⬣//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

[fluorite]

I'm sure they did! I know I would find it hilarious with the right timing.

[ Like the final blow to a monster, or something. ]

[tablescraps]

You must be easily amused.

( That's a little too blunt, and he doesn't say it to be mean, but, well. )

I guess the sound it makes or the way it looks doesn't really matter to me as long as it functions effectively.

[fluorite]

[ It may be blunt, but Fai doesn't mind. He has a thick skin, after all. ]

I am~

[ He grins. ]

So, you would be satisfied with an ugly weapon?

[tablescraps]

Yes. Appearance doesn't hinder function.

I didn't really mind the squeaky boots I received, either. But it was suggested we equip an event skin, so I did.

( The first one he saw, basically. He'd be walking into endgame in a literal potato sack if that were the first thing in front of him. )

I do wonder about the oar, though.

[fluorite]

[ Wow, this guy is pretty amenable, huh? Fai likes for things to look cute, so he'd never accept an ugly weapon unless he could put a nice skin over it. ]

What's wrong with the oar?

[tablescraps]

( A pause as he navigates the UI, unequips the foam weapon, reequips the Yaoi Paddle.

He holds it out to better display it and all its glory to Fai. )

Do you think this is a keyword we could use in Area Exploration?

[fluorite]

[ Fai hovers his mouse over the weapon to display its details. ]

It's worth a try, isn't it? Put "yaoi" into the keyword engine and see what you get.

[ Imagine... a field of yaoi. ]

[tablescraps]

( :thinking: )

I don't see why not. Do you want to come with me?

[fluorite]

Sure! Let's see what this is all about!

[ And he could use someone who's supposed to be dealing higher damage to enemies. ]

[tablescraps]

( Mithrun seems satisfied with his response. )

Very well. At the very least, it may prove interesting.

( TO... THE CHAOS GATE...!? )

[fluorite]

[ Fai adds Mithrun to his party and follows. ]

I think it might! Here's hoping we don't get some kind of error message.

[tablescraps]

( He forgot about the party function... He seems to pause when the notification pops up. Ah. )

Would that warrant a bug report, you think? Or would that just mean it's something off-limits to players?

[fluorite]

[ He hums softly. ]

Off-limits, right? There aren't a whole lot of keywords... At least, I didn't see that many when I was looking through them.

[tablescraps]

I guess it would be too much to ask for truly infinite generation. Most of the technology probably went toward simulating the wind, and other nuanced sensations.

( And, in attempting to input "Yaoi" as one such keyword among others from the list (Δ Screaming Obliterative Yaoi)... there's an error.

He attempts the same twice more, with "Yaoi" in a different place each time (Δ Coiling Yaoi HandSong and Δ Yaoi Blazing Daydream). )

... It's not a valid keyword for Area Exploration, then. I wonder what else it's for.

[fluorite]

[ He hums, watching as the error screen pops up three separate times. ]

Hmm... Maybe this is a mystery they intend for us to solve later?

[tablescraps]

Ah. Like an in-game "event"? I've read up on those, but I'm not very familiar with how games like this play.

[fluorite]

Ahaha, neither am I... but games like this sometimes have little stories, right? You talk to an NPC and fetch things for them. Maybe we'll fetch this "yaoi" for someone someday.

[tablescraps]

I suppose that would be likely.

( :thinking: )

If you don't normally play games, why did you accept the invitation for this beta?

( Pot, kettle. Still, it's non-judgmental, though not especially curious, either. It's a question weirdly absence of affect. )

[fluorite]

A lot of people were making a fuss over the upcoming beta, so when I saw the email, I thought I’d take them up on their offer and join. Might as well get in on it, right?

[ He finishes off with a shrug. There’s definitely a lot more to his decision, but the finality of his tone gives off the impression he won’t say more than that. ]

And yourself?

[tablescraps]

I had a similar reason, at first. I thought it would make me seem more important socially, since it was exclusive. So I signed up for the raffle.

( frank, )

... But I don't really care about that anymore. I wasn't going to accept, but my family thought it would be a therapeutic experience, They told me to try it. So I'm here until they're satisfied.

[fluorite]

[ He appreciates that bluntness, honestly, despite being the exact opposite himself. ]

What are your thoughts so far? Can you see it helping?

[ With whatever it is he may need—Fai isn't going to dig into that. ]