⬣//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

[weaseled]

🇳‌🇪‌🇼‌🇧‌🇮‌🇪‌ 🇦‌🇱‌🇪‌🇷‌🇹‌

[Yael spends longer than most staring at the pile of shitty weapons and equipment spread out before him on the table. His eyes eventually settle on the Railroad Spikes, his avatar's hand idling over a pair of them... and idling...... and idling........]

Huh. This all looks like crap. Are these seriously our weapons?

[Help. If he can't even equip his weapon, what chance does he stand of equipping the rest? Please don't ask how someone so completely inept was given a beta key to this game.]

🇩‌🇴‌🇳‌'🇹‌ 🇸‌🇭‌🇴‌🇴‌🇹‌ 🇲‌🇪‌, 🇧‌🇷‌🇴‌

[Once Yael has mastered the delicate art of equipping his weapons and armor (no doubt with assistance), he wanders around the party proper... only to get hit by something. A nerf gun? A blast of water to the face? Some horrible foam piece of shit that blares out obnoxious air horn noises when it strikes his avatar?

Whatever the case, it's annoying, and he swivels on his heel to try and grab whatever or whoever hit him. Naturally, he succeeds in grabbing nothing at all.]

Seriously, how old are you? Knock it off.

[Haven't you read the rules? No fun allowed, punk.]

🇱‌🇪‌🇹‌ 🇹‌🇭‌🇪‌🇲‌ 🇪‌🇦‌🇹‌ 🇩‌🇮‌🇬‌🇮‌🇹‌🇦‌🇱‌ 🇨‌🇦‌🇰‌🇪‌

[Even later on into the party, Yael's finally come around to leering at the wide variety of food and drink available on the table. Supposedly, you can taste all these dishes as if they were the real thing... but he's honed in on the alcohol and is sneering at it suspiciously. If you wander over his way, he won't hesitate to point to it and question you.]

You try any of this stuff yet? [...............SQUINTING,] And it didn't do anything funny to you? Just curious. I'm not gonna be the guinea pig that tries it first.

digital cake

[curvaceous]

Oh, not the alcohol, but I ate some of the desserts.

[ She gives him an amused little smile, and she shakes her head in response to his question. ]

I don't feel anything so far, so I'm pretty sure it's safe. Try some!

[weaseled]

Yeah. So far.

[Huff huff grump!! Yael stares at the cake. Sure, it looks fine, but is it really?]

What if you drop dead five minutes from now?

don't shoot me bro

[fluorite]

[ Fai grins when he succeeds in only grabbing video game air, using that extra bit of time to blast Yael in the face with more water. ]

Twenty-six. Lighten up a little. Have some fun~

[weaseled]

Don't sound so proud.

[He feels all gross and wet now, thanks! This game sucks!!]

I'd have more fun if you left me alone. Just saying.

digital cake!

[tinged]

[ you betcha hani is having some of that alcohol.

they smile brightly at this hag stranger with small squinty eyes and holds their cup high into the air like a trophy. ]

It's delightfully realistic! Toss it back, I say!

[weaseled]

Really...?

[He's just gonna like. Stare at Hani for a moment. Delightfully realistic, huh... Well, he does spend entirely too much time and money drinking irl................]

How's it work? Do you feel buzzed?

newbie alert

[regressive]

How could someone so completely inept be given a beta key to this game?

[ What did you mean by please don't ask? He's going to ask Real Questions. ]

But it looks like crap, yeah.

[ Instead of being completely useless, Joonghyuk tries to shove the Railroad Spikes into Yael's hands. ]

[weaseled]

[Why is this game full of assholes! Let him live!! Yael's expression flattens, staring at the man like he just stepped on his cat or kicked his grandma. Jerk.]

...Huh.

[Oh. Maybe this jerk isn't totally useless? Yael successfully manages to grab the spikes when they're shoved into his hands.]

Thanks, but your attitude could use some work.

n00b alert lmao

[secondthoughts]

[ Hector's been...watching. As he picks out his own equipment with little protest, he keeps a sideways eye on this guy.

He only speaks up after Yael does. ]

I don't think we have much of a choice at this point. We've all gotta start somewhere.

[ Which is the nicer way of putting it.

Or maybe he's just having trouble picking up his things in the game. ]

You, uh, need help?

[weaseled]

Depends. Are you going to make me regret asking?

[Yael successfully managed to get his weapon equipped with the help of another player, and immediately after, the same player slapped his weapons right out of his hands. Needless to say, his trust is low.]

dont shoot me, bro

[worldbent]

Ahahaha. What did you say? "Again"?

[FWOOSH! Another stream of water blasts out at Yael's face, Matoba pumping the action on this water-shotgun like a mobster in an old 50's flick. He's not exactly perfectly dry himself, with his long black hair clinging to his shoulder like a wet cat, but he doesn't seem to be minding it one bit.]

digital cake

[dissimulative]

[ He turns around to look at Yael, in the middle of swallowing a corn dog whole.

You were saying? ]

Cake Cake Cake Cake Cake

[bleatingedge]

[Leo has about twenty or so empty plates sitting in front of him. And he only sat down like, ten minutes ago. Dang!]

No funny business yet! Call me one pleased guinea pig.

[Even the crumbs flying from his mouth feel real! Probably not fun for Yael, but absolutely a blast for Leo.]

newbie alert;

[ganymed]

They don't look like anything else. Unfortunately.

[ Actually the 'anything else' they look like is 'shit' but that's obvious so eh. ]

I did think it might be a prank, though.

digital cake;

[userunfriendly]

[ Well, Michel had been considering the food. But that gets him to stop for a moment, glancing between Yael and the alcohol like 'does this man not know what liquor is.' ]

"Funny"? Yes. If you drink too much of it, it makes you act like a fool.

[ Exhibit A: the entire party happening around them. ]

don't shoot me bro

[tot]

[ like anyone who wants to make the most of a situation and fully embrace the spirit of things, here is uta already glamming over the ugly ass beginner armor dressing up as a vegetable and armed with a water gun. she'll raise said water gun into the air when she lands a hit on yael and laugh. this poor man. ]

Didn't your parents warn you about what kind of information you give about yourself online?

[ she'll lower her hand and water gun to her side. no more shots for now, at least?? ]

It's really not that bad, though, is it?

digital cake;

[sicklysweet]

[Has Owen eaten any of the food? Of course he has. He's not about to turn down free cake, even if it's free digital cake. It still tastes delightfully sweet.]

So are you just going to sit here and be paranoid and boring instead, then? It's only a game.

[Lighten up a little, bro!!]

let them eat digital cake

[ntrd]

[Aoi's made her way to pick up some canned tomato juice when he starts talking to her. She picks up a can of tomato juice and then looks at him.]

Aoi had a macaron. It made her thirsty; no negative stat effects, unique CG or event was triggered from Aoi eating.

[She doesn't drink her can of tomato juice, still holding it.]

Aoi doesn't know about how rerolling a new character in a closed beta works. Sorry.

[She opens and drinks the can of tomato juice. She's perfectly still and silent for five seconds before extending her can of tomato juice to him.]

Tomato juice is safe. You can have Aoi's can but that would trigger an indirect kiss event.

shoots you

[tablescraps]

( u just got smacked by someone in this event skin (mask up on his head, like a fascinator, and not covering his face) who's got a giant foam broadsword

You tell him to knock it off, and he just kind of looks at you. Reflecting on the error of his ways, perhaps?

He attempts to hit Yael with it again, )

Newbie Alert

[legendofthelion]

[This dude's been hanging out at the equipment table for a while...

She saunters over, Yaoi Oar slung over her shoulder. She's gotten everything equipped, but it's obvious more than a few people are struggling.] They really look more like joke weapons than level one gear. But it'll get replaced pretty quickly once we really start playing.

Digital cake

[knightofratatosk]

[It takes Emil a moment to realize he's being addressed, but once he does, he follows Yael's gaze to what looks like... ah. Hmm.]

... um, isn't that alcohol?

[Emil, master of stating the obvious.]

digital cake!!

[veardant]

[ tighnari is, in fact, partaking of a cupcake at this very moment!! he chews thoughtfully, swallows, then tilts his head. ]

Paranoid, are you? I can't say I've felt any ill effects.

I DID NOT SHOOT

[insinning]

[Sinclair had been absentmindedly poking at his foam spear when he hears the commotion. He sees a figure move, and then someone descending upon him in clear anger.

Oh no, he's been framed]

W-wait a second! It wasn't me!!

[The nerf gun on the floor isn't helping him. Probably]

digital cake

[conjecturecycle]

[Pete, in all his pink glory, raises an eyebrow, a bite of cake halfway to his mouth.]

What do you think it's gonna do, give you virtual food poisoning? There's no way anyone'd waste time coding something like that.
[Said in a strong accent. Mr New Jersey....]