⬣//A SINGLE CRACK LETS THE LIGHT IN.

[cccorp]

>>UNTITLED ROOT TOWN // >>FUTURE // >>PROGRESS? // >>HE HUNGERS // >>Zelkova Corner

⬣//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.

<b>Recipe name:</b> <b>Recipe category:</b> <b>Which two items does your recipe call for?</b> <b>Effect:</b> <b>Description:</b>

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.

>>Navigation

Comments

[weaseled]

[That grin doesn't belong on his face. He feels like a goddamn manlet being stared down at like this, but you know what? Hector is a manlet. Take that, bastard.

Ah, but seriously, how vain can one man be? This perpetual scowl's gonna give you more wrinkles, old man. Try not to incite Yael too much.]

Fuck off. You look like shit in my body.

[secondthoughts]

[ Hector gives a hearty laugh and takes a step forward. Wow. He does look small from up here (two inches above).

God. When did he start looking so old? ]

No I don't.

[ He looks down at his own—Yael's pecs, smooths out his armor over it. Damn dude. He stands up straighter, arching his back just a teeny bit to emphasize them. Go on and stare. You've got a good vantage point. ]

I look great.

[weaseled]

[Aging makes you old, Hector. Did you know that? Yael would quip as much if he weren't scandalized by the sight of Hector checking him out (checking himself out?) and straightening up so the girls are on full display. Just for that, Yael reaches out and slaps his own meaty chest. Stop that, you goddamn animal.]

I'm about to turn around and march your ass right off a cliff.

[secondthoughts]

Hey! [ What the hell! Hector puts a hand where Yael smacked him. That hurts (not really, just in his heart). ]

No you won't. [ He grabs the collar of his own boyscout uniform, a clear sign he's not letting Yael walk anywhere. ] Otherwise I'm staying logged in as you.

[weaseled]

Seriously? You're gonna hold me hostage in my own body?

[That's not very kawaii of you, Hector. Yael pulls out Hector's weapon and parks it right between his legs. He's not afraid to bust his own virtual balls.]

Let me go. It's for your own good, buddy.

[secondthoughts]

[ He looks down. The emerald begins to glow softly when Yael draws it, not making it look any more threatening than normal. Hector bursts out laughing, his usual hearty laugh. What does it sound like with Yael's voice? Probably hilarious. ]

And if I don't?

[ He grips the collar tighter. You don't scare him, asshole. ]

[weaseled]

[This little rod is the furthest thing from intimidating, and you know what? It is funny. His own laugh his grating on the ears, but Yael can see the humor in the situation regardless, chucking that funky little wand over his shoulder and into the ether. It'll pop back up in Hector's inventory later. Probably.]

What's got you so keyed up, old man? You should be pretty damn happy right now. You're right where you've always wanted to be.

[In my body.]

1/2

[secondthoughts]

[ Hector just watches in partial horror, partial dismay as he watches his wand sail over Yael's (?) shoulder and into the clouds below. His eyes snap back to his own face, when Yael says that.

Huh. Anyway. ]

What the hell, Yael!

[ He shoves his own body aside and marches towards the edge of the island,

2/2

[secondthoughts]

and immediately whirls around to look at Yael again, his brow quirked. ]

Wait, you're implying I want to be in you?

[ It finally clicked. It took a minute, but.

He bursts out laughing. ]

Don't flatter yourself.

[weaseled]

[Oh, wow. That's a better reaction than he could've possibly hoped for. Thanks for the cheap laugh, Gale Hector.]

Right, right. My bad. You'd rather have me in you.

[Hehe. Hehehe. It's been a long time since Yael laughed this much.]

[secondthoughts]

[ Ugh.

Hector hates how this guy gets under his skin. It's like Yael took one look at him and immediately knew all the buttons to push to set him off. He isn't that easy to read, is he? No one else bothers him this much, so...?

He almost reminds him of—

He's in front of Yael before he realizes it, fingers digging into the collar of his boy scout uniform again, glowering down at his own smug face.

Hm. At least Yael knows how to wear him pretty we—Nope, not thinking that. ]

Fuck off.

[weaseled]

[That's more like it. Anger suits his face much better than laughter, than smiles. Yael can actually stand to look at his own face when it's glaring back at him. For that reason, he makes no effort to resist Hector's anger, letting him get in his face and snarl with anger.]

You mad? Do something about it. You could fling me off that cliff and be done with me for a good twenty minutes.

[what is it with yael and getting cliffed]

[secondthoughts]

[ Hector stares down hard at him, and for a good few seconds, he actually debates it. It'd cool his temper, get him to pay for throwing away his wand (still, wtf!!), but...that's not who he is. And he's never, ever letting Yael get into his head like this, like he keeps telling himself. ]

No.

[ He lets go of Yael, gently, the temper in his eyes simmering. ]

I'm not going to hurt you.

[weaseled]

[If Yael has learned anything from Fandaniel, it's that you can get away with offing yourself as many times as you like in Fragment without suffering any real-world consequences. Why not follow his lead and jump off the edge of the map together? The worst they'll feel his the crushing weight of death... or perhaps it'll free them.

But alas, that won't be happening today. Yael sees the anger simmering low in Hector's eyes and decides it's best not to crank up the heat, settling back to set his hands on these twunky hips. His grin, undeservedly, is one of satisfaction.]

Hehe.

[secondthoughts]

[ Hector gives Yael a moment of very brief, very faint sincerity, and this is what he gets?

He immediately crosses his arms over his chest, watching himself make that pose. Has he always looked so camp? Or is it just when Yael does it? ]

Hehe? [ He pouts. ] What's so "hehe" about this?

[weaseled]

[Really, old man? He expresses a little amusement — sincere amusement — and you let it twist your panties in a knot? Seeing his own body strike such a fussy pose urges another laugh out of Yael (hehe).]

You're pouting, old man. How embarrassing... hehe.

[He. Hehehe. Yael can't seem to stop himself from laughing, actually, freeing up one hand from his twunkish hips to cover his mouth.]

What's wrong with this body of yours? I think something's broken.

[secondthoughts]

I think you broke it.

[ He quips, his pout growing into more of a frown. He listens to himself laugh, and...ugh. ]

What's so funny? I better be intact when you give me my avatar back.

[weaseled]

Don't count on it. Whatever's broken in here can't be glued back together.

[If there's a god in heaven, he doesn't love Yael enough to let him stop laughing. Yael briefly looks away, and when he looks back at Hector and sees that pout curl into a frown, he struggles to contain another wheeze of amusement.]

I don't know, you jackass. That's the problem... hehe.

[secondthoughts]

[ Dammit. Really? Really?? ]

Ugh.

[ He brushes past Yael—knocks his shoulder hard, more like, because he's done with Yael today. ]

I've had enough of you.

[weaseled]

[But is Hector ever truly done with Yael? He snorts, stepping to the side as if welcoming the man to saunter away and throwing in a broad sweep of his arms for good measure.]

By all means, take off. Try not to have too much fun in my body.

[secondthoughts]

You know what? Maybe I will.

[ He whirls on his heel as he makes his way past Yael, aggressively swinging open his arms as though accepting the suggestion (or non-suggestion, whatever). ]

Maybe I'll go kiss Fai.

[ Ha ha :) ]

[weaseled]

[ :)

Don't look now, Hector, but Yael just punched the back of your (his) retreating head with his (your) fist. Fai isn't here to condemn this dreadful hunk-on-twunk violence, and it's a good thing too. Keep your stamen lips off of his chosen whore, bitch.]

[secondthoughts]

Ow!

[ What the fuck! And just when his irritation was cooling, too!

He wasn't going to actually go and kiss Fai, but—

Hector reaches to give Yael a forceful shove to his shoulder. Cut that out, bitch. ]

[weaseled]

[A shove, Hectael? That's all he gets? Yael huffs triumphantly (hehe) and waves Hector away, no more aggrieved or offended than before, which is to say... not at all.]

He can taste the difference, you know.

[Now scram! He's sure their little situation will reverse itself at. Some point. Hopefully.]

[secondthoughts]

[ Rrgh. Fuck this man, in all senses of the word.

Hectael flips Yaector the bird, as he's decided is the only appropriate greeting for the ass-sore of a man, and then whirls on his heels to go.

He'll probably loiter for a bit before logging out. Because he really doesn't like it here. And he probably would panic if Fai found him, so.

Bye. ]