⬣//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

[secondthoughts]

[ He's not new to video games, by any means. It's just been a while. He's (not that) old.

Hector waits patiently, munching as he does. He grits his jaw when the softcore side connects. And though he does move a bit, he seems fine. He shrugs. ]

Not really. Didn't even hurt. [ Another handful of popcorn. ] Try it again.

[regressive]

Always wanted to have a weapon that could tickle my opponents.

[ At this point, it feels like his fists might do more damage than this oar. He puts more force into the next strike to see if something changes, but let's be real, Joonghyuk's not holding his breath. ]

And now?

[secondthoughts]

[ To Joonghyuk's credit, the second hit does knock Hector briefly off his balance, and he staggers in place. A look of mild approval crosses his face, but it's kind of muddled behind his snacking on his popcorn. ]

Still didn't hurt. Dunno about the tickle, though. [ Munch, munch. ] Might wanna go harder if you want to tickle people with that thing.

[ Hmm. He looks at the weapon. ]

What's yaoi?

[ He pronounced it wrong. ]

[regressive]

Maybe you just can't do damage here.

[ There's no warning when he uses all of his strength (lvl 1) to bonk Hector's head. It should feel more like he's ruffling it. ]

It's a man thing.

[ A man on man thing. Maybe he just doesn't want to explain yaoi to a stranger. ]

[secondthoughts]

[ Hector understandably flinches when it comes over his head, but it doesn't even interrupt his enjoyment of his popcorn. Still at full HP and everything? Hypothesis proven at this point, basically.

The answer he gets, however-- ]

...A man thing.

[ Hector says flatly, giving Joonghyuk an equally flat look. Really, my guy. ]

And the reason you're not elaborating to another man is because...?

[regressive]

[ Hector had his chance to let go of this topic and never learn the dark secrets of yaoi, alas. ]

Because it's about sex between two men.

[ You're welcome :thumbsup: ]

[secondthoughts]

Oh.

[ He thought it was some kind of ~super secret~ thing but it's just sex. Okay.

His flat expression turns into one of amusement. ]

That's it? Why be so coy about it?

[regressive]

People get weird when they learn what it is.

[ Case in point: Owen. ]

In my country it's called BL, actually.

[ No one asked, but Joonghyuk feels like he needs to make that clear. ]

[secondthoughts]

[ Owen's probably an exception to. most things.

That earns another little quirk of the brow. Hector's learning all sorts of stuff today. ]

BL? And what's that stand for?

[regressive]

Boys' Love.

[ At least he's not trying to be coy about it this time around. ]

Google the rest if you're so curious.

[secondthoughts]

[ Boys' love? The man in his mid-thirties is offended.

Good for the baby gays, though. Maybe. ]

Mm, no thanks. [ He raises a brow. ] I have more than enough first-hand experience.

[ Just casually drops that. Anyway— ]

Anyway, if you need to do a run to actually test that thing out, hit me up. I'm a Harvest Cleric.

1/??

[regressive]

[ First-hand experience. ]

[regressive]

[ First-hand experience. ]

[regressive]

[ First-hand experience. ]

ok he's done going thru it

[regressive]

[ Talking about it... and having experience... well, that's two very different things. ]

Sure. Healers are always needed...

thank u i love him

[secondthoughts]

[ That Hector put Joonghyuk through it with his casual admittance goes over his head. He just smiles. ]

You're not the first person I've seen with that weapon. That makes you... [ He trails off to think for a second. ] ...an Edge Punisher, right? I think we'd work well together.

[regressive]

That's oddly reassuring.

[ Someone has to go thru it just like him, excellent. ]

That's correct. [ Joonghyuk nods. ] You know your stuff.

[ That... take that as you will. ]

If you feel like doing a dungeon run, send me a message anytime.

[secondthoughts]

[ He's genuinely trying to learn how the game works! Party composition seems to be pretty easy to figure out, anyway. ]

Of course. [ A smile, and a beat. His attention flickers to the character name, but always safe to ask: ] What should I call you, anyway?

[regressive]

[ Is there a bug in his character profile? It should be written there. Well, either way it won't hurt to just answer like a normal (?) person. ]

Punisher is fine.

[secondthoughts]

[ It's fun to ask people their name!! It's a normal person thing!! ]

Good chat, Punisher. [ Like his character name, lol. ] Just call me Hector.

I hope to see you around.

[regressive]

Same, First-Hand Exp—Hector.

[ It's gonna live in his head rent free. ]

See you.