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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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...
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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[ He's been to higher altitudes before, but this? C'mon. He picks up some stones for closer observation, but they're so brittle as if they're like an attempted solidified clump of sand that breaks at a mere touch. ]
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These are some normal, dusty old ruins.
If either of them have a particularly keen eye when it comes to this sort of thing, they can tell that they were well-constructed. If this is part of the narrative, great care has been taken to make it feel as real as possible. ]
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( Mithrun is studying the ruins pretty closely, and, finding himself of any notable further visual information, he's gonna venture across the threshold of the ruins to investigate its impressive make a little more closely - pillars, walls, etc. )
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[ Oria is not particular about building structures, so he'll just follow Mithrun. ]
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If Mithrun or Oria try to get past the main hall, they won't be able to. Some kind of invisible barrier prevents them from doing so, and it feels like there's even some pushback if they try to breach it. ]
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When they hit the barrier, though, he stumbles back. Weird. It reminds him a little of the sky box.
Without consulting with Oria first, or even warning him, he takes out his broad claymore, and tries to strike at the barrier - bracing his heels in the ground with the expectation of potentially accelerated pushback. )
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Oria does not want a bounced claymore to strike at him tyvm he's gonna duck ]
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