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⬣//A WHOLE NEW YOU.
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.
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.
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.
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 BootsTwin Blade:
Railroad Spikes Leather Cap Ugly Cuirass Deft Gloves Worn BootsWavemaster:
Splintering Rod Tacky Hat Light Robe Light Gloves Old ShoesMacabre Dancer:
Paper Fans Tacky Hat Light Robe Light Gloves Old ShoesEdge Punisher:
Yaoi Oar Helmet Worn Armor Frayed Gloves Squeaky BootsFlick Reaper:
Farmer's Sickle Leather Cap Ugly Cuirass Deft Gloves Worn BootsHarvest Cleric:
Magical Girl Stick Tacky Hat Light Robe Light Gloves Old ShoesLord Partizan:
Stop Sign Helmet Worn Armor Frayed Gloves Squeaky BootsShadow Warlock:
Travel Pamphlet Tacky Hat Light Robe Light Gloves Old ShoesSteam Gunner:
Water Gun Leather Cap Ugly Cuirass Deft Gloves Worn BootsTribal Grappler:
Fishticuffs Leather Cap Ugly Cuirass Deft Gloves Worn BootsIt'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.
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, 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!"
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I-I think you should spit it out! I don't think it's normal for frogs to eat onions!
[Just. digging through his pockets and tying a little ribbon to Oria's frog leg. Aha. A true frog balloon. Hopefully Oria doesn't get hurt with this]
At least don't float away too far...what if you get eaten yourself?
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[ A 4cm round floating frog being held by a ribbon on the leg. Honestly, this would be a cute picture if it weren't for the fact that Oria is Oria and the situation is just cursed.
But also to prove his own point and answer Sinclair, he equips his water bayonet. Sure, it has shrunken to size, but it is indeed a weapon. A frog with a gun. ]
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[Still a player character and not an NPC which made sense.
The small gun is also cute...
Thinking face]
Are you okay with staying like this though? Before you could at least walk...
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[ Then pop.
Oria the frog disappears and the ribbon falls onto the ground.
he'll come back a tag later ]
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Oria?!
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But it takes around ten minutes for Oria to log back in, so perhaps Sinclair will be glad that his status reads "online" soon enough from the friends list.
Despite everything, he returns as a 4cm frog, same as before. ]
Yo, ribbit.
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The offline status tells Sinclair he doesn't need to find tiny frog sparkles to sweep up, so he waits around Mac Anu until Oria reappears. As a frog.
Offering a hand??? At least this is Mac Anu and not Lumina cloth, no PVP and using tiny frogs as tiny bludgeons here]
Oh, you're back. That was fast. I didn't even see your HP bar go down.
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I don't think I took damage, ribbit. It felt like the game crashed, so I was forcibly logged out, ribbit.
[ Hm. Well. Oria does what a good beta tester does and sends a bug report. It doesn't take too long. But he's a little concerned if he worried Sinclair for Reasons, so his little frog hand lightly pats Sinclair's hand multiple times as a form of reassurance that he's all fine and dandy. ]
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I guess that makes sense. Maybe the game wasn't designed for you to eat onions with teeth while in frog form.
[Also now that the shock has passed...it was a little funny. Oria can get a ride on his shoulder for now]
...what did it feel like anyway?
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Like being in a room with no windows and suddenly getting a blackout, ribbit. It surprised me at first, but nothing hurt because of it, ribbit.
[ ... ]
If anything, I am sore all over because I went to a dungeon that had a spike trap and I was still a tiny frog, ribbit.
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[I didn't know frogs could squeak.
Wincing. Sure, it's a video game, but he's cooked enough in the volcanic wastelands to know that still hurts in game]
Ouch. At least being tiny doesn't affect your HP bar. How long have you been stuck like this?
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[ Life as a frog... ]
How will I flirt like this, ribbit?? Travesty, ribbit.
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Is that what you were trying with the onion?
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But then Oria the frog tilts his body up as much as possible without rolling backwards on the shoulder and attempting to look into Sinclair's eyes.
There's a lot of judging within this 4cm tall desert rain frog. ]
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He does not need to be judged by a 4cm desert rain frog that squeaks like helium.]
W-What...?
[It was an honest question? He does feel appropriately shamed though
Ooops. Maybe I shouldn't have said that.]
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[ He wonders what Sinclair thinks of him??? ]
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//////////////////////////
]I didn't mean it like that...[He totally did - it's Oria's fault for joking about kisses to release him from a curse] sorry. I'm sure you can take a break from flirting for a day.
But if it's been twenty hours, it should wear off soon, right? I lost my wings after about a day.
[And took massive fall damage but lets not talk about that. Even if it appears in his thought bubble]
1/2
[ The judging look changes to a small laugh and a grin. ]
I hope I turn back, ribbit. I feel like I have to log out to feel remotely human again--
[ Wait. ]
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[ ... ]
Is that a euphemism for something--
1/2
I can't see them keeping you as a frog for more than a day--
2/2
No!
[ And in his speech bubble
!@#!$%#@$#?????
Straightening up to shoot Oria a Look, as best he can. He can't be too annoyed because Oria is currently the cutest frog in the world and it's tempting to put Oria in a pocket.]
It's literal! Literal wings.
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Also, that spech bubble? Bless your existence. Oria appreciates it very much right now. ]
I bet you would have looked cool with wings, like a guardian angel coming in to save the day, ribbit!
[ He's being 100% genuine about it too. ]
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Uh-huh. It was fun though, flying around Mac Anu. I didn't find anything interesting like Akatsuki though.
[Maybe I should try those keywords again? But then there's that new weird quest]
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What did she find, ribbit?
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Scraps of a poem in the clock tower. It was in German, so she asked me to translate for her.
[I can't shake the feeling I've seen that poem before, but it wasn't in any of my old German books either...]
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