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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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[ Fandaniel is ignored. That's enough for him to feel fine carrying on, though he does turn to walk back to Dehya. Look, he'll behave. He wants to know what's up with this place and for that alone, he won't dash ahead. ]
Looks like we're fine to carry on, assuming you wish to. It does smell a little... hm... dead?
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[But maybe, hopefully it's just because of the dungeon type. She lowers her blade without an immediate threat, but isn't off guard enough to stow it entirely as they walk further in. She watches the strange enemies mill, and then the walls.]
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This does not stop him, however. He's intent on continuing and he won't let the rattle do more than give him a moment of pause. ]
I'm beginning to wonder if turning off senses for this one may be a wise choice.
[ He does grumble that aloud, though, pulling a sleeve of his robe over his hand and covering his nose and mouth with it. Ugh. ]
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... Okay, yeah, she goes into her settings to turn off the smell sensor so she can at least breathe through the stench of death. That does, she lets out a slightly relieved breath.
They continue on.] This can't be just some glitchy flesh dungeon, right? Someone would have had to make it rotten on purpose.
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It gets louder, the rattling. The smell of gore and death thickens. A feeling of dread washes over them both, and when they reach the end of that long, serpentine hallway, they'll be left standing before a mass of bones obscuring the entryway to the boss chamber. Strips of gristle stick to the bones. They haven't been here long, and yet they are many.]
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Wait. [ Stop, look at what's before them, consider. ] Have there been boss fights before now?
[ Because they may have just found one. ]
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Fandaniel grips her shoulder, shaking her enough that she gives the chamber a secondary look and...]
Huh. No, I haven't heard anything about bosses in the dungeons. It's usually just a straight path, right? No extra rooms.
[That would be exciting in any other circumstance. But when the email didn't give a lot of details...] Hey. If we go in there, it's probably not going to be safe like a game should be. But if we don't, it just means someone else will.
[It seems wrong, when they're the ones here, to walk away now and let someone else crawl through blind.] And--hey, if I'm wrong then it's just a cool story to post on the forums, right?
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[ Why not get their hands on it first, hm? Fandaniel decides a surprise attack is in order. Whatever is on the other side, he can't imagine that it's friendly, and so when he snaps his tome open, it's to cast a spell on the bone pile and scatter it apart. ]
BiJuk Rom!
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This... thing, unlike the monsters that came before it, is highly aggressive, watching the two of them with wild, glowing eyes. It isn't too late to turn back, you know.]
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[ But why would this one be aggressive but the other strangely glyphed ones not? A mystery, but not one he will waste the time dwelling on just now. He outlines his chosen spell across the pages of his open tome and throws it out towards the dragon.
Fire sparks, a blast of GiVak Kruz sent flying its way. Perhaps burning it might do the trick but there's only one way to find out! ]
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Dehya's sword strikes the green glyphs and bounces off, and a very real, bone-deep pain will lance through her arms. That hulking creature, once lumbering and slow, suddenly twists to burrow its serrated fangs into the side of Dehya's neck. She'll feel pain tear through her whether her pain sensors are toggled on or off. What's more, Dehya is no longer alone in her own body, but whatever sleeps inside of her now is yet unknown.
She'll no doubt feel it wriggling in some nebulous space within her, but at least she'll be spared that creeping feeling while offline... for now. In either case, the two may want to reconsider whether fighting this monster is worth it or not when it's clear they have no means to damage it. Why continue fighting a losing fight?]
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Get off of her!
[ As of now, though, he isn't aware of Dehya's brand new problem. He won't retreat, not yet, but he also has no plans on leaving FlameMane behind, even if they are more often enemies than not. ]
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She doesn't get a chance to reconsider her avenue of attack before its looming over her, its jaw rushing for her neck.
It's just supposed to be a game.
But the pain when its fangs sink in is pure agony and rips a scream out of her mouth. It hurts, it hurts, it hurts.
Dehya staggers back, attempting to swing her sword in defense but the pain in her neck makes it that much harder to move her shoulders, her arm. Squinting through her screen, she attempts to read off how much HP that took out of her at the same time she attempts to get away from the creature.]
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Before the creature can make another lunge at either of them, Zelkova bursts into the room, wielding something that doesn't look like his scythe.
Rather, it's a strange green and blue bracelet that expands around his wrist as he holds his hand out towards the bone dragon, flashes of static flitting across both Fandaniel's and Dehya's headsets. Wispy green and pink and blue code pours out of his bracelet and into the bone dragon before funneling right back into Zelkova's bracelet. Then, immediately after, the bracelet retracts and disappears around his wrist.
Those green glyphs have now disappeared, and with a single swing of his scythe, the bone dragon has been defeated. ]
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Hey! What was with the screaming?!
[ Which is his way of asking if she's okay, honestly. He thought she played with the pain sensors off? ]
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At once all the adrenaline leaves her body and she slides down to her knees, still feeling her neck in one hand. Thanking Zelkova, too, will have to wait, as when she looks up while catching her breath she's faced with Fandaniel instead.]
It hurt. [But the heat in her voice is already dying before the words finish escaping. The unease overcomes any other emotion trying to bring itself to the surface. She feels... wrong.
She shakes her head.] It really felt like my throat was being ripped out.
[Slowly she draws her hand back. Not completely sure she trusts her own sense right now, she asks:] Are there holes?
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Are you feeling alright now?
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[ Already? Well, it is supposedly only a game, after all. Damage isn't permanent. He looks away from Dehya, towards Zelkova now. ]
I'm fine but she was bitten. What was that thing? How did you get past its shields?
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I'm fine. [She forces it out tensely, pushing herself back up.] Thanks. It just shocked me, but I don't see any status effect.
[She, too, is curious about what was up with that boss though, and looks at Zelkova with expectation.]
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[ Which they probably know already, huh? Zelkova gives them both a look-over, making sure that their wounds look like they'll heal. And sure enough, they are. ]
I used a tool that I have at my disposal.
[ But he offers no more. ]
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If it was a boss, then why come to rescue us? Why not let us die to it and learn our lesson?
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