⬣//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

[aphonik]

[ Bro the fuck. ]

Gross. [ The nice people thing to do would be saying 'thank you', but unfortunately, he's allergic to those words. And people. ] Go back to doing nothing, then. Preferably away from me.

[tinged]

But why? There's nothing wrong with you.

[ hani doesn't see the need to move away or anything as they're not in this person's space. and if he wants to move, he's free to. there's room enough for everyone to move or stay.

they hum a couple of notes, adjusting their sound and music. ]

[aphonik]

Duh.

[ His grimace twists further. As usual, he's stubborn as a rock. They may see it as not being in space, but his bubble is very large. Incredibly, even. People could stay 50 feet away and he'd be content with that. ]

Never said I was the problem. Thought that would be pretty obvious.

[tinged]

Not really. Sometimes people present themselves as alright when they're not.

[ hani thinks they're alright, but they do leave some room for doubt. just in case! after all, their mind wanders, they have questions... they'll have to ask someone who knows better than they do. but they don't really mind it either way. ]

By default, I just assume there's nothing with them and let them tell me when I'm wrong.

[aphonik]

[ There's a blank moment where Dosei simply stares for a few seconds, eyes hazing over like somebody busy astral projecting themselves out of a conversation, before he deigns to respond. ]

What the hell are you, a therapist. We're playing a fucking mmo. Either you die or get good.

[tinged]

No. I don't particularly care whether people are alright or not.

[ therapists usually need to care about things, don't they? ]

Sorry, if I gave you that impression.

[aphonik]

Sure talk a lot for someone who supposedly doesn't.

[ They've been conversing for maybe a minute and already they're grinding his gears. Now he remembers why he didn't have very many friends in school. ]

Can you make your mind or some shit because you're giving me a headache.

[tinged]

[ hani laughs, light and gentle. between the two of them, they've exchanged about the same number of words, they think. ]

If the headache is already there, then it doesn't matter what I decide, does it? Ah, I learned a spell for little pains, if you'd like to hear it.

[aphonik]

[ Eugh. Happy people. ]

Ew. I don't want your virtual germs. [ Is there such a thing? Probably not, but he's going about it like a child trying to avoid cooties. ] You know what would make it better? You going away. Or dropping dead. Either or.

[tinged]

No, it’s not time yet for either option.

[ just casually dismissive. ]

It looks like your headache will just have to continue at this rate. Unless…?

[aphonik]

It's always time for people I don't like to fuck off and explode.

[ Are there landmines here he can just chuck this weirdo into. One can only hope. PVP enabled- ]

Why don't you do social people things like go sing your annoying songs on the street. Preferably a different street.

[tinged]

[ what a novelty! it’s pretty rare for people to dislike hani this much on first meeting. they take a moment to savor the feeling. so this is what it’s like to be hated! ]

Is exploding our only option? That’s awfully specific and limited.

[aphonik]

[ Oh, so this is a bonafide freak. Just some fucked up creature, for sure. He didn't think they made people that annoying ( except for him, on purpose ). ]

Whatever has you gone in the loudest and most violent way possible.

[ 'Log-out' doesn't hit so hard. 'Touch grass', perhaps. ]

[tinged]

We shall see, I guess! I invite you to drink to it when it happens.

[ does hani mean in-game or what? who knows?

they still seem to be fiddling with the game sound or an in-game browser or something. ]

Hey, give me a song.

[aphonik]

Hard fucking pass.

[ on both, thanks.

he's squinting for a few moments. ]

Why. I don't want you butchering anything I listen to.

[tinged]

Haha, can you only list things you listen to?

[aphonik]

Why would I want to listen to anything else.

[ Duh.

There's a brief moment of pause, before he shrugs. ]

Fuck if I know. Embarrass yourself. Sing the Bob The Builder theme song.

[tinged]

Hmm.

[ they stop tapping at their screen for a second, thinking. ]

I don’t know if I can, honestly.

[ sing or feel embarrassed? both. ]

Some things just aren’t possible and you have to accept that, you know?

[aphonik]

[ Maybe it's not what they intended, but the phrase in question makes him twitch. There's a momentary stretch of silence, before Dosei's features darken. ]

Then log off and go slam your head into a wall. You're stupid, but you could manage that much.

[ If a shitty voice synthesizer can sound clipped, then it does right now. Then he hops off his perch, virtual gravel crunching beneath his boots, and turns around. ]

I'm outta here.

[ A win for Hani...he gives up first. ]

[tinged]

Bye~

[ hani waves him off cheerfully.

days later this arrives in his inbox. ]