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CyberConnect Corporation ([personal profile] cccorp) wrote in [community profile] altimit2023-08-24 02:17 pm
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⬣//A SINGLE CRACK LETS THE LIGHT IN.

//BRAVELY SAILING INTO THE UNKNOWN

As they say, fortune favors the brave. Five lucky players took part in a Limited Quest: The Mysterious Sky Islands, in which they discovered a brand new Root Town. While the team was largely successful in their efforts to make the mysterious floating town in the sky habitable, not everyone embraced the spirit of teamwork on this journey.

When you gate in to this shiny new Root Town, you'll notice something curious: it has no name. Its name simply displays as "???" in every context menu and there is no signage around the Root Town itself that points to its true name— rather, the name it had before they came along.

Whispers on the wind tell of an evil wizard in flowing white robes who ruthlessly boiled the village elder alive. With him died all of this mysterious Root Town's lore and history, and in its place are tales of the monster who robbed this land of its identity. The elemental sprites that populate this village refuse to speak their name, simply wishing you "good luck, have fun!" as you turn to leave.

While on your journey to check out the island, you'll notice how unstable the bridges are. Unstable might be putting it lightly, because for some unlucky souls, crossing the wrong bridge means plummeting to your death. It seems that whoever was put in charge of constructing these bridges didn't give a damn about structural integrity.

The local sprites are pleading with adventurers to assist them in building better, more stable bridges, but bridging the gap between one island and the next is not a job for a single person. If you have enough of a heart to heed the pleas of the sprites, you'll want to work with your fellow players to get the job done. All the wood, nails, and rope you need to construct better bridges has been helpfully supplied to you by the sprites. You could always sabotage the project too, of course, but what kind of person would you be if you did that?

//BUILDING THE FUTURE

The professions system has been added to fragment. Rejoice, busybodies, for there is much furniture to be built and dubious potions brewed.

In celebration of the new crafting & gathering system, a crafts festival is being held in the Unnamed Root Town. Take care not to plummet to your death while traversing those rickety bridges.

Players are encouraged to set up a booth of their own and trade their unique handcrafted items with their fellow adventurers. In addition to being supplied with enough level 1 and level 2 crafting materials to give the crafting system a spin, the local NPCs are running a contest encouraging people to come up with their own for a chance to have their creations canonized as real crafting recipes.

To submit your own recipe ideas, you need only fill out this handy form:

Recipe name:

Recipe category: Alchemist, Carpenter, Chef, or Jeweler?

Which two items does your recipe call for? Choose two items to combine. Only gatherable items (refer to the professions page) can be used.

Effect: What does this item do, if anything?

Description: A brief description of your lovely new product.


Submit your recipe contest submissions here.

//ONE STEP FORWARD, TWO STEPS BACK

Fragment's beta test has seen its fair share of unusual bugs and unintended features, and with the latest update bringing many new changes, it's inevitable that some things have broken behind the scenes.

If two players happen to log in at the same time, they might find their avatars swapped with one another's. Thankfully, this issue doesn't lead to the unpleasant exchange of deep-seated memories or anything of the sort, but getting used to a body that isn't yours takes time. Thankfully, this particular bug resolves itself when both players log out.

The windy town of Unnamed Root Town is generally quite scenic and pleasant, but there's just one issue. It's far, far windier than it should be. If the rickety bridges don't kill you, the gusts that intermittently blow across the sky islands might knock you off your feet if you don't watch your footing carefully. Thankfully, the crafts festival on the southernmost end of the island hasn't been impacted by the severe winds. Among them is one voice that you don't recognize: a voice that promises a death, gruesome and bloody, in the days to come.

To everyone's relief, the carnival and its notorious hall of mirrors has packed up and left Lumina Cloth, but your past hasn't finished haunting you. The foul winds carry whispers of the past along with them, uttering words and phrases uncomfortably familiar to you. They're the voices of your past, the voices of people you've known, loved, and lost. Covering your ears won't keep the voices out of your ears. Nothing will.

Finally, on the more mundane some of things, professions have a few kinks of their own that need to be worked out. Occasionally, a crafted item won't come out quite right, instead resulting in one of the following "items":

Alchemist: Truth Serum. Become unable to lie for 24 hours.

Blacksmith: Whatever you're enhancing transforms into a denim disaster. Introducing your new "body" armor, "leg" armor, "head" armor, and "arm" armor.

Carpenter: Mirror Mirror. Reflects the person you're most afraid of becoming.

Chef: Durian Delight. A succulent durian pudding that reeks so strongly that its stench can be smelled all across the Root Town or Area you're occupying.

Jeweler: Crystal Ball. Breaks after one use but allows you to read another player's thoughts for five minutes.

//WHAT ARE YOU, AN IDIOT SANDWICH?

With crafting in full swing, a certain admin has been lured out of his hidey hole by the smell of delicious chef-prepared meals. Hien is hungry, and you will feed him.

Chefs are not limited by the recipes they know like some professions are, so players are encouraged to think outside of the box and combine unique ingredients to cook up something truly special.

Taste, however, isn't the only important part of a perfect meal. Chefs looking to impress the big man himself are expected to present their culinary delights to him with pomp and finesse. You need to impress Hien if you want to gain more from this venture than the participation prize of a chef skin.

Those who successfully woo Hien with their delectable dishes will be given an additional prize: a little black pomchi pet to accompany their avatar around Root Towns and Special Areas. Hien will be giving these out at his discretion, so you better suck up to the dogboss in charge if you want a pomchi of your very own. If you catch Hien in a good mood, he may even agree to give you a different breed of dog if you ask nicely.

Feed the local Hien here.


//ZELKOVA’S CORNER

Hello, everyone! Can you believe it's been an entire month since our beta test began? Even though we've already been through a lot together, we've still got three months left! I'm rooting for you all!

As of today, the level cap has increased from 25 to 50. That means new armor and weapons will be available to you! Get out there to different Areas and start leveling up! But don't forget to stop every once in a while and enjoy your surroundings, too. Which reminds me—don't forget to check out the new Recreational Areas! We have a beach and hotsprings for you to enjoy now. I hope everyone continues to have fun exploring!

We've also opened up the GP shop, where you can create your own special armor set for a certain price, along with a few other things. Please check it out!

Oh, and don't forget to use these three new greeting cards I've made! Here they are! Make sure you use them so you can connect with your fellow players! We're all friends here, after all.

regressive: (151)

[personal profile] regressive 2023-09-10 03:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Even if you bring all the apples that are farmable in the game... I won't falter.

[ Always so edgy... ]
regressive: (169)

[personal profile] regressive 2023-09-10 04:00 pm (UTC)(link)
If you want to hear some tearjerker story just search for one online. I'm not giving you that.

[ No responsibility is being taken today!! ]
regressive: (026)

[personal profile] regressive 2023-09-10 04:21 pm (UTC)(link)
I wonder what's so amusing about this. I'll be right back.

[ He can't just say that he's going to bring planks and then keep talking to Albedo, but Joonghyuk is back soon enough with everything they need to continue work. ]

Life can get busy. [ If only live would get busy for some troublemakers running around, alas. ] It's a weird quest all things considered. If they made us kill monsters, that would be a different story.

[ That's the sprites cue to cut in and ask Albedo to remove his shirt. The more shirts are taken off the sturdier the bridge will be—that's literally what it says. ]
userunfriendly: (11)

[personal profile] userunfriendly 2023-09-10 04:33 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Michel can run the math backwards, loosely. How long ago that was, how many years Ganymede was captive. How young he was when he was kidnapped. That thought... aches, and he gives Ganymede a brief squeeze, unthinking. ]

If it's been so long... then it might be taken care of, just as they said. Or that if part of that organization still exists somewhere, it has nothing to do with you.

[ He doesn't want to irresponsibly give Ganymede empty reassurance. But does it help to encourage him to constantly look over his shoulder? He doubts Ganymede needs anyone else to fuel fears that must be deeply ingrained for him as it is. ]

You realize that if you were to stop logging in, I'll have to call you as well.

[ What else could he do about it? It's not as if he has a passport... ]
trollophoroi: credit: <user name=bloodcrazed> (060;)

[personal profile] trollophoroi 2023-09-10 04:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Having a poorly trained dog would be cruel to the dog itself. I may be purposefully annoying to you, as people, but animals are a different case.

[ He treats his actual real pet like royalty, come on.

But yes, pet away, Dehya. The borzoi wags her tail and butts her head up against her hand.
]
weaseled: (38)

[personal profile] weaseled 2023-09-10 04:46 pm (UTC)(link)
[...She must be pulling his leg, and yet Dehya doesn't give off the impression of being a person with a functional sense of humor. This just goes to show how far Yael has sequestered himself beneath a rock when it comes to the goings on in this game.]

And he's the guy we're supposed to be using as a point of contact? He sounds like as much of a pain in the ass as the clowns he's supposed to be supporting.

[Someone who gives significantly more shits than Yael should file an abuse complaint against the guy.]

Joke's on us, I guess. We're the ones who continue to log in every day while these "bugs" only get more severe.
userunfriendly: (39)

[personal profile] userunfriendly 2023-09-10 04:49 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Normally, the brisk businesslike exchange would be his ideal. But considering the circumstances, he's watching her with half his attention.

Not that he has any idea what he'd do in any case. Contact Hani, probably... ]


Invasive, yes. But personal... [ Hm. ] It seems too specific to be personal. Whoever, and however information is being pulled from us, I've been thinking of it more in terms of files. Looking through a folder and finding the document with the most accesses, or the most recent access, just to see what it turns up.
alchemicalbirth: (14)

[personal profile] alchemicalbirth 2023-09-10 04:55 pm (UTC)(link)
[ That is fine with him. As he's doing his own part of the work, he keeps an ear out for the other male's return. ]

It would be the usual expected the...

[ His words sort of trail right off because there is no way he heard that correct, did he? Now it is Albedo's cue for his face to look comically surprised. This isn't some sort of medical examination, so... ]

...Excuse me? [ His eyes trail back to Joonghyuk and from his apparent state of dress, something registers. ] Did these sprites say something like this to you as well?
ganymed: (I'm turning another page)

[personal profile] ganymed 2023-09-10 05:02 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Ganymede is almost too distracted, thoughts floating back to the past that he is a bit out of it even while still in constant moving, to the point that a brief squeeze is certainly a little surprising all on its own. But he doesn't stumble or jump, just there is a small jerk of his head upwards to look at Michel again properly, not finding the gesture unwelcome judging by the fact he doesn't pull away.

That he simply continues to hold on. ]


Yes, it'd be either one of those two prospects.

[ Or a third, his own mind (un)helpfully supplies. But Ganymede knows he has lied to himself before, though pretending now is a little harder at the moment. Still, his expression softens at hearing the man's words. It's a bit comforting to hear that Michel might. No...he would do something like that. ]

Would you? I suppose I should let you know about my schedule. I think I have a big show coming up soon. I wouldn't want to worry you when I can avoid that.
weaseled: (pic#16655093)

[personal profile] weaseled 2023-09-10 05:12 pm (UTC)(link)
[At least Matoba takes his bullying on the chin and isn't the type to rile, right? Yael thinks he might prefer it if he did, if only because riling people up is an excellent way to lower their defenses and point out the chinks in their armor.

Ah, but it's fine. No biggie. All this means is that Matoba isn't quick to rile, but he isn't impervious. No man is. This wouldn't be the first time Yael's engaged a shitty bastard just to break through his shell and see what vulnerabilities lie beneath.

Something switches in his mind. Clicks. Another pitcher of sake and spa boiled eggs comes floating their way in an onsen basket and, in a show of good grace, Yael fills a cup for them both. What's this? A peace offering? It's the illusion of one, at the very least. He offers Matoba his cup before taking his own.]


But you know something about your country's drinking culture, don't you? I poured your sake. That means I'm polite.

[Tylor told him so.]
weaseled: (33)

[personal profile] weaseled 2023-09-10 05:21 pm (UTC)(link)
[There is no imminent danger of further spa-boiled egg abuse, rest assured. There's no guarantee Yael won't amuse himself by lobbing other things at Michel in the future, but for the time being, he's content to sit back and... enjoy his company? Something like that. He'll never call it that, but Yael's willingness to stay here and chat speaks for itself.]

I got what I was looking for. You want my brutally honest opinion of you?

[He's anticipating a no, of course.]
weaseled: (pic#16625803)

[personal profile] weaseled 2023-09-10 05:22 pm (UTC)(link)
That's true, but you can't save someone who's determined to drown.

[And he means that both literally and figuratively.]

You'll drive yourself crazy worrying over people who can't even look out for themselves. Trust me, that's not the hill you want to die on.
Edited 2023-09-10 17:23 (UTC)
weaseled: (pic#16585913)

[personal profile] weaseled 2023-09-10 05:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah? That's your sales pitch?

[For sex or for the guild? In either case, Yael's laughing, a smirk tugging at one corner of his lips.]

And I suppose you've got a no kissing and telling policy? Not everyone's comfortable admitting their preferences so openly... not that I'm judging you.
fluorite: dnt (23)

[personal profile] fluorite 2023-09-10 05:29 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Can he? Fai will simply find new and interesting ways to torment him. ]

No, but it's still fun. Have you tried cooking off recipe yet? It's like actual cooking.
worldbent: (Keep my glass full until morning light)

[personal profile] worldbent 2023-09-10 05:44 pm (UTC)(link)
[Keep at it, Yael.... Maybe someday your dream will come true...]

[His eyebrows raise when Yael actually does as he suggested- and just pours for them. This shitty bastard absolutely is not to be trusted, clearly, so of course now Matoba is going to be skeptical.]

[But. Why waste perfectly good (free) (fake) booze?]


Try eating one of the eggs instead of throwing them, [Matoba cheerfully suggests, snatching one up for himself. He'll drink the sake, too... He just wants to wait for Yael to pour. It'd be rude to drink before they can say cheers. 🙂]

Maybe you'll be a little less cranky with some food, too. [He pops half of one into his mouth, chewing.]
fluorite: dnt (26)

[personal profile] fluorite 2023-09-10 06:01 pm (UTC)(link)
You never know... I could gain advantage.

[ With that, he jabs Ganymede in the side with his fingers. Take that! ]
weaseled: (3)

[personal profile] weaseled 2023-09-10 06:17 pm (UTC)(link)
[What time did he have to slip anything into your (free) (fake) booze, Matoba? You can trust this old man. What malicious intent could he possibly have in trying to get you drunk?

For what it's worth, he plans to indulge too, picking up the pitcher to fill Matoba's glass first, then his own. What now? Does he have to wait for this bitch to finish his egg before they can toast? Yael lifts his glass and waits. Clink him, motherfucker.]


I've never eaten an egg boiled in used bath water. Is that normal in Japan?
secondthoughts: (cmon dude)

[personal profile] secondthoughts 2023-09-10 06:45 pm (UTC)(link)
What, and waste all my hard work?
secondthoughts: (✸ 何をしようとしたのかも忘れて)

[personal profile] secondthoughts 2023-09-10 07:01 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Indeed. How can they move past things, grow, when it's constantly being thrown at them?

Hector sighs. It seems like a great deal of effort for him to turn his attention to Fai. When he speaks, his voice is low, sincere, tired. ]


...You too.

[ He doesn't even bother with trying to put on a smile for this one. It's a brief moment of honesty, for the both of them.

And down goes the rest of the wine. ]
secondthoughts: (☀ 渇きが多すぎた)

[personal profile] secondthoughts 2023-09-10 07:09 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Fuck. That really is it, isn't it?

Hector stands there, staring at Fai for a good few moments. He likes to think himself a man of his word, but he'll always find ways to make himself responsible, won't he? He searches Fai's expression for any hint, any tell, but comes up empty. He's too angry.

It's very tempting to smash the bottles he'd just replaced, but he has a little more self-restraint than a certain third party. ]


Oh yeah?

[ Except he still can't help his temper, and he snaps. ]

What makes you the expert here, then?
secondthoughts: (listening)

[personal profile] secondthoughts 2023-09-10 07:25 pm (UTC)(link)
[ God dammit. Another one.

There's the faintest twitch in Hector's brow when he hears that. What's with all the kids he's been meeting and their terrible parents? Has CC Corp decided to take all the children with awful relationships with their parents and stick them in the beta? For what reason? ]


I'm sorry, Kara.

[ His tone is sincere, unlike how he normally talks to others. ]

You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, but if you want to talk...I'll listen.
trollophoroi: credit: <user name=apocalypsios> (015;)

[personal profile] trollophoroi 2023-09-10 07:27 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Loneliness is such a cruel fate for a species made to be so very social... ]

Mm, maybe I should move in with you and your roommate, in that case. We could all stop ourselves from being lonely together.

[ An idle comment in jest, of course. Fandaniel doubts he'll ever live anywhere but Japan. It's still home, in the end, no matter how stifling it's become. ]
selfconcept: (pic#16675977)

[personal profile] selfconcept 2023-09-10 07:29 pm (UTC)(link)
If you don't mind handing your research over to someone else, I'm saying that he could probably do something with it. He's a researcher, specifically in the biology field.

[ You know, like you?? ]
trollophoroi: credit: <user name=apocalypsios> (031;)

[personal profile] trollophoroi 2023-09-10 07:41 pm (UTC)(link)
[ "Similar field" can mean a lot of different things, Hien, wow. Fandaniel gives the man a sidelong look, considering. ]

I would want to speak with him first. It does make a difference if I'm merely releasing my research to the general public or handing it over to someone specific. Does he even have experience in cloning?
selfconcept: (pic#16675969)

[personal profile] selfconcept 2023-09-10 07:47 pm (UTC)(link)
I'll give you his email address. He can speak Japanese fluently too if you're more comfortable with that. It's better to ask him than me about those things. I don't even have a high school diploma.

[ Yeah. Yeah... but at least he can code? ]