T̷h̷e̸ ̵G̶a̴m̸e̵ - A VR Role-play

[Yowza Wowza]

Justkeepwalkingjustkeepwalking.

Theo picked up the pace, trying to ignore the suffocating presence around him. Flares of dark images flashed behind his eyes, cloaked figures and screaming faces, but nothing enough to get any context.

They pressed the heel of their hand against one eye, breathing heavily.

"Theodore?"

He paused.

That was her voice.

Only she call him Theodore. The only person who was some sort of a guardian in his life.

He turned slowly, holding his breath.

Nothing.
"El?"


...
Silence.
...


"Ella?" The whisper was hoarse as he turned slowly in a circle, scanning the dark wood around him. There was nothing. The wildlife had stopped, like life had paused within a single breath. "...Aella?"
Xe stepped back, xyr foot landing on a stick.
The crack was nearly deafening.

And so were the visions that plagued him.

Crumbling to his knees, he clutched his head, dropping the knife as their fingers dug into their hair. None of it made sense. It was cold... freezing. It sank into his bones and coiled around his insides, holding him tightly.
A creature staggered into the visions, nearly unidentifiable. Only that it was purple and blue, with horrid teeth.
"Jesus Christ, Theodore, get up!"
Xyr eyes snapped open, looking up to where the voice came from, limbs trembling.

A woman with long red hair looked down at him, with a handful of flames, clearly unamused. "What the hell are you doing, kid? What did I tell you about wandering around in the woods by yourself?"

"You have no clue how happy I am to see you." He scrambled to his feet, immediately pulling her towards him into a hug.

"Same to you, kid." She murmured, arms wrapping around him, her cold skin causing shudders to run down his back.

Wait.

Hold up.

Cold?
Aella was always burning hot. Like, high above feverish temputure. It was honestly concerning.
But cold? Never.

"Why are you so cold–?" They asked, pulling away slightly, giving a confused look at the purpleish face in front of him.
Wait.
Purple.
That's not right.

A set of uneven, yellow teeth grinned at him, twisting into a horrific smile pulling along the entire width of the elongated, purple-blue face. Yellow and black eyes stared at him in the place of the red-pink ones he was used to.
Whatever it was, was not human by any means, curled brown hair creating a mane around its face, making it impossible to tell what the rest of its face looked like.
Long, pitch black hands gripped his shoulders, curled and gnarled fingers and nailed digging into his shirt.
A second pair of hands lurched up, grabbing their throat in a death grip. Slowly, the ground escaped beneath their feet, along with the breath from their lungs.

A strangled cry escaped his throat, but his body was paralyzed.

And then he hit the ground, pain exploding through his back.
The figure loomed over him, yellow grin and eyes illuminated. Theodoreeee!!
It took a moment to process.
The voice was in his head.
It was in his head.
Such a dear you are. Hah. Get it? Dear? Deer?
Gnarled hands approached xyr paralyzed form, finger tips dancing along xyr antlers.
Well, you're no fun.
The creature huffed, staring down at xem, sneering. It would be more fun if you could move.

Feeling returned to his body.
Finally.
He couldn't even scream, couldn't speak.
Fear had turned into numb adrenaline, and his only thought was runrunrun!
They scrambled backwards, trembling fingers grabbing the dagger. Shaking legs finally got him to his feet, and he ran.
Oh, did he run.
They rarely ran.
But now, their feet felt light. Adrenaline poured through his veins like fire, never once slowing.
Don'tlookbackdon'tlookback.

The image of bloody, bony, inhuman feet flashed behind his eyes, clouding his vision. The image of a lumbering creature staggering quickly over the roots and fallen trees, and then an image of him from the back flashed through.
His thoughts were filled with horror, the creatures intentions seeping through the barriers of his mind, bloodlust and malicious thoughts blurring his consciousness.
Xyr heartbeat was pounding in their ears, silencing any other noise around xem, unable to figure out how close the creature was behind xem.

And the path came to a sudden dead end. The ground rose up high above him, towering directly about their head. Oh.

Oh.

Xe spun, facing the lumbering creature. The dagger flew from his hands with an inhuman force. The creature came to a halt before him, a slimy hand grabbing his chin. He coughed, foul breath filling his nose as the creature panted, a low growl rumbling in it's throat.



ohmygodimgoingtodie.

A loud piercing ‘CRACK’ cut through the air abruptly, and without warning an arrow shot straight through the temple of the creature’s head, with the arrowhead sticking out on the opposite side.

Within seconds the creature dissipated in a cloud of red potent smoke that smelled of rotting flesh. The arrow collapsed to the ground and remained still. What was important to note was that this arrow didn’t belong to some basic wooden bow, but a full out cross bow.

A figure wearing a black poncho and hood drawn over their face came forth into view of the pink haired antlered individual and propped their leg up onto a barren fallen tree.

“Hey kid! What the hell are you doing out here?” they shouted, raising up their crossbow and giving a gentle wave at xem.

 

[Cluckcluck1215]

A loud piercing ‘CRACK’ cut through the air abruptly, and without warning an arrow shot straight through the temple of the creature’s head, with the arrowhead sticking out on the opposite side.

Within seconds the creature dissipated in a cloud of red potent smoke that smelled of rotting flesh. The arrow collapsed to the ground and remained still. What was important to note was that this arrow didn’t belong to some basic wooden bow, but a full out cross bow.

A figure wearing a black poncho and hood drawn over their face came forth into view of the pink haired antlered individual and propped their leg up onto a barren fallen tree.

“Hey kid! What the hell are you doing out here?” they shouted, raising up their crossbow and giving a gentle wave at xem.

The cold, cruel hand curled around his throat, the hissing breath hot against xyr neck. "P...please...please..."

And suddenly, with a crack, the creatures grasp loosened. Their eyes snapped open, staring wide eyed as the creature vanished in a puff of smoke.
He crumpled to the ground, holding his throat gently, heaving ragged breaths.
Catching sight of the stranger, xe grabbed the dagger quickly, unsheathing it. "Oh...y'know...just...fighting monsters and...normal stuff." He forced a grin, getting to his feet unsteadily.

They held the dagger tightly, watching the stranger warily. For all they knew, it could be another monster. But they did save me...
"Who are you?"

 

[Yowza Wowza]

“Evan!” She cried “don’t space on me now!” She beat one away which was almost half a metre away. She sent a club spinning at one taking its head off, “I think we should run because they just keep coming” she called to him “what do you think?”

Evan remained completely engaged in his fight against the skeletons, and could hardly hear anything outside his own yelling to catch Lyra’s words. With each skeleton that fell, Evan was only motivated to bring each and every skeleton down. The adrenaline that rushed in his veins left him numb to the hits by the clubs and the flaring in his back.

“What do you think?”

Lyra’s voice came like an echo in his mind before Evan finally snapped out of it. By now he was surrounded by piles of motionless headless skeletons. Evan collapsed onto the sand, chest straining as he tried to catch his breath. His body hurt all over, and he didn’t feel like moving an inch.

Slowly, the desert started to wash away, and an ocean surfaced from what was formally nothing.

 

[Butterscotchbitesfinger]

Evan remained completely engaged in his fight against the skeletons, and could hardly hear anything outside his own yelling to catch Lyra’s words. With each skeleton that fell, Evan was only motivated to bring each and every skeleton down. The adrenaline that rushed in his veins left him numb to the hits by the clubs and the flaring in his back.

“What do you think?”

Lyra’s voice came like an echo in his mind before Evan finally snapped out of it. By now he was surrounded by piles of motionless headless skeletons. Evan collapsed onto the sand, chest straining as he tried to catch his breath. His body hurt all over, and he didn’t feel like moving an inch.

Slowly, the desert started to wash away, and an ocean surfaced from what was formally nothing.

She stared at the amount of dead skeletons that lay around them, she kneeled next to him tilting her head to one side. Suddenly what used to be the desert was now a beach. “Um what-oh forget it” she sighed “I give up asking what happened.”

 

[Yowza Wowza]

The cold, cruel hand curled around his throat, the hissing breath hot against xyr neck. "P...please...please..."

And suddenly, with a crack, the creatures grasp loosened. Their eyes snapped open, staring wide eyed as the creature vanished in a puff of smoke.
He crumpled to the ground, holding his throat gently, heaving ragged breaths.
Catching sight of the stranger, xe grabbed the dagger quickly, unsheathing it. "Oh...y'know...just...fighting monsters and...normal stuff." He forced a grin, getting to his feet unsteadily.

They held the dagger tightly, watching the stranger warily. For all they knew, it could be another monster. But they did save me...
"Who are you?"

The poncho wearing stranger hopped over the tree and briskly made their way towards him rather boldly. When they got within inches of xem, they lifted up their head so their face was visible without having to let down their hood. Their eyes were a brilliant ruby red, with wavy fuschia hair swept above their right eye, and full lips that were pressed firmly into a line. “Cut the chit-chat, we can’t be here.” they whispered lowly, giving a glance from side to side. “Follow me unless you wanna run into another Reaper.” they finished curtly, quickly crouching down to collect the arrow and silver coin from the floor before setting off away from the rock face.

The stranger then suddenly stopped for a moment to introduce themself then continued on.

“Zulema, my pronouns are she/her.”

 

[FrankieDoodle]

It rolled it's eyes, staring at Zayne boredly as he rambled. Why do people ask so many questions? Why do they talk so much?

"I prefer you not refer to me, but if you must, I suppose you may call me Xavier." They answered dully, studying their surroundings until they decided to watch him, barely blinking. It's brows narrowed, raising a single one in confusion.
"The bag? I found it. In the forest. I just woke up there. And then got here through those tunnels."

The pain in it's left leg was increasing, so they shifted their weight onto their right, though not allowed any semblance of emotion show.
"So, Zayne," it continued to use his name like a threat, tilting their head slightly. "What do you suppose we do about this... predicament?"

"Oh. Cool, I can work with that," Zayne muttered, scratching the back of his head. Normally he would've found its words somewhat strange, but after his day, that was the least unusual thing.
As Xavier began to stare at him, Zayne shuffled, casting it a weary look. Their large blue eyes gave them an owlish appearance, and paired with very little blinking, he was very quickly unsettled.

"Huh, I found one just like it, back in the caves when I woke up. I also found this," he said, gesturing to the knife on the ground in front of him. "I'm. . . Assuming you got the bow?" A twinge of jealousy flashed through his eyes. He found it rather unfair that Xavier got a bow, and he got a measly little switchblade. Not that he would've known how to use anything other than a knife, but evening the potential playing fields would've been nice.

"Hey, are you okay?' Zayne asked, ignoring their question. "Your leg doesn't look too good. What happened?"

 

[Yowza Wowza]

She stared at the amount of dead skeletons that lay around them, she kneeled next to him tilting her head to one side. Suddenly what used to be the desert was now a beach. “Um what-oh forget it” she sighed “I give up asking what happened.”

Evan laid completely unbothered by the new environment change. He was too worn out, sweaty, and beat up to consider getting up in his state.

“I’m beat.. I’m just.. gonna lay here for a while..” he murmured into the sand, his eyelids heavy from exhaustion. Right now all he really wanted was to be back home under the covers of his bed.

The waves began to sweep up the skeletons and swallow them into the sea. In return, a handful of silver coins washed up nearby onto the beach.

 

[Butterscotchbitesfinger]

Evan laid completely unbothered by the new environment change. He was too worn out, sweaty, and beat up to consider getting up in his state.

“I’m beat.. I’m just.. gonna lay here for a while..” he murmured into the sand, his eyelids heavy from exhaustion. Right now all he really wanted was to be back home under the covers of his bed.

The waves began to sweep up the skeletons and swallow them into the sea. In return, a handful of silver coins washed up nearby onto the beach.

Lyra let him rest, she noticed the coins “ohmigod” she jumped back half expecting them to turn into demons and come at her, she took a few steps closer and scooped them up, “we have money?” She grinned

 

[TamingMaster]

Fabian dodged another jabbing claw, swinging the hammar at one of the towering beast's legs, knocking it off from the highest joint.

A gurgled clacking rumbled through the crab's jaws, pain and anger forcing the continuation of its pursuit. It snipped forcefully at the tiny person, grabbing only clawfuls of air and sand.

Fabian swung again, this time at the two, opposite front legs, breaking them off. It left sharp edges across them both as the creature toppled into the sand.

It tried to stand back up, pushing with its claws, but Fabian was already mid-swing. The hammer, lighter than they had imagined, smacked down in the center of the crustacean's body, splitting it in two. They had defeated it.
But, unbeknownst to Fabian, there was no smoke to mark the occasion, no coin, no reward, aside from some momentary relief.

A wheezing Fabian strolled over to the claws, unhooking the bag and slinging it over their shoulder. "That's what you get, you-"

Scuttling caught their attention, interrupting their witty insult, as two dozen smaller crabs crawled out of the skeleton left behind. They headed towards them, quicker than the adult had been. "Why is this happening to me?!"

Fabian swung their hammer down, hard, just missing the first crab as it raced by. Their hands shook as they took an unsteady breath, trying to outmanoeuvre their foes.

It was quickly followed by the rest of the small army, all taking vicious snips at the exhausted Fabian, occasionally getting close enough to tear small chunks from their clothing.

The scorching sun made the situation evermore uncomfortable. Beads of sweat dripped down their forehead, fighting through their eyebrows only to purposely discomfort their eyes - more than the blinding white sand had ever. Their palms, similarly, were becoming soaked with sweat, making it difficult to grip the handle of the hammer.

Fabian started taking heavier breaths, their vision blurring from either sweat or exhaustion. If they weren't killed by the crabs, then they'd definitely be killed by the blistering heat.

They gritted their sharp teeth together, letting the rage inside them grow. I've had enough of this. I've had enough of this desert. I've had enough of these crabs. I've had enough of running. I-

"I'VE HAD ENOUGH," they yelled furiously, dropping the hammer between their feet.

Slime started to ooze out of their hands, dripping off their fingertips and clotting as it fell into the powdered sand below.

Fabian let out a growl, deciding that they should take the creatures head on, despite the risks.

As the crabs tried to attack, Fabian chased after them, flinging their slime towards them.
It clung to their exoskeletons, pulling at their limbs, and clumping in the white dunes. Though the critters struggled desperately to free themselves, they couldn't escape the hardening slime.

Crabs half-devoured by the secretion tried to pinch themselves loose.
Those in the softer slime had their other claw absorbed in with the rest of their bodies. And those trying to snip through solid slime were unable to make much of an impact, aside from a few scratches.

Glowing marks appeared on Fabian's face, a sign that they were getting close to their limit. They were dehydrated, tired, and dangerously close to the effects of using their adaption.

They'd pinned at least ten of the speedy miniatures down, but their slime had started to lose consistency, becoming less sticky, and they weren't able to catch the last two.

They wobbled a little as they made their way back over to the hammer, pausing to gather the strength to lift it. It's only two more... Just two...

A deep breath was all it took to hoist it above their head, before they swung it down on the closest crab, shattering it into a million tiny pieces and pushing them into the grainy terrain.

An abrupt side-swing took the second by surprise, knocking it through the air, sending pieces of shell flying across the dunes as it disappeared.

Fabian's body trembled, fighting its own urge to collapse. Their lips paled as their marks glowed brighter. But, they were fueled by their anger, forcing each step.

They smashed every single last crab in sight, even giving the big one an extra hit, just to be sure it wouldn't get up again.

Individually, they poofed into little, red clouds of smoke. The largest having cloud more suitable for it's size. They were quickly followed by four silver coins, dropping pretty much into Fabian's lap.

"I must be delirious," they mumbled, scooping the coins, and a fair amount of sand, into the bag they'd fought so hard for.

They limped back to the hollow tree, the one they'd found the hammer next to, and tucked themself inside, hoping it would keep them safe for the time being.

"I'll just rest here for a bit," Fabian said, their breathing slowing and growing further apart. "Then I'll find a way out of this hell hole."

There was a short moment of silence, just before Fabian closed their eyes. "I'm sorry moms, I promise... I haven't run away again... I'll be home... soon..."

 

[Butterscotchbitesfinger]

Lyra let him rest, she noticed the coins “ohmigod” she jumped back half expecting them to turn into demons and come at her, she took a few steps closer and scooped them up, “we have money?” She grinned

She glanced at Evan not wanting to disturb him she did a silent happy dance, finding money meant there must be some purpose for it. She jumped up and down and looked at how many there were. A handful, eight to be exact, that meant four for her and four for Evan. She placed four next to him and pocketed her four