This occurred twice in the experimental branch of 926 - the last time after it was released as stable.

Started the game and joined an experimental branch server. A red message appeared in the bottom left saying something about not being able to connect to the central server and being given a default character that may overwrite the previous one. Then I come in as a new spawn at the coast. My previous character logged out at the NWAF in the forest.

The first time this happened, I thought it was just because I'd just started with the new experimental build. Now, I'm wondering if it might be a bug.