T̷h̷e̸ ̵G̶a̴m̸e̵ - A VR Role-play

[HeavensHens88]

“I think we should just find somewhere safe” she replied “and stay there until someone comes and gets us. Surely they must have noticed we were gone by now right?”

"Safe is highly subjective," Sphagnum divulged. "For myself, this is the height of safety."
Its casual observatory expression morphed into something definitively bored after it took in the extraordinarily healthy vegetation and absolute obsolescence of local discord again. "Unfortunately."

Just then, the sedentary skies above came alive with rumbles of discontent.

Though they were largely sequestered from view by the overarching canopies of the most established trees, the blaring darkness made clear that some form of aggressive precipitation was imminent.
Though the thunder spoke of rainfall, the tangible plummet in temperature from the comfortable mugginess of only moments prior promised something frozen.
The nearest plants almost seemed to wilt in dismay for what came next.
Actually, upon getting right up in the fronds of a giant sword fern, Sphagnum realized they were indeed curling before its eyes.

Sphagnum stilled the thrill it felt at the disarranging potential of a multifarious cloudburst and looked to its less accustomed companion with genuine concern. "Just where would you feel safe?"

 

[Butterscotchbitesfinger]

"Safe is highly subjective," Sphagnum divulged. "For myself, this is the height of safety."
Its casual observatory expression morphed into something definitively bored after it took in the extraordinarily healthy vegetation and absolute obsolescence of local discord again. "Unfortunately."

Just then, the sedentary skies above came alive with rumbles of discontent.

Though they were largely sequestered from view by the overarching canopies of the most established trees, the blaring darkness made clear that some form of aggressive precipitation was imminent.
Though the thunder spoke of rainfall, the tangible plummet in temperature from the comfortable mugginess of only moments prior promised something frozen.
The nearest plants almost seemed to wilt in dismay for what came next.
Actually, upon getting right up in the fronds of a giant sword fern, Sphagnum realized they were indeed curling before its eyes.

Sphagnum stilled the thrill it felt at the disarranging potential of a multifarious cloudburst and looked to its less accustomed companion with genuine concern. "Just where would you feel safe?"

“Um in a cave” Cassie replied looking anxiously at the sky almost expecting a lightning bolt to spiral down and strike her or the trees around them. she narrowed her eyes at Sphagnum, “aren’t you in the slightest worried about the forest catching fire with you being a tree and all?”

 

[Butterscotchbitesfinger]

(Sorry guys my responses will only be short like my last one for the next few days. I’m on holidays in the middle of Australia and won’t always have my phone on me)

 

[HeavensHens88]

“Um in a cave” Cassie replied looking anxiously at the sky almost expecting a lightning bolt to spiral down and strike her or the trees around them. she narrowed her eyes at Sphagnum, “aren’t you in the slightest worried about the forest catching fire with you being a tree and all?”

Sphagnum cocked its head at her, amused by her very mortal sentiment of self preservation. "I have the distinct feeling that the impending precipitation won't let a blaze spread here. And as for the likelihood of my being struck by lightning amidst a populous grove such as this, it has to be incredibly in-"

Sphagnum was quite thoroughly contradicted by the bolt of fatal brilliance that swarmed down to embrace the swamp oak just a few paces from the two of them.
And although Sphagnum's mineral body provided general insulator's assurance against being actually shocked, its senses were still left momentarily incapacitated- let alone the shock Cassie had to be experiencing.

Just then, the promised precipitation broke free of the clouds and made its impossible way through the thick canopy.

Snow.
No, that was an understatement. In mere seconds, the leading flurries had already amassed an entire blizzard.

This was a winter thunderstorm, and then some.

"Cave," Sphagnum agreed, visions of virulent ignition of its herbaceous parts dancing across its realm of expectations.

After remaining in place for an extended period to ascertain that she'd had time to recover from the near miss, Sphagnum began to make its way back up out of the gully where the snake had driven them and into the denser part of the forest. Certainly there had to be a natural fixture somewhere out there capable of withstanding the storm.

Just as it left the mouth of the clearing, the snowfall just before them was shattered by a much nearer miss of condensed white fire.

"It's aiming for us," Sphagnum figured gravely after a long moment of sizzling, having been shoved some yards backward from the raw force of the bolt. The idea of cognizant lighting wasn't all that ridiculous when held up against the improbability of these strikes being truly random.

"Run."

 

[Butterscotchbitesfinger]

Sphagnum cocked its head at her, amused by her very mortal sentiment of self preservation. "I have the distinct feeling that the impending precipitation won't let a blaze spread here. And as for the likelihood of my being struck by lightning amidst a populous grove such as this, it has to be incredibly in-"

Sphagnum was quite thoroughly contradicted by the bolt of fatal brilliance that swarmed down to embrace the swamp oak just a few paces from the two of them.
And although Sphagnum's mineral body provided general insulator's assurance against being actually shocked, its senses were still left momentarily incapacitated- let alone the shock Cassie had to be experiencing.

Just then, the promised precipitation broke free of the clouds and made its impossible way through the thick canopy.

Snow.
No, that was an understatement. In mere seconds, the leading flurries had already amassed an entire blizzard.

This was a winter thunderstorm, and then some.

"Cave," Sphagnum agreed, visions of virulent ignition of its herbaceous parts dancing across its realm of expectations.

After remaining in place for an extended period to ascertain that she'd had time to recover from the near miss, Sphagnum began to make its way back up out of the gully where the snake had driven them and into the denser part of the forest. Certainly there had to be a natural fixture somewhere out there capable of withstanding the storm.

Just as it left the mouth of the clearing, the snowfall just before them was shattered by a much nearer miss of condensed white fire.

"It's aiming for us," Sphagnum figured gravely after a long moment of sizzling, having been shoved some yards backward from the raw force of the bolt. The idea of cognizant lighting wasn't all that ridiculous when held up against the improbability of these strikes being truly random.

"Run."

Cassie yelped as the white light of the lightning flashed around her, the sound was a deafening roar of noise, first it was the wood splitting then the thunder which was a ruckus of loud noises. Cassie was fairly certain her heart froze in her chest for several seconds as the lightning dashed around her, the heavier the snow clouds became and the more lightning that appeared just seemed to feed her fear, and then the flurry of white came.

It started off as just a small amount of snow but it soon began to grow and within a few short seconds the first flurry had become a winter snowstorm. A snowstorm coupled with an electrical storm couldn’t be a good mix, dangerous in fact. She glanced at Sphagnum and heard it say “cave.”

That one word made her able to breathe again. Cave. In the few moments where things had gone from bad to worse she had forgotten there existed such a thing as a cave, without waiting for the tree creature she ran, as fast as her mortal legs would carry her. She slid to a stop in the cave mouth as the thunderstorm raged outside.

Cassie caught her breath for a few moments before uttering the one single phrase which seemed to feed Sphagnum’s desire to get both itself and her killed, “I am not going out there again”.

Not five seconds after she had said that the tree was pushing itself back out into the wild weather, Cassie stared at it. “You have to be kidding me!” She cried running a hand through her hair, “I’m not going” she muttered “no, Cassie you listen to me. You’re not getting yourself killed over a tree”. She glanced into the flurrying snow for the tree like creature, it appeared to have disappeared. Don’t do it Cassie!

“Sphagnum WAIT!” She howled running out the cave despite the chilling sick feeling in her stomach begging her to turn around and go back for safety. She caught up to the tree relatively fast, and she dropped to a walk. Every bone in her body humming with adrenaline, she surprisingly was grinning from ear to ear. It was great. She had done it, no sooner had she thought this a lightning bolt hit the ground not five feet from them.

“Its aiming for us” Sphagnum said, “no kidding!” Cassie replied her anxiety flaring up once again.
“Run.”
And she was off. Speeding through the forest like a racehorse down the track, she let out a scream as lighting struck the tree next to her and she momentarily paused thinking it was Sphagnum but alas it wasn’t.

“What do we do?!” Cassie shouted over her shoulder to Sphagnum, if it heard her or not she wasn’t entirely sure but it didn’t matter she just had to run. Get away from the lightning strikes threatening to destroy her and her tree companion.

 

[Cluckcluck1215]

Zayne pursed his lips, giving a slight shake of his head. “Lucky,” he breathed, glancing at Xaviers weapon. “Well, let’s hope this won’t be something like The Hunger Games. I know who would end up winning that fight,” he said, only half joking. He couldn’t shake the images from his last vision, briefly zoning out as he remembered the feeling of being pierced by the arrow.
God, I hope I didn’t just predict something there.

“—fectly fine.”
Zayne blinked, looking back towards Xavier as he heard the last part of its words.
“If you say so, bud.” While he didn’t have a reason to not believe them, he couldn’t help but feel an inkling of doubt. Still, he would listen them until it gave him a reason not to.

He drew his eyes to the ground, landing on the knife. While Xavier didn’t exactly give off friendly vibes, Zayne felt it was safe to pick up the blade.
“If you don’t mind, I’m just gonna— I’ll just grab this, then.” He waiting a moment, looking for approval, before kneeling down to pick up the knife. Brushing off the dirt, he carefully pocketed the weapon.

As Xavier gave permission to follow, he widened his eyes, raising his head.
“Really?” Zayne asked, trying to keep the desperation out of his voice. “I’d love to tag along. I could be your. . . Less impressive sidekick!” He beamed up at them, using his knee to push himself up. He didn’t like the idea of trying to navigate the woods alone, especially if there were more people with bows. Or worse.

"Mhm," Xavier hummed softly. "Less impressive indeed."
It picked it's way through the ferns, heading down the widest path. It led into the woods without an end in sight, but they could only hope that it led out of them, eventually.
They felt like they were dreaming.
Sure, they felt pain. It felt the sting on its palms and leg, and felt the blood and slime slowly creeping off it's skin.

But it felt wrong.

Occasionally the world would blur in front of it's eyes. There would be a tree where they were sure there wasn't one a few seconds ago. There were birds singing high-pitched, off-key songs, yet there wasn't a single one in sight.
The trees were just a little too tall. The ground beneath their feet was just a little too solid, almost concrete like despite it's forest debris appearance.

"It's strange, isn't it?" They muttered to Zayn, gesturing around them. "It doesn't feel...real."

 

[Yowza Wowza]

Here he stood, in an underground subway that was completely abandoned, void of any travelers or commuters. Was it completely abandoned to an extent that the place was beyond repair? No. It was the complete opposite. It was if the place had just been installed only yesterday.

Evan took a look around at the spotless white tiles that lined each wall and column flawlessly. The suspended lights above his head never bothered to flicker erratically like the ones he’d see in his city’s poorly managed subway system. Actually, with how up kept and brand new everything seemed only fueled his discontent in the place. Here he was expecting the worse with his previous experience with the environment subways usually had.

He look a glance back at the flight of stairs he descended from to reach this subway landing, highly tempted to run back up and return to the bush child.

“Here. This is the place.” Lieu announced, pointing her staff down into the completely random stairwell in the forest leading underground.

Evan walked up to her, peering over the child’s shoulder and into the entrance that closely resembled stairs to a subway. Each step was painted yellow, and the walls were decorated with tiles and handrails. “Wha..What is.. this doing here? Where does this go..?” he murmured softly, feeling uneasy.

Lieu looked up at his still red and tear-stained face. “You wanna find your answers? You’re gonna have to go for a ride.” she replied, turning her attention back to her staff and opening a secret compartment. Pulling out a item, she shoved her fist right into his hand, forcing him to capture whatever she was giving to him. “Use this whenever you need help out here in the Distant Lands.” With her job done, Lieu went on her way, following the path back to her hut.

Uncurling his hand, Evan observed the medium sized conch shell the child gifted him. ‘Use this whenever you need help out here in the Distant Lands’ A warm smile formed on his face and looked out towards the young child before she disappeared into the forest. Maybe this kid isn’t so mean after all?

Now completely alone with no wild bush child accompanying him, Evan faced the stairwell and took a deep breath before descending. I’m gonna make it up to you Lyra... somehow..

A loud blaring horn echoed and shook the entire subway, nearly leaving Evan to have to hold onto one of the columns for stability. In a flash, subway cars began passing through the tunnel in front of him, the slick chrome was all he managed to see as they sped past. Then without warning everything came to a screeching halt, things no longer seemingly a blur. That’s when the set of doors in front of Evan opened for entry with a steam-like hiss.

“Destination... Safe-Zone” an automated voice echoed over the rolling stocks intercom, followed by subtle chirping noises as it waited its sole passenger to board.

Evan cautiously stepped out towards the doors, observing the contents of the subway car through its glass windows. It’s furnishings were no different than what’d you expect on a metro, but it lacked any sort of promotional posters, ads, and maps that would give an idea of where he was.

This.. is strange, really strange.

“Destination... Safe-Zone” the voice repeated.

Giving one last casting glance over his shoulder at the stairwell, Evan took a deep breath. “Here we go..” he exhaled, tensing up his body as he stepped inside the car.

 

[TamingMaster]

Lyra had to run to keep up with them, they were fast and she was actually concerned about him ripping the sleeve of the jacket with the vicious way he was tugging on it. She concentrated on getting to the shelter, that’s all that mattered, get to the shelter and then they’d be safe.

Another lightning bolt sprang out the sky striking the ground where seconds ago she had been running through. It almost seemed as though the thunder was annoyed that it couldn’t hit them, she honestly felt like cussing at the sky but in this place the sky might take it personally. She continued running, her feet were aching, her shoulders were pained from her heavy backpack. When next thing she knew she was being tugged to the ground and slime was creating a shield over the top of her.

Lyra gawked at it, it was like a crystallised purple and her companion was glowing - wait. What?! Her companion, yes the other person in this shield, was quite literally glowing in several places on his face. And he had slime protruding from his hand which appeared to be feeding the dome which protected them when the lightning did hit.

Lyra had never scrambled away from someone quite so fast, she was almost horrified by the slime which came out of them. What were they? She was very tempted to ask but realised there would be time for asking questions later, right now she needed to focus on getting to shelter.

As the lightning withdrew rather reluctantly back to the clouds, she had a second to consider running for her life away from the slime person but that could likely result in death by lightning strike. She’d take her chances in the boulders with the slime person, she stared with horror blatantly scrawled across her face as the blood dripped from their nose.

Next thing they was on their feet and had hold of her jacket dragging her across the snow to the boulders up ahead, she shook them off and sped up until the over took them. “Hurry up” was all she called over her shoulder as she ran.
The snow seemed to be thinner around the boulders and she collapsed as soon as she was into the cave like construction. Lyra stared at the person as they dragged themselves inside the cave. “What are you?” Was all she asked, it was rude. A very rude question but she needed it answered, ASAP.

Fabian shuffled into the cave, dragging the hammer behind them, breathing heavily. The air was dry and they were exhausted.

After making it a safe distance inside, using the wall to support themselves as they walked, they slumped down against it. It was damp, but not wet, compared to the soaking snowstorm outside.

Despite Lyra's urgent question, Fabian took their time. They pulled their white sleeve up onto their burnt palm, using it to wipe some of the blood away.

The pink, glowing marks faded slowly, their skin returning to normal. Their eyes followed a similar pattern, turning from pink back to their previous blue colour.

They unzipped the supplied pouch, pulling out the water bottle inside. Unsurprisingly, the water was still frozen, with no signs of thawing any time soon. A short sigh left their mouth as they tucked it back inside the pouch, zipping it shut.
They made a mental note against using their adaption, at least until they could rehydrate themselves.

Fabian looked up at Lyra, silently thinking to themselves, finally mulling over her question.
It was funny, they'd both almost just died, and all she cared about was what they were. If they weren't so tired and stubborn, they would have probably laughed.

"I'm human, like you." Fabian eventually replied, their tired voice echoing lightly through the cave. They didn't quite understand her surprised tone, since people like them were common enough, but they figured it was just shock or something. "If you mean about the whole slime thing... That's just an adaptation, I guess."

They looked down at their hands, the skin raw and blistered. The adrenaline had started to wear off, and their skin now stung softly. "You're welcome, by the way."

Fabian leaned their head back against the cave wall, their eyes closed and their arms dangled loosely across their knees. They desperately needed to rest, even if for just a little while.

 

[Butterscotchbitesfinger]

Fabian shuffled into the cave, dragging the hammer behind them, breathing heavily. The air was dry and they were exhausted.

After making it a safe distance inside, using the wall to support themselves as they walked, they slumped down against it. It was damp, but not wet, compared to the soaking snowstorm outside.

Despite Lyra's urgent question, Fabian took their time. They pulled their white sleeve up onto their burnt palm, using it to wipe some of the blood away.

The pink, glowing marks faded slowly, their skin returning to normal. Their eyes followed a similar pattern, turning from pink back to their previous blue colour.

They unzipped the supplied pouch, pulling out the water bottle inside. Unsurprisingly, the water was still frozen, with no signs of thawing any time soon. A short sigh left their mouth as they tucked it back inside the pouch, zipping it shut.
They made a mental note against using their adaption, at least until they could rehydrate themselves.

Fabian looked up at Lyra, silently thinking to themselves, finally mulling over her question.
It was funny, they'd both almost just died, and all she cared about was what they were. If they weren't so tired and stubborn, they would have probably laughed.

"I'm human, like you." Fabian eventually replied, their tired voice echoing lightly through the cave. They didn't quite understand her surprised tone, since people like them were common enough, but they figured it was just shock or something. "If you mean about the whole slime thing... That's just an adaptation, I guess."

They looked down at their hands, the skin raw and blistered. The adrenaline had started to wear off, and their skin now stung softly. "You're welcome, by the way."

Fabian leaned their head back against the cave wall, their eyes closed and their arms dangled loosely across their knees. They desperately needed to rest, even if for just a little while.

She sat down on the floor of the cave and started emptying her bag contents, she took off her companions Jacket and passed it to them “you’ll need this” she whispered quietly. She rummaged through her things and fumbled with the water bottle, the cold stung her hand it was frozen solid.

She regarded the other person curiously but also fearfully, Lyra had never come across anyone who produced slime. From their skin! She frowned while she waited for them to respond. They sure were taking their time!

Lyra watched the pink marks fade and was unsure what exactly they were, they produced slime and their eyes went from blue to pink. That’s all she knew, and slime? How does one produce slime?!

When they finally responded she frowned, “an adaptation you say? How come I haven’t adapted?” It sounded slightly whiny but she was exhausted and frustrated, how come she didn’t have some cool power?
“You’re welcome”
“Thanks” she said quietly “but I’m still curious, how did you produce slime from your skin?”

 

[FrankieDoodle]

"Mhm," Xavier hummed softly. "Less impressive indeed."
It picked it's way through the ferns, heading down the widest path. It led into the woods without an end in sight, but they could only hope that it led out of them, eventually.
They felt like they were dreaming.
Sure, they felt pain. It felt the sting on its palms and leg, and felt the blood and slime slowly creeping off it's skin.

But it felt wrong.

Occasionally the world would blur in front of it's eyes. There would be a tree where they were sure there wasn't one a few seconds ago. There were birds singing high-pitched, off-key songs, yet there wasn't a single one in sight.
The trees were just a little too tall. The ground beneath their feet was just a little too solid, almost concrete like despite it's forest debris appearance.

"It's strange, isn't it?" They muttered to Zayn, gesturing around them. "It doesn't feel...real."

Zayne trailed closely behind them, his gaze wandering the vibrant treetops. It was beautiful, really, the way sunbeams broke through the trees, casting splotches of light across the moss-covered floor. Vines crawled up the tree trunks, some with flowers, while others had fruit of varying shades of red and green.

"I know, right? I live in the city, so this is place is awesome. It's like those enchanted forest books I always saw in the library growing up," he answered, running his fingertips over one of the tree trunks as he walked. His hand snagged on a thorn and he jerked away, sticking the small wound in his mouth. Note to self, don't touch those.

He glanced at Xavier, his brows furrowing as he met the uneasy look on its face. "You. . . didn't mean it like that, did you." Zayne shook his head, lowering his hand. "I'm not quite sure I understand. I mean, it looks real. The prick I got was definitely real." He showed his hand, a dot of blood coming from a fingertip, before he stuck it back into his mouth, sucking the blood away.

Now that Xavier had mentioned it, he did notice some things felt off, though he couldn't place his finger on what. Maybe it was simply from waking up in an unknown location, or maybe they were right. Maybe it wasn't real. Either way, the hair on the back of his head stood up and he became much more alert, his eyes darting around.