⬣//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

i love this

[dissimulative]

[ SQUEEEEEEEEAK

Every time Matoba slaps the NPC, the frog makes a very pitiful war cry (squeak). He very much resembles a chewy toy right now. Thankfully, he's not hurt? Somehow. It's like seeing a cartoon frog get squished and bloat back to normal size again. ]

I'm not taking any damage, but I think I'm getting whiplash, ribbit.

[worldbent]

--Oh, haha, right. VR.

[Wow, Matoba can only imagine what Oriade's point of view must be right now! Imagine, because he's definitely just going to log off if this happens to him. Unfortunately, his current testing doesn't seem to be going anywhere, so he gets bored of the NPC and decides to head to the main plaza and the Chaos Gate to seek actual players.]

[Oriade finally gets a bit of a rest, instead just carried about in Matoba's hand again.]

That's a good thing, right? It means you're basically invincible right now. A hell of a trade-off, though. [He ponders,] After we test damage, we should also test if I can put you in my inventory or sell you.

[dissimulative]

That is so rude, ribbit... I might get motion sickness, ribbit. I'm too young for that, ribbit! I'm not even thirty yet, ribbit?!

[ But he knows he's doing it for beta testing (and laughs too, probably. he doesn't doubt that). Oriade is a beta tester too, so yeah! They should absolutely look into this.

So he's not very serious. ]

[tablescraps]

( Mithrun, but an innocent bäbe, happens to be not so far from you wherever you are in Lumina Cloth. He's gazing at a signboard next to one PvP arena, apparently engrossed in reading the rules and mechanical technicalities.

Little does he know, PvP time truly is all the time in Lumina Cloth... )

[worldbent]

[A face Matoba recognizes! Cheerfully, he goes strolling up to the other player and gives a friendly wave, his frog-grasping hand behind his back.]

[And then slaps him across the face with poor Oriade as hard as he can.]

--Ah! It did damage this time! [Not.. much?? He's a Shadow Warlock with none P.Attack. But Matoba eagerly shoves poor frog-Oriade under Mithrun's nose to inspect.]

We've discovered a new bug since the last update! Fascinating, isn't it?

[dissimulative]

[ SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAK

That's it. That's the entire tag. ]

[tablescraps]

( !!??!?!!?!!?!?!!?!?!?! Mithrun gets smack'd, and Immediately whips out his broadswoard to counter—

Only to be met with matohomie and a distressed frog. He holds the blade in the air for a tense moment, its fell shadow falling sharp and especially titanic across Oria's poor amphibian form, before he sheathes it again. (It's really big compared to Mithrun, who's pretty small.) )

... You can attack players with wandering animals?

[worldbent]

Even better, as a matter of fact! Speak up, let him hear you.

[Matoba seems weirdly unconcerned by the fact that Mithrun was about to run them both through with a sword, and once again wiggles the screaming squeaky-toy under Mithrun's nose to jostle Oriade out of his abuse-induced daze.]

Go on, do an inspection on it.

[dissimulative]

Excuse you, I am not an it-- ribbit...

[ He feels so dizzy. Help him. ]

I thought I was gonna get sliced in two, ribbit! I still have pain sensors on, ribbit!!

[tablescraps]

( ?????

Pokes frog. )

... Is this a status effect? ( A beat. ) You can equip players? Or is it only if they're under specific status effects?

( A beat. )

Hold still.

( REACHIGN TO GRAB MATOBA SO HE CAN EQUIP HIM TO SEE IF HE CAN EQUIP A PLAYER WHO HAS ANOTHER PLAYER EQUIPPED???? )

[worldbent]

It's not clear yet if it's only due to the status effect or some other reason, but those who were... ah, "freed" from their equipment may be susceptible as well, no?

--Hey.

[Matoba jerks backwards with a surprisingly nimble lunge, brandishing Oriade like the squeaky frog man is going to save him.]

[He's here for science but not when he is the science!! (Even though he's curious to know, too...)]

[dissimulative]

[ For science! The mods have declared that equipception is possible. ]

I'm not a sword, ribbit!

[ help ]

[tablescraps]

I'm not getting an indication I can't equip you, like I would if I tried to equip an ambient object. You don't want to see how far this extends?

( A pause.

And then he dips forward, also quite quick, trying to grab at Matoba again, )

I can have someone equip me, next.

[worldbent]

Of course you aren't, I'm not a swordsman class--

[He only really has enough time to quip back to Oriade before Mithrun is grabbing for him, spitting out,] --This really seems quite ill-advised--

[And yet.]

[How much damage does a mage do?? Mithrun is going to find out, I guess, because now he's equipped!!]

[...Oriade is already palm-sized. How is this going to work with someone even larger than Mithrun?]

[dissimulative]

[ Oriade the frog is 4cm big. Tiny ass squeaky frog. ]

Okay, but is he heavy to wield, ribbit.

[tablescraps]

( Mithrun's previously-equipped broadsword dissipates back into his inventory (presumably).

Huh. He seems impressed by the novelty of having a player equipped. )

... I think I can get him. My strength stat is one of my highest.

( He crouches, shifting his grip.... and takes up Matoba by the two legs, as if they were a sword hilt. He rises swiftly to his feet, wielding him with the same weapon animations as, well, his broadsword. [Broad Matoba] wielding [The Book of Oria, Ribbit!] equipped. )

There we go. Lets see if the damage multiplier's gone up. Then someone can try to equip me.

( HE SEEMS LIABLE TO TROT OFF AND JUST TRY TO SMACK ANOTHER PLAYER, )

Slides on in 1/2

[insinning]

[Poor Sinclair, he was just standing around, minding his own business. Maybe idling a little, but that was the problem of trying to play a game when you have intrusive housemates. He snaps back to VR reality, headhen in hand, oblivious to the doom approaching him]

I think I just need two more potions and then I'm--Mithrun?

[ Innocent joy at seeing a friend! Two friends. He is not at all aware of the incredibly messed up sword Mithrun is now wielding]

2/2

[insinning]

[ Then he takes a second look and lifts the headhen in a defensive gesture.

Why is Mithrun holding that guy like that. Why is that guy holding a frog (Oria??) like that?

The headhen, which should be just a skin, stares judgingly at the trio]

...w-what are you planning?

[BACKING UP TIME TO RUN ?!]

[worldbent]

Ah.

[Well this is weird. And yet he thinks he doesn't really... feel anything weird, besides the world being tilted now... Is it because he's stuck to the stock animations?? He's surprised that he hasn't started T-posing, but he still seems to have some control over his avatar's movement. Even if he moves around, his 'status' as equipped and his placement in Mithrun's hands remains. That's convenient. He could do a little dance or whatever he wanted and not move from this spot.]

...You know, if this is possible, then it's likely that the entire game could end up equipped to each other. Haha, wouldn't that be funny?

[Actually, after meeting Hien, he thinks that'd be a great idea. Make that guy sort it all out.]

[Nothing to be done but get carried off, then... And as they approach Sinclair, Matoba just gives a little wave from where he stands atop Mithrun's hands.]

Don't worry, we're just testing something out! [This is fine]

[dissimulative]

[ This feels even more disorienting that Oriade has to shift his first person perspective to third. He really should have done this earlier.

The frog SQUEAKS loudly for three seconds straight.

Translation: RUN AWAY!! ]

[tablescraps]

( We can katamari the whole beta team. Let's do this. )

We're beta testing.

( And with no further explanation he SWIMGS!!! Matoba-Oria at Emil with the intent to get a brutally clean hit, )

1/3

[insinning]

[A new entry into top ten anime betrayals. Mithrun how could you?!!! There's nothing Sinclair can do but]

2/3

[insinning]

[

Yeet the @&@&#@ headhen into Mithrun's face. Eat chicken!!!]

3/3

[insinning]

[The attempt at defense amounts to nothing though. The Matoba-Oria broadsword-frog spell attachment simply clips through the Lord Partizan's defenses.

Down goes the HP bar and into a nearby stall goes Sinclair]

....ow.

[But he hasn't been PK'd yet. Somehow.]

[tablescraps]

( The headhen goes flying, and Mithrun in that second calculates the likely damage from an incoming improvised weapon (or perhaps a brand new class skill?) and decides he can tank the hit to his face - the slice proceeds into its intended target. Apparently, Warlocks don't make for bad broadswords!

He advances upon his poor, three- to twelve-year-old victim, his strides purposeful, his shadow falling upon the poor, young youth, Mithrun's weapon raised, his voice a low and ominous-- )

... Ba-kaaaawk.

( Masked by the headhen on his head, as he looms over Emil.

He meant to say "Equip me," but. Well. )