When I was informed of what was happening I didn't think a few thousand of orcs would be running through the forest. I could only thank the fore thought Merli had when it came to installing traps.
As soon as an Orc tripped on a homemade bear trap, courtesy of the goblins. They were promptly shot by an Orc on our side. Each and every one of them now knowing how to shoot a bow, use a spear and swing a sword with some precision.
The kobold trenches also made it so that they were all in lines and couldn't use their obvious numbers to get us. Not to mention they were splitting themselves up with trying to raid my camp and the Orc Fort. At this point my camp extended into the paths we made and engulfed most of the southern forest. So they had a hard time finding any leeway.
I lifted my new axe and I felt an odd sense of glee coming from the axe. I felt my self smile as well when I recognized the feeling. I shook it off and stepped forward and roared, "FOOLISH RAIDERS! YOU COME TO ATTACK MY LANDS? THE ONLY THING YOU WILL ACQUIRE IS DEATH."
My voice carried within the trees and was empowered by my abilities. I could see the faces of many inside and outside pale at my words. It seemed my name of Dread Beast really rung true. I lifted my axe and roared once more, for some reason I seemed to have innate knowledge of what to do.
"EARTHLY RENDER!"
When my axe met the ground it shook the trees and split the ground open. It threw many to the floor. However to my surprise a hobgoblin archer fired at me. Honestly it was much of a surprise, but I threw up my axe and the arrow cracked against it.
I stormed forward trampling over the orcs I pushed down and with a single swing I took the archer's head off. It seemed he was more surprised than me. It seemed I drew attention orcs began to turn into my direction. I smiled I couldn't help it.
My smile however seemed to put the invaders off. My eyes glanced over their ranks and they seemed to be from varying tribes. Had they united against us? I hadn't expected them to unite so well. It must mean a powerful leader was with them. My smile broadened more as I lifted my axe higher.
"WILDS RENDER!"
I shouted out making everyone stumbled back to avoid my axe. However the was attack horizontal and reaped the lives of those before me. My grip tightened and I briefly shook free from the weird feelings I had.
The axe, it was guiding me. However taking so many lives would only be a lose for me. So I breathed in, "FLEE, LITTLE GREEN SKIN ANTS AND BRING ME YOUR GENERALS, YOUR LEADERS! WHOEVER IS YOUR STRONGEST."
Several of them turned and ran. However out of them who were fleeing none were orcs. A figure as big as mine stepped forward. He pushed his men aside, he was clearly a clan leader. Where he was though...
He grinned, "MEN! Keep up the assault, for I! GOM GOM! Will be the opponent of the GREAT TAUREN WARRIOR ADIRA!"
I raised a hand, "Its Akira."
He blinked, "I apologize THE GREAT TAUREN WARRIOR AKIRA! LETS US DUEL!"
A name like Gom Gom made it seemed like he was dumb, but I knew better. This guy I believe Gnar told me he was from the Dah clan. A clan that wasn't actually stupid.
"I suppose it is fair, rare to see a man with stealth focus on defense."
The muscular orc smiled, and he clenched a fist onto a very small dagger. "THAT'S THE SPIRIT! ANALYZE ME!"
He rushed forward and I moved slamming my axe down and instead grabbing my own knife. Before we clashed I pressed backward and cut my hand open. the action took the orc my surprise, but with a flick of my wrist his eyelids twitched shut.
He dodged the blood to his eyes, but him flinching costed him. I slammed a hoof down onto his foot. Orcs didn't wear shoes, so my hooves crushed his toes. The guy barely flinched at the attack though and he stabbed me in my thigh.
If I didn't attack him he likely would've gotten an important vein. I wasn't super knowledgeable about my anatomy so I batted him a way and he pulled out another knife.
I pulled the knife from my thigh and inspected it quickly. It wasn't poisoned, thank goodness. "Why do you not use your axe?"
He got his words out before my own. "Let's be real, I have better chances without it."
Gom Gom gave an insidious smile, "Impressive! What makes you say that?"
I raised an eyebrow, "A guy like you surely learned to fight against axes and clubs. The main weapons of most orcs and us primitive monsters. Combine that with situational invisibility... I can assume its stealth or a hunter's camo to deal with archers."
I kept my eyes on hims exactly for that reason. He gave a nod, "You have my respect!" His eyes glanced over at the orcs trying to break into my camp, "It seems I must help my men. You are smart in more ways then one, though perhaps it was not you that made these defenses. Nonetheless I must kill you or you kill me."
I'd love to have this guy on my side, but sadly he was right. We had to kill each other, he was the first wave of invaders if I spared him. I'd be seen as weak how would I unite the forest if I was seen as weak. Specially when someone else beat me to it.
They clearly either respect or fear him more, thus I had to become something similar in the eyes of the denizens of the forest. I twisted the two knives I now had in my hands.
"No more games then."
I ran forward releasing the aura of dread I had. Once I got in close I would use my sharp unnatural teeth to take a bite out of him.
------Been a while, been busy obviously. Mostly just writer's block and couldn't think. Still kinda can't think.... Eh not the most creative, but whatever. Speaking of, I like the whole system stuff, but I think I'll keep it to a minimum now and only keep it related to the more 'achievement' things. Gods, the axe, and class and evolution stuff. So skills and stuff won't be brought up in a system like way. However they will be referenced to being within the status screen and stuff. So hope you don't mind, but it is what it is.-------