⬣//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]

Once I learned how to properly equip things, adding items to my inventory was easy.

[ And his aim is only good because he really practiced using the water gun. Bothering people is very important. ]

[userunfriendly]

One would think.

[ If he's glancing aside to look for where Yael or some of the other novice disasters were, well. He glances at the cocktail, then at Fai. The pause is to pull up the character menu — or just because he's not going to drink before the other guy does. ]

Why join, if you're not one for these type of games?

[fluorite]

[ Fai pulls another drink out of his inventory, quickly taking a sip. Seems like Michel didn't have to wait long. ]

It's a good opportunity, especially for a big game like this.

[ There's a simple finality to his answer, though, like there's a lot more he won't say. ]

[userunfriendly]

[ Oh good! He'll try some. And give Fai a sidelong look for that incredibly generic answer, but it's not like he wants to dig. ]

It is. [ Sip. Sip. ] ...Well, this was enlightening.

[fluorite]

[ Wow, that was underwhelming... but there's something fun about that in and of itself anyway. ]

Is that all you have to say? No surprise at how realistic it is?

[userunfriendly]

Is it? [ Man who's never been out to get cocktails... check. ] They would have picked things they thought they could model well for this... I would expect.

[ Which is more impressive when he looks at how much different stuff is piled up, but nonetheless. ]

[fluorite]

[ Bro........ ]

Or something they knew a majority of us would enjoy. Though, I suppose it's easy enough to render drinks...

[userunfriendly]

[ Don't "bro" him??? Getting cocktails at dawn would be so much more disreputable??? ]

Probably. I wonder if they bothered to lock the effect according to user age and region.

[ Not his problem, though. Would it even make sense to get drunk from this? But the burn effect is realistic. ]

[fluorite]

Hmm. Well, that isn’t our problem, now is it?

[ If people want to partake in underage drinking, that’s their decision. People do it all the time in real life anyway. ]

[userunfriendly]

Not in the least.

[ Maybe he could use it to narrow down what players are closer to his age range? But it's not that deep. A dungeon run is a dungeon run. ]

[fluorite]

Ah, but it would be nice to drink with people our age... I don't like the idea of trying to corral the college-age partiers.

[ He's just... assuming Michel is older by his attitude. ]

[userunfriendly]

Says the man who was indiscriminately turning his water gun on everyone.

[ Is that not a college-age partier move??? At the absolute oldest. ]

...Just how old do you take me for, anyway.

[fluorite]

[ He hums, tilting his head slightly to the side as he eyes Michel. ]

Around my age... perhaps a few years older. [ A pause. ] I'm twenty-six.

[userunfriendly]

[ Fai can enjoy this long, slightly disbelieving stare. ]

...Twenty-seven. I would have guessed younger.

[fluorite]

What would you have guessed?

[ He's curious. Roast him, Michel. ]

[userunfriendly]

After that comment about "college-age"? Twenty-two.

[ Ask him about before!! He dares!! ]

[fluorite]

Well, that's not too much younger. But as a doctoral candidate, I really do mean it... I'd rather not wrangle college-age partiers.

[ Sometimes they're at the bars he goes to! The travesty!!! ]

[userunfriendly]

Joining the beta of a game like this may not have been the best choice, then.

[ If Fai thinks the youth are everywhere already... only one place worse than bars, and that's the internet. ]

What field?

[fluorite]

[ Michel has a point... Fai thinks he's been lucky in mingling with mostly people around his age, at least. ]

Chemistry. I have a specialization, but I know not everyone cares about the details.

[userunfriendly]

I won't understand it. [ But even he knows that sounds like he doesn't care, so: ] Explain it the way you would to a student.

[fluorite]

[ Fai is about to brush off his comment with a shrug, but that addendum makes him smile. ]

My specialization is physical chemistry. I take a look at the physics of chemical reactions. For example, right now I'm studying the way chemicals in the air react to one another and create air pollutants.

[userunfriendly]

[ Ah, that's clear enough for even him to follow. ]

To reduce the existing pollutants? Or slow the increase in the future?

[fluorite]

[ He gives that a bit of thought. ]

Both, ideally. Studying how to reduce them can help us create things that can lead to slowing the increase as well.

[userunfriendly]

Research that could help quite a few people. It's impressive work.

[ High-pressure, probably. He'll consider that the provisional explanation for watergun antics. ]

[fluorite]

Ah… thanks.

[ He smiles softly. ]

I really enjoy it, so I’m glad I get to help people on the side.

[ But enough about him!!!! ]

What do you do?