the task he's currently doing, which is: completing the Area. The outcomes conflict. So if Oria's going to grab him or drag him out, he's got a cooperative Mithrun in the water, at least. )
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Oria finally grabs a hold of Mithrun and pulls him as hard as he can. If there are any monsters still clinging onto Mithrun, eat lead, uglies.
Then he tries so hard to fling Mithrun out of the river and works hard on getting himself out too, firing more shots if he needs to if any monsters continue to come their way. ]
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... I should have pivoted better.
( ... is what he says, but his tone is akin to "thanks." He sits up proper, another cough of water out of his lungs - something he's getting real familiar with, at this point - and scans the waters and surrounding area. No more Magatumkuros, it seems. A little wobbly, and still cautious, he gets up to retrieve his oar stuck in the rocks a little further down river - he plops it back into his inventory, then reequips his level cap claymore. )
How's your HP?
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...
He downs a HP Potion right away. Don't ask him about his percentage. ]
I'm fine. Let's keep going now.
/2
All right.
( Down the foresty path they go... This forest is full of more treasure than usual, so it seems they pick up some knick knacks along the way, the deceptively welcoming ambiance of owls hooting and bushes rustling there to offset the distant spoopy mists of the decayed forest beyond this oasis-forest's outskirts.
Eventually, though, they come upon... a treasure chest! Seems legit. It's tucked away like a proper treasure chest, and not obviously set out in the middle of the clearing. It seems as regular as the other bits and bobs they've stumbled upon.
So, he kneels down, he checks it just in case (makes sure it's not a monster or anything - taps at it and such). Seeming safe enough, he opens it. )
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Mithrun is paused, coated veritably in glitter. Rip to you too, Oria. )
... Oh.
( ???????????????????????????????? )
1/2
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[ He tries to brush the glitter off himself, but... he's not getting everything no matter how hard he tries. ]
Why won't this come off...
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He rises. A torrent of glitter falls from him, and yet, the amount of glitter on him doesn't seem to decrease. )
... At least there's no negative effects.
( He says, looking at Oria futilely trying to brush glitter off himself. )
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No negative effects? You look like a walking swab of shiny confetti.
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... ]
The glitter is too distracting.
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... Maybe there's a body of water without monsters in it.
( Could dunk Oria in? )
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[ Oria does not, but he also thinks that Mithrun is considering jumping into a body of water himself and not dunking Oria in. ]
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We can do it if we run into another one.
( You just gotta suffer until then. He starts trotting down the path, leaving glitter in his wake. )
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[ He's fine with that, honestly. The glitter is going to be a pain in the ass...
And since that's pretty much the dungeon, we can end it here! And Mithrun can ask about romantic experiences next time if he still wants to.
loads up mithrun's finished dungeon threads in queue for next week ]
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When they gate in, both Oria and Mithrun will find themselves on a mountaintop high up in the sky, amongst the clouds. Behind them is an old, dilapidated castle, and below them? Well... just about everything is below them.
The air here feels thin thanks to the altitude, and like all the other Special Areas, they are the only players here. ]
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After hearing about anonymous messages forwarding Hidden Forbidden keywords, it's interesting to be subject to one such message himself. )
... The castle, then?
( Unless Oria wants to climb down the mountain. Mithrun wonders if there's an invisible floor in the downward direction... )
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... Sure. Let's go to the castle. You lead. I'll follow.
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It's in a real sorry state, in other words.
As they continue to walk around, they might find that breathing is difficult, almost as if they can't get quite enough air into their lungs. Must be the altitude. ]
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... I wonder if this is part of some kind of narrative, too.
( It must be, he supposes. )
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