Syra

Well, it was good to be able to have the company in any case. Plus there is no telling what would happen if Syra tried going in on this mission alone, so whatever the reason it was for Yuki to want to tag along, it was more than a welcomed addition for Syra.
As they made their way out of the city, syra listened intently to every word from Yuki, her advice would mean the matter of life or death, "Guess I had no idea how dangerous this mission was, if she wasn't there waiting, I would have taken this on alone, and who knows what would have happened, just another player falling victim to this world," 
"Thank you for helping me out with this! I hope I am able to pick up on things quickly... Have you been fighting on the frontlines?" Yes this might have been too big of a question, but desperate for find something to chat about, maybe this player would be open to talking about their advancements. "Sorry, I don't mean to pry, just curious how things are going up there? I am trying to work on my skills to maybe one day be an asset with them, and help put an end to all of this."
Noticing that Yuki took off her armour, Syra wondered what the reason was, is it not better to be more protected? Though who was she to ask such a question, might be a strategic choice... or maybe to give her extra agility.
Finally heading out of the town, Syra pulled up her map, and continued in the direction of their destination. 

Syra listen with great intend to the old man. His answer was profound and deep. It was so true, life itself was an adventure, at every turn, if you so chose it to be. Reflecting on her own reaction to the accident, how she shut herself out. Stopped caring, therefore stopped living. Was life about risk? Maybe, maybe no, but it was the choices you made everyday, to connect with people, get out of the house, and find joy in the life you had.
She smiled back at Teddy, and couldn't have agreed more with Zenshu, Teddy was indeed a wise man, with a lot of life and knowledge to give out.
Syra went right back to searching for some materials, and no such luck. Not a shimmer, a twinkle, nothing catching her eyes.
She heard sorean shout out in frustration, the cruel sense of humour the game master must have.
"I mean not to be that person, but the fact that we are all here like this, is proof enough they are twisted." She couldn't help but feel a tad annoyed herself. Why was it that when she really tried, she came up empty handed. "Sure wish things would be easier to find. Makes me wonder if the Game Master is watching us, moving materials on us, like a cat with a piece of string." She made her way closer to Soren, if he had just located a piece, maybe the chances she would find one there would be better. "So are you and Teddy both here like together? or did you just happen to stumble across each other, not knowing you both had joined this game?" Was it a pointed question? Yes, but Syra wanted to get to know these people more, and frankly Soren was still such a mystery for her.

 

Word Count: 304

ID209722 | LD:1 |(No MAT Found) 2/5 MAT

Syra began to, once again, scour the ground for more materials. She let her mind wander as she searched. How great it felt to bolt up the tree, the wind in her hair, the adrenaline pumping through her veins. Through out this whole experience, she had discovered what it was she was missing, risk. She had stopped taking any risk since the accident, since her parents were taken from her. Even since being trapped in this game, but today, nearly dying, almost falling out of a tree, putting even her own emotions on the line. She had never felt so Alive.
"Hey Teddy, what would you say to the need of thrill, and adventure in your life, in order to be truly living? I mean, for most of my life, I have been sitting in a wheelchair, being waited on by a nurse. Not having to really do anything for myself. And I felt dead, like there was nothing to live for. But here, nearly dying today, it has been the first time in a long time, that I feel like I am truly alive! Would you say the need for risk, is what makes living.... Living?"

She left the question there, even hoped it would spark a conversation from anyone else, but it was a thought she had, was risking your life, apart of what made you feel alive?

She continued on her search, and to her excitement, she saw a gleam amongst the waving grass blades, "YES! Finally found you little sucker!" 

She looked over to Zenshu as he was asking how the searching was. "If I keep going at this rate, I will be done soon enough, and whether it is before or after we finish the mission, getting food sounds like a great idea!"
She pocketed here material and kept on a searching.

 

ID209641 | LD:14 |(+1 MAT Found) 2/5 MAT

| word count: 307 |

It was weird, but it felt amazing to do Yoga. Of course her avatar didn't feel any of the stretch, but it felt good to use the body she was giving in this game. To have the ability to stretch, was the mental boast she needed. Nearly shouting out at the idea of forming a group, she held in her joy and attempted to calmly replay,
"That would be amazing if we got a group to do this! Would be a fun way to just relax a bit, and let the pressure of the game be put on hold. Plus it would just be fun to meet new people as well, it could become a large gathering, complete with stories around a roaring fire, and a well cooked meal for everyone to share in!" The idea spun in her mind, it would be a joy to maybe buy a property on one of the higher levels, and host a weekly Yoga gathering for all who cared to join. If she wanted to do that, she would need way more funds, and would also like to hone her cooking skill, so she could make a glorious meal for all attending.
Her thought bubble was popped when Sorean joined next to her in the stretching. She had not expected that. And what's more, it seemed like he also was enjoying himself.
She transferred into the splits, only to start laughing at Soren who resided to a butterfly claiming, "This shits way to painful for me." Syra supposed she had read him all wrong, the fact that he joined in the yoga, regardless of the usefulness, just meant a lot to her. 
"Hey no pain no gain, It could be a cool move in combat, you could trip two enemies at once!" Of course that idea was ridiculous, so she laughed at her own suggestion of fighting in the splits.

After the group had finished their mini Yoga session, the conversation moved to items to help you fight better in the game. It was encouraging that both Teddy and sorean also dreamed of joining the front lines. Of course though that would make sense, seeing as how they both charged into save Syra's life with the boar. Perhaps they all could fight together? Watch each others backs. What if the 4 of them all completed the game together? The thought of taking on the boss alongside the players before her set a fire in the pit of her stomach. 
"If we all got strong enough, we could finish the game together, than maybe we could meet up one day in the real world." 
Coming back to the conversation, Syra listened intently to Zenshu's explanation of upgrading, it was a lot of information to take in, Syra started wishing she was taking notes. Not everything he said made a whole lot of sense, but maybe it would in the future. Relieved to hear Zenshu's offer to discuss it more later if there was ever a need. I would be very helpful to have some one talk out stats with her, and picking out armor and weapons that would help her fight better, and stay well protected.
She continued her search through the billowing grass, all while keeping an ear in the group conversation. At some point while Teddy was talking, she realized she wasn't understanding a word he was saying, but she enjoyed the rambling anyways, it felt good, real, like it was listening to others conversation in the real world. She started to wonder what Teddy and Sorean's relationship was, Teddy did mention he was Sorean' father, but it felt like sorean at times was distant, or avoiding teddy, or just straight up angry. Though what business did Syra have in other people's life in the real world? If that was something they ever felt like explaining, than that was there choice, but no reason to go about being noisy for the sake of it. She found herself loosing her thoughts in memories, of her relationship with her father. the kind man he was, how he always would say good night to her, even if he was out all day due to work inquiries. How he cared for her and her mother if they were ever sick. And how he tried his best to protect his family during the break in...
BANG
The sound of a gunshot rang through Syra's head. She could hear her mother wailing, she could hear the roof breaking, the feeling of her legs being crushed under the debris....
She shook herself out of it, looking around, she was in the field, Teddy and Sorean were over lying in the grass, Zenshu was keeping a watch over to himself.
No, She can't let herself loose her mind, she had to focus on the here and now, finding these materials, and finishing the quest.

After taking the time to share with Zenshu, and realizing that in fact Teddy and Sorean were also listen, Syra at first felt embarrass, but then cared for. It was incredible, all of these players saw her for who she was. Appreciated her, regardless about her life in the real world. Teddy with his kind words, and not giving into the trap of pity, which wasn't what she wanted. And Sorean of all people, understanding that it doesn't matter who you were, but who you are. It for sure wasn't what she had expected from any of them, but she was grateful to not only have their support, but their assurance that they wouldn't abandon her. 
This was it, this is what she wanted, to discover herself, to work through her trauma, and to finally connect with other people, it had been a long time since Syra had someone to call a friend, and here they were, on the first day she decided to fight back against the game, 3 people she could truly say she trusted. Amazing how fast it all came about, how this morning she was sitting alone in a cafe, wondering if she would ever stick around till tomorrow.
"Thank you, all of you! I can't even begin to explain what it means to me to have you guys here, and to be able to get to know you. I don't know if I am the type of person that believes in fate, and in my opinion you would have to be twisted to see this game, and situation as fated to happen, but if one good thing does come out of all of this, it is that I got the chance to meet all of you, and that I was able to share a little my story with you." She paused for a moment, fighting back the tears that were welling up. "Please know though, that I would also love to hear your stories too, who you were or are, but I understand if it is a niche thing to talk about. But if you all were willing, I would love to meet at a cafe after this, and maybe we could take the time to get to know each other a little bit more." Her eyes beamed at the idea! Forming a formal party, having weekly hang outs, leveling up, sharing stories, going on adventures! It sounded like the perfect way to live life in this world, and if she was honest with herself, there wasn't another group of people she would be more happy to spend that time with.
A tear came to Syra's eye when Zenshu shared his deepest sympathy for her situation. She knew from the first moment of meeting him, that he had a kind heart, that he cared for people, and just wanted to help. He was who Syra wanted to be. "Thank you! yeah that is true, this was not the experience I was imagining when I joined the game. But I have come to terms with that. It's funny that a life in here actually offers me more life, then my life in the real world." She took a moment pondering over that thought. This world offered her all that the real world took away. "That being said though, I am not the type to wish this world to never end, I know that so many are trapped from their friends and family. Some might have children, or grandparents, responsibilities. And the devastation of being trapped here is unimaginable. Though it benefits myself more in this game, I still want to fight to end it. For all of those who have a life worth fighting for in the real world." She looked over to Teddy and Sorean, still laying about in the grass. "I think I want to join the frontlines as well. I know it will take a lot of work, and I have such a long way to go before I am ready, but I want to be apart of helping to free everyone from this nightmare. To inspire, and encourage those who might be losing hope. To reconnect families, and destroy whatever fantasy the developer had when designing this circumstance." 
She had never felt so powerful before. It was like a match had be lit inside her, and she was catching on fire. Her words being precise and pointed, and for the first time since being trapped, filled with hope. She exchanged a smile to Zenshu, then resigned to go back to searching.
For how easy it was to find her first material, it was that much harder to find her next one. She couldn't believe it, scanning back and forth. Picking up sticks, and looking under, and around rocks. Why was this so hard? She started wishing she could take on another boar, sure it was a high risk, low reward method, but it beats crawling about on your hands and knees for hours at a time. Luckily she wasn't the only one who was struggling to find any more materials, looking over at Sorean, it seemed as though this seemed just as difficult for him as it was for her. It brought some peace to her mind. "At least I won't be the only one keeping the group here longer than needed." She started too long for the end of the quest, to be able to go to a cafe with these guys, to share in drinks and maybe play some games. This whole thing was tedious and boring. One could only look so long at identical blades of grass, and rocks before going insane.
Teddy had found another one, oh the guilt of him and Zenshu waiting for hours while she still struggled to find her second material. 
Understanding now why she had seen Teddy and Sorean resting in the grass, this was tiring, even if it wasn't physical, but it was mentally tiring. She was fighting the urge to allow herself to rest for a moment, "If I sit down, there is no telling if I would get up. If I keep searching at least that is still a chance of finding more materials. The only way to ensure not finding anything, is by not looking." She continued on her search, though the patch of grass did look inviting, as it tossed and twisted in the breeze. The sun resting high above the plains, shining through the trees, and offering a warmth and comfort that is just inviting you to rest your head. 
What is the harm if she allowed herself a small break? Besides the other two certainly did. Perhaps it would strengthen her next push of searching, recharging her mind, and giving her the boost to move forward to find more materials. She unequipped her sword, and stood over a perfectly looking patch of grass, just begging her to lay down. "No I just have to give it five more minutes of searching. I can not just allow the need for rest stop me. In this game physical limitation don't exists, I could go for hours and hours and not break a sweat! Why am I wanting to give in to an idol break, when there are people counting on me to push through, to find all of the materials, and to finish the quest that they all started. If I rest now, I could block the flow that I have had in searching, and that could stall us, not a few hours, but maybe days!" 
She allowed her thoughts to spin back and forth. To rest or not to rest, that was the question. But the answer was not a clear cut and dry one.
Embarrassed, she was pondering on this far longer than she had wished. Looking up at the sky, she tried to determine what time of day it was. Not that she really could tell, she had no knowledge in the real world what time it was purely based on the placement of the sun.
"Hey guys, what time do you think it is? I am finding myself loosing steam, probably from lack of actually locating any materials for the last little bit." She gave out a slight chuckle. then turned to Zenshu. "When you did this quest, how long did it take you to find all the materials? It is normal that it is taking this long? Am I doing something wrong with searching?"
Syra noticed there were other players beginning to fill out some of the empty plain area, not that it bothered her, but she wondered if they were doing the same quest, and if so, were they far more successful with their searching than she was?

Putting the thought to the side, she took a moment to herself, observing the surrounding area. Almost like taking a moment to connect with nature. Noting every tree in her sight, every rock along every hill, every animal going about it's own business. Well on the bright side, it was a rather perfect day to be out in the fields, searching for hours. How awful would it be if it were raining.... or would that make it easier? Then the thought came to her, maybe she wasn't finding anything because she had the wrong perspective? This whole time she had been above the line of the tallest grass, looking down, moving around blade after blade hoping to find something. So what if she was instead looking from higher up, like from the hight of a tree, she would be able to see way more from that distance!
Without giving it a second thought, Syra made her way to the closest, yet strongest looking tree. She managed to find one, not that far off from the rest of the group. Making it to the base of the tree, she looked up. Analyzing the branches for the perfect path to the top. 
After mapping it out, she reached up to take hold of the lowest hanging branch, hoisting herself up, surprisingly easy. She remembered climbing trees as a kid, but she remembered it taking a lot of effort, but her, hardly any at all needed to be taken.
After securing her position on the first branch, she reach out for the next one, then the next, and the next. Quickly she was making distance up the tree, like climbing a ladder, it was super simple, and fun. As she climbed higher and higher, she found her smile growing, and without realizing it, she was laughing to herself! Higher and higher she climbed, and eventually she had stopped climbing and was leaping from branch to branch, just like a lemur, or a monkey from the amazon.
"What fun! Maybe instead of fighting, this is how I will spend the rest of my days in this game!" Finally she reached the top, she could see the whole plain from up here. Down below she saw her party members all looking like tiny ants.
"Hey guys! Look at how high I came! I can see the whole floor from up here!"
Of course she couldn't actually see the whole floor, but it sure as heck felt like it. The breeze pushed her about as she balanced in the branches, one with the leaves. This was it, what she had been missing out on, what she was truly looking for! 
Freedom!
To go where she wanted, when she wanted. To not have to wait for the go ahead from others, maybe that is why she went head first in against the boar, maybe that is why she said yes to this VR gaming nightmare. Most of her life had been being told what to do, where to go, how to go about doing it. And she was tired of it. Tired of feeling like a burden. Tired of relying on others in order to move ahead. Now she could make her own calls! 
And within that, she decided right then and there, overlooking the entirety of the first floor, she was going to see this game to the end, Get back to the real world, and take a hold of her own life! The only thing that had been standing in her way, was the lie she was believing, that she was no longer capable to live her own life. It took getting stuck in a video game to realize it was never too late to reclaim the life she had lost, and re-invent it.

After her moment in the tree tops, she came to the conclusion that it didn't actually help in locating any more materials, So she started to make her way back down to the ground. She went slower down, than she did going up, the thought of falling at this point, and hitting every branch on the way down, risking the remaining life she had left, was enough to submit her to a slow decent. Finally close enough to be able to leap down, she held on to the branch she was resting on, let her feet sway beneath her, and flipped backward landing flawlessly on the ground.

"Back to regular searching I guess."

 

|Word Count: 3,012 |

 

ID209504 | LD: 9 (+0 MAT) | 1/5 MAT 

It was abrupt, jumping in and offering to come along, all before even introducing yourself. Though Syra couldn't say much, clearly this player has had some experience, and when it comes down to it, the mission is clearing the game, getting as many people out of here safely. So she was grateful to have the company, and protection if need be.
She followed the worrier to the quest point, within an instant a frantic woman came running up to Syra, begging for help to locate her child. The women went on to explain how her child went to the caverns in the mountain with some friends, despite the warnings from her mother.
After the explanation was complete, the option to start the mission popped up. Taking a moment to look back at the player watching over her shoulder, Syra took a breath and accepted the quest.
"R-really? Thank you! Thank you so much, you have no idea how grateful I am! Your e-efforts won't go to waste, I swear! I'll have something for you when you get back, I-I promise!" And with that the location pinned in Syra's map.
She headed back to her new... "escort" ready to head out.
"Well looks like we are heading out to the mountains...." the two started walking in the direction the map was guiding. "I'm Syra by the way... um thank you for helping me out in this quest." She waited for a response, maybe something to help break the ice. It would be enough to say, even though sweating wasn't totally possible in this world, Syra was sweating a little bit. 

What a rush, Syra's eyes grew, her hands shook, she nearly toppled over. She did it! Her first hit, and she took the beast down! She could help but leap in the air, giving a victory yell. Quickly realizing there were others around, she ended her celebration early. feeling slightly embarrassed, but then soren came over and offered a high five, which she gladly accepted. 
Taking a moment to look at each of the party members, Syra couldn't help but feel a little emotional. Here they all were, a bunch of strangers, from different parts of the world, trapped together in this game, and yet choosing to connect and look after each other. 
"Thanks for the help guys, really, but yeah I think it might be wiser to search for the materials instead."  She watched as Teddy headed of in search of materials, take note of what he was doing, and started to copy, all while listening to the wisdom of Zenshu.
How grateful she was that he was there, helping and teaching them how to progress in the game. No not just progress, but thrive. 
The topic shifted to stretching and yoga. Syra of course knew what it was, but never herself got into it. Unfortunately it wasn't possible to engage in the real world since the accident. But in here!
She scooted closer to Teddy, " I have never done Yoga myself, my body irl isn't able to do activities like that, but I would love to give it a try, I have watched videos of people running classes, and I think I remember a few." 
She proceeded to stand tall, head reaching up towards the sky. She closed her eyes, and took a deep breath, in through the nose, out through the mouth. She peeked one eye open to see if she was the only one trying it out. Well didn't matter if she was or wasn't, she was going to give it a go any how.
She then bend over, leading with her hands, until they touched the ground. Not much feeling of a stretch, but the idea of it was indeed relaxing. She then proceeded to hold her weight on her hands, letting her legs extend backwards until she was in a plank. She could remember the downward dog, and the cobra. She was even able to get herself into a perfect split. Amazing, not even a bit of discomfort. But Teddy was right, it sure was relaxing.

After realizing she had taking too much time doing yoga, she proceeded to some grass area to look for some Materials. After some time she was successful! She had finally found what looked to be a crystal type material. She smiled holding it up to Zenshu, who was off talking with Soren and Teddy. "Wow that is a lot easier than fighting a boar, ah well live and learn"
As she continued her search, she saw Zenshu approaching her.

"Wow! Thank you so much! That is all I want really, to be a strong fighter, and to be able to help clear the game." She took a moment, "He did step in to save her, and has been nothing but kind this entire time..." She glanced around at Teddy and Soren, both occupied with finding their own materials. She looked down at her feet, watching the grass as it bumped against them in the breeze. "In the real world I'm an amputee." Was she really laying her life out to these people, on the first day of meeting? "There was an accident when I was a child, so I normally need assistance to do anything on my own. That's why I am here, as a way to live life outside of my wheelchair, to be able to run again, be independence. But the more i think about it, the more that I realize it isn't independence I want, but it's the chance to help other, and support them. Most of my life I have felt like a burden, and I for a change, want to be someone that can carry others."
There it was, a small piece of herself. She could feel emotion welling up inside of her, She looked down at her crystal she was still holding, following her thumb along every edge, praying that after hearing about her life irl, they wouldn't abandon her because she shared too much, or was weaker because of her condition, what ever dumb reasoning she was thinking up in her head.

She did want to stay in contact with all of them, continue to build a relationship, maybe even form a real party, so if this was a group that was going to be around, they would have found out sooner or later. 

 

ID209484 | LD: 13 | 1 Mat (1/5 found)

 

Word count: 793

Syra stood, ready for another go, luckily she avoided a second hit from the beast. Before anything else could happen, Teddy come barreling in front of her, putting himself between her and the boar. His armour covered in magnificent vines, as he spoke words that syra didn't quite catch, but then she saw the vile in his hands, disappeared. And her health had been restored. Looking over to Teddy, as his armour returned to is previous state, She smiled and gave him a thankful nod.
"Alright you got this! Max health, Back up around you, You can do this!" She began coaching herself in her head. When she looked over to see Zenshu disengage, but hearing his reasoning she prepared herself for her next strike.
"Come on, You are a worrier, You are a fighter, And you can do this!"

She engaged into the sword art, and finally felt it. The buzz, the control. It felt natural, like she had been doing it her whole life. Her sword reflecting an extension of her arm, and her legs moving in unity, and perfect strides. She aimed at her target and lunged forward!
Feeling the blade run alongside the beast, she managed to finally hit the darn thing. A scream of agony, and the boar shot its leg out, nailing Syra in the calf. But not nearly as bad as getting it in the face.
"Did you see that guys! I Got Him!"

 

[0] Zenshu | Lv. 5 | HP: 100/100 | EN: 27/28 | DMG: 7 | ACC: 3 | MIT: 13 | Light Momentum [+1 BD]
[1] Syra | Lv.  1 |  HP: 10/20 | EN: 17+1-8= 10/20 | DMG: 4 | EVA: 1 | BLD (12 DMG) 
[0] Soren | Lv.  1 | HP: 20/20 | EN: 18/20 | DMG: 1 | MIT: 6 | BLD (12 DMG)
[0] Theodore | Lv. 1 |HP: 20/20 | EN: 20/20 | MIT 8 | THRNS 18

Boar | HP: 0/30 | DMG:8

Round Five Four

Syra ID209444 | BD: 9+1=10 | <<ST-1 vs. Boar>> Minor Crit. Hit: (4+1)x8 = 40 DMG | Boar is defeated!

Boar | MOB: 6 | DMG: 8+0=8 | Hit

word count: 241

It was time to get serious, there was no moving forward at this level, Syra had to get stronger, what help could she be to clearing the game at this level, with these skills. She didn't care how risky it was, it was worth dying for, if it meant that she could help free all the other players.
However she was crazy, so she settled on working through simple quest, in order to boost her stats a bit.
"Would be really nice to have some help, but I can't just go around asking every skilled fighter to take a break from what they are doing, to babysit me."

No she had more or less settled on the fact that whatever she did, she was going to do it alone.

Upon making it to the second floor, she was awestruck by the difference it was to the town of beginnings. This town Urbus, sitting as it was on top of this mountain, nestled in. It was unlike anything she had seen before! Making her way through the gates, she opened up her quest menu, making sure she knew where she was going.

"Well, says I should just encounter the person here... and receive the quest" 
Inspecting up and down the streets, she was beginning to think she would never find the quest spot. Re-opening her window, she frantically checked again, to insure she didn't miss read, or over look any details. Then something caught her eye. A blonde haired girl, very obviously decked out in gear Syra could only dream of having, standing just at the corner of one of the streets. "Would that be the quest marker? No that looks to be a player, but what is a player at that level, doing on this floor?" She thought it over, and made the choice to walk over to say something, rather than just staring from a distance. "Maybe she would know where I can at least find the quest marker, What's the harm in asking?"

Making her way closer to the player, she locked eyes with her as she approached, taking in a breath, "I am sorry to bother you, but I am looking for the quest marker called Let there be light, you wouldn't happen to know where it is?" Suddenly she felt foolish, Here she was this literal knight in shining armour, being approached by a ragged girl with one leather chest plate, and a dingy Rapier...Syra felt like an idiot, "Why did I think it was a good idea just to approach her like this?" 
In hopes to not make it more awkward, Syra smiled slightly, "I'm sorry, it's just I am new to how this whole game works, and I am trying to level up a bit, but it seems I keep getting lost, and I have only really been on the first 2 levels."

Word Count: 479

 

Syra LV. 1 | HP: 20/20 | EN: 20/20 | DMG: 4 | EVA: 1 | BLD (12 DMG)

Battle Ready Inventory:

Equipped: Uncommon leather Armor | 1 Slot EVA

Equipped: Uncommon Rapier | 1 Slot BLD | Weapon Skill - Rank 1 ([x4] ST-1(4EN)

x1 Starter Healing potions (T-5)

x1 Teleport Crystal

 

Syra looked up, She was still a bit dizzy from the hit and the fall, She hear Zenshu rushing in, "Did he say something? Try again?" She shook her head, and soon enough her focus returned, and she saw Zeshu standing over the boar, Sword drawn. Off to the right aways she could hear Soren rushing over... "Did he just call me his friend? Guess he really doesn't hate me after all." 

She sat up, encouraged by these 2 strangers, who rushed to her side when she needed them. Teddy was right, this life in here wasn't a waste, And it wasn't loosing time IRL, but gaining the time you have here.

She rose to her feet, "one more chance, I can do this!" She lifted her sword, again posed for the attack.

"I'm coming in Hot!" She shouted out, wanting to make sure her party members were clear, if her sword took on a mind of it's own again. Taking a moment to ready her strike, She held her breath, aimed AND...

Just missed, gazing the side of the animal.

"Closer, but still no dice." At least this time she was well out of harms way for the boar to get a second hit in.

"One more chance, I just need one more chance!" The adrenaline was coursing through her body, she had never felt so alive then she did in this very moment. She re-adjusted her stance, joining her companions in a kill circle around the beast, "Thanks for stepping in guys, guess I still have a ways to go" 

[0] Zenshu | Lv. 5 | HP: 100/100 | EN: 26/28 | DMG: 7 | ACC: 3 | MIT: 13 | Light Momentum [+1 BD]

[0] Syra | Lv.  1 | HP: 10/20 | EN: 18+1-2=17/20 | DMG: 4 | EVA: 1 | BLD (12 DMG) 

[0] Soren | Lv.  1 | HP: 20/20 | EN: 18/20 | DMG: 1 | MIT: 6 | BLD (12 DMG)

Zenshu | Lv. 5 | HP: 100/100 | ENG: 26/28 | DMG: 7 | ACC: 3 | MIT: 13 | Light Momentum [+1 BD]

Syra | Lv. 1 | HP: 10/20 | ENG: 4 | DMG: 7 | ACC: | MIT:  | Light Momentum

Soren | Lv. 1 | HP: 20/20 | ENG: 4 | DMG: 7 | ACC: | MIT:  | Light Momentum

Boar | HP: 30/30 | DMG:8

Round Four Three

Syra ID209441 | BD: 5+0=5 | <<ST-1 vs. Boar>> Miss  [-2 EN]

word count: 262

Syra listen intently to Teddy, The gleam in his eyes, the hope in his voice, He was right! That was the thought process that caused her to fight, to cease this moment, whether it was in a game or not. Her experience was real, and the people she was meeting were also real. She let the conversation sit there. It truly was good food for thought, and she didn't want to ruin the moment.

 

When Zenshu took her aside, and talked her through the steps of combat, her heart jumped a little, "This was all so exciting!" She couldn't wait to use her sword skills for the first time. Sh followed suit as they located an equal opponent for her to square off against. Though the boar still seemed very large the closer up you were.

She took out her sword, and held her stance, trying to figure out how to activate her sword skill. The whole world seemed to pause, She could hear every blade of grass as they brushed together in the breeze. The wolfs snapping off the far left of her. Her breath was calm and poised. She could feel it, the skill, the energy building inside of her. Closing her eyes she waiting, channeling this new sensation inside of her. How long was she standing like this? It could have been a second, could have been 10 mins, but she was lost in the moment, this moment.

She opened her eyes and focused on her target, not by 5 feet from her, With a slight bend of her knee, she released the strike, what a rush! She could feel the system engage, and take over the rest of the hit, it was unlike anything she had ever experienced. However it would appear her calculations with the strike was off, and she didn't quite hold herself up when it came to the follow-through. In the same moment she let go of her stance, she found herself tripping and plunging her sword into the ground, just next to the boar.

The animal reared up, clearly startled by a blade lunging towards it, with a welder on the end. With no time to react, it twisted around and kicked Syra hard in the face, knocking her flat. 

Her vision turned into a blur, at the top of her view she saw her HP bar rapidly diving into yellow, "That is not good"

 

Syra | Lv.  1 | HP: 20/20 | EN: 20-2= 18/20 | DMG: 4 | EVA: 1 | BLD (12 DMG) 

Boar | HP: 30/30 | DMG: 8

Round one

Syra ID209435 | BD: 4+0=4 | << ST-1 vs. Boar >> Miss [-2 EN]

Boar | MOB: 10-1=9 | DMG: 8+2=10 | Critical Hit

 

Word count:403

Listing to everyone’s reasoning was refreshing, Teddy Brought a ray of sunshine with his optimism, and it was also nice to meet someone else that was benefiting from the lack of physical limitations in this world, as apposed to limitation one would have IRL.

 

“What an interesting reasoning to be here for the love of swords, and the skill of mastering them. But I guess that would make sense, wouldn’t be a shock to learn that military train for battle under similar conditions, and now that full dive is a possibility, it could open up a whole new medium of combat training and preparation! Would it even be possible to settle disputes in a virtual world like this, to save innocent lives?”

 

There she was loosing all her thoughts again. Whenever one thought popped up another followed, which lead to another, that dragged another into the spotlight of her mind.

 

When it came to Soren’s response, Syra was taken a bit back, but she couldn’t help but feel his raw emotion in it, perhaps he wasn’t as closed off to her as she had thought.

 

“Don’t worry about it, this game brings up so many types of emotions. If I may speak my mind, I am more than a little dismayed with the current predicament. For the first few months, when all of this started, I was weak, and lost all hope. I didn’t think I had the strength to go on. I came to this game for an opportunity to re-imagine life, as a way to cope with new limitations IRL. I didn’t expect this.”

She turned to Soren, nearly stopping in front of him. “But Thank you for your honesty,”

Quickly assuming that was too direct she turned to keep walking in pace with the rest of the group.

“I think people have too much of a mentality to either pretend it isn’t real, or that it doesn’t bother them. But if you ask me, we are all stuck here together, why not open up and be real with each other. People already do enough faking in the Real world, you would think here of all places people might open up about who they really are, and how they are really feeling.”

 

“Was that too much to say? Well it’s out there now so no sense in saying, Sorry for overstepping…What good would that do?”

 

Finally making it to the end of town, the field ahead seemed to open up in front of them, it was quite a view to behold! The sea of flowers waving in the breeze, the various animals going about their day around the bushes and grass areas, off to one side she caught a glimpse of a boar being taunted by wolves, but such is the circle of life.

It felt so good to be free from the walled in concrete jungle, and have a moment to just be in nature. And as a plus, it seemed as though they were the only group out today, “That makes things so much easier, not feeling watched by other players.”

 

They headed down together, as Zenshu asked how they would like to continue for this part of the mission. Then, in awe, she watched as he took out his black sword, and proceeding to cut down a boar with a single slash.

 

“If I were at that level he is at, I would for sure be able to help make a difference in getting through this game!”

 

He sheathed it and continued on about safety and being carful with the mobs here, even if they are easier targets.

“I don’t care, I need to get stronger! I need to do whatever it takes to build up my skill, even if that means it would risk my life, if I die, I die trying!”

 

“I would like to try my hand at combat, that is if you don’t mind helping me out with that?”

 

Word count:660

Syra couldn't help but smile a little at every word that came out of Teddy's mouth, She had never met some one from that far south, and only thought accents like that existed solely on Tv, but she liked it. It made him feel more approachable, Safe. "Can't be good that he doesn't have a weapon? What if he gets into trouble, and the rest of us are in trouble of our own? or worse... What if I am in trouble and he tries to step in without a weapon, risking his life? Getting himself killed?"

She shook her head, No she can't let herself slip back. can't allow the thoughts to consume her, not again.

"Not that I know too much, but if you are engaging in combat, isn't it kinda hard to fight back without a weapon? I mean, how would you take down a creature without one? Or defend yourself?" She looked around at the shops as they passed. "would it be possible to maybe stop and grab you a starter blade? or something low cost, just in case?"

But no such luck, Teddy was determind to head straight for the next goal in the quest. No concern for any possible risk for his choice. "Must be nice, not to worry so much. To be able to still push forward, even when odds seem against you."

Well how much did she know, really? Maybe Teddy was more than capable going in this with his bare fists, Her father would probably be the same way. She smiled to herself, "Well if Teddy is confident in his choice, then no reason to fear."

As they continued on the long walk out of the safe zone, she started to feel more at ease. "This was going to be fun" In fact, she was already having fun, the nerves that engrossed her moments before had dissipated, replaced with adrenaline, and fun. Fun. When was the last time she had fun? Felt Joy? Not for a long time... It felt good to smile again, to be excited about something. "I guess Trisha did a good thing after all, getting SAO for me. Would I ever have been able to find friends like these in the Real world?"

45 minutes ago, Theodore Bell said:

“hahw has the game been treating ya’ so far? This place seems rather like the result of someone’s wildest imagination comin’ to fruition. Ah fahnd it rather strange as it stands. Are all games this way?”

His question rang in her head. "Treating me? Treating me? I would say treating everyone like Sh*t. 10,000 players held hostage, secluded from their loved ones, their lives! All for what? For some sick game master to fulfil whatever boyish fantasy he had about being a god in his own created world?"

She took a moment to compose herself. To be honest it really wasn't all that bad. At least in this world she had her mobility, she was able to start a new life, clean slate. 

"Well I think my biggest regret is not knowing more about games before jumping right into a massive VRMMO. But it is rather incredible, the technology of it all. In here a person would be able to do things they could never in the real world. Experience life in a whole new way. That fact is pretty incredible to me." She stopped herself from speaking more about it, Not wanting to look too weak, or naive. They didn't need to know about her life IRL, it would be best to just keep quiet about the whole thing.

"If i may ask, What Brought everyone to this game? I mean like have you played many games before, and this being the next big game to get into? Was this more of an experience of a life time, sort of situation?" Curiosity got the better of her, What was it about this game that drew in so many different people, from various walks of life, and degree of gaming knowledge? She had never even heard of SAO before her nurse got her a copy of the game, and the nerve gear to go with it. For Syra it made sense jumping into this world, But Teddy? What is a man like that doing in a game like this? "I guess no harm in asking."

 

word count: 683

Syra took in the small collective of people set before her, She was grateful for such a warm welcome by Theodore. His smile and essence reminded her of her fathers, safe, secure. It had been a long time since she felt that sort of connection to anyone, or anything. “No, now is not the time to be emotional.”

Syra smiled and nod to the other two members present. She watched as Teddy went into his menu, and struggled to figure out how to create a party. “Should I send him a request?” Before having too much time to react to anything, a notification popped up in her feed, it was from Zenshu, then another. “and just like that, 2 new friends.”

Syra didn’t know what to make of Levi, she could feel his cold shoulder to her, clearly there is some tension in this relationship between father and son that she very much would like to stay out of, so she took note of his avatar name. Soren, “would rather to not get more on this guys bad side.”

“Nice to meet everyone. And thank you for the warm welcome! I am very excited to be here, and to get a handle on this game as well. I have never been much of a gamer, so a lot of these mechanics don’t fully make sense to me.”

“Oh gawd, I hope I am not making a fool of myself! Last thing I need is for these guys to feel like I am just a burden to the group… Wait! What am I talking about? This is just a simple, learn the ropes kind of mission. What are the odds I would see any of these players again?”

In any case, she was excited to have a group to be with, even if it was only for this one mission. For the first time in a while, she was going to be a help, a support, and not a burden! She could do it! She was capable, and strong! At least in this world she was.

She went with the group, following Zenshu’s instructions, and started the quest, heading north of the town. Zenshu was talking on for quite some time, Syra didn’t mind, but to be honest she wasn’t paying too much attention. She was happy to be walking, existing, and listening to conversations. It brought her back to the joys of listen to her father go on at the dinner table about his daily affairs. It was nice to be in a group, no longer plagued by the defining thoughts encircling her mind.

6 hours ago, Zenshu said:

– sometimes you can find them hidden in the tall grasses, or small holes and crevasses. Or you can fight the creatures out in the wilds…wait, does everyone have a weapon?”

She snapped into the conversation. “A weapon?” Her hand instinctually fell at her side, gripping the rapier she had. It is far from a decent weapon, but for this quest it would have to do.

“Yes I have a rapier. It isn’t super great though, just a common one, would it still be okay against creatures?”

How excited! She had never fought anything yet in this game, being able to learn how to engage the Sword Art attacks, and dipping her toe a bit into combat sounded all too thrilling! This is what she needed, to get stronger! To fight! If that was an option for completing this quest, she was going to charge in.

Word count: 567

Syra sat alone at Rebecca's Cafe, finishing her meal, and laying the payment on the table. It was still a lot to get used to, life in the virtual world. Up to this point Syra didn't have much hope, lived life on the first few levels, how was life meant to go on like this? What was the point of risking your life just to get back to the real world? 

Most of her days were spend wondering around, engaging at times with NPC's, but for the most part she kept to herself. "No, I can't just loose hope! What if this was to go on for days, months years? Am I really willing to waste my time away, sitting on my as* and praying for a mirical?" 

She made her way to the request board, maybe something would catch her eye. The most recent request struck her interest, another player was looking to learn about the game, and start the levelling process.. pick up some tricks. "This could be just what I need to get started! I could join this simple quest, and get hands on experience about how the mechanics work in this game." 

It was unfortunate how Syra got into SAO, It was a gift from her nurse, a way to bring her spirits up, but also a way for Syra to walk again, after the accident. Syra was never much of a gamer, but was told that most of the controls should be fairly intuitive, though for somethings she found that not to be the case. "If there is a lesson going on, I should be apart of it." She looked down at the request and sent a reply, within minuets she got a response, learning that there was a small group starting the <<First Lessons>> quest. Looking it up, and realizing she was on the wrong floor, She made her way to a teleport station, in hopes to meet up with the group in time.

 

When she got to Floor 1, she scanned through the area, trying to locate a player that matched Theodore's avatar in the message. After some time, she figured she had missed her mark, when she overheard a player explaining how to start the quest, and sure enough she had found the group.

 

She hesitated at first, She only had been in contact very briefly with Theodore, who were these other players? Did they want her here? would they ask her to leave? "No! I have to see this through! I can't sit around doing nothing, now is the time for action, to do what I couldn't in the real world!"

So she marched up to them. "Theodore? Um... hey it's Syra, we had that brief message..." She looked at the 2 other players, slightly bowing to them as a greeting. "I hope I'm not too late to join you guys?"

 

--word count 480

Buying the following Items:

- Teleport crystal x1

Total: 800 Col

I didn't know how to choose to spend my 5Sp that I have, all of the skills looked to be more than 5Sp, if you have suggestions, or if it is better for me to wait till i earn more SP just let me know!

 

Profile

Username: Syra (Lv. 1)

Real name: Tabitha Von Hussell

Age:17

Gender: Female

Height: 5’5”

About: History/personality

BackStory

Living in the west side of Toronto, Tabitha had a good life. Mother and father, Maggie and Dustin Von Hussell, raised her well, providing all she could need. She never knew how poor they truly were, not that she would have taken note. She lived in a good sized house with a large yard, and was deeply loved by her parents. Her father worked as a bank teller for Scotia, and though the job provided a way to scrape by, he wanted more for his wife and daughter. Dustin was a good, kind man, with ocean eyes that could drown you if you looked too deep, but his heart was as pure as the dawning of a new day. He was wise beyond his years. Most people would say he should be running banks, but his preference was to work with customers, one on one, providing help or advice. Tabitha was very fond of her father, and though he wasn’t home much, she relished every dinner conversation or bedtime story he would provide. No matter how long his day was, or how tapped he felt, Dustin never failed to spend every spare moment with his family. Tabitha’s mother, Maggie, was very sick. She was born with a terrible disease that attacked and rioted away her intestines. From the age of 13, she was told by doctors that she would never be able to bear children, and when she fell for Dustin, she feared that she wouldn’t be able to give him a child, or be a mother. It was a miracle that Tabitha was born. Tabitha loved school, she got along with nearly every person. Life was good… Until that fateful night. 

 

Tabitha was only 13, it was Friday, and the family had just finished watching the Dark Knight, one of Tabitha’s favorite films. Her mother took her up to get her ready for bed, while her dad cleaned up the scattered popcorn and the empty cans of cola. As Tabitha brushed her teeth, she heard the creaking of the front door opening. Odd, where would her dad have to go at this hour? The door opened, but didn’t shut. Tabitha turned off the tap, and walked over to the banister, looking down to see why the door was open, and she saw him. The dark figure, much larger than her father, lingering in the entrance way. Tabitha crept to her mother’s room, finding her preparing the bed for the night, and before Tabitha could say anything, the voice from the figure echoed in the house. Tabitha’s mother went for the door, and they both heard Dustin talking to the man. Maggie shut the bedroom door, and pushed Tabitha into the master closet, barricading her behind the hanging clothes and belts. The door shut, and Tabitha was left in the dark. She could hear muffled voices, and the slightest squeaking of the floor panels. The voices jumped and escalated. She could recognize her father, but his voice sounded different, shaken. Then… BANG. Her mother wailed, the sound stretching through the door and rattling Tabitha’s ear drums. She couldn’t move. BANG. What was that? Why did mom stop screaming? Get up! Move! Do something! 

 

Moments passed as Tabitha remained in the closet. Her body went numb, the only sensation was the tear running down her face. Wait, it wasn’t a tear… it was sweat. She started heating up, coughing with the heavy air. Her breath was stifled, she could hardly breathe. Lunging for the door, she managed to throw it open. But she couldn’t see, her vision fogged, her breath hollow. It was so hot, her face felt like it was on fire…FIRE! 

 

As she saw the flames reaching under the door, her head span, and she dove down to the floor. Air had returned to her, but only slightly. She could see the room better, and started pulling herself to the window. As she slowly and painfully made her way across the room, she crawled under the bed to reach the window. As she had just pulled her head and torso out from the bed frame, she stopped. No… something stopped her. She turned back to see the bed frame collapsed on her leg. Then, the roof came careening on top soon after. Tabitha shut her eyes, reaching down to see if she still had her legs. She didn’t feel them, instead she felt something… wet. She opened her eyes and looked back, only to see a pool of her own blood crawling beside her. Heat singed at the back of her leg. She tried to scream, but not a sound escaped. She pulled with all her might, but her leg didn’t move, and the pain was too great. Next thing she knew, she was looking up at a light. Was she flying? No, she was lying down. Her hands caressed the silken sheet that enwrapped her. Who was touching her? Why couldn’t she see them? Everything was bright. 

 

She arose to the sound of her own heart being played back to her on a screen. She was laying in a hospital. Alone. Pain started to singe her insides, and as she turned in an attempt to escape it, something felt wrong. Why was it hard to turn? Why couldn’t she shift the blankets at her feet? She needed to breathe, needed air, but her legs didn’t move to her will. They weren’t there. 

 

Months after the attack, she was released into special care in a hall where other teens lived with nurses and personal medical staff. After a year, an arrangement was made for her to live with one of the nurses, in hopes to be able to live somewhat independently. 

 

It has been 3 years since the attack. Tabitha lives in the house and under the care of her nurse Trisha. She’s nice, and very kind to Tabitha, but she is no parent. And nothing could replace or fix Tabitha’s broken heart. 

 

Tabitha was given SAO by Trisha. How Trisha got a hold of the game, Tabitha doesn’t know. It was a suggestion her therapist had, a way to get her “on her feet” in a sense. To be able to live in a world where her trumas didn’t happen. Where she could run again, and have independence. Tabitha at first was very reserved about joining SAO, not knowing anything about gaming in general, and a little afraid of the idea of the nerve gear, but she figured what was the harm in giving it a try, what did her life right now have to offer her?

 

What was the worst that could happen?

 

Well the worst happened, and within the first hours of launching came the reality of being trapped in the game. Things seemed bleak, what hope did she have now? Who was she to be able to survive this game? There were a lot of deaths that first week. Most were from families trying to remove the nerve gear, but so many were from people not wanting to live in this reality. What an idea, to end the pain, the suffering. To not be a burden anymore.

 

That would be easier… But…She was still here. And what's more, she wasn’t who she was in the real world. In here, maybe she could make a difference. Maybe she could help clear the game, and end this nightmare. She isn’t that same mutilated kid, in here she is a warrior, a protector. She could accomplish in here what she could never do in the real world.

Virtues:

Loyal

If there is one thing to be said, it is that if you find companionship with Syra, she will have your back to the bitter end. Much like the stars shine with the moon, so does her loyalty lie with those who have earned it. She will fight for, protect, and assist her allies with anything they need. Even to the point of laying down her own life for the sake of those she cares for. 

 

Clever

Quick on her feet when it comes to thinking, and learning. She picks up skills, and can overcome challenges quickly, and with ease. She is able to think outside of the box, when it comes to looking for solutions. She can sniff out a sour deal from a mile away, not falling for tricks of the trade, but rather is quite good at using them for her own advantage. She is an excellent haggler, with a deep understanding of how to best appeal to people.

Down To Earth

Though she has a tough exterior, deep down she is a quirky, nerdy kinda girl. She could talk your ear off about nature, her fascination with holistic living. Only taking what you need from the land, growing your own food. She loves animals, and has an ability to turn even the farilest beast into a tame campaign. Though she can fight, and is strong, she values peace, and chooses to move past differences, rather than break bridges over them.

Flaws:

Impulsive

 She isn’t always the best at waiting and thinking things through fully, Oftentimes she will jump the gun, and opts to choose in the moment and deal with consequences later, vs. weighing out your options to try to avoid consequences. Her emotions can get the better of her, and controlling them is not one of her strengths.

Stubborn 

She can very much get stuck in her ways and ideas, finding it hard to stop to listen to people, or take others advice or direction. Admitting she is wrong, isn’t something she has never done. Come to think of it, she has never said sorry before, never felt that her action required her to seek forgiveness from someone. That is weakness, something she cannot tolerate. Yes she cares for people, but more in what she can do for others, rather than letting others do anything for her.

Hardened

 It is hard to get to know her, or for her to trust people. Yes she cares for others, but letting others in, to see her brokenness, and vulnerability is hard. So she often will keep people at a distance. Will come off as sarcastic, or abrasive. Anything to keep from people getting too close.

 

Profession: N/A

 

Skills

Non-combat:

»N/A

Passive:

»N/A

Combat:

» N/A

Weapon skills:

»Rank 1:

[x4] ST-I (4 EN) | A single-target sword art.

  

States

»SP:1 (Spent:4)

Lv:1 HP:20/20  EN:20/20  EXP:0

»Col:1,700

»Materials:10

 

Inventory(Basic Package)

(5 * Tier) Starter Healing Potions (Heals 50 * Tier HP)

» Teleport Crystal x1

Weapons/Tools:

 

»Rapier: Uncommon (T1)

Bleed: Cost: 1 Slot
Cap: 2 Slots
Effect: Natural critical attack rolls of 9-10 (1 slot) or natural successful attack rolls of 8-10 (2 slots) deal (12 * Tier) unmitigated bleed damage each enemy turn for 2 turns. Bleed damage does not stack, but can be refreshed. The highest tier of Bleed damage overrides lower tier versions; cannot be overridden by lower-tier versions.
Applicable to: Weapons

 

 

 

Armor/Clothing:

» Leather Armor: Uncommon

Evasion: Cost: 1 Slot
Cap: 3 Slots
Effect: Reduces the die value by (1 per slot) on an enemy’s attack against you. Cannot be used to avoid a critical hit.
Applicable to: Cloth Armor, Light Armor

 

 

 

Relationships

Coming soon!

 

Roleplays

The Adventure Begins