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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.

selfconcept: (pic#16537109)

[personal profile] selfconcept 2023-09-04 08:41 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Hien looks at the dog and Owen who's playing with it--or at least just giving it the bare amount of affection. ]

Coalie.
fluorite: dnt (40)

[personal profile] fluorite 2023-09-04 08:42 pm (UTC)(link)
But I can still try and inject some fairness into the situation, can't I?

[ He doesn't want to burden anyone else with his own tragedies.

He can't.

But Winter's next comment throws him for a loop, enough so that the smile on his face slips completely. ]


Really? All I did was cycle through a bunch of menu options for the interior...
Edited 2023-09-04 20:43 (UTC)
fluorite: dnt (31)

[personal profile] fluorite 2023-09-04 08:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Are you so sure about that, Kara?

[ Fai glances at her, a small smile on his lips. ]

I'm afraid that little ship has already sailed.

[ He's going to worry about her now, in other words. Those whispers clearly affected her greatly—it's obvious she hasn't had it easy. ]
fluorite: dnt (25)

[personal profile] fluorite 2023-09-04 08:49 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Fai follows his gaze, trying to picture the two of them sitting at the bar, Hector knocking Yael's drink, spilling it, and cleaning it up... and well, there's evidence of the rest. ]

He's a sensitive man, although he tries not to show it.

[ Being sensitive is a good thing in Fai's opinion, so his tone remains light. ]

I don't know everything that runs through his head, but I get a feeling he doesn't like people doing things for him when he thinks they don't need to. [ He pauses, glancing at Hector. ] That's not your fault, of course.
sicklysweet: (o20)

[personal profile] sicklysweet 2023-09-04 08:49 pm (UTC)(link)
[The scritches pause, as Owen slowly looks up at Hien.]

Coalie?

[Absolutely not. But… that does give Owen an idea, a memory coming back to him and he lets out a mean little giggle.]

What about Mithra, then? Oh, but you’re so much cuter then he is…

[He squishes the poodles face, cooing.]
userunfriendly: (🍶 05)

[personal profile] userunfriendly 2023-09-04 08:52 pm (UTC)(link)
[ No, he does already know that Hani is unstoppable. He gives one more squish just for spite before he lets their hands drop. ]

I just happened to be there. [ Just how well does Hani's skin show a blush? Because he's not doing a very good job at not feeling flustered over this. ] But I, ah...

[ He doesn't need to pour out his whole soul to Ganymede's cousin, does he? But Hani is likely worried about Ganymede in their own way. Again. He can give them that much. ]

...I'm also... happy that he asked.

[ Please don't say those words to Ganymede ever. ]
fluorite: dnt (31)

[personal profile] fluorite 2023-09-04 08:54 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Totally normal and not sus, surely. ]

You're good at following directions. You know, if you ever want more recipes to try out in the game or at home, I'd be happy to send some your way.

[ He'll keep Sinclair's skill level in mind too. ]
sicklysweet: (pic#15778845)

[personal profile] sicklysweet 2023-09-04 09:00 pm (UTC)(link)
[And here he thought Fandaniel was like 12. It’s the height.

But missing someone and not speaking to them for 19 years can only mean one thing - that it’s impossible to, which likely means that she’s dead. Entirely possible there is some other circumstance, sure, but the odds of anything else are slim.]


I’m sure it doesn’t need to be said you won’t reunite with her if you walk yourself off of these islands, no matter how the wind sounds.

[Strange it seems to be so targeted for just about everyone else. Owen’s not sure what the deal is.]
legendofthelion: (☀︎ 051)

[personal profile] legendofthelion 2023-09-04 09:03 pm (UTC)(link)
You're the one who accused me first, so if you don't like the attitude you should check your own. [Men!! Yael is, similarly, met with his own scowl.]

Who's Henry?
trollophoroi: credit: <user name=bloodcrazed> (063;)

[personal profile] trollophoroi 2023-09-04 09:05 pm (UTC)(link)
You're fun to annoy, mostly. 'tis the same reason I carry on my rivalries with FlameMane and Fuurin and Levi-chan, although I suppose... I've never done anything like stage an entire tournament for them.

[ So he has to pause and wonder, looking out across the ocean as he thinks it over. Well, the biggest difference is those three aren't bound by whatever contract Hien must have with CCCorp.

They can pick a fight with him whenever.

It wouldn't matter if they did.
]

I think... ultimately, I see you as though you are a caged dog, snapping at your bars. I don't believe you to be malicious towards us by nature but that you also cannot help us in any meaningful way, even if you want to. So, I imagine I keep coming back to see if I can't open that cage a bit, from time to time.

[ Then, after all of that? He lets out a laugh and his gaze flits back Hien's way. ]

That sounds obnoxiously poetic, however. I just know the feeling. It's possible all I'm doing is seeing myself where there's nothing at all, so do pardon the moment of honesty.
userunfriendly: (63)

[personal profile] userunfriendly 2023-09-04 09:30 pm (UTC)(link)
[ It isn't possible for the avatar to show a temperature if someone has one in real life, is it? Michel watches Ganymede begin to flush and his brow furrows more. When Ganymede releases his hand he lifts it halfway as though to cup that cheek instead.

But Ganymede's hands are already on his face instead, small and warm, and Michel blinks down at him in surprise. ]


...Can you even measure, with those little hands?

[ The words slip out before he can think them over. The truth is, he doesn't know what else to say. Past precedent says Ganymede is going to tease him again, reach for his nose or tug at his hair. Maybe it's to prevent that that he finally raises his hand the rest of the way to cover Ganymede's, tracing the back of Ganymede's hand with his thumb.

If it has the side effect of pressing that palm to his cheek for a moment longer... it's nothing. ]


I may have to learn more before it begins to go to my head. [ He's not ready for this dance to be over quite yet. ] But are you really feeling up to it right now?
legendofthelion: (☀︎ 010)

[personal profile] legendofthelion 2023-09-04 09:33 pm (UTC)(link)
You sure? [Her brow knits, clearly not convinced.] There's a lot of strange stuff happening in this game. I don't want to scare you, but could be more than just your imagination.
trollophoroi: credit: <user name=bloodcrazed> (044;)

[personal profile] trollophoroi 2023-09-04 09:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Do you think I don't know that?!

[ There's a sudden burst of anger from Fandaniel. As if he didn't know! As if that wasn't obvious! He should know better than to give Owen any large show of emotion and yet it still bubbles out of him, like lava, burning and blistering.

But if that anger is anything to go by then, yes, Owen likely has it right about why it's been nineteen long years.
]

Do you think I was running about not realizing how stupid it was?! [ He turns partly away, waving an arm out into the empty sky beyond them. ] That the wind was merely trying to get me to fall to my death?! That doesn't matter! It's been nineteen years! Nineteen years since I've heard... since I've heard her sound happy... as opposed to that awful book...

[ Where all he heard was screaming, dying, the end of his family, and the brief time where he was actually happy. ]
insinning: (smile; sparkle sparkle sparkle)

[personal profile] insinning 2023-09-04 09:36 pm (UTC)(link)
[Have a fluffy smile!!]

I'd really appreciate that. I think I want to keep trying. And practising. It's calming, somehow.

[When he doesn't have four people screaming different contradictory directions at him.

And maybe he can make some--nope, nope nope, not thinking that far ahead]
weaseled: (21)

[personal profile] weaseled 2023-09-04 09:38 pm (UTC)(link)
[Why? Why? Why? Why?

Why won't he fight back? No matter how miserable, every human has the intrinsic desire to live. They have to. Fandaniel can't any different, and if he is, then why? Why, why, why?

He's taken all the options out of Yael's hands. He can kill him now and leave him for dead, but he'll come back. He'll come back and he'll remember who it is he's chosen to blame for his eventual death and no amount of reason will convince him otherwise.

Yael is damned if he does, damned if he doesn't, and all the power lies in Fandaniel's hands. That smile? That smile haunts him, burnt into the backs of his eyes when he squeezes them shut, tears away his headset and forcibly logs out before he can commit to wringing the life out of this miserable creature a second time. Fandaniel will hear the hardware hit the wall and then silence, dead silence, brought back from the precipice of death with his reaper nowhere in sight.

For the next several days, no one will hear a word from Yael. Not online, not offline, every message left unread and no calls answered. Thanks, Damndaniel.]
insinning: (thinking; not the worst thing)

[personal profile] insinning 2023-09-04 09:40 pm (UTC)(link)
[Honestly, a mood]

Mm. I guess if you get your attack power up enough, it's easier for you to solo dungeons. Ah, but getting more defense as a steam gunner is important too.
ganymed: (Όνειρό Μου)

[personal profile] ganymed 2023-09-04 09:40 pm (UTC)(link)
...That's true.

And I suppose all of us need those at times. Reminders, to stay motivated—to move forward.

[ Ganymede's expression evens out, thoughtful. He's not good at building up people often or saying magical words. More like swings and misses.

But, it's a bit satisfying being able to say something and have it land for the another's benefit, he thinks. ]
userunfriendly: (136)

[personal profile] userunfriendly 2023-09-04 09:44 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Fairness imposed from the outside... it's not as if Michel doesn't understand the appeal of that. But at what cost?

He's still mulling that over when Fai's expression shifts. He tilts his head in surprise. ]


I didn't imagine you painted it by hand... [ What do the menus have to do with it? ] In any case, I didn't mean just the design.
insinning: (smile; go with the flow)

[personal profile] insinning 2023-09-04 09:44 pm (UTC)(link)
...no. Some of them were anonymous, right? And then some of them had his name.

[He huffs softly. Zelkova was...not someone who would hurt people willingly, he thinks. He grins up at Michel]

Thanks. I like yours too.

[The first tries were always important, weren't they?]
notfunny: <user name=prepull> (SfCdHpJ)

[personal profile] notfunny 2023-09-04 09:46 pm (UTC)(link)
If there was, I bet it'd make a nice desert dumpling.

[ right? a literal sweet potato except like, not. ]
notfunny: <user name=vindagnyr> (3)

[personal profile] notfunny 2023-09-04 09:47 pm (UTC)(link)
[ he's thinking about how useful they could be. there's practical uses! like, you know.

you know. ]


Yeah. And then I can sell the re---

[ coughs! ]

--- remaining ones because who knows if they'd be rarer than others.
notfunny: <user name=vindagnyr> (22)

[personal profile] notfunny 2023-09-04 09:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Kinda. I write guides. Used to do it for a card game but then I fell out of it.

[ and by 'fell out', he was more or less shoved out. ]

Wanted to try to share my experiences with this one in a similar way, but I don't know. Might not be worth it in the end.

[ he's not even sure if he'd want to keep anything a secret, either? it's kind of a weird position to be in... ]
ganymed: (και αλλάζω πορεία)

[personal profile] ganymed 2023-09-04 09:50 pm (UTC)(link)
[ A hand to cup his cheek instead from Michel...Ganymede would have ascended to heaven and wondered what happened for a good moment because he's falling terribly harder each moment they spend together with one another. The only hold out are the usual suspects; one of the those being a river that isn't just located in Egypt. ]

I can measure it just fine, with these "mickey mouse" sized hands.

[ The other did not use that term but he is acting like he did.

He's going to get a cheek pinch for that, Ganymede tells himself, but then there's the way the other male's hand moves to cover one of his hands, a light touch against it with a thumb. ]


Of course I do! I-I like dancing with you...and it isn't like I'm feeling unwell or anything!

[ He is a bit more honest here than he likes to be, but he can't help it. Michel's face is so close, and like this, his hand is against his cheek. ]
insinning: (smile; and now the burden is lifted)

[personal profile] insinning 2023-09-04 09:53 pm (UTC)(link)
M-Maybe...I've never tried it.

[Don't offend his German sensibilities by suggesting things that would ruin his traditional food. Anyway, the dumplings come out, melted butter poured on top and--a sprinkling of croutons. And the plate gets slid on over to Cyno. There you go]
tinged: bodyswap (o16)

[personal profile] tinged 2023-09-04 09:57 pm (UTC)(link)
[ misteaks looks confused because doesn’t mithrun just say those kind of things in his own way? ]

You think so? [ weird! ] Well, that’s just as good!