⬣//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

[conjecturecycle]

Because this was all set up by the staff? Why would they poison us in this kinda setting? You gotta think about all this in the context of a game, paly.

[weaseled]

Why wouldn't they? Might make a fun science experiment for the right psychopath.

[conjecturecycle]

[Pete looks offended as if Yael is accusing him personally of being this psychopath. He gestures at Yael with one of his closed paper fans.]

Do you have any idea how many millions of dollars went into making this? This is cutting edge technology and everyone is waiting to see the fruits of development. Any news about it is gonna spread like wildfire. What do you think is gonna happen if even one of us reports out that they deliberately poisoned their entire beta test team? Total PR nightmare.

[weaseled]

[Listen to this nagging nerd. He's making fine points and all that, but Yael was only half serious to begin with. My god, where's a locker when you need one to put a dweeb in his place...]

Sure, but companies get away with shadier shit all the time. How much of those millions do you think the staff sees?

[conjecturecycle]

[GO AHEAD AND GIVE HIM A SWIRLIE YOU WON'T BE THE FIRST.]

Yeah yeah capitalism is hell and we're all ants to the big guys up top. That's not the point I'm making. I'm saying that those big guys ain't gonna risk tanking their stock and losing the chance to make a hundred million dollars with the game when OSHA shuts them down just to get their rocks off once.

[weaseled]

You've got a lot of faith in them, don't you? Man, fanboys are embarrassing...

[Heh. Heh!!!]

[conjecturecycle]

It's not anything to do with faith, it's just having basic business sense and understanding of video game development! Don't get smug at me if you're too thickheaded to understand it.

[Big talk from a pink twink.]

[weaseled]

Uh huh.

[Tsk tsk, so defensive...]

I'm getting secondhand embarrassment here. You're barking up the wrong tree if you think I care about all the blood, sweat and tears they put into this game. At the end of the day, it's a product built to make money.

[conjecturecycle]

[HE'S GOING TO PK YAEL]

Are you being obtuse on purpose or are you literally an idiot? I'm talking from a strictly financial standpoint! They don't make money by fucking us over!

[weaseled]

[This feeder mouse sure is fussy! How terribly amusing. Something tells Yael he's going to get a lot of entertainment out of this pinkie.]

Who knows? Maybe money isn't their goal. Unless you work for them, how would you know?

[conjecturecycle]

[JUST BECAUSE HE'S THE SAME COLOR AS A PINKIE RAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN EAT HIM!!!!!]

Jeez, you got me! I was totally talking out of my ass.
[A pause.]

Oh wait, no, that's right. I DO work for them.
[TAKE THAT, JERK.]

[weaseled]

Wait. You're serious?

[Yael looks shocked, perhaps even astounded, for all of five seconds...! And then he's bursting into full on, rib-heaving laughter.]

[conjecturecycle]

[THE SHOCK WAS THE CORRECT RESPONSE BUT THEN THE SUBSEQUENT LAUGHTER NOT SO MUCH.]

Hey, what's the big idea!?

[weaseled]

That explains why you're so defensive. Get a real job.

[HEE HEE HA HA HO HO]

[conjecturecycle]

Oh don't act all high and mighty, you're here in the game same as I am!

[MORE EMPHATIC FAN POINTING.]

[weaseled]

I'm not here because I signed up for some lottery. They sent me an invite personally.

[Cope and seethe, Pete.]

[conjecturecycle]

[HE WON'T.]

Neither am I! I got hired, dingus. I'm in charge of moderating all you lunatics!

[weaseled]

[...]

Oh, wow.

[Wow. Can you feel the laughter in his voice, Pete? Can you??]

[conjecturecycle]

Stop that! What could you possibly find funny about that!?

[weaseled]

Wouldn't you like to know?

[Man, this guy is so easy to mess with. Yael almost feels bad... almost!]

[conjecturecycle]

Yeah! That's why I freaking asked!

[GOD!!!!!!]

[weaseled]

You'll just have to live in suspense, won't you? Anyway, I'm gonna go before I get unjustly banned by you. See ya.

[Yael chuckles at poor Pete as he turns on his heel and wanders off.]